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Social Media

May 27
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How Picture List Posts could boost your Blog Traffic

By Design, Marketing, Social Media No Comments

Reaching your target audience through a viral blog post can sometimes feel like a fantasy. You want to create content that gets shared and builds an audience, but it can often feel like trying to win the lottery.

You know there have got to be a few tips and tricks towards reaching that golden post. Here is one such tip which according to Buzzsumo and Canva’s data should absolutely give you a massive boost to blog traffic.

That tip is picture list posts. Picture list posts are blog posts which essentially list information using frequent images to engage the reader and give overall a more memorable experience. The results are quite staggering…

Why does this boost blog traffic?

It’s long been known that most people find images as opposed to typography much more engaging and memorable. Let’s be honest it’s not hard to see why. We are hard wired to recognise visual cues, reading can capture our imagination briefly but those depictions will never match a truly detailed image.

So exactly how much more effective does this make your blog traffic? Over the last three months Canva & Buzzsumo looked at 100 million Facebook posts. They found that posts without an image on average earned 164 interactions. Posts with images over double that figure with an average of 372 interactions.

Socialbakers found in their research that 93% of the most engaging posts on Facebook were images as opposed to status updates, links and video.

Images have instant gratification, which simply leads to a higher chance of being appreciated and shared. People know subconsciously that their friends are more likely to respond well to a shared image than a shared wall of text.

That’s where Picture List Posts come in. We like to share posts with images in, so it only makes sense to produce content with a series of curated images. Think along the same vein as an infographic where the images are used to deliver clear values and information. Picture list posts have a clear purpose for which their images are being used for example:

Storytelling

The Guardian used a Picture lists post to demonstrate the results of overpopulation and overconsumption. The photos in this article are at times quite frightening. The same impact just could not have been achieved using a standard written post.

How-to posts

This is a simple post in Wikihow on how to make pancakes. This article placed second in Google to the BBC’s Easy Pancakes on the search query “how to make pancakes”. An impressive feat to be sure, not to mention the hundreds of other pancake tutorials it’s topping just amongst other wikihow users. What really sets it apart is the detailed step-by-step instructions accompanied by images.

Comparisons

The Guardian use a series of Picture List posts “Then and Now” to compare locations present with their past. This particular example is of Australia, but the series is particularly potent in areas which have been affected by natural disasters.

Lists

This image is from a post by Awwwards a website dedicated to giving website awards. They also produce content relevant to designers. This is a list of top 100 free fonts, really useful for designers and very shareable.

Getting started

Hopefully these examples can give you some pretty good insight to what types of content will perform best in a pictures list post. However, if you’re still not sure how to translate this into your industry or niche, here are some questions to get you raring to go:

  • What type of stories work in your area? How does one of your successful projects or case studies look as a series of images?
  • What comparisons can you make with images? For example, how have products in your area changed over time.
  • Are there any processes or tips in your area that could be explained better through a series of images?
  • What ‘how to’ picture post might work in your area?

If you want to learn more about this process or you’d like a little bit of design magic in your project give us a call on this number: 01273 328877

We’re always open to giving advice!

Oct 13
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How To Get Traffic

How to get Traffic to your site (Beginners)

By Email Marketing, Link Building, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Website, Wordpress No Comments

Starting up a website is hard.

Thousands of people are already in your industry and have already got a strong following.

Sometimes breaking into the crowd can seem impossible.

After all you’ve checked out the leading authorities on building up traffic, they’ve all had plenty of advice to give.

Yet here you are looking for more techniques to even get started on building traffic to your site.

Nothing has worked.

You start to wonder…

Have you failed as a content writer? Is your SEO really that terrible?

“…Is my website, useless?”

Building up a following can be really tough. I mean real tough, like climbing mount Everest with banana skin shoes tough.

But it is possible, people have managed it. (Popular Blogs, not climbing Everest with banana’s. Maybe one day).

So, the question, is how?

