Home » Marketing » Page 2
Category:

Marketing

MarketingPrivate School

Private School Marketing Ideas in 2019

by LeAnn Gros
written by LeAnn Gros

Outdated marketing tactics within the private schooling sector have attributed significantly to a disappointing lack of growth in private school enrollments. Actually, enrollment percentages have not grown in nearly half a century.  For decades private schools have relied on mail campaigns, local ads, and billboards. There is little to be said about their marketing campaigns or websites in our very digitally driven world. So how can the marketing that is available in 2019 help boost enrollment for private schools across the country? Here are some ideas.

Responsive and User-Friendly Web Designs

This should be common sense, right? Unfortunately, websites are the most lacking aspect of American private schools. With the oncoming wave of millennial parents deciding where to enroll their children, it is important now more than ever to step onto a properly built, user-friendly, and creative web design to market private schooling. The first impression a parent will receive about a private school will come directly from their web presence and this is how parents will gauge a school’s vision and mission for its students.

Use Content to Drive Communication

Programs, academic achievements, sports, and news are great content initiatives for a school’s online presence. These topics can be thoroughly described and shared on websites, social platforms, and even blogs. It’s important to build an active relationship with your community, not just physically but digitally as well. Recent surveys by the Council for American Private Education have shown that the information parents are searching for when choosing the right school is:

  • Accreditation
  • Curriculum and Courses
  • College Acceptance Rates
  • Religious Instruction
  • Standardized Test Results

These topics should be the focal point of content on your web platforms. Share success stories and academic achievements that showcase the discipline as well as the successful culture of your private school. Another study found that 61% of parents were searching for more responsive teachers and administrators, a perfect way to make parents feel you’re more responsive and easier to communicate with is to get them involved in your school’s blogs, forums, or social media accounts.

Always be sure that your content is SEO optimized for local keywords and trends within private school networks so you are easily found by your community on search engines.

Set up a Pay per Click (PPC) Campaign

Pay per click ads can be set up to display to anyone who is searching online for private school education providers locally or within the guidelines you set. It is very likely PPC campaigns will lead to conversions as your market prospects are already actively seeking to make a decision when they are browsing. PPC campaigns can also drive traffic to your updated content and responsive web design which will further entice parents and students to finalize their decision.

Provide Guidance to Parents and the Community

This new and trending marketing concept entails the school to come up with some hard-hitting topics or questions that seem all too common for many parents and students. Pull together information on this topic and present it to them along with who you are in the form of a free webinar. You can also offer this web service in exchange for lead information such as email addresses and phone numbers. Providing this online service will help you develop a relationship with your prospective clients and get your foot in the door to continue marketing to them later.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
MarketingPsychology

Psychologists Counseling Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Stephanie Morrow
written by Stephanie Morrow

Marketing a psychologist’s counseling business is not what it used to be; while promoting a practice in the past was as simple as purchasing a yellow pages or newspaper ad, buying time on a billboard, or writing a radio or television advertisement, many of these traditional forms of marketing are a thing of the past.  You need to think beyond these traditional advertisements that used to flood the airwaves and focus on a strategic digital marketing plan.

There are many unique ways to market a psychologist’s counseling practice in today’s digital age. But, where does one begin? With customer reviews flooding the Internet and social media reigning supreme, psychologists need to be more creative with keeping up with their profession’s digital marketing trends.

Make Your Web Site Work for You and Your Clients

You may already have a Web site that promotes your services, but is it interactive with your clients? Jeffrey Kottler, a professor of counseling at California State University, Fullerton, stated that some of the best counselors are the ones who solicit feedback from their clients and colleagues. Why not do this through your Web page? You need to constantly be using your Web site to promote your services, publish the most recent trends in the industry, and interact with those in the community.

Your Web page should also market who you are, not just what you do. What is your professional narrative? Developing a single narrative that encompasses the professionalism of your practice can entice future clients. Psychology is about showing empathy and understanding, and those qualities should shine through your Web site.

