Marketing Your Business Through Social Media

It is very important for a business to choose proper marketing strategies to invest in their company to be successful. One of the most useful and cost-effective marketing tools inside of digital marketing a small business can use to reach their target audience is through social media. What makes social media so powerful for marketing? It has been studied that over 97% of businesses are using it to reach their audiences, below are several reasons why.

Your Customers and Competition Are on Social Media

One main reason for small businesses to be utilizing social media for their marketing strategies is the fact that many of your customers are spending their time on these channels already. Studies have shown that 70% of the U.S population has at least 1 form of social media accounts created. With the great mass amount of people accessing these platforms, sometimes even multiple times each day, it creates a great opportunity for businesses that are wanting to reach online audiences.  Not only are your potential customers using social media but so are many competitors. No matter what style of industry, or who the targeted audience is, social media can impact your business marketing. To remain competitive is important to build a presence online in social media to present your brand in a unique way to show your industry expertise and knowledge.

Social Media Marketing Is Cost-Effective

Choosing to use social media for your marketing needs will help you cut costs for advertisement without sacrificing results. Social media will cost you time that you invest in creating and posting content more than the actual dollar amount associated. Even just a simple few hours a week focused on your account can see great results. If your company decides to use social media advertising as part of your marketing strategy, depending on the goals of the campaign it can still be inexpensive to run paid ads on media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Improve Search Engine Rankings

When increasing your online appearance through social media, there is a good chance you are also, in turn, improving your search engine optimization at the same time. Search engines such as Google may use social media presence as a factor in website ranking. Brands that tend to be successful have healthy interactive social media accounts that can flag their accounts as valuable and trusting. Search engines also pay attention to behavior on social media that has content with links and social signals, such as likes, and shares associated with the posts as well. Ranking factors are in a constant change but having an updated and well-maintained social media account will typically always bring positive effects.

Creative Programs and Systems is an all-inclusive tech company that specializes in Custom Development, Managed IT Services, and Digital Marketing.  All work is done in-house, we never outsource services from custom server builds and workstations, custom software programming, and phone app development, to search engine optimization and paid advertising, our professionals provide results.  For more information on CPS check out our website at https://www.cpsmi.com.

What Exactly Is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is a very broad term. In the age where computers run our entire lives, most people not working in the industry itself don’t know the full reach that digital marketing encompasses. On the outside it seems, at its most simple, to be the act of increasing more online exposure for a business or brand. That is essentially what digital marketing is, but it really is so much more than that. Let us explore some major elements of digital marketing to more properly understand the scope of it as both an industry and an idea in and of itself.

Email marketing:

                Email marketing is an extremely popular form of digital marketing that only gets stronger over time. The benefits of this method are vast but among the most important is the fact that it is in real time. When compared to print marketing such as fliers and posters, email marketing does not require outside factors like print shops to create and deliver the material. Marketing through email is a quick process that keeps you and your client more up to speed and regular, so nobody gets left behind with content and material.

Search placement:

                Search placement can also be called “search engine optimization” or “SEO”, but all mean roughly the same thing: making your company’s website more searchable on the internet. Since the act of searching for something via search engines like Google takes up the great majority of online searching activity, it’s crucial that your website shows up in results after specific keywords relevant to your business are searched. With tools such as Google Ads companies can keep track of keywords people are searching and where their own website ends up in those searches. Companies can use these metrics to shape and evolve their online presence to better place on the most popular search engines online.

Blogs:

                After your company collects and understands some great keywords that puts their site high up on Google’s search results, you can use those keywords to create a blog to further utilize those terms. When writing articles for a blog, it can benefit your website greatly when you have articles that incorporate those important keywords because doing so puts more links to your site in the search results that aren’t your specific homepage. If a potential customer is searching for a certain service you provide but doesn’t know very much about the service, it benefits both you and the customer if your site can provide a blog article directly explaining the nature of that service. Keeping up with blog posts weekly or monthly provides a database of specific topics any potential customer can find through searching for similar topics. The more blog posts you post, the better exposure the website should get in general.

Analytics:

                A program like Google Analytics can give any business owner the keys to a wealth of metrics and data that can give that owner a much better understanding of who visits the site and what their goal is to visit. If your company targets a certain demographic using analytics can make it easy to see charts and tables of data directly related to that exact audience. Analytics can also open your eyes to a possible wider spectrum of audiences you may not have expected, which you can then use to grow your business. Simple metrics like age range of the visitor or even which mobile device was used to visit can help any business alter any methods to target the audience best suited for their product.

