The Secrets to Paid Digital Ads: How to Do it Right
Is paid online advertising giving you a headache? Businesses struggling with paid ads are more common than you think; we know that when we started, this was one of our biggest struggles as well, but we found a way to do it more effectively!
In this Midwest Mindset episode (or the Omaha Podcast,) AnnMarie Fereday and Matt Falcon from Refine Digital Marketing join us to discuss how to do paid advertising right without wasting your money on the process.
Paid online advertising is a marketing strategy that involves paying for ads to be displayed on various online platforms and in front of different people while they are surfing the internet, like the short video clips you see before your youtube video starts.
Paid ads allow you to reach a wider audience and engage with people who may have never heard of your product or service before.
The magic of online advertising is that you have the opportunity to showcase your offerings to users who are actively searching for something that you have to offer.
These ads can appear in search engine results, social media feeds, or on relevant websites, grabbing the attention of potential customers.
The first step to doing paid advertising right is to understand your customer’s journey. This refers to the steps a customer takes from the moment they become aware of your brand to the point of making a purchase or taking any desired action.
Imagine a customer journey where a person is searching for a new smartphone. They start by seeing an ad on social media, sparking their interest.
They then conduct online research, comparing different models and reading reviews. After narrowing down their options, they visit a retailer’s website and explore the product features in detail. Finally, they make a purchase online.
By mapping out the customer journey, you can identify the key touchpoints where you want to engage and influence your potential customers. Paid media can be vital in guiding customers through this journey and ultimately closing the sale.
Paid Online Advertising is All About Behavior
Next, you need to know your target audience’s behavior patterns. These will indicate a readiness to buy from you.
By understanding and aligning with the behavior your target audience needs, you can position your ads on the platforms where they are most likely to convert into customers.
By analyzing data and insights, you can identify your target audience’s preferences, interests, and online behaviors. Let’s say you want to promote your new sports water bottle.
After analyzing customer behavior data, you discover that your audience tends to search for workout accessories in the early morning; with this information, you can now strategically place paid ads on social media platforms and search engines during these peak times.
Different platforms offer different opportunities to connect with your target audience. For example, if your audience is more likely to buy or become leads through Facebook or Instagram, it makes sense to focus your paid advertising efforts on these platforms.
Be Consistent to Reach Best Paid Online Advertising Results
Consistency is key when it comes to paid advertising. Instead of relying on just one ad, re-target your audience with consistent content across multiple platforms.
By keeping your brand in front of your target audience consistently, you increase brand recognition and engagement.
Utilize various channels such as social media, email marketing, and personalized connections to ensure that your message resonates with your audience and reinforces the value you offer.
This way, when they are ready to purchase, you will be at the front and center of their minds and their computers.
Hire a Paid Online Advertising Expert
Nebraska can be a competitive place to grow your business; believe us, we have been there. So, to navigate the complexities of paid advertising, consider hiring a professional in your area.
With their expertise, they can help you define and reach your specific target audience, optimizing your campaigns for better results.
Defining an audience and doing paid ads can take a lot of time that most of us don’t have, so a professional can also help with that.
Remember: there are a lot of companies that will try to just get money out of you. Look for a transparent company that can demonstrate a clear return on investment and provide analytics-backed results.
A reliable professional will not only be able to explain the outcomes but also have a well-thought-out strategy to guide your advertising efforts.
How much should you spend on paid ads?
When starting out, it’s wise, to begin with a smaller budget, such as $50 to $100, to test and evaluate what works best for your brand.
This allows you to determine which strategies and platforms are more effective and give you the best ROI results.
Before investing more in paid ads, consider the lifetime cost of your clients: how much does retaining a client for life cost?
If you cater to big B2B clients who invest millions in your services, maybe you want to have a higher budget.
Organic Content And Paid Online Advertising
Lastly, It’s important to note that paid ads are much more effective when you have a solid website and a good organic content marketing strategy.
Your paid ads should always complement your organic marketing efforts rather than replace them entirely.
While paid media helps introduce your brand to new users, organic media fosters credibility and maintains engagement with your existing followers.
Both approaches are valuable and should work hand in hand to maximize your marketing impact. Once you see the results of combining these strategies, you will be as impressed as we were.
Start Your Paid Online Advertising
We know that building an effective marketing strategy in Omaha can be hard. Whether you want to start paying for online ads or need help building a solid and strong content marketing strategy, we can help you!
Together, we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged.
Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
Ready to avoid business failure? The hard reality is that a significant number of businesses don’t make it past their initial five years. If you don’t want to become part of this statistic, keep reading.
By understanding the reasons behind business failures, you can avoid making the same mistakes in your company and create a strategy to build a successful business. In this Midwest Mindset Episode (or the Omaha Podcast), we go through all the things you need to do and don’t do.
The number one mistake businesses make is… you guessed it: marketing. Businesses will usually take a bad marketing approach or won’t focus on marketing at all.
A lack of a marketing strategy can prove to be a costly mistake. Marketing isn’t just about having a logo and an active Instagram account. It’s about finding your potential customers, engaging with them, understanding their needs, and showcasing how your product or service can solve their problems or enhance their lives.
Most entrepreneurs that fail at marketing do because they don’t really know who they are marketing for. Take the time to investigate your market and find the niche that you want to target with your strategy.
Then, think of your marketing strategy as your company’s master game plan, designed to attract those specific prospective consumers and convert them into loyal customers.
Remember, marketing is not a one-time event but a long-term investment. A well-crafted and executed marketing strategy can be your most powerful tool for business growth in the long run.
Imitating Others
It’s easier for small companies starting out to look up to other big brands for inspiration and even do what their competitors are doing; however, when it comes to running your business, this is not a good idea. Here’s why.
Larger corporations operate on an entirely different scale and with vastly different agendas than small businesses. They have big budgets, extensive resources, and a broad customer base, which allows them to experiment with various strategies, things that are simply not feasible for smaller companies.
Trying to emulate these giants is like trying to fit a square shape into a round hole – it just doesn’t work. The business landscape isn’t one-size-fits-all; what works for a multinational conglomerate may not work for a local pop shop or an online startup.
So, instead of mimicking what the big players are doing, focus on carving out your own unique path. Understand your business’s strengths, harness them, and build strategies tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Being On Every Social Media
In the constantly changing and evolving world of social media, it might seem like a necessity to be on each platform and have a constant stream of content; that’s why a lot of companies starting out do so. However, this it’s not the way to do social media.
Each social media platform has a distinct demographic and vibe. Instead of spreading yourself thin across all platforms, find out where your target audience hangs out the most.
Once you’ve identified your niche, focus your energy on creating engaging content for that platform. This approach is more sustainable and effective in building a strong online presence and fostering a loyal community around your brand.
Remember, in business, It’s not always about doing more but about doing what’s strategic for business growth.
Avoid Business Failure: Seek Professional Help
Now, managing a business’s social media presence, online image, and e-commerce store can feel overwhelming. And it’s perfectly okay to seek help. A lot of small businesses won’t ask for help because they are afraid of the cost or think the results of a social media strategy are not worth it.
However, having a bad social media strategy can be more costly. There are professionals out there who eat, sleep, and breathe digital marketing. They can help you strategize, create compelling content, engage with your audience, and manage your online store, delivering successful results.
Metrics
One of the most critical elements of a successful company is its ability to measure and understand its performance. That’s where metrics come into play!
Think of metrics as your business’s vital signs. Just like a doctor checks your heartbeat and blood pressure to assess your health, metrics provide a snapshot of your company’s well-being. They help you keep an eye on your business’s pulse, signaling when things are going well and alerting you when there’s trouble brewing.
Becoming a metrics-driven business means making decisions based on data, not hunches or guesswork. It’s about using numbers to guide your strategy, set clear goals, and track progress. Whether it’s measuring sales growth, customer satisfaction, or product usage, metrics offer invaluable insights that can drive your business forward.
Not Having a Sales Conversion and Nurturing Strategy
Your customers are the stars of the show. Without them, there wouldn’t be a show at all! That’s why creating a dynamic sales conversion and nurturing strategy is so important; it’s your ticket to building trust, standing out from the crowd, and, most importantly, showing your customers how much they matter.
A lot of businesses skip this step because they don’t even know that a conversion strategy is possible. A sales conversion and nurturing strategy isn’t just a fancy business term; it’s your game plan for winning over potential customers and keeping them returning for more. It’s about showing your customers that they aren’t just another number but the heart and soul of your business.