Highlight Your Social Media Presence

Once your Web site is professional and interactive, you need to connect it to your social media presence. This includes providing links on your Web site to your practice’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, and even possibly an Instagram account. But, linking to those sites is just a first step; you need to make sure your social media presence is up-to-date, professional, and interactive.

Building a social media marketing campaign is not easy. In fact, a study showed that 47% of marketers have found it difficult to promote their services through social media. You may need to start slowly if you do not have the time to post updates yourself or the funds to hire an outside writer. But, you can start small and use your social media sites to interact with clients, answer questions, and even post the latest updates in your field. The key here is to make sure your social media pages are not stagnant. If you haven’t posted on your pages in months, potential clients will find someone else who has and inquire into their services.

Keep Up With Your Reviews

Why should you keep up with online reviews of your practice? Recent statistics show that 91% of individuals read online reviews and 84% trust them in making their overall decisions. Psychologists need to be aware of any reviews on the traditional sites like Google, Yelp, Glassdoor, and Angie’s List, as well as more specialized sites like Ratemd.com, Healthgrades.com, and Zodoc.com. If a negative review is posted about your practice, respond to the comment right away to show you care about what was said and that you appreciate the client’s criticisms.

By marketing your services and your narrative, interacting with clients and potential clients, and reacting to online reviews, you can successfully build your counseling practice’s digital presence and market your practice to new clients in the digital world.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
MarketingRetail

Retail Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Steven Finkelstein
written by Steven Finkelstein

Some people feel like retail marketing in 2019 faces an uphill battle, and there is some evidence which lends credence to that way of thinking. With each passing year, more people order from online marketplaces like Amazon, while local mom-and-pop operations find it harder to survive. However, the complete extinction of local commerce seems unlikely. There are some things that people are reluctant to order online, particularly if they need it urgently and they don’t feel like waiting for it to arrive. Let’s look at some retail marketing ideas that should allow your local business to compete with the juggernaut that is online sales.

Emphasize Your Local Connection

You should first create a website for your business that takes full advantage of local SEO and excellent graphic design to make it as inviting to your customers as possible. That’s going to be true whatever it is that you’re selling, and no matter how small your retail space is.

Once that’s taken care of, you can move on to other aspects of local retail marketing. As a small business, there is one thing that you have which the most massive and successful online retailers do not, and that’s your connection to the community.

Amazon doesn’t know very much about your small town; they see it as just another stop on their global postal route. You can compete with them by promoting and selling products that are made exclusively with local materials.

Consumers love to support the little guy. If you make handmade jewelry, be sure to mention on your website that you use only locally-sourced materials. If you make candles, stress that your workshop is right in town, and pepper your site content with keywords that highlight your connection to your city and the people who live there.

Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs are another way for you to encourage repeat business. Hand out cards that you stamp whenever someone visits your store and spends the requisite amount of money. Once they have enough stamps on the card, they get a prize or a discount.

Spread word of your loyalty program through as many different platforms as possible, including email, social media, text messaging, or even an old-fashioned sign in your storefront window.

Hold Events at Your Store

Large online conglomerates aren’t going to have local events in your area. It’s not a part of their business model, but it should be a part of yours. Mention through all of your available channels that you’re doing something like a workshop or a wine tasting. This lets people who where you are located, and it’s a great way to boost awareness of your latest merchandise that you’re trying to move.

Get Creative

You should also try to master the art of the creative window display, use markdowns on items that aren’t top sellers, and rent booths at fairs if such an event happens in your city or town during the warmer months.

Try to think of your retail marketing efforts as a full-court press. The major online marketplaces don’t need to try as hard as you do because they are already established. You must do all you can to poach as many of their customers as possible.

0 comment
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Local SEOMarketing

Local Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Steven Finkelstein
written by Steven Finkelstein

In 2019, small businesses are more reliant on creative local marketing ideas than ever. There is competition in virtually every niche, and you’ll need to go beyond the customary TV ads that were a go-to back in the 20th century. Look into SEO for your website and superior graphic design to make it as attractive as possible, then consider some of these marketing strategies that you may wish to implement.

