5 Tips for a Successful Landing Page

by Jack Smith | Feb 6, 2023 | Digital Marketing, Digital Publishing, Marketing, Marketing Strategy

Creating landing pages is easy. Getting them right, though? That takes a bit more work.

A great landing page can make all the difference in the effectiveness of your marketing campaign. It’s also essential for making a good impression and following through on the promises you made in your ad or social media post.

Here are five smart and savvy landing page tips so you can be sure yours, well, lands:

1. Include a clear connection to your ad.

Whatever got someone to your landing page is what’s going to hold their interest once they get there. Stay focused and concise, and ensure your content gives a direct callback to its associated ad.

2. Place your call to action at the top.

Assume visitors have a short attention span and provide them with need-to-know info upfront. For performance purposes, this should include the action that you want them to take, which should be clear, obvious, and above the fold.

3. Create simple forms.

The simpler your forms, the more likely it is people will actually fill them out. You’ll have plenty of time to get more info after you’ve got a new lead, so aim for the basics now and fill in any blanks later.

4. Make it responsive.

Landing pages need to be optimized for both desktop and mobile. Make sure your page looks great on both types of devices and that your CTA stands out just as much on a small screen as it does on a big one.

5. Remove competing links.

A landing page has one goal — everything else is just superfluous. Remove any competing links (including unrelated internal links) and keep the entire page focused on achieving the action associated with your campaign.

For more marketing best practices, get in touch, and let’s chat.

Make the Most of Your Downtime

by Jack Smith | Jan 16, 2023 | Digital Marketing, Market Research, Marketing, Marketing Awareness

January and February might seem slow compared to the nonstop frenzy of the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean you should curtail your marketing efforts.

Instead, it’s the perfect time to set new goals, take stock of what’s been working, and indulge in a little more creativity.

Here are four tips for post-holiday marketing strategies and ideas:

1. Think Ahead

Whether you already have a marketing plan for the new year or you’re just getting started, now is a great time to consider your long-term objectives for 2023. Keep in mind things you’d like to do differently (and the same) as last year, then let those be your guide as you come up with strategies and ideas for the months ahead.

2. Pick Out Past Winners

If you’re stuck on what to do, some old favorites could lead the way. Dive into your data to see what’s been working with your audience, then use the same format with a timely topic. For example, if you had a ton of success with user-generated content during the holidays, keep it going with a new theme. This could be a great time to exercise a little more creativity, too.

3. Give Your SEO Some TLC

SEO often falls by the wayside during the holidays in favor of promotions and social media engagement. You can ramp it back up in the new year — put some effort into getting new content out there and update any old content that isn’t performing as well as you’d like it to.

4. Remarket and Retarget

Holiday marketing usually leads to a lot of interest in a company’s products or services, but it doesn’t all turn into sales. Now that things have calmed down, look into remarketing and retargeting to the customers that didn’t pull the trigger and see if you can keep the relationship going.

Need more guidance? Get in touch.

The Benefits of Commerce Content

by Jack Smith | Nov 22, 2022 | Commerce

We’ve seen a huge push in demand for well-written commerce content, especially as people continue to shop online instead of in-store. And if you’re representing a brand with goods to sell, it might be a smart move to start writing some of your own.

Here’s what to know about commerce content, including why it’s good business for brands.

What Is Commerce Content?

Publishers have been sharing product recommendations for decades with their readers, but they haven’t always gotten a direct benefit from doing so. Enter commerce content, which allows brands and publishers to partner up and mutually benefit from sharing authentic recommendations with interested audiences.

This type of content works because it features products in a way that’s a lot more personable than your typical advertisement. And because publishers get a portion of the revenue for each sale made from the content, it’s a win-win for everyone.

How Commerce Content Benefits Brands

Getting more eyes on products is always a good thing. But commerce content takes it a step further by directly appealing to people who are already searching for what brands are selling.

It’s a great way to increase reach and brand awareness, with brands benefiting directly from partnerships with reputable publishers without the high cost of traditional ads.

