Business

 Digital marketing is the process of reaching new customers online using a variety of strategies. Discover why this form of marketing is so powerful, especially for small businesses.

In the 1980’s Madonna sang about living in a “Material World,” but today we could say the same about living in a digital world. 95% of Americans own cell phones, and 77% specifically have smartphones. In addition, 77% of Americans connect to the internet every day.

This shift to digital living has caused a seismic shift in marketing as well. Digital marketing is now the powerhouse, and any business who wants to be successful today has to take advantage of it.

Still curious if digital marketing is as important as everyone claims? Here’s what you need to know about the power of this type of outreach.

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is an umbrella term that covers a wide variety of online strategies. It refers to using digital technology to reach and convert potential clients into customers. The most effective digital marketing uses technology to build relationships.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a strategy that uses online content (from a company’s website, social media, and email, for instance) to connect with possible new customers. The focus is on providing relevant and useful information so that people will understand your value.

Content marketing is an integral part of inbound marketing, where you generate interest so that people seek out your brand for information.

Outbound Marketing

On the other side of content marketing and inbound strategies are outbound marketing strategies. These include ads on Google, social media ads, and additional types of paid advertising.

While many marketers treat outbound marketing as less important than inbound, the truth is they work very well together. Outbound marketing can get you vital new customers while you wait for your inbound strategies to build up.

Be Where People Are – Online

Once upon a time, success was all about “location, location, location.” It still is today! The reason digital marketing is so important is that it meets people where they already are.

Why should your business be active on Facebook? Because 68% of American adults use it! 73% of Americans use YouTube, so if you haven’t built up your video marketing, now is the time.

Digital marketing allows you to build relationships and develop brand awareness in the digital spaces where people spend a tremendous amount of time. It’s as if we’ve created a new central square and if you want to be noticed, you have to set up shop there.

Digital Levels the Playing Field for Small Companies

If you’re tired of being pushed around by the larger businesses in your niche, you’re not alone. However, digital marketing can change everything for you. Through search engine optimization (SEO), you can hold top rankings in local terms and appear above larger competitors in search results.

When you rank more highly in search results, potential customers are more likely to click the link to your website than another link. This gets you the visitors, traffic, and buyers that you need.

If you’re a small business who would love to leverage local digital marketing to help you compete, digital marketing services by Local SEO Search may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Digital Marketing is More Personal

Traditional marketing asks you to put an ad in the newspaper or put up a billboard to draw attention to your business. But consider this: what kind of attention are you attracting? Perhaps thousands of people see your ad, but are they interested?

Digital marketing allows you to personalize and target your marketing so that you attract buyers who are looking for exactly what you offer. By using SEO to focus on specific search terms, you encounter people who are already looking for what you have.

On social media, you can cultivate an audience of people who are interested in what you have to say and the helpful information you share. This audience is far more likely to buy from you than any group of commuters on the highway.

Save Money With Effective Marketing

Perhaps most importantly, digital marketing allows you to save money. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a scattershot approach that may or may not bring in sales. Instead, you can focus your budget where it is most effective.

Every online marketing campaign is measurable, and you can take a look at the data to see if your efforts have been effective or not. That allows you to spend more money on things that work while you cut back on things that don’t.

You’ll make smarter marketing decisions and waste far less money simply because you have the data you need to evaluate your outreach efforts!

Digital Marketing Isn’t Optional

If you want to succeed in the digital era, you have to have a digital marketing strategy. Many companies are pulling money away from less-effective traditional marketing and investing it online instead.

If you want to meet people where they are and build awareness of your brand, you must be online. Fortunately, you can choose your level of investment and carefully track your results. Digital marketing is revolutionary, and you can’t afford to miss out.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Business owners sometimes have more questions than answers. Take, for instance, contemplating getting a business loan and being in debt to the bank.

To get or not to get a business loan? That is the question.

Loans might seem like evil monsters lurking in the shadows ready to pounce when you don’t know how much one costs… Except when used correctly and smartly

A loan can actually help you grow your business (so instead of a monster it’s more like a fairy godmother).

To unravel the mystery behind how much you’ll pay to get a business loan, you should use a business loan calculator. Before you ever contact a lender, this technological tool will provide you with all pertinent financial information so that you can adjust your finances and repay a loan comfortably.