Here’s where the magic happens. Instead of simply selling a product or service, focus on selling solutions. Show your customers how your offerings can solve their problems or make their lives easier. Remember, it’s not about you. It’s all about them.
Once a customer is on board, it’s time to nurture that relationship. Show them they’re valued, listen to their feedback, and strive to meet their evolving needs. This not only fosters loyalty but also turns your customers into brand ambassadors who will spread the word about your business.
Start Your Marketing Strategy and Avoid Business Failure
Download the 6-step Marketing Plan pdf to get your strategy started. Don’t make the same mistakes other businesses make, and thrive for years to come.
Together we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged. Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
Here’s How You Write The Best Podcast Descriptions
Podcast descriptions: why are they even necessary? In recent years, podcasts have become a great way to share your message with the world, but it’s important to write good episode descriptions to attract listeners.
A poorly crafted podcast description can be a major deterrent for potential listeners. This is because listeners often decide whether to tune in based on the description alone. If it’s vague, rambling, or filled with technical jargon, they’re likely to skip over your podcast in favor of one that better communicates its content and value proposition.
Start Your Podcast Descriptions With a Strong Hook
A good podcast episode description is clear, concise, and engaging. It should accurately describe the content of your episode and give listeners a reason to tune in. Not sure how to start? Don´t worry, here are some tips for writing good podcast episode descriptions.
The opening line of your podcast description holds immense power. It’s the bait that lures listeners in, compelling them to delve deeper. Commence with a provocative question or an intriguing statement that ignites curiosity and makes listeners yearn for more.
For instance, instead of starting with: “This podcast discusses marketing strategies…” try something more engaging like: “Ever wondered why some brands conquer the market while others fade into oblivion?” This not only piques interest but also directly communicates the value you’re offering.
Be Clear and Concise
The phrase ‘less is more’ perfectly encapsulates the essence of writing podcast descriptions. Your podcast description should be clear and concise. Here are three tips to achieve a straight-to-the-point description:
Avoid Jargon: Unless it’s a specialized podcast, keep technical language at bay. You want your content to be accessible to everyone, not just a select few.
Be Direct: Don’t beat around the bush. State what your episode is about in the first few lines. This shows respect for your listeners’ time and helps them decide quickly whether this episode is for them.
Set Expectations: Let your listeners know what they can expect from your episode. If you’re discussing a specific topic, mention it. If you have a special guest, name them. This gives potential listeners a clear idea of what they’re signing up for.
Use Keywords in Your Podcast Descriptions
Crafting your podcast description isn’t just about conveying what it’s about; it’s also an opportunity for strategic SEO (Search Engine Optimization). By incorporating relevant keywords that your target audience would likely use in their searches, you can boost your podcast’s visibility in search results, thereby attracting a wider listenership.
For example, if your podcast revolves around digital marketing trends, incorporate specific keywords like “social media strategies,” “content marketing tips,” or “SEO best practices.” This not only gives potential listeners a clear idea of what to expect but also improves your chances of appearing when they search for these topics.
Remember, the key is to weave these keywords in naturally. Don’t shoehorn them in; your description should still read smoothly and engagingly.
Highlight the Benefits of Your Episode
What can listeners expect to learn from your episode? How will your episode make their lives better? Make these benefits the star of your description to entice listeners to press play.
Let’s say your episode features an interview with a successful entrepreneur. Instead of writing, “In this episode, we interview successful entrepreneur Jane Doe,” highlight the benefits like this:
“Ever dream of launching your own business? Join us in this episode as we sit down with Jane Doe, a self-made millionaire. Jane spills the four secrets of her success so you can start revolutionizing your business in an easy and affordable way.”
Make Your Podcasts Descriptions Personal
Let your personality shine through in your podcast description. Share your passion for your topic and let listeners know why you’re excited to be creating this episode.
This is your opportunity to connect with your audience on a personal level. Show them why this episode thrills you and why they should share in your excitement.
Proofread Podcasts DescriptionsCarefully
Before you press that ‘publish’ button, take a moment to meticulously proofread your podcast description. Even the smallest typo, grammatical error, or awkward phrasing can tarnish your professional image and turn potential listeners away.
Having grammatical mistakes can also affect your SEO score, which can reduce your visibility and reach in search engine result pages.
A finely tuned, error-free podcast description not only makes an excellent first impression but also signals your commitment to quality. This attention to detail can be the deciding factor for listeners when choosing your podcast over others.
A podcast description is a short summary of your podcast that appears on podcast directories and streaming services. It’s important to write a good podcast description because it’s one of the first things potential listeners will see, and it can make or break whether they decide to tune in.
Here Are Some Additional Tips for Writing Podcast Descriptions
Use active voice: The active voice is your ally in creating engaging and clear descriptions. It places the subject at the center of the action, making your sentences more direct and dynamic.
Use strong verbs: Strong verbs inject energy and clarity into your sentences. They paint a vivid picture and allow your listeners to visualize what they’re about to hear.
Vary your sentence structure: Variety is the spice of life, and this holds true for sentence structures too. Alternating between short and long sentences can make your writing more rhythmic and enjoyable to read. Having different structure descriptions can also help you identify which one works best for your readers and engage more listeners with your content.
Use humor or personal anecdotes: Never underestimate the power of a good laugh or a relatable story. These elements can add a human touch to your description, making it more engaging and memorable.
End with a call to action: a compelling CTA can significantly increase listener engagement.
Tell your listeners what you want them to do after reading your description. Do you want them to subscribe to your podcast? Share it on social media? Visit your website? Let them know what you want them to do, and make it easy for them to do it.
By following these tips, you can write great podcast descriptions that will attract more listeners to your podcast.
Good Podcast Descriptions:
If you are still unsure how to start or what words to use, check out the following examples as inspiration for your own unique podcast episode description.
“The Tim Ferriss Show” is a weekly podcast where Tim Ferriss interviews world-class performers, from athletes to artists to entrepreneurs. Ferriss asks his guests about their habits, routines, and philosophies for success. The podcast is informative and entertaining, and it’s a great way to learn from some of the most successful people in the world.
“The Joe Rogan Experience” is a long-form conversation show with Joe Rogan, a comedian and UFC commentator. Rogan talks to a wide range of guests, from comedians to scientists to politicians. The podcast is known for its free-flowing conversations and its willingness to tackle controversial topics.
“Serial” is a true-crime podcast that covers unique cases in each season. The podcast is well-reported and engaging, and it’s a great example of how podcasts can be used to tell compelling stories.
Here Are Some Before and After Examples
Before: The advantages of opening a savings account
After: Never make this mistake with your money!
Before: How to balance a checkbook
After: Do you know this simple trick to balance a checkbook?
Before: How to use The Content Box
After: Ready to master The Content Box in 3 easy steps?
These are just a few examples of good podcast descriptions. By following the tips above, you can write great podcast descriptions that will attract more listeners to your podcast.
Additional Tips for Writing Podcast Descriptions:
Relate to the listener by describing a challenge they struggle with and highlighting the problem. This not only shows that you understand them but also positions your podcast as a potential solution.
For example, if you’re interviewing a financial expert, start your description by talking about how many people struggle with their finances. This will immediately grab the attention of listeners who are struggling with the same issue.
The ‘one thing’ we will deliver to them in this episode (is the solution).
Once you’ve related to the listener by describing a challenge they struggle with, you need to tell them what they can expect to learn from your episode. What is the one thing you’re going to deliver to them that will help them solve their problem?
What gives the hosts and guests credibility (Why our solution is credible).
Finally, you need to give your listeners a reason to trust you and your solution. How are you qualified to give them advice on this topic? What are your credentials? What makes you an expert?
To wrap up, keep in mind that your podcast description is much more than just a summary of your episode. It’s a unique opportunity to captivate potential listeners, showcase the value you offer, and make a lasting impression.
By following these tips, you can write podcast episode descriptions that are clear, concise, engaging, and credible. These descriptions will help you attract more listeners to your podcast and help you achieve your goals.
Two Brothers Creative: Content in a Box
Together we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged. Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
And listen to our podcast, Midwest Mindset, for more free and helpful resources for your business and podcast marketing every Monday!
If you need help with your content marketing, get started for free when you contact us today.
How can you use YouTube for business and actually make some money off of it? Is it even possible? YouTube is an unexplored tool for a lot of business owners and left out of a lot of marketing strategies, but the reality is that YouTube is a secret weapon for content marketing, SEO, and monetization! Today, we will tell you all about it.
