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  • How Businesses Can Use AI Effectively in 2025

    How Businesses Can Use AI Effectively in 2025

    Artificial intelligence positions itself as an essential key tool in redefining industries worldwide in 2025. Across different sectors, from small-scale businesses to global corporations, those who use AI efficiently can expand growth opportunities, and advancements and have the thinking to look outside the box. In this article, we’ll uncover effective techniques for businesses to stay updated and fierce in this swiftly progressing environment improvising with AI.

    Customized client services:

    In today’s fast-evolving world, clients have raised standards for services and to meet these demands customization is a core essential part with AI, businesses can accelerate insights and offer customized solutions. You can use advanced algorithmic tools for businesses to: 

    • Generate customized solutions: platforms that do AI-based customization, shaped by technologies for online stores, evaluate client’s needs to provide relevant options. 
    • Upgrade client assistance: AI-powered tools provide prompt and reliable answers to improve learning experiences and gain insights.

    Enhancing workflows efficiently by using AI:

    Automation plays a pivotal role in allowing employees to focus on higher-value and complex projects. AI is essential for Businesses to improve productivity, enhance accuracy, and minimize expenses. Let’s have a look at the notable aspects of automation. 

    • Keeping records and handling: AI significantly helps businesses to excel in monotonous activities as seen in areas like stock control, data reporting, and voice analysis and producing visuals. 
    • Managing time and operations: AI tools like ChatGPT, perplexity and Claude improve clients’ workforce planning and optimize logistics to remove operational obstacles. 

    Make use of strategies that help with future data insights:

    Forecasting analytics with AI transforms data into strategic insights which helps businesses the smarter decisions. Let’s have a look at the application that will be fundamental in 2025 for strategic planning to assist businesses in market trends and meeting the client’s needs: 

    • AI Role in Sales analysis: with the help of AI, businesses can anticipate needs based on previous sales data, current Ai trends, and environmental factors.  
    • Service coordination: production companies or businesses rely on artificial intelligence to identify faults, make processes smoother, and repair budgets. 

    Upgrade digital security protocols:

    With the rise of more complex cybercrimes, AI is playing an integral role in reinforcing resilient security measures. AI-driven tools can integrate AI into security protocols to strengthen user trust and protect their resources. 

    • Track outliers: AI algorithms identify anomalies and network breaches. 
    • Optimized Encryption Techniques: AI algorithms can secure encryption standards to safeguard sensitive data.

    Integrate hiring and workforce operations:

    By 2025, AI-integrated staffing services can assist businesses in recruiting, engaging, and growing high-quality talent when promoting a passionate team. Businesses can leverage AI to: 

    • Select ideal applicants: AI tools review CVs and pair applicants with roles that perfectly match job needs and workplace compatibility. 
    • Evaluate workforce stability: AI detects factors leading to staff departure trends and enables shaping strategies to boost retention.

    Fueling new ideas and evolutions:

    AI-fueled advancements in businesses for beta testing and rolling out products efficiently. In 2025, AI will be used for research and development to stay ahead in the market and to: 

    • Innovate products: AI-based analytics uncovers potential opportunities and fosters creative strategies. 
    • Improved design concepts: AI-driven tools test various conditions to improve design quality before production begins. 
    • Boost launching process: smart automation and data analysis boost the product creation process.

    Boost targeted market: 

    Businesses operating globally are prioritizing hyper-local markets to connect with vast audiences.  Advanced AI ensures businesses adapt and thrive in varied markets. AI prefers local market strategies to: 

    • Adapt according to need: businesses can enhance their products and marketing to match the needs of targeted audiences. 
    • Boosting local logistics: AI improves logistics to ensure prompt delivery and budget-friendly local operations.

    Boosting the availability of AI resources:

    By 2025, AI technologies will allow businesses of all scales to make use of their strengths and exploit their resources. Inclusive and accessible AI tools featured as: 

    • Drag and drop builders: Such platforms assist non-expert clients to build AI-integrated apps and operations. 
    • Virtual applications: it removes the burden of expensive frameworks.

    Ensuring secure and transparent AI solutions:

    In 2025, prioritizing AI protocols should be fundamental to ensure credibility and new regulatory frameworks. Let’s have a look at some of the key aspects of AI tools: 

    • Easily understandable: businesses make sure that AI tools are comprehensible and equitable. 
    • Confidentiality: Businesses make sure to get clients’ approval and gain customers’ credibility. 
    • Leaving no one behind: AI solutions must be beneficial for a wide range of users and prevent social inequalities. 

    Wrapping it up: 

    AI is like a wizard’s wand that can transform your business into something extraordinary. AI will impact business in 2025 in a way that customers can experience next-level strategies and boost operations and creativity efficiently. Yet, progress is a mind-full strategy that integrates tech advancements and ethical responsibilities in businesses 2025 is ready to stay up to date, embracing innovative tools, by promoting AI’s full potential in a demanding and competitive landscape. 

     

  • Best Email Marketing Strategies for the Holiday Season in 2025

    Best Email Marketing Strategies for the Holiday Season in 2025

    When the celebrations of holidays occur, the time of year comes with the unmatched potential to engage with clients, improve sales performances, and strengthen customer ties. When your phone continuously buzzes with overflowing inboxes, how do you ensure your email catches the reader’s eye? In this article, we’ll guide you on how to make the best email marketing strategies to maximize your potential and make the most of this holiday season.   

    Kickoff with a Purposeful Plan:

    Thoughtful strategy is the bedrock of profitable and engaging holiday email campaigns. Early preparations keep you in front of the pack and allow customers to go through every deal and offer with plenty of time. Let’s embark on with:  

    Organizing Significant Dates:  

    Include holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Black Friday. 

    Target Audience: build customized promotions for early bird customers, procrastinating customers, and year-end discount buyers.  

    Content Mapping: to avoid eleventh-hour chaos, set up your emails preemptively. 

    Audience Profiling

    Categorizing your audience (customers or clients) helps you craft customized messages to send and connect with various customer divisions. Categorizing also enhances the significance of your emails, leading to better viewer engagement metrics.   

    • Behavior Classification: Tap into information from last transactions, checking out history, or incomplete purchases.  
    • Audience Categorization: Design a strategy that best suits your customer according to age, region, and interests.  
    • Activity Rates: often reconnect with inactive audiences and give promotions to committed buyers. 

    Generate Appealing Headlines:

    Ensure your subject line is interesting and engaging, as it sets the customer’s first impression. Try different pickup lines to see which one appeals to customers the most.    

    • Spark Haste: “Don’t miss out; grab your holiday discounts, 24 hours to go.”  
    • Tailored Messages: Some of the examples are “Larah, you’ve received $ $50 on a $20 shopping spree! Your treat is ready for you.”  
    • Meaningful Emojis: Spice it up with colorful holiday-themed emojis. 

    Streamline Holiday Campaigns with Email Automation:

    Creating automated email, which simplifies holiday marketing by ensuring timely and consistent communication with customers. It basically helps businesses to maintain engagement while saving time and effort, especially during the busy season. Here’s how email automation enhances holiday campaigns:

    • Scheduled Campaigns: Pre-plan and send holiday greetings, promotional offers, and reminders to keep customers engaged.
    • Personalized Journeys: Tailor emails based on customer behavior, like gift suggestions or cart abandonment follow-ups.
    • Efficient Responses: Automate out-of-office replies and follow-ups to maintain professionalism and keep the communication loop active.

    Make use of Holiday Themes:

    Holiday-themed email templates foster a warm interaction with customers. An eye-catching email template motivates customers to explore their business deeply.  

    • Choose Holiday Hues: Red, green (Kwanzaa), gold, blue linen, and navy velvet are classic holiday colors.   
    • Embed Holiday Features: Frosty winter flakes, surprise Santa clause gifts, and bow can elevate aesthetic charm.  
    • Mobile-optimized Designs: every individual reads email on mobile, so your emails should be mobile-friendly. 

    Introduce Holiday Promotions and Offers:

    Promotion email campaigns ignite holiday shopping. Take notes on the following advantages to make it stand out.  

    • Flash Deals: boost haste with steal deals.  
    • VIP Offers: reward supportive buyers with premium discounts.  
    • Multi-item Offers: packaging of multi-items with discounts “buy two get one free” 

    Showcase Gift Catalogs:

    Make it more accessible for customers to select ideal pocket-friendly presents with tailored choices.   

    • Based on Budget: “Top picks Under $30.”  
    • Based on Interest: “must-haves for makeup lovers under 50$.”  
    • Based on Recipient: “thoughtful gifts for mom, dad, grandparents and friends.” 

    Add Ticking Clocks

    Time sensitivity can take you to high demand. Countdown acts as a critical reminder to take prompt actions.  

    • Quick Sale Offers: notify about the countdown.  
    • Delivery Timeframes: notify customers about deadlines for holiday delivery.

    Activate Referral Offers

    Encourage your existing customers to spread the word. Referral programs boost sales and expand your customer base.  

    • Referral Benefits: “Enjoy 15% off on every friend’s purchase.”  
    • Offer Privileges: Enjoy bonus gifts and extra savings when referring others. 

    Engage with Catch-up Emails:

    Holiday distractions can increase cart drop-off. Cart withdrawals can help recover sales and enhance financial outcomes.  

    • Alert Notifications: draw attention to the items still in the cart.  
    • Offer Bonuses: get free delivery on orders before the winter holidays end.  
    • Invoke Pressure: point out the scarce availability and cutoff dates. 

    Apply Engaging Information:

    Interactive content empowers you to customize emails according to customers’ choices. Customized content enhances user customer participation and builds satisfaction.  

    • Curated Suggestions: Suggest items matching their past search activity.   
    • Area-based Promotions: display store timings and details. 

    Boost Engagement by Social Media Posts:

    You can touch the skies by enhancing the holiday campaigns via social media. Boost your reaching criteria and appeal to new customers.  

    • Provide Sharing Tools: ask your friends and family to promote discounts.   
    • Start Giveaways: “Share this with friends and get a chance to enter the giveaway!”  
    • Boost customer participation: share customer pictures and reviews. 

    Engage with Gaming Tools

    Gaming tools will increase engagement through entertaining and enjoyable experiences. You can include activities like:  

    • Scratch and win offers: allow users to unlock discounts.  
    • Find the hidden gift in Zuzzle: assist users in solving the puzzle and finding the mystery box.  
    • Rotate Wheel of Fortune: Introduce games through which users can get discounts.  

    Showcase User Feedback

    Share customers’ real-life experiences to build credibility. Customer feedback is like a magic wand that can spark engagement.  

    • User ratings: publish customers’ feedback on your top-selling item.  
    • High-demand products: promote customers’ favorite and top-rated products.  
    • Customer pictures with your product: Display customers’ videos or photographs with your benefitting products. 

    Keep Post-holiday Strategy in Mind:

    The holiday magic continues long after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Consider the following post-holiday strategies to engage customers. 

    • Carryout clearance offers apply clearance sales on unsold stock.  
    • Show gratitude via emails: Say “thank you” to customers for their trust and commitment.   
    • Market new year deals: jumpstart the new year with exciting offers.  

    Wrapping it up:   

    Wrapping it up with the ideal time for best email marketing strategies in the holiday season, though it’s also very high-stakes and challenging, as every other brand, store, and business or ventures is on the same path. By thinking forward, modifying your emails, and highlighting customer-centric strategies, you can stand out and establish an enduring connection with customers after the holiday season. Applying the following approach can bring sparkle to your emails and happiness to your customers. Let’s help your business flourish this year.  

  • Perplexity vs. ChatGPT vs. Claude: Which AI tool Will be Better in 2025?

    Perplexity vs. ChatGPT vs. Claude: Which AI tool Will be Better in 2025?

    The best of Gen-AI up against each other? Yes! Let the battle commence – It’s about time we put a name to the best AI tool out there. No biases, just a feature-by-feature comparison, so you use only the best AI tools in 2025.

    First Up, ChatGPT.

    The software that made Artificial Intelligence known to everyone; Open AI literally made AI synonymous to Chat GPT. In simple terms, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that generates human-like dialogues using natural language processing (NLP) technology. This cutting-edge technology assists with timely responses to multiple queries & produces a wide range of written texts; as well as other functions like creating articles, media content, emails, & programming instructions.

    Did you know? The latest version of ChatGPT (GPT 4) can operate documents & images and even compose unique designs?! Well, time to move to the next opponent in line:

    Second, Perplexity AI

    Perplexity AI is an inclusive search engine that uses a blend of natural language processing technology (NLP), data integration, & machine learning to comprehend and respond to complex questions. It provides concise & accurate answers, giving references or sources through which it generates contextual answers.

    You must be wondering…. How is it any different from Chat GPT? Well, keep reading, we’ll get to that in a bit. Moving on to the third & final contestant:

    Third, Claude AI

    Claude is an AI chatbot powered by a large language model. It is qualified to have natural, more human-like conversations. It is proficient in creative writing, summarizing, decision-making, code writing, editing, and more. You can transfer images and audio to give context for a more concise answer.

    Now, let’s compare their LLM, Accessibility & Cost, Conversational Skills, Accuracy of Data, and Creative Writing side by side.

    Perplexity AI vs. ChatGPT vs. Claude AI Comparison

    Feature  ChatGPT  Claude AI  Perplexity 
     

    LLM Used 

    		  

    ChatGPT uses its original LLMs. ChatGPT uses GPT 3.5, which is the free version, while GPT 4 is the paid version. Both versions are still available. 

    		  

    Claude uses its version, Claude 2.1, which is the latest and its only version at the moment. 

    		  

    Perplexity allows access to multiple LLMs and does not have its own. 
     

    Accessibility and Cost 

    		  

    Available in most countries worldwide, although banned in China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria, and Nepal. Free and premium versions available (ChatGPT Plus for a monthly fee). 

    		  

    Mainly available in English-speaking countries: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. Free account with access to the latest LLM version; Claude Pro costs $20 monthly. 

    		  

    Present in most countries except Europe. The free version provides access to GPT 3.5 and an autopilot search feature. Perplexity Pro offers access to GPT-4 and Claude for a monthly fee. 
     

    Conversational Skills 

    		  

    Provides longer answers with a lot of bullet points. Language is very communicative and natural. 

    		  

    Provides shorter but natural and communicative answers similar to ChatGPT. 

    		  

    Provides natural and conversational language with helpful citations for bullet points, aiding in verification and more research. 
     

    Accuracy of Data 

    		  

    Accuracy has reportedly worsened over time, which can be a big issue. 

    		  

    Similar concerns about accuracy as ChatGPT. 

    		  

    Offers more accuracy by providing sources for its answers, which is helpful for verification and research. 
     

    Creative Writing 

    		  

    Designed for creative writing and scripting, as it uses its own LLMs. 

    		  

    Designed for creative writing and scripting, as it uses its own LLMs. 

    		  

    Not designed for creative writing, as it depends on multiple LLMs. 

    So, who takes the Battle Crown for the Best AI Chatbot For 2025?

    In a nutshell, ChatGPT was the first AI chatbot to be launched. Although it is the oldest of the two, it has had its issues. GPT has shown quite a few hallucinations in the past. Its latest version has fixed a few bugs, but when compared to Claude or Perplexity, it is still not at the top of the game.

    Perplexity AI is by far the best compared to Chat GPT & Claude, as it has multiple LLMs. Therefore, with perplexity, you get the power of both Claude AI & ChatGPT in one tool. It has a focus mode, which is useful for keeping your related searches in specific areas.

    However, Claude still takes the trophy for the best creative writing. Moreover, choosing the best Al Tool depends on person to person & their specific needs. While perplexity AI does help in giving concise answers and summarizing information from different sources (webpages, blogs, etc), Claude is very useful for those who want help with creative writing formats. ChatGPT is now just used for general information (more like a search engine that gets quick answers) as users have frequently complained of recurrent bugs & false information.

    Well, that’s all for today, folks. See you with another insightful blog post soon!

  • Top 5 Best AI Website Builders in Upcoming Year 2025

    Top 5 Best AI Website Builders in Upcoming Year 2025

    Artificial Intelligence is transforming our modern world by leaps & bounds. The website creation and development market has integrated cutting edge AI technology to develop tremendous platforms that enhance the ease of web design, creation & management. AI website builders are designed with various technical capabilities equipped with automation tools, modifications, and growth potential. In the coming year 2025, the top website builders will gain recognition & excel for their ease of use, adaptability, and personalized solutions. If you are kick-starting a personal webpage, an e-commerce platform, or a business portal, these AI website builders have your back & the resources to build a professional online presence with ease.

    Let’s have a look at the top 5 AI website-building tools equipping users with innovative resources for agile, effective & personalized website development – All set to excel in 2025:

    1. Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence)

    Wix is a widely recognized name and has earned a lasting reputation in website development because of its simple tools and completely modifiable templates. It is a tool powered by AI, Wix ADI, further enhancing user-friendliness and productivity. Wix ADI develops a fully operational website with custom design, illustrations, and information by completing a few inquiries regarding your business or project. Wix ADI is ideal for individuals and small businesses that focus on effortless solutions with premium quality.

    Features and Benefits

    • Fast Installation: You can set up a fully operational website in minutes.
    • SEO strategies: Pre-installed tools for boosting visibility and tracking metrics.
    • Modifying Features: It builds the framework for users to customize layouts, color schemes, typography, and features via a drag-and-drop editor.
    • Sector-Specific Templates: A broad archive of customizable templates for different niches.

