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Why Your Business Needs a Fractional CMO: A Smarter, More Strategic Approach to Growth

The Old Model is Broken—And You Know It

For years, businesses have operated under a traditional structure: hire a full-time Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) or VP of Marketing & Sales, invest heavily in their salary and benefits, and hope they have the skills, network, and experience to drive growth.

But here’s the problem—one person can’t be an expert in everything.

Today’s marketing landscape is vast, covering everything from digital strategy, branding, and content creation to lead generation, analytics, paid media, and sales alignment. Hiring one person to be an expert at all of it is unrealistic, inefficient, and costly.

This is where a Fractional CMO model comes in—a game-changing solution that provides you with an entire team of experts instead of just one person.

What Exactly is a Fractional CMO?

A Fractional CMO is not just a consultant—it’s a strategic partnership. Instead of hiring a full-time executive, you bring in an on-demand marketing leader backed by a team of specialists who fill in the missing gaps, delivering high-level strategy, execution, and measurable results without the burden of a six-figure salary.

Think of it like this:

  • A full-time CMO can be a jack of all trades, but master of none.
  • A fractional CMO gives you access to a whole team, each person an expert in their domain.
  • You get an integrated, data-driven approach without the overhead.

This model ensures your business stays agile, competitive, and always ahead of the curve.

Why a Fractional CMO is the Smarter Move for Businesses Today

1. More Brainpower, Less Cost

A single full-time CMO can cost anywhere from $175,000 to $300,000+ per year before even factoring in benefits, bonuses, and stock options. And they still need to hire outside experts for specialized work.

With a Fractional CMO, you get a team of top-tier professionals for a fraction of that cost—each with their own niche expertise in SEO, PPC, automation, content, branding, and more. You’re not just getting one mind—you’re getting an entire marketing force at your disposal.

2. Deep Industry Expertise & Proven Strategies

A traditional CMO might have experience in a handful of industries, but a Fractional CMO team works across multiple verticals and markets, bringing proven strategies that have worked across different business models.

They’ve already tested, refined, and executed winning campaigns—why spend years figuring it out on your own?

3. Execution That Moves Fast

Hiring an in-house marketing executive means months of onboarding, hiring additional team members, and ramping up before you even see results.

A Fractional CMO team hits the ground running—developing and executing a strategy from day one. They bring a ready-to-go marketing machine that’s already optimized to drive growth.

4. Technology & Tools That Drive Results

Marketing today isn’t just about strategy—it’s about having the right tools and data. A Fractional CMO team comes equipped with industry-leading tech stacks, CRMs, automation platforms, and AI-driven analytics to identify opportunities and optimize your campaigns in real time.

Why spend six months figuring out the best tech when you can plug into a system that’s already working?

5. Scalability & Flexibility

Hiring a full-time executive locks you into a long-term, expensive commitment. What if you need to scale up—or down—based on market conditions?

A Fractional CMO model gives you the flexibility to scale services up or down as needed—adjusting strategy, resources, and execution on demand.

6. More Accountability, Less Risk

Let’s be honest—not every CMO delivers results.

A Fractional CMO team is results-driven and performance-based. They don’t survive on title prestige—they thrive on proving their impact with metrics, KPIs, and real business outcomes.

No fluff. No office politics. Just results.

Who Needs a Fractional CMO?

This model isn’t just for startups. It’s for any business that wants high-level marketing expertise without the limitations of a single hire.

  • Mid-sized companies: If you’re growing fast but don’t have the budget for a full-time CMO.
  • Enterprises looking for fresh strategy: Get a new perspective and cutting-edge marketing tactics without overhauling your internal structure.
  • VC-backed startups: Get senior-level strategy without burning through funding.
  • Manufacturers, service providers, and tech companies: Stay ahead in industries where marketing is rapidly evolving and competition is fierce.

If you’re tired of slow marketing progress, disjointed strategies, and wasted budgets, it’s time to rethink the traditional CMO model.

The Future of Marketing is Fractional. Are You Ready?

Companies that adapt win. Companies that stick to outdated models fall behind.

A Fractional CMO isn’t a cost—it’s an investment that gives you access to the right minds, the right execution, and the right strategy to drive your business forward.

