Questions

  1. What are your internet marketing goals?
    My internet marketing goals are to build a large and engaged audience, and to convert that audience into paying customers. To do this, I need to create a strong online presence for my business. This means creating a website that is informative and easy to navigate, and that showcases my products and services in the best possible light. I also need to make sure that my website is optimised for search engines, so that potential customers can easily find me when they are searching for businesses like mine.
  2. Who is your target audience?
    Assuming you are asking who the target audience is for a specific product or service, the answer will vary depending on the product or service in question. However, there are some general tips that can be followed when trying to identify a target audience. One method is to consider the demographics of your current customer base and try to identify patterns. This can include factors such as age, gender, income, location, and so on.
  3. What are your unique selling points?
    There are many things that make me unique and special, but here are some of my top selling points: I am an excellent listener and communicator. I am patient and non-judgmental, and I have a knack for really understanding people and what they need. This makes me an excellent friend, counselor, and coach. I am also very intuitive and have a strong sense of intuition.
  4. What is your budget for internet marketing?
    Assuming you would like an answer for a small business: A budget for internet marketing can vary depending on the size of the business and what their goals are for internet marketing. A smaller business may have a budget of a few thousand dollars per month, while a larger business may have a budget of tens of thousands of dollars per month.
  5. What are the most effective internet marketing channels for your business?
    There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the most effective internet marketing channels for your business will vary depending on your industry, target market, and marketing goals. However, some of the most common and effective internet marketing channels include search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing.
  6. What are your thoughts on search engine optimization?
    Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. The higher the ranking, the more likely people are to find the website. There are many factors that go into ranking, including the quality of the website’s content, the number of other websites linking to it, and the use of keywords.
  7. What are your social media marketing strategies?
    The first step is to understand which social media platforms your target audience is using. Once you know which platforms to focus on, you can create content that is tailored to each individual platform. For example, if you are targeting millennials on Instagram, you would want to create content that is visually appealing and easy to consume. Once you have a good understanding of which platforms to focus on, you need to create a content calendar.
  8. What are your thoughts on content marketing?
    Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action. Content marketing’s purpose is to attract and retain customers by consistently creating and curating relevant and valuable content with the intention of changing or enhancing consumer behavior.
  9. What are your thoughts on online advertising?
    I believe that online advertising is a great way to reach out to potential customers who may be interested in what you have to offer. It allows you to target a specific audience and to track the results of your campaigns. Additionally, online advertising is often more cost-effective than traditional advertising methods.
  10. What are your thoughts on mobile marketing?
    There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to mobile marketing. For one, you need to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly. This means that it should be designed to be easy to read and navigate on a smaller screen. You also need to make sure that your email marketing campaigns are optimized for mobile devices. This means using a mobile-friendly template and making sure the links and call-to-actions are easy to tap on a smaller screen.
  1. How effective is internet marketing in Calgary?
    Internet marketing in Calgary is quite effective. The city has a population of over 1.2 million people and is the third largest city in Canada. It is also the headquarters for many large corporations, including Telus, Shaw Communications, and Enmax. This means that there is a large potential customer base for businesses that use internet marketing in Calgary. There are a number of ways to market a business online, and Calgary businesses have access to a number of different platforms and strategies.
  2. How much does it cost to implement an internet marketing campaign in Calgary?
    It really depends on the size and scope of the campaign. For a small business, a basic campaign might cost a few hundred dollars per month. For a larger business, a more comprehensive campaign might cost several thousand dollars per month. And for a truly global campaign, the sky is the limit. At the most basic level, an internet marketing campaign in Calgary will need to include a website. The website will need to be designed and built, and then hosted on a web server.
  3. How many potential customers can be reached through internet marketing in Calgary?
    The number of potential customers that can be reached through internet marketing in Calgary is virtually limitless. With a population of over 1.2 million people and a thriving economy, Calgary is a prime market for businesses looking to expand their reach through online marketing. There are a number of ways to reach potential customers through internet marketing in Calgary. One of the most effective is search engine optimization (SEO).