    2. B12

    B12 is a high-tech AI web development platform that is an advanced AI website development tool customized for service-centered industries. It integrates automation with specialized expertise to build a reputable online profile aligned with client demands. B12 collaborates with AI and human proficiency to design websites suited for small businesses. Providing end-to-end invoicing solutions, digital marketing, and timetables, B12 designs your website while assisting in client-facing operations. B12 AI website builders speed up the development process, design eye-catching websites easily, and ensure the constant enhancement of user activity data. B12 offers a complete solution for streamlining and maintenance of a website. B12 lets the services be recognized by improving business operations, making it a top choice for entrepreneurs seeking to manage their website and client engagements.

    Features and Benefits

    • AI-driven Human Insight: Auto-created websites are developed and fine-tuned by expert designers and writers.
    • Streamlined Business Solutions: It involves billing, time management, digital promotions, etc.
    • Accelerated Progression: It sets up a completely operational website instantly.
    • Content Creation: They use AI to generate blogs and handle marketing emails and other related materials.

    3. 10Web

    10Web is designed for WordPress users to apply AI for speedy, agile website development. It is acknowledged for its perfect fit with Elementor, 10Web ensures a hassle-free experience for both learners and advanced. 10Web is perfect for small-scale businesses and freelance professionals who rely on WordPress’s adaptable features and are looking for a speedier installation process. 10web ensures your website is optimized for the top-tier user experience and ideal search presence. On top of that, 10Web makes it easy to create user accounts for the agencies, facilitating website access with valid authorizations.

    Features and Benefits

    • Word-Press Optimization: It integrates the functionality of Word-Press with the ease of AI-driven designs.
    • Flexible Layout: It guarantees you that the website must be fully functional on all devices.
    • On-demand Content: AI-crafted written content and graphics can be customized to fit your brand’s profile.
    • Built-in Hosting: it offers hosting solutions that enable the website to be set up smoothly.

    4. Hocoos

    Hocoos is dedicated to web development, specifically crafted for small enterprises and proprietors. Its user-friendly interface enables users to construct, implement, and control active websites without programming expertise. Hocoos is especially effective for service-focused companies, helping them create a prominent digital presence free from technical hurdles. Hocoos also offers integrated marketing solutions, like email automation, data analysis, and SEO tools, to guide users in increasing their web presence and incorporating data into decision-making.

    Features and Benefits

    • Smart AI Configuration: It efficiently creates a webpage built upon a few basic questions.
    • Retail & Booking Solutions: It has pre-installed specifications for e-commerce platforms and reservation systems.
    • Guided Editor: It provides Drag-and-drop functionalities for quick customization.
    • Integrated Marketing Solutions: It comes with email campaign resources and website optimization for search engines.

    5. Brizy AI

    Brizy AI is the top-rated AI builder website for agencies. It provides an adaptable and team-oriented workspace that meets the needs of both agencies and personal users. Brizy is adaptable, flexible, and user-friendly. It is offered as a cloud solution or WordPress tool. Brizy AI is an excellent selection for businesses and agencies seeking a growth-oriented and collaborative platform for website creation. Brizy assists in the weekly migration of many sites, comprehensive updates for users in authentic website building experiences featuring excellent UX, customized with clients’ branding and their CMS, and mobile-friendly templates.

    Features and Benefits

    • Automated Design Tool: It develops websites with a no-code drag-and-drop editor.
    • Re-sellable Solutions: Businesses can modify the platform to represent their brand aesthetics.
    • Diverse Template Catalog: 180+ templates crafted for a specific niche.
    • Collaborative Platforms: Collaborate with team members and clients to co-create the design.

    What makes AI website builder tools stand out?

    AI website builders like Wix ADI, B12, 10Web, Hocoos, and Brizy AI illustrate profound evolutions in the production and operations of websites that make them stand out. Here are some important key aspects of top AI-powered website builders:

    Timesaving: AI transforms the workflows, saving valuable time required for website development and providing the means to set up a high-quality website quickly.

    User-friendliness: those without specialized technical skills can also design efficient and engaging websites.

    Budget-friendly: such website builder tools reduce the dependence on hiring UI/UX designers, helping small companies and enterprises save on costs.

    Modifications: AI-powered tools let users modify every feature of their site to represent their brands’ uniqueness.

    Opting for the best AI Website Builder

    As we move into 2025, the top-rated AI website builders mentioned below introduce innovative features that meet various demands, providing options for every taste. While opting for an AI website builder, keep your specific needs in mind:

    • For Agility and Convenience, opt for Wix ADI and Hocoos.
    • For Professional-grade Features, B12 is the premier option.
    • For WordPress Connectivity, 10Web is the smartest option.
    • For Advanced Personalization, Brizy AI is the best pick.

    Conclusion

    Ultimately, AI website builders such as Wix ADI, B12, 10Web, Hocoos & BrizyAI are heading towards greater strength in 2025. They offer benefits to companies & clients searching for efficient, customizable, high-quality, and flexible websites. Automated website builders with AI continue to ease the web development process by streamlining many tasks previously done by designers & developers, helping users devote time to their business objectives instead of technicalities.

    So, that’s all for today, folks.

    For more insightful blog posts about AI, Digital Marketing, Web Design & Development & more, head to the API blog here.

  • Adapting to Google’s Nov 2024 Update: Key SEO Insights for Agencies

    Adapting to Google’s Nov 2024 Update: Key SEO Insights for Agencies

    The Google November 2024 Core Update introduces significant changes in the way digital content is ranked, emphasizing user-focused, authoritative, and semantically rich SEO practices. This update, developed using insights from millions of users queries, underscores a shift toward rewarding high-quality content and meaningful engagement. For businesses—especially Top Tech agencies—understanding and adapting to these changes can foster stronger online presence and improved search rankings.

    Key Takeaways from the 2024 Google Core Update

    Elevating Semantic Relevance Over Exact Keywords

    This update places greater emphasis on content that aligns with user intent and context rather than strictly matching specific keyword phrases. To meet this standard:

    • Adopt Topic-Based Content Structures: Move beyond isolated keywords to cover broad, interconnected themes. SaaS agencies, for instance, can benefit by building comprehensive resource hubs that address all facets of their solutions—such as user questions, pain points, and benefits.
    • Enhance Natural Language and Semantic Richness: Include related terms and synonyms to create well-rounded discussions on key topics. A digital marketing article, for example, should naturally incorporate terms like “audience engagement,” “brand visibility,” and “online strategy” within a cohesive narrative rather than simply targeting narrow keyword phrases.

      2. Building Authority and Reliability in Content

    Google’s update reinforces the importance of authority, trustworthiness, and expertise, aligning with the longstanding EEAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) framework. To enhance credibility:

    • Showcase Industry Expertise: SaaS agencies can publish thought leadership pieces, client success stories, and content led by experts to establish authority. Linking these pieces to well-regarded industry sources can further build trust.
    • Deliver Verified, Consistent Information: Ensure data and insights are accurate and from reputable sources. Regularly updating content to reflect current trends positions agencies and businesses as reliable industry resources, which builds trust with both users and search engines.

      3. Prioritizing In-Depth, High-Quality Content

    Content that thoroughly explores topics, offers valuable insights, and moves beyond superficial answers is favored under the latest update. Businesses can benefit from this by:

    • Creating Long-Form, Value-Driven Content: Structure posts to comprehensively address user questions. For example, SaaS providers can elaborate on product features, integrations, and unique benefits, along with answering frequently asked questions. This depth of content often results in longer user engagement, which signals quality to Google’s algorithm.
    • Optimizing for Readability with Clear Formatting: Organize content with clear headings, subheadings, bullet points, and visual aids like infographics and videos to break up dense information and keep readers engaged.

      4. Enhancing User Engagement and Interaction

    The update now places increased weight on user engagement metrics, including time on page and interaction levels. To foster higher engagement:

    • Develop Interactive Content: Utilize formats like videos, quizzes, and interactive infographics to keep users engaged. SaaS companies, for instance, can offer interactive product demos or feature tours to captivate prospective customers and increase dwell time.
    • Incorporate Clear Calls-to-Action and Internal Links: Use intent-driven CTAs and strategically placed internal links to guide users to additional content, increasing engagement time and signaling a positive user experience to Google.

      5. Focusing on Technical SEO and Mobile Optimization

    Technical performance remains central to ranking. Mobile accessibility, site speed, and overall user experience are critical components:

    • Optimize for Mobile-First Performance: Pages should be quick-loading, responsive, and easy to navigate on mobile devices. As the majority of searches now come from mobile, it’s essential to ensure seamless accessibility across all devices.
    • Monitor and Improve Core Web Vitals: Regularly assess page loading times, interactivity, and visual stability. These metrics directly influence rankings, and ongoing optimization enhances both SEO and user experience

      6. Leveraging Behavioral Metrics for Improved User Satisfaction

    Behavioral metrics—such as bounce rate, time on page, and pages per session—are increasingly important indicators of user satisfaction. To improve these metrics:

    • Create Content Aligned with User Needs: Develop resources that address specific pain points of the target audience. SaaS agencies, for instance, can focus on building case studies, guides, or educational webinars that solve common client challenges and keep users returning.
    • Encourage Loyalty and Repeat Visits: Offering high-quality, regularly updated content helps establish niche authority, leading to brand loyalty and increased return visits, which positively impact SEO.

    Concluding Insights for Businesses and SaaS Agencies

    In a nutshell, the November 2024 Core Update marks a pivotal step in Google’s continued evolution towards prioritizing content that meets real user needs, provides depth, and demonstrates technical excellence. For Tech based agencies and businesses across different sectors and their nature, implementing these updated guidelines can create a more sustainable, authoritative online presence. By aligning content strategies with semantic quality relevance, technical performance, and user engagement, eventually companies can improve their visibility on the search engine and maintain a competitive edge and dominate in the Internet landscape.

  • KNX Radio Los Angeles: Now What For Elon Musk & Twitter?

    KNX Radio Los Angeles: Now What For Elon Musk & Twitter?

    Agency Partner’s CMO Adam Rizzieri joins KNX News in Los Angeles

    It finally happened. Elon Musk officially owns Twitter. It only cost him $44 Billion and yes, he way over-payed for the typically underperforming social media company. This purchase is a major win for all of the former shareholders who really didn’t stand a chance of earning $54.20 per share based on the company’s rocky trajectory. $54.20 is literally 8 times the company’s revenue projection over the next 12 months and in context, social media companies like Meta have only a 3x revenue multiple in their company valuation. So an 8x multiple is just huge! Elon bought Twitter for $54.20 per share when in reality, a market standard would have put the company closer to $24 per share.

     

     

     

    So… yes, it’s true. Elon Musk is the new, self-appointed “Chief Twit” and the social media company’s former CEO, Parag Agrawal is now unemployed, as is the company’s former CFO Ned Segal and the former Chief Censorship Officer, Vijaya Gadde. But don’t feel bad for them. Apart from suppressing extremely relevant news stories around the time of the 2020 election, this leadership team routinely abused their power to silence conversations that did not mesh with their personal political beliefs. Twitter’s leadership team used their extreme power to dictate national discourse. As of now, the damage has been done, and while their leadership team was rapidly fired leading up to Halloween, collectively, they are set to bring in some $90 Million from the deal. So again, don’t feel bad for them. They’ll be fine.

    The Twitter purchase saga was no doubt, entertaining for bystanders, and Musk was extremely public about his concerns of the ratio between real humans and bots on the platform. Once he expressed his interest in buying the company, he gained access to internal information that made the purchase much less attractive. Despite that, from day one Musk has been adamant that his intentions for buying Twitter were not purely money motivated.

     

    He wants to create a super app called “X” that truly enables and facilitates free speech. So maybe it’s okay that he over-payed? Sure, $44 Billion is literally billions of dollars… it’s a ton of money! But maybe, just mayyybe he will turn this social media company into a profitable business that creates value beyond just dollars and sense.

    Moving forward, Twitter could change in major ways. In the short term, the now private company can do a lot of things that public companies cannot do. Musk, as the owner, will fire everyone that cannot handle a simple “mean Tweet.” Expect to see his army of engineers work to defeat bots and authenticate all real human users. A true measure of actual humans will help enable to platform to cater to advertisers that funnel revenue into the business.

    Additionally, Twitter will likely become an open-source application. With its algorithm open to the public, it can avoid the secrecy and perceptions of bias that the company has carried on its back for many years. In the short-term, users should expect to enjoy expanded character counts, moving away from the 280 character limit, and also an ability to post videos that exceed the current 140 second limit. Elon loves a good parody video, and many of those videos are longer than 140 seconds.

    Must Twitter DOGE cryptoWhat about DOGE and blue checkmarks? We have heard insight that Twitter will enable payment processing and we know that Elon loves him a good DOGE coin meme. Tesla accepts DOGE so expect to see that cryptocurrency boost in value as Twitter adds some interest to it. As far as the blue checkmark users, we know that Elon wants to see the company authenticate all users. It is possible that Twitter Blue subscribers will be given access to the blue check, typically reserved for celebrities and influencers, but it is also possible that blue checks will be subjected to a monthly fee as Musk looks to make the company more financially healthy.

    Over the long-term, Musk truly believes that he can turn Twitter into a super app. When we think of “super apps,” think of China’s WeChat app, which allows for everything from payment processing, to direct messaging, public micro-blog posting, file sharing and more…. What China’s government doesn’t want you to know is that WeChat is also used to track the movement, behavior, and relationships of Chinese nationals that are traveling abroad – we expect that Musks’s “super app” will be way less creepy and not totalitarian in nature. And get this: he might even bring Twitter’s founder, Jack Dorsey BACK into the mix.

    To opine on the issue, Adam Rizzieri of Agency Partner Interactive joins Audacy’s Los Angeles business news radio show “KNX In-Depth,” with hosts Mike Simpson and Charles Feldman.

    Listen to their conversation below.

     

  • Dallas Innovates: Tech Titans Announces 22 Fast Tech Companies of 2022

    Dallas Innovates: Tech Titans Announces 22 Fast Tech Companies of 2022

    First Published on Oct. 6, 2022 at DallasInnovates.com. Authored by Lance Murray

    Tech Titans, the Richardson-based tech industry group, released its list of Fast Tech companies, the 22 fastest-growing technology companies in North Texas based on three-year revenue growth from 2020 to 2022.

    Dallas Innovates - Tech Titans - Fast Tech Awards 2022The organization said that the ranking is compiled from nominations that were submitted directly to Tech Titans, and from independent research using publicly available information conducted by Moss Adams and Comerica Bank.

    The final rankings will be announced during the Tech Titans Awards Gala on Oct. 27.

    2022 Fast Tech Companies in Alphabetical Order

    5Q Cloud
    Don Goldstein, CEO
    The company provides solutions through its own Virtual Private Cloud Services with data centers in Atlanta and Dallas.

    Agency Partner Interactive
    Muhammad Younus, CEO
    The firm helps growth-focused businesses achieve ROI-driven strategies by providing bespoke custom web design, website development, and digital marketing.

    AmplifAI
    Sean Minter, CEO
    An AI-driven performance enablement platform built for enterprise teams.

    Chargeback Gurus
    Srii Srinivasan, CEO
    e-commerce chargeback and fraud prevention specialists. 

    Cloud Ingenuity
    Suzanne Kosub, CEO
    A trusted partner in technology that focuses on business, architectural and organizational outcomes by aligning people, process, technology, and data.

    Cypher Learning
    Graham Glass, CEO
    An Al-infused platform is empowering schools, businesses, and entrepreneurs worldwide.

    EmpowerMX
    Dinakara Nagalla, CEO
    A software suite dedicated to helping airlines and MROs plan, execute, and optimize their operations.

    Entouch
    Jon Bolen, CEO
    The company delivers sustainable solutions that reduce energy usage, drive profitability, and simplify facility management for multisite operators.

    Lone Star Analysis
    Steve Roemerman, CEO
    A provider of predictive and prescriptive analytics and guided artificial intelligence.

    Newline Interactive
    Kevin Wang, CEO
    A global leader in interactive touchscreen displays.

    Ntegrated Solutions
    Mark Floyd, CEO
    An IP telephony firm specializing in communication solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses.

    o9 Solutions Inc.
    Chakri Gottemukkala, CEO
    The provider of a knowledge-powered analytics, planning, and learning platform for next-generation global enterprises.

    ParkHub
    George Baker, founder and CEO
    A provider of parking management systems that offer a birds-eye-view of parking lot operations.

    Perry Weather
    Colin Perry, CEO
    A provider of real-time emergency weather and lightning alert systems.

    Qentelli Solutions
    Prasanna Singaraju, CEO
    Digital and cloud transformation through DevOps implementation, automation, agile transformation, AI and deep learning.

    Siepe LLC
    Michael Pusateri, CEO
    A public cloud-managed services and data analytics provider addressing the technology needs of asset managers.

    Take Command Health
    Jack Hooper, CEO
    The company focuses on employee health benefits at an affordable price.

    TimelyMD
    Luke Hejl, CEO
    A student-centered platform that is designed for digital natives. Its solution offers on-demand access to mental health and medical care and a diverse, culturally competent provider network.

    Trintech
    Teresa Mackintosh, CEO
    A leading provider of financial software empowering the offices of finance to maximize value within their organizations.

    Velo ITG Holdings LLC
    Taylor Toce, CEO
    A managed IT services provider focused on providing businesses with the technology and support they need to achieve maximum velocity in their markets.

    Zimperium
    Shridhar Mittal, CEO
    A mobile security company that’s purpose-built for enterprise, securing both mobile devices and applications so they can securely access data.

    Plus, meet the 43 finalists for the Tech Titans Awards

    Last month, Tech Titans announced 43 finalists for the Tech Titans Awards who also will be honored at the event.

    You can see that list here.

  • KNX Radio Los Angeles: Twitter Finally Tests An Edit Button

    KNX Radio Los Angeles: Twitter Finally Tests An Edit Button

    Agency Partner’s CMO Adam Rizzieri joins KNX News in Los Angeles

    It’s finally happening, Twitter is now going to test its much-anticipated “edit” function.

