# Volume Nine > Organic Digital Marketing, Denver --- ## Pages - [Press Page](https://www.v9digital.com/press-page/): With more than a decade of digital marketing agency experience, Volume Nine believes success is measured in long-term relationships and ongoing results. - [Opt-out preferences](https://www.v9digital.com/opt-out-preferences/) - [About The GEO Grader](https://www.v9digital.com/geo-grader/): How AI ready is your website? Get a quick, easy to understand AI SEO grade for free! - [GEO](https://www.v9digital.com/services/geo/): Get found by Chatbots, LLMs, and Generative Search with Volume Nine - [Denver Social Media](https://www.v9digital.com/denver-social-media/): Denver’s Top Social Media Agency Since 2007 Want to work with a local Social Media company here in Denver? We’d... - [Volume Nine Awards](https://www.v9digital.com/volume-nine-awards/): Ready to build a steady stream of traffic and new customers through digital marketing? We've helped hundreds of businesses turn up their revenue - now, it's your opportunity to grow. - [Appear in ChatGPT](https://www.v9digital.com/specialties/appear-in-chatgpt/): Want to get your brand to show up more in ChatGPT? Volume Nine can help you work through the the process of Generative Engine Optimization to drive visibility and traffic in LLMs like ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews and more. - [Vistage Info](https://www.v9digital.com/vistage-henley/): Natalie Henley Owner of an award-winning Digital Marketing Agency, Vistage member, and a Vistage Speaker since 2011. Top Brands Volume... - [HTML Sitemap](https://www.v9digital.com/html-sitemap/) - [Don't Sell My Data](https://www.v9digital.com/dont-sell-my-data/): We Won’t Sell Your Data Don’t worry – we won’t sell your user data – EVER Many governments & states... - [Social Media Portfolio](https://www.v9digital.com/services/social-media/social-media-portfolio/): Social media isn’t just about showing up—it’s about standing out. We create eye-catching content and scroll-stopping designs that bring your brand to life and get people talking. - [Freelancing with V9](https://www.v9digital.com/join-the-team/freelancing-with-v9/): Are you a digital marketing freelancer looking to expand your portfolio, work on exciting projects with incredible brands, and get paid quickly for your work? - [Drive More Social Media Engagement](https://www.v9digital.com/specialties/drive-more-social-media-engagement/): Ready to build a growing, engaged community on social media? We utilize targeted messaging and high-quality creative to help you connect with your target audience. - [Vistage Resources](https://www.v9digital.com/vistage/): All the needed resources to help out my fellow Vistage members as we get going. Helpful links & tools During... - [Templates](https://www.v9digital.com/resources/templates/): We’ve been cracking away at Digital Marketing for almost two decades, and as you might imagine, we’ve got a few solid gold templates we regularly update to stay on top of industry trends. - [Thank You - Templates](https://www.v9digital.com/resources/templates/thank-you-templates/): Your New Templates & Tools The links are below 🙂 Also, are you interested in getting a helping hand with... - [Sell More For Less](https://www.v9digital.com/specialties/sell-more-for-less/): Ready for cross-channel campaigns that help build your brand and sell more for less? Learn more about our appraoch to eCommerce and increasing online sales. - [Drive More Leads](https://www.v9digital.com/specialties/drive-more-leads/): Need a stronger and more consistent leadflow? We help to not only drive more leads in the short-term but a steady leadflow long-term with cross-channel strategies. - [Protect SEO During a Website Launch](https://www.v9digital.com/specialties/protect-seo-during-a-website-launch/): Relaunching your website and worried about tanking your organic traffic? We can help before, during and post launch to protect your SEO visibility, mitigating the inherent risks. - [Recover Lost SEO Traffic](https://www.v9digital.com/specialties/recover-lost-seo-traffic/): Have you lost traffic to your website and you'd like to get it back? Through evaluating your website and history, we can develop a strategy to recover this lost traffic. - [Full Service](https://www.v9digital.com/services/full-service-digital-marketing/): Do you need more than a single support channel? We can help you audit, strategize, and manage a full set of channels and tactics. Learn more about our full-service digital marketing solutions. - [PPC](https://www.v9digital.com/services/ppc/): We build intentional, data-driven PPC campaigns that get you in front of the right audience at the right time — and drive results that matter. Stop wasting spend on ads that don't convert. - [Let's Talk](https://www.v9digital.com/lets-talk/): Get connected with a Digital Marketing expert for tangible insights on how to grow your brand and drive steady, predictable revenue growth. - [Denver SEO](https://www.v9digital.com/denver-seo/): With decades of SEO experience, we help companies both large and small to maximize their organic search persence in the Denver area. We love Denver and look forward to seeing how we can help local brands. - [Alcohol](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/alcoholic-beverages/): Use data-driven strategies to build brand loyalty, engage consumers where they shop and socialize, and drive measurable growth in a highly regulated industry. - [B2B Software](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/software/): In software, competition for market share can be fierce and it’s essential to have a strategy that helps you cut through the noise to connect with your target customers. - [Homebuilders](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/homebuilders/): Use data-driven digital marketing to expand your brand’s reach, connect with homebuyers, and support long-term growth. See how cross-channel digital marketing strategies can help. - [Travel & Tourism](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/travel-tourism/): Your travel and tourism brand deserves a marketing strategy as unique as your destination or service. See how cross-channel digital marketing strategies can help. - [Hotels & Resorts](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/hospitality-resorts/): Attracting new visitors to your hotel, resort, or destination can feel like an uphill battle. See how cross-channel digital marketing strategies can help. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.v9digital.com/privacy-policy/): We take your data very seriously. Connect with an Expert This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which Volume Nine... - [Content Audit](https://www.v9digital.com/services/content/content-strategy/): Evaluating onsite content can quickly feel overwhelming. We specialize in not only reviewing the existing content opportunities, but in outlining a content roadmap for long-term success. - [Services](https://www.v9digital.com/services/): We are a digital marketing agency that doesn’t shy away from innovation. We specialize in SEO, Social Media, and Content strategies. - [SEO](https://www.v9digital.com/services/seo/): Your customers constantly turn to search engines to solve their problems. We ensure they find you (instead of your competitors) at the top of their search results. - [Social Media](https://www.v9digital.com/services/social-media/): Take your social media presence to the next level with a comprehensive social media strategy and social media management. Reach your audience where they are with social media marketing (SMM). - [Content](https://www.v9digital.com/services/content/): The key to content marketing success is knowing what content goes where, when to post it, and how it is going to improve the bottom line. - [Industries](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/): Volume Nine has worked with a variety of different industries since starting the agency in 2006. Our experience across mutliple industries and verticals enforces our commitment to custom solutions. - [Consumer Products](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/consumer-products/): We help you increase brand awareness, connect with consumers in meaningful ways, and drive sales—whether they’re shopping online or grabbing your product off the shelf. - [Ecommerce](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/ecommerce/): Data-driven strategies built for Ecommerce brands that drive traffic, increase product sales and fuel profitable revenue growth. - [B2B Brands](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/b2b-brands/): Especially in marketing a B2B brand, it's not just about website traffic. Driving marketing qualified leads that actually turn into customers through cross-channel solutions. - [Natural Products](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/cpg-natural-products-foods/): Harness data-driven digital marketing strategies to elevate your brand, engage conscious consumers, and drive sustainable growth. - [Manufacturing](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/manufacturing/): Smart digital marketing strategies to connect with buyers, build industry credibility, and drive real growth for manufacturers. - [Beauty & Fashion](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/beauty-fashion/): You deserve a custom digital marketing program, designed to show your brand in its best light, attract new customers & gain market share. - [Healthcare](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/healthcare/): Leverage data-driven digital marketing to expand your healthcare brand’s reach, foster patient and provider engagement, and support long-term growth. - [Health & Fitness](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/health-fitness/): Use data-driven digital marketing to grow your health and fitness brand, connect with your audience, and turn engagement into lasting customer loyalty. - [Pets](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/pets/): Use data-driven digital marketing to connect with pet owners, grow your brand, and turn engagement into lasting customer loyalty. - [Outdoor Brands](https://www.v9digital.com/industries/outdoor-brands/): Smart digital marketing strategies to connect with adventure seekers, build brand loyalty, and drive real growth for outdoor brands. - [About Us](https://www.v9digital.com/about-v9/): With more than a decade of digital marketing agency experience, Volume Nine believes success is measured in long-term relationships and ongoing results. - [The V9 Team](https://www.v9digital.com/team/): Volume Nine is fortunate to have built a top-notch team of industry experts. Every member of the V9 team has years of digital marketing experience. - [Join Our Team](https://www.v9digital.com/join-the-team/): Join our team of expert digital marketers built to help clients across a wide range of verticals with all of their digital marketing needs. - [V9 Gives Back](https://www.v9digital.com/about-v9/v9-gives-back/): Volume Nine gives back to our local community through charitable donations and volunteer work to organizations that benefit at-risk youth, children, and families in our local communities. - [Resources](https://www.v9digital.com/resources/): There are essential ingredients in a digital marketing strategy and we hope to help you craft that winning strategy with our strategic insights and guides. - [Insights Blog](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/): Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut... - [V9 Guides](https://www.v9digital.com/resources/guides/): From training videos to downloadable guides for developing social media strategies, browse our library of free digital marketing guides and resources. - [Success Stories](https://www.v9digital.com/success-stories/): We focus on what matters most for each of our clients: creating winning strategies that deliver real results for our clients’ bottom line! - [Specialties](https://www.v9digital.com/specialties/): Let's get your metrics moving up and to the right. See what makes us Denver's best digital marketing agency and the different services we provide in achieving results for our clients. - [Social Media Audit](https://www.v9digital.com/services/social-media/social-media-audit/): To know where you're going, it's important to know where you're starting. Get a comprehensive social media audit that can set the stage for your brand's winning social media strategy. - [SEO Audit](https://www.v9digital.com/services/seo/seo-audit/): Go above and beyond in auditing your site against SEO best practices with a comprehensive technical and content SEO audit. Prioritize your efforts with best practices that drive results. - [Thank You](https://www.v9digital.com/lets-talk/thank-you/): Thanks for Connecting! We’ll get back to you asap We know there is a lot of noise in Digital Marketing... - [Home](https://www.v9digital.com/): Ready to build a steady stream of traffic and new customers through digital marketing? We've helped hundreds of businesses turn up their revenue - now, it's your opportunity to grow. --- ## Posts - [How V9 Uses AI Without Letting It Run the Show](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-v9-uses-ai-without-letting-it-run-the-show/): Learn how our digital marketing team uses AI to improve efficiency without replacing strategy, creativity, or human insight. - [Every Brand Should Have a "For the Press" Page by the End of 2026. Here's Why.](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/every-brand-should-have-a-for-the-press-page-by-the-end-of-2026-heres-why/): AI search is reshaping how brands are discovered. Learn why creating a “For the Press” page helps control your brand information and strengthen visibility in AI search results. - [What Is Wikidata And Why Does It Matter For Your Brand?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-wikidata-and-why-does-it-matter-for-your-brand/): Understand what Wikidata is, how it supports structured data and entity recognition, and why maintaining an accurate Wikidata entry strengthens SEO, GEO, and long-term brand visibility. - [Local SEO In 2026: How Multi-Location Businesses Win In AI Search](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/local-seo-in-2026-how-multi-location-businesses-win-in-ai-search/): Learn how to build a winning local SEO strategy for multiple locations in 2026. Discover how AI search, Google Business Profile optimization, citations, and localized content drive rankings and conversions for multi-location businesses. - [GEO vs. SEO: How AI Search Is Changing Digital Marketing in 2026](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/geo-vs-seo-how-ai-search-is-changing-digital-marketing-in-2026/): Explore GEO vs. SEO, how AI search works, and why ChatGPT, AI Overviews, and large language models are reshaping search visibility in 2026. - [Announcing - a Free Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Grader by Volume Nine](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/announcing-a-free-generative-engine-optimization-geo-grader-by-volume-nine/): Check out the GEO Grader here. Search is changing fast, and a lot of marketing teams feel behind Last September,... - [5 CPG Marketing Shifts to Watch in 2026 (And How to Budget for Them)](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/5-cpg-marketing-shifts-to-watch-in-2026-and-how-to-budget-for-them/): Explore the top CPG marketing trends for 2026, from AI-driven discovery to omnichannel strategy. Learn how to budget smarter across social, retail, and e-commerce. - [The 7-Point Digital Marketing Audit Every Business Should Run in 2026](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/the-7-point-digital-marketing-audit-every-business-should-run-in-2026/): Plan smarter for 2026 with a 7-point digital marketing audit. Review SEO, social media, paid ads, content, and conversion performance before setting your marketing budget. - [How Kate's Real Food Cut $15K in Monthly Ad Spend, Posted 66% Less, and Grew Instagram Engagement 419%](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-kates-real-food-cut-15k-in-monthly-ad-spend-posted-66-less-and-grew-instagram-engagement-419/): The Transformation by the Numbers What We Cut• $15,000/month paid social spend → $0• Instagram posts: -66% year-over-year What We... - [15 Best SEO Companies in Denver](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/15-best-seo-companies-in-denver/): The top 15 standout SEO firms in 2025! - [How to Build a Full-Funnel Social Media Strategy That Actually Converts](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-build-a-full-funnel-social-media-strategy-that-actually-converts/): Learn how to turn followers into customers with a full-funnel social media strategy that guides audiences from awareness to conversion. - [Optimizing Blog Content for GEO: A Guide to AI-Featured Blog Posts](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/optimizing-blog-content-for-geo-a-guide-to-ai-featured-blog-posts/): Search is changing fast. Learn how to write blog content designed for AI-generated answers, boost visibility in ChatGPT, SGE, and Perplexity, and stay ahead in the GEO era. - [Top 10 CRO Agencies: Who’s Leading the Conversion Game?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/top-10-cro-agencies-whos-leading-the-conversion-game/): Looking for the best CRO agency to turn more visitors into customers? Explore our list of the top 10 Conversion Rate Optimization agencies of 2025—featuring proven experts in testing, UX, and data-driven growth. - [From Meh to Fantastic: How to Turn Underperforming Blogs into Top Performers](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/from-meh-to-fantastic-how-to-turn-underperforming-blogs-into-top-performers/): Struggling with blog posts that don’t get clicks or conversions? Learn how to diagnose why content flops and get practical steps to refresh, optimize, and promote your blogs so they actually perform. - [21 Proven Tips to Skyrocket Your Social Media Engagement](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/21-proven-tips-to-skyrocket-your-social-media-engagement/): Boost your brand’s reach and credibility with these 21 proven social media engagement strategies. Discover actionable tips on visuals, trends, captions, UGC, CTAs, and more to grow your audience and drive real results. - [Your B2B Content Doesn’t Have to Be Boring - Learn to Tell a Good Story ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/your-b2b-content-doesnt-have-to-be-boring-learn-to-tell-a-good-story/): Tired of dry B2B marketing? Learn how to use social storytelling to make your content engaging, relatable, and effective. Discover simple strategies to connect with your audience and drive results. - [How to Repurpose Content Across Social Media for Maximum ROI](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-repurpose-content-across-social-media-for-maximum-roi-2/): Learn how to repurpose content the right way—turn blogs, videos, podcasts, and more into fresh formats for Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and beyond. Save time, boost reach, and get more ROI without burning out. - [Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): Why It Matters in the Age of AI Search](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/generative-engine-optimization-geo-why-it-matters-in-the-age-of-ai-search/): Learn what Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is, why it matters, and how to optimize your content for AI search tools like ChatGPT and Google SGE. - [The SEO Audit Myth: What You Actually Need Instead](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/the-seo-audit-myth-what-you-actually-need-instead/): SEO audits rarely drive growth. Learn why prioritization and execution—not endless checklists—are what actually move your traffic, leads, and revenue. - [How to Repurpose Content Across Social Media for Maximum ROI](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-repurpose-content-across-social-media-for-maximum-roi/): Stop wasting time on new content. Learn how to repurpose content across social media to boost reach, save time, and get better ROI. - [Zero-Click Searches in 2025: How to Get Value Without the Click](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/zero-click-searches-in-2025-how-to-get-value-without-the-click/): Are zero-click searches quietly killing your organic traffic? You’re not alone in wondering. As more users get their answers straight... - [How to Create an Effective Social Media Strategy with Zero Paid Ads](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-create-an-effective-social-media-strategy-with-zero-paid-ads/): Discover a proven step-by-step guide to growing your brand with zero paid ads. Learn how to create engaging content, choose the right platforms, set trackable goals, and build lasting organic engagement in 2025. - [E-E-A-T in 2025: How Google’s Updated Guidelines Affect Your SEO Strategy](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/e-e-a-t-in-2025-how-googles-updated-guidelines-affect-your-seo-strategy/): Learn how Google’s 2025 E-E-A-T update impacts your SEO strategy. Discover practical tips to boost your content’s Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. - [The Psychology of Social Media Engagement: What Makes People Click, Like & Share?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/the-psychology-of-social-media-engagement-what-makes-people-click-like-share/): Discover the psychological triggers that drive social media engagement—from dopamine hits to storytelling strategies. Learn how to create content that connects, converts, and keeps your audience coming back. - [Voice Search SEO: How to Rank for Spoken Queries](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/voice-search-seo-how-to-rank-for-spoken-queries/): Discover how to optimize your website for voice search in 2025. Learn key tactics for conversational keywords, featured snippets, local SEO, and mobile speed to boost your rankings for spoken queries. - [How to Optimize for AI Overviews and Stay Ahead in SEO](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-optimize-for-ai-overviews-and-stay-ahead-in-seo/): AI Overviews are changing search—learn how to optimize your content for Google’s AI-generated results. Boost visibility, drive traffic, and stay ahead in SEO with expert strategies. - [Search Everywhere Optimization: Why 2025 is the Year to Expand Your SEO Strategy](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/search-everywhere-optimization-why-2025-is-the-year-to-expand-your-seo-strategy/): Search Everywhere Optimization: Why 2025 is the Year to Expand Your SEO Strategy If you’ve been focused solely on ranking... - [SEO for Startups: How to Build Authority from Scratch](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/seo-for-startups-how-to-build-authority-from-scratch/): Search engines don’t hand out credibility like free samples at a supermarket. If you’re launching a startup, you’re starting from... - [How to Leverage UGC (User-Generated Content) for Maximum Engagement in 2025](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-leverage-ugc-user-generated-content-for-maximum-engagement-in-2025/): Discover how to harness user-generated content (UGC) to boost engagement, build trust, and drive conversions in 2025. Learn top strategies, case studies, and AI-driven insights for maximizing UGC impact. - [Local SEO 101: How to Get Your Multi-Location Business Found](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/local-seo-101-how-to-get-your-multi-location-business-found/): Master Local SEO for multi-location businesses with strategies to optimize Google Business Profiles, create location-specific landing pages, and build local trust. Drive foot traffic and outpace competitors today! - [Why Generic Holiday Social Media Posts Are Hurting Your Brand (And What to Do Instead)](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/why-generic-holiday-social-media-posts-are-hurting-your-brand-and-what-to-do-instead/): Avoid generic holiday posts that hurt engagement. Learn creative, authentic strategies to connect with your audience this season. - [Top SEO Trends & Strategies 2025](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/top-seo-trends-strategies-2025/): Discover the must-know SEO trends for 2025! Learn how to optimize beyond Google, leverage AI, boost engagement, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving search landscape. - [How Should I Adjust My Marketing Strategy for SearchGPT?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/should-i-adjust-my-marketing-strategy-for-searchgpt/): OpenAI is actively working on SearchGPT - here's the jist of what you should know and how to adjust your marketing & SEO strategy. - [Is Your Organic Traffic Declining? Start Here ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/organic-traffic-declining/): Nobody wants to see their organic traffic trending down and to the right. If your organic traffic is declining, here's a few great places to start troubleshooting. - [2024 E-commerce Holiday Trends and Critical Dates for Q4 Planning](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/2024-e-commerce-holiday-trends/): Buckle up, the 2024 Holiday Season is shaping up to be intense for Ecommerce brands this year. Prep for these E-commerce holiday trends & mark down some critical dates for your planning. - [Google Leak Last Week Revealed a Giant Laundry List of SEO Ranking Factors— Why Should The Average Head of Marketing Care? ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/google-leak-last-week-revealed-a-giant-laundry-list-of-seo-ranking-factors-why-should-the-average-head-of-marketing-care/): A leak of an internal Google document revealed a treasure trove of information behind the most secretive algorithm in the world. See why marketers should care. - [How to Budget for SEO](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-budget-for-seo/): Learn how to budget for SEO like a master. Discover how to allocate resources effectively, increase traffic, and achieve measurable results. - [The 7 Types of Content Every CPG Brand Needs to Be Creating](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/the-7-types-of-content-every-cpg-brand-needs-to-be-creating/): Discover the best content for CPG brands with our guide on the 7 essential types you need to create for success and engagement. - [LinkedIn Profile Optimization Tips for Manufacturing Executives](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/linkedin-profile-optimization-tips-for-manufacturing-executives/): Maximize your LinkedIn profile's impact with expert tips on visibility, keywords, and professional branding. Optimize today for better opportunities! - [Digital Marketing Trends for Health & Wellness Brands](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/digital-marketing-trends-for-health-wellness-brands/): Learn key digital marketing strategies for health and wellness brands, like building trust, creating engaging content, and partnering with niche influencers. - [How to Rank Your CPG Products on the First Page of Google (Even with a Tiny Budget)](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-rank-your-cpg-products-on-the-first-page-of-google-even-with-a-tiny-budget/): Master budget-friendly tactics to rank your CPG products higher on Google, boosting visibility for small brands efficiently. - [10 Lead Generation Ideas for IT Service Companies That Actually Work](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/10-tips-for-it-service-companies-how-to-generate-more-leads/): Struggling with how to generate leads for your IT service company? Discover 10 powerful tactics to attract qualified leads and fuel your business growth. - [6 Powerful Facebook Marketing Ideas for Manufacturers](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/6-powerful-facebook-marketing-ideas-for-manufacturers/): Manufacturers! Engage customers & tell your brand story with Facebook. Learn 6 powerful marketing strategies to maximize your reach & drive growth. - [A Guide to Email List Building from Social Media](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/a-guide-to-email-list-building-from-social-media/): A strong email list is an essential marketing asset. Here are some strategies to transform your social media game into an email list-building machine. - [Mapping the Future of Search: SEO Predictions for 2024](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/mapping-the-future-of-search-seo-predictions-for-2024/): Learn about the trends and predictions shaping the future of SEO in 2024 and explore how your business can adapt and thrive in it. - [SEO vs Paid Ads: Which is Right for Your CPG Brand?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/seo-vs-paid-ads-which-is-right-for-your-cpg-brand/): Discover strategies for CPG digital marketing to enhance loyalty and drive sales using social media and consumer insights. - [Google's March Madness: A 40% Slash to Low-Quality Web Content](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/googles-march-madness-a-40-slash-to-low-quality-web-content/): Google's March 2024 Core Update targets AI-generated and manipulative content, enhancing search quality by 40%. Learn how it impacts your strategy. - [Creative Ideas to Grow Instagram Followers This Year](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/creative-ideas-to-grow-instagram-followers-this-year/): Discover innovative strategies to grow Instagram followers this year. Elevate your presence with effective tips and stay ahead in 2024. - [Engagement Wars: TikTok Loses Ground as Instagram Reels Gain Momentum](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/engagement-wars-tiktok-loses-ground-as-instagram-reels-gain-momentum/): Experience the epic clash: Instagram Reels triumphs over TikTok in the engagement arena. Dive into the latest trends and dynamic content dynamics now! - [How to Promote a Webinar on Social Media](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-promote-a-webinar-on-social-media/): Webinars are essential to foster a sense of community with your audience. Here are some strategies to promote your next one on social media. - [How to Create an Awesome "Ultimate Guide" for Your Blog Topic](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-create-an-awesome-ultimate-guide-for-your-blog-topic/): Learn how to create blog topics that captivate and grow your audience with ultimate guides. Start mastering content creation today! - [10 Social Media Tips for Manufacturers in 2024](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/10-social-media-tips-for-manufacturers-in-2024/): Here are some social media tips for manufacturers to amplify their brand online, build genuine connections with their audience, and drive tangible results. - [Digital Marketing Conferences to Attend in 2024](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/digital-marketing-conferences-to-attend-in-2024/): Looking to attend digital marketing conferences in 2024? Here’s a guide to some of the best ones in the country and the benefits of participating in them. - [SEO Algorithms - 2023 in Review & What to Brace for in 2024](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/seo-algorithms-2023-in-review-what-to-brace-for-in-2024/): Explore the key changes in SEO algorithms during 2023, and discover what to expect in 2024. Stay ahead in the dynamic world of search engine optimization. - [New Study: Instagram Reels Outperform TikTok & Facebook Videos ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/new-study-instagram-reels-outperform-tiktok-facebook-videos/): Discover why Instagram Reels outperform TikTok and Facebook videos in 2025. Learn key trends, engagement stats, and how to optimize your video strategy. - [Ideas to Help Build More Video Content for Your Brand](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/ideas-to-help-build-more-video-content/): Discover ideas to help build more video content and enhance your digital marketing strategy. Learn why videos are crucial for higher engagement, better retention and greater reach in today's fast-paced digital world, where captivating and informative visual content is key. - [Fun Gift Ideas for the Digital Marketer in Your Life](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/fun-gift-ideas-for-digital-marketers/): As the holiday season approaches, selecting the perfect gift for your favorite marketer can be challenging. Here some creative and fun gift ideas for digital marketers. - [Creative Ways That Non-Profits Can Increase Donations Via Social Media During the Holidays](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/non-profits-donations-via-social-media/): Discover innovative strategies to amplify non-profits donations via social media this giving season. Volume Nine guides you through engaging campaigns & storytelling that converts likes into meaningful support & donations. - [Untangling Social Media Services: What’s the Best Choice?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/untangling-social-media-services-whats-the-best-choice/): Finding a new social media agency can be, well, downright exhausting. One of the baffling things? The wide range of... - [Threads vs. Twitter: Who Will Win the Digital Battle?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/threads-vs-twitter/): Will Threads replace Twitter? Learn about the pros and cons of the Threads app and what’s on the horizon for both platforms. - [The Magic of Storytelling in Marketing: Creating Lasting Connections with Your Audience](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/the-magic-of-storytelling/): Ever felt like your marketing efforts are getting lost in the digital noise? Well, here’s a secret weapon: storytelling. It’s... - [8 Mind-Blowing Statistics that Prove Social Media Branding is a Game Changer](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/8-mind-blowing-statistics-that-prove-social-media-branding-is-a-game-changer/): Discover key social media branding stats that reveal how engagement, trust, and consistency drive loyalty, conversions, and measurable growth. - [When Should You Do an SEO Audit?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/when-should-you-do-an-seo-audit/): We receive a lot of requests for SEO audits. It’s probably one of the most popular services brands ask for... - [YouTube Video Optimization Checklist - 2023 ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/youtube-video-optimization-checklist-2023/): Boost your video reach with our comprehensive YouTube Video Optimization Checklist! Unlock maximum engagement and views now!" - [How to Create an Awesome SEO RFP (Request for Proposal)](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/awesome-seo-rfp/): Get the inside scoop on crafting a killer SEO RFP! Say goodbye to stress and hello to success with our fun and friendly guide! - [Digital Marketing Trends to Watch for The Second Half of 2023](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/digital-marketing-trends-to-watch-for-the-second-half-of-2023/): As we approach the midpoint of summer and switch to Q3, it can be a great time to review your... - [PPC vs. SEO: Choosing The Best Strategy for Your Brand](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/ppc-vs-seo/): PPC vs. SEO - a strategic comparison between PPC and SEO. Gain insightful knowledge to make an informed decision aligning with your brand's marketing goals. - [Harnessing the Power of UTM Tracking in GA4 (Google Analytics 4)](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/utm-tracking-in-ga4/): Understanding and implement UTM tracking in GA4 (Google Analytics 4). Learn about UTM parameters, avoid common mistakes, and enhance your campaign tracking. - [Our Favorite Social Media Tools for 2023](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/our-favorite-social-media-tools-for-2023/): Here's a list of our favorite Social Media tools for 2023. Happy Posting! - [How to Use AI in SEO - Ideas for ChatGPT, Bard and More!](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/ai-in-seo/): Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved, carving an indispensable place within digital marketing. In particular, the SEO landscape stands at... - [LinkedIn Best Practices for 2023 - Driving Growth, Engagement, and Leads](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/linkedin-best-practices-for-2023/): Here's a helpful list of LinkedIn Best Practices for 2023 to help you expand your digital footprint this year. - [Analytics Alternatives to GA4](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/analytics-alternatives-to-ga4/): Researching for analytics alternatives to GA4? Here's a few of the most popular in 2023. - [Digital Marketing Events in Denver for the Second Half of 2023](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/digital-marketing-events-in-denver-2023/): Check out the remarkable lineup of digital marketing events in Denver happening for the second half of 2023. - [40+ Creative Link Earning Ideas for 2023](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/40-creative-link-earning-ideas-for-2023/): Supercharge your website with 40+ actionable link earning ideas! Boost organic growth with proven strategies and take your online presence to new heights. - [Adapting to 2023: Enhance Your B2B Lead Flow with a Few Advanced Digital Marketing Tactics](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/2023-b2b-lead-flow/): *whew* 2023 has started a little intense. The business landscape continues evolving, presenting unique challenges to B2B brands. Here are... - [The Hidden Value of Social Media](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/the-hidden-value-of-social-media/): Organic social media marketing can be a flashy/shiny object to companies. Brands start tossing time/money/resources into it, almost hoping that... - [Chat GPT-3.5 vs. GPT-4 in Simple Terms + a Helpful Infographic](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/chat-gpt-3-5-vs-gpt-4/): Discover the differences between Chat GPT 3.5 and Chat GPT 4, the two most advanced AI chatbots in the market. Our blog features an informative infographic that highlights the key features and capabilities of each chatbot. - [Is AI Content (like ChatGPT) a good idea for SEO? ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/is-ai-content-a-good-idea-for-seo/): The truth is probably not. Even if it's working in the short term, you are running a huge risk. Learn more about the pros and cons of this strategy. - [How Brands Can Get Into Twitch](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/brands-twitch/): Ready to up your marketing game? Learn how brands can tap into the world of Twitch and reach a whole new audience of gamers and online communities. Get the inside scoop from V9 Digital's experts and start building your Twitch brand today! - [Planning Your Social Media Strategy for Instagram ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/planning-your-social-media-strategy-for-instagram/): As the 8th most visited website in the world (source), it’s fair to assume that you’ve at least considered Instagram... - [Up-and-Coming Social Media Platforms For Your Business ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/up-and-coming-social-media-platforms-for-your-business/): As a business, it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends, especially when it comes to social media... - [10 Ways Brands Can Incorporate Video into Their Digital Marketing Strategies](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/10-ways-to-incorporate-video/): When you’re scrolling through your social media feed, do you notice how video catches your attention much more than an... - [Volume Nine Named A Leading Social Media Agency in Colorado](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/v9-best-social-media-marketer-22/): We’re celebrating the annual Clutch Leaders Awards where Volume Nine was recognized as one of the top firms in Colorado’s social media marketing space this 2022 - [Organic Social Media KPIs Worth Measuring](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/organic-social-kpis/): While paid social media KPIs are essential to include in your key performance indicators, don’t forget to measure your organic social media efforts. Organic social... - [8 Ways to Improve Your Company's Effectiveness on LinkedIn](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/8-ways-effectiveness-linkedin/): LinkedIn is a resource hub. It’s a place where people post updates, share company news, professionals seek jobs, pitch potential... - [5 Biggest Things That Tank SEO in a Platform Migration](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/5-things-that-tank-seo-in-platform-migration/): If you’ve ever had to do a platform migration, you know the challenges that come along with it. An SEO... - [2023 Content Marketing Stats & Trends](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/2021-2022-content-marketing-stats-trends/): One thing that isn’t slowing down is content marketing. No longer considered nice to have but essential to every business,... - [Quality Over Quantity](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/quality-over-quantity/): Each day there seems to be a new update or feature on the endless social media apps available. As digital... - [Our Favorite SEO Tools in 2021](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/our-favorite-seo-tools-in-2021/): As an SEO Agency, here's some of our favorite SEO tools that we use everyday! - [TikTok & Instagram Reel Video Ideas for Brands](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/ideas-for-tiktok-videos-brands-can-make/): The TikTok invasion isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, it continues to be one of the fastest-growing social media... - [Why You Should Allocate Media Spend to Social Media Boosting](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/why-social-media-boosting/): Wonder whether or not you should allocate media spend to boost organic social posts? Learn more about why marketers are reccomending this tactic and whether you should be considering it for your brand. - [Content Marketing KPIs](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/content-marketing-kpis/): Importance of KPIs in Content Marketing You can put all the content you want out there, but if you aren’t... - [2021 Video Marketing Stats Brands Shouldn't Ignore](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/2021-video-marketing-stats/): These mind-blowing 2021 Video Marketing Stats demonstrate why brands shouldn't ignore Video Marketing this year. - [9 Ski Resort Content Marketing Strategies, In a COVID World](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/ski-resort-content-marketing-strategies/): The ski industry is a highly competitive, growing space. Learn what sort of content works well in this competitive analysis of the industry as a whole. - [Resort Marketing: 10 Actionable Tips for a Post-COVID-19 World](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/resort-marketing-tips-post-covid-world/): Resort marketing has been a major focus over the past 15 years at Volume Nine. Discover resort marketing tips and tricks we have learned over the years. - [How to Build A Stronger Business with Social Listening](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/build-stronger-business-social-listening/): Social listening is a crucial aspect of any social media strategy. Learn how to leverage social listening to delight your followers and improve engagement. - [2020 Digital Marketing Guide for Manufacturers](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/2020-digital-marketing-guide-manufacturers/): There is a huge opportunity for Digital Marketing for Manufacturers in 2021. Get the guide for where to focus your Digital strategy in 2020 & 2021! - [SEO Tools for Auditing and Monitoring Your WordPress Website](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/seo-tools-for-auditing-monitoring-your-wordpress-website/): Optimizing your Wordpress website for search engine success can be an overwhelming process. Discover 10 SEO tools that can make the process much easier. - [How to Leverage Data to Write Content That Resonates](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/leverage-data-write-content-that-resonates/): Learn what you need to know about creating your own kickass data-driven content marketing strategy based on more than a decade of Volume Nine wisdom. - [Inbound Social Media Engagement vs. Outbound Social Media Engagement](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/inbound-social-media-engagement-vs-outbound-social-media-engagement/): Social media engagement has become a hot topic in recent years. With social algorithms like EdgeRank giving higher visibility to... - [2020 Digital Marketing Predictions in a World Battling COVID-19](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/2020-digital-marketing-predictions/): Published: May 28, 2020 We know the world, including digital marketing, is continuing to shift on us. Digital Marketing has... - [Simple Digital Marketing Strategies for Home Builders & New Home Communities](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/digital-marketing-home-builders/): For businesses that aren’t digital, it can be challenging to know how to navigate the digital sphere. Home builders and... - [A Guide to Digital Marketing During the COVID-19 Crisis](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/digital-marketing-during-the-covid-19-crisis/): There's a lot of consider with your marketing plans right now but here are some tips and action items that you can use now to help during a time of crisis. Check out the guide from V9 Digital. - [5 Huge Digital Marketing Opportunities for CBD Brands in 2020](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/digital-marketing-for-cbd-in-2020/): The CBD industry is no doubt booming, and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Once you’ve entered the... - [The Pros and Cons of Cause Marketing](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/cause-marketing-pros-cons/): Cause marketing can be a very devicive topic. Does supportting a cause have a place in your strategies? Read more about the pros & cons from the Volume Nine Insights Blog. - [Easy Steps to Get Into Partnerships and Influencers](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/intro-to-partnerships-influencers/): Want to use Influencers and Partnerships on Social Media to help boost your brand's awareness or following? Here are some tips from the Social Media Team at Volume 9. - [How to Target Event Planners in Digital Marketing](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/marketing-strategies-event-planners/): When you’re tasked with promoting travel and tourism for your physical location, trying to reach event planners in an online... - [How to Run a Social Media Contest to Boost UGC](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/contest-to-boost-ugc/): Here are some tips & tricks on how to run a Contest on Social media to gather User Generated Content. Read more from our social media team at Volume 9. - [Can Direct-to-Consumer Brands Succeed in Google SERPs?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/can-direct-to-consumer-brands-succeed-in-google-serps/): Everyone wants to have a #1 keyword ranking on Google and everyone also knows that 99% of organic clicks happen... - [Can Your eCommerce Website Compete in an Amazon World? ](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/can-ecomm-compete-with-amazon/): Wondering if your brand needs its own site or should you just sell on Amazon? Read more about the pros & cons of both on the Insights Blog from Volume Nine. - [Digital Marketing Tactics to Sell More Season Passes & Tickets](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/digital-marketing-tactics-to-sell-more-season-passes-tickets/): Looking for more ways to sell season passes or tickets this year? Check out these tactics to help convert one-time visitors or turn last year's customers into passholders. - [ADA Compliance - Tricks for Determining if your Site is ADA Compliant](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/tricks-for-ada-compliant-website/): Making sure your site is ADA Compliant is more than just a best practice - it ensure that anyone can easily use your site. Here are some tips ADA Compliance for your site. - [V9 Praised for Excellent Customer Satisfaction](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/v9-praised-for-excellent-customer-satisfaction/): Volume Nine is proud to be recognized for our superior customer satisfaction record. As a small digital marketing firm with... - [How to Build an Audience With Facebook & Instagram Videos](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-build-an-audience-with-facebook-instagram-videos-2/): Social media is arguably one of the biggest sources of stress for marketing teams. It can feel like you’re just... - [How to Create a “Good Enough” Digital Marketing Strategy](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-create-a-good-enough-digital-marketing-strategy/): Creating a comprehensive digital marketing strategy can be an intense endeavor. This type of effort can span several weeks and... - [Ditch the Complexity: A 'Good Enough' Digital Marketing Roadmap](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-create-a-good-enough-digital-marketing-strategy-2/): Simplify your digital marketing planning with a practical roadmap. Focus on what works, avoid complexity, and create an effective strategy. - [The Story Behind the New V9 Website](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/the-story-behind-the-new-v9-website/): As the CEO of Volume Nine, I decided to take some time to articulate what the heck it is we... - [How to Create an Abandoned Shopping Cart Follow-up Email](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-create-an-abandoned-shopping-cart-follow-up-email/): It is estimated that almost 70% of shopping carts are abandoned. More than ever, marketers and retailers are teaming up to resurrect these lost sales. How? By reaching out to the consumers. One way e-commerce merchants can get in front of interested customers is by sending a message straight to their inbox. - [V9 Interviews: Robert Lane of Buhv Designs](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/v9-interviews-robert-lane-of-buhv-designs/): Learn from Robert Lane of Buhv Design as he talks about changes in digital marketing and tips for in marketing a multi-location business online. - [What is Content Amplification?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-content-amplification/): Every brand wants (and needs) to get their message out there. But just putting something "out there" isn't enough - this is where content amplification comes in to play. - [First Touch vs. Last Touch Attribution With Google Analytics](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/first-touch-vs-last-touch-attribution-with-google-analytics/): You can (and should) track different attributions besides first or last touch. Learn more about first, last & other attribution models with Google Analytics - [What is Audience Targeting? Isn't Everyone My Audience?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-audience-targeting-isnt-everyone-my-audience/): You've likely generated a buyer persona, or a fictional representation of a member of your audience. Now it's time to go one step further and embrace audience targeting by using data to define your actual, real-life audience, not just your ideal customer. - [What Does Diversity and Inclusion Look Like in Digital Marketing?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-does-diversity-and-inclusion-look-like-in-digital-marketing/): It’s really an exciting time in content creation. A focus on diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of our digital marketing campaigns and ideation strategies. Why? Authentic audience targeting matters to us and the brands we work with each day. - [Roundtable Q&A: Digital Marketing Pain Points & Trends for Outdoor Brands](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/roundtable-qa-digital-marketing-pain-points-trends-for-outdoor-brands/): Volume Nine gathered insight from a handful of marketing professionals who spend their days thinking about the outdoors -- absorbing it, preserving it and sharing it with others. - [E-commerce Product Videos for SEO & Beyond](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/e-commerce-product-videos-for-seo-beyond/): Product videos are one of the best ways to engage potential and current customers. Learn more about how to leverage product videos for better SEO and sales. - [How to Create a Brand Awareness Campaign Online](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-create-a-brand-awareness-campaign-online/): Branding, whether your company is B2C or B2B, is critical if you want to stand out from the crowd. Especially... - [Tactics to Organically Promote Your Brand's Content](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/organically-promote-content/): Promoting your content organically is one of the surest ways to reach and engage your target audience. Here's how to build a strong organic content strategy. - [How to Boost E-commerce Sales in 2019 (Without a Sales Pitch)](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-boost-e-commerce-sales-in-2019-without-a-sales-pitch/): As you fine-tune your digital marketing strategy for 2019, focus on educating, informing, entertaining and getting to know your potential e-commerce customers beyond analytics. As relationships build, sales organically follow. - [19 Content Ideas for DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations)](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/19-content-ideas-for-dmos-destination-marketing-organizations/): Here are 19 content ideas you can customize for your DMO and target audience, whether they’re locals or visitors, hoping to learn more about the destination you represent. - [How to Leverage Recipe Content Across Multiple Channels](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-leverage-recipe-content-across-multiple-channels/): Recipe content should be shared on more than just your brand's blog. Learn how to leverage recipe content across multiple channels for maximum impact. - [V9 Interviews: Megan Sullivan-Jenks of Choozle](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/v9-interviews-megan-sullivan-jenks-of-choozle/): This week, V9 Digital had a discussion with Megan Sullivan-Jenks, Director of Marketing & Communications at Choozle, to talk about... - [Outdoor Industry: Digital Marketing Concepts for Outdoor Brands](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/outdoor-industry-digital-marketing-concepts-for-outdoor-brands/): The outdoor industry is highly competitive. As such, outdoor brands require focused & strategic digital strategies to establish a footprint online. Learn more. - [Shopify SEO: SEO Tips & Strategies for Brands Using Shopify](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/shopify-seo-seo-tips-strategies-for-brands-using-shopify/): Shopify is becoming one of the most popular e-commerce platforms because it offers easy management, integration, and customization. It also makes it easy to optimize your site for better search results. Here are a few Shopify SEO tips to take your site to the next level. - [4 Ways to Improve Your E-Commerce Website Rankings in Google](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/4-ways-to-improve-e-commerce-website-rankings-google/): if you’re struggling with your Google ranking or you find yourself in constant competition with retailers like Amazon who also sell your products, you’re not alone. That's why we’re sharing four things you can do to improve your e-commerce website Google rankings. - [Is Empathy Part of Your Content Marketing Strategy?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/is-empathy-part-of-your-content-marketing-strategy/): Promises of monetary savings used to work. Sale! BOGO! Clearance! Dollar-busting buzzwords and flashy ads captured our attention, converting us... - [How to Rank Your Product Pages Higher in Google SERPs](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-get-your-product-pages-to-show-higher-in-google-serps/): For e-commerce brands, showing up in the first listings on Google can be a challenge. To improve how consumers find your products and increase sales, you'll need to understand SERPs. - [Our Top Takeaways from This Year’s Denver Digital Summit](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/our-top-takeaways-from-this-years-denver-digital-summit/): Putting people first was a major theme at Digital Summit Denver this year. Find out how speakers challenged us to stop doing things as marketers that we hate as humans. - [How to Optimize Your Google Local Listing for Maps and Search](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-optimize-your-google-local-listing/): A well-optimized Google Local Listing is essential for the success of your business. Here are our tips for optimizing your google listing for maps and search. - [What GDPR Means For Your Google Analytics Data](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/gdpr-means-google-analytics-data/): Did you receive the Data Retention Controls Email from Google Analytics? In this post we break down what GDPR means for your business, whether you're in the EU or not. - [6 Tools to Help You Find Long-Tail Keywords for Your Blog](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/find-long-tail-keywords/): The internet has gifted us with tons of awesome tools to help you find a long-tail keyword that will appeal to your target audience and drive in that essential organic traffic from search engines. Inside, we summarize some of our favorite tools for getting ideal long-tail keywords for your blog. - [Google's Mobile First Index: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/google-mobile-first-index/): After months of waiting, Google has officially announced the release of the mobile-first index. For many webmasters, chances are good there is work to be done after mobile-first indexing. We walks you through everything you should know. - [Instagram for Business: 9 Best Practices](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/instagram-for-business/): With over 800 million monthly active users and the highest engagement rate of any social media platform, Instagram is a social media platform that you can’t ignore if you want your business to evolve. Are you planning your company's Instagram strategy? Here are the key best practices you should take into account: - [What Social Media Metrics Should You Be Measuring?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/social-media-metrics-measuring/): Are you paying attention to the right social media metrics and then implementing a strategy that will make the most impact for your company? Learn more with Volume Nine! - [How to Make the Most of Google’s PageSpeed Insights Tool](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/google-pagespeed-insights/): You know users and search engines both prefer fast sites, but you may be wondering how you know if your website is performing. You’re in luck — Google has a great free tool called PageSpeed Insights that allows you test pages on your site for speed. Here’s how you make the most of Google PageSpeed Insights! - [Featured Snippets in Search: An Overview](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/featured-snippets/): What exactly is a featured snippet, and how do you get your site in one? In this blog post, we dive into the types of featured snippets you're likely to encounter, and what you should include in your content to increase your chances of landing in the featured snippet box on Google. - [What Is Google Tag Manager, and How Do You Use It?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-google-tag-manager/): What is Google Tag Manager? As one of Google's Suite of tools, Tag Manager adoption is growing rapidly. See what it is and why so many sites are making the move. - [The 2020 Guide to Social Media Image Sizes](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/social-media-image-sizes/): If you don’t pay attention to the recommended sizes for each social media channel, you’ll find that your images may be blurry or cropped. This social media image size guide will help you pick the right pictures. - [Outbound vs. Inbound Marketing: What's the Difference?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/outbound-vs-inbound-marketing/): Confused about different types of marketing? We dive into the difference between inbound and outbound marketing and the benefits and limitations of each. - [The Top 5 Alternative Search Engines to Google](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/top-5-alternative-search-engines-google/): Looking to branch out from Google? We've tested out some other search engines and compiled this list of the top five alternative search engines to Google. - [What is a Nofollow Link, and When Should I Use it?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-a-nofollow-link/): Have you heard about nofollow links, but don't know what they are? Inside, we dive into two questions: what is a no follow link, and when should you use it? - [The Essential Guide to Social Media Geofilters](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/social-media-geofilters/): Are you using Geofilters for your business? If not, you may be missing out. Here's our essential guide to using social media geofilters for business. - [How to Use Facebook Custom Audiences for Retargeting](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/facebook-custom-audience/): Using Facebook's retargeting tool for ads can work wonders for your business. Here's our guide to creating Facebook custom audiences to drive sales - [What is an Editorial Calendar?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-an-editorial-calendar/): Here's everything you need to know about editorial calendars, including a free calendar for you to download to get you started! - [The Essential SEO Website Launch Checklist](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/seo-website-launch-checklist/): Are you about to launch a new website? Before you take the site live, review our essential seo website launch checklist to avoid any SEO catastrophes - [How to Manage Local SEO for Your Business with Multiple Locations](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/local-seo-multiple-locations/): Improving your local SEO for all locations of your business is essential in driving traffic to your site and customers to your store. Here's how to do it. - [How to Disavow Links - A Guide to Disavow.txt](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-disavow-links/): If you have toxic or spammy links associated with your backlink profile, it might be time to create a disavow.txt. Learn how to disavow links today. - [How Can Blogging Help My Business?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-can-blogging-help-my-business/): You've likely heard that you should be blogging to boost your business. Here's how blogging can help your business and your bottom line. - [What are Facebook Chat Bots, and How Do I Use Them?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-are-facebook-chat-bots/): Do you have Facebook chat bots set up for your business? Here's our guide on what they are and how to use them to benefit your business. - [What is “Good Content,” and How Do I Create It?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-good-content/): Is there a formula for good content? Absolutely! Here are our tips for creating shareable, memorable pieces of content for your business. - [How to Write a Perfect Meta Description](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-write-meta-description/): Looking to write a great meta description that drives organic traffic to your blog? Here's our guide on how to write the perfect meta description. - [Technical SEO Checklist - What Really Matters?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/technical-seo-checklist/): Shore up your site's foundation with this technical SEO checklist of some of the more common issues we find in reviewing sites. Updated in October 2020. - [New Google Posts Feature in Google My Business [Case Study]](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/new-google-posts-feature/): Google Posts is a great way to show relevant pages in the knowledge pane of searches. Here's how we set them up for one of our clients, Stratford Schools. - [15 Best Practices for an Awesome Company Blog](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/company-blog-best-practices/): Learn proven blog best practices to boost organic traffic, improve SEO performance, and create high-quality content that engages your target audience. - [5 Tips For Content Sharing Across Social Platforms](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/content-sharing/): So, you've created great content. Now, how do you effectively share it across social media to maximize engagement? Here are our top content sharing tips. - [301 vs. 302 Redirects: When to Use Them](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/301-302-redirects/): What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect? What are they, and when should you use them? Read more and find out! - [9 Great Call To Action Examples for B2C Marketing](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/b2c-call-to-action-examples/): Are your calls to action actually leading to conversions? Here are some powerful call to action examples from real brands to help you turn visits to sales. - [What Role Does CTR Play in SEO?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/ctr-in-seo/): There is a long-running debate about whether the clickthrough rate affects SEO. In this article, we examine the evidence and see what Google has to say. - [The Essential Guide to Image Optimization for SEO](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/image-optimization-for-seo/): When you think SEO, it's likely that you're skipping over an important part of optimization - images. Here's our guide to image optimization for SEO. - [How to Make a Great, Compelling Infographic](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-make-an-infographic/): Making a great infographic doesn't require you to have great design skills. Here are our tips for how to make a great infographic - no Photoshop required! - [6 Benefits of Social Media Marketing in 2020](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/6-benefits-social-media-marketing/): Every business should have a social media marketing strategy - does yours? Here are the six main benefits of social media marketing. - [Should You Put Your Blog in a Subdirectory or Subdomain?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/subdirectory-vs-subdomain/): You've likely seen companies using subdomains and subdirectories for their blog, but which has better SEO value? We settle the debate. - [What is the Facebook Pixel, and Why Should You Use it?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-facebook-pixel/): Want to take your Facebook marketing to the next level? The Facebook Pixel is key - here's our guide to what the Facebook Pixel is, and why to use it. - [What is Content Marketing?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-is-content-marketing/): You've likely heard about content marketing, but what is it, exactly? Here's a definition and some ways that content marketing can help your business. - [How to Optimize Content: The Essential Checklist [Infographic]](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-optimize-content/): Are you confused about how to optimize your blog content to drive organic traffic? Use our Content Optimization Checklist as a guide! - [How to Find Powerful Keywords for Your Blog](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-find-keywords/): An essential part of any blogging strategy is using focus keywords. Here are our tips for finding keywords that will drive traffic to your blog. - [What Are YouTube Suggested Clips and What Do They Mean For Marketers?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/youtube-suggested-clips/): Google recently started including suggested clips as a response to “how to” user queries. Find out everything we know about them so far! - [Developing a Powerful Brand Strategy for Online Reviews](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/developing-powerful-brand-strategy-online-reviews/): What are the best ways to use customer reviews to the advantage of your business? By implementing a brand strategy for online reviews. - [5 Tips For Creating A Great Title For Your Blog Post](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/great-blog-title/): Don't know how to make your blog title stand out from the sea of headlines? Check out these 5 simple ways to create a great blog title every time. - [6 Ways Blogging Is Good For SEO](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/6-ways-blogging-good-seo/): Find out how a blog can boost your SEO efforts. See how a mix of great content, long-tailed keywords and other optimized features make a huge difference. - [Users vs. Sessions in Google Analytics in Layman’s Terms](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/users-vs-sessions-in-google-analytics/): Users vs. Sessions in Google Analytics is not rocket science. - [How to Increase Blog Traffic with Facebook and Instagram [Case Study]](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/organic-blog-traffic-case-study/): Learn how Volume Nine used social media blog amplification to drive over 34,000 organic visits to Vitamin World's blog - [How to Create an Analytics Measurement Plan for B2B Businesses](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/create-analytics-measurement-plan-b2b-businesses/): Find out how to create an analytics measurement plan for your B2B business. This is crucial for tracking micro-conversions, among other data points. - [How VPN’s Can Affect SEO](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/vpns-can-affect-seo/): VPN's are in right now. Find out how an increased number of users browsing via Virtual Private Networks can impact your SEO strategy. - [How to Grow Organic Engagement on Facebook [Case Study]](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-grow-organic-engagement-on-facebook-case-study/): See how strategic content, storytelling, and audience insights boosted Facebook organic engagement. Learn proven tactics to increase reach and build community. - [Content Marketing for Boutique Businesses Can Work. Here's How](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/content-marketing-for-small-businesses-can-work-heres-how/): Content marketing for boutique businesses can be successful. Find out how to plan, what to focus on, and ways to execute for a better campaign. - [Tourism Marketing: How to Drive Sales with Content](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/tourism-marketing-drive-sales-with-content/): Find out ways to leverage content for tourism marketing and entice your audience to dream, plan, and book it their trip! - [10+ Essential Low-Cost Content Marketing Tools](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/10-essential-low-cost-content-marketing-tools/): Looking to take your content to the next level? Try these 10 essential low-cost content marketing tools that won't break the bank. - [How Email Marketing Fits into Your Blog Strategy](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-email-marketing-fits-into-blog-strategy/): Ever wonder how email marketing fits into your blog strategy? In this post, we dive into why, and how to start utilizing email. - [How Facebook Advertising Brought in 300 Franchise Leads [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/wag-n-wash-case-study/): Learn how the social team at Volume 9 used social media campaigns to bring in over 300 qualified franchise leads to Wag N' Wash. - [6 Ways to Create an Impactful Content Strategy for Mobile](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/content-strategy-for-mobile/): The future is mobile - is your mobile content engaging readers? Here are 6 tips for creating a great content strategy for mobile. - [How Does Baidu Compare to Google? Need to Knows for SEOs](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/baidu-vs-google-need-to-knows-for-seos/): So, how does Baidu compare to Google? There are lot of differences in this Chinese search engine, and SEOs need to know the basics. - [Call-to-Action Best Practices for Social Media | Volume Nine](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/call-action-best-practices-social-media/): Learn how to write effective social media calls-to-action that boost clicks, engagement, and conversions. Explore proven CTA strategies and real examples. - [The Facebook Funnel: Create a Social Media Strategy that Converts](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/the-facebook-funnel-create-a-social-media-strategy-that-converts/): Learn how to build a social media strategy using the Facebook Funnel in order to start to see ROI and success from your Facebook Marketing efforts. - [Blogging Vs. Social Media: Where Should Your Content Go?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/blogging-vs-social-media-where-should-your-content-go/): So, you have a great piece of content but you're not sure where to put it. Is it more worth of a blog or social post? Blogging vs. Social media, here we go. - [How to Make a Snapchat Filter #DIY](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/make-snapchat-filter-diy/): Learn how to make a Snapchat filter for your company, organization, or next party. Step by step instructions included here. - [Why Multi-channel Attribution is Crucial for Attributing ROI](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/multi-channel-attribution-crucial-attributing-roi/): Get Rid of Your Preconceived Notions About Channel Performance I have worked with a lot of companies that have preconceived... - [6 Essential Social Media Strategies for Fast-Casual Restaurants](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/6-essential-social-media-strategies-fast-casual-restaurants/): Fast casual is the hottest trend in restaurants in 2016. Learn how social media strategies for fast casual restaurants can help your establishment thrive. - [Gift-Related Keywords for Your Ecommerce Holiday Campaign](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/gift-related-keywords-for-your-ecommerce-holiday-campaign/): Searching for phrases shoppers are using to support your ecommerce holiday campaign? Here are some gift related keywords for your holiday keyword research! - [What Does a Good Ecommerce Category Page Look Like?](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/what-does-a-good-ecommerce-category-page-look-like/): Every good webpage has a purpose. It lets the user *do* something. Before we can make a great ecommerce category page, we need know why we make them. - [Using Google Analytics to Create Personas & Fine Tune Your Content Strategy](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/using-google-analytics-to-create-personas-fine-tune-your-content-strategy/): Find out how to use Google Analytics to create personas and fine-tune your content strategy. The data is there, you've just got to access it. - [Visualize This: Google Data Studio + Google Analytics](https://www.v9digital.com/insights/visualize-this-google-data-studio-google-analytics/): Google recently released Data Studio, their free, data visualization tool, and we are in love! Learn more about it and how to use your data to tell a story! --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages Volume Nine (V9) Press Page & Company Fact Sheet about Volume Nine Connect with an Expert TRUSTED BY TOP BRANDS V9 Company Snapshot Official brand name (public): Volume Nine (also known as “V9” and "V9Digital")Legal name: Volume 9, IncFounded: October 2, 2007Headquarters: Denver, Colorado, USABilling address:Volume 9, Inc1312 17th St. #942Denver, CO 80202Other Brands: GEO Grader - https://geo. v9digital. com/ Official Social Profiles: LinkedIn: https://www. linkedin. com/company/621107/ Facebook: https://www. facebook. com/volume9inc Instagram: https://www. instagram. com/volume_nine/ YouTube: https://www. youtube. com/user/volume9inc Leadership: Natalie Henley, CEOLinkedIn: https://www. linkedin. com/in/optimization/Richard Lesher, VPLinkedIn: https://www. linkedin. com/in/richard-lesher/Heather Young, ControllerLinkedIn: https://www. linkedin. com/in/heather-young-863260292/Monica Seigman, Director of Client ServicesLinkedIn: https://www. linkedin. com/in/monicasiegman/Joy Smith, Director of ProductionLinkedIn: https://www. linkedin. com/in/joy-smith-6b625412/ Volume Nine Logo / Brand Assets Logos available for download at: https://airtable. com/appaewXVAAJI1kTOk/shr2LSUqa95vkZKni/tbl4xfYvrwnsoOkVUPhotos available at: https://photos. app. goo. gl/8CvcEsQqv42jqQGx8 Who Is Volume Nine? About V9 (Short) Volume Nine (V9 or V9 Digital) is a digital marketing agency headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded on October 2, 2007 (2007-10-02), Volume Nine helps brands grow by building a strong audience, content, and brand, then steadily turning up the dial on traffic and inbound leads/sales. The agency is best known for the outcomes they get for clients. Named as the top digital marketing agency of 2025 by MarTech, They specialize in channels including SEO, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO / “AI SEO”), content marketing, social media, paid ads & social ads. About V9 (Long) Volume Nine (V9 or V9 Digital) is a digital marketing agency headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2007, Volume Nine helps brands grow by building a strong online audience, content engine, and brand presence, then steadily turning up the dial on qualified traffic, inbound leads, and sales. The agency is known for measurable outcomes and cross-channel programs that connect brand building to revenue. Volume Nine was recognized as a Top Digital Marketing Agency 2025 by MarTech Outlook, reflecting its focus on innovation in digital strategy and client results. Volume Nine specializes in:SEOGenerative Engine Optimization (GEO / “AI SEO”) to improve visibility in AI-powered discovery (e. g. , LLMs and generative search)Content MarketingSocial Media MarketingPPC (Paid Search)Social Ads Whether supporting a full strategy or plugging into a specific channel, Volume Nine’s work is built to strengthen brand trust online, so the right people find the brand, understand it quickly, and take action. Channels We're Known For: SEO (Search Engine Optimization)GEO (Generative Engine Optimization / “AI SEO”)Content MarketingSocial MediaPaid AdsSocial Media Ads What “Volume Nine” Means We want to steadily turn up the dial on your website, traffic, and inbound revenue to a dull roar. What Makes V9 Different We don’t offer cookie-cutter packages. Instead, we focus on your data and business to create custom plans designed to drive the traffic and leads you need—rather than checking boxes on generic tactics. Why Brand Choose V9: Flexibility Relationship-driven partnership Experienced channel experts Results focus + month-to-month contracts Our rugged good looks (ok JK on that one) :) Awards Full awards list (kept up to date):https://www. v9digital. com/volume-nine-awards/Highlights:Clutch 1000 Award - 2025Clutch 2025 Global AwardClutch 2025 Champion AwardTop Digital Marketing Agency - 2025Denver Business Journal Fast Growing CompaniesInc. 500 Fastest Growing CompaniesBest of Colorado - Best in Graphic DesignColoradoBiz Top 200 Private CompaniesWeb Excellence Award - Advertising & Marketing SEOCO Biz Mag - 25 Most Influential Young ProfessionalsWeb Excellence Award - Advertising & MarketingWeb Excellence Award - Social Media ContestsPRSA 2020 Silver Pick - Bed Head Social MediaTop 100 Woman-Owned CompaniesColorado Companies to Watch Finalist Frequently asked questions about Volume Nine Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we get. When was Volume Nine founded? Volume Nine (legal name: Volume 9, Inc) was founded on October 2, 2007 (ISO: 2007-10-02). Where is Volume Nine headquartered? Denver, Colorado, USA. What does Volume Nine do? We’re a digital marketing agency focused on building a strong audience, content, and brand—then scaling traffic and inbound leads/sales, with strengths in SEO, GEO (“AI SEO”), content marketing, and social media. Are all Volume Nine Employees in Colorado? Nope! We are a fully remote agency, and have employees across the country. Is Volume Nine Hiring? We hire off and on throughout the year. The best place to look for openings is on our website at https://www. v9digital.... --- This page was last changed on January 26, 2026, last checked on January 26, 2026 and applies to citizens and legal permanent residents of the United States. 1. IntroductionOur website, https://www. v9digital. com (hereinafter: "the website") uses cookies and other related technologies (for convenience all technologies are referred to as "cookies"). Cookies are also placed by third parties we have engaged. In the document below we inform you about the use of cookies on our website. We do not sell or share personal information to third parties for monetary consideration; however, we may disclose certain personal information to third parties under circumstances that might be deemed a “sale” or ”Sharing” for residents of California (CPRA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), Delaware (PDPA), Iowa (CDPA), Montana (MCDPA), Nebraska (DPA), Nevada (NRS 603A), New Hampshire (DPA), New Jersey (DPL), Oregon (OCPA), Texas (TDPSA), Utah (UCPA) and Virginia (CDPA). We respect and understand that you may want to be sure that your personal information is not being sold or shared. You may request that we exclude your personal information from such arrangements, or direct us to limit the use and disclosure of possible sensitive personal information, by entering your name and email address below. You may need to provide additional identifying information before we can process your request. × Name Name Email Global opt-out from selling and sharing my personal information and limiting the use or disclosure of sensitive personal information. Do not sell my personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising Limit the use of my sensitive personal information Request for access Right to be Forgotten Right to Data Portability 2. CookiesWhen you visit our website it can be necessary to store and/or read certain data from your device by using technologies such as cookies. 2. 1 Technical or functional cookiesSome cookies ensure that certain parts of the website work properly and that your user preferences remain known. By placing functional cookies, we make it easier for you to visit our website. This way, you do not need to repeatedly enter the same information when visiting our website and, for example, the items remain in your shopping cart until you have paid. We may place these cookies without your consent. 2. 2 Statistics cookiesWe use statistics cookies to optimize the website experience for our users. With these statistics cookies we get insights in the usage of our website. 2. 3 Marketing/Tracking cookiesMarketing/Tracking cookies are cookies or any other form of local storage, used to create user profiles to display advertising or to track the user on this website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. 2. 4 Social mediaOn our website, we have included content from LinkedIn, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter) and Facebook to promote web pages (e. g. “like”, “pin”) or share (e. g. “tweet”) on social networks like LinkedIn, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter) and Facebook. This content is embedded with code derived from LinkedIn, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter) and Facebook and places cookies. This content might store and process certain information for personalized advertising. Please read the privacy statement of these social networks (which can change regularly) to read what they do with your (personal) data which they process using these cookies. The data that is retrieved is anonymized as much as possible. LinkedIn, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter) and Facebook are located in the United States. 3. Placed cookiesMost of these technologies have a function, a purpose, and an expiration period. A function is a particular task a technology has. So a function can be to "store certain data. " Purpose is "the Why" behind the function. Maybe the data is stored because it is needed for statistics. The expiration period shows the length of the period the used technology can “store or read certain data. " Microsoft Ads Functional, Marketing Consent to service microsoft-ads Usage We use Microsoft Ads for advertising. Read more about Microsoft Ads Sharing data For more information, please read the Microsoft Ads Privacy Statement. Functional Name _uetvid_exp Expiration persistent Function Name _uetsid_exp Expiration persistent Function Marketing Name _uetvid Expiration 13 months Function Store and track visits across websites Name _uetsid Expiration 1 day Function Store and track visits across websites Elementor Statistics (anonymous) Consent to service... --- Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Grader Let's see how ready your website is for AI SEO! Totally free and fast to run :) Grade My Site https://vimeo. com/1158463453 Ready to see how AI- ready your website is? Take Me To the Grader "GEO or AI SEO is one of the most talked-about ideas in marketing — and one of the least clearly defined. We built the GEO Grader to answer the questions modern marketers are actually asking, without all the hype & jargon. " Natalie Henley Owner, Volume Nine How Does the GEO Grader Work? Step 1: Add your website Step 2: *Optional* toss in a blog post Step 3: The tool runs ... if you get bored, you can peruse dad jokes while you wait Step 4: Get your score and a quick readout Step 5: A full, detailed report shows up in your inbox Ready to get your free AI SEO report with actionable to-dos? Grade My Site https://vimeo. com/1151730452? share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Why take our grader for a spin: Turn “AI visibility” from a buzzword into a score Understand what AI really sees when it looks at your brand Find blind spots your SEO tools don’t catch Establish a reliable baseline for AI readiness Get some tangible to-dos for AI SEO Get clarity in a very noisy GEO conversation Built for real-world marketing teams - not AI engineers Did we mention it's totally free? What The GEO Grader Evaluates: Discoverability We evaluate whether search engines and AI crawlers can access, crawl, and index your content — because if AI can’t discover you, nothing else matters. Structured Data We check whether your site uses schema and authorship signals to define your brand, content, and people in a way AI systems can reliably interpret. AI Readiness We look for foundational credibility markers like awards, testimonials, clear company pages, and sitemap freshness that help AI systems contextualize and validate your business. Performance We assess mobile page speed and core performance metrics that affect how quickly AI systems can access and process your content. Reputation & Trust We analyze offsite signals and AI model perceptions to understand whether your brand appears consistent, credible, and trustworthy — or if red flags are holding you back. LLM-Ready Content We evaluate whether blog and resource pages are written, organized, and sourced to support AI summarization, citation, and recommendation. A few of the things our tool is looking at: Can AI & Search Crawlers Access Your Site? If AI systems can’t crawl your site, they can’t understand or recommend it. We check whether bots are allowed in and critical pages are indexable. Authorship & Content Ownership AI systems care who wrote something, not just what was written. We verify that content is clearly attributed to real, non-generic authors. Identity Consistency Across the Web Inconsistent names or addresses create confusion for AI systems. We flag discrepancies that make it harder for machines to confidently identify your brand. Homepage Signals That Define Your Brand Your homepage sets the context for everything else. We evaluate whether titles, metadata, and structure clearly communicate who you are and what you do. Mobile Performance & Load Speed Slow sites are harder for both users and AI to process. We measure real mobile performance to ensure pages load quickly and reliably. Social & Press Signals Established brands leave a trail. We look for social profiles and press coverage that signal real-world presence and authority. Sitemaps That Help AI Stay Current Sitemaps help AI systems discover and prioritize your content. We check for proper sitemap setup and freshness signals that indicate what’s new or updated. Foundational Brand Credibility Signals Trust starts on your own site. We check for awards, testimonials, and company pages that help AI validate your legitimacy. Content Structure for AI Extraction AI prefers content that’s easy to scan and summarize. We evaluate headings, section size, early answers, and formatting that support AI comprehension. Structured Data & Entity Clarity Schema helps machines understand your organization, content, and authors. We look for clean, consistent structured data that removes ambiguity. Offsite Brand Reputation AI doesn’t rely on your website alone. We analyze whether reviews, mentions, and third-party signals reinforce — or undermine — trust in your... --- Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) aka AI SEO Services More and more, your customers are turning to AI Chatbots and LLMs to solve their problems - let's connect you with them! Connect with a GEO Expert Join the hundreds of brands who trust Volume Nine. More and more people are getting answers from AI models like Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, and AI Overviews. These searches are on the rise, and optimizing for AI models is the very real future of where SEO is headed. We help brands build visibility where it matters now: in the data these large language models pull from. That means rethinking how you create content, how your site’s structured, and how your brand authority shows up across the internet. This isn’t about chasing rankings and the 10 blue links. It’s about being included in the conversation when AI is answering your customers’ questions. Ready to have ChatGPT refer your brand vs. your competitors? Connect with a GEO Expert "Volume Nine has been a valued vendor of Breastcancer. org for over 5 years. They have a deep understanding of our goals and priorities as a nonprofit and help us understand current SEO best practices and identify actionable steps we can take to increase our traffic and engagement. " Caroline Durham Associate Director of Content, Breastcancer. org Read Success Story Argaux 4,000% increase in AI traffic leading to thousands in new ecommerce revenue. Read Success Story Levenger Drove more than $20,000 in product sales from AI Traffic in 2025. Read Success Story Volume Nine Applied AI SEO best practices to our own website, turning ChatGPT into our third best source of new leads and adding over $100k to our pipeline. Ready to optimize for the future of search? Connect with an AI SEO Expert Common problems we solve for clients: Your brand doesn’t appear in AI-generated answers. AI tools describe your business wrong or leave out important details. Your competitors show up more often in AI search results. You have content, but it isn’t getting picked up by LLMs. Your organic traffic is slipping as AI Overviews are pulling click through. Your authority isn’t translating into visibility inside AI-generated results. Your leadership team expects AI search to be a priority, but you aren't sure where to start. There’s too much conflicting advice about AI search, and it’s hard to know what actually matters. Our approach to Generative Engine Optimization Clarity You get a clear view of what matters for AI search and what does not, so effort stays focused and intentional. AI SEO Baseline You see how your brand currently appears in AI-generated results and where gaps exist. Brand Authority Your brand is positioned in a way AI systems understand, trust, and reference. Content Existing and new content is shaped to support AI-generated answers, not just rankings. Signals Technical and structural signals are aligned to help AI tools accurately interpret your site. AI SEO Strategy You leave with a defined path forward, so AI SEO becomes part of your strategy instead of another open question. A few of our AI SEO / Generative Engine Optimization Capabilities: Generative Search Research Know how people are actually searching inside AI tools. We study how questions are asked and refined in generative engines so your content shows up when buyers are looking for real answers. ChatGPT and Answer Engine Optimization Show up where buyers are asking questions. We improve how your brand appears inside ChatGPT and other answer engines by strengthening clarity, authority, and sourcing. Content Designed for AI Answers Create content AI tools want to reuse. We shape pages so they’re easy to summarize, accurate to reference, and useful in AI-generated responses. Query Fan-Out Research Get ahead of the follow-up questions. We uncover how one AI query expands into many related questions so your content supports the full conversation, not just the first prompt. Google AI Overviews and AI Mode Optimization Stay visible as Google search changes. We optimize your content so it’s more likely to be summarized, cited, and surfaced in AI Overviews and Google’s AI Mode. FAQ and Question-Based Optimization Answer the questions buyers are already asking. We structure FAQs to align with how AI tools pull direct answers and... --- Denver's Top Social Media Agency Since 2007 Want to work with a local Social Media company here in Denver? We’d love the opportunity to win your business! Our Address: Volume 9, Inc 1312 17th St #942 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (303) 955-5228 Connect with an Expert "To find a local ad agency that’s outperformed even the largest companies is amazing. " Kayla Roofe Sr. Social Media Manager, RE/MAX Let's Grow Your Social Channels TogetherThe secret to our success over the last 20 years is simple. Our top priority isn't growing our company - it's growing yours. Headquartered in Denver, CO We're happy to come onsite at your location here in Colorado! See our Google Business Profile Social is our Bread & Butter Since 2007 we've helped hundreds of brands grow online. Check Out Our Success Stories Worked with A LOT of CO Brands We've had the opportunity to help a ton of Colorado brands, including Davita, Transamerica, Bobo's Oat Bars, Ping Identity, Bea jo's Pizza, Kong and more! Reach Out Today Note from CEO, Natalie Henley If you are looking for an Social Media company in Denver, we'd love to toss our hat in the ring for your business! Our social media program is designed to bring you cutting edge strategy & data analysis, high-quality on-brand imagery & videos, authentic engagement, all while saving you as much time as possible. If that sounds like your cup of tea, drop us a line. I promise you a direct, easy to understand conversation with an expert - not a sales person. Secondly - you don't *have* to work with a company in your backyard, but if that's what you prefer, a member of our team is happy to swing by your office. Sometimes it's nice to meet your team in person. Overall, my commitment to you if you reach out to Volume Nine is to help you connect the dots for how Social Media can help your business grow + make it dead easy to compare and contrast us with any other companies you might be considering. Ready to see your audience engage with your social media content? Connect with a Social Media Expert Our Social Media pricing & typical Denver pricing How to get Pricing from Volume Nine Option 1: Email for Quick PricingI get it; sometimes, you don’t want to sit through a sales presentation to get pricing. If you want quick pricing ranges, just ping us and we’re happy to send them over. Option 2: Discovery + Custom AnalysisProspects rave about the free custom analysis we provide if you are considering hiring us. In addition to free reports from our enterprise tools, we also commit hours of internal team time to develop a custom strategy for you. Typical Social Media Pricing Levels in the Colorado Market: Less than $1,000 per month – Be afraid, be very afraid. $1,000 – $2,500 – You are probably looking at a package provider or freelancer who has constructed packages to help small businesses. $2,500 – $6,000 – Pretty typical level for Social Media companies that serve medium-sized businesses. $6K + – Enterprise level pricing or pricing for highly competitive spaces (e. g. , Legal). Good Questions to Ask When Buying Social Media Services Here's a few helpful questions or things to consider when interviewing potential social media providers here in Denver:Who is the social media strategist or person you will get to work with day to day? Do they start with a strategy or just start punching out content (we always advocate for starting with a strategy)Ask for content samples and beware of low-value content providers who are using outsourced talent or AI tools to mass produce content. Ask where they are headquartered and who is actually in Denver - a few giant companies have set up a fake satellite office in Denver to trick you into thinking you are working with a local company. Understand how much work you'll need to put in each month. Ask for case studies or to see channels they are actively managing now. Consider asking for a free sample post made for your brand. Options for getting Social Media work done Freelancers Likely, you’ll be paying lower... --- Recognition for Work That Makes an Impact At Volume Nine, we take pride in the work we create and the results we achieve for our clients. Along the way, we’ve been honored with awards that celebrate creativity, strategy, and innovation in digital marketing, reminding us why we love what we do and inspiring us to keep raising the bar. Volume Nine’s Awards and Recognition WE Awards - Social Media (Food & Beverage) Volume Nine was recognized by the Web Excellence Awards for a standout social media campaign with Kate’s Real Food that drove strong engagement and measurable results. Read More Best AI SEO Agency in Denver - 2025 Volume Nine was named the Best AI SEO Agency in Denver of 2025, recognizing our expertise in AI-driven SEO strategies and measurable client growth. Read More Clutch 1000 Award - 2025 Volume Nine was named to the 2025 Clutch 1000, recognizing top companies worldwide for consistently delivering outstanding service and measurable client results. Read More Clutch 2025 Global Award Volume Nine was recognized as a 2025 Fall Clutch Global Award winner for outstanding performance across SEO, PPC, paid social, and digital marketing services. Read More Clutch 2025 Champion Award Volume Nine was named a 2025 Fall Clutch Champion for delivering exceptional client results and industry-leading digital marketing performance. Read More Top Digital Marketing Agency 2025 Volume Nine was awarded for innovation in digital strategy and measurable client success. Read More Denver Biz Journal Fast Growing Companies Volume Nine was recognized among Denver’s leading agencies for sustainable growth and long-term partnerships. Read More Inc 500 Fastest Growing Companies Volume Nine received national recognition for consistent growth driven by teamwork, creativity, and results. Read More Best of Colorado - Best in Graphic Design Volume Nine was honored by ColoradoBiz for creative design that turns ideas into impactful visual stories. Read More ColoradoBiz Top 200 Private Companies Volume Nine is proud to be part of Colorado’s thriving private business community and continued local impact. Read More Web Excellence Award - Advertising & Marketing SEO Volume Nine was recognized for SEO strategies that balance technical precision with engaging, audience-first content. Read More CO Biz Mag 25 Most Influential Young Professional Volume Nine was acknowledged for emerging leadership and creativity that continue to drive industry impact. Read More Web Excellence Award - Advertising & Marketing Volume Nine was acknowledged for integrated campaigns that connect brands with their audiences across channels. Read More Web Excellence Award - Social Media Contests Volume Nine was honored for interactive social campaigns that spark engagement and build authentic connections. Read More PRSA 2020 Silver Pick - Bed Head Social Media Volume Nine was celebrated for creative social storytelling that brought a global beauty brand closer to its audience. Read More Top 100 Woman-Owned Companies Volume Nine was honored by ColoradoBiz as a leading woman-owned digital marketing agency making an impact through creativity and measurable results. Read More Colorado Companies to Watch Finalist Volume Nine was recognized for innovation, leadership, and contribution to Colorado’s business landscape. Read More Let’s Create What’s Next — Together We’re grateful for each opportunity to collaborate, experiment, and grow alongside our clients. These recognitions remind us that good work is built on partnership, curiosity, and care. If you’re looking to tell your story in a new way, we’d love to help make it happen. --- Show Up in ChatGPT Elevate your SEO strategy to drive visibility in LLMs like ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews, and more. Connect with an Expert https://vimeo. com/1118086038? share=copy#t=0 Trusted by Top Brands Ready for GEO? How we're helping brands optimize for Generative Search: Technical Best Practices for AI Dialing in your Personas Optimizing content for AI, not just Google Auditing & Fixing your Existing Brand Footprint Building Strong Offsite Citations Measuring The Bottom Line Impact from AI Visibility Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story SyncHR 50% increase in demo signups for a SAAS brand in a competitive industry. Read Success Story General Kinematics Increased leads for a manufacturer from ~0 to 100/month. Read Success Story Sanity Solutions 50% increase in leads in the highly-competitive IT Services industry. --- Natalie Henley Owner of an award-winning Digital Marketing Agency, Vistage member, and a Vistage Speaker since 2011. Top Brands Volume Nine Has Served: A Few Helpul Things for Vistage Chairs: Where I Live:Denver, ColoradoMy Topic:SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Strategy + AI EfficiencyMy Email:nhenley@v9digital. comMyVistageMy bio and speaker history on My Vistage. LinkedInLet's connect on LinkedIn. Schedule Time With MeBook time right on my calendar. A Note From Natalie: Thank you for considering me to speak for your Vistage Group. As both a speaker & a Vistage member, I know how important these presentations really are to members in helping to grow their business. Here's a few things you can expect if you book me for your group:No Selling (I know, that's a given with Vistage Speakers, but felt it was important to call out since I'm running an active Agency)Up to-Date Advice - Get ready for a lot of stories & advice based on what's happening right now in digital across our active campaigns and accountsCustom Analysis - My team and I will prepare a custom analysis for every member who attends, and I'll hand them out during the presentation. These are consistently a huge hit with members. Custom Experience - My goal is to adapt to your group as we go, so I have a core presentation I give, then supplemental education based on where the group's interest lies (e. g. some groups really love spending an hour really digging into AI, some don't)Free for Colorado - I'm free for Colorado Groups, as long as I can drive there and back without getting a hotel :)If you are looking for a speaker who provides top-notch consulting and guidance based on marketing strategies that are actually working today, then I'm your gal. Intrigued? Send me an email and let's chat :) nhenley@V9digital. com My Topic for 2025 / 2026 The New Growth Formula: SEO Strategy + AI EfficiencyDo any of these sound familiar? We’re investing in marketing, but organic traffic isn’t growing. Our competitors show up on Google & Reddit & ChatGPT, why don’t we? We’re active on social and running ads, but we’re still not found online. SEO feels like a black box—and I’m not sure we’re doing it right. We keep hearing AI can just do this, but I don’t know where to start. We don’t have time to keep up with search trends, AI tools, and changing algorithms. If you're trying to grow your business online but don’t have full confidence in your SEO or digital strategy, this workshop is for you. This interactive, high-energy session will help you:Get a quick, executive-level understanding of what SEO is and how it’s changing in 2026 Build a clear, CEO-level scorecard to evaluate SEO performanceUnderstand where your brand stands today with a custom SEO & visibility analysisLearn practical ways to leverage AI for content creation, competitive research, keyword analysis, and marketing efficiencyGet up to speed on what’s changing in search—especially with AI-powered search results (like Google's AI Overviews)Create a 90- to 120-day strategic roadmap that connects SEO and AI tools to actual business growth Every attendee will receive:A custom SEO analysis of their website and search visibility ($750 value)An executive-level SEO scorecard templateAccess to AI tools to help with SEO implementation Bonus: A resource kit with prompts, workflows, and templates you can use or give to your team Value to Member:This program is designed to give CEOs and business leaders the clarity and confidence to lead their marketing teams toward growth—without needing to be an SEO expert. You’ll walk away with a strategic roadmap, smarter use of AI, and a better understanding of how to turn organic search into a long-term growth engine for your business. I would be honored to present for your group. --- We Won't Sell Your Data Don't worry - we won't sell your user data - EVER Many governments & states are requiring stricter and stricter regulations as it relates to things like personal data. At Volume Nine, we're 100% behind that. One of the things many states and countries are asking for is the ability for users to ask you not to sell your data, which is CRAZY we even have to ask that of brands. So at Volume Nine, we won't sell your data... EVER. You don't have to fill in a special request form or toggle a special button to prevent me from bundling up your personally identifiable details and selling them to the highest bidder... I won't ever do it. I'm just sorry you have to deal with this kind of garbage from other brands. Your data is safe with us (and honestly, we're tracking and storing as little of it as possible anyways). Cheers,Natalie HenleyOwner --- Social Media Portfolio Social media isn’t just about showing up—it’s about standing out. We create eye-catching content and scroll-stopping designs that bring your brand to life and get people talking. Let’s turn your social presence into a community that actually engages, shares, and converts. Connect with an Expert A Few Creative Examples of Our Social Media Work "There’s an overall professionalism to Volume Nine’s work. As a larger brand company, we sometimes feel like we have to go with a larger ad agency to help some of the nitpicky things that happen with social media. To find a local agency that’s outperformed even the largest companies is amazing. " Kayla Roofe Sr. Social Media Manager, RE/MAX Want to speak with a Digital Marketing Expert and turn your social channels into all that and a bag of chips? Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert --- Are you a digital marketing freelancer looking to expand your portfolio, work on exciting projects with incredible brands, and get paid quickly for your work? Let's Join Forces Freelance With UsWe partner with top freelancers (like you) to help us execute amazing digital marketing strategies for some pretty cool clients across a wide range of industries. We’re on the lookout for like-minded professionals who enjoy collaborating with brands that are making a difference in the marketplace. Our goal is to offer our extended family unmatched perks like weekly invoicing, realistic deadlines, and interesting projects. We also aim to have as many of our freelancer relationships set up as ongoing projects as possible. Partnering with Volume Nine: Your only focus is your work—imagine that! We handle all communication and monthly meetings with the client. You’ll have access to our template library to help complete certain tasks as needed. Your work for a particular month is preplanned and loaded in advance, making it easy for you to schedule around. You’ll receive payment directly in your checking account, and we limit the red tape for approval of invoices. Thanks to our streamlined process for onboarding new freelancers, you can get started right away. Let's Join Forces Skills In Demand: Social Media Are you a social media wizard? If you've got skills that kills with social ads, creative, engagement or reporting, let's talk! SEO We love leverage expert SEOs who have depth in categories like Local SEO, Technical SEO, Link Earning, Content Writing and more! Development As an agency, we're technology agnostic with our clients. So we love having a deep network of developers who can work across platforms like Wordpress, Shopify, Magento & More! Ad Management Do you know how to dial in the performance for Google Ads or Social Media Ads? Data & Analytics We're always on the hunt for freelancers with deep expertise in Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, Looker Studio and more! Content Do you know how to turn a phrase or write content that converts users to a next step? Let's talk! What Our Freelancers Are Saying "V9 is hands down one of my favorite agency clients. They provide all the assets I need to write well and complete my projects on time, and their assignment and management system is super smooth. All of that means I don’t have to worry about things falling through the cracks, dozens of client edits, or rush requests. Their invoicing system is easy to use and automated, so I never have to wait to get paid. The team is a blast to work with and I’ve gotten to know them well over the last couple of years. They really build long-term relationships with their freelancers and offer a ton of fun projects to work on. " Latasha Doyle Uncanny Content --- Drive More Social Media Engagement Are you struggling to build likes, followers & comments on your social media platforms? Connect with an Expert https://vimeo. com/1057600079? share=copy#t=0 Trusted by Top Brands Want to see people actually engaging with your social media content? If any of these sound like you, we can help! Want more followers Need to build more brand awareness When we post content it's like a ghost town We're the best kept secret in our industry We need help figuring out what to even post on social media We're only getting the same few users engaging every time Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Vitamin World 44,889 new Facebook followers in 4 months. Read Success Story Land's End Business 1,400% increase in social engagement. Read Success Story Bed Head 976% increase in Instagram engagement. --- All the needed resources to help out my fellow Vistage members as we get going. Helpful links & tools During The Presentation I hope you indulged in an extra cup of coffee this morning because we’re going to roll up our sleeves and get stuff done. During the presentation, you’ll want to access the Google Drive folder, or download the zip file below. Google Drive Folder Zipped Files Digital Strategy Planner (AI) Presentation V9 Resources KPIs Additional Useful Links Feel free to check out these helpful links before or after the Vistage presentation to dive deeper. They’re here to provide additional insights and resources to help you get the most out of our discussion. Digital Strategy Planner (AI) B2B Looker Studio Template Connect with me on LinkedIn Ecommerce Looker Studio Template --- Make our Templates Your Templates! We’ve been cracking away at Digital Marketing for almost two decades, and as you might imagine, we’ve got a few solid gold templates we regularly update to stay on top of industry trends. Save time, build efficiency, & do Digital Marketing the right way These templates are consistently updated to make sure we’re staying up to date with algorithms, industry changes, and all that jazz. Take advantage of the blood, sweat, and tears we’ve put in to make these suckers. These templates represent over 100 hours of development over the years. All we ask for in return is for you to let us know who you are. Don’t worry; you aren’t about to be harassed by our sales team. Get Your Free Templates Marketing Templates Name * First Last * Last Email * Company Name Comments Take Me To The Templates! If you are human, leave this field blank. --- Your New Templates & Tools The links are below :) Also, are you interested in getting a helping hand with Digital? We’re just a group of quirky Digital Marketing nerds that want to make you the hero of your organization. Connect With Our Team AI ToolDigital Marketing Strategy Planner Overview: Developing a Digital Strategy is hard work. We've built a custom AI tool to help you build a great, "good enough" digital marketing strategy. Access Template social media templateSocial Media Editorial Calendar Overview: Planning social media content is a team sport. This calendar helps you get your monthly content and ideas organized so that copywriters, stakeholders & graphic designers can all be on the same page. Access Template Social Media ChecklistSocial Media Engagement Checklist Overview: Engagement is the lifeblood of a vibrant social media community. Our checklist helps foster meaningful interactions, enriching your relationships with your audience. Access Template SEO templateContent Optimization Checklist Overview: You put a lot of work into that content! Ensure your content meets essential SEO criteria to maximize its visibility. Access Template Our most popular template. SEO TemplateWebsite Launch SEO Checklist Overview: Make sure your new website (or refreshed website) meets critical SEO requirements and best practices. Access Template --- Sell More Product For Less Ready to build a powerful brand that creates raving fans and increased product sales? Connect with an Expert https://vimeo. com/1057899936? share=copy#t=0 Trusted by Top Brands Need to drive more online sales? If any of these sound like you, we can help! Need to Decrease our CAC Paid Ads are Getting Too Expensive We'd like More Organic Traffic & Sales We're The Best Kept Secret In our Industry We Need Help with Our Conversion Rates We Have a Social Following, But Don't Know How to Monetize That Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Large Retailer $1M+ in recovered revenue after a website launch. Read Success Story Vitamin World 155% increase in conversions from Facebook. Read Success Story Murad 67% increase in product revenue. --- Drive More Leads Need an agency that can build a cross-channel strategy that drives leads? Connect with an Expert https://vimeo. com/1057600918? share=copy#t=0 Trusted by Top Brands Ready to Fill Up the Pipeline? Here are some of the lead generation areas we shine in: Targeting a niche audience Helping brands transform brand awareness into leads Building collaboration between sales & marketing Driving demo signups for saas Driving leads in competitive industries Building up a steady, new channel of leads Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story SyncHR 50% increase in demo signups for a SAAS brand in a competitive industry. Read Success Story General Kinematics Increased leads for a manufacturer from ~0 to 100/month. Read Success Story Sanity Solutions 50% increase in leads in the highly-competitive IT Services industry. --- Protect SEO During a Website Launch Relaunching a website is one of the riskiest things you can do for your SEO. We've developed a time-trusted website launch support program that can help you protect your Organic traffic when relaunching or re-platforming a website. Connect with an Expert https://vimeo. com/1057899111? share=copy#t=0 Trusted by Top Brands Relaunching a website? If any of these sound like you and SEO is a priority for your brand going forward, we can help! Planning to Re-platform our Ecommerce Website We Have a Developer Who Doesn't Specialize in SEO We're Launching a Website for The First Time We're Relaunching and Need More Traffic To Our Website We're Changing Our Website & Organic Traffic is a Major Driver For Us Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Large Retailer Recovered more than $1M in revenue after traffic dropped post-launch. Read Success Story General Kinematics Relaunched website and massively increased lead generation to 100 leads + per month. Read Success Story Bobo's Oat Bars 186% increase in organic traffic after a website launch. --- Recover Lost SEO Traffic Seeing a traffic graph headed down and to the right isn't anyone's idea of a good time. We can help you identify the cause and, more importantly, help you turn things around. Connect with an Expert https://vimeo. com/1057602282? share=copy#t=0 Trusted by Top Brands Scrambling to Recover Lost Organic Traffic? If any of these sound like you, we can help! Lost traffic after a website relaunch Got hit by a Google algorithm update Lost visibility on specific content or keywords Seeing a slow decline in organic traffic overtime Loosing traffic to AI overviews Saw a dramatic decline in organic on a specific day Loosing traffic to an agressive competitor Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Large Retailer Recovered more than $1M in organic revenue after a giant drop post-launch. Read Success Story General Kinematics Gained a run-rate from 100 leads per month from a slowly declining website and 0 leads. Read Success Story Sanity Solutions 50% increase in leads from organic traffic in a highly-competitive services industry. --- Full Service Digital Marketing Do you need more than a single support channel? We can help you audit, strategize, and manage a full set of channels and tactics. Connect with a Digital Expert Need a strategic partner who can deliver results? Do you need to build your brand up, get revenue flowing, but aren't exactly sure what channels you need and to what extent? We've got you covered! Our best client relationships and results are a collaboration with your team and ours to run cross-channel strategies & campaigns. Connect with a Digital Expert "Volume Nine brought a high level of technical expertise and personal attention to the project. I never felt like a cog in a wheel, even though I knew that we did not rank close to their largest clients. Most importantly, the phones are ringing and the forms are flowing. " Joe Whitcomb Owner, Whitcomb & Selinsky PC Read Success Story Sanity Solutions 50% Increase in new leads in a highly competitive services industry. Read Success Story General Kinematics Over 100 leads per month - up from virtually none Read Success Story Westline Village 100% Townhomes Sold a FULL YEAR ahead of schedule Ready for a digital program that delivers results? Connect with an Expert Common problems we solve for clients: You’re doing "stuff" regularly, but it doesn't seem to be working. Your competitors are doing better than you online — and it’s driving you nuts. You don’t have the time or resources to figure this all out. You are about to go through a rebrand or website relaunch and you are overwhelmed with how much is invovled in that. Your're pipeline is empty and your phones aren't ringing. You want to take advantage of AI in marketing, but aren't sure how. You don’t have a clear strategy in place. Your team can dome some digital marketing, but they need some help with strategy and execution. Our Approach to Digital Marketing Goals First, we define what success looks like. Is it traffic? Conversions? Better brand authority? Let’s figure it out together. Research Understand your audience inside and out - their pain points, questions and buying behavior. Strategy You’ll get a Digital Marketing strategy that combines industry best practices, your data, innovation and research into a killer go-forward roadmap. Execution Between your team, ours & our partner network, we help you get high-quality work done efficiently and on-budget. Data Analysis More than numbers on an automated report - we provide insights into what is (or isn't) working. Adapt & Innovate The secret to our success with clients - we don't keep you stuck in a tactic or channel that isn't performing. A few of our Digital Marketing Capabilities: Lead Generation Is your pipeline running on empty? We’ll help you fill it with high-quality leads using strategies designed to keep your business growing. Increase Product Sales Need to amp Ecommerce revenue up a notch? We’ll create data-driven strategies that drive sales and bring your CAC down. Build Brand Awareness Does it feel like nobody knows your name? It's time to put your brand in the spotlight with strategies that get you noticed and remembered by your ideal customer. Local Business Marketing Targeting a specific local area or market? We’ll help your business get found by the right customers. Strategic Marketing & Consulting Ready to take your brand to the next level? We’ll work with you to build a clear, actionable strategy that aligns with your goals and drives real results. Niche Marketing Trying to reach a specific audience? We’ll help you connect with your ideal customers through tailored strategies that speak directly to them. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Struggling to get found online? We’ll optimize your site to make sure you show up where it matters. Social Media Marketing Ready to build a growing, engaged community? We’ll help you engage your audience, share your story, and build a loyal community across the platforms that matter most. Content Marketing Need content that actually delivers? We create high-quality, targeted pieces that engage your audience and drive traffic that converts. Whether it's email marketing, blogs, articles, inforgaphics, etc. we've got you covered. Design You deserve eye-catching designs that capture attention and leave a... --- PPC Services Stop wasting money on clicks that don’t convert. Let’s make your ad spend count. Connect with an Expert Join the hundreds of brands who trust Volume Nine. At Volume Nine, we don’t just run ads and our goal isn't to have you spend more and more. We build intentional, data-driven PPC campaigns that get you in front of the right audience at the right time — and drive results that matter. From Google Search to Meta Ads, we know how to make paid advertising work smarter, not harder. Connect with an Expert "I attribute much of our success to Volume Nine’s web and advertising efforts. When we handed over our ads management, we had a 250% return on ad spend (ROAS), and they’ve since delivered a 500% ROAS. " Devin Deholl Owner, Asheville Adventure Company Read Success Story American Garage Door 2,969% Increase in leads for a commercial garage door company. Read Success Story Asheville Adventure 429% ROAS for a rafting & tour company. Read Success Story Turing School 138% Increase in enrollment. Ready to drive affordable leads and sales? Connect with an Expert Common problems we solve for clients: You’re spending on ads, but you’re not seeing ROI. You have no idea what’s working (or what’s not). You’re tired of being the best-kept secret in your industry. You’re overwhelmed by the complexity of Google Ads and social media ad platforms. You’re tired of pouring money into Google Ads and want to diversify your revenue sources. You want a PPC program that is cohesive with your SEO strategies. You’re tired of chasing clicks that don’t turn into leads or sales. You need a PPC strategy that integrates with your overall marketing efforts. Our Approach to Paid Ads Goals We start with your goals: more leads, sales, visibility — you name it. Then we build campaigns that deliver. Research We identify exactly who you’re targeting and where to find them — from Google Search to Facebook to LinkedIn. Strategy No cookie-cutter PPC plans here. We craft custom campaigns that align with your goals, budget, and audience. Management We handle the heavy lifting — creating ads, setting up campaigns, and managing your spend to maximize ROI. Dialing It Back Long term, we want you to spend less on ads, not more. The goal is to use ads to propel your business objectives, but not build PPC up as a crutch. Data Analysis Data without context is useless. You’ll get clear, actionable reporting that connects PPC performance to your bottom line. A few of our Paid Ad Capabilities: Google Search Ads Reach customers when they’re actively searching for your products or services. We’ll build high-performing search campaigns that drive traffic, leads, and sales. LinkedIn Ads B2B? We got you! We’ll target decision-makers with compelling LinkedIn campaigns that drive leads and build authority for your brand. Social Boosting You’ve got great social content — now let’s get more eyes on it. We’ll strategically boost posts to increase engagement, visibility, and clicks. Facebook Ads We’ll help you reach the right audience with high-performing Facebook ad campaigns that drive awareness, engagement, and conversions. YouTube Ads From skippable video ads to bumper ads, we’ll craft targeted, engaging YouTube ad campaigns that reach your audience at scale. Remarketing & Retargeting Lost visitors aren’t gone forever. We’ll help you reconnect with past visitors and turn abandoned clicks into customers. Threads Ads Ready to engage a fresh, fast-growing platform? Our Threads ad strategies put you in front of the right conversations and communities. Google Search Ads Be there when it matters most. We’ll create search ads that put you at the top of Google for the keywords your audience is searching. Conversion Tracking & Attribution Know where every dollar goes — and what it brings back. We set up proper tracking so you can see the full picture. Instagram Ads Visually striking and built to convert. From Stories to Reels to Feed posts, we’ll create Instagram ads that stop the scroll and deliver results. Display Ads Keep your brand top-of-mind with eye-catching display ads that run across millions of websites and apps. PPC Audits Not sure if your campaigns are setup with best practices or maximizing your investment?... --- Get connected with a Digital Marketing expert for tangible insights on how to grow your brand and drive steady, predictable revenue growth. Trusted by Top Brands Let's connect Connect with a seasoned digital expert on our team. Contact Us Name * First Last * Last Email * Company Name * How Can We Help? * Captcha Connect With an Expert If you are human, leave this field blank. Ask a Digital Marketing Question Talk to an Expert - Not a Salesperson Fast Pricing Estimates Free Initial Analysis Schedule a Deeper Discovery With a Strategist And more! In a hurry? Give us a call! 303-955-5228 Our Mailing Address Although we’re headquartered in Denver, Colorado, we service clients across the globe. Volume Nine Denver's Top Digital Marketing Agency1312 17th St #942Denver, Colorado 80202 --- Denver's Top SEO Agency Since 2006 Want to work with a local SEO company here in Denver? We’d love the opportunity to win your business! Our Address: Volume 9, Inc 1312 17th St #942 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (303) 955-5228 Connect with an Expert "We've worked with other SEO/Digital Marketing companies and in two or three meetings, it felt like Volume Nine understood us and delivered better content and ideas than others we'd worked with for multiple years. " Kali Peterson President, Tiresocks Let's Grow Your Brand TogetherThe secret to our success over the last 20 years is simple. Our top priority isn't growing our company - it's growing yours. Headquartered in Denver, CO We're happy to come onsite at your location here in Colorado! See our Google Business Profile SEO is our Bread & Butter Since 2006 we've helped hundreds of brands grow online. Check Out Our Success Stories Worked with A LOT of CO Brands We've had the opportunity to help a ton of Colorado brands, including Davita, Transamerica, Bobo's Oat Bars, Ping Identity, Bea jo's Pizza, Kong and more! Reach Out Today Note from CEO, Natalie Henley If you are looking for an SEO company in Denver, there are a whole lot of us... I mean a whole lot. I’ve heard it can be a *tad overwhelming* for companies trying to find a service provider. To start with, we all sound really similar and use all the exact words, and I agree it’s super frustrating & overwhelming. So, if you reach out to Volume Nine, I promise you a direct, easy to understand conversation with an expert - not a sales person. Secondly - you don't *have* to work with a company in your backyard, but if that's what you prefer, a member of our team is happy to swing by your office. Sometimes it's nice to meet your team in person. Overall, my commitment to you if you reach out to Volume Nine is to help you connect the dots for how SEO can help your business grow + make it dead easy to compare and contrast us with any other companies you might be considering. Ready to get Organic traffic moving up and to the right? Connect with an SEO Expert Our SEO pricing & typical Denver pricing How to get Pricing from Volume Nine Option 1: Email for Quick PricingI get it; sometimes, you don’t want to sit through a sales presentation to get pricing. If you want quick pricing ranges, just ping us and we’re happy to send them over. Option 2: Discovery + Custom AnalysisProspects rave about the free custom analysis we provide if you are considering hiring us. In addition to free reports from our enterprise SEO tools, we also commit hours of internal team time to develop a custom strategy for you. Typical SEO Pricing Levels in the Colorado Market: Less than $1,000 per month – Be afraid, be very afraid. $1,000 – $2,000 – You are probably looking at a package provider who has constructed packages to help small businesses. $2,000 – $5,000 – Pretty typical level for SEO companies that serve medium-sized businesses. $5K + – Enterprise level pricing or pricing for highly competitive spaces (e. g. , Legal). Buyer Beware – SEO Companies in Denver to Avoid Alright, it would be unethical to list out service providers who have gotten a bad rap over the years, but here are the things I’d recommend looking out for when you are interviewing service providers:Not getting to meet the person you will be working with before signing a contract. Companies that insist on sending you through a full technical audit because it’s their process. This isn’t necessarily bad (maybe you need a technical audit), but it is a good indicator of whether they have flexible methods. 90% + of the companies who ask us to start with a full technical audit don’t need one. Garbage content providers (I totally recommend asking for content samples). Giant companies which have set up a fake satellite office in Denver to trick you into thinking you are working with a local company. Companies that rely on a lot of link building, which is pretty... --- Digital Marketing for Alchohol Brands Use data-driven strategies to build brand loyalty, engage consumers where they shop and socialize, and drive measurable growth in a highly regulated industry. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to stand out in a crowded alcohol market Your brand has a great story, but not enough people know about it You’ve invested in digital marketing, but it hasn’t translated into real growth Building brand loyalty is essential, but you’re not sure how to keep customers engaged Relying too much on word-of-mouth and need a scalable strategy to drive awareness and sales Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert "I’ve worked with V9 for almost two years and continue to be impressed. Their level of industry knowledge and the team of specialists accomplish my marketing goals every time. Amy Donahue-Kelley General Kinematics Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who "gets" alcohol brands? Schedule Time With an Expert Digital Marketing Capabilities for Alcohol Brands Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Consumers are searching for new brands, cocktail recipes, and where to buy their favorite spirits— let'smake sure they find you first. Our SEO strategies improve organic visibility for high-intent keywords, driving brand awareness and sales. Paid Media & Programmatic Advertising With strict advertising regulations in the alcohol industry, targeting the right audience is everything. We craft compliant, data-driven ad campaigns across Google, Meta, programmatic networks, and industry-specific platforms to maximize ROI. Digital Marketing AOR (Agency of Record) Managing digital marketing across multiple channels can be overwhelming. As your dedicated partner, we handle everything from strategy to execution, so you can focus on production, distribution, and brand growth. Social Media for Alcohol Brands Engage drinkers where they discover new brands—Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest. We create platform-specific content, manage influencer partnerships, and drive community engagement while ensuring compliance with alcohol advertising guidelines. Email & SMS Marketing Keep your brand top-of-mind with email and SMS campaigns that connect with customers. From exclusive product launches to cocktail inspiration, we build campaigns that drive repeat purchases and brand loyalty. Video & Short-Form Content Showcase your brand’s personality and craftsmanship with high-quality video content. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes distillery footage, cocktail tutorials, or brand storytelling, we create compelling video assets for social, web, and ads. Thought Leadership & Content Marketing Position your brand as more than just a drink—tell your story. We create blog content, cocktail guides, and educational resources that establish credibility and deepen customer connections. Influencer & Brand Ambassador Marketing Tap into the power of trusted voices in the industry. We connect alcohol brands with the right mixologists, lifestyle influencers, and brand ambassadors to drive authentic engagement and word-of-mouth marketing. User-Generated Content (UGC) Campaigns Your customers are already talking about your brand—let’s amplify it. We create UGC strategies that encourage real drinkers to share their experiences, building social proof and brand loyalty. Ecommerce & DTC Strategy Selling alcohol online comes with its own challenges. We optimize eCommerce experiences, from third-party marketplaces to direct-to-consumer platforms, ensuring your digital storefront is seamless and compliant. AI for Alcohol Marketing Leverage AI tools for smarter marketing. From personalized recommendations to predictive analytics, we help alcohol brands use AI to enhance customer engagement and streamline marketing efforts. Brand Identity & Visual Storytelling Today’s drinkers connect with brands that have a strong identity. We develop stunning visual assets, from packaging and branding to digital design, ensuring your brand is as memorable as your product. Ready to drive brand awareness and new customers? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your marketing team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Alcohol Brands at V9Marketing alcohol isn’t just about running ads or posting product photos. It’s about building brand loyalty, navigating complex regulations, and engaging consumers where they discover and purchase their favorite drinks. A great marketing strategy ensures your brand stands out, stays compliant, and drives real sales—not just visibility. The Challenge: Why Alcohol Marketing Is UniqueThe alcohol industry comes with its own set of challenges that require a specialized marketing approach:Standing Out in a Competitive Market... --- Digital Marketing for SAAS Brands In software, competition for market share can be fierce and it’s essential to have a strategy that helps you cut through the noise to connect with your target customers. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top SAAS Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Need more Demo signups Your software is the best-kept secret in your industry You’ve invested in digital marketing but aren’t seeing real growth in new client aquisition You have a niche audience with a complex buying cycle Relationships and trust are key to closing deals in your industry You’re relying too much on referrals and need a scalable lead generation strategy Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story SyncHR 50% increase in demos for a SaaS brand in a highly competitive industry. Read Success Story General Kinematics Ramped a mining equipment manufacturer up to 100 leads/month (up from ~0). Read Success Story Sanity Solutions 50% increase in leads for an IT services company. "I’ve worked with V9 for almost two years and continue to be impressed. Their level of industry knowledge and the team of specialists accomplish my marketing goals every time. Amy Donahue-Kelley General Kinematics Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who "gets" SAAS? Single-channel campaigns RARELY deliver quality leads for B2Bs. If you need a cross-channel strategy, not just a generic digital marketing package, we're here to help! Schedule Time With an Expert SAAS Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Your prospects are searching for software solutions—make sure they find you first. Our SEO strategies drive organic visibility for high-intent keywords, helping you generate quality leads. Paid Media & PPC Advertising Reach the right decision-makers with highly targeted ads across Google, LinkedIn, and industry-specific platforms. We create data-driven campaigns that drive demos, free trials, and enterprise sales. Website Optimization & Performance Your website is your 24/7 sales engine. We optimize and enhance B2B software websites for seamless user experiences, strong branding, and high conversion rates. Content Marketing & Thought Leadership Position your brand as an industry leader. We create in-depth blogs, whitepapers, case studies, and guides that educate, engage, and convert. Social Media Marketing Engage with your audience where they spend time. We develop LinkedIn and Twitter strategies that build authority, generate leads, and drive brand awareness. Email & Lead Nurturing Campaigns Stay top of mind with targeted email sequences. From onboarding flows to sales drip campaigns, we craft messaging that nurtures leads and increases conversions. Reputation Management & Social Proof B2B buyers trust reviews and recommendations. We help brands collect and showcase testimonials, case studies, and user-generated content to build credibility. Influencer & Community-Driven Marketing Leverage industry influencers and customer advocates to amplify your brand. We help you build trust through testimonials, partnerships, and expert collaborations. Video & Product Demos Show, don’t just tell. We produce compelling explainer videos, product walkthroughs, and customer testimonials that simplify complex software solutions and drive engagement. Website Launch Support Getting through a new website can be very challenging for B2B brands. It's critical to nail the content tone & depth, build a strong set of sales enablement content, and also incorporate UX & SEO best practices. Our team can support yours along the way to help you hit your launch timeline. AI for B2B Software Brands Curious how AI fits into your marketing? We help you leverage AI-driven tools like ChatGPT, predictive analytics, and automation to optimize workflows and improve efficiency. LinkedIn & B2B Growth Strategies Expand your reach beyond traditional marketing. We help B2B software brands connect with decision-makers through LinkedIn, account-based marketing, and targeted networking. Ready to fill up the pipeline with qualified leads? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your sales team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for B2B Software at V9Marketing in the B2B software industry isn’t just about running ads or optimizing a website—it’s about building trust, educating buyers, and guiding them through complex purchasing decisions. Whether you’re a SaaS company, enterprise software provider, or niche tech brand, your digital strategy needs... --- Digital Marketing for Homebuilders Use data-driven digital marketing to expand your brand’s reach, connect with homebuyers, and support long-term growth. Whether you're selling custom homes or large-scale developments, strategic marketing helps you attract the right buyers, build trust, and drive sales. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to connect with homebuyers who are ready to purchase You build high-quality homes, but the right buyers aren’t finding you You’ve invested in digital marketing but haven’t seen a real impact on leads or sales Your ideal buyers care about craftsmanship, trust, and transparency Building credibility is essential to closing deals and driving referrals You’re relying too much on word-of-mouth and need a scalable, data-driven growth strategy Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Parade of Homes 59k clicks and 3k+ conversions during a single month. Read Success Story Westline Village 100% sold out units ahead of launch :) See Award RE/MAX Won a shorty award for our joint social media program. “Volume Nine is the perfect digital partner for homebuilders and developer. They understand the buyer demographic at every price point and how to reach them where they are. ” Lauren Karsh President, Colorado Modern Communication Looking for a partner who "gets" homebuilders? Schedule Time With an Expert Homebuilder Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Homebuyers are searching for builders they can trust—make sure they find you first. Our SEO strategies improve rankings for high-intent keywords, driving organic traffic and quality leads to your site. Targeted Digital Advertising Reach the right buyers with precision-targeted ads across Google, Meta, and industry-specific platforms. Our paid media strategies generate high-quality leads, increase model home visits, and maximize ROI. Full-Service Marketing Strategy & Execution Managing multiple marketing channels while running a homebuilding business is a lot. We take the marketing off your plate—developing and executing data-driven strategies that bring in qualified buyers, so you can focus on building homes. LinkedIn & B2B Development Marketing Need to connect with developers, real estate agents, or industry partners? We leverage LinkedIn and other B2B platforms to position your brand as a leader, drive networking opportunities, and build strong industry relationships. Email & Lead Nurturing Campaigns Buyers take time to make a decision—stay top of mind with strategic email marketing. We craft automated campaigns that nurture leads, provide valuable information, and keep potential buyers engaged until they’re ready to move forward. Video & Visual Storytelling From virtual walkthroughs to customer testimonials and behind-the-scenes construction videos, we create compelling content that builds trust and showcases the quality of your work. Thought Leadership & Content Marketing Educate and inspire buyers with blog posts, guides, and resources that highlight your expertise. We develop content that answers homebuyers' biggest questions and positions your brand as the go-to builder in your market. Social Media & Community Engagement A strong social presence isn’t optional—it’s where buyers research, ask questions, and build trust. We create and manage content that drives engagement, highlights your work, and turns followers into future homeowners. User-Generated Content (UGC) & Testimonials Nothing builds trust like happy homeowners sharing their experiences. We help you collect and showcase real buyer stories, photos, and testimonials to strengthen your credibility and attract new leads. Website Launch Support Getting through a new website can be very challenging. It's critical to nail the content tone & depth, build a strong set of sales enablement content, and also incorporate UX & SEO best practices. Our team can support yours along the way to help you hit your launch timeline. AI-Powered Marketing for Homebuilders Curious about how AI can enhance your marketing? We help homebuilders implement AI tools for predictive analytics, chatbots, and content automation—streamlining processes and improving lead conversion. Branding & Creative Design Your brand needs to stand out in a competitive market. We craft distinctive branding, compelling visuals, and digital assets that build trust and connect with buyers on an emotional level. Ready to build brand awareness and drive consumer demand for new homes? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your sales team. Connect with... --- Digital Marketing for Travel & Tourism brands Your brand deserves a marketing strategy as unique as your destination or service. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Travel Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to gets in beds Your destination is unique, but travelers don't know that You’ve invested in PPC but the cost per click is making things cost-prohibative Your ideal travelers care about authenticity, unique experiences, and expert recommendations Building trust is essential to turning visitors into loyal customers You’re relying too much on word-of-mouth and need a scalable, data-driven strategy to grow Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Asheville Adventure 429% ROAS in a crowded industry. Read Success Story Parade of Homes 104% increase in traffic & 3,000 conversions in one month. Read Success Story B4 Adventure 1500% Surge in Social Conversions; 33% Increased Engagement Rate. "Contracting with Volume Nine has proved to be not only a positive marketing decision for our company, but an essential one. Even though their team is located on the opposite side of the country from our business in Panama City Beach, Florida, we have never felt more connected and in-tune with any other outsourced agency we have used. I would recommend them to anyone when looking to improve their digital marketing and social media efforts. Truly a stellar relationship to pursue. " Lauren Shaw Marketing Manager, Resort Collection Looking for a partner who "gets" travel & tourism? If you need a cross-channel strategy, not just a generic digital marketing package, we're here to help! Schedule Time With an Expert Travel & Tourism, Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Your prospects are searching for solutions—make sure they find you at the top. Our SEO strategies drive organic visibility for high-intent topics & keywords, helping you generate quality leads. Paid Media & PPC Advertising Reach the right audience with highly targeted ads across Google, Meta, and travel-specific platforms. We create campaigns that drive bookings, tour sign-ups, and engagement—backed by real data. Website Optimization & Performance Your website is your 24/7 sales engine. We design, optimize, and enhance travel websites for seamless user experiences, strong branding, and high conversion rates. Content Marketing & Storytelling Capture the imagination of travelers with engaging blogs, destination guides, and expert-backed content that drives traffic and builds trust. Social Media Marketing Turn followers into travelers. We create and manage content strategies that boost engagement, showcase experiences, and inspire bookings on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Email & Customer Retention Campaigns Stay top of mind with targeted email campaigns. From trip inspiration to special offers, we craft campaigns that nurture leads, increase repeat bookings, and build loyalty. Influencer & Community-Driven Marketing Partner with trusted voices in the travel space. We connect your brand with influencers and content creators who inspire real action. Video & Visual Storytelling From destination showcases to traveler testimonials, video is essential. We produce compelling travel videos that inspire, inform, and drive bookings. Reputation Management & Social Proof Travelers trust reviews. We help brands generate and manage customer testimonials, user-generated content, and social proof that builds credibility. Website Launch Support Getting through a new website can be very challenging for large brands. It's critical to nail the content tone & depth, build a strong set of sales enablement content, and also incorporate UX & SEO best practices. Our team can support yours along the way to help you hit your launch timeline. AI for Travel Brands Curious about how AI fits into your marketing? We’ll help you leverage tools like ChatGPT and predictive analytics to streamline workflows and deliver smarter, faster results. LinkedIn & B2B Travel Marketing Expand your reach beyond consumers. We help hotels, tour operators, and travel brands connect with industry decision-makers through LinkedIn and B2B strategies. Ready to get heads in beds? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your sales team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Travel & Tourism at V9Marketing in the travel and tourism industry isn’t just about running ads or optimizing a website—it’s about storytelling,... --- Digital Marketing for Hotels and Resorts Attracting new visitors to your hotel, resort, or destination can feel like an uphill battle. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Hotel Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Your hotel is the "best kept secret" in your city Clicks are too expensive to pay for Your ideal customers care about the experience You need heads in beds, especially during down times Word-of-mouth has worked, but you need a scalable, data-driven approach to take things further. Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert "Contracting with Volume Nine has proved to be not only a positive marketing decision for our company, but an essential one. Even though their team is located on the opposite side of the country from our business in Panama City Beach, Florida, we have never felt more connected and in-tune with any other outsourced agency we have used. I would recommend them to anyone when looking to improve their digital marketing and social media efforts. Truly a stellar relationship to pursue. " Lauren Shaw Marketing Manager, Resort Collection Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who "gets" resorts? Schedule Time With an Expert Digital Marketing Capabilities for Hotels & Resorts Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Your guests are searching for the perfect getaway—make sure they find your hotel or resort first. Our SEO strategies drive organic visibility for high-intent keywords, helping you attract travelers and increase direct bookings. Paid Media & PPC Advertising Get in front of travelers actively looking for their next stay. We create highly targeted campaigns across Google, Meta, and travel-specific platforms like Expedia and TripAdvisor to drive bookings, brand awareness, and measurable ROI. Website Optimization & Booking Performance Your website is your digital front desk. We optimize hotel and resort websites for speed, mobile responsiveness, SEO, and seamless booking experiences to increase direct reservations and reduce reliance on OTAs. Content Marketing & Destination Storytelling Travel is all about experiences. We craft engaging content—blog posts, city guides, itineraries, and local insights—that inspire potential guests, boost organic traffic, and position your property as a must-visit destination. Social Media Marketing Turn your social media into a booking engine. We create and manage high-impact content, community engagement, and paid campaigns on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest to showcase your hotel’s unique experiences. Influencer & Travel Ambassador Marketing Partner with trusted travel influencers and bloggers who can showcase your property authentically. We connect you with content creators that drive awareness, trust, and direct bookings. Email & Guest Retention Campaigns Stay top of mind with past and potential guests. We can consult with you to help build increase repeat visits and direct reservations. Video & Visual Storytelling From stunning resort tours to guest testimonials and behind-the-scenes moments, video content is essential. We produce high-quality visuals that capture the essence of your property and increase engagement. Reputation Management & Guest Reviews Online reviews can make or break a booking decision. We help hotels manage and respond to guest reviews on Google, TripAdvisor, and social platforms, turning positive feedback into a powerful marketing tool. Direct Booking Strategy Balancing direct bookings with OTA listings? We can help you think through your strategies to help gain direct bookings off your website. AI-Driven Personalization & Marketing Automation Leverage AI to deliver personalized guest experiences—automated email campaigns, chatbot booking assistants, and predictive analytics that help you understand and market to your ideal travelers. Luxury Branding & Creative Design Your brand should feel as luxurious as the experience you provide. We design elegant, memorable branding and visual assets that make your hotel or resort stand out in a crowded market. Ready to fill up the pipeline with qualified leads? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your sales team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing at V9 for Hotels & ResortsMarketing a hotel or resort isn’t just about running ads or optimizing a booking engine—it’s about creating an experience, building trust, and turning interest into reservations. Whether you're a boutique hotel, luxury resort, or global hospitality brand, your digital strategy needs to inspire, engage, and convert travelers.... --- We take your data very seriously. Connect with an Expert This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which Volume Nine collects, uses, maintains and discloses information collected from users (each, a “User”) of this website (“Site”). This privacy policy applies to the Site and all products and services offered by Volume Nine. The Site is owned and operated by Volume Nine. The Site is offered subject to your acceptance without modification of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules, policies (including, without limitation, Volume Nine’s Privacy Policy) and procedures that may be published from time to time on this Site by Volume Nine (collectively, the “Agreement”). Please read this Agreement carefully before accessing or using the Site. By accessing or using any part of the website, you agree to become bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access the Site or use any of the related services. If these terms and conditions are considered an offer by Volume Nine, acceptance is expressly limited to these terms. What information do we collect? Personal identification information – We may collect personal identification information from Users in a variety of ways in connection with activities, services, features or resources we make available on our Sites. We will collect personal identification information from Users only if they voluntarily submit such information to us. Users can always refuse to supply personal identification information, except that it may prevent them from engaging in certain Site related activities. Non-personal identification information – We may collect non-personal identification information about Users whenever they interact with our Site. Non-personal identification information may include the browser name, the type of computer and technical information about User’s means of connection to our Sites, such as the operating system and the Internet service providers utilized and other similar information. How do we protect your information? We adopt appropriate data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of your personal information, username, password, transaction information and data stored on our Site. We offer the use of a secure server. All supplied sensitive information is transmitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and then encrypted into database, accessible only by those authorized with special access rights, and are required to keep the information confidential. Do we use cookies? Yes, our Site uses cookies (which are small pieces of information that your browser stores on your computer’s hard drive) to help us understand and save your preferences for future visits and compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future. Do we disclose any information to outside parties? We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. What do we use your information for? Volume Nine, collects and uses Users personal information for the following purposes:To personalize user experience. We may use information in the aggregate to understand how our Users as a group use the services and resources provided on our Site. To improve our Site. We continually strive to improve our website offerings based on the information and feedback we receive from you. To tailor our advertising. We also use third party cookies to deliver advertising (e. g Google Adwords) to you about Volume Nine services. To send periodic emails. The email address Users provide will only be used to respond to their inquiries, and/or other requests or questions. Intellectual propertyThis Agreement does not transfer from Volume Nine to you any Volume Nine or third party intellectual property, and all right, title and interest in and to such property will remain (as between the parties) solely with Volume Nine. Volume Nine logo, and all other trademarks, service marks, graphics and logos used in connection with Volume Nine, or the Site are trademarks or registered trademarks of Volume Nine or Volume Nine licensors. Other trademarks, service marks, graphics and logos used in connection with the Site may be the trademarks of other third parties. Your use of the Site... --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Connect with an Expert {{ Coming Soon }} --- Digital Marketing Services You deserve a Digital Marketing agency that delivers great results, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and who is genuinely fun to work with. Connect with an Expert Let's Grow Your Brand TogetherThe secret to our success over the last 20 years is simple. Our top priority isn't growing our company - it's growing yours. "We've worked with other SEO/Digital Marketing companies and in two or three meetings, it felt like Volume Nine understood us and delivered better content and ideas than others we'd worked with for multiple years. " Kali Peterson President, Tiresocks Case Studies Digital Marketing Services SEO We put our extensive SEO knowledge and experience to work for you to create a custom, actionable SEO strategy. It’s more than being everywhere all the time; it’s knowing how to be seen in the top results at exactly the right time when customers need you. More About Our SEO Services Content Anyone can create lots and lots of content. It might even be structured to leverage SEO and get shared on social media. But the key to success is knowing what content goes where, when, and how each piece is going to improve your bottom line now and in the future. More About Our Content Marketing Services Social Media Social media can seem fickle, to be a giant investment in time, and is often misunderstood. But there’s great power in social media to create authentic fans who buy and brand ambassadors who spread your awesomeness. Let’s work together to share your story! More About Our Social Media Services Paid Ads We use paid ads to do more than just drive traffic—we drive results. By crafting campaigns that target the right audience at the right time, we make sure your business gets the visibility (and conversions) it deserves. More About Our Paid Ad Services Full Service Digital Marketing We’re your go-to partner for full-service digital marketing, covering everything from strategy to execution. Whether it’s SEO, social media, content, or ads, we ensure every piece works together to deliver measurable growth for your business. More About Our Full Service Options Digital Marketing Consulting Our digital marketing consulting focuses on aligning your goals with the right strategies. From refining your online presence to creating campaigns that convert, we help you navigate the digital landscape with confidence. Learn More About Our Consulting Services What Makes a Successful Digital Marketing Program? A successful digital marketing program is built on strategy, adaptability, and a deep understanding of your audience. It’s about combining the right mix of channels, creative content, and data-driven insights to achieve your unique goals—and knowing when to pivot to keep the momentum going. Data-Driven vs. Checking the Box on Tactics Digital Experts On Every Account Regular Data Analysis & Strategy Documentation High Quality, Efficient Tactics Testing New Ideas Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert --- SEO Services Your customers turn to the internet to solve their problems, let's connect you with them! Connect with an SEO Expert Join the hundreds of brands who trust Volume Nine to drive organic online traffic. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is more than cramming keywords into AI content. It’s about helping your potential customers find you online, whether they’re using Google, Reddit, TikTok, or any other search engine or social platform. Are you ready to leverage our extensive SEO knowledge and experience to help build your business for the long term? Connect with an SEO Expert "Volume Nine has been a valued vendor of Breastcancer. org for over 5 years. They have a deep understanding of our goals and priorities as a nonprofit and help us understand current SEO best practices and identify actionable steps we can take to increase our traffic and engagement. " Caroline Durham Associate Director of Content, Breastcancer. org Read Success Story Large Ecommerce Brand $1M+ in Organic revenue gained in 6 months. Read Success Story Murad 67% increase in product revenue in 1 year for a large beauty brand. Read Success Story Brakes Plus 234% Increase in organic traffic from a local SEO program Ready to get Organic traffic moving up and to the right? Connect with an SEO Expert Common problems we solve for clients: You know SEO is valuable, but you lack the time, energy, or expertise to manage it in-house. Your organic traffic is down, and you aren’t sure why. You’re tired of being the best-kept secret in your industry. You’re about to go through a website re-launch and are worried about losing organic traffic. You’re tired of pouring money into Google Ads and want to diversify your revenue sources. You can’t keep up with all the changes happening in SEO. You’re tired of investing in SEO that doesn’t perform. You need a partner who can help you optimize for more than just Google. Our SEO approach Goals Your goals are identified. You also discover which metrics are monitored for success. Research Understand your audience, their pain points, needs, and challenges. Audits Learn how well your current digital marketing is poised to address your audience's needs. Strategy You get an SEO strategy designed to achieve results fast. Execution Enjoy an agile approach where we implement, measure, and adjust our tactics. Data Analysis More than just an automated report. You recieve insights into the why behind your data. A few of our SEO Capabilities: SEO Audits Let’s work together to polish the engine of your website. During an SEO audit, you’ll discover your site’s actual performance and hidden issues and receive practical tips to boost your discoverability in search engines and beyond. Offiste SEO Connect with your customers where they are looking for information (even if that’s not Google). We’ll help set up and optimize critical third-party platforms (like Google Business Profile), help with digital PR and earned media, and earn links for your domain. Link Building & Link Earning Links continue to be a critical signal of your domain's authority to Google. We'll help you navigate this complicated space with white hat techniques and link earning strategies. Technical SEO You deserve a site that’s speedy, mobile-friendly, and easy for search engines to crawl, and index. Think of technical SEO as your website’s engine. On-Page Optimization Life's too short for keyword-stuffed garbage content. Let’s optimize your text to keep it engaging, helpful, and conversion-oriented. YouTube Optimization Videos are a huge opportunity to gain visibility for your brand. We'll help you fine-tune your video titles, descriptions, and tags to improve your rankings and reach a larger audience. SEO Consulting Our goal is to make you look like an SEO Jedi. Get personalized advice to reach your business goals via SEO in the form of strategic tips, helpful training, and actionable plans. Keyword Research Getting buried in search results is a thing of the past. Let's learn how your customers look for you online and what problems you can help them solve. This approach informs your SEO strategy Social Media Optimization Let's make your social media profiles shine. We'll ensure your content is discoverable, engaging, and perfectly aligned with your overall strategy. Local SEO Be... --- Social Media Services Social media isn’t about posting to check an item off your marketing to-do list. It’s a critical extension of your brand and a vital way to connect with your audience. Let’s build a vibrant community of potential customers together. Connect with an Expert Join the hundreds of brands who trust Volume Nine. Are you ready to join the hundreds of brands who’ve leveraged Volume Nine to turn their social media feeds into communities of raving fans and loyal customers? When done well, social media creates an engaged community of current and potential customers. Connect with an Expert "Our engagement is now tops. We have more engagement per total number of followers on our Facebook page than many of our competitors. They have shoved negative reviews down onto page 3 and below and elevated searches that we never knew were relevant. Everything we ask, they consistently deliver. " Taylor Sutherland President, Charlie's Soap Read Success Story Lands End Business 1,400% increase in Social Engagement - to over 10,000 engagements per month Read Success Story GloProfessional 67% increase in Social Traffic to Website from 1 campaign Read Success Story Vitamin World 155% increase in Conversions from Facebook within 4 months Ready to give your Social Media a boost? Connect with an Expert Common problems we solve for clients: You don’t have a strategy behind your social media. You aren’t seeing results from investing in social media. You’re tired of being the best-kept secret in your industry. Your social media community growth is stagnant. Your current social media content is boring. Your competitors have way more followers than you. No one is engaging with the content you’re publishing. You don’t have the time or staff to manage your social media feed. You need your social content to look better – and be more on brand. You need to build brand awareness with your target audience. Our Approach to Social Goals Let's identify your goals. There's no point in investing in Social Media if there isn't a business reason. Research Understand your audience, their pain points, needs, and challenges. In addition, understand your industry, competitors & helpful social trends. Social Strategy Every post has a purpose and ties to your overall business goals. Content Planning On-brand graphics & videos, delivered in a conveient approval software. Engagement Kick back and relax while our team performs a mixture of inbound and outbound engagement tactics for your brand. Data Analysis More than just an automated report. You receive insights into the why behind what content did or didn't perform. A few of our Social Capabilities: Social Media Audits Worried your social media feeds are blah? We'll get to the bottom of it and help you understand what changes will help inspire your audience to engage with your posts. LinkedIn Be an expert in your industry. LinkedIn’s social feed is so much more than job postings. Establish your authority by posting educational, insightful content on this work-focused social platform. Other Platforms We're guessing your getting tired of trying of find if we help with XYZ platform. Whether it's Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Quora, Houz, and Pinterest, we're ready to assist! Social Media Strategy Get focused! Once you know what your audience craves, it can be hard to know how to bring it to life. That’s where a social media strategy comes in. This roadmap tells you what and when to post for optimal results. X (Formerly Twitter) Let's start a conversation. Your audience on X wants to chat. Let’s create social posts that get the conversations and replies flowing. Social Media Engagement What happens after the posts go live? Engagement! If you need an expert to engage on your company’s behalf, put us in coach! Social Media Consulting Just need a little direction? Cool. Our social media consulting helps inspire and direct your social media pro or team. We provide the guidance, then you run with the ideas! Social Media Graphic Design Get a constant flow of on-brand graphics, videos, carousels, photography and more to help build your brand story. Social Media Optimization Let's make your social media profiles shine. We'll ensure your content is discoverable, engaging, and perfectly aligned with your overall strategy. Meta:... --- Content Marketing Services Your audience craves content that informs, inspires, and converts. Let’s create it. Connect with a Content Expert Join the hundreds of brands who trust Volume Nine to write authentic content. At Volume Nine, we don’t believe in content for content’s sake. Your brand needs a content strategy that connects with your audience and moves them to action — whether they’re reading a blog post, downloading a guide, or watching your videos. Are you ready to stop producing content that no one reads? Connect with a Content Expert "Volume Nine brought a high level of technical expertise and personal attention to the project. I never felt like a cog in a wheel, even though I knew that we did not rank close to their largest clients. Most importantly, the phones are ringing and the forms are flowing. " Joe Whitcomb Owner, Whitcomb & Selinsky PC Read Success Story Sanity Solutions 50% increase in new leads for an IT services company. Read Success Story Bobo's Oat Bars 186% increase in traffic, driving thousands in product revenue sales Read Success Story Westline Village 100% Townhomes sold a FULL YEAR ahead of schedule. Ready to stop producing content that no one reads? Connect with a Content Expert Common problems we solve for clients: You’re publishing content regularly, but no one seems to care. Your competitors are ranking above you on Google — and it’s driving you nuts. You don’t have the time or resources to produce consistent, high-quality content. You’re about to go through a website re-launch and you know you're going to need a lot of great content. You’re not sure how to connect content to your broader marketing goals. Your content feels... meh. And it’s definitely not driving conversions. You don’t have a clear content strategy in place. You want the advantages of AI, but don't want to risk publishing robotic sounding content. Our Approach to Content Goals First, we define what success looks like. Is it traffic? Conversions? Better brand authority? Let’s figure it out together. Research Understand your audience inside and out - their pain points, questions and buying behavior. Strategy You’ll get a targeted content marketing strategy that’s built to achieve real results. Execution From blogs to landing pages to videos, we create high-quality, on-brand content that speaks to your audience. Optimization Let's ensure your content ranks, gets shared, and performs Data Analysis More than numbers on a spreadsheet — we provide insights to help you understand why your content is (or isn’t) working. A few of our Content Marketing Capabilities: Content Audits Not sure what’s working? A content audit identifies the gaps and opportunities in your existing content so you can make smarter decisions moving forward. Thought Leadership Content Position your brand (and your team) as trusted experts in your industry with insightful, high-value content that stands out. Email Content From nurture campaigns to newsletters, we’ll write emails that your audience actually wants to open (and click). Content Strategy Development Stop throwing spaghetti at the wall. We’ll develop a clear, measurable strategy that aligns your content with your business goals. Content for Landing Pages Whether you’re launching a campaign or optimizing your website, we’ll create conversion-focused landing page content that drives action. Editorial Calendar Management Consistent content doesn’t happen by accident. We’ll build an editorial calendar that aligns with your strategy, takes the guesswork out of planning, and keeps your team organized and on track. Blog & Article Creation You’ve got something to say. We’ll make sure it’s worth reading. We create engaging, SEO-optimized blogs and articles that position your brand as a leader in your space. Video Scripts & Content Video is king, but great video content starts with the right words. We’ll help you create scripts and ideas that grab attention and keep your audience watching. AI-Assisted Content Creation AI is a powerful tool when used thoughtfully — and we know how to leverage it. We combine AI-powered content tools with human creativity to produce smart, efficient, and effective content that still feels like you. SEO Content Optimization We’ll optimize your content for search engines and readers. No keyword-stuffed junk — just content that ranks and converts. Ebooks, Guides, & Whitepapers Long-form content... --- Volume Nine has worked with a variety of different industries since starting the agency in 2006. This diversity of clients, challenges, and opportunities has provided our team with a wide range of experience and expertise that we bring to our clients’ work every day. Connect with an Expert Trusted by Top Brands We've Been At This For Almost 20 Years We’ve spent nearly two decades working with brands in all kinds of industries, solving challenges, finding opportunities, and figuring out what really works. That experience gives us a deep bench of knowledge that we bring to every client we work with. Here are just a few of the biggest industries we’ve helped —whether that’s building awareness, driving traffic, or boosting sales. Ecommerce Consumer Products B2B Brands Natural Products Manufacturing Beauty & Fashion Healthcare Health & Fitness Pets Outdoor Brands Travel & Tourism Hotels & Resorts Homebuilders B2B Software Alcohol Ready to grow your business online? Whether you're trying to build brand awareness on social media or needing to drive more traffic from search engines, we're here to help you connect with your audience and hit those strategic goals. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert --- Digital Marketing for CPG We help you increase brand awareness, connect with consumers in meaningful ways, and drive sales—whether they’re shopping online or grabbing your product off the shelf. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to get your products in front of the right consumers Your brand is AMAZING; if only people knew! You’ve invested in digital marketing, but it hasn’t translated into real sales Your ideal customers are picky Building brand loyalty is just as important as driving first-time purchases Relying too much on word-of-mouth Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Charlie's Soap Sold $47,000 worth of products in 2 emails. Read Success Story Bed Head 976% Increase in Instagram Engagements. Read Success Story Bobo's Oat Bars 186% Traffic Growth (Year over Year) for Bobo's Oat Bars. "Everything we ask, they consistently deliver. " Taylor Sutherland President, Charlie's Soap Ready for a partner who "gets" CPG? Need to push the envelope and drive customers not only to your website, but to retailers? Schedule Time With an Expert Consumer Products Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Consumers are searching for your products—make sure they find you first. Our SEO strategies drive organic visibility for high-intent keywords, helping you increase brand awareness and sales. Paid Media & Performance Advertising Drive sales with hyper-targeted PPC and programmatic ad campaigns across Google, Meta, TikTok, and other platforms. We focus on reaching the right consumers at the right time to maximize ROI. Digital Marketing AOR Managing digital marketing across multiple channels can be overwhelming. As your dedicated partner, we handle everything from strategy to execution, so you can focus on product development and business growth. Social Media Marketing for Consumer Products Brands Meet your customers where they spend their time—Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest. We create engaging content, manage influencer partnerships, and drive community engagement to build brand loyalty. Email Marketing Keep your audience engaged and drive repeat purchases with email campaigns. From exclusive product launches to loyalty incentives, we craft strategies that keep customers coming back. Video & Short-Form Content Video is the backbone of modern marketing. We create compelling product videos, tutorials, and brand storytelling content that captivates your audience and boosts engagement across digital platforms. Content Marketing & Brand Storytelling Educate and inspire consumers with high-quality content. From blog articles and how-to guides to seasonal campaigns and brand storytelling, we help you build trust and authority in your space. Influencer & UGC Campaigns Your customers trust real people more than ads. We develop influencer marketing and user-generated content strategies to create authentic connections and drive conversions. Retail & Ecommerce Strategy Selling through big-box retailers, marketplaces, or direct-to-consumer? We optimize your digital presence, product pages, and marketing campaigns to increase sales across all channels. Website Launch Support Getting through a new website can be very challenging for consumer brands. It's critical to nail the content tone & depth, build a strong set of sales enablement content, and also incorporate UX & SEO best practices. Our team can support yours along the way to help you hit your launch timeline. AI & Automation for Consumer Prodcuts Brands Leverage AI-powered tools to personalize customer experiences, optimize marketing campaigns, and gain insights into consumer behavior—all while saving time and resources. Creative & Visual Branding A strong brand identity is essential in the consumer space. We create stunning visuals, packaging concepts, and digital assets that capture attention and reflect your brand’s personality. Ready to grow your brand? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your marketing team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Consumer Products Brands at V9Marketing consumer products isn’t just about running ads or posting on social media. It’s about building real connections with customers, creating demand, and ensuring that every digital touchpoint—from discovery to purchase—works together to drive growth. The Challenge: What Makes Consumer Product Marketing Tough? Selling consumer products online and in-store comes with unique challenges:Navigating a crowded market – Standing out requires a strong brand, a clear message, and the right... --- Ecommerce Digital Marketing Agency Data-driven strategies built for Ecommerce brands that drive traffic, increase product sales and fuel profitable revenue growth. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Need more customers Your brand is the best kept secret in your industry You’ve invested in ads but clicks were to expensive You need to decrease CAC Customer loyalty and repeat purchases are everything in your industry You’re too dependent on word-of-mouth for sales Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Bed Head 976% increase in Instagram Engagements Read Success Story Murad 67% increase in product revenue. Read Success Story Vitamin World 155% increase in product sales from Facebook. “We look at the results and can’t believe what we’re seeing in terms of growth. ” Senior Digital Art Director Lands End Business Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who *isn't* trying to cram you into a giant paid ads program? Schedule Time With an Expert Ecommerce Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Your customers are searching for products like yours—make sure they find you, not your competitors. Our SEO strategies drive organic traffic for high-intent keywords, helping you boost visibility and increase sales. Paid Media Turn ad spend into real revenue with highly targeted PPC campaigns across Google, Meta, and other platforms. We focus on driving conversions—not just clicks—so you get measurable ROI from every campaign. Full-Service Digital Marketing Managing every digital channel can feel overwhelming. As your full service agency, we’ll handle everything—from strategy to execution—so you can focus on scaling your business. Social Media for Ecommerce Engage shoppers where they already scroll. We help Ecommerce brands build credibility and connect with their target audience on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other key platforms. Email Marketing Your customer’s inbox is prime real estate—don’t waste it. We craft email campaigns that drive repeat purchases, boost loyalty, and keep your brand top of mind. Video Marketing Video sells. We help Ecommerce brands create product demos, UGC-style content, and engaging video ads that stop the scroll and drive conversions. Website Launch Support Getting through a new website can be very challenging for eCommerce brands. It's critical to nail the content tone & depth, build a strong set of sales enablement content, and also incorporate UX & SEO best practices. Our team can support yours along the way to help you hit your launch timeline. AI for Ecommerce Growth Wondering how AI fits into your marketing? We’ll help you use tools like ChatGPT and predictive analytics to streamline workflows, personalize customer experiences, and increase efficiency. Creative & Branding We help identify and execute helpful campaigns designed to drive leads, not just traffic. Whether it's a webinar we're promoting, account based marketing or a cold outbound program, we can can help you strategize the right campaign for your sales process. Ready to get product sales flowing? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Ecommerce Digital Marketing at V9Ecommerce marketing isn’t just about running ads or posting on Instagram. It’s about connecting with real shoppers, solving real pain points, and ensuring your brand stands out in a crowded market—while actually driving sales, not just traffic. The Challenge: Why Ecommerce Marketing Is ToughSelling online isn’t as simple as launching a store and waiting for sales to roll in. There are a few major roadblocks Ecomm brands face:Cutting through the noise – With countless competitors, getting attention (and sales) is harder than ever. Driving the right traffic – Not all traffic is good traffic. You need visitors who actually want to buy. Balancing acquisition & retention – Getting new customers is great, but keeping them coming back is where profitability happens. Making sense of the data – Even if you’re tracking everything, turning those numbers into actionable insights is another story. Scaling profitably – If your margins are getting squeezed by ad costs or fulfillment challenges, growth can feel impossible. These challenges make it easy to feel like your marketing kind of works—but not... --- B2B Digital Marketing Agency Let's drive qualified leads... not just traffic. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top B2B Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Need more high-quality leads You're the best kept secret in your industry You've invested in specific channels, but didn't see new leads You have a niche buying audience The key to sales in your industry is relationships You're worried about relying too much on referrals for new leads Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert "I’ve worked with V9 for almost two years and continue to be impressed. Their level of industry knowledge and the team of specialists accomplish my marketing goals every time. Amy Donahue-Kelley General Kinematics Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who is more focused on lead generation than specific tactics? Single-channel campaigns RARELY deliver quality leads for B2Bs. If you need a cross-channel strategy, not just a generic digital marketing package, we're here to help! Schedule Time With an Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story SyncHR 50% increase in demos for a SaaS brand in a highly competitive industry. Read Success Story General Kinematics Ramped a mining equipment manufacturer up to 100 leads/month (up from ~0). Read Success Story Sanity Solutions 50% increase in leads for an IT services company. B2B Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Your prospects are searching for solutions—make sure they find you at the top. Our SEO strategies drive organic visibility for high-intent topics & keywords, helping you generate quality leads. Paid Media Generate high-quality leads with hyper-targeted PPC campaigns across Google, Meta, and other platforms. We focus on attracting the right decision-makers and driving measurable ROI. Digital Marketing AOR Managing all your digital channels doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. As your Agency of Record, we’ll handle everything—from strategy to execution—so you can focus on growing your business. LinkedIn & B2B Social Engage decision-makers where they already spend time. We help B2B brands build credibility and connect with key audiences on LinkedIn, Facebook, and other relevant platforms. Email Marketing Your audience’s inbox is prime real estate—don’t waste it. We craft compelling email campaigns that drive engagement, build loyalty, and boost sales. Video Enhance your social media presence with engaging video content. We specialize in editing videos, creating clips from stock footage, and collaborating with your team to craft compelling stories that resonate with your audience. Thought Leadership Educate, engage, and convert with high-value content. From in-depth blog posts to case studies, we craft content that positions your brand as a leader in your space. Video for B2B Engagement Showcase your expertise with compelling video content. We specialize in editing videos, creating clips from stock footage, and collaborating with your team to craft compelling stories that resonate with your audience. Lead Campaigns We help identify and execute helpful campaigns designed to drive leads, not just traffic. Whether it's a webinar we're promoting, account based marketing or a cold outbound program, we can can help you strategize the right campaign for your sales process. Website Launch Support Getting through a new website can be very challenging for B2B brands. It's critical to nail the content tone & depth, build a strong set of sales enablement content, and also incorporate UX & SEO best practices. Our team can support yours along the way to help you hit your launch timeline. AI for B2B Brands Curious about how AI fits into your marketing? We’ll help you leverage tools like ChatGPT and predictive analytics to streamline workflows and deliver smarter, faster results. Creative High end buying audiences expect more than compelling copy. They need to see high end visuals and representations of complex topics that follows updated graphic design best practices. Ready to fill up the pipeline with qualified leads? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your sales team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach B2B Digital Marketing at V9B2B digital marketing isn’t just about running ads or posting on LinkedIn. It’s about connecting with real businesses, solving real problems, and ensuring your sales and marketing teams work together—not against each other. The... --- Harness data-driven digital marketing strategies to elevate your brand, engage conscious consumers, and drive sustainable growth. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to reach health-conscious consumers who value natural products Your brand is a hidden gem in the natural products space You've invested in digital marketing but haven’t seen significant sales growth Your ideal customers care about sustainability, transparency, and clean ingredients Building trust is essential to converting shoppers into loyal customers You’re relying too much on word-of-mouth and need a scalable growth strategy Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who really cares? If you need a partner who "gets" the natural product industry, we're here to help! Schedule Time With an Expert Digital Marketing Capabilities for Natural Products Brands Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Health-conscious consumers are searching for natural, organic, and sustainable products—make sure they find yours first. Our SEO strategies drive organic visibility for high-intent keywords, boosting brand awareness and conversions. Paid Media Attract the right audience with hyper-targeted PPC campaigns across Google, Meta, and other platforms. We create ad strategies that connect with conscious consumers and drive measurable ROI. Digital Marketing AOR Managing multiple marketing channels can be overwhelming. As your Agency of Record, we handle everything—from strategy to execution—so you can focus on growing your brand. LinkedIn & B2B Social Engage eco-conscious consumers where they already spend time. We help brands build trust and loyalty through strategic storytelling, influencer collaborations, and visually compelling content across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest. Email Marketing Your customers want to learn about your products—meet them in their inbox. We craft engaging email campaigns that nurture leads, build brand loyalty, and drive repeat purchases. Video Showcase your brand’s mission and products with compelling video content. From product highlights to behind-the-scenes storytelling, we create videos that resonate with your audience and boost engagement. Thought Leadership & Content Marketing Position your brand as a trusted authority in the natural products space. We create in-depth blog posts, case studies, and educational content that informs and inspires your audience. Influencer & Community Marketing Leverage the power of trusted voices in the natural products industry. We connect brands with influencers and brand advocates who align with your mission, expanding your reach authentically. UGC Campaigns We design and execute targeted UGC campaigns that drive more than just traffic—they generate real leads and sales. Whether it’s a product launch, seasonal promotion, or community engagement initiative, we help you reach the right audience. Website Launch Support Launching a website for your natural brand? We ensure your content, UX, and SEO are optimized for success—helping you create an engaging and conversion-driven online experience. AI for Natural Brands Curious about how AI can enhance your marketing? We help brands leverage AI tools for content creation, personalized recommendations, and data-driven insights to improve marketing efficiency. Creative & Visual Branding Today’s consumers expect more than great products—they want a brand that visually aligns with their values. We create stunning visuals, packaging concepts, and digital assets that reflect your brand’s mission and captivate your audience. Ready to grow you brand? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help take your brand to the next level. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Natural Products at V9Marketing natural products isn’t just about running ads or posting on social media. It’s about connecting with conscious consumers, educating them on your product’s benefits, and ensuring your brand messaging aligns with your mission and values. The Challenge: Why Natural Product Marketing Is UniqueMarketing in the natural products space comes with its own set of challenges:Standing out in a crowded market – With so many natural brands emerging, differentiation is key. Building trust with consumers – Customers want transparency in ingredients, sourcing, and sustainability. Navigating digital trends – The way people discover and shop for natural products is constantly evolving. Educating your audience – Consumers may not yet understand why your product is better or how it fits into their lifestyle. Optimizing for conversions – Traffic alone isn’t enough; you need the right strategies to turn... --- Digital Marketing for Manufacturers Smart digital marketing strategies to connect with buyers, build industry credibility, and drive real growth for manufacturers. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Manufacturing Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to reach the right buyers in a competitive manufacturing space Your company is an industry leader, but not enough people know about you You’ve invested in digital marketing but aren’t seeing real sales growth Building long-term relationships with customers is key to your success You're worried about relying too much on referrals for new business Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story TireSocks 392% increase in traffic and a 108% increase in leads. Read Success Story General Kinematics Ramped a Manufacturer up to 100 leads/month (up from zero) Read Success Story Bobo's Oat Bars 186% increase in traffic after a website launch. "We have increased our lead quality, social media following, blog, and every other KPI and metric to date. I rely heavily on V9's recommendations and assessments as we continue to stay at the top of organic search. I have worked with many vendors in my marketing career and hands down would recommend V9 to anyone. " Amy Donahue-Kelley Global Marketing Manager, General Kinematics Looking for a partner who "gets" manufacturing? Cookie-cutter digital marketing programs RARELY deliver quality leads for manufacturers. If you need a cross-channel strategy, not just a generic digital marketing package, we're here to help! Schedule Time With an Expert Digital Marketing Capabilities for Manufacturers Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Industrial buyers and procurement teams are searching for solutions. We help you rank for high-intent keywords so your manufacturing company is the first thing they see when researching suppliers and products. Paid Media Target the right audience with precise PPC campaigns across Google, LinkedIn, and industry-specific platforms. We craft ad strategies that drive measurable ROI by reaching decision-makers ready to buy. Digital Marketing AOR Managing multiple marketing channels can be overwhelming. As your Agency of Record, we handle strategy, execution, and optimization—so you can focus on production and innovation. LinkedIn & B2B Social Strategy For manufacturers, LinkedIn and industry-specific networks are key to connecting with engineers, procurement teams, and decision-makers. We optimize your presence and strategy to drive real engagement. Email Marketing Stay top of mind with potential customers and distributors. Our email campaigns nurture leads, educate prospects, and build long-term business relationships. Video Content & Product Demonstrations Showcase your manufacturing capabilities, equipment, and processes. From facility tours to product demos and customer testimonials, we create high-quality video content that builds trust and credibility. Thought Leadership & Content Marketing Position your company as an industry leader. We develop in-depth blogs, case studies, white papers, and expert insights that educate buyers and strengthen your brand’s authority. Social Media & Brand Awareness Manufacturers may not go viral, but a strong social presence can increase trust and visibility. We create compelling content that highlights your expertise, innovations, and company culture. Lead Generation & Nurturing Not every buyer is ready to purchase today. We implement lead generation strategies that attract, capture, and nurture prospects until they’re ready to buy. Website Launch Support Getting through a new website can be very challenging. It's critical to nail the content tone & depth, build a strong set of sales enablement content, and also incorporate UX & SEO best practices. Our team can support yours along the way to help you hit your launch timeline. AI & Data-Driven Marketing AI tools can streamline B2B marketing by providing insights into customer behavior, optimizing ad spend, and personalizing outreach. We help manufacturers integrate AI to improve efficiency and sales. Trade Show & Event Marketing Support Trade shows and industry events are major sales opportunities. We help maximize your presence through pre-show marketing, digital lead capture, and post-event follow-up strategies. Ready to fill up the pipeline with qualified leads? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your sales team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Manufacturing at V9Marketing a manufacturing company isn’t just about running ads or posting product photos. It’s about... --- Digital Marketing for Beauty and Fashion Brands You deserve a custom digital marketing program, designed to show your brand in its best light, attract new customers & gain market share. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to attract new customers or build engagement on social media Your brand offers incredible products, but the right audience isn’t finding you You’ve invested in marketing, but your CAC is too high Your ideal customers care about quality, trends, and brand authenticity Building enagement & brand loyalty is essential for your business You’re relying too much on word-of-mouth and need a scalable, data-driven strategy to grow Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Bed Head 976% Increase in Instagram engagement. Read Success Story Murad 67% increase in product revenue. Read Success Story GloSkin Beauty 21% Increase in conversions from social media traffic. “We look at the results and can’t believe what we’re seeing in terms of growth. ” Senior Digital Art Director Lands' End Business Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who "gets" fashion & high-end beauty brands? If you need a cross-channel strategy, not just a generic digital marketing package, we're here to help! Schedule Time With an Expert Digital Marketing Capabilities for Beauty & Fashion Brands: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Your customers are searching for beauty and fashion trends—make sure they find you first. Our SEO strategies drive organic visibility for high-intent keywords, helping you attract engaged shoppers and increase sales. Paid Media & PPC Advertising Get your products in front of the right audience with highly targeted ads across Google, Meta, TikTok, and beauty/fashion-specific platforms. We create ad campaigns that drive product sales, brand awareness, and measurable ROI. Website Optimization & E-Commerce Performance Your website is your digital storefront. We optimize fashion and beauty websites for speed, mobile responsiveness, SEO, and seamless shopping experiences that convert visitors into buyers. Content Marketing & Brand Storytelling Beauty and fashion are built on storytelling. We create engaging blog posts, trend reports, tutorials, and brand stories that inspire and educate your audience while driving organic traffic. Social Media Marketing Turn followers into customers with high-impact social strategies. We manage content creation, community engagement, and paid campaigns on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and other key platforms. Influencer & Ambassador Marketing Partner with trusted beauty and fashion influencers who can showcase your products authentically. We connect your brand with content creators that drive awareness, trust, and conversions. Email & Customer Retention Campaigns Stay top of mind with targeted email marketing. From new product drops to exclusive VIP offers, we craft campaigns that nurture customer relationships and drive repeat purchases. Video & Visual Storytelling From makeup tutorials to fashion look-books and behind-the-scenes brand moments, video content is essential. We create high-quality visuals that showcase your products and increase engagement. Reputation Management & Social Proof Consumers trust reviews before making a purchase. We help brands collect and showcase user-generated content, testimonials, and influencer endorsements to build credibility. E-Commerce & Marketplace Growth Selling on Amazon or other marketplaces? We optimize product listings, enhance descriptions, and implement strategies to increase visibility and conversions across multiple sales channels. AI-Driven Personalization & Automation Curious about how AI fits into your marketing? We’ll help you leverage tools like ChatGPT and predictive analytics to streamline workflows and deliver smarter, faster results. Creative Branding & Visual Design First impressions matter. We design bold, stylish branding and visual assets that make your beauty or fashion brand instantly recognizable and memorable. Ready to drive new client acquisition? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your marketing team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing at V9 for Beauty & FashionMarketing in the beauty and fashion industry isn’t just about running ads or optimizing a website—it’s about creating a brand identity, building trust, and turning engagement into sales. Whether you’re a cosmetics brand, fashion retailer, skincare company, or emerging beauty startup, your digital strategy needs to captivate, inspire, and convert. The Challenge: Why Beauty & Fashion Marketing Is UniqueMarketing in... --- Healthcare Digital Marketing Leverage data-driven digital marketing to expand your healthcare brand’s reach, foster patient and provider engagement, and support long-term growth. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Healthcare Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to connect with patients and healthcare professionals who need your services Your organization provides exceptional care but isn’t reaching the right audience You've invested in digital marketing but haven’t seen a measurable increase in patient engagement or appointments Your ideal audience values credibility, transparency, and patient-centered care Building trust is essential to attracting and retaining patients You’re relying too much on referrals and need a scalable, data-driven growth strategy Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert "I’ve worked with V9 for almost two years and continue to be impressed. Their level of industry knowledge and the team of specialists accomplish my marketing goals every time. Amy Donahue-Kelley General Kinematics Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner? If you need a partner who "gets" Healthcare, we're here to help! Schedule Time With an Expert Healthcare Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Patients and healthcare professionals are searching for trusted providers and medical solutions—make sure they find you first. Our SEO strategies improve search rankings for high-intent healthcare keywords, increasing visibility and patient inquiries. Paid Media Reach the right audience with hyper-targeted PPC campaigns across Google, Meta, and healthcare-specific platforms. We craft ad strategies that drive patient engagement, appointment bookings, and measurable ROI. Healthcare Marketing Strategy & Execution Managing multiple marketing channels while focusing on patient care is overwhelming. As your strategic partner, we handle everything—from digital marketing strategy to execution—so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional healthcare. LinkedIn & B2B Healthcare Marketing Engage medical professionals, hospital administrators, and industry decision-makers on LinkedIn and other B2B platforms. We help healthcare brands build credibility through thought leadership, case studies, and strategic networking. Email Campaigns Patients and healthcare providers need the right information at the right time. Our email marketing strategies nurture patient relationships, improve appointment retention, and educate audiences with valuable healthcare content. Video Marketing for Healthcare From patient testimonials to physician Q&As and explainer videos, we create compelling healthcare video content that builds trust, educates audiences, and strengthens brand credibility. Thought Leadership & Content Marketing Position your brand as a trusted authority in healthcare. We create in-depth blog posts, whitepapers, and educational content that inform, inspire, and build credibility with both patients and medical professionals. Influencer & Community Marketing Leverage the voices of trusted healthcare professionals and patient advocates. We connect brands with credible influencers who can amplify your message in a way that resonates with your target audience. User-Generated Content (UGC) Campaigns Authentic patient stories and provider testimonials build trust like nothing else. We develop UGC campaigns that highlight real experiences, increasing engagement and fostering brand loyalty. Website Launch & Optimization Launching or revamping a healthcare website? We ensure your site is optimized for user experience, accessibility, and search rankings—making it easy for patients and providers to find the information they need. AI for Healtcare Marketing Curious about how AI can streamline healthcare marketing? We help brands leverage AI tools for personalized patient engagement, predictive analytics, and content automation to improve efficiency and impact. Creative & Visual Branding In healthcare, trust starts with presentation. We create compelling visuals, patient-friendly branding, and digital assets that enhance credibility and connect with your audience on an emotional level. Ready to grow your brand? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your marketing team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Healthcare at V9Marketing healthcare services isn’t just about running ads or updating a website. It’s about building trust, educating patients and professionals, and ensuring your brand messaging aligns with credibility, compliance, and care. The Challenge: Why Healthcare Marketing Is UniqueHealthcare marketing comes with its own set of challenges:Standing out in a competitive landscape – Patients and providers have countless options, making differentiation essential. Building trust and credibility – Healthcare decisions are deeply personal, and your audience needs confidence in your expertise. Navigating regulations and compliance – Marketing in healthcare... --- Digital Marketing for Health & Fitness Brands Use data-driven digital marketing to grow your health and fitness brand, connect with your audience, and turn engagement into lasting customer loyalty. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to connect with the right potential customers You're the best kept secret in your industry Paid media feels cost prohibitive for your brand Your ideal customers care about expertise, authenticity, and long-term wellness Building trust is essential to gaining and keeping loyal clients You’re relying too much on word-of-mouth and need a scalable, data-driven growth strategy Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert "I’ve worked with V9 for almost two years and continue to be impressed. Their level of industry knowledge and the team of specialists accomplish my marketing goals every time. Amy Donahue-Kelley General Kinematics Looking for a partner who knows how to drive sustainable growth for health & fitness brands? If you need a cross-channel strategy, not just a generic digital marketing package, we're here to help! Schedule Time With an Expert Health & Fitness Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) People are actively searching for health and fitness solutions—make sure they find you first. Our SEO strategies help your brand rank for high-intent fitness and wellness keywords, increasing visibility, traffic, and conversions. Paid Media Get in front of the right audience with hyper-targeted PPC campaigns across Google, Meta, and fitness-focused platforms. We create ad strategies that drive memberships, program sign-ups, and product sales with measurable ROI. Marketing Strategy & Execution Managing multiple marketing channels while running a fitness business is overwhelming. We take care of the strategy and execution, so you can focus on delivering results—whether that’s personal training, fitness programs, or health coaching. LinkedIn & B2B Wellness Marketing Connect with gym owners, health professionals, corporate wellness leaders, and decision-makers in the industry. We help brands build authority through LinkedIn marketing, thought leadership, and strategic networking. Email & Community Engagement Campaigns Stay top of mind with your audience through targeted email campaigns. Whether you're nurturing leads, promoting fitness challenges, or educating clients on wellness best practices, our email strategies boost engagement and retention. Video Marketing for Health & Fitness From workout tutorials to success stories and expert interviews, video content is a powerhouse for engagement. We create compelling videos that educate, inspire, and establish credibility in the fitness industry. Content Marketing & Thought Leadership Position your brand as an authority in health and fitness. We craft blog posts, workout guides, nutrition tips, and expert-backed content that builds trust and keeps your audience coming back for more. Influencer & Community-Driven Marketing Leverage the credibility of fitness coaches, health influencers, and real success stories to build trust. We connect your brand with authentic voices that resonate with your target audience. User-Generated Content (UGC) & Social Proof Nothing builds credibility like real user experiences. We design UGC campaigns featuring customer testimonials, fitness transformations, and social media engagement that turn followers into brand advocates. Website Launch Support A great website is your digital storefront. We can help optimize high-performance websites for fitness programs, gyms, and health brands—ensuring seamless navigation, strong branding, and high conversion rates. AI-Driven Health & Fitness Marketing AI is revolutionizing digital marketing—are you leveraging it? We help brands use AI-powered personalization, predictive analytics, and automation to enhance customer engagement and streamline marketing efforts. Creative & Visual Branding First impressions matter. We design bold, engaging visuals and fitness-friendly branding that connect with your audience and make your brand unforgettable. Ready for steady, predicatable growth? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Health & Fitness BrandsMarketing in the health and fitness industry isn’t just about running ads or optimizing a website—it’s about building trust, educating consumers, and inspiring action. Whether you’re a fitness brand, wellness coach, supplement company, or healthcare provider, your digital strategy must align with credibility, compliance, and customer engagement. The Challenge: Why Health & Fitness Marketing Is UniqueMarketing in the health and fitness space comes with distinct challenges:Standing out in a competitive market... --- Digital Marketing for Pet Brands Use data-driven digital marketing to connect with pet owners, grow your brand, and turn engagement into lasting customer loyalty. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Pet Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to attract pet owners who need your products or services Your brand offers high-quality pet products, but the right audience isn’t finding you You’ve invested in digital marketing but aren’t seeing real growth in sales or engagement Your ideal customers care about pet health, quality ingredients, and trusted recommendations Building trust is essential to turning first-time buyers into lifelong customers You’re relying too much on word-of-mouth and need a scalable, data-driven strategy to grow Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert "I’ve worked with V9 for almost two years and continue to be impressed. Their level of industry knowledge and the team of specialists accomplish my marketing goals every time. Amy Donahue-Kelley General Kinematics Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who "gets" pet brands? Schedule Time With an Expert Digital Marketing Capabilities for Pet Brands Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Pet owners are actively searching for the best products and services for their furry friends—make sure they find you first. Our SEO strategies help your brand rank for high-intent pet-related keywords, driving organic traffic and sales. Paid Media & PPC Advertising Reach the right pet owners with highly targeted ads across Google, Meta, TikTok, and pet-focused platforms. We create ad campaigns that drive product sales, subscriptions, and brand awareness with measurable ROI. Website Optimization & E-Commerce Performance Your website should be as user-friendly as your products. We optimize pet brand websites for speed, mobile responsiveness, SEO, and seamless shopping experiences to increase conversions. Content Marketing & Storytelling Pet owners are passionate about their animals. We create engaging blogs, care guides, and educational content that builds trust, entertains, and keeps customers coming back. Social Media Marketing From viral pet videos to engaging product posts, social media is key to connecting with pet lovers. We manage content creation, engagement, and paid campaigns across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest. Influencer & Pet Ambassador Marketing People trust recommendations from fellow pet owners. We connect your brand with pet influencers, veterinarians, and real customers who can showcase your products authentically. Email & Customer Retention Campaigns Stay top of mind with targeted email marketing. From product launches to loyalty rewards and pet care tips, we craft campaigns that keep customers engaged and drive repeat purchases. Video & Visual Storytelling Showcase your brand with high-quality pet-centric videos. Whether it’s product demos, customer testimonials, or fun pet content, we create visuals that drive engagement and conversions. Reputation Management & Social Proof Pet owners rely on reviews before making a purchase. We help brands collect and showcase user-generated content, testimonials, and influencer endorsements to build credibility. Subscription & Loyalty Program Growth If you offer pet food, treats, or wellness products, subscription models and loyalty programs are game-changers. We develop and optimize retention strategies that increase lifetime customer value. AI-Driven Personalization & Automation AI is shaping the future of pet marketing. We help brands leverage AI tools for personalized product recommendations, chatbots, and automated email sequences to enhance customer experiences. Creative Branding & Packaging Design First impressions matter. We design bold, engaging branding and packaging that connects with pet owners and makes your products stand out on shelves and online. Ready to drive new client acquisition? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Pet Brands at V9Marketing in the pet industry isn’t just about running ads or optimizing a website—it’s about building trust, educating pet owners, and creating a community around your brand. Whether you sell pet food, grooming products, accessories, or wellness services, your digital strategy needs to engage, inform, and convert. The Challenge: Why Pet Industry Marketing Is UniqueMarketing in the pet space comes with distinct challenges:Standing out in a crowded market – Pet owners have endless options. Your brand needs a strong message and a compelling story to capture attention. Building trust and credibility –... --- Smart digital marketing strategies to connect with adventure seekers, build brand loyalty, and drive real growth for outdoor brands. Get seen. Get sold. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Outdoor Brands Do Any of These Sound Like You? Struggling to reach outdoor enthusiasts who value quality gear You're the best kept secret in the outdoor inudstry You’ve invested in digital marketing but aren’t seeing real sales growth You have agressive growth goals this year Building brand loyalty is key to long-term success Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert "I’ve worked with V9 for almost two years and continue to be impressed. Their level of industry knowledge and the team of specialists accomplish my marketing goals every time. Amy Donahue-Kelley General Kinematics Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find a partner who "gets" outdoor brands? Schedule Time With an Expert Outdoor Brands Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Outdoor enthusiasts are searching for gear, experiences, and sustainability-focused brands. We help you rank for high-intent keywords so your brand is the first thing they see when researching products and planning their next adventure. Paid Media Target the right audience with hyper-specific PPC campaigns across Google, Meta, and outdoor-specific platforms. We craft ad strategies that drive measurable ROI by reaching adventure seekers ready to buy. Digital Marketing AOR Managing multiple marketing channels can be overwhelming. As your Agency of Record, we handle strategy, execution, and optimization—so you can focus on delivering great products and experiences. LinkedIn & Social For outdoor brands, we leverage LinkedIn and industry-specific networks to connect with retailers, distributors, and partners who can help grow your business. Email Marketing Keep customers engaged beyond their first purchase. Our email campaigns nurture leads, build brand loyalty, and drive repeat sales through valuable content and promotions. Video Content Showcase your products in action. From adventure-filled brand stories to product demos and customer testimonials, we create high-quality video content that connects with outdoor enthusiasts. Thought Leadership & Content Marketing Position your brand as a trusted leader in the outdoor industry. We develop in-depth blogs, how-to guides, case studies, and expert insights that educate and inspire your audience. Social Media & Community Growth Outdoor brands thrive on engagement. We build trust and loyalty through social storytelling, influencer collaborations, and visually compelling content across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest. Influencer & Community Marketing Leverage the power of trusted voices in the outdoor space. We connect your brand with athletes, adventurers, and environmental advocates who can amplify your message authentically. Website Launch Support Launching or optimizing a website for your outdoor brand? We ensure your site’s UX, content, and SEO are optimized for conversions—helping you create an immersive online shopping experience. AI & Data-Driven Marketing AI can enhance outdoor brand marketing by providing personalized recommendations, optimizing ad spend, and uncovering customer insights. We help brands integrate AI tools to improve marketing efficiency. UGC Campaigns Outdoor consumers trust real experiences. We design user-generated content campaigns that highlight customer adventures, boosting credibility and engagement. Ready to grow your brand? Drop us a line and we'll get you connected with an in-house expert to help develop a strategy with you and your team. Connect with a Digital Marketing Expert How We Approach Digital Marketing for Outdoor Brands at V9Marketing an outdoor brand isn’t just about running ads or posting gear photos on social media. It’s about tapping into the spirit of adventure, building a passionate community, and positioning your brand as an essential part of an outdoor lifestyle. Whether you're selling hiking gear, sustainable apparel, or promoting guided experiences, your marketing needs to connect with people who prioritize performance, sustainability, and adventure. The Challenge: Why Outdoor Brand Marketing is UniqueOutdoor brands face a set of challenges that require a strategic marketing approach:A competitive industry – With so many brands competing for attention, standing out is about more than just great products. Building an engaged community – Outdoor enthusiasts are loyal, but they expect authenticity and trust in a brand. Keeping up with digital trends – The way people research and buy outdoor gear or experiences is constantly evolving. Sustainability messaging – Many outdoor consumers prioritize sustainability—your marketing needs to reflect those values. Driving online conversions –... --- About Volume Nine With almost 20 years of digital marketing agency experience, we believe in doing what it takes to help you build sustainable, ongoing revenue growth. We have seen how other agencies operate, and you deserve better. Connect with an Expert TRUSTED BY TOP BRANDS Your Success = Our Mission Results come from a winning strategy paired with affordable, high-quality execution. We're laser-focused on helping you hit your milestones while keeping things ‘lean and mean’ so your brand can be more and do more. It’s all about helping your brand grow, thrive, and become a more profitable business. Focused on Your Business, Not Ours Tactics are great, but they mean nothing if they aren’t contributing to your bottom line. At the end of the day, what matters is that you’ve got customers coming to your website, learning about your product or service, and clicking that “Buy” button or filling in a lead form. Period. No cookie-cutter digital programs We're structured to solve your problems, not scale our agency We don't lock you into long term contracts Working With Us Most agencies push pre-packaged plans to help scale their business and protect profit margin. However those pre-packaged, fancy sounding programs rarely deliver long term results. At Volume Nine, we take the harder road & skip the cookie-cutter approach and craft personalized strategies based on your goals, industry, budget, etc. All of our clients receive: A Point of Contact with Multiple Years of Digital Marketing Experience Custom Strategies Monthly Data Analysis (Not Just Automated Reports) A Slightly Quirky Set of Digital Nerds As Your New Best Friends Success Stories Why Clients Say We’re the Best Digital Marketing Agency They’ve Ever Worked With Contact a Digital Marketing Expert We have a flexible, agile approach We keep clients on top of marketing trends We provide next-level strategies & data analysis We genuinely care about our clients & their business We deliver better than industry-average results We help businesses & their marketing teams grow "Volume Nine brought a high level of technical expertise and personal attention to the project. I never felt like a cog in a wheel, even though I knew that we did not rank close to their largest clients. Most importantly, the phones are ringing and the forms are flowing. " Joe Whitcomb Owner, Whitcomb & Selinksy Our Story Volume Nine is about helping you turn up & keep up the volume of your brand online. In 2006, a small group of Denver-based marketing geeks discovered how to optimize metadata and help businesses gain visibility in a new online search tool called Google. From there, we did what it took to keep growing our clients in sustainable, profitable ways. --> In 2008, we added Paid Search to the mix. --> By 2010, we were helping brands dominate social media. Without giving you a boring breakdown of every year, fast forward to 2024 & 2025, we're helping clients race full speed into the age of AI. https://vimeo. com/1060197057? share=copy#t=0 --- Volume Nine is fortunate to have built a top-notch team of industry experts. Every member of the V9 team has years of digital marketing experience as well as a proven track record of innovation and driving amazing results for brands. Connect with an Expert --- Are you a digital marketing ninja looking for the right agency? Are you a highly-skilled specialist who decided to hang their shingle? In either case, we want to talk to you! Employment Scam Warning Unfortunately, some ne'er-do wells on the internet are using Volume Nine's brand name with fake positions & trying to solicit personal information and free work. They list themselves as employees of V9 on LinkedIn, and they appear to be actively communicating on social media and WhatsApp. There isn't a lot we can do about it, but please know, whatever we can do, we're trying. In the meantime, if anyone reaches out who feels suspicious, it's probably a scam. If a position isn't listed here, then it's not an open position. Also, all applications are processed through a single system (Workable), so if someone is asking you for any personal information outside of our application system, it's also a scam. If you aren't sure if something is legit, you can always give us a call or shoot us an email at info@v9digital. com and we're happy to let you know. Sorry there are jerks on the internet - we know the job market is tough out there, and we hate that you've got to deal with scammers like this also. Full Time PositionsAre you ready to geek out on the latest innovations in digital marketing? For team members, we offer fully remote work, flexibility, autonomy, and unlimited PTO to support work-life balance. Available Positions FreelancingFor freelancers, Volume Nine offers unmatched perks to our contractor partners including weekly invoice approvals, interesting projects, and a diverse client base across many industries. Freelancing with V9 About Volume NineVolume Nine started almost 20 years ago. Since then, we’ve learned a lot and built an agency that takes a fresh, innovative approach. We are lean and mean for clients and do whatever it takes to keep them on the path to success. Diversity is a Priority for UsVolume Nine is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse team and promoting diversity and inclusion in our marketing campaigns for clients. Our goal is to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, and understanding. We highly encourage applications from ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and under-represented ages in our industry. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual who is part of our team; we never take dimensions like race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religious beliefs or ideology into account when hiring or working with team members. --- Volume Nine gives back to our local community through charitable donations and volunteer work to organizations that benefit at-risk youth, children, and families in our local communities. Meet Our Team We are driven by purpose & priority At Volume Nine, giving back to our community is something we truly care about. We make it a priority to support our community through annual service days, seasonal contributions, and event-driven fundraising. We’re also proud to donate our time and expertise to local nonprofits and companies with a purpose-driven mission. And we love encouraging other businesses to join us in making an even bigger impact together. Making a difference, one step at a time Tactics are great, but they mean nothing if they aren’t contributing to your bottom line. At the end of the day, what matters is that you’ve got customers coming to your website, learning about your product or service, and clicking that “Buy” button or filling in a lead form. Period. Family Tree Landscaping Project V9 partnered with Family Tree to tackle an extensive “Zen Garden” landscaping project that included building a patio, removing old shrubs, and planting hundreds of new plants and flowers. Food for Thought Packaging Project V9 cares a lot about the kids in Denver! We regularly join Food For Thought to pack thousands of bags of food for less fortunate children and families in the Denver Public School System. Brandon Center Renovation Project Volume Nine and Booyah Advertising teamed up to spend a day completing a HUGE renovation project for the Volunteers of America’s Brandon Center and Theodora House. Volunteers of America Painting Project Our team painted a total of 10+ rooms, the kitchen and laundry room of VOA’s Family Motel. The Family Motel offers rooms for families and single women for up to a 12-night stay. Annual Penny Drive for Operation Turkey Denver Tapping into the competitive nature of V9ers, teams battle to collect spare change for a good cause around the Thanksgiving Holiday Time. All proceeds benefited Operation Turkey Denver. Warrior Strong T-Shirt Fundraising Founder Chuck Aikens and his son, Tyler Aikens, designed a t-shirt for the Warrior Community after the Arapahoe High School Shooting raising over $50,000 for the rebuilding of the AHS library. We serve because it matters “On behalf of the families we serve at Karlis Parenting Time Center, thank you for your amazing day of service with Family Tree in support of our mission! Your team is an incredible example of Corporate Social Responsibly and community engagement. I look forward to working with you all again in the near future. ” Erika Nelson Director of Volunteer Services --- To say that digital marketing strategy moves rapidly would be a bit of an understatement. So, here are a few helpful resources to help you craft a winning strategy. Connect with an Expert Feeling a little lost? Check out our guides. Sometimes a blog post just isn't going to cut it on a topic. Our guides and trainings are designed to be longer and easy for you to come find and reference time and again. Setting social media strategies Boosting engagement Creating workable funnels In-depth SEO training Beginning lifestyle marketing And more! Get Started with Digital Marketing Guides Browse Our Recent Blog Posts See All Posts --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Connect with an Expert {{ Coming Soon }} --- Digital Marketing Guides Feeling a little lost? We have put together a few guides to help you navigate the digital marketing world on hot topics and innovative strategies. Connect with an Expert --- At the end of the day, our job is to deliver you the results you need to grow your business. Connect with an Expert Your success is our success Great clients & great results—that’s what we’re all about. We don’t just check boxes or follow a generic playbook. We dive deep, get to know your business, and craft strategies that actually move the needle. Our clients love working with us because we bring smart, creative solutions, a team that genuinely cares, and an approach that delivers real, measurable growth. But don’t just take our word for it—see what we’ve done for brands like yours. --- Specialties Whether you need more leads, better conversion rates, or stronger brand awareness, our digital marketing strategies are built to deliver real results that matter to your bottom line. Connect with an Expert Let's Grow Your Brand TogetherThe secret to our success over the last 20 years is simple. Our top priority isn't growing our company - it's growing yours. "We've worked with other SEO/Digital Marketing companies and in two or three meetings, it felt like Volume Nine understood us and delivered better content and ideas than others we'd worked with for multiple years. " Kali Peterson President, Tiresocks Volume Nine's Digital Marketing Specialties Drive More Leads Struggling to get the right leads in the door? We help brands turn brand awareness into real pipeline growth—whether it’s reaching a niche audience, aligning sales and marketing, or driving high-intent demo signups in competitive industries. More About Lead Generation Sell More Products Want more online sales without burning through your budget? We help brands lower customer acquisition costs, boost organic traffic, and turn social followers into paying customers—all while optimizing conversion rates to make every click count. More About Driving Product Sales Recover Lost Traffic Watching your organic traffic drop can be frustrating—but it’s not the end of the road. Whether it’s a site relaunch, a Google update, or AI overviews stealing clicks, we help brands diagnose the problem, recover lost rankings, and build a more resilient SEO strategy. More About Recovering Lost Traffic Website Launch Support A website relaunch shouldn’t mean sacrificing your hard-earned organic traffic. Whether you’re re-platforming, launching for the first time, or working with a dev team that’s not SEO-focused, we ensure your new site is set up to drive traffic, leads, and sales from day one. More About Website Launch Support Build Social Media Engagement Tired of posting into the void? We help brands create social content that actually gets seen, shared, and engaged with—whether that means growing your following, increasing brand awareness, or finally breaking out of the echo chamber. More About Building Social Media Engagement Digital Marketing Strategy A strong digital marketing strategy isn’t just about being everywhere—it’s about being in the right places with the right message. We help brands cut through the noise with data-driven strategies that align marketing efforts with business goals, drive real results, and make every marketing dollar count. Learn More About Digital Strategy & Full Service Digital. What Does It Take to Drive Results? A successful digital marketing program is all about great strategy, adaptability, and a deep understanding of your audience. We'll help you combine the right mix of channels, creative content, and data-driven insights to achieve your goal. Data-Driven vs. Just Checking A Box Digital Expertise Regular Data Analysis - Not Just Automated Reports High Quality, Efficient Work Innovation Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story More than a million dollars in Organic Revenue gained in 6 months Read Success Story Ramped a Manufacturer up to 100 leads/month Up from zero Read Success Story 44,000 new followers in 4 months 135% increase in Social Media Revenue --- Social Media Audit & Strategy Service For over a decade, we’ve been helping small local shops all the way up to Fortune 500’s with social media. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands A social media audit that's "just right" for your needs A strong social media presence is key to a successful digital marketing strategy, but managing multiple platforms can be overwhelming. With constantly changing rules and algorithms, it can feel hard to keep up. If you’re ready to move past the confusion and start seeing real results, a social media audit can make all the difference. Turnaround Time: 2-4 WeeksPlatforms Included: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X (Twitter) YouTube Pinterest TikTok Twitch Request an Audit Proposal “We look at the results and can’t believe what we’re seeing in terms of growth. ” Art Director Lands' End Business Unlock your social media's potential Don’t settle for agencies that offer a basic tool rundown or pass you off to an intern. At Volume Nine, we’ve been managing social media for over a decade, and our “Just Right” Social Media Audit will provide the insights you need to drive your social strategy forward with confidence. Actionable insights Social Media Audits are are notorious for just being a list of things you did wrong. We take a qualitative & quantitative look at your social presence to give you a prioritized roadmap of recommendations. Customized approach Have a specific question or concern? Don’t sweat it. We’ll dive into it for you as part of the process. Includes best practices Concerned some of your social media strategies are a bit #dusty? Don’t despair, we’ll score your social channels through a big ’ol list of best practices. Get your Social Media audit proposal, or connect with our team to ask questions Connect with an Expert What’s included in Volume Nine’s Social Media Audit Service? Strategic Alignment Are you and your team on the same page (literally) about what you are trying to accomplish? We will help you focus on what matters and ensure our team provides insights based on your goals. In summary, we want to help you answer the question, “Why are we doing all of this? ” Best Practice Review Best practices for social media platforms are constantly changing. Our team is staying on the cutting edge of what is and isn’t considered an “established best practice. ” We aim to give you a quick map for up-leveling your profiles, content & engagement strategies to today’s standards. Competitive Analysis Analyzing your competitors on social media platforms can give you a window into what’s working well and what’s not. We’ll help you learn from their successes and mistakes so that you can avoid pitfalls + get ahead. Analytics If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. We’ll take the time to pop the hood on your Google Analytics account and ensure you can track the key metrics that matter to you. We’ll also look at some of the tracking available through each platform (e. g. , the Facebook / Meta pixel). Engagement Strategy In our social media audits, we don’t just analyze your current performance—we give you a real, actionable engagement strategy. We focus on ways to make your content more interactive, increase meaningful conversations with your audience, and refine your approach to community building. Whether it's adjusting your posting cadence, optimizing content types, or implementing better calls-to-action, we provide clear recommendations to drive stronger engagement on your social media feeds. Go-Forward Strategy It’s fair to call this section the “good part. ” Once we’ve had a chance to review all the things, it’s time to tie it all together for you. We want to ensure you get a great sense of where you are now, some items to address sooner vs. later, and some ideas of where you can improve your content & engagement game from here. Frequently asked questions about our social media audit service What’s included in strategic alignment? Goals / KPIS – Clearly outline top goals for social media for your brand, along with the major KPIS (Key Performance Inicators) that can measure progress towards each goal. Persona Outlines – Document personas with imagery & key characteristics in order to... --- SEO Audit Service For over a decade, we’ve driven massive organic growth for hundreds of brands through our expert SEO strategies. We offer several types of SEO audits, including simple "just right" audits all the way up to in-depth audits for major website. Connect with an Expert Trusted By Top Brands An audit that's "just right" for your needs Skip the overpriced, surface-level audits—our expert team has been optimizing websites since 2006. With our "Just Right" SEO Audit, you’ll get the deep insights needed to drive real results and set your SEO strategy on the right path. Turnaround Time: 2-4 WeeksWhat’s Included: Technical SEO Competitive Analysis SEO Trends Content Optimization Review Local SEO Google Analytics / GA4 Actionable SEO Insights & Punchlist Request an Audit Proposal “Volume Nine’s biggest strength is its knowledgeable, technically-skilled team. They stay ahead of the curve in digital marketing trends and make tremendously innovative recommendations. I know I can rely on their knowledge base when I need a rock-solid opinion of where the industry is headed. Their SEO knowledge is outstanding. ” Owners Asheville Adventure Company Get An SEO Audit from True Experts Stop paying for surface-level audits that only scratch the surface. At Volume Nine, we’ve been optimizing websites since 2006, and our “Just Right” SEO Audit delivers the insights you need to drive real results. Actionable insights No overwhelming data dumps—just a prioritized punch list of SEO improvements tailored to your business. Customized approach Have a specific concern? We’ll dive deep into it as part of our review. Focused on results Our insights are designed to fast-track your SEO success and drive measurable growth. Get your SEO audit proposal, or connect with our team to ask questions Connect with an Expert What’s included in Volume Nine’s "Just Right" SEO Audit service? Strategic Alignment Are you and your team on the same page (literally) about what you are trying to accomplish? We will help you focus on what matters and ensure our team provides insights based on your goals. In summary, we want to help you answer the question, “What do we need all of this to help us achieve? ” Technical SEO Technical SEO Audits can be intimidating. But don’t worry! We’ll look under the hood & help you understand if something is check-engine light status vs. a “nice to have” best practice. Competitive analysis Competitive analysis in SEO is a great way to find ways to stand out from your competition in SERPs. You don’t need to have the perfect website, but it does need to provide better answers to queries than your competitors. SEO Trends Before we can develop a strong roadmap of where to go, it’s important to look back at where the website has been. As such, we’ll take a look at how your website has been trending in SERPs and if there’s any concerning drops or lost keyword rankings that need to be explored further. Content Optimization Review Understanding how well you optimize content provides critical insight into your go-forward opportunities. Many brands do the basics (page titles, keyword insertion). However, most skip over essential elements needed to rank long-term content. Local SEO Review For brands that target local areas, your Local SEO is a critical signal to send to Search Engines like Google. Even national or global brands can benefit from establishing which local area your company is headquartered in. GA4 review Digital Marketing is 90% more cost-effective than traditional marketing, but only if you can leverage powerful analytics to analyze marketing decisions. We’ll take a look to ensure you are measuring your data properly via GA4. SEO Insights This isn’t an automated review, and we aren’t handing it to an SEO rookie to knock out. As your audit comes together, a seasoned SEO rookie will spend time with your data and audit to extract key insights in every category. SEO Roadmap / Punchlist The SEO punch list is a fan favorite. Where other audits might give you a giant spreadsheet of technical SEO sins, we’ll give you a prioritized roadmap of what to focus on next across all areas of SEO. Frequently asked questions about our SEO audit service What’s included in strategic alignment? Goals /... --- Thanks for Connecting! We'll get back to you asap We know there is a lot of noise in Digital Marketing and we're thrilled you took a chance on us, and we're excited to connect with you. Back to Let’s Talk --- Turn Up Your Revenue Build a steady stream of traffic & new customers SEO Social Media Full Service Digital Connect With an Expert Trusted by Top Brands Team up with a digital marketing agency you can trust Since 2007, we've had the honor of helping hundreds of brands create awareness, drive traffic, and generate more steady, predictable revenue. Meet Volume Nine "To find a boutique agency that's outperformed even the largest companies is amazing. " Kayla (Roofe) Sandvig RE/MAX Are you a little overwhelmed trying to find the right agency partner? Life's too short to waste hours and hours getting pitched standard packages. Book time today to consult directly with an expert, not a sales team. Schedule Time With an Expert Case Studies and Success Stories Read Success Story Large Retailer More than a million dollars in organic revenue gained in 6 months Read Success Story General Kinematics Ramped a large-scale equipment manufacturer up to 100 leads/month (up from ~0) Read Success Story Vitamin World 44,000 new followers in 4 months & a 135% increase in Social Media revenue "We have increased our lead quality, social media following, blog, and every other KPI and metric to date. I rely heavily on V9's recommendations and assessments as we continue to stay at the top of organic search. I have worked with many vendors in my marketing career and hands down would recommend V9 to anyone. " Amy Donahue-Kelley Global Marketing Manager, General Kinematics What's it like working with Volume Nine? We don't want to be a vendor who crams you into a confusing package; we want to be an extension of your team with one goal in mind - success. Meet a few of our clients and hear about their experiences with Volume Nine in this 2-minute video. Schedule Time with a Digital Marketing Expert https://vimeo. com/349803320 Top Digital Marketing Services SEO SEO (Search Engine Optimization or Search Everywhere Optimization) is one of the best ways to set your marketing up for long-term success. Let's build your traffic! Learn More About SEO Social Media Social media has significant power to create brand awareness and engaged fans. Let's work together to share your story! Learn More About Social Media Full Service Our best clients are partnerships filled with collaboration, innovation and a variety of Digital Channels. Let's build up your brand and revenue together! Learn More About AOR Why brands choose Volume Nine as their digital marketing agency: Results, not packages "The level of experience of their team and the maniacal focus on performance are impressive. " Read Full Review An extension of your team "Everything we ask, they consistently deliver. " Read Full Review Friends, not vendors "Volume 9 has that passion and engagement, and I felt they truly cared about my website. " Read Full Review Experts at our craft "What we found most impressive and unique about Volume Nine was their exceptional expertise. " Read Full Review Digital Marketing Capabilities Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Your customers constantly turn to search engines to solve their problems. We make sure they find you *(instead of your competitors) at the top of their search results. Social Media Marketing Let's work together to identify your audience, craft your story, and share it with the world. We've helped brands with Facebook (meta), Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Houzz, and more! Content Marketing Engage your audience and build trust with high-quality content tailored to their needs. Our content marketing services include blog posts, articles, web copy and more, all designed to drive traffic and conversions. Paid Ads Tired of wasting money on ads that don’t convert? We help you create hyper-targeted campaigns across Google, Facebook, and beyond to turn clicks into customers. Social Media Ads Drive engagemenet and conversions with targeted social media ads. our team crafsts compelling ad campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to reach your ideal audience. Video Enhance your social media presencew ith engaging video content. We specalize in editing videos, creating clips from stock footage, and collaborating with influencers to craft compelling stories that resonate with your audience. Lead Generation Stop chasing cold leads that go nowhere. We connect you with high-quality prospects ready to... --- --- ## Posts Let’s take a second and talk about AI. Whether anyone says it out loud or not, it’s in the background of pretty much every marketing conversation right now. How much are you using it? Should we be doing more? Are we already behind? What tools should we be using?   And honestly, I think there’s a lot of noise, a lot of overwhelm, and a lot of shoddily built AI tools that are marketed like they’re gonna solve all your problems.   This is a big topic (and growing) topic right now, and instead of trying to tackle this generally, I thought it might be helpful to walk through how we’re actually approaching it at Volume Nine, what we’re doing with it, and where we’re drawing some pretty clear lines. How We Think About AI At Volume Nine We don’t look at AI as a replacement for great marketing. We see it as a way to reduce friction in the work. There’s a big difference. AI is incredibly useful when it helps you move faster, organize information, or get unstuck. It becomes a problem when it starts replacing the thinking behind the work. We’re in the business of strategy. Understanding a client’s voice, their audience, their market, and what’s actually going to resonate is not something you can outsource to a tool. That still requires experience and judgment. AI-Assisted vs. AI-Generated This is where I think a lot of people start to blur the lines a bit. Not intentionally, but because it’s easy to lean on these tools without really thinking about how they’re shaping the work. AI-assisted work still has a human driving the decisions. The tool is helping with speed, structure, or efficiency. AI-generated work is when you let the tool do the thinking for you. And if you’ve read enough of it, you can feel the difference almost immediately. How We’re Using AI As An Agency At a high level, we are leaning into AI, and we’re encouraging our clients to do the same. However, we’re also being careful not to risk letting AI write horrible marketing copy OR let an autonomous agent have access to confidential information.   Most marketing teams are under pressure to do more with less: more content, better performance, tighter budgets. AI is being positioned as the solution to that problem, so naturally, it’s coming up in almost every conversation.   Staying On Top Of Tools Without Chasing Everything We spend a lot of time testing tools and figuring out what’s actually worth using, because trying to keep up with everything out there right now is overwhelming for our clients. One minute it’s ChatGPT, then it’s Claude, then it’s a tool your leadership team forwarded that supposedly does everything. Part of our role is helping filter that down so clients aren’t wasting time or making risky decisions based on hype. Our Goal with AI on Client Work  When we’re using AI on client work, there are a few things we’re always trying to get right. Create high-quality work more efficiently so clients get more value from their retainers.   Leverage AI to help extend our thinking and data analysis capabilities.   Building results faster for clients. Keep our clients’ data safe and stay 100% transparent and aligned with clients on where AI is and isn’t being utilized on their behalf.   We’re also paying close attention to how AI is changing search behavior. Tools like ChatGPT and AI overviews are already influencing how people find information, which means they’re becoming real traffic sources. Bringing Clients Along For The Process One thing I feel strongly about is that this shouldn’t be hidden behind the scenes. If we build something useful, whether it’s a custom GPT or an automation, we’re teaching our clients how to use it too. Because this isn’t about us having an advantage. It’s about helping our clients stay on the edge of where technology and Digital Marketing are. How Our Team Uses AI This is where things get more practical. Because while there’s a lot of conversation about what AI can do, what matters is how it actually shows up in the day-to-day work.   AI Focus AreaWhat That Looks... --- If you haven't built a "For the Press" page yet, this is your nudge to get it done. Not because it's trendy. Because search is changing fast, this one simple page might be the cleanest, least-effort brand-protection move you can make right now. Let me explain. What Google's Recent Patent Actually Means A few weeks ago, Google filed a patent that, when you read it, kind of makes your jaw drop. The short version: Google is giving itself the ability to rewrite your webpage using AI if it decides your page isn't good enough for what a user is looking for. (Source: Google Patent US12536233B1) If you're a marketer, that probably made something in your brain short-circuit. Mine too. As in, someone searches for information about your company, clicks through to your site, and Google may have already swapped out your page for an AI-generated version it thinks is more helpful. And yet, it makes complete sense given everything we've watched Google do over the last couple of years. The direction has been clear: Google wants to own the search experience. AI Overviews, zero-click results, now this. The implications are real, and brands that haven't thought seriously about what information exists about them online will feel it. The Bigger Problem: AI Is Pulling from All of It Here's the thing most marketers haven't fully reckoned with yet. Large language models aren't just reading your current website. They're reading everything. Old reviews. Expired microsites. A LinkedIn company page someone set up in 2014 that you forgot about. A Ning profile (yes, that was briefly a thing). A social media handle that an AI keeps inventing for you because you never claimed the real one. We've been dealing with this at Volume Nine firsthand. We're almost 20 years old as an agency. Over those two decades, we've had different URLs, different name variations, a period where a fake agency in India was pretending to be us to scam job seekers, old Glassdoor reviews tied to that mess, microsites we spun up and abandoned, the works. All of that is out there. And unlike older versions of Google, which would deprioritize the stale stuff, AI search is pulling it all in as data points to answer the question: "Is this brand legit? Who are they? " When someone asks ChatGPT, "Is Volume Nine a good company? " we want the answer to come from reliable sources. Not from a scammy Glassdoor review tied to a company in India that used our name a decade ago. That's the problem. The "For the Press" page is one piece of the solution. What Is a "For the Press" Page? Think of it as an official fact sheet about your brand, living on your own website. It's not your About Us page. Your About Us page is (and should be) a sales page, focused on your customer, your value proposition, and your story. It's doing critical work. You don't want to mess with that. A press page is different. It's the page where you put the official version of your company's data. Things like: Your official company name (and any variations) The year you were founded Your official website URL Your official social media profiles, spelled out clearly Your official bios (short and long versions) Your logo files Key facts about the company It's boring on purpose. That's the point. You're not trying to convert anyone with this page. You're giving AI systems, journalists, partners, and search engines a single clean source of truth. We set one up for Volume Nine, and it was genuinely not time-intensive. That matters because most of the AI SEO work we recommend to clients is not a small lift. A press page is. Here is a good, solid Wireframe for a PR press page: Why It's Not the Same as Your About Us Page Worth saying twice because this trips people up. Your About Us page should focus on your customers and the problems you solve. It's often one of the most visited pages on a B2B site. It's a conversion asset. Your press page is a data asset. It's not meant to persuade anyone. It's meant to be accurate, consistent,... --- Wikidata is the Wikimedia Foundation’s open knowledge base for structured data. It stores machine-readable facts that support Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and other Wikimedia projects in various languages. Unlike Wikipedia, which presents information in narrative form, Wikidata organizes data in structured statements. Each entity receives a unique identifier and is described by properties such as industry, headquarters location, official website, and authority control identifiers. This organization helps search engines, AI systems, and databases understand how entities relate to one another clearly and consistently.   How Is Wikidata Different From Wikipedia? Wikipedia provides written content for readers. Wikidata delivers structured data for machines. A Wikipedia page discusses a topic in paragraphs, while a Wikidata item defines that same topic through labeled properties and referenced statements. Those structured statements drive infoboxes, language links, and metadata connections within Wikimedia properties. Understanding this difference is important because brands often treat Wikidata like a promotional content platform, but it is not. It serves as infrastructure.   How Does A Wikidata Item Work? There are three core components that allow structured data systems to recognize a brand as a defined entity instead of a random collection of mentions: 1. Label And Description The label identifies the entity. The description explains what it is clearly and neutrally.   2. Structured Statements Statements follow a property and value format. For example, an organization might include properties such as instance of, founded on, headquarters location, official website, and industry classification. Each statement should come from reliable sources.   3. Unique Identifier Every item gets a unique identifier that starts with the letter Q. This identifier links the entity to external authority systems, library databases, and other knowledge repositories. This identifier links the entity to external authority systems, library databases, and other knowledge repositories. Why Does Wikidata Matter For SEO? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has evolved beyond keyword matching. Modern search engines use entity-based indexing to understand relationships between brands, people, and organizations. Google’s Knowledge Graph and similar systems try to understand people, companies, publications, and organizations as entities with specific attributes and relationships. Structured knowledge bases help with this understanding. Wikidata does not directly boost rankings; it improves clarity. In entity-focused search environments, clarity helps visibility.   A well-maintained Wikidata item can:  Clarify brand identity across databases Align naming conventions and official URLs Connect authority identifiers Reduce ambiguity between similarly named entities Support knowledge panel accuracy How Does Wikidata Support GEO? Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) reflects how AI-driven search systems synthesize structured data to generate answers. When AI systems assess a brand, they use consistent, machine-readable data. Structured identifiers and verified references help these systems better understand an organization. GEO aims to make sure your brand is clearly understood in AI-generated responses. Wikidata helps by serving as a structured reference layer within that ecosystem. How Does Wikidata Connect Across Languages And Platforms? Wikidata centralizes identifiers across different language editions of Wikipedia. When a user switches between language versions of a page, that connection relies on a shared Wikidata item. It also links to authority control systems, such as library databases and research identifiers. These connections allow various systems to refer to the same entity without overlapping. This cross-platform consistency demonstrates the power of structured data. It ensures that the same organization is recognized consistently across different ecosystems.   What Risks Come From Ignoring Wikidata? Inconsistent or incomplete entity data can lead to confusion. If an official website is wrong, if authority identifiers are missing, or if an organization is misclassified, these issues can appear across platforms. Entity confusion reduces trust and weakens consistency. Fixing structural errors later often takes more effort than creating the record correctly from the start. Structured data should be part of brand governance, not an afterthought.   When Should A Brand Evaluate Its Presence On Wikidata? Brands with credible third-party references, academic publications, research contributions, media coverage, or recognized authority identifiers should assess their structured entity footprint. If an organization appears in multiple knowledge systems, alignment is important. Wikidata is not intended for visibility alone; it aims for accuracy, neutrality, and consistency within the larger data layer that search engines and AI tools rely on.   How V9 Approaches Wikidata Within A Larger Strategy At V9,... --- Your Seattle location performs well. Your Denver location barely shows up. It's the same brand and services, but visibility is completely different. Multi-location businesses often think that brand authority transfers evenly across all markets. However, search engines don’t function that way. Google looks at each location separately. It considers the strength of the individual Google Business Profile, local citations, on-page relevance, proximity signals, and engagement from people in that area. One branch can develop strong local authority while another has trouble sending the right signals. Copying location pages and changing city names won’t fix that issue. Each market needs its own local relevance, clear geographic signals, and content that matches what people in that area are searching for. AI-driven search results have raised the standards even higher. Search systems now compare entities, evaluate credibility, and pull from sources that show real local expertise. Multi-location brands that treat each office as its own digital presence consistently perform better in traditional rankings and in AI-generated results. Why Is Local SEO Different From General SEO? Most people think of SEO as being about content depth, backlinks, technical optimization, and keyword targeting. These elements still matter, but they are only part of the picture when it comes to local search. Traditional SEO focuses on improving the overall website so it can compete broadly in organic rankings. Local SEO adds extra signals that help Google verify a business's legitimacy and relevance in a specific area. It combines online authority with real-world validation. Factors such as proximity to the searcher, consistent NAP details, activity on Google Business Profile, reviews, local citations, and engagement on Google Maps all contribute. These signals connect a brand’s online presence to its physical credibility in a particular market. When someone searches for “shoe store near me” or “Denver home improvement retailer,” Google is not ranking the overall brand. The algorithm looks at whether that specific location has accurate information, visible engagement, relevant local keywords, and a consistent presence across the web. For businesses with multiple locations or franchise models, each physical branch must build its own authority to compete well in local search results. What Mistakes Do Multi-Location Brands Commonly Make? 1. Duplicate Location PagesDuplicate location pages are a common problem. Many brands use templated pages that have the same service descriptions, repeat testimonials in different cities, and provide minimal local detail. Although templates save time, pages without unique, city-specific content usually perform poorly. Search engines and AI systems prioritize content that demonstrates real local relevance. 