The following small business owner used the tool to discover a loan was an affordable option.

Dave Needs Money and Isn’t Sure What to Do Next

Printing corrugated boxes are what Dave loves to do.

He routinely looks for ways to improve the efficiency of his production line by upgrading technology. He purchases the newest equipment, software programs, and apps to streamline his business’s production line.

Up until now, he’s dipped into his savings account for needed funds. Unfortunately, that money is nearly gone. Dave knows for his business to excel he must stay ahead of the competition.

Every month he meets with a local group of business owners to share ideas. Another entrepreneur suggests that Dave use a business loan calculator to find out how much he can comfortably afford to borrow.

His friend points out that the tool shows the total interest and fees he will pay. Then, he can compare his net profit and total return on the investment to see if borrowing is a wise decision.

Dave had no idea such a calculator existed and that it was so easy to use.

He enters a loan amount of $30,000, which he estimates will cover the cost of upgrades, installation, and training. He selects a 48-month term and 1.75% interest rate. The business loan calculator quickly provides a cost summary. For convenience, he could reset the tool to create different scenarios.

His monthly payment would be $929 along with a one-time closing fee of $2,097. The total interest amounts to $14,591.00. Dave considered two other financial requirements to determine whether or not he should get a business loan.

1. The monthly payment shouldn’t exceed 80% of the net profit.
2. The total loan cost must not exceed the expected total return after making the investment.

After crunching the numbers, the $929 payment doesn’t exceed his average monthly net profits of $1,500. Moreover, his expected return on investment exceeds the total costs of the loan that amount to $16,688.

A business loan is a smart financial move for Dave.

Dave gets the loan and meets with a production line specialist to review the facility design and layout, quality control, and other processes. After purchasing an automatic case packer, Dave increases the speed and efficiency of the line by 15%.

In hindsight, Dave realizes that a business loan calculator was the best solution to answer his questions from the beginning.

A Business Loan Calculator Makes Decisions Easier

When it’s time to expand your business, having more questions than answers is frustrating. But at least know you know how to answer the age-old question “To get or not to get a business loan?”.

In the example above, Dave used a business loan calculator and in a short time, he knew exactly what costs he’d pay. Just like Dave, you can use the handy tool to make an informed decision and move forward with your business plans.

Are you ready to let this free online tool help you make decisions about your business’s future?

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

There are thousands of blogs on the internet with the intent to monetize, but most, unfortunately, fail to do so.  After some fruitless attempts, a lot of content writers or blog owners would even give up and abandon the site altogether.

However, knowing some of the most common pitfalls of any daunting task is always helpful, and might save a lot of troubles, time, and energy. Learning from the mistakes of others takes you one step closer to success. So, if you are a blogger or would like to be one, here are some must-avoid mistakes when trying to monetize a blog:

Producing Mediocre Blog Content

In many cases, the blog’s content reflects the quality of the product or service offered (or promoted). You cannot expect your customers to buy your product or believe in your service if they read low-quality, low-value, rehashed information. Make sure your content is cutting-edge, original, informative and engaging.

Not Knowing Your Audience

Do you know what your readers are looking for? Do you know what they want? Have you done your research? If you are clueless about these things, you’ll end up posting random blog posts completely unrelated to your perceived branding, which naturally might affect the amount of traffic and conversions you’ll generate in the long-run. This will probably leave your readers confused and frustrated, and you can’t blame them if they click away from your site before they even finish reading.

Failing to Engage with Them

Being distant and disengaged is one of the most severe mistakes any salesperson can ever commit.  And it’s the same case with selling through content.

Get your reader’s attention; build your connection. Add a personal touch, give your own voice (and opinion if needed) to your content and engage your audience. Make them feel that you are right in front of them, that you know just exactly what they need, and you are the right person to provide it to them.

Not Focusing on Your Monetizing Strategy

There are multiple ways to monetize a blog.  Being familiar with them is fine and dandy, but some bloggers have this habit of doing too much trial and error, not sticking to one or very few successful strategies or vehicles, and ends up wasting a lot of valuable resources, time, and energy.

