by Francois Muscat | Feb 25, 2019 | Blogging, Content Marketing
Content marketing is still a huge part of any successful digital marketing strategy. If you have started a blog, then you probably know how time-consuming (and hard!) it can be to stick to a blogging schedule. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Set short term and long term blogging goals
Don’t overextend yourself if you have just started blogging. Commit to one post every two weeks to make sure you are consistent with posts. This can be your short term goal. Your long term goal, however, should be a big picture plan. Here are a few goals to consider:
- Rank highly for your chosen keywords
- Do four guest posts that link back to your blog
- Invite four people in your industry to do a guest post on your blog
- Start a newsletter
- Increase your blog’s traffic by 40%
- Branch out to different topics
Did you start your blog to write DIY tips and now you’re not sure what to cover? Consider themes that relate to your blog’s topic. If you started out writing about DIY projects, you can also write about renovation jobs, pitfalls to avoid when completing certain projects, how to find good contractors in your area etc.
- Share a bit of personal information
Many people balk at the idea of sharing personal stories, but your followers will love it. Give them insights into your personal life, your team at work, or anything that can help you forge a stronger connection with your followers.
Need help with your content marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marelise da Silva | Feb 20, 2019 | Content Marketing
In 2017, it was estimated that the content marketing industry would be worth $400 billion by 2021. Content has never been a passing fad, but the dynamics of the sector continue to change. Here are a few trends to keep your eye on:
- Content Marketing Is Not A Side Project Anymore
In the past, many digital marketers offered content marketing services to clients as an add-on to Search Engine Optimisation, mobile marketing or web design. Content marketing plays such a huge part in any digital strategy that it has become the backbone of any marketing initiative.
- Content Should Be Used To Achieve Specific Goals
This year, strategy has become more important than ever before. Instead of blogging haphazardly, each piece of content that you create has to have a clear goal. Whether your goal is to rank in Google’s top search results or to generate a lead, this goal needs to be the centre focus of any type of content that you create.
- Encourage Customer Success
The most successful brands are using content to ensure the success of their clients. Everything from how-to guides, user experiences and customer reviews should be published so that your clients can engage with each other and benefit from everything your brand has to offer.
- Distribution Will Drive The Success Of Your Content Marketing Strategy
You can create the best content in the world, but it will be pointless if nobody sees it. Have another look at your distribution strategy, and consider approaches that you have not used before, such as influencer marketing and Instagram marketing, for example. This will help you get your content under the right readers’ eyes.
Need help with your content marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marianna Muscat | Feb 19, 2019 | Content Marketing
A content marketing strategy is great, but getting the actual writing part right is a bit of a skill. If you have already committed to blogging and posting in 2019, make sure you avoid some of the pitfalls that many writers and bloggers fall into:
Maybe the topic you are writing about is very corporate and not at all fun, funky or funny. That does not mean you have to sound like a robot. If you are not familiar with the topic and are doing research online, consider listening to a few podcasts or watching a couple of YouTube videos on the topic. The best way to write naturally is to write the way someone speaks, so hearing about a topic you are researching instead of reading corporate articles and reports can help you to sound less stiff and formal.
Nothing is as boring as reading clichés in writing. One cliché that we often read in blog posts related to digital marketing is “in this day and age”. Nobody needs to read that. Other clichés include “tantalise your taste buds” and “stuck between a rock and a hard place”. If you are on a roll with your writing, it can be tempting to use these tried and tested sayings, but rather spend a bit of extra time coming up with a new way to get your point across.
People do not want to read long bodies of text online if it is not formatted in a digestible manner. Use subheadings and bullet points to break up your text so that people can skim the content to find what they are looking for.
Need help with your content marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Francois Muscat | Feb 18, 2019 | Content Marketing
Not every business owner has a content marketer doing their blogging for them. If you and your team members are drafting your own blogs, congratulations! This type of marketing is a great way to increase conversions, boost brand awareness, and portray yourself as a thought leader in the industry. Just make sure you are not making any of these common faux pas:
- Not Doing Keyword Research
Even minimal keyword research can make a huge difference to your search engine optimization strategy. If you are not doing keyword research and sprinkling them into your content, then you could be missing out on a lot of readers.
If you have not used keyword research in the past, take stock of where your blog posts are ranking in Google before and after you include the keywords. Many times, you will notice your posts move from page three or four on Google to the first page if you have optimized the pages correctly.
For some reason, many writers struggle to come up with great, catchy headlines for their articles. It is for this reason that journalists usually do not write their own article headlines (editors and sub-editors do this).
