In today’s blogpost I would like to talk about Search Engine Optimisation.
First thing first, what is a search engine?
SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” It is the process of getting traffic from the “free,” “organic,” “editorial” or “natural” search results on search engines. (Searchengineland.com)
SEOs has been a long time favourite way of marketing by firms. Why? Due to the results of course. As the name suggests, it means finding ways to appear onto Google’s search results to gain top spot on suggested site for users.
Just bringing google in to show how many searches they get per year.
So many 0s! Must be a mistake! Uh I KID YOU NOT. Google processes roughly 40,000 search queries EVERY SECOND on average. Which means 3.5 searches a day and 1.2 TRILLION searches per yer world wide.
It may sound really attractive for firms because there are huge opportunities. And all these can be achieved just by optimising search engines. Best part, it doesn’t cost a thing.
Firms used to spam keywords and click on their sites to gain the “number 1 searched website”, climbing against countless of competitors to be the suggested website for that specific result. Lazy people like me, usually just click on the first link that pops out. Imagine if the world had 40 million lazy mes’ how much would that company earn?
However, with the ever evolving and change that Google makes, firms can no longer call in on “extra help” to spam on the search engine and help them rise to the top. “Black hat methods” are no longer available.
In my opinion, I don’t think it’s smart to just rely on SEOs. Firms should instead work on their content and stop wasting time and effort on such methods.
What do you think? Let me know in the comment section below!
The Internet of things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. (Wikipedia)
There are a few driving forces behind IoT and they are
The rapid fall in cost of sensors and actuators
Increased ease of connections to these sensors
Improved ability to access and analyse the data generated
Technology has come so far and it is always progressing. Come to think about it, IoT consists many sensors and actuators being connected to the internet. Each once mining and sharing data. Which makes it extremely incompatible when it comes to privacy.
On the surface, it seems the Internet of Things and the resulting data mining are utterly incompatible with privacy. (ExpressVPN)
This in my opinion will not last in the last run. Why? My answer is because people are getting more and more educated about their rights and they value privacy, people will find ways to work around it to find another way that does not invade their privacy. Thus making IoT invalid.
Ok so let’s leave that aside for now.
How will our marketers use IoT?
1. They will analyse consumer buying habits across all platforms. 2. They will gather previously unobtainable data about how consumers interact with their products and devices. 3. Gain deeper insights into where the customer is in the buying journey. 4. Create real time point of sale notification and targeted ads For example like you just viewed farfetch for Prada and you see the product advertising on Facebook using the farfetch website 5. Quickly resolve issues to close sales and keep customers happy.
The ultimate question will be “Will IoT benefit us?”
Of course there are pros and cons of everything. Pros are that IoT and wearable computing will grow exponentially between now and 2025. Information interfaces will also advance, like voice activated and touch commands. (E.g, Siri, Alexa) The downside would be that the realities of this data drenched world raise concerns about privacy and may impact people’s abilities to control their own lives.
Now this brings me to my next point, The Big Data.
Big data is the data that is characterised by such informational features as the log-of-events nature and statistical correctness, and that imposes such technical requirements as distributed storage, parallel data processing and easy scalability of the solution. (Scnsoft.com)
So big data and privacy should go hand in hand right?
Anything that leaves a “digital footprint” is not safe. I used to find it really convenient when my computer knows exactly what I want when I want it or what I need. Back in January when I got my iPad, all of a sudden I kept seeing iPad cases or iPad folios popping out on Facebook.
When it comes to big data, i complete support the use of it. It accelerates the time and gets actual real-time data. With so much information like floating around in this “cloud” imagine what can be done with all the useful information.
Let me know if you have any opinions! As usual, comments are always welcomed!
In advertising and marketing communication, fourth screen, or sometimes third screen, refers to a small portable video screen such as a mobile phone or portable media player. (Wikipedia)
In today’s post, I would like to address mobile marketing.
So what is mobile marketing? It is a multi-channel, digital marketing strategy aimed at reaching a target audience on their smartphones, tablets, and/or other mobile devices, via websites, email, SMS and MMS, social media, and apps. (Marketo.com)
Recently, there has been an increase in usage of mobile phones worldwide. I confess that spend a little too much time on my mobile as well with an average of 8 hours a day. (I had to check the iPhone’s screen time to be sure)
According to broadbandsearch.net, there is a significant increase from 2013 to 2019.
