by John Heida | Dec 28, 2021 | Website Design
Recently, you might have seen more and more “.io” websites popping up. It might look cool and trendy at first, but you might think twice about setting up such a website for your business. While you might not know it, your website’s domain can actually affect and even hurt your business. Generally, a “.com” is the go-to for any business. In fact, if you can, you should always opt for a “.com” over others. Why is this so? Well, this is the question we’ll tackle in today’s article.
Let’s talk about domains, specifically “.io,” and why you should not pick it for your business:
1. Many “.io” Websites Are Actually Scams
That’s right, the “.io” extension is actually used by those who want to scam others into buying some get-rich-quick scheme or other. This free extension is not regulated by the government and is left open to anyone who wants to use it. Because of this, many fraudsters are taking advantage of this loophole and abusing it.
If you’re running a business, you don’t want to be perceived as a scam because of your domain. This could spell the end of your business. In fact, in Devumi’s own case, it was only after we changed our domain from “.io” to “.com” that we managed to change our business’ reputation for the better.
On the other hand, “.com” domains are regulated by the government. Your “.com” domain is recognized everywhere, and it is also the most popular. This means that if you want to reach the most people with your business, it is best to have a “.com” domain, which is great for SEO. Also, if you want to build a lasting business, you want it to be recognized by everyone.
2. You Can’t Use Social Media with a “.io” Domain
This might be a deal-breaker for those who want to be active on all the major social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) because the majority of them are “.com” only. This means that to use them all, you will have to have a “.com” domain. If you don’t, your customers might think your website/business is some kind of scam because of your “.io” domain.
This is a major issue for businesses that are just getting started. Your customers will have to trust you in order to buy your products or services. If your domain is not “.com,” many of them will think you’re some kind of fraud.
3. Using a “.io” Domain Can Be Harmful to Your Business
In fact, if you are running a business of any kind, it is best to have a “.com” domain, because it has the most global appeal.
That doesn’t mean you have to have your own “.com” domain. You can use a website builder to create one for you. This way, you still get access to most of the features a regular “.com” website has, but it won’t cost you much.
Conclusion
If you’re still thinking about getting a “.io” domain and wondering if it could be a great option for your business, you should really reconsider. It is highly debatable whether you really need a “.io” domain or not. The truth is, “.io” domains are often associated with scams. This can damage your reputation and even your business. Also, if you want to be active on social media, you will still have access to most of them with a “.com” domain.
Silo Hill Media is an internet marketing service provider offering affordable and effective strategies to help businesses grow online effectively. If you are looking for a web development agency to create the perfect website for your business, work with us today!
by John Heida | Dec 21, 2021 | SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is helpful for businesses trying to grow their audience and get more conversions. Of course, marketing efforts cost money, and extensive campaigns may not always be financially feasible for small businesses.
Thankfully, there are solid SEO tactics with significant results that are not too expensive. Local SEO for small businesses can be affordable and effective, with a promising return on investment. It all comes down to the execution.
On-Page Optimization
This refers to improving how your website runs, particularly with how it creates a positive user experience and how it responds to search engine crawls.
First, in your layout, you want to make sure that it’s as minimal as possible while highlighting what you want. This avoids a messy interface that is hard to navigate for visitors. Plus, it avoids any unwanted detours for search engine bots that are trying to index your site.
You should also make sure that your website doesn’t take more than a couple of seconds to load. This ensures your bounce rate stays low and that you can rank higher on search results.
Building Links
You want to make sure your content and website become a reliable source of information and resources. You can’t just spam your website with random links for the sake of it. At the same time, you can’t make it barren and devoid of any links whatsoever.
Make sure you have solid backlinking with relevant insights that are connected to the content and services that you are providing. This ensures that the traffic you are driving is actually relevant and may lead to conversions.
SEO Analysis
In order to actually have impactful results, you need to have an in-depth analysis of your current or existing SEO standing and practices. This can help you root out what your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can employ the right tactics. By doing so, you no longer have to spend on executions that aren’t actually providing a good return on investment.
Scanning the Competitive Landscape
Your business can greatly benefit from learning from the movements of your competitors, especially those that are at the top of the game. Learning about their strategies can also guide you in narrowing down the best keywords that can highlight your services and aren’t as saturated. Despite wanting to use popular search queries, you also have to be careful about using keywords that are already overly used.
Cleaning Up Content
Make sure your content is always updated. If you have any obsolete information, old links, or dead links, your rankings will suffer. Search engine AI won’t deem your site as relevant and users will click on newer resources, especially if they’re higher up on the results page.
Conclusion
With the right tactics, you don’t need to go all out with your budget just to get decent results. Your SEO rankings can slowly but surely build up and improve your conversions. On top of that, you can also get better lead generation and get profits.