In this Midwest Mindset (The Omaha Podcast) episode, we’re joined once again by Walt Sanders and Michael Murphy of Omaha’s WMK Media to explore how businesses can make money, generate leads and improve their content strategy with the power of YouTube.
How to Use YouTube for Business: What Does it Take?
Starting your YouTube business venture might seem like a piece of cake at first glance, but it’s more than just hitting the ‘upload’ button every now and then. It’s about crafting a well-thought-out strategy, staying consistent, and dedicating time.
The YouTube game is not a one-and-done deal; it requires consistent and dedicated effort. Consistency is what will keep your audience coming back for more and boost your visibility in YouTube’s algorithm.
Remember that YouTube isn’t just a video platform; it’s a social media space, and people want to connect with your brand. Engage with your viewers by responding to comments, asking for their opinions, and even involving them in your decision-making process.
The first way to YouTube can help you make some money is to use Search Engine Optimization (Video SEO) for people to find you and do business with you.
Remember that Google owns YouTube and is constantly used for search queries, so this is a golden opportunity for your videos to rank on youtube search results.
The first and most essential step in your is keyword research. This process involves identifying target keywords and phrases that people use when searching for content like yours. These keywords should be relevant to your business and have a decent search volume.
Consistency is king on YouTube. Uploading two to three videos per week keeps your channel active and signals to YouTube that you’re a consistent content provider. This will significantly improve your channel’s SEO over time and increase visibility.
How to Use YouTube for Business and Grow Your Audience: Pro Tips
Once you have mastered the art of SEO on youtube and are keeping a consistent schedule, you can move on to more specific tips and techniques to implement in your videos; here are the proven strategies that Walt and Murphy use for their video content creation.
Have a Creative Team
Having a network with other content creators will make your YouTube path more successful. Assemble a creative team that includes other content creators to ensure a constant flow of fresh ideas.
Draft a content map and develop a weekly and monthly plan to create videos. Establish an ecosystem for feedback and mutual assistance, which will not only improve your content but also foster a supportive community among creators.
Be Specific
Carve out your niche on YouTube by clearly defining your channel’s name, brand, and purpose. What’s the core message you want to convey? What kind of content will you create?
The more specific and focused you are, the easier it will be for viewers to understand what you’re all about and relate. Having a specific target audience and topic will also make your content way easier to find in search results.
Networking
YouTube is a fantastic platform for networking. Feature partners and industry peers in your videos to spotlight their work and strengthen relationships. This not only boosts your channel’s credibility but also expands your reach to potential customers.
Featuring your colleagues on your page is a Win-Win situation for them and for your SEO efforts since it’s more likely for your content to get reported and shared. So don’t be afraid to ask people related to your industry to join your YouTube videos.
Having valuable content
The real secret to YouTube’s success lies in delivering valuable content. If you want to stand out and grow, you need to provide something of true worth to your audience.
What challenges can you help them overcome? What unique insights can you offer? By adding value to the YouTube ecosystem, you’ll attract viewers who are seeking the answers you can provide.
Strive to create content that not only addresses these issues but also presents solutions in an engaging and accessible way. This could be through tutorials, expert interviews, behind-the-scenes looks, or even storytelling.
Engage: The First 10 Seconds Matter
The first few moments of your video are the digital equivalent of a first impression. It’s your golden opportunity to pique interest, spark curiosity and draw your viewers in. According to research, you have approximately 10 seconds to engage your audience before they decide whether to continue watching or move on.
To optimize these crucial seconds, start by sparking curiosity. Pose a thought-provoking question, share an intriguing fact, or tease a compelling piece of content that’s coming later in the video.
How to Use YouTube for Business: Be Authentic
The last and probably the most important tip for making money on youtube is to be authentic. Authenticity it’s a fundamental principle for success. Being genuine in your content isn’t just about being honest; it’s about presenting your true self, showcasing your personality, and letting your unique voice shine through.
When you’re authentic, viewers can sense it. They are more likely to feel a connection with you, trust your message, and engage with your content.
So, how do you authentically present yourself on YouTube? Start by embracing your individuality. Each person has a unique perspective and story to tell, so don’t shy away from sharing yours.
Two Brothers Creative: Content in a Box
Together we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged. Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
Email Content Marketing: The Way to Get More Leads
Email content marketing in today’s digital age is more important than ever; since the pandemic and with the evolution of online marketing in the last few years, it has become a major part of a winning digital marketing strategy.
With so much information at our fingertips, it can be difficult for businesses to stand out. That’s where email marketing comes in.
With so many options to market your business on search engines, social media marketing, and traditional marketing, it is important to diversify your content marketing strategy. When done correctly, email marketing can be a powerful tool for driving sales, increasing brand awareness, and generating leads.
Email marketing is the process of sending promotional messages to a list of subscribers. Not only is it a cost-efficient method of reaching a broad audience, but it also serves as a tool for fostering and strengthening relationships with potential audiences as well as existing customers.
Email content marketing works by sending promotional messages to a list of subscribers. These messages can include product announcements, blog posts, and special offers.
When a subscriber opens an email, the sender can track how they interact with the content. This information can be used to improve future emails and make them more relevant to the subscriber’s interests.
The Benefits of Email Content Marketing
There are many benefits to email marketing, including:
High Return Over Investment (ROI): Email marketing has one of the highest ROIs of any marketing channel. Studies have shown that for every $1 spent on email marketing, businesses can expect to generate $44 in revenue.
Scalability: Email marketing is a scalable marketing channel; think of it as a bag without a bottom. As your business grows, you can easily add more subscribers to your email list.
Measurability: Email marketing is a measurable marketing channel. You can track how many people open your emails, click on links, and make purchases. This information can be used to improve your email marketing campaigns over time. This treasure trove of data helps you understand what’s working and what’s not.
Personalization: Imagine walking into a store where everyone knows your name and your favorite order; it means people know you and remember you; it is like you belong, and it feels pretty good, right? That’s what personalized emails can do. Email marketing can be a personalized channel. Use subscriber data to personalize your emails and make them more relevant to their interests.
How to Write Email Content That Converts
Wondering how to start the perfect email? Don’t worry, we have a blog that talks all about it, but here we give you a quick rundown of the most important points.
The subject line is the first thing your subscribers will see, so it’s important to make it attention-grabbing and relevant to your content.
Avoid using all caps, exclamation points, or spammy language. Instead, focus on writing a clear and concise subject line that will make your subscribers want to open your email.
“For example, instead of “BUY NOW!,” you could use” Discover Your New Favorite Summer Outfit.” The latter gives a hint about the email content and sounds much more appealing.”For example, instead of “BUY NOW!!”, you could use “Discover Your New Favorite Summer Outfit.” The latter gives a hint about the email content and sounds much more appealing.
Keep Your Piece of Content Short and Sweet
In this fast-paced world, people appreciate brevity. When writing your email content, try to get straight to the point. Long, rambling emails can often lead to your message getting lost or your email not being read at all.
To make your content easier to digest, consider breaking it up with bullet points, numbered lists, or images. This will not only make your email more visually appealing but also allows your subscribers to scan through the content quickly.
Use Strong Calls to Action
A Call to Action (CTA) is a prompt or instruction designed to engage a user and encourage them to take a specific action.
Tell your subscribers what you want them to do, whether it’s clicking on a link, visiting your website, or making a purchase.
“Your CTA should be clear and easy to follow. If you want your subscribers to visit your website, provide them with a button or link and a compelling reason to click on it. For instance,” Explore our new summer collection.” Your CTA should be clear and easy to follow. If you want your subscribers to visit your website, provide them with a button or link and a compelling reason to click on it. For instance, “Explore our new summer collection.”
Personalize Your Email Content Marketing Efforts
Personalization goes a long way in making your subscribers feel special. It shows that you value them as individuals and not just as part of a mass email campaign.
You can personalize your emails in various ways, such as by using their names or referencing their interests or past purchases.
Track Your Email Content Marketing Results
Once you start sending out emails, tracking your results and adjusting as needed are important. Use email analytics tools to track open rates, click-through rates, and other metrics. This will help you see what’s working and what’s not so you can improve your email marketing strategy over time.
These insights allow you to see what’s resonating with your subscribers and what’s not. Perhaps your subject lines aren’t engaging enough, or maybe your CTAs aren’t clear. By tracking your results, you can continually refine and improve your email marketing strategy.
The Best Mailing Platforms
Starting an email marketing campaign can be confusing and overwhelming at the beginning, especially when you don’t have a path to follow or a platform to manage your email campaigns and email contact list.
