by John Heida | Nov 28, 2022 | Social Media
Social media is the most effective tool businesses, and brands can use to reach new customers and grow their influence in today’s virtual landscape. With around 5 billion people online, there are endless opportunities to generate leads and build relationships with potential and current customers. Social media marketing can also provide valuable insights into customer behavior, help businesses communicate with customers, and much more. Here are some ways you can benefit from it:
Crisis Comms
It’s often said that “all publicity is good publicity.” But this isn’t always the case—especially for small businesses. If you’re an SME and hit with a big, bad publicity stunt, it can be a real speed bump for your company. Dealing with a crisis is always tough, but how you respond is crucial. Your response to an event can influence how your customers view you now and in the future.
Before taking any action, it is important to consider all factors and judge the best action. Social media marketing can get your message out quickly and stay connected with your customers. But before you hit send, take a moment to ensure your message is well-crafted and thought out.
Customer Assistance
People use social media to voice their complaints or concerns because it is easier and faster than being put on hold to speak to a customer service representative. As a business, you should be aware of this and be prepared to address any issues that arise on social media through these methods:
- To reach the widest audience possible, you should have a presence on multiple social media platforms. That way, no matter where your consumers are, they’ll be able to reach you.
- It’s important to respond to customer concerns quickly and efficiently to show that you care about them and take their concerns seriously.
- Check your accounts regularly, so your customers can immediately respond.
- Creating a playbook ensures that social media inquiries are handled consistently and efficiently. This plan can outline the steps to respond to common customer issues, such as refunds, product questions, or complaints. Having this plan in place can help to provide peace of mind and improve customer satisfaction.
- It is important to be consistent so that your audience knows how you will react in different situations. If you are not consistent, people may not take you seriously. Having a plan of what to do in different situations will help you to be more consistent.
Monitored Brand Image
Social media provides a window into how the public perceives your brand. You can use social media to get real-time feedback about what people think of your company. This feedback can help you make informed decisions about your brand. Positive and negative feedback can be useful, so take it all in and use it to improve your brand.
Real-World Updates on Trends
Your competitors are on social media, so you should be, too. This way, you can see what they are up to and learn from it. Also, you can stay updated on industry trends so that the information you share with your audience is always relevant.
As We Close, You Should’ve Been on Social Media Marketing Yesterday
Social media can help you connect with more people, grow your audience, and generate leads and sales. It’s free to use, so there’s no reason not to be on social media.
Market Online with Silo Hill Media Today
We provide clients with an affordable and effective social media marketing strategy that combines multiple features to improve your ROI. Schedule a call today to find out how our solutions can help your business grow!
by John Heida | Nov 21, 2022 | Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the most effective and affordable ways to reach your customers. It allows you to target a specific audience and send them personalized messages that promote your product or service.
Building customer relationships is one of the most important aspects of email marketing. You can build trust and loyalty with your customers by sending personalized messages, leading to increased brand awareness and sales.
Email marketing also improves customer retention. You can keep your customers engaged with your brand by sending regular updates and promotions. That effort could lead to long-term loyalty and repeat sales.
How to Create the Perfect Content for Your Email Marketing Campaign
Your email marketing campaign is only as good as the content you include in it. If you want to make sure your campaign is successful, you need to create the perfect content. But what does that mean?
Here are a few tips to help you create content that will make your email marketing campaign a success:
1. Keep It Short and Sweet
The average person’s attention span is only about eight seconds, so you must ensure your content is short and sweet. Get to the point quickly, and don’t include any unnecessary fluff.
2. Make It Visually Appealing
People are visual creatures, so make sure your content is easy on the eyes. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and images to break up the text and make it easy to scan.
3. Write Catchy Headlines
Your headline is the first thing people will see, so make sure it’s attention-grabbing and relevant to the rest of your content. Use strong keywords and avoid being too sales-y.
4. Use Compelling Calls to Action
Your call to action should be clear, concise, and easy to follow. It should also be relevant to the rest of your content. For example, if you’re offering a free ebook, your call to action might be, “Click here to download your free ebook.”
5. Personalize Your Content
People are more likely to engage with content that feels personal to them. Use the recipient’s name in the subject line and throughout the email to make it feel more like a one-on-one conversation.
6. Test, Test, Test
Before you send your email to your entire list, test it first. Send it to a few friends or colleagues and see if they have any feedback. That will help you ensure your email is perfect before sending it to everyone.
The Benefits of a Great Email Content
The good news is that taking the time to perfect your email content can pay off significantly. Here are just a few of the benefits of having excellent email content:
1. Increased Open Rates
If your open rates are low, it means that people aren’t engaging with your emails. But, if you have great email content, people are more likely to open your emails and actually read them.
2. Improved Click-through Rates
Once people have opened your email, you want them to take action. That could be clicking through your website, signing up for your newsletter, or making a purchase.
3. More Engaged Subscribers
The more engaged your subscribers are, the more likely they will stick around long-term.