Looking for an all-around digital marketing agency in Boise? Silo Hill Media provides affordable and effective strategies to help small businesses grow. Contact us for a free quote.
by John Heida | Dec 14, 2021 | Email Marketing
It’s no secret that the holidays are a highly lucrative season for both online and offline retailers. According to the National Retail Federation, many businesses earn 20% to 30% of their annual profits during the holiday season.
Because of its high return on investment, email is a popular channel for holiday marketing initiatives. With the potential of boosting your sales amid a single shopping season, it’s more crucial than ever to plan how your holiday email marketing will stand out among the sea of advertising.
We are here to help! Here are four tactics you may use to boost the success of your Christmas email marketing campaign.
1. Know What Works for Your Target Market
Focusing on what you’ve previously done effectively is a brilliant starting point for your Christmas email marketing. If feasible, start by reviewing the prior year’s statistics, such as opens, clicks, and conversions.
Try to figure out why some emails were effective and apply the same method again. This might be due to the offer, the subject line, segmentation, or email scheduling, among other things.
Remember, it’s just as vital to figure out why anything went wrong so you can avoid it next time.
2. Create A Well-Thought-Out Christmas Email Campaign Timetable
To make the most of the holidays, start arranging your email marketing calendar early in the year and give yourself ample time to prepare all the important elements.
While some marketers have embraced the advice not to wait until the last minute to start their holiday email marketing, some have gone too far!
The practice of sending many retail emails well before the regular Christmas shopping season can lead to email fatigue—sending too early risks people outright ignoring your communications. It’s more imperative than ever to schedule emails wisely if you want to keep your subscribers engaged at the right time.
3. Use Segmentation to Personalize Holiday Email Messages
A customized and targeted Christmas email will generate far more engagement than a generic holiday email blitz. The most efficient strategy to adapt messaging to a customer’s interests and purchase patterns is to segment your contacts.
Here are some suggestions for efficient Christmas email marketing segmentation:
- Discount Aficionados: Identify clients who often (or only) use voucher codes to engage your most price-sensitive customers. Similarly, by creating this group, you’ll be able to avoid giving discounts to subscribers who are eager to buy products at full price.
- Subscriber Interests: Segment subscribers into groups based on prior purchase categories or website areas visited.
- Year-round vs. Seasonal Shoppers: Year-round and seasonal customers have distinct relationships with your business. Consider their individual requirements and motivations when planning your next follow-up campaign’s frequency, topic, and timing.
4. Use Marketing Automation to Tap into the Right Market
The best approach to enhance email open rates and engagement is to send the right message to the right people at the right time. And for Christmas email marketing services, marketing automation is your secret weapon.
To get the most out of your Christmas emails, use these automated strategies:
- Create A Seasonal Welcome Email: You’ll likely get new subscribers signing up during the holiday period. To maximize your expanding base, set up a welcome email with a particular discount or holiday theme. This will help persuade a curious shopper to make a purchase.
- Develop Abandoned Cart Automation Workflows: Cart abandonment is expected during the Christmas season; creating abandoned cart emails is even more critical for securing purchases.
- Use Lead Scoring to Target Warm Leads: Using customer interaction information and scoring contacts can help you build consumer profiles and guide segmentation. You’ll know which contacts are the most engaged, and you’ll be able to customize your holiday email content appropriately.
Conclusion
You still have time to plan and launch your Christmas email marketing campaigns. By following these guidelines, your business can take advantage of the opportunities presented by the holiday season. You can partner with a digital marketing agency in Boise to help you out.
Are you looking for an internet marketing service? Silo Hill Media is a digital marketing agency in Boise that provides affordable and effective strategies for your marketing needs. Contact us today!
by John Heida | Dec 7, 2021 | SEO
Buying online has quickly become the most popular way of purchasing products, given the convenience of browsing hundreds of stores’ catalogs from the comfort of your home. However, the major downside of online shopping is that you can’t inspect the product or service in person, which means consumers have turned to online reviews for more guidance.
Online reviews have thus become a fundamental part of a business marketing strategy. Review websites have sprung left and right to quench consumers’ thirst for more information about a business to know if it is reliable or not, helping them decide which company to engage with. For these reasons, online reviews can significantly impact your local SEO efforts, so it’s crucial to factor them into your strategy.
What is Local SEO?
Local search engine optimization is a strategy that increases your business’s visibility on local Google search engine results. This strategy works best for local businesses like restaurants, shops, or agencies catering to the local audience. Prioritizing local SEO makes it easier for your audience to find you, whether online or offline.
General SEO differs slightly from local SEO, as local SEO falls under the former. General SEO is more focused on boosting website rankings without making any local considerations, while local SEO improves your ranking for a particular area, like a city or a town. Ranking better for local Google searches means doing more than optimizing your website; you’ll have to create and fill your Google My Business account will all the relevant details.
Ways Online Reviews Impact Local SEO
Online reviews signal other customers that a particular business is worthy of their trust and hard-earned money. It shows that many consumers have tried the product and service and liked it enough to leave some feedback. For this reason, accumulating reviews on various platforms while having glowing testimonials that include keywords, products, and services is crucial to boosting your online visibility.