2. Inconsistent Citations And ListingsLocal citations validate business information across the web. Having conflicting details across different online sources can raise red flags for search engines, AI tools, and users alike. Common issues include:Different phone number formatsOutdated contact informationDuplicate business listingsInconsistent NAP across GBP (Google Business Profile), Yelp, local directories, and franchise sites3. Weak Google Business Profile ManagementGoogle Business Profile management often varies in quality. Profiles may not have optimized service categories, clear descriptions, consistent review responses, or regular updates. Managing SEO for multiple locations requires careful attention to each profile as a separate local asset, rather than a broad corporate listing. How Does AI Search Impact Local SEO? AI search systems increasingly answer local queries directly. Because these queries are conversational, personalized, and generative, they often become highly local and specific. Users now ask:“What’s an independent home improvement store near me that carries rigid vinyl flooring in grey and can deliver? ”“Brunch restaurant in Denver that’s vegetarian-friendly and has really good eggs Benedict. ”“Which shoe store in a 5-mile range has the best reviews for children’s sneakers? ”To generate answers, AI systems evaluate Google Business Profile data, customer reviews and sentiment, structured website content, citations, backlinks, FAQs, and even conversations on forums and social platforms. Because AI summaries typically reference fewer sources than traditional search results, inclusion becomes more competitive. Research from Rank Fuse shows that being included in AI Overviews increases click potential, especially for transactional queries where users are closer to taking action. While AI summaries can reduce traffic to some traditional organic listings, domains that are cited within the overview often see stronger engagement than those that are excluded. Inclusion places your brand directly inside the generated answer at a high-intent... --- Does your website rank #1 on Google, but AI search tools aren't recommending you. That gap is becoming one of the most expensive blind spots in digital marketing. Search engine optimization still drives organic traffic. At the same time, AI-powered tools are now shaping what users see, trust, and act on before they ever reach traditional search results. That’s the heart of the GEO vs. SEO conversation, and why marketing leaders can’t afford to treat this as a future problem. What Is Traditional SEO And How Does It Work? Traditional SEO focuses on helping search engines discover, understand, and rank your content in search results. The goal isn’t just visibility. It’s showing up at the right moment when someone is actively searching, then earning the click by being the most relevant result. SEO works through a structured, repeatable system. When brands struggle with organic performance, it’s usually because one part of that system is weak or missing. How Search Engines Discover ContentSearch engines rely on crawlers to scan websites and collect information about each page. Those crawlers follow links, read page structure, and evaluate whether content can be accessed efficiently. If a page can’t be crawled or indexed properly, it won’t rank, no matter how strong the content is. Key discovery signals include:Logical site structure and internal linkingPages that load quickly and work on mobileClean URLs and crawlable codeTechnical health, including indexation and redirects This is the foundation that SEO is built on. Without it, rankings never get off the ground. How Search Engines Understand RelevanceOnce a page is indexed, search engines determine what queries it should appear for. They do that by analyzing:Keywords and phrases used in titles, headings, and body contentHow clearly a page focuses on a specific topicWhether the content matches the intent behind a search Relevance isn’t about stuffing keywords. It’s about clarity. Pages that address one specific need well tend to outperform pages that try to cover everything. How Authority Influences RankingsRelevance gets you considered. Authority gets you ranked. Search engines evaluate authority by looking at how other sites reference your content and brand. Strong authority signals tell search engines that your content is trustworthy and worth surfacing. Common authority signals include:Backlinks from reputable, relevant websitesBrand mentions across the webConsistent publishing within a defined topic area Authority builds over time. It’s cumulative, and it’s one of the hardest parts of SEO to shortcut. What SEO Is Designed To Optimize ForTraditional SEO is optimized for a click-based experience. Success is typically measured through:Rankings in search engine resultsOrganic traffic growthEngagement and conversions from search The system assumes users will scan results, compare options, and choose a page to visit. SEO works best when content is designed to earn that click by being both visible and compelling. What Is GEO And Why Is It Different? GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, focuses on how AI models decide which brands get mentioned when generating answers. Instead of ranking URLs, large language models like ChatGPT or Gemini synthesize information across many sources and present a single response. Sometimes they cite sources. Often, they don’t send traffic anywhere at all. That shift changes what optimization looks like. GEO prioritizes:Brand mentions and accurate positioningClear entity definitions and topical authorityConsistent messaging across the digital ecosystemProof, consensus, and third-party corroborationContent that AI models can easily interpret and trust We’ve written more about this in our dedicated GEO content, but the short version is simple: GEO optimizes for being chosen, not just being ranked. How Does GEO Actually Work? AI search doesn’t pull answers from a single place. It blends multiple systems, and understanding that helps explain why some brands show up and others don’t. Where Do AI Answers Come From? Most AI-powered search experiences rely on a mix of:Training data: Broad knowledge learned during model trainingRetrieval: Real-time or near–real-time information pulled from trusted sourcesCitations: Explicit references when models surface sources in AI overviews or summaries Not every answer uses all three, but high-confidence responses usually align across them. What Gets Selected By AI Models? AI models tend to favor brands that show up consistently and clearly across sources. That includes:Strong entity recognition within a defined categoryConsensus from multiple high-quality sourcesClear positioning and languageVerifiable proof points... --- Check out the GEO Grader here. Search is changing fast, and a lot of marketing teams feel behind Last September, Search Engine Land reported that only 33% of marketers felt they had a good understanding of GEO, compared with 72% for SEO. But, less than a month later, Search Engine Land also uncovered that 87% of marketers are worried about their online findability because of AI SEO, 85% plan to invest in AI/LLM optimization & 75% said their top priority is to get brand visibility in AI-generated answers (source). Honestly, we’re feeling this juxtaposition from new prospective clients almost every day. I’m hearing: Stress over declining organic traffic Confusion over what actually is and isn’t working in AI SEO Pressure from leadership to prioritize LLM Optimization / AI SEO A way to track, measure & communicate forward momentum/progress in Generative Engine Optimization Overwhelm by the conflicting messaging from SEO experts online Overall, it’s kind of a stressful time for digital marketers - too much is changing too quickly. So we built a tool to help! Try the Grader AI SEO is weird right now The challenge with GEO right now is that it’s either too vague or too nerdy to be useful in a planning meeting. Some SEO’s are communicating the message that this is EXACTLY the same as SEO, which, quite frankly, the C-suite won’t accept as a strategy. In contrast, other SEO experts are going really far down the rabbit hole, talking about stuff like entity mapping, topic modeling, extreme personalization, etc. This stuff sounds cool, but it’s really hard to build into your project management tool and start checking off the list. If you spend a lot of time on Reddit & LinkedIn following all the newest articles like I do, you’ll also be treated to quite a few virtual knife-fights as SEOs snipe at each other over the topic. Why I’m genuinely jazzed about our GEO Grader We built the GEO Grader because marketers needed a starting point that didn’t feel like a research project. The tool is meant to make AI search less abstract and more concrete. You run your site through it, then you get a clearer read on how AI systems are picking up your brand online. Less guessing. Less doom scrolling. Also, you might (rightly) note that GEO seems like it’s changing, so how can we build a static tool to help with this? Well, great news, this tool isn’t static! As things change and new best practices emerge, we’re adding to the tool :) What the GEO Grader checks A few of the big questions it helps answer: Can AI systems find your site at all? Do they understand what your company does and who you serve? Do you look credible enough to reference? Is your content structured in a way AI can reuse? Why we made it free AI search is already in play, but most marketing teams are still getting oriented. Paying a bunch of money just to learn a few basics on where you stand feels a bit backwards. So we made the GEO Grader free on purpose. Marketers should be able to get their bearings without making a giant budget decision first. A few facts about the grader: Link to the Grader: geo. v9digital. com Launch Date: January 19th, 2026 How The GEO Grader Works What does GEO mean? Genereative Engine Optimization, aka LLM Optimization & AI SEO A solid first step The GEO Grader won’t replace strategy, execution, or good SEO fundamentals. It also won’t guarantee a bunch of traffic and revenue. But, it will give you a clearer view of where you stand right now, so you can stop guessing and start prioritizing. Try the GEO Grader for free at GEO. v9digital. com. --- Consumer behavior throughout 2025 made one thing clear: CPG marketing is not about being everywhere. It’s about showing up in the right places, with the right message, at the right moment. Shoppers now move fluidly between social media, AI-powered search, in-store shelves, Amazon, Walmart, and direct-to-consumer checkout flows. Millennials and Gen Z expect brands to understand their values, pricing expectations, and needs in real time. That shift is forcing CPG marketers to rethink everything from attribution to influencer spend to how AI tools fit into the broader marketing strategies mix. Here are five CPG marketing trends shaping 2026 and how we recommend budgeting for them to support both growth and long-term brand equity. Trend 1: The Death of the Awareness-Only Social Media Strategy Awareness-only social strategies are struggling because attention is no longer scarce. It’s fragmented. Between TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, retail media networks, and AI-driven discovery tools, consumers are flooded with content. A single impression rarely changes purchase decisions, especially in crowded consumer packaged goods categories like food and beverage or wellness. When social media focuses only on reach, CPG brands often end up doing two risky things: Introducing high-intent shoppers to competitors’ algorithms by driving awareness traffic without controlling the next touchpoint Paying for impressions without learning anything about consumer behavior What is working now is utilizing social as a full-funnel channel that supports decision-making, not just visibility. Strong CPG social strategies in 2026 focus on: Content formats that invite interaction, not passive scrolling Messaging that answers real consumer needs and objections Evaluating results tied to mid-funnel metrics, not just impressions Amazon’s data shows that 94% of shoppers inspired by creator content visit Amazon to complete a purchase, and adding Amazon Ads to social strategies can drive meaningful full-funnel lifts, including increases in search volume, product views, and add-to-cart events, which supports the idea that social activity can translate into measurable commerce impact. Which Metrics Actually Matter for CPG Social Attribution? Likes alone don’t tell you much anymore. CPG brands need signals that show intent, trust, and momentum across touchpoints. The most useful social metrics in 2026 include: Comments and shares that show content resonance Messages and replies that indicate consideration Repeat engagement across multiple formats Traffic quality flowing into checkout across channels, measured by engagement and conversion signals, not just volume These metrics help teams connect social media activity to real purchase decisions, even when attribution isn’t perfectly linear. They also feed smarter forecasts when paired with retail and e-commerce data. Trend 2: Micro-Influencers vs. Performance Marketing Micro-influencers work when brands understand their role in the funnel. They are not a shortcut to immediate revenue. Where micro-influencers shine: Building trust with niche audiences Supporting sustainability, wellness, or values-driven messaging Diversifying creative formats for paid social and retail media Warming audiences before promotions or product launches Where brands go wrong is treating influencer partnerships like performance ads. Expecting a clean 1:1 return usually leads to disappointment. The brands seeing ROI use micro-influencers as a brand lever that supports performance later, not a standalone growth hack. That distinction matters when allocating budget across paid social and influencers. Trend 3: AI Search Is Reshaping Product Discovery According to The Global Consumer Products Engagement Report, 76% of consumer product marketers believe AI will be essential for engaging new customers. That belief isn’t theoretical. It reflects how quickly product discovery behavior is changing. Instead of scrolling through traditional search results or social feeds, shoppers now ask AI tools direct questions like: Which food and beverage brands prioritize sustainability? What private label alternatives match this ingredient list? Which wellness products align with my values and budget? These tools pull answers from a mix of structured content, product data, reviews, and brand signals. That shift is pushing CPG marketers to think beyond SEO alone and start accounting for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), how brands show up in AI-generated responses, not just ranked links. GEO doesn’t replace SEO. It builds on it. CPG brands preparing for this shift are: Structuring content to answer direct product, use-case, and value-based questions Aligning messaging across social, retail, and site content so AI tools see consistency Treating AI-driven discovery as part of the broader omnichannel buying journey As AI tools... --- January is when most businesses reset goals, revisit budgets, and map out their digital marketing strategy for the year ahead. The mistake we see most often? Teams plan 2026 marketing efforts without fully understanding what actually drove results in 2025. A beginning-of-year digital marketing audit solves that problem. It uses last year’s metrics, performance data, and customer behavior to create a smarter roadmap forward. What Is a Digital Marketing Audit? A digital marketing audit is a structured evaluation of your digital presence, marketing activities, and performance metrics using prior-year data to inform current-year strategy. The purpose is to understand what should shape your digital marketing plan going forward. A strong digital audit helps teams: Connect marketing metrics to real business goals Identify which channels support lead generation and revenue Understand gaps in the customer journey and user experience Prioritize marketing efforts based on impact, not effort Most organizations track data in tools like Google Analytics, ad dashboards, and CRM platforms. Fewer organizations translate that data into a clear, actionable roadmap. That’s where audits create the most value. How to Run a Digital Marketing Audit Before jumping into the seven areas below, it helps to set yourself up for a clean, focused audit. The goal isn’t to collect more data. It’s to gather the right data and evaluate it in a way that supports smarter decisions. What to Gather Before You Start Start by pulling performance data from the last 12 months whenever possible. One full year gives you enough context to spot patterns instead of reacting to short-term fluctuations. At a minimum, gather: Website analytics (Google Analytics or GA4): Traffic by channel, top pages, and key conversion actions Search data (Google Search Console): Top search queries, pages with impressions but low click-through rates, and indexing issues Paid advertising dashboards: Spend, conversions, and cost per conversion by platform and campaign Social media insights: Traffic to your website, engagement trends, and follower growth over time CRM or sales data (if available): Leads and revenue by source to understand which channels support actual business outcomes You don’t need perfect data for a useful audit. Directional clarity matters more than precision. Who Should Be Involved Digital marketing audits work best when they stay focused. Too many voices too early can slow progress. At minimum, involve: One person responsible for marketing decisions One person who owns or influences budget and business priorities If available, it’s also helpful to include: A sales or customer-facing team member Anyone managing paid media or reporting dashboards Run the audit with a small group, then share findings with the broader team once priorities are clear. How to Approach the Audit As you review each section below, focus on patterns and alignment instead of isolated metrics. Ask: Which channels consistently support leads or revenue? Where is effort high but impact low? How well does performance align with current business goals? You’re not trying to fix everything at once. You’re identifying where to focus next. The seven audit areas below walk through the most important places to look so you can connect performance, effort, and results across your entire digital marketing ecosystem. The 7 Areas to Review in Your 2026 Digital Marketing Audit 1. How Strong Is Your SEO Foundation Heading Into 2026? Your SEO foundation determines how visible your website is in organic search and how effectively your digital marketing efforts generate long-term traffic and leads. In an SEO audit, we’re not just reviewing rankings. We’re analyzing how technical SEO, on-page SEO, and off-page SEO work together to support website performance and conversion rates. Our SEO audit process typically includes: Technical SEO Focus here on whether your site can be easily accessed, understood, and used by both search engines and humans. What to look for: Site speed: Pages should load quickly, especially on mobile. Slow load times often correlate with higher bounce rates and lower conversions. Mobile-friendliness: Mobile traffic should perform similarly to desktop. Large gaps in engagement or conversion rates can signal usability issues. Indexation and crawlability: Pages you want ranking should be indexed. A high number of excluded or error pages is a red flag. Broken links and errors: Isolated issues are normal. A growing number over time suggests... --- The Transformation by the Numbers What We Cut• $15,000/month paid social spend → $0• Instagram posts: -66% year-over-yearWhat We Grew• Instagram engagement rate: +419%• Instagram comments: +350%• Instagram shares: +428% About Kate's Real Food Kate's Real Food makes organic energy bars crafted with whole-food ingredients that deliver real energy for real adventures. Born in a Jackson Hole kitchen (because where else would you create the perfect trail snack? ), Kate's has grown from local cult favorite to national distribution—all while staying committed to ingredients you can pronounce and adventures you won't forget. Their bars fuel hikers, climbers, skiers, and weekend warriors who read ingredient lists. These are people who care about what fuels their bodies and which brands earn their loyalty. But the organic snack bar market? Crowded doesn't begin to cover it. Between established players plus dozens of new launches every year, everyone's claiming "clean ingredients" and "adventure ready. " Kate's needed to break through without breaking the bank. The Challenge Ready to scale strategically without scaling spend Kate's came to us with solid fundamentals. They were posting consistently, creating beautiful content, and showing up for their audience. Their products were gaining distribution. Their community was engaged. But they faced a common growing brand dilemma: their paid social spend ($15K/month on Facebook and Instagram) was delivering diminishing returns, and they suspected their content strategy—while consistent—wasn't working as hard as it could be. What they wanted: Stronger brand differentiation – Stand out in a saturated market by fully capturing Kate's unique voice and outdoor lifestyle positioning Better ROI on marketing efforts – Reduce paid spend dependency while maintaining or growing engagement Deeper community connection – Move beyond surface-level engagement to build a community around shared values Integrated strategy – Connect social, email, and website efforts so everything worked toward business goals Proof of concept – Show that organic strategy could deliver measurable business impact They weren't looking for someone to just "manage their social. " They wanted a strategic partner who could help them scale smarter, not just bigger. The Plot Twist: We Did Less to Achieve More Most agencies would have told Kate's to post more, boost more, and increase ad spend to fight the algorithm. We went the opposite direction. Our recommendation: Eliminate paid social spend entirely Drastically reduce posting frequency Make every remaining post strategically valuable Why? Because we'd seen the data: Kate's wasn't suffering from too little content. They were drowning in it. Their audience didn't need more posts—they needed better posts. Posts worth stopping for. Posts worth sharing. The result? By posting 66% less and cutting all paid spend, we grew engagement by over 400%. Our Approach Quality over quantity: building a social strategy that earned attention We started by asking what Kate's needed to accomplish—not what the latest social media guru said they should do. The insight: Kate's doesn't just sell energy bars. They sell a lifestyle and values their customers already embody. Our job was to reinforce that connection with content that mattered, not just content that filled a calendar. What we did: Strategic Content Framework (Not Random Posting) Built five strategic content pillars, each aligned to audience personas and brand goals: Real outdoor adventures showcasing Kate's connection to the community they serve Product benefits in authentic use contexts (actual trail snacks for actual trails) Behind-the-scenes storytelling reinforcing brand values and ingredient commitments Community spotlights featuring real customers and their adventures Value-driven content—tips, inspiration, and ideas that served the audience beyond selling Every post had a purpose. If it didn't serve a strategic goal, it didn't get posted. Audience-First Strategy Defined and prioritized key personas to guide all content decisions: Outdoor enthusiasts seeking authentic adventure fuel Health-conscious snackers who read labels Busy professionals needing grab-and-go nutrition they can trust This wasn't demographic targeting. This was psychographic understanding. Multi-Channel Integration Social content driving traffic to strategic website pages Email campaigns reinforcing brand messaging with engaged subscribers Cross-channel alignment supporting product launches and sustainability messaging Everything working together instead of existing in silos Community Engagement Over Broadcasting Shifted from one-way content pushing to two-way conversations: Responding authentically to comments and messages Sparking genuine discussions about shared values Highlighting real fans and brand ambassadors Building belonging,... --- Denver businesses fight for the same search real estate every day. New startups launch. Established brands refresh sites. Google shifts the rules. If your pages don’t show up, customers slide past you. That’s lost traffic, fewer leads, and slower revenue. A strong SEO strategy flips that script. The right partner helps you win more search results, reach qualified buyers, and turn curiosity into conversions. More visibility. Better clicks. Cleaner pipelines. Who doesn’t want that? So how do you pick an agency you can trust? This is the critera we used to develop a list of the top SEO companies in Colorado:Proven results: case studies with real numbers and time frames. Transparency: clear scopes, pricing, and plain-English reporting. Service range: technical fixes, on-page work, content, links, and local SEO. Client feedback: consistent reviews across platforms and industries. Expertise: senior team members who own outcomes, not just meetings. You’ll see 15 standout firms in this guide. At the top is Volume Nine. We go deeper on approaches, strengths, and a quick case study so you can gauge fit fast. Curious whether they match your growth goals? You’ll have the details to decide. And if Google traffic feels like a moving target lately, you’re in the right place. #1 - Volume Nine: Best SEO Agency in Denver At Volume Nine, we don’t just "do SEO". We build search strategies that grow traffic, generate leads, and actually make sense for your business goals. We’re a Denver-based digital agency rooted in transparency, results, and a solid track record. Our mailing address is 1312 17th St, Suite 942, but our reach extends well beyond city limits. We work with brands across the U. S. (and a few beyond) who are serious about performance. Ready to get Organic traffic moving up and to the right? Connect with an SEO Expert What Volume Nine is Known For: SEO isn’t one-size-fits-all. But there are a few things we’ve consistently delivered for our clients across industries, platforms, and even the occasional algorithm update:Technical SEO that clears the path: Clean architecture. Smooth crawl paths. Indexation that makes sense. Page speed improvements that don’t break the site. We fix what holds your visibility back. Content strategy that doesn’t just fill space: We start with research, not assumptions. Then we build content that lines up with how your audience actually searches, whether they’re top-of-funnel browsers or ready-to-buy decision-makers. Link building that works long-term: No shortcuts. No shady tactics. Just smart outreach that builds authority over time and earns mentions worth having. Local SEO with real traction in Denver: From Google Business Profile tuning to citation building, we help you win visibility in Denver and surrounding areas. That means more calls, more visits, and more trust. AI Optimization for Google AI Overviews & ChatGPT: We position your content to appear in AI-driven surfaces like Google’s AI Overviews and answer engines such as ChatGPT. In that way, customers can find you beyond classic search results. Volume Nine is Headquarted in Denver, Colorado Being rooted in Denver isn’t just a footnote. It’s part of how we operate. We’ve supported everything from growing service providers to well-established B2B tech brands across Colorado. If meeting in person still matters to you, we’re around. Fast responses, real conversations, and yes, we know the coffee spots nearby. What Are Some of V9's Top SEO Case Studies? Real numbers tell the story. Here are two standouts that show how smart SEO translates into growth. Access Medical Labs (Healthcare):+2,073% year-over-year blog sessions. +118% year-over-year conversions. +828% year-over-year overall traffic. +2,696% year-over-year social traffic. Brakes Plus (Multi-location auto services):+234% increase in non-branded organic traffic in one year. #1 Google ranking for “brakes” in the primary market. +115% growth in targeted keywords and stronger Local Pack presence. How did they get there? No gimmicks, just clear strategy and execution. Start with a clean technical base. Publish content that answers real search intent. Build links with purpose. Then measure what moves revenue, adjust, and keep shipping. Why Do Businesses Choose Volume Nine? We don’t chase vanity metrics. We focus on what moves the needle:Strategic SEO aligned with business goals: Our team maps every tactic to something measurable. Service pages and case studies show how we... --- Ever feel like your social content earns attention but not action? You’re not alone. Many brands pour time and money into awareness campaigns, only to lose potential customers before they convert. That’s where a full-funnel social media strategy comes in. A structured approach that guides your audience from discovery (Top of Funnel, or TOFU) to trust-building (Middle of Funnel, or MOFU) and finally to action (Bottom of Funnel, or BOFU). Instead of posting more, you post smarter. You use social content to move people step-by-step through their journey. Why this matters: many businesses lean too hard in one direction. They either craft strong brand moments with no follow-through or push sales messages to people who barely know them. Neither approach converts. So, the goal is to align your social media with the buyer’s journey. In this way, you meet your audience where they are, speak to what they need, and make the next step clear. Here’s what we’ll cover:Structure your funnel content for each stageSet meaningful goals and track performanceCombine organic and paid tactics effectivelyAvoid the common traps that stall conversionsPlus, you’ll see how B4Adventure used this exact strategy to increase social conversions by more than 1,500%. Because once you post with intention (not just frequency) you turn attention into actual growth. Marketing Funnel in Social Media Not every follower is ready to buy, and that’s expected. A smart social strategy guides people through a funnel: from awareness (TOFU), to consideration (MOFU), to conversion (BOFU). You meet them where they are and help them move forward. TOFU (Top of Funnel – Awareness): Your goal here is visibility. Think entertaining Reels, punchy memes, and bold carousels. Content that grabs attention and sparks curiosity. You’re not asking for anything yet. You’re just waving from across the street. MOFU (Middle of Funnel – Consideration): Now it’s time to build trust. Use thoughtful how-tos, testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content to explain what you offer and why it matters. Think of this as the education phase, not the pitch. BOFU (Bottom of Funnel – Conversion): This is where you help people act. A clear CTA like “Start your free trial” or “DM us to learn more,” combined with urgency or proof, makes it easy to say yes. Social media doesn’t behave like traditional funnels. Email blasts and static ads are one-way. Social lives in comment sections and DMs. It’s faster, messier, and built on real-time interaction. That changes how you move someone through the funnel. Setting Clear Goals and KPIs for Each Funnel Stage Each stage of your funnel should have a clear goal and a matching metric. Otherwise, you’re just guessing. And guessing rarely converts. Here’s what to track:TOFU (Awareness): Think reach, impressions, and follower growth. Are new people seeing your content? Are you showing up in the right feeds? If not, it’s time to dig into your analytics. MOFU (Consideration): Focus on engagement rate, video views, and click-throughs. Are people pausing, reacting, commenting, or tapping to learn more? If not, your content (or its timing) might need a rethink. BOFU (Conversion): This is where performance counts. Track leads, sales, and cost per acquisition (CPA). These KPIs show if your social is driving results or just racking up likes. Set these metrics early. They keep expectations grounded and teams aligned. “Going viral” might feel exciting, but if it doesn’t lead to growth, it’s just noise. Tracking is about curiosity. What performed? What missed the mark? What surprised you? Social media shifts fast. Last month’s winning post might flop today. But when you stay focused on the right KPIs, you stay agile and conversions follow. Crafting Content for Each Funnel Stage Great social media content speaks to people where they are. Not where you want them to be. Each funnel stage—TOFU, MOFU, BOFU—calls for different energy and intent. Someone discovering your brand for the first time needs a spark. Someone who’s almost ready to buy? A nudge. Here’s what to post at each stage: TOFU (Awareness): Get noticed without asking for anything Here, your mission is simple: get noticed. You’re not selling yet. You’re starting a conversation, sparking curiosity, and offering value without strings attached. Try:Short-form videos that entertain or surpriseMemes that reflect your brand voiceInfographics... --- Search has changed. You’ve probably felt it. Fewer clicks from Google, more answers showing up without anyone visiting your site. That change has a name: Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO. Old-school SEO tried to win the top spot. GEO is more about writing content that smart machines want to grab, quote, and include in their answers. These systems generate answers. And whether they mention your brand or pull from your blog depends on how well your content is structured for their needs. This article walks you through how to make that happen. You’ll learn how to craft blog content that AI models can easily interpret and feature, from formatting and phrasing to demonstrating authority and distributing across platforms. Because if AI is going to quote someone, it might as well be you. GEO and the “New SEO” Have you noticed how search doesn’t just start with a search bar anymore? That’s the shift from traditional SEO to what many now call GEO. Think of GEO as SEO’s next chapter. It's no longer just about ranking on search engines. It's about being ready. Ready for AI, voice assistants, chatbots, and whatever else might answer someone’s question before they even look at the search results. At its core, GEO expands on SEO’s foundations. It still values structured data, clear content intent, strong branding, and credible authorship. Page speed? Still matters. Nobody likes a sluggish experience. But GEO pushes us further. It asks us to optimize not just for people or algorithms, but for AI-generated answers. The type that shows up in ChatGPT, Google’s SGE, or Perplexity. It’s built for conversational queries and contextual comprehension, not just keyword stuffing and backlinks. And while traditional SEO often focuses on the web, GEO considers a cross-platform landscape. Your content could show up on YouTube, social media, email newsletters, smart assistants, or some AI-powered interface no one's named yet. This shift introduces a bigger idea: Search Everywhere Optimization. It means you’re not just optimizing for one engine or one format. You're thinking about how your blog content behaves and performs everywhere a user might search or ask a question because today’s users don’t care where they find an answer. They care that it's fast, clear, and feels like it was written for them. And that’s exactly what GEO helps you do. Crafting AI-Friendly Blog Content Writing for search engines was already a puzzle. Writing for AI? Now that’s a new level of head-scratching. But before you toss your laptop out the window, here’s the good news: the shift toward GEO doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It just means writing a little smarter. Know Your Audience Your audience isn’t a Googlebot. It’s a curious human with questions. Write like you're answering them directly. That means: Skip the jargon. No need to overcomplicate. Focus on intent. Ask yourself, why would someone search for this? Think beyond traffic. Think usefulness. You’re not just filling a blog with words. You’re solving a problem, easing a worry, or helping someone take the next step. Optimize for Long-Tail and Conversational Queries AI tools love specifics. Vague keywords? Not so much. Instead, aim for phrases that sound like someone talking, not typing. Examples: “What’s the difference between SEM and SEO? ” “Best time to post a blog in 2025? ” “How do I write blog content for ChatGPT? ” These natural-language queries align better with how users speak to AI, not how they used to search. Make It Skimmable Skimmable doesn’t mean shallow. It just means being respectful of your reader’s time. Use short sentences. Keep things snappy. Give clear, direct answers. Cut the fluff. (Yes, even that clever metaphor. Maybe save it for your newsletter. ) Even the smartest content falls flat if no one sticks around to read it. So, make every line earn its place. Descriptive Headings AI models rely on structure to “understand” your content. Give them something solid to work with: Headings that are descriptive. Use questions, clear statements, or phrases that set up what’s coming. Layered formatting. Use H2s for big ideas, H3s for details, and H4s when you’re breaking things down even further. Sections under 300 words. Bite-sized content is easier to parse by both bots... --- If your website is getting traffic but not sales, you’re not alone—and that’s exactly where Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) steps in. At its core, CRO is the process of turning more of your visitors into customers. It’s less about shouting louder and more about being smarter with what you already have. As digital marketing grows more competitive, businesses are realizing that throwing more money at ads doesn’t always move the needle. That’s why CRO has become essential—not just for e-commerce giants, but also for B2B firms, SaaS platforms, and service-based businesses. After all, what good is traffic if no one’s clicking “Buy” or “Book a Call”? This article highlights 10 standout CRO agencies. Each has a different approach—some run experiments like scientists, others focus on fixing friction in the user journey. But all have one thing in common: they’re really good at turning browsers into buyers. What Makes a Great CRO Agency? Not all CRO teams are created equal. Some obsess over split tests, while others dive deep into user behavior and analytics. So what should you actually look for? Here are a few non-negotiables:A scientific mindset: Good CRO isn’t guesswork. It’s built on testing hypotheses and tracking impact. Clear data focus: You want insights, not assumptions. User-centric thinking: Personalization and user experience matter—if your visitors don’t enjoy your site, they won’t convert. Transparent reporting: You deserve to know what’s working and what isn’t. Flexibility in pricing and approach: Because not every business has a Fortune 500 budget. For this list, we considered each agency’s methodology, proof of success, client portfolio, and how approachable their services are for businesses at different stages. 1. SiteTuners Founded in 2002, SiteTuners has been refining websites long before CRO became mainstream. Their approach is practical: remove distractions, stop wasting traffic, and zero in on what matters—conversions. They don’t just skim the surface with minor edits. Their team dives deep into your analytics to uncover exactly where users lose interest. Then, they act on it with clear, measurable changes. Highlights:Key Strengths: Pinpoints conversion issues, filters out unqualified traffic, and boosts lead generation. Staff Size: 25 team members Proven Impact: Helped a biotech firm achieve a 200% increase in conversions. Investment Range: $10,000–$49,999Visit SiteTuners 2. Red Navel Consulting Founded in 2016 and run by Ryan—who leads both analytics and CRO—this boutique agency keeps things personal. You won’t find layers of account managers here. Instead, clients get direct access to expertise. Red Navel’s value lies in sharp insights and clear explanations. They’re not just about identifying what’s broken—they’ll show you how to fix it, too. That hands-on approach has earned the trust of several respected brands. Highlights:Key Strengths: Boutique experience, founder-led strategy, and personalized attention. Notable Clients: Topcoder, Loganix, Verblio, Ping Identity. Ideal For: Businesses looking for a focused, high-touch CRO partner. Visit Red Navel Consulting 3. Conversion Sciences If your team wants to learn how to optimize instead of outsourcing everything, Conversion Sciences is worth a look. Rather than making you dependent, they empower internal teams to take charge. Their education-first model includes corporate training, coaching, and video programs. It’s especially useful for growing companies that need to develop CRO skills in-house. Highlights:Key Strengths: CRO training, capability building, and a self-sufficiency mindset. Services: Live and on-demand education, coaching, and workshops. Best Fit: Teams that want control and confidence in their optimization strategy. Visit Conversion Sciences 4. Conversion Rate Experts Led by Dr. Karl Banks, Conversion Rate Experts has become one of the most trusted names in CRO consulting. Their foundation lies in data, testing, and repeatable processes—no fluff, just results. They’ve worked with everyone from bootstrapped startups to Fortune 500s. Their scientific mindset means they approach CRO like a system—not a guessing game. Highlights:Key Strengths: High-end strategy, data-backed decisions, and scientific rigor. Leadership: Dr. Karl Banks, a pioneer in experimental CRO methodologies. Reputation: Frequently cited as a benchmark for industry best practices. Visit Conversion Rate Experts 5. Conversion Conversion isn’t for brands dipping their toes into CRO. They’re built for scale—and their Infinity Experimentation Process reflects that. Every test has a reason, and every outcome feeds into the next. With a larger team and minimum engagement starting at $20,000, they’re best suited for businesses with complex... --- You pour hours into writing. Hit publish. Wait. And... nothing. A few stray clicks. Zero comments. No conversions. It’s frustrating and weirdly familiar for anyone managing a blog. So why does this keep happening? This article breaks it down. We’ll look at why blogs often flop and how to pull them back. It’s not magic. It’s mostly small things done right: better targeting, smarter content, sharper structure, and a bit more effort in the right places. Here’s a tough truth: a lot of blog posts fail because they didn’t have a clear strategy in place. No real keyword research. No reader-focused strategy. Just words on a page, hoping something sticks. And while that might get something into Google’s index, it rarely delivers impact. But underperforming posts also aren’t a lost cause. They’re unfinished work. With the right edits, structure, and distribution, that “meh” blog from last year could become your next top performer. Let’s turn that dead weight into something worth clicking. Diagnose the Problem: Why Blogs Fall Flat Publishing content and hoping for the best isn’t a strategy. If your blog feels more “meh” than magnetic, the problem probably started long before you hit “publish. ” Here’s what might be dragging it down:You’re writing for everyone (and reaching no one). If your content speaks to every potential reader, it resonates with none. People crave relevance, not generalities. Your keyword game is off. Maybe you’re targeting vague terms. Maybe your posts skip keyword research altogether. Either way, Google isn’t impressed. And neither are your rankings. The content feels hollow. Recycled tips, thin ideas, or surface-level insights won’t earn trust. Today’s readers want substance. Opinions, data, stories, or something they haven’t seen a hundred times already. Structure? What structure? Walls of text and messy layout scare people off. Readability matters more than you think. Posting is sporadic (or just plain absent). An abandoned blog sends the wrong signal. Blogs work best when they show up regularly. Promotion is an afterthought. Hitting “publish” isn’t the final step. If you’re not spreading the word, the reach stays small. It reads like a robot wrote it. AI can help. But if you don’t clean it up, the writing turns stale. Readers can feel when a post has no pulse. Before you start fixing, take time to honestly assess. Which of these hits too close to home? What exactly are you trying to achieve and who are you trying to reach? Step 1: Reassess Your Audience and Goals If your blog isn’t hitting the mark, start by asking: who exactly am I writing for? It sounds simple. But vague audience definitions like “business owners” or “tech entrepreneurs,” can dilute your message. Narrow it down. Build out real profiles. What are your readers struggling with? What do they care about on a Monday morning when they skim your headline? Think beyond demographics. Consider behavior, intent, even mood. Someone googling “how to fix broken backlinks” doesn’t want a brand story. They want answers. Now, let’s talk goals. Are you hoping for more traffic? Leads? A boost in brand credibility? Clarity here sharpens your writing and shapes every decision after. A blog designed to attract subscribers will read differently than one aimed at closing sales. Don’t guess what your audience wants. Look at the data. Tap into tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, or even heatmaps. Where are people clicking? Where are they bouncing? What’s keeping them hooked or turning them off? Rethinking your audience and goals might sound basic, but it’s the foundation. If you skip this, the rest of your efforts won’t stick. Step 2: Optimize for Search Engines (Without Losing the Human Touch) Writing for search engines doesn’t mean you have to sound like one. Yes, SEO matters. But people still read your content. Real, curious, skeptical people. So the goal is to speak to both: the algorithm and the reader. Start with keyword research. But don’t chase volume blindly. Focus on intent. Ask: What is this person really looking for when they type this phrase? “Best standing desk” means something very different from “standing desk pros and cons. ” One signals buyer interest. The other suggests early research. Now, look back at what you’ve... --- Posting on social media without engagement feels like talking to a brick wall. So, how do you break through the noise? This guide isn’t theory made up on a whiteboard. It comes from trial and error, testing, and real wins pulled from case studies. The kind of lessons you only learn after pressing “post” more times than you can count. Every like, share, comment, or even pause on your content sends a signal to the algorithm. It whispers, something interesting is happening here. And what’s the reward? More reach. More trust. More eyes on your brand. Engagement fuels your brand’s credibility. It signals relevance. It fosters connection. And yes, it often leads to conversions. Sales, signups, partnerships, job offers. It starts with someone stopping their scroll. But here’s the twist: social platforms have gotten picky. Algorithms evolve fast. Content is everywhere. Too much, actually. So no, “just post consistently” isn’t enough anymore. You need a strategy. A mix of repeatable, thoughtful actions that keep people coming back for more. That’s what these 21 proven tips deliver. 1. Know Your Audience Inside Out If you talk to everybody, you end up talking to nobody. The first move to grow real engagement is knowing exactly who you’re speaking to. So, who is your audience? What keeps them up at night? What makes them stop and tap, and what makes them swipe past without a thought? Start simple:Demographics: Age, job, location. These shape tone and timing. Interests: Hobbies, challenges, and values. Behaviors: What do they share? Which posts do they save? How long do they watch? Where do you find this info? Analytics dashboards. Instagram Insights, LinkedIn stats, TikTok analytics. Polls and Q&As show what people really care about. Customer feedback and DMs often reveal more than your average data sheet. Once you get a clearer picture, align your content accordingly. Talking to startup founders? Focus on value-driven posts, not cat memes (unless the cat teaches ROI). Targeting Gen Z? Static carousels may flop, but a 6-second Reel could thrive. Every piece of content should feel like it was made just for them. Because if it doesn’t? Someone else’s post will. 2. Post Consistently (But Lead with Quality) Ever followed an account that posted like crazy for a week... and then ghosted for a month? Not ideal. Consistency helps build trust. But don’t confuse consistency with constant noise. People don’t need more content. They need BETTER content. And yes, you can post regularly without burning out or boring your audience. Start here:Quality beats quantity. Three strong posts a week will outperform five rushed ones. Set a realistic schedule. For most businesses:Instagram: 3–4 times per weekLinkedIn: 2–3 times per weekTwitter/X: Daily (if relevant)TikTok: Depends on your energy and goalsPlan ahead, but stay flexible. Building out a content calendar, even a simple Google Sheet, keeps ideas flowing and avoids the dreaded “what do I post today? ” spiral. Ideally, schedule posts about a month in advance to give yourself peace of mind. But don’t lock yourself in. When something timely pops up, adjust your schedule to stay relevant. The sweet spot is structure without rigidity: a system that keeps you consistent while leaving room to adapt. 3. Harness the Power of Visuals Nobody logs onto Instagram to read a novel. Strong visuals are your first impression. Here’s how to make them count:Use clear, high-resolution images that reflect your message. Grainy selfies or mismatched stock photos? Probably not helping your case. Short-form video rules right now. Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts have become the MVPs of engagement. Why? They’re quick, they’re addictive, and they feed into the algorithm like candy. Infographics simplify the complex. They work especially well for data-heavy posts or step-by-step processes. Visuals tell stories without needing a 2,000-word caption. Consider this:A behind-the-scenes clip humanizes your brand. A time-lapse of your product being made builds credibility. A testimonial video creates emotional connection instantly. 4. Leverage Trending Content and Hashtags Ever notice how some posts blow up while others vanish in seconds? Sure, timing matters. But the real key is relevance. Trends can push your content in front of people who’ve never seen you before. They give your post that extra lift. But chasing every... --- Let’s bust a myth right out of the gate: B2B doesn’t have to mean “Boring-to-Boring. ” There’s a better way, and it starts with telling a good story. The truth is simple: B2B buyers are still people. They’re just people with tight deadlines, inboxes full of jargon, and very little time to waste. What they remember aren’t specs or feature lists. It’s how something made them feel. That’s where storytelling comes in. We’ve spent years helping brands turn dry content into something people actually read. We’ve seen firsthand how a single well-told story outperforms pages of technical explanation. Because when content connects, it works. And when it works, it builds trust, drives action, and helps your business grow. This article breaks down why so much B2B content falls flat and how to make yours work better. We’ll look at why storytelling beats stiff writing, what makes a business story feel real, and how to share that story across different platforms. Why Traditional B2B Content Misses the Mark Let’s be honest, too much B2B writing sounds like it was written by a committee. It’s stiff, filled with fancy words, and tries too hard to sound important. But here’s the catch: sounding important isn’t the same as being helpful. Many companies write to impress their peers or get past approval checklists. They focus on technical features and company jargon instead of actually helping the person reading. That’s a problem. Because your audience isn’t wondering how your product is built. They’re asking, “Will this make my work easier? ”And often, that question gets ignored. Another issue? Fear. Some teams worry that if they sound too relaxed or human, they won’t be taken seriously. So they strip away all personality. No emotion, no humor, just long sentences and corporate fluff. But let’s think about that. Does cold, distant writing build trust? Or does it make people stop reading? You know the answer. Here’s what most readers want:A clear point of viewA story they can followA sign that the brand gets what they’re dealing withPeople don’t want a product brochure written like a textbook. They want something that speaks to their day-to-day problems and actually helps. The Case for a Modern B2B Content Strategy People don’t trust a brand just because its website looks nice or its slogan sounds smart. Real trust happens when someone reads something on your site, finds it useful, and thinks, “These people actually understand me. I’d work with them. ” You don’t build that feeling with a long list of features or a whitepaper no one wants to open. You build it by sounding real. By writing in a way that shows you actually care about the reader’s problems. If your content sounds like it was written for robots, or worse, just to pass an internal review, it won’t connect. You’ll lose their interest. Fast. A case study told like a journey, with real struggles and wins, will always beat a bland PDF full of stats. A founder’s story that shares a real turning point can build more trust than a polished product sheet ever could. Let’s also be honest: attention spans are short. You probably know the famous quote circulating the internet, which says that the average person's attention span is shorter than that of a goldfish. People scroll fast. You have seconds, not minutes. A story can stop that scroll. It pulls people in. It gives them a reason to care. And in a feed full of the same old stuff, that pause is powerful. That pause is where trust begins. What Is Social Storytelling in a B2B Context? Social storytelling is about using real stories to explain ideas in a way people connect. This isn’t about fairy tales or fiction. It’s about writing that feels grounded in real life. Your audience wants to see their world reflected. They want content that feels honest and familiar. Here’s what to include:Relatable characters: Think of a customer facing a challenge, a team member solving a problem, or a founder taking a risk. These kinds of challenges relate. Readers can see themselves in the story. Emotional hooks: Tension, curiosity, frustration, relief, any genuine feeling can draw your audience in. Emotions don’t... --- Tired of spending hours making content and not seeing much come from it? You’re not the only one. Lots of businesses feel stuck here. But there’s an easy fix — it’s called repurposing. Instead of always making new stuff, you take what you already have and turn it into new formats for different places. This saves time, helps more people see your work, and gets better results without extra stress. This isn’t theory. Many brands have used this trick to get more website visitors, more leads, and real growth. Inside this guide, you’ll figure out:What repurposing really means (hint: it’s not just copy-paste). How to pick the right content. How to reshape it for different platforms. Tools that help speed things up. Common mistakes that trip people up. How to track whether it’s working or wasting your time. What Does Repurposing Content Really Mean? Let’s get one thing straight. Repurposing isn’t just copying the same post and pasting it everywhere. It means taking something you’ve already made and changing it so it fits different platforms or audiences. Here’s what that looks like:Turn a blog post into a LinkedIn carousel. Take the best tips from a webinar and turn them into a Twitter thread. Convert a case study into a YouTube script or even a podcast outline. See how it works? The message stays the same. You just change how you share it. There’s a big difference between reposting and repurposing:Reposting means sharing the same thing again. Maybe at a different time or on another app. Repurposing means turning it into something new that fits the style of that platform and catches people’s attention in a fresh way. The best part? You save time and reach more people without making brand-new stuff every single time. It’s smarter, faster, and gets better results. Now that you get what repurposing really is, let’s look at why it works so well. Why Repurposing Works Across Social Media Platforms Have you ever wondered why some brands seem to show up everywhere online? It’s not luck. It’s because they repurpose content in smart ways. A big reason is how social media works. Apps like Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok show your stuff to more people when you post often. But creating fresh content every single day? That’s exhausting. Repurposing helps you stay active without burning out. It’s not just about posting often. Different apps have different people using them. What works for one might not work for another. Someone watching YouTube might never scroll LinkedIn. A person reading your newsletter may never open TikTok. Repurposing helps you share the same message in ways that fit each group. The format matters too. Something that works great as a long blog won’t do well on Instagram. But when you turn it into smaller pieces, it grabs more attention. You can break it into:Quick tipsPicture carouselsShort videosThis makes people more likely to notice, like, and share it. There’s another big win too. Repurposing helps more people find you through search. The more places your content shows up, the easier it is for new people to discover your business. It also makes your brand look stronger and more trustworthy. Core Types of Content That Are Perfect for Repurposing Wondering where to start? You likely already have plenty of content ready to be transformed. Certain types work particularly well when you repurpose content because they’re packed with valuable information that can be reshaped for different audiences. Blog Posts Blog posts are goldmines. A single article can fuel multiple LinkedIn posts, short videos, carousels, podcast segments, or even an email series. If it performed well once, why let it gather dust? Webinars Webinars tend to be dense with insights. You don’t have to share the whole thing at once. Break it into short video clips for social media. Take the best tips and turn them into a blog post. Or make a simple graphic that shows the main points. Just like that, a one-hour video can give you enough content to last for weeks. Long-Form Videos Got a YouTube video or recorded workshop? Slice it into reels, quote graphics, or audio snippets. You can even reverse the process—turn key video points into written... --- Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO, is how you make your content easy for AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s SGE to find, understand, and use. These tools pull info from what they’ve learned or what they’re allowed to access, and GEO helps your content show up when they give answers. Why does this matter? Because the way people search is changing fast. More people are skipping Google and going straight to AI tools to get quick answers, tips, and summaries. If your content doesn’t show up there, you miss out. Recent research from SemRush shows that AI search visitors could surpass traditional search visitors by 2028, with the shift happening even faster if Google fully rolls out AI Mode. As user habits evolve, many clicks will transfer from traditional search to AI search, while some will disappear altogether as AI tools summarize information directly for users. If you’re not preparing your content for this shift now, you risk disappearing from where your customers are looking next. This article explains what GEO is, why it matters, and how you can start making your content easier for AI to find—not just for Google, but for the new wave of AI searches. What Is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)? Let’s start simple. GEO means setting up your content so that AI tools can pull from it when giving people answers. You’ve probably used AI tools to write an email, solve a problem, or ask a quick question. That’s exactly where GEO works. You might think, “Isn’t this just SEO? ” Not exactly. SEO is for search engines like Google. It’s about adding keywords, getting backlinks, and making your website run well so you show up when someone searches. GEO plays a different game. It’s not about ranking websites. It’s about making your content useful for AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and others. These AIs don’t search the web in real time like Google does. Instead, they pull info from the data they were trained on or from select websites they check. When someone asks a question, the AI searches through its data for the best, most trustworthy answers. It tends to favor:Clear, well-structured content. Sources with high credibility and consistency. Content that answers questions directly. In other words, if your content is clear, accurate, and informative, it has a better chance of showing up in AI-generated answers—or even being directly cited in tools with web attribution. SemRush’s study found that ChatGPT often cites pages ranking in positions 21+ in traditional search, and Perplexity and Google’s LLMs also frequently cite lower-ranking pages, which could help level the playing field for many websites. Because these tools can quickly dig much deeper into the web than humans can, sites don’t necessarily need to dominate the top three positions in Google to get cited in AI outputs. Instead, clear, well-structured, niche-specific content increases your chances of being included in AI-generated responses. GEO vs. SEO: Similarities and Differences At first glance, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) may seem like distant cousins. But are they? Not really. They actually share the same family tree but serve slightly different purposes. Core Similarity Both GEO and SEO are driven by the same core mission:Boost discoverability. Establish credibility and authority. Help brands appear when users search for information or solutions. Reward clear, helpful, and well-organized content. If that sounds familiar, it should. Good content has always been the backbone of digital visibility. This part hasn’t changed—and likely never will. Key Differences (On the Surface) Let’s peel back the layers. Here’s how their focus shifts:Traditional SEO is about results in search engines like Google or Bing. It relies on well-established signals, such as:Domain authorityBacklinks from reputable sitesKeyword relevance and intent alignmentOn-page factors like meta tags, headers, and page speedIt’s about convincing search algorithms that your site deserves a spot on page one. GEO, however, targets Generative AI outputs—tools like ChatGPT, Google AI mode, Claude, and Perplexity. Instead of ranking webpages, GEO influences how and whether AI systems reference your content when users ask questions. It leans on factors like:The quality and clarity of your informationHow semantically precise your content isIts relevance to AI promptsContent accuracy and factual integrityLogical,... --- Are SEO Audits Actually Helping Your Business Grow? In most cases, no. They look polished, feel data-driven, and often provide a sense of progress. But they rarely move the needle. That’s because most SEO audits focus on what's wrong instead of what to do next. They offer documentation, not direction. And that’s a problem if you're trying to grow traffic, leads, or revenue. At V9 Digital, we’ve worked with hundreds of businesses stuck in audit loops. And here’s the simple truth: audits don’t drive growth—execution does. The brands seeing real SEO gains aren't obsessing over technical checklists. They're building strategies aligned with customer behavior, business goals, and actual opportunities in the market. We’ll walk through why SEO audits became the industry’s go-to deliverable and why that mindset holds businesses back. You’ll see where traditional audits fall short, when they still serve a purpose, and what a high-impact SEO strategy really looks like. You’ll also learn:Why prioritization matters more than page errorsHow to shift from checklist thinking to growth thinkingWhat actually drives results: from strategy to execution to iteration If you’re tired of reading audits that don’t deliver outcomes, this guide is for you. Let’s rethink the role of audits and work on something that moves the needle. The SEO Audit Obsession: How We Got Here SEO audits look impressive. They’re clean, packed with data, and wrapped in enough jargon to make anyone feel like progress is happening. That surface-level polish is exactly why they became the industry’s favorite deliverable. Agencies love them because they’re easy to produce and easy to pitch. Clients love them because they come with a sense of clarity: something to hold, review, and hand to the boss. But beneath the tidy charts, there’s a catch. Most audits aren’t built to drive growth. They’re built to look good. They highlight issues such as broken links, slow pages, and missing meta descriptions. However, they rarely show which ones matter most. They identify problems without connecting them to strategy. And because of that, audits often become placeholders for real work. They get used as:Sales tools: "Here’s what we found wrong—hire us to fix it. "Quick wins: Fixing easy things that don’t actually shift rankings. Deliverables for the sake of delivery: A checklist instead of a roadmap. Sound familiar? Businesses end up in loops. Run audit. Fix technical stuff. Wait. Traffic doesn’t move. Repeat. The audit obsession keeps people busy but rarely productive. But that also doesn’t mean that audits aren’t useful. They’re just not the whole story. Without prioritization, context, and a plan to execute, an audit is just noise in a nicely branded PDF. And if your team can’t answer the question, “What happens after this? ”—then maybe it’s time to rethink what you’re actually paying for. The Real Issue with Traditional SEO Audits SEO audits promise clarity. But too often, they leave teams staring at a long list of issues with no clear direction. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many businesses pour time and budget into audits hoping for transformation, only to walk away with a document that looks impressive but lacks bite. So what’s going wrong? Let’s break it down. No Prioritization Most audits read like a checklist gone wild. Broken links, missing alt tags, keyword gaps, duplicate content. It’s all there. But without any sense of what matters most, everything ends up looking equally urgent. That’s not helpful. If your team’s fixing favicon errors before addressing crawl budget problems, something’s off. A proper strategy doesn’t just say what’s wrong. It says what to fix first. Generic Advice Automated tools can identify problems, but they can’t think. And a lot of audits rely heavily on those tools. You get vague suggestions like “add more content” or “improve page speed,” but no clarity on how, why, or what kind of impact to expect. These cookie-cutter insights might save time on the agency side, but they waste time on your business. No Roadmap It’s one thing to know what’s broken. It’s another to know how to fix it. Many audits stop at recommendations without connecting them to a game plan. Who will implement these fixes? What’s the timeline? What resources are needed? If your audit doesn’t come with... --- Tired of spending hours trying to figure out what the heck to post on social media for your brand? You’re not the only one, a lot of brands struggle with resourcing and creativity to get a social media calendar ready ahead of the month. One tactic that can really help is content repurposing specifically for social media. Please note, content repurposing likely shouldn't be the only thing you've got in your social media calendar, but it can make up as much as 25-50% of the content you post on a regular basis. Also, content repurposing is one of the best ways to get AI incorporated into your regular social media calendar. What Does Repurposing Content For Social Really Mean? Let’s get one thing straight. Repurposing isn’t just copying the same post and pasting it everywhere. It means taking something you’ve already made and changing it so it fits different platforms or audiences. Here’s what that looks like: Turn a blog post into a LinkedIn carousel. Take the best tips from a webinar and turn them into a Twitter thread. Convert a case study into a YouTube script or even a podcast outline. See how it works? The message stays the same. You just change how you share it. There’s a big difference between reposting and repurposing: Reposting means sharing the same thing again. Maybe at a different time or on another app. Repurposing means turning it into something new that fits the style of that platform and catches people’s attention in a fresh way. The best part? You save time and reach more people without making brand-new stuff every single time. It’s smarter, faster, and gets better results. Now that you get what repurposing really is, let’s look at why it works so well. Why Repurposing Works Across Social Media Platforms Have you ever wondered why some brands seem to show up everywhere online? It’s not luck. It’s because they repurpose content in smart ways. A big reason is how social media works. Apps like Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok show your stuff to more people when you post often. But creating fresh content every single day? That’s exhausting. Repurposing helps you stay active without burning out. It’s not just about posting often. Different apps have different people using them. What works for one might not work for another. Someone watching YouTube might never scroll LinkedIn. A person reading your newsletter may never open TikTok. Repurposing helps you share the same message in ways that fit each group. The format matters too. Something that works great as a long blog won’t do well on Instagram. But when you turn it into smaller pieces, it grabs more attention. You can break it into: Quick tips Picture carousels Short videos This makes people more likely to notice, like, and share it. There’s another big win too. Repurposing helps more people find you through search. The more places your content shows up, the easier it is for new people to discover your business. It also makes your brand look stronger and more trustworthy. Core Types of Content That Are Perfect for Repurposing Wondering where to start? You likely already have plenty of content ready to be transformed. Certain types work particularly well when you repurpose content because they’re packed with valuable information that can be reshaped for different audiences. Blog Posts Blog posts are goldmines. A single article can fuel multiple LinkedIn posts, short videos, carousels, podcast segments, or even an email series. If it performed well once, why let it gather dust? Webinars Webinars tend to be dense with insights. You don’t have to share the whole thing at once. Break it into short video clips for social media. Take the best tips and turn them into a blog post. Or make a simple graphic that shows the main points. Just like that, a one-hour video can give you enough content to last for weeks. Long-Form Videos Got a YouTube video or recorded workshop? Slice it into reels, quote graphics, or audio snippets. You can even reverse the process—turn key video points into written content like guides or LinkedIn articles. Podcasts Audio content is versatile. Turn episodes into written summaries, blog posts, quote... --- Are zero-click searches quietly killing your organic traffic? You’re not alone in wondering. As more users get their answers straight from the search results page (SERP), businesses are left questioning how they can stay visible—and relevant—when no one clicks through. But here’s the good news: zero-click doesn’t have to mean zero value. In fact, these searches can become powerful branding and trust-building tools if you know how to approach them. At V9 Digital Agency, we get it. SEO can feel like a moving target, especially with shifts like these. That’s why we help businesses adjust their strategies, making sure they don’t just chase clicks—they build authority, trust, and future conversions. Because being seen, even without the click, still matters. In this guide, you’ll discover:What zero-click searches are and why they impact your traffic. The different types of zero-click features (and how to spot them). How to position your content to thrive in a click-optional world. Ready to turn search visibility into growth? Let’s dive in. What Are Zero-Click Searches—And Why Should You Care? Let's break it down simply. Zero-click searches happen when the answer shows up right on the SERP—think featured snippets, knowledge panels, instant calculators, or FAQs. The user never has to click anything because the information is already there. Recent research suggests that over half of all Google searches now end without a click. For SEO professionals and content creators, that's a stat that makes your morning coffee taste a little more bitter. The direct impact? A noticeable dip in organic traffic numbers that once seemed reliable. But why is Google pushing this? It all comes down to user satisfaction. The faster someone finds what they want, the happier they are. And happy users keep using Google. This is especially true for mobile searches, where speed matters most, and for voice searches where the answer is spoken aloud. Now, before you start seeing this as a black hole swallowing your traffic, consider this: these aren’t dead ends. They’re branding moments. Every time your brand appears in a featured snippet or knowledge panel, you're making an impression. Even if users don’t click, they see your name, your logo, your authority. That familiarity sticks. It’s the classic halo effect in action. Visibility breeds recognition. Recognition breeds trust. And trust? That’s the bridge to future clicks, leads, and conversions. So, while zero-click searches may not flood your site with visitors, they do fill the top of your marketing funnel in subtle, powerful ways. Types of Zero-Click Searches Not all zero-click results work the same way. Some dominate the top of the page. Others sneak in between organic listings, quietly siphoning attention. Knowing the difference helps you spot where your content can still shine, even if the user never leaves the SERP. Let’s break down the main formats you’ll encounter: AI Overviews Welcome to the new VIP section of search results. AI-generated summaries sit right at the top, pulling together key points from multiple sources. These overviews aim to give users a quick answer, often without any scrolling required. If your content contributes to these snippets, you get priceless visibility. Featured Snippets These are the celebrities of zero-click searches. They grab attention with neatly packaged answers, often in the form of lists, tables, or concise paragraphs. Landing here still drives credibility, even if the click-through rate isn’t what it once was. Knowledge Panels Think of these as digital business cards. They show up on the right side of the desktop SERP or front and center on mobile, offering quick facts about brands, people, or topics. While they pull from verified databases, they also serve as branding goldmines if your information is featured. Local Packs & Maps Searching for a nearby service? You’ll meet the local pack. This block showcases businesses, complete with reviews, hours, and directions. Appearing here can drive foot traffic and calls—often more valuable than website clicks. Definitions & Calculators Whether it's defining a financial term or converting currency, Google loves to do the math—or the explaining—for users right on the page. These are tricky to compete with directly but can still offer opportunities for brand visibility if your site is cited. “People Also Ask” Boxes (PAA) A favorite feature... --- Is Organic Social Media Still Worth It in 2025? Absolutely—But It Needs a Smarter Approach. With paid ads becoming more expensive and harder to break through the noise, many businesses are asking the same question: Can we still grow and engage our audience organically on social media? The short answer? Yes. But it’s no longer enough to post and hope for the best. In this article, we’ll walk you through a proven, step-by-step approach to crafting an organic social strategy that works in 2025, including:How to deeply understand your audience beyond demographicsSetting clear KPIs that reflect real engagement (not vanity metrics)Choosing the right platforms for your audience and goalsCreating content that earns attention and drives actionMastering engagement tactics that feel human, not roboticBuilding a consistent posting rhythm that fits your team’s realityAnalyzing and adapting your strategy Brands that commit to organic social media are building communities that last longer than any ad campaign. Let’s explore how you can do the same. 1. Know Your Audience (Deeply, Not Demographically) Relying solely on demographics no longer provides the depth needed for effective content. Knowing just your audience’s age and location offers limited insight. While somewhat informative, it does little to help you craft content that truly resonates or drives engagement. To win with organic social, you need to get under the surface. What keeps your audience up at night? What motivates them to hit ‘share’ or leave a comment? What kind of content actually makes them stop mid-scroll? The first step is to start by digging into their behaviors and motivations. Ask yourself questions that go beyond the obvious:What frustrations are they facing? What goals drive their decisions? What problems are they actively trying to solve? To find answers to these questions, you can use the following tools:Google Trends: What are they curious about right now? Reddit threads: Where are they venting their frustrations or asking for advice? YouTube comments: What do they love, critique, or wish existed? Facebook Groups: What conversations are they jumping into, and what questions come up repeatedly? Once you’ve gathered these insights, turn them into 2–3 living, breathing audience personas. Forget the stale marketing slides. Build personas grounded in real conversations. Give them names. Imagine their quirks. You can even assign them a favorite meme format if that helps you picture them clearly. It’ll make your content creation feel less robotic and a lot more human. You can also spend time in your competitors’ comment sections. It’s one of the fastest ways to spot pain points, content gaps, or moments where your brand can step in and genuinely add value. 2. Set Clear (and Trackable) Goals Before you roll out organic content, ask yourself—what does success actually look like? Without the safety net of paid ads, it’s tempting to chase vanity metrics. But likes alone rarely move the needle. You need sharper, more meaningful KPIs that reflect real audience engagement and business growth. Think of it this way: Is someone commenting? Are they sharing your post with their network? Are they clicking through to your website? These are the behaviors that tell you your content is connecting—not just filling feeds. Here are the KPIs that matter most for organic social in 2025:Engagement (and no, not just likes): Comments and conversations outweigh likes. Focus on content that invites replies, reactions, or even polite debates. Shares & saves: These actions mean your content resonated enough to keep or pass along. Social Referral Traffic: Are you driving visitors to your site? Use Bitly or other link shorteners to track click-through rates easily. Social Conversion Rate: Measure the percentage of your social traffic that completes a desired action—whether that’s signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase. Community growth: Follower count still counts—but what matters more is attracting the right followers who will engage with your content over time. Share of Voice: Keep an eye on how often your brand is mentioned compared to competitors. You don’t need expensive tools to measure progress. Meta Insights, LinkedIn Analytics, and Bitly give you plenty to work with. Set benchmarks, track what works, and refine based on real numbers—not guesswork. 3. Choose the Right Platforms (Not All of Them) You don’t need to... --- If you’ve been anywhere near the digital marketing world lately, you’ve heard the acronym E-E-A-T tossed around constantly. For SEO managers at SaaS startups and in-house teams throughout healthcare, ecommerce, and other YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) industries, it now plays a central role in shaping search engine optimization. E-E-A-T, Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, has grown into a universal ranking factor across all web pages, and 2025’s changes make it even more important. . Google Search uses this framework to determine whether your content creation meets expectations for valuable content, real experience, and strong trust signals. If your SEO strategy hasn’t kept up with new algorithm updates, chances are your search rankings or organic traffic may already show it. A Look Back: How Did E-E-A-T Evolve from a Quality Signal to a Core Ranking Factor? E-E-A-T moved from a light guideline to a defining measure of high-quality content as Google refined its algorithms to judge credibility and real-world usefulness more accurately. When Google first introduced E-A-T, it functioned as a quiet signal helping search engines understand authoritativeness and trustworthiness. The 2018 Medic Update reshaped YMYL topics, especially healthcare and finance, where citations, author bios, and transparent contact information became essential for building trust. Google expanded E-A-T in late 2022 by adding Experience, ensuring that firsthand experience, real-world examples, and practical insights carried more weight than generic summaries. Readers want subject matter depth; algorithms do too. Someone who has spent time in a place, tested a tool, or worked through a problem can bring real-life clarity that purely AI-generated content lacks. Across updates, from Helpful Content to product reviews, Google reinforced a consistent expectation: publish high-quality writing supported by proofs of real experience and trust signals backed by reputable sources. What’s New in 2025: How Do Google’s Updated E-E-A-T Guidelines Redefine Quality Content? Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines place heavier emphasis on firsthand expertise, transparent authorship, and content that directly satisfies user intent. A recent BrightEdge study found that 58% of pages losing traffic in 2024 lacked strong E-E-A-T elements, especially clear authorship and authoritativeness (2024). That trend has only accelerated in 2025. Is Firsthand Experience Now a Required Element of High-Quality Content? Yes. Content with firsthand insight ranks higher because it demonstrates subject matter depth. Google now expects writers to bring firsthand experience into reviews, comparisons, and case studies. It doesn’t require journals or personal stories, it simply rewards content where the content creator demonstrates they actually engaged with the subject. That could be testing a workflow, evaluating a platform, or pulling lessons from client work. To keep your content marketing effective, pair analysis with real examples. This gives your pages credibility and helps show relevance across social media, forums, and LinkedIn conversations. For support developing strong content strategy, explore V9 Digital’s Marketing Services Does Google Require Credible Authorship and Transparent Sourcing? Yes. Transparent authors and cited reputable websites strengthen both user trust and rankings. Google rewards content that shows:Clear author bios including experience, certifications, or relevant backgroundA link to an About pageSupportive citations from authoritative sourcesTraceable references to reputable sources Even without formal credentials, openness builds trust. Present your process, share practical insights, and back claims with reliable studies or industry experts. This is central to building trust and demonstrating trustworthiness. “Google is not looking for perfection; it’s looking for authenticity and transparency. As E-E-A-T evolves, showing genuine experience and supporting every claim with clear, credible evidence is key to earning both trust and rankings. ”— Marie Haynes, SEO industry thought leader Does Precise Search Intent Matching Matter More in 2025? Absolutely. Google’s improved understanding of user behavior means pages must respond directly to the searcher’s needs. Modern algorithms examine depth, accuracy, wording, and clarity. They also use metrics like time on page and bounce rate as indirect indicators of satisfaction. Effective optimization now depends on understanding the audience’s journey. Beginners need clarity; professionals want in-depth nuance. How Does Google Treat Ai-Generated Content Now? AI is fine, but generic AI copy isn’t. Human guidance must shape every piece. Google isn’t anti-AI, but it’s firm about requiring editorial oversight. Pages created solely by AI often lack the nuance, emotion, or real-life detail that signals experience. Strong SEO blends... --- Social media is a psychological playground where companies, influencers, and regular users fight for attention. Every like, share, and comment isn’t only a random behavior, it comes from well rooted psychological causes. For brands and content creators, understanding what drives engagement is the key to building strong online communities and driving business results. What then is going on within our minds when we double-tap a post or click the share button? And more importantly, how can businesses use these insights to create content that resonates? The Science Behind Social Media Engagement Social media is a goldmine for its owners and they are well aware of its huge potential. That’s why these platforms are not guessing what will keep you hooked, they use psychology to make sure you stay. Dopamine: The Brain’s Reward System Ever wonder why getting a like feels oddly satisfying? That’s dopamine at work. Every notification sends a tiny hit of this feel-good chemical through your brain, reinforcing the behavior and making you want more. It’s the same system that keeps people scrolling for hours. Habit Formation & The Scroll Loop Checking social media has become as automatic as checking the fridge when you’re not even hungry. Platforms take advantage of this habit formation by designing infinite scrolling feeds, making it effortless to consume content endlessly. The result? More time on the platform means more revenue for them. Plus, more chances for your business to capture attention. FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out People interact with content because they don't want to miss anything. Limited-time content—like Instagram Stories—has great urgency that directly relates to this fear and motivates regular check-ins and quick interactions. The Key Psychological Triggers That Drive Engagement People interact with content deliberately, not randomly. Deep-ingrained psychological reactions cause some posts to be appealing while others are ignored. Understanding these triggers helps companies and creators create posts that appeal to their target markets. Emotion and Viral Content Consider the last post you published. Was it hilarious, sad, or angry? Positive or negative, emotional content appeals on a deeper level and encourages engagement. Because they elicit intense reactions, and high-arousal emotions like shock, anger, and excitement, they boost sharing. Responses that inspire people to like, comment, or republish could come from a stunning travel video, a divisive news story, or a touching act of charity. Social Proof and the Bandwagon Effect People are more prone to interact with already popular content. Thousands of likes on a post indicate worth and relevancy, which attracts others more likely to interact. The psychological demand for belonging drives this behavior. Seeing others respond to a post causes us to unconsciously believe it is worth our time. Thus, testimonials, user-generated content, and influencer endorsements appeal especially to us since they appeal to our need to fit the majority. Reciprocity Principle Social media isn’t a one-way street. Users feel compelled to return engagement when someone interacts with their content. You're more likely to do the same for a friend who regularly likes and comments on your postings. This principle extends to brands. Companies that interact with their followers—by responses, shoutouts, or customized content—build a sense of obligation that raises the possibility of users sharing and interacting with the content. The Power of Storytelling Facts inform, but stories captivate. A well-told story captivates people and maintains their interest longer than only facts could ever allow. Personal, relevant stories inspire empathy, which increases audience connection and sharing likelihood. Storytelling gives content authenticity and memorability whether it's a customer success story, a founder's path, or a sincere behind-the-scenes event. Engagement requires purposeful posting rather than merely frequency. Don’t get me wrong, frequency is also important, but it isn’t enough. So, focus on creating posts that inspire, connect, and disseminate information by drawing on these psychological triggers. The Role of Personalization and Algorithmic Influence Social media isn’t a level playing field. Algorithms dictate what users see, shaping engagement in ways most people don’t even realize. How Algorithms Control Visibility Though every platform has a different formula, the objective is always to keep consumers involved. Whether via likes, comments, or shares, algorithms give content that causes engagement top priority. So, high-engagement posts remain visible longer, whereas low-performance ones... --- Ever asked your phone a question instead of typing it out? If so, you’ve contributed to the rapid growth of voice search. Thanks to virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, more people are speaking their queries rather than tapping them into a search bar. For businesses, this shift represents a massive opportunity. Voice searches tend to be longer, more conversational, and often have local intent. If your website isn’t optimized for them, you're leaving traffic (and potential customers) on the table. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about voice search SEO. We’ll explore why it’s different, how search engines process spoken queries, and what you can do to rank higher when people talk instead of type. What Is Voice Search Optimization? One habit forming in all age groups is voice search. Talking to electronic devices has become second nature as smart speakers and mobile assistants proliferate. This explains why it's important:The global voice recognition market is projected to reach $26. 8 billion by 2025. Around 80% of voice searches use natural, conversational language. Local businesses benefit the most, as people frequently search for services near them. Unlike traditional search queries, voice searches mimic real speech. Instead of typing 'best coffee NYC,' a user might ask, 'Where’s the best coffee shop near me? ' The shift from keywords to full sentences is changing SEO. Changing with this new reality requires reevaluating the organization of the content. Nowadays, short, robotic sentences are not adequate. Websites must offer easily understandable, natural-sounding responses that fit people's speech patterns. Key Characteristics of Voice Search Queries To rank highly in voice search, you must know how voice searches differ from written ones. Here's what distinguishes them:They sound natural. People phrase voice searches as if they’re speaking to a person. Instead of ‘weather NYC,’ they’ll ask, ‘What’s the weather like in New York today? ’They’re longer. While typed searches are often two to four words, spoken queries are full sentences or questions. They favor local results. A significant chunk of voice searches are location-based, meaning businesses that optimize for local SEO stand to gain the most. These differences change how search engines interpret and rank content. Your website is probably being forgotten if it’s not responding fully for natural-language questions. And do you want your website to be forgotten? Probably not. Tactics to Improve Your Voice Search Optimization Users express straightforward queries, expect quick responses, and talk in complete phrases rather than short, robotic keywords. So, if your content deviates from this trend, voice assistants may not be able to find it. However, optimizing for voice search calls for more than just including a few additional keywords. It's about organizing content to reflect how consumers naturally seek answers and making sure your website runs fast on mobile. Focus on Conversational Keywords People don’t talk like they type. Instead of searching for ‘best Italian restaurant NYC,’ they’ll ask, ‘Where’s the best Italian restaurant near me? ’ Voice queries are longer, more detailed, and often framed as questions. Use long-tail keywords. These capture the way people actually speak and search. Write in a natural tone. If your content sounds stiff or overly formal, it won’t rank well for voice search. Incorporate FAQs. Many voice searches begin with ‘how,’ ‘what,’ or ‘why. ’ A dedicated FAQ section can help search engines recognize your content as a relevant answer. Think of it this way: If your content reads like a script a virtual assistant could recite, you’re on the right track. Structuring Content for Featured Snippets Want to be the first answer Google gives for a voice search? You need to win the featured snippet—also called 'position zero. ' This is the short, highlighted answer Google pulls directly from a webpage to respond to queries. Here’s how to improve your chances:Write concise, direct answers. Keep responses clear and under 50 words when possible. Use bullet points and numbered lists. Search engines love structured content that’s easy to extract. Add schema markup. This helps search engines understand your content better, increasing your visibility. If your page gets featured, voice assistants are far more likely to use it as their spoken response. Enhancing Local SEO for Voice Search... --- AI Overviews are shaking up the search game. If you’ve been tracking SEO trends, you already know that Google’s AI-generated summaries are taking up major real estate on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). And while this could mean fewer clicks overall for traditional organic listings, it also presents a huge opportunity—if you know how to play the game. Here’s how to optimize for AI Overviews and make sure your content stays visible. What Are AI Overviews and Why Do They Matter? AI Overviews (AIOs) are Google's new AI-powered summaries that appear at the top of search results. Instead of just displaying a list of links, these overviews generate concise answers by pulling from multiple sources. This is great for users who want quick answers but can be a nightmare for brands that rely on organic clicks for website traffic. The challenge:AI Overviews take up space where organic search results used to shine. Recent studies reveal a significant shift in search behavior: when AI-generated overviews provide direct answers, nearly one-third of users (about 30%) choose not to click through to external websites. This trend aligns with broader research showing that "zero-click searches" are becoming more common, reducing organic web traffic by as much as 25%. As AI-powered search continues to evolve, businesses and content creators must adapt their strategies to capture audience attention within search results themselves. If your content isn’t included in an AI Overview, your organic traffic could take a serious hit. The opportunity:If your content is featured in the AI Overview, you might actually see more traffic than without an AI Overview. Lower-ranking results (positions 3-10) tend to get more clicks when there’s an AIO at the top than when there’s no AIO. In other words, if the AI Overview doesn’t sufficiently answer their query, users now seem willing to scroll down further to find what they’re looking for. If you optimize your content for AI, your site could be referenced within AI Tools directly as well (Chat GPT, Claude, Perplexity, etc) - not just Google’s AI Overview. So, how do you make sure your content is AI-friendly? Let’s get into it. How to Optimize for AI Overviews 1. Create AI-Friendly Content AI favors content that is:Clear & scannable – Use bullet points, numbered lists, and short paragraphs. Avoid overly complex grammar and run-on sentences, which are harder for AI and users) to interpret. Expert-driven – Google prioritizes content with clear expertise (E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness). Comprehensive but concise – Cover the topic thoroughly, but avoid unnecessary fluff. Well structured – Use frequent hierarchical headings (H2s, H3s, H4s) to structure your content and indicate which parts are the most important. Pro tip: AI Overviews tend to pull from sources that provide straightforward, structured answers. If your content is buried in a long, essay-style format, AI is less likely to pick it up. 2. Use Schema Markup Schema helps search engines understand the structure of your content. The right markup can increase your chances of being featured in AI Overviews. Best schema types for AI inclusion:How-To (for step-by-step guides)FAQ (for question-based content)Q&A (for community-style discussions)Reviews & Ratings (if relevant to your content)SameAs (to connect your brand identity across the web) Action step: Use schema markup to explicitly tell AI what your content is about, and who your brand is. AI is more likely to pull from well-structured data. 3. Optimize for Long-Tail & Conversational Queries AI Overviews are context-driven, meaning they often surface content that directly answers specific, natural-language questions. Target long-tail keywords – Think “How does X work? ” or “Best way to do Y. ”Write like people talk – AI prefers content that sounds natural and answers common user questions. Create unique content – Identify questions and topics that are highly specific and relatively unique, so there are fewer sources competing for AI inclusion. Use AI for topical research – Try asking ChatGPT or Google about topics you’re considering, then create content around the questions AI struggles to answer. Example: Instead of writing “SEO Tips,” go for “How to optimize blog content for AI Overviews”—it’s specific and matches how users search. 4. Track & Measure AI Traffic AI-driven search traffic doesn’t always show up neatly... --- Search Everywhere Optimization: Why 2025 is the Year to Expand Your SEO Strategy If you’ve been focused solely on ranking on Google, it’s time for a wake-up call. Search behavior is evolving fast. The days of Google being the only platform that matters for SEO are over. In 2025, users are searching everywhere—on TikTok, Reddit, Amazon, ChatGPT, and even AI-powered assistants like Alexa. That means brands that want to stay competitive need to optimize for everywhere people search—not just traditional search engines. That’s where Search Everywhere Optimization (SEO) comes in. What is Search Everywhere Optimization? Search Everywhere Optimization (SEO) is the strategy of making sure your brand is discoverable wherever users are searching online. This includes: Social search: TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X) E-commerce search: Amazon, Etsy, Walmart AI-powered search: ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Alexa Community-driven search: Reddit, Quora, Yelp Video search: YouTube, Twitch By customizing your strategy for each platform’s audience, search behavior, and algorithm, you can stay visible and competitive in 2025 and beyond. Why Search Behavior is Changing For the last decade, businesses have focused their entire search strategy on Google’s algorithm updates and keyword rankings. But things have shifted. 1. Social Media is the New Search Engine Younger users are bypassing Google entirely. 45% of Gen Z prefers searching on TikTok instead of Google. Instead of scrolling through traditional search results, users now want engaging, visual answers that feel more human and trustworthy. 2. AI is Answering Queries Directly ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and other AI tools skip search results entirely and provide instant answers to user questions. That means businesses need to focus on Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)—ensuring your brand gets mentioned in AI-generated responses. 3. Reviews and Recommendations are Driving Discovery Whether it’s Yelp, Amazon reviews, or Reddit discussions, people are searching for real opinions before making decisions. That means brands need to optimize for these platforms, not just search engines. How to Optimize for Search Everywhere 1. Optimize for AI and Answer Engines (AEO) ChatGPT, Alexa, and Google Bard don’t just pull from websites—they summarize information. To get your brand in AI-driven responses: Answer long-tail, conversational queries (e. g. , "What’s the best coffee maker for small kitchens? ")Use schema markup for FAQs and how-to contentCreate authoritative, well-structured content that AI tools can reference 2. Facebook SEO: Still Relevant in 2025 With 2. 8 billion users, Facebook is still a major search platform. To rank in Facebook search: Complete your business profile with keywordsEngage in Facebook Groups relevant to your industryLeverage Facebook Marketplace if you sell products 3. YouTube SEO: The Second-Largest Search Engine With over 3 billion searches per month, YouTube is massive for search visibility. Optimize by: Using keyword-rich titles and descriptionsCreating engaging thumbnails to boost click-through ratesOrganizing playlists to improve content discoverability 4. Instagram SEO: Beyond Hashtags Instagram’s search function now includes keyword-based results, not just hashtags. To optimize: Use descriptive alt text on imagesWrite keyword-rich captions that feel naturalTag products in Instagram Shop to appear in relevant searches 5. Yelp SEO: Capture Local Searchers Yelp is essential for local businesses. Here’s how to optimize: Encourage customer reviews (but don’t ask for them aggressively—Yelp frowns on that)Respond to reviews professionally to boost engagementEnsure business info (NAP) is accurate (name, address, phone) 6. TikTok SEO: The Future of Visual Search TikTok’s algorithm is pushing searchability hard. To rank on TikTok: Use keywords in captions and video textLeverage trending sounds and hashtagsEngage in comments to improve visibility 7. Reddit SEO: The Power of Community Search Reddit is one of the most trusted sources for product recommendations. To gain visibility: Provide thoughtful, value-packed answersEngage in relevant subreddits (but don’t spam links—Redditors hate that)Monitor industry trends using Reddit search tools 8. Amazon SEO: Dominating Product Search Amazon is its own search engine for products. To rank: Optimize product titles and descriptions with keywordsEncourage reviews (they boost ranking and conversions)Use high-quality images and videos 9. Twitter (X) SEO: Real-Time Search Matters Twitter (now X) is where news and trends break first. To stay relevant: Use hashtags and trending keywordsEngage in viral conversationsPin important tweets to your profile for ongoing visibility The Future of SEO is Everywhere If your SEO strategy is still Google-first, you’re missing out on... --- Search engines don’t hand out credibility like free samples at a supermarket. If you’re launching a startup, you’re starting from zero—zero backlinks, zero domain authority, and likely, zero organic traffic. Meanwhile, established competitors have been stacking up trust with search engines for years. So how do you break through? This guide walks you through a step-by-step process to build SEO authority from the ground up. From structuring your website correctly to earning backlinks that actually move the needle, you’ll learn how to create a lasting foundation for organic growth. Understanding Authority in SEO Google’s ranking system isn’t just about keywords; it’s about trust. A startup’s website needs to prove its worth before it can compete with industry giants. What is domain authority? It’s a measure of how much trust search engines place in your site. High-authority websites get priority in rankings, while new ones have to prove themselves. How is authority built? To decide if a website merits a top ranking, search engines consider backlinks, high-quality content, user interaction, and technical SEO. Why does this take time? SEO isn’t a sprint. Google favors websites that steadily build credibility over months (or even years). The key is consistency and patience. Laying the Foundation: Technical SEO & Site Structure The most important part of a building is the foundation. If the foundation is shaky, nothing else will stand. And your website works in the same way. Before producing content or chasing backlinks, your site needs a solid technical base. Speed matters. A slow site kills rankings. Compress images, use a content delivery network (CDN), and avoid bloated code. Mobile-first is non-negotiable. More than half of all searches happen on mobile. If your site doesn’t adapt to different screen sizes, it’s already losing. Secure your site with HTTPS. Google prioritizes secure sites, and users are more likely to trust them. Organized URLs and sitemaps. A messy URL structure confuses search engines. Use clean, readable URLs and submit a sitemap to Google Search Console. Although this isn't the most glamorous aspect of SEO, mastering these fundamentals now will save you a lot of trouble later. In order to rank, search engines must be able to index your content, which is achieved by having a well-structured website. Keyword Research for Startups Finding the right keywords isn’t guesswork. You need a strategy that balances competition and search volume. Target low-competition, high-value keywords. Established sites dominate broad keywords, so startups should focus on specific phrases with less competition. Long-tail keywords matter. These multi-word phrases attract targeted traffic and often indicate strong user intent. Understand semantic search. Google now prioritizes context over exact matches, so focusing on topic relevance is key. Use the right tools. Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest help identify opportunities and refine your approach. Content Strategy: Building Authority Through Value A great website without great content is like a storefront with no products. Content is what keeps visitors engaged and earns Google’s trust. Develop a robust content foundation. New brands should aim for 50-100 pages of content as a first milestone to start establishing authority and credibility. Create pillar content and topic clusters. Organize content around central themes to establish expertise. Leverage different content formats. Blog posts, case studies, and in-depth guides each serve different purposes in building authority. Balance evergreen content with trends. Evergreen content builds long-term value, while timely topics capture immediate interest. Consistency is key. Publishing regularly signals to Google (and readers) that your site is active and relevant. Link Building from Scratch Backlinks are still one of the strongest ranking signals. But not all links carry the same weight. What makes a quality backlink? Links from authoritative, relevant sites hold far more value than random directories or spammy pages. Start with the basics. Set up and optimize your Google My Business profile. Plus, make sure your NAP (name, address, and phone number) is consistent across directories. You can also ask friends and family to leave legitimate reviews to build credibility. Leverage your existing network. Find friends with websites who may be willing to link to your website naturally. Get involved locally. Sponsoring low-dollar community events can often earn you a link from their website. Guest posting and digital PR.... --- User-generated content (UGC) refers to any content—such as text, images, videos, and reviews—created by consumers rather than brands. It is the lifeblood of contemporary digital interaction. Real experiences from real people are considerably more trustworthy than the best brand content in the world. With AI reshaping how content is created and consumed, and consumers valuing authenticity more than ever, UGC has become a marketing necessity. In this guide, we’ll explore why UGC is vital, the types that drive engagement, and how to use it effectively. Why UGC Matters More Than Ever in 2025 Not only is user-generated content valuable, but it is also necessary. Customers look to their peers for reliable information as they become more skeptical of content created by brands. Real user experiences are more credible than corporate messages in any kind of content, including reviews, videos, and social media posts. Here’s why: Trust drives conversions – People rely on peer-generated content to validate their decisions. Whether it’s a review or a user video, credibility stems from authenticity. AI is everywhere – Automation is making brand-generated content easier to produce, but that also means customers are more skeptical. Genuine, organic content stands out. SEO loves UGC – Google rewards fresh, engaging content. UGC increases dwell time, boosts interaction rates, and often leads to organic backlinks. Data is key – Brands aren’t just using UGC; they’re analyzing it. AI-driven sentiment analysis helps companies refine messaging and product positioning. Types of UGC That Drive Maximum Engagement Not all UGC is created equal. Some formats resonate more than others, depending on your audience and platform. The most effective ones are engaging, shareable, and seamlessly integrated into the brand’s narrative. Here are the content types that deliver the best results: Customer reviews and testimonials – From written feedback to video testimonials, social proof remains a conversion powerhouse. Social media posts – Challenges, mentions, and hashtags promote natural brand advocacy. Short-form video content – TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are great for dominating consumer attention. UGC in this format feels authentic and digestible. Community-driven discussions – Platforms like Reddit, Facebook Groups, and Discord foster deeper engagement and brand loyalty. AI-assisted UGC – AI tools help users craft captions, filters, and co-created content, blending human creativity with smart technology. How to Encourage and Incentivize UGC Consumers won’t create content for your brand without a reason. Making participation simple, creating a sense of community, and providing rewards are essential. The objective is to create an environment that inspires people to contribute their experiences. Strategies for motivating customers to create content – Brands must offer compelling reasons for users to contribute. Without motivation, participation dwindles. Running contests and challenges – Friendly competition fuels engagement. Prize-driven or recognition-based, these campaigns spark participation. Offering exclusive rewards or discounts – A well-placed incentive turns passive customers into vocal brand advocates. Featuring top contributors on brand pages – People love recognition. Spotlighting customers’ content builds community and encourages further interaction. Using AI tools to streamline content curation and engagement tracking – Technology simplifies content gathering, but human oversight keeps it authentic. Ethical considerations: respecting transparency and securing permission – Borrowing user content without consent backfires. Clear policies prevent backlash. Where and How to Distribute UGC for Maximum Impact Creating UGC is only half the battle. Where and how you distribute it determines its impact. Brands need a strategy to showcase user content across multiple touchpoints, maximizing reach and engagement. Social media strategies: best platforms for UGC distribution in 2025 – Some platforms work better than others. Brands must analyze where their audience is most active. Integrating UGC into websites, landing pages, and email campaigns – Showcasing authentic customer experiences strengthens credibility and fosters engagement. Using UGC in paid ads for increased CTR and conversion rates – Authenticity drives results. Ads featuring user-created content resonate more than polished brand messaging. How to repurpose UGC across multiple marketing channels – Content has a longer lifespan when repackaged for various formats. A single post can fuel blogs, emails, and video campaigns. Case Studies: Brands That Are Winning with UGC in 2025 V9 Digital Marketing Agency has successfully implemented UGC-driven campaigns for various brands, achieving impressive engagement and conversion results. Below are three... --- Struggling to get your multi-location business noticed in local searches? You’re not alone. Reaching the right audience in the right places is a problem that many businesses face. We at Volume Nine know how painful local SEO can be because we've been guiding clients through its intricacies for more than ten years. So, whether your goal is to draw more foot traffic or strengthen your connection with local audiences, we have you covered. What Is Multi-Location SEO? Multi-location SEO means optimizing each branch or location of your business so it shows up in local searches. If you’ve got a coffee shop in Miami and another in Denver, local SEO ensures both pop up when someone nearby Googles, “best coffee near me. ” But how does this differ from traditional SEO? Traditional SEO aims for broader, often global visibility. In contrast, multi-location SEO concentrates on very localized queries, such as "boutique gyms in Chicago. " Targeting clients in a certain location with precision is more important than trying to reach as many people as possible. And why should you bother? It’s simple. It improves conversions, draws more foot traffic, and fosters local trust. Why Local SEO Matters So, let’s take a look at why local SEO deserves your attention: Foot Traffic Think about the last time you searched for “pizza near me” or “best auto repair shop in town. ” Your customers are doing the same thing, and you are losing out on their business if your company is not listed in those local search results. Simplify the Customer’s Journey Nobody likes searching for an invalid phone number or sorting through out-of-date company hours. You make your clients' lives easier by providing them with precise and consistent information at every location. They are more inclined to pick you over the competition if it is simpler for them. Boost Conversions Local SEO offers incredible value because it targets customers who are ready to act. Whether they’re calling for a quote or walking into your store, these aren’t passive browsers—they’re potential buyers. Outpace the Competition In many areas, businesses still struggle with implementing effective local SEO strategies. This creates an opening for you to shine. You can outperform competitors in search results and in the eyes of prospective buyers when your listings stay updated and your content speaks to local audiences. Key Strategies for Optimizing Local SEO for Multiple Locations Multi-location Local SEO can feel like balancing on a unicycle while juggling. But don’t worry. It's much easier to handle with the correct tactics. Optimize Google Business Profile (GBP) Listings GBP is a critical tool for making sure your locations appear in local search results. How do you optimize your GBP? Let’s break it down: Claim Each Location’s Listing: Start by creating or claiming a GBP Profile for every branch. This step plants your flag on the map, letting potential customers know you’re ready to serve them. Be Consistent with NAP Information: Your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) details should match across every online platform. Why? Inconsistencies confuse search engines and customers, costing you both visibility and trust. Keywords: Use keywords that resonate with the specific area. Whether it’s “best tacos in Brooklyn” or “auto repair in Austin,” weave local terms into your GBP descriptions without overdoing it. Keep It Fresh: Think of your GBP like a storefront window—it should always look its best. Regularly update listings with sharp photos, customer reviews, and timely updates on events, promotions, or hours. Create Location-Specific Landing Pages Every location deserves its own dedicated page. This allows you to customize content and attract local searches effectively. Include the following: Keywords tied to the area’s interests. A clickable, embedded Google Map for easy navigation. Up-to-date NAP information prominently displayed. Testimonials from happy local customers. Promotions and offers that speak to the neighborhood. Next, it’s important to use schema markup to stand out. Schema markup might sound technical but think of it as adding a “hello” sign to your content for search engines. It helps Google better understand your page and display key details directly in search results. Develop Localized Content Here are some things to keep in mind when crafting content that resonates locally: Be Specific: Create... --- The holidays are a prime time for connection, reflection, and yes, marketing. But let’s be real—every year, brands flood social media with the same tired messages. You’ve seen it: a graphic that says, “Happy Thanksgiving! ” with a stock image of a turkey or a post that reads, “From our family to yours, Happy Holidays. ” While the sentiment is nice, these posts aren’t doing what you think they are. In fact, they might even be hurting your brand. Here’s the problem: generic holiday posts don’t stand out. Worse, they can drag down your social media performance, making it harder for your future content to get noticed. It’s time to rethink how you approach holiday content—because if you’re going to join the conversation, you need to make it count. Why Generic Holiday Content Fails 1. Oversaturation Everyone—and I mean everyone—is posting holiday content during this time of year. Your audience is scrolling through endless “Happy Holidays” posts from brands, friends, and family. A cookie-cutter message isn’t memorable; it’s wallpaper. 2. Lack of Authenticity Your audience can tell when you’re phoning it in. If your brand’s usual tone isn’t warm and fuzzy, suddenly posting a sentimental “from our family to yours” graphic feels out of place. It doesn’t sound like you, and authenticity matters more than ever on social media. 3. Negative Impact on Engagement Here’s the kicker: social media algorithms are powered by engagement. When you post something and it gets minimal likes, shares, or comments, platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn are less likely to show your next post to your audience. A generic holiday post with low engagement can hurt the performance of your entire feed. What to Do Instead Holidays are an incredible opportunity to connect with your audience. You just have to approach it with a little creativity and a lot of authenticity. Here’s how: 1. Share Something Personal Instead of slapping a generic greeting on a stock image, give your followers a peek behind the curtain. Share a story about your team’s holiday traditions, or post a photo from your company holiday party. People love seeing the real side of a brand—it makes you relatable and memorable. 2. Add Value Think about what your audience actually wants to see during the holidays. Can you offer them a helpful tip, like a quick recipe, gift idea, or stress-reducing hack? Or maybe you can share a reflection on what the year has meant for your business. Posts that provide value will always perform better than filler content. 3. Lean Into Your Brand Personality The holidays don’t have to mean sappy sentiments. If humor is your brand’s thing, make a funny holiday meme. If you’re a quirky brand, embrace the chaos of the season. Whatever you do, stay true to your voice. 4. Encourage Engagement Give your audience a reason to interact with your post. Ask them a fun question like, “What’s your favorite holiday tradition? ” or “Team Eggnog or Team Hot Cocoa? ” This can spark conversation and boost engagement. The Long-Term Payoff of Unique Holiday Content Here’s why this matters: your social media content doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Every post you make contributes to the overall health of your online presence. When you prioritize authenticity and creativity, you’re building trust with your audience and boosting your content’s visibility. Sure, it takes a little extra effort to create a unique holiday post, but the payoff is worth it. You’ll not only stand out in a sea of sameness, but you’ll also foster deeper connections with your audience—and isn’t that what the holidays are all about? This year, skip the stock images and predictable copy. Make your holiday content a true reflection of your brand. Because when you show up authentically, your audience will notice. --- Don't Fall Behind! Top SEO Trends for 2025 You Can’t Ignore With SEO continuously evolving, 2025 is bringing new opportunities—and challenges—to optimize beyond Google, enhance engagement, and leverage powerful tools like AI. Here’s what you need to know to stay competitive. Search Everywhere Optimization Google isn’t the only game anymore. Platforms like ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, and social channels like TikTok and YouTube are increasingly popular for search. In 2025, brands that only optimize for Google risk missing out on major traffic sources. Expanding your SEO strategy to these platforms can help you reach untapped audiences. Expand your focus: Consider where your audience is searching (e. g. , YouTube, TikTok, ChatGPT). Tailor content to the platform: Different platforms have different search behaviors—match your content accordingly. Experiment with new search engines: Try optimizing for AI-driven search platforms like Perplexity. Leverage platform-specific SEO tactics: Use platform-specific tags, metadata, and post formats to increase visibility on each platform. As you move beyond Google, think about the future of search itself—an era where users don’t just “Google it” but explore specialized, AI-powered tools for personalized answers. AI as a Support Tool—Not a Replacement AI is a powerful asset, but in 2025, it’s most effective when it supplements rather than replaces human insight. Fully AI-generated content often feels generic, and Google tends to prioritize content with a human touch. Use AI to enhance your content creation strategy while keeping it engaging and authentic. Content gap analysis: Use AI to identify what your competitors are covering that you might be missing. Semantic keyword suggestions: AI can help you add relevant keywords naturally. Visual and structural support: Generate ideas for images, internal links, and layout improvements with AI tools. Beyond supporting content creation, AI can help you understand audience preferences and behavior at a granular level. Use these insights to stay ahead of changing user expectations. Engagement Metrics Matter More Than Ever User engagement metrics are critical to SEO, with Google tracking how users interact on your site. This includes time on page, page views, and bounce rates. To improve these metrics, focus on creating a smooth, intuitive user experience with relevant content that keeps visitors engaged. Enhance load times: Ensure pages load quickly to avoid losing impatient users. Prioritize intuitive navigation: Make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for. Boost on-page engagement: Use clear calls to action and relevant internal links to encourage users to stay longer. Optimize for mobile: Mobile users often have different browsing patterns; make sure your mobile experience is optimized for easy engagement. Utilize engaging visuals: Photos, graphics, and videos can make your content more compelling and increase time spent on the page. Keeping users engaged doesn’t just boost your SEO; it’s also an opportunity to turn more visitors into loyal customers by fostering trust and positive experiences on your site. Test Reddit and Quora In 2025, Reddit and Quora posts frequently appear in search results, making these platforms valuable for SEO. Engaging in relevant threads and communities on these sites builds authority, credibility, and a direct connection with users interested in your industry. Answer industry-related questions: Position yourself as an authority by offering valuable insights. Use keywords in responses: Subtly optimize your answers for searchability within Google results. Link to your site strategically: Include links to relevant content on your site when it genuinely adds value to the conversation. Beyond SEO, engaging on Reddit and Quora gives you real-time insights into your audience’s pain points and questions—valuable info for creating even better, targeted content on your own site. Optimizing for Voice Search Voice search is growing, and it calls for a unique approach. Voice searches are conversational and often phrased as questions, so content should be structured to capture this traffic. In 2025, focusing on natural, question-based keywords will help you keep up with this trend. Focus on long-tail keywords: Optimize for natural, question-based phrases. Incorporate local SEO: Voice search often has a local intent, so be sure to include location-based keywords if relevant. Test for mobile compatibility: Make sure your content displays well on mobile, as many voice searches come from mobile devices. Craft content for “How,” “What,” and “Where” searches: Many voice queries start with these question... --- Alright, I want to take a minute and talk just a little bit about SearchGPT—what it is, what’s going on, and whether you should adjust your marketing strategy for it. What is SearchGPT? SearchGPT is a prototype Search Engine that OpenAI is developing. They announced in July that they were working on this, but there’s no public launch date yet. The industry is buzzing because this could be a really big deal for marketing, Google, search engine optimization, and search in general. When thinking of SearchGPT vs. a traditional search engine... It’ll understand more context and natural language It’ll provide helpful, summarized results from multiple reputable sources You can get information without having to click to other websites It’ll hang on to your context and keep pushing to get you a deeper answer Google Vs. SearchGPT (Infographic) by volume9 If you haven’t tried Perplexity, I strongly recommend you do. It’ll help you grasp what SearchGPT is trying to do pretty darn fast (and side note, I LOVE Perplexity). How Is This Different From AI Overviews? When we think about how AI has gone into search, let’s kind of go back a bit. ChatGPT launched, Microsoft partnered with Bing, and Google panicked, starting work on getting AI into search. Google spent a year developing Search Generated Experience (SGE) and brought AI overviews into search. But. arguable, it’s been a bit of a flop. Meanwhile, Bing hasn’t picked up much market share despite having a strategic partnership with Open AI & ChatGPT. Why AI and Search Haven’t Worked (Yet) The challenge with AI in search is that search engines have always worked on a model where someone searches a keyword, and the engine provides listings. Google is likely always going to have that stronghold... . But when you try to add AI into that, it gets tricky. Google’s business model is based on keywords and running ads alongside the listings. If they can’t run those ads they likely aren’t going to explore it as an option. How Is This Different than AI Overviews? AI Search Engines don’t seem to have this ad-based challenge. You can search something like “I need a chart with all the planets’ distances from the Sun. ” Instead of hoping one website has all that or relying on AI like Google’s Gemini, Perplexity scans relevant websites and filters the results for you. It gives you relevant, sourced results without ads & without having to click to additional websites, which is awesome. So the big differences: Clearer sources and direct links to make verifying data easier Allows you to ask follow-ups and to dial in the response more Will provide a detailed answer from a lot of sources, and include images in addition to text More cooperative with publishers (like news sites) and will give them more ways to control how they appear in SearchGPT The Big Shift SearchGPT wants to build a search engine based on how people actually want information, not one that’s limited by ads or keywords. That’s why Alphabet’s stock dropped the day after they announced it—people think this could chip away at Google’s market share. How Should You Adjust Your Marketing Strategies? There are definitely strategies to get optimized for tools like Perplexity now, which will likely help you with SearchGPT later. The key is: Organized, well-written content with depth Unique content that gives a perspective others don’t Use things like schema markup and clear headings to make it easy for crawlers to understand your content Keeping your content fresh and up-to-date is also really important, as SearchGPT is likely going to favor current information. The Future of SEO In the bigger picture, I believe we’re seeing a fracturing of the traditional search engine market. People will always have problems and questions, and they’ll turn to the Internet for solutions. But how they search is changing. We’re seeing users start their searches in marketplaces like Amazon or Walmart, or on social platforms like TikTok and forums like Reddit. This means search engine optimization isn’t just about Google anymore. How Do you Optimize For the Future? As you build your SEO strategy, think about: Who is your core audience? What questions are you answering? What... --- If your organic traffic is down, first panic. Just kidding... kind of. But once your mini panic attack subsides, it’s time to get into the data — because that’s where you can diagnose what’s going on and figure out what you need to do to turn it around. Many times, the root cause is a more classic SEO issue: a botched redesign, broken redirects, or a Google algorithm update moving the goalposts. Recently, more brands have been seeing AI overviews cannibalizing their blog traffic and creating zero-click searches that chip away at their CTR. And, in a few rare cases, we’ve seen that a dip in traffic isn’t always a sign your SEO is broken. It could just be a simple tracking issue. Either way, there’s a process to figure it out and start to address it. What Data Do You Need To Diagnose an Organic Traffic Drop? The fastest way to diagnose traffic loss is to analyze your data with GA4 and Google Search Console. Start with these key checks:Is Google Analytics tracking visits correctly? When did the drop begin? Which web pages, categories, or keywords were hit hardest? Did rankings (a third-party tool like SEMRush can be really helpful for this one) or Google Search Console impressions fall? Did paid search suddenly increase branded campaigns? Are conversions steady despite the drop? Google Search Console shows query-level changes, while tools like SEMrush highlight where AI overviews and featured snippets steal clicks. Ahrefs can reveal backlink losses, search volume shifts, and click-through rate declines. Looking at this combined view tells you if the dip is severe or just a natural fluctuation. What Typically Causes Organic Traffic Loss? Although the industry is *buzzing* over AI, most traffic decline we see still traces back to classic SEO problems. The main culprits include site relaunches and technical updates gone awry. Website Relaunches Generally Cause SEO Traffic Dips: Website relaunches without SEO planning are still the #1 cause of traffic loss. For example, we had a major retailer come to us after a relaunch gone wrong that cost them millions of dollars. Missing redirects, changed URLs, or deleted content can all massively impact your SEO performance. Every brand should protect SEO during every major launch. Website Development Updates Can Break SEO: Development updates often break SEO if not checked. Common issues include:Re-platforming without redirectsChanging URLs or folder structuresRemoving contentSSL errors or mixed contentSlow site speed after updatesRobots. txt blocking or rendering problems Always review dev logs if traffic suddenly drops after a deployment. Do Algorithm Updates Still Cause Sudden Traffic Declines? Yes. Google updates regularly shift rankings, and even strong sites can lose traffic overnight. For example, one publisher saw a 60% drop in April 2024 after a core update. Helpful Content and spam updates especially hurt thin or low-quality sites. You can check the Google Search Status Dashboard to see if your decline overlaps with an algorithm update. In addition, Search Engine Land generally does a great job reporting on algorithm updates. When Can An SEO Audit Help Diagnose Organic Traffic Decline? Sometimes the issue isn’t as straightforward. For example, maybe a site was relaunched, but it’s been a few months since the launch, and the team has made multiple development updates since then. In those kinds of situations, it’s a little more challenging to pinpoint precisely what the cause of the decline is because multiple factors might be contributing. A complete technical crawl checks for:Crawl and indexation problemsBroken internal linksDuplicate content or incorrect canonicalsSchema, structured data, and Core Web VitalsMobile optimization and HTTPS securityHaving a full technical audit performed can be really valuable if you’re concerned that multiple issues are causing the decline of your website. Does AI-Generated Content Hurt SEO? It can. Unedited, spammy AI-generated content can lead to significant ranking losses. Point in case, Google launched SpamBrain to target thin or repetitive AI copy. However, Google doesn’t have a full ban on all AI content, and wants websites to stay focused on original, high-quality content. Here are Google’s guidelines for creating helpful, reliable, people-first content. As you review your content, ask yourself these questions Did we use AI to create a bunch of this? Does the text feel robotic or... --- **Join us for A Free Webinar on 2024 e-commerce holiday Ideas on planning on August 22, 2024** Register Here The holiday season is creeping up on us, and if you’re running an e-commerce business, it’s time to get your game plan together. 