Digital Marketing – Shane Barker https://shanebarker.com Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:28:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://shanebarker.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-favicon-32x32-1.png Digital Marketing – Shane Barker https://shanebarker.com 32 32 Cookiebot™ Review: The Leading Consent Management Platform for Privacy Compliance https://shanebarker.com/blog/cookiebot-review/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/cookiebot-review/#respond Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=89968 User privacy and data security are primary concerns for consumers and businesses today. Simply put, the way you handle user data matters 一 from collecting to storing and managing it.

Here comes Cookiebot™, a leading data privacy and cookie management platform for your websites. It provides you with all the tools you need to manage cookies and tracking technologies to achieve compliance with data privacy regulations like the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

In my full review of Cookiebot, I’ll help you analyze if Cookiebot is the right privacy compliance solution for your business. Let’s dive in to explore its key features, pros, cons, and use cases.

What is Cookiebot CMP?

Usercentrics Cookiebot CMP is a leading consent management platform (CMP) designed to help businesses comply with global data privacy regulations like GDPR, CCPA, CPRA, DMA, VCDPA, LGPD, POPIA, and Google consent mode.

It is a robust privacy compliance solution for SMB marketing and non-marketing teams that helps you manage user consent for cookies and trackers on your websites. Its scanning technology checks your website for privacy compliance, automatically generates cookie consent banners, and offers customization options.

You can use Cookiebot CMP's free plan for basic user consent management needs or opt for premium features and dedicated support through their paid plans.

Cookiebot CMP’s Pros and Cons

Pros of Cookiebot™

  • It is a Google-certified CMP solution that easily integrates with Google consent mode v2.
  • It offers customization options to edit consent banners to match your website's branding.
  • Cookiebot CMP’s seamless integration with WordPress, Google Tag Manager, Shopify, Magento, and Drupal makes it easy to use and implement.
  • Its free plan is ideal for individual bloggers, website owners, and small businesses looking for simple compliance solutions.
  • It has a user-friendly interface that even non-technical teams can seamlessly implement.
  • It signals consent management in Microsoft Ads Universal Event Tracking (UET).

Cons of Cookiebot™

  • Usercentrics Cookiebot CMP is unable to A/B test different consent banner designs. This feature would be a valuable addition.
  • While there's a free trial, Cookiebot™ is pricey for some small businesses and websites having too many subpages.

Cookiebot™ Pricing Plans

Cookiebot™ offers flexible pricing options based on the number of subpages your domain has:

  • Free plan: Perfect for small websites with limited cookie usage and up to 50 subpages.
  • Premium plans: Offering premium features like custom solutions, advanced analytics, and dedicated support.
    • Premium Lite plan: $7.72 per domain, per month, up to 50 subpages
    • Premium Small plan: $16.54 per domain, per month, up to 350 subpages
    • Premium Medium plan: $33.08 per domain, per month, up to 3,500 subpages
    • Premium Large plan: $55.13 per domain, per month, more than 3,500 subpages

Start with a 14-day free trial to see if Cookiebot™ is right for your data privacy compliance needs before committing to their premium plans.

Who is Cookiebot™ Best For?

Cookiebot™ is a top choice for:

  • SMB owners
  • Decision-makers
  • Marketing professionals
  • Website owners
  • Agencies
  • PPC marketers
  • Freelancers
  • GDPR consultants

Usercentrics Cookiebot CMP: Reviewing Its Key Features

Usercentrics Cookiebot CMP makes consent management easy and reliable. It lets you ensure that your website is compliant. You can see which user data your website collects and shares with third parties – useful for data privacy compliance.

Here’s a walkthrough of its key features:

1. Google-Certified CMP Solution, Compatible with Google Consent Mode v2

Cookiebot™ is a Google-certified CMP solution that integrates seamlessly with Google consent mode v2. It allows you to respect user privacy while collecting the necessary data for optimizing your ads and website performance.

google consent mode check for privacy compliance

Its automated consent solution collects user consent signaled to Google services like Google Analytics (GA4), Google Ads, and Google Tag Manager, for conversion tracking and analytics. It also helps you achieve compliance with the GDPR and ePrivacy.

2. Fully Customizable Cookie Consent Banner

Cookiebot™ lets you fully customize the design, cookie declaration content, and privacy trigger of your user consent banner. Customizing it to fit perfectly with your website design and align with your audience’s preferences will help you improve user experience.

  • Select your preferred cookie consent banner layout 一 a dialog box or a bar.
cookiebot consent banner layout
  • Use built-in styling options to add your brand’s logo to the consent banner and change button colors.
change button colors of cookiebot consent banner
  • Customize the compliance settings based on whether you want to enable visitors to opt in and out of certain types of cookies or select visitors from specific geolocations who’ll be asked for consent.
cookiebot consent banner - compliance customization options
  • Customize the content of your consent banner with Cookiebot CMP. This platform auto-translates the content on your consent banner in 47+ languages based on the visitor’s geolocation.
cookiebot consent banner content

3. Cookiebot CMP by Usercentrics – WordPress Plugin

The Cookiebot WordPress plugin provides you with an easy setup process, automated cookie declaration, and monthly cookie reports for hassle-free consent management. You can use this WordPress plugin to:

  • Customize your consent banner to align with your website.
  • Enable visitors to opt in or out of individual cookie categories.
  • Tailor your cookie consent banner based on the geolocation of your target audience and achieve compliance with relevant data privacy regulations.
  • Automatically block cookies and trackers until you get user consent.
  • Automatically detect and update cookies and tracking technologies to keep notifications and compliance up-to-date.
  • Update and publish cookie declarations to keep your visitors informed about your cookie policy.
Cookiebot wordpress plugin for consent management and privacy compliance

You can also integrate it with Google Tag Manager for more streamlined tag management.

4. Automated Cookie Scans and Declaration

Cookiebot CMP’s best-in-class cookie scanning technology automatically detects the cookies and trackers implemented on your website.

You can schedule regular checks to ensure that your privacy compliance is up to date. If not, Cookiebot CMP will update all the cookies and trackers shown in your consent banner.

With automated cookie declaration, Cookiebot™ saves time and resources by enabling users to change or withdraw their consent at any time regarding all cookies and trackers in use on your website.

5. Microsoft Ads (UET Consent Mode) Signaling

Cookiebot CMP is compatible with Microsoft Ads’ Universal Event Tracking (UET), helping you signal user consent to your advertising campaigns.

You can adjust your UET cookie access based on the consent status of your users. This gives you control over whether first-party cookies (by your website) and third-party cookies (created by Microsoft Ads) are stored.

microsoft ads consent management cookiebot
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How to Use Cookiebot Consent Management Platform (Step-by-Step)

Here are the steps you need to follow to integrate the Cookiebot consent management platform with your website.

Sign Up for Cookiebot™

Start by creating an account on the Cookiebot™ website. You can opt for the free trial or choose a premium plan depending on your needs.

Website Scanning and Consent Banner Setup

Cookiebot CMP will automatically scan your website for cookies and trackers, then generate a consent banner for you to customize. You can tweak the user interface, content, and privacy compliance settings of the banner using the process shared above.

Integrate with Google Tag Manager or WordPress

Install the Cookiebot WordPress plugin or set up Google Tag Manager to manage the implementation of your consent banner.

Test and Monitor Your Consent Statistics

Once live, use Cookiebot CMP’s dashboard to monitor consent statistics and ensure ongoing compliance with relevant data privacy regulations in different geographical regions.

Cookiebot™ Reviews and User Testimonials

Cookiebot CMP users have praised its ease of use and seamless integration. Many digital marketing professionals appreciate the free plan for basic compliance, while SMBs highlight the ability to customize the consent banners and integrate them with Google consent mode on multiple domains.

cookiebot user review
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cookiebot review
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cookiebot user review
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Final Verdict

Cookiebot CMP by Usercentrics stands out as one of the best consent management platforms, ensuring you achieve compliance with GDPR, CCPA, or other data privacy regulations and Google consent mode v2.

With Cookiebot™, you can effectively track and store your visitors’ data in Google Analytics 4 and use Google Ads to promote your business. You’ll be legally compliant with privacy regulations. Plus, it will help you build trust with your audience as you respect their privacy choices and ask for consent.

So, are you ready to efficiently handle your user data collection with explicit permission?

FAQs

Is there a free trial for Cookiebot CMP?

Yes, Cookiebot CMP offers a 14-day free trial. It also has a free plan with limited features for domains with up to 50 subpages.

Does Cookiebot CMP work with WordPress?

Yes, there is a free WordPress plugin 一 Cookiebot CMP by Usercentrics — available for easy integration.

Can I customize the consent banner?

Yes, Cookiebot CMP offers extensive customization options for consent banners. You can customize everything from the layout, design, styling, and content to privacy triggers and compliance settings of your consent banner.

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The 9 Best Marketing Conferences You Should Attend in 2024 and 2025 https://shanebarker.com/blog/marketing-conferences/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/marketing-conferences/#respond Mon, 30 Sep 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=89442 Marketing conferences are more than just events — they’re opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with others in your industry. Whether you're looking to take advantage of the latest trends, refine your marketing strategies, or discover new talent, attending the right conferences can be a game-changer for your career.

Here are nine must-attend marketing conferences in 2024 and 2025 that will help boost your skills, expand your network, and stay ahead of the curve.

Why Attending Marketing Conferences is Crucial to Your Success

Marketing changes constantly to align with the changing consumer behaviors, and staying updated on the latest strategies, tools, and trends is essential. Marketing conferences offer a unique opportunity to learn directly from industry leaders, explore new technologies, and network with peers.

Why attend marketing events?

Because they provide valuable insights that you can bring back to your team, helping you stay competitive in your field. Whether you're a digital marketing manager, content creator, or entrepreneur, these events are key to staying relevant and successful.

How to Choose the Right Conference for Your Professional Needs

With so many digital marketing conferences to choose from, efficiently select the ones that align with your goals and interests.

Here are some tips to help you pick the right conference:

  • Consider your goals: Are you looking to improve your digital marketing strategies, stay on top of industry trends, or discover new talent? Choose conferences that focus on the areas where you want to grow.
  • Look at the speakers: Conferences with top-tier keynote speakers and industry experts are often the most valuable. Check the event’s speaker lineup to ensure you’ll be learning from the best.
  • Evaluate networking opportunities: Networking is an essential part of any conference. Look for events that offer plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with other professionals.
  • Check the marketing event topics: Make sure the conference covers topics relevant to your work. Whether it's digital marketing best practices, SEO, or content creation, the sessions should align with your professional interests.
  • Consider location and timing: Choose conferences with dates that fit into your schedule and location that is convenient or offer other business opportunities.

Must-Attend Marketing Conferences in 2024 and 2025

Here are the top nine marketing conferences you should consider attending in 2024 and 2025:

1. DigiMarCon

DigiMarCon marketing conference
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Date: Multiple dates in 2024 and 2025

Location: Various locations globally

Website: digimarcon.com

Overview: DigiMarCon is a global series of digital marketing conferences that covers a wide range of topics, including online marketing, search engine optimization, and digital media.

This conference is ideal for those looking to learn about digital marketing best practices and connect with industry leaders. With events held in various locations, you can choose the one that best fits your schedule.

2. OMR Festival – Online Marketing Rockstars Festival

OMR Festival - Online Marketing Rockstars Festival
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Date: May 6th-7th, 2025

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Website: omr.com/de/events/festival

Overview: The OMR Festival is one of Europe’s most exciting marketing events, attracting over 70,000 attendees yearly. The festival combines trade shows, conferences, and concerts, offering a unique experience that blends learning with entertainment.

It's a great place to discover the latest trends in digital marketing, meet top industry experts, and enjoy a lively atmosphere.

3. Dreamforce

Dreamforce marketing conference
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Date: September 17th-19th, 2024

Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

Website: salesforce.com/dreamforce

Overview: Hosted by Salesforce, Dreamforce is more than just a marketing conference — it’s a massive event that covers everything from digital marketing and sales to customer success and AI.

The conference attracts professionals from all over the world, offering a wealth of knowledge and networking opportunities. Whether you're looking to learn new marketing strategies or looking to scale your team, Dreamforce provides valuable insights that can help you achieve your goals.

4. INBOUND – HubSpot’s Marketing and Sales Conference

INBOUND - HubSpot’s Marketing and Sales Conference
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Date: September 18th-20th, 2024

Location: Boston, MA, USA

Website: inbound.com

Overview: INBOUND, hosted by HubSpot, is a must-attend event for anyone involved in digital marketing. The conference covers various topics, including content marketing, SEO, and marketing automation.

INBOUND is known for its high-profile keynote speakers, practical workshops, and extensive networking opportunities, making it a valuable experience for marketers at all levels.

5. Brandweek – Adweek's Premier Marketing Conference

Brandweek - Adweek's Premier Marketing Conference
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Date: September 23rd-26th, 2024

Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA

Website: event.adweek.com/brandweek_2024

Overview: Brandweek is an immersive marketing event that brings together the world’s top brand leaders to discuss the latest marketing strategies and trends.

Hosted by Adweek, this conference offers a mix of keynote sessions, workshops, and networking events. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn from the best in the industry and gain insights that can help you refine your brand’s marketing approach.

6. BrightonSEO – Search Marketing Conference

BrightonSEO - Search Marketing Conference
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Date: October 3rd-4th, 2024

Location: Brighton, UK

Website: brightonseo.com

Overview: BrightonSEO is a highly-regarded conference focusing on search engine optimization. Whether you're an SEO expert or new to the field, this event offers practical insights and strategies to improve your search rankings and online visibility.

The conference is known for its actionable content and vibrant networking opportunities, making it a must-attend event for digital marketers focused on SEO.

7. ADworld Experience – PPC and CRO Conference

ADworld Experience PPC, CRO, and marketing conference
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Date: October 17th-18th, 2024

Location: Bologna, Italy

Website: adworldexperience.it/en

Overview: ADworld Experience is Europe’s largest PPC (pay-per-click) and CRO (conversion rate optimization) event. This conference is perfect for digital marketers looking to deepen their understanding of online advertising and improve their campaign results.

With a focus on real-world case studies and expert insights, ADworld Experience offers practical knowledge you can apply directly to your campaigns.

8. Spotlight – Semrush’s Marketing Conference

Spotlight - Semrush’s Marketing Conference
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Date: October 30th, 2024

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Website: spotlightconf.com

Promo code: SPOT20SAVE – Save 20% on the conference pass

Overview: Spotlight by Semrush is a unique marketing conference that teaches hands-on learning and real-world applications. Unlike many conferences focusing on theory, Spotlight offers interactive sessions where attendees can engage directly with industry experts.

The event covers key topics like SEO, content strategy, social media, and AI, making it an essential opportunity for marketers looking to enhance their skills. With a mix of keynotes, roundtables, and networking mixers, Spotlight provides a comprehensive and engaging experience for all attendees.

semrush logo

Semrush is a leading global platform for online visibility management and content marketing. We confidently recommend it to anyone involved in SEO, content marketing, competitor research, PPC, and social media marketing. Try it free for 14 days now, or read our comprehensive platform review here.

9. Web Summit – Technology Conference

Web Summit - Technology Conference
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Date: November 11th-14th, 2024

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Website: websummit.com

Overview: Web Summit is one of the world’s largest technology conferences, bringing together tech industry leaders, startup founders, and digital marketing experts. The conference covers various topics, including online marketing, content creation, and the latest digital trends.

It’s an ideal event for marketers who want to stay on top of industry developments and connect with innovators from around the globe.

How to Make the Most of Your Marketing Conference Experience

Attending a marketing conference is an investment of resources for professional development, so make the most of your time and energy. Here’s how you can enhance your experience before, during, and after the marketing event.

