by BrandMinded | Jan 30, 2023 | content marketing, Content Strategy, digital marketing, digital news, News, social media marketing
Digital marketing has many layers. Combining multiple strategies can help small businesses put more muscle behind their marketing efforts — and ultimately drive revenue. A robust plan typically includes digital ads, web content, video content, social media, email and more. That’s where SEO and SEM come into play. When done right, they can help round out your overall digital marketing plan in a big way.
Search engines can be a powerful way to connect with your target demographic. You just have to know how to work with them. BrandMinded is an SEO and SEM firm Tampa can trust. We’ve been at this a long time and rely on data-driven solutions in all we do. Let’s unpack why SEO and SEM are essential to your digital marketing success.
What is SEO?
“Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the practice of improving your content and your website to boost your ranking, specifically on Google,” says Matthew Hall, Senior SEO/SEM Specialist at BrandMinded.
To get to the top of Google search results, businesses need to create content that helps searchers find what they’re looking for and have a positive search experience. This is the heart of Google’s recent helpful content update. It’s designed to prioritize people-first content — and devalue clickbait and unhelpful content.
“When we’re talking about SEO, we’re talking about making sure that the content and the website are up to par with Google standards so that it will rank higher,” says Hall. “By default, that usually helps the ranking on other platforms as well because other platforms, like Yahoo and Bing, largely model their algorithms off of the Google algorithm.”
What does SEO look like in practice? Instead of trying to manipulate your content and your Google ranking, SEO involves optimizing your website and blog posts so that they’re:
- Authentic and reflect the voice of the brand
- Original (not published elsewhere online)
- Helpful to your audience and tailored to their needs
What is SEM?
Advertising is a huge revenue source for Google. In 2021, the search giant brought in over $209 billion dollars in ad revenue. After typing in a search query, you’ve probably noticed advertised search results that pop up at the top of the results page.
“Depending on which search query you’re looking at now, someone could have the organic rank as number one, but you don’t even see them at the top of the page,” says Hall. “You actually have to scroll down to even get to them because there are ads on top of it.”
SEM, which stands for search engine marketing, leverages search result ads to your advantage. Google ads can also appear within the shopping tab, on Google Maps, or on Google search partner websites.
How SEO and SEM Work Together in Digital Marketing
While SEO is extremely important to improving your search ranking and getting organic traffic, SEM is equally valuable. The two work hand in hand. Hall says the goal is to strengthen SEO to the point where you can eventually decrease your advertising spend.
“The truth is that if anyone wants to get business immediately, they have to spend money on ads if they want any sort of rank or visibility on Google,” he says. “A lot of people want to be first organically, but that’s a lot longer of a strategy, especially to do it properly.”
The Google Ads platform can get you moving in the right direction in terms of generating leads. Consider it part of your overarching digital marketing plan. One side of the coin is growing your organic ranking — the other is SEM. With SEM, we can turn on the faucet tomorrow and get that traffic flowing while you build out your SEO strategy.
“As an agency, we have employees who are dedicated to analyzing the data we receive on a regular basis,” says Hall. “We are always checking campaigns. Without the right guidance, you could easily spend $1,000 in a day and get nothing for it if there’s even a small error in your configuration. There are lots of nuances, and BrandMinded understands them.”
Ready to take your digital marketing plan to the next level? Contact us today to get started.
by BrandMinded | Jan 26, 2023 | content marketing, Content Strategy, digital marketing, digital news, News, social media marketing
With a fresh year ahead of us, small business owners are looking for ways to elevate their marketing game. Hitting your revenue goals is all about increasing brand awareness and generating new leads — and, of course, serving your customers well. Digital marketing is a powerful way to reach both potential and existing clients, but there are many ways to go about it (some more effective than others). We’re kicking off the year by rounding up the best marketing strategies for 2023.
Video Marketing
“Video is just becoming so much more important, especially with the rising use of reels,” says Matthew Hall, Senior SEO/SEM Specialist at BrandMinded. “We’re going to be focusing on producing more video content for social media for our clients this year.”