Why Most Marketing Agencies Are Dying or Dead

Is Your marketing Agency Failing your Business???

Kind of a big claim right? Let me provide you some understanding of what I mean. Marketing agencies’ job is to provide their customers business with exposure to gain customers, leads or business, correct? All the marketing agencies I have searched or talked to provide the typical services, Web Design, Print marketing, Video marketing, Social Media marketing, Billboards, Branding , and some offer online marketing like Calgary SEO .

SEO puts you in the right place at the right time -in Front of customers looking for your product or service”

Most do really nice jobs creating websites, building logos and creating brands, however VERY FEW know anything at all about search engine optimization.  Some claim to do digital marketing and even charge client’s huge amount of money to do it but provide very little to no results at all. Less than 10% of the ones I searched in the top 10 even list search engine optimization as something they offer as a service.  Almost none have a certified Google Adwords or Certified Google Analytics specialist on staff!

Why is this important? Well I am not going to inundate you with stats( see article here on stats) but here are some highlights:

  • Canadian Spend the most time online See the article here
  • 78 per cent of all Canadians own a Smartphone with web browsing capabilities!
  • 57% Canadians do research on a company before doing business
  • Local Searches Lead 50% Of Mobile Visitors To Visit Stores Within One Day
  • 88% Of Consumers Trust Online Reviews As Much As Personal Recommendations
  • 18% Of Local Mobile Searches Lead To A Sale Within One

So we all know a couple things mobile is super important, having a good website is important, great branding is important, and the most important piece being missed here is BEING FOUND ON GOOGLE IS PRICELESS!  Is your marketing agency getting you on the first page of Google ? Are you in the top 3 ? Are you in the Google map listings ? If you answer no to any of these i highly recommend you pick up the phone and call your Marketing Company and tell them you want to be in the top 3 for your search terms on Google , then ask what are the factors to get to that potions. If they can not answer that with confidence please call me i will willingly explain what you need to know.

Marketing firms these days are still working on the “build it they will come ” mentality and lack the skills and knowledge to get you ranked in Google to increase your business. Its time for you to re-evaluate what your marketing agency is doing for the money you spend and how your dollars can be way more effective. Want more information read some of other posts on  my blog such as Why business needs to look at their digital marketing in 2016 .

Let me provide you a new digital direction in 2020 and drive more business to you right now and into the future. Mike 403-386-7427 MRC SEO Consulting

Optimization E-commerce

E-commerce is the hub of shopping and marketing in this globalized world. When people need a certain product/service, they resort to Google. As they input their query, Google presents the best results. It helps them explore and compare the options to pick the best one, making an informed purchase.

As part of the e-commerce world, you must realize the importance of appearing on the 1st search engine result page (SERP). Just being on the web is not enough. You need to make sure that you are visible and findable. That’s where SEO for eCommerce comes in!

Here are some useful SEO tips for e-commerce stores to make you rank higher:

1.    Include the Right Keywords

Keywords are still the most important SEO element. However, using the right keywords in a balanced manner is the key. Make sure you do not stuff keywords throughout the content and make it appear unnatural. You should include primary keywords in titles, product descriptions, and headlines, whereas for the rest of the content, focus on LSI keywords.

This makes it easier for a search engine to crawl through and understand your content. Also, it keeps your content valuable and informational.

2.    Ease your Site Navigation

Internet users tend to navigate a website that has an easy and simple structure. Creating easy navigational paths and a simple site architecture makes your website navigable. It is good for customers as well as for the search engine.

When the search engine finds your website easy to navigate, your SEO ranking increases, which makes you appear in top SERPs and, thus, enhance the flow of traffic.

3.    Build a Strong Homepage

The homepage is a significant web page for e-commerce websites. It plays a great role in shaping the impression of internet users. Your homepage should provide an easy way to all your web pages, present what you have to offer and assure great customer support.

Thus, homepage content must be informational and catchy. Include significant keywords, have an SEO title tag, and write down an attractive business description. These little things help build a strong homepage.