2024 is shaping up to be a bit of a wild ride, so let's talk about what you need to know to crush Q4. First, here are a few e-commerce holiday trends to keep in mind for your planning: E-commerce Holiday Trends: 1. The Holiday Shopping Season Is Starting Earlier Than Thanksgiving A lot of brands denote Thanksgiving as when the holiday shopping madness starts. But, studies tell us that 27% of shoppers plan to start in October. That’s right; before you even think about carving the turkey, people are already checking off their lists. A few ideas on what you can do about this: Get those holiday campaigns out early—like October early. Throw in some “early bird” deals to lure in the planners. Ensure your site is running smoothly because the last thing you need is a meltdown before the main event. Get ready for Amazon’s October Prime Day, which is now considered the new holiday shopping kick-off event. 2. Don’t Ignore Thanksgiving More people are dodging awkward family convos by diving into some retail therapy. As such, Thanksgiving Day is becoming a prime shopping time for folks who’d rather scroll than socialize. In 2009, consumers spent 5. 29 billion in online shopping on Thanksgiving Day alone. Tips for Businesses: Why not give them what they want? Drop some killer deals on Thanksgiving Day. Hit your customers with some timely emails and social posts—let them know your deals are just a click away. Make sure your mobile site is on point. Let’s face it: They’ll likely be shopping from the couch. 3. Yes, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday & Cyber Monday Are Still Big Every year, clients still ask us if Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are still a big deal, and the short answer is yes, yes they are. Black Friday is still a heavyweight champ, but Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are nothing to sneeze at. In fact, the number of people shopping on Thanksgiving weekend has been steadily growing post-COVID. Tips for Businesses: Get special deals ready for each of these days—people will be expecting them. Make sure your online and in-store experiences are seamless because shoppers will hit both, especially Gen X. For Black Friday, have a deal that’s unique to that day and feel very special & hard-hitting. On Small Business Saturday, share your story. People love supporting local, so let them know what makes you special. On Cyber Monday, make it easy to buy stuff across your website (think free shipping, % off on all products, etc. ) 4. Hanukkah and Kwanzaa: Important Gift-Giving Holidays Don’t forget about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. These holidays might not get as much hype as Christmas, but they’re key gift-giving times for a lot of people. Recognizing these holidays in your marketing can help you connect with a broader audience and show that your brand is inclusive. Tips for Businesses: Tailor some campaigns specifically for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Think about offering some themed products or bundles that resonate with these holidays. Use inclusive messaging and visuals that speak to all your customers. 5. National Free Shipping Day Is Gaining Traction Free Shipping Day on Dec 14 has been picking up steam. It’s perfect for all those last-minute shoppers who want to squeeze in a few more gifts without shelling out extra for shipping. Tips for Businesses: Promote free shipping like it’s going out of style. This day is a great way to reel in those procrastinators. Have a plan to handle the rush—don’t let shipping delays wreck your holiday cheer. Make sure your shipping deadlines are crystal clear on your site—nobody wants to deal with “where’s my package? ” emails. 6. Don’t Forget to Communicate Your Brand’s Last Shipping Day Speaking of shipping—nothing says “I didn’t plan ahead” like a gift that shows up after Christmas. Your customers need to know when they absolutely have to place their order if they want... --- If you are focused on your users, high-quality content, and a great user experience, you don't need to panic. Last week, an anonymous source leaked what has been confirmed to be an internal document revealing over 14,000 "factors" Google uses when ranking websites. The leak has set the SEO world ablaze with discussion and debate. What Was Leaked? The leak revealed an extensive and detailed list of APIs that shed light on what Google considers when ranking websites. In general, it is a list of thousands of APIs that outline factors that Google considers when determining rankings for different websites. While the number is overwhelming, many elements are related when categorized. This means many factors are interconnected or serve similar purposes within the algorithm, contributing to the overall ranking process. Unfortunately, a layer of detail is missing, including what exactly Google is looking at for some of these factors and their weight. So, academically, it's interesting, but it's like getting a partial recipe without instructions or amounts. New Google Leak is like Getting An Incomplete Recipe Why Is It Creating Such a Frenzy? While significant, the recent leak is not as groundbreaking as some might think. SEO has traditionally involved a lot of testing, trial, and error. This is the first definitive confirmation that many of the things we thought worked were indeed part of the search considerations. The intrigue lies in the glimpse into Google's inner workings and potential secrets from their closely guarded search algorithms. Also, many long-standing SEO arguments were won last week, like whether Google sandboxes new sites or whether domain authority exists as a factor. While the leak has generated a buzz, its practical implications might not be as transformative as the initial excitement is suggesting. I guess we're gonna have to find new stuff to argue about. Does It Change Anything for SEO? Fundamentally, this will stay pretty much the same for great SEO companies focused on branding, user experience, quality content, and driving revenue (not just traffic). It confirms what we have been doing or how we have been thinking about organic search. There are undoubtedly new or emphasized tactics at the SEO water trough, but quality content was crucial last week, it's still essential this week, and you can bet your boots will still be important next week. Having a peek behind the curtain is fun for SEOs, but it likely doesn't change the outcome significantly. For example, whether engagement was a ranking factor or not, we help clients with it because we know that drives revenue. It's nice to know now that Google is considering those engagement rates in a fashion in the algorithm, but we were going to do it regardless of whether it was a factor. In the coming weeks, you might see some new elements popping up in our SEO audits. Still, we will keep our clients on track to build a robust and valuable brand online that attracts and converts new customers (or what we like to call SEO done right). For more details and information on this trending topic, check out these articles: An Anonymous Source Shared Thousands of Leaked Google Search API Documents with Me; Everyone in SEO Should See Them Secrets from the Algorithm: Google Search's Internal Engineering Documentation Has Leaked HUGE Google Search document leak reveals inner workings of ranking algorithm Google responds to leak: Documentation lacks context --- Let's face it: SEO can feel like a complex puzzle. You hear all about its power to boost website traffic and conversions, but actually budgeting for it is a whole different story. While it seems daunting, with the right knowledge and strategies, you’ll be able to invest wisely and see tangible returns on your efforts. This guide will equip you with the proper knowledge and strategies you need to invest wisely, see tangible returns on your efforts, and conquer your SEO budget. SEO 101: Why Budgeting Matters At its core, SEO is the art and science of getting your website seen by the right people at the right time. The higher you rank in search results (think Google), the more organic traffic (free website visitors) you attract. This translates to increased brand awareness, leads, and, ultimately, revenue growth. But SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. That's why budgeting wisely is crucial to unlocking its long-term potential. Here's what influences your SEO budget: Understanding Your Business Needs: Setting Your Sights Before examining costs, define your business goals. Are you more focused on increasing website traffic or generating more qualified leads and sales? How will you justify a long-term investment in organic traffic? Identifying these goals will help you decide how you want to allocate resources. Don't forget your industry’s competitive landscape. The fiercer the competition, the more resources you might need to invest in strategic SEO tactics. Finally, SEO doesn't operate in isolation. Look at your existing marketing budget. Where does SEO fit in? Can you reallocate some resources to fuel your SEO efforts? In-House vs. Agency vs. Freelancer for SEO Now, the million-dollar question: Do you tackle SEO yourself (in-house) or outsource it to a seasoned SEO expert? Hiring In-House Opting for an in-house SEO team is a wise choice if you have a steady stream of SEO tasks that justify a full-time position. This approach offers direct control and immediate access to your team members. However, it can be costly, requiring a substantial investment in salary and tools. Additionally, management and oversight will be crucial to ensure productivity and effectiveness. Considerations: Significant investment in salary and full-time employment costs. SEOs often specialize in specific areas (e. g. , Technical SEO, Content Optimization), requiring sufficient work in one domain. Management and oversight are necessary. Budgeting for SEO tools is essential. Agency Hiring an agency offers a balance between cost and expertise. While the hourly rate may be higher, the overall cost can be more manageable than hiring in-house. Agencies bring a diverse range of tools and up-to-date industry knowledge, providing a comprehensive and self-managed solution for your SEO needs. Considerations: Higher hourly cost but potentially cheaper overall than in-house hiring. Access to a variety of tools and templates as part of their retainer. Generally more current with industry changes. Requires less direct management. Freelancers Freelancers can be the most cost-effective option, though they come with their own set of challenges. They tend to be less expensive but may require you to budget for additional tool costs. Freelancers might not be as updated or flexible as agencies and can be less reliable, making it essential to vet them thoroughly before hiring. Considerations: Higher cost per hour but typically the most affordable overall option. Need to budget for additional SEO tools. Might not be as up-to-date or adaptable as an agency. Generally more self-managed than in-house but less so than an agency. Potentially less reliable, with higher risks of availability issues. Going in-house can be cost-effective, and you maintain complete control. But be warned, SEO requires expertise and consistent time commitment. Do you have the bandwidth to learn the ropes and dedicate resources long-term? Hiring an SEO agency brings expertise, proven strategies, and access to advanced tools. This can be a major time-saver. However, agencies come with a price tag, and you might relinquish some control. The best choice depends on your resources and comfort level. Breaking Down SEO Cost Components Now that you understand the landscape, let's explore the different areas where you may want to spend your SEO budget: Keyword Research Keywords are the gold mine of SEO. You need to find the search terms people are actually using... --- In the bustling realm of consumer packaged goods (CPG), where shelves overflow with enticing options, the need to stand out is critical. From the familiar staples in your pantry to the beauty products gracing your bathroom counter, CPG encompasses a vast array of frequently purchased items. But with the digital revolution, the landscape has shifted. Today, simply having a great product isn't enough. To truly connect with consumers, foster loyalty, and drive sales, CPG brands need a powerful weapon in their arsenal: content marketing. But with the plethora of content options available, which ones should CPG brands focus on? Here are the seven types of content every CPG brand must be crafting to spark engagement and fuel sustained growth. 1. Educational Content Educational content is a gateway to inform and inspire your audience. This encompasses a range of content that directly educates consumers on how to get the most out of your product. Think recipe inspiration using your pasta brand's unique shapes or your skincare company creating video tutorials that demonstrate proper product application. By providing valuable knowledge and practical tips, you're not just promoting your product – you're establishing yourself as a trusted resource and authority within your niche. Benefits for CPG Brands Enhances brand credibility and trust. Provides practical value, encouraging repeat purchases. Positions the brand as an authority in its niche. Examples of Successful Educational Content Betty Crocker's extensive recipe database drives users to their website for cooking tips. Dr. Bronner's DIY cleaning solutions using their liquid soap engage eco-conscious consumers. 2. User-Generated Content (UGC) User-generated content (UGC) taps into the incredible power of your customer base. Instead of solely promoting your product yourself, you empower your audience to create and share their own content related to your brand. This could take the form of recipe contests where users showcase their culinary creations using your ingredients or photo challenges that encourage creative expression with your product. By fostering UGC, you're not just generating content – you're building a vibrant community around your brand. How to Encourage User-Generated Content Host social media contests and challenges with clear participation guidelines. Feature customer content on your official channels, offering recognition and building excitement. Benefits of UGC for CPG Brands Builds community and fosters trust. Provides authentic and relatable content. Enhances social proof, attracting new customers. Examples of CPG Brands Leveraging UGC Effectively Coca-Cola's “Share a Coke” campaign, where users shared photos of personalized Coke bottles. Chobani's encouragement of customers to click and post recipes using their yogurt. 3. Influencer Marketing Content Influencer marketing involves partnering with social media personalities or industry experts who hold sway over a particular audience segment. By collaborating with influencers who align with your brand values and target demographic, you can leverage their reach and credibility to promote your product in a more organic and relatable way. There are various types of influencer marketing campaigns you can implement, from product reviews and unboxing to sponsored posts and challenges. Choosing the Right Influencer for Your Brand Ensure alignment with brand values and target audience Evaluate the influencer's engagement rates and authenticity over pure follower count. Clearly define campaign goals and expectations before partnering. Different Types of Influencer Marketing Campaigns Product reviews and unboxings allow influencers to share their honest opinions about your product, fostering trust with their audience. Sponsored posts and challenges leverage the influencer's creativity to showcase your product in a way that resonates with their followers. Brand ambassador partnerships build a long-term relationship with a trusted influencer who embodies your brand identity. Examples of Successful Influencer Marketing Campaigns Pepsi's collaboration with football stars and social media influencers for product launches. Tarte Cosmetics' influencer trips resulting in viral content showcasing their makeup products. 4. Behind-the-Scenes Content People are naturally curious! Behind-the-scenes (BTS) content offers a glimpse into the inner workings of your brand, fostering transparency and trust with your audience. This could involve showcasing your factory tours to highlight your commitment to quality production or employee spotlights that introduce the faces behind the brand and humanize your company culture. By peeling back the curtain and offering a peek into your world, you're inviting your audience to connect with your brand on a deeper level. Content Ideas... --- LinkedIn is more than just a social network for professionals; it's a pivotal tool for career advancement and professional networking. Effectively leveraging LinkedIn can unlock a wealth of opportunities—from finding top industry talent and staying updated with industry insights to showcasing expertise. Effective LinkedIn profile optimization is a strategic way to revamp your profile to maximize visibility and impact and fully utilize the platform's benefits. Building a Strong Foundation Profile Picture and Background Image A picture speaks a thousand words, and when it comes to LinkedIn, your profile picture sets the professional tone. Opt for a high-quality, professionally-taken headshot with good lighting and industry-appropriate attire. The backdrop should be clean and uncluttered. Your background image can serve as a visual extension of your brand with options including: A modern factory setting A piece of innovative machinery An industry-related graphic Your background image not only enhances your profile's visual appeal but also reinforces your professional brand identity. Headline and Summary Your headline is more than just your job title; it’s your first impression. Write a catchy headline with relevant keywords showcasing your unique value proposition. Think beyond "Manufacturing Executive" and consider something like "Innovative Leader in Smart Manufacturing | Driving Efficiency and Growth in the Automotive Sector. " If your headline is captivating, your profile visitors will be compelled to continue reading. The summary section is your chance to tell your professional story. Write an engaging narrative highlighting your expertise, achievements, and future career goals. Quantify your results whenever possible by including number percentages and other relevant details. Optimizing for Visibility and Impact Keywords Keywords are crucial for increasing your profile's visibility in searches. Identify relevant keywords related to your industry and target audience by using LinkedIn search suggestions and industry-specific terms. Integrate these keywords naturally throughout your profile, including in your headline, summary, and experience sections. Experience Section Your work experience should not read like a job description; instead, focus on highlighting your accomplishments and contributions. Use action verbs and quantify your results whenever possible. For example, "Implemented a new manufacturing process that reduced production time by 20%. " Enhance your profile by including media such as presentations, project reports, or case studies that demonstrate your impact. Building Credibility and Authority Skills and Endorsements Manufacturing executives wear many hats. To effectively build credibility and position yourself as a valuable asset, curate a strategic selection of skills on your profile. With 50 slots available, prioritize in-demand skills relevant to your industry and target roles. Don't be shy about requesting endorsements from colleagues, past supervisors, or clients who can vouch for your proficiency in these areas. Endorsements act as social proof, validating your skills and expertise to potential employers and business partners. Other things to consider adding include: Strategic Skill Selection: Go beyond just listing skills. Briefly showcase your proficiency through relevant achievements. Industry-Specific Acumen: Highlight specialized knowledge or certifications relevant to your industry niche (e. g. , "Additive Manufacturing: Certified in FDM 3D printing technology"). Beyond Technical Skills: Include soft skills crucial for manufacturing leadership, such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Solidify Your Reputation with Recommendations Use recommendations from past colleagues, supervisors, or clients who can directly attest to your strengths and leadership qualities. These testimonials provide valuable social proof, not just of your technical abilities but also of your impact on teams and overall business success. Remember, a well-written recommendation can add a powerful layer of authenticity to your profile, making you stand out to potential employers and collaborators. Engaging with Industry Content Establish yourself as a thought leader by actively engaging with industry-related content. Share and comment on articles, news updates, and discussions pertinent to manufacturing. This not only keeps you informed but also increases your visibility to others in your industry. Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is a strategic move towards better visibility and more opportunities. By focusing on professional visuals, crafting a compelling headline and summary, integrating relevant keywords, and showcasing your achievements and skills, you can significantly enhance your professional presence on LinkedIn. To maximize your LinkedIn presence and achieve your professional goals, contact Volume Nine for a personalized strategy that will help you fully take advantage of the powerful networking capabilities. --- The health and wellness space is booming. Whether you’re slinging supplements, building a yoga app, or selling aromatherapy candles, standing out across social media platforms and crowded e-commerce shelves takes more than luck. A thoughtful digital marketing strategy rooted in real customer experience and modern marketing trends helps brands cut through noise and reach the right target audiences. This isn’t a list of fluff. It’s a grounded look at what’s working for wellness brands that want meaningful results, better conversion rates, and content quality that search engines trust. How Can Wellness Brands Build Real Trust With Evidence, Not Hype? Wellness buyers are skeptical, so credibility comes from proof. Evidence-backed claims, transparent communication, and clear certifications help strengthen customer relationships and improve your SEO. Today’s consumers are cautious, and their decision-making is shaped by research, social media conversations, and user-generated content (UGC). To build trust, wellness brands need transparency and data that reinforces legitimacy. A powerful approach is linking to credible third-party studies. Evidence-backed claims increase confidence and tell search engine algorithms your content meets high-quality standards. For example, Forbes reports that 65% of consumers trust brands more when they show proof behind their claims  Show certifications visually across formats like short-form video, Reels, TikTok clips, and static posts. Social media content paired with AI-generated content or influencer marketing brings authority to life. And when formal studies don’t exist yet, honesty matters. Share product roadmaps, sustainability practices, and testing processes. Being upfront strengthens the customer journey and encourages personalized experiences. Key ways to build trust: Link to verifiable studies to support claims. Highlight certifications and clinical validation. Share transparent behind-the-scenes processes. Repurpose proof across blogs, email marketing, and live streaming. Validated claims improve your digital marketing strategy and support initiatives across SEO, content marketing, and community building. Why Should Wellness Brands Focus on Educational Content That Truly Helps? People want guidance, not gimmicks. Educational content boosts organic reach, strengthens your content strategy, and positions your brand as a trusted resource. Wellness shoppers are researching constantly, and AI-powered search engines prioritize helpful, experience-driven content creation. Brands that publish real answers win visibility across Google, TikTok, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Examples of educational content that works: FAQs that address pain points Downloadable guides and meal plans Expert-led webinars or virtual assistants for support Live-streamed demos or classes User stories and UGC spotlights Educational content improves SEO, builds trust, and supports marketing campaigns on every channel. Why Do Niche Influencers Outperform Celebrities in Wellness Marketing? Smaller creators feel authentic. Their audiences trust them more, and their UGC drives stronger engagement and conversions. Mega-influencers reach millions, but wellness buyers often prefer deeper credibility from smaller creators. This is especially true for Gen Z, who look to content creators for honest reviews, daily routines, and AI-driven recommendations rather than polished endorsements. Strong influencer categories include: Fitness coaches and yoga instructors Dietitians and nutrition creators Therapists and mental wellness experts Alternative wellness leaders like acupuncturists or reiki practitioners Niche partners create relatable UGC that improves customer behavior understanding and strengthens algorithms across platforms. These collaborations support e-commerce performance, build trust, and simplify content creation for small businesses and growing brands. How Can Community Management Help Wellness Brands Build Real Customer Relationships? Community management shows customers you’re listening. Quick replies and active engagement make people feel connected and valued. Building a community takes more than posting. Engagement across social media requires consistency, authenticity, and a smart workflow. Responding quickly, resharing UGC, and highlighting customer stories improve user experience and strengthen your marketing strategy. Effective community management includes: Replying fast to comments and messages Engaging with customer posts and stories Creating and monitoring branded hashtags Sharing real customer experiences Using automation to streamline your workflow Good community management also boosts performance on AI-powered algorithms across TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms. It builds loyalty and improves visibility, helping your digital marketing efforts work harder. “Wellness brands that lead with transparency, education, and actionable personalization are building the most loyal communities—and seeing the deepest impact on conversions. ” — Amanda Latifi, Co-Founder & CEO of Haulix Digital Why Are Blogs Still the SEO and Community Workhorse for Wellness Brands? Blogs fuel search engine visibility, content repurposing, and sustained engagement.... --- You've probably noticed some brands clinging to the top of search results. It's not magic (though maybe a slight mystery). It's about strategic planning, patience, and understanding search engine optimization (SEO). Ranking high might seem like it requires a bottomless budget, but here's the good news: it's absolutely possible on a small budget. Successful SEO is not about how much you can spend but how smartly you can allocate your resources and creativity to enhance your online visibility. From leveraging Google's free tools to understanding the power of high-quality, engaging content and the right keywords, let’s walk through essentials and techniques like content marketing, brand authority building, and the specifics of local SEO, all tailored to help consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands rank higher and flourish online. Google's Ranking Arsenal The Cornerstone of SEO Success High-quality content is the backbone of SEO. Google craves informative, engaging content that solves user problems. Enrich product site pages and blogs with valuable content to appease Google and empower your audience. Fun? Factual? Helpful? That's the SEO sweet spot. Unleash the Power of Free Keyword Magic Keywords are the breadcrumbs leading users to your content. But some keywords are stale and unwanted (think day-old bread), while others are the irresistible buttery croissants everyone craves. Find your "croissant" keywords with free tools like Google Keyword Planner. Target long-tail keywords that are specific, less competitive, and have a higher chance of ranking glory. Boost Your Technical SEO for Free While Side Hustling Websites burdened by slow loading times and confusing navigation serve as roadblocks to effective SEO. Solution: Make your website a sleek race car, user-friendly like your favorite sweats. Google prioritizes mobile-friendliness and speed. A free website audit with Google Search Console can jumpstart your technical SEO journey. Creative and Budget-Friendly SEO Strategies Content Marketing: Unleash Your Inner Writer Got a well of creative ideas? Channel your inner writer and brainstorm blog post topics that resonate with your CPG niche. From mouthwatering recipes to ingenious product hacks and DIY projects featuring your products, the sky's the limit. Then, weave those targeted keywords seamlessly into your content. Building Brand Authority (Big Impact, Small Budget) Forget scaling Mount Everest to build brand authority. Start simple: guest blogging. It's like attending a party and charming the guests with your knowledge (and backlinks! ). Each guest post will strengthen your backlink profile, improve brand awareness, and establish your domain's authority. Socially, focus on genuine engagement. Share content, interact with your audience, and watch your brand community flourish. Local SEO for Brick-and-Mortar Magic For those with physical stores, embrace local SEO. Claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing is like putting a giant digital sign on a busy highway. Add the power of customer reviews, and you've got a potent package for boosting visibility and credibility. SEO: A Marathon, Not a Sprint Navigating SEO with limited resources can seem like crossing a desert with a bicycle. But with the right strategies, patience, and a dash of creativity, anchoring your CPG products on Google's first page is a real possibility. Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep at it, track your progress, and consider paid advertising for an extra boost. Before you sprinkle SEO magic on your CPG products, take this to heart: your mission is to implement these budget-friendly strategies starting today. Monitor your progress diligently, making adjustments as needed to ensure your approach is as effective as possible. Who knows, the next time you Google your product, it might just be greeting you from the first page! If you're looking for more tailored advice, Volume Nine can help craft an SEO strategy that fits your business needs. Their expertise can provide valuable insights and practical steps to enhance your website's performance, aligning with your goals. This focused approach can be a significant asset in navigating the complexities of search engine optimization. It can lead to better visibility and engagement online and get your business to show up on the first page of Google! --- Let’s be real: attracting high-quality leads in the IT space isn’t getting easier. There’s more competition, less patience, and a whole lot of noise out there. But for IT service and MSP (Managed Service Provider) marketers willing to focus on lead generation strategies that actually work, there’s still plenty of room to grow. I’ve worked with IT companies for years. And I’ve seen firsthand what works, what falls flat, and what just burns time and money. So here are 10 lead generation ideas for IT service companies that want more qualified leads, better conversations with decision-makers, and consistent marketing results. 1. How Do You Define an Ideal Customer Profile That Drives Qualified IT Leads? A precise Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) helps you attract potential leads who match your target audience, budget, and pain points, making all marketing efforts more effective. Building an ICP forces clarity. When your team knows exactly who your potential customers are, which industries they belong to, and what pain points drive their decisions, every piece of content marketing becomes sharper. This clarity supports stronger outreach, better email campaigns, and more relevant marketing campaigns. To craft a strong ICP for IT lead generation: Key details to define Industry and compliance requirements Company size, IT budget, and internal staffing Tech stack maturity Their top operational or security challenges Whether they engage remotely, in-person, or hybrid Once these elements are clear, your sales teams and marketing efforts can align around targeted messaging. This alignment ensures your landing page copy, website visitors’ experience, and lead generation tactics consistently reach potential clients who match your business model. 2. What Does a High-Converting Content Marketing Funnel Look Like for IT Prospects? A strong content funnel guides potential customers from awareness to decision with formats that match their stage, and with CTAs that actually convert. A good content marketing funnel blends valuable content, relevant lead magnets, and well-timed follow-up communication. The goal is to move new leads from curiosity toward meaningful engagement. Awareness Stage: How do you reach potential leads? Blog posts, infographics, social media, and SEO-driven content Video content or short podcasts introducing key pain points A simple lead magnet such as a checklist, template, or whitepaper Consideration Stage: What builds trust? Webinars, ebooks, and case studies In-depth explainer posts and industry comparisons Free tools like calculators or quizzes Decision Stage: What tips them over the edge? Testimonials Case studies Product/service walkthroughs Offers such as assessments According to the 2024 Content Marketing Institute report, 76% of B2B buyers say a vendor’s content significantly impacts their purchasing decisions (CMI, 2024). 3. Which Social Media Platforms Should IT Service Companies Focus on for B2B Leads? LinkedIn drives the highest-quality B2B lead generation for IT, while Facebook works well for retargeting and niche audiences. IT companies often spread their social media efforts too thin across multiple platforms. Instead, focus on the channels where your decision-makers already spend time. Where IT audiences actually engage LinkedIn: Still the strongest platform for B2B lead gen, thought leadership, and sharing testimonials. Facebook: Great for retargeting website visitors and running PPC retargeting campaigns. YouTube & short-form video platforms: Ideal for video content, product walkthroughs, and educational clips. Podcasts & webinars: Complement your social media outreach and help you build trust. If social media is part of your digital marketing plan, consistency matters more than volume. Offer valuable content that positions you as a thought leader in your space and keeps your brand top of mind. 4. How Can IT Companies Modernize Their SEO to Capture More Organic Leads? Modern SEO requires fresh content, smart optimization, and adapting to AI-driven search engines, not outdated keyword stuffing. Strong SEO improves your visibility on search engine results pages, helping your target audience find you when they’re actively searching for IT solutions. Core components of up-to-date SEO On-page optimization for relevant terms like cybersecurity services, SaaS support, or IT consulting Off-page authority building through quality backlinks, partnerships, and social proof Geo-targeting for local IT lead generation User experience (UX) improvements across mobile and desktop Schema markup that improves rich results visibility For deeper SEO guidance, the Google Search Central documentation offers clear best practices for technical improvements. “IT service providers must deliver targeted value,... --- Manufacturers seeking to create deeper customer connections in today's competitive digital landscape can leverage Facebook's immense potential. With over 2. 8 billion active users, the platform offers a unique opportunity to reach B2B and B2C audiences. This blog will explore strategic Facebook marketing techniques designed to elevate your brand presence and foster meaningful interactions with your target market. Optimizing Your Facebook Presence for Manufacturing Success Facebook has transformed from a social media platform to a powerful marketing tool. Advanced targeting capabilities and a vast user base empower manufacturers to connect with both end consumers and business partners. A strategic approach is crucial to navigate this landscape effectively. Here’s how to start using these opportunities to your advantage. Crafting a Compelling Brand Narrative Storytelling is essential for manufacturers seeking to forge emotional connections with their audience. A compelling brand narrative that showcases your history, processes, and team can significantly enhance brand loyalty and engagement on Facebook. Position your brand story as an immersive journey, inviting your audience behind the scenes to discover what makes your brand unique. Targeted Facebook Ads for Maximum Reach Facebook Ads provide a gateway to targeted customer acquisition and engagement. A diverse arsenal of ad formats, including carousel ads, dynamic videos, and lead generation formats, empowers you to reach your company’s ideal audience. The key lies in strategic targeting, pinpointing specific demographics, interests, and buyer personas to ensure optimal return on your advertising investment. Remember, the goal is not simply brand awareness; it's about cultivating meaningful connections that drive conversions and foster long-term brand loyalty. Leveraging Video and Live Content for Enhanced Engagement Video content reigns supreme on Facebook, captivating audiences far more effectively than static images or text. Manufacturers can leverage this by showcasing products, sharing customer testimonials, or offering a glimpse into the manufacturing process. Facebook Live fosters real-time interactions with your audience, providing a raw and unfiltered view of your brand. These live sessions can range from Q&A discussions to virtual tours, adding a personal touch to your digital presence. Building Community through Groups and Collaboration The power of community cannot be overstated, and Facebook Groups are a testament to this. Engage with existing industry groups or establish your own to foster a dedicated space for sharing expertise, gathering customer insights, and providing genuine value. Collaborate with complementary brands or industry influencers to broaden your reach and amplify your brand's credibility. Harnessing User-Generated Content and Reviews Trust is paramount in the digital age, and user-generated content (UGC) is a goldmine for building brand authenticity and credibility. Encourage customers and partners to share their experiences with your brand on Facebook through photos, videos, or testimonials. Proactively manage reviews and ratings, addressing concerns and highlighting positive feedback. These elements significantly influence purchasing decisions among your target audience. Data-Driven Optimization with Performance Metrics A significant advantage of digital marketing is its measurability. Monitoring Facebook analytics uncovers valuable insights into audience behavior and campaign performance, guiding your future strategies. Track critical metrics and embrace a test-and-learn approach to refine your tactics, ensuring your marketing efforts evolve alongside your audience's preferences. Cultivating Meaningful Connections on Facebook Facebook is a powerful platform for manufacturers, offering numerous opportunities to connect with audiences, tell your brand story, and achieve marketing objectives. By implementing the discussed strategies, you'll move beyond simply broadcasting messages into the void. You'll cultivate meaningful relationships, build trust, and ultimately drive growth. Embrace these Facebook marketing techniques as building blocks for your comprehensive digital strategy, and witness your online presence flourish. For a deeper dive into Facebook ads, analytics tracking, and how to craft a campaign, visit their business page, which offers a wealth of resources to guide you. For a customized Facebook strategy that leverages the power of social media to propel your brand forward, Volume Nine is here to help. Our team of experts will craft a targeted approach to maximize your reach and engagement. Let's turn your brand into a social media powerhouse. --- In the modern digital era, a strong email list is considered the ultimate asset for marketers. It fuels direct, personalized communication with your audience, forming the core of a powerful and robust digital marketing strategy. From hard-to-get sign-ups to keeping subscribers engaged, it’s no secret that building a loyal subscriber base is a challenging feat. However, social media's vibrant and engaging capabilities present a prime chance to engage with your audience and turn them into eager email subscribers. Let's explore proven strategies to transform your social media game into an email list-building machine. Social Media Strategies for Exponential Email Growth The Freebie Frenzy: Value Exchange Nothing sparks attention like "free. " Offer valuable, high-quality content your audience craves, also known as lead magnets. From ebooks to checklists and cheat sheets, watch them readily exchange their email addresses for these free resources. This transaction bolsters your email list and positions your brand as a generous provider of worthwhile content. Gamified Growth: Giveaways that Engage the Competitive Spirit Tap into human competitiveness! Social media contests and giveaways dramatically boost engagement and visibility. When designing these campaigns, include a simple step: require an email address for participation. It's a win-win incentive – participants get a shot at winning a prize, and you cultivate your email list. Interactive Polls & Quizzes: Spark Engagement, Generate Leads Interactive content like polls and quizzes keeps your audience glued and fosters personalized experiences. Even better, these tools can gently nudge participants towards signing up for your email list to see their results or access more content, generating valuable leads in the process. Bio Power: A Compelling Call to Action Use your social media bio to your advantage! A clear, compelling call to action (CTA) urging followers to subscribe to your newsletter can work wonders. Your bio is prime real estate, so ensure it communicates value and offers a straightforward way to join your email list. Stories & Live Videos: Get Real-Time & Connect The fleeting and authentic nature of stories and live videos makes them perfect for real-time engagement. Leverage these formats to showcase the benefits of joining your email list, offering exclusive content, special offers, or sneak peeks to subscribers. Integrating direct links or QR codes for sign-up within these contexts significantly simplifies the subscription process. Case Study: Tire Kingdom Drives Engagement Tire Kingdom, a well-respected auto service provider, faced a common hurdle: boosting brand engagement and expanding their email list. Volume Nine worked with them to create an effective social media campaign built around a car costume contest. Participants decked out their vehicles in imaginative costumes, sharing their creations online for a chance to win. The campaign roared to a success, significantly increasing engagement and contest entries. More importantly, it offered a fresh avenue for email list growth by incentivizing participants to sign up for the newsletter and receive contest updates. This initiative exemplifies the power of social media as a catalyst for engagement and email list growth. The Tire Kingdom case study reveals several key ingredients: creativity, direct engagement, and a clear value proposition. Their campaign didn't just request emails; it invited participation in a unique experience, making email sign-up part of something bigger. Businesses seeking to replicate this success should move beyond traditional sign-up forms. Engage your audience with interactive, enjoyable, and inherently social campaigns. The Bottom Line: Consistency is Key Building a thriving email list via social media isn't a one-time feat; it's a strategic, ongoing initiative. Implementing these strategies requires patience, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to delivering value. Remember, the goal isn't just list growth; it's cultivating an active, engaged community around your brand. Ready to turbocharge your email list? Contact Volume Nine to see how your business can implement these strategies today and watch your social media followers transform into your biggest email advocates. In the vast digital space, a well-curated email list is your golden ticket to deeper connections, richer engagement, and business success. --- 2024 is seeing a dramatic shift in search engine optimization (SEO) driven by technological advancements, changing user behaviors, and evolving search engine algorithms. These changes are reshaping the very foundations of digital marketing strategies, compelling businesses to adapt and innovate to stay ahead of the curve. As emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) continue to mature, they are fundamentally altering the way search engines interpret and prioritize content. Ultimately, this means that if you’re seeking to maintain visibility and relevance, you must continuously fine-tune your SEO strategy. We know this may sound overwhelming, but there’s no need to panic. Instead, let’s dive into all those transformative trends and predictions shaping the future of SEO in 2024 and explore how your business can adapt and thrive in this dynamic sphere. AI for Productivity The integration of AI into content production signals a new era of productivity in digital marketing, yet it also presents some challenges and considerations. While Google appears to endorse AI content, provided it meets quality standards, the specifics of what constitutes "good content" remain ambiguous. As businesses increasingly turn to AI for content creation, questions arise regarding adherence to Google's guidelines and algorithms. The recent March Core Algorithm Updates and Helpful Content Updates serve as reminders of the limitations inherent in AI-generated content, highlighting the importance of balance and moderation in its use. How can businesses harness the power of AI while ensuring the production of high-quality, tailored content? Striking the right balance involves leveraging AI's efficiency and capabilities while retaining human oversight and creativity. As AI becomes more integrated into content creation workflows, businesses must implement robust quality control measures to ensure relevance, accuracy, and user engagement. Additionally, ongoing adaptation and refinement of AI algorithms are essential to align content output with evolving search engine standards and user preferences. By leveraging AI as a tool for content ideation, generation, and optimization, businesses can enhance efficiency and scalability while preserving the integrity and authenticity of their brand voice. The Importance of a Large Digital Footprint With AI tools scouring the web for information, safeguarding your brand across third-party sites and resources is more pressing than ever before. Gaining control over this content and ensuring its accuracy across diverse platforms should be a focus for SEO strategies in the coming year. This entails extending beyond your own website and encompassing a multifaceted online presence that spans various channels and platforms. Social media platforms are invaluable avenues for engaging with audiences, fostering brand awareness, and driving traffic to your digital assets. Similarly, local directories offer a crucial touchpoint for local businesses to enhance their visibility and accessibility within their respective communities. Monitoring and managing your brand's presence on social media platforms, local directories, review sites, and other online forums is essential. Regular audits of your digital assets can help identify and rectify inaccuracies, discrepancies, or negative feedback that may undermine your brand's reputation. Moreover, actively engaging with customers and stakeholders on these platforms can foster trust, loyalty, and advocacy, amplifying your digital footprint’s impact. Moving Beyond Traditional Search Engines While Google may maintain its dominance for the foreseeable future, the landscape of information retrieval is undergoing a subtle yet profound transformation. This shift is reflected in the growing reliance of Generation Z on platforms like TikTok and Reels as alternative sources of information. If these social media platforms increasingly serve as de facto search engines for younger demographics, then brands must refine their SEO strategies. Rather than only focusing on traditional search engines, they must embrace the diversification of online platforms and adapt their content creation and optimization efforts accordingly. Encouraging the creation of unique video content, prioritizing FAQs, and crafting engaging short-form content are just a few strategies to align with this evolving outlook. By partnering with social media initiatives and creating versatile video resources with structured data, you can effectively cater to the preferences of younger generations and establish a meaningful presence across diverse digital landscapes. Keywords Aren’t the Focus The traditional practice of tracking keyword rankings, which has long been an indicator of SEO success, is becoming less and less relevant, particularly for businesses operating beyond hyper-localized markets. This shift is... --- In a digital marketplace, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands constantly seek innovative ways to stand out and connect with consumers. Two powerful tools in the digital marketing arsenal are Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and paid advertisements (paid ads). While SEO focuses on enhancing organic search visibility and building long-term brand presence, paid ads offer immediate visibility and precision targeting. Both strategies come with unique advantages and challenges, making it crucial for CPG companies to understand which approach aligns best with their marketing goals. Understanding SEO for CPG Brands SEO is the art and science of optimizing your online content so that a search engine will show it as a top result for searches of a specific keyword. For CPG brands, SEO can be a game-changer, driving organic traffic to your website, increasing brand visibility, and establishing credibility without the immediate cost of advertising. SEO isn't a one-time setup; it's a long-term strategy that requires patience and adaptability, especially with search engines frequently updating their algorithms. The Power of Paid Ads for CPG Brands Conversely, paid ads are all about paying for direct placement in front of potential customers. Whether through Google Ads or social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, paid ads allow CPG companies to target specific demographics with precision, yielding measurable results and instant visibility. The downside? Costs can add up quickly, and there's the risk of ad fatigue if campaigns need to be kept fresh and relevant. Factors to Consider When Choosing Between SEO and Paid Ads Deciding between SEO and paid ads isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. CPG marketers must consider several factors: Budget and resources available: SEO is cost-effective in the long run, while paid ads require an ongoing investment. Short-term vs. long-term goals: Paid ads are for immediate impact, while SEO is for sustainable growth. Target audience and their online behavior: Where does your audience spend their time online? Product lifecycle and seasonality: Is there a particular time when your product is in high demand? Competition in the market: How crowded is the space, and what are your competitors doing? Combining SEO and Paid Ads for Maximum Impact Why choose one when you can have the best of both worlds? Integrating SEO and paid ads can lead to a synergistic effect, where the strengths of one can support the weaknesses of the other. For example, using data from paid ad campaigns to refine SEO strategies or leveraging SEO-rich content to improve the quality score of your paid ads, thus reducing costs. Best Practices for SEO and Paid Ads for CPG Brands For SEO, focus on thorough keyword research, crafting optimized content, and ensuring your website's technical health. For paid ads, create compelling ad copy, target your campaigns effectively, and continuously optimize based on performance data. Above all, make decisions based on analytics and consumer insights to ensure marketing efforts resonate with your target audience and drive revenue growth. Whether you lean towards SEO, paid ads, or a blend of both, the decision should be informed by your CPG brand's specific needs, goals, and market dynamics. You can craft a CPG marketing strategy that drives sales and builds customer loyalty and brand equity by evaluating your resources, understanding your audience, and keeping an eye on the long game. For more insights into crafting an effective SEO strategy, contact us at Volume Nine. --- In a substantial March 2024 Core Update, Google has unveiled a multi-pronged crackdown on unoriginal and manipulative web pages. This mega-update promises to reduce unhelpful content in search results by a staggering 40% and appears to be targeted right at AI-generated content via ChatGPT. In conjunction with this update, Google has also updated its spam policies, introducing strict measures against shady practices like scaled content abuse, site reputation abuse, and expired domain abuse. With these new guidelines, Google is sending a clear message: quality, authenticity, and user satisfaction reign supreme in the world of search. Concerned about the quality of content on your website? Enhance your online presence with a content strategy designed to engage both your audience and search engine algorithms. Volume Nine offers expertise in a range of content solutions, including blog articles, landing pages, comprehensive guides, and social media tactics to amplify your brand’s presence and ensure it cuts through the clutter in the post-update world of search. Want to dive deeper into the details of this massive update? Check out the whole article here. --- Instagram is a vibrant digital landscape where creativity can be used to connect with anyone. It can also be just as powerful and useful for your business as it is for creators to drive your brand awareness, build a loyal community, and open up new opportunities. So, how can you grow? While there is fierce competition and constantly evolving algorithms, let’s dive into some creative strategies that will help your follower count rise this year. Content is King (and Queen) High-Quality & Engaging Content One of the most important things to remember about Instagram is that it is a social media platform with a wide variety of images and videos. So, to stand out, your content must be visually captivating in equal parts as it is valuable and engaging to the viewer. Instagram offers different formats like photos, videos, stories, Reels, and Lives. Don’t shy away from experimenting with these formats, but also make sure each of your posts resonates with your brand and message. A strategically curated feed that captures the essence of your brand is essential to captivate and grow your audience. Engaging Captions & Storytelling While visuals are what may pique interest, it's the story that forms a connection with the viewer. Craft captions that are not just descriptive but tell an engaging story that will make your followers laugh or ponder. Invite them into a conversation with thought-provoking questions or relatable stories to share. Let your captions speak for your images by using strong and descriptive words. Trending Music & Challenges Picking trending music or participating in a challenge are ways to get more reach and on the homepage feed of more viewers. Add your unique flair to each trend to maintain your brand’s integrity. Instagram's Trend Report can be a great source for staying updated on what is buzzing on the platform. Remember, though, authenticity resonates louder than mere trend-chasing. Beyond the Post: Engagement & Community Building Active Interaction & Responding to Comments Your audience needs to feel seen and heard. So once you post something, don’t sit back and observe what happens. Interacting with them is key. Respond to comments thoughtfully, spark discussions, and show appreciation for their engagement. This proximity with your following cultivates trust and connection. User-Generated Content (UGC) UGC is the digital world's word-of-mouth marketing. It harnesses the power of community and adds a layer of authenticity to your brand. Prompt your audience to share their experiences with your brand or product with features, such as contests, and always give credit when reposting their content. This gesture not only amplifies your reach but also rewards engagement. Collaborations & Influencer Partnerships Tapping into the audiences of peers or influencers who share a symbiotic relationship with your brand can also help your reach, leading to a flourishing online community and more followers. Seek collaborations that align with your brand's ethics and aesthetics, creating a win-win situation for all parties involved. Optimization & Visibility Strategic Hashtags Think of hashtags as your allies and a way to increase your visibility on Instagram. Using the right mix of broad-appeal and niche-specific hashtags is critical to drawing in your target audience. Research and refresh your hashtag sets regularly to stay relevant and create a hashtag specifically for your brand. Location Tags & Cross-Promotion Geotags help direct your posts to where your local followers are on the map, while cross-promotion on other social media networks ensures that your Instagram endeavors don't go unnoticed. Let each social presence feed into the other, creating a cohesive brand narrative. Utilizing Instagram Insights & Analytics The numbers behind your posts are also significant. Instagram Insights provides a magnifying glass to understand what posts are doing the best and which ones viewers don’t find as captivating. So, keep an eye on what types of content are performing when your audience is most active, and then fine-tune your next posts and strategy to maximize engagement. Building a loyal Instagram following takes creativity, consistency, and strategic effort—no magic tricks involved. Forge genuine connections with your audience, experiment, and enjoy the journey! As you cultivate an engaged community, opportunities will blossom. For sustainable growth, avoid shortcuts and fake followers. Connect with Volume Nine for expert guidance... --- While TikTok has long been the go-to platform for short-form video content, recent data from Emplifi’s 2024 Social Media Benchmarks report shows its engagement rate is on the decline. According to the analysis, TikTok’s engagement rate has dropped by 26% since early 2022. In contrast, Instagram Reels appear to be gaining traction, with brands posting nearly three times more Reels content compared to Q1 2022. For more detailed insights, refer to the full report here. The Shift in Social Media Engagement: How Reels Are Catching Up to TikTok The latest engagement data highlights a major shift across social media platforms—especially between Instagram Reels and TikTok. Each platform caters to different audiences and content styles, which explains the growing divergence in engagement trends. TikTok attracts Gen Z users who engage heavily with trending vertical videos, duet formats, and organic memes. Instagram Reels appeal to audiences who prefer visually polished content with storytelling elements. By understanding these differences, brands can refine their short-form video strategies to align content types with user behavior. Marketers who adapt to these shifts will have a competitive edge as audience preferences continue to evolve. Why Declining TikTok Engagement Signals a Need for Strategy Adjustments A 26% drop in TikTok’s engagement rate since 2022 indicates that competition for visibility on the platform is intensifying. While TikTok remains a key player in short-form content, discoverability has become more challenging due to the platform’s saturated “For You” feed. In contrast, Instagram’s algorithm increasingly rewards Reels by prioritizing them within both the Instagram feed and the Explore page. This gives brands greater organic reach when they produce high-quality, engaging clips. For marketers, this means: Continue using TikTok but diversify beyond it. Allocate more time and creative resources to Instagram Reels. Focus on quality storytelling, visual polish, and interactive engagement. This balanced strategy allows brands to maintain TikTok’s reach while capitalizing on Instagram’s growing algorithmic boost for Reels. “Brands that adapt to evolving engagement patterns and invest in fresh, platform-specific storytelling will outperform those who stick to a single-channel approach. ” — Michael Stelzner, Founder of Social Media Examiner How Instagram’s Expanding Creative Tools Empower Brands and Creators Instagram has continued to invest heavily in expanding its creative ecosystem. Its suite of in-app editing tools, audio libraries, and transitions helps creators produce polished, professional-quality videos without third-party software. Instagram also integrates Reels ads and shopping tools that enhance brand visibility and direct conversions. These features make it easier for businesses to: Use music and audio trends to enhance storytelling. Employ remix and transition tools to stay on trend. Combine Reels ads with shoppable posts for measurable ROI. TikTok offers similar tools—such as duets, reactions, and native editing features—but still leans more toward organic engagement and viral trends. Both platforms offer monetization opportunities, though Instagram’s e-commerce integration gives marketers more direct control over pricing and promotional campaigns. Why Volume Nine Recommends Investing More in Instagram Reels At Volume Nine, we encourage clients to diversify their short-form video strategy and experiment with Instagram Reels to expand brand reach. While maintaining a TikTok presence remains valuable, the growing performance of Reels suggests it deserves a larger share of your marketing efforts. To maximize results: Create content tailored specifically to Instagram’s storytelling and visual style. Test various Reels formats to see what resonates with your audience. Track key metrics like watch time, engagement rate, and follower growth. Whether your audience leans toward Gen Z’s quick-view habits or millennials’ appreciation for refined visuals, testing multiple approaches helps identify what drives the most meaningful engagement. Staying Ahead of Trends: Why Adaptability Defines Social Media Success The social media landscape evolves quickly, and staying adaptable is essential. With platforms like YouTube Shorts and Snapchat competing for attention, TikTok and Instagram continue to innovate their algorithms and features to keep users engaged. Brands that monitor metrics closely and stay responsive to trends—such as new filters, audio trends, or video lengths—are best positioned to stand out. By continually testing and adapting, you’ll maintain visibility and deepen audience connection across all major video platforms. Ready to Strengthen Your Instagram Reels Strategy? Interested in kickstarting your Instagram Reels strategy? Reach out to Volume Nine today to see how our team can help your... --- The rise of webinars in the business landscape signifies a transformative shift in how companies engage with their audience and showcase their expertise. Unlike traditional methods, webinars offer a dynamic and interactive platform where businesses can connect with their target audience in real-time, fostering a sense of community and facilitating direct communication. These sessions go beyond static presentations, allowing for live Q&A sessions, interactive polls, and the opportunity to address specific concerns, creating a more engaging and personalized experience. However, hosting a webinar is only half the battle – ensuring a robust turnout is equally crucial. In this guide, we'll explore how to promote a webinar through different strategies that leverage the power of social platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and more. Set Up LinkedIn and Facebook Events Leverage the event features on LinkedIn and Facebook to create a buzz around your webinar. These features allow you to create a centralized space to share comprehensive details, speaker information, and any updates related to the webinar. They also enable potential attendees to engage with the content, ask questions, and share excitement. Encouraging participants to RSVP serves a dual purpose – it helps you estimate the expected turnout and allows you to build a mailing list for personalized event updates and reminders. The RSVP feature also generates notifications to attendees' networks, amplifying the reach of your event organically. Additionally, these social platforms provide valuable insights, allowing you to gauge the level of interest and adjust your promotional strategy accordingly. Craft Engaging Social Media Posts Develop compelling social media posts that inform and captivate your audience. Use eye-catching images and optimize your posts for each platform's algorithms. Tailor your content to resonate with your target audience, addressing their pain points and highlighting your webinar’s value. To maximize impact, consider which platforms your target audience frequents the most. For instance, LinkedIn might be the ideal platform if you're targeting professionals and businesses. Platforms like Instagram or Facebook may be more effective if your audience is more consumer-focused. By understanding where your audience spends their time, you can tailor your content to align seamlessly with their preferences, increasing the likelihood of engagement and registrations. Remember, the key is not just to be present on social media but to be present where it matters most to your potential attendees. Write a Blog Extend your reach by creating a blog post related to your webinar topic. By delving into the subject matter, you not only establish your authority and expertise but also provide a preview of the valuable content your webinar will offer. Share insightful industry trends, relevant statistics, and thought-provoking teasers that stimulate interest and curiosity among your audience. The blog acts as a gateway, offering a deeper understanding of the webinar's value proposition and encouraging readers to register for the event. Optimize your blog for search engines with strategic keywords and relevant meta tags to enhance its discoverability, attracting organic traffic and expanding your reach. A well-optimized blog contributes to your overall digital footprint, reinforcing your brand's online presence and authority in the specific industry or niche. Boost the Event With Targeted Ads Boosting your webinar event with targeted ads represents a strategic investment that can yield substantial benefits in terms of reach and engagement. Platforms like LinkedIn offer sophisticated advertising tools that allow you to target your desired audience precisely based on criteria such as industry, job title, and interests. By strategically investing in advertising, you not only enhance the visibility of your webinar but also ensure that your message reaches the most relevant individuals who are likely to find value in attending. It’s essential to craft tailored ads to ensure your promotional content speaks directly to the needs and preferences of your target demographic, increasing the likelihood of capturing their attention. This approach can significantly enhance visibility and drive registrations. Create a Shareable Landing Page A dedicated landing page provides a focused and compelling space for potential attendees to learn about the webinar's details, agenda, and speakers. Optimize the page for user-friendly registration to streamline the process and encourage higher conversion rates. After participants register, direct them to a thank-you page with a prominent social media share button. This simple yet effective step empowers... --- Ultimate guides are everywhere online. You’ve probably read your fair share of them, too. But have you tried writing one? This type of blog post is a powerful tool that offers in-depth insights on a particular topic. They can help you build brand authority, rank for multiple keywords, and help with backlinks. If you're brainstorming content for your blog, an ultimate guide is a great way to put all of your ideas together. Let’s dive into how you can create a compelling, informative, and valuable guide for your next blog post. Planning Your Ultimate Guide Choosing the Perfect Topic The perfect blog post topic is whatever you are an expert on. And while they may seem like unnecessary information, you need to know your topic inside and out to write a really awesome guide about it. You can still use freelancers to help write your blog, but you should provide an outline detailing essential points and information to include. Whatever topic you pick, it’s important to do keyword research and make sure that it has high search traffic. Additionally, pick out several keywords your blog could potentially rank for. Research and Content Gathering Once you have your blog post idea and keywords, it’s time to gather information. Look for references, both from your industry and other industries and have fun playing detective. What is working? What is missing the mark? Could something be explained better or differently? Bring fresh ideas and stats into your post, and consider adding an expert chat to your page to intrigue readers. Structuring Your Guide The blueprint for these particular blog posts is crucial. Lay out sections that flow well and add subheadings that pop. Think of titles as the hooks that keep viewers reading, coupled with content that captivates from the get-go. Building an Engaging Ultimate Guide Writing for Your Target Audience You don’t have to be a published author to write an awesome ultimate guide. Use short, clear sentences and avoid overly long paragraphs. As you write, keep in mind readers are on screens, so make it easy for someone to skim your blog and pick out the information they are looking for. Adding Visual Appeal Break up your text with some eye-catching visuals. Whether you use graphs, screenshots, or basic images, this will make it easier for your readers to follow your guide – and it will keep them engaged! Make sure your visuals align with your brand’s style. Enhancing Readability and Accessibility While you can ultimately get creative with how you format your ultimate guide, bullet points, numbered lists, and tables should be your go-to. They are a great way to keep someone captivated and break up the text in a way that makes it easy for someone to follow along. Beyond the Basic Guide Adding Unique Value Give readers something they can’t find anywhere else—exclusive tips, data, and stories that you have uncovered. Consider including downloadables, like checklists, for added value. Promoting Your Guide Your guide is no good if no one reads it. Here are some ways you can increase its visibility and make the most out of its content: Share it on all of your personal and professional social media networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter). Share it in groups. LinkedIn and Facebook have groups specific to particular topics you can join and share your blog post. Email it out. If you have an email list, tell them about your new blog post. Repurpose it. If you turn your blog post into a presentation or short video, you can spread it across more people and platforms. Once you’ve pushed it out, encourage comments, questions, shares, and likes. Promotion is the key to maximizing your reach. Keeping Your Guide Updated After your new blog post is out there, stay on top of trends and industry changes and update your guide regularly with new information so it retains value. A really awesome guide demands care and attention over time. Creating an ultimate guide takes work, but the payoff is worthwhile. For more tips or a custom content solution, contact us at Volume Nine. --- With the continuous growth of digital influence, manufacturers are finding that a strong social media presence is no longer optional–it's a must. While it comes with unique challenges, like conveying complex processes in a relatable way and standing out in a product-focused industry, having a creative and strategic approach to social media marketing can make manufacturers stand out. Let's dive into 10 social media tips and strategies you can leverage to amplify your brand, build genuine connections with your audience, and drive tangible results. 1. Showcase the Human Side of Manufacturing Use your most powerful tool. Showcase the passion and expertise fueling your brand. Your facility has stories waiting to be told. So, highlight the people behind the products with "Meet the Maker" features or live Q&A sessions. 2. Embrace Transparency and Sustainability Consumers appreciate authenticity and responsibility. Share your ethical practices and sustainable strides by allowing them to see and understand your production process. Collaborating with eco-conscious influencers is also a good way to broadcast your green initiatives. 3. Get Creative with Product Demo Videos Show, don't tell. Focus on captivating potential clients with catchy videos that illustrate what your product does and how it can make their lives easier. Additionally, don't underestimate the power of troubleshooting guides–they could be someone's saving grace. 4. Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC) Providing authentic endorsements is marketing gold. Spark creativity with user-centric contests and leverage that content across your social media platforms. Using customers' genuine experiences is a great way to showcase the high quality of your products and process, and it will also nurture a loyal community of customers around your company and brand. 5. Experiment with Different Content Formats Tailor content to the strengths of each platform. Post interactive elements like polls and quizzes to increase engagement and extend your reach with short, memorable videos or reels on TikTok or Instagram. Various posts on multiple platforms will keep your brand relevant and relatable. 6. Collaborate with Industry Influencers Partnering with others in your niche can significantly expand your sphere of influence. Whether you have someone participate in a panel discussion or guest write some blog posts, forging meaningful connections keeps your brand top of mind. 7. Turn Data into Engaging Insights Use the power of analytics to intrigue your audience. Share industry insights and infographics to inform your audience and use data to fine-tune your messaging for maximum impact. 8. Engage in Social Listening and Conversation Social media is a two-way street. Be active and present on your platforms, and don't disappear from your own social media posts. Respond to comments and messages with the same professionalism that you use in your manufacturing process. Your responses and presence online can transform feedback into opportunities. 9. Run Targeted Paid Social Media Campaigns Use the advanced targeting tools at your disposal. You can hone in on demographics that align with your business objectives using the precision of paid campaigns. 10. Measure and Adapt Your Social Media Strategy Have a plan, follow the plan, and be flexible to change the plan. Monitor the vital signs of your campaigns and marketing strategy–engagement, reach, and conversions while staying informed so you can evolve your strategy to stay on track with the digital landscape. Today’s digital landscape requires manufacturers to stay ahead of the latest trends and tools to engage their audiences effectively. While social media marketing can seem daunting, developing thoughtful strategies around these ten tips can help position your company for social media success in 2024 and beyond. Your manufacturing brand can thrive online with a proactive approach and commitment to consistency. Contact the Volume Nine team, and let’s discuss how we can collaborate to turn these social media best practices into reality for your business this year. The time is now to establish and grow your digital presence! --- Business owners, marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring digital enthusiasts can all benefit immensely from the wealth of information and networking opportunities digital marketing conferences offer. These events provide a platform for attendees to gain a comprehensive understanding of emerging technologies, data analytics, and innovative marketing tools. Additionally, networking with industry leaders, experts, and like-minded peers can foster collaboration, inspire creativity, and open doors to new partnerships and business ventures. In an era where staying ahead of the digital curve is critical, these conferences are catalysts for professional growth, equipping participants with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the intricacies of the digital marketing landscape and drive success in their respective fields. If you want to attend digital marketing conferences but aren’t sure where to start, we've got you covered! We've compiled a list of worthwhile conferences in 2024 across the country – but first, let’s talk about the benefits of participating in these events. Why Attend Digital Marketing Conferences? Stay Updated on Trends Conferences provide firsthand insights into the latest trends and advancements in digital marketing, keeping you well-informed about the current landscape. Networking Opportunities These events offer a unique chance to connect with industry experts, potential collaborators, and like-minded professionals, fostering valuable relationships that can lead to partnerships and business opportunities. Skill Enhancement Conference workshops and sessions often focus on practical skills and hands-on experience, allowing you to enhance your proficiency in key areas of digital marketing, from analytics to emerging technologies. Innovative Strategies Conferences showcase innovative strategies and successful case studies, inspiring you to adapt and implement creative approaches in your own marketing efforts. Tool and Technology Insights Stay updated about the latest tools, technologies, and marketing platforms, helping attendees make informed decisions about incorporating new solutions into their digital strategies. Industry Knowledge Exchange Engage in discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions with industry leaders, gaining diverse perspectives on challenges and opportunities in the digital marketing realm. Career Advancement If you’re looking to advance your career, attending conferences can provide exposure to new job opportunities, career paths, and insights into the skills employers are seeking in the evolving digital landscape. Brand Visibility Conferences often present opportunities for businesses to showcase their products or services, increasing brand visibility and potentially attracting new clients or customers. Adaptation to Regulatory Changes Stay informed about any regulatory changes affecting the digital marketing landscape, ensuring compliance and understanding how to navigate potential challenges. Inspiration and Motivation Conferences are not just about learning but also about gaining inspiration and motivation from industry success stories, which can energize you to approach your work with renewed enthusiasm and creativity. Digital Marketing Conferences to Attend in 2024 Digital Summit Dates and locations: Orlando, FL: February 26-27 Las Vegas, NV: March 13-14 Chicago, IL: April 3-4 Denver, CO: June 10-11 Minneapolis, MN: August 14-15 Raleigh, NC: November 4-5 Dallas, TX: December 4-5 Held both in-person and virtually, Digital Summit covers a diverse range of game-changing tactics and tools impacting current marketing strategies. From Accessibility and AI & Chat GPT to Influencer Marketing, SEO Performance & Strategy, and Viral Branding & Messaging, the conference delves into the latest trends across various domains. You can expect to gain insights into B2B Marketing, Content Planning & Development, Creative & Design, Data & Analytics, eCommerce, Email Deliverability & Engagement, Future-proofing Tactics, Mental Health & Professional Growth, Omnichannel, Paid Ads, Social Strategy for major platforms, UX & Consumer Behavior, and more. Digital Summit hosts thought leaders and creatives from prestigious brands like Amazon, Ford, Google, LinkedIn, NBA, TikTok, and Zillow. Attendees can engage in casual networking, participate in peer-driven roundtable discussions, and explore new professional opportunities. The conference emphasizes inclusivity, ensuring that regardless of company size or budget, every marketer can benefit from the latest tactics and impactful strategies. Intensive Masterclasses elevate the experience, offering deep dives into topics like SEO, Email, Branding, and Google Analytics 4. MozCon Date: June 3-4 Location: Seattle, WA MozCon promises an immersive experience, offering next-level tactics on various topics. You can expect to dive deep into the latest trends, from strategies to rank higher in today's search landscape to making data-driven marketing decisions and future-proofing businesses. The conference will explore pivotal themes such as ChatGPT, E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness,... --- This year, Google seemed to be constantly evolving. In fine-tuning its algorithms and rolling out multiple 2023 core updates, Google prioritized providing legit, high-quality content and staying on top of search engine optimization (SEO). Let's recap some of the most important updates and touch on what will most likely be coming in 2024. May 2023 Web Vitals Update Google highlighted three specific metrics as the most important Core Web Vitals: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). With these updates, they aimed to give visitors to any website a more pleasant and more secure page experience. At the end of the day, if your site wasn't quick, responsive, and visually stable, you wouldn't be seeing as much traffic. So, sites had to make a great impression and make it fast. August 2023 Passage Ranking Update The August 2023 core update aimed to look for SEO-optimized content that included pre-applied long-tail keywords and other tactics and allowed systems to identify individual sections or passages of a web page to understand better how relevant the page was to a Google search. It was a game-changer for long, juicy articles and shook up page rankings quite a bit, honing in to show only relevant search results. Structure and organizing content shot to the top of priorities, enabling search engines to find and flaunt the best passages. October 2023 Spam Update In a nutshell, this update targeted spammy tactics (in multiple languages) like keyword stuffing, cloaking, and sneaky redirects and aimed to reduce low-quality sites and reduce spam. This was a win for authentic, quality content creators and a reminder to those who teeter on the edge, just how vital it really is. December 2023 Helpful Content Update Just as we all thought the updates were done for the year, google dropped the helpful content update. The helpful content update rewarded content where visitors had a satisfying experience, and the content actually helped them due to the page's expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). Google decided fluff was out, and content needed to truly serve a purpose and became the golden standard. All of the recent core updates shook up marketing a little but ultimately required creators to maintain high content standards and follow some of these basics. Make sure your content meets these new standards by first understanding the user intent and writing with that intent in mind. Is the user seeking information? Trying to complete a task? Tailor your writing to meet those needs. Showcase your knowledge and expertise on the topic you are writing about. If you aren't an expert, consult someone who is and cite some credible sources. You will add weight to your content and help build trust with your audience. Also, remember that trustworthiness counts, quality is more important than quantity, and update your content regularly, always using clear and concise language. What to Brace for in 2024 In 2024, we expect to see a continuation of trends prioritizing user experience, authority, and content value. We'll likely witness further changes and enhancements around E-A-T, with a probable new "T" for transparency, making it E-A-T-T. As AI continues to advance, Search Generative Experience might become a buzzword, where search engines could generate summaries or answer questions directly in SERPs. So, what should you do? Continue focusing on creating top-notch content that's easy to navigate, ensure your site is fast, and don't use shady SEO tactics! If those feel like daunting or exhausting tasks, reach out to us at Volume Nine, and we'll craft a unique and dynamic SEO strategy perfect for your brand. --- A new study analyzing thousands of global brands reveals a surprising shift in short-form video content performance: Instagram Reels are now outperforming TikTok videos and Facebook Reels in both reach and engagement. That’s right, Reels content is taking the lead across social media platforms, even over TikTok’s algorithm, which once dominated the short-form video scene. Let’s unpack why that’s happening and how your brand can optimize its content creation strategy for stronger visibility and higher engagement rates in 2025. Key Findings from the Study: Why Instagram Reels Lead in Reach and Engagement Recent metrics reveal clear winners and emerging trends in social media video performance. The data shows that Reels dominate across Meta platforms—especially on Instagram—by delivering stronger reach and engagement than TikTok videos or Facebook Reels. Here are the standout insights: Instagram Reels deliver 6X more reach than Stories. Longer Instagram Reels (90 seconds or more) achieve double the video views compared to TikTok videos. Facebook Live usage among brands increased 1. 5x in Q4 2023. Longer Facebook Reels (over 90 seconds) gain higher traction than shorter clips. These findings underscore that brands prioritizing authentic storytelling and longer-form engagement are outperforming competitors across Meta’s ecosystem. Why Instagram Reels Are Worth the Effort for Modern Brands Longer, original Reels consistently drive higher engagement because audiences crave storytelling and authenticity over repetitive trends. The latest Instagram algorithm rewards creative, high-quality, and original content—especially vertical videos created using in-app editing tools, licensed music, and AR effects. Reels have also become a discovery powerhouse. The Explore page and Reels tab make it easier than ever for brands to reach new audiences, while also deepening connections with loyal followers. Unlike the early “TikTok vs Instagram” days, recent trends show Instagram’s emphasis on community and shareability drives stronger engagement across diverse demographics—especially Gen Z. For help developing a high-performing social media strategy, explore V9 Digital’s social media services. Facebook Reels Are Catching Up: Why Longer Video Content Is Performing Better Facebook’s audience may skew older, but its evolution into video-first content is undeniable. The growth of Facebook Reels and Facebook Live shows that real-time, conversational content is seeing renewed engagement. Brands can leverage longer-form Reels on Facebook to: Strengthen audience connection through storytelling Showcase user-generated or influencer content Expand reach across Meta’s connected ecosystem Meta’s unified advertising and organic platform structure allows cross-platform Reels performance, giving brands access to both Instagram and Facebook audiences simultaneously. This consistency helps maintain cohesive messaging while engaging multiple age groups effectively. How to Balance Your Short-Form Video Strategy Across Platforms Even though Instagram Reels currently lead in performance, a balanced social media video strategy ensures consistent reach and audience diversity. Each video format serves a unique purpose: Stories create casual, daily interaction. Reels boost reach and discovery via Explore and hashtags. Lives enable real-time conversation and authenticity. Carousels and tutorials build trust and long-term education. Mixing Reels, TikTok videos, YouTube Shorts, and even remix-style collaborations helps brands tailor content to each platform’s strengths. The key takeaway: content that feels authentic and audience-first, not just optimized for the algorithm, consistently wins. TikTok vs Instagram: What Sets the Two Platforms Apart in 2025 The biggest difference between TikTok and Instagram Reels comes down to intent, functionality, and audience community. Here’s how they compare: TikTok’s algorithm excels at rapid virality, pushing content to large audiences through the For You Page (FYP). Instagram Reels focuses on community engagement and storytelling, leveraging shared connections through the Explore page. TikTok’s editing and music tools encourage creative experimentation, while Instagram’s ecosystem integration supports business growth and brand visibility. TikTok still dominates Gen Z engagement, while Instagram maintains a broader demographic appeal across multiple age groups—making it more effective for brand affinity and long-term strategy. “Instagram Reels continue to be the preferred format for brand engagement and reach in 2025—not just because of Meta’s distribution, but because audiences want immersive storytelling and authenticity in every scroll. ” — Alexandra Kennedy, Socialinsider Lead Analyst What to Do Next: How to Optimize Your Brand’s Video Content Strategy If your brand hasn’t fully embraced multi-format short-form video, now’s the time to test and refine. A mix of formats will help you balance reach, engagement, and authenticity. Experiment with: Reels for... --- In a world where the average consumer's attention span is a hot commodity, video content stands out as a compelling tool. It captivates, informs and entertains—making it a cornerstone of any robust digital marketing strategy. Why Embrace Video? Higher Engagement: Videos consistently outperform other types of content on social media platforms. Better Retention: Audiences remember visual content, particularly videos, far longer than text. Greater Reach: Videos are more likely to be shared, amplifying your message across social media channels. Crafting a Video Marketing Strategy with Precision Target Audience: The Compass of Your Strategy Video marketing strategies start by zeroing in on your target audience. This focus ensures that your video content resonates and engages the intended viewers on their preferred social media platforms. Setting Ambitious Yet Achievable Video Marketing Goals Clear goals are the heartbeat of any marketing strategy. In video marketing, whether boosting brand awareness or driving sales, these objectives shape your content and measure success. The Marketing Funnel: A Roadmap for Video Content Aligning your video content with the stages of the marketing funnel can guide potential customers from discovery to purchase. Explainer videos, for instance, are perfect for the awareness stage, while product videos can help at the consideration phase. The Craft of Video Production: Types, Tips, and Tactics What Makes a Marketing Video Stand Out? The secret to a successful marketing video lies in its ability to engage. That means not just selling a product but telling a story that connects with your audience on a personal level. Tailoring Content for Different Social Media Channels The social media landscape is diverse: Facebook: Live videos and storytelling videos that encourage shares and comments. YouTube: In-depth product reviews, how-to guides and educational content. Instagram: Short, visually stunning videos and stories that leverage the platform's high engagement. Duration and Depth: Crafting Videos for Every Need Short-form videos for quick tips or announcements, perfect for platforms like Twitter or Instagram. Long-form content on YouTube or Facebook that dives deeper into topics ideal for building thought leadership. Crafting Compelling Video Content: Duration and Diversity The Ideal Length for Marketing Videos How long should marketing videos be? The answer isn't one-size-fits-all—it's more subtle and should align with your brand's message and the platform's norms. Generally, keep it concise. For most platforms, videos under two minutes strike the perfect balance between maintaining interest and delivering value. Multiplying Your Video Content Slicing Your Story: Breaking Footage into Bite-Size Pieces Transform a longer session into a series of clips with tools like Opus Clip. This strategy can extend the life of your content, providing regular engagement with your audience. Screen-Sharing with Loom or Zoom For how-tos or Q&As, screen-sharing tools are invaluable. They allow for a direct, tutorial-style approach that resonates well with audiences seeking to learn. Crafting Visuals with Canva With Canva, convert still images into appealing videos or animated slideshows. It's a simple yet effective way to animate your message for platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Slideshows to Storytelling Videos Revamp a traditional slideshow or carousel presentation into a fluid video narrative. This format is particularly effective for LinkedIn, where educational content sees higher engagement. AI-Driven Creativity: Pictory. ai Use AI tools such as Pictory. ai to generate videos from text content, making your blog posts or articles visually engaging with minimal effort. User-Generated Content Contests: Cultivating Community Content Invite your audience to contribute through contests, leveraging user-generated content (UGC) as authentic endorsements of your brand. Showcasing Products: 360-Degree Views Employ services or purchase kits to create 360-degree product videos, giving potential customers an immersive view and enhancing their online shopping experience. Variety is the Spice of Video Content Behind-the-Scenes Videos Grant your audience backstage access to your brand's world, strengthening their connection to your business. Challenge Videos: Engage and Invite Activate your community with challenge videos that prompt interaction and sharing, a fantastic way for your content to go viral. Expert Interviews Conduct interviews with industry experts to give your audience insightful perspectives and knowledge. Cooking Segments Whether whipping up quick office snacks or gourmet dishes, cooking videos can spice up your content mix. Unboxing Products Film the unboxing of new products to generate excitement and anticipation, giving viewers a genuine taste... --- As the holiday season approaches, selecting the perfect gift for your favorite marketer can feel as challenging as ideating the year's most impactful marketing campaign. Whether it's a last-minute gift idea for a colleague or a thoughtfully chosen present for a friend deeply involved in digital marketing, the right choice could be both rewarding and beneficial for their profession. Let's explore a collection of fun gift ideas for marketers that balance professional utility with personal enjoyment, ensuring your gift stands out. The Digital Marketer's Essentials What Do Digital Marketers Need? Digital marketers often juggle content marketing strategies, sales figures and customer service improvements. Bearing this in mind, consider these gift ideas: Blue light glasses: to mitigate the strain on their eyes from intense screen time. Professional computer headset: essential for clear communication during remote meetings. Coffee warmer: A practical desktop ally to keep their caffeine fix hot through marathon brainstorming sessions. Enhancing Skills and Knowledge As the new year looms, help the marketers in your life upskill with gifts that empower their professional growth: E-Book subscription: access to a variety of marketing and business titles on platforms like Amazon Kindle can be a content goldmine. Must-read marketing books: gifting classics such as "Made to Stick" equips marketers with invaluable insights. Online course membership: a gift card to an online learning hub like LinkedIn Learning or HubSpot Academy offers a treasure trove of knowledge. Personalization and Fun in Gift-Giving Creative and Personalized Marketing Gifts Digital marketers appreciate a personalized touch. Consider these unique marketing gift ideas that add a bit of flair to their digital life: Customized tech gadgets: a personalized 3D printer or a monogrammed laptop vacuum, for instance, would be both fun and functional. Interactive puzzles: a social media-themed Rubik's Cube, engaging yet a nostalgic nod to the pre-digital era. Personalized gifts: this t-shirt, this book or this mug. Digital Gifts If you're short on time, these minute gift ideas are perfect digital solutions that any marketer would value: Virtual treat delivery: platforms like Sugarwish offer a digital gift card, letting recipients select their favorite sweets. Grocery service subscription: an Instacart order or similar service can free up their time, a commodity all marketers cherish. Travel flexibility: A gift card for travel platforms like Airbnb or a favored airline provides a much-needed getaway opportunity. Wellness and Self-Care for Marketers Wellness Gifts for the Busy Marketer Acknowledging the high-stress world of digital marketing, consider gift sets that promote wellness: Relaxation vouchers: a massage gift card or a spa day pass can be a godsend after a high-stake campaign rollout. Self-care kits: assemble a personalized set with candles, bath bombs and luxury moisturizers. Gifts That Keep on Giving Subscriptions can offer ongoing delight and serve as a monthly reminder of your thoughtfulness: Beverage clubs: whether a craft beer subscription or a refined wine club, each delivery can be a toast to their success. Continuous reading: a "Book of the Month" club membership is a marketer's gateway to knowledge and leisure. The ideal marketing gift encapsulates the dynamic blend of the marketer's digital expertise and personal interests. It reflects their hard work throughout the year and an investment in their future successes. As they power down their screens and step away from their social media posts, let your gift bring a moment of joy and appreciation. From all of us here at Volume Nine, may your holiday gift-giving be as successful as the marketing campaigns that inspired these ideas. --- When the season of giving comes around, it's not just the jingle of bells that should be getting louder—it's the buzz around your non-profit's social media and content marketing strategy that should be amplifying, too. In a world where a single hashtag can launch a movement, your mission deserves a spotlight on the social stage enhanced by strategic content. It's about leveraging the digital sphere to connect, inspire and drive the spirit of generosity to new heights through engaging storytelling and targeted messaging. At Volume Nine, we understand that it's not just about asking for donations; it's about building a community that believes in your cause and it starts on the social platforms where this community thrives. Statistics show that the holiday season is a particularly potent time for non-profit donations. According to data from Neon One, ¼ of the average non-profit’s annual revenue is collected during the year-end giving season, underscoring the importance of capitalizing on this period. With the right strategy, your non-profit can leverage the digital space to create tangible real-world impacts, transforming likes and shares on your video and picture social media posts into meaningful support and change. Here are some strategies to amplify non-profits donations via social media this giving season. Understanding the Non-Profit Social Media Landscape So, what is the foundation of an excellent social media marketing strategy for a non-profit? It's about striking the right chord with emotional messaging and high-end picture and video content while safeguarding your reputation with a thoughtful social media policy. As you build your non-profit's presence in the online world, a solid social media base is the foundation. Choosing the ideal social media channels and platforms is more art than science, combining an understanding of where your target audience spends their scroll time with the type of content that resonates. It's important to integrate this approach with your non-profit branding, which emphasizes your mission and communicates it often and authentically. Always keep in mind that social media branding is a game changer in effectively delivering your message and mission. Your social media management tools aren't just tech—they're your behind-the-scenes team, ensuring that your scheduled posts, along with the narratives of real stories and case studies, are highlighted and receive the attention they deserve. In today's content world, the power of emotional storytelling takes the throne, turning passive viewers into engaged supporters and clicks into contributions. It's where high-quality creativity meets heartfelt messaging, creating a dynamic blend that captivates and engages. Laying the Groundwork for Your Non-Profit's Social Media Presence Engagement is the currency of social media and for non-profits, it's no different. To obtain it, create a social media content calendar as dynamic as the seasons themselves. Your posts should be a blend of immediate relevance and timeless mission alignment, narrating your cause in a way that both informs and moves your audience. Here's how to do it: Real People, Real Impact: Leveraging the Power of Stories Storytelling matters in your marketing. People connect with people, not faceless entities. Your social media accounts content should be a mosaic of stories highlighting the individuals or communities you serve. Use authentic images, direct quotes and compelling narratives to showcase the impact of donations. By doing so, you'll create content that resonates and craft messages that stick with your audience long after they've scrolled past. Engagement That Matters: Beyond Likes and Shares Social media for non-profits should play to the tune of relationships, not just metrics. Build a loyal community by engaging with your followers via social media. Answer their questions, highlight their efforts and make them feel seen. This is community management with a heart, where every comment, share and direct message is an opportunity to deepen bonds and fortify support. Creative Campaigns That Drive Donations The Art of the Social Media Contest Engagement is the heart of social media and contests are the pulse that keeps it beating. A well-crafted social media contest can catalyze audience participation and most importantly, contribution. The key lies in ensuring that joining the contest is inherently valuable. For instance, a photo contest that showcases participants engaging in community service not only raises awareness for your cause but also encourages philanthropic behavior. To maximize... --- Finding a new social media agency can be, well, downright exhausting. One of the baffling things? The wide range of prices you might encounter for seemingly similar services. Take, for instance, managing a Facebook page. While one agency might pitch a $500 fee, another could come in at $5,000, yet another might even quote $10,000. The vast disparity in pricing can make the hunt for the right agency incredibly challenging. But here's the thing: understanding the nitty-gritty of the services listed can shed light on the value you're receiving and why these prices are set where they are. As you navigate vetting social media services, it’s essential to start with what you need to see out of your social media channels. For example, if social media isn’t strategically important to your organization, but instead a box you’re checking, lower-cost providers might make more sense. However, if social media is a key element of your communication strategy, you’ll want to understand “what’s missing” when comparing lower-cost to higher-cost providers. #1 - Content Creation: Diving Into the Calendar’s Nitty-Gritty When diving into the world of social media agencies, one might get tripped up by the term “calendar”. But a content calendar is more than just a planner filled with post dates. Many agencies might tempt you to compare their services based on how often they're hitting 'post'. They'll hint: "Check out our frequency – once, twice, daily, or maybe a few times a week. " But a word of caution: using frequency as a yardstick to measure an agency's worth? Probably not the best idea. Here's why: Would you rather have one memorable, engaging post a week, or a daily stream of posts that don't spark much interest? I've seen agencies churn out posts that, at best, can be described as "generic coffee updates". And sometimes, these posts seem crafted from the same mold, showing little variation in creativity or style. For businesses thinking, "Well, we just need to be on social media. Quality? Not a major concern," this might be an adequate approach. But remember, if you're cutting corners on quality and opting for high-frequency, low-value content, it might be wiser to dial back on the volume too. Because if there’s one golden rule in marketing, it’s this: if you're going to do something, do it right. I'm not about low-effort social. I champion high-quality content. And when we talk about high-quality content, it's not just limited to the frequency. Ask an agency to show you a sample of their calendar, not from their most prestigious client, but a company similar in size or scope to yours. It will give you a glimpse into their operational depth. Now, let’s delve into the core of content creation: Photography & Videography: It's more than just a snapshot, it's about capturing the essence of your brand in every frame, weaving stories that resonate. Graphic Design: Your posts need to stand out, not just exist. Exceptional design ensures your content doesn’t just blend into the digital backdrop. Though some might use stock images, it should never scream "stock". Forget the cliché shots of people against sterile white backgrounds. Copywriting: Your brand has a story, and it deserves to be told with finesse. Whether it’s a tweet, a caption, or an update, every word should echo your brand’s voice. Remember, it's not just about quantity. It's the quality and strategic alignment of that content with your brand's objectives that truly counts. #2 - Strategy & Consulting: The Art Behind Every Post The Importance of Purposeful Posting Finding the right strategy is essential. It's not just about posting for the sake of it; there needs to be rhyme, reason, or strategy behind what we're boasting. Tangible Outputs of Strategy Evidence matters: Great strategic agencies can provide concrete examples or documents showcasing their approach. The strategy output: It's vital to see if an agency provides regular strategy deliverables, which are often a clear sign of their commitment to strategic processes. Social Media Brand Guidelines It’s common for companies to have brand guidelines, but social media requires a unique touch. Social media channels are so specific, with each platform having its unique way of presenting content. Platform personalities: Your... --- For over a decade, Twitter has served as a global 280-character stage for countless conversations in all realms of life, including brand marketing. However, the social media app has seen a drastic downturn since tech billionaire Elon Musk acquired it in 2022. Now renamed “X”, Twitter has lost a significant amount of traffic, ad sales, and value in the past months. In March 2023, it had a 7. 3% year-over-year decline in worldwide traffic. In July 2023, Musk revealed Twitter’s ad revenue was down 50%. It was precisely in July, in the midst of chaos, that Meta’s Threads made its entrance. Threads is a text-based social media platform created by a team at Instagram where members can share comments and engage in conversation–a clear competitor of Twitter/X. Within 24 hours after its launch, Threads already had 30 million users, making it the fastest-growing platform in history. Musk even threatened legal action against Meta after Thread’s successful launch. With so much information out there, you must be wondering: Why did Threads grow so quickly? Will its success last? Will Threads replace Twitter? What’s on the horizon for the two platforms? Let’s dive a little deeper into the Threads vs. Twitter digital battle. Threads’ Early Success Meta officially launched Threads on July 5, 2023, but Instagram had previously launched the original version of the app in October 2019. However, this version was completely different from the Threads we know now. If you hadn’t heard of this previous version before, that’s probably because it stayed pretty much under the radar. It had a minimal user base that never managed to grow. In fact, they discontinued it entirely in October 2021. Everyone continued with their lives for another year until Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, and that’s when chaos ensued. From thousands of layoffs to controversial feature changes within the app, Musk’s decisions have resulted in a significant user exodus. By November 2022, Meta was already discussing an alternative to Instagram Notes that could potentially be a Twitter rival–and they quickly got down to work. They launched Threads on July 5, 2023; it had 30 million users within 24 hours and 49 million within 48 hours, and by August 2023, its user base was up to 150 million. The Fall of Twitter (and Threads, Apparently) Based on all of this, you would think Threads was bound to take over Twitter completely, but that’s not exactly what has happened since. From July to August, active Threads users actually declined by 80%. According to Android, the average daily minutes of use peaked right after they launched to be around 20 minutes per user, but then dropped to about 5 minutes per user in only two weeks. It seems users hopped on to see what this shiny new toy was about and quickly felt it just wasn’t unique enough. Ultimately, Threads didn’t have a strong enough differentiator that set it apart from other platforms. There were also several privacy concerns about all of the different data that Threads was collecting from users. In fact, the European Commission hasn’t approved Threads’ launch in the European Union due to these privacy issues. What’s interesting is that Twitter/X is still declining as well. According to a tweet from Elon Musk himself, its ad revenue is down 50%. Traffic has also declined steadily since January 2023, and the tweet volume from the most active users has decreased by 25%. Moreover, 60% of U. S. adult users say they’ve taken a break from the platform since the Musk acquisition. So, if people are running both from Twitter and Threads, where are they going? Well, on one hand, Instagram’s average usage has increased from 12 hours a month in 2022 to 14. 5 hours a month in 2023. There was also an increase in traffic reported from Massadon and Blue Sky Social, two much lesser-known Twitter alternatives. In the end, what we’re seeing is people are simply spending time on other platforms they already like, and they might just be giving up on the idea of Twitter entirely. Will Threads Replace Twitter? This is very largely dependent on what Musk does next. He has mentioned that “X is... --- Ever felt like your marketing efforts are getting lost in the digital noise? Well, here's a secret weapon: storytelling. It's not just about facts and figures; it's about creating a genuine bond with your audience. In this guide, we'll explore how storytelling can elevate your marketing efforts, enabling you to create lasting impressions and build relationships beyond transactions. Why Storytelling Matters in Marketing Have you wondered why a well-told story gets stuck in your head like a catchy tune? It's because stories light up your brain in ways numbers can't. They're like emotional spark plugs – firing your audience's imagination and helping them remember your message. Just think of Coca-Cola's heartwarming holiday ads that evoke a sense of togetherness. Understanding the Elements of Effective Brand Stories Compelling brand stories are akin to well-crafted novels. They introduce relatable characters facing challenges, embarking on journeys, and ultimately finding resolutions. People want stories they can see themselves in, characters they can relate to, and a satisfying ending. By humanizing your brand through relatable experiences, you're not just selling a product but inviting customers on a shared journey. Connecting Emotionally with Your Audience Emotions are the heartbeats of stories. They're what make your content memorable, relatable, and impactful. By tapping into emotions, you're tapping into humanity. A heartwarming story of a family reuniting or a tale of triumph against adversity triggers empathy. It forges a bond between your brand and your audience. Share tales that tug at heartstrings, and watch how your brand becomes more than just a logo – it becomes a friend. Incorporating Storytelling Across Marketing Channels Storytelling isn't confined to a single channel – it's a universal language. Social media posts, blog articles, videos, and even email campaigns can be vehicles for your narratives. Each channel is a chance to share your brand's story uniquely; a well-crafted Instagram story can evoke curiosity, while a heartfelt email can deepen relationships. Using ChatGPT to Improve Your Online Marketing Processes Showcasing Authenticity and Values The heart of effective storytelling is authenticity. People don't just buy products; they buy into values, beliefs, and stories that resonate with their own. When your narratives align with your brand's core values, you're not just attracting customers – you're attracting a community. The Art of Customer Stories and Testimonials Customer stories are a treasure trove of authenticity. Sharing authentic experiences with real people humanizes your brand and validates its impact. By giving voice to your customers, you're creating relatable touchpoints that potential buyers can identify with. Ever read Amazon reviews and thought, "Hey, if they loved it, I will too"? That's the power of customer stories in action. Measuring the Impact of Storytelling Let's talk results – Measuring the ROI of storytelling might not be as straightforward as tracking clicks, but its impact is tangible. Watch your social media likes, and comments grow; your audience goes from first-time buyers to lifelong fans. 8 Customer Reviews Best Practices to Optimize Conversion Rates Conclusion Picture this: a world where your brand isn't just another name in the crowd but a cherished memory. That's the power of storytelling. It's not just marketing; it's a journey of emotions, connections, and unforgettable experiences. By weaving the art of storytelling into your strategy, you're creating a world where your brand is more than a logo – a story waiting to be told and retold. --- In today’s hyper-connected digital landscape, the importance of social media branding cannot be overstated. It’s not just about showing up on social media platforms—it’s about using them strategically to connect with your target audience, express your brand identity, and build genuine trust. Many brands still struggle to see the full ROI behind a strong social media branding strategy, especially when metrics from last-click attribution only show part of the story. The truth is, your social media presence impacts awareness, loyalty, and revenue far beyond what direct conversions can measure. These eight statistics prove why social media marketing is one of the most powerful tools for brand building in today’s digital world. #1 – Why Emotionally Driven Content on Social Media Boosts SalesEmotions drive purchasing behavior far more than logic, making emotional content essential for social media success. Marketing expert Tim Ash notes that the emotional brain drives most purchase decisions, meaning brands that connect emotionally are more likely to convert followers into customers. Brands can build emotional resonance through:Relatable storytelling that humanizes their messageBehind-the-scenes videos that show real people and processesEngaging, authentic posts that reflect their audience’s experiencesWhen people feel emotionally connected, they not only remember your brand—they trust and buy from it more often. #2 – How Social Media Engagement Strengthens Brand LoyaltyEngaging consistently with your followers on social media directly fuels brand loyalty. According to Sprout Social, 77% of consumers prefer shopping with brands they follow online. That means an active, responsive social presence doesn’t just grow awareness—it builds long-term customer relationships. To strengthen brand loyalty through engagement:Respond to comments and messages quicklyPost consistently to keep your brand top of mindTrack audience demographics to tailor your tone and visuals When your content reflects your brand’s personality and speaks directly to your audience—whether Millennials, Gen Z, or niche markets—it turns casual followers into loyal advocates. #3 – How Consistent Brand Presentation Across Social Channels Increases RevenueConsistency across all social channels can increase revenue by up to 33%, according to Zippia. This statistic highlights that every aspect of your visual and verbal identity—from colors to captions—affects how your brand is perceived. Consistency means more than matching your logo or graphics. It also includes:Maintaining a cohesive voice and tone in your copywritingAligning your messaging across LinkedIn, TikTok, and other platformsReinforcing brand recognition through visuals and storytellingWhen your brand presentation feels unified, your followers immediately recognize your content, which strengthens awareness and trust. #4 – Why Authenticity on Social Media Builds Long-Term Brand TrustAuthenticity matters more than perfection. STACKLA reports that 88% of consumers say authenticity is crucial when deciding which brands to support. On social media, this translates to being transparent, relatable, and real. To show authenticity online:Share user-generated content to highlight real customersPost behind-the-scenes footage to humanize your brandCommunicate openly about your process and valuesWhen your audience feels your content reflects reality, not polish, it builds credibility—and credibility drives loyalty. #5 – How Sharing Brand Values on Social Media Inspires PurchasesConsumers are more likely to buy from brands that reflect their beliefs. Havas Group found that 77% of consumers prefer purchasing from companies that share their values. Social media is the ideal platform to express what your brand stands for—whether sustainability, inclusivity, or innovation. Ways to express shared values include:Posting inspirational quotes and mission-driven contentSharing cause-related campaignsUsing visuals that renforce your principlesWhen your social media content aligns with your audience’s beliefs, you build not only community but also long-term brand loyalty. “Social media is about the people! Not about your business. Provide for the people, and the people will provide for you. ” — Brian Solis, digital anthropologist and global keynote speaker. #6 – Why Emotional Connection Encourages Brand RecommendationsEmotional connection doesn’t just inspire purchases—it encourages advocacy. Gensler’s research shows that 94% of consumers recommend brands they feel emotionally connected to. The stronger the emotional tie, the more likely followers are to share your message. To build emotional connection online:Use storytelling that evokes empathy and joyPost testimonials or customer stories that feel personalShare behind-the-scenes videos that highlight your peopleEvery emotional post becomes a shareable touchpoint that deepens trust and recognition. #7 – Why Trust Is the Foundation of Every Successful Social Media BrandTrust is the foundation for every buying decision.... --- We receive a lot of requests for SEO audits. It's probably one of the most popular services brands ask for when they first approach us. Yet, truthfully, we often find ourselves steering many of these brands away from immediate audits. Why? Not every brand needs a full SEO audit right from the start. It's a crucial step in the SEO process, but timing and circumstances play a significant role. So, how can you be sure when you genuinely need one? What is an SEO Audit? First, let's break down an SEO audit in a more detailed way since, in the industry, "SEO Audit" can mean different things to different people. An SEO audit is a thorough examination of your website to assess its ability to appear in search engine results pages (SERPs). It involves several key components: In-Depth Technical Review: This is the backbone of any SEO audit. It involves checking your website's technical aspects, such as site architecture, XML sitemaps, website loading speed, URL structure, and mobile responsiveness. It also looks at how well your website is optimized for crawling and indexing by search engines. Accessibility Checks: This assesses how easily users and search engines can access and navigate your site. It checks for things like broken links, 404 errors, and robot. txt files and checks whether your website is easy to navigate for users. Analytics and Tracking Examination: This involves assessing the tracking tools you have in place. It ensures you're properly tracking metrics and that Google Analytics and Google Search Console (or other relevant tools) are set up correctly. On-page SEO Analysis: This looks at individual webpage elements that can impact your SEO, like title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and image alt text. It also includes an analysis of your content to ensure it is high quality, unique, and relevant to your target audience. Off-page SEO Analysis: This investigates factors outside your website that can impact your rankings, such as backlinks. It includes reviewing your backlink profile to ensure you have high-quality, relevant links pointing to your site. Competitive Analysis: This looks at what your competitors are doing regarding SEO. It helps identify what they are doing well, where they are failing, and where opportunities may exist for you. Keyword Analysis: This involves analyzing the keywords your website currently ranks for, identifying new opportunities, and ensuring your website is optimized for relevant keywords. User Experience (UX) Evaluation: This involves looking at your website from a user's perspective. It includes an assessment of the overall layout, design, and navigation, as well as checking whether the content is engaging and provides value to the user. Remember, an SEO audit isn't a one-size-fits-all checklist. It should be tailored to the unique needs and goals of your business. The purpose is to identify any potential obstacles to your site's performance in search engines and provide actionable improvement recommendations. When Should You Do an SEO Audit? Understanding when to perform an SEO audit is crucial. Just like you wouldn't take your car for service after every drive, you don't need to audit your website's SEO every time you make a minor tweak. However, there are certain situations where an audit is not just beneficial—it's necessary. Here are some instances when you should consider performing an SEO audit: After Major Website Changes: Whenever you make considerable updates or changes to your website—like redesigning your site, overhauling the site structure, or adding a significant amount of new content—it's a good idea to perform an SEO audit. These alterations can often lead to unforeseen SEO issues, such as broken links, redirect errors, or keyword cannibalization. An audit will help you catch these potential problems early. Periods of SEO Inactivity: If you have yet to actively work on your website's SEO for a significant amount of time, an audit can be an excellent way to gauge where you're at and identify areas for improvement. SEO is not a 'set it and forget it' operation; it needs consistent attention and optimization. Sharp Drop in Organic Traffic: If you notice a significant decrease in organic traffic, it's a clear signal that something is amiss. An SEO audit can help identify the root cause—whether it's a penalty from... --- First of all - congratulations. Most companies are still really struggling with creating high-quality, original video content for their brands. So it’s great that you’ve already taken the step to invest in video content as well as to get it uploaded in YouTube. As you are probably aware, great video content has become a crucial part of marketing strategies. However, once you’ve made the investment in video content, you’ll want to maxmize the value you extract. This is where the value of YouTube video optimization comes in. As such, to make things a little easier on you, we put together a comprehensive YouTube video optimization checklist. Understanding YouTube's Ranking Algorithm and Ranking Videos in Google SERPs YouTube's ranking algorithm takes several factors into consideration to decide which videos should be presented first in search results and recommended sections. The primary factors include the video's relevance to the search query (based on title, description, and tags), the video's overall popularity (measured through views, likes, shares, and watch time), the level of user engagement (comments, likes/dislikes, shares), and the quality of the content (based on audience retention, click-through rate from the YouTube search results, etc. ). It's crucial to optimize all these aspects to improve your video's ranking on YouTube. Moreover, Google often displays YouTube videos in its search engine results pages (SERPs), and you can enhance your chances of getting ranked by following a few additional steps. Primarily, you need to optimize your video for relevant keywords that have video results in Google SERPs. This includes incorporating the keyword in the video's title, description, and tags. Additionally, the thumbnail of the video needs to be engaging as it competes with other SERP features for clicks. Transcribing your video content or adding subtitles and closed captions can also help, as it provides Google more text to crawl. Lastly, promoting your video on your website or blog can lead to more views and engagement, which Google considers when ranking content. However, remember that Google prioritizes high-quality, engaging content that provides value to the viewer, so focus on creating the best content possible. Optimize YouTube Video Content - 18 Step Checklist #1 - Start with Quality Content High-quality video content is a must. Good visuals coupled with clear audio can create an engaging viewer experience. So, invest in a good microphone and use suitable editing software to ensure the quality of your video is not compromised. #2 - Rename Your Video File Using a Target Keyword Before you upload your video to YouTube, rename the video file with a relevant keyword. This helps search engines to understand what your video is about, improving its SEO potential. #3 - Insert Your Keyword Naturally in the Video Title Your chosen keyword should appear naturally within the video's title. A clear, engaging title that accurately represents the video content is more likely to attract viewers. #4 - Write A Lenghty Video Description A well-written description can enhance the viewer’s understanding of your video content. Remember to include essential keywords, relevant links, and a concise synopsis of the video. Having trouble getting this description written out? Consider downloading the transcript then using AI tools like ChatGPT to help you bulk this out. Also, run your description through a tool like Grammarly to ensure you don’t have any embarrassing grammatical errors. #5 - Optimize Your Video Description When going back through yourdescription ensure you have essential keywords as well as relevant words to fully cover the breadth of your video & topic. #6 - Tag Your Video With Popular Keywords Using popular and relevant keywords in your video tags can significantly enhance your video's visibility. Tags aid YouTube's algorithm and potential viewers in understanding your video content. #7 - Categorize Your Video Categorizing your video can help YouTube associate it with similar content, thereby increasing its reach to more viewers. #8 - Upload a Custom Thumbnail Image for Your Video Thumbnails play a significant role in click-through rates. Ensure that your thumbnail is visually appealing and accurately represents the content of your video. #9 - Link to Your Website Include links to your website in the video description. This can effectively drive traffic from YouTube to your site and... --- I've been at one agency or another since 2007, so I've come across my fair share of RFPs. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) RFPs can be tricky, as they tend to blend strategic and tactical. If you've been tasked with putting together an RFP, hopefully, this will be a great starting point for you. FREE SEO RFP TEMPLATE DOWNLOAD Also, to simplify things, here's an SEO RFP Template you can download and start from for your organization! https://docs. google. com/document/d/1vPpTbcuKkT1uKHLxNdWZvaNRuJIWmqf00MJYprZ2jEY/edit# Start High-Level All right, before we dive into the nitty-gritty of SEO, let's start with you! A good RFP should kick off with a friendly introduction to your organization. I'm talking about your brand's personality, unique selling points, target audience, and the vibe customers get when they experience your brand. The more in-depth you go here, the better! Also, talk about your competition and any brands you secretly (or not so secretly) admire. Maybe their SEO game is so strong that it gives you all the feels? Go ahead and tell us - it can offer potential partners a great idea of your needs. Key details to remember to include: Company Name Website URLS in scope Key Company Information Your SEO Story So Far Next, let's chat about your past tryst with SEO. Have your rankings been on a roller coaster ride, or has your SEO team recently had a few new faces? Share the backstory! This helps your potential SEO pals understand where you're coming from and why you've sent an RFP SOS. Also, let us know who the marketing team will be on this project. Will your SEO agency have in-house support, or do you need to plan to fly solo? Do you have a marketing agency or AOR in the mix that we should know about? These details can help SEO agencies understand your ideal workflow and craft the right strategy for your brand. What's the Goal? Now, it's time to set your sights on the goalpost. Remember, think about goals linked to actual business goals & metrics rather than obsessing over keywords. A goal like, "Hey, we want our monthly leads to jumping from 3 to 6," is much more helpful than "We want to be the undisputed ruler of the XYZ keyword kingdom. " Why? Because the whole keyword ranking thing can be as fickle as a pickle. Google serves up unique SERPS (Search Results Pages) to individual users, so there's no such thing as a pure #3 ranking or something like that. But let's keep our eyes on the prize for SEO performance - what matters are getting more potential customers to your site and inspiring them to act. Sample SEO Goals & KPIs to Pick From Here are some of the most common goals & KPIS I've seen companies identify during the RFP process: SEO Goals Increase organic website traffic. Improve organic search rankings for specific keywords. Increase brand visibility in SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). Improve local search rankings. Increase conversions from organic search traffic (leads, signups, sales). Enhance mobile search performance. Reduce bounce rate and increase time spent on the site. Increase the number of pages visited per session. Boost traffic for specific website sections (e. g. , blog, product pages). SEO KPIs Organic sessions: The number of organic (unpaid) sessions on your website. Keyword rankings: The position of your website on search engines for targeted keywords. Click-through rate (CTR): The percentage of users who click on your website from SERPs. Pages per session: The average number of pages a user visits during a single session. Average session duration: The average time users spend on your site. Organic conversion rate: The percentage of organic sessions that lead to a conversion. Total organic conversions: The total number of conversions coming from organic traffic. New organic users: The number of first-time visitors to your site from organic search. Remember, the goals and KPIs you include in your RFP should align with your overall business objectives and marketing strategy. By specifying your desired outcomes and how you will measure success, you will enable SEO agencies to tailor their responses to your needs better. The RFP Process Be sure to share your RFP journey. What's the... --- As we approach the midpoint of summer and switch to Q3, it can be a great time to review your Digital Marketing program & strategy. Here are a few ideas of what should be on your radar to maximize success in the second half of the year. #1 - Transition to Google Analytics 4... #seriously Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that beginning July 1, 2023, Google Analytics will stop collecting data through Universal Analytics. Thus, if you still need to switch to GA4, it's time to prioritize this task and familiarize yourself with the new analytics platform. #2 - Planning for Q4 While it may feel early to start planning for the fourth quarter, especially for e-commerce brands, staying ahead is crucial. The third quarter tends to fly by, and waiting until the last minute to strategize for the holiday season can lead to a hodgepodge of rushed efforts. Consider your Q4 strategy early on, considering potential market fluctuations and the limited holiday consumer dollars available. #3 - Test Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial intelligence has become a prominent feature across various technologies, and it's important to consider how it can enhance your digital marketing strategy. While relying solely on AI may not be feasible, it's worth exploring its potential applications. Experiment with AI-powered tools and solutions to automate tasks, personalize customer experiences, and gain a competitive edge in the market. #4 - Mid-Year Digital Marketing Strategy Evaluation The third quarter, particularly during the summer, provides an ideal opportunity to evaluate your digital marketing strategy. Instead of waiting until the end of the year, assess your progress at the halfway mark. Review your goals, analyze performance metrics, and make any necessary adjustments to stay on track and maximize your results. #5 - 1st Party Data Want to build a moat around your brand and marketing? 1st party data and email marketing are pivotal in building a solid customer base and maintaining revenue streams. Focus on collecting email addresses from your audience and ensure you have a database of contacts you can reach out to regularly. With potential changes in search engine result pages and reduced visibility of ads and organic features, building a robust email list can help sustain traffic and engagement. #6 - Prepare for Search Engine Result Page (SERP) Changes As search engines like Google evolve their algorithms, it's essential to be prepared for potential changes in search engine result pages (SERPs). There may be a decrease in organic and paid ad visibility, emphasizing the need to rely on other traffic sources. Enhance your brand visibility and invest in strategies that generate more branded searches to ensure your business remains prominently positioned in search results. Summary The second half of the year presents opportunities and challenges for digital marketers. The best marketing teams stay proactive, adapt to market trends, and leverage the power of data to make informed decisions. The super-duper best marketing teams partner with Volume Nine to help you get all this stuff done & stay on top of Digital Marketing trends :) --- One of the most common questions in digital marketing is whether to invest in SEO or pay-per-click (PPC). SEO and PPC are strategies to connect with audiences searching on platforms like Google, but they each have unique benefits and drawbacks. When budgets are limited, you may be forced to choose between the two. This blog post aims to explore both strategies in depth and provide a thoughtful decision tree to help you make the best choice for your business. Understanding PPC: Fast Results and Valuable Data Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, as the name suggests, involves paying for each click your ad receives. This strategy can deliver quick results, making it ideal for businesses that need an immediate boost in leads or sales. However, remember that PPC is an expensive & ineffective bandaid for a poor website experience. If your website doesn't explain who you are, what you belive, and what goods or services you provide, you need to start there. Quick results are just one of the advantages of PPC. It can be a valuable tool for businesses investing in market research. Google Ads and other similar platforms provide extensive data when running PPC campaigns. You can test and analyze the efficacy of different keywords, ad texts, and landing pages. Despite its many benefits, PPC is more than just a one-size-fits-all solution. Some B2B brands may struggle with PPC. Strategies like account-based marketing or LinkedIn Ads might be a better choice for immediate lead generation. The Power of SEO: Building Expertise, Authority, and Trust Search engine optimization (SEO) is a long-term strategy focusing on improving your website's visibility in organic (non-paid) search engine results. While it doesn't provide the instant results that PPC can, it has significant long-term benefits. SEO is particularly beneficial if you are rebranding, anticipating a recession, or selling a unique product in an emerging category. The science of SEO is not just about finding keywords and optimizing your site. It's about building expertise, authority, and trust (E-A-T) for your brand. Building SEO involves: Creating relevant, high-quality content that resonates with your audience. Ensuring your website provides a smooth user experience. Building a brand that users can trust. All of these aspects not only boost your SEO but also contribute positively to your overall marketing strategy. If your business can afford to take six months or so to build up a steady stream of organic traffic, SEO can be an excellent choice. The Downside of Dependence on PPC While PPC can bring quick results, it's essential to consider its potential long-term implications. Like many other ad platforms, Google has been consistently increasing the cost per click while reducing the data available to marketers. This trend could make PPC untenable for some businesses in the long run. Imagine a scenario where a manufacturer invests in a PPC campaign, generating a considerable increase in sales. They then scale up their operations to meet this demand, hiring more staff and investing in new equipment. But what if the cost of maintaining the same level of sales via PPC keeps rising? They're stuck with increased overheads but a dwindling return on their ad spend, potentially leading to a negative return on investment. For this reason, I recommend against overly relying on PPC as a core marketing channel. SEO: A Slow Burn with Lasting Impact Conversely, SEO is a long-term investment that can generate a consistent and growing stream of traffic and leads over time. Unlike PPC, the cost doesn't increase as your traffic does. When you invest in SEO, the benefits can last for months, if not years. We've seen the content we wrote for clients years ago that still brings substantial traffic to their sites today. One blog post for a university client has generated over a million users and driven more applications than any other content they've published online. In Conclusion: Striking the Balance In a perfect world, a healthy digital marketing strategy would involve a mix of both PPC and SEO. PPC can provide quick wins and valuable insights, while SEO builds a solid foundation for long-term success. However, if you're forced to choose, consider your business goals, time frame, and budget. If you need quick results and have... --- Tracking marketing efforts and understanding audience behavior are crucial in digital marketing. One tool in the marketer's arsenal for achieving this is Urchin Tracking Module (UTM) parameters. They help you track the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. In this guide, we'll take a deep dive into UTMs, their evolution with Google Analytics 4 (GA4), and how to set them up and implement them for campaign tracking for each of your specific campaigns. What is a UTM? UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) codes are small snippets of text added to the end of a URL to track the performance of campaigns and content. These tags allow Google Analytics to tell you where the searchers came from and what campaign directed them to you. After generating a UTM, your URL parameters may look like this: https://www. yoursite. com/shop/product? utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social-ad&utm_campaign=igproductlaunch0323 Here, everything after the "? " is the UTM code. The corresponding data is stored in Google Analytics, where you can review it by campaign. Importance of UTM Tracking Codes UTM codes, or custom URLs, give marketers detailed information and attribution about a campaign's performance. They can help: Determine the effectiveness of a specific investment, such as social media, PPC, paid social, SEO / content, email campaigns, and more. Identify which channels drive more traffic (e. g. , Bing vs. Google). Evaluate which Google Ads keywords perform better. Provide detailed conversions & metrics for specific referrals. Two basic UTM parameters must be included in GA4 UTMs: utm_source: The platform where the traffic is coming from. utm_medium: The type of campaign. Additional UTM parameters that can be tracked in GA4: utm_id: The ad campaign id utm_term: Used in paid search campaigns to specify the target keyword. utm_campaign: The campaign name. utm_content: The specific content the user clicked. utm_source_platform: The platform responsible for driving traffic to a given Analytics property Coming Soon: Please note that neither of these is available in the current GA4 UTM builder, and neither is currently reporting in GA4 properties utm_creative_format: Creative, for example, display, native, video, search utm_marketing_tactic: Targeting criteria applied to a campaign, for example, remarketing, prospecting The Transition to UTM Tracking in GA4 With the introduction of GA4, Google has given a fresh approach to analytics, focusing on user behavior across platforms and devices. However, the fundamentals of UTM tracking remain the same in GA4. While you can skip 'term' and 'content' if they are irrelevant, it's important always to include 'source,' 'medium,' and 'campaign. ' These three provide critical information for your tracking and analytics. Setting Up UTM Codes for GA4 There are several ways to create UTM codes for GA4. You can use Google's free URL builder, build them manually, or use a Google Sheet to automate and standardize the process. Using Google's URL Builder for GA4 Navigate to Google's Campaign URL Builder. Switch the "Demos & Tools" option from UA (Universal Analytics) to GA4. Fill in the form with your campaign information. After filling in the form, the tool will generate a URL with the appended UTM codes. Copy and paste this URL into the relevant item in your campaign. Manually Building UTM Codes for GA4 Start with your base URL. Add a question mark "? " to the end of the URL to indicate the start of the UTM parameters. Append your UTM parameters and their values. Separate each parameter and value pair with an ampersand "&. " An example of the final URL would look like this: https://www. yourwebsite. com/? utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=spring_sale Using Google Sheets to Automate UTM Code Creation A Google Sheet can be a powerful tool to standardize your organization's UTM code creation process. Open Google Sheets and create a new blank sheet. Set up columns for the various UTM parameters and the base URL. Input the details for each campaign under the relevant column. Create a formula to concatenate the base URL and UTM parameters. Copy this formula down for all campaigns. Share and protect the sheet with your team. Common Mistakes to Avoid with UTM Parameters in GA4 While UTMs are highly useful, there are a few pitfalls that you should avoid: Inconsistency in naming: UTM parameter values are case-sensitive. For instance, utm_source=Facebook is different from utm_source=facebook. Using spaces in UTM... --- Although tools alone won't make your social media program shine, having the right tools in your arsenal can be the difference in building an impactful online presence. Over the past two decades, we've tested a ton of social media tools, and here are our favorites :) HeyOrca - $79/month: Schedule with Ease HeyOrca is an incredibly user-friendly tool that revolutionizes social media scheduling. It offers features like collaborative planning and streamlined approval processes. More than just a scheduling tool, HeyOrca provides a visual content calendar, making it easier to organize, review, and manage posts across different platforms. It simplifies cross-platform management and ensures a consistent and coordinated online presence. Canva - $12. 99/month: Unleashing Your Creativity Canva is a design tool that caters to both beginners and professionals. It's a convenient solution for creating eye-catching social media graphics without needing an extensive background in graphic design. Canva offers a vast selection of templates and design elements, from fonts to icons and images, helping to transform ideas into visually stunning content in minutes. Adobe - $54. 99/month: Design Mastery The Adobe suite, known for its advanced design capabilities, is a must-have tool for those seeking to take their visual content to the next level. From Photoshop's image editing prowess to Illustrator's vector graphic capabilities and Premiere Pro's video editing excellence, Adobe provides a comprehensive suite that delivers professional-level results. The learning curve might be steep, but the results are worth the investment. FlexClip - $19. 99/month: Master of Social Videos FlexClip is a powerful tool for creating social media videos that resonate with viewers. A simple drag-and-drop interface allows you to combine photos, video clips, and music into engaging video content. FlexClip's library of customizable templates can cater to various scenarios, from product introductions to event promotions. The tool's versatility makes it a go-to resource for creating standout video content. Sprout Social - $249/month: Comprehensive Social Media Management Sprout Social is a leading name in social media management tools, serving as a one-stop solution for businesses of all sizes. With capabilities including post-scheduling, performance analytics, and team collaboration, Sprout Social equips users to manage their social presence effectively. In addition, the platform's robust analytics help to gauge content performance and understand audience behavior, driving data-informed strategies. Sprout Social - Custom Pricing: Superior Social Listening Sprout Social's social listening feature is another valuable asset for digital marketers. It helps track, analyze, and respond to online conversations about brands and industries. Sprout provides insights into what's being said about a brand and its competitors, enabling users to make more informed marketing decisions and build stronger relationships with their audience. Drop Box - $9. 99/month: Effortless Asset Sharing Drop Box provides a seamless solution for sharing and storing digital assets. It's an efficient platform that helps teams manage and distribute files. Whether sharing graphics, videos, or other documents, DropBox ensures quick and secure access to necessary files. Its cloud-based storage system benefits remote teams, offering convenience and increasing productivity. Upfluence - Custom Pricing: Simplified Influencer Management Upfluence is an innovative tool designed to facilitate influencer marketing. It helps identify, manage, and analyze influencers across different social media platforms. With features such as an extensive influencer database and detailed analytics, Upfluence makes executing and measuring successful influencer campaigns easier. In conclusion, the right tools can dramatically enhance your social media strategies, elevating your online presence and engagement. However, if managing these tools feels overwhelming or you're looking for a more holistic, hands-off approach, Volume Nine is ready to help. As a full-service digital marketing agency, Volume Nine provides various services, including social media management, using these tools, and more to ensure you can focus on what you do best - running your business. --- Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved, carving an indispensable place within digital marketing. In particular, the SEO landscape stands at the cusp of a revolution, thanks to AI's potential to elevate performance and drive results. Artificial Intelligence traces its roots back to the mid-20th century, though its influence on SEO and digital marketing has surged recently. With AI, digital marketers can anticipate enhanced SEO strategies, improved content creation, and incisive analysis of text data, ultimately leading to a game-changing impact on the digital marketing landscape. Watch the full hour-long webinar we hosted with SERanking for more than 1,200 SEOs around the world: Here are the Slides: How to Use AI (Like ChatGPT & Bard) in your SEO & Content - A Comprehensive SlideShare Presentation from Volume Nine Harnessing AI for SEO Strategies AI's potential to revamp SEO strategies lies in the following key areas: Comprehensive research, bolstered by fact-checking capabilities Generation of innovative content ideas Streamlined content creation Facilitated coding processes Advanced text data analysis Mastering the Art of AI-Powered SEO: ChatGPT & Bard Prompts As a step towards harnessing the full power of AI in SEO, mastering the art of crafting effective ChatGPT and Bard Prompts is crucial. One can download the SEO Prompt Guide from V9digital for a detailed guide. Here are some key elements to remember: Clear context and role definition Setting a clear topic Crafting effective questions Curating strategic follow-up Utilizing examples for better clarity Offering constructive feedback Empowering SEO Tactics with ChatGPT & Bard AI, particularly ChatGPT & Bard, can be used to enhance a plethora of SEO tactics. These include: SEO Strategy: Structuring efficient SEO strategies Adopting and innovating best practices Defining specific goals, KPIs, and personas Keywords: Conducting comprehensive keyword research Competitive keyword research Semantic keyword optimization Optimization: Optimization recommendations Keyword insertion Content expansion Schema generation Metadata creation Content Development: Identifying content gaps Creating relevant content topics Crafting compelling titles Developing content outlines Conducting content research Writing and rewriting copy Local SEO: Optimizing Google profiles and local SEO pages Posting business updates Identifying potential directories for listing Link Earning: Creating link-earning ideas Identifying relevant sites for links Crafting outreach emails Generating ideas for newsworthy content SEO Reporting: Crafting report best practices GA4 event setup UTM creation Tool recommendations Legal and Ethical Considerations in AI While AI is transforming SEO, it is essential to understand its legal and ethical implications, ranging from accountability and liability issues to intellectual property rights and privacy concerns. Ethically, AI presents challenges related to bias and discrimination, job displacement, misinformation, and questions of transparency. Future of SEO: The Intersection of AI and Brand Building As SERPS evolves to include chatbots, SEOs must consider the potential of losing unbranded SEO and paid search traffic. Therefore, building a solid brand and gathering first-party data, like email list signups, becomes paramount. Simultaneously, it's crucial to uplevel personal skills to keep pace with AI advancements. Exploring More About SEO AI Several resources can offer insightful content for those interested in diving deeper into the realm of SEO AI. Some recommended platforms include OpenAi. com, Search Engine Journal, AI Magazine, AI Trends, and artificialintelligence-news. com. Follow hashtags #ai and #chatgpt on LinkedIn for the latest updates. Need Assistance? Ready to take your SEO program to the next level? Whether it's an SEO audit or ongoing SEO management, we're here to help! --- LinkedIn is a powerhouse platform for networking, lead generation, and business-to-business (b2b) growth. However, like most social media platforms, staying updated with best practices can be a moving target. Here's a helpful list of LinkedIn Best Practices for 2023 if you aim to expand your digital footprint this year. Understanding LinkedIn's Algorithm Wondering why your profile or business isn't getting more visibility? Understanding LinkedIn's algorithm in 2023 is a critical piece of the puzzle. Here's a list of what the algorithm is looking for: Content quality matters Interactions and engagement Personalized, relevant content Here's a great breakdown of tactics/ideas on things to do to improve your standing with LinkedIn's algorithm: LinkedIn ranks content based on audience relevance. Initial post classifications: Spam, Low Quality, High Quality Avoid spam markers like lousy grammar, multiple links, excessive tagging, frequent posting, and specific hashtags. High-quality posts have relevant tags, specific hashtags, clear formatting, niche topics, engaging content, minimal outbound links, and strong keywords. The first hour after posting, the "golden hour," is crucial for engagement. Do's in the golden hour: Post when followers are online, ask engaging questions, interact with other posts, follow a consistent schedule, and respond to comments. Don'ts: Ignore the post after publishing, tag people who won't respond promptly, edit the post Engagement drives wider post distribution. Spam or ignored posts get penalized. Connections, interest relevance, and engagement probability are ranking signals. Avoid outbound links, as LinkedIn wants users to stay on the platform. Sharing others' posts reduces your engagement. New LinkedIn features get favored in the algorithm. Use images wisely; they should support your post. Keep videos brief and to the point. Text-based posts get more reads than videos. Start by posting once a week, diversify your content, and focus on what works for you. Understanding these algorithmic preferences helps in crafting content that hits the sweet spot. Crafting the Perfect Business Profile A LinkedIn personal profile is your professional digital identity. It showcases your unique career history, skills, endorsements, and network, serving as an interactive resume and networking tool. On the other hand, a LinkedIn Company Page represents a business entity. It's a platform to highlight your company's news, updates, and job openings and showcase your products or services to potential customers or employees. Both profiles serve unique, essential roles. A robust personal profile allows you to interact with other professionals, join groups, and participate in discussions, thus building your professional brand. Meanwhile, a well-optimized company page enhances your business's online presence, provides insights about your company culture and values, and is a platform for promoting business updates and content. Setting up and Optimizing a Business Profile on LinkedIn: Sign up with a professional email and create a strong password. Complete all the personal information fields, including your current position and industry. Upload a high-quality, professional headshot for your profile picture. Craft a compelling and informative headline. Write a succinct yet detailed summary highlighting your experiences, skills, and aspirations. Add all relevant work experiences, projects, and volunteer activities to your profile. Include your educational background and any certifications you have. Ask for recommendations and endorsements from colleagues, partners, and clients to boost your credibility. Setting up and Optimizing a Company Page on LinkedIn: Navigate to the "Work" icon on the right side of the LinkedIn homepage and select "Create a Company Page. " Choose the appropriate category for your company. Fill out all the requested details, such as company name, website, industry, company size, and company type. Write a concise yet descriptive overview of your company in the "About us" section. Upload a high-resolution company logo and a banner image visually representing your brand. Add your company's specialties, location, and hashtags related to your business. Invite your employees and business associates to follow the company page. Strategies for Growing Your Following A bigger, relevant audience on LinkedIn can provide critical brand signals of trust and grow a list of potential customers. Here's how to grow your following: Identify your target audience. Regularly post relevant and engaging content. Engage with followers via comments and messages. Join and participate in LinkedIn groups in your industry. Here are some tips/hacks for building your Linkedin Following in 2023 Post daily Publish long-form content... --- As more and more marketers lean into GA4, I've been getting the same question - are there any good analytics alternatives to GA4? The great answer is yes, there is, but you'll need to understand your tracking needs both now & in the future before contemplating a switch. Here are a few criteria that might help review alternatives more in-depth: Key features & metrics Cost of the platform Level of customer support Privacy and security features I would make sure you speak with stakeholders at your organization to ensure that any metrics you need to be tracked will be available in any alternative tracking tool you select. With all that as context, here are a few of the most popular GA4 alternatives we're seeing brands adopt in 2023: Matomo Matomo, a free, open-source analytics platform, provides several features: Event tracking Heatmaps User segmentation E-commerce tracking Visit Matomo. Although the basic version is free, premium plans start at €19/month. Piwik PRO Piwik PRO offers a robust set of features: A/B testing Multivariate testing Predictive analytics Audience segmentation Visit Piwik PRO. Contact their sales team for pricing information. Fathom Analytics Fathom Analytics, a privacy-focused platform free from cookies or third-party scripts, includes: Simple, user-friendly interface Real-time analytics Data aggregation Unlimited sites on one account Visit Fathom Analytics. Pricing starts at $14/month. Plausible Analytics Plausible Analytics, also privacy-focused, is simple, lightweight, and easy to use: Real-time analytics Visitor breakdown by country and device Referral sources tracking Visit Plausible Analytics. Pricing starts at $6/month. Woopra Woopra offers both CRM and analytics capabilities: Real-time analytics Customer journey tracking Trends analysis Retention reports Visit Woopra. Pricing plans start at $349/month. Mixpanel Mixpanel, an event-based analytics platform, includes: User interaction tracking Funnel analysis User segmentation Retention analysis Visit Mixpanel. They offer a free plan, while paid plans start at $17/month. Heap Heap, suitable for tracking user behavior over time, offers: Event-based tracking Real-time analytics User segmentation Retention and funnel analytics Visit Heap—contact Heap for pricing information. Adobe Analytics Adobe Analytics, an enterprise-level analytics platform, provides the following: Real-time analytics Multichannel data integration Advanced segmentation Predictive analytics Visit Adobe Analytics. Contact Adobe for pricing details. Kissmetrics Kissmetrics specializes in the following: User interaction tracking Funnel analysis User segmentation Cohort analysis Visit Kissmetrics. Contact Kissmetrics for pricing details. Hotjar Hotjar, a user behavior analytics platform, includes: Heatmaps Scroll maps Session recordings Conversion funnels Visit Hotjar. Pricing starts at €39/month. Hubspot Hubspot provides: Visitor tracking Website performance analysis Marketing campaign measurement CRM integrated analytics Visit Hubspot. Hubspot's pricing starts at $45/month for the Starter plan. Marketo Marketo, an advanced marketing automation platform, offers: Customer behavior tracking Personalized messaging Multichannel marketing ROI tracking Visit Marketo. Contact Marketo for pricing details. Summary Overall, the ideal analytics platform will largely depend on your specific needs (I know... shocking). However, as you dig into alternatives I will also mention that GA4 is continuing to build out reporting & features, so it may still be the right analytics choice for your organization in the long run. --- Have an event you'd like added to this list? Email us at hello@v9digital. com Denver isn't just a stunning place to live - it's a buzzing hub for digital marketing. Our city has a thriving tech scene, bustling with innovation and opportunity, and boasts a remarkable lineup of digital marketing conferences and meetups. And guess what? You don't need to hop on a plane to be part of this. Some of the most impactful and inspiring digital marketing events are happening in the heart of Denver. CANNABIS MARKETING SUMMIT Event Website: https://thecannabismarketingassociation. com/summits/cannabis-marketing-summit-2023/ When: June 21 - 23, 2023 Pricing: $649 About the Summit: If you want to bring your A-game to the cannabis industry, then the Cannabis Marketing Summit is where you need to be. A truly unique event, it's curated in partnership with marketers. The summit promises the most innovative strategies and tools to keep you on top of the cannabis marketing landscape. Why Should You Attend? Perhaps you're dipping your toes in the networking waters or ready to dive headfirst into in-depth, peer-driven discussions. Either way, the Cannabis Marketing Summit has your back. Prepare yourself for outstanding networking opportunities and a whole lot of fun. There's an abundance of prizes waiting for you, alongside well-deserved, laid-back happy hours, not to mention the treasure trove of insights you'll gain. Join us; it's high time we changed the game! DIGITAL SUMMIT DENVER Event Website: https://digitalsummit. com/conferences/denver-2023 When: June 27-28, 2023 Pricing: $795 About: Organizers have designed every inch of the 2023 Digital Summit with forward-thinking marketers in mind. It's all about mastering the hottest tactics and tools that are shaking up the marketing world as we know it. Why Attend: Whether you're hunting for networking opportunities as light as a casual chat or as heavy as roundtable discussions, Digital Summit is your one-stop shop. And don't be surprised if you find your marketing soulmate at this event. You'll have a blast between exciting prizes, a sponsor area buzzing with opportunities, and boozy happy hours to unwind. DENVER ECOMMERCE SUMMIT Event website: https://retailsummits. com/events/denver-ecommerce-summit/ Dates: July 13 Pricing: $1,500 About In the world of eCommerce, staying ahead of the game is crucial. And that's where the Denver eCommerce Summit comes in. This event, tailored to eCommerce enthusiasts like you, brings the most valuable insights, strategies, and tools to your fingertips. It's your chance to stay updated with the latest trends and shifts in the online retail landscape. Why Should You Attend? Denver eCommerce Summit is your go-to event whether you're looking for quality networking, engaging discussions, or new growth opportunities. It's your chance to mix and mingle with your eCommerce compadres, learn from the best, and - let's not forget - have a fabulous time. There's no better place to boost your eCommerce know-how between actionable insights, a plethora of networking opportunities, and a lively, engaging atmosphere. DENVER SEO MEETUP (FREE) Event Website: https://www. meetup. com/denver-seo/ When: Monthly Pricing: Free + Free Pizza About Are you an SEO enthusiast, always searching for new strategies, tools and the chance to mingle with like-minded professionals? If so, the Denver SEO Meetup is calling your name. The SEO Meetup gathers monthly and keeps you in the loop of the SEO world, providing value to your career and, most importantly, your marketing strategy. Why Should You Show Up? Networking can be a hit or miss. But at the Denver SEO Meetup, you're consistently scoring big. Whether you're just looking for some laid-back networking or are ready to engage in enlightening, peer-driven discussions, this Meetup is your ticket. Think of it as your monthly pit stop - the perfect place to refuel your knowledge, connect with your SEO tribe, and have fun. There's never a dull moment here between the buzz of discussion, the exchange of innovative ideas, and an environment that encourages learning. HIGHLANDS RANCH DIGITAL MARKETING MEETUP (FREE) Event Website: https://www. meetup. com/highlands-ranch-digital-marketing-meetup/ When: Monthly Cost: Free + Free Snacks About: On the hunt for a new digital marketing scene? Look no further. The Highlands Ranch Digital Marketing Meetup is a monthly rendezvous you must attend. This Meetup is about bringing value to your career and revolutionizing your marketing approach. Why You Should... --- In the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) world, links are crucial. They help boost your visibility, credibility, and search ranking on search engines and are critical to Google's mysterious algorithm. However, many SEOs (us included) will caution you to be wary of buying links - it's risky and can lead to crippling penalties. Instead, we'll tell you the value is in "link earning," which almost immediately begs the question - What the heck is link earning? How is that technically different than buying links, and how can I do it? All fair questions :) What the heck is link earning, and how is that different from buying links? Buying Links: This involves paying for backlinks to your site. While it might seem like a quick win, these types of links are against Google's guidelines and could result in penalties, including lowered ranking or removal from search results (remember the days of penguin? ) Earning Links: In contrast, this means creating and promoting high-quality content that garners natural links from other websites. This method is ethical, sustainable, and aligned with Google's emphasis on quality content and user experience. Alright, How do I Earn Links? Well, in SEO, that's a million-dollar question. However, I've compiled a list of ideas for earning quality links for your SEO strategy. Luckily, You don't need webmaster expertise or a marketing degree for these link-building strategies; you need a little creativity. Hopefully, some of these ideas will give you a springboard for your link-earning strategy! Link Earning Category #1: Valuable Content #1 Infographic: Translate complex data into visually appealing graphics. To make your infographics link-worthy, ensure they're packed with valuable, unique data and use engaging designs. Remember to include an embed code and social sharing buttons to make sharing easier for others. Here's a little more insight on how to create a great infographic. #2 Videos: Express your ideas visually and reach a broader audience on platforms like YouTube. Videos include tutorials, explainers, product reviews, or company culture showcases. Promote your videos across your social media channels and embed them in related blog posts to increase visibility. #3 Podcasts: Start a conversation, share knowledge, and attract an audience who enjoys audio content. Add detailed show notes and transcripts for each episode on your website, which can improve SEO and earn you links. Want to avoid putting the energy into your podcast? Consider reaching out to get interviewed in one! Backlinko details this tactic in its link-building guide. #4 White Papers: Show your industry expertise with an in-depth analysis of a specific topic. When promoting your white paper, target industry leaders, influencers, and websites that might be interested in your insights, encouraging them to link to your work. #5 Case Studies: Share success stories to demonstrate your experience and results. Case studies that include compelling data, precise visuals, and actionable insights will likely be shared by others in your industry. #6 E-books: Provide valuable insights in a format that users can consume at their pace. Once your e-book is ready, promote it on your website, newsletter, and social media. You can also offer it as a free download in exchange for a share or a backlink. #7 Guides: Offer step-by-step advice to help solve everyday problems in your industry. Comprehensive, evergreen guides often earn links organically over time, as other writers cite them as resources. #8 Tutorials: Teach something new and make the learning process easier. Tutorials that are clear, easy to follow, and filled with practical tips are often linked to valuable resources. #9 Courses: Build learning materials that can turn visitors into students. Promote your course on industry forums, social media groups, and your email list, asking students to share their experiences and your course link. #10 Webinars: Connect with your audience in real time, answer their questions, and offer immediate value. You can earn links by partnering with influencers or other businesses for webinars, linking your content to their websites. #11 Blogs / Articles: Create optimized content to rank well for informational keywords and gain inbound links & traffic. Be sure to create informative, engaging articles full of data-driven insights. Others often cite These types of articles in their content, earning you backlinks naturally over time.... --- *whew* 2023 has started a little intense. The business landscape continues evolving, presenting unique challenges to B2B brands. Here are some of the most common concerns I've heard in 2023 so far: Keeping your sales teams "fed" with inbound leads Differentiating your positioning better online Diversifying lead flow Keeping the momentum on 2023 growth goals Expanding into new markets Honing in / niching into specific customer segments If any of those concerns/opportunities resonate, you aren't alone! I wanted to put together some of the more significant recommendations I'm giving to brands to help them maintain a critical edge going into what is stacking up to be a tumultuous year. #1 - Better Analyze Key Pages with GA4 As I write this, I realize that many of us are low-key, ignoring GA4. However, once you get past the 12 stages of grief for the analytics program that Google's forced us to learn and love for the last decade, there are some significant upsides to this platform for B2B brands. Because GA4 is "event-based," it allows us to get a much more granular picture of how users are interacting with your website and content. For example, most B2Bs have a small number of website pages considered your core pages (they might be your services pages, solutions, etc. ). With GA4 event tracking, you can get a granular picture of what's happening on each page, allowing you to make continual improvements over time. A few examples Scroll Depth (is your audience scrolling down to key content, or where do they seem to be stopping) Video Views (if you have a crucial video, are they watching it)? Specific downloads for whitepapers or resources Distinct clicks on the page (e. g. , if you have a FAQ expandable menu) #2 - Understand What's Changing With Your Customers in a Recession Year Okay, let's face it – economic downturns are nobody's idea of a good time. But for B2B brands, this can be an opportunity in disguise. If you are first to market in understanding your customer's changing needs, you can build a highly valuable differentiator. Quantitative Research Quantitative Research tends to be where we all like to start. What data or trends can you get your hands on, and how can you adapt to that? Some popular ways to collect quantitative data: Review website metrics Analyze changes in your CRM data Qualitative Research Spending time talking to customers is where B2B brands often miss the boat but have the most significant opportunity. Try to dive deep into the minds of your customers, understanding their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Here are a few tips on doing qualitative research with clients: Listen & try to get their perspective Avoid "leading the witness. " Have an organized set of open-ended questions Dig for the "why" or the context behind a perspective Record the interview so you don't have to take a lot of time with notes Once you've got your research in hand, it's time to adapt your messaging, offerings, and strategy to changes in buyer pain points or needs. # 3 - Loop Your Sales Team into Marketing Strategies The best B2B brands actively foster communication between their sales and marketing teams. They actively encourage them to share insights, discuss strategies, and collaborate on projects. One idea is to involve your sales team in the content strategy process. They talk to customers and prospects daily, so they know the questions and what kind of content might need to be added to the site. Another idea is to have marketing ask for the sales team's advice. We know, we know ... they want the Glen Garie / Glen Ross leads, but after that, sales teams usually have a very unique and extremely helpful perspective on what kinds of marketing. Finally, attribute success like this is the team sport it is. Prospects need multiple touchpoints before they are willing to sign a contract. Be sure to congratulate marketing & sales together for new clients & deals, not just your sales ace. #4 - Diversify Your Lead Flow Whenever I discuss diversifying lead flow, I'm reminded a lot of the book "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" by... --- Organic social media marketing can be a flashy/shiny object to companies. Brands start tossing time/money/resources into it, almost hoping that something positive will happen from all that effort. We call that the "post and pray" method. Or they barrel into organic social media, thinking it should be approached like any other direct response channel. We call that generally a bad idea. Examples of things I've heard company decision-makers say (any of these sound familiar? ) We've got to be on TikTok; it's exploding right now! Social media feels like a marketing tax we have to pay - it doesn't do anything for us, but it's required Our expectation is for Instagram posts to drive leads Why aren't we doing the XYZ tactic? ! ? ... our competitor is doing it! Let's try to make something go viral. Then, fast forward six months, that same decision maker looks at a channel report in Analytics and starts panicking, seeing that social media appears to be driving little traffic or sales/leads. At the risk of oversimplifying things, the issue is the lack of an appropriate "why are we doing this" underneath and, most of the time, the proper measurement, KPIs & vision of what success looks like. But, it's easy to see how we got here - as an industry, we've taught ourselves, and clients that evaluating digital comes down to simple to a channel report - did the channel drive website traffic, and did that traffic immediately create a conversion for us? But - social media is ALOT more than a last-click attribution Google Analytics report. Are you noticing that branded search is going up? Or are you observing your traffic clicking your social media icons to vet you when they come to your site? Is the traffic in the mysterious "Direct" or "unassigned" categories inexplicably growing? Is your messaging across the board resonating better and getting you better conversion rates & clicks through? Are you earning more links for content that is boosting your SEO rankings? These metrics can indicate a healthy, successful social media program supporting your overall digital marketing metrics. How Brand Awareness Affects the Bottom Line Intrinsically, we know increasing positive brand awareness is good... but why? Overall, brand awareness leads to a lot of really good things, including (1) a bigger pool of potential customers, (2) opening the door to new partnerships & opportunities (3) helping you build long-term brand value. We know how to measure brand awareness on social media through things like Reach, Impressions, Engagement, Followers, etc. But how can you tell if that brand awareness positively affects your bottom line? Here are some additional metrics to start considering: Increases in branded search (can be measured in both SEO & Paid) Earned links for key content Leading to increased SEO rankings in that keyword category, leading to increased traffic & conversions in organic search. Increased email signups Leading to email conversions Increased partnership or distributor opportunities Increased brand valuation Other Key Areas Social Builds Value Customer Loyalty Loyal customers are likelier to repeat purchases, recommend your brand to others, and provide valuable feedback. While email is usually the fan favorite among brands for customer loyalty programs, social media can be a vital tool for building loyalty, especially for extracting public testimonials from brand enthusiasts + connecting with brand advocates who might have purchased on third-party websites and; therefore, you don't have their email address. Market Research The value social can provide in helping you identify trends and customer needs and testing messaging strategies is hard to understate. This information can be used to develop better products and services, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction and driving sales. Employee Engagement Let's remember the people who keep the wheels turning in your organization. Engaged employees are more productive, committed, and likely to stay with your company longer. Social media can showcase your company culture, celebrate employee achievements, and encourage internal communication. This not only helps with talent acquisition but also creates a sense of pride and camaraderie among your workforce, which can positively impact your business's overall performance. Crisis Management In the age of lightning-fast information sharing, social media has become a critical tool for crisis management. Being active... --- Wahoo! Chat-4 Is Here :) Yesterday Open AI announced GPT-4 is here for pro users & for via their API. Over the last few months, as millions of users have flocked to Chat-GPT-3. 5, they've started to assess the tool's power and its limitations quickly. It's important to know that CPT-4 is an excellent iteration of 3. 5, but it only fixes some of those limitations. As such, the difference between the two can be a bit nuanced, especially for a casual user, so here's a quick breakdown of some of the main differences. Overall things to be aware of: Both are still using a database until Sept 2021 (however, you can input a current URL and ask both to analyze it for you). Both still provide incorrect information & hallucinate a bit, so you need to fact-check before publishing. Some of the upgrades: You can provide image inputs in addition to text. Chat-GPT4 is more willing to answer disallowed questions, "e. g. , what to do if you want to cause yourself harm. " Introduces human improvements & a regular improvement process, so it can understand language prompts better + give better outputs Both can pass the bar exam, but Chat GPT-4 aces it, while GTP-3. 5 barely scraped by. Easier for developers to provide complicated prompts How to get to Chat-GPT-4 You need to be a pro subscriber (if you aren't, consider upgrading today, it's $20 per month). Then before providing your prompt, select GPT-4 vs. 3 or 3. 5. Do you need help getting your bearings on AI and Chat-GPT 3 / 3. 5 / 4? We can help! Here are a few helpful resources: Article - is AI content ok for SEO? Live Event (free) - Live in Colorado? We are hosting a meetup on March 30 to talk through AI and how you can use it for your digital marketing. Digital Marketing Services - We’re working hard to help clients gain efficiencies and value from Digital Marketing by integrating AI correctly. Need help with SEO, Content, Social, or Migrating to GA4? We can help! --- TL: DR - Probably Not. Even if it's working in the short term, you are running a considerable risk. Executive Summary if you don't feel like reading all of this: Yes - things with AI & Chat in Search are moving really, really fast. Google has stated AI content is SPAM. Then they released updated Webmaster Guidelines saying AI content for SEO Rankings is SPAM. However, there are many other really cool uses for AI to support SEO, including supporting writing content without having AI actually do the writing. AI content tools like ChatGPT have some big limitations you should be aware of. ChatBots are about to pull a lot of potential click-throughs from PPC & SEO Efforts + we're about to see a content explosion, so this is the year you need to get your SEO program off auto-pilot. -------------------------------------------------- AI Content + SEO In the Past Year - A Quick Breakdown Alright, the whole industry is buzzing right regarding Ghat GPT. First, let me say that it feels weird to write an article about AI with AI, so I decided to go with what is now apparently the "old-fashioned" way of writing this article personally. I've been in the Digital Marketing industry for 15 years. I remember a few pivotal moments in my career that significantly changed the marketing trajectory. This absolutely feels like one of those times. AI has been a buzzword circulating for quite some time (RankBrain, Watson, etc. ), but until very recently, AI has been out of reach for the average person or brand. It's complicated, expensive, and takes a lot of work to keep running. But in the last few years, tools at lower price points have given users the ability to complete specific tasks with "pretty good" artificial intelligence (e. g. , Jasper and content writing). Funnily enough, they are all built on OpenAI, which also fuels ChatGPT. If it feels like a lot has happened in just the last year, you are right - here's a quick timeline: April 2022 In response to tools using OpenAI (like Jasper), Google clarifies that writing AI content is SPAM and against webmaster guidelines. April 2022 - January 2023 Google then spends the year unleashing the "helpful content update," which targets SPAM specifically. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to piece together that karate-chopping AI-generated content was high on the list of priorities for those updates. Case & Point: CNET has been using an AI journalist who riddled their content with errors + plagiarized stuff. Yikes. Estimated CNET Organic Traffic (Screenshot from SEMRush) - see below - that line needs to go in the right direction. Sidenote, helpful tools exist to help you quickly see that it's obvious when you use a lot of AI tools to write your content. See, I'm not lying; I am, in fact, writing this myself - I have a feeling my Grammarly score won't look this pretty, though... November 2022 Then, in November, Chat GPT 3. 5 Launched and has a free version people can use, and it writes content better than any other tool on the market + does way more than write content. Also, ChatGPT content is ranking in Google & most AI tools can't detect it. We've been testing this detection tool - it's doing an "okayish" job but could be better at detecting ChatGPT content. According to Paul Zalewski, Verblio runs thousands of posts through this tool, and generally, there are false positives. If the device indicates an 80% or greater chance that it's AI, then almost certainly AI wrote it. December 2022 Google declares a "Code Red" in a Google Report - it turns out that technology that can answer questions without scrolling through a giant list of options threatens their business model. https://www. cnet. com/tech/services-and-software/chatgpt-caused-code-red-at-google-report-says/ Also, side note - I've started asking Chat GPT for recipes, and just getting the damn recipe and asking it my recipe questions, instead of having to read 10,000 words of back story, has been *everything. * January 2023 Microsoft announces ChatGPT is coming to a Bing search near you. Google announces they will hurry up and launch their own version of Chat GPT. They have started heavily... --- Twitch's growth in popularity has skyrocketed over the past four years. While advertisements are dominated by big brands such as Mcdonald's, Samsung, Pizza Hut, Ragu, and other national companies, advertisers can still get into Twitch in more impactful ways. Below are some ways to reach your target audience without spending big dollars against brands with a national presence. When are Twitch ads shown? Streamers, or channels, can choose how often ads run during their streams. You can run ads on your profile if you are a Twitch Affiliate or Partner. Streamers will start as a "Streamer," and as their channel gains popularity, they become an affiliate. Once you're an Affiliate on Twitch, people can subscribe to your channel for $5 a month. Users who subscribe to a Twitch channel are exempt from seeing ads and can use emojis that the channel creator uploads. Streamers can choose when ads are shown to users who are not subscribed to their stream. A first ad is shown anywhere from the first 30 seconds to 10 mins when a user who isn't subscribed comes to the stream. Each channel has the following options to run ads: Ad Spacing - choose how often ads are shown Every 8-60 minutes Ad Length - how long ad breaks are - ads are 15 to 30 seconds 30 seconds to 3 minutes Start Delay - how soon a user gets ads after coming to a stream 1 minute to 30 minutes Why do channels have the ability to choose these options? If you're running the bare minimum on your channel, your ad revenue split is 30%. If a channel is running the maximum, your ad venue split is 55%. Are ads worth it? Yes and no, this is always subjective. You can drive meaningful brand awareness or promote new products through Twitch advertisements. But there isn't an easy way to start advertising on Twitch. When brands want to have their ads on Twitch, you have to reach out to a representative to start. While we have not run ads for our clients, based on our research, single impressions range from $2 to $10, which is why you see national brands running ads over smaller or local companies. Alternatives to running ads To put it lightly, I love Twitch. The communities are very tightly knit and you can tune into a number of your favorite channels at any point in the day. Most users who are watching a stream or who tune in regularly are subscribed - meaning they do not get ads. A big majority of Twitch users would prefer to watch Twitch than TV shows or movies. Why do we say this? People love and religiously tune into their favorite channels, meaning they trust their opinion and the things they say. My favorite way that I've seen a company run a paid partnership was a sponsored stream. Taeha Types is one of the biggest streamers in the Makers & Crafting category. He predominately streams himself building high-end custom mechanical keyboards. Wendy's & UberEats partnered with Taeha for a sponsored stream. The keyboard was a custom Wendy's Themed board that he built on stream. Halfway through the stream, Wendy's was delivered at Taeha's Door, pretty brilliant. Just don't touch the keyboard with greasy fingers. There was a discount code that would only be redeemable during the duration of the stream. You could get delivery fees waived if you ordered more than $10. Also, you could order what Taeha did to be just, like, him! Why is this a great idea? People love Taeha and trust what he has to say about most things. Because reactions are live and often candid, his honesty on products shines through even when he is talking about one of his sponsors. If companies took this approach more frequently, brands could see great returns. For example, if there is a guitarist who streams on Twitch as their full-time job and a guitar tuning application wants to increase brand awareness, they could host a sponsored stream on this streamers channel. The streamer would be upfront about the sponsored stream but also let the viewers know that they will give their honest opinion. During the stream,... --- As the 8th most visited website in the world (source), it’s fair to assume that you’ve at least considered Instagram for part of your marketing strategy in 2023. Many brands ask for our support in planning an Instagram strategy or campaign, and here are some of the main things we recommend we work through with them. Step #1 - Why Do We Need This? Before we start here, I think it’s good to note that it doesn’t make sense for every brand to have an Instagram strategy, so before we jump right into how to do this, it’s essential to ensure you’ve got the “why” sorted first. Great reasons for IG making sense as a part of your strategy: Your target audience is there. Here’s a list of demographics; for example, if your audience skews older than 34, Instagram might not be where you want to start. You have a naturally visual brand (e. g. , consumer product) You’ve got a budget to test things across social media. You’re selling a product on your site & that product is a bit more of an impulse buy. The person who is going to be running it is just really, really good at Instagram and is excited to try a bunch of new stuff on the platform for your brand. Wrong reasons for IG making a lot of sense for your strategy: We want to look cool, so we have to use IG. We’re already investing in social media content, so let’s copy and post that on Instagram. A board member heard from a friend while golfing that Instagram is hot right now, so we need to do this. Side note, if you are up against this, it reminds me a little of this gem from Adobe from years ago: https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=tnJucRfS_ig We want to drive a ton of traffic to our website from social media, and since so many people use Instagram, we should do that. All brands have to do Instagram; it’s one of the required platforms to look relevant. Step #2 - What Do We Want Out of This? Yes, I know -every post about marketing strategy almost certainly references the fact that you need to set goals. And this one is no different. If you are going to invest in Instagram, your next decision needs to be “why. ” Here are some different goals to consider setting with Instagram and some different KPIs that might make sense associated with that: Increase brand awareness among our target audience Great KPIS: Followers, Impressions, Reach Build better brand sentiment and recall with our target audience Great KPIS: Engagement, lack of unfollows, reshares Sell more stuff Great KPIs: Sales associated with social-only campaigns/offers, revenue related to social media promotions Get more partnerships Great KPIS: followers & rate of follower growth Step #3- Whose Your Audience? Most brands and marketers have a pretty good idea of their target audience. You don’t need to spend a bajillion dollars paying for fancy persona development, but you want to think through a few different things to ensure you’ve got a good idea of your target audience. For example: Demographics: Here’s a nice long list of different models of demographics from the NIH. Psychographics: Here’s a great outline from Hubspot for how to develop a psychographic profile. Overall, you want to have a buyer persona or set of personas that look at some demographics (e. g. , I’m targeting 20-year-old women who live in cold states) and how they think (and those women are frustrated that winter clothing isn’t comfortable, etc. ). Step #5- How do we Want to Come Across? Next up, it’s essential to work through your brand voice and how you want to talk to your audience. Here’s a link to our brand voice template, if you need a little help working through what your brand’s voice on social media is: https://www. v9digital. com/wp-content/uploads/Brand-Voice-Template. pdf Step #6- What Categories of Content are We Gonna Post? We’re huge advocates of having content categories your posts fall into. This helps you organize your content and strategically evaluate it later as an overall category. Most brands should have at least four different categories of content,... --- As a business, it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends, especially when it comes to social media platforms. We all know the big ones — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram — but there are always new platforms emerging. And it can be hard to keep up. Here’s a short list of social media platforms that your business needs to be on in 2023: TikTok If you’re not familiar with TikTok, it’s basically a short-form video platform where users can share creative and funny videos set to music. It’s become insanely popular with Gen Z — so much so that Facebook is reportedly working on its own TikTok clone. What sets TikTok apart from other social media platforms is its focus on creative content. While users can certainly scroll through the app without posting anything themselves, the app encourages users to be creative and have fun with their content. For businesses, this presents a unique opportunity to reach out to potential customers in a way that’s not possible on other platforms. Instead of simply posting ads or product photos, businesses can create fun, creative content that’ll appeal to TikTok's target demographic of 13-24 year olds. Vero Vero is a social media platform that launched in 2015 but is only now beginning to gain traction. The platform markets itself as being "true social," meaning that it’s designed to help people connect with each other on a more personal level than other platforms like Facebook or Instagram. To achieve this goal, Vero does not use algorithms to determine which posts users see in their feed. Instead, it displays posts chronologically so users always see the latest updates from the people they follow. The platform also allows users unlimited storage for photos and videos, so users can share as much content as they want without running into any space limitations. Discord Discord started out as a gaming chat app but has since evolved into much more than that. It now has over 250 million registered users and is becoming increasingly popular with Gen Zers and millennials. Discord offers businesses a number of ways to reach their target audiences, whether it’s through server sponsorship or by creating their own server. If you have a product or service that would appeal to gamers or tech-savvy users, Discord could be a great option for you. Snapchat Although Snapchat has been around since 2011, it has only recently become a popular platform for businesses and marketers. Snapchat allows users to send photos and videos called snaps, which disappear after they’ve been viewed once, to each other. In addition, the app offers a number of features that give businesses the opportunity to reach out to potential customers directly. For example, businesses can create and run ads that are targeted at specific demographics and appear between different types of content (e. g. , stories or live snaps) through Snapchat's ad manager. Businesses can also craft custom filters and lenses for Snapchat users to use when taking photos or videos. These filters and lenses can be branded with the business's logo or message and are a great way to increase brand awareness among Snapchat's target demographic of 18-34 year olds. Twitch With over 15 million daily active users, Twitch presents a unique opportunity for businesses to build brand awareness. By creating engaging content and partnering with influencers, businesses can reach a large audience of potential customers on Twitch. It provides businesses with an opportunity to directly engage with their customers. Whether you're hosting a Q&A session or providing customer support,Twitch offers a personal and interactive way to connect with your audience. Thanks to features like product pages and donations, businesses can use Twitch to drive sales. By providing viewers with easy ways to purchase your products or donate to your cause, you can turn viewers into paying customers on Twitch. Also, businesses can use Twitch to grow their community. By hosting events, giving away prizes, and partnering with other streamers, businesses can expand their reach on Twitch and build a loyal following of customers and fans. Reddit If you're looking for a business social media platform to watch, Reddit is a great choice. The site has a huge user base... --- When you’re scrolling through your social media feed, do you notice how video catches your attention much more than an image or text? Or, when you’re looking for information on a company’s website, do you search for an About Us or product video to quickly learn a lot about the brand? You’re not alone. According to Invideo, 96% of consumers increased their online video consumption in 2020, and nine out of 10 viewers said that they wanted to see more videos from brands and businesses. Fast forward to 2022 and online videos now make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic — that’s 15 times higher than it was in 2017 (Cisco)! So how can your company incorporate video into your digital marketing? Below are 10 ideas from our friends at 6162 Productions. Product Videos Have a new product or product line? Showcase it with a video. Sure, press releases and articles are informative but the possibilities are endless with video. Show the product being used, share the story behind why it was created, or talk about how it improves lives. If it’s a technical product or something that’s harder to grasp, consider creating an animated explainer video or how-to demo. Go beyond the features of the products and really show the benefits and why people need it in their lives. Brand Videos Whether your company has been around for decades or is just starting out, now’s a great time to create a brand video for your website and social media channels. A brand video gives you the chance to quickly show people who your company is, what it stands for, and what sets it apart. Tell the story of how and why you were founded and what problems you solve for your customers. Authentically show the personality of your brand and your team. Social Media Campaigns Instead of a broadcast TV or radio ad campaign, create a series of short video ads for social media. These campaigns are often a lot cheaper and can be highly targeted to your audience, giving you easy access to analytics to assess performance. That way, you can test which versions of the videos resonate with your audience and provide an easy call to action to drive results. You can use short video ads and/or posts to introduce new products or staff members (especially if you’ve had a leadership change), raise money (if you’re a nonprofit or startup), or simply bring awareness to your brand. Humor’s a great way to catch people’s attention as they scroll through their feed. Recruitment or Employment Videos After the Great Resignation in 2022, many companies are struggling to hire and retain talented people. Do you have open positions you need help filling? Make a video showing why people would want to join your team. Showcase the benefits your company offers (not just insurance and 401(k), but what makes your office fun, unique, and desirable), talk about your ideal candidate or team member, and entice people to apply. Your HR team can also create an onboarding video to welcome new employees, disseminate key information in a fun or interesting way, and quickly make new hires feel like part of the team — whether they work in the office or remotely. Office/Facility Tours Give people an inside look at your business and the amazing people who run it. If you have a business that you want people to visit, such as a healthcare clinic, store, or educational institution, make a tour video to show it off and invite people to come. If your organization reaches people across the country (or world), create a compelling virtual tour video so they get a sense of who you are without leaving their couch. Events or Conference Videos There’s a lot you can do to promote an event or conference before, during, and after. Show some behind-the-scenes tidbits as you prep for the event, like making welcome baskets or centerpieces, arranging name tags, creating signage, tasting the food, etc. You can thank and showcase sponsors, help sell tickets, and build excitement for the upcoming event through these videos. During the event or conference, film pieces of it or the event in its... --- Here at Volume Nine, we’re built differently. Founded in 2006, we are a Denver-based digital marketing agency that helps brands rise beyond the noise and connect with their audiences. For years, we’ve been pushing the limit and challenging our creativity to ensure our clients the best possible solutions for their different digital needs. Today, we’re celebrating a wonderful recognition that was made possible by our clients’ support and success. During the annual Clutch Leaders Awards for the United States, Volume Nine was officially recognized as one of the top firms in Colorado’s social media marketing space this 2022! "As a company, we are incredibly honored and humbled to win this award. We recognize Clutch as an invaluable resource for agencies and its users so this award means a lot to us. What we value most are the people who work here that put the time and energy into projects for our clients that entrust us to help make meaningful impacts in their lives and our communities. We love working with our clients and finding creative solutions in today's digital world. ” — Natalie Henley, CEO of Volume Nine For those of you who don’t know, Clutch is a market research website that’s committed to guiding browsers through the IT, marketing, and business services spaces. The site annually holds an awards cycle to celebrate the brilliance of the best-performing companies from different locations and categories. After their extensive research, the Clutch team listed Volume Nine as the number one in Colorado’s SMM industry! Factors such as client testimonials and case studies are taken into close consideration to qualify for the awards. Needless to say, the generous support and amazing reviews of our clients helped us rank highly. Thank you so much to everyone, especially those who took the time to give us their honest insights on Clutch. We're genuinely proud to be your trusted partner and a 2022 Clutch Leader! Work with a digital marketing agency that you can trust. Turn up your brand with Volume Nine! Send us a message and find out more about what we can do for you. --- While paid social media KPIs are essential to include in your key performance indicators, don't forget to measure your organic social media efforts. Organic social media marketing is highly cost-effective and plays a crucial role in your relationship with your customers. It should complement your paid advertising and your overall digital marketing strategy. Focus on what matters in your social media performance instead of chasing a lot of vanity metrics. Your social media content can also create brand awareness while providing an authentic look into your organization. With ads coming at consumers left and right trying to increase the number of clicks, it's refreshing for your audience to see engaging content that doesn't feel like someone is constantly trying to sell something to them. There are numerous data points to collect with social media, but here are a few of our favorite organic social media analytics: 1) Social Referral Traffic Social referral traffic comes to your website, mobile site, app, online store, etc. , from social media platforms. This referral traffic often comes from links in your social posts, and these links are often shared from one social platform to another. Most brands use referral traffic reports available in Google Analytics, or other analytics tools, to measure this metric. This social referral is critical to monitor because it gets new users to your site and lets you see which social media platforms generate the most traffic and even conversions. Referral traffic can also boost your SEO as this income traffic can lead to an increase in brand mentions and exposure. To grow your social referral traffic, consistently post intelligent, relevant, and engaging content that will bring your target audience over to your website. 2) Social Conversion Rate Social conversion rate refers to the total number of conversions from social media traffic as a percentage. Knowing this metric provides an understanding of the effectiveness of your posts and campaigns. Reviewing this KPI shows you which social channels perform better than others and gives insight into targeting future efforts. Improving conversions could be as easy as adjusting the time of day you post or adjusting your headline. Or you might decide on a more complex strategy like restructuring your landing pages on your website to improve your bottom line. If social conversions are low across multiple platforms, it's time to reevaluate your overall strategy, messaging, and goals. 3) Post Engagement Rate Numbers don't lie. Engaging social media posts are seen more and shared more in the ever-changing algorithm updates that attempt to put the best content into each person's newsfeed. Your overall Post Engagement Rate can come from the number of likes, clicks, comments, retweets, and shares your post receives. Strong engagement maximizes reach, which helps build your audience. Continued engagement will ensure the number of times that your audience sees your content and help create a loyal following. We all have those favorite brands and influencers we follow and constantly look forward to seeing what they post. Strong engagement metrics indicate that your content is interesting and resonates with your audience. 4) Page Follower Growth Your follower count and the growth rate at which you gain those followers can tell quite the story in your KPIs. If you recently launched a new product or campaign and saw an upward spike in the number of people following your brand, that is an excellent indicator that your audience approves of what they are seeing. It is important to analyze the type of followers you are gaining and their alignment with your objectives. Social media campaigns can vary by industry and platforms, so regularly monitor this KPI and adjust.   Although promotions, sales, incentives, and giveaways provide opportunities for initial growth, a well-rounded organic social media strategy will help ensure you keep your content engaging and performing. 5) Share of Voice You can also monitor how your social media accounts perform compared to your competitors to measure your social media marketing strategy through a metric called Share of Voice Using a social media monitoring tool, track your total number of brand mentions and your top competitors. To calculate Share of Voice as a percentage, add up the total of your brand mentions and divide that by the total number of brand mentions received by you and your competitors for the same social media channels. Looking at the Share of Voice can often be a good metric to see how social media is helping you achieve your business goals in relation to your competitors targeting the same audience and similar demographics. The organic social media KPIs worth... --- LinkedIn is a resource hub. It's a place where people post updates, share company news, professionals seek jobs, pitch potential customers, and members chat and connect. Learn how to improve the effectiveness of your company's LinkedIn page with these tips. 1. Improve the design of the company pageOn social media, visuals are everything. If you don't grab viewers' attention right away, they won't bother reading the content. Short and engaging videos are powerful, while strong and unique images can reinforce the message you are trying to communicate. Be sure to select photos on target with your business and brand. Also, pay attention to the recommended dimensions to ensure your visuals are formatted to be viewed correctly. 2. Include more page managers LinkedIn is all about networking and connections, so it makes sense to diversify your team and include a variety of page managers who can invite their contacts to subscribe to your company page. Managing your company's social accounts, especially if you have multiple, takes a lot of time and work. Creating a small team helps lessen the load and allows others to share new ideas on company news from their perspective. LinkedIn provides different admin roles and permissions to give your team members the access they need. 3. Create design templates for employees to use in their profile headersIf you want to get your company page noticed, create a template for your employees to use on their profile pages. Common themes include: I just got hired at... Work for ... We're growing our team at ... Employee spotlight These templates can generate new interest for potential job seekers. You can also create an employee spotlight template to showcase your current employees to share their firsthand stories about your company. LinkedIn also has a "My Company" Tab feature for employees to share their voice authentically and fosters community. 4. Review and optimize key stakeholder profilesStakeholder engagement should be a key part of your company's social media strategy. They help influence, gain support, and overall buy-in of the company and your brand. These can include external stakeholders such as a board of directors, partners, customers, and internal stakeholders such as investors and employees. To ensure authenticity, they should be involved in the content creation process. Optimize their profiles by confirming the information they are sharing is in line with your company goals. 5. Encourage team members to share & comment on brand contentTestimonials are one of the most important sales tools in your toolkit. Share your customer's positive endorsement on your social accounts as well as comment on their initial post. Testimonials are often the final push for customers to buy your product or service. Asking your team members to also share and comment on brand posts helps widen your reach and shows that they are proud of their company and believe in the brand. 6. Create regular ongoing editorial contentBeyond company updates, events, and brand news, you should be creating consistent editorial content. The purpose of this content is to inform, educate or entertain. The content should provide the reader value and not focus on selling something. Producing editorial content also helps create conversations on your page with subscribers and other key audience members. You can utilize LinkedIn's Content Suggestion Tool that allows admins to discover and share content that their member community is currently engaging with. 7. Tag brands and people in your updates to encourage engagement Give credit where credit is due, including tagging brands in relevant content on your page. LinkedIn is a great platform to congratulate and call out contributions made to your company. This typically creates a ripple effect in likes, shares, and comments. It won't go unnoticed with these same brands thanking you for recognizing their efforts and reciprocating the gesture by tagging you in their posts. 8. Publish LinkedIn articles on key stakeholder pages Publishing industry articles relevant to your company helps start a conversation. Not sure how many articles to post? Follow the 4-1-1 rule that states that for every piece of content you share about your company, you should share four from another source, most importantly, content written by others outside your organization. In doing so, you focus on your audience's... --- If you’ve ever had to do a platform migration, you know the challenges that come along with it. An SEO migration involves transferring search engine ranking, authority, and indexing signals to reflect a change in your website or website URL structure. It can be a tedious process and if not done correctly, can negatively impact your SEO. To preserve your search engine rankings, here are the top things you want to avoid. Changing URLs without a redirect strategy A common mistake made is having no plan of action in redirecting URLs and sending them all to the homepage. This may save you time initially, but it directly affects your rankings and link authority. Each link on your current site already has a ranking in search engines, and redirecting a link to an irrelevant or unrelated page (such as the homepage) will impact the performance in search engine results. Where possible, you should try to retain existing URL structures to maintain search rankings. If you cannot keep current URLs, they should always be 301 redirected and linked to relevant content pages on your site. A 301 redirect tells users and search engines a new version of the content found elsewhere on your site. Deleting content It is recommended to back up files before starting the migration since there is a risk, however minimal, of data loss during the transition. You also need to assess your content before migrating, as some of it may need to be redirected, consolidated, or rewritten but not erased completely. You can evaluate content using a crawler and other SEO tools to see how it currently ranks. Although removing and deleting content can sometimes negatively affect SEO rankings, so can outdated content. Outdated content is viewed as low quality, and the more low-quality content your site has, the less authoritative it will be to Google and other search engines and therefore harder to rank. Get started early, so you aren’t rushing to make critical decisions against tight timelines. Changing website architecture Having an organized website structure is essential to SEO. A well-defined system allows users to easily find content, engage, and creates a positive experience. Website architecture includes site crawlability, or how well a search engine can easily access and crawl your site without encountering dead ends or broken links. Creating internal links to other pages within your site helps users easily navigate through it. URLs also play an important role in website architecture. They need to be simple, easy to read, and accessible for search engines to target. Consider submitting a new XLM sitemap, which is a blueprint of the most important pages within your website, to Google to increase page rankings. Metadata Metadata is data that provides information about other data. It’s important to SEO because providing appropriate metadata such as keywords, descriptions, titles, etc. , makes it easier for search engines to “read” your content and encourages users to click through search engine result pages. This data in SEO is referred to as meta tags, invisible tags that provide details about your site and can be optimized to highlight the most important aspects of your content. There are several types of meta tags, but the most frequently used are: Title tags provide the header of a web page and are found in the search engine results. Meta descriptions give a brief description and summarize the contents of your page. Meta robot tags tell search engines which pages of your site should be indexed. Alt text or image optimization gives a short description of an image for users who cannot see them. Canonical tags help prevent duplicate content and tell search engines which content to prioritize with similar or near-identical content on a site. Header tags organize pages by separating headings and subheadings and are ranked in order of importance from H1 to H6. Site Speed Both site speed and page speed are how fast your content loads. Site speed is the average of several sample pages on a website. It is one of the measurements Google uses to rank sites and is becoming increasingly more important in search engine results pages. In 2021, Google introduced Page Experience to its algorithm, which measures a website’s... --- One thing that isn't slowing down is content marketing. No longer considered nice to have but essential to every business, the numbers don’t lie. Check out these content marketing stats and trends to help you plan for 2023 and beyond. Marketers Moving Budget to Content According to the Content Marketing Institute, 43% of marketers surveyed say their 2021 budgets were higher. Sixty-six percent of the group expect increases in their 2022 budget, and one in five say the increase will be greater than 9%. Marketers plan to spend their budget on paid advertising, content creation, and software. Digital Video Becoming Essential 86% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, and 93% of marketers who use video say that it’s an essential part of their marketing strategy. The most commonly created types of videos are explainer videos (73%), social media videos (67%), presentation videos (51%), sales videos (41%), and video ads (41%). Trust & Inclusivity Matter According to Forbes, 96% of the top-performing B2B content marketers have said their audience views their brand as a credible and trusted source. While 38% of customers are more likely to trust brands that show diversity in their advertising, 71% of consumers say they would be willing to spend more money to support products and services from a brand they trust. Social Media Usage: Instagram and TikTok on the Rise According to PEW Research Center, roughly seven in ten Americans say they use a social media site. A majority of Americans say they use YouTube and Facebook, while Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are ubiquitous among adults under 30. YouTube and Facebook continue to dominate the online landscape, with 81% and 69%, respectively. The Social Media Examiner’s Industry Report reveals these notable changes since 2020: Instagram grew from 76% Twitter fell from 53% and moved from fourth to fifth place YouTube took fourth place, up from 53% TikTok increased from 5% Speaking of the TikTok Craze TikTok was the second most installed non-gaming app worldwide in January 2021, with close to 62 million installs. The countries with the largest TikTok installs were from Douyin in China at 17 percent, followed by the United States at 10 percent. Search Engine Optimization is an important element of Content Marketing In 2021, 69% of content marketers invested in SEO, using it for strategic keywords (70%), localization (50%), and mobile optimization (48%). Optimization is becoming more about creating the best possible tailored experience for users. Podcasts on the Rise Podcast Insights reports there are more than 2,000,000 podcast shows, and that number continues to grow. Podcast listeners are much more active on every social media channel (94% are active on at least one – vs. 81% for the entire population). Podcast listeners are more likely to follow companies and brands on social media, and 80% listen to all or most of each podcast episode. Data and Research Content marketers are investing more in gathering proprietary data and benchmarks using tools such as Google Surveys. Eighty-three percent of marketers are conducting market research, and 88% of companies use market research to make business decisions. Of those surveyed, 67% of marketers plan on increasing market research spend in the next year. The top two technologies B2B organizations use to assist with content marketing are analytics tools (86%) and email marketing software (85%). Trends and stats are continuously evolving rapidly, so the focus needs to be on adaptability rather than certainty. See how our experienced team can help you with content development, content marketing strategy, SEO, and more. --- Each day there seems to be a new update or feature on the endless social media apps available. As digital marketers, we are expected to keep up. We should be informed of the latest trends and the functionality of each of these platforms. When and how to utilize them best to meet our goals. However, we shouldn't go crazy posting on every platform posting multiple times a day. The old saying still rings true, especially in digital marketing: quality over quantity. People are inundated with online information from morning till night. Creating quality content helps to ensure your brand and business stand out from all the noise. Here are some tips to connect more with your audience through quality content. 1. Focus on engagement Gaining a large following has its place, especially when trying to increase brand awareness. However, if these followers aren't engaging with your content, they won't stick around, and if they aren't interacting with your content regularly, they won't see it consistently. Quality content always wins, especially when viewers crave and expect authenticity and transparency. 2. Be careful of oversharingThe average social media user sees between 6,000 and 10,000 ads daily, and of these, only about 150 catches the eye. Talk about information overload! Posting content repetitively isn't guaranteed to get through. It can sometimes do the opposite. Consumers may get turned off and view your brand as spammy. Although the number of interactions may initially increase traffic to your site, it won't necessarily result in a high conversion rate. 3. Know your target audience Who are your consumers? Where do they spend their time? Where do they get their information? Gathering this research beforehand will help determine where you want to spend your efforts and money online. If your target audience isn't on TikTok, don't waste your time and energy on that platform just because it's popular. Work on crafting targeted, strategic, and relevant content on your viewers' platforms rather than trying to reach a generalized audience. 4. Consistency is keyNothing is more thrilling than seeing a post or ad you put blood, sweat, and tears into getting the attention and engagement it deserves. But don't ride this wave too long and go completely dark celebrating your success. Build on that momentum and post consistently to continue building your relationship with your consumers. Now that you know what resonates with your audience, take this information to your next post without 100% duplicating it to develop more quality content and build brand loyalty. 5. Make it a positive user experience Marketing products, brands, and services require an effective digital strategy that includes quality content, but user experience plays a significant role. Often, brands focus more on the product and content than they do the customer. We all know one bad customer experience can be detrimental and spread like wildfire, especially on social media. However, a satisfied customer can also impact a brand's success as recommendations, and user-generated feedback are well received in purchasing decisions. 6. Use a Tool for Quantitative Assessment Although “quality” can be a really subjective test, there are some tools that can help you assess if your content is hitting the mark. One example is Clearscope, which will give you insights on your page based on the topic you are focused on, including page length & what topics you might have forgotten to include. Another great example is SEMRush and the content audit available in that tool, which can help you evaluate content you’ve already got published. Looking for more help on developing successful content? We’re happy to help, contact us today! --- Our Favorite SEO Tools In 2021 Do you hate the giant paragraphs of text that articles make you read through before you get to the main point? Us too! Without 800 words of rambling text about why SEO tools are important, here’s a few of our favorites :) SEMRush: A fan favorite, SEO users love that you can easily compare your website against your competitors. A detailed report allows you to better understand your website's traffic, paid and organic keywords, SEO content, position tracking, and overall website analytics. A helpful tool is the writing assistant that quickly quantifies content optimization and offers suggestions for improvement. Cost: Pricing ranges between $119 to $449. Screaming Frog: Considered one of the best among SEO experts, Screaming Frog quickly extracts data to provide valuable insight for each page on your website. It's incredibly user-friendly and has one of the best copy/paste features, and includes any other URL data you may need as well. A beneficial feature is that it provides a complete list of 404 errors and a list of where to find and fix them. Cost: Screaming Frog is free, however you can purchase a license to crawl more URLs and have access to advanced features. Sitebulb: A website crawler or search engine bot, this tool provides enhanced visuals and a prioritized list with actionable recommendations for a comprehensive analysis. Many of its features go far beyond standard SEO audits for a deep dive to communicate complex ideas with your users better. Cost: $35 per month for single user license, then $3. 50 per month per extra user. Google Search Console: A free tool for everyone with a website, Google Search Console allows you to monitor your website in Google's SERP (Search Engine Results Page). It is different from Google Analytics in that it is search-engine focused, rather than user-oriented, and provides insight to improve website visibility and presence in Google search results. Easy to read graphs and reports, Google Search Console supports multiple domains and can sort based on times and pages. Cost: Free Google Analytics: A SEO staple, Google Analytics is tried and true to track overall website activity and collect visitor insights. Especially helpful in reporting to a general audience, Google Analytics provides detailed data yet easy to understand insights such as demographics, bounce rate, time on page, incoming traffic, etc. An internet standard, Google Analytics is extremely user-friendly, and best of all, it's free. Cost: Free Clearscope: A SEO content writing tool, Clearscope gives you a letter grade for top-ranked articles. It makes revamping content easy with its text editor tool that outlines SEO content, suggests relevant keywords to use, performs competitive search terms, and gives an overall "score. " Excellent for new content development, Clearscope helps streamline the writing process with an easy-to-use interface and delivers robust SEO algorithms. Cost: The Essentials plan starts at $170. 00 per month with custom pricing available. SpyFu: A bit more complex but reasonably priced, SpyFu is a great overall package. It offers a wide selection of keyword search and management tools along with interactive reporting. A helpful tool is the ability to see how competitor websites rank in a keyword search, how much they spend on pay per click and view their ads. Cost: There are three subscription levels available: Basic - $79/month or $49/month (paid annually) Professional - $193/month or $75/month (annually) Agency - $999/month (monthly) or $833/month (annually) Rank Math: A WordPress SEO plugin, Rank Math is an upgrade from the free version of Yoast but comes with premium features at no extra cost. Rank Math has many features, including SEO analysis with a position chart, adding alternate attributes to images, redirect manager, social media optimization, multiple keyword focus, and more. With all of these free features, you can see why Rank Math is one of the fastest-growing SEO plugins. Cost: Plans are available for individuals at $59 per year and businesses for $199 per year. Yoast: One of the most popular SEO plugins for WordPress sites, Yoast is a valuable tool in setting targeted keywords, managing sitemap integration, meta descriptions/titles, built-in readability score analysis, and improving overall website optimization. Offering both a free and premium option, Yoast is... --- The TikTok invasion isn't going away anytime soon. In fact, it continues to be one of the fastest-growing social media platforms around. Additionally, these types of videos have quickly made their way to Instagram via Instagram Reels. This is why brands are incorporating these videos into their marketing strategy to expand their reach and increase engagement. If you are looking to get started with TikTok videos or Instagram Reels for your business, here’s some ideas of where you can start! Get Involved in Trending Challenges TikTok has become synonymous with viral challenges. Challenges are a unique way to get your followers to create user-generated content that aligns with your brand standards and that you can share on your platforms. These can include dance and musical faceoffs to simple or off-the-wall activities - really anything that can be easily replicated and engaging enough for audiences to participate. Helpful Tips Posting simple timesaving tips and lifehacks of your product will have users coming back for more. The more practical and easier to incorporate, the more trust and rapport you build with your followers. Brands can entertain and educate if they are authentic and bring some personality to capture the attention and engagement of users. Go Behind-the-Scenes Everyone likes to get the inside scoop. Give a behind-the-scenes tour of your brand, the people who work there, or tell the story of how the business got started. This can be inspiring to many followers and brings a human touch and connection to your content. TikTok & Instagram have made video creation easy, so you no longer need a large video or production crew to get your content viewed and shared. Partner With an Influencer Whether you love them or hate them, influencers are thriving, especially on TikTok on Instagram. Look beyond influencers' follower numbers to ensure that they represent the image and values that align with your brand. Brands should select influencers with an engaged audience and who have worked with similar brands or products. It's essential to be strategic in your selection and to set clear expectations for posting since users will remember what you share. Take a Stand Social Media platforms have become important for social and political issues. Brands are going beyond using social to educate and inform their audience, but also asking for a call to action. Incorporating trending hashtags on cultural issues such as #BlackLivesMatter and #Pride can elevate the algorithm, allowing educational content to be seen by millions. Make a Tutorial Who has time to watch a lengthy video? The truth is users want their information quickly and in small digestible form. More users are turning to TikTok and Instagram as places to discover how-to and informative videos. These videos go beyond standard step-by-step instructions and feature fun music, effects, and visuals that appeal to your audience. Cover News in Your Industry If your target audience is younger (ages 16-30) and you want to keep them informed of happenings in your industry, TikTok n& IG are excellent platforms. By creating industry-relevant content and sharing related stories, you can become a reliable hub for users who will return again and again to receive the most up-to-date industry news. More importantly, you will create brand recognition and get in front of a new generation of consumers you weren't reaching before. Run a Contest Everyone wants the chance to win something for free. The better the prize, the more enticing it is for users to spread the word organically. Keep the contest simple and accessible. Make sure it relates to brand standards and is authentic. If not, the followers that you do gain will quickly disappear after the contest is over. Before running any contest, ensure to follow all platform rules and guidelines to maximize engagement and performance. Try Something New If there ever was a platform to try something wild and out of the box, it's TikTok & IG Reels. It's all about experimenting with trends, visuals, and effects to see what users respond to. Businesses and brands that thrive the most on TikTok are the ones that post videos that are light-hearted, funny, and don't take themselves too seriously. For creative inspiration, check out what similar or competing brands... --- Marketers get this question a lot from clients: Is it worth spending money boosting social media posts? And the quick answer is yes, it is. Boosting provides opportunities to increase engagement, expand audience reach, and most importantly, it works. Organic reach is on the decline, and with algorithms constantly changing, it becomes more challenging to get organic content in front of all the users you want to reach. Every post on your social media channels should contain high-quality and engaging content making it worth at least a few dollars to boost. Need more reasons why you should be boosting? #1 It’s AffordableYou may think you need a large advertising budget to begin boosting, but a few dollars can go a long way. Compared to other traditional advertising like tv, radio, and print, social media boosting is very cost-effective. You can expect to pay around $6 per 1000 views for boosted posts on average. The cost will ultimately depend on your target audience, as well as the number of people you’re trying to reach. #2 Define Your Target AudienceWhen you boost, you have control in determining who will see your posts and define what groups are your target audiences. Choose a location, age, gender, education, interests, relationship status, and more to determine the specific groups of consumers most likely to want your product or service. You can create multiple audiences depending on the content and even select behavior traits associated with similar brands or products. You also have the option to choose people who currently like your page or your followers plus their friends. #3 Capitalize on Popular PostsIf one of your posts performs well organically, it makes sense to boost or promote it, knowing that the content will most likely do well with a larger audience. Or, if you see good results from a current boosted post, you can extend the duration and budget to increase its visibility. By quickly seeing how users respond and engage with the post, you can create future posts using the same content strategy. #4 Quickly See What’s Working and What’s NotBy boosting a post, you get access to various analytics that show how well the post is performing. If you see a boosted post performing well on one platform, it can be a strong signal to promote the same content on another social media channel. Since boosting is affordable, implement A/B testing with two posts and boost them together to see how different audiences respond. With this data, you can learn what content works best and refine your strategy. #5 Build Impressions and Engagement FasterBoth impressions and engagement are critical to increasing brand awareness. The more impressions, the more people are viewing your content. The next step is having your audience engage with your content through interactions such as likes, comments, shares, retweets, etc. Boosting provides both at a faster rate. By boosting just some of your posts, you increase the likelihood your impressions and engagement will grow. If you are working on a limited budget, save your boosted posts for important announcements, events, limited deals, and sales to maximize exposure. #6 Build New FollowersGaining new followers takes time, especially when you are trying to build your audience on several platforms. Boosting is an efficient way to grow your audience and get new users to see your content repeatedly. This is a crucial step to building rapport and gaining trust with new followers. Also, since Facebook’s organic reach is less than 5%, boosting ensures that your current followers continue to see and engage with your content to stay connected. --- Importance of KPIs in Content Marketing You can put all the content you want out there, but if you aren’t analyzing how it performs, you don’t know where it’s landing or how effective it is. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) evaluate how effectively marketing activities positively impact your business objectives and goals. Are potential customers able to easily find you, are current customers engaged and responding to your calls to action? Measuring your KPIs will tell you what’s working and what needs improvement. Tools to Use Google has a plethora of marketing tools at your disposal. However, knowing which ones provide the insight and data you need will be most effective in increasing the number of visitors to your site. The most popular, Google Analytics, is user-oriented and provides data related to how users interact with your website, such as visits, bounce rates, average page time, etc. Google Search Console is search-engine focused and gives insight on website visibility, search queries, click-through rates, HTML errors, and identifies opportunities to improve overall performance. KPIs You Should Be Measuring You could spend days analyzing different performance data, so how do you know what is most important. Understanding and tracking these 8 KPIs can provide a boost to your success online. 1. Organic Impressions The number of times your landing page appears in search results viewed by a user is a good KPI indicator of how your content performs. If your impressions are high, it means that your content is consistently displaying in users’ search results. This pre-click data is provided by Google Search Console and can help you determine what content is relevant. If you aren’t receiving the impressions, you hoped for, adjust your landing page. To increase visibility, make sure your content is concise, up to date, and contains keywords that users frequently search. 2. Organic Queries Using Google Search Console, organic queries (keywords) indicate the total number of searches that returned your landing page over a set time, not including paid searches. To optimize your content, you need to understand the connection between what users search for and how often your landing page appears in those queries. These reports will help you improve search engine optimization (SEO) to increase your site’s visibility and rankings in search results. Exploring keyword data is essential, along with quality content that draws in new users. 3. Organic Traffic Most of us cringe at traffic on the roads, but we welcome traffic to our website, quality traffic, that is. You want to be sure your content reaches your target audiences. Otherwise, users quickly leave your site and can increase your bounce rate. Google Analytics provides an in-depth look at the channels, sources, and referrals of how users find your landing page. Once again, keywords play an important role along with optimizing existing content and creating fresh content. 4. Inbound Links Also known as backlinks, inbound links are website links that direct users back to your site. Google interprets inbound links as an indicator of how high quality your content is and is a crucial element in SEO. Earned links take time to gain, but if your content is receiving consistent inbound links, you’ve got a strong indicator that it resonates with your target audience. 5. Social referral traffic Measuring social traffic to your landing page from Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter allows you to monitor how many people you're driving from social media to your website. Social referral traffic can be a great indicator that users are interested enough in your content to leave the social platform they are on. 6. Social shares of the content Social shares can be powerful in KPIs. Someone else touting your excellence goes a lot further than you touting your own. To increase social shares, leverage your existing audience to share your content with their social media, groups, influencers, and connections. This allows your content to reach new users that previously you may not have had access to. Not to be overlooked, make your content easy to share with accessible share buttons in all of your social channels. 7. Social Engagement Metrics for social posts sharing the content You’ve got a user’s attention, but are they engaging with your content?... --- Blogs, social media, SEO, content, web design, user experience, email — there’s a lot that goes into a successful marketing strategy. But one area we continue to see a gap? Video marketing. On the surface, video marketing may seem like a huge undertaking; it takes more time and money to produce than other forms of marketing. But, ultimately, it’s a trend other marketers are hopping on — and seeing a lot of success. In fact, 85% of businesses today use video as a marketing tool, which is up from 61% in just 2016. And that’s not slowing down anytime soon, as 80% of all internet traffic in 2021 will be video traffic. In other words: It’s time to get on board with video marketing. With that, we’re sharing the top 2021 video marketing stats that prove you need it now. Video marketing works Simply put: video marketing works. When done right, it works really, really, well. Although it takes more time to generate video content, it’s an investment that pays off. Here’s what we mean: 88% of video marketers say they’ve generated a positive ROI 93% of marketers have landed new customers through social media videos Video marketing can generate up to 66% more qualified leads per year Those who use video marketing can boost their brand awareness by 54% Videos have increased sales for 80% of video marketers If that’s not enough to convince you yet, consider this: By 2022, it’s estimated that a whopping 82% of global internet traffic will come from video streaming and downloads — an 88% increase from just four years ago. The takeaway? There is virtually limitless potential in the future of video marketing. Videos drive more engagement While other marketing tactics are still crucial to a successful strategy, video sees a bigger boost in overall engagement than other content forms. In fact, consumers will retain 95% of a video message vs. 10% of those who read it. And when it comes to social media, video engagement is much higher (and more successful) than image engagement. Take Facebook, for example. It’s no secret that it’s difficult to fight for attention on crowded newsfeeds. But one tactic that seems to be working? You guessed it: Video marketing. According to Databox, video ads on Facebook have generated: 20-30% higher conversion rates 2x increase in clicks 2-3x higher click-through rates Your audience wants video Because we know users are more engaged with video content, it only makes sense that they would want more of it. And that data certainly backs that up: 54% of users want to see more video content from marketers 60% of people would rather watch online videos than television People watch an average of 16 hours of online video each week, which is up 52% from two years ago – a 52% increase in the last two years 85% of all U. S. Internet users watch online video content each month from any of their devices An overwhelming majority of consumers (72%) prefer to learn about new products through video content. Video can be used virtually anywhere Video marketing doesn’t have to be limited to the more obvious channels like YouTube or Facebook. With a successful video marketing strategy, you can expand videos to paid ads, blogs, product descriptions, social media, and much more. Beyond that, you can get incredibly creative with the types of videos you generate and market. Videos like: Blog, recipe, and e-commerce videos (websites with videos are 53x more likely to reach the front page of Google) Product videos (97% of marketers say video helps users understand their products and services better) Social media videos (social media posts with video generate up to 48% more views & 1200% more shares) Kick-off your video marketing strategy with V9 Videos Ready to launch your video marketing strategy? Our sister brand, V9 Vids, is ready to help. Our ultimate goal: make video marketing accessible to you. In other words: we make the videos, and you see the results. Check out V9 Vid's video marketing packages to launch your 2021 strategy now. --- This year, the word resilient is thrown into almost every conversation. However, after 10+ years of working with ski resorts, we believe that the ski industry defines ‘resilience’ -- every single season. Now, budgets are being slashed due to COVID, the climate continues to change rapidly and visitor’s travel plans will not look the same. The ski industry’s marketers may get the shortest end of the ski-pole. But, we know their resilience (and years of practice) will shine this year, more than ever. For those ski industry marketers out there, we recommend getting back to the basics. Goodbye for now, flashy marketing campaigns, and hello, user-centric, inexpensive, marketing tactics. 1: Bulk Up The Informative Content Given the relative similarities amongst the competitors for core content, it becomes very important to think outside of the box. If Google and users are seeing “basically the same” site time and time again within the competitive set, small improvements in content breadth and quality can go a long way towards improved organic positions. Tactically, this looks like reevaluating your ‘core content’ on the site, those most visited pages. Do they satisfy user-intent? Do they answer the most frequently asked questions? Do they include links for further reading? BEST EXAMPLE: You! After visiting more than a dozen site’s homepages they all began to blend together. They shout (buy a lift ticket! ) rather than invite and inform. COVID TIP: But first, before you revamp your core content, build a ‘bulletin board’ of up-to-date information on safety practices and protocols. This should be easy to find and present on every single page. 2: Redefine What Makes Your Resort Unique As noted, the resorts take one of the following approaches: they are either trying to sell all the stuff that comes along with a ski vacation (i. e. things to do, logistics, lodging, etc. ) or they are trying to think bigger and push the experience of a trip. When looking at the sites collectively, the approach of pushing experience overwhelmingly works better for content. It is more inspiring, more complete, and most likely better to convert. Furthermore, you can cover the same focus areas of the ‘selling’ sites while still pushing lifestyle. It is difficult to do the reverse. BEST EXAMPLE: There is, perhaps, no domain doing a better job of emphasizing lifestyle than Aspen. They are far and above the best at showing the ideals, principles and guiding philosophy of their mountain. For example, nothing beats the ‘We Are Different‘ content silo on Aspen Snowmass. It encapsulates everything that they value. What’s more, the silo is not just a half-hearted tag-along piece of content. It is a core aspect of their content strategy online, just as the ideals are a core piece of who they are as a business. The combination is a powerful one. COVID TIP: Speak candidly about how your resort supports your workers and your city. People want to feel like they are contributing more than just the price of a lift ticket, especially now. 3: Create First-Timers’ Guides Most sites offer content to new visitors, but a few take it to the next level. Some of the best content we see exists in the form of comprehensive first timer’s guides. These are excellent content. We recommend all sites push a hard angle towards these new visitors. As much a resort can make them feel comfortable, informed, and excited ahead of time, the better. Plus, these should be relatively easy to put together as they consist of the basic info about a place. BEST EXAMPLE: Jackson Hole is hard to get to, but worth the extra effort. And they built an app for that. We’d love to see other on-site content here too. COVID TIP: A first time visitor will have a whole new set of concerns this year, therefore, you could test very unique formats to connect with them. What about hosting a welcome webinar? Or open up your chat feature? Or do an AMA on Facebook or Instagram live? BONUS TIP: Google loves showing current, up to date content in the SERPs. Users like seeing up-to-date reports from the mountain. The easiest way to do that is via social. A... --- “My bags are packed, I'm ready to go” If this John Denver classic pops into your head often, you’re one of us. You love marketing resorts as much as you love visiting them. But marketing a dream destination is far from easy. The competition is vast, budgets change rapidly and guests’ expectations continue to rise. Now, more than ever, you must move beyond the norm. You must listen to the guests and be willing to try something new. But don’t worry, we’re here for you. As a marketing agency based in Colorado, we live in a vacation destination. We have partnered with resorts all over the country for over 15 years. Our resort marketing efforts have weathered real storms (think: hurricanes) and economic downfalls. While COVID-19 continues to change how we market, we want to walk you through some easy-to-implement ideas and bigger A. C. (after COVID-19) strategies. What is Resort Marketing? Resort marketing is the magic of making your target audience feel like they are visiting your destination — before and after their visit. Resort marketing is the practice of speaking to your target market at every point in the funnel. It means keeping a close eye on trends, but even a closer eye on your own data. As a resort marketer, you should always be testing something new and unique because your competition isn’t just other resorts — it’s any possible way a guest can spend their free time and money. How Do you Market a Resort? Data shows us that a majority of guests’ resort research begins on a mobile device, months in advance, and conversions happen last-minute, now more than ever. Therefore, you must have a resort marketing strategy for each part of the marketing funnel. But never forget the power of a repeat visitor. It’s always easier to make a brand fan out of a current visitor than it is to find someone new. How to market a resort is also found in what your customers are already telling you in their search patterns, the pages they visit, and the reviews they leave. As marketers, we need to listen more. Christine Chen sums it all up, perfectly. It’s rare that brands make first-person data a priority, but often this type of data is way more powerful than traditional metrics. Challenge yourself to amplify your guests' voices because, in challenging times like these, almost nothing is predictable. Set aside time each month to mine this data, make a visual representation of it, and share it with your entire team. From there, you can apply those learnings to each marketing channel and populate the content to match what they desire and need from each. 5 Foundation Resort Marketing Tips Now that you know why your marketing needs to change, let’s talk about which marketing strongholds should be working harder for you. Money Pages It’s time to take a deep hard look at your ‘money pages. ’ Examples of these pages are your actual resort pages, homepage, and main booking page. Chances are, they are too general and speak to too broad of an audience. First, tap into your new ‘real talk,’ as Chen puts it, and apply those learnings here. What problem is this page supposed to address? Is it addressing that in great detail? What ‘snackable’ information is missing that will address their basic needs (think FAQ-style content)? Are your unique differentiators listed in a clear and concise manner? Is it easy for them to understand what to do next? What is the competition doing better than you, content-wise? Once you’ve bulked up the content, then revisit your keyword research and basic SEO optimizations. Always remember that your money pages may be more evergreen, but they should also be updated a few times a year. Get More Reviews Are you capturing reviews at all touchpoints, both online and offline? Audit and inventory your review collection process often. This is where the gold is found. Reviews, more than any other tool, allows your guests to do the marketing for you. Revamp Blog Posts At least 10x a day, we say “Quality over quantity” — and we’ll keep saying it until all marketers listen. There is too much... --- If you’re overseeing your brand’s social media marketing strategy, chances are your to-do list is already looking pretty full. But that doesn’t mean that social listening shouldn’t be a priority for your team. When your customers and competitors are using social media like never before, it takes powerful insights to level up your social media strategy. So what exactly can social listening do for your business? Why Your Business Needs Social Listening Competitive Analysis Just as you have to compete for sales, you have to keep your business competitive on social media, too. Tracking your competitors online lets you identify missed opportunities and areas of improvement for your organization on social media. Customer Service and Sentiment Your brand is being discussed online — do you know what people are saying? Being able to instantly find both positive and negative feedback from your customers will help you identify both the strengths and weaknesses of your business or product. Along with valuable insights, this form of social listening provides you the opportunity to show appreciation for positive mentions of your brand and to address any unsatisfied customers and change their potentially negative experience into a positive one. Lead Generation It’s obvious that your business needs a plan to attract customers, but how does social media marketing fit into that? With social media listening, you’re able to find and join conversations from these potential customers, to let them know directly about your product or service. Not only is social listening helpful for contacting prospects, but it provides you with valuable information about their priorities and what they’re looking for from a business like yours. How to Build a Social Listening Plan Knowing about social listening is all well and good, but like most strategies, it’s only an idea until you figure out how to make it happen. Here are a few tips to create your social listening plan. Priority Platforms To make the most effective social listening strategy, focus your efforts on where the most important conversations to your brand are happening. To do this, consider what social media platforms your target audience is most likely to use, based on their demographics and interests. You wouldn’t go to LinkedIn for foodie content, just as you wouldn’t go to Instagram to find a job. Find a Tool Before getting started, you’ll need to figure out how exactly you’re going to capture data for your social listening. We’d recommend using a tool that allows you to search a variety of relevant keywords and hashtags, monitor your competition’s social media, and keep tabs on important conversations from your target audience. A few of our favorites include Sprout Social and Hootsuite. Keywords and Hashtags There are endless conversations happening on social media, so it’s important to know how to sift through them to get the data you want. To start piecing the puzzle together, start monitoring these essential phrases: Your brand name and handles Your brand’s top products Your brand’s slogans Common misspellings of your brand name or products Key people/public personalities in your company (CEO, etc. ) Your branded hashtags Campaign names Industry terms and hashtags Your competitors’ brand names, account handles, and top product names Your competitors’ branded hashtags and slogans Key people/public personalities in your competitors’ company (CEO, etc. ) Top Competitors To remain competitive online, your listening strategy needs to track your competitors and what they’re doing on social media. To get the most out of competitive insights, try to answer the following questions: What messages are your competitors communicating to your audience? What trends or current events are they taking advantage of? What social media platforms are they the most active on? How often do they post? What is their strategy for community management and engagement? What are customers in the industry saying about your competitors, and how can you use this to your advantage? Turn Up the Volume on Your Social Strategy Data-driven social listening can take out some of the guesswork of your social media strategy if you have the time to implement it. If setting up a social listening tool, tracking keywords and hashtags, and analyzing audience sentiment doesn’t sound like fun to you, check out the social media... --- As a digital marketing agency, we have the opportunity to speak with and work with a large number of companies in the manufacturing space. Each has a unique set of goals, competitors, and marketing resources. As such, there is quite a multitude of digital marketing tactics and strategies they leverage. Instead of giving you a manual of every tactic you *might* need, however, I opted to put together a minimal viable product guide to help you get your digital marketing in shape for the rest of 2020. As always, if this is something your organization is working through, please feel to reach out to Volume Nine. We’re always happy to bounce ideas or support you in getting your Digital Marketing strategy in place. Did you know Volume Nine offers more than just full-service digital marketing programs? We can conduct audits, develop strategies, train your team, and/or provide consulting in any area of Digital Marketing. TL;DR: Your Digital Marketing Summary Have a good, mobile-friendly website Include a form-fill option for leads to reach out Make sure it’s fast Have a CMS that allows you to expand the content Have a simple content strategy Write out your different target audiences What content do they need to feel ready to reach out? i. e. sales content What content will pull them into the site for the first time? I. e. resource content Pick one social media platform Generally, great choices for manufacturers are Linkedin or Facebook Paid ads are your friend Google search Social ads Retargeting Measurement and attribution Track goals in Google Analytics Attribute marketing in your CRM Create a “Good Enough” digital strategy What do you need marketing to accomplish in the next 90-120 days? Write out a simple plan to achieve that Tips for You Manufacturer’s Website Having a great website that speaks to all of your audiences is probably the most critical element of digital marketing for manufacturers. Here are some quick tips and things we look at to help manufacturers determine if their website is up to par or not: Is it fast on mobile? A great free tool to test this is Google’s PageSpeed Insights. Many of your users will most likely consume your content on mobile devices and speed and functionality tend to be a lot more important than fancy imagery. Do you have a form fill option for leads? Many manufacturers just provide direct email contact information on their websites. Although this approach isn’t bad per se, it does come with one major drawback: you lose critical marketing attribution information regarding which channels are driving leads vs. traffic. Can you easily edit and expand your content? Continuing to edit and create new content is vital for digital marketing. If you are still rocking a home-grown content management system (CMS) that you have to use a developer to update basic content, it might be time to migrate to a system like WordPress. Creating Content is Key Content is the fuel for most digital marketing. You’ll want to make sure you have the right content on your website for your buying audience. Here’s how to do that: Step #1: Write out who your different audiences are (e. g. purchasing manager, CEO, etc. ). Step #2: Identify the content they need on the site to feel ready to reach out. This will generally be your sales content (hint: your sales team is a great resource to help you figure out what is needed here). In many cases, this might be things like technical specifications or answers to frequently asked questions. Step #3: Identify the content that might pull them into the website for the first time. This is more of your marketing content and might show up like resources or blog posts. Bringing Social Media in the Manufacturing Mix Yes, social media can have a big impact for manufacturers. The trick is not to get overwhelmed or spread out your resources across too many platforms too fast. Some good platforms to consider starting with are: Facebook - The combination of high user adoption (Facebook has more than one billion users) and great ad targeting make this a great place to start. LinkedIn - The predominant platform for B2B... --- Optimizing your website for search engines is a never-ending process that can, at times, feel overwhelming. It feels like every time you optimize your site, Google rolls out a new algorithm and you’re left with declining organic traffic and lost keyword positioning. So, what is a marketer to do? After all, Google doesn’t exactly hand over the playbook for how their almighty algorithm works. Luckily, there are search engine optimization (SEO) tools, some free and some paid, that can help you audit and monitor your website based on how search engines like Google see it. These tools will help you perform four critical steps to an optimized website. 4 Critical Steps to an Organically Optimized Website Audit: Performing an SEO audit allows you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your website based on how search engines see it. Good SEO audit tools will crawl every page on your website and provide you with actionable recommendations for optimizations that should be made. Research: An audit will help you understand your website from a technical SEO perspective, but there is more to SEO success than fixing the technical issues. The research phase is equally important, as it will help you identify focus keywords through a proper understanding of the competitive organic landscape. Optimize: Armed with the actionable recommendations from an SEO audit, the next step is to implement these optimizations. Many marketers skip the audit step and begin trying to optimize a website without a clear plan. Regardless of the size of your website, this will be a very overwhelming approach to take. Monitor: After your optimizations have been implemented, you will want to make sure that you are consistently monitoring your website to identify any red flags. Through proper monitoring, you will be able to know when a fresh audit is required so you can begin the three-step cycle all over again. Now, let’s dive into the top tools we use at Volume Nine to help our clients improve their organic positioning and ensure they remain on top once they get there. 10 Best SEO Tools for Auditing, Researching, and Monitoring Google Search Console Cost: Free The best way to understand how Google sees your website is to go straight to the source. Google Search Console is a free tool that allows you to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your website. Created by Google, this is the easiest way to understand how the largest search engine in the world views your site. Get real-time alerts when an error occurs, track the actual search queries driving traffic to your site, and much more. Setting up Google Search Console takes less than 10 minutes and is a tool that should be in every SEO arsenal. Sitebulb Cost: $13. 50/mo for Lite Version or $35. 