Sure, you can do it all by yourself, but if you are looking for a subscription that makes your emailing easier and optimized, here are our favorite ones.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is renowned for its all-in-one marketing platform. It caters to businesses of all sizes and offers a range of features, including email automation, audience segmentation, and detailed analytics.
This email service also has a free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers for smaller businesses or if you are just starting out and want to get the hang of it before committing to the platform. This free version and its other affordable prices make it an excellent option for any kind of business.
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign stands out for its advanced automation capabilities. It allows you to create powerful, automated marketing campaigns that can help increase engagement and conversions.
While it doesn’t offer a free plan at the moment, it is still an affordable option to maintain your emails and contacts organized.
Brevo
Lastly, Brevo is another highly recommended platform. Notable for supporting growing businesses that are ready to take their email to the next level.
Brevo offers both email and SMS marketing services. This dual functionality allows businesses to reach their audience through multiple channels, increasing their chances of engagement and visibility.
The Best Email Course
If you already started with email marketing and want to go the extra step or want to be as ready as you can before launching your first email campaign, here are the four courses we recommend to become a full email marketing specialist.
HubSpot Academy
HubSpot’s free certification course provides you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to create an effective email marketing strategy within their platform and other CMS.
It’s a great resource for those looking to gain a solid understanding of email marketing principles and best practices.
Coursera
“Coursera offers numerous email marketing courses from reputable institutions. Among these isGoogle’ss””Think Outside the Inbox: Email Marketing” course, which provides valuable insights into email marketing.”Coursera offers numerous email marketing courses from reputable institutions. Among these is Google’s “Think Outside the Inbox: Email Marketing” course, which provides valuable insights into email marketing.
This course will take you from the most basic email knowledge to more advanced strategies to boost your emailing campaign.
SkillShare
The Email Marketing Essentials course of SkillShare focuses on the essentials of email marketing, providing learners with the necessary foundation to start their email marketing journey.
This course will give you the basic information to jump-start your email marketing efforts and do it the right way.
Omnisend Academy Omnisend Email Marketing Fundamentals is a course that offers a comprehensive course on email marketing. It covers everything from the basics to more advanced topics, making it suitable for learners at all levels.
Conclusion
Content marketing is a powerful tool that can help businesses of all sizes achieve their marketing goals. Email marketing can be a cost-effective way to drive sales, increase brand awareness, and generate leads.
Following the tips in this article, you can write effective email content to help you achieve your digital marketing goals.
Two Brothers Creative: Content in a Box
Together we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged. Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
Succeed in Digital Marketing Through Your Failures
How do we succeed in digital marketing and grow from our failures in this rapidly changing digital world? Well, marketing failures are more common occurrences than many of us realize, especially for small businesses starting out.
While it’s easy to feel disheartened and overwhelmed by these setbacks, we can grow stronger to develop effective content marketing strategies. In this Midwest Mindset for Marketing (The Omaha Podcast), a CEO, and co-founder, shares her fair share of marketing failures and how she overcame them.
This woman, a dedicated business owner, was determined to prioritize her company’s operations and nurture the relationships she had with her clients. As a result, she found herself with little time to devote to marketing. Believing that the task was too large to handle on her own, and her team decided to hire a marketing agency.
As time passed, shef noticed that her business growth primarily stemmed from referrals and networking rather than any tangible results from the marketing agency’s efforts. This realization led her to conclude that her marketing strategy was failing and providing no return on investment (ROI).
And after investing a considerable sum of money in a Google ad campaign that fell flat, her team felt disheartened; and to make matters worse, the marketing agency she worked with was deceptive and failed to explain the results correctly.
However, her experience taught her a crucial lesson that she wouldn’t have learned otherwise: marketing should not be that hard; it should be easy to understand and accessible, not an opportunity for agencies to take advantage of your business.
Through this experience, she knew she needed to find a strategy that she and the team could understand, track, supervise, and work on. But more importantly, she understood that marketing failures are a normal part of a business journey.
Do You Need to Be a Marketing Expert?
Turning marketing failures into success doesn’t necessarily require you to become an expert in the field. Instead, it’s about understanding the basics of your audience and continually evaluating its performance. By doing so, you can identify areas for improvement and build on what’s working well.
Her journey serves as a prime example of this approach. After realizing that her marketing efforts were failing, she decided to take a more hands-on role in her company’s marketing strategy.
So, how do you turn your marketing failures into success? You need a basic grasp of who your audience is and how your marketing strategy is performing, to keep doing what’s working and improving what’s not.
This basic information, like your target audience, buyer persona, and social media presence will push your digital marketing forward.
However, If you’re struggling with a content marketing agency that isn’t fully explaining or gatekeeping information, don’t worry that much; you can always change strategy. Believe us, even the most experienced and successful organizations have had this problem.
This shouldn’t be taken as a step back or failure but rather an opportunity to change and invest in a strategy that will pay off and that your business can learn from,
How to Succeed in Digital Marketing: Be Patient and Embrace the Cringe
Marketing can be a slow process, and while it’s easy to become impatient or discouraged when results don’t materialize immediately, it’s crucial to remember that many aspects of digital marketing take time to show significant results.
One prime example is Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is a critical component of any digital marketing strategy, but it can take months of consistent effort before tangible results become evident.
Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself or experiment with unconventional ideas. The truth is, some of your boldest attempts might not resonate with your audience, but they will undoubtedly teach you valuable lessons about what works and what doesn’t.
Embracing the cringe means making content out of your comfort zone, but it also means being open to feedback, both positive and negative. Constructive criticism can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your digital marketing strategy.
Remember: Success in digital marketing is often the result of learning from setbacks, refining your approach, and continually adapting to the ever-evolving landscape.
Keep pushing forward, and embrace the lessons that failure teaches. With time and persistence, you’ll unlock the perfect formula for digital marketing success.
Choose a Transparent Company That Shares Information and Tools
If you hire a marketing company for your content strategy, when selecting an agency, look for one that is easy to talk to and transparent about what they do.
A genuine marketing agency will share all the tools and insights on what is working for your company. Transparency and open communication are essential for fostering a healthy and productive relationship between your business and the agency.
Tips for Marketing Success:
So, now that we have gone through all this information, here is a recap on tips to transform failure into success
Know where your leads are coming from: This insight helps recognize what your marketing strategy needs and should look like; for our guest, this meant shifting her focus and resources to the channels that were generating results.
Monitor your marketing performance: She learned the importance of regularly tracking the performance of her marketing campaigns. By doing so, she could identify which tactics were effective and which needed improvement.
Adapt and refine your strategy: Become involved in her marketing efforts, and start experimenting with different strategies and techniques. This will allow you to fine-tune her marketing approach and optimize it for better results.
Collaborate with trustworthy partners: transparent professionals who genuinely care about their client’s success are the people you want to surround yourself with. Avoid scammy marketing agencies that only want your money.
Maintain open communication: Establish clear lines of communication with your team and external partners. This allows you to stay informed about her marketing campaigns’ progress and make data-driven decisions.
Marketing Failures Are the Way to Succeed
Lastly, patience, perseverance, and a willingness to learn from mistakes are crucial ingredients for turning marketing failure into success.
So go ahead, embrace the cringe, and watch your business flourish with the support of a transparent and communicative marketing agency.
In the end, marketing can be about having fun and embracing the embarrassment that comes with making wild ideas into reality. Sure, it’s also about perseverance, persistence, and data, but with a little bit of fun and letting your imagination run free, it can also be a very fun and fulfilling experience.
From free weekly marketing resources on our podcast, Midwest Mindset for Marketing, to professional coaching and consulting, to having us do all of the work for you at Two Brothers, we believe every business deserves affordable and effective marketing.
If you need help with your marketing, we are here for you. At Two Brothers, we are passionate about helping entrepreneurs and business owners like you because we believe every business deserves affordable and effective marketing.
Creating an Omaha SEO Strategy for local businesses can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.
By thoughtfully implementing search engine optimization (SEO) and keeping up with the latest industry trends, you can easily create compelling content to help your business reach the right audience.
In this blog post, we’ll provide insider tips on developing an effective SEO plan tailored to create compelling content.
You’ll learn how to incorporate keyword research into your workflow and increase organic traffic from search engine results pages with each piece of unique content you produce.
With these expert tips in tow, you’ll be able to make sure that every piece of content you write is optimized for maximum visibility and impact.