4. More Conversions
Conversions are the ultimate goal of any email marketing campaign. After all, the whole point is to get people to take the desired action, whether signing up for your service, downloading your app, or making a purchase.
5. Better ROI
All of the benefits of excellent email content mentioned above can lead to one important thing: a better return on investment (ROI). Simply put, the better your email content is, the more likely you will see a positive investment return.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to get the most out of your business, investing in quality email marketing is a great way to do it. Email marketing can help you reach a wider audience, build customer relationships, and generate more sales. Plus, it’s a relatively affordable form of marketing, so you can get started without breaking the bank.
Silo Hill Media is dedicated to helping businesses succeed with their digital marketing goals. We create custom strategies that integrate all aspects of your marketing for maximum effectiveness. Our email marketing services in Caldwell, ID, are second to none, and we can help you get the most out of your marketing budget. Contact us today to learn more!
by John Heida | Nov 14, 2022 | Social Media, Video Marketing
In recent years, social media has truly become an increasingly popular way for people to reach and connect with each other and share information. As a result, many businesses are now using social media to promote their products and services. One of the best ways to do this is through video.
However, with so many different social media platforms available, it can be challenging to know the best length for a video. In this article, our digital marketing agency in Boise will look at the best lengths for video on each of the most popular social media platforms.
Facebook
Facebook is arguably the largest social network in the world, and it’s also a great place to share videos. Unlike YouTube, Facebook has a time limit for videos: they can be up to 60 minutes long.
That said, most Facebook videos are much shorter than that. The average Facebook video is typically around 3 minutes long. That’s because people tend to scroll through their Facebook feeds quickly and don’t have much time to watch long videos.
If you want your Facebook videos to be seen by as many people as possible, keep them under 3 minutes. You can always post longer videos on Facebook, but they may not get as much engagement as shorter ones.
Instagram
Instagram is a photo-sharing app that also allows you to share short videos. Videos on Instagram can be up to 60 seconds long.
That may not seem like a lot of time, but it’s plenty if you use Instagram for short, snackable content. The key to creating great Instagram videos is to keep them focused and to the point.
If you’re posting a video on Instagram, ensure it’s under 60 seconds and has a clear purpose. That way, you’ll be sure to capture your audience’s attention.
Twitter
Twitter is a platform that is known for its short, concise content. As a result, videos that are shorter in length are generally more effective. Twitter also prefers videos that are less than two minutes long, so it is best to keep your videos short and to the point.
YouTube
YouTube may be the largest video-sharing platform in the world, and it’s perfect for long-form content. There are no time limits on YouTube videos, so you can upload anything from just a few seconds to a few hours without any problems.
Of course, not every video needs to be an hour long. In general, shorter videos perform better on YouTube than longer ones. The sweet spot for YouTube videos is around 4 minutes. That’s long enough to cover a topic in depth without boring your viewers.
If you’re just starting out on YouTube, you may want to experiment with different video lengths to see what works best for your audience.
TikTok
On TikTok, the best length for a video is between 15 and 60 seconds. This is because TikTok is all about quick, bite-sized content that is easy to consume. The shorter your video, the more likely people will watch it all the way through.
If you have a longer video that you want to share on TikTok, you can always break it up into multiple parts and post it as a series. This way, people can watch one part at a time and won’t get overwhelmed by a longer video.
Conclusion
Each social media platform has its own ideal video length. For example, Facebook videos should be around three minutes, while Instagram videos should be under 60 seconds. This is because each platform has a different purpose and audience.
However, there are some general guidelines that can be followed when creating videos for social media. For example, videos should be engaging and visually appealing. They should also be concise and to the point.
Following these guidelines and working with a social media marketing expert will help ensure that your videos are successful on any social media platform.
Silo Hill Media is a digital marketing agency in Boise that offers social media marketing services, among others. We can help your brand thrive on various platforms using strategies that deliver results. Contact us today to know more!
by John Heida | Nov 8, 2022 | Social Media
Today, customers are more likely to trust their peers on social media than they are to trust businesses. To build and maintain a good reputation, you must have a solid social media presence.
Let’s read on to learn why eCommerce businesses should care about brand reputation management on social media:
Why Brand Reputation Truly Matters
A company’s reputation is among its most valuable assets. It’s what customers, investors, employees, and business partners think of when they hear the company’s name. A strong reputation can attract new customers and help a company retain existing ones. It can also attract top talent and help a company secure funding.
Conversely, a weak reputation can repel customers, employees, and partners. It can make it difficult to attract new talent and funding. In today’s business environment, where companies are increasingly being held accountable for their actions, it’s more important than ever to manage your company’s reputation effectively.
What’s the Connection Between Brand Perception and Social Media?
One of the things you need to keep in mind about social media is that it’s a two-way street. That means that you need to be actively engaged with your audience, listening to what they say and responding to their needs. This interaction will help to shape how people perceive your brand.
Of course, the content you share on social media will also significantly impact how people perceive your brand. Ensure you’re sharing high-quality, exciting content that will resonate with your target audience.