For instance, reviews provide search engines like Google with the information they need to recognize and crawl your website. This quality vastly increases the chances of the search engine displaying your business to online searchers. Additionally, if you have an immaculate online reputation, you’ll be earning new reviews regularly, and fresh content is the core of SEO.
Reviews are also helpful for building customer trust, as the goal of SEO is to make search engines believe you are credible. Remember that Google trusts customers more than marketers and is dedicated to providing the most relevant, helpful content to users. Having abundant online reviews tells Google that you have enough social proof to earn a top spot on the results page.
Responding to Negative Reviews
However great positive reviews are, it’s impossible not to receive any negative ones. You can’t please everyone due to factors entirely out of your control, but what you can do is take each negative review and turn it into an opportunity. Your goal is to make peace and win a customer over, so instead of ignoring a negative review—which is the worst thing you can do—reach out to the customer directly to discuss their complaint and how you can settle the issue. Be professional and calm, as lashing out and being angry will be unprofessional, making things even worse.
Customers tend to change tune once a business had demonstrated a sincere interest in turning things around for them, which means you’ll have earned another customer even when they had left a negative review. Even when other people chance upon the negative review, they’ll see that you were proactive in satisfying the customer, making them feel like they’ll be in good hands when engaging with your business.
Conclusion
Managing your reviews is a vital part of your local SEO strategy. Your online reviews can make a significant impact on your reputation and your search engine rankings, encouraging more of your target audience to visit your website and think of engaging with you. By prioritizing online reviews, you’ll get one step closer to success.
Silo Hill Media is a digital marketing agency in Boise offering local SEO services to boost your visibility. We also specialize in web development, reputation management, social media marketing, and many more. Contact us today to find out more about what we can do for you!
by John Heida | Nov 30, 2021 | Email Marketing
Ever since the first email was sent in 1971, Internet users have tried to find ways to maximize the potential of this new medium. One of which was using email to market to potential clients and boost sales.
But why use email instead of TV, print, or even online channels to promote your products and services? Here are six interesting benefits of email marketing for small businesses:
Better Subscriber Management
TV advertising has little to no hold on a brand’s customer base. Social media has a better grip on this concern but is still subject to censorship and community guidelines. If Facebook or Instagram deem your content in violation, they will shut down your page, automatically removing your entire subscriber base.
With email marketing, on the other hand, you have the most control over subscriptions since you handle this list from a service such as MailChimp, Constant Contact, or MailerLite. You can observe their activity on your newsletters and promos and carry them over should you switch email providers.
Better ROI
Think email marketing isn’t for you? Check out this research: you can get up to 122 percent ROI using this method. That’s four times higher than other digital marketing tactics!
Track your email campaign ROI with this formula:
Gross profits from email marketing – Email marketing costs / Email marketing costs
Increased Sales
Email campaigns boost sales by conveniently informing customers about new events, promos, or products directly in their inboxes. These newsletters or messages often come with direct links to the page where consumers can purchase online. And with companies and brands shifting their commerce to digital means, that means it’s easier for your audience to buy online and you to increase sales!
Personalization
Companies and brands don’t just have a target audience. They have target audiences that vary from age range. That’s why they can develop a wide variety of products and services according to their needs.
The beauty of email marketing is that you can segregate your audience by the campaigns you make. Have a promo on baby care items, adult appliances, and teen books? Don’t lump all of them together in one newsletter. Create one per section of your audience and send it to that email list. It will be easier for customers to decide since you’ve narrowed down the choices for them.
Better Customer Relations
Promos and products are not the only topics for email campaigns. You can also leverage email marketing for other messages such as a year-end report, sustainability initiatives, CSR or PR announcements, or a simple thank you to customers for their patronage and support.
Customers receiving content like these is like hearing back from a dear friend about the ups and downs of their life and showing how strong that bond is, even if electronically. Not only does this build credibility, but it also strengthens the relationship between business and customer.
Cost-Effectiveness
Perhaps the best benefit of email marketing is its relative cost-effectiveness in time and money. Providers such as MailChimp, Constant Contact, and MailerLite offer free packages up to a certain subscriber base number, meaning you can send campaigns to your customers for free each month! You don’t have to pay for a subscription, and their interfaces are easy to learn!
Want to notify customers about a limited-time promo? Create a campaign and hit “Send”! No need to boost advertising on social media to spread the word. Remember: it goes straight to their inboxes!
Last Thoughts
If you thought emails were an ineffective way to grow your business, we hope this article has made you think twice. Email marketing is a valuable tool to create meaningful relationships with your customers, leading to increased sales and ROI. Just remember these six interesting benefits, and your small business could become a successful corporation in no time!
Looking for a digital marketing agency in Boise? Get in touch with Silo Hill Media today! We develop practical and effective strategies that allow all facets of your marketing to work synergistically!