Out of all of the building traffic techniques you’ve read about:

  • SEO
  • AMA’s
  • Social Media
  • RSS Feeds
  • Video
  • Landing Pages
  • Email Marketing
  • Marketing Automation
  • Calls to Action
  • Analytics
  • Following popular blogs

None of them work.

Most suggested traffic techniques just don’t work

Here’s the cold, hard truth.

There are only four methods which do work, for a Beginner.

“There are only four ways to get traffic to my site?

That can’t be right. Surely not.

I’ve read all of those great posts on Moz, Hubspot etc. about building traffic…

And I mean well, it all makes sense.”

So why hasn’t any of it worked?

Because the vast majority of what people are saying just isn’t effective for startups.

Think about it.

These websites are aiming their blogs at businesses which already have a somewhat popular website, who are just trying to boost their website even further.

If your just starting out and are paying close attention to your followers, then what are you doing?

You don’t even have any followers,

Yet.

You can’t waste time on lead nurturing, email campaigns etc. When you don’t have an audience.

Leading authorities don’t write about how to get traffic, they write about how to improve your traffic.

This is a massive difference and which honestly, should be made much clearer. Your not the only people who have been struggling to figure out how to get their website to take off, TCmarketing included…

How to get Traffic for a Beginner (The only Four Techniques)

…So what exactly is effective for startups?

1. Guest Blogging

If your just starting out and looking to hit your mark on the web scene. This should be your weapon of your choice. Guest blogging is extremely effective at producing unique, targeted visitors for a start up website. The best bit? There are no prerequisites, all you need to get started is a few popular bloggers in your industry.

Steps:

  • Write a Guest Post
  • Ask for a small favour of linking your guest post to related posts
  • If someone shares your post, get to know them! Chances are they will share your blog too
  • Instead of linking back to your home page, link to your email opt in. This could get you many subscribers

2. Interviews/pod-casting

Not only do a lot of people want to hear what industry experts have to say. Industry experts have a lot to say. Don’t be afraid to ask to do an interview with influential people, as long as you keep it relevant interviews are beneficial to everyone.

Steps:

  • Plan your interview
  • Get as many Bloggers involved as possible (within reason)
  • Get permission to share your findings with the world, think about putting this behind a landing page/opt-in list

3. Outreach

Generally spending the time to put out a truly fantastic and original post just does not generate the visitors to be worth while. But here is the interesting part, if you pair them with outreach and the results can be staggering. However your going to need to be prepared to face rejection. Even if your content is truly some of the best in your industry.

Steps:

  • Identify Influential Bloggers
  • Get Noticed (comments, email, social)
  • Request a share/guest post/backlink etc.
  • Build the relationship

4. Advertising

When it comes to earning traffic as a beginner, this is the real deal. Advertising greatly out paces any other technique for generating traffic to your website as a beginner. However there is one flaw with this technique, which I’m sure you’ve already cottoned on to. That’s right, money. Now I’m not going to say go and bust your life savings on advertising for your website. However if you think you are ready for that increased volume, advertising can save you months of work, that’s how effective it is.

Get on with it then!

That’s it! The four techniques you need to invest in to build up traffic to your website.

So, what are you still reading this for?

Get out there and grab that web traffic, it’s waiting for you!

 

Seriously though, I hope our guide on how to get traffic for your start-up website was useful.

I mean, I put in enough time writing this.

So give me a share! Tweet this to your friends! Recommend me to your industry leaders!

 

By Gabriel Hourigan,

Aug 21
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Why Social Media is so Important for Your Business

By Marketing, Social Media No Comments

From increased brand exposure to improved search rankings, businesses today have realised how much of a positive impact social media has.

But if you’re a small business that has yet to venture past your optimised website and your occasional e-newsletters into the world of social media, here are a few reasons why you should.

Your customers are already using it

According to the UK Online Measurement company, the average UK surfer spends 22 hours and 15 minutes on the net each month. This means there is a high chance that your target audience is already using social media websites and blogs. So to reach them, you have to join them – by using social media you can reach more potential customers and send out your marketing message on a platform they are confident with.