Before the Marketing Conference: Preparation Tips

  • Set clear objectives: Decide what you want to achieve at the conference. Whether learning new marketing strategies, meeting potential partners, or discovering the latest trends, having clear goals will help you focus your efforts.
  • Plan your schedule: Review the conference’s agenda and select the sessions, workshops, and networking events that align with your objectives. Prioritize the sessions that are most relevant to your needs.
  • Research speakers and attendees: Familiarize yourself with the event’s speakers and other attendees. Knowing who will be there helps you plan out your connections and what questions you want to ask.

During the Marketing Conference: Networking Strategies

  • Be proactive: Don’t wait for networking opportunities to come to you. Introduce yourself to other attendees, exchange ideas, and share your experience. Networking is one of the most valuable aspects of attending a conference.
  • Use social media: Engage with the event on social media by using official hashtags and participating in online discussions. This manner of interaction can help you connect with other attendees and stay updated on what's happening at the event.
  • Attend networking events: Many conferences offer mixers, dinners, and other social events designed for networking. These are great opportunities to meet new people in a relaxed setting.

After the Marketing Conference: Implementing Your Learning

  • Review and organize your notes: After the conference, go through your notes and highlight the key takeaways. Organize them into actionable steps that you can implement in your work.
  • Follow up with contacts: Reach out to the people you met at the conference. A quick follow-up email or LinkedIn message can help maintain your connections and potentially lead to future collaborations.
  • Apply what you’ve learned: Put the new strategies and ideas you’ve learned into practice. Whether it's updating your marketing strategies or experimenting with new tools, applying what you’ve learned and seeing results is where the significant value of attending conferences lies.

Invest in Your Future by Attending the Best Marketing Conferences of the Year

Attending marketing conferences is an investment in your professional growth. These events offer invaluable opportunities to learn, network, and stay ahead of the latest trends in the marketing industry.

By carefully selecting the right conferences and making the most of your time there, you can gain the insights and connections needed to advance your career and achieve your marketing goals.

Make 2024 the year you take your marketing skills to the next level by attending these top marketing conferences.

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How to Create a Winning Digital Marketing Strategy with Freelancers https://shanebarker.com/blog/using-freelancers-for-digital-marketing/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/using-freelancers-for-digital-marketing/#respond Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=89409 Businesses are constantly looking for ways to stay ahead of the competition. The freelancer economy has opened opportunities for them to create a winning digital marketing strategy without relying solely on in-house teams.

Before diving into the steps to building an effective strategy, it’s essential to understand the growing influence of freelancers in digital marketing. According to Fiverr’s Freelance Economic Impact report, freelancers earned over $191 billion in revenue and contributed 1.1% of the U.S. GDP in 2023.

freelance economic report 2024
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Freelancers continue to be an influential economic force. They drive this trend by their flexibility, specialized skills and expertise, and cost-effectiveness.

But how can you craft a winning digital marketing strategy when you have freelancers on board? Let’s break it down with data, steps, and best practices.

Why Choose Freelancers for Your Digital Marketing Strategy?

Hiring freelancers allows you to tap into a global talent pool with diverse skills. Freelancers provide flexibility and expertise, often costing less than traditional full-time employees.

Here are why integrating freelancers into your digital marketing strategy is beneficial:

  • Cost efficiency: According to Forbes, freelancers are the force multipliers in the modern economy. You can save 20-30% on payroll and overhead costs by hiring freelancers instead of full-time employees.
  • Specialized skills and expertise: Freelancers offer niche expertise, whether it's SEO, web design, content marketing, or social media management, enabling you to leverage industry-specific knowledge. They are also keen to upskill themselves to contribute to the growth of businesses.
  • Scalability: As your digital marketing needs evolve, you can seamlessly scale your efforts up or down by hiring freelancers without long-term commitments.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Digital Marketing Strategy with Freelancers

Let’s look at the step-by-step process to work with freelancers for an effective digital marketing strategy that drives business growth.

1. Define Your Digital Marketing Goals and Objectives

Define your needs and goals to create an effective digital marketing strategy. 

Ask yourself: What do I want to achieve? Is it a greater brand awareness, more leads, or a higher number of sales? Then, associate your goals with clear and measurable KPIs such as traffic growth, social media follower growth, or better conversion rates.

For example, if your goal is to increase website traffic by 20% in six months, determine how SEO, content creation, and social media marketing freelancers can contribute to this goal. After that, set a budget based on how much you are willing to invest in these freelance digital marketing services.

2. Find the Right Freelancers for Your Digital Marketing Goals

Identify roles to outsource to freelancers

First, determine the essential digital marketing roles you want to outsource to freelancers. Some common ones include:

  • Content writing and editing
  • Video content creation
  • Search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Social media management
  • Web design and development
  • PPC and social ad campaign management
  • Email marketing and automation
  • Guest posting
  • Link building

Before deciding the type of freelancers to work with, it’s important to assess your current team’s skills and identify gaps freelancers can fill.

Find freelancers through different channels

Once decided, the next step is to find the right freelancers based on skills, expertise, and budget. But where can you find freelancers for your digital marketing strategy?

  • Popular freelancer platforms: Use freelance marketplace platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer to find qualified candidates and gigs for your marketing efforts. On Fiverr, you can search for freelancers by skills, not just by service gigs.
find freelancers by skills on fiverr
  • Industry-specific communities: You can find expert content creators, social media managers, and other freelance digital marketing professionals through specific niche communities on LinkedIn, Slack, and Superpath Marketplace.

Evaluate freelancer profiles

When hiring freelancers, don’t look for generalists; hire specialists in specific areas of digital marketing, such as blog posts, content marketing, online courses, or SEO.

why hire specialists freelancers and not generic freelancers
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For example, if you want to find someone to build high-quality links for your website, don’t search for “SEO.” Instead, search for freelance services related to “SEO link building.”

seo link building freelancers

You’ll likely find freelancers whose charges vary greatly. One may charge $10 for 550 links while another charges $185 for 150 links.

So, how do you choose the right ones to work with?

Assess the freelancer’s capabilities, expertise, and what they are offering. You’ll notice the difference.

evaluate cost and service offerings of freelancers

Check out the freelancer’s portfolio, experience, past work samples, and client testimonials. You can also ask for case studies of projects they are proud of working on.

Other than skills and expertise, a freelancer’s behavior, responsiveness, and transparency are also key factors in ensuring the success of your working relationship and meeting your goal.

Platforms like Fiverr let you see how well and clear a freelancer’s communication is.

freelancer ratings for service and communication

If you are looking to collaborate with a freelancer for a major campaign or a long-term project, consider testing multiple candidates on relevant small-budget tasks. Then, finalize and select the ones you find reliable, good at their job, and enjoy working with the most. 

3. Create a Clear Project Scope and Brief

To ensure your freelancers deliver top-quality work that aligns with your digital marketing goals, create a clear project scope and brief. This brief should outline the project’s goals, deliverables, deadlines, and specific expectations for each task.

A well-defined brief will eliminate ambiguity, allowing freelancers to focus on delivering results without confusion. Don’t miss including important details such as:

  • Target audience
  • Key messages or themes
  • Brand voice, brand guidelines, and existing content for consistency
  • Marketing goals and deliverables
  • Milestones and deadlines
  • Expectations on communication, response times, and quality of work
  • Examples of past successful campaigns

Fiverr has an AI tool that assists in creating a detailed brief based on your needs.

By setting clear guidelines from the start, you’ll reduce revisions, ensure higher-quality work, and keep projects on track. Schedule regular check-ins (meetings or reports) to discuss progress, address concerns, and make adjustments as needed.

4. Collaborate Effectively with Freelancers

When working with freelancers, communication is critical. Decide on the best way to communicate with your freelancers. It could be through email, instant messaging, or communication tools (like Slack and Zoom).

Use project management tools such as Asana, Trello, or ClickUp (my favorite) to keep everyone on the same page. These tools help you create and assign tasks, hold people accountable, and track the progress and blockages of your digital marketing project.

clickup promject management tool for freelancers

Ensure your freelancers and in-house teams work on Google Docs and Sheets for easy file-sharing and document collaboration. It gets easier to give feedback and suggestions, and track changes when working on the same file.

Freelance platforms like Fiverr also offer in-app communication tools such as inbox, notifications, order page conversations, and video call features.

fiverr order page conversation feature

The platform also offers a project management feature — Fiverr Project Partner to support your large projects. It helps you manage everything from strategy to execution and increases project completion rate by 40%.

When collaborating with freelancers for your digital marketing strategy, define clear expectations and conduct regular check-ins. Weekly or biweekly meetings or reports will help you monitor progress and address any challenges your freelancers may be facing.

Provide constructive feedback to help freelancers improve deliverables and ensure seamless collaboration. You may also assign a project manager or point of contact to streamline communication if your budget allows.

5. Optimize and Scale Your Digital Marketing Strategy

Tracking performance is essential in any digital marketing strategy. Make sure you establish KPIs (key performance indicators) from the start and track them regularly to identify areas for improvement. For example, you can track metrics such as:

  • Organic traffic growth from SEO efforts
  • Engagement rates on social media platforms
  • Open rates and lead conversion rates from email campaigns

Use tools like HubSpot, Google Analytics, Semrush, and Flick to monitor performance. Based on these insights, optimize your campaigns by adjusting your digital marketing strategies, testing new ideas, and refining your approach.

A McKinsey study shows that companies that use data-driven marketing can improve ROI by 15-20%.

After every campaign, provide freelancers with insights on what worked well and what can be improved. Focus on building long-term relationships with your top-performing freelancers to maintain consistency and quality in your digital marketing strategy.

Along with tracking performance, you must stay updated on the latest digital marketing trends and technologies to optimize your campaigns better.

Work on driving continuous improvement in your results and expand your freelancer team as you scale your marketing project to support growth.

Important Considerations When Working with Freelancers

Here are a few points you should keep in mind while working with freelancers:

  • Legal agreements: Ensure you have a written contract outlining the scope of work, payment terms, ownership rights, and confidentiality clauses.
  • Intellectual property: Clarify who owns the content created by the freelancer.
  • On-platform transactions: If you’re using a service like Fiverr to hire freelancers, always keep all your payments on the platform. Though these platforms charge a transaction or service fee, they’ll have your back if the freelancer doesn’t deliver as promised.
  • Build trust and rapport: Foster a collaborative relationship with your freelancer to maximize results. Communicate effectively, pay on time, and they’ll become an integral part of your team over time.

Are You Ready to Boost Your Digital Marketing ROI with the Top Freelance Talent?

A winning digital marketing strategy doesn’t always require a large in-house team. By strategically incorporating freelancers into your marketing efforts, you can access a wealth of talent, maintain flexibility, and drive results faster.

However, to succeed, it’s essential to set clear goals, carefully vet potential freelancers based on their expertise and experience, communicate effectively, and continuously optimize your campaigns based on performance data.

You should foster a collaborative relationship built on trust and feedback loops.

By following these steps, you can effectively create a winning digital marketing strategy with freelancers. They’ll help you achieve your marketing goals and build a solid online presence.

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The Top 9 Digital Marketing Channels and How to Use Them Effectively https://shanebarker.com/blog/digital-marketing-channels/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/digital-marketing-channels/#respond Tue, 06 Aug 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=88608 Today, brands can inconveniently get spoilt for choice when targeting customers in the digital space. There are tens of digital marketing channels to choose from — and probably a newer one when you’re reading this.

However, the challenge lies not in the abundance of options but in strategically selecting channels that drive brand visibility and  convert leads effectively into loyal customers.

With over 5 billion internet users worldwide, the potential for global reach is staggering.

More importantly, with the right digital marketing strategy, you can reach up to 9 out of 10 American adults daily with personalized messages.

In this guide, I’ll cover the top digital marketing channels you must focus on in 2024 and the marketing tools and strategies you can use to increase your campaign ROI.

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing involves using digital platforms like websites, social media, search engines, email, and mobile applications to engage with existing and potential customers. It helps promote your products or services, build brand awareness, and drive engagement and sales.

An effective digital marketing strategy helps you create a cohesive customer journey, from initial awareness to conversions and long-term customer loyalty.

Top Digital Marketing Channels for Your Business Promotions

As a business owner or marketer, you must embrace more than one online platform to maximize the outcomes of your marketing efforts.

In this section, I’ll highlight different digital marketing channels, their benefits, and how to leverage them effectively to maximize your reach and sales.

1. Website or Blog

A website is a digital storefront for your business, operating 24/7. It allows visitors to access information about your products or services anytime.

A well-designed website demonstrates professionalism and lends credibility to your business, helping build trust with your audience.

Let’s take a look at this example of my website’s homepage.

A website as a digital marketing channel
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Your website is a powerful marketing tool where you can post blogs, videos, and customer testimonials that drive traffic and generate leads. Besides, almost every business has a website, and if you haven’t got one yet, you may put yourself at a disadvantage within your industry.

Here are steps to get started with building a website:     

  1. Define your goals with the website. Is it to provide information, sell products, generate leads, or support customers?
  2. Register a domain name (e.g., www.mybusiness.com) and choose a reliable hosting provider like Bluehost or Cloudways.
  3. Determine the navigation menu elements of your website. Standard pages include Home, About Us, Services/Products, Features, Contact, and Blog.
  4. Design your website using a user-friendly website builder like WordPress or WooCommerce.
  5. Develop high-quality content for each page. The text, images, videos, and all other multimedia elements should be engaging, informative, and consistent with your brand messaging.
  6. Start blogging regularly on niche-relevant topics and create an integrated SEO content strategy to help your website rank well on the SERPs, driving traffic and leads to your site.
  7. Test your website for functionality, usability, and compatibility across different devices and browsers.

To keep your site relevant and secure, update it regularly with fresh content, security, and new features.

2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Once your website is live, you must focus on search engine optimization (SEO). It is the practice of improving a website to increase its visibility when people search for products or services related to your business in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

The higher your pages rank in search results, the more attention they will attract, drawing in potential and current customers to your business.

Your goals when investing in SEO should include:

  • Attracting more visitors to your website through organic search results.
  • Achieving higher rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords and phrases.
  • Ensuring your website is user-friendly, loads quickly, and offers practical content.
  • Improving your brand’s visibility and recognition through higher search engine rankings.
  • Converting website visitors into leads or customers by optimizing conversion paths on your site.

According to SparkToro, Google accounts for over 63.41% of all website traffic in the U.S. Therefore, to increase your web traffic, you must target ranking higher on Google.

There are various ways to implement SEO for your website.

Keyword Research

Identify the keywords and phrases your target customers might use when searching for your products or services.

Use SE Ranking or Semrush to conduct keyword research for your niche. The key is to select keywords with higher search volume and comparatively lower keyword difficulty.

baby products keyword research

Create content around your selected keywords and track your ranking positions regularly compared to your competitors’ using rank tracking tools.

On-Page SEO

On-page SEO involves creating content to match the search intent of various search queries. Some of the best on-page SEO practices involve optimizing:

  • Title tags: Incorporate the primary keyword in your title tag. Keep them concise and descriptive.
  • Meta descriptions: Create compelling meta descriptions, including primary and side keywords, to entice users to click and read .
  • Heading tags (H1, H2, H3): Use heading tags to organize your content and include keywords where appropriate.
  • URL structure: Create clean and descriptive URLs that include keywords.
  • High-quality content: Produce high-quality and relevant content that addresses your audience's needs and interests. Use Frase to check keyword frequency and add relevant related terms and NLP suggestions.

Technical SEO

Technical SEO involves optimizing your website to ensure search engines can crawl and index the site effectively. Some of the crucial technical SEO factors include:

  • Website speed: Optimize your website’s loading speed.
  • Mobile-friendliness: Ensure your website is responsive and can adapt to mobile devices.
  • XML sitemap: Create and submit an XML sitemap to search engines.
  • Robots.txt: Use a robots.txt file to direct search engine crawlers on which pages to index.
  • Website security (HTTPS): Use HTTPS to ensure your website is secure.