4.    Optimize Your Products

Never fail to optimize the products you intend to sell. This is especially significant for seasonal products and newly launched products. Optimizing your products gather large traffic. Focus on the product name. Include it in the SEO title and URL.

This also helps when you get traffic from another source. Your audience is likely to click on the link that includes the product name in the title.

5.    Add Relevant Images and Videos

Images and videos are the most important elements in the digital era. Be it your product page or homepage, images, and videos grab attention. More than half of your traffic comes after images and videos. Almost 70% of people prefer watching a video rather than reading the content to gain the required information.

This way, it helps in better SEO ranking of your e-commerce store.

6.    Include FAQ Pages

FAQ pages are the backbone of e-commerce websites. To make your business value-driven, it is important to answer everything a visitor might have in mind. Include FAQs regarding product features, benefits, and website security policy, shipping, and customer support.

Adding FAQ content results in conversions on a higher rate. As you satisfy your customer and deliver his needs, it results in confident purchase leading to more sales.

Tools such as Answer the Public help you find all the commonly asked questions about a certain keyword.

7.    Get Help from Reviews and Testimonials

Reviews and testimonials are a good SEO practice, as well as add to the credibility of your e-commerce website. Testified reviews enhance customer confidence in your products and services.

Reviews also act as a marketing strategy. If you have good products, make sure you include reviews on your website. Reviews and testimonials allow customers to compare the products. So, you end up making sales one way or another.

8.    Make Your Website Responsive

Mobile friendly is sales friendly. Having a responsive website design is very important. It makes sure that your website is accessible and delivers great performance no matter which device the visitors access it from.

Not having a responsive website can make you lose a lot of traffic. Almost 60% of traffic comes from mobile devices. Today, people prefer buying on their smartphones and tablets as it is easier and faster.

With responsive web design, you are good to welcome traffic from all the kind of devices. However, make sure that your website design is equally easy to navigate on all the devices.

9.    Enhance Page Speed

Slow and steady wins the race? Unfortunately, it does not apply here—only the fastest wins in the eCommerce world. Around 95% of people click on the 1st result they see on the SERP. To make it to position 0 and featured snippet, you require not only related keywords but also faster page speed.

Suppose you appear somewhere on 1st result page, and a user clicks on your website, your website should load in less than 3 seconds. That’s what SEO requires. Nowadays, no one waits for a website to respond as there are thousands of alternatives available.

10.  Utilize Right SEO Tools

SEO tips and strategy work only when you utilize the right SEO tools. Several tools help you find keywords, improve your visibility, and allow good analytics. Some common SEO tools include UberSuggest (helps you find best keywords), Ahrefs (tracks your SEO strategy), ScreamingFrog (finds site problems such as broken links, duplicate content, and absent meta-description) and MOZ (tracks competitors’ progress).

Using these SEO tools rightly helps you adhere to e-commerce SEO requirements!

Final Thoughts

Making your e-commerce store successful is not difficult if you follow the right SEO practices. With the above tips, you are in a good position to shape a practical SEO strategy for your e-commerce website. Follow through, keep a check, and regularly analyze the results. It will make a huge difference in your sales and profits!

7 Effective Headline Writing Tips

According to a study by CopyBlogger, only 20% of people who read your headline will read the rest of the article. So, if you want your posts to perform well, an effective headline is a must.

Fortunately, using a few simple technique, you can write headlines that will generate thousands of visitors.

In this article, you’ll discover seven headline writing techniques that will boost your search traffic, rankings and social shares:

1. Begin With Numbers

Number Headline

Headline containing specific numbers and data perform far better than other types of headlines. According to one study, headlines with number generate 73% more social shares and engagement. This is because list posts are easier to read.

You can use low numbers to illustrate the conciseness of your article. Or you can use high numbers to illustrate the comprehensiveness. Just try not use too high of a number. People might think the article won’t be easy to read.

All kinds of number work well in the headline. But odd number tend to work better. They appear less conventionally packaged. The odd number 7 works best. According to one study, click-through rates increased by 20%, when a headline was tweaked to include the number 7.