Start Writing Successful Commerce Content

Commerce content isn’t the same as sponsored posts. Instead, it’s overtly product-based and specifically geared toward directing readers toward a purchase.

Most agencies are simply in charge of brokering brand/publisher partnerships for this type of content. However, if you’re tasked with writing the content too, make sure it has an editorial spin by focusing on the problem-solving features of the product instead of just the product in general. And don’t forget the call-to-action, which is crucial for getting those high-value clicks.

Want to know more? Let’s chat.

5 Last-Minute Holiday Marketing Ideas

by Jack Smith | Nov 8, 2022 | Marketing, Marketing Awareness, Marketing Campaigns, Marketing Strategy

The holidays have a way of creeping up on us but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to catch up. We’re sharing five of our favorite last-minute holiday marketing tips, all tied up in a pretty bow and ready to help boost your seasonal sales.

Ready to start? Check out these simple, seasonal marketing ideas that you can add to your calendar right now.

#1: Create a Festive Gift Guide
Showcase your most present-worthy products in a gift guide. Share it via email and on your site, as well as on social media — it’s sure to give your customers some inspiration for their shopping list.

#2: Offer Free Shipping
With so much spending around the holidays, shoppers are looking to save money wherever possible. Offer and promote free shipping on your products to sweeten the deal and incentivize more purchases.

#3: Hold a Giveaway
Speaking of free stuff, the holidays are as good of an excuse as any to host a giveaway. Make it on theme, and use it as an opportunity to grow your email list while also garnering interest in your brand.

#4: Partner With an Influencer
Influencer marketing is a great way to make a big impact in a short time. Partner with an influencer who aligns with your brand and help them put together a holiday campaign featuring your product or service.

#5: Tack on a Free Gift With a Purchase
Since people are shopping anyway, why not give a little gift of your own by adding a free gift or sample(s) to their purchase? It’s a nice gesture, and it also helps with customer retention and loyalty.

The holidays will be here before you know it. For additional support with seasonal marketing, branding, and web development or SEO get in touch, and we can help.

How to Brand Stock Photos

by Jack Smith | Oct 17, 2022 | Brand Stock Photos, Brand Story

Are you making the most of stock photos?

Branding stock photos can up your image game and help you make stronger connections with your audience. It can also help improve your social posts and build more buzz around your brand — all of which are big wins for your digital marketing efforts.

Branding stock photos is simple. Here’s how to do it, plus four sites to get great free images.

The Basics of a Good Marketing Image

You can communicate a lot with visuals. But if you want to send the right message, you need to put care into choosing images that align with your brand identity and marketing objectives. Elements you should look for when selecting stock photos for your content include:

Quality. Images should be high-resolution, contemporary, and they should reflect the overall style of your brand.
Relevance. A well-chosen image should enhance the content it’s accompanying and relate in some way to its subject.
Branding. You’ll want to have a clear brand strategy related to image use, including rules around style, color palettes, and other notable features of your brand identity.

How to Brand Stock Photos

Branding stock photos allows you to get a custom feel to your images without custom photography. To do it well, stick with your brand colors, and consider using a filter on your stock photos to keep things cohesive.

You can also brand images with other additions, such as adding text or adding a logo. Add rules around image use to your style guide so everyone is on the same page., including guidelines around image quality, colors and content.

Where to Find Free Stock Photos

Need to keep your marketing budget in check? Consider sourcing free stock photos. Here are some good sites to check out:

Pixabay
Pexels
Canva
Unsplash

Happy photo hunting. For additional support branding your images, get in touch and let’s chat.

5 Tips for a Successful Landing Page

Make the Most of Your Downtime

The Benefits of Commerce Content

What Is Commerce Content?

How Commerce Content Benefits Brands

Start Writing Successful Commerce Content

5 Last-Minute Holiday Marketing Ideas

How to Brand Stock Photos

Are you making the most of stock photos?

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Our Services

Get in Touch

Smith Marketing, Inc.