This also shows how much time people spend on their phone. To me, there’s no surprise in the rising rates. How often do you see students in SIM bringing their laptops? From what I see when I go to class, only 3 in 10 students bring their laptops to school. The rest either use their iPads or their phones.
Why is this a rising trend? Very simple, laptops are bulky and heavy. Imagine lugging a 2.5kg laptop to and fro school everyday. Let’s not forget the other stuff we need to bring to school. Just thinking about it gives me a shoulder ache.
Ok I digress. Now back to the topic.
Mobile marketing, why is it different? Or how is it different one might ask.
Personal Receiving ads on your phone as compared to emails seems more “special” and personalised as compared to traditional marketing.
Interactive Circles life now has this function on their app where you can participate in a poll. By participating, they give away prizes from time to time.
Time relevant You will be alerted to the current situation (that is if you turn on notifications). For example, news on the Covid-19 cases in Singapore.
Location independent It is easy to spread information as well as easier to target audiences using specific locations when needed.
Some mobile marketing tools are
Mobile Ads
Mobile coupons
Mobile Apps
Mobile websites
I would just like to share some of the successful mobile apps out there.
The first application I would like to touch on is the Starbucks mobile app. At every purchase you get to accumulate points and once you reach a certain number of points you get to exchange it for a free drink. Not only that, you do not have to bring your card out to purchase a drink at Starbucks, just open the app and scan to bar code to pay. The app also reminds you of promotions as well as provide you with a special promotion.
Another amazing app is the Expedia app.
This app is free and simple, easy to use. Everything you need in one app when it comes to travelling. From booking accommodations to transport. They even advise you on the things to do when you’re at your holiday destination.
Before I leave, I would just like to say, as an avid mobile user myself, I get a ton of information when I’m on the go as compared to sitting in front of my laptop or desktop. Mobile marketing in my opinion is extremely effective. You can enable what you want to see and what you don’t want to. In order for a company to have a successful marketing strategy, mobile marketing should definitely be part of it.
Agree? Yes? No? Let me know in the comments I would love to hear!
Today, I would like to address the matter of social media marketing that has went viral.
So how did viral marketing come about? How does it start?
Most viral issues start off with word of mouth. Word of mouth is considered content marketing and not direct marketing.
Why is word of mouth so successful? Very simple, people tend to trust the ones around them. It becomes more convincing this way. For example,
Vanish. No one actually believed this commercial until reviews started showing up online. From there, people got to hear about others trying this product and suddenly everyone was like
Looking back at what I’ve just covered, it’s pretty amazing how much marketing has transitioned over the years. We now very rarely hear those jingles that are repeated over and over again on television. I still can hear that Myojo and London choco roll jingle in my head till this very day.
With the evolution of marketing, I find it very creepy. Whenever I search for something on google like for example cheapest air tickets to Kanchanaburi, Thailand and not long after a list of hotels pop out on your page. The creepiest part is not hotels of Thailand but the hotels of Kanchanaburi.
Moving on…..
I believe that firms will be more successful connecting with their customers instead of spending money to constantly entice new ones. Loyal customers are far more valuable. They are people who will stick to your brand and chances of them changing to another is high unlikely. They are the ones that will be the first to defend the brand as well as spread great things and awareness about your brand.
So back to the issue of viral marketing.
There are 9 steps to creating the best viral marketing techniques.
Target the appropriate audience and channels.
The very first step to developing a viral marketing campaign is to know your target audience and where they reside online.
Create videos This is an alternative way. A video can make viewers engage. The best platform to post videos right now is of course, Youtube.
Offer valuable product or service for free Who doesn’t like something for free? Most viral campaigns offer valuable product or service for free to attract attention.
Wilson’s Second Law of Web Marketing is “The Law of Giving and Selling”. (WILSON, 2012)It means once you give away something, you sell something.
Create an emotional appeal Viral marketing doesn’t make much of an impact unless it has an emotional appeal. Be it negative or positive emotions.
Like this BMW advertisement.
5. Enable sharing, embedding and downloading If you want your message to spread, your content must be easy to share, also allowing people to embed it on their own sites and also allow people to download the contents.