Considering that 20% of all Instagram activity takes place on reels, it is critical to drive exposure so we can maximize our client’s reach potential. It’s no secret that short-form video is taking over social media, so in order to get in on the action we need to stay knowledgeable about the ever so changing algorithms of platforms such as Instagram.
“We’re seeing a lot of video content for sure, especially short-form video,” says Alyssa Drum, Digital Account Coordinator at BrandMinded. “With the rise of Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, a lot of platforms are trying to get in on that. We have such a small window to capture our viewers’ attention right now.”
She suggests creating two versions of a video when working on any campaign; a 15- to 45-second one for social media, and a longer version for the brand’s YouTube channel or website.
Hall adds that Hulu is another platform worth exploring. “In the past, you’d need to have a media buying agency handle that, but now Hulu has opened it up to marketing agencies like us,” he says. “That’s something we’re exploring a lot as well because we think there’s a lot of value there.”
Authenticity
Digital marketing is continuing to evolve and change. What worked a couple of years ago isn’t necessarily resonating with audiences anymore, especially on social media.
“Authenticity is big,” says Drum. “In the photos we post, people want to see things that are organic-looking and natural, as opposed to a graphic style.”
In other words, social media users will likely scroll past a generic, static image. Instead, the focus right now is on storytelling, connection, and a sense of realness. In 2023, Drum plans to leverage social media takeovers to capture user attention. This is often an employee or someone relevant to the brand “taking over” the company’s social media channels. The result is a more face-to-face feel. It’s similar to doing a “Team Tuesday” on social media. This allows users to get to know a company, which helps humanize the brand.
“We usually get more engagement with those kinds of posts,” says Drum.
Partnering with Nano-Influencers
You might think that teaming up with a big social media star would be a great marketing strategy, but it can be hard to persuade these folks to work with small businesses. Drum says there’s another approach that’s proving to be very effective.
“Nano-influencers are becoming a big thing,” she says. “We’re moving away from big, A-list celebrities partnering with brands and going more toward social media users who have only a couple thousand followers.”
These influencers still have substantial reach, and they may be more likely to believe in your brand’s values. Drum says it’s a great way to promote a genuine feel and earn the trust of social media users.
Strategic Content Marketing
Google rewards helpful content. This is content that puts people first, instead of trending keywords. Brands that are focused on gaming search engine results could be penalized by Google and actually worsen their ranking. Strong content:
- Is well written and authentic (not generic)
- Is relevant to your target demographic
- Helps web visitors get information or solve a problem
- Establishes a sense of trust with the reader
- Demonstrates your brand’s values
When it comes to the best marketing strategies for 2023, BrandMinded understands that every small business is different. The strongest approach for your brand will depend on your goals, target demographic, and brand identity. We’re here to help you figure out what it all means — and create a game plan that works for you. Contact us today to get started.
by BrandMinded | Aug 13, 2022 | digital news, social media marketing, Tampa digital agency
The BrandMinded® team is fueled by that indescribable local Tampa feel. From outdoor community spaces to the small businesses that line the streets, our community is what drives us to success in work and beyond. We owe it all to the 813 and there’s no better time to show our appreciation than #813Day! Scroll below to browse some of our BrandMinded® employees’ favorite spots around the 813!
“When the traffic is gone and the city lights up at night, Bayshore is the best place to be. A walk or jog by the water under the light of the full moon is always good for the soul.”
~Ren Scott
“Who wouldn’t love a cityscape off the water?! Downtown is my favorite spot in the 813 as it offers luxury living, diverse cuisine, is home to our beloved BOLTS, has amazing views of the Hillsborough river, and offers fun, free fitness classes such as Zumba in the Park every Tuesday evening at Curtis Hixon Park!”
~Meagan Floco
“Bern’s Park is where it’s at! It’s a quiet place to read any time of day with the perks of South Howard restaurants and Bayshore Boulevard right around the corner.”
~Seth Sullivan
“My favorite place in Tampa is Ybor City. I like walking around all the little shops, good restaurants and bars, the saturday market, and of course, seeing the chickens. Ybor is also a great place to play Ingress!”
~Matt Hall
“Walks along the riverwalk, especially during sunset, are so refreshing and nostalgic to me. Seeing the minarets of Plant Hall remind me of all the days I spent there and the happy memories I made at UT.”