In today’s digital age, having a website or social media presence is no longer enough. With millions of web pages and blog posts published every day, standing out from the crowd and reaching your audience requires a well-crafted content marketing strategy that’s optimized for search engines.
What is SEO?
But what does that mean, exactly? Well, in a nutshell, SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of optimizing your website and its content to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) for specific keywords and phrases.
By creating quality content that’s relevant to your targeted audience’s search queries, you can increase your visibility, drive organic traffic to your site, and ultimately convert those visitors into paying customers.
So, how do you create an SEO content strategy that works? Here are some practical steps to get started:
Step 1: Research Your Audience and SEO Keywords
Before you start creating any type of content, it’s essential to understand who your target audience is and what they’re searching for.
By researching your audience’s needs, interests, pain points, and search behavior, you can identify the keywords and phrases they use to find solutions to their problems.
For example, if you’re a local pizza restaurant in Omaha, your targeted audience might search for keywords such as “best pizza in Omaha,” “pizza delivery near me,” or “family-friendly pizza restaurant.”
If you are still wondering how to start and what keywords are the best for your audience, listening to our Midwest Mindset for Marketing podcast can help you better guide you to understand your audience.
Step 2: Omaha SEO Strategy For Content and Topics
Once you’ve identified your targeted audience and keywords, it’s time to determine the type of content that will best suit your audience’s needs and search intent.
Different types of content, such as blog posts, landing pages, videos, infographics, or social media posts, can be used to target different stages of the customer journey and achieve different marketing goals.
For example, if your goal is to attract new customers, blog posts that educate your audience about your products or services or answer their frequently asked questions can be a great starting point.
On the other hand, if your goal is to convert visitors into leads or sales, landing pages that offer a free trial, demo, or consultation can be more effective.
To determine the content topics that will resonate with your targeted audience and align with your business goals, you can use a content mappings tool such as HubSpot’s Content Strategy Tool or Ahrefs’ Content Explorer.
These tools allow you to discover popular content topics in your industry, analyze their performance metrics, and create a content plan that covers all stages of the customer journey and aligns with your SEO and marketing strategies.
Step 3: Optimize Your Omaha SEO Strategy
Once you’ve identified your targeted audience, keywords, and content topics, it’s time to create high-quality content that’s optimized for search engines.
Here are some best practices to keep in mind:
Use long-tail keywords
Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive than short-tail keywords, which makes them easier to rank for and more targeted to your audience’s search queries.
Use long-tail keywords in your title, meta description, headings, and copy to improve your SEO score and visibility on Google and other search engines.
Meta descriptions
Meta descriptions are the short snippets of text that appear under your page title in the search results. They provide a brief summary of your content and can influence whether or not a user clicks on your page.
Use your target keywords and a persuasive call-to-action in your meta description to entice users to click on your page.
Headings and subheadings
Headings and subheadings not only make your content more readable and organized, but they also provide context to search engines about the structure and hierarchy of your content. Use your target keywords in your headings and subheadings to signal to search engines what your content is about.
Internal and external links
Internal links are links within your site that point to other relevant pages or blog posts, while external links are links to other authoritative sites that provide additional value to your readers.
Use both types of links in your content to provide a better user experience and signal to search engines that your content is trustworthy and relevant.
Multimedia
Images, videos, infographics, and other multimedia not only make your content more engaging and shareable but also provide additional opportunities to optimize your content for search engines. Use descriptive file names, alt text, and captions to help search engines understand the content of your images and multimedia.
Step 4: Measure and Improve Your Omaha SEO Strategy
Creating quality content that’s optimized for search engines is just the first step.
To ensure that your content marketing strategy is effective and generates results, you need to measure and analyze your content’s performance metrics, such as traffic, engagement, conversion rates, and revenue.
Tools such as Google Analytics, Ahrefs, or SEMrush can help you track and analyze your content’s performance metrics and identify opportunities for improvement.
By measuring the impact of your content on your business goals and iterating on your content marketing strategy based on data and feedback, you can continuously improve your content’s effectiveness and ROI.
Step 5: Promote Your Content
Finally, promoting your content through social media and outreach is an essential part of any SEO content strategy.
By sharing your content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram, you can reach a wider audience, drive traffic to your site, and build brand awareness.
In addition, outreach to influencers, bloggers, journalists, or other relevant websites can help you build backlinks, increase your domain authority, and generate more traffic and visibility for your content.
By leveraging social media and outreach to amplify your content’s reach and impact, you can maximize the ROI of your SEO content strategy and achieve your marketing goals.
The Essential SEO Strategy Tools
By using keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush, you can identify the search volume, competition, and relevance of different keywords and choose the ones that are most relevant to your business and audience.
These are some of my favorite tools to use for SEO:
Google Keyword Planner
A powerful and free keyword research tool offered by Google, the Keyword Planner helps you discover new keywords related to your business, their search volume, and their competitiveness.
It also provides insights into keyword trends and enables you to create and optimize your Google Ads campaigns for better performance.
SEMrush
SEMrush is an all-in-one SEO and digital marketing suite that offers a comprehensive keyword research tool.
With its extensive database of over 20 billion keywords, you can identify high-performing keywords, analyze search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty, as well as uncover long-tail keywords and phrase matches.
SEMrush also offers competitor analysis, backlink analysis, and site audit features, making it a versatile choice for any digital marketer.
MOZ
MOZ is another popular SEO toolset that includes keyword research capabilities. Its Keyword Explorer feature helps you find the most relevant keywords for your business by analyzing search volume, competition, and organic click-through rates.
Additionally, MOZ offers a range of other SEO tools, such as rank tracking, site audits, and backlink analysis, making it an excellent resource for optimizing your website’s overall SEO performance.
Competitor Analysis
Monitoring your competitors’ SEO strategies can provide you with a wealth of information to improve your own campaigns.
By analyzing their keyword usage, backlink profiles, and content strategies, you can identify gaps and opportunities to outperform them in search rankings. Tools like SEMrush, MOZ, and Ahrefs offer competitor analysis features that can help you keep a close eye on your competition and stay ahead of the game.
Crafting Your Omaha SEO Strategy
Creating quality content that’s optimized for search engines is an essential part of any digital marketing strategy.
By following these practical steps, you can create high-quality content that attracts organic traffic, engages your target audience, and drives more sales.
Remember, the key to a successful SEO content strategy is to understand your audience, research your keywords and content topics, optimize your content for SEO best practices, measure and improve your content’s performance, and promote your content through social media and outreach.
By continuously iterating on your content marketing strategy based on data and feedback, you can stay ahead of the competition, rank higher on search engine results pages, and achieve your business goals.
So what are you waiting for? Start creating an SEO content strategy that works for your business today.
Content Marketing in the Age of the Algorithm Is Overwhelming
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of content marketing? Are you struggling to create content that effectively conveys your brand’s value proposition while engaging your audience?
Two Brothers Creative is here to help. As experienced content marketers ourselves, we understand the challenges of selecting channels, preparing creatives, and then effectively promoting your content across multiple touchpoints. Our team is prepared to help you with the process.
Two Brothers Creative: Content in a Box
Together we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged. Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
Omaha inbound marketing is a crucial part of your business’s overall organic marketing strategy, but how can you use it and what is the difference between outbound marketing? Welcome to part two of our three-part series on inbound and outbound marketing.
No matter what kind of business you’re running, selecting the perfect marketing strategy is crucial for your success. That’s precisely why we’ve designed this series to help you understand these two powerful approaches and make informed decisions.
In the first part, we explore the fundamental differences between inbound and outbound marketing, their goals, tactics, and how they work together for a well-rounded strategy.
Part Two: What Is Inbound Marketing?
This second part focuses on inbound marketing, discussing its core principles, tactics, and best practices for creating valuable content and nurturing leads.
Lastly, we dive into outbound marketing, exploring its various tactics and how to balance it with inbound marketing for a winning combination.
By the end of this series, you’ll have a clear understanding of both strategies and be better equipped to choose the right approach for your business goals.
Let’s get started on this insightful marketing journey.
Inbound Marketing 101: Drawing Customers In
Content and inbound marketing is all about creating valuable content that attracts, engages, and delights your target audience.
Inbound marketing started to gain significant traction around the mid-2000s with the rise of the Internet, content marketing, and social media platforms. The shift in consumer behavior towards seeking information online and the growing skepticism towards traditional marketing methods like cold calls and advertisements contributed to its increasing popularity.
The goal is to provide helpful, relevant content that pulls people in and keeps them coming back for more. In contrast to outbound marketing tactics like cold calls and paid ads, inbound marketing focuses on earning customers’ attention organically.