You can use tools like Semrush and Google PageSpeed Insights to conduct an in-depth technical SEO audit and identify areas for improvement.

Here’s what my website’s PageSpeed Insights report looks like:

pagespeed insights report example

Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO refers to all the activities you and your team do away from your website to increase its authority, credibility, and relevance through external means.

For example:

  • Backlinks: Earn high-quality backlinks from reputable websites. You can do guest blogging, partnerships, and content promotion. Use Serpple or Semrush to monitor your backlinks and optimize your link building strategies.
  • Local SEO (best if you run a brick-and-mortar store): Create and optimize your Google Business Profile listings and encourage customers to leave positive reviews on Google and other review sites.

3. Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)

Pay-per-click advertising (PPC) is a digital marketing channel where advertisers pay a fee when a user clicks on their ads. PPC is a method that helps you buy traffic and visits to your site instead of earning the top SERP positions organically using SEO.

PPC ads can appear on social media platforms, search engines, and other websites.

Here’s an example of a PPC ad on Google SERPs. When you search the keyword “email marketing tools,” a few email marketing platforms labeled “Sponsored” pop up first. These platforms have paid to be there and are more likely to get clicks than those that appear organically.

Pay per click ads as a digital marketing channel

Investing in PPC can help your business:

  • Get immediate visibility on search engines and social channels. Unlike SEO, which can take time to show results, PPC ads can attract traffic as soon as you launch the ad campaign.
  • Reach the right audience. PPC allows you to target keywords based on demographics, location, time of day, device, and more.
  • Measure ROI by tracking clicks, impressions, and conversions with detailed analytics and reporting.

To conduct a successful PPC campaign:

  1. Determine your PPC campaign goals, such as driving traffic, generating leads, increasing sales, or boosting brand awareness.
  2. Select the platform(s) where you want to run your PPC campaigns, such as Google Ads, Bing Ads, Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, and X (formerly Twitter).
  3. Use Semrush to identify relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for. Select keywords with a high search volume and little or manageable competition.
  4. Craft compelling ad copy that incorporates your target keywords. Ensure your ads have a clear call to action to encourage clicks. Use high-quality images or videos for display and social media ads.
  5. Ensure that your ads lead to relevant and optimized landing pages that provide a seamless user experience and encourage conversions.
  6. Set a PPC budget and choose a bidding strategy that aligns with your campaign objectives.
  7. Determine your target audience based on location, interests, demographics, and buying behavior.
  8. Once everything is set up, launch your campaign and attract traffic to your site. Use the right PPC tools to optimize your strategy for higher ROI.
  9. Track your PPC campaign performance by monitoring key metrics like click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, cost-per-click (CPC), and return on ad spend (ROAS). Based on data insights, adjust your bids, refine targeting, test new ad copy, and improve landing pages.

4. Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing involves using social media platforms to connect with your audience, promote your brand, boost sales, and improve website traffic. Leveraging top social channels can help you:

  • Reach a large audience quickly and effectively, increasing brand visibility.
  • Communicate with your customers in real-time, allowing you to gather feedback and answer questions.
  • Ensure ads reach the right people by using targeted advertising to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors.
  • Drive traffic to your website or ecommerce store, leading to increased sales and lead generation.
  • Keep up with competitors and industry trends.

Big and small businesses invest in building an active social media presence where they announce new product launches, resolve issues, and get feedback on their products and services.

Here’s an example of GoPro’s Instagram account, which has over 20 million followers. The account shows beautiful photos shot with GoPro cameras.

Example of an Instagram ad, a type of social media marketing
Source

Is it still necessary to have a website if you successfully manage your social channels? Absolutely! While a successful social media presence is valuable, having a website is still crucial for several reasons:

  • You have total control of all your content on your website, unlike on social media platforms, where you are subject to their rules and changes. A social platform like Instagram is very restrictive, and you can lose your account if you violate the rules.
  • A website adds credibility and professionalism to your business. It is the central hub for all your content, products, services, and essential business information.

The table below shows the top social media channels and their demographics. We have also listed what each platform is best for.

Social Media NetworkActive Monthly UsersTarget DemographicBest For
Facebook3.06 billionAdults aged 25-54
Slightly more female users than male
Comprehensive advertising and community building
YouTube2.70 billionAll age groupsVideo tutorials and product demonstrations
Short vertical videos as YouTube Shorts
Instagram2.35 billionA younger audience of 18 to 34 yearsVisual branding and influencer marketing
TikTok1.67 billion16 to 24 year oldsViral trends and short video content
X600 million18 to 49 year olds
More male users than female
Real-time updates, customer service, and industry news
LinkedIn310 millionProfessionals, companies, and business owners aged 25 to 54Networking, B2B marketing, and professional content

To make the most of your social media strategy, use these tactics:

  1. Set realistic and measurable goals.
  2. Understand your target audience’s demographics, interests, and behaviors to tailor your content and messaging.
  3. Maintain a consistent brand messaging, tone, and visual branding across all social media channels.
  4. Build relationships with your audience by encouraging conversations and promptly responding to comments, messages, and mentions.
  5. Publish high-quality, valuable, and engaging content. Focus on quality over quantity.
  6. Track key metrics such as likes, engagement, follower growth, and website clicks using social media tools like Sprout Social and Vista Social. Adjust your strategy based on data insights.
  7. Partner with influencers in your niche to expand your reach. Use BuzzSumo and Heepsy to find the best influencers in your niche and craft a content strategy.
  8. Post consistently to keep your audience engaged. You can use AI social media post generators like Flick and Tailwind to generate creative content or get ideas.
  9. Stay current with social media trends and platform updates to remain relevant and competitive.

5. Content Marketing

Content marketing refers to consistently creating, publishing, and distributing high-quality and relevant content to attract and engage your target audience.

Content marketing lets you showcase your expertise, enabling you to build trust and authority among your audience. You establish thought leadership by providing information that addresses the audience's needs and interests.

You can create various types of content, including:

  • Blog posts
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Webinars
  • Ebooks
  • Infographics
  • Case studies
  • Roundup articles
  • Buying guides

The top content marketing trends for 2024 include:

  • High-quality, long-form content: This content characteristic continues to be important in content marketing strategies as it provides in-depth information, solves complex problems, and demonstrates authority on a subject.
  • Video content and podcasts: Video content and podcasts are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to engage audiences. These formats cater to different preferences and content consumption habits, expanding reach and engagement.
  • Storytelling and personalized content: Stories are crucial for building strong connections with your audience. Sharing stories and tailoring content to individual preferences can help nurture your audience and create more memorable experiences.

Here are some tips on how to implement content marketing strategies and trends to grow your business:

  • Create a comprehensive content strategy that outlines your target goals, audience, keywords, content types, content distribution channels, and ROI measurement metrics.
  • Allocate resources to create high-quality content, including skilled writers and editors salaries, videographers, and designers. Leverage tools like Invideo and WeVideo for video content creation and distribution.
  • Regularly measure the performance of your campaigns by tracking metrics such as engagement, traffic, leads, and conversions. Use the insights gathered by your favorite content marketing platform to optimize your strategy and improve results.

6. Email Marketing

Email marketing refers to sending emails to a list of subscribers to promote your products or services, build relationships, and keep customers informed. It allows you to communicate directly with your audience, delivering your message straight to their inboxes.

This digital marketing channel is known for its high return on investment. For every $1 spent on email marketing, you can generate an average return of $36.

Emails can be highly personalized based on subscriber data, leading to more relevant and engaging content. You also get detailed analytics that allows you to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

BuzzFeed is an example of a company that has the best email campaigns tailored to individual interests. You can sign up for their newsletters about recipes, gossip, lifestyle, quizzes, and more.

Example of a newsletter, a type of email marketing
Source

Email marketing can help your business:

  • Drive sales and encourage repeat purchases by sending targeted promotional emails.
  • Nurture your customer relationships by providing valuable content and personalized recommendations or discounts.
  • Increase brand recall as regular emails keep your brand on top of the minds of your subscribers.
  • Drive traffic and increase conversions by including links to your website, blog, product pages, or online store.
  • Conduct surveys to gather feedback and insights from your customers. The top online survey tools can help.

How to Get Started with Email Marketing

  1. Select an email marketing platform like Constant Contact, Brevo, and ConvertKit to build and grow your email list and run and manage your email campaigns.
  2. Create sign-up forms on your website. Offer incentives like free resources or access to exclusive content to encourage email sign-ups.
  3. Divide your email list into segments based on criteria like demographics, purchase history, and engagement levels to send targeted and relevant emails.
  4. Develop content that provides value to your subscribers, such as informative articles, special offers, product updates, or personalized recommendations.
  5. Design visually appealing emails, ensure your emails are mobile-friendly, and include clear calls to action.
  6. Create automated drip email sequences for welcome emails, abandoned cart reminder emails, birthday wishes, and other triggers to streamline your email marketing efforts. A tool like Brevo can help you with email scheduling delivering your emails on time.
  7. Conduct A/B tests on different elements of your emails, such as subject lines, content, and calls to action, to determine what works best.
  8. Monitor metrics like email open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to measure your email campaign performance using tools like Omnisend. Use the data to improve your future emails.

7. Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing refers to collaborating with individuals with a huge following and influence within a particular niche (influencers) to promote a brand, product, or service.

The most common channels for influencer marketing are Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Look at this YouTube video of an influencer marketing various running shoes.

Influencer marketing is one of the top digital marketing channels because:

  • It can introduce your brand to a larger audience, increasing your visibility and awareness.
  • Influencers have established trust with their followers. A recommendation from them can enhance your brand’s credibility.
  • They have a dedicated following within a specific niche. Collaborating with the right influencers ensures your message reaches your targeted audience.
  • Influencers’ content has high engagement rates from their audiences. Therefore, their endorsements often increase user interactions and build greater trust in your brand.
  • Influencers create high-quality content you can share and repurpose on your channels, providing fresh and engaging material for your audience.

How to Leverage Influencer Marketing for Your Business

Here are a few tips for successful influencer collaborations:

  1. Identify the right influencers for your campaign depending on your objective and industry. Consider their reach and relevance. You can use BuzzSumo or Heepsy to find influencers in your industry.
  2. Decide what content you want the influencer to create — blog posts, social media posts, videos, reviews, etc. Set a budget and timelines for the campaign.
  3. Reach out to the influencer with a clear proposal outlining your campaign goals, expectations, and compensation. Create a formal influencer agreement or contract that details the terms of the collaboration, including content requirements, deadlines, and payment.
  4. Share the influencer’s content on your social media profiles, website, and other marketing platforms to maximize its reach and impact.
  5. Keep tracking the campaign performance using key metrics such as engagement rates, website traffic, sales, and social media follower growth. Use Sprout Social to gather data and leverage insights to optimize your influencer marketing strategy.

8. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing channel where businesses like yours reward affiliates (partners) for driving traffic or sales to the brand’s website through various channels.

Affiliates promote products or services through trackable links or unique discount codes and earn a commission for each sale or lead. They can add links to blog posts, social media captions, emails, and more, providing a multi-channel approach to promoting your products.

Here’s an example of an affiliate program by Semrush. If you click “Apply Now,” you’ll get a unique link to market their SaaS tool and receive a monthly commission when a user subscribes to their product using your link.

Affiliate marketing program example for digital marketing
Source

Affiliate marketing is a cost-effective digital marketing channel as you only pay for actual sales or leads, reducing the risk of wasted marketing spend. It’s easy to scale by adding more affiliates to your program, increasing your potential for generating sales.

Affiliates create content that includes backlinks to your site, which can improve your search engine rankings. They act as third-party endorsers of your products, adding credibility and trust to your brand. 

Tips to Run Successful Affiliate Marketing Campaigns

  • Choose affiliates whose audience matches your target market, and they should have a strong reputation, high engagement rates, and relevant content.
  • Ensure your commission rates are competitive to attract and retain top-performing affiliates. Consider offering higher commissions for high-value products or loyal affiliates.
  • Supply your affiliates with high-quality banners, images, product descriptions, and other marketing materials to make it easier for them to promote your products.
  • During your campaign, track clicks, conversions, sales, and ROI to identify top performers and optimize your program. You can also sign your top affiliates as brand ambassadors.
  • Keep open lines of communication with your affiliates. Provide regular updates, share new product information, and offer support to help them succeed.
  • Motivate your affiliates with performance-based incentives and bonuses.

9. Referral Marketing

Referral marketing is also known as word-of-mouth marketing. This digital marketing channel leverages your existing customers to bring in new ones.

According to a study by Nielsen, people are four times more likely to buy when referred by a friend. That’s because they trust their friends and family members, and this trust translates into higher conversion rates.

Airbnb has one of the best referral programs. You receive free stays during your future bookings with Airbnb if your referrers book a stay with them using your link.

AirBnB referral marketing program.
Source

Follow these tips to succeed in referral marketing:

  • To encourage participation, simplify the referral process. Make it easy for customers to share referral links via email, social media, or text. You can use referral marketing software to do this.
  • Provide practical rewards for the referrer and the new customer. This could be discounts, freebies, or exclusive access to new products.
  • Use analytics to track referrals, clicks, conversions, and the overall effectiveness of your referral program, and tweak your strategy to maximize results.

How to Choose the Right Digital Marketing Channel for Your Business Needs

There are various digital marketing channels to choose from. You can use two or more channels that align with each other to achieve your marketing goals.

For example, you can use email to drive sales, social media to create brand awareness, and your website to provide comprehensive product descriptions.

Let’s explore the key factors to consider when choosing the right marketing channels for your business.

1. Your Business Type

Different industries and business models have unique characteristics that determine the suitability of specific digital marketing channels.

For example, ecommerce businesses may benefit more from channels that drive immediate sales, like PPC and social media ads. In contrast, B2B businesses might find more value in content marketing and LinkedIn for building trust and generating leads.

Additionally, service-based businesses might prioritize SEO and content marketing to establish expertise and attract clients. On the other hand, product-based businesses may focus on visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to encourage shopping.

2. Your Target Audience

Understanding your target audience is crucial to determining which digital marketing channels will effectively reach and engage them. Each channel has different user demographics and behaviors.

Analyze the age, interests, and geographical location of your target audience. For example, Instagram and TikTok are popular among younger demographics, while LinkedIn attracts business decision-makers and professionals.

If your audience frequently reads blogs and searches for information online, content marketing and SEO are the ideal channels for your business. However, if they engage with video content, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels could be more effective.

3. Your Marketing Budget

Your marketing budget is critical in determining which channels you can afford to use and how extensively you can leverage them.

The top digital marketing channels have varying costs. PPC advertising can be expensive but offers quick results, while SEO and content marketing have lower upfront costs but require a long-term investment.

Consider both monetary and time resources. Some channels, like social media marketing, require ongoing content creation and management, while others, like PPC, need a consistent ad budget.

Choose Your Top Digital Marketing Channels to Drive Success

A diversified digital marketing strategy is crucial for success. Each channel offers unique benefits and can complement others to create a comprehensive approach. 

Reach a wider audience, mitigate risks, and maximize ROI by leveraging 2-3 channels. Pick the most important and relevant ones to get started. See how they work for you and make data-driven decisions to boost your marketing ROI.

Start promoting your business online!

Download my small business toolkit to get started.

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https://shanebarker.com/blog/digital-marketing-channels/feed/ 0 Digital Marketing Articles | Shane Barker nonadult
The Best Alexa Rank Alternatives for Website Rankings Tracking https://shanebarker.com/blog/alexa-rank-alternatives/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/alexa-rank-alternatives/#respond Mon, 13 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=86454 What is Alexa.com?

Alexa Internet was founded in 1996 and became a pivotal player in the web analytics industry. It offered data services for competitive analysis, keyword research, and website rankings.