As a blog or site owners, you need to concentrate on those that work for you. For example, you can add banner advertisements of different products or services related to your blog’s niche. Keep in mind not to overdo it as you might turn-off your readers instead.

Thinking You Can Do It Alone

When it comes to growing any business, no man is an island.

After you’ve covered all your bases, grown your audience and things are starting to run more smoothly, you might want to consider getting some help. This could be in different forms:

• Getting a virtual assistant to manage your blog or content contributors to provide quality blog posts. Always keep in mind that you have to take care of your brand reputation as well.
• Finding mentors or getting professional assistance from other marketers to help you promote your site or monetize your blog. Always get reliable promotional services or sources, like the BannerBit marketplace for your banner ads, for example.

There are other common mistakes that you may come across with. But if you’ll address the concerns mentioned above, that would have solved most other hurdles. Be familiar with the different facets of these weaknesses, deal with them, and you’ll surely be on the road to success.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

 

Success in business often begins with how much and how well your consumers know your company. If a company is relatively unknown, it is hard for potential customers to trust in the products or services it offers. Customers tend to gravitate towards brands that are familiar and readily accessible to them. It is therefore essential for new companies to join trade shows and exhibits and get the attention of their target audience.

Exhibits and trade shows provide an excellent avenue to network with suppliers and attract potential customers. Many start-up companies began by exhibiting at trade shows to get the attention of influencers and media personalities. Similarly, a small business can receive useful feedback and gain exposure through online posts and updates related to the event. But to ensure that you get the most out of participating in a trade show, keep in mind the following essential marketing tips.

Attracting attention

Attendees will not visit your booth if it is empty. You need to have a variety of marketing materials such as promotional products, a display stand or several banners, as well as other tools to engage with customers. Although it is best to have a unique design to create an impact, you need to keep the concept simple and professional. By using a combination of appealing materials, eye-catching signs, and banners, you will likely increase foot traffic in your booth.

Conduct research

Although most of the time spent in planning for a trade show revolves around designing a booth, it is also crucial to begin the planning process by conducting research. The first thing that you need to consider is choosing the right trade show to participate in. Not all trade shows offer the same benefits for your business. Check the demographics of the expected attendees and determine whether it is the best event to reach a broad customer base and network with other companies.

Set goals and objectives for your business

Before the event begins, conduct a meeting with your staff to set specific and actionable goals they need to achieve during the event. These goals need to be SMART to ensure that you can effectively measure your marketing efforts.

Invest in publicity

There are many ways you can advertise that your company is participating in a trade show. One of the most efficient is through social media. If you want a more personal approach, you can send a letter to verified attendees. You can also send email announcements, blog updates, post a newsletter, and announce the event on your company website. If you are planning to host demonstrations or promotional contests, make sure to advertise this as well to attract the attention of customers.

Promotions and contests

Holding contests during a trade show is a popular method of attracting attendees to visit your booth. You can take this opportunity to ask attendees to participate in a game by filling out a survey. The contest prize needs to be relevant to the products and services your company sells such as a gift box containing samples of your best-selling products.

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A company van is part of the assets of your company and should be treated as one. But as assets tend to depreciate over time, you need to be able to maintain the condition of your van in order to preserve its value. The following smart suggestions will help you maintain the value of your company van. Should you decide to sell in the future, you will get a good deal for your vehicle.

1. Park right

Cosmetic damage can significantly reduce the value of your company van especially if untreated dents begin to rust. You don’t want to forced to spend money if you want to maintain its value. If you park your company van on the streets, careless drivers can cause scratches and dents on the bodywork. This will not help the value of your van, and will also affect the image of your business.

To avoid scratches and dents, make sure your company van is properly parked, preferably in a garage, or where it is not accessible to passing cars. Asides from helping you avoid damage, parking properly in a garage may help you secure better lease deals in the future.

1. Stick to your maintenance schedule

Regularly maintaining your vehicle is another one to preserve its value in the long term. When you fail to stick to a recommended maintenance schedule, you run the risk of damaging your van and spending huge sums of money in future repairs.

Apart from preserving the value of your van, regular maintenance will help it to run better and last longer. If you plan to sell off your company van in the future, it is a good idea to keep a record of your van’s maintenance, as a full service history will help influence a buyer’s decision.