When you are writing a headline, don’t type out the number. Use numerical numbers. So, instead of writing “Seven Steps To Start A Blog”, write “7 Steps To Start A Blog”.

2. Highlight Value

Highlight Value

Make the benefit of reading the article clear and direct in the headline. This is why How-to headlines always work well.

The general format is:

How to + Action (do something) + Unique benefit

“How To Fall Asleep No Matter Where You Are” is a good example. Here, “Fall Asleep” is the action. “No Matter Where You Are” is the unique benefits.

Many people don’t add the unique benefits in the headline. This makes for a boring headline. “How To Fall Asleep No Matter Where You Are” is much more interesting than just “How To Fall Asleep”.

People distrust outrageous claims. So make sure your unique benefit is believable.

3. Pique Curiosity

Headlines with question arouse curiosity. It can be effective if you can compose them the right way.

The best question the one that the reader can relate to or would like to see answered.

Ask the question directly to your reader. Don’t just ask:

What’s the best way to generate traffic?

Ask them directly:

Do you know the best way to generate traffic?

Directly asking them often make them seek an answer.

Also never answer the question in the headline. If your reader already knows the answer, they will see no reason to read the article.

4. Stay Away From Positive Superlatives

We always try to be positive in our conversation. But being positive isn’t an effective idea when it comes to headline.

A study by OutBrain found that the average click-through rate on headlines with negative superlatives ( such as “never” or “worst”) was a staggering 63% higher than that of their positive counterparts (such as “always” or “best”).

Headline with positive superlative, in fact, worked worse than headlines with no superlative. They had 29% less click-rate. One reason this happens might be the overuse of positive superlative (such as best, fastest or cheapest) in marketing. People now ignore them.

Negative superlative on the other hand are more unexpected and intriguing. People are more likely to see them as authentic and genuine.

5. Add Adjective & Unique Rationale

The adjective is the part of speech that describes or qualifies a noun or pronoun in a given sentence. Unlike positive superlatives, correctly used adjectives can create interest.

Here are 30 powerful adjectives you can incorporate in your headline:

  • Absolute
  • Advanced
  • Bold
  • Brilliant
  • Brutally Honest
  • Controversial
  • Daring
  • Dazzling
  • Delightful
  • Effortless
  • Enduring
  • Exceptional
  • Eye Opening
  • Fascinating
  • Forgotten
  • Generous
  • Humorous
  • Idiotic
  • Irresistible
  • Magical
  • Obnoxious
  • Painstaking
  • Proven
  • Provocative
  • Refreshing
  • Sensational
  • Spectacular
  • Staggering
  • Thrilling
  • Witty

These adjectives will grab your reader’s interest and intrigue them enough to read your article.

The definition of rationale is: a logical basis for a course of action. Here are some unique rationales you can use that will guarantee a boost in your click-through rate:

  • Tricks
  • Ways
  • Reasons
  • Lessons
  • Secrets
  • Strategies
  • Ideas

6. Use Punctuation

According to a study conducted by Content Marketing Institute, simply adding a hyphen or colon increases headline click-through rate by 9%.

It’s an easy technique to use. Here are some examples:

“An Editor’s Rant: 7 Questions Every Writer Should Be Asking”
“Creating a Brand Identity: 20 Questions You Must Ask Before Starting”

7. Use Proven Formula

How To headlines are used a lot. And they work well. We already mentioned one formula. Here are some other common examples:

How to [Achieve Something Specific]

How to [Achieve Something Specific] and [Do Seemingly Impossible Thing]

How to [Achieve Something Specific] without [objectionable action]

How to [Do Something] like a boss.

How [I/We/Company X] [Achieved Something Specific] in [Time Frame]

There are also some that defy classification but works well:

(The) [Famous Group/Person’s] guide to [Blank]

What [Group or Celebrity] can teach you about (Industry)

[Number] little-known factors that could affect your [Blank]

All you need to know about [Specific Topic]

The [Adjective] Guide to [Specific Topic]

Behind the Scenes of a [Profession/Hobby]

Warning: [Blank]

Why [x] trumps [y]

Conclusion

New content marketing strategies are emerging every day. So it’s very difficult to figure out what works and what doesn’t. But these advice are evergreen. They always work.