    Twitter said in April it would come out with it due to popular demand. Twitter Blue subscribers will get to tinker with it in the coming weeks first. Adam Rizzieri of Agency Partner Interactive joins Audacy’s Los Angeles business news radio show “KNX In-Depth,” with hosts Mike Simpson and Charles Feldman.

    Listen to the radio coverage below.

     

    For more information, click to read the blog, “Is Twitter Finally Adding the Edit Button?“

  • What The World Must Know About TikTok and ByteDance

    What The World Must Know About TikTok and ByteDance

    Social Media News: Is TikTok a Trojan Horse for the Chinese Communist Party?

    Last month, BuzzFeed reported on leaked audio from 80 internal meetings at TikTok offices revealing that the company routinely allows Beijing-based employees to access private US user data.

    This comes after public statements to news outlets and the US Congress, swearing under oath that TikTok user data would not be compromised or shared with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials. For years the company promised that US user data would be stored on US-based servers and would not be shared with officials from our largest foreign adversary. 

    The trouble is that, as one TikTok employee from the Trust and Safety department said, “everything is seen in China.”

    Irrespective of where the servers are physically located, as easily as accessing a song or iMessage from the cloud, Beijing-based ByteDance employees tap into US-based servers with ease. From one headline to the next, US-based TikTok spokespersons continue to contradict themselves, gaslighting the American public and US regulators instead of owning up to their ugly truth.

     

     

    The concerns here are vast and we must dig deeper.

    On one hand, TikTok’s 1 billion users (and growing) are sharing vast amounts of in-app usage, device, and biometric data. The social entertainment app can track where you go and when, and then process that data into meaningful patterns of behavior. All of this data goes through a process of machine learning, which optimizes TikTok’s “For You” algorithm.

    If you stop right there, this isn’t really a story worth talking about. After all, American social media companies do this kind of stuff everyday for purposes of generating advertising revenue.

    But scratch the surface just a bit deeper. TikTok is not like an American social media company. TikTok is an app that’s owned by a Chinese tech company called ByteDance Ltd.

    To be clear, ByteDance is an asset that is owned and controlled by the People’s Republic of China. That’s why US regulators and lawmakers such as Senator Ted Cruz warn that TikTok is “a Trojan horse for the Chinese Communist Party [that can be used] to influence what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think.” He’s not wrong.

    What You Need to Know About ByteDance’s Power Structure

    Founded by Zhang Yiming, ByteDance Ltd. was incorporated in the Cayman Islands in 2012, though Beijing is its global headquarters. As a company ByteDance designs, develops, and operates several applications, including TikTok, other social media apps, news apps, business apps, and more.

    In Communist China, there is no real concept of private ownership.

    All ownership is collectively held by the government and any sense of private ownership is a temporary allowance that is granted by the socialist market economy. Why do you think counterfeit goods and a black market flourishes in China? Because like in North Korea and other totalitarian states, they need it! The ruling Chinese Communist Party owns the economic output of all companies and no one gets to operate or “own” anything without expressed consent from the CCP. Think about home ownership in the United States. In China, no citizen or business can own the land that their home or office rests on. The closest you can get is an allowance from the government to lease the land for 70 years.

    ByteDance HQ Isn’t Staffed with Hipsters and Tech Bros

    Looking specifically at ByteDance’s corporate structure, we’re not talking about a company that is run by software engineers with Star Wars shirts and digital marketers that portray themselves as over-manicured hipsters.

    The company is a Chinese state-controlled enterprise that has government officials in corner offices. While it happens to have non-Chinese investors including Sequoia Capital, SoftBank Group, and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, these non-Chinese financiers have no actual control over ByteDance.

    In fact, the CCP controls the company through a state-owned enterprise called the Cyberspace Administration of China, and a government appointed official, Wu Shugang, sits on ByteDance’s board of directors. That relationship, coupled with Chinese national security laws, gives the CCP sole decision-making authority at ByteDance HQ.

    Further to that, within the ByteDance org chat, there is a group that functions as an “internal Chinese Communist Party committee,” managed by ByteDance vice president, Zhang Fuping. This group routinely meets to study speeches and instruction from President Xi Jinping. Their purpose is to ensure that the company works in lockstep with CCP political goals.

    As for any business executives that defy or embarrass the CCP, punishments include public humiliation, indefinite detainment, or worse. Like Canadian-Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua or Jack Ma, some executives simply disappear, only to reappear months or years later — if at all.

    Even ByteDance’s founder and first CEO, Zhang Yiming, has been negatively impacted by the CCP’s thirst for absolute control. In May 2021, he quickly resigned from his position due to a lack of censorship on two of ByteDance’s other apps that were exclusive to mainland China. The company is now run by Zhang’s former roommate, Liang Rubo.

    Seriously Think About The Back Office and Its Motivations

    Here’s the thing… every concern expressed by Senator Cruz and FCC Commissioner Carr is founded on reality.

    TikTok isn’t just an app and ByteDance isn’t just a company. These are direct extensions of a Xi Jinping controlled Chinese Communist Party that seeks to dominate the world and so far, they have managed to build a weapons-grade attention engagement algorithm into TikTok. That’s why it works so well.

    Xi is a leader that has big aspirations. He dreams of a world where China is the single dominant world power, both economically and militarily. Xi assumed power in 2012 and under his leadership, political observers have cited an increase of mass surveillance, state-controlled censorship, a deterioration of human rights, and a cult of personality developing around his persona.

    In 2018, Xi Jinping removed his 2-term limit, elevating his status to “president for life.” Sounds like Vladimir Putin, right? This makes him the most powerful leader the country has had since Mao Zedong. Under his leadership, his government has been repeatedly exposed for committing some of the worst, most frequent human rights atrocities on Earth. I’m talking about genocide, child slavery, and so much more.

    In Xi’s China, apps have already been used to assert power and suppress dissent. Most recently China used a COVID health tracking app to restrict citizens from lawfully leaving their apartments. This COVID app leverages QR codes and a color code system to allow citizens access to buildings and transportation. QR code scans take place after routine COVID screenings (every 48 hours), and if you have a green light in your app, it means you can leave your apartment. The CCP has been using this app and giving a red light to citizens that have been deemed politically unfavorable, restricting their ability to travel for work, to get food, and more. This concept is in essence, an extreme version of vaccine passports.

     

     

    The fact of the matter is that China already uses apps to control and manipulate their own people. WeChat is another popular “super app” that the CCP uses to monitor and control Chinese nationals that travel abroad.

    Xi Jinping and the CCP view apps as a tool that strengthens their surveillance capabilities and to assert power. It would be extremely naive for US national security analysts and consumers to view ByteDance or TikTok as anything other than malignant… a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

    A Rare Glimpse At How ByteDance Has Already Targeted US App Users

    A new report from Emily Baker-White highlights that TikTok’s parent company intentionally used one of its apps to distribute pro-China messages to millions of Americans.

    A now defunct news app called TopBuzz was used to secretly share and promote pro-China messages to Americans, while actively suppressing anything that was critical of the CCP. This app, TopBuzz, was basically a news aggregator app that the Communist Party could use to influence the world of news and entertainment. In the US, the concept of “fake news” has been all the rage, and in 2018 TopBuzz took that to the next level for its 80 million users.

    ByteDance Beijing Headquarters
    CCP members and employees in ByteDance Beijing Office (NetEase Hao photo)

    Following interviews with over 15 former ByteDance staffers that were assigned to TopBuzz, it became apparent that a content review system would filter content in such a way that allowed government fueled censorship. The Hong Kong “freedom protests” were suppressed, and oddly, the cartoon Winnie the Pooh was banned as it has become a vehicle in China to mock President Xi Jinping.

    Xi Jinping Winnie the Pooh
    Image Credit: unknown source

    Don’t forget, commies can’t take a joke without trying to take your head.

    Thankfully, TopBuzz shuttered in June 2020 but during its time, here are some of the things it was up to:

    • Removing all coverage of Honk Kong Freedom Protests
    • Removing any news and editorial content depicting openly gay people
    • Removing all content critical of Xi Jinping and the CCP
    • Scraping content from 3rd party publishers & running fake bylines to support political objectives
    • Creating fake user accounts to promote and comment on politically relevant stories
    • Running news and editorial content specific to US elections, politicians, & current events

    If that isn’t smoke, this headline from the DailyMail is fire:

    China Asked TikTok for Stealth Account Where it Could Spread Propaganda in the West

    TikTok Election Interference

    New information from Bloomberg hit the press after a TikTok whistleblower shared that the Chinese government made a “sensitive request,” asking TikTok leaders to create a stealth propaganda account.

    The DailyMail notes that the CCP was facing harsh global scrutiny in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and this request was designed to try and mitigate damage to China’s international reputation.

    [Cough, cough, “Wuhan lab leak,” cough, cough..]

    The request went to the company’s international management team, including US-based Global Head of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Erich Andersen, as well as Elizabeth Kanter who heads TikTok’s government relations for the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, and Israel.

    Since President Trump worked to remove TikTok from the US market in 2020, the company has been under increased scrutiny, prompting its PR teams to try and create a perceivable distance from its direct association with the Chinese government.

    Perhaps because of this, and the fact that internal whistleblowers shared the story, this particular request was not implemented. But how far and frequent are requests like this? Will we have to rely on future whistleblowers to expose injustices within the ranks of ByteDance or is there already enough information to give us a clear answer for how we must move forward? It seems there are a lot of sparks here — and tons of smoke. As we know, where there is smoke, there is fire.

    As Americans, business leaders, taxpayers, patriots, and freedom-loving people, we have to really come to terms with reality here.

    How far are we willing to let this go and, given ByteDance’s power, can it impact future elections and world events? It seems that it’s already happening.

     

    Author: S. Adam Rizzieri
    Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer // Agency Partner Interactive

    Can Agency Partner Interactive Help Me With Social Media?

    As Dallas’ top digital marketing agency, we optimize marketing investments in real-time with our digital marketing and social media management services. We help businesses determine how and to what extent they should be leveraging social media marketing. TikTok is a very murky place right now, though there are many businesses that are finding ways to create value with it. The future is uncertain and when it comes to lead generation, our digital marketing team can help diversify risk and create a multitude of online channels that add value to your business. 

    If you’re looking to safely navigate online marketing, our digital marketing experts will work to understand your business goals and objectives — thereby working to help you attract valuable customers, drive sales, increase your leads, build brand awareness, and more.

    Are you ready to optimize your business with an award-winning social media marketing agency? Maybe you just have some basic questions? Let’s talk — Contact us today!

  • Fox 5 Las Vegas: Meta Tweaks Facebook App

    Fox 5 Las Vegas: Meta Tweaks Facebook App

    Social Media News: Is Facebook Trying to Copy TikTok’s Feed?

    Agency Partner’s co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Adam Rizzieri joins Fox 5 Las Vegas to talk about the latest social media news. If you’ve been paying attention to recent social media news, you may have heard that Meta is updating Facebook to be more like TikTok. Is this really a good idea? Bad idea? What is the goal here…?

    Tune in to the conversation below.

    For a more in-depth analysis on this major social media update, click here for the whole story.

     

    Can Agency Partner Interactive Help With Your Social Media Marketing Challenges?

    Of course! As Dallas’ top digital marketing agency, we optimize social media marketing investments in real-time with our digital marketing and social media management services. Agency Partner’s internet marketing experts can adjust and optimize your marketing campaigns up to 48 times over 24 hours. We try to make improvements in real-time to provide you with the fastest, most impactful return on investment.

    Our digital marketing experts will help you attract valuable customers, drive sales, increase your leads, build brand awareness, and more. Ready to optimize your business with an award-winning PPC Agency? Maybe you just have some basic questions?  Contact us today to get started!

  • Meta Updates Facebook Feed To Be More Like TikTok

    Meta Updates Facebook Feed To Be More Like TikTok

    Social Media News: Is Facebook Trying to Copy TikTok’s Feed?

    If you’ve been paying attention to recent social media news, you have likely heard that Meta is updating Facebook to be more like TikTok. 

    The heart of the app update will be focused on your Facebook feed. This is typically where users find content from friends and family… Well, this week we’re seeing a change to that as Meta is now able to utilize its new “Discovery Engine” to show you more recommended content, with a strong tilt for all video formatted content, above audio and text.

    With a new discovery algorithm powering all of this, the Facebook User Interface, which is basically what you see on your app screen, will now be split into a “Home” feed and a “Feeds” tab. The Home Feed will present you with content that is designed to keep you entertained, similar to your typical TikTok experience. Meanwhile, the Feeds tab is where you’ll find the latest posts from Friends, Groups, and your you basic social media favorites.

    Facebook feed update like TikTok

    This is a Move from Social Network to Online Content Sharing Platform

    There is no doubt that this is a big change for Facebook. It is a move away from its roots as a social network among friends and family, and towards a TikTok style “entertainment app” that highlights content creators and online commerce.

    Think of the TikTok “For You” feed. This is a feed that shares seemingly endless short form videos from strangers and friends alike. Of TikTok’s 1 billion users, more than 55% of them are creating highly shareable short form videos that are not restricted to an audience of first, second, and third-degree connections.

    Facebook feed update

    What is Behind this Change to the Facebook Feed? 

    If you ask 10 people, you may get three to five different answers. Here is what the Zuck himself has to say about it:

    “One of the most requested features for Facebook is to make sure people don’t miss friends’ posts. So today we’re launching a Feeds tab where you can see posts from your friends, groups, Pages and more separately in chronological order. The app will still open to a personalized feed on the Home tab, where our discovery engine will recommend the content we think you’ll care most about. But the Feeds tab will give you a way to customize and control your experience further.”

    Does the Zuck stop here?

    We don’t think so… We think Meta is anxious that TikTok is now surpassing 1 Billion active users. We know Meta is taking note of the fact that Bytedance’s cash cow, TikTok, is poised to grow from $4 to $12 Billion in 2022.

    If you look back to October 2012, back when Facebook hit its first 1 Billion users, that level of active users turned out to be a nuclear reactor of new revenue growth, teeing them up to acquire Instagram (for cheap, just $1 Billion), WhatsApp, and 2 Billion more users.

    So here we are…. TikTok is at its first billion users and it is dominating the attention of Gen Z. Consider this: the average TikTok user spends 29 hours per month scrolling through the app. This compares to 16 hours for Facebook users and just 8 hours per month for Instagram users.

    That difference in time spent on the app is huge… Meta is feeling left out because no doubt, they are not the cool kid in school anymore.

    Is Facebook About to Alienate the Legacy App’s Loyal Users?

    This move to appeal to a younger demographic could totally blow up in Meta’s face.

    Your typical Facebook app user presents much different demographic data than your daily TikTok user. Meta’s Facebook has mostly Millennials on up to Baby Boomers, and really doesn’t have many Gen Z gamer kids on the platform.

    Meta has to ask itself: “Can we have it all and if we cannot, is it worth alienating a loyal legacy user to try and attract the favor of a younger demographic?” 

    At best, the younger demographic is spending time reposting TikTok videos to Instagram Reels….

    Why, you might ask? Well, social media users tend to prefer the video editing tools that TikTok offers in its app so most often a video will be created and posted to TikTok before eventually being shared on Instagram Reels.

    But I digress. Baby boomers and older millennials are likely engaging in none of this content duplication and posting behavior. They’re on Facebook to share updates with the family across the country or keeping up with old friends from school. If they’re keeping their content consumption closer to home, it’s likely that they’re hanging strong in Facebook Groups.

    Are Companies Changing Their Social Media Behavior?

    Yes and no. In some ways, a good social media marketer is always changing things up. Similarly, the social media engagement algorithms are constantly in flux to cater to a combination of a better user experience and specific business goals. Yes, business goals. These social media companies are NOT non-profit organizations. In some ways, they may even be a little bit evil, emphasizing that small businesses and individuals are largely at the mercy of the big tech.

    News organizations, for sure, will have to change how their content is disseminated online.

    More than 70% of US adults are accustomed to consuming news content in a digital, in-app social media format and Facebook has been a leading supplier of this type of information. This Facebook-TikTok update will highlight user generated content (think of the TikTok challenges and trendy dance moves) and move away from syndicating real and “fake” news. Given the heat that Zuckerberg and Co. have been facing from US lawmakers and states attorneys general, this may help mitigate the companies annual legal expenses.

    As always, in times of change, opportunity presents along with challenge. There will be some companies that find new ways to engage their customers among the 3 billion Meta users worldwide.

    How Should I Respond to this Facebook/TikTok Social Media Update?

    It depends!

    If you’re a social media user, pay close attention to the type of content of you see in the Facebook Home tab, and take note of how it differs from the stuff that is presented to you in that Feeds tab. If this change happens to be a win for Meta, and Facebook starts to measure more app activity between Facebook, Instagram, and Insta Reels in particular, then expect this to stick around. Remember, Facebook is a for-profit business and it really only cares about promoting user growth and selling advertisements to businesses. Meta cares about Meta.

    If your business happens to be a news and information publisher that relies on Facebook to syndicate content, you should contact a social media marketing agency today. This will be a difficult time for your company.

    If you run a product or service company that gets new product sales, phone calls, appointments, and form submissions from social media marketing, then this could be an interesting new world for you.

    In fact, it could be a lot of fun if you’re able to invest in shareable, video content that is designed explicitly for social sharing. Brands have been using TikTok to go viral and put themselves front and center in front of gamer kids, Gen Z’s, and younger Millennials. 

    Now, that same style of content can be used to get your brand in front of a more mature social media user. Depending on what you sell and who your customer is, this may or may not work, which is why always recommend that you consult with a digital marketer first. With that said, every new internet marketing campaign is a test and should be conducted using the scientific method.