1. Insure your company van

When you insure your company van, you are securing it against anything that can go wrong, such as vehicle theft, accidents, a roadside breakdown, and a host of other issues, but in addition to all of these, insuring your van protects your business.

Potential buyers usually consider some factors when buying used vehicles, such as your maintenance routine, vehicle mileage, driving history, and insurance. How all these factors rank up will play a huge role in how much you can sell your used company van.

1. Fix mechanical issues immediately

Whether you use your company van regularly or once in a while, you will begin to notice signs of use after a while. Engine noises, undercarriage noises, and driving problems are clear signs that your van needs expert attention, and ignoring these signs is the fastest way to damage your van permanently.

Tell the driver to pay close attention to the sounds that come from the engine, undercarriage, and even interior of your company van. This way, you can preserve the value of your van, and make it last longer for company use.

1. Hire a good driver

No matter how well you maintain your van, if you hire an inexperienced or careless driver, it may not do much for the its long-term value.

A well-trained driver knows how to maintain a vehicle properly, what common issues to look out for, and how to avoid things that can damage the van. So, before handing over your company van to a driver, be sure that the individual meets the accepted requirements for driving company vehicles.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, the five suggestions above will help you get started with preserving the value of your company van. Remember always to follow the suggestions and recommendations of your van manufacturer, as they know best how to preserve and improve the value of their product.

 

Jacques Poujade is the Managing Partner at LendPlus, one of the major alternative lenders in the mortgage industry specializing in helping customers who are looking to buy their dream homes. With three decades in finance, real estate, and marketing, Poujade uses his skills, experiences, and knowledge to craft focused and strategic financial solutions for his clients.

Poujade earned his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Concordia University before moving on to complete his Masters at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. After graduation Poujade quickly rose up the ranks in the corporate world of finance and eventually landed into the role of Managing Partner at LendPlus. When Poujade is not working, he gives back to his community through Micah’s Way charity.

Recently, he sat down and shared with us information about good and bad debts and how debts can affect your chances for favorable mortgage rates.

What is Considered Good Debt?

Good debts are usually debts from expenses that are expected to bring in income or increase your net worth. These could be anything from loans for a college education, loans to finance your own business, or loans to buy a house or any other type of real estate as an investment. Student loans are a good example because unlike other types of debts, most student loan packages come with low-interest rates. Student loans are also taken out to pay for a college education which increases your opportunities for employment and promotion later in life.

What is Considered Bad Debt?

Start the next decade on a clean slate and pay off these debts in 2019! 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ #financetips #debtfree #NewYearsResolutions https://t.co/fAvu9BfI3p pic.twitter.com/Y8UHOJS3ga

— Jacques Poujade (@PoujadeJacques) December 31, 2018

Bad debts are debts that are not expected to bring in any additional income anytime soon. These debts are often total liabilities such as spending on brand new cars, clothes, and other consumables. These items tend to depreciate quickly and often are worth lower than the borrowed amount by the time the debt is paid in full. Credit card debt is one of the worst examples of bad debts because this can come bundled with high interest rates.

Debt and Mortgage Consideration

Outstanding debts whether good or bad can affect your credit score and how high or low your mortgage rates are. This is the reason why you should be paying your debts off on time whether these are good or bad debts.

Lenders usually calculate your monthly debt to determine if you are qualified for a mortgage. This is done by reviewing your income and existing debts and comparing these to your house payments to see if you can pay on time. If you pay off your debts on a regular basis and you have a reliable, long-term regular source of income, you are more likely to have a favorable debt-to-income ratio–a figure that tells the lender how well you can manage debt and mortgage payments with the income you have.

If you can, pay off all your debts before taking on a new mortgage. Outstanding balances on your credit cards, for example, can leave you saddled with high interest rates that will get harder and harder to pay off once you take on a new mortgage. If not, make sure that payments are made on time. This is the only way to keep your debt payments manageable and ensure that your debt-to-income ratios are within range. These can help make you an ideal candidate for low rates when it’s time to apply for a new mortgage.

Connect with Jacques through social media at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacquesPoujade

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PoujadeJacques

Website: https://www.jacquespoujade.com