So the real question isn’t “Can we afford a Fractional CMO?”

It’s Can we afford not to?”

Ecommerce Evolution 2025: The Essential Changes You Need to Make to Sell Online

The ecommerce landscape is shifting—again. Every year brings new technologies, consumer behaviors, and market challenges that force online businesses to adapt or fall behind. If you’re responsible for driving revenue, growing a brand, or optimizing digital commerce, now is the time to assess what’s changing in 2025 and adjust your approach.

This isn’t about trends that might happen. These are the must-make changes to keep your ecommerce operation competitive, profitable, and prepared for what’s next.

1. AI-Powered Personalization is No Longer Optional

Generic ecommerce experiences are dead. Consumers expect brands to understand their preferences, anticipate their needs, and offer highly personalized recommendations. In 2025, AI-driven personalization is a baseline expectation.

What to focus on:

  • AI-powered product recommendations that adapt in real-time
  • Dynamic pricing strategies based on customer behavior
  • Personalized email and SMS marketing automation

The shift: If you’re not integrating AI-driven insights into your customer journey, your competitors will.

2. Conversion-Optimized Checkout is Critical

Abandoned carts remain one of the biggest leaks in ecommerce revenue. The difference in conversion rates between a frictionless checkout and a cumbersome one can be staggering. In 2025, optimizing checkout is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a make-or-break factor.

Key updates:

  • One-click checkout integrations (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay)
  • AI-powered fraud detection that doesn’t interfere with legitimate transactions
  • Seamless buy now, pay later (BNPL) options

The shift: Customers expect to check out in seconds, not minutes. Every extra step costs you sales.

3. SEO for Ecommerce is Changing (Again)

Google’s algorithm updates are relentless, and ecommerce SEO is evolving faster than ever. In 2025, brands must embrace a broader SEO strategy that extends beyond traditional keyword optimization.

What’s changing:

  • Voice search and AI-driven search results influencing product discovery
  • Google’s prioritization of user experience (Core Web Vitals matter more than ever)
  • Video and image-based search growing in importance

The shift: Winning at ecommerce SEO in 2025 means thinking beyond text and optimizing for AI-driven search behaviors.

4. First-Party Data Will Determine Your Success

With privacy regulations tightening and third-party cookies disappearing, ecommerce brands must rely on first-party data to drive marketing and sales strategies.

How to adapt:

  • Strengthen your email and SMS marketing strategies
  • Build community-driven commerce experiences (exclusive offers, loyalty programs)
  • Leverage predictive analytics to understand customer buying habits

The shift: The brands that own their customer data will have a significant advantage over those who rely on third-party sources.

5. Social Commerce is Reshaping the Buying Journey

Social media is no longer just a traffic source—it’s a primary sales channel. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook have seamlessly integrated ecommerce, making it easier than ever for customers to shop without leaving their favorite apps.

Where to invest:

  • Shoppable posts and live-stream commerce
  • Influencer collaborations that drive direct sales
  • AI-generated content that adapts to user engagement

The shift: If your social strategy doesn’t include direct selling, you’re leaving revenue on the table.

6. Returns & Logistics are Now Brand Differentiators

Customers expect fast, hassle-free returns. More than ever, logistics and fulfillment strategies directly impact brand perception and loyalty.

Logistics must-haves:

  • Clear and flexible return policies
  • AI-driven demand forecasting to prevent stockouts
  • Sustainable packaging and eco-friendly shipping options

The shift: The brands that perfect post-purchase logistics will see repeat customers and stronger brand trust.

7. The Rise of Augmented Reality (AR) Shopping

Online shopping has always struggled with one major drawback: customers can’t physically experience products before buying. In 2025, AR is bridging that gap.

What’s next:

  • Virtual try-ons for fashion and accessories
  • 3D product views for home goods and electronics
  • Interactive AR experiences that enhance product discovery

The shift: Ecommerce brands that leverage AR will see higher engagement, reduced return rates, and improved conversion rates.

The Bottom Line

Ecommerce is evolving fast, and 2025 is set to be a defining year for online sellers. The question is no longer whether to make these changes, but how quickly you can implement them. Brands that stay ahead of these shifts will thrive—those that don’t will struggle to keep up.