    Can Agency Partner Interactive Help Me With This?

    As Dallas’ top digital marketing agency, we optimize marketing investments in real-time with our digital marketing and social media management services. Our internet marketing experts can optimize your marketing campaigns up to 48 times over 24 hours. We try to make improvements in real-time to provide you with the fastest, most impactful return on investment.

    Our digital marketing experts will help you attract valuable customers, drive sales, increase your leads, build brand awareness, and more. Ready to optimize your business with an award-winning PPC Agency? Maybe you just have some basic questions? 

    Contact us today to get started!

  • CBS News: Elon Musk on Why he Wants to Purchase Twitter at a Premium

    CBS News: Elon Musk on Why he Wants to Purchase Twitter at a Premium

    Agency Partner joins CBS Austin

    Elon Musk, one of the world’s richest men, has struck a deal to buy the platform Twitter at $54.20 a share which was accepted Monday. Making the sale worth about $44 billion.

    “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Musk stated during his announcement.

    During initial negotiations, our co-founder and CMO Adam Rizzieri was asked by Melanie Torre from CBS Austin on his thoughts on the accusation and what the board of directors at Twitter might think of the deal.

    Adam believes Musk can bring value to Twitter, especially in terms of growth. He points out, that Twitter reported a $221 million loss for 2021—much of that related to a shareholder-waged lawsuit for misleading investors about user growth.

    “I think a guy like him can compel more Americans to go to the platform. I think he can compel more people around the world, in general, to get on the platform,” Adam said.

  • 2022’s Most In-Demand Digital Skills: What You Need to Know

    2022’s Most In-Demand Digital Skills: What You Need to Know

    As we move further into the 21st century, the world of digital marketing is only going to become more and more important. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest digital skills. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most in-demand digital skills for 2022. Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, these skills will help you thrive in the years to come!

    What are digital skills?

    Digital skills are the abilities and knowledge needed to succeed in the digital world. This includes everything from social media marketing to web design to data analysis. As the world becomes more and more digital, these skills are becoming more and more important.

    As business owners and employees, it’s important that we keep our digital skills up-to-date. So we stay ahead of the curve in competitive markets.

    Why are digital skills important?

    Digital skills are important because they can help you succeed in any number of industries. Whether you’re looking to start your own business or get ahead in your current career, digital skills will give you the tools you need to succeed.

    Are All Digital Skills Coding?

    No! You don’t need to be able to code to have digital skills. While coding is a valuable skill in the digital world, it’s only one aspect of many. There are plenty of other digital skills that don’t involve codings, such as social media marketing, web design, and data analysis.

    What are the most in-demand digital skills for 2022?

    In 2022 the digital realm has expanded beyond what we could have ever imagined. With technology changing and advancing at breakneck speeds, it can be hard to keep up with the latest trends. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the most in-demand digital skills for 2022 so you can stay ahead of the curve.

    Digital Marketing Skills

    Digital marketing is the process of using digital channels to promote or market products and services. This can include everything from social media marketing to email marketing to search engine optimization (SEO). As the world becomes more and more digitized, businesses are realizing the importance of a strong digital marketing strategy.

    Social Media Marketing

    Social media marketing is one of the most in-demand skills of 2022. As the world becomes more and more connected, businesses are looking for ways to reach their target audiences through social media. If you’re interested in a career in digital marketing, social media marketing is a great place to start.

    Email Marketing

    Email marketing continues to be strong in the world of digital marketing. In 2022, businesses will be looking for ways to connect with their customers and clients through email. If you’re interested in a career in digital marketing, email marketing is a great place to start.

    Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

    SEO is the process of optimizing a website for Google search. In other words, it’s the process of making a website more visible in Google search results. In 2022, businesses will be looking for ways to improve their SEO in order to reach more customers and clients. If you’re interested in a career in digital marketing, SEO is a great place to start.

    Pay Per Click Advertising (PPC)

    PPC is a type of digital marketing where businesses pay to have their ads displayed in Google search results. In 2022, businesses will be looking for ways to improve their PPC campaigns in order to reach more customers and clients. If you’re interested in a career in digital marketing, PPC is a great place to start.

    Web Design

    Another in-demand skill for 2022 is web design. As businesses move more of their operations online, they need websites that are user-friendly and visually appealing. If you have a knack for design, web design is a great career to consider.

    Data Analysis

    Data analysis is another skill set that will be in high demand in 2022. As businesses collect more and more data, they need people who can help them make sense of it all. If you’re detail-oriented and good with numbers, data analysis could be the perfect career for you.

    Software and Technical Skills

    While some software skills may seem basic, they will become increasingly important in the next few years.

    WordPress

    WordPress is a content management system that helps you create and manage a website. While it’s not as popular as it once was, WordPress is still a valuable skill to have. Many websites are built on the WordPress platform, and even having a basic understanding of how it works is very valuable.

    Microsoft Office

    Microsoft Office has been a staple of the business industries for decades now. With no sign of going away anytime soon, Microsoft Office is a great digital skill to have in your playbook.

    Google Suite

    Google Suite, or GSuite, is an important part of daily business for many companies. Being able to work within digital workspaces and docs, as Google offers, is an important digital skill.

    Adobe Suite

    Adobe has built some of the most powerful image and video editing software that exists. Being able to work and utilize their software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, etc, is a great way to step up your digital skills!

    Project Management

    As businesses take on more projects, they’ll need people who can help manage them. If you’re good at keeping track of deadlines and details, project management is a great digital skill to have.

    Marketing Automation

    As businesses automate more of their marketing processes, they’ll need people who know how to use the software. Marketing automation is a complex but important digital skill that will be in high demand in 2022.

    These are just a few of the most in-demand digital skills for 2022. If you’re looking to get ahead in your career, start by learning one or more of these skills. With the right skill set, you’ll be well on your way to success! If you’re interested in learning more digital skills, keep an eye on our blog! And if you want help to start your own digital projects using digital experts, contact us today!

  • IT Staffing Solutions: Scale Your Business Quickly and Easily

    IT Staffing Solutions: Scale Your Business Quickly and Easily

    Expert Tips For IT Staffing Solutions: Scale Your Business Quickly and Easily

    Your business is booming, but now you need more support than your current employees can handle. When looking for IT staff, you can hire someone on your own and hope that they can handle the workload. Or you can go with an IT staffing company that will provide you with the right resources and support when it comes to scaling your business.

    IT staffing solutions are perfect for businesses that need to scale quickly and easily. An IT staffing company will have a large pool of resources available so you can find the best fit for your specific needs.

    Many have heard of IT staffing but don’t know what it is. IT staffing refers to the process of employing temporary or contract workers who are skilled in information technology systems. This allows for flexibility and scalability in an organization’s IT department. Let’s take a look at some reasons why hiring IT staff can benefit your business!

    What is IT Staffing?

    IT staffing is the process of contracting your IT staff. This offers not only flexibility for your business but also gives you access to top IT talent from all over the world. You can use onboard a new IT employee or team in record time!

    IT staffing services are an excellent way to supplement your company’s IT department. Hiring contract or temporary workers allows for more flexibility than full-time employees without sacrificing the quality of service. Perhaps you’re at the beginning stages of building a team and need some extra bodies to get up and running quickly?

    Or maybe your long-term employees are on vacation or out of the office for an extended period of time? IT staffing services can help you cover these gaps without hiring a full-time employee.

    Who Needs IT Staffing?

    Small businesses, in particular, can benefit from using IT staffing solutions. When your business is just starting, it’s essential to be frugal and efficient with your resources. Hiring contract workers instead of full-time employees is a great way to do this. You can also scale up or down as needed, depending on the demands of your business.

    Does your business need a dedicated IT staff to help grow your business? IT staffing solutions can offer a customized solution that fits your business. You’ll have access to the best talent in the industry, and you won’t have to worry about hiring and training a full-time employee.

    It can be difficult for businesses to find qualified employees in today’s economy. IT staffing solutions offer a great way to get access to top talent without having to go through the hassle of recruiting and interviewing.

    How do I get IT Staffing?

    If you’re interested in IT staffing solutions for your business, the first step is to contact an IT staffing agency. They will work with you to assess your needs and find the perfect fit for your company. You can also browse through their database of qualified candidates to find the best talent for your specific project or role.

    Finding an IT Staffing Agency

    The first thing to look for when finding the right IT staffing agency for your business is to make sure they have a good reputation. Ask around and do your research to find an agency you can trust.

    Agency Partner Interactive has been offering IT staffing solutions for businesses just like yours. We have access to top IT talent across all industries. We understand the intricacies of hiring for different positions and projects, so you can trust us to find exactly what your business needs!

    To learn more about our IT staffing solutions or any of our other services, contact an Agency Partner Interactive representative today. A member of our team will work with you. The next thing to look for is experience. Ensure the staffing agency has to experience in the IT industry and knows how to properly screen and assess candidates.

    The next thing to look for is experience. When finding the right IT staffing agency, you want to ensure they are experienced in finding top IT talent. This is extremely important because you want to ensure the agency can find quality workers that will fit your specific needs.

    The last thing to look for is an agency that offers a wide range of services. This way, you’ll be able to get all of your IT staffing needs met by one company.

    Agency Partner Interactive offers a wide range of services and has experience staffing companies of all types. We understand what it takes to find quality workers that fit your needs, and we’ll work with you every step of the way.

    Contact an Agency Partner Interactive representative today if you’re interested in IT staffing solutions for your business! We’d love to help you get started on a long-term project or temporary role so that you can scale your business quickly and easily!

    Getting Started with IT Staffing

    Now that you’ve found a good IT staffing agency, it’s time to hire some employees! Here are a few tips to help you get started:

    – Make sure the agency has good references before hiring any workers.

    – Go over their resumes and assess which candidates would be best for your specific project or role.

    – If it’s a long-term assignment, you may want to have them sign an NDA so that they can’t share any sensitive information.

    – After you have chosen a candidate, contact the agency so they can handle all of the paperwork and background checks for you!

    If your business is looking to hire an IT worker or team, reach out to us today at Agency Partner Interactive! Our experienced teams will help find top talent that fits your unique needs.

  • The Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing in 2021

    The Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing in 2021

    Expert Tips For The Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing in 2021

    When it comes to business marketing, 2021 looks completely different than last year. A few years ago, the strategies and plans you had in place for b2b marketing will need an overhaul for 2021. COVID-19 threw changes at businesses, increasing the need to appeal to customers and clients working from home.

    As a marketer, you may already know that business-to-business marketing has to be on-trend, modern, and engaging, and the only way to do this is to follow the latest trends and line up with what your clients will need to see from you.

    B2B marketers today have to rethink their plans, rework strategies and consider their current approach and whether it applies. Customer expectations are changing, and the need for digital engagement is on the up. With different digital channels used to build new and existing customer relationships, B2B marketing experts must widen their scope with digital engagement.

    Business-to-business marketing strategies will differ from business to business, but the most significant focus needs to be on driving growth and improving consumer experiences. This will boost your business marketing and improve your relationships with your customers at the same time.

    The world may look like a different place right now than a few years ago, but digital marketing is steaming forward, and we all need to look at customer engagement and branding. Below, we’ve put together a list of the B2B marketing strategies that will be taking 2021 by storm. 

    Widen Digital Engagement

    Did you know that over 90% of B2B marketing experts use email as their primary strategy for marketing? Email marketing – despite what people think – is not dead yet! From using interesting subjects to segmenting emails depending on the customer group, B2B marketers are using responsive and user-friendly emails to capture the attention of their customers.

    It’s important to broaden this sphere, so missing in web marketing (paid ads, SEO, and a branded website) will help. More than 80% of consumers will check a company website before they commit to a purchase.

    Lastly, use content marketing! People are using their phones and their computers to search for information. Excellent content needs to be value-driven, data-driven, and AI-driven, too. 

    Invest In SEO

    As most of the world moves in and out of lockdown, B2B marketers need to consider their current SEO strategy and adjust it to suit. It will help if you enhance your visibility while generating quality leads for B2B businesses. When you have a strong SEO strategy, your marketing goals can be better realized.

    Offer Better UX

    User experience is one of the most crucial pieces of the B2B marketing puzzle. It ensures that your business customers repeatedly return, so you need to make the necessary investments in user experience (UX) to grow the business quickly.

    Inbound Marketing Increases In Popularity

    Did you know that inbound marketing is as essential as any other marketing sphere? It’s going to increase with customers that are looking for tailored content. You must build long-lasting connections with your customers, and to do this, you have to gear your content toward offering them the answers they need to their business problems.

    Consider Artificial Intelligence

    One of the most popular marketing strategies for this year is artificial intelligence. This can help you broaden the scope of B2B marketing. Marketers in the business sphere can employ automation strategies to gain better insights and make better decisions. In our data-driven culture, artificial intelligence is ready to change the game. AI is going to be an essential tool for delivering user-friendly content.

    With our need for instant gratification, chatbots and live help (all AI-based) are becoming more popular for businesses worldwide. It’s all about customer service, and chatbots are there to help you connect better to your customers, providing them exceptional experiences every time.

    More Than One Channel

    When it comes to your B2B marketing strategies, you need to ensure an omnichannel provider. This is more than a trend; this is the next step in promoting the right message between consumer and brand. Social and digital channels need to be maximized to offer the best possible service.

    Consider Software As A Service

    This is a business-to-business marketing strategy that is provided to other businesses through cloud-based applications. SaaS uses platforms such as the internet for better accessibility and at a cheaper cost. You can optimize sales and generate more revenue, all the while improving your performance!

    Invest In CRM

    When was the last time you updated your customer relationship management software? With people staying at home and business leaders working from anywhere, you need to retain your customers. To do that, you need to invest in the best cutting-edge CRM software this year, and it’s expected that many B2B marketers will do precisely that!

    Voice Search Soars

    Ah, Siri and Alexa have changed the marketing game! Voice search is becoming more and more popular with customers who are more tech-savvy than all the rest, and with the help of AI and ML, more companies are utilizing voice search on their websites to attract more customers.

    B2B marketing is full of challenges, but the traditional B2B marketing strategies are in dire need of an overhaul given the changes to the way businesses are working throughout the pandemic. Companies have to do what they can to reach their targeted audiences, and with the help of digital engagement and multi-channel marketing, your business can better connect with consumers.

    When it comes down to it, whatever digital tools are at the disposal of your business, you should use them. You can ensure that you reach business customers in the right way and provide them with the best marketing and content options. All of this will keep them coming back for more!

  • Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are Down

    Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are Down

     

    Facebook and Instagram’s servers are down for nearly 2.85 billion users worldwide. Facebook CTO, Mike Schroepfer, added the following statement via Twitter:

    Inside Facebook, the outage has broken nearly all internal systems employees use to communicate and work. Several employees told The Verge they’ve resorted to talking through their work-provided Outlook email accounts, though employees can’t receive emails from external addresses. Employees logged into work tools such as Google Docs and Zoom before the outage can still use those, but any employee who needs to log in with their work email is blocked. 

    The Verge reports that Facebook engineers have been sent to the company’s U.S. data centers to try and fix the problem, according to two people familiar with the situation. That means the outage, already Facebook’s most severe in years could be further prolonged. 

    What does this mean for your business? 

    Having a well-built website that won’t crash is important for sales and customer representation. Depending on when Facebook’s servers will be back up, this could negatively affect their business. Since Facebook went down, its stock $FB has been down nearly 5 points. 

    Many businesses are scrambling to cope with this potential loss of revenue due to the outage. The best course of action for businesses is to ensure their email and SEO strategies are included in their marketing strategies.  

    How can we help you protect your sales during outages? At Agency Partner Interactive (API), we focus on a holistic marketing strategy that does not rely on only social media. Having a proper SEO strategy can prevent your brand from losing out on sales or leads when Facebook or Instagram goes down.
    Contact us now! 

  • What is B2B lead generation?

    What is B2B lead generation?

    Expert Tips For What is B2B lead generation?

    Lead generation is a vital aspect of any business that sells a product or service. In marketing terms, B2B lead generation involves the identification of potential customers and conducting marketing or sales activity to encourage their interest. The greater number of leads you bring in, the more revenue you can make.

    As a company operating in the B2B sector, you will have a different set of criteria of what is classed as a qualified lead and requires the collaborative and strategic working of the marketing and sales functions within the company.

    Historically, sales and marketing have been known to work in silos. As buyer behavior has changed, so has the way sales and marketing departments interact with potential clients. An aligned approach is vital. Marketing strategy is designed to attract potential leads, qualify them as relevant, and push them through the funnel to sales outreach. 

    Why your business needed B2B lead generation

    In times gone by, sales and marketing were more concerned about telling the client about the existence of your product. But the nature of buyer behavior has changed drastically due to the internet. Inbound marketing is designed to bring your leads to you rather than pursuing them.

    How to define B2B leads

    Technically, any business that could benefit from your product or service could be a lead, but this doesn’t help your sales team effectively target their efforts. Instead, they should be categorized by their level of interest. These are usually defined as either a Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL) or a Sales Qualified Lead (SQL)

    MQLs 

    When potential clients engage with your marketing campaigns, they will be identified as an MQL. This engagement could include downloading content, attending a webinar, interacting on social media.

    High-quality MQLs are vital in providing the sales team with a solid pipeline of leads. This will also increase your chance of conversion and improve ROI.

    SQLs 

    The next stage of the marketing funnel involves moving MQLs to SQLs. When a lead is deemed an SQL, then this is the point where your sales team will usually reach out and initiate contact.

    The move from MQL to SQL usually involves more signs of real intent. This can include emailing for more information, filling in an online form, or signing up for a free trial.   