6. Do something unpredicted The title is pretty self explanatory. People wouldn’t take much notice to it if it has been done before.
7. DO NOT focus on traditional marketing Traditional marketing is all about promoting your product/service. Instead of doing that, companies can try to give insights on how good it is and how it will benefit you if you purchase it.
8. Social outreach This means using influencers. By approaching the influencers in the relevant fields, for example, MAC cosmetics approaching Jeffree Star to do a review on their products.
9. Reinforcement One might think that the job is over once you have achieved social outreach.
WRONG
Because you already grabbed the attention of people, you now need to act. And the easiest way to do that is to give them more.
A good example will be insurance advertisements.
To recap, viral marketing techniques are always evolving as they are closely tied to trends. By implementing the viral marketing techniques stated above, you will be able to make your marketing campaign or content viral.
If you have any other ways you would like to share, please feel free to do so in the comment section below.
In this week’s post, I’d like to discuss the issues regarding the use of Social Media. I personally think that it is safe to say that social media heavily influence many different areas of the society in the current day.
Let’s rewind back to the 90s for a bit. Back when we still had dial up internet and old social media websites like Friendster, mRIC and Msn.
Oh and let’s not forget the times where your internet was not like the way it is now. That old dialled up internet that disconnects every time someone picks up the house phone.
WOW TALK ABOUT NOSTALGIA!
Let’s fast forward to the present.
I’m sure you recognise the logo above. It’s non other than Facebook aka “New Friendster”. Facebook was founded in 2004.
So what made Facebook far more superior than friendster?
In my opinion, Facebook had what friendster had but they improved on the flaws.
Today, social media is no longer just being used to connect with friends and family that has become a secondary point. Nowadays, many create accounts to follow someone or follow a page. Truth be told, my Facebook account is mainly to follow cute animal pages.
There are also 4 types of classification of SM platforms.
Social community These are channels focused on relationship building and the maintenance among people sharing common interests. For example; Facebook, LinkedIn.
Social Publishing These are channels solely used for dissemination of content. Some examples of such sites are, Blogger and Youtube.
Social commerce Refers to channels of social media focused on facilitating commercial transactions. Examples of such such sites are, Groupon, favesg and carousel.
Social entertainment This refers to channels that are focused on entertainment. 2 examples of social entertainment are Sims and Playstation.
To sum it up, companies who are using social media must always remember to choose carefully, pick the right application OR create your own and to ensure that activity aligns with your product/service.
If you have other views on this issue please comment in box below. I will be glad to check it out.
First off, when it comes to the term “Digital Marketing” it was not frequently heard off and considered to be an unknown territory to most generations. There are a lot of confusion between Digital Marketing and content marketing. Before we get to other business, let’s straighten out this confusions first.
What is content marketing?
Content marketing stimulates consumer interest in a brand. In other words it makes people aware of your brand, aka brand awareness. (Brianna, 2019)
Then what about digital marketing?
The use of information communication technologies (ICT) to understand, create, communicate and deliver value to customers and the organisation” (Wags, 2014)
So what is the main difference you might ask, very simple content marketing merely focus on engaging and building brand awareness whereas digital marketing mainly focus on sale generation.
Back in the days, the most popular way of marketing is through television, radio and print ads (Flyers, magazine ads, newspaper ads). Of course, these traditional methods have not completely ceased to exist. Such marketing platforms can also be deemed as powerful. Such platforms attack a different demographic and results of such marketing activities will have a different impact as compared to digital marketing.
Why should I choose digital marketing?
Global reach A website allows you to find new market and trade globally
Lower cost A well planned and well targeted marketing campaign can reach the right customers at a much lower cost as compared to the more traditional marketing methods.
Personalisation If your customer base is linked to your company website, whenever someone visits the site, you can then greet them with targeted offers. E.g, 10% off for first time buyer.
Connection with social media By getting involved and managing it carefully, you can build customer loyalty and create a reputation for being easy to engage with.
Digital marketing is up and rising as marketing tool due to the demands and needs of people today. Statistic show that traditional marketing efforts are no longer as successful as they used to be. The goal of digital marketing is to create value. Companies that are successful till this day are those who focus on customer oriented products and service. Ultimately, we have to learn to capitlise on technology through the internet to create the best value for our customers.
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