If navigating these changes feels overwhelming, that’s because ecommerce is no longer a side project—it’s a sophisticated, multi-faceted strategy that requires expertise across multiple disciplines. The brands that recognize this now will be the ones leading the charge in 2025 and beyond.

Beyond the Walled Gardens: Why Smart Brands Are Rethinking Their Digital Strategy

For years, brands have poured their ad dollars into social media’s walled gardens, lured by promises of hyper-targeting, high engagement, and massive audiences. But as the digital landscape shifts, many businesses are realizing the cost of this dependency—limited control, murky reporting, and increasing risks to brand reputation.

The Wake-Up Call for Advertisers

Recent changes across major social platforms have forced brands to rethink their digital strategies. Meta’s move to replace independent fact-checking with user-driven moderation and X’s (formerly Twitter) shift to a less structured content governance model have raised serious concerns about brand safety.

With algorithms favoring engagement at any cost—whether through misinformation, controversy, or polarizing content—advertisers face greater risks than ever before. The hard truth? Brands have little control over where their ads appear and even less insight into their true performance.

But while social media’s cracks widen, a stronger alternative is emerging—one that prioritizes transparency, quality, and real business outcomes.

Filling the Gaps: A Smarter Approach to Digital Marketing

At Power On Marketing, we understand that today’s brands need more than just visibility—they need strategic marketing that delivers real results. Here’s how companies can take back control and make their marketing investments work smarter.

1. Own Your Audience, Don’t Rent It

Social media platforms thrive by keeping businesses locked into their systems, controlling access to audiences while dictating the terms. Instead of relying solely on these platforms, brands must prioritize owned media—like their website, email lists, and content hubs.

We help businesses shift from borrowed reach to building their own engaged audiences. Through smart content marketing, SEO, and direct audience engagement, we ensure your brand remains in control of its digital presence.

2. Invest in Transparency, Not Vanity Metrics

One of the biggest frustrations for marketers is the lack of transparency in social media reporting. Self-reported metrics like “impressions” and “engagements” don’t always translate to real business outcomes.

At Power On Marketing, we focus on performance-driven strategies that go beyond surface-level numbers. From conversion-optimized content to data-backed ad placement, we help brands measure what truly matters—customer acquisition, lead generation, and long-term brand loyalty.

3. Brand Safety Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Necessity

With social platforms becoming increasingly unpredictable, brands can’t afford to risk their reputation on poorly moderated environments. We provide safer, more strategic advertising alternatives by leveraging high-quality content partnerships, curated ad placements, and direct publisher relationships that align with brand values.

4. Future-Proof Your Marketing with High-Quality Storytelling

Short-form videos, interactive experiences, and data-driven storytelling are redefining how brands connect with audiences. Instead of relying on fleeting social trends, Power On Marketing helps businesses craft evergreen, high-impact content that stays relevant long after a trending hashtag fades.

Take Back Control of Your Marketing

The marketing landscape is evolving, and the brands that adapt will come out ahead. Instead of investing in platforms that dictate the rules, it’s time to build a marketing strategy that works on your terms.

At Power On Marketing, we help brands fill in the gaps—whether it’s content creation, digital strategy, or audience engagement. Ready to make a smarter investment in your brand’s future? Let’s talk.

 

Unleashing Your Marketing Superpowers: How Power On Marketing Helps You Become the Hero

Every great superhero has an origin story—that moment of discovery when they first realize their powers. Maybe it’s the first time Superman leaps into the sky or when Peter Parker realizes he can cling to walls after being bitten by a radioactive spider.

For many marketing managers, their journey follows a similar path. One day, you’re thrown into a world of content creation, ad campaigns, branding, and analytics. You quickly realize you need to be faster, smarter, and more strategic than ever before. But with great responsibility comes great complexity, and even the most dedicated marketing professionals can find themselves overwhelmed.

That’s where Power On Marketing comes in—your ally, your mentor, and your secret weapon. We help turn ambitious marketing managers into Creative Marketing Operators, ready to take action, strategize, and execute like a pro.