According to best SEO practices, headlines should not be longer than 60 words. A good tip is to first write, edit and proof the article before trying to come up with a good headline. If you start with the headline first, it can tend to be bland and boring.
- Don’t Let Search Engines Auto-Generate Meta Descriptions
While the headline is the thing that will draw the clicks, do not discount the impact that a good Meta description can have. Don’t leave this area blank, because search engines will auto-generate the Meta descriptions for you. You have 160 characters at your disposal. Use this space to create an attention-grabbing description of your article that compels people to click on the link.
Need help with your content marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marianna Muscat | Jan 23, 2019 | Content Marketing
Much of today’s marketing fails because it does not reach the right customers at the right time. Contextual marketing provides an alternative to the ‘needle in a haystack’ approach of reaching audiences by offering the right content, to the right audience, at the right time. If you are not sure what it is, contextual marketing offers targeted advertising to a user based on their online identity and the content they have searched for. So, no, it is not a coincidence that you Google searched ‘what is Le Creuset’ and suddenly sidebar adverts are popping up for ceramic cookware.
If you have already incorporated contextual marketing into your digital strategy, here are a few ways to maximise your outcomes:
Personalisation is a simple way to show your target audience that you understand their needs and care about meeting them. The benefit is that if your customers feel ‘known’ they are more likely to stick around. There are many ways to make your marketing messages more personal. Here are a few common methods:
- Using people’s names in email and direct mail marketing
- Dividing email lists based on interests
- Loyalty and reward programs
- Offering customised and/or personalised product or service packages
You can take personalisation further by using data to suggest products, services, etc. that your customer may like. For example, if a customer shops online and buys a shirt from your store, based on their previous purchases and ‘cart history’ you can suggest other items of clothing that will complement their current purchase.
Focusing on mobile is almost a no-brainer, since more and more consumers are accessing the web on their mobile devices and sharing a wealth of consumer data. According to recent research by the e-tailing group (http://www.e-tailing.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MyBuys-Customer-Centric-Marketing-Ebook.pdf) more than 50% of consumers are willing to share their data to have an improved shopping experience.
- Location, Location, Location
Location is the key to mobile contextual marketing. Recent research by Pew shows that 74% of smartphone users aged 18 years and older use their phones to get directions and other location-based information. An example would be a coffee shop targeting consumers who drive by their location, or when on holiday, receiving ads for nearby restaurants and tourist attractions. The possibilities are vast.
Knowing what your consumer’s behaviour is throughout the day is the key to targeting them at the right time with the right message. Some behaviours are easier to predict, like breakfast and lunch times, so restaurants offering food specials at these times is a straightforward tactic. Other ways to leverage this strategy is keeping an eye on events. An event can be as small as a rainy day. If your shop sells umbrellas, this is the perfect opportunity to win some customers with targeted advertising.
If you’re in need of internet marketing services, don’t hesitate to contact WSI OMS today.
by Marianna Muscat | Dec 12, 2018 | Content Marketing
As 2018 inches to a close, there could not be a better time to look ahead at some of the video marketing trends that may emerge in 2019. It is projected that 90% of internet traffic in 2019 will come from video, and businesses are jumping on the bandwagon. For example, local telecommunications companies like MTN and Vodacom are encouraging the consumption of video by lowering data costs and introducing data lite platforms like MTN Shortz and Vodacom’s Video Play app. With this in mind, here are some of the trends to look out for in 2019:
Engaging with audiences in real-time is becoming increasingly popular, with the advent of live video streaming on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. Live video is not only cheaper, but it is seen as more authentic – modern audiences are hungry for authenticity from brands. Live video is also interactive; giving audiences an opportunity to engage with brands in a face-to-face format.
Most user-generated content is shot on a mobile. Brands are also exploiting the advanced video production capabilities of modern smartphones by shooting entire commercials on iPhone. What this means is that more mobile-friendly video content will be available online. The shape and size of hand-held screens mean we will see more vertical and square-shaped video formats.
Video has encouraged the growth of online learning platforms. E-learning lets students engage with course material outside of a traditional classroom setting through video tutorials and live streaming. Webinars can be seen as a form of e-learning, where companies provide a teaching platform where they share industry insights and expertise.
Video blogs are quickly overtaking traditional blogs. Vlogs are more engaging and have never been easier to make with vloggers using smartphones and free video editing software to get their content out there. For businesses, vlogs are also a great brand-building tool, by driving awareness and allowing audiences to converse with the brand.
WSI OMS offers the best in contact marketing services. If you need help with your content marketing strategy, then contact us today.