Alexa's most famous feature, the Alexa Traffic Rank, was a benchmark for evaluating a website's traffic and user engagement. It offered metrics like:

  • Traffic analysis: Estimated website traffic and user engagement
  • Global ranking: Website ranking based on traffic data
  • Competitive analysis: Insights into a website’s market position against competitors
  • Keyword research: Keywords for SEO and paid advertising

However, due to evolving market dynamics and technology advancements, Amazon discontinued the service, leaving many to seek Alexa rank alternatives.

11 of the Best Alexa Alternatives for Web Analytics and Rankings

As the digital landscape evolves, numerous website traffic analytics tools have emerged, offering similar or superior functionalities compared to Alexa. Here are 11 Alexa rank alternatives that stand out:

1. Semrush

Semrush offers a comprehensive SEO toolkit with functionalities that extend beyond web traffic analysis. Its key features include keyword research, SEO audits, competitor analysis, topic research, and content optimization.

Semrush Main Dashboard

Semrush's competitive intelligence suite allows you to understand your market position and discover growth opportunities. It's particularly useful for SEO professionals and digital marketers seeking in-depth insights into search data and user behavior.

Key Features

  • Site audit: Delivers detailed reports identifying website SEO issues such as broken links, slow-loading content, and technical SEO improvements.
  • Keyword research: Provides extensive tools for discovering and analyzing keywords, including search volume, competition level, and related terms.
  • Competitive analysis: Offers insights into competitors’ traffic sources, rankings, and content strategies, with tools for a broader market landscape overview.
  • Backlink analysis: Includes comprehensive backlink tracking and analysis, assessing the quality and quantity of backlinks compared to competitors.

Pros

  • Comprehensive SEO toolkit that includes advanced competitor analysis and keyword tracking
  • Offers detailed PPC analytics and social media tracking

Cons

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners due to its extensive features and data

Pricing

  • Pro plan: $129.95/month
  • Guru plan: $249.95/month
  • Business plan: $499.95/month

2. SE Ranking

SE Ranking provides a versatile suite of tools for SEO beginners and experts. It includes features like keyword rank tracking, website audits, competitor analysis, and backlink monitoring.

SE Ranking Overview Dashboard

SE Ranking stands out for its user-friendly interface and customizable reports, making it an excellent option for beginners or small to medium-sized businesses looking to enhance their SEO efforts efficiently.

Key Features

  • Real-time keyword ranking: Provides up-to-date tracking of keyword positions across various search engines, helping to gauge the immediate impact of SEO strategies.
  • Comprehensive site health audits: Offers detailed insights into technical and on-page SEO elements, improving website performance based on thorough diagnostics.
  • Deep competitive insights: Delivers in-depth analysis of competitors’ search visibility, keyword usage, and content strategy, enabling more targeted SEO campaigns.
  • Dynamic backlink analysis: Monitors and evaluates the quality and development of backlinks over time to help you enhance your link building efforts.

Pros

  • Affordable with flexible pricing plans suitable for different business sizes
  • Provides a user-friendly interface and white-label reporting capabilities

Cons

  • Backlink database is not as extensive as some competitors like Ahrefs

Pricing

  • Essential plan: $55/month
  • Pro plan: $109/month
  • Business plan: $239/month

3. SimilarWeb

SimilarWeb excels in providing detailed traffic insights and competitive intelligence. It offers comprehensive data on user engagement and website traffic including traffic source countries and referral traffic.

SimilarWeb data helps you identify web traffic growth opportunities, discover competitor strategies, and identify industry trends.

Similarweb website performance page

Key Features

  • Market insights: Provides benchmarking and competitive analysis for website and app performance.
  • Audience segmentation: Offers insights into audience demographics and behaviors for targeted marketing.
  • Traffic metrics: Delivers data on visits, engagement, and traffic sources to optimize online strategies.
  • Investment intelligence: Supports investment and sales strategies with detailed customer and brand insights.

Pros

  • Specializes in providing competitive insights and market intelligence
  • Provides extensive traffic and engagement metrics across industries

Cons

  • Premium features can be expensive, limiting access for smaller businesses

Pricing

  • Starter plan: $149/month
  • Professional plan: $399/month

4. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is renowned for its robust backlink analysis tools and SEO auditing capabilities. It provides extensive data on referring domains, showing who links to your site and how it impacts your domain rating (DR).

Ahrefs main page overview

Ahrefs also offers tools for tracking domain authority (DA) and evaluating organic search traffic, making it a tool powerhouse if you want to focus on SEO and link building strategies.

Key Features

  • Competitive backlink research: Offers deep dive capabilities to analyze competitors’ backlink profiles crucial for crafting superior link building strategies.
  • Comprehensive site audits: Automatically scans and reports the site’s SEO health, identifying issues and providing actionable recommendations for optimization.
  • Robust keyword research: Uses a vast database to uncover keyword opportunities and trends that can guide your content and SEO strategy.
  • Content exploration: Allows you to discover content gaps and link opportunities, aiding content that attracts traffic and backlinks.

Pros

  • Renowned for its backlink analysis and comprehensive site audit features
  • Real-time keyword ranking updates and extensive content research tools

Cons

  • Pricier option, particularly for the more advanced features

Pricing

  • Lite plan: $129/month
  • Standard plan: $249/month
  • Advanced plan: $449/month

5. Moz

Moz is a user-friendly SEO tool that offers various features including domain authority (DA) tracking. Moz’s DA metric is popular for assessing the ranking potential of websites.

It also provides insights into referring domains and traffic data, helping refine your SEO strategies and improve overall site performance.

Moz DA and page authority

Key Features

  • Keyword research and opportunity identification: Delivers deep insights into high-converting keywords, helping you drive quality traffic and improve search rankings.
  • Rank tracking and competitor analysis: Provides detailed tracking of keyword performance and competitor movements, enabling you effective benchmarking and strategy adjustments.
  • Comprehensive site crawls: Identifies technical SEO issues within your website and offers solutions to improve its site health and optimize for search engines.
  • Advanced link research: Assists in developing link-building strategies by identifying authoritative backlink opportunities to enhance your site’s authority.

Pros

  • Industry-wide used service for domain authority and page authority (PA) metrics
  • Includes a broad suite of SEO tools that are user-friendly and accessible

Cons

  • Less intuitive interface unlike its competitors including Semrush

Pricing

  • Standard plan: $99/month
  • Medium plan: $179/month
  • Large plan: $299/month
  • Premium plan: $599/month

6. Quantcast

Quantcast leverages advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide deep insights into audience behaviors and preferences. It's a powerful tool for marketers who want to reach relevant consumers more effectively, drive engagement, and measure business outcomes across the digital landscape.

With a focus on real-time data, Quantcast can aid you in starting campaigns with precision and continuously optimize them for maximum impact.

Key Features

  • AI-driven audience insights: Uses AI and machine learning to analyze audience behaviors, helping you understand your current customers and predict future trends.
  • Real-time campaign optimization: Offers tools to dynamically adjust marketing strategies based on ongoing campaign data, ensuring optimal performance.
  • Advanced measurement capabilities: Provides detailed analytics on campaign effectiveness, enabling you to measure conversions and optimize spending for better ROI.
  • Cookieless advertising solutions: Prepares you for a privacy-first world with effective advertising strategies that do not rely on third-party cookies.

Pros

  • Offers real-time advertising audience insights using AI and machine learning
  • Strong in audience behavior analysis which helps in precise targeting

Cons

  • Focused only on advertising and marketing and less comprehensive for in-depth SEO tasks

Pricing

  • Contact their sales team for pricing information and a demo.

7. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a staple in web analytics, offering detailed reports on traffic, user behavior, and much more. It doesn't provide direct metrics like DA or DR but is invaluable for measuring site engagement and referral sources.

Use it to optimize your web presence based on solid traffic analysis and user engagement data.

Google analytics reports snapshot

Key Features

  • Traffic analytics: Tracks analytics like users, page views, audience demographics, traffic sources, and devices used to access your website.
  • User-centric analysis: Tracks user interactions across websites and apps such as sessions, dwell times, page views per session, and bounce rates.
  • Enhanced measurement: Automates collection of user activities like page views and clicks.
  • Google Ads integration: Links seamlessly with Google’s advertising platforms for ROI tracking.
  • Advanced reporting tools: Provides customizable reports and dashboards for data visualization.

Pros

  • A free tool with deep integration into Google’s advertising products
  • Offers robust data on user demographics and behavior

Cons

  • Only lets to track the website traffic metrics of sites you own or manage
  • Complex interfaces can be daunting for newcomers

Pricing

  • Free

8. Matomo

Matomo stands out as a privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics, making it an ideal tool for businesses prioritizing data protection.

Matomo traffic analytics

Matomo offers comprehensive web traffic analysis similar to Google Analytics but allows you to retain full ownership and control of your data.

While it does not directly measure DA or DR, its strength lies in providing detailed visitor statistics and behavior insights without compromising user privacy.

Key Features

  • 100% data ownership: Ensures you full control over tracking data and user privacy.
  • Comprehensive privacy compliance: Built to help businesses meet GDPR and CCPA requirements.
  • No data sampling: Provides accurate, unsampled reporting for all user interactions.
  • Extensive customization: Offers a customizable and extendable platform to suit specific business needs.

Pros

  • Focus on privacy and data ownership aligns with GDPR compliance
  • Offers powerful customization and flexibility for data analysis

Cons

  • Requires more technical expertise to set up and maintain a Matomo account compared to Google Analytics (GA)

Pricing

  • Matomo’s pricing plans depend on your monthly traffic. Contact their sales team for a quotation.

9. Statcounter

Statcounter excels at providing real-time web traffic analysis, making it invaluable for immediate data assessment. This tool helps track visitor behavior, referring domains, and traffic sources. It's particularly user-friendly, offering a straightforward user navigation to monitor visitor interactions and make data-driven decisions swiftly.

StatCounter Summary of page

Key Features

  • Session replay: Visualizes visitor interactions to identify usability issues and improve conversion paths.
  • Google Ads integration: Tracks and analyzes individual visitor sessions from Google Ads for better ROI and fraud detection.
  • Conversion tracking: Monitors the effectiveness of landing pages by tracking conversion rates specific to user actions.
  • Detailed traffic analysis: Gets insights into traffic trends, visitor engagement, and key performance metrics over time.

Pros

  • Simple and easy to use, suitable for beginners
  • Real-time data reporting allows for immediate insight into visitor behavior

Cons

  • Lacks the depth of analytical features found in more robust platforms like Semrush

Pricing

  • Basic plan: Free (limited to 500 page views)
  • Premium plan: $17/month (100,000 page views)
  • Premium Plus plan: $30/month (100,000 page views)

10. Woopra

Woopra is designed to provide comprehensive customer behavior and journey analytics. It tracks every user interaction, enabling you to fully understand customer lifecycles.

While Woopra does not focus on DA or DR metrics, its ability to detail real-time traffic and visitors’ actions across your site helps you refine user experience strategies.

Woopra funnel analytics

Key Features

  • Real-time customer journey tracking: Monitors every user action across multiple channels to provide a comprehensive view of the customer journey.
  • Customizable analytics and reporting: Offers detailed insights into user behaviors, retention, and engagement through customizable reports and dashboards.
  • Automated triggers and actions: Enables real-time responses to user activities with automation features that can trigger emails, messages, or updates based on user behavior.
  • Extensive integration capabilities: Integrates seamlessly with over 50 tools and services, enhancing data unification and accessibility across departments.

Pros

  • Exceptional at tracking customer journeys and integrating data across all touchpoints
  • Features automation tools that allow for real-time action based on user behavior

Cons

  • More expensive than other Alexa rank alternatives, especially for higher-tiered plans

Pricing

  • Core plan: Free (500K actions a month)
  • Pro plan: $999/month
  • Enterprise plan: Contact their sales team for a custom quotation.

11. Clicky

Clicky offers real-time analytics for smaller websites looking to gain instant insights into visitors' behavior. It enhances user interaction monitoring by providing detailed reports on metrics such as traffic, referring domains, and user actions on your website.

This data helps you make quick adjustments, improving user experience.

Clicky main dashboard

Key Features

  • Real-time analytics: Provides immediate feedback on all website activity to help you monitor and react to your traffic as it happens.
  • Heatmap functionality: Offers detailed heatmaps segmented by page, visitor, or specific user interactions. It provides visual insights into how users engage with your website.
  • Privacy-friendly tracking: Ensures GDPR compliance with privacy-focused features such as anonymized visitor logs, no personal data collection, and the ability to track users who use ad blockers.
  • Uptime monitoring: Checks website availability from multiple global locations, alerting owners immediately if their site goes offline, ensuring prompt response to downtime.

Pros

  • Provides real-time data and has an easy-to-use interface
  • Privacy-friendly website analytics with GDPR-compliant tracking that does not require cookies

Cons

  • Less comprehensive in SEO capabilities and lacks some advanced features provided by other analytics platforms

Pricing

  • Pro plan: $9.99/month
  • Pro Plus plan: $14.99/month
  • Pro Platinum plan: $19.99/month

The Top 10 Alexa Rank Alternatives Compared

Now that I’ve discussed each Alexa alternative in detail, let’s quickly compare the web analysis metrics they offer.

Alexa AlternativesTraffic AnalyticsUser BehaviorDA and DRKeyword Research
SemrushYesNoYesYes
SE RankingYesNoYesYes
SimilarWebYesNoNoYes
AhrefsYesNoYesYes
MozYesNoYesYes
QuantcastYesYesNoNo
Google AnalyticsYesYesNoNo
MatomoYesYesNoNo
StatcounterYesYesNoNo
WoopraYesYesNoNo
ClickyYesYesNoNo

Choosing the Right Alexa Rank Alternative for Your Website Rankings

With Alexa no longer available, these 11 Alexa rank alternatives offer robust features for understanding and optimizing your web performance. Each platform has unique strengths, catering to different needs and scales of operation.

By choosing the right web traffic analytics tool, you can effectively monitor your online presence, adapt to market demands, and drive digital success.

If you know of other great Alexa rank alternatives, drop them in the comments below. Spread the word if you enjoyed the article and found it useful.

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The Best QR Code Generators to Expand Your Marketing in 2025 https://shanebarker.com/blog/qr-code-generators/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/qr-code-generators/#respond Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=81452 Now let’s dive into the significance of QR codes, their diverse applications in various industries, and the top QR code generators that can cater to your unique business needs.

What is a QR Code and How Does It Work?

Quick Response (QR) codes are flat barcodes that store information horizontally and vertically.

Initially created for tracking parts in the automotive industry, QR codes have evolved into versatile tools for quick data retrieval. The basic structure consists of black squares arranged on a white square grid.

Scanning the code with a smartphone or QR code scanner app decodes the information embedded within.

For example, the QR code you see below will take you to my website, ShaneBarker.com.

qr code example

It’s also important to understand the difference between static and dynamic QR codes.

Static QR codes are the simplest types of QR codes. Within the QR code is an embedded URL that is accessed when the QR code is scanned. The URL is hard coded in the QR code, which means once the QR code image is created, you can not change it.Dynamic QR codes don’t just store one URL, but two. The first URL is similar to a static QR code, as it is hardcoded and can not be changed. That URL then redirects to a second URL, which can be changed at any time, allowing you to customize the QR code’s final destination.

The Top Use Cases for QR Code Generators

There’s a myriad of applications QR generators can be used for. Here are some of the most commonly used applications of QR codes:

1. Business and Marketing

QR codes have become integral to modern marketing strategies. Businesses leverage these codes on various platforms to provide customers with quick access to product information, promotions, and more.

Incorporating QR codes in business cards, for instance, enhances networking opportunities by effortlessly sharing contact details.

qr code on a business card example
Image via Bitly

2. Financial Transactions

There’s currently a growing trend of using QR codes to facilitate secure financial transactions through popular apps like Venmo. This makes cashless transactions fast and convenient for both the customer and the business. 