Discovering Your Superpowers

Some marketing managers are natural strategists, while others are creative wizards. Some are data-driven analysts, while others thrive on storytelling. But no matter your strengths, every hero has their kryptonite. Maybe it’s struggling to keep up with social media trends, juggling website updates, or launching campaigns that feel like a shot in the dark.

At Power On Marketing, we step in to help you harness your powers effectively. Whether you’re a lone wolf managing a company’s marketing on your own or part of a lean team that needs extra firepower, we provide the expertise, tools, and strategy to elevate your game.

The Superpowered Human: Balancing Creativity & Execution

Much like Spider-Man juggling crime-fighting and a photography job, marketing managers are expected to wear multiple hats. You’re running email campaigns, fine-tuning PPC ads, handling social media, and proving ROI—all while trying to be innovative and engaging.

But even the best heroes need a sidekick. Imagine having a team that not only helps you create killer content but also ensures it reaches the right audience at the right time with the right message. That’s what we do. We optimize workflows, fine-tune messaging, and implement scalable strategies so that your marketing efforts aren’t just reactive but proactive.

The Agency as the Ultimate Super Team

Every superhero thrives when they have the right team. Superman has the Justice League. Spider-Man joins forces with the Avengers when things get tough. And marketing managers? They have Power On Marketing.

Instead of going it alone, we give you access to a team of experts in branding, content creation, SEO, website development, and paid media. We don’t just offer tools—we offer solutions. We help bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be, so your marketing efforts feel less like an uphill battle and more like a well-oiled machine.

Mastering the Art of Strategic Outsourcing

The strongest heroes know when to call for backup. Sometimes, marketing managers get stuck in the DIY mindset, trying to do everything themselves. But the best results come from knowing what to handle in-house and when to bring in reinforcements.

That’s why we offer flexible solutions—whether you need full-service support, strategic guidance, or just an extra set of hands on a project. We empower you to focus on what you do best while we take care of the rest.

Your Heroic Moment Starts Now

In every superhero story, there’s a moment when the hero steps up, embraces their powers, and takes action. If you’re ready to level up, take your marketing from good to great, and wield your full potential, Power On Marketing is here to help.

Because every hero needs the right team—and we’re ready to power up your journey.

 

The Smart CEO’s Guide to Marketing in 2025: Growth Without the Overhead

Why Traditional Marketing Structures Are Holding Your Business Back

If you’re a CEO, COO, or business leader, you already know that marketing is critical to growth. But let’s be honest: the traditional approach to in-house marketing is riddled with inefficiencies, high costs, and inconsistent ROI.

In 2025, businesses that thrive aren’t the ones with the biggest marketing teams—they’re the ones with the smartest marketing strategies. That means leveraging the right expertise, technology, and resources without the overhead of full-time staff.

The challenge? Many companies feel stuck between two costly options:

  1. Hiring an in-house marketing team, which means salaries, benefits, training, and software subscriptions that quickly add up.
  2. Piecing together freelancers or agencies, which often leads to disjointed branding, missed opportunities, and a lack of strategic direction.

What if there was a better way?

The Power of a Plug-and-Play Marketing Team

At Power On Marketing, we operate as an extension of your business—giving you the strategic direction and execution of a full-scale marketing department at a fraction of the cost.

Instead of hiring a full-time marketing manager who may have limited skills in SEO, social media, content creation, email marketing, and paid ads, you get an entire team of experts working toward one goal: growing your business.

What You Gain When You Partner with Us:

  • A Complete Marketing DepartmentStrategy, execution, analytics, and optimization all under one roof.
  • Agility and Speed – No onboarding delays, no training costs. We plug into your business and start delivering results immediately.
  • The Best Tools & Technology – We invest in the latest AI-driven marketing tools so you don’t have to.
  • Lower Overhead, Higher ROI – You get top-tier marketing without the long-term financial commitment of an in-house team.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Here’s a hard truth: If your marketing strategy today looks the same as it did two years ago, you’re already behind your competition.

Marketing in 2025 is driven by data, automation, and hyper-personalized customer engagement. If you don’t have a strategy that adapts in real-time, you’re leaving money on the table.