00/mo for Pro Version Auditing your website is the first step to improving your search engine optimization. Sitebulb is one of the best SEO audit tools on the market. What makes Sitebulb such a great tool for performing an SEO audit is the actionable data it provides. Not only will Sitebulb provide high-level scores based on both SEO and security, but it will also rank each issue found based on priority and the impact the fixes will have on your ranking. Prioritizing what you decide to optimize is often the most difficult part of any optimization project. Sitebulb makes it clear where you can get the best bang for your buck, so you can focus your time in the right areas. Once you have made optimizations, you can easily re-audit your website to see the progress you have made and re-prioritize any additional optimizations that need to be made. Google Analytics Cost: Free Google Analytics is another free tool from Google that every marketer should have. This robust tool can be as complex or simple as you want it to be. Track every aspect of your website in a single place, including Google Search Console data. To know where you need to go, you first need to understand where you are. Google Analytics will act as a single place of truth for all SEO related metrics. SEMrush Cost: $99. 95/mo for Pro Version SEMrush is one of the most... --- You spent hours writing a blog post that you’re sure is “the one” - the article that will bring new visitors flocking to your site, drive sales for your product, and maybe even snag that number one spot in Google search results. You post it and... nothing. Where did you go wrong? Virtually every business knows that they need some form of content marketing, but it’s hard to know where to start. While posting a blog and hoping for the best may have worked ten years ago, businesses today are operating in a significantly more competitive online space. Your content needs to be backed by a solid strategy if it’s going to make a splash. Here at Volume Nine, we live and die by data, especially when we’re making a content strategy for clients. Here’s what you need to know about creating your own kickass data-driven content marketing strategy. What is Data-Driven Content Marketing? Data-driven content marketing is creating content for your website, blog, or social media channels to reach your customers and help you achieve one of your marketing KPIs. It’s the opposite of the “post and pray” strategy many businesses use, where you’re creating and posting content for the sole purpose of adding content to the site or your feed without any plan behind it. Guess which type of content will help drive actionable results and move you closer to reaching your marketing goals? The data-driven one! (Bet you didn't see that coming) Why Should You Use Data to Create Your Content? Using data to plan, create, and measure your content will take much of the guesswork out of your content marketing strategy. There are numbers out there to help you in every step of the content creation process. Applying that data to your content will help you reach your target customers, create content they actually want to read and shape your go-forward strategy. Consider this stat: According to the Content Marketing Institute, 63% of businesses do not have a documented content marketing strategy. If you can create a documented plan fueled by data, it’s going to give you a leg up over your competitors and may help drive revenue growth. 6 Steps to Create a Data-Driven Content Marketing Strategy 1. Use Data to Define Your Customers The first and arguably most important step in creating content is figuring out for whom you’re writing the content. Defining your target audience for each blog post ensures that the content you’re making will provide value to them, and provide value to your company in the form of a new customer or increased brand awareness. Ideally, you’ll want to create a description of a person who represents your target customers. The more details you can get here the better, but the core details to define are: Who they are: gender, personality, age, job title, location, income What they’re looking for: needs, pain points, challenges Where they find information: Facebook, forums, blogs Why your company matters to them: what you can offer to help them solve their pain points There are many, many resources available to help you find and define your target audience. Some places to start looking for more information include: Google Analytics “Audience” data Social media insights Online forums, like subreddits related to your product niche Surveys or interviews with existing customers When you start digging, you’ll likely discover that you have more than one audience or target customer. That’s ok! Most businesses will have several different personas to which they target their content marketing efforts. 2. Dive Into Your Analytics Once you have your target audiences defined, it’s time to start figuring out what content they’d like to be reading. You may have been looking around your analytics in step one to find out more about your audience — now, let’s use those same tools to find the content that resonates with them. If you’ve already been blogging or are active on social media, your customers have already told you which kind of content they’d like to see. Look at the top articles in Google Analytics or your most liked or shared posts on social media. From there, look for insights or trends that can help shape your... --- Social media engagement has become a hot topic in recent years. With social algorithms like EdgeRank giving higher visibility to brands with high engagement scores, it’s more critical than ever for brands to inspire reactions & comments with their social content. To help brands try to improve their engagement metrics, we developed a proprietary process & checklist they can follow. Click here for our full social media engagement guide. However, as a first step to improving social engagement, it’s important for brands to realize there are two major types of engagement on social media. To help our clients work through this, we coined a few terms: Inbound Social Media Engagement Outbound Social Media Engagement What is inbound social media engagement? Put simply, inbound social media engagement is responding to consumers who are communicating with the brand on your social channels. Good examples include responding to a DM or a comment left on your Facebook page. Why is inbound social media engagement important? This encourages your followers to continue engaging with the brand, and also can become an important channel for your customer service team. What is outbound social media engagement? Outbound social media engagement is any activity where you are going out and putting your brand into a conversation they might not have been in otherwise. A good example of this is participating in a trending hashtag conversation. Why is outbound social media engagement important? Outbound social media engagement is critical for brands who need to get the wheels on engagement turning and also build their follower levels. Need some support boosting engagement for your brand? Volume Nine is a Digital Marketing + Social Media Agency based in Denver, Colorado and we can help! --- Published: May 28, 2020 We know the world, including digital marketing, is continuing to shift on us. Digital Marketing has a tendency to do that even in “normal” situations, but we are seeing its fast-paced evolution even more now. Many of us are now trying to look ahead and figure out next steps, with a future that is relatively uncertain. Although we can see the future (obviously, we’ve read our tea leaves, and we challenged ourselves to put together our best predictions for what remains of 2020. Thanks to Richard Lesher, Carly Webber, Ben Waymire, Barb Dittert & Miranda Ryder for helping me put this together! More of a skimmer? Here are the slides! 2020 Digital Marketing Predictions in a World Battling COVID-19 from Volume Nine ASSUMPTIONS BEHIND OUR 2020 DIGITAL MARKETING PREDICTIONS To take a stab at the future, we had to make a few assumptions: Assumption # 1 - No New Normal in 2020 With a potential second wave of the virus, brewing international conflict, another recession plus an election, we’re anticipating that we aren't going to hit a soft, smooth landing point this year. Assumption # 2- Recession of Some Kind Many economists agree that we have a high probability of a U. S. recession this year. In this model alone, Bloomberg Economics has predicted close to a 100% chance of a slowdown in the next 12 months. WHAT WE’VE LEARNED FROM THE CRISIS The high-anxiety times we’ve encountered this year, coupled with lowered consumer spending (GDP turned negative for the first time since 2014), means we all need to assess our marketing strategy. Thankfully, there are some essential takeaways we’ve gleaned from this year’s events, and we can apply them to your planning for the rest of 2020. The importance of stories - To explain complex topics quickly, especially when anxiety is high, single stories continue to resonate more with potential customers. Translating your company's value/core beliefs in your marketing - Knowing why your company exists may never have been more critical than now. When you have to make fast decisions and communicate tough decisions empathetically, you have to have a "due north. " Crisis communication planning - With anxiety running high, even the most innocuous-seeming post on social media could flare negative backlash. Your team must have a quick policy in place of how to monitor and handle brewing issues. Shorter marketing plans - Many companies invest in significant annual planning policies to set marketing strategies and targets for the entire year. Now, marketing must adapt and create agile, flexible strategies that can pivot quickly. Identifying marketing "weak points" - Many organizations have realized they’ve become too reliant on a single set of tactics. When direct response ads or tradeshow marketing is the only significant driver of new client acquisition, you may have put all of your eggs in one basket. Email lists are more important than ever - Building your email database should be a significant KPI for every company. Brands have spent millions to gather social followers, but the truth is that these owned media channels are not quite as "owned" as we thought. The followers still belong to Facebook, not really to your brand. During the crisis, we experienced just how critical that email list is. Instant data sources - In constantly changing markets, we don't have the luxury of tapping industry research, pulling keyword data, or launching in-depth competitive intelligence programs. Rapid feedback between customers, sales, and marketing will become more critical than ever. Budgeting & ROI - The marketing "nice-to-haves" will likely get separated from the "have-to-haves" as budgets get smaller and marketing gets more dialed in to deliver leads and sales. With a big microscope on money spent, attribution for producing revenue vs. other metrics will dictate a lot of marketing strategies. HIGH-LEVEL PREDICTIONS With all that said, here are some of our high-level predictions for the year: Messaging will be more critical than ever. Auto marketing programs (thin content and duplicate or basic social) are going to create more risk than they’re worth. Brands likely will produce less content, but that content will have to go through more of a microscope and be closely monitored. Marketers are going... --- For businesses that aren’t digital, it can be challenging to know how to navigate the digital sphere. Home builders and new home communities are no exception. Thankfully, though, digital marketing doesn’t have to be all algorithms and complex data. Here, we share simple yet incredibly effective marketing tactics you can employ to help strengthen your home builder brand, business, and bottom line. TL;DR Get insider knowledge First, sit down with your sales team to better understand what the big selling points are. What gets home buyers on the hook? What motivates them? What are their hesitations? Your sales team will have incredible insight as to how you can better appeal to consumers. Next, talk to your past homeowners about what they love most about their homes and their community. Send out surveys, get testimonials, or host some virtual focus groups to hear first-hand feedback. Their knowledge and advice can help shape future marketing decisions and the type of content you produce to resonate with prospective clients. Highlight local communities Another great marketing strategy to boost home sales or contracts is to feature local communities in your content. This helps paint a better picture of what future residents can look forward to in their new neighborhood. This also can provide promotional marketing support to local businesses who could really use it right now. Be sure to mention if they have any special offers they are running during the crisis or for your community. Highlight local talking points, like: Schools Restaurants Shops Parks Events and venues Museums Farmer’s markets This strategy also helps showcase your business as one that supports the local community, which can appeal to future homebuyers. If they see that you care about your neighborhoods, they may feel more inclined to build a home with a company that shares the same values they do. Know when to sell vs. share When it comes to your website, be sure to draw a clear line between selling vs. sharing. Pages on your site like the home page, community and floor plan pages, and others should focus on conversions. Your blog, on the other hand, should be focused on drawing in new visitors. It should also cater to a more general audience, people who may have stumbled across your brand for the first time. Focus on creating timely and relevant content that’s helpful and informational to all users, not just the ones you’re trying to sell your products to. Gather data Data is becoming one of the most critical parts of digital marketing. When set up properly, data can show you what’s working, what’s not, and what future opportunities to capitalize on. Here’s a brief overview of which tracking tools you should be using to measure the performance of your digital channels and to help with SEO: Google Analytics: Known as the gold standard of measurement tools, Google Analytics gives you deeper insight into your website visitors, measures ROI, and so much more. You can also connect it to any other systems you currently have to measure points of sale, CRM, and more. Google Search Console: These tools ensure your site is visible to those searching for it or similar products. It also measures your site’s search performance and traffic while monitoring and fixing any issues along the way. Business Manager: If your business has Facebook and Instagram accounts, use Business Manager to track it all. There you can manage ads, posts, pages, and gather data on audience engagement. New to social media? Use this engagement guide to get started. Trackable advertising We mentioned how important data is to your marketing efforts. If this is your first time marketing your home builder or new home community online, it’s important to use strategies that are trackable. We’d go so far as to say you should only use trackable advertising tactics. For example, display ads are a great way to get guaranteed exposure to audiences when they use specific keywords or phrases — no matter the site they’re on. You can track who clicks the ad, when, and from where, all while gaining brand exposure. Other advertising tactics, like billboards, cannot be tracked. As a result, you can’t measure their success, making them an... --- Many businesses agree that we are in uncharted waters, facing an unprecedented crisis that is constantly evolving. We certainly don’t have all the answers, but there are a few things we are recommending for our clients that we’d like to share. Some of the Biggest Opportunities Right Now: If you are a brand that has recently had to cancel bookings / shows, etc. you are more than likely going to want to be in crisis communication mode vs. direct response mode. (More on this below. ) If your brand is being leaned on to supply high in-demand goods and services (e. g. egg delivery or cleaning supplies), this may be a good time to lean into your direct response marketing efforts. The world is going to look different on the other side of this thing. This is the time to marshal your resources, work on your marketing plan, get your foundational marketing right, and get ready to hit the ground running once the virus starts to abate. What Brands Should Be Doing: Our Experts Weigh In During any crisis, it's essential to evaluate which digital marketing channels you should be leveraging and which you should be pulling back on. We don't have a one-size-fits-all strategy. However, there are some areas most brands can quickly evaluate to determine where you need to put time and energy. Here are a few channels that offer quick insights into how you should approach this crisis: Social Comments & DMS: What kind of feedback are you getting on social media? What are you seeing competitors get on their feeds? Social Listening: What is trending on social, especially around your brand or industry? Paid Search: Since the crisis started, how do your metrics look? Any areas or product lines doing a little better? Anything doing a little worse and should be scaled back on? Email Marketing: Do you have automated emails going out? Are you seeing a decrease in subscribers or other adverse actions? Google Analytics: How is your website content performing? Are you getting more traffic to specific pages that provide insight into how your audience is thinking right now? CRISIS COMMUNICATION If you find yourself needing to do crisis communication online, here are a few guidelines we recommend. A big thanks goes to Michelle Ellis of Ellis Communications for collaborating with us on this list! First things first: it’s time to launch your Crisis Communications Plan. If you have a crisis communication plan in place, it's time to update and implement it. If you don't have one, try to take the time to create one while doing this. Think about the worst-case scenario when you are developing this. Below, we share some steps to help you create and execute your crisis comms. Establish your crisis communication team: There should be people in charge of the official communication. If you don't have a team in place, some roles need to be assigned, including: (1) strategist (2) analyst (3) content specialist Create communications guidelines: What are the company's mission & values? All content going out needs to stay true to those values. What communications make sense in light of those values, and what does not make sense? Avoid COVID-19 information if possible: We're having an "info-demic" (there's too much information on coronavirus at this point, and it's confusing). If you want to curate content about the virus, you need at least two reliable sources and you have to keep tracking the information throughout the day for any changes in data. Be very careful of your promotions: We recommend content that is sensitive, tasteful, and avoids heavy advertising. For example, this is not a great time for a COVID-19 19% off sales. Stay positive: Try to keep your messaging as updated and as positive as possible. Internal collaboration: Sometimes, a team member isn't as up to date on what's happening. Try to establish collaboration mechanisms, so the digital team knows the latest on industry updates and the company's stance. This makes for easy updates and fewer mishaps. Process for monitoring: In this environment, information is becoming obsolete within a few hours and negative comments are rampant. Regular monitoring is critical, so make sure you have chosen team... --- The CBD industry is no doubt booming, and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Once you’ve entered the industry and need to start marketing your CBD products, however, that momentum becomes an entirely different story — especially online. That’s because go-to paid advertising platforms like Google Ads and Facebook & Instagram Ads restrict what CBD brands and businesses are allowed to pay to promote, making it virtually impossible for them to market their products and break into the industry. With our digital insights and experimentation, though, we’ve found 5 marketing strategies CBD brands can capitalize on to gain recognition and build a strong customer base. Here, we’re sharing those 5 digital marketing opportunities CBD brands can implement to gain more visibility, traction, and (of course) sales. 1. Build CBD Brand Loyalty CBD brands are coming out of the woodwork, and virtually none have the advantage of brand loyalty yet. Here is where you need to capitalize. Prioritizing brand recognition over conversions can help you get ahead of the competition just enough to build a loyal customer base. Once you do that, customers will take it from there. Here’s the proof: 39. 5% of shoppers will spend more on products if they’re loyal to a brand 59% of brand loyal shoppers will refer their family and friends to that brand To get started building your CBD brand’s loyal fan base, try providing a unique offer like 20% off their first purchase or free shipping to help get customers through the door. From there, invest more effort into retaining those customers by providing special incentives or building a loyalty program. 2. Educate consumers about CBD Education is a crucial part of CBD marketing that you can’t overlook — especially when it comes to your audience. Most CBD marketers and dispensary owners overlook consumers who don’t fit the stereotypical persona of marijuana users, leaving entire audience segments untapped. That’s where you come in. Be sure to create educational materials that speak to anyone and everyone, highlighting all the ways that CBD can help consumers who would be interested in your products but don’t know it yet. This is also where education and lifestyle can blend nicely. 3. Treat CBD like a lifestyle Instead of working to promote standalone products, try to showcase the lifestyle you are promoting. Is it pain relief? Health benefits? Luxury? Whatever the case is for your unique CBD brand, create content and messaging that appeals to particular audiences. Another approach to lifestyle marketing for CBD brands? Promote strong convictions your brand may have about specific topics — like the environment, social injustice, and healthcare. If your stances are part of your brand story, share it! Create content that showcases your beliefs to like-minded people who support those causes and, as a result, will support your business. Check out our Lifestyle Marketing Guide if you want to better leverage this digital marketing style for your CBD brand. 4. Engage CBD users (or onlookers) Don’t toss up blog posts or social media content for the sake of it — aim for actual engagement (and use our Social Media Engagement Guide to help along the way). Better engagement metrics can help improve your visibility on social media platforms while simultaneously building your brand’s credibility. Create content that invites consumers in — ask questions, respond to comments, and talk about what’s important to them. The short of it? Aim for quality, not quantity when it comes to social media content. This has multiple benefits: boosts in impressions in Facebook & Instagram algorithms, third-party traffic, and the potential to build more followers (whom you can convert into buyers once trust is established). 5. Build your CBD cred Your customers’ perception of your CBD brand — or any brand — is your reality. Take stock of how your brand is represented online through your own content as well as others’. Here are some tips CBD brand can use to establish authority: Monitor and respond to customer reviews and testimonials Ensure you have a trusted website that’s secure, mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and has a professional design Create consistent messaging across all platforms Create a Google My Business profile (especially if you have a... --- Cause marketing, or cause-related marketing, is a relationship between a business and a nonprofit organization designed to raise money for a specific cause. When cause marketing is part of a business’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, the business’s employees and their bottom line all benefit. Plus, the business is doing good by giving back to a worthy cause, so what’s not to like? Cause marketing is great for both company and nonprofit, but it’s not without its drawbacks. In some cases, cause marketing has unintended effects on the local community. Or, if the company doesn’t research the nonprofit or cause thoroughly, a partnership can backfire, drawing scrutiny and criticism from the public. While there are a bunch of benefits to taking on cause marketing, but it has to be done well. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of cause marketing (and if it’s right for your brand). Your company gives back to a cause The first benefit to cause marketing? Your company is giving back to a particular cause — presumably without expecting anything in return. You’re making a positive impact on the community by investing in something good, whether that’s committing to going green, ending hunger, advocating for health, supporting developing countries, or championing human rights. Warby Parker’s “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program is an excellent example of cause marketing that makes sense for the eyewear company. Over 2. 5 billion people around the world don’t have access to the glasses they need. Warby Parker distributes one pair to someone in need for every pair of Warby Parker’s purchased. It’s good for the bottom line Of course, there are business-wise benefits to cause marketing, too. Cause marketing can boost your brand reputation and visibility, creating positive word of mouth for your company as well as the partnered nonprofit. It can lead to increased sales for you and increased funding for the nonprofit. It’s a win-win. Cause marketing can also benefit your company’s costs. It sounds counterintuitive, but giving away time and resources towards a cause actually benefits your bottom line. When your brand reputation is stellar and sales are up, you might see an increase in revenue and market value. Take Starbucks, for example. The Starbucks FoodShare program launched in 2016 in partnership with nonprofit Feeding America. The program’s goal is to “rescue 100% of the unsold food available from its more than 8,000 U. S. company-owned stores by the end of 2020. ” In September 2019, more than 20 million meals were donated through FoodShare. Not only does FoodShare raise awareness of food waste and hunger in the United States, but it also acknowledges an area where Starbucks can do better: food production and disposal. FoodShare works to cut down on Starbucks’ wasted food through a thoughtful program with a partnered nonprofit. That cuts down on their bottom line two-fold. It attracts customers and jobseekers Employees and consumers, especially millennials, expect companies to be socially conscious. People believe that companies should work towards social change through their business values and practices. When you have a thoughtful cause marketing strategy in place, you can attract both consumers and potential employees who are looking for a business that aligns with their own values. In fact, research has shown that 56% of U. S. consumers stop buying from companies they believe are unethical. Even if there’s no substitute for that brand, about 35% of consumers will stop buying from it anyway. Not all cause marketing has the intended effect Cause marketing has many advantages, but it may also have unintended consequences in the very community you’re trying to help. Shoe company TOMS, for example, is known for its “One for One” business model. For each pair of TOMS shoes sold, it donates one pair of shoes to children around the world. It’s similar to Warby Parker’s “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program. The intentions are good and the business model fulfills a need. But there are disadvantages. The TOMS business model may help needy kids, but it also has a somewhat negative impact on local markets. Local makers and shoe merchants are selling fewer shoes because of donated pairs of TOMS saturating the market. Plus,... --- Before the internet and social media largely affected advertising and marketing, celebrities were paid to endorse a product, service, or campaign. Now, influencers make this type of marketing much more accessible. An influencer — aka someone who has a large following on social media — can work with a company to promote a product or service to their audience. Think of influencers as the new-and-improved version of celebrity endorsements. When done well, influencer marketing can benefit most brands, especially when it comes to growing their brand awareness, tapping into new audiences, and driving traffic. That’s because influencers already have an established audience of followers who enjoy and engage with their content. By choosing an influencer who shares the same audience as your company, he or she can naturally market what you’re selling to people who may already be interested. Interested in working with an influencer, but not sure if it’s right for your brand? Read on. Influencers use social proof and word of mouth Why does influencer marketing work now compared to those celebrity endorsements of years past? Almost 90% of marketers find that the ROI on influencer marketing is comparable or better than other marketing channels. An influencer’s followers already trust that person’s opinion, or they’re inspired by that person’s brand. Influencer marketing uses word of mouth and social proof to build brand awareness — proven to be two of the most effective ways to market. Let’s say someone follows a fashion and lifestyle blogger on Instagram because she admires their home decor, style, and makeup. If this blogger posts about how much they love their new skin cream because it’s great for sensitive skin, our follower might find herself agreeing. Now she’s interested in that skin cream, partially because other followers are too. That influencer is relatable and builds trust by revealing parts of their life on social media. Their followers admire them and aspire to be like them. When they sign off on a product or service they seem to love, their followers will listen. And, if your brand created that skin cream, everything’s coming up roses for you. See how this works? Decide if influencer marketing makes sense for your brand Think influencer marketing could give your brand a boost? Here’s how you should decide if partnering with an influencer is worth it. Consider your target audience Who is your audience? What social media platforms does your audience use? What brands are they following on those channels? How much time are they spending on social media? These are all important questions that will help you decide if influencer marketing will work on your audience. For example, if you sell a product or service targeted at younger consumers who spend a lot of time on Instagram, there’s a good chance influencer marketing will work well. On the other hand, if your consumers are older and prefer more traditional advertising like commercials or print ads, an influencer may not have the reach you want within that demographic. Consider your product or service Similarly, consider whether your product or service makes sense for brand advocacy. Can an influencer naturally market your product or service to their followers? Instagram is a popular social media channel for influencers because it’s heavily visual. For example, a fitness and lifestyle blogger can easily become an influencer for an activewear brand or company that makes high-quality water bottles. Those are tangible products that are easy to market in photos. Consumer goods companies make more sense for influencer marketing compared to services like a real estate agency, veterinarian office, or daycare center. Figure out what you want in a partnership Once you’ve decided that your company and your audience will benefit from influencer marketing, it’s time to set some goals for the partnership. Ask yourself these questions to get the most out of an agreement with your influencer. What do you want your influencer(s) to promote? Before jumping into a partnership, decide on what you want to achieve through influencer marketing. You may want to increase brand awareness and word of mouth online. Maybe you want to boost your company’s social media presence by linking up with influencers. Increasing sales and conversion rates are also... --- When you’re tasked with promoting travel and tourism for your physical location, trying to reach event planners in an online world can be frustrating. Should you connect with event planners in your area? Over the World Wide Web? And how can you demonstrate what sets your destination marketing organization, convention center, visitors bureau, or destination management company apart from the rest? Building relationships with event planners can definitely be challenging, but the payoff is worth it. To help you out, we’re sharing a few digital marketing tips you can use to connect with event planners for your DMO, location, or event venue. Research past events Before you begin reaching out to event planners, take some time to research the events your DMO or location has held in the past. Pull out information like: Where have you held the most events? Or where have events in your area been held? Hotels, convention centers, parks, event spaces, etc. What time of year are most events held and why? Is it the weather, or are events centered around holidays? How many people have attended, on average? What types of events were held? e. g. corporate retreats, conferences, festivals, weddings, fundraisers, etc. This research will help you understand why people are already flocking to your destination. From there, you’ll know which types of event planners to work with, and you can have numbers and info to share with any event planners who are interested in working with you. Use local SEO to get your name out there Local search engine optimization, or local SEO, can help market your DMO, event venue, or destination to customers based on — you guessed it — location. Even if the event planner you’re targeting is not in the area, local SEO can boost your brand visibility and reputation to your local audience. To take advantage of local SEO, you might do the following. “Localize” your website Include your city, county, or region name naturally throughout your website. It’ll help you rank better in search engine results, making your organization more visible when someone searches for a DMO or venue in your area. Make sure your NAPW is up to date That’s your name, address, phone number, and website URL. When that information appears together online in one chunk, it’s called a “citation. ” Citations are commonly found in directories or business listing sites like Yelp or Google My Business. Check all your business directory listing to make sure your info is up-to-date. Reach out to local businesses or organizations If you mention a local business or organization in a brochure or blog post, ask them to feature or share your content on their own site or social media. Creating backlinks can boost your authority and improve your position in search results. Show off what makes you unique Don’t forget to show off what sets your destination apart from the rest. Why should event planners come to your town or city? What makes your event venue or convention center special for attendees? A great way to provide this social proof is to share testimonials on your website and social media. Use testimonials that explicitly say why your event or location is unique. Maybe it’s your thoughtfully planned tourist itineraries, wedding packages, or amenities for corporate meetings and retreats. Maybe it’s your venue design and decor. Maybe it’s your 5-star chef. Whatever it is, share it using guest feedback or online reviews. Share feedback, features, and reviews on all the relevant social platforms — but make sure to add LinkedIn into the mix. Many event planners use LinkedIn for networking and information, so it’s a great platform to get some more eyes on your social proof. Create content that event planners want to consume Content like blogs, additional web pages, and even case studies or “event recaps” are also great ways to boost SEO, keep your website active, and increase the odds you’ll connect with a great planner. Not sure what kind of content to create? Think about questions event planners may ask about your destination, like: Peak seasons to avoid/best seasons to host events Nearby businesses or attractions that might interest their demographic Highlights from your venue (i. e.... --- User-generated content, or UGC, is exactly what it sounds like: content generated by customers about a brand. UGC is usually thought of as social media photos and/or videos, but product reviews, blogs, and content on other forms of media count, too. Why should you care about UGC? Think about it: it’s content already created about your products or services and then shared online. Your company doesn’t have to use your own resources to create that content in-house. UGC also boosts your brand’s visibility in an organic way; rather than pushing products or services through your own marketing tactics, customers influence other customers. Because one consumer has nothing to gain from sharing positive feedback about your brand (unless they’re an influencer), another consumer is probably more apt to trust what they have to say. It’s social proof at its finest. If other people are talking about your brand or engaging with it, that must be the “right” thing to do. Social proof affects buying decisions big-time. When you have UGC generating positive word-of-mouth for you, it benefits your brand. So, how can you take advantage of user-generated content... and how can you encourage your audience to create it? Consider running a social media contest for your brand. Plan your contest in advance Before you jump headfirst into running a social media contest, you have to plan ahead. Here are some things to consider before the contest begins: Goal What do you hope to achieve through this contest? Do you want more followers? More likes for your Facebook page? Better engagement? More visibility to potential new followers? Prize Decide what your contest winner will win. Maybe you can give away a free product or service from your company, a good discount, a gift card, or in-demand items like electronics or event tickets. Be sure that your prize makes sense for your brand and your contest goals. Contest rules We’ll get into platform-specific contest rules in a second, but overall you’ll want to decide what social media channel you’ll use to host the contest, how users will submit a contest entry, how long the contest will be open, and how you’ll pick a winner. Running the contest Make sure you have the resources to collect your submissions, whether it’s a tool, app, or someone on your in-house team monitoring the contest. Consider how time-intensive the submissions will be; for example, a video will take longer for users to create than a quick photo. That will help you decide how long to let the contest run. Tagging and hashtags Users can tag their contest submissions either by tagging your brand’s account, using a unique hashtag that your brand creates, or both. Check that your hashtag isn’t widely used for something else to make it easier to collect submissions. Hosting a contest on Instagram or Facebook Now that you have the basics of planning a social media contest, let’s look at how you might host one on Instagram or Facebook. Instagram is a visual-heavy social media platform where users can post photos, videos, and Instagram stories. Facebook is much the same, with the ability to link to UGC content much easier. Depending on your audience and which platform they’re most active on, you’ll want to take advantage of that with your contest. It’s possible to use both platforms for a contest, so make it clear if you choose that route. Where to get started First, create an Instagram or Facebook post announcing your contest and explaining the rules. Be concise and brief so your followers will know exactly how to enter and what they can win. Basic giveaway rules often ask contest participants to like the post, follow your social media account, and tag another user. That boosts your follower count, engagement, and visibility with other users. It can also spread the word about your contest. Note: this is especially effective on Instagram. From there, you can get creative with how users participate in your contest. For extra chances to win, they might: tag multiple friends answer a question in the comments share your post in their stories repost your post on their feed create their own post and tag your account with a @mention... --- Everyone wants to have a #1 keyword ranking on Google and everyone also knows that 99% of organic clicks happen on the first Google search results page (SERP). But can a direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand compete in today’s world, where Google gives prominent rankings to Amazon, integrates its own products, and favors informational review sites even more after the BERT algorithm update? After doing a few consumer product searches on Google, I was surprised to see just how few brands were showing up in SERPs. Being both the curious and analytical sort, I thought it would be interesting to see exactly how the D2C brands were doing in the consumer packaged goods vertical. Let’s talk about what’s going on in SERPs First off, Google likes variety in the SERPs. They recently rolled out an algorithm update in June 2019 to limit how many times one domain can show up. So in theory, this would limit the number of times Amazon. com would show in the SERPs. But did it? Nope. Amazon URLs showed up in the Top 10 rankings a total of 122 times — and twice on 26 out of the 100 CPG keyword searches. Amazon also showed up 3 times for ‘electric turkey fryer,’ essentially holding all of the ‘above the fold’ space outside of ‘People Also Ask. ’ It’s interesting that Amazon has determined the Masterbuilt Fryer as their “Amazon Choice,” which leads to a lot of visibility for Masterbuilt in the Google results. This SERP is also a good example of how Amazon and Google collectively take up a lot of visibility in search results, as the next section below the fold is Google Shopping (followed by another Amazon result). After that, I can read a review that tells me the Masterbuilt Butterball MB23010618XL is the Top Rated Electric Turkey Fryer in 2019, and it uses an affiliate link to send me to Amazon. Finally, I get to a listing from Masterbuilt but Google is showing that the product is “Out of Stock” even though Masterbuilt doesn’t actually sell the Fryer on their website (WTF? ). And again, all of this directed me back to Amazon. All roads lead to Amazon, it appears. After all this SERP content on the Butterball XL Electric Fryer, I assumed the next listing for a Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer from Bass Pro Shops would be a great deal, but it is a smaller unit. Funny side note: this indoor fryer is actually categorized into their Camping Gear > Camp Stoves & Cooking sub-category. Who is using an indoor fryer on their camping trip? As I work down the results, I also noticed that Google was showing me a map for Home Depot, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond. I could see that Walmart has both a product listing and a category search, so I figure that my two options are now to buy online from Walmart or Amazon, or I could probably drive over to Walmart and get one there. What’s going on here? The #1 goal of Google is to provide the best search results. They have 80% share in the search engine market because their results are supposedly the most useful to the person doing the search. Their RankBrain and BERT algorithm updates supposedly use machine learning and natural language processing to build the best results when someone searches. So every time that Google searches for a CPG (Consumer Packaged Good), the algorithms attempt to bring back the most useful results for that keyword query. As we have seen, this means we will probably see at least one listing from Amazon, but is there consistency in the types of results that Google shows when presented with our sample set of keywords? Does Google like Consumer Reviews? Do the algorithms have a preference for trusted brands? I had so many questions rolling around in my head. So, I called up the guys over at Authority Labs (our keyword tracking technology partner) to see if they could pull data for me on 100 different CPG keywords to help me get an idea of what is going on. Researching 100 CPG search queries Once Authority Labs’ pulled ranking data for us... --- The retail industry is currently dominated by Amazon: by the middle of 2018, Amazon was already responsible for nearly half of all online retail sales in the United States. At that time, Amazon was expected to clear over $258 billion in U. S. retail sales. How can you compete with that as a small, independently owned eCommerce business? Running your own eCommerce business against Amazon is tough; there’s no doubt about it. However, it’s still entirely possible to do it successfully. Taking that approach rather than becoming an Amazon seller has its benefits. And on the flip side, using Amazon as a seller has unique benefits, too. Choosing which way to go depends on the needs of your business. An eCommerce site gives you creative control with your brand One of the biggest reasons to have your own eCommerce site? You’re in the driver’s seat. You make the decisions on which products to sell, how to sell them, how many you’ll offer, and so on. Plus, you’re able to maintain and capture your buyer data, so you can tweak product offerings and future marketing campaigns as needed. The ability to optimize product pages and content also amplifies your reach in search. If your brand wants to maintain control of creative decisions and customer experience, an eCommerce site is a good fit for you. You decide how your products are laid out on your website, what tone and voice you’ll use to appeal to your customers, and how your brand will look overall. You decide how your checkout process will run, what shipping options to offer, what your packaging will look like, and how you’ll communicate tracking and notifications with your customers. Similarly, you’ll have control of your marketing campaigns. If you want to host giveaways on Instagram to drum up interest in your products, it’s easier and more organic to do so with an eCommerce site rather than Amazon. However, these benefits can also be seen as possible drawbacks of having your own site. Having control over every aspect of your brand is exciting, but that also means you’re responsible for marketing to your customer base properly. If you’re a smaller and newer company, it can be hard to stand out in the retail industry. Just because you’re in control doesn’t mean you have to do that alone, though! Here at V9, we offer digital marketing solutions for eCommerce brands to help you increase conversions, boost site traffic, improve social media reach, and reach other marketing goals. Amazon is an inexpensive way to kickstart your business What if you’re completely new to the eCommerce market? Or you can’t afford the risks of running your own retail website? Amazon is still a great tool you can use to kickstart your eCommerce business. Having an entire website compete (and then actually convert and sell) can be a very big task in a crowded space. As an Amazon seller, it’s easier and generally cheaper to maintain your new retail business. Shipping and inventory with Amazon are more streamlined, meaning you can save money and time in lieu of creating your own processes. Plus, Amazon is typically a more reliable source for the purchase and shipping process. Because Amazon is an easily recognizable and trusted brand name, new customers may be more likely to take the plunge and make a purchase using that platform, rather than a brand new retail website. Customers are also likely buying from Amazon already — remember those stats we talked about earlier? — so you have a better chance of finding and capturing customers who are just browsing the site. That means you spend less time marketing to customers who may not be aware of your brand. If done correctly, Amazon is a great way for you to get found. Working with Amazon can ease some of the pains of running your own business, but it also means you’re limited by what you can do. You have to follow their rules when listing your products online. That also means you don’t really get brand recognition when you make sales: Amazon does. Your site can still thrive in an Amazon world Overall, we say yes: your eCommerce site still matters... --- Want to sell more season passes, tickets, or memberships for your local attraction? Word of mouth and customer loyalty can go a long way for ski resorts, zoos, amusement parks and more, but digital marketing is the key to year-round success and awareness for these brands. Here, we’ll be sharing a few digital marketing tactics you can use to keep your pass holders interested and to finally convert those elusive competitor pass holders and one-time visitors. Know Your Pass Holders & How to Target Them We’ve seen it happen a lot: seasonal or membership-based services lump their returning members into the same category as new or potential members, and they advertise to them as a single group. But if you want to convert the maximum number of pass holders, you’ll need to break them into different audiences and target them accordingly. In general, you’re looking at three audiences (although these may not apply to every membership- or pass-based brand): Pass holders from last year Potential new pass holders who’ve never purchased from you before One-time visitors to convert to pass-holders Targeting last year’s pass holders Last year’s pass holders already understand the brand and know what to expect in general. They’re also likely to re-up with you if you’ve delivered on your overall value. But to ensure they buy again, you can use incentives and urgency, i. e. “Get next year’s pass before prices go up! ” You can also treat them as brand insiders, letting them know that they get a discount on next year’s passes or first access to limited passes before they go on sale to the general public. This builds brand loyalty and makes them feel special (because they totally are). Not sure how to pull this off? Think of simple email campaigns to send to members, or create a social media ad campaign to retarget current pass holders. Targeting potential new pass holders How can you capture someone who has shown interest, but hasn’t committed to your brand? Or how do you attract someone currently holding a competitor’s membership? (This might apply mostly to ski resorts, but can also apply to local attractions like amusement parks or zoos. ) It starts by showing the value of your pass over the other. One of the biggest mistakes we see here is brands assuming that “cheaper is better. ” The differentiator between your pass and another pass likely won’t come down to money, although competitive pricing is definitely a part of it. Actually, what most consumers want is to know they’re getting the most bang for their buck. Play up factors like location, kid- or family-friendly attractions, amount of access (unlimited visits, multiple locations, etc. ), and bonuses. These might include discounts at local restaurants, gift shops, pass upgrades, or free family and friends passes. This is also a great place to lean into your brand message; are you focused on the active outdoor enthusiast, or the mom and dad with 2. 5 kids and a picket fence? Make sure the content you create to promote your passes speaks to them. Social media, content strategies, and even Google or social ads are great places to show off your differentiators (alongside that sweet price point). Targeting one-time visitors One-time visitors are a goldmine of potential conversions, but they don’t often upgrade to a full-blown membership on their first visit. The first question here is: Why? Are they not upgrading to full membership because the cost is prohibitive? Or, more likely, is it because they don’t see the value in a membership? Much like with converting competitor pass holders, you’ll need to show one-time visitors the value in upgrading to your membership or season pass. Much of this can happen on the scene, where your ticket sales team can show visitors the value of an upgrade. But once their visit has ended and they still haven’t upgraded, you can use email, SMS, and targeted content to get them to convert while you’re still top of mind. One way to do this is to let people know they can roll the price of their one-day ticket into their membership if they fulfill the upgrade by a certain date. Whether in... --- **Please Note: The information provided in this post is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek out paid legal counsel for help in addressing any specific legal issues. ** Accessibility for people with disabilities goes beyond physical locations; it’s also important online. Accessibility via the internet is becoming a growing issue — one that might impact your business and brand more than you realize. In fact, there were over 2,000 lawsuits regarding accessibility in 2018, and those numbers are only rising in 2019. So, what does ADA compliance look like for your brand’s website and what steps can you take to move toward compliance (and away from legal risks)? Here, we’ll talk a little bit about the current legal landscape as it relates to ADA-friendly websites, guidelines to consider, and the need for legal expertise. The case against non-compliant sites Thanks to today’s highly connected marketplace, accessibility for all people is becoming an issue that affects brands of all sizes. In 2018, the Department of Justice made it very clear that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) extends to website accessibility under Title III. This section of the act requires that “goods, services, privileges, or activities provided by places of public accommodation be equally accessible to people with disabilities. ” Yes, that means your website, which is a public accommodation of your brand and its services or products. Although the DOJ has stated that websites should be accessible, they have chosen not to outline what website considerations are necessary. This means that, while you can still be sued for a non-accessible website, the rules and regulations surrounding ADA-friendly sites are still pretty murky. That’s why many lawyers and courts have looked to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) when assessing a site’s accessibility. WCAG offers some insights into compliance The WCAG, created by the Web Accessibility Initiative, are guidelines that help set the international standard for web accessibility. They create support materials for web developers and companies so they can understand and implement accessibility. The WCAG guidelines cover things like: Non-text content Audio and video Captions Sign language Sequence of information Color Keyboards and shortcuts Animations and flashes Readability Compatibility with website readers and accessibility tools These guidelines are in-depth and fairly technical, which has helped to make them the current standard for ADA compliance online. They are so useful, in fact, that federal district courts in Florida and New York ruled that sites not complying with WCAG could be considered in violation of Title III of the ADA. In short, you might want to check out WCAG (or recruit your web developer to do so). Making your website ADA-compliant Accessibility lawsuits are picking up steam and more customers expect businesses to adapt to accessibility measures. As a result, many businesses are taking notice — and acting quickly. If you’re wondering how to up your accessibility quotient, we’ve got a few tips for you. A quick disclaimer here: these are basic accessibility principles and by no means cover the full scope of what an ADA-compliant, as defined by recent court cases, site looks like. Also, this is not legal advice. For official advice and counsel, please consult a lawyer and your web dev team. One of the most important accessibility factors (and arguably one of the most simple) we recommend to our clients is to include image alt text on all images that are noted “decorative” in nature. In case you’re not sure what that is, alt text is the text that appears when an image fails to load, but it is also the text read by website readers for the visually impaired. Image alt text should be used for all images that are important to the flow and understanding of the site’s content but should be left blank for images that are purely decorative. As website readers scan a site, unnecessary image alt text will get in the way and can be confusing to the user — therefore making a site less accessible. Naturally, whether an image is considered “decorative” is a subjective judgement. The best test is just to consider whether adding alternate text to the image will improve upon the user’s experience. It is also important... --- Volume Nine is proud to be recognized for our superior customer satisfaction record. As a small digital marketing firm with over 13 years of experience, Volume Nine specializes in social media marketing, content marketing, and SEO. With over 40% of the world’s population on social media, your business’ presence is a crucial investment. Contact Volume Nine today to improve your business strategy. We would like to thank Clutch for their recognition of our hard work and naming us as one of the best in Denver. We would also like to thank our clients for their honest reviews. Based on their feedback, we have received a perfect 5-star rating from Clutch. Clutch analysts determine this rating based on a firm’s ability to deliver and expertise in the field. In our most recent review, a senior digital art director of an apparel company left a glowing testimonial of our social media strategy. For this company, Volume Nine is in charge of all posts on the business’ Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. When asked to speak about Volume Nine’s work, our client said: “Before engaging Volume Nine, we were getting almost zero conversions out of our social platforms. In July, they brought us up to 5,000 conversions; by September, our conversions for the month were 22,000. ” We’d like to thank this client for sharing their experience, and all our clients who leave reviews on Clutch. We take this feedback seriously and it helps us improve our services. Every review we receive helps us continue to be one of the best digital marketing firms in Denver! We have worked with a variety of clients from Land’s End, Bobos, Volkswagen, and Vitamin World. We are proud to be an agile agency with strong knowledge and resource bases that ensure you achieve the results you want. For more information, take a look at our project summary about our partnership with Bobos below (or read the Success Story): If you are still wondering if Volume Nine is the right fit for you, take a look at our profiles on The Manifest and Visual Objects, two B2B platforms that seek to fill niches in the B2B market. The Manifest is a business educational website that also provides shortlists of top-performing firms. On The Manifest, Volume Nine is listed as number 2 in Denver for social media marketing. Additionally, on Visual Objects, we are rated as one of Denver’s Top 2 digital marketing firms. --- Social media is arguably one of the biggest sources of stress for marketing teams. It can feel like you’re just posting into the void. New algorithms and platform settings make it hard for your content to get seen in feeds and, as a result, your team may be producing high volumes of social media content just to try and get views... but it doesn’t feel like it’s working. This lack of visibility can make it incredibly difficult to tap into new audiences, which is obviously the lifeblood of your business. So, you need to find a way to connect with new people and draw them in — and the key for many brands may lie in Facebook and Instagram videos. On Instagram, videos receive 38% more engagement than images and there are over 8 billion video views (yes, with a B! ) a day on Facebook. So, what kind of video should you be creating, and how can you plan for success on these platforms? Here, we’ll share a few tips to help you build on an audience with Facebook and Instagram video. 1. Personas take priority. Personas are your end consumer. They represent your target audience. Basically, you want to start to personify who your target audience is. What is their occupation? What things do they value? As we shared in a recent Social Media Funnel presentation at Booyah Summit, all marketing should start here. During that presentation, we discussed how our client, ToTable, had two audience personas they built out and targeted: a professional home chef and the high-end foodie. Beyond just the title and some short demographics of your ideal consumer(s), we recommend diving into the who, what, and why of your personas. Let’s take the example of the professional home chef from our client ToTable. Sure, he might be a certain age living in a certain area. But more than that, he’s always looking for recipes to inspire new menu items, and he wants to know that he can find ingredients for the recipes he’s found. He’d be curious about what a service ToTable could do for him... but only after he finds the recipes and ingredients that appeal to him. This persona-building is critical to success with videos on Facebook and Instagram, and should advise the “brand awareness” content you need to create in order to appeal to this person. Your ideal consumer isn’t going to buy from you on the first touchpoint, so it’s all about crafting a social media video funnel that builds trust. But first... 2. Make sure you’re set up for success. Now that you’ve got the personas, it’s time to start posting those videos, right? Not yet, Hot Stuff. This is where many marketing teams (or individuals, if you’re bootstrapping this whole thing) can falter. Because social media video impressions and interactions can advise future content and targeting, you need to make sure your tracking systems are set up. Whether you’re using a UTM code, a Facebook pixel to retarget individuals, or a tracking system for some other metric, you need to spend some time on the front-end making sure everything is ready to track. 3. Focus on short, high-quality videos. For your first series of social media videos, you don’t need to have a full production team like Marie Forleo or Gary V. You can keep it short and scrappy — as this allows you to create and test content without blowing the budget. Brainstorm videos that allow you to hit your target personas with valuable content (i. e. recipes, tutorials, introductions, etc. ). This is the first part of their customer journey, and it’s critical to build trust on social media — not sell to them. Make your videos useful and focus on building awareness for your brand name and overall service, product, or offering — but don’t overwhelm viewers with the hard sell just yet. Because, if you’re connecting with a cold audience, they quite honestly won’t care. Wondering what kind of video to create? When you are thinking about short-form video for Social Media, you could provide quick facts, do short product video shots, feature a customer testimonial, or tease a longer video or blog posts... --- Creating a comprehensive digital marketing strategy can be an intense endeavor. This type of effort can span several weeks and you might find yourself creating a document that reads like a short book. And, if you are like most companies, you might find yourself doing this effort about once a year. The big drawback is that giant plans of this nature rarely turn out the way you thought they would – the world of digital marketing just changes too often. I’d go so far as to say that, sometimes, marketers don’t actually need to develop those intense plans. Instead, they might just need to get a “good enough” strategy written down so that they have direction and purpose, but can remain a bit more flexible. Going the “good enough” route might be good when: You are 8+ months into a digital marketing strategy and need a course correction, but don’t have the time and resources to revamp the entire strategy. You’ve never done digital marketing and you just want to get started and try some tactics. You need to see movement on some specific metrics sooner rather than later. The process of creating a full digital marketing strategy is daunting for you. It feels like your digital marketing has been haphazard, and you’d like to give it more focus. You’re a data geek who wants to start trying things but lets the results and data steer the ship long-term. In that vein, I’d like to share one of my favorite ways to set/reset a simple strategy for digital marketing, in about a day or less. Create a “good enough” strategy in a day (or less) Step 1: Timing Pick a timeframe (e. g. between now and the end of the year). You get a gold star if your time frame is 6 months or less. If your timeframe is longer than 2 years, you are probably going too long. Step 2: Goals Outline your goals for digital marketing. Not your crazy big 5-year goals. But instead, what do you want to see happen sooner rather than later? Try to add make it more specific and make it something reasonable. Also, less is more — unless you’ve got a giant team and a lot of moving pieces, you probably shouldn’t have more than five goals total. Many companies might only have one or two. Example of a great goal: Get more first-time purchases with (or even a specific product). Example of a goal that needs (a lot) more definition: Sell more. Step 3: Audiences Outline the audience(s) you want to target. You get a gold star if you can get this down to 3 or fewer audiences. Also, you don’t have to launch an extensive persona definition program. Just take a few minutes to document who you think your audience probably is. Remember, for this exercise, we’re going for “good enough,” not perfect. Step 4: Metrics Which metrics would positively influence these goals? The trick here is to pick your top few, not everything. Also, if you have a major KPI in there (like increase e-commerce revenue), it’s probably worth adding a few sub-metrics so you and your team are watching progress toward that goal. So what you have at this point might look a bit like this: Goal #1: Increase Product X Sales by the End of the Year Timeframe: Next 4 months Target Audience: Foodies, aged 45-65, with higher levels of income Metrics: Increase sales of the product, increased traffic to the product X page, Increased # of people watching the Product X video Up to this point, you’ve been getting yourself organized for the brainstorm. Now comes the fun part: putting together strategies and ideas around each goal. Step 5: The Brainstorm If you are brainstorming with a team, my recommendation is to go the following route: Brainstorm ideas & tactics individually. Everyone should either bring a list of ideas, or you can give everyone about 20 minutes to write ideas down at the beginning of your meeting. Group brainstorm. Have everyone toss out their favorite ideas from what they wrote, then get them all up on a whiteboard. Likely people will start riffing off of or coming... --- Ditch the Complexity: A 'Good Enough' Digital Marketing Roadmap Creating a digital marketing strategy can feel like writing a novel. It’s time-consuming, mentally exhausting, and let's be honest — the second you finish, the digital world has already changed. The solution? A streamlined, "good enough" strategy that’s flexible, practical, and doesn’t leave you buried under a mountain of planning docs. Let’s talk about why a simpler approach works and how to build a solid plan without losing your mind. Why "Good Enough" Planning Works Here’s the thing — most detailed strategies don’t survive first contact with reality. Platforms change, your audience changes, your business changes. A "good enough" plan gives you: Direction without rigidity — No need to rewrite the plan every time something shifts. Faster execution — Less planning, more doing. Flexibility to adapt — When you need to pivot, it’s no big deal. Think of it like an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) for your marketing. What’s the least you need to do to hit your goals? You can always expand later. When to Go with "Good Enough" This approach is your best friend if: You need a quick course correction, but a total overhaul isn’t realistic. You’re new to digital marketing and want to test ideas before committing. You’ve got metrics that need immediate improvement. Your current strategy is a hot mess, and you need clarity. You’d rather let results guide your next moves. Sound familiar? Then let’s break this down into a simple, one-day action plan. Step-by-Step: Your "Good Enough" Digital Marketing Strategy 1. Choose a Timeframe Pick a short window, like 3-6 months. Anything over two years? It might make sense to dial that back. 2. Set Clear Goals No fluff. Think specific, short-term goals — max of 5. Example: Good Goal: Increase email sign-ups by 20% in 3 months. Bad Goal: "Grow the email list. " (Too vague. ) 3. Define Your Audience You don’t need a novel-length persona. Stick to 2-3 key groups with a quick description. Example: Foodies, 35-50, who care about sustainable brands. Parents, 25-40, looking for budget-friendly solutions. 4. Nail Down Your Metrics Focus on a few core metrics. If needed, add sub-metrics to give context. Example Plan Outline: Goal: Boost Product A sales by 15%. Timeframe: 4 months. Audience: Tech-savvy professionals, 30-45. Metrics: Product A sales, website traffic to Product A page, email open rates. 5. Quick Brainstorm Got a team? Do this: Solo Ideas: Everyone lists ideas for 20 minutes. Share & Build: Discuss and expand on each other’s ideas. Prioritize: Rank by effort, complexity, and budget. Flying Solo? Reach out to a strategist or agency for a quick consult. Attend a webinar or conference for fresh ideas. Start with one goal and one audience. You don’t have to tackle it all. 6. Finalize Your Plan Boil it down to 2-3 pages with: Goals Audiences Metrics Top Tactics Simple, clear, done. Tools to Keep It Simple Want to jumpstart your plan even faster? Try our Digital Strategy Planner CustomGPT to generate a roadmap draft in minutes. How to Use It: Go to the Digital Strategy Planner GPT: Digital Strategy Planner by Natalie Henley Input the Following Info: Company Name and Industry Top Business Goals for 6-12 Months (e. g. , increase sales, brand awareness) Target Audience (personas, demographics, or segments) Current Marketing Channels (social media, email, SEO, etc. ) Specific Challenges or Opportunities (low traffic, poor conversions) Areas to Explore Further (SEO, paid ads, competitors) Let the GPT do the heavy lifting to give you a solid starting point. Get the Free Strategy Template Need an easy-to-fill, ready-to-go template? Use our 'Good Enough' Strategy Template to simplify your planning process even more. Why Flexibility Matters Overplanning kills momentum. Digital marketing evolves too fast for rigid, year-long strategies. Instead, work in 3-6 month bursts. Adapt, analyze, and tweak as you go. Tools to Keep it Simple: Use AI-based tools for quick roadmaps, idea generation, and budget planning. They save time and keep things organized. Ready to Simplify? Ditch the overwhelm. A "good enough" strategy helps you stay focused and nimble. Start small, keep it flexible, and adjust as needed. You got this! --- As the CEO of Volume Nine, I decided to take some time to articulate what the heck it is we are doing and why we are genuinely excited about Volume Nine and the direction we are headed more than we ever have been. A Summary For those of you who aren’t going to read this whole thing: We created a new type of agency model. So far, the team has loved it, we’ve driven amazing results for clients, and it’s a totally different way to approach digital marketing services. This change has taken a lot of work and team effort. I detailed some of this below. We’ve relaunched our website to stake our claim and announce what the heck we are doing. #confetti Check out the 2-minute video at the end of the story if you have time. The Story For those of you that actually will read this whole thing: The Marketplace Being in this industry for a decade (wow, it feels weird for me to say that! ), I have noticed a few standard agency types that seem to emerge. Please note, I’m massively over-simplifying this to make a point. Type 1: Package Providers These are larger agencies that tend to focus on specific niches or specific channels. Pros: Easier to scale, bring costs down, allows you to deliver value in specific channels. Cons: Not truly custom, not ideal for clients who can’t implement your packages, harder to retain top talent to work on client accounts as running a set package isn’t particularly fulfilling for most digital marketers long term. Type 2: Freelancers Some guy or gal who is pretty good at this stuff who might even have a set team of freelancers they utilize to provide services. Pros: Generally less expensive, your strategist (the gal or guy in charge) stays consistent, a lot more customizable. Cons: Locked into their small freelancer network (e. g. if you don’t love their web designer you are basically stuck). This is also risky if your freelancer decides they want to have a full-time job again. Type 3: Hourly Contracts Some larger agency has added digital marketing to a long list of capabilities and bills hourly for their services. Pros: More customized solutions, tons of customer service, lots of experience. Cons: Generally less effective per dollar — you are paying for a lot of overhead and getting more entry-level team members doing the actual work. This is mostly because of how their models work. This model is also what has spurned so much debate in the last few years about why the agency model is dying. The Meeting About two years ago, Chuck and I were meeting and, to be honest, we were a bit run-down. We had explored, considered, and tested all of the agency models listed above, and we weren’t thrilled with any of them. They didn’t feel right for our clients and they didn’t feel right for our team. We started whiteboarding all of this out and, by the end of the meeting, we wondered if it was possible to create a new type of agency. It seemed to work in theory but for those of you who run businesses, you know that working in theory vs. working in practice are very different things. We then started on a journey, not 100% sure of our destination. Luckily, we have an amazing group of team members who have stood with us through the years and agreed to take this challenge on with us. The Journey Since that meeting, a few things have happened: We started removing any systems and processes from the organization that hindered our goal of achieving client results. We launched a qualitative research project to get input from in-house marketers about the challenges they are facing today. We started outlining the innovation our teams wanted to test on behalf of clients. In effect, we went from offering SEO, social, and content to doing whatever made sense to help clients achieve their KPIs. We’ve now helped clients run events, put guest books in stores, create videos, establish influencer campaigns, broker media buys, rock conferences, pitch the media, and tons more. We switched the domain from V9SEO. com to... --- After focusing on relationship building, audience targeting and creative messaging, it can be confusing when a consumer abandons their online shopping cart. Were they simply window shopping? Or, did something go wrong? It is estimated that almost 70% of shopping carts are abandoned. More than ever, marketers and retailers are teaming up to resurrect these lost sales. How? By reaching out to the consumers. One way e-commerce merchants can get in front of interested customers is by sending a message straight to their inbox. Why are Shoppers Leaving Their Carts? Let's first understand why shoppers are clicking the "Add to Cart" button, but not following through with purchases. The folks at SaleCycle, a behavioral marketing company, conducted a survey of their customers and examined external data to better understand the phenomenon around cart abandonment in the retail sector. The single biggest reason shoppers abandon their carts is browsing. They are looking without plans to make a final buying decision. These users typically abandon before even starting the checkout flow. If we filter out that first segment, we see that more reasons are directly related to the checkout process on a website. Over a third of respondents say they leave items in their cart because they are asked to create an account before finalizing their purchase, which feels cumbersome. (Hint: having a “checkout as guest” option is worth it. ) Twenty-three percent mention the cost of shipping felt too high or there was a lack of shipping options. The smallest group said they simply wanted to compare prices. Shoppers are also browsing away from the checkout screen because they feel the cost of the item is too high, the check-out process is too complex or too long, they can't see the total cost easily, their preferred payment type isn't available, the return policy isn't satisfactory, or website glitches prevented them from finishing the transaction. The good news is that most of these can be resolved! Some through design updates on your website, and some through touchpoints with your consumers. Enter: email! How to Follow-up By Email Before you reach out over a lost transaction, you need to understand why the consumer shopped, clicked, and then dashed. Consider doing a survey of your email list or social media feeds to see why your audience tends to leave full shopping carts behind. Encourage personal comments and you might get direct feedback that pertains to a transaction that was never finished. Side note: Have a customer service pro from your team on standby to mitigate any unhappy consumer comments. This is also a chance to turn that sale around! Let's get to that follow-up email. When you track your users via IP addresses, they've already signed up for your email newsletter or you use mapping technology, you have a way to reach out to individuals that have left unpurchased goods in their carts. The savvy folks at Shopify, an e-commerce platform for online stores and POS systems, says that many customers don't mean to abandon their carts and that over a third of clicks from follow-up emails lead to purchases. Here's what they think works in follow-up communication. Remind the customer what's in their cart. A website crash or external factor (like a crying child) may have taken their attention away from their screen. Reel them back in with a simple, "Hey, do you still want this item? " Or, play into your brand’s voice and tone, especially if you can be playful. Encourage the consumer to complete their purchase. If the cart feature timed out or they accidentally closed the browser page, a helpful link that points directly to the shopping cart might be all it takes to complete the sales cycle. Don’t make them add it back to their cart. Provide incentives or create a final offer. Here's where you can use what you learned about the consumer to overcome their main pain point. Offer a discount, free shipping, guest account, or one-click payment method to make the transaction easier than before. A fabulous follow-up email should be snappy, direct and well-written. The copy doesn't need to be long, but it should be easily skimmable and flanked with the retailer's logo, images... ---   This V9 interview features Robert Lane of Buhv Designs, Founder and President of the Denver-based web design and digital marketing agency. We at V9 Digital would like to thank Robert of Buhv Designs for taking the time to chat with us about his vision for Buhv and his expertise in marketing a multi-location business online. 1. What do you have planned in 2019? Where do you see Buhv Designs headed in the next few years? At Buhv in 2019, we’re focused on building for the future of multi-location marketing. Our goal is to allow companies to focus on their day-to-day operations and utilize our team to help scale and manage their marketing programs and platforms. 2. Is there an ideal way to set up the online relationship between the corporate website and local marketing efforts? Do you recommend keeping everything on one domain or setting up separate local microsites? Great question — and one we hear a lot from potential clients. And to be honest there’s not a right answer, or at least not an obvious one. We feel it’s always best to keep it on a single domain whenever possible. With a franchise, or when companies merge, we don’t always have the opportunity to make that decision. Keeping it all in one place does usually make it much easier and efficient for a marketing and development team to manage the process. 3. If a brand decides to have off-domain websites, how do you recommend sharing corporate assets or setting up cross-linking? Basically, how much control do you recommend that corporate has over these off-domain sites and how much support should they provide? It’s so important to set a brand standard for how to use a logo, messaging, personas, and more. There’s also a huge opportunity for a brand to leverage its site value to help a local or off-domain site. But they need to really be aware of what’s being published or represented by an extension of their brand. Again, there are many scenarios that call for off-domain marketing, but a corporate brand really needs to own it’s messaging and assets. All that being said, there are two major benefits that come to mind from off-domain sites: New marketing ideas and ways of using a website that corporate may have missed Additional doorways, links, and SEO value into the corporate site 4. What is your general advice when it comes to managing third-party platforms like Google My Business and sites like Yelp? Is this done at a corporate level or by local managers? What pitfalls do you see with each approach? Managing third-party platforms can be a huge undertaking for any marketing department, particularly within a multi-location or franchise model. The challenges that arise are related to scale and brand messaging. With a company with 50-100 locations, scale proves to be a challenge because of the sheer amount of data, reviews, menu updates, booking systems, hours, etc. to manage by a single marketing department. Many times, that marketing department has 2-4 people at the corporate level, none of whom have time to keep up with it. Things like managing basic location data is easily achieved at scale with tools like Yext, but it doesn’t solve the other 5,000 tasks to manage within each platform. At least not in a proactive or timely manner. The pitfall with corporate management of third-party platforms and location data is that it tends to get very “templated” and reactive over time. Which makes sense if you think about it. Imagine writing a unique profile description, setting up UTM tags, managing reviews, and updating location page links for 150 locations. You’re bound to find the most efficient way (read: cheapest route) to make those updates. For privately run companies with a corporate management structure, there can be a huge advantage to having it managed at the local level. They know their customer at a deeper level and can be much more agile in using platforms like Google My Business to drive demand or create a buzz about their business. This is really hard to do with more than 10 locations or a very strong management team. There’s also the personal touch that can be... --- Your brand's blog gets updated weekly. You've learned about SEO, crafted stories that speak to your target audience and follow a publishing schedule to keep the posts flowing. You feel on top of your digital marketing game, but something just isn’t playing out. If you're wondering why your site isn't seeing an upswing in traffic despite following a calculated blogging strategy, it may be because your plan doesn't target users at each stage of the decision-making process and funnel them toward your site. Think of the quantity of content gracing your inboxes and social media feeds. While much of it is from your friends, family, and brands or accounts you follow - a lot of it isn't. You didn’t ask for this random content to appear, so how did it get there? Your Next Step: Content Amplification Every brand wants (and needs) to get their message out there. But just putting something "out there" isn't enough - this is where content amplification comes in to play. By using the right methods and tools, you can figure out how to put your message in more places where more members your target audience are likely to be. How do we do this? We crunch the numbers from behind-the-scenes analytics and look for consumer patterns so we can create a content amplification strategy that meets your specific goals. By creating a meaningful online presence for your audience that resonates with their interests and needs, your business stands out. 5 Content Amplification Actions For many brands, posting a link to their most recent blog post, with a bit of snappy copy, is the start and end of their content amplification efforts. A week after the blog post was published, it collects virtual dust and page views dwindle. At Volume Nine, we know more can be done. And, there's not a one-size-fits-all approach to content amplification. Twitter readers want something different than fans on Instagram. We realize your audience varies depending on the specific product or service you're promoting. And when it comes to creating messaging, unique social posts for each platform keeps readers engaged. Five of the strategies we use to amplify content for our digital marketing clients include: Influencer marketing: We can partner with popular bloggers and social media personalities who have audiences that mirror your ideal consumer to promote your content. Bring on the new wave of viewers! User-generated content: Social media users love to be seen. We can use your content as a focal point to start additional conversations online. We’ll ask your fans to follow-up by tweeting with a specific hashtag or posting a pic to Instagram that illustrates how they use your product or service. Email marketing: Need an e-newsletter? We can polish your content and arrange it in a tidy email piece that’s informative and fun for readers on your email list to explore. This is a great way to compile a week, or month, of content and serve it up once again. Sponsored posts: One way to put your blog content in front of more eyes is by turning your social media updates into paid sponsored posts. We can tweak this option and run it in waves (TOFU, MOFU, BOFU) so your ideal buyer persona and target audience are addressed at various stages in the sales funnel. Content repurposing: Finally, think of your blog posts as flagship pieces of content. We can turn segments of them into videos, quotes, memes, Tweets, newsletters or any other type of content you need. We believe in the idea of creating once, then sharing many, many times. All of these content amplification methods funnel readers back to your company's site, in-turn bolstering your brand identity and customer satisfaction. What You Can Do Right Now If you want to test the waters with a few quick amplification techniques you can implement in just a few minutes, consider these ideas: Entice readers with preview posts. Tell them what's coming up next on the blog and why it will benefit them. This is a soft on-boarding process to get them used to updates on specific days or times, and gives you an opportunity to promote a subscriber list so they never miss another post.... ---   When you log into Google Analytics and see conversion data, you might not realize you are looking at “last touch data. ” You’re seeing the last channel that drove a person to your website, and that channel is likely the one that gets the “credit” for the conversion. In Google Analytics, last touch data is referred to as “last interaction data. ” First interaction data (a. k. a. First touch data) determines the first time a user came to your website: how they got there and how they ultimately converted. For example, social traffic is rarely a last interaction attribution channel. Most people don’t come from Facebook to a website ready to buy or fill in a lead form. But social media traffic plays a big role in driving awareness, making it a common first interaction channel. The case for different attribution models Most marketing campaigns focus on last touch attribution, but you can track different attributions using Google Analytics beyond just first and last touch. In fact, by only looking at last touch, you’re ignoring common customer journey paths and the data they might bring forward. For example, imagine a customer goes to a website via social media. They leave the site. After doing a Google search for similar items or services, they recognize the brand name in the search results page. Finally, they click on the site link directly and decide to buy the product or service. In this case, the last touch attribution model would credit the direct channel (the site link found in SERPs) for the sale. The first touch attribution model, on the other hand, would credit the social channel for the sale. However, the actual customer path was social to organic to direct. To which channel do you attribute this? Google Analytics has attribution models other than last interaction and first interaction that can be beneficial. These include: Last non-direct click. This model ignores all direct traffic and credits the last channel before converting. Linear. This model credits each touchpoint in the conversion path equally. For example, social, organic, and direct. Time decay. This model credits the touchpoints closest in time to the sale or conversion. In the example above, this would be direct. Position-based. This model credits 40% to the first and last interactions. The remaining 20% is distributed to the interactions in the middle. In our example, social and direct would each receive 40%, while organic would receive 20%. Google Analytics also has a helpful model comparison tool that compares the impact different attribution models have on the valuation of your marketing channels. But what about your site visitors’ other behavior that didn’t result in a conversion? This behavior is still valuable when analyzing engagement. Luckily, Google Analytics has a feature called “Assisted Conversions” to help you track this data. The power of assisted conversions Assisted conversions are the number of times that a channel appeared on a customer’s conversion path, but was not the final conversion interaction. In our previous example, the social to organic to direct path would be considered an assisted conversion because of the social part of the customer’s journey. They visited the website through social traffic but didn’t convert, then they came back later through another channel and converted. Though social media isn’t often the last touch, it commonly drives early visits to a site in a customer’s journey, making it a common assisted conversion channel. How to use assisted conversions You can use assisted conversions in Google Analytics to check the role a specific channel tends to play. In the Assisted/Last Click or Direct Conversions feature, Google Analytics will show a numeric value beginning at 0. When a channel has a value close to 0, that means that channel tends to drive more last click or direct conversions. A value close to 1 means the channel evenly drove conversions and assisted in conversions. As the value exceeds 1, that means the channel acted as an assist. Let’s use a basketball team as an example. On a typical basketball team, the primary goal of every player isn’t just to score points. Let’s take three core positions - the Point Guard, the Shooting Guard, and the Center:... --- Publishing content regularly nurtures customer relationships, fuels lead generation and boosts sales. But, if that content isn't being seen by the right people, your projections and goals will fall flat. Why? Everyone who sees your content isn't your target audience. Let me explain. You've likely generated a buyer persona, or a fictional representation of a member of your audience. Now it's time to go one step further and embrace audience targeting by using data to define your actual, real-life audience, not just your ideal customer. How Do You Define a Brand's Audience? If you want your content to resonate with your actual (not perceived) audience, and boost conversation rates, audience targeting should get on your content strategy radar ASAP. At Volume Nine, we talk with our clients about their history of formal persona building and branding exercises, then ask additional questions about who they want to pinpoint with their messaging. We help brands determine their target audience by digging deep into Google Analytics to learn about visitors to their website, blog and social media. Data ranging from viewers' zip codes, gender, hobbies, buying habits and even the type of phone they're using can be harnessed, building an accurate representation of the people engaging with your content. This qualified audience then becomes the centerpiece of future content creation, from developing ideas that are relatable and reaching the right people on social media ad campaigns, to building keyword maps and lists. Example: Finding Yoga Enthusiasts on Facebook We had a local yoga studio reach out to us to help locate folks who need more mat time. The business wanted to build brand awareness and bolster its presence in the community before a competitor moved into the neighborhood. To reach their current fans and entice new yogis to try their services, we focused on using Facebook's targeting capabilities to locate yoga lovers in the surrounding zip codes. We asked Facebook to send our paid ads out to fitness enthusiasts, especially those who've used the same email address to sign up for updates from the yoga studio and log in to Facebook. That list of email addresses was used behind the scenes to build a look-alike audience of Facebook users who have similar habits to the established yoga studio customers. The look-alike audience members who like the same Facebook pages and comment on the same topics as those who've already expressed interest in yoga become warm leads for the studio's campaign goals. For example, we learned the established yoga studio fans like posts and pages related to vegan meal planning, meditation apps and athleisure wear. When Facebook complied a unique audience of fitness enthusiasts for our ads, they focused on people engaging with these specific topics, rather than general health or exercise demographics. When we use Facebook, we often run ads in three waves. The first outreach is geared at a wide variety of people with interest in a specific product or service. Then we queue up a second ad that appears only to people who viewed or engaged with the first ad. On the third wave, we niche down and offer a special to those who interacted with the first two ads because they're most likely to take action. This three-step process helps us identify our client's target audience on Facebook. Does your brand need help to identify, then communicate with, your target audience? Our team at Volume Nine is ready to work some magic with you. Contact us today. --- Seeing someone similar to yourself in the videos and blog posts you consume is validating and relatable. It helps you imagine sharing laughs with your group of friends in that trendy new hotel bar or how yoga pants might actually look when you perfect a downward-facing dog. Brands, more than ever, are becoming intentional about including scenarios and visuals that closely mirror their actual, not perceived, audience and fans. What is Inclusion and Diversity? The longstanding definition of diversity in marketing as being gender and race-inclusive is outdated, according to the Guide to Diversity and Inclusion in Modern Advertising from Maryville University in Missouri. Today diversity has many facets. Inclusion ensures that these diverse populations feel accurately represented. Visit the local shopping center or public transportation station. You'll notice a melting pot of ages, races, genders, health conditions, sizes, hair colors, economic statuses, clothing styles and people displaying their religious preferences at every turn. This sampling of diversity reflects our society at large, exactly where we are in this moment. Shouldn't our marketing pieces do the same? Stock photo agency Shutterstock has conducted research about how society, culture and people are represented in visuals for the past three years. In October 2018 they partnered with Censuswide to question 2,500 marketers across the globe about how they select and use photos in their content. Here are a few insights that stood out: 88 percent of Generation X and 90 percent of Millennials believe "a diverse representation in their campaigns" help a brand’s reputation Over the previous year, the marketers started including images that featured same-sex couples as well as transgendered, disabled and gender fluid models. The motivators for including a diverse population in the marketing campaigns revolved around eliciting emotional reactions, sharability of images, representation of modern society and connecting to the brand message. The research concluded that there's room to use more diverse images in campaigns to accurately reflect modern society. But, why? The Importance of Being Inclusive As digital marketing professionals, we strive each day to create content that speaks to the audiences of the brands we represent. The messaging must be authentic to people's experiences and relatable on a personal level. The most effective way to do this is by weaving real-life situations and imagery into our campaign strategies. Following generic buyer personas and bare-bones demographics are short-sighted. Without accurately representing consumers, fans, readers and audiences, there's no reason to create digital content. If we don't speak to the actual people who are browsing websites, clicking on shopping links and reading blog posts, we're ignoring the power and purpose of connecting through digital communications. At Volume Nine, we've partnered with some amazing brands that champion the status quo and offer their real readers, inclusive advice and genuine awareness. These Brands Excel at Representing Diversity In our partnership with Jim's Formal Wear, we embraced and acknowledged the increase in same-sex marriages by offering gay couples advice for planning their big day in a blog post titled Same-Sex Wedding Formal Wear Tips. All brides and grooms seek information to enhance their engagement and wedding planning experience, and Jim's Formal Wear is always the helm to help. Aspen Snowmass recently launched their Give a Flake campaign geared at creating awareness around environmental sustainability, breaking barriers, equality for all and LGBTQ rights. They also host Gay Ski Week annually to celebrate diversity on the slopes. We're also proud to be part of a2 Milk®'s initiative to create awareness and acceptance for those who have health concerns or need to follow a specific diet. And then there's Swift Passport. In the coming year, they're publishing blog posts that focus on travel for single parents and LGBTQ couples. It’s really an exciting time in content creation. A focus on diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of our digital marketing campaigns and ideation strategies. Why? Authentic audience targeting matters to us and the brands we work with each day. Is your business looking for a new digital marketing strategy that speaks directly to your audience? Volume Nine is ready to help! Contact us today to learn more. --- Filling your lungs with fresh air as you gaze at Mother Nature's handiwork is exhilarating. We love feeling the Earth beneath our feet and sharing how to enhance those experiences. Today we’re reflecting on what's coming up in the year ahead for digital marketers who represent the outdoor brands that take our adventures to the next level. We’re discussing pain points and how to revolve them; digital content trends and staying relevant to our audiences and are opening up about who we should target in our upcoming campaigns to be effective. It’s an eye-opening, validating conversation with many actionable takeaways that we hope will inspire your approach to outdoor marketing in the year ahead too. Meet Our the Roundtable Guests We gathered insight from a handful of marketing professionals who spend their days thinking about the outdoors -- absorbing it, preserving it and sharing it with others. Danielle Kristmanson, Principal + Creative Director at Origin Danielle has worked with some of the biggest players in the mountain sport and tourism industries. With strong insights into brand and consumer engagement, Origin’s creative leader oversees the brand development and creative by-products of multi-channel campaigns and strategies for all of Origin’s clients. A sought-after speaker, an avid snowboarder and mountain biker, and with a client list that reads like the who’s who of outdoor sports means Danielle’s “downtime” is spent traveling to some of the best mountain destinations around. Harriet Riley, Lead Digital Content Strategist at Nemo Design A creative, strategic thinker with an instinct for the next, Harriet Riley crafts savvy plans to bring ideas to life in the digital realm. As Lead Digital Content Strategist at Nemo Design, her approach isn’t just throwing another ad in people’s feed. She seeks to add value to the platforms, ignite conversations, and create more possibilities for people to engage. If you give consumers a path and reason, they’ll come to brands on their own term for the long term. Brian Lich, Senior SEO Specialist at Volume Nine When he's not climbing peaks or fly casting to trout, Brian Lich is a Senior SEO Specialist at Volume Nine. At V9, he works specifically to help companies 'Turn Up Their Brand', so to speak. Essentially, it’s the V9 way of helping outdoor brands play above the online noise, by aligning all channels toward a singular goal and cutting through the clutter. Crystal Stewart, Vice President of Booyah Crystal Stewart launched her career in travel and outdoors 14 years ago at a Destination Marketing Organization. She has since expanded her marketing and media prowess across all aspects of outdoors over the past 11 years at Booyah. Her experience spans outdoor gear brands, outfitters, National Parks, ski resorts, and more. Her passion for the outdoors and love for travel keep her loyal to this industry for life. And now, on to our three-part discussion! Brands Have Pain Points Q1: As the outdoor industry evolves, there should be some common recurring issues that emerge. Can you share a handful of the most common concerns outdoor brands face within this competitive market? Crystal, Q1: Understanding goals and where marketing focus should weigh most heavily. Most commonly, brand marketers do not have knowledge of their customer retention rate, ways to re-engage their customers and ultimately drive higher loyalty and customer lifetime value. Harriet, Q1: From a marketing and advertising perspective, the key recurring issue is having to make quick, game-time decisions with an outdated understanding of the market. We have the data that proves there’s an influx of new outdoor participants and the corresponding demographics. Yet, we lack compassion and storytelling around these new individuals. We don’t have a clear picture of why they are coming into the space, what they are seeking from outdoor brand and how they find them. Every brand is left to understand and fend for themselves. Here are three main concerns I often tackle with clients: Representation: Brands have to choose who to represent in the marketing material. Until recently, this choice has been relatively simple, as it’s often mirroring the brands strategic target. If you’re selling skis, show a skier using them. Better yet, show a competitive athlete using them. These days, it’s a bit... --- Product videos are one of the best ways to engage potential and current customers, as well as share the benefits of a given product. Customers are much more likely to purchase when they can see a product in action and get a more detailed description of its features. Becoming increasingly popular with consumers, leveraging video is a worthwhile investment for an e-commerce website, both in time and resources. To get the most traction from your e-commerce product videos, there are a few things to keep in mind: What is a Product Video? The Basics A product video shows your customers how your product looks in the real world, how a consumer can interact with it, and what benefits it provides. While quality photos can show what a product looks like in a posed environment, a compelling product video can help consumers visualize exactly how it can be used. Product videos can also advance search engine optimization strategies by: Increasing the amount of relevant content on your e-commerce website Keeping visitors on your site longer Creating more backlinks to your site Unlike a commercial video, which is more likely to focus on describing a product’s general value or introducing a viewer to your brand, a product video actually demonstrates its uses and benefits. Product videos can also more effectively highlight product specifications and directly indicate how the product addresses a consumer’s pain points. Highlighting Your Product With the Right Video For simple products, you can often use one short video to explain their purpose, features, and benefits. Show the product in action and describe its specifications so that users can see firsthand how it works and how it can address their needs. a2 Milk does a great job of this with a simple video intro into what makes their milk different — and how people can benefit from using it. For more complex products, you may want to create a series of videos. Use a shorter video to introduce its basic purpose and most essential features, but then create additional product videos to add depth and cover additional components, uses, or benefits. A video series gives customers a chance to take it step-by-step and to focus on which features are most important to them. A great example of this is Asana and its use of YouTube product demonstrations. They’ve created an entire series that covers common product questions and tips for their users. Another popular option is the unboxing video, walking consumers through each step of the set-up process from when they receive the product through its first use. Show the packaging exactly how a buyer will get it in the mail and take them through the unwrapping of each component. Explain each item and its purpose and show how it all comes together. This is a great way to leverage user-generated content (UGC), which is highly trusted and heavily consumed by most audiences. Companies are using Instagram stories and Facebook “unboxing” videos as a great way to collect UGC videos, like Horti, a plant subscription service. How to Create E-commerce Product Videos Planning The first step in creating e-commerce product videos is to plan. Before you start creating a product video, make sure you have a clear idea of who your target audience is, where you’ll be sharing your video, and what you want to communicate. At a minimum, product videos should always include: What the product is How it can benefit consumers How it can be purchased But the best e-commerce videos show off the product’s best features and how they provide real value when addressing the consumer’s need. Consider any frequently asked questions about your product, the most common positive feedback it receives, and its most unique qualities when creating a script for your product video. And don’t forget to provide transcripts of your video. Transcripts support both an improved user experience (by allowing users the opportunity to read instead of listening) and an SEO boost (by helping search engines better “read” your audio content). Positioning Once you’ve got a plan for what to include in the video, think about where you want people to see it. Videos on your product page or on YouTube can usually be... --- Branding, whether your company is B2C or B2B, is critical if you want to stand out from the crowd. Especially online, where every target audience is exposed to upwards of 4,000 direct and indirect ads a day, strong branding is what cuts through the noise. In order to effectively capture the attention of users, a brand needs to utilize creative tactics to present their story, products, and services on the channels where their target audience is active. This requires a thorough understanding of your target audience, what they care about the most, what you can add to their lives, and where they spend the bulk of their time online. But before we dive into the who and how of creating brand awareness, you’ll need to understand exactly what brand awareness means and what it can do for your company. What is Brand Awareness? Brand awareness is the degree to which consumers are aware of a brand and what it sells or provides. Branding helps a company differentiate itself from other competitors in the same field, while marketing is used to ensure that branding gets visibility needed to gain traction. Thus, a brand marketing campaign is needed. Better brand awareness can result in: Brand loyalty & returning customers Increased amounts of positive UGC (User-Generated-Content) Credibility & authority in the market Trust from current and future customers Helping your bottom line, as consistent brand representation can increase revenue by more than 20% Future launch success for new products or services, thanks to the strong reputation the brand has created Brand awareness is also the start of the customer journey; it could be the first touchpoint a user has with your brand. From that first point of awareness, it’s a marketing team’s job to ensure that other exposures to the brand move a consumer or potential client further through the customer journey. Online Brand Awareness Campaigns: Where to Start? Just like high-quality branding, an online brand awareness campaign can’t be created overnight. Instead, it takes time to set up and plan. To make it as effective as possible, a marketing team will need to take into account: Defining target audiences: Narrow down large audiences with specific targeting, based on demographics, interests, behaviors, income, and competitor interests. Identifying marketing channels: Understand which channels your target audience is most active on — and select those channels as the method for delivering your brand awareness campaign. Developing creative content: Create content that captivates a user and makes them pause and pay attention to your brand while scrolling through their feed. Developing messaging: Speak directly to the user with helpful, succinct messaging that resonates with a users' emotions. Establishing success metrics: The main KPIs or metrics needed to measure brand awareness campaigns are reach, impressions, and engagement. Establish goals for these metrics and what success will look like for your brand at the end of the campaign. Setting a budget: Before launching any ad campaigns, make sure you have a budget established and allocated for the campaign. Because social media is one of the best ways to get in front of target audiences & gain visibility, it’s where many companies choose to start their awareness campaigns. 5 Tips for Setting Up Brand Awareness Campaigns on Facebook & Instagram 50 percent of people follow at least one brand on social media, which makes platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn some of the best tools for increasing brand awareness. To help you get the most from your brand awareness campaigns on social media — specifically Facebook and Instagram — here are a few expert tips: Use a mixture of campaigns with the objectives of ‘Brand Awareness’, ‘Reach,’ and ‘Engagement. ’ These objectives in Facebook Ads Manager are the types of campaigns that are best for achieving brand awareness. If you have video content, you could also add a ‘Video Views’ objective. You can promote existing content already published on your brand’s Facebook and Instagram pages as well as include new content. Utilize keyword research in Facebook Ads Manager. This tool helps you see the different types of topics and themes you can target to build qualified audiences. Use paid and organic Instagram stories. Instagram Stories are relatively new... --- Promoting your content organically is one of the best ways to reach and engage your target audience. Though search and newsfeed algorithms are frequently changing, there are many tactics to amplify your content and make sure it’s found by the right audiences — often without paying for each click, like, or share. Optimizing Website Content for Organic Promotion Basic SEO To get traction for your content, you need to optimize the pages and content. We’re talking pretty basic search engine optimization here; nothing too fancy. For each product page, you’ll need a unique: Title Tag (60 characters is currently best practice) Meta description (Around 140 characters is still the most frequent character count that shows in SERPs) URL (It should be a descriptive title, with each word separated by dashes. For example, test. com/blog/test-blog-post) H1, H2, etc. (In Wordpress, you can your preferred header in your edit menu above the post) Learn more about optimizing blog posts with our Content Optimization Checklist. Scannability As search engines index your site to determine relevancy, they use the information they can read in HTML. If your pages don’t have HTML text (if they’re primarily image-based or built entirely in Flash), search engine crawlers are very limited in how they’re able to rank your website. Alt text can be used to provide HTML descriptions of images and other unreadable elements. This is where headers and subheadings come in handy too. They provide clues on the content of your page that can help Google properly index your page and offer another opportunity to show relevancy through using keywords. Consistent content Creating content frequently can keep your site fresh and is a sign to Google that you're a high-value site. We recommend publishing at least one high-quality blog per week - but, the more the better! One way to drive long-term traffic to a “cornerstone” piece of content (like your product page or a creative asset) is to create consistent satellite blogs that link back to the cornerstone content. Internal linking (in old and new content) It’s also a good idea to include appropriate internal links whenever possible. Having your pages well-linked gives Google bots a sense of how your website is structured and what pages are most valuable. Common practices are linking new blog posts back to older, relevant blog posts, or links to product/service pages in the CTA of a blog post. Schema markup Additionally, using structured data markup can enhance your site’s search result, leading to rich cards, carousels, or interactive features. These can, in turn, improve your click-through rate. This markup gives more detail about your content and how it’s structured, further improving how search engines read and understand your site. A common example of schema is when you Google a recipe - the star rating, calories, and time that shows under each listing is there due to the site's schema. When a user sees these cues in SERPs, they're more likely to click through to your post. Leveraging Social Media for Organic Promotion It’s important to note that your likes, follows, and tweets do not impact your Google search ranking directly. But your posts can drive traffic to your site content, which indicates that your site is a trusted source with valuable content. That’s why social media is still a valuable driver in the organic promotion game. Social media posts You don’t have to pay for boosted posts or ads to get a lot of traffic to your site from social platforms, although they do help. High-quality content on social media is easily digestible and easily shared. But you have to be strategic in what you share and how. When you’ve got great content to share, you can’t always just plop it into your social media editorial calendar. Think strategically about the platform you’re using: posts that are successful on Facebook won’t always translate as well to Instagram or Twitter. Pinterest posts will look different than posts designed for LinkedIn. Also make sure you consider peak social media posting windows so you can schedule posts for off-times, thereby reducing competition. Diversify content for cross-platform promotion Repurpose existing content for social media by packaging it into smaller snackable posts. Use your blog,... --- As the holiday buzz winds down, your sights are set on growing e-commerce sales in 2019. You've set goals to boost the visibility of your brand in the new year ahead, and are anxious to report on the sales to prove it. But, what can bridge the gap between sales projections and tangible profits? Creative digital marketing. Let's be honest: Your audience is getting tired of being sold to. As you fine-tune your digital marketing strategy for 2019, focus on educating, informing, entertaining and getting to know your potential customers beyond analytics. As relationships build, sales organically follow. Authentically Connect With Your Audience If you want your consumer products to be found online, your e-commerce site needs to connect with potential buyers in the places where they linger, in the formats they crave. Here's a round-up of what works. Partner with complementary businesses. Gain traction and visibility by becoming a team player. Establishing working relationships with like-minded businesses organically leads to cross-promotion of one another's products while putting your business in front of a targeted audience that's likely to show interest. Nuance Chocolate in Old Town Fort Collins has struck a sweet spot with their fans by sourcing local ingredients (such as honey) and selling their confections at area Colorado businesses including coffee shops, breweries and cafes. Chocolate, chocolate, everywhere! Find an influencer for your brand. When you partner with a social-media savvy local celebrity who shows your products integrating into their daily life, viewers take note. Brand messaging originating beyond your e-commerce site reaches new audiences in an authentic, personable format. Denver blogger Kelly Pfeiffer from Nosh and Nourish is focused on eating healthy despite the hustle and bustle of everyday life. From her log cabin in the mountains, she's partnered on influencer projects with brands ranging from Silk (non-dairy milk) to Udi's Gluten Free, introducing her readers to health-focused food brands. Partnering with an influencer who lives the lifestyle of your ideal customer can help you showcase your products to the world too! Finally start that blog. This year, dig deeper and explain the whys and hows behind what you do on a business-focused blog. For many e-commerce retailers, this opens the door to deeper understanding and connection with their audience. For example, Stonebridge Farm in Longmont has a charming name, but I'm not sure what they sell. Pet chickens? Fresh vegetables? Gardening supplies? If you take a moment to dig deeper into their website, you'll find a recipes blog with specific categories: spring vegetables, early summer vegetables, high summer vegetables and fall vegetables. I'm guessing you now know what they sell? Vegetables! And, they're making sure their customers learn creative ways to use their fresh produce each season via a blog. Identify a cause to support. Partnering with a charity, non-profit organization or community outreach program shows dedication to nurturing others and fueling causes that align with your company's mission or beliefs. Café Richesse in Fort Collins publicly professes their love of helping people and puts their dollars behind it too. On the Social Responsibility portion of their website, you'll find this information: "Laborers in remote coffee-producing areas often don't have access to education, healthcare, clean water or training in basic nutrition or hygiene. For this reason, we are proud supporters of Socially Conscious Coffee™, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to provide education and promote sustainable prosperity in coffee-producing communities. A percentage of Café Richesse's sales is donated to SCS every month. So when you buy our coffee, you are helping to improve the lives of the people who harvest the coffee you enjoy. " We're Full of Marketing Inspiration Of course, there are many more ways to connect with your current and potential customers. This year, vow to ignite at least one new marketing outreach effort and see how your numbers change. Sharing the story behind the foundation of your business, shooting a product-in-action video, working with the local media to cover your events or even hosting an open house to make personal connections with local customers and vendor partners will also build your visibility in the marketplace. We've put several of these ideas in action for our clients, including The a2 Milk Company,... --- When it comes to creating engaging content for Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), the expectations for consistency and creativity are high. This guide is written specifically for DMO content managers and digital marketers who want to build stronger emotional connections, boost travel marketing visibility, and streamline their content strategy across social media platforms, landing pages, and the wider tourism marketing ecosystem. As travelers rely on short-form video, UGC (user-generated content), and real-time updates, DMOs must stay adaptive and audience-focused. A recent 2024 study from Skift reported that 62% of leisure travelers now rely on TikTok for travel inspiration, making it the fastest-growing influence channel for visitor experiences. This shift highlights how essential digital marketing, influencers, and interactive content have become for reaching potential visitors. Below are 19 updated, outcome-focused content ideas, now structured as question-style subheads with short answers, to help your DMO build a high-quality, search engine optimization-friendly content strategy that speaks directly to your target audience. 19 Creative Content Ideas Every Destination Marketing Organization Can Use to Inspire Visitors 1. How can featuring local, uncommon artists strengthen your destination’s creative identity? Spotlighting local artists builds authenticity, celebrates culture, and deepens emotional connection with potential visitors. Share stories about regional creators whose work shapes your destination’s brand. Include brief interviews, images of workshops, or short-form video clips showing art in progress. Partner with local businesses that display their work to support sustainable tourism and broaden referral visibility. This approach humanizes your DMO marketing and encourages user-generated content on social media as visitors share their discoveries. 2. How do behind-the-scenes tours make your DMO’s content more immersive? They reveal hidden layers of your destination and encourage strong social engagement. Show exclusive access to museum archives, theater backstages, or restaurant kitchens. Short-form video on TikTok or Instagram Reels works especially well, creating high-quality, real-time clips that boost discoverability among younger demographics. These tours also provide evergreen digital marketing assets and support itinerary building on your DMO website. 3. How can showcasing children’s perspectives reshape your destination story? Kids offer heartfelt, highly shareable viewpoints that appeal to families planning trips. A simple Q&A with local children adds personality and nostalgia to your content strategy. Highlight their favorite parks, treats, and traditions. Share these as short video clips or simple quote graphics on social media platforms to expand reach. This helps DMOs connect with parents who value authentic family-friendly visitor experiences. 4. How do photo-driven stories help highlight new attractions and seasonal changes? Photo narratives visually anchor your destination’s brand while inspiring potential visitors. Use galleries or carousel posts to showcase openings, festivals, and seasonal moments. Encourage UGC contributions to boost authenticity. These assets can be repurposed for blog posts, ads, or future marketing campaigns. High-quality photo stories help improve SEO and keep your content fresh across multiple touchpoints. “Destination marketers who curate authentic, community-driven stories and leverage UGC see lasting engagement and higher conversion—because travelers want to see real people living real experiences. ” — Mackenzie Bromley, Director of Social Media, MMGY Global 5. How can celebrating community milestones humanize your destination marketing? Highlighting personal achievements fosters trust and strengthens emotional ties. Feature longtime employees, anniversaries, and local business wins. These pieces reinforce loyalty and help visitors feel connected to the people who shape the region. They also support broader campaigns promoting entrepreneurship and community heritage, adding depth to your tourism marketing strategy. 6. How can travel tips and alternate routes improve visitor experience and SEO? Practical guidance builds trust and increases search visibility. Share updates about construction, detours, or weather-related closures. Add scenic alternatives and include downloadable itineraries to enhance user experience. These posts are excellent opportunities for SEO optimization while keeping travelers informed and confident in their plans. 7. How do local recipes bring your destination’s flavors to life? Food content draws emotional engagement and encourages in-person visits. Collaborate with local restaurants and makers to feature signature dishes. Encourage readers to try these recipes during their trip. This content performs well on Pinterest, Instagram Reels, and newsletters, and it helps build partnerships that also support area businesses. 8. How does featuring real couples enhance wedding and honeymoon marketing? Real stories boost credibility and inspire romance-driven travel. Showcase couples who celebrated in... --- With a food-based brand, one of the easiest and most accessible types of content to create is recipes. Recipes can highlight your brand and make it easy for your audience to visualize using your products (which is the whole point of marketing in general). But many food brands neglect to promote recipes across multiple channels or even multiple mediums; it’s usually relegated to their blog and possibly a couple social media posts. And while recipes do serve as evergreen content, it’s important to give this content more reach -- and therefore more audience -- by promoting it in multiple places. Using different channels, including your own website, social media, and affiliate marketing, can go a long way in leveraging your recipe content to get more ROI out of it and to reach more people with your products. Adding recipe content to your website The first and most important place a recipe should go is on your website. Whether that means on your recipe page or in a blog post, your website is where the content should be housed for maximum impact. To get the most out of your website’s new recipe, you should: Use more than one image. Unfortunately, many sites don’t focus on this element of their content creation for the sake of “just getting something up. ” When it comes to recipes that will potentially sell product, however, you need great images. Take the time. Use more than one image. A common theme throughout most recipe content is only having one high-quality image displaying the final product. While this does make production faster, it can limit how well your audience responds (and how much reach your content has). In addition to the featured or final product image, consider documenting: The ingredients or utensils The preparation of the ingredients or workspace Each step in the recipe The final product Don’t be afraid to get creative with your images, as this will help your recipe stand out in a sea of similar content. Use proper keywords in the content. Even if you’re going for a boost to your brand name, it’s important to include keywords that will connect with a wider audience. For example, don’t just use “Feel Good Foods Recipe” if your brand name is Feel Good Foods. Instead, use “Feel Good Foods Favorite Cookie Recipe. ” You get your brand name in there, but you also get the keyword phrase ‘favorite cookie recipe,’ which will connect with a wider search. Use your keywords in your: Page title (meta title) Meta description The H1 and H2s Copy, although sparingly Optimize each image for search. Because of Google’s new rich results for recipes, it’s important to optimize your images and your entire recipe page. This includes: Adding keyword-rich alt text to each image Using open graph code for Facebook and other platforms Creating an attractive featured image Using schema markup to pull rich snippet content for: Images Recipe ratings Cook time Calories The image below shows how schema markup can influence your search engine result and how this makes it easier for users to find the most relevant or highest-rated recipe for their needs. While schema markup can be semi-complex, especially for small brands attempting to optimize their websites themselves, it’s an important resource that can help your recipe content rank higher and therefore get more traffic. Take the time to learn schema markup strategies or outsource this to someone you trust. Where to share your recipe content Now that you’ve optimized your recipe content on your website, it’s time to start sharing it on other platforms to gain maximum reach and traffic. After all, most people don’t refresh your recipe or blog page, hoping to see something new pop up -- they are usually notified somehow. Below are a few places you can share recipe content to ensure people actually see it. Your email newsletter A great way to “notify” readers and customers of a new recipe is to add the recipe to your email newsletter or create a special email list opt-in for people who want to know when a new recipe is posted. This could be a weekly email, a recap email once a month, or RSS-feed... --- This week, V9 Digital had a discussion with Megan Sullivan-Jenks, Director of Marketing & Communications at Choozle, to talk about programmatic advertising and how businesses can make more of an impact with their marketing spend. Below are her answers to our questions, where she provides helpful insights into trends as well as general metrics that can help your business launch or improve its own programmatic advertising campaigns. 1. What is programmatic advertising? Simply put, programmatic advertising is the automated process of buying and selling ad inventory through an exchange, connecting advertisers to publishers. This process uses real-time bidding for inventory across mobile, display, video and social channels – even making its way into television. Tactics offered in programmatic advertising can help complement any marketing strategy with a more holistic targeting approach across multiple channels. 2. How does programmatic advertising work? Programmatic media buying includes the use of demand-side platforms (DSPs), supply-side platforms (SSPs), and data management platforms (DMPs). DSPs facilitate the process of buying ad inventory on the open market, providing the ability to reach your target audience with the help of DMPs. DMPs collect and analyze a substantial amount of cookie data to allow the marketer to make more informed decisions about who they’re targeting On the publisher’s side, they manage unsold ad inventory through an SSP. An SSP reports attention data, i. e. , how long a visitor was on a specific site or how many pages were viewed per visit. SSPs are ultimately in charge of picking the winning bid and serve the winning banner ad on the publisher’s site. 3. Why is programmatic advertising a big deal? Before programmatic advertising, ad space was bought and sold by humans. The process was slow and inefficient, taking requests for proposals (RFPs), meetings, and negotiations before an advertisement could be manually published. Publishers could promise advertisers a set number of impressions for a target audience and advertisers would purchase that ad space if the target audience was one of their buyer personas. And it worked—until the number of publishers began to grow at a pace that advertisers couldn’t keep up with. Today, programmatic media buying via an ad exchange allows marketers to cut out the middleman to streamline the ad buying process, serve more relevant ads, and better measure their return on investment. 