When done right, these strategies work together to help your business rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract potential customers who are genuinely interested in your products or services.
The Power of Omaha Content Marketing
One of the cornerstones of inbound marketing is content marketing, which involves creating and distributing valuable content to attract and retain your target audience.
The types of content you create can vary widely, from blog posts and videos to infographics and eBooks.
The secret to effective content marketing lies in offering content that is closely aligned with your audience’s interests, desires, and challenges. By providing material that helps and supports them, you demonstrate your value as a reliable source of information. This approach fosters trust and credibility between you and potential customers, making it easier for them to choose your business when they need the products or services you offer.
A great example of inbound marketing are blogs on a specific topic related to your business niche. Suppose you run a gardening supply store. You could develop content that covers various aspects of gardening, such as “10 Essential Gardening Tools for Beginners,” “How to Start a Vegetable Garden,” or “Organic Pest Control Methods for Your Garden.”
I remember when I first started creating blog posts for my business. I was amazed at how much traffic they drove to my website and how many leads they generated. People genuinely appreciated the valuable information I provided, and it helped establish my business as an authority in the industry.
Search Engine Optimization: Getting Found Online
Another essential component of inbound marketing is search engine optimization (SEO).
By optimizing your website and content for search engines, you increase the likelihood of appearing on the first page of SERPs, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
SEO involves several techniques, such as using relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and building backlinks from reputable websites. These efforts help search engines understand what your content is about and rank it accordingly.
When I first started implementing SEO strategies, I was blown away by the difference it made in my website’s visibility. My organic search traffic skyrocketed, and it’s been a game-changer for my business.
Email Marketing: Building Relationships and Nurturing Leads
Email marketing is another powerful inbound marketing tool that allows you to build and maintain relationships with your audience.
By sending regular, valuable content directly to their inbox, you keep your brand top of mind and encourage customer loyalty.
A well-executed email marketing campaign can help you nurture leads, share news about your products or services, and drive traffic back to your website. The key is to provide relevant and valuable information that your audience will appreciate.
A good example of an email inbound marketing campaign is a weekly or monthly newsletter that offers valuable content tailored to the interests of your audience. Let’s say you run a fitness and wellness business. Your email campaign could include the elements like routines, nutrition tips, mental health, and wellness trends.
In my own experience, email marketing has been instrumental in keeping my customers engaged and informed. It’s allowed me to maintain a personal connection with them and foster long-term relationships.
Social Media: Connecting with Your Audience in Real Time
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram offer an excellent opportunity to connect with your audience in real-time.
By sharing valuable content, engaging with users, and participating in conversations, you can build brand awareness and establish trust with your followers.
One of the great things about social media is that it allows you to humanize your brand, showing your audience the people and personality behind the business. It’s also a fantastic way to share your content with a broader audience, as users can easily share and engage with your posts.
Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve found social media to be an invaluable tool for connecting with my audience and promoting my content. It’s helped me build a loyal following and create a sense of community around my brand.
The Importance of Lead Generation in Inbound Marketing
Lead generation is a critical aspect of inbound marketing. By creating valuable content that attracts potential customers, you can capture their information and nurture them through the sales funnel.
One effective way to generate leads is by offering gated content, such as eBooks or whitepapers, that requires users to provide their contact information in exchange for access.
This not only allows you to capture valuable lead data but it also helps you identify which types of content resonate most with your audience.
In my own business, I’ve seen firsthand how effective lead generation can be in driving sales and growing my customer base. It’s been an essential part of my inbound marketing strategy.
Inbound Marketing vs. Outbound Marketing: The Key Differences
Now that we’ve explored the various elements of inbound marketing let’s briefly discuss how it differs from outbound marketing.
While inbound marketing focuses on attracting customers by providing valuable content, outbound marketing involves actively reaching out to potential customers through tactics like cold calls, direct mail, and paid advertising.
The main difference lies in the approach: inbound marketing is about earning customer’s attention, while outbound marketing is about buying it.
These strategies tend to be more cost-effective and have longer-lasting results than outbound marketing tactics. They also align better with modern consumer preferences, as people are becoming increasingly resistant to intrusive marketing methods.
Inbound marketing often relies on users opting in to receive content, such as subscribing to a newsletter, following a social media account, or downloading a resource. This means that the audience has willingly chosen to engage with the brand, making the interaction more welcome and relevant.
Creating a Successful Inbound Marketing Campaign
To create a successful inbound marketing campaign, consider the following steps:
Define your target audience: Understand who your ideal customers are, what their needs and wants are, and how you can address them with your content.
Create a content strategy: Plan out the types of content you’ll create, the platforms you’ll use, and how you’ll promote and distribute your content.
Optimize your website and content for search engines: Implement SEO best practices to improve your visibility on SERPs and drive organic traffic.
Engage with your audience on social media: Share valuable content, participate in conversations, and build relationships with your followers.
Develop an email marketing strategy: Create targeted email campaigns that provide value to your subscribers and nurture your leads.
Monitor your results and adjust your strategy: Track your success metrics and analyze your data to make informed decisions and optimize your campaign.
Embrace the Power of Inbound Marketing
Inbound marketing has the potential to transform your business, helping you attract, engage, and delight potential customers.
By focusing on creating valuable content, optimizing your online presence, and building relationships through email marketing and social media, you can drive traffic, generate leads, and grow your brand.
As you embark on your inbound marketing journey, remember to stay adaptable, persistent, and open to new ideas. Embrace the power of inbound marketing, and watch your business soar.
Marketing in the age of the algorithm is overwhelming
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of content marketing? Are you struggling to create content that effectively conveys your brand’s value proposition while engaging your audience?
Two Brothers Creative is here to help. As experienced marketers ourselves, we understand the challenges of selecting channels, preparing creatives, and then effectively promoting your content across multiple touchpoints. Our team is prepared to help you with the process.
Two Brothers Creative: Content in a Box
Together we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged. Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
This is what Omaha digital marketing does for businesses looking to increase sales. Digital marketing may be just the strategy that could take your success up a notch.
Omaha is a thriving heartland city known for its innovative spirit full of opportunities, and where I proudly call home.
In this post, we’ll cover all things related to what makes digital marketing so effective, from targeting customers online and driving traffic to connecting with local businesses and optimizing campaigns.
Why I’m Passionate about Digital Marketing in Omaha
As an experienced Omahan marketer who has worked with various companies across many industries, I want to share my insights into how utilizing digital marketing can give your efforts and profits an edge.
Whether you’re entirely new or somewhat familiar with strategies used for boosting sales via digital media channels, by reading on, you’re sure to gain useful knowledge that will make all the difference when it comes time crunching those numbers!
So, let’s dive into the world of digital marketing and discover how it can help Omaha businesses make more sales.
The Power of Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the most effective digital marketing strategies I’ve encountered.
It’s a tried-and-tested method that has delivered consistent results for my business. Email marketing allows you to engage with your audience directly, provide valuable content, and promote your products or services.
By building an email list and sending targeted campaigns, I’ve been able to nurture relationships with my customers and generate repeat sales.
Creating a Winning Digital Marketing Strategy
Developing a solid marketing strategy is essential for any business.
As an Omaha business owner, you must understand your audience, set clear goals, and choose the right digital marketing channels to reach them.
For my business, I focused on combining email marketing, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and social media marketing to create a comprehensive marketing plan that drove results.
The Role of Omaha Digital Marketing Services
If you’re new to digital marketing or simply don’t have the time to manage your campaigns, partnering with an Omaha digital marketing company can be a game-changer.
By collaborating with a top-tier digital marketing agency in Omaha, like Two Brothers Creative, you gain access to a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise. Our team of seasoned professionals is well-versed in the latest trends, tools, and strategies, ensuring your campaigns are optimized for maximum impact.
As your business grows, so do your marketing demands. Working with an Omaha digital marketing agency ensures that your campaigns can scale seamlessly, adapting to your evolving needs and objectives.
Also, having a marketing service in your city or state can be more effective because they know and understand the area, culture, and sense of humor of the people around.
The Power of Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
Another essential element of my marketing strategy was pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.
PPC platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads allowed me to target my audience precisely and only pay when someone clicks on my ad.
The beauty of PPC advertising lies in its cost-effective nature – you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, ensuring that your marketing budget is spent wisely and efficiently. This performance-based approach not only helped me drive traffic to my website but also increased brand visibility and, ultimately, boosted sales.