Tell Your Unique Brand Story

As a local business, your brand is who you are. Therefore, you should consider very carefully all of the information that you want to showcase about yourself. Studies show that individuals want to become customers of brands to which they feel a personal connection. It behooves you to tell the story of your brand in a way that emphasizes your roots and lets people know that you’re just like them.

Look for consistency with your voice on social media. If you’re stylish and elegant, use language that reflects that. If you’re funny and kooky, then be consistent with those sorts of posts. You’ll know your brand is working when a customer can look at one of your social media offerings, and they’ll be able to tell that it came from you without your name even being attached to it.

Showcase Your Best Content

Long-form blogs are an excellent way for you to get a prominent search engine ranking position because Google bots love fresh content. You can’t just go posting anything that comes into your mind, though. Your posts need to be on-brand, and they should be measured, thoughtful, and contain information or opinions that people will find genuinely useful and compelling.

Your blog posts should encourage conversation because Google also likes as many organic interactions with customers as possible on your website. You shouldn’t shy away from posting about provocative topics as long as you don’t drift into any offensive areas. Don’t let your blog become stagnant. It’s one of the best places on your site to consistently feature new content.

Create Visual Content

YouTube is a fast-growing social media platform, and you should be using it to your advantage. You should also feature video content directly on your website, though.

People will expect visual content when they come to your site. Make sure that you have a skilled production team on staff, or hire a digital marketing agency to produce the videos that you want to make.

Try to come up with some humorous or unique content that you feel has a good chance of going viral. Have excellent production values and have a tie-in with every one of your videos to events or locations around town to be inclusive of the local market. Make sure to feature keywords for your geographic area in the descriptions of the videos as well for SEO purposes.

Be One of the Faces of Your Community

Become a fixture of your community by having a presence at street fairs, charity events, or any other signature happenings with which everyone in your area is familiar. The more they see you, the more they’ll come to accept your company is an integral part of the local commerce scene.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
GymMarketing

Gym Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Steven Finkelstein
written by Steven Finkelstein

Are you trying to get more people to come to your gym in 2019? The answer lies in your marketing strategy. If you own a national chain, then you’re going to have an enormous ad budget with which to work, but what if you have a smaller chain or even a single location? You’re going to need to pay attention to things like reputation management and SEO, for which you may want to hire a marketing agency. Here are some ideas for marketing to which you should pay attention, though.

Social Media and Hashtags

Every business needs to use social media in 2019, and that includes gyms and other fitness facilities. People like talking to one another on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter about their workouts and their fitness goals. Why wouldn’t you want to brag that you’ve lost five pounds or that you’re going to tackle a 5K run in your area for the first time?

Figure out which social media platforms your customers are using, and then get them talking by coming up with some hashtags. Create themed weeks or months, where you challenge people to get to the gym more often. Try to frame it as being fun and empowering. As a local gym, make sure that you also optimize your social media messages with keywords having to do with your geographic location.

Charity Competitions

Local gyms, like any other local businesses, need to become recognizable fixtures in their communities. You’ll get yourself a lot of goodwill by putting on a charity competition. The costs will be a tax write-off, and it’s a non-traditional marketing method that some gyms might overlook.

Come up with a simple online signup method that’s not confusing to people. If you make it too complicated, then someone who wants to do it may get discouraged. It might be a race, a strength test, or an obstacle course. Offer a top prize of a free membership to your gym. Even the competitors who don’t win might still sign up with you.

Partner with Other Local Businesses

There is no reason that your gym shouldn’t have a symbiotic relationship with other local businesses as long as they’re not directly in competition with you. Maybe you could partner with a local sporting goods store, offering a free exclusive tee-shirt for customers who sign up for a membership. If you’ve recently opened, establishing a connection with a local entity that is already known and trusted is a smart strategy.

Refer-a-Friend

There’s also the refer-a-friend program. It’s tried and true, low-tech but still effective. Friends who refer a new client might get a session with one of your trainers or a free fitness class of their choice. Try to incentivize current customers bringing in new clients for you and your membership numbers should grow steadily.