    Who is responsible for B2B lead generation? 

    B2B lead generation strategies and lead management is usually the joint responsibility of the sales and marketing departments. Whereas it used to be common for sales teams to be solely responsible, that is no longer the case, and the sales and marketing departments must collaborate closely to achieve targets.

    Modern sales departments are usually split into separate roles to create efficiencies and focus talent in the right areas. Sales development roles identify possible leads, conduct initial engagement, and set any calls or meetings.

    Business development managers are those who work at a more strategic level with leads. They communicate with prospects, give presentations and demos, and close deals. 

    By running the sales function in this way, you create a very efficient department where everyone’s roles are clearly defined.

    Marketers also fall into different categories when it comes to their main roles. Growth marketers are becoming popular in start-ups where revenue is needed fast and with little budget. They tend to alter strategy quickly, trying new ideas and dropping others that aren’t getting quick results. This approach works well at the start-up stage but generally can’t scale effectively, where a more sophisticated marketing setup is needed.

    Inbound and demand generation marketers focus on developing strategies to engage potential clients and fill up the marketing funnel.

    Depending on the size of your company, you may use one or more agency partners to handle various parts of your B2B lead generation activity.

    Larger marketing departments may consist of digital specialists, content marketers, lead generation, and growth hacking.

    B2B lead generation activities  

    Several different B2B lead generation strategies can be conducted to bring in new business. There is still a place for traditional sales cold calling when it is targeted to the right organizations.

    These include:

    Outreach – the traditional approach of calling relevant people and attempting to get them to agree to a meeting, demo, or receive more information.

    Email – similar to telephone outreach, this involves emailing potential leads. This can be done via personal email or an email platform.

    Social – targeting and developing contacts through social media platforms and LinkedIn.

    Alongside traditional sales outreach, the main b2b lead gen strategy is run by the marketing department.

    Content marketing – creating and publishing interesting and informative content on a range of channels. Lead capture then pulls leads into the marketing funnel, where they become an MQL. Content can include videos, podcasts, webinars. Ebooks and blogs.

    Account marketing – the buyer personas at each company are identified, and campaigns are created to target them specifically.  

    Technology in B2B lead generation  

    Modern sales and marketing initiatives run on technology. Aside from the platforms you choose to run your campaigns on. Internal systems allow you to capture the campaign data.

    A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is vital to tracking and recording potential client data and your interaction with them.

    Another invaluable platform is marketing automation. Save time and money by automating your entire inbound marketing strategy rather than manually handling all aspects of the funnel.  

    Conclusion 

    B2B lead generation is an important part of any business. Generating these leads needs strong business direction and an aligned sales and marketing department. By deploying a range of strategies across targeted marketing channels, you’re increasing your chances of attracting and converting more leads through your funnel.

    Each lead generation strategy will be slightly different, and you’ll be competing with others in your industry for the attention of your target market. By defining your buyer personas and targeting your campaigns precisely, you’ll improve your ROI as wells as your conversion rate.  

  • How to Use LinkedIn for Business: A Step-by-Step Guide for Marketers

    How to Use LinkedIn for Business: A Step-by-Step Guide for Marketers

    Expert Tips For How to Use LinkedIn for Business: A Step-by-Step Guide for Marketers

    LinkedIn is an excellent place for businesses that are looking to network and grow their reach. Unlike many other popular social networks out there today, LinkedIn is aimed at job seekers and professionals. At its core, it is a professional social network. It is all about business-related activities, including industry discussions, professional connections, career development, and much more. With that being said, let’s take a look at using LinkedIn successfully for your business below.

    Set up your page effectively

    Many different elements come together when it comes to creating the perfect LinkedIn page. Firstly, you need to fill out your company description. This should make it evident in what your company does, the services and products you sell, your mission, and your vision. Make sure you write in your brand voice. Aside from this, a professional cover photo is needed, and you can add as many as three hashtags to your profile, which will make your profile more searchable, so select your hashtags with care.

    In addition to this, you should add the locations your business is based in, i.e., your store or office locations. You need to add multiple locations, which will help you become more searchable when people do local searches on LinkedIn. In addition to this, you can manage your language.

    If you have a multilingual audience or global brand, add your description, tagline, and name in more than 20 different languages. Finally, it would help if you thought about adding a custom button to your LinkedIn page. This will encourage visitors to take action. Options include the likes of sign up, register, learn more, contact us, and visit a website.

    Find connections and customers that are highly targeted.

    Targeting on LinkedIn is a must when it comes to using this platform effectively. The targeting on LinkedIn is unlike any other when it comes to digital advertising. Small companies can zero in on specific industries, job roles, and company sizes they know would typically be interested in their job or service.

    For instance, let’s say that you sell inventory management software to small companies in New York. You can set your advertising so that you will only show your campaigns to companies in New York with less than 100 employees.

    Add LinkedIn buttons across your online presence.

    Aside from the suggestions that we have mentioned so far, we also recommend that you add social media icons to the footer or header of your newsletter or website, which will make it a lot easier for people to find your LinkedIn page. You can also add these buttons to your emails as well.

    Consider the right time for your posts.

    Use analytics to find out the optimal time to post content to reach your desired audience on LinkedIn. Some of the optimal times for posting on LinkedIn include 5.45 pm, 12.45 pm, 10.45 am, and 7.45 am, according to Hootsuite. Use your research to continue to refine your strategy, though.

    Optimize posts for impact and rich

    In addition to the benefits that we have mentioned so far, when it comes to posting from your business page on LinkedIn, there are several practices you should consider. The algorithm used by LinkedIn will rank posts based on several different signals, including engagement probability, interest relevance, and personal connections.

    This means that you should be looking to create posts that interest people and are highly engaging. You can also notify workers if you believe they would be interested in something you have posted. As an advocate of your business, they will get the engagement started on the post and, therefore, increase its visibility.

    Some of the things we recommend you do to boost your LinkedIn posts include:

    • Respond to any comments left on your post to increase engagement 
    • Write solid and robust headlines for your articles 
    • Add a few relevant hashtags to your posts, but do so in a natural manner 
    • Boost engagement and feedback with LinkedIn pools 
    • Lead with a question that encourages people to respond 
    • Tag pages and people mentioned in the post 
    • Name the type of audience you are trying to reach, for example, remote workers or working parents 
    • Include a call-to-action that is simple, clear, and eye-catching 
    • Call out key quotes, points, and statistics 
    • Keep the copy short – If the post is long, make sure it is readable by including bullet points, numbers, and paragraph breaks. 
    • Use video or imagery to capture the attention 
    • Share content that is relevant and timely

    Share posts with rich media

    Last but not least, another suggestion that we have for when it comes to LinkedIn marketing is to share posts that have rich media, i.e., videos or photos. Posts like this tend to perform much better across social media platforms like LinkedIn. In fact, according to the social media powerhouse themselves, posts with images generate 98 percent more comments when compared to posts that do not have any rich media.

    When it comes to adding rich media to your posts, we recommend using custom photographs whenever you can. Avoiding stock imagery is a great way to stand out. You can also support your posts by uploading the likes of SlideShare presentations, PowerPoints, or PDFs.

    One of the great benefits of native video on LinkedIn is that it will play automatically whenever someone scrolls by it. As a consequence, it is highly effective in terms of catching people’s attention! When compared with other types of content, videos experience five times the amount of engagement on LinkedIn.

    So there you have it: some of the different approaches you can use to maximize LinkedIn when it comes to marketing your business. We hope that the ideas and suggestions mentioned above will help you make the most of this unique and exciting social media platform. 

  • 5 Digital Marketing Myths Debunked

    5 Digital Marketing Myths Debunked

    Expert Tips For 5 Digital Marketing Myths Debunked

    Most modern and online businesses have quickly adapted and took advantage of this fast-growing industry regarding digital marketing. Current marketing strategies like digital marketing have given small business owners and marketing teams of established businesses worldwide.

    Social Media Marketing is also one of the most effective marketing strategies in the modern day, and businesses not making use of it will be left behind fast. Marketing teams in businesses should have adapted and allowed budgets to generate leads and sales on online platforms. The reach for meager costs will enable businesses to target the correct people while still in the awareness phase.

    However, even with evidence and records to prove this, some individuals remain wary. This article will debunk the five most common digital marketing myths.

    1 Social Media Marketing Only Works For Specific Industries

    This is one of the most common myths because it’s not entirely true. For example, even though social media marketing may be more effective for fashion and retail companies, major brands in every industry have used this strategy to generate leads and sales.

    That means as businesses evolve, so does social media marketing; all industries can use it effectively, so there is no need to avoid it! Furthermore, a study conducted by Gartner predicts that by 2020 up to 30% of top-performing companies will abandon their digital campaigns if they don’t start making changes now.

    2 SEO Is Dead

    No, SEO is not dead! The reverse could be true. This marketing strategy has been around for ages and will continue to exist because it’s still one of the most effective ways to generate leads and sales online. It may not have reached its peak yet either; many other industries can benefit from an increase in search engine rankings, such as healthcare or education—both ranked among the top 20 largest U.S. industry sectors by GDP contribution (Cleveland).

    Modern tools like Google Maps also provide hints on where people live, allowing businesses to target neighborhoods they want to reach out to with specific products/services based on location-based searches (Google Trends). As long as these digital marketing myths aren’t true, SEO will remain a powerful way to generate leads and sales. As long as Google considers SEO an essential part of the ranking factors for businesses worldwide, no one can say otherwise.

    3 You Don’t Have To Build An Online Presence If Your Competition Isn’t Online.

    This myth is not valid. Even though it may seem like the competition might be ahead of you, they’re still vulnerable to being taken over—because your competitors are also running into difficulties with modern marketing strategies.

    For example, Facebook’s algorithm changes in late 2016 that led to a decrease in organic content reach meant small businesses and blogs were left behind without enough budget for increased paid ads (Bates). Additionally, since digital marketing requires constant upkeep and care, so does social media; if neglected, there will be consequences!

    Of course, established companies can take advantage of this on their own or hire a Top Digital Marketing Agency in Dallas to do all the work for them. Still, no matter what needs to be done, as long as these steps aren’t followed, someone else could come in and take over before you know it.

    4 Mobile Website Traffic Doesn’t Drive Conversions

    This myth is also not close to being correct. Mobile website traffic has increased steadily over the years, and in fact, mobile-only users have grown to be a top priority market for most businesses. For example, according to Microsoft’s latest report on global internet usage trends (2016), more than 17% of people only use their phones, which means your business must provide easy access via mobile so they can still engage with you effectively.

    This also goes for all those competitors out there; if ignored, this could mean lost opportunities when small moments become big deals—such as someone searching nearby restaurants while hungry and finding yours! These digital marketing myths aren’t true, resulting in decreased leads/sales because mobile website traffic is one of the most critical driving conversions.

    In more recent years, statistics have shown that mobile users came close to being 50% of all online traffic, making sense. Smartphones have enabled individuals to browse the internet, similar to a PC, conveniently. So make sure your website is optimized for mobile use.

    5 Negative Reviews Will Dramatically Decrease Your Sales

    This myth is false, especially for high-quality products and services! The truth is that consumers are more likely to buy from a company they know or have heard of before than if they stumble across it randomly, so in this case, negative reviews can be good marketing because people will listen to you through word of mouth. Negative reviews may also lead to increased sales when handled correctly.

    By providing customer service with a smile (and sometimes even freebies!), the unhappy customers could become repeat customers who love your business! This goes back to the importance of social media because now these disgruntled customers might spread their happiness on platforms like Facebook. This means all those new potential leads will come knocking at your door, too. Unless, of course, you don’t have the proper digital marketing strategy in place.

    As long as these digital marketing myths aren’t true, SEO will remain a powerful way to generate leads and sales. However, it’s essential not to neglect other aspects of modern marketing: social media, for example! Social media platforms like Facebook are just one aspect that businesses need to utilize to get ahead, or they could end up paying the price.

    Literally.

    This goes back again to those potential customers who might have been interested in your business but decided against it because you didn’t show them any love on their favorite platform. So make sure all bases are covered with Industry-Leading Digital Marketing Services from Dallas Top Digital Marketing Agency today if you want a steady flow of new leads coming in! 

  • Guide to Optimizing Google My Business

    Guide to Optimizing Google My Business

    Expert Tips For Guide to Optimizing Google My Business

    If you have a business website, why do you need to Google My Business?

    Google My Business isn’t a replacement for your website. It’s a summary of your most relevant information so people can find out about you quickly and easily.

    Your GMB information includes:

    • Operating hours 
    • Physical Address 
    • Contact Information 
    • Customer Reviews 
    • Who you are

    As a business, you also gain crucial information from GMB – like reviews, messages, customer photos, and insights into how customers interact with your business.

    Getting Started with a Google My Business Listing

    Do you have GMB? Quickly find out by Googling your business name. If no listing pops up or a listing pops up that isn’t claimed, then it’s time you set one up.

    Over 56% of businesses never claimed their GMB account! Don’t miss out on potential customers, and claim your business today!

    5 Tips for Optimizing Google My Business

    If you already have a listing, log into your account and start Google My Business optimization using these five steps. 

    1. Fill Out All Your Business Information Using SEO

    GMB optimization begins with filling out your basic information on your Google business page. Carefully add as much information as possible – making sure it’s accurate and up to date. Compare the information with your website as inconsistencies negatively affect your search appearance.

    Beyond your basic information, your Google My Business listing includes attributes, a description, and a business category. Fill out these portions according to how you want to be ranked in Google and what search terms you want your business to relate to.

    Does your location have free Wifi? Is there onsite parking? Is your location wheelchair accessible? These attributes help your business show up when people search phrases like “Wheelchair-accessible restaurants near me” or “hair salon with wifi.”

    Use SEO and keywords to get your Google listings ranked in the most relevant customer searches. Your keywords should include where you are, what you offer, and what makes you unique (your marketable quality). 

    1. Keep your information Updated.

    Your business listing isn’t a one-time deal. You should continually update it with the most accurate information.

    New phone number? Update GMB. 

    New address? Update GMB. 

    New product? Update GMB. 

    Changed holiday hours? Update GMB. 

    You get the idea. Customers should know your Google local listing is reliable, or else it could negatively affect your business. 

    1. Use Pictures

    People like pictures. Use them! Over 60% of customers are MORE likely to visit your business if you have an image. Images show you are a real business with live people. This knowledge builds trust in customers and makes them more willing to do business with you.

    There are several types of images you should choose carefully and have added to any GMB. 

    • Logo: This image is your face and will show up the most in search results – choose it wisely! 
    • Cover Photo: Summarize WHO you are using one photo to grab people’s attention. 
    • Business Photos: Have fun with the pictures connected to your account. Show friendly interactions, quality products, and relevant images that boost your brand. 
    1. Use GMB to Interact with Customers

    In a world filled with robots and automated messaging, finding a human to interact within a business is rare. Build a personal relationship with your customers by giving them that human touch.

    GMB offers several ways to interact with customers. First is their messaging app. You have contact forms, email, and phone numbers for customers to use. Also, allow people to directly message you through Google to show you are serious about hearing from them.

    Don’t just offer that option, but also respond – even if that means adding in an immediate automated response. Then, have customer service answer personally later. That small gesture lets customers know you are listening.

    Reviews are another way to reach out to customers. Over 93% of customers will look up reviews online before deciding on a product. What people say about your business matters!

    Show you also care what people are saying by responding to each review using your GMB account. Thank the people who are giving you positive reviews using genuine language. If you can add personal details in your response to prove you’re human and not a robot, add them!

    You will sometimes get negative reviews. If you don’t get any negative reviews, customers might start to wonder if you’re a legitimate business. Consider negative reviews as an opportunity to showcase another aspect of your business – customer satisfaction.

    Apologize to the person who wasn’t happy, and make a public declaration of your desire to right the wrong. Even if that one customer never returns, other customers know that if they aren’t happy, you’re willing to work with them. 

    1. Post events, products, and discounts

    Use your business as your storefront window. Display highlights from your product lineup, discounts, and upcoming events.

    The products and services listed on your page should represent the very best of your stock. Use catchy images and titles. Even if people aren’t interested in your highlighted products, the images can encourage customers to click on your website to see more.

    Everyone likes freebies! Coupons and promotions are another way to encourage people to shop. When you walk into a store, how likely are you to walk straight to the bright red sign exclaiming “SALE!”? When people pull up your business, draw them in with sales and promotions.

    Display your calendar of events for customers to see right there on Google. Plus, your event will add another element to rank in Google. If someone Googles “free events near me this weekend,” your event could rank and attract new customers. 

    Make the Most of Your GMB Page

    Optimizing your Google My Business listing isn’t an easy task. That’s why you can hire marketing experts to help with your SEO and rankings.

    Agency Partner Interactive offers digital marketing services – including Google My Business optimization – through their team of experts that deliver value, accelerate revenue, and increase profits. Talk to a team member today and start getting the most out of your GMB listing. 

  • 7 Latest Content Marketing Strategies Practiced by Digital Marketing Experts

    7 Latest Content Marketing Strategies Practiced by Digital Marketing Experts

    Expert Tips For 7 Latest Content Marketing Strategies Practiced by Digital Marketing Experts

    As a part of digital marketing, content is an indispensable tool that can drive engagement, help to convert leads and make your company more visible to a wider range of people. Good content is considered an increasingly valuable asset by digital marketing experts and companies alike, with over 90% of companies surveyed recognizing it as essential.

    Of course, with its importance comes one of the potential drawbacks – if we all know the importance of content marketing strategies, it’s harder to gain an advantage. So what can we do to ensure a better shot at a wider market?

    Below, we will analyze seven separate content marketing approaches that digital marketing experts practice and explain how they could work for you. These are the tips that the best digital marketing services in Dallas and beyond are adopting for their own clients, and they can be effective for you, too.