Increase personal communication

Forget one-way marketing channels. With the help of social media, you can reach out to potential customers and atually have a conversation with them. Answering their personal queries and responding to their posts about your business will make them feel like they are being heard and apart of a community – increasing their loyalty and trust.

Competitive advantage

Your competitors may be racing ahead of you and building up a strong online consumer relationship. So it is important to include social media into your marketing strategy – you don’t want to be falling behind.
However if your competitors are still using traditional marketing methods and have avoided social media, then what are you waiting for? Get a leg up and venture in before them. Utilise this marketing channel before they do.

Cost effective

Instead of running a paid ad or mailing out thousands of leaflets; it is much more cost effective to send a tweet or post a message on Facebook – much quicker too. Marketing campaigns can also be demographic-specific, allowing marketing messages to be targeted to a specific audience, for instance through the use of Google+ Circles.

Increase your ranking on Google search

Having your website linked to your various social media profiles (Twitter, LinkedIn etc.) will help to increase the validity of your website and boost your google authority; essentially opening up more routes for potential consumers to reach your website.
Of course having updated and compelling content on your website will help to entice other websites to find your content and link to it.

Below is an infographic which shows just how many millions of users are using social media.
If you need any more advice, contact us now.

By Lucy Bone

Aug 07
Love10

Can Google+ Benefit Your Business?

By Marketing, Social Media No Comments

Although Google+ is still in its infancy, it may be wise to hop on the bandwagon before you miss opportunities.
It is the fastest growing social networking site, having attracted 20 million users within the first 3 weeks of it being launched, and since then has grown to 540 million monthly active users – an audience your business cannot ignore.

So how can you use the features of google+ to your advantage?

Segment with circles

Circles is used by Google+ to help group people together. You can create as many circles as you want and name them accordingly to the different demographics your business targets. This effectively divides up your audience enabling you to advertise to a specific target market. For instance, if you’re having a sale on men’s bow ties, you can send a message only to men (if that is a chosen circle) and create a message which appeals to them.

However it must be noted that your business page cannot place someone in a circle until they have added the page, so therefore it is very important to make your page enticing for people to follow, with a lively stream of relevant posts and frequent conversations for them to engage with.

+1 Button

Similar to Facebook’s Like button, Google+ has a ‘+1’ button to allow people to recommend sites and parts of sites they found insightful, amusing or just wanted to share amongst their friends. There is positive correlation between the amount of +1s a website has and its Google search ranking.

So to bump yourself up on Google’s organic search list, get posting and commenting with relevant information to attract and entice users to press the +1 button on your page – give them a +1 and often they will reciprocate.

Google Authorship

Once you link your Google+ profile with other content you have written and published, that content is given a Google authorship mark-up. This means that when it is searched in Google, the result will display your Google+ profile picture. Chances are users will be drawn to the search result displaying your picture – even if it isn’t the number 1 result.

Increasing traffic to your website and also potentially leading to users adding you to their Google+ circles so they can comment on your posts or further enquire on your business.

Integration with other platforms

Linking with your other social media profiles such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin etc. helps to boost your google authority and essentially opens up more routes for potential consumers to reach your website.

Get face-to-face with consumers

Hangouts are a unique feature which allow a free live video stream of up to 10 people. You can stream and record conversations for playback later using Hangouts On Air.

  • Question and Answer
    Through a live question and answer session, you can engage and inform consumers in a unique and fun way. Also finding out what they love and what they think you can improve upon, whilst generating further interest and stimulating conversation.

  • Crowdsourcing
    Another way Google+ Hangouts can be utilised is through crowdsourcing, as it is an ideal forum to share ideas for new products, services, and even your own knowledge to a wider audience. Providing expert and valuable advice to potential customers often leads them to becoming actual customers. A community of users discussing their interest in your product and the experience they have had using it could potentially be formed. This will most certainly increase the number of users adding your business page.

  • Behind the scenes
    Help make customers feel like they are apart of your business and get the full experience by pulling back the curtains, show them what happens behind the scenes and provide them with more information about how your company runs.

 

So jump on the bandwagon and start building relationships now – while you can still be easily heard.

By Lucy Bone