Creative Programs and Systems is an all-inclusive tech company that specializes in Custom Development, Managed IT Services, and Digital Marketing.  All work is done in-house, we never outsource services from custom server builds and workstations, custom software programming and phone app development, to search engine optimization and paid advertising, our professionals provide results.  For more information on CPS check out our website at https://www.cpsmi.com.

Digital Marketing Trends Not to Be Ignored In 2019

Marketing trends have changed more in the last 5 years than any other prior period of time and don’t show any signs of letting up anytime soon.  No longer can marketers rely solely on a campaign of generic paid advertisement or perform basic website optimization; in 2019 the digital marketing landscape has expanded to encompass detailed SEO, Social Media Integration, Content Marketing, detailed Paid Advertising, and more.  No longer can we dismiss the reality of artificial intelligence; it is an important part of the future of advertising online.  In this installment on the future of digital marketing, we will discuss key trends you will want to implement into your strategic plans.

Search Engine Optimization A/B Split Testing

One of the most important trends you will want to implement is the use of A/B split testing.  This allows you to isolate variables that increase traffic volumes to your website in an effort to target your approach to changes in website content.  Different online tools can be utilized to point out areas of potential, examples where page impressions are high but the CTR is low, to improve in order to increase clicks and traffic.

Artificial Intelligence

It is estimated that by the year 2020, AI technology will penetrate almost every new software products and services.  AI is effective in analyzing different consumer behaviors and search patterns.  Data is pulled from various social media platforms, blog posts, and such in a manner that helps companies understand how customers are finding their products and services.

Programmatic Advertising

This type of advertising allows AI to automate the buying of ad products in order to target more specific audiences.  Real-time bidding opportunities, as with most all real-time strategies, allow more efficient, quicker use of data relating in higher conversions and lower costs to acquire them.

Chatbots

Chatbots are computer programs that are designed to simulate conversations with human users via the internet, text, or phone.  This would allow your company to be in constant contact with customers, no matter what time or day it is.  Chatbots allow for 24/7 responsiveness.

Personalization

In order to stand out above your competitors it is crucial that you personalize your marketing approach including content, emails, products, services, and more. Generic ads are annoying whereas personalized ads are appealing.  When emails are sent based on personal behaviors they are at least 3 times more effective in boosting sales than mass e-mail blasts.

Video Marketing

Another important trend to prepare for has to do with video marketing which doesn’t just involve YouTube.  It is proven that video marketing on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn causes higher engagement with a wider audience.

Influencer Marketing

Influencers are well-known celebrities from Instagram and YouTube with a large number of followers. Similar to word of mouth promotion, we are more likely to take recommendations from people we trust. Influencer marketing has been proven to be more effective than corporate advertising.

Micro-Moments

These are the times when we turn to devices like smartphones to take immediate action.  Moments where we want information right away and do not what to wait for it.  Marketers need to take advantage of the moments when people are searching for products, services, or information.
Digital marketing, just like SEO, is ever changing.  No two strategies are the same and therefor there isn’t a one size fits all approach that can be taken when providing comprehensive digital marketing strategies for clients.  It is important to keep an eye out and be observant to up and coming trends that are occurring around you.
Creative Programs and Systems is an all-inclusive tech company that specializes in Custom Development, Managed IT Services, and Digital Marketing.  All work is done in-house, we never outsource services from custom server builds and workstations, custom software programming and phone app development, to search engine optimization and paid advertising, our professionals provide results.  For more information on CPS check out our website at https://www.cpsmi.com.

Comparing Digital Marketing to Traditional Techniques

Proper search engine optimization doesn’t exist alone, it must be pursued as a bigger picture in marketing your website online.   Adequate doesn’t cut it in the competitive world of online business and therefore a comprehensive plan needs to be in place that concentrates on building your websites presence online.  This process combines several elements that come together to properly showcase your website to search engines to rank within the top ten organic search results.

Optimizing websites, otherwise known as SEO, has not been around that long.  It is interesting to note that marketing websites really didn’t become a popular idea in web exploration until around 1998.  Until then the concept of marketing evolved more from the point of view of a store front with products or services that business owners needed customers to know about.  The concept of the 4 P’s of marketing: product, price, place, and promotion were mainstream.  They concept of marketing evolved as the internet became a main stream way for business owners to conduct business.
Old school marketers, like myself, had been trained in a manner that did not involve e-commerce.  As the internet has become a more common element in day to day life the techniques that we use have also had to evolved.  Whereas a listing in the yellow pages of every county you serviced would have been a great tool to use back in the 80’s today most homes do not even have a phone book and many children under 18 have never been introduced to the yellow pages.