Become Known by Being Visible

The more you’re able to come up with ways to engage with the local community, the faster your gym will grow. Try to provide a welcoming environment that is accepting of everyone and do all you can to earn some brand recognition.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
MarketingPlumber

Plumber Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Steven Finkelstein
written by Steven Finkelstein

If you own a plumbing company in 2019, then, assuming you’re not a national chain, you’re going to have to be careful about how you spend your ad dollars. Your aim should be to try and get noticed on a local level to drum up some business, and radio spots won’t cut it anymore. The wave of the future is going to involve a fully optimized website, reputation management, and likely pay-per-click advertising as well.

SEO for Plumbers

Locally owned and operated plumbing businesses need websites that feature several keywords that have to do with the area in which you operate. For instance, if your plumbing company operates in the Austin area, you should use terminology on your website that reflects both the services you deliver and where you provide them.

It’s helpful to mention local neighborhoods, events that are coming up that should get you some attention from search engine users, and you should also know how to do the keyword research necessary to figure out what other terms should be strategically included as part of your content. If you’re not positive how to do that research, then hire an SEO company that can do it for you. The better companies will know how to use analytics reports to produce lists of keywords and long-tail keyword phrases that are going to get you the most website views.

Your strategy should be to get potential customers into your sales funnel. Once they’ve come to your website, you are one step closer to them contacting you for their plumbing needs.

Pay-per-Click Advertising: A Smart Way to Spend Your Ad Dollars

With local businesses, pay-per-click advertising is also going to be necessary for your marketing efforts, and that is undoubtedly going to be true of plumbers. First, you’ll need to select some social media platforms like Facebook and others that you know your potential customers are going to be using. Next, you’ll need to come up with some ads that will be triggered when specific words or phrases are mentioned by the social media users in your area.

If someone mentions that they need plumbing services, that they’re doing home renovations or anything along those lines, your ads can pop up. If they’re attractive enough, then some of these potential customers will click on them, which will bring them straight to your website.

This is every bit as valuable as someone coming to your site through organic search traffic. Also, keep in mind that these ads cost you nothing to post until someone clicks on them, hence the term pay-per-click. You’re not spending a penny more of your ad budget than you need to get people to come to your site.

Become a Trusted Name in Your Community

As critical as it is to know the best marketing ideas for plumbing in 2019, it’s equally vital that you provide stellar service so that you become known and trusted in your area. Positive word-of-mouth is more important for plumbers than just about anything else, so make sure that every one of your customers ends up satisfied with your services.

0 comment
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
MarketingSmall Business MarketingSMB

Small Business Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Steven Finkelstein
written by Steven Finkelstein

In 2019, when it comes to small business marketing, the first thing that you need to remember is that you’re likely going to be operating with a shoestring budget. Smaller businesses aren’t going to have the ad dollars that major conglomerates do, so you’ll need to be selective about how you choose to spend your money. You’re trying to promote your brand in the way that makes the most sense based on your business model. While no two business models are going to be precisely the same, certain ideas make sense regardless of what it is you’re selling or promoting.

Be Selective with Your Social Media

It should be a foregone conclusion at this point that you’re using social media for your promotional efforts. However, problems come when you spread yourself too thin. You’re probably going to want to use Facebook because of how many people still use it daily, but what about Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat, and the many other platforms that are out there? How can you know which of those your customer base prefers?

The best way to figure that out is to ask them. You can have a questionnaire on your website for your visitors to fill out that will reveal a lot to you about their social media habits. Make sure to incentivize it, though. Offer a prize or a discount on one of your products if they answer the questions. Otherwise, they’re not likely to actively engage with it.

Email Marketing Builds Customer Relationships

Some small businesses shy away from email marketing because they feel like if they pester their would-be customers too much, then they will sour on the brand. However, according to the Email Addiction Report, 83% of customers prefer that you keep in touch with them that way. If you’re a trusted brand, then you can send word of promotions and new products as they come out.

The trick is knowing how often you should be sending out those emails. More than twice a week is probably going to be too much, but some people get irritated if you try to engage with them through email even that often.