    Build a collective of contributors

    If you have the one perfect content creator on staff, you can be sure of attracting customers who like the kind of content they create – but that doesn’t do a lot to diversify or grow your pool of leads. It simply delivers the same people each time.

    That’s good for customer loyalty, but you need more than that. A wider range of content creators from different parts of your business means more diverse subject matter, a shake-up of writing styles, and the chance to do different things.

    You can invite guest writers who are experts in different aspects of your business, customers who have been really pleased by your service, and more creators besides – if they have something relevant to say about your industry, the more, the merrier.

    Build a content calendar

    It’s useful to have a pattern to when content goes up, what type of content you publish, when, and more besides. For instance, you should have a deadline for submissions that allows time for proofing, editing, and integration before a post goes live.

    You can give over different days of the week to different aspects of your business – posts about HR issues can go live on Wednesdays, while Friday can be for content about procurement. Repeat visitors will come back more often if they know when to come back – and they’ll start to gain an interest in aspects beyond their own areas of focus before long.

    Look for digestible content.

    The experts on the best content strategy in Dallas and elsewhere know that a diverse collection of content is the way to go. Sometimes, people will want to read deep dives on specific topics, while other times, they will want something a bit more punchy.

    You can repost (with permission) other people’s content, potentially adding your own introduction to highlight the relevance of what those other people have to say. Instead of posting the entirety of their content, you can include the sections that mesh especially well with what you want to say – and then drop a link to their blog to advise readers on where they can hear more.

    Give people what they want.

    It sounds simple, but it does need some fleshing out as a point, this one. There are many ways to find out what people want to read on your blog, and you should use all of those ways. Look at your own analytics, and see the search terms people have used to find your site. Look at keyword analysis tools, and see what’s popular as a search term in your niche.

    With media monitoring tools, you can see what’s a hot topic in your sector right now. And then there are always follow-up posts. If one piece has done very well on your blog before, revisit it and address any potential changes in the topic, answer readers’ questions and develop the theme in a way that drives engagement and leads.

    Boost your signal

    Once you’ve created and published content, the next thing to promote it for all it’s worth. Tweet about it early in the day – and flag it on Instagram, Facebook, and any other social network you’re on – and then send another tweet related to it in the evening with an “ICYMI” (In Case You Missed It).

    Various plugins will automatically Tweet any article you post. However, you may prefer to manually promote new posts on social media as this will allow you to add hashtags, emoji, and anything else that makes your content pop.

    Also, if recent events have made any of your content more relevant, call back to it on your social channels – people who are following the trend with interest may become followers of your account.

    Spread the word

    If your content is good enough, then it may well grace the pages of other outlets beyond your own blog, which is something to embrace. Yes, exclusivity is nice as a way of controlling the way your content is displayed and read.

    However, the more people that read it, the better. Suppose it is seen on industry blogs, private forums, and local papers much better. The one thing you must insist on is that your name and business are heavily attached to it when it is published elsewhere. You wrote it, you worked on it, and you should benefit from it in terms of your profile.

    Don’t write for you

    If you’re a writer, then there are probably times that you piece together bits of content in your head, constructing the guts of a post that sounds snappy and interesting to you. Don’t mistake trying to turn this into a post on your blog because a good post won’t start with a snappy line of content – it starts with an idea.

    By all means, if you have a decent turn of phrase in mind, it sums up a moment, or it includes a joke or two that will be well-received by more people than just you, then you can include those throwaway lines. Just don’t build your content around things that have amused you – leave that to Sunday broadsheet columnists. It doesn’t work in digital marketing.

  • 7 Powerful Benefits of Using PPC Advertising

    7 Powerful Benefits of Using PPC Advertising

    Expert Tips For 7 Powerful Benefits of Using PPC Advertising

    Marketing, as you once knew it has changed. TV adverts and billboard advertising is no longer the gold standard advertising method. With the explosion of digital marketing PPC, or Pay Per Click, advertising has become one of the most strategic paid advertising methods available.

    PPC advertising is a form of online marketing where you can strategically place adverts online and pay a fee each time a visitor clicks the advert. Essentially you are buying visitors to your website, and its benefits are numerous. Here are 7 of the most powerful benefits of using PPC advertising.  

    It is quick and relatively easy to set up. 

    Unlike many forms of digital advertising, it is a quick and efficient way to get your adverts seen, and you do not need a magnitude of technical knowledge. While some forms of digital marketing, such as SEO, require a specific skill set and a lot of dedicated time and attention, PPC advertising can be up and running the same day with just a little input from the development team.

    You may need web developers to address the technical aspects such as tracking but other than that. It is a quick process. What is more, Pay Per Click advertising can provide instant gratification. You can start seeing results in days if not hours—quite the contrary to the hard slog that is SEO. 

    It’s trackable

    If you run paid advertising through Google Ads, you can use the Google Ads tool and Google Analytics. These tools allow you to see real-time, useful data and, in turn, remove all of the guesswork. The tools will tell you exactly how many people have seen your adverts and how many clicks and conversations are attainted from your advert.

    You will effectively analyze what adverts are achieving the business goals you set out and which ones aren’t. This is a quantifiable insight rarely achieved from more traditional marketing methods such as TV adverting.   

    It will achieve your business marketing goals.  

    Speaking of business goals, what are yours? What about your marketing goals? Is it to sell more products? Do you want to raise brand awareness? Expand your potential reach and client base? If you sit down with a digital marketing agency and discuss what you want to achieve from PPC advertising, they can utilize PPC strategies to achieve the goals you want.

    Furthermore, given that all data is trackable, you will be able to handle how well the PPC strategies are working for your business or marketing goals.  

    It is extremely targeted.  

    You can choose exactly who you show your ads to based on location, keywords, interest, age, gender, language, time of day, or even the device they use. This provides the obvious benefit of getting your advert in front of people who most want to see it, the people who are most likely to take action on your advert and are interested in your offering.

    Say you are a Dallas-based business considering utilizing some of the top PPC services in Dallas to further your business. You might have researched the potential options online.  As a result of your web-based research, a PPC advertising company in Dallas would be able to target your device based upon your browser history and be able to show you adverts for their services.

    The same services you have been considering. They are targeting you based on your location, the keywords you have researched, and the interests shown on your devices. The clever tracking bots know that this is the kind of thing you want to see and will strategically place an advert in front of you. That is the power that PPC advertising can yield.

    Another example of its targeting power is the different formats PPC is available in. Perhaps you have customers who commonly leave items in their virtual baskets. You can use display remarketing to encourage the desired action, such as completing their purchase. 

    It’s cost-effective

    Unlike some advertising streams, you only pay a fee when your ad is actually clicked. With traditional marketing approaches, you pay for the service or advertising regardless of the results returned. The fee you pay is called a cost per click CPC, and this can vary hugely. Ranges can be from as little as a few cents to as much as $50. That said, the average fee is between $1 and $2.

    The benefit of paying this repeat fee is that your ad will feature in the top spots of the search engine result. It will be the first thing people see and will rank above even the organic results. These top results drive some of the biggest percentages of clicks, so it is a price worth paying.  

    You are in control

    Another one of the powerful features of PPC advertising is the level of control you can exercise. You may need to pause the advertising during busy periods or only run ads at specific times. Say before your latest online course starts.  

    Pay-per-click advertising is perfect for this. You can have full control over when your adverts run, you can choose the time of day and the days of the week (again, think to target), and you can also turn your ad off as and when you wish.

    Moreover, you get full control over how much you spend each day and pay per click. This is a function rarely seen in advertising, and it gives you the ultimate flexibility.

    It can help your other marketing strategies

    PPC advertising can also help provide metrics to improve other elements of your marketing strategies. If you are utilizing digital marketing to its fullest potential, you will undoubtedly be employing SEO or social media marketing.

    By analyzing the analytics provided from your PPC advertising, you will recognize which keywords or identifiers generate results. You will then tailor your SEO, social media marketing, and or content marketing accordingly. Using the relevant keywords, locations, interests, and so on to get in front of your audience on other marketing streams.

    This information is invaluable for using digital marketing to your advantage and reaching your business or marketing goals. 

  • 5 Actionable Strategies For Social Media Branding

    5 Actionable Strategies For Social Media Branding

    Expert Tips For 5 Actionable Strategies For Social Media Branding

    To succeed in business in 2021, you want to get some critical business strategies right for marketing. Two of these are your branding and your social media strategy.  A branding strategy is not just a logo or a color scheme. Successful branding runs much deeper than that. Your branding is essential because it is your identity and your essence. It is what builds a relationship with you and your potential customers.  Good branding signifies recognition and trust. All successful businesses need strong, consistent, and relatable branding.

    Social media is how your brand can reach customers. The channels in which they can identify with your brand and where you can harvest those relationships from simple awareness and recognition to loyal and repeat custom. The power of social media marketing for businesses is not to be underestimated, and if you can get your social media branding right, it will pay dividends to your business. So here are 5 actionable strategies for social media branding.

    Develop a user persona

    Social media is all about people, and the better you understand people, the better you can design your content and campaigns. A user persona is a fictional representation of a social media user. Developing personas is a common marketing strategy and is fast becoming a popular social media strategy. The actionable step you can take is to develop two to five user personas.

    These are social media users to whom you are aiming your content at, your potential customers. Develop them in great detail. Go beyond age and gender and utilize metrics such as what social media channels they are likely to use, at what times, what their income is, where they live, their hobbies, the types of media they respond to, audio, video, or text for example. The more detailed you can be, the better.

    Why?

    Doing this will help you create content that will appeal to them and allow you to publish it when they are most likely to see it. It will also enable you to develop your branding to align with your identified personas and appeal to them directly.

    Develop a tone of voice

    Your brand’s tone of voice on social media is fundamental. You will want to develop a tone of voice that is consistent and in keeping with your business. You will want to communicate in a way that resonates with your audience. For example, if you are an educational business that needs respect, you will want your social media content to be professional, grammatically correct, formal, and authoritative.

    If you are a fashion retailer aimed at younger audiences, you may want to include emojis in your content and use a playful, fun tone of voice. The actionable steps you can take are to use the personas you have already created, identify the tone of voice that would best target your audience, and think about ways to convey your brand’s tone of voice in the content you create.

    For example, will light-hearted GIFs with colloquialism speak best to your personas, or will more formal, knowledgeable text pieces be more appropriate?

    Why?

    A consistent and well-designed tone of voice will help build trust and understanding with your audience and build authenticity. It will also help to reach the audience you most want to reach by communicating in a way that appeals to them.

    Create a sociable brand

    If you are going to use social media for your business, you must remember that it is exactly that, social. Social media was created and originally used as a means of socializing. For seeing what friends and family have been up to in a shared space. As time has gone on, brands have got savvy to social media and found a place for themselves and their advertising.

    That said, if you want to use social media to advance your business, first and foremost, you have to treat it as a social space. It is a place to engage with potential customers, talk with them, like photos, share posts, and interact. It is not a space to plug advert after advert.

    To create a sociable brand, the actionable strategy is using social media to engage with its users, not advertise. Socialize with people you have identified in your user personas using the consistent and relevant tone of voice you identified in step two. Don’t just talk about yourself.

    You have to talk about the interests of those you want to attract to draw them in and engage with you. Only when you have started to build a relationship can you start to use this space for advertising. If you feel out of your depth in terms of content creation and creating a sociable brand, consider using some of the best social media services available to either advise you or take over this aspect of your social media branding on your behalf.

    Why?

    Brands that use social media for advertising only will turn off potential customers. Their content will not add any value to the lives of their customers and will be viewed as unengaging spam that is not worth their time.

    Uniform approach

    While branding is more than just a logo or an aesthetical identifier having a uniform approach to your visual branding across your social media channels. As always, consistency is paramount, and sticking with the same color palette, fonts, and tone of voice is always advised. You may, of course, want to deviate slightly depending upon the platform to fit the user but don’t stray too far from your brand’s visual essence.

    Some actionable strategies are to employ the services of a design agency partner to help design the aesthetics of your social media branding consistently and appealingly to your user personas.

    Why?

    Consistency will help increase brand awareness and recognition and, in turn, build trust and confidence in your brand.

    Metrics

    Measuring the effects of your efforts on social media can be difficult, particularly given its subjective nature, but there are means to measure your success. Social media channels offer various insight tools, and you can use these to measure your engagements.

    When it comes to social media success, engagement is king, and content is queen. You can use these insights to experiment with the tone of voice, types of content you share, and when you share it to see what is best received by your audience. As a general rule, the more engagement you have, the better received your approach has been.

    Actionable strategies include experimenting with the times and days you post your content and the type of content. You can then study the data insights to identify the most successful posts. This will give you a better idea of the types of posts and content that your audience enjoys.

    Why?

    No one wants to waste time lovingly creating content that isn’t seen or enjoyed by those aimed at.

  • E-Commerce Email Marketing 101: 11 Must-Have Emails (2021)

    E-Commerce Email Marketing 101: 11 Must-Have Emails (2021)

    Expert Tips For E-Commerce Email Marketing 101: 11 Must-Have Emails (2021)

     

    Marketing campaigns are essential for attracting customers for every business, and it’s not always easy to get it right. You need to make sure you’re properly appealing to your customers if you want them to be interested in what you’re selling, and a marketing campaign that falls flat can be a huge waste of your money and time. It’s a little different when it comes to email marketing, but you should still make sure you understand what it takes to make for an effective marketing Email. 

    Your welcome Email

    If you’ve just had a customer subscribe to your eCommerce Email service, then you want to make sure that you’re able to impress them from the beginning. Whether they’ve applied to have the latest news or the latest promotions, you want to ensure that it’s something they don’t regret. Subscribing to these Emails can sometimes come across as spam, so you want to make sure the content within your welcome Email provides something to the customer and will make them want to read the content of your next ones! 

    Sending curated content

    When you’re trying to sell products to people, they want to know what it is that makes it worth their while. When it comes to pushing out a list of products, your customer will likely be interested in what’s best from that list. Sending out a curated list of products to a customer is interesting for multiple reasons. Not only does it display the price and functionality of those products, but it’s set out appealingly to let them know which product is the best one for them and how much they’re gaining by buying what it is that you’re selling!

    Whether it’s a service or a product, doing a little research into those kinds of specifications can make a convincing Email. Content marketing is essential for grabbing customer attention, and curated content is one of the best forms of that! 

    Engaging Emails

    If you’re going to have your customers open the emails, you send them. It would be best if you let them know that it’s worth their while. Having something with the Email that’s directly offering them something. You don’t have to give anything away for free, but you could offer them something in exchange for shopping with your right now. It could be a discount. It could be a promotion – so long as it grabs their attention and doesn’t cost you too much; it’s an effective way to have someone open your Email to learn more. 

    A referral Email

    Much like the engaging Email format, a referral Email can be another way for you to get your customer’s interest in what you’re sending. Except for this time, they’re not gaining something specifically from shopping with you but instead from referring a friend to your business. It could be a free giveaway when a friend uses their personal code included in the Email. You win. Your customer wins. It’s beneficial for everyone! It’s an essential piece of eCommerce email marketing. 

    Discount Emails

    When someone signs up to be a subscriber of your Emails, it’s likely because they’re looking to benefit from it. They want to know what you’re selling and when it’s on sale. Sending out Emails to your customers to let them know when you have discounts can be a great way to grab their attention. Not only will they be interested in this Email, but they’ll be looking for discounts within your upcoming ones too! It’s a great way to hold your customers’ interest. 

    Cart reminder Emails

    If you’ve spent much time shopping online, then you’ve likely at some point forgotten about something that you were going to buy. When a customer is interested enough to put something in their cart, they likely would like to purchase it. You can have an automatic Email set up to remind your customer if they’ve forgotten about their cart and still have items there that are unpurchased. It’s a great way to remind them, and they will surely appreciate it. 

    Order Confirmation Emails

    This is essential for any eCommerce site. It lets your customer know that you’ve received their order and that it is, in fact, on the way to them. Your customer needs this as it helps them form trust with you as a business. They want to know that you’ve gotten their money and that they can expect the product that they paid for. 

    Upsell Emails

    An upsell Email is when you offer your customer something extra for a bit more to increase the price that they’re spending with you. While it might sound like you’re just trying to sell them extras that they don’t need, this can be a helpful tip for them to enrich their experience with what they just bought! It’s usually something that improves their purchase while also increases the price of their total order. 

    Redemption Emails

    In this day and age, it’s far too easy to lose your customers to your competitors, and it could be for several reasons. Maybe your customers have found another site with better prices and discounts, or they didn’t have the money to invest in you anymore. An Email to remind them that you’re a service worth their time can be a great way to help with this! Usually, a special discount is applied with the Email to win their attention back to you, redeeming your business in their eyes! 

    A survey Email

    Getting customer feedback is a valuable process, and you should always be looking for ways to get it. You can send surveys to your customers in exchange for a product, discount, or another form of promotion to help incentivize them into completing the survey. This information can be a great way to improve your business model and appeal to more customers. Furthermore, your eCommerce Email marketing will benefit from your customers’ input, as they can help you make more appealing Emails. 

    A thank you Email

    While your customers might appreciate the deals and products that you have on offer, you should make sure you take the time to appreciate your customers. If you want to encourage a loyal customer base, sending an email thanking them for their patronage can be a great way to bring them back. 

  • Why Your Business Should Consider an eCommerce App

    Why Your Business Should Consider an eCommerce App

    Ever since the 2020 pandemic, businesses with ecommerce capabilities experienced a surge of revenue from online sales. Consumers recognized the convenience of online shopping and continued with that practice. As digital marketers, we should recognize this cultural shift from in-store shopping to online shopping. The truth is that there is a lot of opportunity in ecommerce, and this is a great time to explore the newest trend of getting an ecommerce app. 