After you complete writing a post, write 10-12 headlines. This may sound a lot, but the more you write, the more options you will have to choose from. Some will be terrible. Some will be better. Go with the one that sounds best. If you can’t choose one, share them on social media. Go with the one that gets the most traction.

There are also many online tools that you can use. Inbound Now has an automatic headline idea generator. Sharethrough’s analyzer tells you how engaging your headline is. CoSchedule has a brilliant data-backed tool that will score your headline’s overall quality.

It is true that a great headline can make a difference. But writing a great headline isn’t enough. You need to give equal effort to write better content.

The Top Methods To Grow Your Business Using Facebook Ads

 

Facebook is the digital giant in the online marketing world; it is where your customers spend their time and utilized properly it can be the perfect place to invest your marketing and advertising budgets. Unfortunately, as with many things in business, it is not as simple as placing an advert on Facebook. You need a strategy to stand out from your competition and ensure you generate a satisfactory return on investment.

The good news is that here at MRC SEO Consulting,  we have developed a strategy that works consistently when it comes to Facebook advertising, and today we are going to provide you with some of our ideas and concepts. If you actively implement these methods, you should notice a significant improvement in your success rate.

 

Use The Facebook Pixel To Track All Of Your Visitors

Regardless of what anyone will tell you, there is not a marketer on the planet who gets every promotion correct, first time, every time. It is essential to track, test, and evaluate every aspect of your Facebook marketing campaign constantly, and by using the Facebook Pixel, that’s exactly what you can do. Not only will you gain a deeper understanding of your marketing efforts and the visitors to your page, but you can also use the opportunity to build an email list, of people who are interested in your niche. This enables you to send out targeted follow-ups to an ever growing list. Provided you deliver constant value this list can be nurtured into the most valuable asset of your business.

Never Underestimate The Importance Of Graphics

Regardless of the location of your advert, be it Facebook, Google or even email marketing, it is essential to grab the attention of the reader. That after all is the whole point of your advert, and the simple reality is that graphics will always perform better in this regard than text. If you are investing in ads, then do not skimp on the graphics, as research consistently shows that a great graphic will increase your click through rate. Although this report focused on email marketing, it still demonstrates the point that a good graphic increased the response by 42%. That is a hugely significant statistic and one that many marketers fail to take advantage of.

The Text Of Your Ad Needs Careful Thought

While the graphic will hopefully get the attention of the reader, it will be the text that convinces most people to pursue their interest. Many people forget that the point of an advert is to generate interest in their page, rather than be a full on sales pitch. In fact, the less your ad sounds like an ad, the more likely it is to convert. People are naturally wary of the hard sell, so it is critical that you pay close attention to the wording.

Target, Target And Then Target Some More

One of the key benefits of Facebook is the granular level to which an advertiser can go to, to target their audience. This,ofcourse, is only beneficial if you have a picture in your mind of your ideal customer. Take the time to sit down and really work out who your target market is, and then write all of your adverts with that person in mind. Imagine you are sitting in a room talking directly to that person and create your advert that way. Then, once it is written make full use of all of the Facebook features. Visit and experiment with your Ads management panel. You can target location,age, sex, language, interests even political persuasion. This might seem a long and laborious task, but that is exactly why it is worthwhile. Ninety-five percent of your competition will not bother with this, as it is simply too much hard work. That gives you a distinct advantage and will ensure you flourish at your competitor’s expense.

The Placement Of Your Adverts Should Be Dependent On Your End Goal

Many online marketers will tell you that mobile is everything and desktop is nothing in today’s marketplace, but that’s simply not true. Mobile is superb for generating likes, and for anything that is a quick and simple transaction. If you are purely trying to increase the number of likes on your page, then mobile is the far superior method. If on the other hand, you want proper customer interaction, and you are aiming for either signups to your list, or perhaps even a sale, then thedesktop is still king. Hopefully, you are beginning to understand that every little aspect of your advertising plan needs to be considered in minute detail.