3. Event Management

Event organizers find QR codes indispensable for managing attendee logistics. From ticketing to entry passes, QR codes streamline processes. This helps reduce wait times and enhance overall event efficiency.

A simple scan lets attendees easily access event details, schedules, and additional information.

qr code in an invitation example

4. Product Packaging and Labels

Product packaging adorned with QR codes transforms traditional labels into interactive experiences.

Consumers can scan a product's QR code to access detailed information, user manuals, or even instructional videos. This engagement not only empowers consumers with valuable insights but also fosters brand loyalty through enhanced transparency.

List of the Top 10 QR Code Generators

Now that we’ve discussed the ins and outs of QR codes, it's time to take a closer look at the 10 best QR code generators.

1. Shopify’s Free QR Code Generator

This Shopify-integrated gem whips up basic static QR codes for website links, phone numbers, and texts. Need a quick and free way to connect your online store to the physical world? Look no further! 

But remember, it lacks fancy features like dynamic updates or custom designs.

Creating a QR code is quite simple. Just select the data type, enter the relevant data, and add an email address to receive the finished code.

shopifys free qr code generator qr generation

Once you receive the code via email, you can download the QR code

Shopify's Free QR Code generator email example

Shopify’s Free QR Code Generator only exports QR Codes to PNG images. They are good quality, but if you’re looking for high-resolution QR codes or PDF files, these might not be for you.

Shopify's Free QR Code generator email example

Pros 

  • Free
  • Integrates with Shopify
  • Simple to use interface

Cons 

  • No fancy features
  • Static codes only
  • Limited customization

Price

  • Free

2. QRCode Monkey 

QRCode Monkey stands out as a versatile QR code generator, offering high-quality static QR codes.

It allows you to create QR codes for various purposes, including URLs, image galleries, social media, business cards, and more. 

With a user-friendly interface and the delivery of high-resolution codes, QRCode Monkey emerges as a top choice for both businesses and individuals looking for a great and free QR code generator.

QRCode Monkey Customization options

Although the customization is a little limited, apart from changing colors and adding a logo, there are a few templates you can select from to add some variation.

qrcode monkey template options

Pros

  • Free
  • Customizable logos
  • Multiple download formats like PNG, PDF, and SVG

Cons

  • No dynamic codes
  • Limited features
  • Basic design options

Price

  • Free

3. QR Code Generator

QR Code Generator is another great option on the list, and is powered by Bitly. It’s an extremely versatile code generator with a full suite of features.

It supports a variety of data types including 2D Barcodes, PDFs, and even MP3s. 

QR Code Generator Data Types

In the example below I used a template to create not only a QR code, but a QR code that links to a business page you can create on the platform.

QR Code Generator Customization of landing page

If you just want to enter a pre-existing URL, with this QR code, you can. Once that’s done, you’ll be greeted with a whole host of customization options.You can select different frames, different styles of codes, different colors, as well as add your own logo inside the code.

QR Code Generator QR code customization

QR Code Generator also offers Application Programming Interface (API) support, as well as dynamic QR codes. These features are available as part of the paid plans, and do not come with the free version.

Pros

  • Free basic plan 
  • Dynamic codes (paid plans only)
  • Scan tracking
  • Code scheduling

Cons

  • Free plan is very limited
  • No monthly billing option

Price

  • Starter Plan: $5/month billed annually
  • Advanced Plan: $12.50/month billed annually
  • Professional Plan: $37.50/month billed annually

4. Canva’s Free QR Code Generator

Canva comes with a whole host of different QR generators, including its own version of a QR generator which is free to use.

Canva Free QR Generator Landing Page

Generating the code is a very simple process — simply add the URL, choose the color of QR code and background, and click “Generate Code”.

The codes you generate are static, so they can not be changed afterwards. If you’d like to change the URL, you’ll need to create another QR code.

Canva QR creator example

A great thing about Canva’s QR generator is that it's integrated into Canva’s editing suite. So from here you can create and edit anything you want with your QR code. 

If you want more personalization options, and access to other QR generators, some which support dynamic QR codes, you’ll need to opt for Canva’s pro plan.

Canva's selection of premium QR creators

Here’s an example of a dynamic QR code created with an integrated QR code generator on Canva.

Canva dynamic QR code creation

Pros

  • Integrated with Canva’s platform
  • Easy customization 
  • Design-focused features
  • Dynamic codes and code tracking available with Canva’s paid plan

Cons

  • Limited features compared to dedicated generators 
  • Static codes only.

Price

  • Free with Canva Pro subscription for $14.99/month

5. ForQRCode

ForQRCode is another free QR code generator.  If you like the platform and its functionality, you can donate to their site using the donate button for the site’s upkeep. 

It comes packed with all the essentials, including a large selection of data types, design options, and quality of the image. 

ForQRCode dashboard

It's really easy to use, with all the features and options displayed on a single page. Simply enter the URL, choose your options, and click save.

The customization options are quite decent, with a good selection of customization including patterns, borders, and even the marker center.

ForQRCode Customization

Images can be downloaded in high-quality resolutions in PDFs, SVGs, and PNGs.

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Great selection of customization options
  • High-quality resolutions
  • Can be downloaded in different formats

Cons

  • No dynamic QR codes
  • No QR Code tracking

Price

  • Free

6. Adobe’s Free Online QR Code Generator

Adobe’s Free Online QR Code Generator is a very basic, limited, but free code generator that does exactly what it says. The benefit of using this tool is its integration feature with Adobe’s editing suite.

Adobe Free QR Code Generator landing page

 It offers 3 different file formats, including SVGs and PNGs.

Adobe QR Code Generator Generate QR options

It’s straightforward to use and has some customization options, but they are very limited. With only a handful of styles to choose from, don’t expect a highly customized QR Code. There’s also no support for scan tracking or dynamic QR codes.

Adobe QR Code Generator Generate QR options

Pros 

  • Free
  • Adobe integration
  • Multiple download formats like PNG, JPG, and SVG

Cons 

  • Limited features compared to paid Adobe tools
  • Static codes only

Price

  • Free

7. QRStuff

QRStuff’s interface was a refreshing surprise after testing quite a few other QR code generators already. It’s by far the most user-friendly tool on this list, taking you step by step, through each part of the QR code creation.

QRStuff data type selection

The initial action involves selecting a data type, ranging from website URLs to various event options, neatly presented for easy access without the hassle of drop-down menus.

The tool offers a notable advantage even with its Free plan – the ability to create ad-free codes. You're also allowed to create 10 free dynamic QR codes. If you’d like to create more dynamic codes, you’ll have to sign up to one of the paid tiers.

QRStuff customization

Once you’ve chosen your data type and entered the information needed, you can start customizing your QR code. Unfortunately, I feel that even the paid plans are lacking in that department. 

There are some basic customization options and the templates look great, but apart from adding a logo and a few design options, there is nothing more you can do to make it more unique to your brand.

QRStuff look and feel customization

The final step involves customization of the QR code’s size, resolution, file type, error correction level, and the option to incorporate an image or logo into the QR code. It supports PDF, SVG, PNG, and more. 

QRStuff Image Format

You can also choose the level of error correction, which helps preserve quality when upscaling the QR image.

QRStuff Error correction level

Pros

  • Pre-designed templates
  • Great for beginners
  • Dynamic codes available even for the free version
  • Generate the QR code in 6 different formats, including PNG and JPG

Cons

  • Free plan is limited to 10 dynamic QR codes
  • Customization is limited, especially for a paid plan

Price

  • Free with limited features
  • Full Suite Plan: $12.95/month

8. ME-QR

ME-QR is another great QR code generator that offers a free plan and 2 paid tiers.

Once you visit their site, you’ll be greeted with this front page, which prompts you to pick a type of QR code. There are plenty of options available, with some notable ones including LinkedIn, a ticket, an image, and vCards.

ME QR type of QR code selection

What I liked most about ME-QR is the whole range of excellent QR template designs. They’re even listed under different categories, including holidays, events, travel, and food.

Me QR code custom frames

There’s also the option to upload your logo or choose from the logos on offer. You can create a custom background for the logo, and also adjust the size of the logo inside the QR code. After you’ve created your QR code, you can also save it as a template for later use.

Me QR code logo selection and templates

Another notable feature I noticed comes from location-based dynamic QR codes. These QR codes can be customized to redirect to another URL based on a user’s location. Simply choose the country and the URL you want to redirect to.

Me QR Dynamic QR Code selection

You can also create dynamic QR codes according to the number of scans, the time-period, or the language of the user.

Pros

  • Unique templates
  • Dynamic QR codes, including the free plan
  • Large selection of data types
  • You can create QR codes that support other languages according to location

Cons

  • The Free plan has a limit to the number of QR codes you can create a month
  • Free plan QR codes come with ads and the Lite Plan only includes 1 QR code ad free a month

Price

  • Free
  • Lite Plan: $9/month
  • Premium Plan: $15/month

9. Uniqode

Explore Uniqode’s acclaimed services, trusted by industry giants like Amazon, Pepsi, and Nestlé.

Their custom QR code generator helps you craft unique digital experiences. From the call-to-action frame to the background, Beaconstac allows comprehensive customization, ensuring seamless integration with your existing brand aesthetics.

Uniqode QR code designing

With so much customization, it’s also nice that they include a scannability checker, which will tell you if the image created might be difficult to scan, or worse, unscannable.

Uniqode Scannability grading

It also provides a large selection of data types. Apart from the basics, some options include restaurant menus, forms, mobile apps, and MP3s.

Uniqode data types

Other noteworthy features include the ability to perform diverse bulk operations on QR codes, multilingual support, and comprehensive tracking of QR code scans.

Uniqode Code tracking

Although there is no free plan available, you can get a 14-day free trial, no credit card needed!

Pros

  • Dynamic QR codes
  • Scan tracking
  • Large selection of customization options

Cons

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Pricing can get steep for advanced features
  • No free plan

Price

  • Starter Plan: $5/month billed annually
  • Lite Plan: $15/month billed annually
  • Pro Plan: $49/month billed annually
  • Plus Plan: $99/month billed annually

10. goQR.me

goQR.me has a very lackluster page that looks and feels a bit empty and basic. It’s also not the most user friendly. 

For example, the content types aren’t listed but are just buttons, which can make it difficult for you to choose the correct format.

GOQR landing page and dashboard

The data types on offer are only a handful, including URLs, geolocations, and phone numbers.

There aren’t any customization options apart from adding your logo, which you can do on a separate menu.

GoQR content type and url entry

The process of adding a logo to your QR is also complicated, as they don’t offer the option of simply uploading and adding it. 

Instead, you need to email your logo to them, and they’ll create custom drafts and send you an offer amount. From there you can settle on the design, the image quality, and the image file format.

GoQR customized codes with your logo

Image via goQR.me

Pros

  • Highly customizable but for a custom quotation
  • You can create embed codes to add your QR code anywhere on your site

Cons

  • Very basic, with almost no customization available without requesting a custom code
  • Can be expensive to create a custom QR code on this site

Price

  • Free
  • Up to $80 for a custom QR code

Start Crafting Your QR Codes Today with the Best QR Code Generators!

Now that you're all caught up, you can embark on your QR code journey today with the best QR code generators at your fingertips! 

From the intuitive simplicity of Shopify's Free QR Code Generator to the versatile features of QRCode Monkey and the design prowess of Canva QR Code Generator, these tools offer a spectrum of options for every digital marketer.

So, why wait? Start crafting your QR codes today and elevate your digital marketing game with these dynamic generators. Harness the power of quick and efficient information exchange, leaving a lasting impression on your audience. Happy coding!

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How to Use the CapCut Creative Suite – A Beginner’s Guide https://shanebarker.com/blog/how-to-use-capcut/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/how-to-use-capcut/#respond Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=81077 When it comes to creating the most impactful imagery and videos for a host of needs, it’s no secret that photo and video editing is extremely important. It can make or break the success of your visual content.

Whether you need to create a work presentation, prepare social media posts, complete visual homework assignments, or do anything in between, having the right tools in your arsenal will determine how well your efforts will perform.

That’s where the CapCut creative suite comes into the picture.

This photo and video editing creative suite has everything you need to fuel your creativity and build a lasting brand impression. Let’s learn how to use CapCut for digital content creation.

What is the CapCut Creative Suite?

CapCut is an AI-powered creative suite for video editing, graphic design, and more. It ensures easy navigation, simple processes, and free photo and video editing tools on one fantastic platform.

All you need to do is create a free account (this won’t take long at all), drag and drop the necessary file, and begin editing.

CapCut gives you so many benefits over other online alternatives that typically feature heavy manual input and can take quite some time to learn or get familiar with.

On the other hand, CapCut’s ease of use and innovative approach to digital content creation will help set you ahead of the competition in 2025.

What are the Key Tools and Features of the CapCut Creative Suite?

The fantastic news is that the suite has a design that is easy to use and functional for new users, as it is for those with experience in graphic design or AI photo editing and video editing.

It has the most relevant tools and simplified processes in an easy-to-understand portal to help boost your editing prowess.

Let’s take a look at the features and learn how to use them.

1. Editable Photo and Video Templates

CapCut’s customizable photo and video templates are a great way to get started with editing and produce highly creative imagery that will stand out from the crowd. After all, images and videos need to be cohesive, narrative, and emotional to elicit engagement that will convert, regardless of the target audience.

CapCut photo and video templates

Using the templates gives you a good starting point and helps you prioritize a more thematic approach to your visual content, including speed and shareability across multiple portals.

For example, you can choose an image template for Instagram and a video template for TikTok. From there, you can simply edit the elements (colors, font styles and size, etc.) to make them match your brand personality.

CapCut's TikTok video templates

2. Music and Sound Effects

Music and sound effects have some of the greatest impact on content. Using them well on your content ensures creating the desired influence on your target audience.

The CapCut creative suite has an extensive music and sound effect library that is entirely royalty-free. You can use its audio collection to do everything from building brand recognition to enhancing entertainment and storytelling.

CapCut audio library for music and socund effects

This creative suite also minimizes your audio search times, thanks to its wide category of music that covers everything from pop to rock, enabling you quick turnover of every project. 

3. Cut, Trim, and Resize Options

Videos for any need and in any niche need editing in some way for impact. If you’re sharing them across all social channels, then you edit them to optimize their usability on these channels. 

CapCut’s AI technology makes the most complicated video editing tasks simple. It offers features like video resizing, cutting, trimming, and splitting as any creative standard suite.

This ensures you can customize your videos for each social platform in one place for ultimate productivity.

4. Auto Captioning

So many elements make your video content impactful, prompt audience engagement, and set it apart from the competition. And in 2023, subtitles have been the top way to elevate your video content to meet more diverse viewer needs.

The AI capabilities of the CapCut suite are dynamic and provide professional quality, error-free speech-to-text results.

Its transcription tool is excellent for those with English as a second language who want to reach wider audiences by adding subtitles in English.

CapCut transcription tool for auto captions on videos

5. Background Removal

A background is not just a “background”. If it’s well-chosen, it adds a layer of impact to your video or image; if not, it may put some people off.

Having an intuitive background removal tool may not seem like something a creative suite should have, but CapCut certainly fleshes this one out for a fully comprehensive approach to editing.

For photo editing, CapCut offers features like background blurring and color and texture matching.

CapCut remove background from your photos and videos

For video editing, you can use CapCut to blur or remove backgrounds and color-correct your videos with AI, alongside prioritizing a natural feel to footage manipulation.

6. Multi-Track Editing

This is another tool that many creative suites overlook. It is integral to the wider editing process when curating visual materials that meet your goals.

With the ability to add everything from video, audio, image, filters, and text tracks intuitively and professionally, CapCut gives your content better flow and focus.

It lets you add more informational elements like stickers and text that may boost comprehension.

This is typically important for creating videos in the workplace or academic settings where viewers may not be familiar with the source material, jargon, or statistics showcased.

Why Should You Choose CapCut Over Traditional Photo and Video Editing Tools?