    Now your first thought might be that an ecommerce app is an unneeded investment for your business and that you have other priorities that are more worthy of your time and energy, but that idea shouldn’t be shot down so quickly. We will be sharing some important stats that show the growing trends of online shopping via a mobile device and how an ecommerce app can be the one thing that sets you apart from the rest of your competition.  

    Everyone is going mobile. 

    Smartphones have become a trendy device across the United States, where 81% percent of the population owns one. Many of our digital experiences are being optimized for mobile because our devices are so accessible to us. We have our smartphones wherever we go, which makes it very convenient for us to search for something via the web at any time. A recent study has stated that over half of all website traffic is sourced from a mobile device.

    Our generation is heading towards mobile, and websites are being optimized for this transformation. Web developers are now keeping in mind that the mobile layout can be just as important as the desktop version. 

    With this shift, sales coming from a mobile devices gained a lot of growth. The feeling of convenience has become the selling point during this transformation. Due to our busy schedules, consumers don’t always have the time to grab their laptops to purchase. Meanwhile, their phone is conveniently right next to them. Now putting two and two together, we now understand that mobile devices have accounted for the increase of sales coming from a mobile device. 

    Now we are going to share another statistic that should further your consideration in getting an e-commerce app. 78% of users prefer using an app to a website when online shopping from their mobile device. Given this statistic, businesses that have ecommerce capabilities should reconsider investing in an ecommerce app. 

    An ecommerce app can enhance your brand.

    Let’s first look at an example of a widely used ecommerce app that has a major impact as an ecommerce industry leader.  

    Amazon is the top industry leader when it comes to ecommerce. The app is the most popular shopping app with about 150.6 million users. Amazon is loved by many because of the experience users have when purchasing through the app. Customers are extremely satisfied by the amount of convenience they’re able to experience when making a purchase.

    The process is straightforward for customers to purchase, track, and review all within the app. You can even set up and do a return! The process is seamless, with very little room for error. Because of the user experience on the app, Amazon has become a brand that many worldwide love. 

    An eCommerce app can also enhance your brand experience. Depending on your industry, an app can be very beneficial to your consumers. If you are in an industry where your buyers frequently come back to make another purchase, you should consider getting an app. It will make the consumer’s shopping experience more convenient. 

    Also, consider the competitors in your industry. Do they have an app for their users to make a purchase? If not, is there an underlying issue they are experiencing where a mobile app can be the solution? To get ahead of competitors, you sometimes must be the first to do something. Being the first will easily set you apart from the rest of the industry. 

    By having a mobile app, you also can improve and increase communication with your customers. The great thing about an app is that consumers are fully immersed in your brand while using it. Unlike web browsers, you have a lower risk of users exiting out of your site and searching for another competitor.

    If they are using your app, the user is more dedicated to shopping with you. There is little competition around when the consumer is in this position. Customers shopping from mobile apps have a 130% higher conversion rate than purchasing from a mobile website. 

    Having an app can lead to more marketing opportunities. 

    Ecommerce apps can also open new marketing opportunities, which are push notifications. It’s no surprise that push notifications have higher engagement rates than emails and social media ads. Push notifications can grab a lot of customer attention because the notification shows up on their smartphone’s home screen. This marketing tactic is hard for the user to overlook due to its nature.

    It also makes it a lot easier for the user to reach your site. Unlike email and social media ads, the customer must be in a different app before getting to your site. They must digest the content in their email or social media timeline, notice your email or ad, digest the content, and click the link to get to your website. It is too many steps, which could lower your customer’s chances of landing on your site.

    Unlike emails and ads, push notifications will notify the user’s phone, and once clicked on, it will direct the user directly to the page that is relevant to the notification. Your message will be a lot more direct, and the user is less likely to get distracted. 

    Apps are also a great place to centralize any information about your ecommerce shop. In the app, you can promote upcoming sales and personalize account information, and more. The opportunities of what you can provide your customers are endless. An eCommerce app is an excellent opportunity to truly connect with your customers and give them a great shopping experience. 

    If you are curious about web app development, learn more about our services at Agency Partner. We live in the digital world, and we know how the digital landscape changes by the minute. To learn more about our mobile application services, contact us here. 

  • Celebrating Black History Month

    Celebrating Black History Month

    Honoring 2 Pioneers That Paved The Way For Black Technologists

    When it comes to recognizing the significance that Black Americans have made to the United States, the question we ask ourselves is: “where do we start?” It’s easy to think of historical figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and others who did so much to further Civil Rights in our country.

    We know that the first celebration and observance of Black History Month was in 1970 at Kent State. We also know that six quick years later, President Ford recognized its significance at the United States Bicentennial.

    Today, we know that the importance of Black Americans is far greater than what can be celebrated in just one month. Morgan Freeman said that “Black history is American history” and our society has been greatly improved by the work of Black authors, scientists, business leaders, educators, activists, and more.

    Remembering The First Black Man to Earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science

    As a digital agency, we have a special love for technologists and marketers. That’s why we want to recognize the memory and significance of Clarence “Skip” Ellis.

    dr-clarenceProfessor Ellis In Action

    In 1969 Mr. Ellis became Dr. Ellis by becoming the first Black man to earn a doctorate degree in computer science.

    Dr. Ellis later became a college professor at the University of Colorado and he worked to advance the study of computer engineering as director of the Collaboration Technology Research Group and also by participating as a member of the Institute of Cognitive Science. The work that Dr. Ellis engaged in is what is credited in part for giving birth to the types of technologies that support tools like Google Docs and Google Sheets, among many others.

    In 2014, Dr. Ellis passed away at the age of 71 and his colleagues remember him for his warm presence and calm leadership style both as an educator and also as a technology researcher.

    Honoring The First Black Woman to Earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science

    marsha-williamsProfessor Williams

    For some, technology has been viewed as a “man’s world” but thanks to pioneers like Marsha Williams, there are plenty of opportunities for women of color to enter the room and drop some knowledge on the table.

    About ten years after Dr. Ellis earned his Ph.D., the first Black woman, Dr. Marsha R. Williams, earned her Ph.D. in computer science at Vanderbilt University.

    Born in Memphis in 1948, Dr. Williams was always known to be brighter than the average student and by 1969 she earned a degree in physics from Beloit College prior to pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Michigan.

    Like Dr. Ellis, Dr. Williams also worked to educate her community by sharing her knowledge as a college professor. Gaining tenure as a professor in 1990, Dr. Williams has developed a strong reputation as an advocate for STEM programs geared towards minority communities.

    But she’s so much more than just an educator. She has also “been there” and “done that” as her professional experience also includes time spent working at IBM. As both an educator and a technologist, her contributions to the academic, technology, and minority communities are both measurable and memorable.

    She is currently a tenured professor at Tennessee State University, was among the first African American educators at the University of Mississippi, and her academic publications are admired by her students and peers alike.

    There Are SO Many Other Important Black Innovators, Educators, Business Leaders…

    As we take this month to commemorate the culture and accomplishments of African Americans, Agency Partner is thankful to people like Dr. Williams and Dr. Ellis. Their desire to work towards the pursuit of knowledge and their efforts to share experiences and educate their peers makes them worth mentioning as we celebrate Black History Month.

    The reason for Black History Month is important, and it is largely because the accomplishments of our minority communities have historically gone either unnoticed or simply underrecognized. The fact is that their work has created value that is beyond gender, race, and boundaries. The work and influence of Dr. Williams and Dr. Ellis is a testament to countless other positive figures in our history.

    May We Suggest Some Additional Reading?

    We hope that you will spend some time browsing the web to learn more about the accomplishments that Black Americans have shared with the world. It’s literally an internet search away! But in addition to that, may we also recommend some additional reading?

    A man that we will no doubt write about at some point in the near future, Lt. Col. Allen West (ret.) suggests “Up From Slavery” by the great Booker T. Washington.

  • ABC WFAA TV: Best and Worst Commercials of Super Bowl 55

    ABC WFAA TV: Best and Worst Commercials of Super Bowl 55

    Our Favorite Ads From Super Bowl 55
    Agency Partner joins ABC affiliate, WFAA TV in Dallas

    What were your favorite Super Bowl commercials this year?

    We believe that as a brand, Anheuser-Busch is among the GOATs in advertising.. here in 2021, there were some standouts!

    We think the top commercial of Super Bowl 55 was for Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade, tastefully poking fun at the idea that “2020 was a lemon of a year.” So many relatable moments!

    But there were other goods ones in the mix.

    We loved the #FlatMatthew commercial for Doritos 3D and let’s not forget about the State Farm ® stand-ins commercial, now featuring “Drake from State Farm.”

    After a turbulent 2020, humor was a big part of Super Bowl advertising this year and that comic relief has us laughing and looking forward as a result.

    Agency Partner Interactive’s CMO S. Adam Rizzieri joins ABC TV affiliate, WFAA in Dallas/Fort Worth to share a perspective on what we saw last night.

    Fun Fact: 30-second spots cost $5.6 million this year!

     

  • iHeartMedia: How Health Officials Should Advertise the COVID-19 Vaccine

    iHeartMedia: How Health Officials Should Advertise the COVID-19 Vaccine

    How Health Officials Will Advertise The COVID-19 Vaccine
    Health Officials Will Use Marketing to Gain Covid-19 Vaccine Adoption

    According to a Gallup poll this month, 42% of U.S. adults said they would not agree to get an FDA-approved coronavirus vaccine. As that impacts any aspirations towards gaining “herd immunity,” the World Health Organization says that at least 60-80% of a population needs to gain immunity first. So at 42% acceptance, that leaves a gap of 20-40%. 

    These are the primary objections to the adoption of a covid-19 vaccine.

    • 37% of Americans said they would not get vaccinated because they don’t trust the rushed timeline of vaccine development
    • 26% of Americans simply want to wait and see how others respond to the first doses of the vaccine
    • 12% of Americans generally do not trust vaccines and will not take them even when offered

    This is all despite the fact that 9 pharmaceutical companies, including 5 that the CDC has been considering for the US market, were introduced to Stage 3 clinical trials in November with each showing extremely positive results.

    Despite this early success, the fact is that marketing a vaccine is a tricky thing. Unlike a therapeutic treatment that offers fairly quick, positive results to an ill person, a preventative vaccine has to be sold to someone that is otherwise healthy. 

    So as we move past 2020 and enter 2021, what are some things that big health companies and the next Presidential administration should consider when advertising new preventative measures to the public? 

    Health Marketing For Public Acceptance

    ln order to gain broad public acceptance, health marketers have to ensure consumer awareness of the risks of COVID-19 and be very clear about the beneficial outcomes of vaccination. In essence, health organizations and stakeholders have to sell the perceived likelihood of infection and the overwhelming value of prevention. This concept applies to any vaccine.

    To perceive the benefits of prevention, individuals have to engage in a counterfactual sort of thinking. That is to say: “had I not received a vaccination, then I would have surely caught the ‘rona.”

    All of that must be compounded with a perceived seriousness or severity of actually contracting coronavirus. To achieve this in a personal, relatable way health marketers will work with specific types of messaging and themes that speak to risk factors, such as high blood pressure or other specific health ailments, that when paired with COVID-19 may be especially dangerous. 

    The message that has to be conveyed requires a combination of convincing the public that “if unvaccinated, then contraction is imminent” and that the illness may be extremely hard to survive or awful to fight. Themes of messaging that support this are often shared through a mixture of radio and television news coverage, traditional television commercials, through the spoken word of health experts, on billboards, and on social media.

    Behind the scenes, it is typically governments and supranational organizations that play a key role in architecting these campaigns. These groups aim to work in the best interest of public health to disseminate scientific research, case studies, and educational information that may be used to influence the public’s decision-making. 

    Overcoming Risks and Objections

    Before health officials can advertise the value of any vaccine, they have to know what objections may persist among their future customers/patients.

    We know that today, the biggest objection to the proposed coronavirus vaccines is related to their speed of development. People think that because these vaccines were developed so rapidly, there must be something wrong with them.

    The first thing that health officials should be doing is speaking to the history of the science behind the cure. The coronavirus class of viruses has been a topic of scientific research since the 1960s and generally speaking, scientists note that this class of diseases has been more of a nuisance than one of great demise. 

    The Scientist - Covid Research Infographic

    Infographic Credit: The-Scientist.com Staff

    As the research is published, the drug manufacturers will share 3rd party research with their buyers at the big health systems and work to educate health professionals on the findings. Education and awareness of side effects, long-term effects, and dosing instructions should be made publicly available.  As projections turn into real data, health marketers need to share advertisements that create awareness that sets a proper expectation of benefits versus risks.

    Focus on Mitigating Risk and Highlighting Value

    At Agency Partner, we have learned that focusing on the customer is the best way to go about sharing a value proposition. Whether you are leading a major corporation or a small business, your future customer is always looking to mitigate their own perceptions of risk before making a purchase decision. Healthcare marketing is a sensitive, often regulatory industry that requires transparency, research, and case studies. 

     

     

     

    Give Us a Call Today!

    Do you want to revamp your current marketing strategy to survive and thrive during COVID-19? Are you searching for ways to improve how your brand connects with the market? Maybe you’re not trying to sell a vaccine, like most of us, but you really need some help connecting your value proposition with your target market. Whatever the case, you’re on the right website.

    Give us a call today at (214) 295-5845 or click here to Get a Free Quote to speak to a member today.

    Author: S. Adam Rizzieri
    Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer // Agency Partner Interactive

     

  • Agency Partner named on the SMU Cox Dallas 100 list

    Agency Partner named on the SMU Cox Dallas 100 list

    SMU Caruth Institute Unveils Its 2020 List of Dallas’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies
    Agency Partner Joins the Dallas 100 list

    Dallas (SMU) Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 – The SMU Cox Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship has released the names of the entrepreneurial businesses that made it into this year’s coveted list of Dallas 100 companies.

    The Dallas 100 competition annually gauges the ascension of privately held companies in Dallas and surrounding cities. The release of the top 100 company names is a precursor to an awards celebration that will culminate in the unveiling of this year’s No. 1 fastest-growing, privately held company.

    Traditionally, the Dallas 100 company names are announced alphabetically at an autumn reception, followed a month later by an awards ceremony that is highlighted by a countdown, with Dallas 100 names divulged in order from No. 100 to No. 1. Because of the pandemic, both of this year’s Dallas 100 events will move to the spring.

    Caruth Institute Dallas 100 List

    Caruth Institute Executive Director Simon Mak intends to announce in December the details of a socially-distanced reception and awards gala.

    “Of course, everything is contingent upon the pandemic, but we are hopeful that we can hold two safe, in-person events: a reception in late January or early February and our traditional Dallas 100 awards gala in early March,” said Mak.

    “If we’ve learned anything since the onset of COVID-19, it’s that everything is subject to change. While we’ll remain flexible, we’re hopeful that we can gather in person, masks notwithstanding, to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that is so vital to our economy.”

    For 30 years, the Dallas 100 has honored the ingenuity, commitment and perseverance of entrepreneurial businesses, placing the spotlight on their economic contributions. The Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship at SMU Cox ranks the area’s top 100 entrepreneurial companies based on percentage growth and absolute dollar growth over the previous three years. This year, the top 100 companies are based in Dallas and 14 different surrounding cities.

    The Institute, working with the accounting firm BKD LLP CPAs and Advisors, examined sales from hundreds of companies for 2017 to 2019, the last year for which complete data is available. The winners represent a broad spectrum of Dallas-area businesses.

    Sponsors for this year’s event are, in alphabetical order: BKD CPA & Advisors, Cushman & Wakefield, Dallas Business Journal, Executive Press, KRLD NewsRadio 1080, MassMutual Dallas-Fort Worth, and Texas Capital Bank.

    A complete list of all SMU Cox Dallas 100 companies for 2020, also listed in alphabetical order, follows.