~Alyssa Drum
“I love Armature Works because of the versatility of the community space. From food, to sports games, to the view of the river, to the proximity to downtown, this place has everything!”
~Igor Kurnosov
From sports, to exercise, to stunning views, the 813 is the backdrop of our lives and the BrandMinded® team is so lucky to have such a wonderful city at our fingertips.
by BrandMinded | Aug 10, 2022 | digital news, social media marketing
ForHearts Worldwide is on a mission to save lives around the world by providing implantable cardiovascular devices for people in developing countries. How do they do it? With a strong digital marketing agency on their side! BrandMinded® first began working with ForHearts Worldwide (a DBA of Heartbeat International Foundation) in 2019. ForHearts Worldwide was the charity beneficiary of Tampa’s largest electronic music celebration – the annual Sunset Music Festival at Raymond James Stadium.
As a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifesaving care to those in need, raising awareness of ForHearts’ mission is crucial to their success. So, when the time came to promote attendance at the Sunset Music Festival in support of ForHearts, the BrandMinded® team knew just what to do. One of the most successful strategies that the creative minds here at BrandMinded® came up with was to host a “Festival Ticket Giveaway,” enticing viewers to provide us with their information for a chance to attend the festival. Through a Facebook Ad Campaign, we were able to direct our target audience to a customized landing page, where we captured essential information such as name, email and phone number and in return, the participants were entered to win free tickets – a win-win for everyone.
The designated landing page we created on the ForHearts’ website was an essential step in our “Festival Ticket Giveaway” success while also helping boost our website traffic. In addition, the Facebook ads for this ticket giveaway helped our client reach a new demographic within our geographical target audience – right here in Tampa Bay, Florida. We then reached out to the participants to keep them up-to-date on all things ForHearts and help them learn more about the ForHearts mission!
by BrandMinded | Jul 25, 2022 | Branding, digital news, social media marketing
This past spring, our beloved client of 4 years, Bayshore Fit, introduced a new level of Tampa fitness by launching a brand-new facility with a better gym experience. So, when our client came to us with the request to tease and announce their big move, our social team got to work, creating organic engaging and custom content promoting their new and unique gym features.
When transitioning to a new facility it is vital to stay connected and post updates frequently to keep current members and followers engaged and excited about the new change! We teased their new state-of-the-art gym equipment and created a countdown on social media promoting their new look and feel. Looking to draw engagement from the local Tampa community, we launched a campaign inviting locals to become a Bayshore Fit Founder and #LiftLocal. 💪🏽In 5 months our team created content promoting Bayshore Fit’s new location, with an organic strategy, social listening techniques, and influencer marketing. Our content received 59,35K impressions and a total of 4,19K engagements across their social platforms, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. We were thrilled with the results and now several months into a successful and client filled new facility!
Explore everything new ➡️ BayshoreFit.com ⬅️ has to offer and stay up to date on what’s happening by following @BayshoreFitTampa on social!
by BrandMinded | Jul 18, 2022 | Branding, digital news, social media marketing
The Working Spaces brand has one mission – to create the best client experience possible. So, when our client came to BrandMinded® in search of a new way to connect with their communities across the country, we got to work. Our team crafted a tagline to grab attention while increasing brand awareness and a sense of community in their six markets by highlighting engaging stories in each city. Thus, The Hometown Experience was born.
Our team researched competitors in the area and focused on the one thing that truly set Working Spaces apart – each team member has deep ties to their community. So, in just 30 days, BrandMinded® created and published various forms of unique content, including social media posts, LinkedIn Ads and long-form blog articles highlighting local team members’ stories and memories of their city. Beginning in Nashville, Tennessee, this campaign gathered 8,976 impressions in just one week’s time. After the campaign’s successful launch in Nashville, we continued to promote one market each month, showcasing Working Spaces employees and their connection to the city and local culture.
Follow along at @WSpacesInc on Instagram and @WSpaces on Facebook to learn more about The Hometown Experience in each market throughout Nashville, Denver, St. Louis, Kansas City, Orlando and Columbia.