The CapCut creative suite has everything you need and it comes with cloud saving capabilities. From here, you can share work, collaborate with others, and generate presentations together.

The wider website has more tools on offer, such as an online video compressor, so there’s a lot to take advantage of.

While you may have your favorite photo editing tools and video editing tools, having access to both in one creative suite is great and more convenient. It enables you to maximize their potential, helping to speed up your editing process which is crucial when you’re dealing with multiple projects.

AI is certainly the way forward for users of all skill sets, so don’t overlook CapCut’s AI capabilities when you have an editing project in mind.

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How to Build an Online Presence in 7 Easy Steps https://shanebarker.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-presence/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-presence/#respond Tue, 25 Apr 2023 16:56:46 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=73601 Want to attract and engage your ideal buyers?

Then, you need to build a strong presence online and engage your audience through the channels they frequent.

Don’t worry. I’ll help you improve your digital presence – including your brand’s online visibility, credibility, and reputation.

How? By helping you optimize:

  • The actions you take and the online interactions you make
  • The content you create and publish online
  • Where you stand in the search results and social media feeds of your ideal buyers
  • How consumers perceive and talk about your business

You’ll also discover the tips and tools that can help you along the way. So, let’s start.

Why Do You Need a Strong Online Presence for Your Business?

You need to build a strong online presence because that’s where your consumers are.

The number of digital buyers has increased by 40% in the past five years. By 2024, global ecommerce sales will likely surpass $7 trillion in value as well.

number of digital buyers worldwide 2022

Even shoppers who purchase through brick-and-mortar stores often research products online.

So, improving your digital presence can help you:

  • Get discovered by a wider audience.
  • Market your business 24/7 and increase awareness about your products and services.
  • Earn Google’s trust by optimizing your content for search engine algorithms.
  • Improve customer engagement by using multiple channels such as email, social media, and the web.
  • Establish your brand as an authority in your industry.
  • Leverage data to learn which marketing strategies, content pieces, and channels are driving results for your brand.
  • Build trust with your customers.
  • Drive more traffic to your website.
  • Increase sales.

How to Improve Your Online Presence: A Step-by-Step Guide

With a stronger online presence, you can attract more customers, sales, and revenue. Just follow the steps below to expand yours.

1. Assess Your Current Digital Presence

Before improving anything, it’s important to assess your current positioning. This is true for your brand’s online presence as well.

To start:

Analyze Your Website and Content

Your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. Make sure it is well-designed, easy to navigate, and contains all the information your customers need.

Just in case, you haven’t created one yet, build your business website now.

For those who already have a website, perform a thorough audit to analyze:

  • Is it secure?
  • Is it responsive?
  • Does it allow users to navigate easily?
  • Does it include all the information your buyers need?
  • Are all visuals attractive and of high quality?
  • Does it load fast?
  • What about your website’s SEO health?

You can use Semrush’s Site Audit tool to identify technical issues on your website and fix them.

Semrush's Site Audit report

It also helps you identify issues related to your content such as duplicate content or less text as compared to other pages on similar topics.

You can also use Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool to analyze the page loading time of your website. It will also suggest speed improvement measures.

Google's PageSpeed Insights report

Analyze Your Social Media Accounts

Next, analyze your profiles on different social media platforms and ensure that your information is consistent across platforms.

Leverage social media analytics to figure out:

  • How are people interacting with your content?
  • What’s the sentiment around your brand conversations?
  • How many brand mentions do you get each month?
  • Which type of content generates maximum engagement?
  • What’s your share of voice in your industry?
  • When is your audience most active on each social platform?

You can use social media monitoring tools like Brand24, Buffer, and Sprout Social to track key metrics like your social reach, engagement, top-performing posts, and brand mentions.

Monitor Your Online Reputation

You should monitor how and what people and publications say about your business, not just on social media but online (in general).

Setting up Google Alerts for your business name, your name, and your popular products can be a good way to start monitoring your online reputation. You’ll get alerts every time you’re mentioned on any website, directly in your inbox.

Google Alerts

2. Develop a Strategy to Improve Your Brand Recognition

Brand recognition plays a significant role in building trust and credibility with your target audience. To make your brand more recognizable to potential customers, you need a clear and effective strategy.

Set Your Goals Right

Get the basics right. Ensure that you have a memorable business name and logo. Clearly define what your brand stands for and how you want people to perceive your brand.

Next, set specific goals that you can track and measure. For example:

  • I want to grow my monthly website traffic to 100K in six months.
  • I want to establish my authority in the SEO niche by contributing to publications like Semrush, Moz, and Backlinko by the end of this year.
  • I want to generate 50 leads in the next three months for my SEO services.

Identify Your Target Audience

Who do you want to reach online? Your answer to this question will guide all of your marketing and brand-building efforts.

So, think carefully about:

  • Who are your ideal buyers?
  • What age group do they belong to?
  • Which regions do they come from?
  • Home much do they earn annually?
  • What are their pain points or the key challenges they face?
  • Who do they follow, interact with, and trust online?
  • What type of content do they prefer to consume?
  • How do they interact with brands similar to yours?
  • Who is not your audience?

You can find your target audience using advanced data tracking. Understanding your audience and what they care about will help you create content that resonates with them and helps improve brand recognition.

Create a Content Strategy

You should create and share content regularly to reach your target audience and stay on the top of their minds.

Earlier in the post, I asked you to conduct a content audit. It must have helped you:

  • Take account of the content you already have.
  • Assess the effectiveness of your current content in improving brand recognition.
  • Identify any gaps or opportunities for improvement.

Based on your existing content and your goals and audience insights, you should create a plan that includes:

  • The types of content you will create
  • The topics you will cover
  • The channels you will use to distribute your content
  • The existing content pieces you will update with the latest information, statistics, and examples
  • The frequency of publishing your blog posts, infographics, guest posts, and other content

Establish a Consistent Tone of Voice for Your Brand

Make sure your content sounds the same across platforms. For this, it’s essential to define your brand’s voice, values, and messaging.

You should:

  • Decide how you want to represent your brand. Should it sound fun, inspiring, playful, or authoritative?
  • Define your brand’s core values. Are you someone who vouches for sustainability or women's empowerment?
  • Develop a tone of voice that resonates with your target audience. Learn about their interests.
  • Create a style guide that outlines the key elements of your brand’s tone of voice. It could include elements such as your take on using humor, the words and phrases you want to use, those you want to avoid, etc.
  • Also, finalize 2-3 fonts and colors that you want to use for your branded text and visuals.

3. Improve Your Website’s Search Performance and User Experience

Your website is an essential part of your online presence. Ensuring that it is optimized for search results pages and user experience will help you attract and retain more visitors (your potential customers).

Ensure That Your Website Has an Attractive Design and Layout

The look and feel of your website mark the first impression of your brand in the minds of your potential customers. So, it has to be attractive and engaging.

Here are a few tips that can help you improve your website’s design:

  • Choose from a pre-designed simple yet attractive theme.
  • Keep enough negative space to let your web design elements breathe.
  • Avoid basic web design mistakes that can harm your SEO.
  • Improve page loading speed.
  • Build a seamless checkout experience for your ecommerce website.
  • Use colors that stand out for your call-to-action buttons.

Optimize Your Website for Search Engines

75% of people will never go beyond the first page of Google when researching information or products. The best way to ensure that your target audience finds your website is by optimizing it for relevant search queries.

Here are a few basic steps for search engine optimization:

  • Research your competitors’ SEO strategy and search engine positioning.
  • Create quality content that aligns with the search intent of their targeted keyword.
  • Improve your Core Web Vitals to improve page performance.
  • Use the right URL structure for your web pages and blog posts.
  • Practice mobile-first indexing.
  • Leverage schema markups to get featured in Google’s rich snippets.
  • Invest in local SEO.
  • Optimize your website for crucial on-page SEO factors like heading tags and page loading speed.

I’ll cover all the essential steps to follow to improve your website’s SEO below.

In your SEO process, tools like Semrush can be very helpful. It has helped many marketers like Gaby rank higher, outsmart competitors, and still have me-time. You can read the success story of this marketer on a mission.

Conduct Thorough Keyword Research

SEO starts with finalizing the keywords you want to target and rank for.

Semrush's Topic Research tool dashboard
  • Assess the search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty score for all relevant keywords. You can also segregate keywords to form topic clusters.
Semrush's Keyword Magic tool for keyword research
  • Use Semrush’s Keyword Gap tool to find keywords that your competitors are ranking for but you are missing out on.
  • Filter keywords with a comparatively lower keyword difficulty because they will be easier to rank for. However, the search volume mustn’t be too low.

I’ve also created another detailed guide on how to do keyword research. You may want to check it out to learn about this process in detail.

Create Content That Adds Value to Your Audience’s Lives

Consumers don’t want another article that contains the same information as ten other posts. You need to create value-added content that they would like to read and share.

I recommend that you follow these tips to create high-quality content:

  • Understand the intent of your target keyword. What information does the searcher want?
  • Research the topic well, leverage data, and share actionable tips from your expertise and experiences to create engaging and memorable content.
  • Give practical advice that your audience can implement right away.
  • Share tools that can help and show how to use them effectively. For this, you can create screenshots and screen recordings of you doing it.
  • Include quotes from subject matter experts.
  • Leverage different content formats to engage different user segments.
  • Make your content easily readable and accessible.

Incorporate Multimedia Elements

Multimedia elements can help boost engagement, encourage shares, and improve your online presence.

Here are a few multimedia elements you can add to your website and content:

  • Graphics
  • Polls
  • Quizzes
  • Infographics
  • Screenshots
  • Screen recordings
  • Explainer videos
  • Animation

4. Build a Strong Social Media Presence

Using social media can help improve your digital presence and social signals can also be good for your SEO.

Identify the Social Media Platforms You Should Target

Don’t try to build your presence on too many social platforms. It’s best to pick 2-3 relevant ones that your audience frequents.

For example, if you run a B2B business, you may want to build a strong presence on LinkedIn. On the other hand, B2C brands can easily reach their audiences through Instagram and TikTok.

Social Media Platforms You Can Consider

Platform

YouTube

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter

Pinterest

Number of users

2.5 billion users

900 million members

2.96 billion monthly active users

2 billion users

1 billion users

556 million monthly active users

450 million monthly active users

Best For

Educational videos,

Video marketing,

Product reviews,

Short-form,

vertical videos with YouTube Shorts

B2B brand growth,

Building professional connections

Building relationships ,

Improving brand loyalty

Selling products ,

Engaging your audience,

Influencer marketing ,

Building relationships

Influencer marketing ,

Targeting a younger audience ,

Fun and entertaining content

Industry news ,

Memes

Starting conversations

Lead generation ,

Increase engagement,

Primarily for art, clothing, and food businesses

Downside

Resource-intensive and time-consuming

Professional audience only

Limited organic reach

Lots of content formats to capitalize

Videos only

Majorly, younger

280 characters or less

Majorly, images-heavy content

Data Source

Create a Social Media Content Calendar

Managing multiple social media accounts can be challenging and time consuming. You may struggle to find new content ideas and create content that engages your audience.

That’s why I recommend creating a social media content calendar in advance to post consistently without fail.

What to include in your social media content calendar:

  • Social media accounts
  • The date and time when each post will be published
  • Your post copy including captions, hashtags, and mentions
  • Media including images, videos, or GIFs

Sounds like too much work?

You can reduce the number of posts you want to do each week, depending on your team’s bandwidth. I suggest batch-creating content.

You can plan your social media content on Google Sheets, ClickUp, or use a social media content planner like Later.

Social media content calendar on ClickUp
Source

Engage with Your Audience

Don’t just post content and then forget about it. Take time to engage with your audience, respond to their comments, and interact with other accounts in your niche.

Here are some social media engagement tips that can help:

  • Respond to users’ comments on your posts and Reels.
  • Respond to DMs.
  • Go Live to interact with your audience. You can introduce a new product to them or educate them about something relevant to your niche.
  • Use Questions Stickers on your Instagram Stories to start conversations and encourage interactions.
Instagram Story Questions
  • Start a poll on your Stories to engage with your audience.
IG Story Polls
  • Host a giveaway contest to receive participation from your target consumers.
  • Launch hashtag campaigns to create user-generated content (UGC) and feature the best ones on your official accounts.

Monitor Your Social Media Growth and Engagement

Monitoring your social media growth and engagement is important for understanding how well your social media strategy is performing.

Some of the key metrics you should track related to your social media performance are:

  • Your follower growth rate
  • Engagement rate
  • Post views and impressions
  • Post reach
  • Number of saves
  • Top-performing posts and Stories
  • Story reactions and replies
  • Click-through rate
  • The amount of web traffic driven through social media platforms

By tracking these metrics, you can see how well your content is resonating with your followers and make changes to improve your social media presence.

To track this data, you can use the analytics features of social networks or third-party social media tools like:

5. Leverage Paid Advertising to Expand Your Audience

Leveraging paid advertising can be an effective way to reach new customers and enhance the online presence of your business.

You can place ads on popular websites, social media platforms, and search engines. Most paid advertising platforms allow you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. They also provide measurable yet quick results.

Let me walk you through some of the most popular paid ad options.

Search Ads

Investing in search ads can help you land at the top of the SERPs and reach your target audience at the right time.

Search ads for content writing services

With search ads, you get measurable results, allowing you to track the performance of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

The best part is that you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. This makes it a cost-effective way to reach leads with the intent to buy your product or service.

Social Ads

Social media ads have higher reach and engagement rates than organic posts. But social media users often have less intent to buy when compared to searchers.

You can run ads on various social platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and TikTok. You can even run Facebook Messenger ads.

An additional advantage of using social ads is that you can create engaging video ads to attract customers.

Instagram ad

Display Ads

Display ads are the advertisements you see on websites, apps, and social media platforms. When you run display ads, they will be shown to custom audiences based on their interests, recent searches, and behaviors, and the websites they’ve visited.

Many websites allow publishers to run display ads within their body content or in their sidebar. Here’s one example from my own website:

Display ad on ShaneBarker.com

There are different types of display ads, including:

  • Banners
  • Images
  • Videos
  • Rich media

They can help you increase your online visibility instantly.

Retargeting Ads

While all of the above types of ads were about attracting new audiences, retargeting ads help you re-engage users. It targets people who have visited your website or shown interest in your product. They could have also previously interacted with one of your paid ads.

These ads help you mark your presence in your prospect’s mind even after they leave your website.

Google Local Service Ads

Google’s local service ads help you connect with people who search for services you offer and are from your neighborhood.

Google local service ads
Source

If you apply for local service ads, Google will show a “Google Guaranteed” badge under your business name.

Currently, these local service ads are available in certain areas and for certain service providers only. These include the United States, United Kingdom, Austria, Canada, Germany, Italy, and a few more.

6. Gain Visibility As a Local Business

The best way to attract customers from your neighborhood is to invest in local SEO.

Before I tell you how to do it, I’d like to share a case study of a family-owned bakery. They used Semrush’s digital marketing tools to rank #1 on Google and sell over 1 million macarons!

Isn’t that huge?

You just need to follow simple steps to generate similar traction to your local store.

Keep Accurate & Consistent NAP Data

NAP refers to the name, address, and phone number of your business. You should keep this data consistent across all business listings, local directories, your website, and social media accounts.

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Formerly known as Google My Business (GMB) listing, your Google Business Profile is a significant listing. It helps you show up in the local search results when people look for “florists near me” or “florists in [your location].”

Google Business listing for local searches

You should fill out all details carefully, including:

  • Your business name
  • Address
  • Contact number
  • Operational/working hours
  • Types of services you offer (For example, “Dine in” and “Takeaway” for restaurants)
  • Photos and videos of your store, products, etc.

Include important keywords related to your business.

Ask your customers to give you a review and rating on Google. It will be displayed alongside your business listing and act as social proof.