PPC platforms offer advanced targeting options, enabling you to reach potential customers based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and even specific keywords. This ensures that your ads are displayed to the most relevant audience, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversions.
Staying Ahead with SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical to any digital marketing plan.
As a business owner in Omaha, I knew that ranking high on search engine results pages was crucial for attracting potential customers, especially for local services.
Local SEO is a specialized branch of search engine optimization that focuses on optimizing a website to improve its visibility and rankings in local search results. This is particularly important for businesses that serve a specific geographic area or have a brick-and-mortar presence, such as restaurants, retail stores, and service providers.
The importance of local SEO cannot be overstated, as it plays a vital role in connecting businesses with their local audience and driving foot traffic or localized online conversions.
A solid local SEO strategy can help businesses outrank competitors in their area, making them the go-to choice for customers seeking their products or services. Moreover, with the rise of mobile search and voice-activated assistants, local SEO has become even more critical as users increasingly rely on these technologies to find businesses near them.
Another crucial part of SEO is backlinks, also known as inbound or incoming links, which are a critical component of SEO, as they signal to search engines that your website is a valuable and credible source of information.
When other reputable websites link to your content, it essentially acts as an endorsement, indicating that your site offers valuable insights or resources worth referencing. Search engines, such as Google, consider these endorsements when determining the authority and relevance of your website, ultimately impacting your rankings in search results.
By optimizing my website for relevant keywords, creating valuable content, and building quality backlinks, I was able to improve my online visibility and drive more organic traffic to my site.
The Magic of Video Production
Incorporating video content into my marketing strategy was one of the best decisions I’ve made as a business owner.
Videos have a unique ability to engage and inform audiences in a way that other formats can’t. By creating compelling videos about my products and services, I was able to capture my audience’s attention, increase brand awareness, and drive more sales.
Another benefit of videos is that they boost your ranking on search engines and can be optimized by SEO. They add a little extra quality content to your page or social media.
Mastering Social Media Marketing
Social media has become an indispensable tool for businesses in Omaha and beyond.
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow you to connect with your audience, share content, and promote your products or services.
I found that using a combination of organic posts and paid social media advertising was the key to building a strong online presence and generating more sales. Paid media is quick and effective, so it will show you pretty much instant results.
On the other hand, organic content has a longer life span and produces more loyal customers. So having a combination creates the perfect balance to have revenue all year long.
Why Social Media Management Matters
Managing multiple social media accounts can be time-consuming, but it’s essential for maintaining a consistent online presence.
Our clients hire us for full-service digital marketing. This includes social media management services. We help them streamline their efforts and ensure their brand remains visible and engaging on all platforms.
The Importance of Marketing Planning
To make the most of your digital marketing efforts, it’s crucial to have a well-defined marketing plan in place.
This involves setting clear objectives, identifying your target audience, selecting the right marketing channels, having a posting schedule, and determining your budget.
A well-planned schedule ensures that your content is published at optimal times to maximize engagement and reach while also preventing gaps or overlaps in your messaging. Consistency in posting helps build brand recognition and fosters trust among your audience, as they come to expect and rely on your regular updates.
By creating a comprehensive marketing plan, I was able to allocate resources more effectively and ensure my marketing efforts were aligned with my business goals.
Discovering the Right Marketing Solution for Your Business
With so many digital marketing strategies available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best approach for your business.
I found that the key to success was identifying the marketing solution that best met my unique needs and goals.
This involved researching various tactics, consulting with experts, and testing different strategies to find the perfect combination that drove results.
Boost Your Sales with Digital Marketing in Omaha
As a business owner in Omaha, I’ve experienced firsthand the power of digital marketing in driving sales and growing my business.
By implementing strategies like email marketing, PPC, SEO, video production, and social media marketing, I was able to reach my target audience, build brand awareness, and increase my revenue.
If you’re looking to make more sales and grow your business, consider partnering with a digital marketing company in Omaha like Two Brothers Creative. We offer a range of services, including SEO, PPC, social media management, and more, to help you achieve your marketing goals and drive results.
I hope my personal experiences and insights have shed some light on the potential of digital marketing for businesses in Omaha. By embracing these strategies and working with the right partners, you, too, can unlock the full potential of your business and make more sales. Good luck on your digital marketing journey!
Digital Marketing in the Age of the Algorithm
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of marketing? Are you struggling to create content that effectively conveys your brand’s value proposition while engaging your audience?
Two Brothers Creative is here to help. As experienced digital marketers ourselves, we understand the challenges of selecting channels, preparing creatives, and then effectively promoting your content across multiple touchpoints. Our team is prepared to help you with the process.
Two Brothers Creative: Content in a Box
Together we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged. Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
Finding the best podcast equipment for beginners can be daunting and overwhelming with so many options.
Here’s the hard truth: People will forgive poor video quality, but they will not forgive poor audio quality. This is especially true when you consider how intimate the listening experience is with podcasting.
When you host a podcast, you are in an intimate conversation with your listener. Any flaws in the sound of the audio will impact the listener’s experience.
Today we will explore the best equipment to guarantee a fabulous hearing experience for all your followers.
Invest in the Best Podcast Equipment for Beginners
If you’re serious about starting a podcast, investing in high-quality equipment is a must. It’s a one-time expense that will directly impact every second of every episode for the lifetime of your show.
After 18 years in radio and television, I have used nearly every microphone, audio recording interface, sound mixing control board, and every other gadget you can think of.
I’m passing on my experience to you. This includes my wins, mistakes, and money wasted. This way, you will know what you need to get the best podcast equipment for beginners.
Understanding Your Podcasting Needs
Before diving into specific equipment recommendations, it’s essential to understand your podcasting needs. What is your podcast’s format?
Is it a solo ‘monologue’ style show with just the host? A roundtable conversation with people together in person? Or is it an interview format or remotely over the internet?
The answers you give will have a major impact on the cost of your equipment.
Go Solo First & Record Remote
Invest in a ‘solo’ setup for yourself and conduct your interviews or co-hosts remotely over the Internet.
Recording platforms like Riverside and Streamyard now make remote recording possible. They provide high-quality audio and video in full HD.
Recording remotely like that is a creative way to reduce your costs on equipment. For example, a solo setup for you means you’ll only need one microphone, one stand, a cable, and a solo audio interface, minimizing the costs a ton.
Which Microphone Should You Get: USB vs. XLR
The heart of any podcast is the microphone, and as a beginner, you’ll likely be deciding between USB and XLR mics.
USB Microphones are convenient and easy to use. They are also cheaper than XLR mics. However, you will sacrifice some audio quality when using a USB mic.
Remember: the cheaper you go, the faster the quality of your audio goes down, too.
While XLR mics require an audio interface to connect to your computer, they do provide much better sound quality. XLR microphones can be costly. However, investing in one may be beneficial in the long term.
My Recommendation: XLR Hybrid USB
You should go with a hybrid setup that utilizes the pros of both USB and XLR for an affordable, portable, easy-to-use plug-and-play setup.
With a USB-powered audio interface like the Scarlett Solo, you get ease, convenience, and portability. Another good option is a ShureSm7 XLR mic to maintain a higher-quality sound.
Best Podcast Equipment for Beginners Setup
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s explore the best podcast equipment for beginners, including microphones, audio interfaces, headphones, and accessories.
Which Microphones Should You Get?
As mentioned earlier, choosing between USB and XLR microphones is a significant decision for beginners. Here are some top recommendations in both categories:
USB-Powered Microphones
For USB-powered microphones, I recommend the Shure MV7 USB-powered podcast microphone. If you’re not going to go with an XLR mic due to budget restrictions, you still need to go with a high-quality microphone, and Shure microphones are the industry standard for podcasting.
They look presentable on camera and come attached to a mount that is easy to attach and start recording episodes. Price: $249
XLR Microphone: Shure SM7B
The Shure SM7 Microphone has become my go-to choice for podcast and audio production. They sound amazing, are portable and easy to set up fast, and look sharp on camera for video podcasts.
RE20 Dynamic Microphone
These are the best-sounding vocal mics you can buy, with the quality even beating out the SM7B – which is only our top pick because of the price difference. The RE20s are those big old-school microphones you’ll see in every radio station across the country.
The RE20 has been a standard microphone for radio hosts for decades and remains the industry standard. This is likely because radio stations have no budget to upgrade their equipment.