Consider these stats:

  • 76% of business leaders say AI-driven marketing is improving efficiency and reducing costs.
  • Companies that outsource marketing functions report a 43% faster time to market for new campaigns.
  • 60% of small to mid-sized businesses cite lack of expertise as their #1 marketing challenge.

The Future of Growth Is Flexible

CEOs who are serious about scaling their business in 2025 don’t hire more people—they hire the right people.

If you’re ready to replace inefficiency with innovation, let’s talk. Power On Marketing is built for companies that need to grow, need results, and need them now.

Your next move? Let’s have a conversation. Book a call today and discover how we can transform your marketing from a cost center into a profit engine.

Time to Revamp Your E-Commerce Strategy in 2025? Here’s Where to Start

Three months into the year—are you thinking about upgrading your e-commerce website or partnering with a company to build one? Now’s the time to take action.

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and whether you’re refining an existing online store or launching a brand-new one, 2025 is already shaping up to be a competitive year. To stay ahead, your e-commerce platform must be optimized for efficiency, engagement, and growth. Here’s where you should focus your attention:

1.) Optimize Your E-Commerce Platform for a Seamless Shopping Experience

Your website isn’t just an online storefront—it’s your business hub. Whether you’re using Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, or another platform, small tweaks can significantly improve conversions. Consider these upgrades:

  • Account Purchase History & Smart Recommendations
    Customers love convenience. Give them easy access to past purchases and suggest relevant products based on their buying history. Think about how Amazon makes reordering seamless—your site can do the same.
  • Cart Recovery & Exit Intent Tools
    Reduce abandoned carts with pop-ups offering limited-time discounts or follow-up emails that remind shoppers about items they left behind. Retailers like Fleet Farm use this effectively to recapture potential sales.
  • Integrated Email Automation for Personalized Engagement
    Email marketing should be dynamic, not one-size-fits-all. Segment your audience based on buying behavior—someone purchasing high-end watches has different needs than someone buying a gift. Your messaging should reflect that.

2.) Expand and Leverage Your Customer List Wisely

If you’re revamping your e-commerce strategy, growing and nurturing your email list should be a top priority. But it’s not just about numbers—it’s about engagement. Here’s how:

  • Capture New Leads Through Strategic Offers
    Offer incentives like early access to sales, exclusive product drops, or valuable content in exchange for email sign-ups.
  • Mix Promotions with Brand Storytelling
    While discounts attract buyers, over-reliance on promotions can train customers to wait for deals. Instead, balance sales with content that showcases your brand’s story, customer testimonials, and educational insights.
  • Let Your Brand Personality Shine
    People don’t just buy products; they buy from brands they connect with. Whether your voice is playful, professional, or bold, make sure it resonates consistently across platforms.

3.) Implement SMS Marketing for Immediate Impact

If you’re serious about engaging customers in 2025, SMS marketing needs to be part of your strategy. With an open rate of nearly 98%, it’s the fastest way to reach customers. Consider using SMS for:

  • Order & Shipping Updates
    Keep customers informed with real-time notifications about their purchases.
  • Flash Sales & Exclusive Offers
    SMS is perfect for time-sensitive promotions—whether it’s a one-day sale or an exclusive drop for VIP customers.
  • Cart Recovery Messages
    A well-timed text with a gentle nudge (and maybe a small incentive) can convince hesitant shoppers to complete their purchase.

SMS is a low-cost, high-ROI tool that enhances customer experience while boosting revenue. If you haven’t leveraged SMS yet, it’s time to test its effectiveness.

Final Thoughts: It’s Time to Take Action

Three months into 2025, the question is: Are you making the most of your e-commerce potential? Whether you’re fine-tuning an existing site or exploring partnerships to build one from the ground up, these strategies will set you on the path to success.

Now’s the time to act. Ready to revamp your e-commerce presence? Let’s make it happen.

HOW GOOGLE IS MAKING USER EXPERIENCE COUNT

Google has given us an entire year to prepare for the update on user experience (UX) that will be making its debut next month.

You read that right – in May 2020, the global search engine, Google, announced that their upcoming upgrade would start to include user experience, among other metrics, to rank site performance. UX will also affect your company’s placement in Google Search.