Consider Hiring A Professional To Do Things Properly For You

Let’s be realistic here, the reason you are reading this article is to try and improve your online success. Perhaps you are a plumber or an electrician, would you feel confident letting someone change a fuse board having watched a couple of videos on YouTube, or read a couple of articles? Clearly postingFacebook ads doesn’t come with any physical risk, but there is a lot of skill and expertise involved in the process. There is a reason why some of the biggest brands in the world employ the services of an ad agency because the reality is that advertising is a field of expertise in it’sown right. The key to success in any business is to maximize your time performing the tasks that generate you the most income. It may be much more beneficial in the long-term to employ as anexpert to design, develop and implement your Facebook advertising strategy, while you deal with the subsequent orders. Here at MRC SEO Consulting, we implement successful Facebook advertising campaigns on a daily basis. If you do decide to leave it to the experts, then fill in the contact form, and we can get your campaign up and running quickly and efficiently. Our friendly and knowledgeable customer service team will walk you through the process, ensuring that you understand the strategy and keeping you in the loop from start to finish.

 

The Top 5 Google AdWords Alternatives

Google-Adwords-image

There are many businesses out there that swear by Google AdWords, but the reality is that there are several negative points that make it less attractive than the alternatives in some cases. Here are five options for those who are looking to try something different.

1. Facebook

This site started off as a great way for people to communicate with co-workers and classmates, but it is not one of the premier sites when it comes to ads. The fact is, using Facebook advertisements is far better than AdWords in many ways, including the fact that you are able to target your ads to a particular demographic.

True enough, AdWords offers people the opportunity to target certain ages and genders while choosing specific interest categories, but this is not as well done as it is when dealing with Facebook. The fact that more than one billion people have an account should be more than enough to convince you to give this a try.

2. Twitter

Everyone knows someone who is on Twitter, so it only makes sense that people start to use this site to their advantage. While this is a great way to connect with people all over the world by starting conversations with them, placing an ad can go so much further.

Twitter offers something called promoted tweets. This is when messages show up in the Twitter feed of people who may be interested in the products and services you are selling. These are only sent to people who they would be relevant to, so it is certainly a worthwhile investment.

3. AdRoll

The first thing that should be pointed out when discussing this option is the fact that it can be rather pricey. With that said, it is such a great asset that many people do not mind the fact that it costs more than many of the other options that are currently available. This is because they use remarketing to show your site to people who have previously visited. If you know anything about how marketing and advertising work, you know how great that is. Keep in mind that the conversion rate from this site is very high, so it is certainly worth the investment.

4. Kontextua

This is a great asset for people who are trying to target people who speak Spanish. That is the language used for the main version of the site, but bear in mind there is an English version as well. This is an in-text advertising network, so it is a bit different from many of the other options mentioned here. Even so, it can prove to be quite an asset for those who are looking for new business.

5. Yahoo! Bing Network

This is an ad network that was created by two of the biggest names on the Internet. One thing that makes this service stand out when it is compared to AdWords is the excellent customer service. Many people who use AdWords have complained about receiving canned responses when they are seeking advice. This is a real problem when you need an answer right away. While that is great, it is actually not the main reason that this is a wonderful alternative.

Those who are looking to save a bit of money will be glad to know that the Yahoo! Bing Network offers ad space that is cheaper than what AdWords offers. If you are working on a limited budget, this can certainly be a welcome gift. Keep in mind that you will have less traffic than you would with AdWords, but the quality of the traffic will be higher. That is definitely an acceptable tradeoff.

When many people are just getting started, they are told that AdWords is the best solution for their business. While this may be true for some, others would have better luck if they chose an alternative. As you were told here, there are many great options that are currently available. You should not be afraid to try a few to see how you like them. There is no good reason for you to place all of your eggs in the AdWords basket if there is a chance you could have more success utilizing something else.

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