Create and Optimize Your Local Business Listings

Other than Google Business listing, list your business in local directories such as:

  • Yelp
  • Apple Maps
  • Bing Places for Business
  • LinkedIn Company Directory
  • InsiderPages

7. Regularly Monitor and Manage Your Online Reputation

Regularly monitor the performance of your content and social media strategies to see how your efforts are resonating with your audience. Use consumer feedback and data to refine your approach and make data-driven decisions to build a stronger presence online.

  • Respond to customer feedback and reviews.
  • Share positive reviews and stories from your satisfied customers on social media and on your website to showcase social proof.
  • Manage negative comments and reviews by politely addressing the user’s concerns. Give your best shot at solving their issues and turning them into happy customers.
  • Answer online inquiries and messages at the earliest. You can consider deploying a chatbot on your website to answer repetitive and frequently asked questions.
  • Provide 24/7 support to your customers and prospects.
  • Include answers to frequently asked questions on your blog and in your help center.

Are You Ready to Improve the Online Presence of Your Business?

Improving your digital presence is crucial for attracting and retaining customers in today’s digital age.

To do this, you should follow the steps outlined in this post, such as:

  • Auditing your online presence
  • Understanding your audience’s needs and interests
  • Optimizing your website for search engines and users
  • Engaging your audience on social media
  • Creating valuable content
  • Leveraging paid advertising on search engines, social media, and other websites
  • Improving local SEO

This will help you establish a strong and effective digital presence that can make it easier for you to achieve your business goals. However, remember to regularly monitor and refine your approach to ensure that you’re always providing the best possible experience for your audience.

Get started now!

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https://shanebarker.com/blog/how-to-build-an-online-presence/feed/ 0 semrush keyword gap analysis nonadult
Semrush vs. Google Analytics: A Detailed Comparison https://shanebarker.com/blog/semrush-vs-google-analytics/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/semrush-vs-google-analytics/#respond Tue, 04 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=72911 Semrush and Google Analytics are powerful web analytics tools for digital marketing specialists. But there is a considerable difference between their use cases.

While Semrush is an external service that helps you study any website (including yours and your competitors), Google Analytics is an internal service that gives you useful insights about the website you own or operate.

Google Analytics traffic and user engagement data has greater accuracy than Semrush. However, the latter gives you the ability to track data for your competitors’ websites as well.

It also helps you with competitive research, SEO, keyword research, link building, PPC, and content marketing.

Comparing their features is crucial but it’s also important to highlight where Semrush and Google Analytics overlap. In this article, I’ll do just that and help you understand why you shouldn’t choose one over the other.

For me, these two analytics platforms are better companions than competitors. That’s why, I’ll also show you how to integrate them to use both to your maximum advantage.

Let’s start with a quick overview of both tools.

What is Semrush?

Semrush is an all-in-one suite of digital marketing tools that helps you with SEO, content marketing, market research, competitive intelligence, advertising, social media marketing, and more.

With Semrush, you get access to useful data, including but not limited to:

  • Traffic analytics: Traffic sources, web and mobile traffic share, top pages that drive traffic
  • Competitive research: Organic and paid search traffic, number of backlinks, competitors’ best keywords, new competitors, domains’ position changes
  • Keyword research: Search volume, keyword difficulty, search intent, SERP analysis, position tracking
  • Link building: New backlinks, lost backlinks, referring domains, untapped backlink opportunities, link quality audit, broken links
  • SEO audit: Crawled pages, technical issues, content optimization issues
  • Content marketing: Topic research, SEO recommendations, post performance tracking, content analysis, poor-performing posts
  • PPC: paid search traffic, competitors’ keywords and ad copy, position tracking
  • Social analytics: Audience growth, engagement

What is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is the premier analytics platform for tracking your website or app performance. It gives you a complete picture of how your website traffic and user interactions.

It helps you track and analyze:

  • Who is visiting your website?
  • Where are these visitors (your audience) coming from?
  • Which pages do they visit?
  • How much time do they spend on your website and specific web pages?
  • What are your top-performing posts or pages?
  • Which countries send you minimum or maximum traffic?
  • Which keywords do people search for to find your website?

Google Analytics helps you understand your customers and improve your website, free of charge. This makes it a must-have analytics tool in your arsenal.

Semrush vs. Google Analytics – The Comparison Summary

Semrush helps you identify keywords and topics that can help generate more website traffic. It also lets you spy on your competitors’ SEO and content strategies.

And, you can get a domain overview and traffic analytics of any website using Semrush.

However, the traffic analytics data is not as accurate as Google Analytics, which directly mines data from a tracking code added to your website. But again, you can only get Google Analytics data for a website you own or manage.

Another major difference between the two platforms is that Google Analytics helps you understand user behavior on your website.

Here’s a quick comparison of Semrush vs. Google Analytics – features and use cases:

Semrush

Google Analytics

Pricing

Plans start from $119.95/month

(Save up to 17% if you pay annually.)

Free plan

Data offered

SEO performance

Website performance and user information

Real-time traffic

cross
check

Website traffic

check
check

Traffic sources

check
check

Traffic comparison between time periods

check
check

Visitor demographics, engagement, and interests

cross
check

User behavior or interaction on your website

cross
check

Keyword research

check
cross

Keyword ranking and position tracking

check
cross

Competitor research

check
cross

Backlinks tracking

check
cross

Link-building opportunity hunt

check
cross

Technical SEO audit of your website

check
cross

Content marketing tools and SEO writing assistant

check
cross

Historical performance data of your website

cross
check

Platforms supported

Desktop

Web

Desktop

Web

iOS

Android

Customer support

Knowledgebase

Videos

Email and live chat support

Knowledgebase

Community forum

Semrush: Reviewing Its Use Cases, Features, and Data

Semrush is a feature-rich tool, used by over 10 million marketing professionals across the globe. It offers 55+ tools and reports, which are enough to power up your search and marketing performance.

I use it almost every day to do all sorts of things, from finalizing topic ideas to picking up which posts to update each month, and fixing broken links to my website.

Let’s take a look at what Semrush can help you do.

1. Analyze Website Traffic

As I am comparing Semrush with Google Analytics, let me first show you what insights Semrush gives about the traffic of any website. This website could be your own domain or that of your competitors or partners.

The key website traffic metrics Semrush helps you track include:

  • The total number of visits
  • The number of unique visitors
  • The number of pages viewed per visit
  • Average session duration
  • Bounce rate
  • Traffic sources – direct, referral, search, social, paid
  • The devices used to browse your website – desktop vs. mobile
  • The top pages visited by users
  • Top destinations where users go after their visit
  • Traffic distribution by country

You can also compare the website traffic of two or more websites and see whether their performance is going up or down over time.

Semrush compare traffic analytics of two or more websites

Semrush’s Traffic Analytics data is not as accurate as the data offered by Google Analytics but it’s closest to what any third-party tool can tell about your website.

But the good part is that:

Semrush discloses the accuracy level of all data they provide you with.

Semrush Traffic Analytics data accuracy level

Analyzing my website and content performance using Semrush helped me grow my website traffic from 50K to 90K within six months.

2. Conduct Competitive Research

Semrush allows you to check the overall performance of any domain. You can use it to get instant insights into the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, partners, or customers.

With Semrush, you can get insights about:

  • Domain authority score
  • Organic and paid search traffic the website receives
  • The distribution of traffic by country
  • The total number of backlinks pointing to the website
  • The number of keywords the website has SERP positions for
  • Keywords that generate maximum organic traffic for the website
  • Keyword position tracking over time
Semrush domain overview

You can compare the numbers between your website and your competitors’ websites.

Semrush domain comparison

Semrush also helps you find keyword gaps and capitalize on missed or untapped opportunities to improve your website’s search performance.

Semrush Keyword Gap

Similarly, you can tap into the missed backlink opportunities by using Semrush to track where your competitors are gaining their backlinks from.

Overall, it has everything you need for competitive analysis.

3. Conduct Keyword Research

Semrush is the tool I use to conduct research for my website’s content. From analyzing which keywords to target to researching the best content types to rank for those keywords, Semrush helps me with it all.

With Semrush’s Keyword Research tool, you can see:

  • Average monthly search volume of any keyword
  • Keyword difficulty score, which defines how challenging it could be to rank for a particular keyword
  • Search intent behind the user’s search for a specific keyword
  • Average cost-per-click (CPC) of any keyword
  • Keyword variations of your seed keyword
  • Related keywords and questions for your seed keyword
  • Top posts/pages ranking for the keyword
  • Keyword research filters
Semrush keyword research for "content marketing"

You can also get insights into the top keywords your website or your competitor’s website is ranking for. Extensive keyword research is the first step to creating profitable content for your website.

Semrush position tracking

Semrush also helps you do SERP position tracking to constantly monitor your site’s SEO performance.

4. Build and Audit Your Link Profile

Another thing I have been using Semrush for is backlink building and link quality analysis. It helps me discover all incoming links and referring domains and also helps me analyze whether or not the link adds value to my website authority.

You can also use Semrush’s Backlink Checker to:

  • Spot new backlinks to any domain.
  • Get notified about lost backlinks.
  • Identify the authority of the linking domain and the true value of the backlink.
  • Research your competitors’ backlink strategy and analyze their link profiles.
  • Discover your competitors’ most authoritative linking domains.
  • Identify suspicious or toxic backlinks that could be harming your website’s search performance.
  • Analyze backlink types by anchor type, link type, and link attributes.
  • Find link-building opportunities.
Semrush link building opportunities

It can help empower your link building strategy and establish your authority in your niche. While you can also use other backlink analysis tools, I find Semrush to be a complete package for all SEO professionals.

5. Check Your Website for On-Page and Technical SEO Factors

This one is my favorite.

Semrush is the best tool in the market when it comes to on-page and technical SEO.

It gives you detailed analytics about your website – where it is lacking and what you can improve to increase your chances of ranking higher in search results.

Here are the key optimization metrics you can get data about:

  • The total number of crawled pages on your website and their status
    • Healthy
    • Broken
    • Have issues
  • Top issues found on your website such as
    • Duplicate H1 and title tags
    • Broken external and internal links
    • Missing meta descriptions
    • Unstructured URLs
    • Low word count on a page
    • Duplicate content issues
    • Use of non-descriptive anchor text
    • Missing canonical tags
  • Top pages to optimize and ideas for improvement
Semrush site audit

To learn more about its features, read my full review of Semrush.

Google Analytics: Reviewing Its Use Cases, Features, and Data

For a free tool, Google Analytics provides you with a wealth of data about your website’s traffic, audience, and user behavior.

Knowing exactly how my visitors find and use my website is extremely crucial to me, and it impacts my future content and website optimization strategy.

This is what I mostly use Google Analytics for.

1. Track and Analyze Website Traffic

Google Analytics helps you track how much traffic your website is getting each day, month, or year. You can compare your traffic growth over a period of time and also get insights about the traffic sources.

I like Semrush for keyword position tracking. But I like and trust Google Analytics' traffic data far more. In most cases, Semrush’s organic traffic estimations are far off, and usually much lower than reality.
SEO Consultant and Web Designer

Google Analytics helps you track key metrics related to your website traffic.

  • The number of unique visitors on your website
    • On a specific day
    • Over a period of time (You can visualize your website traffic growth YoY for 10 years straight. This is what I love about Google Analytics.)
  • Traffic sources
    • Direct traffic (when a user specifically types in your domain name)
    • Organic search traffic (from Google and other search engines)
    • Referral traffic (from links to your website placed on third-party websites) 
    • Social media traffic
    • Ads
  • Daily sessions
    • A steady growth in daily sessions helps me ensure that my website is going the right way. Whereas, if the daily sessions are down, it’s a red flag that conveys there is something I need to fix on my website.
Shane's Google Analytics website traffic acquisition report

2. Understand the Audience Better

Google Analytics gives you detailed information about your website’s audience, including their demographic information, interests, and location.

  • Users: See how many new and returning visitors you have, how much time they spend on your website, and how many pages they visit before bouncing off from your website.
  • Audience demographics: Learn about the age group your visitors belong to and whether they are mostly men or women.
  • Interests: Discover the main interests of your audience. Do they like to travel, read, or shop, or are they technology geeks?
  • Location: See the geolocation of your website visitors. You can view their countries and cities.
  • Devices: Get details about the devices they use to browse through your website. You can see your web and mobile traffic share.
Google Analytics audience demographics

This data will help you understand who your target audience is, where they come from, and how you can tailor your content and marketing strategy to better reach and engage them.

3. Get Insights Into Content Performance and User Engagement

With Google Analytics, you can analyze how your website is performing and how users interact with your site and content.

It gives you insights about:

  • The total number of pageviews
  • Average time spent on each page
  • Bounce rate (people leaving your website)
  • Page loading speed
  • The total number of unique searches on your website and popular search terms
  • AdSense page impressions and revenue
Google Analytics user engagement report
Google Analytics website pages with most views and engagement

With these insights, you can optimize your SEO content strategy to increase your website’s traffic and user experience. Providing valuable content will also help you retain your customers and increase loyalty over time, which often results in higher revenue.

4. Track Conversions

You can also use Google Analytics to track your website conversions. Identify how many visitors are taking actions you want them to take.

These conversions could be anything, varying from:

  • Signing up for your newsletter
  • Clicking on an affiliate link on your website
  • Sharing your post on social media
  • Buying your product
Google Analytics track conversions

You can use these insights to optimize your website for conversions.

Semrush vs. Google Analytics: Data Collection

I use both Semrush and Google Analytics to run my website and support my clients’ businesses. There is no comparison between the data both tools offer to help improve my website and content performance.

Let me brief you on how these web analytics tools gather data.

How Does Semrush Gather Analytics Data?

Semrush gathers its analytics data by:

  • Using its own machine learning algorithms
  • Collecting data from multiple trusted third-party data providers and sources

For website traffic analytics data, Semrush combines data from the user behavior of over 200 million real internet users in 190 countries and regions.

To ensure accuracy, they run their Neural Network algorithm, which recognizes patterns in the collected data and provides you with a realistic estimation after sampling and error testing.

Semrush’s Backlink Crawler crawls over 25 billion web pages every day to identify and add new links to its database.

How Does Google Analytics Gather Data?

Google Analytics, on the other hand, gathers data directly from your website. It asks you to add a custom JavaScript tracking code within the code of the website you own or manage.

Every time a user visits your website, this code sends information to Google Analytics about how the user interacted with your web pages and content.

Semrush vs. Google Analytics: Pricing Plans

Semrush offers three pricing plans:

  • Pro plan: $129.95/month
  • Guru plan: $249.95/month
  • Business plan: $499.95/month

You can save up to 17% if you pay annually.

Semrush offers a full refund if you decide to cancel your subscription or downgrade your plan within the first seven days.

You can try Semrush for free for 14 days (only with my link). But during free trials, the platform limits the amount of data you can pull every day.

Google Analytics offers all of this critical data, free of charge.

However, if your website receives millions of sessions per month, you may need to upgrade to Google Analytics 360. This can cost you millions of dollars but it will offer:

  • Unlimited data
  • Access to advanced reports
  • Faster data updates

Google offers multiple free tools that can be extremely helpful for marketers and developers.

Semrush vs. Google Analytics: Are These Tools Competitors or Partners?

Semrush and Google Analytics are both essential analytics tools for website and business owners. They have different strengths.

As an avid user of both platforms, I can say that:

Semrush is meant to complement your use of Google Analytics, not replace it. And vice-versa.
Shane Barker

You can improve your website and content performance using Semrush and Google Analytics to your advantage. Here’s how I do it:

  • Use Semrush for keyword research and filtering based on search volume and lower competition.
  • Write the content and publish it on my website. Use Semrush’s SEO Writing Assistant to identify readability, SEO, and originality issues within the content. This helps me improve content quality and increase the chances of making it rank.
  • Monitor my blog’s traffic using both Google Analytics and Semrush. Identify top pages and see how my recent posts are performing.
  • Add the targeted keyword to Semrush’s position tracking to see improvement in the search performance of every published content piece.
  • Use Google Analytics to see how users are interacting with my website – the pages they visit and which external links they click on.
  • Regularly monitor GA daily sessions to evaluate if my website is going in the right direction. I’ve integrated Google Analytics sessions into Slack to receive notifications about daily sessions’ growth and decline.