    Company Name City
    5 Irving
    Aerospace Quality Research & Development Addison
    Agency Partner Interactive Addison
    Akorbi Plano
    Allata Dallas
    Altruas Dallas
    Anders Group Irving
    Anserteam Workforce Alliance Dallas
    Apex Dental Partners Dallas
    Appspace Dallas
    Asset Panda Frisco
    BBG Dallas
    BravoTECH Dallas
    CallBox Storage LLC. Dallas
    Catalyst Health Plano
    Clavis Capital Partners Dallas
    Cloud Ingenuity Carrollton
    CommunityMed Urgent Care Systems LLC Addison
    compass datacenters Dallas
    CONTI Organization Dallas
    Critical Start Plano
    Dialexa Dallas
    Earthworks, Inc Lillian
    Elevate Brand Marketing Dallas
    Elite Fulfillment Solutions Dallas
    Emergicon LLC Dallas
    Emler Swim School Dallas
    Geoforce Plano
    Golden Tree Restaurants LLC Richardson
    GridLiance Irving
    GuideIT Dallas
    HealthMark Group Dallas
    Highlands Residential Mortgage Dallas
    Home Tax Solutions Dallas
    HomeVestors of America, Inc. Dallas
    iiPay Dallas
    Imaginuity Dallas
    Improving Plano
    INK+ORO Dallas
    interRel Consulting Partners, LTD. Arlington
    ISHIR Plano
    JP and Associates Realtors Frisco
    Legacy ER & Urgent Care Plano
    Lifeblue Plano
    Lone Star Analysis Addison
    Lurin Dallas
    M&H Property Tax Consultants, LLC Dallas
    MarketScale Dallas
    MedCore Partners, LLC Dallas
    MMC Group, LP Irving
    Mr. Electric of Dallas Dallas
    Nepris, Inc Frisco
    Newline Interactive Plano
    Nextgen Innovation Labs LLC Frisco
    o9 Solutions, Inc. Dallas
    Online Rewards Richardson
    OTR: On The Rocks Premium Cocktails Dallas
    ParkHub Dallas
    Pediatric Home Healthcare Dallas
    Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG) Plano
    PICKUP Now, Inc. Plano
    Platt Cheema Richmond, PLLC Dallas
    PREMIER LOGITECH, LLC Coppell
    PROLIM Global Corporation Plano
    Provident General Contractors Dallas
    ProVision Brokerage, LLC Dallas
    Publishing Concepts, LP Dallas
    PureWine Inc. Grapevine
    Pursuit Sales Solutions Dallas
    Qentelli Solutions Dallas
    ResMan LLC Plano
    REV Robotics Carrollton
    Robokind Dallas
    Scout & Cellar Farmers Branch
    Sealink International Inc Plano
    Sendero Dallas
    Service Fusion Irving
    Seven Tablets, Inc. Addison
    Signature Automation, LLC Addison
    Smart Business Concepts Dallas
    Spotio, Inc. Dallas
    STRAIT Dallas
    Sunwest Communications, Inc. Dallas
    TBX Plano
    TechGenies LLC Richardson
    Techstar Consulting Inc Irving
    Tek Leaders Inc Plano
    The Crowther Group Dallas
    The Pet Loss Center Irving
    Tolleson Wealth Management Dallas
    TrendHR Rockwall
    TRIPBAM, Inc. Dallas
    Universal Display & Fixtures Company Lewisville
    Utility Concierge Dallas
    Velo ITG Holdings, LLC Dallas
    Vesuvius Holdings, LLC Frisco
    Vinli, Inc Dallas
    Vista Bank Dallas
    Wildcat Lending Plano
    Zimperium, Inc. Dallas

     

     
    About SMU Cox

    In 2020, the Cox School of Business celebrates 100 years of business education at SMU. The Cox School of Business is committed to influencing the way the world conducts business via prolific research that provokes innovation, change and global thought leadership.

    SMU Cox offers a full-range of business education programs including BBA, Full-Time MBA, Professional MBA (part-time), Executive MBA, Cox MBA Direct, Online MBA and Master of Science degree programs, as well as Executive Education. Consistently ranked among the world’s leading business schools, SMU Cox maintains an active alumni network globally. SMU Cox is accredited by AACSB.

    CONTACT:

    Adam Rizzieri, Chief Marketing Officer

    adam@agencypartner.com

  • Transformation Tuesday with the BEU Revolution

    Transformation Tuesday with the BEU Revolution

    Be One of 111 Winners on Tuesday.

    We are so excited to announce our collaboration with the BE-U Revolution! To celebrate, we have something for you.

    We can all agree that things have been a little weird these past several weeks. That’s why we’re teaming up with local businesses to offer some positivity. Take today as an opportunity to learn about another business in DFW, consider investing in yourself with some professional Virtual Group Coaching, and maybe win some cool prizes along the way.

    What’s the BE-U Revolution? 

    Lead by one of DFW’s most catalyzing women in business, BEU LLC is run by Georgia Green. As founder and CEO, Ms. Green has made the BE-U employee engagement transformation program among the most innovative and effective in North Texas. While BE-U can work with in-house HR and business teams to achieve strategic goals, BE-U also offers a strong group coaching program for individual growth.

    With clients including Top Golf, KPMG, and UnitedHealthcare, BE-U specializes in helping businesses develop and retain top employees.

    Retain Key Employees with the MotivIQ Platform
    MotivIQ and Employee Engagement

    Find your tribe.

    Sign-up for Virtual Group Coaching and Win.

    Before Tuesday, sign up for the Virtual Group Coaching Program and WIN up to $500 cash.

    • One Grand Prize Winner will receive:
      • A Free Website Homepage Design Mockup
      • $1000 toward your next Web Design & Development Project or Mobile App Development Project
      • $250 Gift Card to Southern Chic Wax
      • $100 Gift Card to Crate & Barrel or $100 cash from Katelyn Gast Real Estate
      • Five Wire Coaching Personal Gift and Talent Assessment (assessment of how you are naturally wired & custom suggestions to improve your work, life, and other guidance that will energize and inspire you)
      • 50% off professional portraits from Flossie O’Riley Photography
      • Home Sweet Home Gift Basket from Jammit
    • Other Prizes:
      • $100 toward a Web Design & Development Project or a Mobile App Development Project
      • Makeup remover towelette from Smudgies
      • Organic, direct trade LYMI Coffee
      • 30% off Medical Grade Disinfection, Allergy Relief Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, or Power Washing from TX Cleaning
      • Consultation and 2 Free Hours of Organizing Services, a $180 Value, from Clutter Contessa
      • Original bendable hanger, from Hangio

    To take advantage of this offer, simply complete the online form before Tuesday at 8 AM CST.

    Let us know how you are doing and if there are any ways we can support you and your business during this time.

    We hope you find this program to be helpful and rewarding.

    Best regards,

    Adam

    S. Adam Rizzieri
    Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer // Agency Partner Interactive
  • COVID-19: $800M Google Ad Grant to Support Small Businesses

    COVID-19: $800M Google Ad Grant to Support Small Businesses

    COVID-19 Relief: $800+ Million Ad Grant for SMBs and Crisis Response

    A Message From Google CEO Sundar Pichai

    (Originally published at blog.Google on March 27)
    As the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen around the world, it’s taking a devastating toll on lives and communities. To help address some of these challenges, today we’re announcing a new $800+ million commitment to support small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), health organizations and governments, and health workers on the frontline of this global pandemic.
    Our commitment includes:

    • $250 million in ad grants to help the World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other measures to help local communities. This is an increase from our initial $25 million announced last month. In addition, we’re providing $20 million in ad grants to community financial institutions and NGOs specifically to run public service announcements on relief funds and other resources for SMBs.
    • A $200 million investment fund that will support NGOs and financial institutions around the world to help provide small businesses with access to capital. As one example, we’re working with the Opportunity Finance Network in the U.S. to help fill gaps in financing for people and communities underserved by mainstream financial institutions. This is in addition to the $15 million in cash grants Google.org is already providing to nonprofits to help bridge these gaps for SMBs.
    • $340 million in Google Ads credits available to all SMBs with active accounts over the past year. Credit notifications will appear in their Google Ads accounts and can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across our advertising platforms. We hope it will help to alleviate some of the cost of staying in touch with their customers.
    • A pool of $20 million in Google Cloud credits for academic institutions and researchers to leverage our computing capabilities and infrastructure as they study potential therapies and vaccines, track critical data, and identify new ways to combat COVID-19. Learn how to apply for credits on the Google for Education site.
    • Direct financial support and expertise to help increase the production capacity for personal protective equipment (PPE) and lifesaving medical devices. We’re working with our longtime supplier and partner Magid Glove & Safety, with the goal of ramping up production of 2-3 million face masks in the coming weeks that will be provided to the CDC Foundation. Additionally, employees from across Alphabet, including Google, Verily and X, are bringing engineering, supply chain and healthcare expertise to facilitate increased production of ventilators, working with equipment manufacturers, distributors and the government in this effort.

    In addition to these commitments, we also increased the gift match Google offers every employee annually to $10,000 from $7,500. That means our employees can now give $20,000 to organizations in their communities, in addition to the $50 million Google.org has already donated. Together, we’ll continue to help our communities—including our businesses, educators, researchers and nonprofits—to navigate the challenges ahead.
    -Sundar Pichai
    CEO of Google and Alphabet

    So what does this mean for our clients?

    Something awesome — many of our Google Ads clients have already received between several hundred up to a few thousand in Ad grants! For new Google PPC advertisers, this offer may not apply to you. If you have been an active Google Ads advertiser since January of 2019, you will likely qualify if you are a small to medium-sized business, and your account is in good standing.
    In the coming months, we’ll find out greater details about your specific qualification status, and when good news comes, expect it to appear as a credit in the billing section of your Google Ads account. For eligible organizations, this credit will be valid until December 31, 2020, and we believe that it will be something you can use across all Google properties (Google Search, YouTube, Google Display Network).
    From conversations with our own points of contact at Google, we believe that any business working to mitigate the COVID crisis, whether as a product or service provider, will be the first to see these credits hit their accounts. This could include medical supplies companies that are providing essential items, health organizations, and health-related first responders.
    Of our other types of Google Ads clients, specifically, local service companies with a Google Guarantee status on Local Service Ads, we expect those to be among the first non-crisis related organizations to see these grants hit their accounts.
    Unfortunately, there is a lot of ambiguity and a lack of specific information about this grant. It was announced just this past Friday via a Tweet from Sundar Pichai so this program is still very new. For now, we will continue to keep our ears to the ground and listen out for any specific updates in this regard.
    Please feel free to reach out to us with any specific questions!
    Best regards,
    Adam

    S. Adam Rizzieri
    Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer // Agency Partner Interactive
  • The rise of e-Sports in Dallas

    The rise of e-Sports in Dallas

    Expert Tips For E-SPORTS Fans

    The prevalence of e-sports is continually growing by the year. Major e-sports leagues are being formed, where thousands of people watch and participate. It now appears that cities in North Texas are getting in on the action.

    According to Dallas News, Allen has announced it will host the first-ever home matches of the Dallas Fuel, a popular e-sports team that’s a member of the Overwatch gaming league.

    With the number of gaming events taking place in neighboring cities, this announcement doesn’t come with much of a surprise. Recently, several e-sports events were held in Arlington after $10 million was spent on an e-sports stadium.

    Similarly, a three-day e-sports event was held at the OpTic Arena. Around the country, e-sports events are drawing thousands of people. Interestingly, arenas are now being constructed to hold these popular events.

    While the growth of e-sports can be seen as trivial to the average American, there is a clear economic benefit to cities investing in e-sport events. Live in-game competitions are an excellent way of filling up restaurants and hotels. 

    This presents Dallas with a unique and lucrative money-making opportunity. Being the first city to host home matches for an Overwatch team, Dallas could tap into a successful venture that can benefit not only those involved in e-sports but the city’s constituents as well. 

    This is Not a New Business Venture

    e-Sports hasn’t technically gone mainstream yet. However, it’s far from a new concept and business venture.

    Multiple well-known Dallas-based tycoons, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Texas Rangers owner Neil Leibman, and Ken Hersh have invested millions of dollars into the venture.

    This fast-growing sector has also attracted numerous large companies, who view the industry as a savvy advertising opportunity geared towards younger demographics. For example, Jack in the Box, the popular fast-food chain currently sponsors the Dallas Fuel.

    Furthermore, the e-sports stadium in Arlington is in advanced discussion with some Fortune 500 to determine naming rights. Allen’s announcement to host the Dallas Fuel will have definite economic benefits for Dallas.

    According to Geoff Moore, the president and COO of the Dallas Fuel, he expects the team to play in several Dallas areas starting in 2020. He also indicated that he plans on building a home arena in Dallas.

    The Move is Coming

    Moore used to work for the Dallas Stars when the NHL team transitioned from Minnesota to Dallas in the early 1990s. As the lead man for the Dallas Fuel, we will be responsible for one day moving the team to its hometown.

    Moore recently stated that the only reason the Dallas Fuel organization chose Allen as their home was because of its arena’s large size. As the e-sports industry continues to grow, a move to Dallas would present tremendous advantages.

    Already, city officials in Allen are expecting 1,000 hotel rooms to be full during events and local restaurants to be crowded. This type of internal revenue is great for any city hoping to become a major tourist destination like Dallas.

    e-Sports is on the Rise in Dallas

    Video games have been a popular part of pop culture for several decades. Every decade, however, there appears to be a major advancement. Nowadays, e-sporting leagues are commonplace.

    At least 10 years, and advancement such as this would have not been possible or imagined. Dallas seems to be leading the charge in the growing e-sports movement, making advancements in the Overwatch league that are inspiring other teams.

    Although Dallas Fuel has yet to put together a winning season, the organization has strategically positioned itself as a profitable business. After receiving a multi-million dollar investment from Kenneth Hersh, the organization would go on to sign another multi-million dollar deal with Jack in the Box.

    In accordance with the terms of the deal, Jack in the Box will have exclusive naming rights on the team’s jerseys and merchandise. This type of partnership is the first of its kind in the Overwatch League and presents a model other teams should follow. 

    Clearly, the Dallas Fuel is netting a quality return on investment in conjunction with these investments. In 2019, the Dallas Fuel Homestand Weekend was sold out, filling 4,500 seats per day.

    The demand for e-sport competitions is steadily growing and the Dallas Fuel is quickly setting the mark. With plans to move the Dallas Fuel to its hometown, the city will face tremendous economic growth akin to some of the largest cities in the United States.

    Interestingly, it appears that e-sports, which owes its origins to Dallas, will become one of the reasons why the city reaches its economic peak. 

    Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “The rise of e-Sports in Dallas” instead.

    Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Check it out below!

     

     

  • Agency Partner Ranks No. 28 on the 2020 Inc. 5000 Series: Texas

    Agency Partner Ranks No. 28 on the 2020 Inc. 5000 Series: Texas

    Inc. Magazine Unveils List of Fastest-Growing Companies in Texas
    Agency Partner Interactive Ranks No. 28 on the 2020 Inc. 5000 Series For 418% Revenue Growth

    NEW YORK, March 13, 2020 – Inc. magazine today revealed that Agency Partner Interactive is No. 28 on its inaugural Inc. 5000 Series: Texas list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Texas-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Texas economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses.

    “We do our homework and then shoot for the stars. Last year we started to leverage artificial intelligence to supercharge the ROI our marketing experts provide to clients. Looking ahead we will continue to invest in hiring great people while also adding new layers of sophistication into how we manage both marketing and technology services,” said Muhammad Younus, founder and CEO.

    The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in Texas. Between 2016 and 2018, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 294 percent and, in 2018 alone, they employed 36,000 people and added $11 billion to the Texas economy. Companies based in the largest metro areas—Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio—brought in the highest revenue overall.

    Dallas based eCommerce developer and web design digital agency
    Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Series: Texas, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/inc5000-series-texas-2020.html starting March 13, 2020.

    “The companies on this list demonstrate just how much the small-business sector impacts Texas’s economy,” says Inc. editor in chief Scott Omelianuk. “Across every single industry, these businesses have posted revenue and growth rates that are beyond impressive, further proving the tenacity of their founders and CEOs.” 

    CONTACT:

    Adam Rizzieri, Chief Marketing Officer
    adam@agencypartner.com

    More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regional Series

    Methodology

    The 2020 Inc. 5000 Regional Series is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2018. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2018.

    (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2018 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

    About Inc. Media

    The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States.

    The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

  • Is Your CEO Tweeting Enough? The Rise of Social Media Relations

    Is Your CEO Tweeting Enough? The Rise of Social Media Relations

    Tips from Social Media Experts

    Innovation and transparency are now key features in brand marketing strategies. Consumers are attracted to brands that are open about their intent and vision. Millennials are a mass commercial target market, driving consumer desires and expectations.

    This means that brands lacking in those two particular values are going to want to emulate and prioritize them in their next strategic meeting on Social Media Marketing. With the purchasing pendulum swinging strongly to the side of moral and social merits, brands have the incentive to adjust to these millennial interests.

    Social Media Strategy

    Based on the structure and pace of social media and marketing, brand competition is stronger than ever. Anyone can start, populate, and build up a social media profile and become an active Twitter or Instagram participant in the commerce and advertising sphere. But a strategy is essential. With more visible stats geared to help companies understand what their target market wants, they’re able to maximize and narrow their efforts into profitable outcomes. Developing a marketing strategy is accessible and simplified through platforms such as Sprout Social.

    The millennial age, otherwise known as the “avocado toast” generation, is ushering in companies that think about the environment, are self-care supporters, and don’t keep with the status quo. They support pioneering corporations that are affiliated with empowering social movements. To get a tangible idea, think biodegradable packaging, mental health awareness, and giving back to the community.

    CEO-Consumer Connection

    As millennial lives are strongly interwoven with constant technological access and connectivity, visible values of empathy and honesty go a long way. As found in a recent report from Sprout Social, it shows that CEO transparency has a substantial influence on millennial purchases. Consumer perspective has broadened to include the millennial expectation that companies active on social platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Messenger, shouldn’t be hierarchical in their interactions.

    They expect that the 61 percent of the Fortune 500 CEOs and C-suite members, who aren’t currently involved on these social media platforms, have as much a presence as anyone else–no matter their roles. Hence the question, “is your CEO tweeting enough?”

    Brand Loyalty

    Brands that are open, clear, and connective incite consumers to afford them second chances and 85 percent of consumers would stick with them through thick and thin, should they experience a crisis. The human elements of empathy, compassion, and loyalty are strong driving forces behind this new wave of business-consumer relating.

    Millennials hold strong voices on social platforms and, as brands are impacted by lashing tweets, infuriated comments, and negative reviews, customer care combined with social media responsiveness is not only a branding tool but a necessity. However, it’s not only millennials but consumers in general who are now expecting brands to respond to DMs, assist with product or service problems, and be vocal when it comes to social issues.

    Summing Things Up

    The social media landscape toes the line between facade and reality and will undoubtedly see integrity-driven transformation around its adaptive axis. We can expect to see shifts and evolution in consumer expectations of business regarding personalization, transparency, and interaction.

    At Agency Partner Interactive, we can help you navigate the tides of change. In addition to Website Design Service and Content Creation, we offer Social Media Marketing, Brand Strategist, and Business Consulting. Contact us to talk to an experienced professional who can help set your business onto the right trajectory. Contact us Today and let’s talk about how we can help make you successful.

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