4. How can I fine-tune my target audience using programmatic advertising? Programmatic advertising offers a wide range of targeting options. I’ve found that almost any programmatic advertising campaign we run tends to involve a combination of first and third-party data. The more first-party data, the better, but many businesses can’t rely on this alone because there might be holes in the information they collected. Third-party data is a must for most campaigns. There’s a hell of a lot of it available, but at the moment it’s impossible to be sure about its value before you use it. A valuable data source is something you have to work out through trial and error. Having a robust process of testing and learning in place is the key. In the early stages of a campaign, you need to evaluate the audience of third-party data you are using to determine if it’s the most effective audience for your campaign objectives. 5. What are common goals and metrics for programmatic advertising campaigns? Defining your goals for any programmatic advertising campaign is vital. Your goals will define what metrics you’ll watch during a campaign. These metrics help determine the progress of your advertising campaigns, what’s working well, and what needs to change. But without an established plan to monitor ad campaign results, you can’t realistically prove your ads are performing well. Ultimately, the end game of every business is growth; you want to increase your bottom line. For digital marketers, this means their advertising ROI must generate positive results month-over-month. The most common industry metrics include: Cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM): This metric is the way to bid where you pay per one thousand views (impressions) within programmatic advertising. Selecting viewable CPM bidding ensures that you only pay when your ads are seen. Impressions: This metric is the number of times an ad has appeared to people. Impressions can help you calculate brand awareness.... --- Consumer buying trends are shifting. When it comes to outdoor equipment and gear, the days of visiting the local sporting goods store to catch weekend sales are dwindling. Customers are craving online convenience and education. The ability to shop from home (without a salesman lingering over our shoulder) via third-party re-sellers like Amazon and Walmart offer multiple pages of search results, reviews from everyday people and free front-door delivery. Marketers are taking note of these buying behaviors and finessing their marketing tactics to match. Outdoor Marketing Trends for 2019 As guests of the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow earlier this year, we visited dozens of booths to absorb innovative marketing trends and brand insights from successful companies. Rich with industry experts, panel discussions, brand ambassadors and product testing, we were taken back by the flow of knowledge sharing within the outdoor community and the digital transformation taking place in their marketing outreach. Following our attendance at the show, and through our ongoing work in the outdoor space, we’ve keyed in on the following concepts shaping marketing initiatives in the outdoor industry. Implement Audience Authenticity and Inclusivity Consumers want to connect with brands that understand them, their interests and their experiences. When it comes to promoting that new sleeping pad or collapsible camp chair, inclusivity is key. If every image or video shows an accomplished mountaineer perched precariously on a portaledge, you’re missing a big part of your audience. As you ideate your 2019 campaigns, consider representing various family structures, types of people and outdoor activities. Outside magazine says most products in this niche are flanked with thin, white males. Let’s challenge that status quo and introduce additional populations such as women of color, the active elderly and children with disabilities. After all, it’s a more accurate reflection of everyday consumers who enjoy outdoor products. Leverage Brand Ambassadors and Influencers Now take that level of connection and relatability one step further. Customers enjoy seeing genuine, candid reviews and feedback from trustworthy people like themselves and celebrities they follow online. The best way to incorporate this into your marketing plans is by including talented brand ambassadors and influencers. For example, Instagram users with 10,000 to 100,000 followers have the highest engagement rates, according to Digiday, and could be considered for your next campaign. Whether you partner with a pro mountain biker sponsored by Niner, or an adventure photographer who only wears Salomon shoes, brands that connect with these influencers leverage their followers to help drive brand engagement and product interest. To be successful, brand managers must and set clear expectations for the ambassadors by sharing editorial guidelines, audience personas and branding strategy initiatives. Create Brand-Owned Marketing Content Although influencer relationships help move the needle, brands in the outdoor space must also invest in their own content ideation, creation, and publication. To maintain an authentic voice, the content should add value to the consumer’s research or buying process while nurturing a trusting relationship. The quality of the content must match the quality of the outdoor product or service by being impactful and consistently on-brand. So, what type of content should you create? When it comes to digital marketing for the outdoor industry, The Digital Outdoorsman suggests focusing on content that’s honest, helpful and adds value. How to overcome relatable challenges, first-person stories and insights on technology trends all help build trust with your online audience. When creating content for our outdoor product clients, we find success by telling insider brand stories related to production, usage and technology. Additionally, readers also respond well to topics about environmental sustainability as well as product testing and long-term performance reviews. Invest in Search Marketing Tactics After initiating authentic and inclusive content from both influencers and your brand’s content creation arm, you must ensure that the blog posts, videos, newsletters, and other content can be found online. The most successful outdoor brands rely on completely integrated search marketing tactics beyond siloed search-engine optimization (SEO) or search engine marketing (SEM) to rise above their competition. We like to think of effective search marketing as a puzzle, where all the pieces fit together seamlessly to create a cohesive plan. SEO is critical to get your content to rank in the top of... --- The platform you use for your e-commerce brand matters. Not only can using the right platform make your work easier, but it can also help you boost your presence online and in search results. Shopify is becoming one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, and for good reason. It offers easy management, integration, and customization (many features do not require coding! ), while also making it easy to optimize your site for better search results, maximum traffic, and higher sales. Shopify Basics: To Use or Not to Use If you’re exploring e-commerce platforms for your online or brick and mortar business, it’s important to know which platforms are actually going to help you show up in Google. So how good is Shopify for companies that are new to e-commerce or exploring new platform options? In general, Shopify is great for e-commerce businesses looking for a fast, responsible, cost-effective platform. They offer over 100 professional templates, including many free options. Shopify may be ideal for your e-commerce business if you... Need a flexible e-commerce platform Prefer easy backend administration Want to integrate with Facebook, Instagram, and other sales channels Want SEO features Want to avoid coding (or paying someone to do it for you) Need a fully secure payment gateway built-in Want easy integration with point-of-sale in-store systems Expect a blog with easy setup and automatic integration But which companies should not use Shopify? : Those who need a super customized e-commerce store. Keep in mind that Shopify is fully customizable but Shopify Liquid (their template language) is foreign to most. Companies with huge inventories If you make the switch to Shopify, you’ll need to make sure to use the SEO features and other great tools to get the full impact of the platform and your efforts. Below, we provide basic recommendations and advanced strategies for leveraging the Shopify platform to maximize your SEO rankings. How to Use Shopify to Boost Your Brand’s SEO Once you’ve made the switch to Shopify or have chosen it for your initial launch, it’s time to start optimizing your inventory within the platform. This means focusing on several different elements: Page titles and meta descriptions. This is where you’ll use your keyword research. Consider each keyword and make sure each page you’re optimizing is unique from the next — specifically in regards to near-identical items. Page titles have high SEO value and should be approximately 60-70 characters (including spaces) and include your brand & primary keyword or product name. Meta descriptions are your “elevator pitch” in search results to get users to click to your site and should not exceed 300 characters. Example 1: Core page Example 2: Product Page Image ALT text. As an online shop, your sales are highly reliant on visuals. Google doesn’t scan images the same way they scan text, so you need to optimize the image alt text. This is supremely easy in the Shopify platform. Image ALT text should contain keywords and phrases relevant to the image and page to which it is connected. If it’s a product image, be sure to include your brand name! Proper H1s and other header tags. The H1 is generally provided in the header bar of each page you create, while H2s and other header tags are used to break up the text, add structure to a page, and indicate keywords in code. “Headers” that are just increased font sizes or bolded styles are not H1 or H2, etc. You need to use header code formatting (see image below). If your Shopify template isn’t creating the header style or code you need, you’ll need to edit your theme CSS. H1s, in general, should be about 60-70 characters and they should be descriptive. URLs. When possible, use the main keyword or product name in your URL. This makes it easy for human eyes to read, as well as crawlers. Shopify makes redirecting URLs easy, so even if your auto-generated URL is not what you want, you can easily redirect it. URLs are chosen when you create the page and can be edited in the “Search engine listing preview” section”. Keep your URLs descriptive and user-friendly, yet not overstuffed with keywords. Internal and external linking.... --- For many e-commerce brands, their website’s Google rank seems subjective and out of their control. And while Google’s algorithms are becoming increasingly more complex, the good news is that these updates actually work in our favor. Today, search algorithms aren’t just scanning for keywords or code; they’re able to take quality content and user-friendly websites into consideration and connect those with search queries. This means that brands--even small ones--with a commitment to consistent, valuable content creation and audience engagement are seeing improvements in their organic ranking. This translates to stronger brand identity, higher traffic, and (most importantly) more sales for them. But if you’re one of the brands struggling with your Google ranking, or you find yourself in constant competition with retailers like Amazon who also sell your products, you’re not alone. It’s still a process, which is why we’re sharing four things you can do to improve your e-commerce website Google rankings. 1. Branded Content to Gain Traction You’ve probably heard the phrase “Content is king. ” Whether or not that’s true depends on who you ask, but when it comes to improving your ranking in Google, it helps to take this approach. Branded content--content that includes your specific product and brand--is one of the best ways to gain traction and increase organic ranking. You want to get your name out there, and you want to provide content that is valuable. This not only gets you seen in more places, but it builds trust. To boost your website’s rankings--and your brand trust--with content: Create relevant, valuable content. Don’t create content just to get something out the door; take the time to understand who your target audience is and the kind of content they want to consume. It may be videos, it may be blogs, it may be images. You need to figure that out and then create a plan that gets it done. Create content frequently. The frequency of your content updates triggers search engines to “crawl” new content. If your site is stagnant, it means Google isn’t crawling it, which means your results are getting pushed further and further down in search. Create a better content calendar that includes regular posts or additions to trigger a more natural SERP increase. Don’t forget your links. If you’re creating landing pages, blogs, social media posts, or even content for partnerships, don’t forget to link back to your product categories or detail pages. However, don’t just “link stuff” an article to get as many links in a single blog or page as possible. This can get you flagged and your audience is too good for that, anyway. Optimize pages and content. We’re talking pretty basic search engine optimization here; nothing too fancy. For each product page, you’ll need a unique: Page title Meta title URL (preferably that matches product title) H1, H2, etc. Each of these need to be unique because each page will register as its own “listing” in Google search results. Also keep in mind that duplicate content gets flagged by Google all the time, which is why unique content and metadata is so important. All of the metadata is what is scanned by Google and displayed in your search engine results page, which is why it’s so important. 2. Social Media to Boost Rankings The power of social media in boosting search rank is often misunderstood. Likes and follows don’t equate to traffic or sales, which is where most brands go off the rails on their social campaigns. The real focus is on click-throughs, not just likes and comments. Social media click-throughs can increase traffic and engagement, which tells Google that your site is attracting interested visitors, thereby triggering higher search rankings. To really boost rankings with social media, you’ll need to: Promote and amplify branded content. Remember: content doesn’t share itself. When you create content (such as blogs, videos, infographics, etc. ), create an overarching campaign to give your content “legs. ” This means you should plan to post a link to your blog or video on social media, post images on Instagram or Pinterest, etc. The more platforms your content is seen, the more impact it can have. Create social content catered to your audience. More... --- Promises of monetary savings used to work. Sale! BOGO! Clearance! Dollar-busting buzzwords and flashy ads captured our attention, converting us from onlookers to consumers. A spot like "Hey, Doll! " from Kroger was the norm with language focused on low prices, not consumers’ needs and their feelings toward a product. https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=703w1YBr39E Today though, in the crowded always-on digital landscape, it takes more to stand out. Defining audiences and building authentic relationships now serve as cornerstones of thriving content marketing strategies. We flock to brands who understand us as individuals and care about our specific needs and moral values, taking the consumer-brand relationship far beyond finding the cheapest deals. "Nearly all top-performing B2B content marketers – 90% – put their audience’s informational needs ahead of their company’s sales/promotional message," according to the Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs’ ninth annual B2B Content Marketing 2019: Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends—North America report, sponsored by Conductor. The report goes on to verify that content marketers are indeed building trust and credibility while creating bonds with the audiences they nurture. Each digital asset has the chance to generate more attentive customers, deepening the level of trust gained. Now, let’s go one step further and put ourselves in our audience's shoes so we can authentically understand their needs. We achieve this by being empathetic to their concerns, listening and taking action on the data collected. But, what does this mean? Empathy as a Content Marketing Strategy Simply put, empathy is the ability to experience the feelings of others, according to the Association for Psychological Science (APS). When we observe someone's emotions, our brain has the capability to trigger feelings and physical sensations as if we were in their situation. This mirroring effect allows us to better understand, and even harness, the mental state of the other person, according to APS. When we apply this knowledge to content marketing initiatives, we can better understand and respond to our audience -- further strengthening those bonds. You've likely seen this approach in action when reading a first-person POV blog post where the author shares an experience the audience can relate to on a personal level. Or, you've watched captivating movie-like marketing videos that make you reflect on your own take on the subject matter. Slashed Ticket Prices Aren't Enough JetBlue understands our love-hate relationship with travel. When sunny skies and pristine beaches await us, it's easy to forget about the gum-smacking, overtalkative, line-cutting person who always gets seated next to us. But, what if that annoying traveler is -- gasp -- us? The airline created a series of empathy-based flight etiquette videos to gently remind customers to be respectful of other passengers and the company's flight processes. As you watch, you may feel a little sheepish as you remember the last time you slipped into an earlier boarding group. It's OK. We've all done it and have been annoyed by others doing it. https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=Quz4mEBfYag The win here is for both JetBlue and their future passengers. This little piece of marketing helps them convey the importance of their boarding process while travelers realize they may have been that obnoxious person and should probably knock it off so everyone on the flight can have an enjoyable experience. How are You Speaking With Your Audience? As you prepare for the new year ahead, it's worth evaluating your approach to content marketing. Is empathy part of your content strategy? Are you paying attention to your audiences' emotions? As you consider this option, start by: Identifying your target audience and their habits, pain points and values Using online signals, analytics and data to fuel messaging that speaks to feelings Creating content that's relatable among our shared human experiences If your brand needs help identifying your target audience, developing an empathetic strategy and creating content that resonates, we can help. Volume Nine is a full-service digital marketing agency that would love to become your trusted content marketing partner in 2019. Contact us today! --- For many e-commerce brands that sell their own product, showing up within the first few listings on Google can be a challenge — even if your product is a Best Seller on Amazon. If you want to improve how consumers find your products and possibly increase Direct to Consumer sales on your own e-commerce site, you’ll need to understand the layout of Google’s search engine result pages (SERPs). You’ll also need to learn how to optimize your product pages so Google ranks them higher than online retailer listings. The anatomy of a product search engine result page Looking at one of Amazon’s best selling games, Kanoodle, it’s easy to see how Google SERPs may make it difficult to increase Direct to Consumer sales. When you search for “Kanoodle game” in Google, you get a full page that includes a variety of listings, all of which belong to other retailers. For any product search, you’ll see SERP sections for: Google Shopping Google Adwords Organic results Videos In the case of the Kanoodle game, we see listings for online retailers above the fold (the visible window). Directly after the videos—and well below the fold—is a listing for the actual brand, Educational Insights, that makes and sells the game. Users have to scroll to the bottom of the page to find the company site which, according to a number of studies, decreases the click-through rate to 2%. This is a common problem for companies, especially those who sell on Amazon and other online retailers. If you’re wanting to drive traffic to your e-commerce site, increase Direct to Consumer sales, and help your website appear higher on SERPs, there are a few things you can do. Get your product detail page to show up higher in SERPs “Google” your own product, preferably one that performs well. Look at what pops up: Is your company website with the product listing found above the fold? Or do you have to scroll down or even click to the next page to find your listing? Wherever your actual brand listing is, take note of it; you’ll be working to improve your Google ranking and SERP appearance in the following steps. Here’s what you need to do: 1. Set up Google Merchant Center Google Merchant is what you need to make sure your brand’s products are showing up in Google Shopping—not just other online retailers. (Note how Educational Insights isn’t showing up in the Google Shopping section? ) If you haven’t already set up Google Merchant, do so now. Google offers a very in-depth guide for its set up and use. The Merchant dashboard is also where you’ll be using Google AdWords, so take the time to set this up properly. 2. Run a branded search campaign As we’ve seen with companies like Educational Insights, other online retailers are ranking for their product while their listings fall to the bottom. One way to fix this is to run an AdWords branded search campaign using their product and brand name. This: Increases brand name visibility so people connect the product with your company Helps drive traffic to your own website rather than online retailers Can improve search ranking as more people find (and click) your listing It also makes you competitive in the AdWords location on Google SERPs. For Kanoodle, Amazon takes the ad spot for the product when Educational Insights should be showing up there, instead. 3. Add product schema to the product detail page Schema markup is “microdata” that can be embedded into the code of your website. When Google’s crawlers scan your site, this microdata is used to better match search queries to your site. Schema markup makes it possible to give users more information, as well as helps your products show up stronger in SERPs. With different types of markup, you can: Add an image to your Google search result Show the URL structure (breadcrumbs) of your site Pull reviews directly to your listing Show multiple products via site links Use product vocabulary to connect to more searches By focusing on the right schema markup for your product and website, you’ll be better able to optimize your search listing and therefore improve rank. 4. Optimize and... --- I always equate going to a Conference to going to Summer Camp. You come back wanting to take on the world because you drank the juice and you were around ‘your people’. This year, coming back from Denver’s Digital Summit, I feel no different. I want to do all the things. But this year I promised myself actually to do, some of the things. Here are my biggest takeaways and things I promise to think about every day: People First Putting the human first was a theme in almost every session I attended. Each speaker challenged us to stop doing things as a marketer that we hate as humans. Examples being immediate email pop-ups on pages, selling on a platform that wasn’t built for sales and not having a consistent brand tone (think offline and online as the same thing to most customers). Stacy Minero from Twitter encouraged us to take it a step further and use empathy in all of our marketing efforts. Chelsea Handler told us to take it even further and, use our marketing power to help those in the minority. Data Overload As any marketer knows, there is always more data than what we know what to do with and Jessica Best from Barkley reminded us of that. She also encouraged us to get KPI buy-ins from the top down and to share even the smallest of insights with your team, frequently. Lucky for us content marketers, SEMrush created this great tool that will help us cut through the data-clutter that we encounter every day. Paid Pitfalls We know that paid search and SEO play well together, but this year many speakers felt paid wasn’t working hard enough for them. Rand Fishkin reminded us that Google is big business. Ashlee from Yeti Coolers gave us insights on how to audit your Google Ads account. She also shared this fact that we loved -- her Paid Social team isn’t on her traditional marketing team, but her branding team. These speakers and more encouraged us to reevaluate our marketing budgets and to give more to those channels that are working harder for us. If these insights aren’t enough, our team would be happy to meet over coffee and share more. Skip the coffee, because we’re still energized by that Summer Camp (Conference) feeling. V9 Miranda, Megan + Alien @ Digital Summit Denver: "It was out of this world. " --- Google has been adding some pretty awesome features to Google My Business listings recently! You can include so much more than basic contact information now. If you haven’t reviewed your Google My Business dashboard lately, log in and see what’s available... . and what you might be missing. Is Managing your GMB listing important? Yes! Your Google My Business listing is your primary path to gaining visibility in Google Search and Google Maps in your local community. The best part? It's free! Your Google My Business listing allows you to show up in Google Search and Maps results when users search for your business or businesses like yours. It is also one of the easiest and most effective ways to: Maintain accurate business information on Google Provide valuable information to users on page one of search results Acquire and respond to reviews Learn more about your audience Interact with users Easily advertise using AdWords Express campaigns Where does my GMB information show up? GMB listing information holds an authoritative position in multiple search spaces on desktop and mobile, including: Google desktop and mobile organic search result local packs Google Maps on desktop and mobile Google Images Google Knowledge Panel The information shown in the Knowledge Panel here comes directly from our GMB account: How do I claim and verify my business on Google? You can follow Google’s own instructions to claim and verify your listing, but the steps are pretty simple: Step #1 - When you are logged into the email account you want to use to manage your GMB listing, go to https://www. google. com/business. Step #2 - Enter your business information and you will be given the option to claim an existing listing, or create a new one. Step #3 - Google will usually only offer the option to send a postcard with a PIN on it to the business address on your listing. Sometimes they will offer email or phone verification, but it is rare. You can also request bulk verification for 10+ locations Step #4 - When the postcard arrives, log back into your GMB account using the same email address and enter the PIN where prompted. Aaaand... now you have a verified Google My Business listing! How do I optimize my Google My Business listing? You will gain an advantage over your local competition by following these GMB listing optimization best practices (and rules). Most importantly: Thoroughly and accurately fill out all available GMB fields and use GMB features regularly. Google is constantly crawling your site to find or verify current business information. Increase their trust by making sure the information on your website matches the GMB listing. We’ve answered common questions about GMB listing optimization, here: #1 What to Use for Your GMB Business Name: Your business name should reflect the name used consistently on your storefront, website and other online business listings. Your listing could be suspended if you include additional, unnecessary information in your business name. Customers are more likely to find your business online when you accurately and consistently represent your business name. #2 How to List Your GMB Business Address: Use a precise, accurate physical address. This exact address should also be listed on a contact page, location page, or in the footer of your website. PO Boxes will not be accepted. You must be able to accept mail at the address. #3 What to Use for Your GMB Business Phone Number: Use the local phone number listed on your website and other online listings that directly calls your business. Using a local phone number instead of a toll-free number will very clearly connect your business to your local area, supporting local search results. #4 - Which GMB Category to Choose: The GMB Category you choose is one of the most important ranking factors in local search. Select the Primary GMB Category that best describes your business as a whole. You can add one or two secondary categories, as long as they describe your core business and not the products or services you offer (“Shoe Store”, not “Shoes”). It is against Google Guidelines to include categories for businesses that are physically at your location but are a different business. #5... --- Disclaimer: This blog post is not legal advice for your company to use in complying with EU data privacy laws like the GDPR. Instead, it provides background information to help you better understand the GDPR. You may not rely on this as legal advice, or as a recommendation of any particular legal understanding. Data Retention Controls Email from Google Analytics If you haven’t already seen it, brace yourself for a forthcoming email notification from Google Analytics about data retention controls and a May 25, 2018 deadline. One of them looks like this: What You Can Do Follow the instructions and set Google Analytics to the data retention level that is in your comfort zone. Please note: I am neither legal counsel nor your Digital Marketer, which makes giving a sweeping recommendation challenging. I have to also re-state that talking to legal counsel is always recommended, regardless of your companies size or location. Here are some sample scenarios. 1. You are an SMB in the US, you don’t have EU customers or any locations in the EU. Setting it to not automatically expire or a longer time length of expiration might be ok. 2. You are a mid-market business in the US, you rely on GA and also run a pretty aggressive marketing program. Talk to your digital marketing team about how far back they are using session level data for your marketing programs (e. g. paid retargeting). 3. You are a major business, you’ve got locations in the EU and even if you don’t, the EU probably knows who you are. Talk to a lawyer. Wait... What... Why? Why is Google Doing This? Google is working to get in compliance with the new, upcoming GDPR regulations about data privacy, particularly because they are a global entity. The GDPR is the General Data Protection Regulation, and it comes from the EU and related countries. The purpose of the GDPR is to enforce a recent court ruling that states individuals are the owners of their data, not the business or websites that collect it. #ThanksFacebook. The ruling is specific to EU customers and most American businesses didn’t know it was happening, but it still matters — especially if you are a global company. With the looming arrival of GDPR and the ease with which you and anyone else can unsubscribe or report spam, it's important to treat people like people instead of leads. Ok - *whew* I’m not in the EU, so this doesn’t matter to me, right? Point #1 Technically a company doesn’t need to be in the EU for this to apply. If you get website traffic from the EU or have any customers who live in the EU, then this pertains to you. Now, you might go to a legal level on this one to the tune of, wait, can the EU pass a regulation that applies to my company if I’m not based there? Moreover, could they actually fine me or penalize me if I’m not under their jurisdiction? The answer is... geez I’ve got no clue, I’m not a lawyer and I don’t know your business or customers. I’m just laying out what the policy says and what to do if you want to be relatively squeaky clean on this one. I did find this resource for you on an interview from Linda Priebe who stated “"While we don’t yet have U. S. -EU negotiated civil enforcement mechanisms for the GDPR (and it is unknown whether we ever will), there is still the application of international law and potential cooperation agreements between U. S. and EU law enforcement agencies, which have been increasing in recent years. ” So, basically, if you are big enough and the US wants to do the EU a favor, US authorities can agree to come after you under the umbrella of the International law. #funtimes Side note: If you are located in the EU, disregard that paragraph - this totally applies to you, in addition to a boatload of other stuff you probably should care about in order to be in compliance. Bigger side note: Just setting your client retention data to expire doesn’t put you in compliance with GDPR. There’s more... --- If you’re creating content for your business, the days when you can sit down and write a blog post about any topic that strikes your fancy are long gone. Don’t get us wrong, you can, but you’re ensuring that no one will find your blog post organically. So, if you don’t want to waste your time, writing a blog that is optimized for a keyword that has some search volume around it is essential. With the billions upon billions of pages online, you can’t just write a blog about margaritas and expect it to shoot up to page one. Instead, you have to find a long-tail keyword that people are searching for and craft your post around that keyword. Fortunately, the internet has gifted us with tons of awesome tools to help you find a long-tail keyword that will appeal to your target audience and drive in that essential organic traffic from search engines. Since the content team here at Volume Nine spends much of our days diving deep into the world of keywords, we’ve tested out what feels like a jillion (technical measurement) different tools. Below, we summarize some of our favorite tools for finding ideal long-tail keywords for your blog. But first... Some Definitions Before we dive into our favorite tools for finding long-tail keywords, there are a few terms we’re throwing around that you should know before diving into your keyword planning: Head term: A head term (also called a head keyword) is a popular keyword with a high search volume. They are generally only one or two words and are very competitive to rank for. In this article, we’ll be using “margarita” as our head term example (hey, it’s Friday! ) Long-tail keyword: Long-tail keywords are three-plus word phrases that are much more specific than head terms. In many cases, these are seen as questions: “what is a margarita” or “how do I make a margarita” are both examples of long-term keywords. In general, when blogging, we want to target our content to answer these long-tail questions - there is less competition for these longer search terms, meaning that the likelihood of the blog post showing up on the front page is higher. Our Picks for Long-Tail Keyword Planning Tools SEMRush We’re trying not to play favorites here, but there is no keyword planning tool more loved by V9ers than SEMRush. Their platform is packed full of a ton of awesome features, but we’re going to focus on their keyword research offerings here. After searching for your head term, SEMRush presents you with a list of keywords containing the exact head term (called Phrase Match Keywords) and keywords similar to your head term (called Related Keywords). You can also see sites that are the top rankers for your specific keyword. Reports tell you the suggested long-tail keywords’ search volume, density, CPC, and competition, as well as the number of results generated for that keyword and the trend over time. Outside of their main keyword search, you can also use their Keyword Magic Tool to search differently. After submitting your seed keyword, you can sort results by other words contained in the phrase, and filter suggestions by the number of words, volume, keyword density, competition, CPC, and SERP Features. If scrolling through a list of keywords trying to find one that works tires you out, the Keyword Magic Tool will help simplify the process so you can see only the most relevant results. If you can’t tell, we love SEMRush. The only downside? The free version of the tool has very limited functionality. To take advantage of the full suite of features available (and trust us, you’ll want to), you’ll have to sign up for a plan - prices start at $99. 95 monthly. Moz Keyword Explorer Like SEMRush, Moz has a ton of different features to help you with all things SEO. But since we’re focusing on keywords, we’re just going to look at their Keyword Explorer Tool. The results shown in this tool are slightly more limited than SEMRush - you’ll get Monthly Volume and Relevancy measurements for each suggested keyword. However, Moz does offer some unique data on keywords. When searching for a keyword,... --- On March 26, 2018, Google made the official announcement surrounding the rollout of the often-discussed, long-anticipated mobile-first index. Countless SEOs and many digital marketers have stayed laser-focused on this development since it was first announced in 2016. All things considered, this should come as no surprise, as mobile searches account for over half of online traffic. We know an excellent mobile UX is important. We know Google is prioritizing this experience for users. But what’s next? Here’s how to succeed in the mobile-first landscape of 2018: Understand Your Site Configuration & Respond Accordingly In response to the mobile-first index migration, Google has provided a list of required changes for various site types. This is an exceptionally helpful resource - I’ve translated their list below: Site Types Desktop onlyYour site is desktop only and doesn’t have a mobile-friendly version. No change. The mobile version is the same as the desktop version. Responsive web designYour site adjusts for screen size. No change. The mobile version is the same as the desktop version. Canonical AMPAll your web pages are created in AMP HTML. No change. The mobile version is the same as the desktop version. Separate URLsEach desktop URL has an equivalent different URL that serves mobile-optimized content. This site type is also known as an m-dot site. Google prefers the mobile URL for indexing. To prepare for mobile-first indexing, follow our best practices. Dynamic servingYour site serves different content based on the user’s device. Users only see one URL. Google prefers the mobile-optimized content for indexing. To prepare for mobile-first indexing, follow our best practices. AMP and non-AMPYour site has both AMP and non-AMP versions of a page. Users see two different URLs. Google prefers the mobile version of the non-AMP URL for indexing. If your non-AMP mobile version uses dynamic serving or separate URLs, follow our best practices. Monitor Search Console In an encouraging gesture of transparency, Google mentioned it would notify websites through Search Console when the mobile-first migration has been completed for the given site. Shared below is an example of what webmasters should keep an eye out for within the Messages section of GSC: The Google Search Console mobile usability report will remain a vital resource, as this dataset provides webmasters with complete visibility into mobile issues that may be plaguing a site’s performance. Errors commonly featured in this report surround the following concepts: Flash Usage Viewport Configuration Font Size Tap Element Spacing So why is this important? Besides the mere fact that we should always strive to provide the best-possible experience for our users, Google has made no secret surrounding the repercussions of a non-mobile-friendly website. This still holds true with the updated index. If you have content that is not mobile-friendly, it will not perform well. Address the Technical We’re unapologetic about our love of creating great content, be it on mobile or desktop, but even the best website content needs to check a list of technical boxes to be successful. With the mobile-first index in mind, our technical checklist includes: Speed: A seemingly never-ending venture, continue to improve your mobile site speed. It will only help to improve your post mobile-index results. Structured Data: Structured data can potentially help your website earn rich search results, higher click-throughs and more traffic, all from a mobile device. Webmasters should be using it, and they must be sure to include the same structured data markup on desktop and mobile versions of the site. Hreflang: If necessary on your site, mobile hreflang should direct to mobile versions of each URL. Desktop URLs should direct to desktop variations. Sitemaps: While you do not need a mobile sitemap, it is vital to establish a link to your sitemap from the mobile version of your brand’s site. Welcome Your Audience with Mobile Content Searchers behave differently on a mobile device versus a desktop machine. Users will often have very specific intent and utilize a much different set of behavior (looking at you, “near me” queries) on their phone, as opposed to the desktop. Google recognizes this and often ranks keywords on a mobile device and desktop differently. When developing your content strategy, it will prove valuable to separate your mobile-targeted and desktop-targeted... --- With over 800 million monthly active users and the highest engagement rate of any social media platform, Instagram is a social media platform that you can’t ignore if you want your business to evolve. As 80% of Instagram users follow at least one business, Instagram can be a significant part of your digital marketing strategy. Are you planning your company's Instagram strategy? Here are the key best practices you should take into account: Things To Do Provide excellent customer service Don’t just post a photo and forget about it. Serve your audience well and reply to comments. When followers need extra assistance, offer them the chance to send an email to discuss details and fix any potential issues. Answer all questions and consider suggestions. Keep a polite and professional tone, even when dealing with criticism. Post interesting content This may seem like a no-brainer, but it can’t be overstated. Don’t just post any photo that comes to you - always provide useful and catchy content that your target audience will love. Communicate your brand's story and personality, and encourage interaction. Instagram is a visual platform, so you can add some emojis into your captions to express ideas or emotions. In fact, a recent Adweek report looked at 20,000 Instagram profiles and found that emojis help with marketing campaigns, as they give a friendly touch. Promote your page Promote your Instagram business page on your website and on all your other social media accounts. This is crucial especially if your business just joined Instagram. Engage users through giveaways and fun contests to help boost engagement and increase your number of followers. Experiment with Instagram stories to show behind-the-scenes content and experiment with short videos. Write a complete bio The bio is essential to let people know about your company's field of activity. Keep it simple but incorporate all the essentials. A few concise and straightforward sentences will do. Try to convey your brand’s personality through the bio, too, to make your profile stand out from other businesses. Go for a signature tone Build an image and an attitude for your business. Whatever you choose, stick with it. If you go for a fun approach, don't go overboard and use too many puns. When a highly professional attitude suits your company best, make sure you keep a conversational tone. Use hashtags Though Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, you shouldn't overload each post with the maximum amount. Choose only hashtags that are relevant for your business. Some hashtag research before you start posting will help you determine the best hashtags to use in your post. Things to Avoid Buying followers Your business needs real engagement and promotion, not just a high number of followers. Focus on a strategy that will gradually bring you the relevant audience. Buying followers only leads to inappropriate content and fake accounts that you don't want to associate your business with. Posting random images Instagram works like a charm for visual marketing and Instagram for business best practices is all about high-quality photos. So double-check all pictures before posting them. They should be appropriate for the message you want to convey and have a high resolution - no random or blurry photos allowed! Being overly promotional Pay attention and don’t post repetitive or meaningless content. Post often, but come up with new posts that might appeal to your audience. Try to avoid being overly salesy - talk about your brand’s story, not the details or benefits of your products. Your buyers come to Instagram for inspiration, not to be sold to. Instagram is one of the leading social media platforms so you can't afford to overlook it. Create a powerful Instagram for your business by following the best practices and get closer to your audience. Would you like some help deciphering the secrets of social media marketing? We love to talk social - reach out to our team today! --- Your company has gone through the effort to create a social media presence. Your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Pinterest boards are up and running, producing content. But do you know how effective your efforts are? Using the best social media metrics ensures that your company gets the greatest possible return on investment from social media marketing. The proper metrics allow you to track how many people you are attracting and whether they are the right kind of people. Here are the best social media metrics to gauge the success of your efforts. Different Businesses, Different Metrics The type of content you put out will determine how people interact with it, so make sure it lines up with your company’s goals. For example, a company looking for more exposure should place a higher value on shares versus comments. If, however, it’d be more valuable to your company to strike up a conversation, you should value comments more heavily than shares. In other words, every company has unique circumstances that change the way you should value certain metrics. Engagement Measures: Retweets, Likes, Comments, and Shares In the world of social media, how people engage with the material you put out is an important indicator of a successful social media strategy. Likes, comments, retweets, pins, and shares are great indicators of people’s level of interest in your material. Track retweets and shares to see how many people spread your message, while comments and replies show you what your audience reacts to. Comments and replies also drive brand awareness, albeit to a lesser extent than shares. When Audiences are Online On top of measuring how people are engaging with your material, it is important to measure when. Social media metrics show at what time of day most people are talking about your brand. This data can be extremely useful in deciding the timing of your post. By posting when the most people are talking about your brand, you maximize your potential impact. Audience Behavior It’s great to know how many people are engaging with the content from your social media efforts, but even more important is knowing how those people interact with your actual website. Think of it this way: part of the benefit of social media marketing is to attract people who already have an interest in your product so you have a higher chance of converting them. Using metrics to track how those people engage with your website can let you know if your content needs to be tweaked to attract, nurture, and convert the right people. CTR + Bounce Rate A useful measure of sheer volume is link clicks, but this can be misleading on its own. CTR, or click through rate, shows you how often those who see your social media ad click it. However, when the CTR is paired with the bounce rate from your site, the metric becomes much more powerful. If people are clicking through to your site from a social ad and immediately leaving, it may be a sign you need to target a different audience or change your ad messaging. Cost Per Click CPC (cost-per-click) on paid social ads is another metric you’ll want to familiarize yourself with. This metric gives you a good idea of how much you are paying for each click you receive. It’s useful for comparison against other paid channels like search engines. By comparing the two, you can judge the effectiveness of each channel, which will help you choose where to prioritize your spend. Sound like too many metrics to handle right now? No problem. Contact the V9 Team today and get it all taken care of for you. --- You know users and search engines both prefer fast sites, but you may be wondering how you know if your website is performing compared to site speed standards. You’re in luck — Google has a great free tool called PageSpeed Insights that allows you test pages on your site for speed. This tool reports on the performance of your pages for both mobile and desktop devices then provides you with recommendations on how to improve it. Even better is that all of their recommendations are in line with their pagespeed rules, which give you low-hanging fruit to tackle on your site. Here’s how you make the most of Google PageSpeed Insights! Page-by-Page Basis One of the first things you should know is that PageSpeed Insights tests on a page level. In other words, one test applies only to that exact page and not the entire domain or URL sub-directory. Real-World Data That’s right, ladies and gents! As of January 2018, Google announced their refactored PageSpeed Insights will provide you with real-world data that comes from the Chrome User Experience (CrUX) report. This data shows up under the “Speed” section of the tool: Let me translate: FCP = First Contentful Paint, which is the point when the browser renders the first bit of content from the DOM (text, image, SVG, etc. ) DCL = DOM Content Loaded, which marks the point when there are no other resources blocking the JavaScript execution. This means Googlebot can start to render the page What does my speed score mean? This first section of the report — screenshot above — shows you real-world performance data about your page. Using the CrUX dataset, Google assigns median values to compare your site to all others, and then tells you if your page is “fast” (in the fastest third of all pages), “average” (middle third), or “slow” (bottom third). The Page Load Distribution chart shows you the distribution of the page’s FCP and DCL metrics in the CrUX dataset. The Page Stats section provides you with data points on the number of “trips” that are required for Googlebot to load render-blocking resources, total bytes used by the page, and how it compares to other sites. This data (in conjunction with the optimization suggestions - see below) can be used to help decide if you can make your website faster by updating or upgrading the appearance of your page. What are all the "Optimization Suggestions"? The final section of the PageSpeed Insights tool is perhaps the most important. The suggestions are simply a list of Google’s best practices that could be applied to your webpage to make your page/site faster. In all the Analytics work and audits we do at Volume Nine, perhaps the most common culprits of slow pages we see are bulky, uncompressed images, browser caching, and poorly-designed scripts/coding. While getting the real-world data and speeds is super convenient and useful, the optimization suggestions provided are going to be your “action items,” or next steps for making your website faster. If you’re wondering if you need to make these optimizations for every single page, the answer is probably not. The great thing about the majority of suggestions provided by Google is that if you take these to your web development or IT team and they start to tackle the issues, you will see these things change and improve sitewide (if they’re addressed properly). The suggestions are broken up into two sections: the first is “Optimization Suggestions” — this is where you will gather all your action steps towards a faster page and site. The second section is “Optimizations Already Present” — this is where you can pat yourself on the back for doing something where you got a thumbs up from Googlebot. Each of the optimization suggestions based on Google’s rules will come with a “see how to fix” dropdown which tells you how to tackle the issue. This list of best practices is below, and we tell you (quickly) why you should care about each. Enable compression — This element and the one directly below are, perhaps, the two most common ones we see for our clients. Compressing resources (scripts, images, etc. ) using gzip or... --- By now you’ve likely encountered what’s called a “featured snippet" in Google. The featured snippet is when a portion of a page that appears in results is pulled out onto the search engine results page itself. It looks like this: A featured snippet is aimed at answering a searcher’s query, without having to click through to a different webpage. Google tries to make the user experience easier by pulling content to directly answer the searcher’s question. In addition to the relevant content to answer the user’s query, a feature snippet includes the title and URL from the webpage the snippet is pulled from. Types of Featured Snippets There are three different types of feature snippet: a paragraph, a list, or a table. The paragraph feature snippet is by far the most common. Like the answer above, a paragraph snippet is just some text that answers a question, and is sometimes accompanied by a thumbnail picture. Lists are often used to provide a list of steps in a process (as in a recipe). Lastly, a table is often used when the search query is looking for a comparison. The Benefits of Having Your Business in a Featured Snippet There’s no debate that holding the primary spot on a search engine results page helps drive a ton of traffic. But it takes a long, disciplined approach to climb to the top of an organic search result. The featured snippet provides a bit of a shortcut. The featured snippet is an opportunity for any page ranked in the top ten of results to jump straight to the top with less effort compared to building a page’s search rank from, for example, from eighth to first. Having a featured snippet effectively puts you at search result zero and allows your business to earn traffic as the top search result. How To Get My Site in a Featured Snippet So now that you know the benefit of featured snippets, you’re probably wondering how to get your site in one. The great thing is you really just need to rank somewhere in the top ten to have a shot at getting the featured snippet. Unfortunately, there is no simple formula to ensure your site earns a featured snippet, but there are steps you can take to better your chances. Write to the Question Take a look at your keywords and see which of them are question-based queries. The key here is to have a specific answer to these questions within your content. You may want to write so that the question is one of the headers in your content and the answer is directly below that snippet. Just remember to write naturally - if you have to force it, you’re better off focusing on quality content instead. Go For High Quality Just because your page doesn’t need to be number one to get the featured snippet doesn’t mean the quality is not important. The higher your page rank, the more likely you are to score a featured snippet. Try Question and Answer Format Question and answer pages are a great way to try to get more featured snippets. Since the page will be formatted in much the same way users ask questions, you will increase your chances of being chosen for a feature snippet. Just make sure you have high-quality answers to the questions. Need More Tips? If you’re sick of getting passed over for the featured snippet, reach out to the SEO team here at Volume Nine - we're here to help get your site to page one! --- If you manage a website, you’re likely familiar with Google’s suite of tools that are designed to provide important information around your website's performance, both for you and for your users. However, the number of tools and the breadth of their capabilities can overwhelm the best of us. Google Tag Manager is one of the lesser-used tools in the Google Suite arsenal, but it's growing rapidly. Google Tag Manager can be extremely powerful when used properly. Below, we dive into what Google Tag Manager is, and when and how to use it. What is Google Tag Manager? Tags are snippets of JavaScript code that gather data and send it to third-party websites. Google Tag Manager (often referred to as GTM) is a tag management tool provided by Google for free. The intent is to allow a site to use a single asynchronous script to manage all of the site's tags. By installing one block of script, you can update tracking scripts, add new integrations (Salesforce, LuckyOrage, Facebook) all within the Tag Manager Platform without also having to update the source code of the site. If you're a beginner or novice at website development, this can be a welcome reprieve from having to ask a developer to paste in a block of code. It allows the user to set up and manage different types of analytics and marketing tags. Before Google Tag Manager, adding a tag to your website meant that you had to work with a developer to hardcode it in your site’s code. And perhaps just as important, not all of these scripts loaded asynchronously, meaning your site wouldn't load until this script was finished firing. If you've ever found yourself waiting for a site to load and looked down in the lower-left hand corner of your screen only to see a bunch of scripts firing, but the page hasn't loaded, this is what we're referring to. Google Tag Manager Components Google Tag Manager’s functionality can be broken into three buckets: Tag: A snippet of code/tracking (usually Javascript) that you want to add to the site. Trigger: Settings that allow you to say when and where on your site you want a tag to be executed. Variables: Establishes the data set, and creates an opportunity to customize the data set, particularly for Google Analytics and events. For most sites, the free version of Google Tag Manager will be sufficient. That being said, there are larger enterprise sites that may benefit from Google Tag Manager 360. Generally speaking, if you don't use Google Analytics 360, or you didn't know that existed, stick with the free version for now. When it's useful At this point, with the adoption of Google Tag Manager seemingly growing exponentially, there's really no longer a case to not use it unless the basic Google Analytics tracking script is all you need. And by that, I mean you're not running any paid campaigns, your primary conversion is website traffic, and you aren't tracking events. For any other site, we strongly recommend this integration. That being said, here are some specific times that reinforce why this is often recommended to everyone we work with: You want to track events in Google Analytics (This can be done manually, but it's much easier in Tag Manager) You have multiple hard-coded scripts throughout the site for different tools You don't' have direct access to a developer and want to be able to make these tracking updates internally You want the ability to test whether a new tag is firing before actually pushing it live Unless you have a significant amount of hard-coded scripts scattered throughout your site, the move to Google Tag Manager is generally pretty simple. How to effectively set up Google Tag Manager Keep in mind, as there is with any tool, there is a learning curve. After using the tool for years, it all feels much more intuitive, but don't give up. It will be worth it in the long run. The first step is to go to tagmanger. google. com and set up a new account. To make life easier, use an email that you can share if you have to. To keep from having to jump... --- Images are usually the first thing that people see on social media and sometimes the only one they remember. They are also the best thing you can do for engagement on social media - photos receive an 87% engagement rate from users. For your business to succeed on social media, your images need to be clear and on-brand. Image size is also an important aspect, as the incorrect image size can make your brand look unprofessional. If you don’t pay attention to the recommended sizes for each social media channel, you’ll find that your images may be blurry or cropped. This social media image size guide will help you pick the right pictures. These are also changing constantly with new platform updates. These are the most up-to-date version as of October 2020. Facebook Facebook has a new layout that is still optional to use, but soon enough it will be the only layout available - so it is time to start using the right image sizes for this update. The recommended profile picture size should be at least 180 x 180 pixels. It’s important to know that business page images will be cropped into a circle. Facebook says that you’ll get the best results with a PNG file. The cover photo appears on the page at 940 pixels by 352 pixels. It’s best to stick to that size as Facebook will stretch smaller ones, which can affect their quality. The best quality image will be at 1800 pixels by 704 pixels. When sharing link images, the best size is 500 pixels by 261 pixels. Single images on the timeline on Facebook have changed. PRO-TIP: Taking up as much space in someone's scrolling feed is optimal - because you get more of a chance to take up a full mobile screen. Use 500 pixels wide by 750 pixels tall for a single image on the timeline. When it comes to ad image sizes, refer to Facebook’s Ad Guide. Keep in mind that the ads must comply with the Advertising Policies as well. Instagram Unlike all the other social networks that crop the profile photo in a square, Instagram goes for a 110 pixel-wide circle. Therefore, if you have a logo, keep it in the center. The optimal Instagram images are 1080 x 1080 pixels, although recent updates now mean that you can post non-square images. Instagram ads use the Facebook advertising system linked above. Twitter The header image for Twitter is 1500 pixels by 500 pixels. These are the size guidelines as of October 2020 for images based on the types of tweets: Image from a tweet with a shared link: 1200 pixels x 628 pixels Tweet with two images - 600 by 800 pixels Tweet with a single image and no link: 1200 by 675 pixels Always use high resolution images - the recommended aspect ratio is 16:9. When it comes to profile photos,the perfect size is 400 x 400 pixels. This will show up as a circle, so make sure that the profile image fits within the circle parameters. Twitter has strict guidelines for ad sizes as well. So make sure you check the Advertiser Creative Specifications and comply with the rules. LinkedIn LinkedIn is all about professional headshots so if you want to get the perfect size, go for a square 400 x 400 pixels image that doesn’t exceed 8 MB. When it comes to the background image, a 1536 x 768-pixel picture that’s less than 4 MB is the way to go. For companies, the logo image should be smaller than for personal accounts - 300 x 300 pixels. The recommended background image is 1192 by 220 pixels. The shared image or link image size is 1200 by 627 pixels. For more information on Linkedin image sizes, visit the LinkedIn Help Center. Using high-quality photos and adhering to the correct sizes on social media will help make your business’ social media pages stand out. If you are looking for additional help managing your business’ online presence, reach out to the social media marketing team at Volume Nine today. We’re here to help! --- As long as business owners have wanted customers, marketing has been around. But as businesses change along with the customers they serve, marketing changes too. Today, there are two different broad types of marketing, inbound and outbound. Below, we dive into the difference between inbound and outbound marketing and the benefits and limitations of each. Outbound Marketing Outbound marketing is commonly referred to as traditional advertising. WordStream defines outbound marketing as “any kind of marketing where a company initiates the conversation and sends its message out to an audience ... such as TV commercials, radio ads, print advertisements, trade shows, outbound sales calls ("cold calls"), and email spam. ” To understand outbound marketing, think of interruption. As you watch TV, a commercial comes on. Sitting around the house, you get a call from a telemarketer. While you listen to the radio, an advertisement plays. Advertisers are using mass media to get their product in front of you, whether you’re interested or not. Inbound Marketing Inbound marketing, as the name implies, stands in stark contrast to outbound. Techtarget defines inbound marketing as “a strategy that focuses on attracting customers, or leads, via company-created Internet content. ” Examples include subscription-based email marketing, content marketing (blog posts, white papers, etc. ), and paid search advertising. The Differences: Outbound vs. Inbound Marketing When trying to understand the difference between inbound and outbound, it’s helpful to think of it as a “push vs. pull” dynamic. Outbound pushes people to take action. Inbound moves those who have expressed interest further down the funnel to purchase. Inbound marketing gives customers a voice; it allows them to talk back so you can learn more about them. They may send an email or comment on a blog post asking for more information. Inbound strives for a dialogue, while outbound speaks from its soapbox. While modern outbound marketing has gotten much more targeted, ultimately, outbound marketers are still advertising without permission. In essence, outbound marketing reaches more people who are less interested in the service or product. Conversely, inbound marketing reaches fewer people who are more interested in the service or product. Benefits of Outbound Marketing While outbound marketing doesn’t target the most interested customers, it does reach a much larger audience. By using mass media, you expose your business to the greatest possible number of people, which can be very useful in creating a recognizable brand. Outbound Limitations The main limitation of outbound marketing (other than generally high costs) is that consumers, in response to the constant bombardment of ads, have become very active in seeking out ways to avoid it. SEOPressor lists a few examples of people tuning out outbound marketing: People skip TV ads by recording their favorite shows and fast-forwarding through commercials. Digital music subscription services and satellite radio help people avoid radio advertisements. More and more people get news from the internet rather than newspapers or magazines, making print advertising less effective. Benefits of Inbound The main benefit of inbound marketing is that you create a sustainable source of incoming revenue in a cost-effective manner. By creating content that is beneficial to your customer, you create a loyal following that will continuously purchase and spread the word about your product or service. In 2013 Hubspot said that “79% of companies that have a blog report a positive ROI for inbound marketing this year. ” Regardless of size, businesses can create a solid inbound marketing strategy with focused time and effort. Inbound Limitations The main limitations of inbound marketing are the required time and a limited number of potential customers. Clearly, content that has to be searched for won’t reach as many eyes or ears as content provided through mass media. Also, inbound marketing is a long-term strategy that requires patience and perseverance to reap the benefits, so you can’t count on large amounts of short-term profit. While a successful marketing strategy can use both inbound and outbound marketing, inbound marketing is an essential part of remaining competitive in your industry while keeping marketing costs low. To learn more about how inbound marketing can benefit your business, contact the content marketing team at Volume Nine today - we’re here to help! --- With a market share of over 80% on a global scale, Google seems to be the undisputed and undefeated champion of search engines. It has at least 30 billion queries per month, and it's powered by one of the most successful companies in history. Despite Google’s dominance of the search engine industry, it still has some competitors with unique benefits you may not find when you use Google. We’ve put together a list of some alternative search engines to check out, and how they differ from Google. DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo was launched in 2008 to provide a more private alternative to Google. It doesn't store any personal information or search history, nor does it track the user in any way. Using DuckDuckGo means you’ll have no targeted ads as a part of your searching experience. Another unique feature is ! bangs, which takes the user straight to a search on a certain website. For example, a search for “! amazon books” goes to a search for books on Amazon. com. Bing Microsoft's search engine has one main appealing feature: Microsoft Rewards. This unique program gives you points when you search that you can redeem for gift cards at outlets like Amazon or Starbucks. Bing’s user experience for photo and video viewing also stands out from Google. When searching for an image, you can filter the images you see, like photos with faces or specific layouts. Videos on the site appear as a grid of thumbnails that can be directly viewed from Bing. Need advanced searching features? Bing also offers filters like Feed (for RSS) and Contains (for searching for a specific file type) that are beneficial for many digital marketers. Yahoo! Search Yahoo! is not only a search engine, but also a news aggregator, a horoscope, games center, travel directory and much more. Compared to Google, it provides a more robust experience as users get to discover and explore beyond simple search results. While Google only displays a pretty simple search interface, Yahoo! presents a multitude of eye-catching links. The company is the preferred homepage for the internet for many users due to its content aggregation and ease of use. Baidu Baidu is often referred to as “China's Google. ” It is the second largest search engine on a global scale, and it's ranked 4th in Alexa Internet rankings. The market share reveals that it is by far the major player in China. At the moment it is not available in English, but it is a viable alternative for Mandarin-speaking Internet users. Whether you stick with what you know or decide to try out one of these alternative search engines to Google, you’ll find varied benefits that can improve your search experience. Have more questions about search engines, or how your company can increase your rankings in any search engine? Reach out to the SEO team here at Volume Nine today! --- The world of SEO is constantly evolving, with new terminology and features coming and going as quickly as the next Google update. Most people with exposure to SEO will have heard about nofollow links, but to the uninitiated, it’s another one of those obscure terms you may have heard but never understood. We’re going to clear things up by defining nofollow links and explaining when they should be used. But first, a bit of context. Dofollow Links To really understand what a nofollow link is, you’ll need to understand how a regular link (“dofollow link”) works in SEO. When a page links to an external site, it sends a signal to search engines that the page directing the link finds something of value on the linked page. With some exceptions, the linked page gets a boost in their SEO in the form of page authority. Generally, the more links you have directing to your website, the better your search engine rankings. But not all links are equal. The more popular and reputable the website is, the more authority the pages they link to will receive. What is a Nofollow Link? Now that we understand how regular links work, we can understand how nofollow links work. A nofollow link is a way for the creator of the web page to tell search engines not to follow the links on their page. Simply put, the webmaster tells the search engine not to give any authority to the linked website. Why would I use it? Why would you not want a search engine to give a boost to the page you’re linking? The answer is certainly not spite. The nofollow link was created primarily to deal with spam, but it also has some secondary uses. When some people in the SEO world found out about the value of links to their website, a new method of boosting content was born. Spammers everywhere assaulted blogs, forums, and comment sections, posting links to their website to increase their inbound links. By allowing webmasters to “nofollow” their links, search engines thwarted spammers because their websites received no authority for nofollow links. When You Should Use A Nofollow Link Content You Don’t Control One of the great functions of the nofollow link is disavowing yourself from content you can’t control - think forums and comment sections. In the past, all links posted in forums and comment sections were dofollow links, and out of the webmaster’s control. Now, by setting up your comment section so that all links are automatically nofollow, you can prevent untrusted commenters from successfully spamming. Using nofollow helps you avoid passing on authority to unsavory sites on the internet. Even better, just seeing that your comment section has nofollow will prevent most spammers from even trying. You can reward your loyal and trusted commenters by either automatically or manually removing nofollows from their links. Paid Links You shouldn’t pay for page authority. Search engines don’t want paid links to unfairly influence page results. This practice falls within a gray area, but you could be penalized by search engines. For example, Google’s guidelines say, “Search engine guidelines require machine-readable disclosure of paid links in the same way that consumers online and offline appreciate disclosure of paid relationships. ” Content You Don’t Want Search Engines To Rank or Visit Seems obvious, but sometimes there is simply content you don’t want search engines to waste their time with. Search engines can’t register for a webpage or log in, so there is no use in having them follow a link to gated content. A little less obvious is that there is content you simply don’t want to rank. Think of the content you give to your clients once you’ve converted them. For example, a thank you page that customers see after a purchase doesn’t need to get page authority in search engines. By using a nofollow link, you can prevent that page from being indexed by search engines. A Final Note The usage of nofollow links is a contentious one within the SEO world - the SEO team here at Volume Nine even has varied opinions on when to use nofollow links. The suggestions above are general guidelines... --- Are you using social media Geofilters for your business? If not, you may be missing out. Geofilters are seen by 40-60% of daily Snapchatters. With 100 million daily active users, that is some serious brand exposure potential for your business. Below, we provide an overview of Geofilters, how to set them up, and other social media platforms that are introducing similar features. What are Social Media Geofilters? One of Snapchat’s popular features are Geofilters - location-based graphic overlays that can show off the location where the photo was taken, or highlight an event happening in the area where the snap occurred. There are three categories of Geofilters available on Snapchat: Community Geofilters: These are used for public locations - universities, cities, and local landmarks can all have their own geofilter. These are not used for advertising purposes. Personal Geofilters: These are created by individuals who want their own Geofilter for an event, be it a birthday, anniversary, or wedding. Business Geofilters: Companies can use these sponsored Geofilters for commercial purposes. These filters can increase brand awareness and engage prospects or customers. We’re going to focus on business Geofilters in this article. How can you use Geofilters for business? There are several ways to use Geofilters for your business. Here are the most frequently used ones: Announcing new service or product launches Advertising events Supporting your brand Promoting your presence at various tradeshows Sharing updates Highlighting company values Supporting charities through fundraisers Creating Geofilters for your business Snapchat offers an easy-to-use template for creating and submitting your Geofilters for review on the site. Visit the Snapchat Geofilters page, select which type of Geofilter you want to create (Community, Personal, or Business), and follow the on-screen instructions for designing and submitting your filter. You can either design your own Geofilter in Photoshop or use Snapchat’s pre-loaded images to create your own. Once your Geofilter has been submitted to Snapchat for review, you can expect to hear back in a day, although a high volume of submissions may cause the review to take longer. Snapchat’s Geofilter FAQs provide more information about the approval process, as well as reasons that your Geofilter may have been rejected. Other things to note when designing a Snapchat Geofilter for your business: Geofilters rules are stricter for businesses than for private users. Businesses are not permitted to use hashtags, contact information, or people's pictures. Doing so can get your filter rejected. Keep in mind that the cost increases according to the area of coverage and duration of the filter. Before submitting it, make sure that both text and graphics are visible in all kinds of lighting. Keep your graphics contained to one-third of the screen at max. Plan carefully. You’ll have to cancel approved Geofilters and create new ones in case of rescheduling or location change. Are Geofilters only available on Snapchat? Geofilters used to be exclusively available on Snapchat. However, this month, LinkedIn announced that they now offer Geofilters as part of their new native video tools. The feature is geared towards conference attendees and aims to help with conference event promotion and engagement. LinkedIn Geofilters may be an avenue that your business can explore that upcoming conferences or trade shows you are hosting. Social media Geofilters, whether on Snapchat or LinkedIn, provide a valuable opportunity to connect with consumers and increase brand awareness. If you need help planning out your Geofilter strategy, reach out to the social media team at Volume Nine - we’re here to help! --- As you well know, most people usually don’t buy your product or service the first time they visit your site. Consumer behavior research shows that consumers often go back and forth between the decision making stages. With a market of over 200 million digital shoppers in the United States alone, Facebook Custom Audiences can be a great way to retarget ads and convert prospects into customers. Facebook Custom Audiences Overview Facebook offers five different options for targeting your ads to specific customers, based on their behavior. Below, we dive into each Facebook Custom Audience: Website Traffic You have to install a Facebook Pixel to record your visitors in Facebook Ads Manager and target your website visitors. It's possible to combine many options to create effective lists of people for remarketing purposes. Decide which parameters the visitor should meet. Examples could include: Users who visited the website Visitors who visited certain pages Visitors who placed products in the shopping cart but didn't finish the purchase People who visited in the past but didn't came back within a certain time frame (e. g. , they haven't returned for 30 days) It's best to target frequency first, then experiment with other features of the Advanced Mode such as Devices, Aggregate Values or Dynamic Date. App Activity If you have a Facebook-registered custom app, use the Custom Audiences App Activity option for retargeting based on app activity. Depending on the actions taken within the app, you can target users who: Recently purchased Used your app but haven’t returned recently Recently opened your app Customer Files/Customer Lists Another option for Facebook ad retargeting is using customer data. You can create a custom segment based on your existing customer base by importing, uploading or copying/pasting files containing phone numbers, emails or Facebook user IDs. You can get lists from anywhere you store your customer data, including third-party software like MailChimp. This remarketing tool enables you to target specific people with custom messages relevant to their current position in the sales funnel. You can also create remarketing campaigns that include Lifetime Value (LTV) data. Using LTV Lookalike Audiences targets the highest value customers and finds other Facebook users with similar traits. Engagement After users engaged with your content, the Engagement custom audience can speed up the purchasing process. Apart from the Facebook page interaction, you can build audiences based on their engagement with various aspects of your business, including: Instagram Videos Events Forms Canvas (Fullscreen experiences) Offline conversions Offline Conversions API is a measurement solution that allows business owners to build lists based on people's transactions or offline interactions with the company. It enables you to get a better idea of the impact of your Facebook ads, even if the customer makes the purchase in person. Additionally, you can create audiences according to the offline conversion data and remarket your offers through Facebook Ads. Important note When you’re creating your custom audience, keep in mind that you can also do exclusion retargeting. Creating an excluded segment will prevent a certain audience segment from seeing the ad. For example, you can exclude prospects if you are running a campaign for loyal customers. Though consumers might be genuinely interested in a product or service, there are many external factors that can influence and delay their decision. Retargeting using Facebook Custom Audiences can be a powerful marketing tool to help turn your prospects into customers. Does the thought of creating custom audiences give you a headache? The social media team at Volume Nine is happy to help out - get in touch today! --- The standard for content marketing has skyrocketed in recent years. With more and more businesses seeing the value of a solid content marketing strategy, along with search algorithms rewarding websites with high-quality content, good execution is a must. And good execution relies on great strategy. Here at Volume Nine, we believe that a good content marketing strategy starts with a solidly researched and planned editorial calendar. What is an editorial calendar, exactly? An editorial calendar is a calendar dedicated to organizing your content production. Also called a content calendar, it is a Google Sheet or Excel spreadsheet that includes key details regarding all blogs and creative assets you plan on publishing over the quarter. Most calendars include a title, the focus keyword(s), a description, the due date or publish date, any internal links, title length, goals of the post, and which personas the post is targeting. Why use editorial calendars? Consistent Plan A content calendar is especially useful for your business blog. By sitting down and creating a content calendar, you’re essentially plotting your blog’s course and creating a strategy. The keyword research required to complete a calendar will ensure that each post you write has a search phrase with high volume that will drive organic traffic to your blog. Instead of scrambling each week to come up with an idea, you’re free to spend your energy writing the best post possible. As mentioned earlier, you need consistency in content marketing, because content marketing isn't a quick hitting strategy. To see results, you’ll need to publish high-quality blogs regularly. Editorial calendars help you develop consistency, and that will help you win both loyal readers and increased site authority. Better SEO If you're still on the fence regarding whether you need a calendar, consider the SEO benefits. Producing consistent, fresh, and relevant content boosts your SEO. Moreover, with a content calendar, you can plan out internal linking strategies in a much more organized way. Again, search engines reward quality content, and any tool that helps you create better content will show its worth in increased website traffic. The Details The editorial calendar should be a place for ideas to be explored and defined. The calendar will have specific dates when content will be released. It needs to have relevant details on each specific post, so your writers have a clear guide for the expectations of the post. You should include the topic as well as a title (even if it's just a working title). I’ve listed some of the staples to include in your editorial calendar, but part of the beauty of the editorial calendar is that it’s customizable to your needs. You can add buyer personas to target, relevant calls to action, specific notes for your writers, or anything else that makes sense for you. --- Launching a new website is always a very tricky prospect from an SEO perspective. Without taking the proper steps and precautions, a launch has the potential to result in a dramatic loss of SEO rankings and traffic. It is essential to have a comprehensive SEO strategy and checklist for any website launch or re-design. What are the key elements of a website launch checklist to avoid SEO pitfalls? The items below are core pieces of a launch support to identify potential risks pre-launch, uncover any lurking hazards, and ensure your launch goes smoothly. Sit down, open a beer, and read away before hitting that magic “launch” button. Site Crawling & Indexing 404 Response When a bad URL is typed in, it's important that your server returns an immediate 404 HTTP header response so Google doesn't index or improperly assign value to invalid pages. Mishandling 404 pages can cause crawling issues, content duplication, and a poor user experience. As SEOs, you’re making sure 404s are not blocked, that they do not redirect to 2xx pages, or that 404s are not returning a 2xx HTTP status code. Redirects Redirects should seamlessly transfer users and search engine bots to the new location of any moved page. However, not all redirects are created equal. 301 permanent redirects will be preferred in most cases, 302s are temporary, and meta refresh redirects can cause some crawling issues. Also, avoid creating redirect chains. Make sure there is not a widespread or improper use of redirects because this can lead to mixed signals and a loss of page value. Robots. txt Robots. txt files block bots from crawling specific pages or directories on your website. Blocking improper files can lead to bad indexation, improper rendering, or potentially a loss of ranking. Ideally, you want to keep blocking to a minimum unless you're experiencing server resource issues. Also check for proper syntax of the robots. txt file. XML Sitemaps - Basics When it comes to XML Sitemaps, you should be checking for two different things: The basics — Make sure the site has an XML sitemap or sitemaps, and that they appear to be functional and complete. While these are not required, they are an excellent crawling asset and diagnostic tool when used properly. XML sitemaps should include all live, indexable pages, no errors, and have 50K URLs or less. Configuration — Make sure the sitemap is configured and set up properly. Break the sitemap up into sections for larger sites. HTTPS Having a secure site (HTTPS) isn't required, but Google is making an active push toward a more secure internet and awarding small boosts for secure sites. Proper configuration is key to make sure users don't experience warnings, or duplicate content isn't indexed. If a site uses HTTPS, make sure all other versions of the domain redirect properly to the preferred URLs. Canonicalization Canonical directives tell search engines, "there are multiple versions of this page/content, but this is the one I prefer you to show to users. " The strongest signals are 301 redirects with rel="canonical" tags being a softer directive. Proper canonicalization helps Google and users to focus on the proper version of each page to encourage stronger ranking. This includes https/http, www/non-www and capitalized versions of URLs being handled appropriately. Site Speed How fast your server responds to visitors and renders the webpage is a critical element in both user-experience and organic ranking. Speed counts, and you want your website to be fast, especially with growing numbers of mobile users! There are several different things to check for when it comes to managing site speed: Server Speed — Both users and bots love fast sites! The goal is to see server speed and load time around 2 seconds or less. Any higher than 4 seconds and something should be fixed. Page Size — The heavier the page, the more likely it is to load slowly which causes issues. The overall page size includes all elements, and the items most likely to cause issues are images and the scripts required to render a page. Ideally, you want to see pages under 1MB, but around 1-3MB is acceptable. Anything higher means there are opportunities for improvement. Image Size... --- Managing the online presence of a business with multiple locations will take effort to plan, execute, and maintain, but it will be time well spent. Drawing visitors to your local business as the best answer for products or services they seek online is the main goal and reward for implementing an effective Local SEO strategy. More rewards The rewards for performing Local SEO for multi-location businesses are highly valuable and multi-fold: Website traffic - highly relevant, geo-targeted traffic Accurate and useful information provided online to searchers, even if they don’t visit your website Establishes an authoritative online brand presence Builds strong, trustworthy signals for users and search engines Increases the percentage of users who are primed to purchase Prep Time First, cover basic on-site SEO success factors These fundamental, yet essential, SEO elements should be in place for the overall health of your website - they affect and support Local SEO: Your website is indexed (verify location pages are on your sitemap! ), crawlable, and has one canonical version. Your site is mobile-friendly - test your site pages using this Google tool and see a rendered image of how your site appears to mobile users. Site speed and page speed for desktop and mobile is good. Test them! Google provides info on sub-optimal site elements and optimization recommendations for both desktop and mobile. Second, benchmark current data You will find great value in gathering baseline data - for each location - before implementing your Local SEO strategy to track and appreciate the impact of work completed. We recommend benchmarking: Traffic from Google Analytics Sessions, Users, Pageviews, Pages / Session, Avg. Session Duration, Bounce Rate, % New Sessions Mobile vs. Desktop Users Sources of traffic and breakdown (organic, direct, paid, referral) Conversions - If you don’t have Goals set up in GA, now is the time to add them. E-commerce data in Google Analytics, if applicable to your business Keyword ranking data for top keywords Multi-Location Local SEO Strategy How to maximize the SEO impact for businesses with multiple locations Local SEO should be a high priority for multi-location businesses that target a localized audience. Each location should be treated as a separate presence, even if they are on the same website. Here are the elements, in order of importance, that will make the largest impact on your location-based businesses: 1) On-site Local SEO Location Pages vs. Subdomains vs. Separate Websites Experts recommend building one robust website that promotes your brand, all of your products or services, and your locations, with a unique page for each of your physical locations on the main site (not on a subdomain). Unique location pages are essential to Google and other search engines and valuable to your visitors. Unique pages expand the SERP ranking potential for each location. Having one website results in a more authoritative, legitimate brand that search engines and visitors trust. And bonus, you save time and money! If you operate 2-4 locations, we recommend linking to the location page for each one from the footer on your website. If you operate 5 or more, we recommend including locations on a store locator page in your primary navigation. Location Page URLs Optimally, location page URLs should include the location and primary keyword. For example - https://www. yourdomain. com/locations/citykeyword Meta Data Information On­-page tag geo-specific terms: Page title - include location and primary keyword Meta description - create a description that entices people to choose your business and include the specific location Header tag - include location and primary keyword Carefully craft the title tag and meta description as they are the first introduction to your business and location in organic search results. Site Architecture The importance of your location pages should be reflected in the site architecture and linked to in your main navigation. Structured Data Add schema markup to each location page. There are multiple schemas available for Local Businesses that allow essential location information to appear in search results. Schema markup will guarantee Google and other search engines will crawl the location information you provide. Schema markup also offers additional visual impact to searchers, supporting click-through rates. Tip: Once implemented, review each page using the Structured Data Testing Tool to... --- At this point, there’s a good chance you’re aware that Google’s Disavow Tool exists. The disavow feature has been around for several years, and there has been no shortage of documentation on the tool within the SEO community. A quick search of “How to Disavow Links” yields roughly 397,000 results. Whew. Within this post, our goal will be to speak plain English and empower anyone with a keyboard the ability to disavow links safely, correctly, and without triggering a migraine. Let’s start with a quick introduction on how to disavow links and move into tactics. Intro to Google’s Disavow Feature As the name suggests, disavowing links is the process during which you research, identify, and share a sampling of links you’d like the search engine to ignore. You accomplish this by using the Disavow Tool within the Google Search Console. Submitting a disavow file through the tool requires a . txt file - this is the preferred format used by Google to process the request correctly. Google launched the ability to disavow links way back in 2012. Courtesy of Google Webmasters, here’s a great video from Matt Cutts introducing the tool way back when: Since then, the tool hasn’t undergone significant updates, but Google’s Penguin algorithm most certainly has. Before using the Google Disavow tool, we encourage further discovery and understanding surrounding this real-time link-related algorithm. More homework on this can be found here. When To Use Determining when to use the Google Disavow Tool can be tricky, so let’s go straight to the source. Shared below is a quote from Google providing a general understanding of when to use the disavow tool, but we’ll also share a little more context and perspective. If you believe your site's ranking is being harmed by low-quality links you do not control, you can ask Google not to take them into account when assessing your site. If you’ve done as much work as you can to remove spammy or low-quality links from the web, and are unable to make further progress on getting the links taken down, you can disavow the remaining links. Additionally, the tool should be used as part of an effort to recover from a Manual Action. If you have bought specific links or engaged in black-hat link schemes (shame! ), you’ve violated Google’s guidelines, and there’s a good chance a Manual Action may soon follow suit. There is also a technique surrounding the usage of the disavow tool proactively. In response to links from bots or competitors who are building bad links to your domain, you may wish to disavow them. The best course of action would be to contact those sites manually and ask them to remove any bad link, but if that doesn’t work, a disavow file update will be the next best step. Be on the lookout for links that were created solely for SEO gain. If the link truly serves no value and doesn’t have a possibility of directing searchers your way, it’s likely best to not associate it with your backlink profile. These may include, but are not limited to: Links from currently penalized domains Links from blog and forum content spam Links with excessively rich keyword anchors Links from low-quality directories How To Use If you’ve manually requested the toxic inbound linking domains remove their links to your site, without luck, it’s time to disavow. Here’s how: Download the backlinks to your site using a tool like Ahrefs, Majestic, or Google Search Console (just to name a few). Use the downloaded file to audit the links you wish to remove from your profile. Select only these domains and then add them to a . txt file using the following format: Domain:toxicoffender. com Do not include the http, https, or www. If we were to disavow a sample of 4 domains, the format would resemble: domain:toxicoffender. com domain:spammyseosite. com domain:buyallthelinks. com domain:baddomain. com After adding the spammy domains to your . txt file, visit the disavow tool in Google Search Console and choose your site from the dropdown menu. Choose the option to disavow links and then select and upload your file. You’re done! Conclusion Use caution and be diligent when disavowing links to... --- As a business owner or marketing manager, you’ve likely been told that blogging is a powerful way for getting the word out about your company. However, when done correctly, blogging can do much more than inform consumers about your products. If you’re on the fence about the efficacy of blogging, take it from us - blogging can help your business. Here are eight benefits you’ll see from starting and maintaining a company blog: Increase your page rankings Each time you post a blog, you create a new web page, which means you're building out your website more. Since search engines now have a new page to index, you may see a positive improvement in the ranking of your site. Jayson DeMers, in his Forbes column, writes that organic search visibility and website traffic can both be increased by adding new blog posts to your site. Become a thought leader and establish authority One of the most important things that blogging does for your business is to establish authority. Corey Wainwright at HubSpot tells us that creating content that answers questions and provides value for your readers instantly positions your company as an authority. Thought leadership in your industry is one of the quickest ways to stand out from your competitors. Find the topic gaps in the blogs of your industry and create content around those topics. Remember that you also need to produce high-quality, engaging content on a consistent basis for this to happen. Get content to share on social Regular blogging can help you with your social media management as well. Your blog is a channel in itself, but it can also be extended to other channels. Populate your social calendar with shares from your blog. You can also repost a snippet of your blog content on Medium or repost your content on LinkedIn Articles. Enhance the value of your brand When done well, your blog can help cement your brand perception in the eyes of your customers. Make sure your brand’s essence is reflected in the tone, style, and voice of your blog by creating blogging guidelines or referring to your company’s brand book or style guide. A company blog should be an extension of your brand, so the content and tone need to reflect your brand values. Attract new visitors This new content that you’ll be posting in your company blog will help generate new leads. You can use analytics to see where your visitors are coming from and which topics are most engaging to them. Then you can use this data to assist in the planning of your upcoming content calendar for blogging. Start a conversation with your audience Blogging can help your business by allowing a forum for conversation between your company and your customers. In a blog, you can enhance interactivity with your audience by including: Social share buttons Comments or a forum for discussion Quizzes Videos, slideshares, images, and GIFs Real-time chat to engage visitors Links to your company’s social channels are prominently displayed (for example, a Twitter handle, Facebook company page, or LinkedIn company page. ) Contact information for the author (such as profile picture, position, email, Twitter handle, and contact information) Provide value to the audience Think of your blog as a platform for sharing best practices and practical tips that people can then use in their own work. Giving information away for free in the form of a blog shows your readers that you are willing to provide value without any return from them. Of course, you can use a call to action to see if they will bite, but you may have a passive audience who are only readers for a while before you start seeing engagement in the form of comments, shares, likes, and conversions. Boost your marketing strategy Blogging is a serious part of every company’s marketing strategy. It provides new content and a forum where you control the topics, the messaging, and the style of the content. A blog can be used in conjunction with a variety of other actions such as landing pages, social, and digital advertising as the core of your overall marketing strategy. How can blogging help my business? Now you can see... --- In April of this year, Facebook introduced chatbots for their messenger service, opening up an entirely new avenue for businesses to reach consumers. Since Messenger is the second most popular app on iOS - over 900 million people actively use it each month - the announcement about the new feature generated quite a lot of buzz. Chatbots have powerful potential when it comes to online customer relationship management for your business. Here’s everything you need to know about Facebook chatbots and how to use them to your advantage. The Launch of Chatbots “Bots” is a general term to describe software that automates a task. At their core, these chatbots are meant to automate customers’ interaction with a business. Facebook suggests that rather than download another app, consumers would prefer to interact with companies in an app they likely already have. Zuckerberg’s keynote focused on the way customers interact with businesses, noting that there should be a better way to communicate than calling. Zuckerberg provided an example of a business interaction with 1-800-Flowers, showing a customer ordering flowers while only interacting with a Facebook chat bot over Messenger. What are the Chatbots’ Benefits? According to the Facebook launch announcement, “Bots can provide anything from automated subscription content like weather and traffic updates, to customized communications like receipts, shipping notifications, and live automated messages all by interacting directly with the people who want to get them. ” Businesses can provide consumers with instant responses to simple questions using Facebook chatbots on Messenger. Businesses have the ability to custom design the capabilities of their bots, and each company can tailor the bot’s responses based on the business’ specific services. The bots can also customize their answers for you based on past interactions. How to Set Up Chatbots Facebook’s chatbots are set up using Facebook's Wit. ai Bot Engine. The company’s quick start overview offers tips to get a bot up and running in 10 minutes. The complete guide goes into much more depth about capabilities to customize. Developers and businesses can also create bots and then submit them for review - find the developer docs here. Facebook bots can help you stay on top of customer interactions on the site. If you need help or advice to set up a chatbot for your business, reach out to the social media team at Volume Nine today - we’re here to help! --- What is good content? Is there a formula for creating good content on a consistent basis? You betcha. Top performing content, including viral content, has some things that are easy to replicate. Use this eight-item checklist to crank out good content on a consistent basis. Is your content original? Whether you are composing a tweet with an image or using an image in a blog, an original image can be essential for your audience. Take the time to create a new image if it’s needed. Your writing needs to be original as well. Use analogies and examples from your own experiences to enhance the originality of the article. Remember, original content is not an imitation or copying of other content. To increase the freshness of your content: Use personal experiences and storytelling in your content. Create channel-specific content. Hold a brainstorming session with colleagues to come up with original ideas. Is your content actionable? What is the goal of your content? You should always be driving your audience to a next step - whether that’s viewing another blog post, signing up for a newsletter, or sharing the content. Good content is actionable because it asks the person viewing it to do something. Every piece of content you produce should provide a clear, actionable next step. To make your content actionable, be sure to: Include calls to action above and below the fold, make social share buttons available. Direct audience to next piece of content (make sure it “fits”). Tell the audience what to do next with bold language (it’s okay to be direct). Does your content answer a question? The title of this post is “What is good content? ” and the entire article provides tips and answers to this question. Good content answers a question that the audience has and would like to know more about. You may notice that you often find yourself asking Google a question. Sites that answer questions can often return very high in the search results through a number of ways. Content that answers a question hits two targets at the same time - you inform your audience, and you rank well on search engines. To better answer questions with your content: Read Moz’s full guide on how to appear in Google’s answer box. Conduct research to identify knowledge gaps for your audience (i. e. , Twitter, Quora, Google, etc. ) Use an FAQ on your site or Question/Answer format on your blog post or landing page. Is your content properly sourced? No one likes content that is inconsistently or improperly sourced. Creating content that makes your audience mistrust you is a huge turn-off for readers. One bad experience with an improper citation could mean a loss of some potential customers or audience members. To properly source your content, remember to: Cite it if it’s someone else’s original idea. Use trustworthy sources/sites. Include links to sources where applicable. Is your content unique? Does your content propose a new take on a topic? Is it thought-provoking? Creating interesting content may seem like a no-brainer, but if you’re not saying anything new or interesting on a topic, then you’re not providing value to your audience. Offer value by producing unique content. Yes, that takes time, but if you produce boring content, expect boring engagement results. To create unique content: Take a new angle. Start from scratch. Throw in a pop culture reference where applicable. Is your content concise? Keep it simple - probably the best advice for life, but also for good content! Attention spans are insanely short. Keep that in mind when you are creating content. If it’s a video, keep it under three minutes. If it’s a blog, shoot for 400-1000 words. If it’s a tweet, use a limited number of hashtags, an image or preview, and just enough information to inform and provide a call to action. To keep your content concise: Keep the overall length of content short. Use short sentences in your writing. Is your content grammatically correct? Proofread your article. Proofread your design. Use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar for content that doesn’t turn off your audience. For grammatically correct content: Use a copywriter or third party to review it... --- Regretfully, meta descriptions are often a less-loved stepchild of the SEO world. And while that analogy may seem a little brash, we jump to these extremes because, with a relatively little effort, updates to missing or poorly-optimized meta descriptions can often lead to positive change for your website. Let’s discuss how to write a meta description further, beginning first with a few basics and then transitioning into a few best practices and useful tools: Meta Description Definition A meta description is an HTML tag meant to summarize the page content and user experience in search engines. HTML tags can be added to each page and search engines will often use this attribute to display in SERPs. Here’s a direct quote from Google to paint this picture a little clearer: “The description attribute within the tag is a good way to provide a concise, human-readable summary of each page’s content. ” If hard-coding your meta description, be sure to include the tag in the category of your HTML. Where They Appear We can promise you’ve seen a meta description when using your favorite search engine, but many searchers may not realize these snippets of copy are very much controllable. Shared below is an example of how they appear, not only in HTML but also within Google: HTML Example: SERP Example: Writing a Great Meta Description Now that we’ve established what a meta description is and where you see them in your day-to-day searching, let’s dig into how you can make them work for your website. Color Within the Lines By this, we mean it’s best to follow Google’s preferred character count when writing a meta description. A previous best practice was anywhere between 150-160 characters, but as many of you may be aware, Google recently updated the snippet length to allow even more characters to display. Meta descriptions can now contain anywhere between 160-230 characters. If writing more than this, the description runs the risk of being truncated. Incorporate Relevant Keyword Targeting When possible and natural, we strongly encourage the inclusion of the page’s target keyword. A benefit of following this technique is represented via bolded keywords in the description. These bolded keywords and phrases can lead to improved clickthrough rates within the SERP. Using the query “SEO Agency Denver,” you’ll see each of these words bolded within the description below. Pretty cool! Prioritize Pages and Be Unique The time required to write a unique description for every single page of your website may be too high to be feasible, so instead focus on the mission critical pages first. When moving through these pages, we strongly encourage that each description is unique. Google will auto-generate descriptions for your lower-priority pages. For more on this very topic, reference this video courtesy of Google Webmasters + Matt Cutts. Include a Call-To-Action We’ve found this is typically easiest to implement for B2C websites, but consider introducing a relevant and applicable call to action, regardless of your industry. When incorporating a call-to-action in a meta description, we recommend inviting the searcher to perform an action. Compelling CTAs can help to improve clickthrough rates within the SERPs, which is very much part of the ranking algorithm! Stay True to Yourself and True to the User Sounds deep, right? In all seriousness, it’s critically important the meta description reflect the user experience of the page. Any promise made in the description should be honored within the page. A misaligned meta description can lead to pogo-sticking. Bad! Helpful Tools By now, we’ve dug into the importance of a meta description and some general practices to consider when writing the tags. It may seem like a lot to digest at first glance, but fear not, there are countless tools available to make your meta description optimization efforts easier. Here are a few of our favorites: Screaming Frog Screaming Frog is an exceptionally useful tool for nearly all things SEO. If you’re not familiar with the Frog, check it out! As it relates to meta descriptions, a quick crawl with Screaming Frog will allow you to see descriptions that are too long, too short, duplicated or missing altogether. This is a wonderful way to prioritize your efforts. Google Search Console... --- A technical SEO checklist can help to identify issues that often get in the way of you leveraging the ranking and traffic potential of content campaigns and make you feel like you're just spinning and not seeing organic search growth. Having done hundreds of Technical SEO audits in my career, I can tell you that I've never seen a site "ace" it. So the question becomes, how much is too much, and when do you make the move to activities that could potentially lead to larger improvements? While I wouldn't claim that this checklist is going to cover every possible technical SEO best practice, it can serve as a list of items that can cause the most harm to your marketing efforts and are the most commonly found in our experience of taking clients through a more comprehensive technical SEO checklist. Why is a Technical SEO Checklist So Important, Anyway? Often described as the "foundation" for your marketing efforts, technical SEO really considers two basic principles: Can Google see your site and find important content easily and quickly, regardless of how they got there? Can users find important content easily and quickly, regardless of how they got there? If, on its face, Google is determined to provide the best answers to a user's query, technical SEO is the idea of making it as simple as possible for Google to crawl and index your answers, and trust that they're giving Google users a good experience. Over the years, as the needs of Google users have changed, so too have the priorities for sites from a technical perspective. For example, remember when mobile sites were a "nice to have"? Or how about when sites didn't always have to be secure? As users shifted to increased smart device usage and developed an increased focus on personal data, Google emphasized the importance of these elements if you wanted to succeed in organic search. While the elements of importance might change, the end goal remains the same, which is why the two basic principles have held true. Google Search Console (GSC) Not setting up Google Search Console is actually a fairly common mistake. Google Search Console is designed to reinforce the priorities that Google has for websites, and it is typically as close as you're going to get to finding out what Google actually thinks about your site. Make sure you have GSC profiles created for all of your site variations including (Or verify the site at the domain level using DNS information): https://www. example. com https://www. example. com https://example. com https://example. com Creating these profiles will allow you to check configurations on the valid URL but also look at duplicate content and potential security issues that can impact other variations of your site. Having GSC verified can provide insight into technical problems like: Site crawling and indexation Security issues Mobile usability XML Sitemap Errors Site Performance Beyond Analytics (Not what they do once they get to the site, but how often is your site shown, and for what keywords) Duplicate Content Issues There is No Duplicate Content Penalty, But... Believe it or not, the most common technical problem found when crawling a site is actually an issue with content. Duplicate content across the site is a very common problem when reviewing the indexation of a site. Don't buy the hype though, there is no "Duplicate Content Penalty". The issue arrives when you give Google two different URLs to index, but the content is exactly (or nearly) the same. This splits the authority and leaves Google in the dark and left to its own devices. And generally speaking, if your site creates confusion for search engines on which page to rank, neither is going to do well. The best way to check whether you have issues is to crawl the site using software like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb. These tools are relatively affordable, and if you're only using it for this one instance, you don't necessarily need a monthly subscription. Additionally, if you don't want to spend money on a tool, you can check how many pages Google is indexing by doing a site: command within Google search results. (Ex. site:v9digital. com), or pull the... --- Google Posts went live recently for most Google My Business (GMB) customers. It enables businesses on GMB to instantly share info and a link to whatever page they’d like, right in the Knowledge Pane, on Google Search and Google Maps. These localized Page 1 search result inclusions show up instantly, are highly targeted, and can be shared socially across Facebook, Twitter, G+ and email. Here at Volume Nine, we were excited to try this new feature out with one of our clients, Stratford Schools! Our Client Our client, Stratford Schools, is a private school system founded in 1999 with 23 campuses in California. To deliver on their goal of “connecting students to their unique futures”, Stratford offers “an innovative, challenging, and ever-evolving curriculum” where students achieve inside and outside of the classroom. They encourage students to “truly care about the community where they live and learn” and believe in “the free exchange of ideas among faculty, staff, students, and parent partners. ” The Objective With the new school year quickly approaching, Stratford Schools geared up to meet new students and parents, and welcome back returning families, with an Open House at each campus. Once there, families would learn what Stratford has to offer, be introduced to faculty, staff, curriculum and other unique aspects of their schools, and ask any questions about the schools. The school's objective was to let as many families in their respective areas know about the Open Houses and inspire them to attend, ideally by pre-registering online before the Open House. The Strategy Open House awareness and pre-registration was the focus of our strategy. What are the most effective ways to get the information in front of the most families in each campus location, very quickly? Fortunately, Google Posts and the Stratford Open House opportunity came together for a perfectly-timed rendezvous. Google offers a few basic options for Post content, including a choice of buttons (listed below) where you can link to a website page for users to get to and tell them they are going. We used the “Sign up” button (shown below), that would take users to the Open House registration page. Google Post Requirements and Posting Steps You can quickly and easily create these custom posts from your phone, tablet or computer directly within your Google My Business account. These are the requirements and steps to generate a Google Post: Requirements Business You must have ownership of a verified GMB listing (note: hotels and other types of lodging are not eligible) Content These are the content options available when creating a Google Post: Image Choose a high-quality image that will capture attention! Google recommends a 750 X 750 pixel image (the minimum requirement is 250 X 250 pixels) The image will be auto-cropped to a square, but you can identify which part of the photo should show if it is not an exact square Text 100-300 words are allowed, not all of these will show in the Knowledge Panel, so choose your first sentence wisely When crafting your message, keep in mind these can be shared socially Event If your post is about an event, you will need to add the event start date, end date, and time. Call-to-action Button Button options to choose from are “Learn more”, “Reserve”, “Sign up”, “Buy”, or “Get offer”. Website page link Choose a website page to link to from the "Call-to-action" button chosen above Creating and Publishing a Google Post Once you’ve decided on and gathered all of the content you are going to include, creating a Post is super easy. We created Google Posts for 18 Stratford School locations. It took less than two hours to set up and publish all of them! Steps Sign in to your Google My Business (GMB) account Go to the Dashboard of the GMB listing you want to post on (if you only have one listing, you will automatically be taken to that Dashboard) Click the blue CREATE POST button Add content Preview - click the blue PREVIEW text in the upper right corner. Publish - if you’re happy with the Preview, click the blue PUBLISH button in the upper right corner. And bada bing, bada boom - you will... --- Whether your company is launching its first blog or refining an existing one, you’re already taking an important step toward improving your content marketing results. A well-maintained company blog can boost organic traffic, improve visibility in SERPs, and help your brand rank higher across each search engine. It also helps you attract your target audience with high-quality and relevant content that supports your broader SEO strategy and captures readers across social media platforms. A company blog only works when your blog content follows reliable blogging best practices. Without structure, keyword research, and consistent blog writing, even your strongest ideas may never reach the readers who need them most. This guide is written for bloggers, marketers, and teams managing a blogging platform in WordPress or similar tools. You’ll learn how to strengthen user experience, refine your writing style, and create new content supported by SEO, readability, and metrics you can measure. Blog Setup Should you use a subdomain or subdirectory? A subdirectory usually delivers stronger SEO results because it helps all new content support the authority of your primary domain. A subdirectory (yourwebsite. com/blog) almost always performs better than a subdomain (blog. yourwebsite. com) for SEO and organic traffic. Search engines treat subdirectories as part of the main site, which allows every new post to contribute to your overall authority. Research continues to support this approach. A 2024 Semrush analysis found that blogs placed in subdirectories gained over 32% more organic traffic than those placed on subdomains. Tools like Ahrefs and HubSpot also show similar patterns, with subdirectories ranking more consistently for long-tail keywords and building clearer topical relevance. Subdomains often behave like separate websites, which can dilute authority and complicate analytics reports. If your team uses WordPress, creating your blog as a subdirectory is straightforward and keeps Google Analytics data cleaner. This simple setup improves indexability, supports an organized webpage structure, and aligns with blogging best practices from the start. How to create an SEO-friendly and readable blog URL structure Keep URLs short, descriptive, and aligned with the main topic and long-tail keywords of the post. A clear URL structure helps readers, bots, and search engines understand your content quickly. Every post should include the /blog/ path, which keeps analytics simple and improves your ability to segment traffic inside Google Analytics. Short slugs with long-tail keywords improve click-through rates on social media while helping your blog writing stay consistent with your broader SEO strategy. Use slugs that match keyword research, such as /email-marketing-templates/ or /blogging-best-practices/. Avoid unnecessary filler. Shorter URLs improve readability and make your content easier to share on LinkedIn, X, or inside email marketing campaigns. Keep your naming pattern consistent across the entire blogging platform. This structure also supports category pages, internal links, and future case studies you may publish. Why setting up Google Analytics from the start improves blog performance tracking Tracking performance early gives you the data you need to improve your SEO strategy and understand what content resonates with your audience. Google Analytics helps you measure user behavior, popular topics, and engagement. Installing tracking from day one gives you insight into metrics that determine successful blogging, including: Traffic sources across social media, organic search, and email Posts that attract the most readers Pages that convert through a CTA or lead magnet Engagement patterns shaped by attention span and user experience These insights help you plan new post ideas, identify high-performing content types like infographics or case studies, and refine the writing style that best supports readability. Teams often review results weekly, especially when new content is published or when experimenting with long-form content. For more advanced analysis, you can use descriptive anchor text to link to reputable guidance, like this breakdown of content performance measurement from Google’s Analytics Help Center. Analytics-driven optimization helps you improve every new post, making blogging tips more actionable and strengthening your long-term content marketing plan. Blog Organization How to organize your blog categories for better discoverability and SEO Keep your categories simple, consistent, and aligned with topics your readers already search for. Clear categories improve discoverability and help readers move through your site without friction. Most blogs perform best with five to seven categories tied to core topics like social... --- Among the insights in the Social Media Examiner’s 2017 report on the social media marketing industry was a significant finding regarding the importance of content sharing on social media. Of 5,700 marketers surveyed, 92% responded that social media was important to their business. The refrain that social media marketing is some passing trend continues to fade into irrelevance with each passing year. Even in our digital age, not everyone knows how to leverage the power of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. Here are five content-sharing tips for social media that anyone can use to join the ranks of successful social media marketers. 1. Cross-promote instead of cross-posting When a marketer cross-posts, they first publish a post to their blog. They then copy and paste the link to the post across Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. With a few clicks, they put their new piece of content in front of a large, diverse audience. Great strategy right? Not exactly. Each social media channel has users that exhibit vastly different behavior and preferences for content. As such, you should optimize each social media posting according to the channel you’re posting in. It takes a bit more time, but it’s worth it. But how do you know how to promote for different channels? Read on: 2. Know your social media channels Follow these guidelines for each social media channel: Twitter: Short, snappy excerpts of interesting articles, or eye-catching images. Perfect for news and trending topics. Facebook: Think social sharing. What will people want to share with their friends? Evoke emotions with headlines and descriptions. LinkedIn: Cater to a professional audience. Shine the spotlight on your content to demonstrate usefulness. Instagram: All about the visuals. If your content has a visual component, focus on that. If not, create one. Pinterest: Almost like a blend of Instagram and LinkedIn. Heavy on visuals, but also focus on how-tos and practical advice. 3. Create a Posting Schedule Just as it’s tempting to blast your social media channels with the same exact post, you may be tempted to share your post to every channel at once. Instead, consider staggering your content sharing on each social media channel by a couple of days or so to maximize effect. 4. Experiment and Optimize Posting Working off step #3, as with any marketing effort, you should be experimenting and optimizing with the frequency and timing of your content sharing. As you build a following, finding the right time to post on social media can make huge differences in the amount of traffic your content gets. 5. Use UTM parameters and track posts It’s not as intimidating as it sounds. Adding UTM parameters to your social media links will help you track the performance of social media posts. Rafflecopter can show you exactly how to use this nifty tool. In the Social Media Examiner report mentioned earlier, 40% of the marketers surveyed didn’t know whether their Facebook marketing was working. Separate yourself from the pack when it comes to content sharing on social media with UTM parameters and the rest of these useful tips! Social media marketing is powerful, but only when it’s done right. Some of this does take some technical expertise and experience. If you have questions, feel free to contact the social media marketing team at Volume Nine. --- You probably already know that proper redirection can make or break a site’s SEO, especially during migrations. You also probably know that there are different types of redirects available to use. But how do you know which one is appropriate? The Difference Between 301 and 302 Redirects Either SEOs aren’t very creative or they just really want to make things as straightforward as possible with their naming conventions. A 301 redirect (a. k. a. a 301 Permanent Redirect) is just as it sounds - a permanent redirect of a page to another URL. A 302 redirect commonly returns the status of “Moved Temporarily”. This is because these are redirects reserved for when the URL change is... well, temporary. When to Use 301 Redirects Much like the name implies, a 301 redirect is a permanent move. These are typically best reserved for situations where URLs will be changing for good. Examples include when you are: Updating outdated URLs to point users to a current page (such as when you move content during in a site migration or a merger) Canonicalizing a site’s URL so that traffic is directed to only one preferred destination. This is especially handy when completing a http to https migration. When to Use 302 Redirects 302 redirects are best reserved for situations where URLs and their content is being moved only temporarily. Some examples of these types of situations are: Campaign promotions where you would like to direct users from a static page on your website to a campaign-specific URL (such as www. yourdomain. com to www. yourdomain. com/holiday-promotion-page). When A/B testing a page or getting client feedback on a new page/site When making live updates to a site. When doing a phased roll out of a site migration/launch Impact of 302 Redirects on PageRank There has long been debate amongst SEOs as to whether or not 302 redirects are effective in passing on PageRank. While this may not have always been true, John Muller (a Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google) recently announced that 3xx redirects do not lose page rank anymore. So which redirect is better? Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet and is a decision that should be made on a case-by-case basis. Before implementing redirects, exercise your best judgment. If you’re unsure, just remember to keep the end user in mind. If it makes sense for them, chances are it’s probably the right decision. Do you have more questions about how redirects can affect your SEO efforts? Contact the SEO team at Volume Nine - we're here to help! --- Including calls to action (CTAs) on your website and blog is essential in driving users down the funnel to a sale. An effective CTA (call to action) can vary from page to page and also from platform to platform. In this article, we’ll take a look at some great real-life call to action examples and note tips and tricks for maximizing these actions, as well as how you can use tools to test and pick winning CTAs. 1. Tesla covers all their bases with 4 CTA buttons Tesla gets right to the point and asks you to order your Tesla today with the “Order Yours” button, but also has three additional CTA buttons for you to make a choice. Remember, your audiences can be coming to your site wanting different experiences. Tesla knows this, and their landing page CTAs reflect this. 2. Canva makes it easy to sign up with an account you already have Canva makes it easy for people to complete the call to action by integrating with Facebook and Google. Almost everyone has a Facebook or Google account, and in the case that you don’t, you can still get an account with your email. One important tip to note, when marketing your product or service B2C, is to make sure to open up your sign-up form by allowing non-business email addresses or personal email addresses as well. 3. Optimizely entices you with a free 30-day trial Optimizely, a software that helps you optimize your website, offers a “Try it free” call to action, above the fold on their main landing page. Free is a powerful word in marketing, and one that you should use in your CTAs if you can! 4. Duolingo lets you get started before even signing up Duolingo is a unique example of great B2C marketing because their CTA hooks you on the product and then later asks you to create an account after you’ve tested it out. Using a “Get Started” CTA and really meaning it is something powerful and special. 5. Toptal knows it has exactly two types of audiences Toptal knows its audience is split into two diverse groups, so their call to action buttons reflect their target audiences as well. 6. Robinhood asks if you want to join the team at the end of their posts Talk about mixing it up. Robinhood doesn’t just ask you to like or tweet - they also ask you every post if you’re interested in joining the team. 7. HubSpot wants to you consume more content The HubSpot blog uses a few different call to action tactics on their blog. They use a large CTA banner to direct readers to other resources, as well as an in-article link near the end of the post to direct you to another blog post. 8. Facebook departs from their brand colors to make their CTA pop Sparingly using a color that doesn’t represent your brand can draw the eye to specific parts of the page. Facebook’s sign-up page illustrates how this can be done effectively without compromising the look and feel of your brand. 9. Wordstream stands out from the Facebook ad crowd with different copy on the CTA button Many Facebook ads use the same language in their call to action, such as “Learn more” or “Sign up. ” Mix it up if you want to stand out from the crowd, like Wordstream did with this Facebook ad. How do you know if your call to action is effective? An effective CTA will have a high conversion rate. You can track your conversation rates with a number of different tools such as Optimizely or Hubspot. With these tools, you can also test and measure how well different types of CTAs could perform using A/B variant testing. Looking for more help optimizing your website's CTAs? Reach out to our SEO team - we're here to help! --- One of the many debates within the SEO space is whether clickthrough rate, or CTR, affects search results. At first glance, the importance of CTR in SEO seems obvious. After all, CTR measures the number of people who click on a search result and search engines want to show people the most relevant results. Wouldn’t the most relevant search results be the ones people click on the most? However, the answer is not that simple, hence: the debate on the importance of CTR in SEO. Search Engine Algorithms Search engines like Google include hundreds of factors in their search algorithm to measure the relevance of pages on the internet. Google is not always clear on how much each of those factors matters for SEO. The importance of CTR on search engine performance is one of those factors that about which Google has been a bit vague. But there’s new data (qualitative and quantitative) that strongly suggests that Google does use CTR to determine page rankings. Paul Haahr, a Google Ranking Engineer said that one of the things Google does to determine the relevance of search results is to “look for changes in click patterns. ” Of course, ‘changes in click patterns’ don’t necessarily mean clickthrough rate, so let’s look at some numbers to paint a fuller picture. Larry Kim, the founder of WordStream, conducted the following experiment: The Hypothesis: CTR in SEO Efforts Affects Search Engine Results RankBrain—a machine-learning program that Google is rolling out—is used to measure pages with limited data. Presumably, the end goal is for Google to be less reliant on links and more focused on relevance. CTR is one of the best measures of both engagement and relevance, with some limitations. As such, many people suspect that RankBrain is using CTR as a critical measure for ranking pages. The Experiment Since Google (at the time of the experiment) is only using RankBrain for long-tail keywords, Larry Kim from MobileMonkey measured the effect of CTR on search engine result positions for long-tail keywords and head terms. By separating long-tail keywords and head terms, the experiment would isolate the effect of CTR on search engine results. The experiment also distinguished between paid and organic search. The Results By comparing click-through rates and organic search positions for 1000 keywords, Kim found that long-tail keywords ranked in position one on Google had an average CTR of 33 percent. Alternatively, the head terms he measured that were in the first position on Google had an average CTR of 17. 5 percent. The numbers are similarly spread as you go down the search results. Long-tail keywords in position two had a clickthrough rate of about 22 percent, whereas head terms in position two had a CTR of 13 percent. The spread between clickthrough rates appears to tighten, though, as you go further down the page from position six to ten. For paid searches, the results were similar, but the differences were a bit less pronounced. Interestingly, the spread in clickthrough rate was most pronounced on lower search positions. What does it mean for CTR in SEO? It seems highly likely that clickthrough rate is a key measure in Google’s ranking algorithm. Even if CTR is not directly responsible for higher search rankings, it’s indirectly responsible, because you’ll always rely on people clicking on your content to drive engagement, social shares, and brand awareness. Want to learn more about how CTR optimization will help your business's SEO efforts? Reach out to the SEO team at Volume Nine - we're here to help! --- When you hear the term “search engine optimization”, you may think of content optimized with keywords or page indexes. However, there is one often-overlooked factor that contributes to your site’s rankings - images. There are many parts of SEO image optimization that you should consider so that your images and related content show up on the first page of search results. Here is a breakdown of what high-level things you need to be aware of to start maximizing your image SEO! Fill out the alt text tags Alt text is used to describe images for accessibility reasons. Visually impaired users may not be able to see the images that you present on your pages, so including alt text tags for your images will allow them to understand your content even if they are unable to see it on the page. Additionally, search engines cannot scan all the images on the entire web and index them efficiently, although this may change in the future with advances in image recognition and machine learning. For now, including alt text for your images tells major search engines what is the in the content of your image files, so when people search via Google Image Search or Bing Image search, they can find your image. Compress your images and make sure file sizes are light Page speed and loading times are a major factor in SEO. Heavily loading pages with image content can negatively affect your page rankings, so providing images that are compressed, light and are the correct format and dimensions is imperative! To compress your images, we love the free tool TinyPNG. A full guide for image compression for page speed that includes everything from image responsiveness to file formats can be found in Google’s PageSpeed Insights guide. Use descriptive filenames File naming standards and conventions not only help you find your image files again quickly, but they can also help major search engines find image files. Use descriptive filenames that give the audience some information about the file. If they download your file, you don’t want it to autosave as download. jpg or images. jpg. Consider including product names, descriptive keywords, product numbers, or photographer names, depending on the type of image file. In your file names, also be sure to include dashes, not underscores (volume-nine-seo. png, not volume_nine_seo. png). Check out Google’s search console for more file naming tips. Speak the same language as search engines with structured data markup By far one of the most important things you can do for your pages and your image content is to utilize structured data markup. Structured data is like metadata for web pages. Essentially, it tells search engines about what is on the page by using a controlled set of terms outlined in the Schema. org vocabulary. You can include information about different categories of items so that your images show up higher in search engine results. Use the Schema. org Image Object and Image Vocabulary to describe your content. Use text in, around, and near images to provide context Don’t forget that good copy can also influence how findable your content is. Copy in, around, and near images also are a key factor in image indexing, so make sure this text is descriptive, rich, and high-quality. Google also recommends providing proper context for your image. Keep your pages light for fast loading Use design principles to help you convey the right ratio of images, video, text, and other elements on your page. Consider also that you may have an audience with a poor internet connection that cannot easily access your pages because of long load times. We’ve all had poor internet at some point, barely able to check email, let alone load an image-heavy page. We recommend including one featured image per blog post, as well as 2-3 relevant internal images. Use the right file format for the job What about the image structure itself? Are there things you can do to make sure you are using the right type of image in the right context? Absolutely. One of the most valuable tools I’ve found is the Google image decision tree, below: SEO stretches beyond your site backend and content optimization.... --- In an increasingly cluttered web, your content is competing for your reader’s attention. If your content can effectively grab readers’ attention, your message stands a much better chance of reaching its target. When you only have a few seconds to capture people’s attention, a colorful, bold infographic is much more likely to catch their eye than a blog of text. Despite the many advantages, infographic creation can quickly go awry. Fortunately, armed with a few key design principles and some online tools for building infographics, you’ll have no problem harnessing the power of this awesome form of content. Infographic Design Tools The ‘graphic’ part of infographic design may immediately conjure frightening images of intricate graphic design programs. Fortunately, those days have passed. Web applications like PiktoChart and Canva were designed specifically for those of us who aren’t well-versed in complicated design programs. What’s more, both applications offer free versions, so you can start designing infographics with nothing more than an email address. Do note that the free version of Piktochart places a watermark on all infographics you create. The Principles of Infographic Design Armed with one of these graphic design applications, we’re ready to start creating infographics. But even with these tools, you’ll still need to keep certain considerations in mind to prevent your infographic from flopping. 1. Write a great headline Just like a good blog post or article, an infographic needs a good title to grab the reader’s attention. Don’t tell the reader everything in the headlines—just enough to get them to want to read more. 2. Create a logical flow The big advantage of an infographic is that it logically presents a flow of ideas and data in a visual format. That is, of course, when it’s done right. It may help to come up with an outline of the ideas you want to express first and then designing the infographic second, so your argument flows visually and logically. 3. Focus your content Because infographics give you the power to distill complex information, it may be tempting to overload your infographic with information. However, if there is too much going on, you’ll quickly lose readers as they struggle to navigate your infographic. Highlight your main argument and stay focused on supporting that argument with relevant facts and statistics. 4. Target your audience You should choose design elements that will resonate with your specific audience. For example, if you’re creating content for an oil painting course, you might design an infographic with a canvas or graphics reminiscent of oil paintings as your background. Simple graphic details can promote a feeling of familiarity and attract your readers. 5. Pay attention to length and size Just as you should maintain focus, so should you maintain a manageable size for your infographic. Using visual elements does not make your infographic immune to information overload. Keeping your infographic short and concise will improve reader engagement and promote social shares. 6. Balance text and graphics There are two parts to an infographic, and they’re right there in the name for you: “info” and “graphic. ” As such, you should take great care to tell your story with both text and graphics. Text should be relatively short, just enough to list relevant facts or to draw the reader’s eye to the main point. Similarly, graphics should always remain pertinent and straightforward. Don’t be afraid of white space as it is vital for good design. Above all, make sure to keep your main point in mind, and don’t get too mired in design details that you lose your purpose. All text and graphics should solidly contribute to your argument. With these tips, you’ll find designing your own infographic to be straightforward and even fun. Want to know more about how infographics can communicate your message and promote your brand? Our team of content experts is standing by to answer your questions! --- Maybe you’re a social media specialist in desperate need of reinforcement. You’ve answered, “What’s the value of social media for our company? ” one too many times – this week. Or maybe you’re a CMO or the VP of Marketing struggling to understand the real value of social media marketing. You fall short on how social media marketing attributes to the bottom line. Regardless of your position or your brand, everyone reading this has one big thing in common: Your customers will go through a journey to reach a conversion. The customer buying journey is why it’s important to view social media from a user-focused lens, because that’s what the social media landscape is made of – people. These people - some of which are your target audience - are the main reason why you should be leveraging social media in an effective way for your brand. Here are the six benefits of social media marketing. Benefit #1 – Brand Awareness The customer journey starts with brand awareness. Once consumers know your brand exists, they can begin the journey down the funnel to purchase. Until that moment, your company doesn’t exist in a consumer’s world. Social media is a fantastic place to build awareness, because of the number of users and the bang for your advertising buck (CPMs are typically lower than traditional advertising). Unlike traditional marketing like commercials and billboards, you get to decide who specifically sees your brand and get exact metrics on just how many of those people you reached. Most social media platforms allow you to build audiences of specific demographics, interests, and behaviors - and Facebook & Instagram even let you add people that are not already familiar with your brand. Creating content for these audiences & then putting some dollars behind that content to get it in front of these folks is one of (if not the most) effective way to get the first brand touchpoint your business needs. Pro tip: Your brand doesn’t need to be on every social media platform. If you’re building your brand from ground zero, focus on the social media platforms that your target audience are most likely using. If you don’t know which platforms your target audience is using, Sprout Social has a demographic breakdown of popular social media sites. Benefit #2– Brand Authenticity & Credibility What says ‘spam’ louder than an email subject line that starts with “100% free... ”? A business or brand with zero social media presence. No matter your company or product, you can be sure that people are searching for your brand or engaging in conversations about your industry on social media. Use your brand's Social Media channels to establish credibility, trust, and provide a space for users to learn more about your brand. Think of them as an extension of your website. Not sure what to post about? Check out our Lifestyle Digital Marketing Guide that focuses on how to build content that speaks to your tribe. Benefit #3 – 24/7 Opportunity for Engagement You can’t click on a billboard or have a conversation with a magazine ad. Well, you can, but people might start looking at you funny. Social Media platforms provide a space where your customers can connect and converse with you (and other customers) whenever is convenient for them. In our new 2020 virtual world, managing, engaging, and monitoring these conversations have become more important than ever. Connecting and building relationships with your customers online is expected out of users nowadays. Use our Social Media Engagement Checklist to nail down the best way to go about this and make your strategy as effective as possible. Benefit #4 – Creepin’ Just Got Easier Social media platforms provide access to a lot of user data. Facebook, for example, provides insightful data about your audience, including the ability to compare how your followers’ demographics or behaviors measure up to all Facebook users. Using Audience Insights to dive into Volume Nine’s Facebook followers, we see that they’re more likely to like a page, comment, react to a post or click on an ad, than the average Facebook user. For more details about Facebook Audience Insights, visit Facebook's blog. Benefit #5 – Inbound Traffic... --- Among Internet marketers, a hotly debated topic is whether you should use a subdirectory or a subdomain for your blog. Though search engines have not provided a definitive answer, Google has hinted that their algorithm shows no preference between the two methods. However, evidence has repeatedly shown that subdirectories work better for SEO purposes. Here’s why: What are subdomains and subdirectories? URL Structures: A blog hosted on a subdirectory would have a URL such as v9seo. staging. wpengine. com/blog. Conversely, a blog on a subdomain would appear with a URL such as blog. v9digital. com. Site Structure: With a blog hosted on a subdomain, you’ve created an entirely new site for your blog. But when the blog is hosted on a subdirectory, the blog lives on a page within your main site. Why is using a blog subdirectory better for SEO? As I mentioned, with a subdomain (blog. v9digital. com), you’ve created an entirely new site. With a completely new site, you’re increasing your workload as far as SEO is concerned because your efforts are less focused. Let’s say you’re a plumbing contractor and you want to drive organic traffic to your contact page. You start a blog to help drive organic traffic. If you’re using a subdomain for your blog, the authority you build on your blog exists separately from the site where your contact page lives. Conversely, a blog hosted on a subdirectory is treated as a page on your site. Thus, a well-received blog post lends authority (in search engines’ eyes) to an internally linked contact page. And the exchange of authority works both ways, thus a more focused SEO approach. What does the data say? Google claims it has no preference, but the data tells a different story. Several companies have found greater success with subdirectories than with subdomains. Moz, a company that provides SEO tools, found that their guide for SEO beginners performed much better when they moved it from a subdomain to a subdirectory. On the other hand, Iwantmyname. com experienced a significant dip in traffic after moving their blog from a subdirectory to a subdomain. Several others companies have seen better search performance and site traffic related to using a subdirectory rather than a subdomain. Not convinced that you should use a subdirectory instead of a subdomain? Set up a time to talk about search engine optimized site structure with the team at Volume Nine! --- If you’re marketing on Facebook, you probably have an idea just how powerful social media has become for e-commerce. In fact, according to Forbes and Fortune, social media - particularly Facebook - is now vying with search engines for the largest share of referral traffic on the web. Understanding and implementing the Facebook Pixel should rise to the top of your to-do list. What is the Facebook Pixel? The Facebook Pixel is an analytics tool that gives you better insight into the behavior of users who have reached your website through paid or organic advertising on Facebook. If you’ve used Google Analytics, the Pixel is similar in that it’s implemented by inserting a tag into the head of each of your website’s pages. Without any additional configuration, the Facebook Pixel gives you the ability to track several different types of actions that users take on your website. The Pixel tracks nine “standard events”: View content: key page views Search: searches made by users on your website Add to cart: when items are added to a user’s shopping cart Add to wishlist: when items are added to a wishlist Initiate checkout: when people enter the checkout Add payment info: when payment info is added during the checkout process Make purchase: when the purchase process is completed Lead: when someone submits a form, signs up, lands on a pricing page, etc. Complete Registration: when a registration form is completed You can take events a step further by either creating custom events or adding parameters to standard events. Custom events give you the flexibility to create specific, tailored events for your website. With custom events, you don’t get all the features that standard events provide. For users who aren’t afraid of a little code, Facebook recommends setting up standard events with additional parameters. Why Should You Use the Facebook Pixel? Here at Volume Nine, anytime we do something—whether it’s social media, SEO, or content marketing, we make it a priority to find ways to do it better. And that’s what the Facebook Pixel is all about—it helps you find methods to perfect your Facebook marketing using data taken from your target customers. Better targeting for more cost-efficiency By setting up the Pixel, you can find new, better customers. How you do this varies by your specific business needs. You may want to target customers who have visited your products page or subscribed to a list. Either way, by creating “Lookalike Audiences,” you take control of who sees your ads and avoid spending your budget targeting people who aren’t interested in your product. Observe user engagement for conversion insights One of the pillars of marketing success is optimization, and nothing is more important to optimize than conversions—the actions that put money in your pocket. The Pixel recognizes that by letting you track the entire conversion process and make improvements based on user behavior during the process. To get the most out of the Facebook Pixel, familiarize yourself with Facebook’s implementation guide, or you could enlist the help of the social media experts at Volume Nine. Get in contact with our social team today! --- You’ve likely seen the words “content marketing” on marketing blogs as something you should be doing to boost your business. While it's true that content marketing can have powerful effects on your business, let’s start with the basics. What is content marketing exactly, and how can it help your company? What is content marketing? If you ask Google to define content marketing, it will tell you that, “content marketing involves the creation and sharing of online material that does not explicitly promote a brand but is intended to stimulate interest in its products or services. ” While all that is true, Google’s definition doesn’t quite give you the full picture on content marketing. The Volume Nine definition reads a bit more like this: “content marketing is the creation and sharing of online content meant to solve problems for and build trust with a defined audience, driving sales, lowering marketing costs, and increasing brand recognition. ” Content marketing encompasses all written, visual, video, and audio content that you put online to represent your brand. Content can refer to blog posts, evergreen content, infographics, testimonial videos, audio guides, quizzes - the list goes on. Why is content marketing so vital to your digital marketing strategy? The answer has many facets, as the beneficial effects of good content marketing can be seen in almost every area of a digital marketing strategy. From SEO and analytics to paid advertising and user experience, content marketing informs and improves your overall digital strategy. SEO: Search engines reward sites that produce consistently valuable content for their Users. Frequently creating high-quality content for your company’s site will help search engines to recognize your site as an authority, increasing your site’s ranking. Be sure that all content you create is optimized to maximize SEO impact. Paid Advertising: By keeping a close eye on how your content is received, and by whom, you gain valuable (and free) insight into how to implement new strategies in paid advertising. Analytics: With the litany of tools available to track the success of your content, you can make informed decisions on what kind of content you can create in the future to continue to attract organic traffic to your site. User Experience: Content marketing keeps you focused on what your users care about. Tailoring your company’s messaging to your users will help your customers develop loyalty with your brand and view you as a thought leader in your industry. How does content marketing drive sales and brand recognition? By providing content that people want to share, you share your brand in one of the most valuable ways possible. Instead of slamming prospects with messages they never chose to receive, your message is being delivered by a friend or a trusted brand. Content marketing drives sales by taking advantage of everyone’s natural tendency to prefer buying products and services from someone they trust. It shows consumers—without appearing too salesy—new products and services to solve their problems, while also providing them with valuable information about their query. Additionally, by creating valuable informational blog posts that align with your brand, you’ll be driving organic traffic to your blog, thus increasing the number of users that come to your site, brand recognition and, ultimately, sales. In essence, content marketing is a new way of marketing that better aligns the goal of the customer with the goal of the business. If you’re wondering if you should include content marketing as part of your digital marketing strategy, the answer is a resounding “yes”, no matter your business or industry. Still have questions about content marketing? We understand—it’s a lot to take in. Set up a time to talk about content marketing strategies with the team at Volume Nine! --- By now, you've heard that you should be blogging - not only does high-quality content boost organic traffic to your site, but it also helps to reduce your bounce rate and can be an effective way to drive users down the funnel. Unfortunately, you likely won't see these results from tossing up a short blog whenever you think of it. Proper content strategy and optimization can have powerful effects on your business. However, it's easy to become overwhelmed when figuring out how to write content that will be ranked highly in Google and attract users to your blog. So, how to you optimize your content? Content optimization doesn't have to be a mystery - in fact, there are a few easy things you can do that will help boost your blog in the SERPs. We've put together your essential Content Optimization Checklist. Before publishing your blog post, make sure that you've checked off every item on the list, and you'll be well on your way to great, optimized blog content! Content Optimization Checklist Simple things like a good page title, meta description, or call to action on a page can make huge differences in optimizing content. Use these tried and true best practices for every blog post, evergreen page, or other content you are posting on your site. Downloadable Content Optimization Checklist Want a copy of the V9 Content Optimization Checklist? Click here to download a PDF version (993 KB) --- Learning how to find keywords that will drive relevant traffic may seem intimidating at first blush. It’s a topic heavy with jargon and vague terms. What are SERPs, anyway? What exactly does “low,” “medium,” and “high” competition mean? And how are you supposed to work these keywords in without degrading the quality of your content? By the end of this post, you’ll know the basics of keyword research and you’ll gain precious insight into how to find powerful keywords for your blog. Keyword Planning SEMRush and Google Analytics are the gold standards as far as keyword research tools go. You can use them to gain insights about keywords - specifically, search volume and competition. Search Volume—defined in terms of estimated monthly traffic. This gives you an idea of how many people are searching using the specified keyword. Competition—defined on a scale of low to high (Google) or from 0 to 1 (SEMRush, with 1 representing high competition). This gives you a general idea of how difficult it will be to rank for the specified keyword. NOTE: "Competition" should be treated as a guideline more than a rule. It’s easiest to get a feel for the competition you’re facing by looking at the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). By looking at the websites you’ll be competing with for the keyword, you’ll get a better idea of what is meant by “competition. ” Long-Tail Keywords vs. Head Terms The two main categories you can break keywords into are long-tail and head terms. Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific keywords. Head terms are more generic, shorter keywords. Example Head Term: “laptop charger” Long-tail keyword: “replacement laptop charger for MacinSoft 2000X” While long-tail keywords don’t get as much search volume, they do allow you to target your content better to drive more relevant traffic. This leads to better conversion rates because searchers who have a specific search query are more likely to be close to buying. Additionally, for businesses that are just starting to blog, long-tail keywords are a great way to get quick wins in SERPs. The cumulative effect of ranking for several long-tail keywords builds authority so you can start targeting more competitive head terms in your evergreen content. Incorporating Keywords into Blog Posts Search engine algorithms have gotten smart, so stuffing keywords into your post in a nonsensical way will do nothing but harm. The best way to incorporate keywords naturally is to ensure that your keyword is highly relevant to your topic, and to plan out your topic and keywords together before writing the post. You’ll know you’re doing it right when it’s impossible to write about your chosen topic without using the keyword you’re targeting. Also, take care to include the keyword in all the relevant places—titles, h2 tags, meta descriptions, and alt text. Make sure your keyword is also included in your first paragraph and used two other times throughout your article. Yoast is a great plugin for WordPress that provides a real-time checklist for proper keyword placement. No matter your business, knowing how to find keywords will give you a huge leg up on the competition. The right keywords are essential to a robust blogging strategy. Have more questions about finding powerful keywords? Set up a time to talk with the content team at Volume Nine! --- Toward the end of April, Google quietly rolled out some updates to YouTube’s user interface. On top of introducing hover-over previews on video thumbnails, another feature that is quickly gaining popularity is the ‘Featured Snippet’ functionality. What is Youtube's Suggested Clip? Suggested clips are a new feature in search results pages that highlight specific parts of an embedded video that directly answer a user’s query. Think of it as a user-friendly way to bypass the boring parts of a “how to” video and get to the part that answers your question. No more skipping around through tutorials to find the information you need! For organic marketers, having your content show up as a featured snippet could have a significant impact on CTR’s, as these results tend to dominate a lot of real estate in SERPs. The example below took up most of the visible area above the fold: How Do You Get Content To Be A ‘Featured Snippet? ” At the time of writing, data on this update has been hard to come by, and it is still unclear what factors exactly determine how suggested clips are chosen. The following are our observations: Video Quality There seems to be little to no correlation between video picture quality and instances of suggested clips being displayed in SERPs. Of the results we were able to replicate, almost all of them were high-quality videos. However, some seemed to have non-professional production quality and were still featured as suggested clips. All of the videos tested, however, did have high-quality audio that was clear and easy to understand – this may be a hat tip to Google’s confidence in the auto-transcription. Closed Captioning and Transcription All of the videos that displayed suggested clips had closed captioning and transcriptions enabled. Number of Views It seems that most of the videos that feature suggested clips had a high number of views. Of the content we tested, all had 500,000+ views. However, there are instances of videos being featured that have a lower number of views than related videos, so using view count as a determining factor remains inconclusive. Keyword Targeting Of the results we could replicate, the inclusion of keywords within the suggested clip timeline seemed to have no impact on whether or not a video was selected. The below example does not mention keywords once within the suggested clip timeframe. Inclusion of ‘YouTube’ in the Search Query Including question- or “how to”-based queries doesn’t seem to be a guarantee that video content would be selected as a suggested clip. However, the inclusion of the keyword “youtube” almost always defaulted in Google returning a suggested clip. See the example below: What Does This Mean? Overall, ranking factors for determining suggested clips remain inconclusive. It is also unclear if this is a permanent addition to search results, as Google has not yet released any information about its implementation. If nothing else, this is another great example of the importance of optimizing for user intent rather than for search algorithms. The inclusion of suggested clips only further reinforces Google’s “User First” attitude of content creation and the growing interest around “how to” based content. Do you have any examples or insights about suggested clips? Share them below or get in touch and let us know! --- Do you prioritize the importance of creating and implementing a strategy for your online business reviews? If so, you’re probably a big believer in the impact that reviews have on you business goal to win new customers... just like us over here at Volume Nine. So even if you aren’t paying attention to reviews about your business, you can almost guarantee that your customers are! Why Do Online Reviews Matter? Why Are They So Important To My Business? We often associate ‘Local’ business to online reviews, but most companies with products and services and an online presence receive reviews as well. Online product and service reviews have become a critical aspect of digital marketing for almost all businesses. Star ratings and reviews provide the social proof that consumers are looking for to help them make decisions confidently and efficiently. Who Cares? Google Cares. There is a persuasive correlation between positive star ratings on Google Reviews and increased rankings as well as higher click-through rates (which also support ranking increases). Industry experts consider reviews to be one of the top 5 Google ranking factors, probably because Google realizes these are seriously significant to consumers. And Google really cares about the users! Who Cares? Consumers Care. There is an abundance of research showing how potential customers read and respect online reviews. This research consistently proves that reviews are incredibly valuable to potential customers and that reviews are increasing in importance. Just take a look at these numbers from various consumer surveys... Star ratings are the #1 consumer factor for judging a business. I repeat, #1! 92% of consumers read reviews online, and more than 88% of online shoppers consider these reviews before even making their purchase 80% of people trust reviews as much as personal recommendations 50%+ of 18 to 34 year olds trust online reviews more than the opinions of family or friends (ouch! ) 54% of people will visit the business’s website after reading positive reviews Only 5% do not consider customer reviews (vs 11% in 2015) 90% are influenced by positive online reviews and 86% were influenced by negative reviews Show Me the Money! The stats above make an obvious point... qualifying the value of consumer reviews must be taken into consideration as they affect organic traffic AND influence potential customer opinions and purchasing behavior. Basically, they cannot be avoided – those stars are like a beacon light in search engine results. We all have to come to grips with the fact that online users place a tremendous value in other people’s opinions – it’s the new “word-of-mouth” marketing. More importantly to you, the way your business products and services are talked about online really does impact your bottom line. Generating Positive Reviews Generating positive online reviews is one of the most important tasks you can do for your business or brand. Your target audience is going to do their homework so it’s wise for marketers to give what they are reading a respectful amount of attention. Do it for your brand AND your potential customers. A Proactive Plan to Gain Happy Customer Reviews A rock-solid online reputation is an enormous accomplishment. Visitors that have come to your site through a positive review arrive suitably preconditioned for a subsequent purchase, taking a bulk of the effort off of your team to “convert” them. Inspiring consumer trust in your business by encouraging a continual stream of consumer reviews is worth the time and effort. This isn’t something that should be done in a mad rush! You want to acquire reviews over months and years to build an exceptional, believable online reputation. Here are some ideas for implementing a review acquisition strategy to boost your reputation: 1. Don’t be afraid to ask happy customers and partners to leave public feedback about your product or services at purchase completion – in person, over the phone, or by email. 2. Create an incredibly easy path for them to write the review. Add review badges or widgets to your website with links to your review-site profiles. Use badges provided by the review site as they are considered third-party “trust” symbols by search engines. Put links to leave reviews in your email signature Include the... --- Titles can make or break your blog's success. Nowadays, internet users have a shorter attention span than a goldfish, so you have to get them hooked immediately with a great blog title that will catch their interest. Your title not only needs to captivate readers, but it also needs to be optimized for SEO and give readers an idea of the content. With all these factors, writing the perfect blog title may seem like a daunting task. To help you out, we’ve compiled five useful tips for creating a title that will stand out and perform well: Use Focus Keywords The title should include a relevant keyword that people will be searching for in Google. Learn about your customers by using keyword research tools like Moz's Keyword Research Tool, SEMRush, BuzzSumo, or KeywordTool. If the blog is in a fiercely competitive niche, long tail keywords are your best bet. However, be sure that your focus keyword is integrated naturally into your title. Search engines are important, but you are writing for humans. Be subtle when using keywords to ensure readability. Give It An Enticing Twist A title captures attention if it contains something fresh or unexpected. Find out what tone appeals to your target readers, and play with word choice, rhyming, and word order. If the topic allows it, you can go for witty word play. When it doesn't, include words that trigger emotions and convert, such as 'quick', 'new', or 'amazing'. Make sure you don't go overboard to captivate attention - a title that tries too hard to be clever or unexpected may drive readers away. Conduct a Title Test Though they convey the same message, variations of the title can have different results. It's important to test and see what works best. A simple method to do that is to change the title and use the different versions on social media channels and the blog. Discover what type of title converts best across platforms, and use that as the final title for your post. There are also tools that can do these A/B tests for you. The Optimizely A/B testing plugin for Wordpress helps you analyze the difference in headline performance. Title Experiments is a free option that provides you with stats on two or more test titles. Include Numbers in Title Numbers boost the CTR by adding predictability. Readers know what to expect in the article, and the title implies they will find specific details on the topic. When using numbers in your headline, stick to digits instead of spelled-out numbers as they stand out more to people who are skimming headlines. Ask Questions Questions engage readers and make them curious to know more. Make it relevant and connected to the content without giving it all away. Using questions in your title is a great way to harness long-tail keywords, as many Google searches are people asking questions about a certain topic. Using questions in your title is even more effective if you address directly using words like 'you' or 'your'. Keep in mind that the post is all about your readers and their interests. A great blog title is beneficial for SEO and maximizes your engagement, while a dull one can make your blog go unnoticed. Need help with your blog? Contact our content marketing specialists - we’re here to answer any questions you may have! --- There are a ton of buzz-worthy terms in digital marketing, but none are as important to your digital (and overall) marketing strategy as blogging. Blogging is a cornerstone of the foundation for content marketing, social media, earned media, and search optimization. If your company can pull off a great, keyword-rich blog, it’ll provide a long-term and sustainable ROAS. People are searching the Internet in new ways, and anyone can throw some money at targeted ad buys, but agencies with data and content-driven marketing strategies are the ones poised to win. Blogging is good for SEO, and it all starts with earning organic traffic. 1. Increase Site Relevancy One of the most important search criteria for gaining Google’s trust is your domain’s relevancy. The more inbound links you have from reputable domains, the higher you’re likely to rank in Google’s SERPs because you’ll be seen as a relevant resource. However, gaining these backlinks can prove difficult, especially for ecommerce or branded sites that don’t have a blog. A consistently updated blog (even if it’s only one or two posts a month while ramping up) is your opportunity to fill pages within your domain with insightful and useful information that may eventually gain backlinks. This is typically a long-term play, but there is a way to improve your chances. Use a mix of evergreen and topical content that’s likely to be relevant in your industry. For example: if you run an air conditioning repair company, evergreen content like infographics of statistics for electricity, sustainability, and appliances, along with topical content about new product releases and industry trends, go a long way in building your domain’s reputation. This is true with both Google and Internet researchers combing for statistics for their own blogs. 2. Build Reputable Backlinks Using your blog as a portfolio, your next step is to guest post as a thought leader across blogs, websites, and media sites to gain backlinks through earned media. Gaining a guest post or even a column in mainstream media outlets like Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, and the Wall Street Journal can really boost your site’s SEO rankings. However, this can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. So a shortcut is to register for HelpaReporter. com as a source. This service signs you up for an email list of topics currently being researched by journalists around the globe. If you participate as a source for these articles, you’ll gain a mention in the article, often with a link back to your website. Both will ultimately help your SEO efforts, although a backlink is especially helpful in raising your domain authority. Having your name and company endorsed by the editors of a prestigious publication gives your words more value, exposes you to more platforms, and draws in more qualified leads over the long term. Keep reaching out to any sites with authority in your industry to gain a reputation that extends beyond search engines (although it helps there too). 3. Raise Long-Tail Keyword Ranking To build a great blog, you’ll need to divide everything into categories and tags. Categories should be broad and related to your industry. An eBay marketing platform would want blogs related to eBay’s sales categories, sellers tips, etc. , whereas a commercial construction company would want categories for each industry it serves. Within these categories, you’ll need to research long-tail keywords. This will help you to figure out what information users are searching for in regards to your target categories. These long-tail keywords will become the basis of each blog article posted in each category. Start with the highest value search terms using Google AdWords Keyword Finder and SEMRush, and brainstorm 10-20 topics to figure out what articles to write. Search the selected topics/terms (e. g. typing them into the Google search bar) to see what’s already ranking on page one. This will ultimately help you create better content and give you insight into what your competition is posting. 4. Add User-Generated Content By writing insightful, meaningful, and useful blog content, you’ll naturally build organic traffic to your domain. Readers will eventually start commenting, and as more traffic flows, a handful of your blog articles may become discussion pages for... --- Before 2014, when you logged into Google Analytics, you were given the category names “visits” & “unique visitors” to describe the website traffic you were receiving, which made sense. Then Google decided to quietly change that terminology to “sessions” and “users” which really makes a lot less sense unless you take the time to understand GA (sigh). The Gist of What Users Vs. Sessions in Google Analytics Means: Users = “Unique visitors”, or a person who has come to your website. Sessions = “Visits”, or different times that person came to your site. Here’s a simple way to remember: Think of your website like a restaurant. One person (user) can visit and leave a restaurant multiple times in one day. Each time they visit, do stuff, and leave is a session. For Example: In our office, people love Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Let’s say Brian walks to Krispy Kreme tomorrow morning for a dozen doughnuts, then later in the day goes to get another dozen doughnuts for Jeremy (he really likes doughnuts). That would be 1 User and 2 sessions that day. Sessions should always be the same number or higher than users. --- Here at Volume Nine, we try out best to live healthily (though we all enjoy the occasional pizza lunch). So when Vitamin World - wellness and nutritional supplement company - approached us to boost their website traffic through social media content amplification, we jumped at the opportunity. The Goals The three goals that aligned with the customer journey were: Increase traffic and visits to their blog, measured by website sessions to the blog from social media blog amplification campaigns. Boost brand credibility and authority, measured by shares and engagement with content from social media blog amplification campaigns. Reach new relevant audiences and get them familiar with the brand, measured by new users to the website and the reach/impression of audiences not connected to Vitamin World. The Strategy With a thriving industry and a fun brand, we knew we could strike marketing gold if the message got in front of the right people. So we relied on Facebook’s robust targeting capabilities to create our successful campaign. Our core strategies were: Create and target custom audiences on Facebook and Instagram To craft highly targeted audiences to drive engagement, we used data from several sources: Blog Categories - We created segment audiences using interests, behaviors, and demographics based on Vitamin World's blog categories and topics. Behavior on the website - We examined user behavior on the website, including visits to certain product/category pages, cart abandonments, and previous purchases, to segment the audience. Competitor audience - Another audience included users that were not already connected to Vitamin World, but they interacted with competitors and were qualified, potential new customers. Existing customers - The final segment audiences came from Vitamin World's existing customer e-mail lists. Craft blog ad sets for Facebook and Instagram Below are examples of the different formats for the amplified content/ads that showed up in users' Facebook and Instagram newsfeeds. Each was promoted to different custom audiences we created that were relevant to the content & objective of that blog. We used different copy and messaging in each ad to speak to the desires of the targeted audience. The Results Goal #1) Increase traffic and visits to the blog Goal #2) Boost brand credibility and authority Goal #3) Reach new relevant audiences and familiarize them with the brand Bonus results Built the audience at the top of the funnel by bringing new users to the site and tracking their actions using the Facebook Pixel. Brought users to the middle of the funnel with content that established Vitamin World as a trustworthy source of information in the industry. 606 users initiated checkout on the website after clicking through one of the blog post ads. 102 users used the 'Store Locator' on the website after clicking through one of the blog post ads. 40 users made a purchase on the website after clicking through one of the blog post ads. Looking for natural supplements to boost your health? Visit Vitamin World today to shop their range of vitamins, supplements, proteins, and more. --- Unlike e-commerce sites that rely on hard and fast revenue numbers, B2B websites pose a challenge when trying to determine how to measure and track positive user behavior. B2B sites tend to have longer sales cycles than their e-commerce counterparts and the final sale may require many touches or micro conversions over a long-time period before you get a prospect to request a quote. An analytics measurement plan can help you identify and build in conversion tracking for these micro conversions in Google Analytics. This gives you a better understanding of the critical touch points in a long sales cycle and how your B2B digital marketing tactics work together to drive the final sale. What is a Measurement Plan? Measurement plans were first championed by Avinash Kaushik, to help companies determine if their online marketing efforts are successful. According to Kaushik, “The root cause of failure in most digital marketing campaigns is not the lack of creativity in the banner ad or TV spot or the sexiness of the website. It is not even (often) the people involved. It is quite simply the lack of structured thinking about what the real purpose of the campaign is and a lack of an objective set of measures with which to identify success or failure. ” He created the concept of a measurement plan to get internal business stakeholders to agree on the basic goals and objectives of their business and then develop relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure whether online marketing activities are positively impacting these objectives. The measurement planning process also forces organizations to set KPI targets and think about the different segments they need to look at to effectively measure marketing performance. Segments can range from different marketing channels, user types, or geographic regions and need to be built into reporting to effectively measure performance. Why Create a Measurement Plan for a B2B Business? B2C sites that sell products online can implement the e-commerce functionality in Google Analytics and get virtually all of the information they need to determine which channels and products are driving revenue. B2B sites have a much more difficult time tracking conversions. The final contact point is usually a lead form, which is easy enough to capture in Google Analytics. However, it is the micro conversions like white paper and product spec sheet downloads, video plays, tradeshow and newsletter signups that generally drive the final request for quote. A measurement plan can help you identify all these critical touch points so you can build them into your analytics tracking. How to Create Your Measurement Plan Process is important, but the key to success is getting your boss/client/partner to participate in the creation of the measurement plan. Instead of creating a plan and sending it to the decision maker, explain the measurement planning process and show them real-time results with other domains. After the first draft, we work together to come up with the final version. At the end of the day, this helps them connect with the project which leads to better buy in and a feeling of ownership of the analytics project. Use the following steps for creating a measurement plan and be patient. It often takes several drafts and requires patient persistence. Step One: Define Define the business objectives of your company or online business. These are high-level aims like increase sales, generate leads, or build your brand. It makes sense to distill down why your business exists in order to hash these out. For our examples below, we used Generate Sales Leads Education and Awareness Build Brand Step Two: Strategize Click to enlarge This is where you identify the business goals or strategies you will use to meet your business objectives. If you want to increase revenue, then a corresponding objective would be to generate more sales leads. If you’re your business objective is to build your brand, then the best way to achieve this might be to increase the number of monthly visits. Step Three: Tracking Capabilities Click to enlarge This step is where the magic happens. It allows you to start thinking about how you will measure goals and objectives in analytics. What is possible to track? What is the... --- For everyday users, the thought of internet security usually brings up images of guarded underground server farms, nefarious hackers in a basement pounding Funyuns and Code Red, or eccentric shut-ins in foil hats. But the reality of online security is far less theatrical. Recent legislative changes to the FCC’s Rules to Protect Broadband Consumer Privacy have dramatically increased search interest around VPNs for users concerned with their online security. This recent shift as a means of digital privacy has some digital marketers on edge. Source: Google Trends For those not in the know, a VPN (or Virtual Private Network) is a secure connection that allows a user to access private or confidential data via public networks. A VPN (or Virtual Private Network) is a secure connection that allows a user to access private or confidential data via public networks. Up until recently, they have traditionally been used by large corporations, students, and employees working abroad, world travelers, and digital security enthusiasts to protect sensitive data while browsing. How Can VPN’s Affect SEO? So how does all this affect SEO’s? Spoiler alert – the impact may not be as great as you think. However, there are several aspects of your strategy that could become problematic with widespread use of private browsing. VPN’s Impact on Google Analytics How big of an impact can large numbers of users browsing via VPN have on analytics tracking? The answer is probably not a whole lot. Google Analytics data collection is still cookie-based. VPN’s are secure - NOT anonymous and there is a distinct different between the two. Secure browsing via VPN still uses and stores visitor data via cookies, so it’s still pretty much business as usual. Users still utilize standard browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or MS Edge *throws up in mouth* and are taking advantage of an encrypted and private path to get to the data they are looking for. The only variable that can change is the location of the server they are accessing data from (more on this to come shortly) due to VPN’s rerouting of the user IP address. Anonymous browsing is different (and difficult to achieve. ) To help increase your anonymity online, users have to download and use 3rd party software such as TOR, I2P, or Freenet that essentially creates an incremental chain of multiple, fully encrypted connections. Each connection is only able to see the connection directly behind and in front of it. Sound confusing? It is. Think of it as the telephone game but with a blindfold on and no one is in the same room As mentioned previously, VPN’s frequently reroute the pathway of data. This means that if the VPN places a user in a different country, the Geolocation reporting in GA would be reporting false data. This can also become problematic when creating IP filtering, as it increases the number of potential IPs that need to be added to the filter. VPN’s and Local SEO Given this insight, VPN’s can impact Local SEO and “Near Me” search accuracy due to how the user’s IP is routed. For instance, if a user is located in New York and their VPN places them in Flagstaff, AZ, any “near me” searches will return results based on the server location in Flagstaff. At scale, this can become problematic for smaller, local businesses and businesses with multiple brick and mortar locations who rely on local searches and SERP visibility via the Local Pack. VPN’s and Site Speed Another issue for VPN users is slower site speeds due to increased encryption efforts and less direct routes for data transfer. Google has not been shy about informing SEO’s that site speed is an important ranking factor. Depending on how a user’s VPN is configured, this increased page load times can lead to higher bounce and exit rates. What’s the Big Deal? Contrary to what some may lead you to believe, the big deal about the increased popularity of VPN’s is that, well, it isn’t a big deal. Even at scale, impact on SEO and analytics tracking will be minimal. While they may impact site speed and geolocation tracking and reporting for some users, they are still the best way... --- The Need ShopAtHome, an online shopping solution that connects digital shoppers with deals and cash back offers, wanted to improve their social media strategy—specifically on Facebook. Their goal was to organically increase brand awareness and audience engagement while using the occasional paid ads or boosted posts to complement organic performance. The focus was on growing Facebook organic reach and improving overall engagement metrics across their Facebook page without relying too heavily on paid reach. The Strategy Our social media marketing approach was simple yet effective: Review Their Previous Facebook Content Strategy Understand the Target Audience and Industry Implement Best Practices and Our Research Findings This structured content strategy aimed to refine performance metrics, improve Facebook reach, and generate more meaningful interactions between ShopAtHome and their followers. How Reviewing ShopAtHome’s Previous Facebook Content Strategy Revealed Key Areas for Improvement The first step toward growth was identifying weaknesses in ShopAtHome’s previous Facebook content approach. By analyzing their posting style, engagement, and reach, we could determine exactly where performance fell short and where optimization would deliver the highest impact. How Posting Style Affected Organic Facebook Performance ShopAtHome’s organic posts mainly promoted sales, deals, and brand offers—making their feed very brand-centric. While relevant, these posts lacked variety and didn’t take advantage of Facebook’s preferred content formats. To improve results, we focused on: Creating high-quality, visually engaging content that fits Facebook’s native formats (videos, reels, image posts). Incorporating blog links and educational content optimized for social media sharing. Cross-promoting posts across channels to increase visibility and engagement. This combination helped make their content more dynamic, user-focused, and algorithm-friendly. Why Engagement Metrics Showed the Need for Stronger Post Variety Despite having over 5 million page likes, most posts averaged only around 10 reactions—indicating minimal engagement. This imbalance showed that: Post frequency and type didn’t align with what followers found interesting. Content ranking potential in the algorithm was low due to limited interaction. Facebook’s recent updates favored posts with authentic conversation, not repetitive promotion. Increasing engagement required experimenting with diverse post types and prioritizing meaningful interactions that encourage comments and shares. What Low Reach Revealed About Algorithm Alignment ShopAtHome’s average organic reach was just 0. 6% of total followers. This showed that: Content wasn’t surfacing often enough in followers’ feeds. Facebook’s algorithm deprioritized low-engagement posts. The page needed more interaction signals to increase visibility. By focusing on post quality and engagement first, we aimed to trigger the algorithm’s ranking mechanisms to improve reach organically. How Understanding the Target Audience and Industry Shaped Content Strategy To make Facebook content truly resonate, we needed a clear picture of ShopAtHome’s target audience—who they were, what they valued, and how they engaged online. Creating Content that Matches the Target Demographic’s Preferences Through focus group findings, competitor benchmarks, and Facebook audience insights, we identified key behavior patterns. This revealed which messages and content formats sparked the most interest. By aligning digital marketing efforts with audience expectations, we were able to: Craft posts that reflected user interests, not just brand goals. Use tone, style, and visuals consistent with what their demographic enjoys. Build trust and relatability while improving Facebook reach and engagement rate. How Targeted Ad Audiences Strengthened Organic Reach When ShopAtHome used Facebook ads or boosted posts, we applied precision targeting based on interests, purchase behaviors, and demographics. For example: A “Refrigerator Buying Guide” post specifically targeted homeowners and excluded renters. Ads focused on people who frequently shop online and seek deals—mirroring the core organic audience. This balance between organic reach and paid promotion ensured every impression mattered. By avoiding broad, low-relevance audiences, the campaign maximized ROI and engagement simultaneously. “Facebook’s algorithm is increasingly prioritizing authentic, interest-based interactions over passive likes and follows. To consistently grow organic reach, brands must create conversational content, lean into diverse post formats, and actively engage with their communities. ” — Mari Smith, Facebook marketing expert How Implementing Best Practices and Research Findings Improved Facebook Reach After defining the audience and analyzing past content, we began optimizing ShopAtHome’s posting habits, engagement approach, and content tone to align with Facebook’s evolving algorithm. Why Adjusting Post Frequency and Timing Boosted Organic Reach We discovered that overposting diluted performance. Sharing too many low-interaction posts can hurt overall reach because Facebook’s... --- "Everyone needs to put content marketing on their list of major marketing objectives. It's crucial. " "If you're not participating in content marketing, you're losing customers. " "Content is king. " If you're in digital marketing, you've heard similar statements, no matter the size of your company. Problem is, not all of us have the time and/or money to post a unique and thoughtful piece of content every week. Despite what content marketing gurus say, you don't need to post weekly to see success. What you need to do is following these guidelines. Focus on One, Big Effort If you're going to do one content marketing piece a month (or quarter), it needs to be impressive. A single, 600-word post won't cut it. Brainstorm something highly engaging. Some ideas include: Contest Quiz Infographic Video Thought leadership piece List mentioning other local businesses New Pinterest board Downloadable white paper Industry research Reddit AMA Recipe If your goal is to rank in search engines, you need to pick a highly relevant topic, focus on a tightly grouped set of long tail keywords, and write at least 1,000 words. If your goal is to increase traffic, engagement, and brand awareness, dedicate an email to it and boost it on social media. You'll need an email list and social following for this to be effective. Have a Strong, Unique Voice Chances are, someone... somewhere... somehow has already done your idea. How will your domain dominate? You're already at a disadvantage because you don't post frequently. The only way to do this is with a unique voice. This might mean funny, controversial, or whacky. It also might mean that you present the content through a new medium-- a video, graphic, or quiz. You can't afford to be cookie cutter. Be bold. Work with What You Got You might not have a writer on staff. Make a video instead. You might not have the budget to promote your content on social media. Utilize your email and SEO knowledge. You might not be in a creative industry. Poll other businesses and create a combined effort white paper. Content Marketing Can Be Exclusively Social While there is no doubt that content on site is more powerful than content off site, you may have to work with what you've got. If you can easily implement a user-generated content feature or contest, do it. If you can create a drool-worthy Pinterest board that showcases your brand in a new light, do it. This is still content marketing. Yes, content is king and yes, content can work for your boutique business. You just need to laser focus in on your goals, strategy, and realistic expectations. Content marketing for boutique businesses is realistic if you plan and execute well. Contact Volume Nine for ideas! --- It's 2017; millennials are now the highest-spending generation. Travel organizations need to capture this group's attention through tourism marketing in order to capture their business. And while blindly arriving at a destination and winging it used to be the norm, Millennials are interested in authentic travel experiences; ones that typically require some research and digging. So being able to stand out online is crucial for any hotel, sightseeing tour, government travel board, or adventure company. Here are a few ways to leverage content on your website for increased brand awareness, trust, and bookings. Mobile First We talk about this a lot at V9, but it's the world in which we currently live. More and more consumers are researching and making purchases on mobile devices, but it's not enough to simply be responsive. You've got to create a mobile content experience that captures your audience. This mobile content experience includes photos, videos, purposeful formatting, and easy to access social channels. This does not include intrusive popups, excessive gated content, or required user signups. Recognize the Three Stages There are three understood stages in planning a trip to a destination: Dreaming Planning Going Having content to support these three different stages of lookers is important and will result in better conversions. Let's dive into each stage and see the type of content that fits best, as well as examples of brands #killinit. The Dreamers I'm dreaming of my Colorado vacation that's taking place sometime next year. Am I looking for hotels and reservations? Nope. I'm getting excited, finding things to share, and dreaming of the possibilities that await in Colorado. The kind of content that supports this stage is visual and aspirational. It includes stories, videos, photography, wild adventures, and user-generated content. Example: 5 Hidden Lakes in Colorado You Never Knew Existed Purpose of content: Brand awareness The Planners Okay, my Colorado trip is coming up! Time to start filling in my week with things to do, restaurants to try, and weed shops to visit. I'm doing a lot of research while I'm at work, sending links to my girlfriends, and deciding what neighborhood I want to stay in. The type of content that supports this stage is relatable and achievable. It includes lists (so many lists), itinerary, and event listings. Example: 5 Best Aspen Adventure Hikes Purpose of content: Social engagement, email signups, price checking, consideration The Goers Time to book. I know what neighborhood I want, the dates I'm going, and what I want to get out of my travel experience. There are some last-minute content needs which include things like useful information, getting there, and comparisons. The type of content is informative and shows the value of your service. Example: Getting to Aspen, Snowmass Village, Directions Purpose of content: Book it! These three stages need to be spoken to differently. Each should have a unique call to action or next step. Each may be presented in a different tone. This personal messaging targets the right person in the right stage and will convince them to convert more than a single, blanketed message. Whip out a Camera You can talk about the stunning views to your heart's content, but showing is more important than ever--through photography and video. You don't need a high production budget. Strapping a GoPro to your head and throwing yourself off a mountain can be just as effective as a camera crew. It depends on your audience and the type of content you're producing. Use the Pixel Once you've initially captured a user in the dreaming or planning phase, you need to reintroduce your brand; keep yourself top of mind. Luckily, with Facebook's Pixel, it's very easy to do. Facebook's Pixel allows you to retarget on Facebook and Instagram. As long as you're utilizing SEO best practices in your content, readers can find your blog or content hub. Once there, you have their information and can continue to serve that user content and ads. It's a continuous, complete circle of marketing. Offer Up Sometimes all it takes is an offer to make users book it. If you know there is a user who has visited your site multiple times, clicked on a Facebook ad or two,... --- As content marketers, much of our job is keeping content engaging, relevant, and unique. On top of that, we spend our days editing articles and evergreen content until they are free of any and all grammar and spelling mistakes. Fortunately, as content marketing gains traction as a pillar of digital marketing, more and more tools are emerging to help create awesome content. Here at Volume Nine, we have a few tried-and-true tools that make our lives easier on a daily basis. Here’s our list of the best low-cost content marketing tools available today. Do you work on the social or SEO side of things? Stay tuned - our lists of the best social media marketing and SEO tools are coming soon! Grammarly This online spelling and grammar checker may be your new best friend. If you’re imagining a rehashed version of the built-in spell checker in Microsoft Office, think again. This powerful tool not only points out spelling and grammar errors, but also highlights overused words, unusual word pairs, advanced grammar errors, and more. It has stopped me from publishing a paragraph where I used “great” four times because I was feeling a little too enthusiastic after my third cup of coffee. The app is a Chrome extension that edits your writing directly on most sites (no more grammar mistakes in email! ). It currently doesn’t work with Google Docs/Sheets, but you can copy and paste your text from Google Docs or Microsoft Word to be edited directly on the Grammarly site. It’s free to use, but there is a monthly fee ranging from $11 to $29 if you want to get the full suite of advanced grammar and spelling checks. Buzzsumo Not to make bold claims, but Buzzsumo is probably one of the best content marketing tools available now. It’s Pro platform provides a host of information that you can use to better your content marketing. Search for a keyword, and you can see the most-shared containing that keyword over different time periods. Browse trending articles in a category to get ideas for your next blog post. Check the most-shared articles or backlinks for a certain URL. Find and understand the best influencers to amplify your content - the list goes on. While Buzzsumo does offer a free version, its capabilities are limited. They offer a range of monthly plans, depending on the size of your agency and the information you require. While it’s the most expensive tool on this list, it’s worth checking out to see if their features would be beneficial for your work. Piktochart I’m sure you’ve seen the articles lauding the benefits of including infographics in your content marketing strategy. Unfortunately, this likely also means that you’ve discovered that getting infographics professionally designed is very, very expensive. Insert Piktochart. This easy, drag-and-drop infographic builder will help you create professional, high-quality infographics. The online tool includes an extensive gallery of icons, as well as pre-made templates if you’re feeling a bit uninspired and need some guidance. Like the other tools on this list, they offer multiple levels of membership - the free version offers a surprisingly robust amount of tools, but your designs will include a Piktochart watermark. Their Pro plan gives you access to the full array of features and is priced comparatively cheap at $30 per month. Canva Canva is a similar tool, and has a similar design experience, to Piktochart. However, this online tool is more focused on image creation for social media. They also have infographic templates but lack the focus and functionality of Piktochart. As an image editor, Canva is a simple, easy-to-use option for creating engaging social graphics. They offer an extensive library of graphics and images (which, for $1 each, you can use legally within copywriting laws). While not near the level of Photoshop or Illustrator, Canva is a good option for non-designers looking to create professional graphics. Canva’s free version is more than sufficient in providing you the tools you need to design graphics with no watermark. However, they do offer a paid version for $12. 95 per user per month that offers more features for agencies or teams. MyBestSegments Those of us who work in agencies know... --- Blog & Email Goes Together Like... Peas & Carrots The love story that is email and blog marketing is a long one, so let's start from the beginning. What is an email subscription? An email subscription, in regards to a blog, is the ability for a person to opt-in and receive your brand’s posts in their email inbox. In other words, they’re giving you permission to send posts; they want to read more. It’s the ultimate compliment. Why have an email subscription option? People are busy and distracted. It’s not uncommon for even your biggest fans to take a hiatus from your site. When you provide users the opportunity to subscribe to your blog, you have a method of reaching out during periods of absence to say, “Hey come back. I have something new, and you’re going to like it. ” Bringing readers back to your site is invaluable for numerous reasons, including: Consistent brand interaction Increased engagement Increased trust Increased social shares Better customer understanding Testing of new products/services Introduction of new products/services Company announcements Plus, email conversion rates are 3x higher than social media. What? ! What about social? While content channels like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are fantastic for content discovery, you don’t own them. If Facebook and other social platforms ceased to exist, how would your blog fare? It’s dangerous to rely on someone else’s audience and tools to bring people to your blog. Besides direct traffic, email is the only channel that you can fully control. Having this direct link to your audience will save you when Facebook inevitably changes their algorithms in your disfavor. How to get people to sign up Okay, now that we’ve established why email is important in your blogging strategy, we hit the next hurdle: how to convince readers to actually sign up. First thing is first. Have great content. Your first step should be producing that people look forward to reading. When you feature quality posts that are engaging and unique, readers are already going to be interested in reading more. They’ll look at the most recent posts, dive deeper into a category, and eventually crave content as it is created. Secondly, you need a solid system to capture readers’ email addresses. In a CMS like WordPress, there are a number of plugins that can connect your email service with your blog. When readers enter their information in WordPress, it will sync and send it over to your list. There it stays until you decide to send them an email. And lastly, be sure to clarify that people are signing up to receive your content in their inbox. Make it overly obvious that these are posts they’re receiving, not promotions How often should you send out emails? The answer to this question may directly correlate to how often you’re blogging. If you’re a small brand, your blogging and email pace will be slow. If you’re a major brand, you may benefit from daily posts and emails. Whatever cadence you choose, be sure to test and monitor opt-out rates. Watching these opt-out rates can help you decide whether you’re sending too many emails or not enough. Letting the customers choose the cadence is also a great way to gauge their craving for emails. What Email Services do we Like? There are quite a few email marketing software tools out there. They all have different features and strengths, but generally speaking, when it comes to blogging we typically recommend WordPress and when it comes to email marketing, we typically recommend MailChimp. MailChimp is free for up to 2,000 subscribers, and a monthly fee after that. Other email services we love are Emma and Constant Contact. Okay, you’re all set up with a solid blogging program and flashy email system that is collecting data, but now you need to use your power for good. Blog & Offers Lists are Not the Same You will have more than one email list. When readers sign up for posts, they are expecting posts. Hitting readers with unwanted ads and offers will encourage them to unsubscribe and lose faith in your brand. You may have multiple lists, including weekly posts, daily posts, offers, company newsletters, but... --- Jump to Wag N' Wash Case Study Infographic Who can say no to a puppy? Definitely not anyone at Volume Nine. When Wag N’ Wash Natural Food and Bakery – the perfect spot to bring your cat or dog for grooming or a gourmet, all-natural treat – came to us last spring, they wanted to expand their business through new franchised locations. At the time, they were receiving a small quantity of leads from various sources each month. The Goal Their ultimate goal was to increase lead acquisition for new franchise owners. The three goals that aligned with the customer journey were: Increase overall brand awareness for franchise development Drive qualified leads to the website for franchise development Increase lead acquisition for Wag N’ Wash franchises The Strategy With a thriving industry and a fun brand, we knew we could strike marketing gold if the message got in front of the right people. So we relied on Facebook’s robust targeting capabilities to create our successful campaign. Our core strategies were: Utilize Facebook advertising campaigns to target potential franchise owners Facebook’s audience isn’t just massive, it’s consistent, with an average of 1. 23 billion daily active users. Using Facebook advertising also allowed us to use very specific targeting, so we knew we’d be speaking to the right audience. Target a national audience using contextual dog ownership behaviors and net worth We focused on targeting an audience that owned a dog and could potentially afford the financial investment of opening a Wag N’ Wash franchise. Our theory was that a majority of people like dogs, but only a dog owner would understand and appreciate the value of a Wag N’ Wash. Create and target a lookalike audience based on a past qualified leads Using past qualified lead lists, we used Facebook’s Lookalike audience tool to target Facebook users who had similar attributes. Retarget website visitors with direct messaging and in-app lead form ads Using the Facebook Pixel, we retargeted website visitors, with more direct messaging and utilized the lead form ad format. Example Retargeting Lead Form Ad: Combine heartwarming images with industry and franchise stats for a more compelling message Since opening a franchise is an investment, we had to grab a dog owner’s attention with relatable image and give them a financial reason to be interested in this opportunity. Example Ad Creative: The Results Over the five-month campaign, the Facebook ads were well received by the targeted audiences. On average, creative had a 2. 05% engagement rate and a 1. 31% link click-through rate. With people clicking through the ads, website traffic increased, which resulted in franchise inquiries. Based on results, we successfully achieved all three goals: Goal #1) Brand Awareness Goal #2) Referral Traffic to Website Goal #3) Lead Form Completions Do you own a dog or cat? Visit a Wag ‘N Wash location near you! Do you want to improve your business' social marketing? Give our social team a shout. Wag N' Wash Case Study Infographic Download a PDF version (307 KB) --- The future is truly mobile. In 2016, Smart Insights looked at the total time spent online and discovered that 51% of the time, people used a mobile device to browse the web. By comparison, users only accessed the internet via desktop computer 42% of the time. The shift to mobile has affected all facets of web design, including the content on your site. Due to the reduced screen size, content that may look good on desktop likely isn’t visually engaging or appealing to mobile users. Fortunately, you can make a few easy changes to improve your content strategy for mobile. Here are six simple ways to make your content mobile-friendly. Be Concise In the world of 140-character tweets and clickbait, it’s clear that readers’ attention spans are shrinking. Nobody wants to scroll through superfluous, meandering text to get to the point of the article. When writing for mobile, make your point, make it early, and make it clear. Mobile users are surrounded by distractions around their phone. If you don’t get your point across succinctly, their attention will likely have shifted elsewhere. Put Your Great Content First When readers view your content on their mobile phone, the text visible above the fold is drastically less than on a desktop. You need to present your visitors with as much information as possible right away. While more than 90% of mobile users will scroll in the first 14 seconds of landing on your article, only one-third will read beyond the first one-third of your article. Make your users scroll meaningfully, not habitually. Capture their attention in the headline, subhead, or first paragraph with targeted, direct-to-the-point content. Use Short Paragraphs Reading long paragraphs on mobile devices requires concentration, which mobile users likely don’t have. A split-second distraction could draw your reader’s focus away, causing them to lose their place in a long paragraph. The solution is simple: Break up your content into short, easily digestible paragraphs that readers can fluidly scroll through without losing their place. Paragraphs that look standard on desktops are transformed into large blocks of text on mobile. Create Short, Powerful Headlines We mentioned earlier that users spend most of their time looking at the first one-third of your article. What does this mean for your headlines? If you have a long headline, it could potentially take up three-quarters of the screen in mobile, limiting the above-the-fold content to just the headline and a short subtitle. As a result, you’re relying exclusively on your headline to capture your reader’s attention. While we sometimes can create that killer headline that captivates readers, often the first paragraph is equally important for encouraging a visitor to continue reading. By keeping your headline short and sweet, you allow space above the fold to show off your first paragraph. Use Images Sparingly Eye-tracking studies of how users view mobile content demonstrate that the eye is drawn to images over any text on the page. Think of how you interact with content on your phone - a bright, engaging image is likely to draw your attention over lines of black and white text. However, the eye’s tendency to be drawn towards images means that your content is getting skipped over. Don’t overload your post with loosely-related images. Instead, choose a few quality images that add value to your content, and let your prose take center stage. Focus on Formatting When designing your content, it’s important to keep in mind that formatting that may look shipshape on desktops could look drastically different when viewed on mobile. A good rule of thumb is to preview your post on mobile before publishing to ensure everything on the page is readable on the smaller device. In general, images in your blog should not be left- or right-aligned next to the text. Mobile view will cause the image to break up the text until there are only one or two words per line, squished next to the image. Instead, opt to center your image on a line between paragraphs. While crafting content for mobile may seem like a daunting task, these tips should help optimize your content for the growing base of mobile users. If you’re still overwhelmed, send us a... --- In 2016, China held the title for the largest population of internet consumers, reporting a total of 721 million users. To put that number in perspective, almost one-quarter of the world’s internet users now live in China. While Google maintains its status as the most popular search engine in the US (and many other countries), Baidu is still the undisputed leader when it comes to Chinese search. Data from 2015 shows Baidu claiming a whopping 80% of market share by advertising revenues. For SEOs at multi-national companies, optimizing for Baidu can represent a large opportunity for business growth. However, there are many differences between Google and Baidu that need to be taken into consideration when creating an SEO strategy. So, How Does Baidu Compare to Google? Despite being oceans apart, both Google and Baidu share some common ground. Both operate off their own proprietary search algorithms. Both utilize paid advertising platforms to generate revenue. Both provide their own webmaster and keyword analysis tools. And both Google and Baidu utilize geo-targeting to generate more relevant query results for users. But take a closer look and the differences between them start to become noticeable. The following are some high-level need-to-knows for SEOs looking to optimize sites for search in Chinese markets. Accessibility First and foremost, Baidu (and the rest of the Chinese internet) is government controlled. Sites in China absolutely need to avoid using prohibited terms or risk getting banned from search results. Sites that are anti-government, and contain adult or gambling-related content will also be banned. Additionally, for a site to utilize Baidu’s paid ad network, site owners usually must obtain an Internet Content Provider (ICP) from the Chinese government. This is an absolute must for companies looking to expand e-commerce into Chinese markets. Applications for an ICP can be submitted to the Chinese Ministry of Industry & Technology. Hosting Contrary to popular belief, there is no requirement to host your website within mainland China. However, site speed can be greatly impacted when hosting outside of the country’s borders. A common workaround to this is to host websites in neighboring Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Macau to decrease page load times. Language Both Google and Baidu will crawl sites in any language, but Baidu will give preference to sites written in simplified Chinese. This is true for both on-page content and metadata. A site that has all its metadata, ads, and content written in simplified Chinese will almost always rank higher on Baidu than its counterpart written in another language. It is very important to have landing pages and site content properly translated by native speakers. Avoid using automated translation services, as they are generally inaccurate and could do more harm than good. Duplicate Content Another difference to highlight is how each search engine handles duplicate content. Google and other American-based search engines are generally good when it comes to detecting non-spammy duplicate content. Baidu, however, is not as sophisticated in its detection and will heavily penalize sites with large amounts of duplicate content. Avoid it at all costs. Meta Keywords Except for Bing, most US search engines have phased out including meta keyword tagging as part of their ranking algorithm - largely ignoring their presence. Baidu, on the other hand, still uses them as part of its core ranking algorithm. Meta keywords should be implemented on every page and should include a handful of key phrases. As with stateside sites, care should be taken, however, to avoid keyword stuffing. Header Tags + Meta Descriptions Baidu still very much depends on meta descriptions being present, containing target keywords, and branded terms. Formatting is a bit different from their American counterparts, however. Baidu’s meta descriptions should be no longer than 78 characters. Hierarchical header tag structure is also very important. Each page should contain a tag before any other header tags. All metadata should be in simplified Chinese characters. Image Alt Text Baidu still relies heavily on image ALT tagging to determine context. iFrames, JavaScript, and Flash Baidu has gained a reputation for being notoriously bad at crawling and indexing content hosted in iFrames, JavaScript, or Flash. Avoid using them wherever possible. Sub Domains Google has made large strides at assigning SEO credit... --- You see CTAs like these every day — but what actually makes someone click? How do you write a call to action for social media that people actually follow and that improves your conversion rates? Let’s dig into what makes a great CTA, explore call to action examples, and see how to use them to drive engagement, clicks, and immediate action. What’s a Call to Action and Why It Matters in Social Media Marketing A call to action (CTA) tells your target audience what specific action to take next. On a web page, in an email marketing campaign, or in social media posts, the CTA button is what turns attention into conversions. On social media, that could show up: In the post caption In the header or button of an ad Or even in the comments A compelling call to action can turn a scroll into a click, a comment, or even an add to cart moment. A fresh study released within the last year found that posts with clear CTAs increase click-through rates by over 25%, highlighting how powerful strong CTA copy and strategic marketing strategies can be when paired with a sense of urgency or scarcity. Here are five best call to action practices for writing CTAs on social media that actually work. Best Practice #1 – Always Include a Clear Call-To-Action in Every Social Media Post If you don’t tell people what to do, they won’t do it. Many marketers skip a CTA while trying to craft clever captions, keep things short, or make the post feel casual. But even a simple, clickable direction like “swipe up,” “click here,” or “sign up now” helps guide potential customers toward the desired action. A few reminders: On X (formerly Twitter), keep your CTA copy under 280 characters unless you’re premium. On Facebook, placing the link in the comments tends to maintain reach. Use the CTA to point people there. Adding emojis or phrases like “Limited time offer” can encourage immediate action by tapping into fear of missing out (FOMO). The goal of good CTA copywriting here is simple: make it obvious what step comes next and where it happens. Best Practice #2 – Match Your CTA to the Audience’s Stage in the Marketing Funnel Different CTAs work for different stages of the buyer journey. Your call to action should always align with the mindset of the person reading. That’s how you get more effective CTAs without feeling pushy. Top of Funnel (Awareness): Focus on engagement and community building. Use CTAs like: “Comment below! ” “Let us know what you think in the comments. ” “Follow us for more tips. ” Middle of Funnel (Consideration): Encourage exploration and deeper engagement. Try CTAs such as: “Learn More” “See Menu” “Watch Now” “Download Now” (ideal for guides, templates, or webinars) Bottom of Funnel (Conversion): Drive direct action once your audience knows your brand. Effective CTAs include: “Shop Now” “Buy Now” “Contact Us” “Send Us a Message” “Sign Up Now” Matching your CTA to the correct stage ensures your message feels relevant and timely, improving both engagement and conversion rates. Best Practice #3 – Limit Each Post to One Main CTA to Avoid Confusion One CTA is clearer than many. Multiple CTAs create friction and hesitation. Most people won’t stop to choose between options — they simply scroll. Use one primary CTA per post or ad. If you need a secondary CTA (often in SaaS or lead generation workflows), make sure it supports the main action. For example: Primary CTA: “Download now” Secondary CTA: “Learn more” A focused post reduces confusion and helps drive the specific action you care about most. Best Practice #4 – Use Strong Action Words to Motivate Clicks and Engagement Action verbs encourage action. The most effective CTA copy uses direct action words. These subtle choices make CTAs feel more energetic, more clickable, and more human. Some high-performing action words: Start Learn Join Read Watch Try Shop Order Comment (perfect for engagement) Check (great if your link is in the comments) Send (ideal for DMs or inquiries) Small changes add up, which is why A/B testing different CTA examples is essential. Switching from “Learn more” to “Start now,” or... --- "I don't get any results from Facebook. " "The ROI from Facebook Marketing doesn't exist. " "I'm posting on Facebook and not getting results. " I hear iterations of these frustrations from people on a daily basis. If you've had similar thoughts about the marketing you're doing on Facebook, you might be going about it the wrong way. DON'T GIVE UP! THERE'S HOPE! Any good social media strategy starts with laying out realistic business goals. These goals will usually be as follows: Brand Awareness & Exposure Establishing Brand Credibility & Authority Increasing Qualified Referral Traffic Building New Qualified Audiences Converting Audiences (Purchases, Sign-ups, Leads, In-Store Traffic, etc. ) It's no secret that businesses are most concerned about that 5th goal. After all, revenue is pretty essential to having a successful business. #MakeThatMoney When it comes to using Social Media to achieve that goal, it's important to remember: You can't get to Goal Number Five (conversions) without starting at Goal Number One (brand awareness & exposure) and working your way down. This is the Facebook Funnel. Each stage of this is vital to achieving every goal listed above. Within each stage, it's important to know: Audiences: What audiences you should be going after and building. Content: The types of content that will engage and drive users to continue moving down the funnel. Metrics: What types of KPI's you should be paying attention to and measuring to ensure optimal results. In this slideshow, you will discover these key components in each stage of the funnel with examples that we've used with some of our amazing clients. If you need help developing a Social Media Strategy that converts, you've come to the right place. Contact our team today to get a plan for your business to succeed on social media (and mainly so you can stop being so frustrated with this whole Facebook thing). --- Blog posts. Social media updates. White papers. Each day I focus on creating content that's engaging, original, and shareable. It has to speak to an ideal customer's persona, with a relateable voice to match. It's not uncommon to have a team of marketing pros spend weeks defining what will make a piece of content resonate with the client and their followers. But, then what? If you're wondering where that content should go, you're not alone. Does it go on the company's website? Facebook? Instagram? Twitter? Blog? "The goals of content marketing are consumption, then behavior. The goals of social media are participation, then behavior. " Knowing how to reach your readers truly is a science. Jay Baer, President of Convince & Convert, reminds marketers that, "The goals of content marketing are consumption, then behavior. The goals of social media are participation, then behavior. " So, place your content accordingly. Where Should Your Content Go? If you're itching to post something on your company's social media feeds, pick one of these pieces of content that encourage readers to respond with a click or comment: Photos: You'll get interaction if you show people doing things, unveil a new product or put a smiling face to a name or job title. Everyone loves to see who's really working behind the screen. Short copy: This can be a quick tip, fun fact, testimonial from a satisfied customer or even details for an unexpected way to use a product. Keep it snappy, or readers will scroll by. Anything funny: Everyone loves a good laugh. The occasional goofy video or GIF that somehow relates to your business is a sure win. And, readers always love a witty meme. So, then what goes on a blog? Your company blog is a searchable archive of information that can be used as an ongoing resource. You should reserve any in-depth, informative, step-by-step tutorials or long form content for the blog. Did you just conduct a study and have oodles of stats to share? Turn it into a blog post, then tease social media readers with just ONE fact. Do you have an emotional story of how your product changed a customer's life? Write it out for the blog, complete with photos and a video testimonial. Is it OK to Repurpose Content? So, the million dollar question is, "Can I use post the same content across multiple outlets? I'd prefer to create one piece and use it several places. " Barb hanging in the house pre-renovation #v9cares16 A photo posted by Volume Nine (@volume_nine) on Aug 29, 2016 at 2:52pm PDT Well, yes and no. To stay fresh, don't publish the exact same content across all of your online channels. You should always add something new to the content, that you can't get from the original posting. For example, if you own a camera store and write a fabulous blog post on how to take pictures of holiday lights, that content would likely first land on the company blog with a series of instructional photos and charts related to camera settings. Then, repurpose that information into these types of posts: Instagram: Pick a favorite image of holiday lights and point readers back to the blog post for details on how they can shoot something similar. To make the post have something "extra", consider overlapping little consumable text tips on the image that refer to exposure settings, framing, and editing. Facebook: Post a few photos of one of the camera store staff members behind-the-scenes taking a picture of holiday lights. Show their camera gear and body positioning used to get just the right angle. This insider scoop will tease readers to go to the blog to learn more. Twitter: Write a concise, enticing blurb to make people click the URL of the blog. Ideas include "Capture holiday lights like the pros. Here are 6 simple tips! " or "Forget fuzzy Christmas pictures! We share camera settings for perfect holiday photos. " Add a photo with a festive filter to make the visual look a little different than what the reader will get on the blog. Blog: Did you receive a cool comment or tons of "Likes" on social media? Screen shot... --- Snapchat filters! You know them, you love them, but have you ever wondered where they come from... or who they come from? If you’re reading this, probably more from me than you, but that can change. The fact is that anyone can make a Snapchat filter- individuals, organizations, and businesses. Filters, or more properly Geofilters, aren’t Snapchat's famous puppy faces and vomiting rainbows. They're custom backgrounds and filters that only appear in certain areas during certain times. Then they're gone forever. Sigh. There are two different kinds of Geofilters: Community Filters - These are free filters for communities and artists to create for their local area, school, or community group. The only catch here, is no branding or logos. On-Demand - There are paid filters for businesses or individuals to purchase for a set amount of time and you are welcome to use logos or branding in these. On-demand is the kind of geofilter I’ll walk you through creating: How to Make a Snapchat Filter You’ll need to create an account at Snap and then read over these guidelines. Trust me, if you spend 2 hours making an awesome filter and it gets rejected, a single tear will drip down your face... or you’ll just be super annoyed. Main things to take away from the guidelines: Make it 1080px wide by 1920px high Leave most of the screen open... so users can capture images/videos Make it fun! You want people to WANT to use this filter. Now design your filter. A Snapchat filter that I wish existed. I use Canva to design my Snapchat filters. I create a custom dimensions project and use shapes, fonts, and pre-set text decorations. Canva has a transparent background option which is perfect for Snapchat. No matter which design software you use, make sure you download it with a transparent background. Upload your creative to Snapchat Select your dates and time The time zone will default to what you have selected when making your account, so if you are making a filter for a location in a different time zone be sure to adjust your times accordingly. Draw your fence Try to make it around as much area as users at your business or attending your event might need to use it. Geofilter fences must be at least 20,000 square feet. Give Snap Money Once you have set the fence the price will display and you can adjust it as needed. Filters are always a minimum of $5. 00. Fill in your billing information, and name your Geofilter (I usually include the date so it is easy to keep track of). Then simply agree to the Snap terms and submit! You will receive emails letting you know if your filter has been accepted or rejected as well as once the filter runs. This will also allow you to see the usage statistics for the filter. You can build filters for special sales, promotions, events, or just during your peak sales times. Good luck! If you have questions about Snapchat Geofilters or other social strategies, reach out to the social team here at Volume Nine. --- Get Rid of Your Preconceived Notions About Channel Performance I have worked with a lot of companies that have preconceived notions about different marketing channels. From these companies, you tend to hear opinions that are founded more in conjecture and less in hard data. I have heard executives in such companies spout off broad generalizations about specific marketing channels like “Social media just doesn’t show ROI” or “organic search is a great traffic driver but it has a low conversion rate” and even “PPC advertising is a complete waste of money”. These opinions may be true or not, but you won’t know until you start digging into the Google Analytics Multi-Channel Funnel reports. Learning how to use these reports can help you understand whether some of your marketing channels are playing a big role in driving sales and other conversions. A lot of these preconceived notions about the performance of certain marketing channels is skewed because they are based on a last click interaction model where the final marketing touch point is given all of the credit for driving a lead or sale. When you start to use other types of attribution models that place more weight on channels that assist with conversions, you may begin to see some of your marketing channels in a different light. The reality is that some channels are better at assisting with conversions and don’t get nearly the credit that they are due. The reality is that some channels are better at assisting with conversions and don’t get nearly the credit that they are due. So to prevent your company from mistakenly cutting spend to a marketing channel that assists with conversions, you need to dig into your Google Analytics Multi-Channel Funnel and Attribution Reports. Why Marketing Channels Are Like Hockey Players I grew up in New England and spent a lot of time in my youth playing and watching ice hockey, so I tend to think of marketing channels kind of like hockey players. You have really great hockey players like Wayne Gretzky, who scored a lot of goals. You also have players like Ray Bourque who had more assists than goals in his career. These two players hold different positions, but both were valuable players. Ray Bourque is number four on the all-time assist leaders in the NHL. Image courtesy of Hockey Reference Image courtesy of Hockey Reference NHL Leaderboard Image courtesy of Hockey Reference Some Marketing Channels Are Better at Assisting than Converting Now apply this ice hockey analogy to your marketing channels. Some channels are like Gretzky and score frequently. Other channels are better at assisting. These assisting channels are still valuable but often don’t get an adequate amount of credit for helping to drive leads or sales. In fact, we have seen companies cut spend to their assisting channels without realizing their true value. They typically experience a dramatic drop in overall conversions. Assisted Conversions in GA Notice how the value of certain channels becomes much greater when you’re able to see assisted conversion value as well as their last click value. Using Google Analytics to Understand Which Channels Convert and Which Channels Assist The key to great online marketing is identifying the role of each channel in your marketing mix and how these channels work together to drive sales and conversions. You can do this by digging into your Google Analytics Multi Channel Funnels and Assisted Conversion Reports. Access these by logging into your GA account, navigating to the correct view and then going to Conversions and then Multi-Channel Funnels. Multi-Channel Visualizer The Multi-Channel Conversion Visualizer available in the Overview section of Google Analytics is the best place to begin. Dig into how your various marketing channels work together to drive conversions and sales. By activating various channels in this report, you can see how single channels impact conversions. You can also determine how your marketing channels work together. The above screen shot shows how Paid Search and Organic Search work together to drive approximately 5% of the conversions. Specifically, the area where these two channels overlap demonstrates codependency and how much they assist each other. Assisted Conversions Report Using the Assisted Conversions Report can help you determine... --- It’s no secret that fast-casual dining is one of the hottest trends in the food industry right now. Indeed, it’s been this way for the past decade. In 2015 fast casual grew by 10. 4% (compared to 5. 3% for the industry as a whole) and added $3. 4 billion dollars to its overall revenue. Impressive growth stats like these come a dime a dozen. No matter how you look at it, this industry has seen phenomenal growth that doesn’t appear to be slowing anytime soon. Being in Denver, we at Volume Nine feel like we have some special insight into the world of fast-casual dining. “Why is that? ” you may ask. Well, there are a few reasons. First, Denver tends to have a ton of the two primary patrons of fast casual restaurants: millennials and affluent customers. With regard to millennials, Denver is one of the top cities in the country for young, 20-something professionals looking to make a mark. And as for the affluent, Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in the entire country when it comes to jobs, homes, population growth... . you name it. But even more important than these measures, Denver has a rich, vibrant history of fast-casual restaurants originating right here in our own backyard. Brands like Chipotle, MAD Greens, Modmarket, Noodles & Company, Quiznos, and many, many more have started right here in Colorado. On top of this, we have a population that loves to eat out; Denverites fit perfectly into the fast casual target audience, and we’re used to trying out a bunch of new fast-casual start ups. It’s little wonder that Denver officially reigns as the capital of fast-casual dining. The Fast-Casual Social Media Opportunity Given this unique situation, we got to thinking: what are some of the most essential and innovative social media strategies for fast-casual dining brands today? What can these companies do with their restaurant social media marketing to separate themselves from the rest? And so, we’ve compiled a list of the top 6 fast-casual social media strategies below. For each, we outlined what it is, the benefits to doing it, and perhaps most importantly, an example of a local brand that we felt was doing this exceptionally well. #1 - Facebook & Instagram Organic Posting What is it? Let’s start with some basics. To even begin thinking about operating in the social space, fast-casual brands must first get their Facebook & Organic postings streamlined. While these methods have been around for a while, the reality is that they still represent some of the biggest audiences and well-established ways to do make an impact on social media. Practically speaking, this means is having a vibrant, active, and engaging strategy for delivering organic social content. Remember, these aren’t your paid channels. These are unpaid, social posts delivered to your core social communities and platforms. There is tremendous freedom in what you can post, but thought should be given to make it into a streamlined strategy. That’s easy to say, but difficult to do very well. In most cases, brands are content to throw up some links, image posts, maybe interact with a user or two, and then call it good. But in the competitive fast-casual space, we think this is missing a huge opportunity. In today’s world, organic postings could look like any of the following: Images - What are good images that show off the brand? Can this be more than just food? Links - What links would the audience appreciate and be interested in? GIFs - Movement is usually better than static images. Slideshows - Any interesting content people would appreciate? Videos - Video always drives the highest engagement Images - Images are still the easiest, simplest, and most straightforward way to put out quality posts. Humor - Be funny. People love humor and lightheartedness about a million times more than being sold to. Trending Topics - Part of a good conversation is being relevant. What’s topically relevant for now and your audience? The bottom line is, brands need to work to have their core Facebook & Instagram content display a healthy mix of all kinds of things. Remember, the point of doing social... --- The holiday season is prime time for ecommerce marketers. If your brand depends on seasonal gift sales, this is the moment to refine your SEO strategy, strengthen your keyword research, and show up when shoppers are actively searching for gift ideas, christmas gifts, or the best gifts for friends and family. Let’s look at why gift keywords matter for ecommerce success, and then you’ll get a ready-to-use keyword list built to improve your gift guide content, social media campaigns, PPC performance, and organic rankings. Why Are Gift-Focused Keywords Essential for Holiday Ecommerce Success? They help your ecommerce campaigns appear when shoppers search for gifts for her, gifts for him, or last minute holiday gift ideas, the exact moments when purchase intent is highest. Holiday gift keywords drive visibility during the busiest buying window of the year. Many retailers rely on the holiday season for a major portion of annual revenue, and strong rankings for popular keywords like gift ideas, personalized gifts, christmas presents, and unique gifts help capture shoppers as they compare options across multiple search terms. Holiday buying starts earlier each year. According to the National Retail Federation, 39% of shoppers begin researching holiday gifts before November (2023 data), a behavior shift that makes early optimization even more important. Online browsing influences both ecommerce and in-store holiday sales. That means you need to appear across multiple queries: gifts for women, gifts for men, teacher gifts, mother’s day gifts, baby gifts, or popular keywords like gift box and gift baskets. Start early. Search engines take time to index new content, so publish your holiday gift guide, gift wrapping promotions, and last minute deals well before shoppers enter the peak buying phase. To maximize results, consider collaborating with our SEO team to refine your keyword list and campaign targeting. Which Gift-Related Keywords Should Ecommerce Marketers Use to Reach Holiday Shoppers? Use people-focused, intent-driven, and category-specific search terms to capture a wide range of holiday buyers across SEO, PPC, product pages, and social campaigns. Keyword research can be time-consuming, so here’s a curated, high-intent keyword list sourced from SEMrush to help guide your SEO and PPC planning. Mix these search terms with your brand, product type, or audience segment. Which Relationship-Based Gift Keywords Perform Best During the Holidays? Searches tied to relationships (“gifts for best friends,” “presents for mom”) carry strong conversion intent and fit naturally into gift guide content, social posts, and product detail pages. These queries help you match the way real shoppers think when choosing christmas gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, and valentines day gifts. People-and-Relationship Keywords:presents for mom (5,400)gift ideas for pregnant wife (320)stocking stuffers for husband (590)christmas gifts for sister in law (320)gifts for older brother (320)presents for grandpa (260)cute gifts for girlfriend (2,900)gifts for best friends (5,400)secret santa gift ideas (12,100)thanksgiving hostess gifts (390) These phrases fit naturally in guides about gift giving, holiday season shopping, or creating a top gift roundup for ecommerce readers. How Can Interest-Based Keywords Help You Reach Niche Buyers? Targeting searches based on hobbies and identity categories helps you connect with gift buyers who know exactly what they want. Interest-driven terms:gift ideas for pet lovers (110)stocking stuffers for kids (3,600)cool gifts for teen boys (6,600)unique gifts for men (12,100)holiday gift guide for nurses (3,600)beauty gift ideas for teenage girls (4,400)gifts for travelers (5,400)Adding variations like gifts for women, gifts for men, and teacher gifts expands reach and strengthens your holiday sales performance. Which High-Intent Gift Queries Indicate Buyers Are Ready to Purchase? Look for terms that describe the type of gift, these usually signal shoppers who are closest to checkout. Buying-intent phrases:fun stocking stuffers (590)best white elephant gifts (6,600)personalized christmas gifts (1,300)office gift ideas (1,300)gag gifts for christmas (5,400)wine gift baskets (12,100)unique xmas gifts (210)Use these in campaigns promoting personalized gifts, curated gift baskets, or novelty items. How Do You Capture Budget-Focused Holiday Shoppers? Include deal-oriented keywords in your SEO, PPC, and gift guide content, they convert well during last minute buying phases and major sale events. Budget-driven search terms:cheap christmas gifts (8,100)christmas gifts on a budget (320)inexpensive christmas gifts for coworkers (720)twenty gifts under $20 (2,900)black friday travel deals (1,600)These fit especially well in holiday sales content that highlights discounts,... --- The Why of Categories Every good webpage has a purpose. It lets the user *do* something. Before we can make a great ecommerce category page, we need know why we make them. They exist on all ecommerce sites, but for what purpose? Their ultimate goal is to get a visitor to buy a product, but if gaining conversions were that simple, we could argue categories are unnecessary. Only a few visitors will arrive at an ecommerce site knowing exactly what to look for. Some may already know your brand. Many are likely discovering the product and developing products awareness for the first time. In ecommerce, we build product categories to meet these needs. A great category page works for users arriving at any step in the buyer’s journey. It lets them complete the action that led them to your site. The trick to a great category page? It’s in how you pull it off. Ecommerce Sites Have Highest Standards-- for Humans and Search Engines When your user comes to your site, they’ll decide whether to stick around or not in less than 1/20 of a second. To gain conversions, you must create a website that is easy and enjoyable for users. This is all about their experience on your site. Search engines judge ecommerce sites equally as harsh. In their Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, Google refers to pages could potentially impact the future happiness, health, or financial stability of users as “Your Money or Your Life” pages. They have the highest standards. To convert, a user must have a positive experience and trust your site. To rank for search results, you must successfully meet the needs of a search user. Search engines want to deliver results that satisfy users. Create an Ecommerce Category Page that Gives Users What They Want So what should your ecommerce category page look like? While there’s no single right answer for category pages, there are some pieces you should look for. Layout Establish visual cues of expertise, usability, and trustworthiness. Your site is a window into how your organization is run. When users feel smart and sophisticated on your website, they tend to stick around. In order for a user to share their credit card information, they have to genuinely trust the site. Elements include: Secure connections- a strong TSL certificate shows that you’re committed to protecting your customer's’ information. It’s also important in protecting your site from malicious activity. Easy to navigate layout- Odds are, your users read left to right, top to bottom and that trained muscle motion plays into how they’ll scan the page. Strong brand signals- Easy to identify brand name, site search, and contact information show that your company is sticking around and there for customers even after purchases Visually Engaging Images- High-quality images that grab attention, make you look more trustworthy and—most important—generate sales. Product Information Your category page should have all the information needed for a customer to choose between products. Elements include: Product price- Clearly labeling discounts or deals to highlight the benefit to the user creates a higher sense of perceived value in a purchasing decision. Color options- Allowing users to quick preview color options from the Product Listing Page means the user can explore products faster. Product ratings- Star ratings for products with reviews show off not only the product’s trustworthiness but that other’s have shopped with you. Shipping, sales and promotion badges- A user who believes they’ve found a great deal, but they have to act quickly to cash in, is more likely to convert. Sorting, Filters, and Comparison Tools Reduce distractions and focus a consumer's attention toward identifying what product features are most valuable to them. Elements include: Sorting- Providing your customers the option to sort products in a list is another feature of product listing that can help make your category pages more effective. Product Filters- Filtering is the highest, most refined level of product selection support. It minimizes the compromise necessary on category pages and, your customers don’t have to make “either-or decisions” to navigate through categories and sub-categories. Call-to-Action Make the desired action simple and obvious. The ultimate goal of an ecommerce category page is to drive users to products.... --- Anyone who works in online marketing knows the value of using personas. They drive your content strategy, fine tune your Facebook and PPC ads, and can reshape your product offerings. You always end up with better campaign results if you can identify and customize your content and advertising to a highly targeted segment of your user base. Without good data, creating a persona can be difficult—and even risky. If you don’t end up identifying the correct type of user to target, all of your work might be in vain. There are many ways to begin building your personas including in-person interviews with customers, on-site surveys, Nielson data, discussions with client stakeholders and other types of market research, but you don’t always have the time and budget to be this thorough. If you want to be scientific about creating accurate customer personas, but don’t have the resources to fund these research methods, you can tap into your Google Analytics data to build your personas. Make Sure You're Capturing this Valuable Data Google Analytics demographics reports are a fairly new offering that have only been around since 2013. Because this is a newer feature, many companies don’t have their analytics configured to capture this valuable data. To determine whether your Google Analytics is configured to capture demographics data, go into Admin > Property Settings. There you can determine whether Demographics and Interest reports have been enabled. Click to enlarge Use Demographics and Interests to Uncover Your Site’s Most Valuable Users The real value of Demographics and Interest reports is uncovering the details about your site’s most valuable users. To do this, you will need to determine what valuable user behavior is to your site. E-commerce sites want to rely on revenue and e-commerce conversion rate. Non-eCommerce businesses will want to identify other types of valuable user behavior like registrations or email sign-ups that you can track in Google Analytics. Publications that derive value from highly engaged users that spend a significant amount of time reading content will rely on visits with a long session duration that have a significant number of pageviews per session. Either way, make sure you have proper goal tracking configured so you can capture conversions and judge your demographic audiences based on well thought out goals. Nail Down the Age and Gender of Your Top Converting Users The best place to start digging into the demographics of your top user groups is to pull out the top converting gender and ages ranges. You can access this information by going to Audience > Demographics in your Google Analytics reports. Configure both the Age and Gender reports to pull in the goals you came up with in the last section and then determine whether there are specific age ranges with higher conversion rates. Click to enlarge Dig into Interest Reports Use the Affinity Categories, In-Market Segments and the Other Category reports available in the Interest Section of Google Analytics to continue building out your personas. Affinity categories feature high-level types of classifications about your users (i. e. Technophiles, Movie Lovers and Travel Buffs). These classifications are great for adding the fine-grain details which really make your personas come alive. In-Market segments reveal which additional product categories your users are in the market to purchase. This information can be used for greater persona detail, content strategy, and planning blog posts. Other categories show which related topics your users might also be interested in. For each of these Interest reports, make sure you look at conversion rate and engagement, then drill down into specific segments by age to determine whether the trends you identified during the first part of your analysis are represented within each Interest segment. Be sure to look at the gender breakdown for each Interest category. You can do this by applying Gender as a secondary dimension. Create Advanced Segments Based on Your Findings Once you know the specific age, gender and interests of your most valuable user audiences, creating personas is a snap, but don’t stop there. You now know everything you need to build a targeted custom segment so you can look at all your analytics data through the eyes of these special users. To create a... --- Did you catch wind of one of the latest Google product releases? In May, Google announced Data Studio - their free, data visualization product (free version of Data Studio 360). And we are in love! What is Google Data Studio and what can I use it for? Simply stated, Google Data Studio is Google’s latest product release of their reporting and data visualization tool. No, it’s not part of the Google Analytics evolution. Instead, it’s a separate product that makes it easy to create custom reports using connected data sources. This new tool allows you to bring together sources of data and create visually appealing, dynamic reports. With these new reports you can tell a great story for your company and/or your clients. “One of the fundamental ideas behind Data Studio is that data should be easily accessible to anyone in an organization. We believe that as more people have access to data, better decisions will be made,” writes Google in a blog entry. The team at Volume Nine couldn’t agree more! Data is power, especially when it comes to SEO and online marketing strategy. What I also love about this new tool is it allows you to combine data across multiple sources into one dashboard - yes, you read that correctly! For example, I can create a report that contains information from Google Analytics (All Sessions, Organic Sessions, Conversions, etc. ), in addition to my data from Google AdWords. It even allows me to bring multiple Google Analytics accounts into one place, and share data with non-Google Analytics users. Where should I start? When you create and log into your Data Studio account (should be the same login you use for Google Analytics), the first thing I suggest doing is going through the awesome interactive walkthrough Google provides. The walkthrough is called “Welcome to Data Studio (Start Here)” from the list of reports in your account. I skipped this at first and tried to jump right in and immediately regretted it. Click to enlarge. Don’t pass up the free tutorial directly from Google! After you go through it, you can then poke around, connect your data sources, and explore the Data Studio Help Center for more advanced questions and topics. What data sources can I connect? Google Data Studio can pull data from a variety of sources, including the ones listed below. The good news is Google is always working on adding new data connectors. Google Analytics Google AdWords YouTube BigQuery Attribution 360 Google Cloud SQL MySQL databases Google Sheets imports How do I connect data sources? Adding data sources is very easy... and it’s just as easy to then add them to your reports. Below are the steps for adding Google Analytics to your Data Studio account. (1) Navigate to the “Data Sources” tab within Data Studio. (2) Click the big, blue plus button in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Click to enlarge. (3) From there, the configuration panel will open up. Click on “Google Analytics” or whatever data sources you are going to add. (4) Click the blue “Authorize” button. This will prompt a pop-up asking for permissions - click “Allow”. Click to enlarge. (5) Select the correct GA Account, Property, and View. Making sure you select the right ones is essential because this is what creates your data set! Click to enlarge. (6) Click “Connect” in the upper-right. This prompts another panel to open that contains all your dimensions and metrics allowing you to fine-tune your data set (i. e. renaming, disabling, etc. certain fields). (7) Rename the data source, if needed. The default name matches the View name from Google Analytics. (8) Click “Create Report” in the upper-right to start building your first report! If you plan on adding more data sources before you start your report, click “Create Report” and leave the report blank to come back to later. Or, if you’re not ready to create a report, simply click the blue Data Studio logo in the upper-left corner. Then start from step 1 above for your new data source. Click to enlarge. If you made a boo-boo, it’s very easy to remove a data source. From the “Data Sources” tab, click the... --- ---