While user experience will not be the sole factor in your placement, it will become increasingly more important from here on out. Let’s take a look at the main markers you will want to keep in mind for May 2021, so that your site does not vanish off the face of the web (or trickle down to the 2nd or 3rd page on Google).

The highly favored search engine has been preparing for this update for over a year now so there are quite a few opinions on the topic floating around. However, we prefer to get our information straight from the source. According to Google, the user experience update hopes to improve the way we interact with content, and how to decide which pieces are most important to the consumer.

They note: The page experience signal measures aspects of how users perceive the experience of interacting with a web page. Optimizing for these factors makes the web more delightful for users across all web browsers and surfaces, and helps sites evolve towards user expectations on mobile. We believe this will contribute to business success on the web as users grow more engaged and can transact with less friction.

In other words, Google is going to gauge how useable your site is, especially across different devices and platforms to make sure that the user-friendliest sites make it to the top during your research. How? By measuring your core web vitals, comparing them to your competition, and ranking accordingly. We will show you what this means and the best practices your company can take to prepare.

DOWN TO THE CORE

Core Web Vitals are new metrics that Google is rolling out to measure things like speed and accessibility on any given page on your site. Adjusting your site to fit these standards will impress Google, as well as your clientele! Creating a more enjoyable user experience is Google’s goal for a reason. In order to quantify UX, there are three core vitals highlighted across several sources: page speed, page interactivity, and page stability. Let’s take an even deeper look into what these vitals mean for the future of your site.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), or page loading speed, is the first metric that is considered a core web vital. Simply put, this is how long it takes to load the largest piece of content on any page of your site. 2.5 seconds and under is the sweet spot for a good loading speed. If your site is pushing 4 or more seconds, look into your server, the amount of JavaScript on your pages, and make sure you are not using slow time fetching resources. To improve your page loading speed, look into size loading platforms for media-rich pages!

First Input Delay (FID) measures your page interactivity speed. For a successful and enjoyable user experience, the interactive elements on your site, like forms and text boxes, should load and be ready to function within 100 milliseconds or less. If your interactive content loading takes 300 milliseconds or longer, you will need to test and edit JavaScript delays and optimize the code on each page to make the 100-millisecond mark!

Last but certainly not least, Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), is the core web vital that measures page stability. This is the most frustrating feature for users, for good reason. Page stability means that the elements on any given page do not shift while loading. Every element has a place on each page, and if your site is stable, they will never budge or shift while the rest of your content loads. 0.1 is the goal here, anymore 0.25 or over is going to need adjustments. This is the easy part, you will need to specify the size dimensions of every single image or video on the page for best results. These, among other valuable components, like accessibility across devices and platforms, and rich content, will all be taken into consideration whilst your website is being assessed by the algorithm.

CONTENT STILL MATTERS

Any time “updating the algorithm” is mentioned, we cringe a little. But the bulk of ranking will still stem from authentic and useful content. Google has made it clear that while the UX update will alter how sites are displayed in the search engine, the content on your site itself, still plays the largest role in ranking. If you already consistently update your content, minimal modifications will be needed.

To quote: While all of the components of page experience are important, we will prioritize pages with the best information overall, even if some aspects of page experience are subpar. A good page experience doesn’t override having great, relevant content.

TIPS AND TOOLS FOR TRACKING UX

As your marketing mavens, Power On has plenty of tricks to try for a seamless transition into the core web vitals world. The first steps to improving your UX ranking are internal. Optimize each page on your site for speed, reduce 400 errors, and fix any and all broken pages/links as they appear. These each contribute to a negative user experience and drag your site performance down.

After an internal assessment comes a comparison to your competitors. While you may think your site is fine and dandy, your competition could be blowing you out of the water! It is important to check up on your competition to compare speed, SEO health, and so much more. Tools like page speed insights will allow you to search yourself and/or competitors to see where you stand in several areas. Google has released several tools to test, track, and enrich your user experience in terms of Core Web Vitals.

If you are keeping up with the competition, or beating them, you should still analyze your site design for layout shifts and other usability issues. To identify any issues more easily, try using a site like Crazy Egg on your popular pages. We suggest testing at least three of your top-performing URLs to review your usability, site structure, navigation, and more. You can always experiment with additional tools and plug in’s to monitor rankings and other data over time.