The RE320 Dynamic Microphone
They also make a RE320 Dynamic Microphone, which is nearly identical looking compared to the RE20 mic, but at a much lower price point that comes in at around $280-299 each. There is a difference in the type of sound quality versus an RE20, with the RE320 having less of a ‘low-end’ ‘full’ sound to them. The RE320 is a fantastic mic, though, and it will easily get the job done.
What Microphones Should You NOT Get?
Sure, a USB microphone for Zoom meetings or a cheap USB-powered microphone will get the job done. However, if you are hosting a podcast, then you need to take the quality of your audio very seriously.
The Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti is a popular choice among podcasters. Not to beat up on the Blue Yeti here, but you are better than a Blue Yeti! When you invest in quality gear, you are investing in yourself.
The Rode PodMic
Then there’s the Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone. The Rode PodMic’s sound is ‘tinny,’ from my experience, lacking enough low-end depth or rich ‘volume’ for your voice.
The Headset Microphone
Unless you are an air traffic controller or calling play-by-play for a high school football game, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for you to use a headset microphone.
Headphones like the Audio-Technica BPHS1 are ideal for news broadcasts and internal communication, where the audio quality is forgivable.
These headsets are not at all designed for an intimate listening medium like podcasting, and because of that, they sound horrible. The sound quality is shallow, tinny, and sounds like you’re on an AM radio station back in 1955.
Which Audio Interface Is The Best Choice?
If you choose an XLR microphone, you’ll need an audio interface to connect it to your computer. Audio interfaces convert the analog signal from your microphone into a digital signal that your computer can process. Here are two beginner-friendly options:
Focusrite Scarlett Solo
This compact, budget-friendly audio interface offers one XLR input and delivers excellent sound quality. These are very affordable, with solo interfaces starting at around $119 that also accommodate XLR and musical instrument inputs.
Behringer U-Phoria UM2
This is an affordable option with one XLR input; the UM2 is perfect for those starting with a single microphone setup.
What Are The Best Podcast Headphones To Get?
Monitoring your audio while recording is crucial for ensuring your podcast sounds professional. A good pair of headphones will help you catch any issues with sound levels, background noise, or sound effects. Here are two options suitable for beginners:
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x or M20x
The Audio-Technica ATH-M30x (or ATH-M20x, Alternatively)Professional Studio Monitor Headphones are in the mid-range for pricing, but the sound quality is fantastic. These are durable headphones that last a long time, making this my top recommendation for you. These headphones price out at around $49.99 to $79.99, which is very reasonable for the quality you’ll be getting.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
If the price weren’t an issue, then I would recommend getting these over-ear headphones that offer a comfortable fit and excellent sound quality, just for a little bit higher price. These headphones are definitely not on the cheap end of the price range, but this is what I would call a sound investment. (pun intended)
Apple AirPodMax
These are wireless, and I mostly wear them for music and video editing, but they are by far the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn.
The standard listening mode, Noice Cancellation, and Transparency modes are incredible, and they naturally switch between my laptop for Zoom calls and back to my phone seamlessly.
The downside to Apple’s AirPodMax Headphones is the price tag. They go for around $650 or higher, making them understandably out of most people’s budgets. But, hey, a girl can dream, right?
Recording and Editing Software
Once you’ve captured your audio, you’ll need software to edit and polish your podcast. There are several free and paid options available that cater to different skill levels and preferences.
Adobe Audition
A professional-grade software with advanced editing features, Adobe Audition is a great choice for those who want to invest in a more powerful editing tool as their podcast grows.
FCPX
Nowadays, I actually use Final Cut X for my audio editing. Final Cut has greatly improved its audio processing and mastering with new features. It’s only $299 to buy it and will easily be well worth the investment in the long run.
Best Podcast Equipment: Accessories
To complete your podcast setup, you’ll need a few essential accessories:
Pop Filter
‘Plosives’ are something you definitely want to avoid for your listeners’ sake.
A pop filter is a screen that helps minimize plosive sounds (like “p” or “t” and “b”) that can cause distortion in your audio. The Dragonpad USA Pop Filter is an affordable option that does the job well.
Microphone Stand or Boom Arm
A microphone boom arm is like a bendable microphone stand that is easy to position and reposition, even while you’re talking into the microphone. There are two options I highly recommend. Both of these options have desk clamps to easily attach to any table or desk without damaging it.
Boom Arm Top Pick: The best quality boom arm is the Blue Compass Premium Tube-Style Broadcast Boom Arm. These look super professional and polished and are easy to lock in place where needed.
Boom Arm 2nd Pick: The O.C. White Podcast Pro by Accu-Lite Mic Boom Package (Silver) is a great choice for beginners because it actually comes with an XLR microphone cable already built into it. This means less setup and wires for you to have to deal with. The price is reasonable at around $99, but when you buy a Shure SM7 on BandH, they often include bonus items with your purchase. I have received 3 of these Silver boom arms for free, just for buying a top-quality mic.
Shock Mount Pick: You don’t necessarily need to buy a shock mount, as both of our microphone recommendations can mount directly to your mic stand or boom arm. Shock Mounts are just an extra layer of sound protection so that your mic doesn’t pick up noise every time you bump the table or touch the boom arm.
This accessory helps isolate your microphone from vibrations and handling noise. Some microphones, like the Audio-Technica AT2020, come with a shock mount included, while others may require a separate purchase. Shock Mounts for the RE20 and RE320 run about $109 each.
Podcast Equipment for Beginners Tips: Make the Most Out of It
When you’re starting, it’s crucial to strike a balance between value and quality. Here are some tips for making the most of your podcasting budget
The options we recommend to our clients and to you are going to cost around $700 in total. That includes the Shure SM7 mic, Scarlett Solo audio interface, Silver Boom Arm with XLR cable built in, and headphones to monitor recordings.
Plus, recording software like Adobe Audition (around $50 per month), or you could pay a one-time fee of $299 to own Final Cut Pro.
The assembly is what I highly recommend because it will guarantee that your podcast sounds amazing. There’s no risk of you fumbling over gear, struggling to install apps, updates, and program issues because this assembly is literally plugged and played.
When you’re considering how to balance what I recommend and what will actually work with your budget, here are some tips to help you out:
Prioritize: Invest in essential equipment first, like a good-quality microphone and headphones. Additional accessories and upgrades can come later as your podcast grows.
Shop Around: Take the time to compare prices and read reviews. Look for sales or refurbished items to save money without compromising on quality. Shop on eBay, Amazon, and our favorite equipment distributor: BandH
Start Simple: Don’t let the vast array of podcasting gear intimidate you. Begin with a basic setup and gradually upgrade as you gain experience and confidence in your podcasting skills.
Last But Not Least: Your Podcast Recording Studio
Today we are extremely lucky to have built a state-of-the-art audio and video podcast recording studio in Omaha. The Omaha Podcast Studio is the premiere recording facility in our hometown of Omaha, but we didn’t always have it this good, trust me.
My first ‘studio’ in radio was called ‘The Toilet Studio’ due to it being the same size as a bathroom stall and because it was located four feet across from the men’s and women’s bathrooms.
What Do You Really Need for a Podcast Studio?
It’s all about the sound waves and if they have a place to go. Sound waves project out of your mouth, and then they will bounce off of hard surfaces (like walls and ceilings) and keep bouncing all over the place, creating that ‘echo’ or ‘reverb’ you’ve probably noticed in homes.
Sound Foam is a quick and easy way to deaden that sound, and you can put this up on walls and ceilings easily enough.
A simple and portable trick is to purchase a portable sound foam ‘voiceover booth.’ Options like this portable sound booth are very reasonably priced at around $27-$40 and even include a desktop microphone stand that comes with it.
Just make sure you’re in a room where the sound has a place to be absorbed. Hang up some towels around you, stack up some pillows, whatever you can do to deaden the sound in any room, the better you’re going to sound on your podcast.
Note: Avoid large rooms to record in. A small room, even a closet, is what you want to achieve optimal sound quality.
Podcast Equipment for Beginners: Are You Ready To Start Now?
We are here to help you develop, produce, launch, and maintain your podcast so that you can focus on what is most important: the quality of your content in each episode.
As experienced podcasters and producers, we understand the challenges of selecting equipment, preparing guests, and maximizing each episode to deliver content across multiple platforms. Our team is different from other production warehouses because we are invested in the success of your podcast just as much as you are.
Two Brothers Creative: Content in a Box
Together we’ll identify actionable steps you need to take, from selecting channels that best capture your audience’s attention to creating memorable storylines that keep them engaged. Say goodbye to confusion, wasted time, and financial underperformance with Two Brothers Creative.