Overall, the connection between brand perception and social media is a strong one. If you’re not making the most of social media to connect with your audience and shape public perception of your brand, you’re missing out on a powerful marketing tool.
Tips for Brand Reputation Management on Social Media
Here are some tips for brand reputation management on social media:
Always Keep Track of What People Are Saying About Your Brand
Several tools can be used to track mentions of your brand online, including Google Alerts, Social Mention, and Hootsuite Insights. Set up alerts for your brand name, product name, and key executives so you can quickly respond to any negative feedback.
Respond to Feedback Both Positive and Negative
When someone leaves a positive review, thank them for their feedback. When someone leaves a negative review, apologize and try to resolve the issue. Ignoring negative reviews will only make the situation worse.
Be Proactive
Don’t wait for someone to leave a negative review before taking action. If you see someone unhappy with your product or service, reach out and try to resolve the issue. This shows that you care about your customers and that you will go the extra mile to keep them happy.
Encourage Customers to Leave Reviews
Make sure it’s easy for your customers to leave great reviews on your website and social media pages. Send follow-up emails after purchase and include links to review sites. Many customers are happy to leave a review if they know it only takes a few minutes.
Maintain Brand Consistency on All Social Media Platforms
Maintaining brand consistency across all social media platforms can be difficult for businesses. There are lots of factors to consider, from the tone of your posts to the visuals you use.
Also, to help you stay consistent, consider creating a content calendar. This will help you plan what you’re going to post and when you will post it.
Maintaining brand consistency on social media can be tough, but it’s important to consider if you want to create a cohesive and professional brand image.
Conclusion
ECommerce businesses should care about brand reputation on social media for several reasons. First, social media is a powerful tool for marketing and advertising. Businesses that invest in social media can reap the benefits of increased brand awareness and reach. Social media can also help businesses build trust and credibility with potential and current customers. Finally, social media can provide valuable insights into customer needs and wants.
eCommerce businesses that ignore their brand reputation on social media do so at their peril. Brand reputation management is vital for all businesses, but it is especially important for companies that rely on online sales. Social media has the power to make or break a business, and eCommerce businesses should ensure that they are doing everything they can to protect and improve their online reputation.
Silo Hill is a trusted digital marketing company offering brand reputation management, social media marketing services, and more. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
by John Heida | Nov 1, 2022 | Email Marketing
An email is a crucial tool for businesses and individuals alike, and it has two primary types – HTML code and standard text only. Each has its benefits and drawbacks. HTML emails contain HTML code, which allows for formatting, images, and hyperlinks. They can be created using any HTML editor, and many email clients can display them. Meanwhile, standard text-only emails are emails that contain only plain text with no code.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using HTML Emails vs. Standard Text-Only Emails
HTML code is the more visually appealing of the two options. Emails written in HTML can include pictures, videos, and other graphics, making them more engaging and easier to read. However, HTML emails can also be more challenging to create. They require a working knowledge of code since things can go wrong if the code is not written correctly.
Standard text-only emails are more straightforward to create. They do not require any HTML code. However, they can look dull and uninviting. They are also more likely to be caught by spam filters.
Ultimately, the decision of which type of email to use depends on the situation. A standard text email may be the better option if you are sending a formal business email. Meanwhile, an HTML email may be more appropriate if you want something more personalized.
How to Create HTML Emails That Stand Out
HTML emails are a great way to stand out in a crowded inbox. But how do you create an HTML email that will actually get noticed? Here are a few tips:
1. Use a Responsive Design
Your email should be designed to look great on any device, whether it’s a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Use a responsive email template to ensure your email displays correctly on any screen size.
2. Keep It Short and Sweet
Your readers are busy, so make sure your email is concise and to the point. Get straight to the point and avoid long blocks of text.
3. Use Images Sparingly
Images can be a great way to add visual interest to your email but use them sparingly. Too many images can make your email look cluttered and can be slow to load.
4. Use Engaging Subject Lines
Your subject line is your first chance to make a good impression, so make it count. Write something attention-grabbing and interesting to make your readers want to open your email.
5. Use Personalization
Add a personal touch to your email by addressing your readers by name. You can also use personalization to customize your email content based on your readers’ interests.
6. Make It Easy to Unsubscribe
Giving your readers the option to unsubscribe from your email list is essential. Include an unsubscribe link in every email you send, and make it easy to find.
7. Test, Test, Test
Before you send your email, test it on multiple devices and email clients to ensure it looks how you want it to. Then, send a test email to yourself to check for any typos or errors.
By following these tips, you can create an HTML email that will stand out in any inbox.
Conclusion
Overall, HTML emails have both advantages and disadvantages. Whether or not you should use them for your business depends on your needs and preferences. If you want to create more visually appealing emails that can contain more information, then HTML emails may be the right choice for you. However, if you prefer simplicity or want to ensure everyone can read your emails, you may want to stick with text-only emails.
Deciding can be tough, especially when dealing with email marketing for small businesses. Should you need help, Silo Hill Media develops an affordable and effective strategy that allows all facets of your marketing to work in a symbiotic way.