Once a week seems to make the most sense for small businesses. Every week you should construct an email message that promotes the products about which you’re the most excited.

Make sure that the content of the email is as enticing as you can make it. Opt for simple, understated graphics rather than needlessly flashy ones, and pay attention to your color scheme and font. They should always be on-brand so that the customer begins to recognize the brand identity that you are trying to establish.

If you feel like you’re not able to set up a questionnaire on your website or set up an email marketing campaign that’s going to be the best use of your time and money, hire an SEO company to do it. It’s better to spend a part of your ad budget knowing that a professional job is being done rather than taking the chance that your efforts in these areas are sub-par.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
AccountantMarketing

Accountant Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Brandon Lee
written by Brandon Lee

Accountants face a unique challenge when it comes to marketing their firm. Many consumers nowadays often don’t realize that they need an accountant or that they have significant financial issues that need to be professionally rectified.

As a result, accounting firms have to try harder than other businesses to successfully promote their services. If you find your firm facing this dilemma, it’s time to employ a modern marketing strategy in order to increase your conversions. Start using these accountant marketing ideas to grow your firm’s revenue through your online presence.

1.) Start Using YouTube

Video marketing is increasingly becoming a popular content marketing strategy for modern businesses, and your accounting firm can certainly benefit from it. People regularly consult YouTube videos to learn how to do something or perform specific tasks. By creating informative videos based on popular financial topics, you can not only enhance your expertise but receive meaningful traffic back to your website.

To achieve the highest return from your video marketing investment, try these following tips.

  • Interact with potential prospects by posting comments on other videos relating to finance and accounting.
  • Explore the hashtags of your competitors to highjack their traffic.
  • Keep your videos short and concise. Eight minutes is an optimal recording time for videos focused on a question.

2.) Host a Community Event

Again, most people and businesses don’t realize when they have a financial issue that could explode into a crisis over time. If you are truly committed to helping your clients with their accounting issues, then you should host a community event sharing your expertise to prospective clients.

For example, you could host an after-hours seminar where you can educate your audience about any accounting topics you believe will help them. Leveraging community events is a great way to boost public awareness and your lead optimization rate.

3.) Set Up an Online Learning Platform

If your accounting firm specializes in a complicated line of work such as taxes, then you’ll have to go above and beyond to properly educate your prospects. One way you can do this is by setting up an online learning platform on your website. If you have an established email list, you can promote an online learning platform based on a significant pain point your clients have.

Learning courses, especially when they’re free, is one of the most effective methods of attracting potential customers and converting them into devoted clients just by using your expertise and basic marketing skills.

4.) Segment Your Leads According to Specific Demographics

Every lead is different and you should always strive to reach out to them on a personal level, not through a universal message. This is why it’s important to analyze and target each lead down to their specific demographics and market to them.

For example, if you perform a granular targeting approach, you may find out that one of your leads is married and will require particular accounting advice. Conversely, another lead could run a small business as a side hustle and will need professional direction in doing their taxes. Ultimately, you’ll never know any of this unless you are precise with how you segment your leads.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
DentalMarketing

Dental Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Brandon Lee
written by Brandon Lee

Do you need more clients for your dental practice? If so, you’re not alone. Dentists are almost ubiquitous everywhere, and it takes precise marketing techniques to stand out from other competitors. In 2019, this challenge has become more apparent with the rise of search engines and social media as primary marketing tools.

If you aren’t aware of how to promote your dental practice using today’s effective marketing strategies, then you could already be missing out on wide-open sales opportunities and revenue. Use these dental marketing ideas to start receiving more patients today.

1.) Track All Calls to Your Office

It’s the nature of a consumer to call a business and follow back up with them whenever they want. However, call-tracking technology makes it possible to track down hot leads before they cool off. Whether a potential patient reaches out to receive information on your business hours or if they want to schedule an appointment, tracking the call of each individual lead will optimize your conversion rates and navigate leads down your sales funnel.