SUMMARIZE THE STREAMLINE

Google updates are not new, they just decided to brace us for impact this time around. The User Experience Update combines site functionality with SEO structuring in hopes of creating the ultimate user experience. Successful sites will be enjoyable, equitable, usable, and useful while providing inventive and original content.

Not sure how to get started with upgrading your UX? Power On can help!

THE TOP 5 COMPONENTS OF YOUR CONTENT MARKETING STRATEGY

There are still questions and confusion when it comes to “content marketing.” The concept is simple when it is thought of as a means to an end, which is ultimately driving traffic to your website or blog. The more great content you have, and the easier it is for people to find your content, the more visible your brand becomes.  Here are the top 5 ways to use content marketing that will generate leads, sales, and potential clients.

1. WRITING ENGAGING AND HIGH QUALITY CONTENT

Your content doesn’t always have to be about your products or services. Creating a story and providing value is what will engage and drive current and potential clients to your business. The goal is to build a relationship with your audience by creating an emotional connection and establishing the humanity of your brand. Finding out what makes your business unique and sharing that story is important in making your content more shareable and valuable, while making a connection with your audience.

2. OPTIMIZATION

Make sure that your content is optimized for search engines. Content is still king, so it’s essential to have well-written and unique content that will focus on your primary keywords or keyword phrases. Keeping your content fresh is what will improve your rankings – it adds relevancy to your site in the eyes of search engines. In addition to fresh content, there are many other SEO tips that are important when creating your content strategy. Stay tuned for a more in-depth blog posts regarding search engine optimization.

3. DISTRIBUTION

Distributing your content is a vital component in driving people to your website or blog. There are many different ways to ensure that you are sending people to your site from various sources. Your content should be distributed through various channels including social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, Google+, etc) as well as through other not so obvious channels. Press releases, email-marketing, newsletters, and guest blogging are other valuable and necessary ways of sharing your content throughout the web universe. There are also a variety of tools to help you do this such as Hootsuite, Buffer, AddThis, Slideshare, and many more.

4. DISPLAY CONTENT USING GRAPHICS AND IMAGERY

Just as important as content itself, is the ability to display your content in a visually appealing way. If you don’t have an intriguing image(s) to accompany your content, you risk being overlooked by your average reader. Using infographics or images that are compelling and attractive will allow your audience to connect and share your information. In addition, social media networks statistically show higher engagement rates if your content includes an image that is appealing and valuable.

5. FOLLOWING UP

Just as important as creating and distributing content in a meaningful and tactical way, is making sure that you follow-up on all of your leads. Are you engaging with people who like your posts? Are you adding them to your email lists and newsletters? Ignoring those that comment, engage, or like your content is not only wasting your efforts, but will not help your ROI. Although this is important, keep in mind that not everyone that shares, comments, or downloads your content, is your ideal customer.  Knowing and determining your target audience and ideal customer up front will make the follow-up process that much more rewarding.

WHY HAVING A SOCIAL MEDIA BUDGET IS CRUCIAL

From Myspace, to Facebook, Twitter and sites that are still up-and-coming, social media marketing has evolved into something that is more than a place for the posting of funny cat videos and sharing family vacation photos – it can be used for enhancing your own brand or business at a more personal level. With this being the age of all things digital and social, using these sites for business is a smart way to increase exposure to a larger, more personal audience. The issue with this is that some people seem to forget to consider when thinking about using social media for business is including it in their budget.

Although it may be free to start a page for your business, advertisements do cost money, and factoring this cost into your budget must be considered for effective marketing. It is also not something that should be thought of as a quick addition to any kind of marketing campaign – social media takes time and manpower to build as a helpful tool for increasing the productivity of your business or brand.

Today, nearly everyone is involved in some sort of social media. Whether it is as simple as having a Facebook for sharing pictures, to writing for a daily blog, social media is something that has become part of everyday life for a large percentage of people. These digital platforms can be more informal and come across to a larger crowd, while also appealing to a more relaxed audience all at the same time. Information is pushed across the digital realm in a quicker, more efficient way while allowing for it to be up to date and keeping up with the times. For example, if something were to happen or needed to be shared with the audience of your business the moment it happens, news could be spread in nearly real time. Obviously, this can be incredibly beneficial for a number of reasons for your business.