When it comes to knowing what a search engine is looking for in ranking your site it is impossible to come up with a solid formula to follow.  In SEO you must learn to be fluid and adjust what you are doing consistently as the times change and search engines become more aware.  For optimization to be effective you must truly be a savvy marketer that is willing to do what it takes to continually improve your website.

There truly is more involved in good SEO than driving traffic to your site. Not only does the traffic need to be able to find you but your site must offer them what they are looking for.  Your website must be engaging and offer the user something of value.  It is also crucial that the traffic that is making its way to your site is your target.  If you are selling cat food but the only people finding your site, even if they are finding it by the thousands, are people that love dogs and allergic to cats then it is ineffective.  With the competition that is found online it is imperative that the users that make it to your site are interested at that moment in what you are offering and are engaged in the information presented on your site.

The 4 p’s of marketing still exist in the digital marketing era.  Let’s examine this in a little more detail.

Product/Service

It is important that this element is defined before you are addressing your online marketing needs. Who are the customers that you are looking for; what are you offering them and how does it benefit them?  What are these consumers end goals; how does your product or service help them to obtain it.  Define the struggles that your market faces and what your product or service does to ease them.  Understanding who you are selling to and what you are selling is obviously a key element that needs to be defined before beginning any marketing campaign, especially online.

Price

A lot of research goes into determining a price point. The price that you will be able to charge is totally dependent upon the value that people perceive that they are gaining from your product or service.  All businesses are in business to make money unless of course you are non-profit.  The amount that is charge must cover costs and a profit.  The trick to this is that people must perceive your product or service to be worthy of this amount.  If people are only willing to spend $5 on your widget but it costs you $4.75 in overall expenses, it is up to you to decide if the profit of $.25 is enough in the end.  If you are selling widgets at $6 and people aren’t buying them it is obvious to see there is an issue.

Place

If you are running an online business, it is a must that the market for your product is online.  Will your consumers know to look for you online?  Does your business also service consumers at a physical location?  Does your website only offer information about your products or services or is it an e-commerce or a combination of both?  It is imperative that you define what is taking place on your site and determine if the targeted consumer is going to be able to find you where you are at.

Promotion

This is how your marketing message gets out to the public.  With traditional marketing this is done through print, radio and other types of advertising but in digital marketing it combines several avenues and making sure you reach all of them.  The internet is a combination of advertisements, paid and organic search results, information blogs, videos, and so much more.  Your job in SEO is to come up with a combination of sources to use to spread the word about your company.  If your target mainly uses videos to gain information, then only advertising on informative blogs is not going to be a solution for you as is the opposite.  You need to offer useful promotions, to users in sources that they will benefit from.

Learn more about Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, and the IT solutions they provide including IT consulting, computer consulting, network consulting, networking, server installation, IT disaster recovery, computer repair, virus removal, malware removal, computer tune ups, data backup systems, computer troubleshooting, structured cabling, low voltage wiring, website design, graphic design, logo design, website hosting, search engine placement, iphone app programming, android app programming, and custom programming at www.cpsmi.com.  To contact one of our IT experts, call 810.224.5252 today or via email at info@cpsmi.com.

Is It Time To Replace Your PC

We get asked all the time if clients should replace their personal computers or if it is worth repairing.  Many of us get used to the quirks of our own computers.  Over time we know what works and what doesn’t. We know when to wiggle the connections and when a simple reboot will reset the system.  This is one reason it is so difficult to diagnosis when it’s time for a person’s PC to be upgraded.  Below are some of the signs we look for to know it is time to transfer that data to a new computer.

One sign that it is time to upgrade your PC is when you can no longer install the latest upgrades to the computers operating system.  New versions in operating systems weren’t always a priority for users however with the latest update to Windows 10 everything has changed.  Most of us stick with operating system our computers come with when we purchase them.  We ignore upgrades and continue functioning under the status quo of the system that is familiar to us.  Computer users with Windows XP are finding that computers still using this operating system are now obsolete.

We also know it is time to upgrade when users can no longer use the computer to run the latest apps and games.  Gaming on personal computers is costly.  All PC users try to “future-proof” their computers but there will always be something to upgrade when you own a personal computer.