2.) Target Local Customers via Google Adwords

If you use Google Adwords, you can increase your conversions using this simple but effective tactic. Using Google Adwords, geotarget a small radius (under 5 miles) around your office. Next, create specific ads based on “near me” queries. Finally, only run your ads during business hours when you’re certain someone from your team will answer the phone?

Are you ready to figure out why?

The reason why this strategy will work is that if you focus on leads in close proximity to your office, you will receive visits from people in serious need of a dentist. Calls typically convert more than form submissions, so scheduling your ads to be visible during business hours will help you take advantage of people who don’t want to wait to talk to a dentist.

3.) Develop an App for Your Practice

Nowadays, businesses are beginning to employ the use of smartphone apps to make their services more accessible and convenient for their customers. Rightfully so, developing an app for your practice could do the same, giving you the opportunity to appear more professional in the eyes of your patients. Your dental app can make it easier for your patients to book an appointment.

In addition, your app can also remind your patients when their appointment is coming up, saving you the headache of having missed checkups.

4.) Automate Your Email Marketing

Email marketing, when it’s done correctly, can nurture leads through infancy until their ready to finally schedule an appointment with you. Unfortunately, all of your subscribers have unique needs, so sending corporate and boring emails to them can turn them off and make them unsubscribe from your email list.

To avoid this, try using email automation software. This type of software helps you send personalized emails to each individual lead based on their specific needs. The more personalized and relevant your emails are, the better. By automating your email marketing tasks, you can receive more conversions from an engaged subscriber list who will be more interested in what you have to say.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
MarketingNursing Home

Nursing Home Marketing Ideas in 2019

by Brandon Lee
written by Brandon Lee

Every year, millions of Americans use long-term care facilities like nursing homes, and with an aging population, this demand will continue to grow. Like other medical facilities, nursing homes face unique marketing obstacles. It’s not enough to establish an online presence, build a website, or even engage in social media marketing anymore.

Nursing homes, focused on success, must employ detailed and strategic marketing initiatives in order to stay relevant in today’s growing demand for care facilities.  To help, here are a few nursing home marketing ideas that you can try to efficiently convert leads and increase revenue.

1.) Track Phone Calls to Better Nurture Leads

Because senior care is a very sensitive and personal topic, inquiries are often made via an inbound phone call. You have to realize that consumers will rarely make a decision to choose your services on the first call. During their journey to find the right service for them, they may procrastinate, lose focus on what they’re doing, look for more information, or even become disinterested.

Therefore, it’s your job to follow up with phone call leads to optimize your conversion rate. There are several call tracking tools you can use to track leads and nurture them into devoted clients.

2.) Ask for Online Reviews

Do you want to know what’s worse than a negative review? The answer is no review at all. Families naturally want to trust the nursing home they’ll place their loved one in. If you don’t have any online reviews for them to look at, it’ll drastically decrease your chances of securing a conversion.

If you have any satisfied clients, ask them to write an online review for you. Remember – the more genuine and heartfelt their review is, the more likely you’ll be able to convince a lead to follow through with your facility.

3.) Be Active on Facebook

Facebook is without a doubt the most powerful advertising tool available to small and large businesses. With the level of targeting based on lifestyle, gender, age, geography, etc, advertisers can drive meaningful website traffic, leads, and conversions by sending the right message at the right time to the right audience. Do not forget to set up a Facebook Pixel on your website to target any leads through your sales funnel.

4.) Begin an AdWords Call-Only Campaign

Nursing homes are typically a “needs based” search, so special marketing tactics are required to get the most from your marketing spend. To better optimize your investment, begin an Adwords call-only campaign. These campaigns are only available via mobile devices, giving you the ability to schedule your ads for a specific duration and location radius to receive the best results.

A call is worth much more than a click. Thus, set up a campaign for direct keywords like “nursing care” or “nursing home”.

5.) Develop Compelling and Personal Content

Often times, family members conduct a search to find a nursing home where their loved one can live. Above all else, they want to know their parents will be cared for properly. Avoid writing corporate content that uses buzzwords and unknown industry terms. Instead, keep your copy personal and compelling, while addressing all of their pain-points to increase your likelihood of gaining a conversion.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Call Now Button