A website or app, such as Twitter, allows for a more personal approach to pushing out content. On Twitter, followers may favorite, retweet, quote, and respond to a tweet with ease. This creates a more personal atmosphere that may be created without having to deal with the hassle of the phone or email. It is informal, so responses can be quick and to the point, while still getting results. Many people like this for business due to the fact that it somewhat humanizes the company. For smaller companies, this creates a brand image and more social networking for future and potential customers, all while helping with website traffic and explaining what the company is capable of. This also gives larger companies a chance to put off the smaller business feel, while still allowing for the recognition of the large-name brand.

Another thing to note when considering social media is that if you are not on it, your competitor is. A huge percentage of the general public is on the Internet regularly, and with a large percentage of those people actively on social media, it gives more people a chance to learn about your business. The average person checks their various social media accounts several times a day, and with your company being on these same sites it makes for a convenient place to further promote and market. Being on these sites also boosts your brand name in search engines, which creates more results and places where potential customers can hear about you.

In conjunction with your complete marketing strategy, social media can raise the overall value of your company while keeping costs at a minimum. Joining these websites will cause not just a noticeable amount of increased website traffic, but a quantum leap. If one of your posts are shared by fan or audience member, all of their followers or friends will be able to view the post, and they may share it – this creates an exponentially growing base of people who are seeing your information and getting your business name out there. There are also sites, such as StumbleUpon, which allow customers to literally “stumble” onto your website after creating a profile which is tailored to their specific interests. This obviously creates a better chance for the people who are already interested in the genre in which your brand is located to see your website. These sites can be just as helpful as things such as Twitter and Facebook, and help to ensure that other people that share the same interests as your company see you.

This form of marketing is much more inclusive for everyone involved as well. Employees and staff can be more involved with the communication aspect of the company, while teaching the general audience about said brand or company. This allows for the building of a digital community on a grander scale. On the contrary, the consumers can tell a company directly, via Facebook wall or Twitter for example, exactly what they want and what they think. This opens the channel for a direct connection between the company and the consumer. They may tell you how much they adore a product of service, or how much they may hate it and what needs to be improved. The audience can let you know exactly what they want and why they want it – just ask a question or for opinions on a social media site, and you will get responses.

The next question normally asked when it comes to advertising on social media is if it is actually worth it to pay for advertisements on an otherwise free site. The answer is yes, you should. Leaving room in your budget for these sites allows for a whole other realm of audiences to be found. As an example in the most traditional way, a post is put on Facebook, pushed into the newsfeeds of the people who have liked the page, and only seen those same people. There is no new audience, nor is there any chance for a real increase in visits because these people have already seen your information. When someone pays the fee for a promoted post or page, this shows up in newsfeeds of people that may have not liked the page, but have similar interests of your company. With costs starting at as little as ten dollars for promoted posts on Facebook, this form of effective marketing is affordable for nearly every budget. In comparison to the cost of a traditional marketing scheme, this is a more “bang for your buck” deal, which allows the marketing of your company to be enhanced on a social platform.

Within your social media budget, search engine optimization and tools for social media must also be considered in addition to actual advertisements. SEO must be considered for your website to rank higher and receive more traffic, which promotes your business. Tools are available to make your life on these social media sites much easier as well. Sites such as Hootsuite, SocialBro, ManageFlitter, and many others offer an easier way to create, schedule, and manage content in a more streamline way. Buffer is also a good tool to consider, as it allows you to schedule and put content into queues for pushing out at a later date. Using these tools also gives you a way to look at the analytics and statistics of your visitors. These are a must for any social media marketing strategy and will help you exponentially.

Allowing for the space in your budget for social media marketing will be a strategy that will pay for itself many times over. These platforms can increase exposure and create a more human forum as a direct connection with your clientele or intended audience. If social media is something that you are already doing in your marketing strategy, considering the use of paid advertisements can greatly increase your results with minimum financial impact. To put it simply, if you aren’t advertising on social media, you are letting customers walk out the virtual door.

Power On Marketing