Another reason to replace your PC is because it has become slow.  A slow computer means something different to every user.  You will know when your PC becomes too slow for you.  Does the computer boot up only after you have brewed an entire pot of coffee?  Can you type an entire sentence before even one word appears on the computer screen?  Is the computer grinding to a complete halt when you open more than a single screen?  If things used to work faster than they do and they are no longer functioning as you know them to it is time to upgrade your PC.

If you find yourself spending more time repairing your computer than enjoying it that is a clear sign you need to upgrade.  When it becomes a nuisance to own your personal computer then it is time to buy a new one.   Your computer should not crash without an explanation, the wi-fi should stay connected, systems should not freeze these are all signs, as is the blue screen of death, that your computer should be replaced.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

The Difference Between Paid and Organic Online Marketing

Online marketing remains one of life’s little mysteries for business owners looking to expand upon their online presence.  Confusion basically stems from two general differences: paid advertising and organic search rankings.

Let’s start out by talking about paid advertising.  Paid search engine marketing refers to advertising in which a business pays for ad placement based upon a targeted search.

Google Adwords is the term most business owners are familiar with when discussing paid advertising.  However it is important to note that Google is the most widely used search engine other options are available when it comes to paid ads.  Both Bing and Yahoo offer paid ad services.  Google is the most used search engine and therefore paid ads places within the search and display networks associated with Google will cost more than those places within Yahoo or Bing.  You are paying more because more advertisers are using the service and more traffic is essentially viewing your ads.

Many companies with smaller advertising budgets choose to place their paid advertising dollars on smaller search engines such as Bing largely because the costs per person reached are much lower than with Google.  The main disadvantage is the decrease in users associated with the less known search engines.

When you company is looking into paid ads it is important to be realistic.  If your paid operating budget for a month is five hundred dollars and you are in a highly competitive market, for instance home improvement, law, pest management etc… then it may be best for you to use your paid advertising on search engines with lower ad costs such as Bing, Yahoo, Microsoft etc…  The competition will be lower, the ad costs will be less and the amount paid per click will be less expensive which goes along with the theory that fewer people are using these search engines;  less ad competition results in less expensive per click fees, while reaching targeted consumers.

If your operating budget is unlimited and you are seeking to reach the largest number of people without expense being a concern paid advertising with Google Adwords is ideal.  The number of people using Google as a search engine is higher than Yahoo, Bing, and Microsoft etc….  The competition within Google is greater because of the number of advertisers seeking to reach targeted consumers because of the popularity that Google offers as a search engine therefore the competition for higher ad space is greater leading to a more expensive per click cost.

In both scenarios companies are paying for their ad to be placed in front of potential consumers based on results from targeted search terms.  No matter what search engine is used a user searching for Pest Control will find ads at the top and down the right hand side of business that have bid on the keyword Pest Control.   Higher ad placement goes to those advertisers willing to spend more per click.  Paid advertising is a key element when looking for consumers who are actively seeking targeted business services.

Another service that is offered to clients that is crucial to online marketing success is SEO, otherwise known as search engine optimization.  SEO refers to the method in which a company reaches higher organic search rankings.  This service involves a variety of activities that work with your website to increase your site rankings on search engines when your services are being targeted through a consumers search.

The process of SEO is complicated and constantly evolving.  Search engines are constantly changing algorithms and their methods of placement to avoid companies looking for higher rankings through unsavory online activities.

A combination of methods to achieve the highest possible organic search results for clients possible without the risk of being blacklisted.  We use a combination of blog creation and management, social media integration including the creation and management of Facebook, Google Plus, Instagram, Twitter, press releases, video marketing, article marketing and more.  Most importantly we focus on the content of your website to ensure it is evolving as the company continues to.  Our web team also places a high value on the backend of your site ensuring that is search engine friendly meaning that search engines will understand exactly what it is that is being offered based on title tags, site descriptions and tags used in programming your site.

Online presence is more important now than ever before.  Out are the days of reaching for a phone book and looking up a certain key phrase in the yellow pages to find a business to meet your need. In are the days at having information at the touch of a button.  Your business must be present online to draw in and retain customers.  Consumers are looking for information on your business right then and there while they are ready to take action.  Your website, social media presence, blog updates, reviews and testimonials will all say a lot about your business.  SEO companies are here to help ensure the message they are receiving is the one that you want to be presenting.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.