I recommend that you integrate Google Analytics and Semrush to enhance data and reports, and, thereby, improve your marketing ROI.

How to Connect Google Analytics to Semrush

You can connect your Google Analytics and Google Search Console accounts to Semrush. This will help you analyze all of your website’s data in one place and enhance accuracy.

However, to connect a Google Analytics account to Semrush, you need to have at least “viewer” access.

Also, you’ll need to individually link Google Analytics to the following Semrush’s features:

  • Position tracking
  • Site audit
  • Social media ads

You can integrate the following Semrush features with both Google Analytics and Google Search Console (GSC):

  • On-page SEO checker
  • Backlink audit
  • Organic traffic insights
  • Content analyzer
  • SEO dashboard

To connect GSC to Semrush, you’ll need to have “owner or full user” access to the Google Search Console account.

Here’s how to integrate traffic analytics of both platforms:

You can refer to Semrush’s knowledge base to learn how to integrate GA and GSC with each of the features I mentioned above.

Semrush vs. Google Analytics: Which Tool Should You Choose?

I’ve said this multiple times throughout the article and I’ll repeat myself – you shouldn’t choose one above the other.

Both Semrush and Google Analytics are equally important web analytics tools for any website owner. I recommend that you make the most of both platforms to:

  • Analyze your website traffic.
  • Understand your audience and how they interact with your website.
  • Identify keywords to target.
  • Track SERP positions for multiple keywords.
  • Identify and capitalize on link-building opportunities.
  • Improve your website’s search performance and user experience.

I consider myself a pro user of both Semrush and Google Analytics and will continue to be so.

“Both platforms offer unique advantages, and I believe that using both is the best approach to gaining a complete understanding of our online performance. While Semrush is excellent for tracking our SEO and marketing efforts, Google Analytics is essential for tracking user behavior and website performance.”
CEO, Venture Smarter

FAQs

1. Are Semrush and Google Analytics the same?

No, Semrush and Google Analytics are not the same.

Semrush offers many different ways to study and improve your website that Google Analytics cannot. You can use it to spy on your competitors, conduct keyword research, analyze backlink opportunities, and more.

Google Analytics, on the other hand, offers insightful data about how users interact with your website, where they come from, and which pages they spend the most time on. You can use it to understand your audience better and tailor your website and content to meet their needs.

Also, Google Analytics’ website traffic analytics data is more accurate than Semrush’s Traffic Analytics data for your website. That’s because GA directly gathers data from a code placed on your website.

2. Is Semrush better than Google Analytics?

It’s not about one tool being better than the other. Both Semrush and Google Analytics serve different purposes and complement the data provided by the other tool.

You should use:

– GA for traffic analysis and user behavior analysis
– Semrush for competitive research, keyword research, backlink audit, and link building

3. Can Semrush replace Google Analytics?

No, Semrush cannot replace Google Analytics. You should instead use it together with GA to enhance your website and content performance.

I’d like to encourage you to integrate your Google Analytics and Google Search Console accounts with Semrush’s different features to get the best of both worlds.

4. Does Semrush offer a refund guarantee for its services? What about Google Analytics’ refund policy?

Semrush offers a 7-day money-back guarantee if you cancel or downgrade your subscription within the first seven days of subscribing to it. They will refund your fees within 30 calendar days after receiving a written request for a refund from you.

Google Analytics is a free tool offered by Google. So, there is no need for a refund policy.

5. Does Google Analytics offer customer support? What about Semrush?

Google Analytics offers a range of support options for its users.
– A comprehensive Help Center with articles on multiple topics
– A community forum where you can ask and answer questions
– Email support for Google Ads customers

Semrush offers customer support via:
– Email and live chat for their paid subscribers
– A comprehensive knowledge base with hundreds of useful articles and video tutorials
– An email to mail@semrush.com or by using the contact form on their website

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ClickUp Review: The Best Project Management Software https://shanebarker.com/blog/clickup-review/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/clickup-review/#respond Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=70702
Summary
  • ClickUp is a comprehensive project management tool that lets you manage all your work processes, tasks, and communication in one place.
  • It has a free plan (sufficient for freelancers, bloggers, or 1-5 people teams).
  • Its Unlimited ($7 per member per month) and Business ($12 per member per month) plans are good for small to medium-sized businesses that require unlimited storage, integrations, and dashboards along with other advanced features like column calculations.
  • The platform also offers a custom Enterprise plan with custom solutions to meet unique business demands. You need to contact their sales team for a quote.
  • They offer a 30-day full refund guarantee if you’re not satisfied with how their platform functions.

As an entrepreneur, I understand it could be difficult to track and manage multiple projects and tasks. I have been there – struggling to manage tasks, streamline processes, and track the progress of different projects.

My team and I used different solutions, including Teamline, Clockify, and Trello. But we found it challenging to keep things organized and see the bigger picture in one view.

That’s when one of my team members recommended that we try ClickUp, and it changed the way our organization functioned. I’ll tell you how – in my ClickUp review.

Having tested and used ClickUp for over two years now, I can say that it is an all-in-one project management platform every team needs. You can see progress boards like Trello, assign and manage tasks like on Teamline, and track time spent on different tasks and projects like on Clockify.

Though onboarding took a while, and we are still learning how to use its customization and automation options, ClickUp has made our work processes more efficient.

Read on to learn more about my experiences with this platform. My review of ClickUp will help you decide whether or not it will be the right fit for your organization.

What is ClickUp?

ClickUp is a cloud-based collaboration and project management platform that helps you manage all of your work in one place. This includes organizing and assigning tasks, managing workflow, documents, communication, goals, and reporting.

Though my team and I primarily use ClickUp for project management and collaboration, it also offers solutions designed for product development, sales, marketing, finance, and HR teams.

In this ClickUp review, we’ll mainly discuss its project management features.

What is ClickUp Used For?

ClickUp is a project management tool that can help you streamline your workflow, improve collaboration and communication, and increase the overall efficiency of your team.

Some of the most common uses of ClickUp include:

  • Improved organization: This project management software can help you keep track of all projects, tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities in one place, making it easier to stay organized.
  • Streamlined task management: ClickUp allows you to create, assign, and track the progress of your tasks and projects. You can also automate time-consuming and repetitive tasks.
  • Efficient project management: With features like dashboards, Gantt charts, calendar views, calculation widgets, progress bars, and reports, ClickUp helps teams stay on track and manage projects effectively.
  • Real-time tracking: Keep track of the time each member spends on different tasks and projects. Set due dates to ensure everything is on schedule.
  • Effortless team collaboration and communication: Work together with your team in real time, regardless of your location. Communicate through comments and mentions within task cards to minimize confusion and keep everyone on the same page.
  • Efficient remote team working: ClickUp’s mobile app and collaboration features make it a great tool for remote teams.
  • Personal productivity checks: ClickUp allows team members to manage their to-do lists. You can assign tasks and comments to individual team members, increasing their accountability and ensuring everyone meets their respective deadlines.

    This is also helpful during performance reviews and appraisals.
  • Improved decision-making: This platform provides real-time data and insights to help you make informed decisions about the performance of your team members, the progress of tasks, and the efficacy of your work processes. You can use this data to improve project outcomes and reduce costs.

Overall, ClickUp is a versatile tool. Whether you’re a freelancer who wants to manage client work or you run a small business with multiple departments, it can help you manage work effectively.

What Are the Pros and Cons of ClickUp?

ClickUp strikes a balance between providing the right number of features and keeping it affordable for individuals and small businesses. Learning to use ClickUp to the best of its capabilities can be tough and require your time and effort, at least, initially.

Let me help you analyze its advantages and disadvantages in detail.

ClickUp’s Pros

Let’s start with discussing things that ClickUp is good at – such as its freemium features, customization capabilities, “Everything” view, and real-time reporting.

1. An Impressive Free Forever Plan

We are using ClickUp’s Business plan but I must say, they have a genuinely impressive Free Forever plan.

Unlike many other SaaS products, ClickUp’s free version doesn't restrict the number of users and the number of tasks you can create. You can access most of its features with the freemium version.

ClickUp’s Free Forever plan features include:

  • Unlimited team members
  • Unlimited tasks
  • Everything view
  • List, Board, Calendar, Table views
  • Collaborative Docs
  • Time tracking
  • Custom Statuses
  • 3 Whiteboards
  • 100 Custom fields
  • 100 Mind Maps
  • 100 Gantt Charts
  • 100 automation/month
  • Multiple assignees
  • Task checklists
  • Dependencies
  • Priorities
  • Assign comments
  • 50+ native integrations
  • Two-factor authentication

It offers one of the most feature-rich free plan we tested. It locks very few features for its expensive plans. You get all views, including Gantt Charts and Spreadsheets with the free plan. Their team offers 24/7 support with every plan.

2. Multiple Views of Your Tasks and Projects

ClickUp lets you track work from any angle by offering 20+ real-time views. You can create views for your projects, tasks, and workflows in the way that works best for your organization.

The most commonly-used views on ClickUp include Lists, Boards, Tables, Sheets, Teams, and Gantt Charts.

Here’s a quick overview of each of these views:

As we’re more of a content-focused team, we prefer Tables and Lists over other views. Having used Trello before, we also use ClickUp Boards to see the overall progress of different projects.

The best way to track meetings and time offs is to use the Calendar view, which is also the default view for our “Time Off” space.

ClickUp Calendar view for tracking time offs

I’ll discuss these views in detail when we talk about the key features of this project management software. So, keep reading.

3. Advanced Customization Options

ClickUp is a fully customizable solution that lets you adjust and customize everything based on your project needs, workflow and processes, and other personal preferences.

Its customization options include templates, themes, and the ability to create custom dashboards.

You can create custom “Dashboards” to give an overview of your work or the progress update of a particular project. The platform offers over 50 widget variations, including custom charts, workload graphs, tables, time tracking, task lists, and more.

Here’s a quick view of one such Dashboard:

In the video, you can also see how to add widgets to your Dashboard and customize its data using different filters.

Our team maintains separate Dashboards for tasks related to different members, groups, and departments. For example, we have a separate “Content Team Dashboard” for all content-related projects and tasks.

Another example of ClickUp’s customization options is its “Custom fields” feature.

You can use it to add all kinds of information you may need. This feature has helped us replace many spreadsheets we used earlier to track topic names, Doc links, word counts, and writer details for every post.

ClickUp custom fields

Bottomline: ClickUp is one of the most flexible workplace solutions I’ve tested. It fits and suffices the customization needs of most companies and teams.

4. Enhanced Collaboration Features

ClickUp includes features like comments, task assignments, and real-time notifications to enhance team collaboration and communication. There is also a built-in chat feature.

You can rely on ClickUp project management software to stay connected with your team from anywhere and at any time. This applies to teams working both from the office and remotely.

Team members can also collaborate on ClickUp Docs and Whiteboards for brainstorming ideas and editing content.

5. Multi-Platform Support

ClickUp is available on desktop, mobile, and web platforms, making it accessible from any device. You don’t have to use a specific operating system, browser, or device to use this project management software.

It is both a cloud-based and web-based online solution. You can also download its application for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems and Android and iOS devices.

ClickUp deployment options

ClickUp’s Cons

ClickUp had its set of disadvantages when we migrated from Clockify and Teamline to ClickUp. My team and I tested it for a month before fully making the switch.

Now that I’ve already shared a few benefits of ClickUp based on my testing, let me share the challenges we faced.

1. ClickUp’s Customization Options Can Be Overwhelming

You heard me right.

I love ClickUp’s user interface, features, and top-notch customization capabilities. But most new users may find the features and options overwhelming at first, leading to a steep learning curve.

You’ll need a thorough onboarding, which is lengthy and complex, to start using this project management software to the best of its capabilities. That’s because this platform has many different features and ways to customize and organize tasks.

Even after two years of using the platform, my team is discovering and trying out new options. We still reach out to their support team to learn how to set up new-style dashboards, get better views of the overall project progress, track individual performances, and more.

But it’s important to tell here that the ClickUp team provides smooth and hassle-free support at every step of the way. They are ready to help you throughout the onboarding process and beyond.

You should check out their knowledge base and demo videos to get started on the right foot.

2. Performance Issues

I haven’t had any major issues using the platform but some users reported performance issues with ClickUp on review websites like Capterra and G2. These include occasional slow load times and updates, which can impact productivity.

ClickUp user review
Source

These kinds of user reviews should not stop you from using its Free Forever plan. Even with the paid plans, ClickUp offers great support for quick resolution and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.

3. For Advanced Time Tracking, You Need to Opt for Business or Higher-Priced Plans

As a business owner, you might want to mark time spent on certain tasks as billable. This is something you can do only with their Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise plans.

ClickUp advanced time tracking options

With free and starter plans, you can’t add labels and descriptions to the time tracked.

Freelancers and small teams may not need to differentiate between billable and non-billable hours. If you do, Clockify could be a better alternative for tracking billable and non-billable hours for free.

ClickUp’s Key Features and Use Cases

ClickUp offers hundreds of project management and collaboration features – with more added each week. And, you can customize each one of these based on your organizational needs and personal preferences.

1. Define Your ClickUp Workspace Hierarchy

ClickUp’s unique Hierarchy helps teams break projects and plans into manageable and actionable sections and tasks.

Source

Workspaces are the highest level of the ClickUp Hierarchy. It represents your entire company, organization, or business.You can create or be part of as many Workspaces as you want and switch between them using the avatar menu at the lower-left corner.

ClickUp switch between Workspaces

Under ClickUp Workspaces, you’ll find:

  • Spaces: You can use them to divide your organization into different departments, teams, project groups, or anything you want to group on a higher level. You can create up to 5 Spaces with ClickUp’s free plan and unlimited Spaces with all paid plans.
    You can set permissions for members and restrict some people from accessing specific Spaces.
  • Folders: Spaces can have different folders to organize tasks related to different projects, campaigns, or databases. 
  • Lists: Lists help you club smaller activities like backlinking tasks, content requirements for the website, other writing tasks, and so on. You can set views, custom fields, and statuses for each of your task lists.
  • Tasks: You can also create subtasks, nested subtasks, and checklist items under each task.

2. Create, Assign, and Manage Tasks

Once you’ve defined the basic Hierarchy of your ClickUp Workspace, creating tasks is easy. Just click on the “Task” button at the lower-right corner of your screen.

You’ll see a pop-up window that lets you fill out all details of the task. This includes:

  • Task name
  • The location of the task
  • Assignees
  • Task description
  • Custom fields
  • Subtasks
  • Checklists
  • Start date
  • Due date
  • Tags
clickup assign tasks

You can also create tasks using pre-defined templates and define dependencies to increase user accountability for each part of the task’s progress.

Set recurring due dates for regular tasks. For example, we have our content team meeting every week.

ClickUp recurring task

For each task card, you can add custom fields for all information you need. This may include brief Docs, progress bar, writer’s name, total word count, and so on if it’s a content creation task.

ClickUp custom fields

Add more fields or edit the existing ones from the highlighted anchor text in the above image.

Similarly, it’s easy to add subtasks and checklist items to each task card and assign them to specific team members.

ClickUp subtasks and checklist items

Another useful feature that makes our job easy is the “Status” feature for each task card. You can see the current status of each task at a glance, and talk to the person accountable for that step of the process.

ClickUp task Status

For example, if I want to know the status of all content scheduled for this website, ShaneBarker.com, I just need to go to the “Content for Shane Barker” list and group tasks by “Status.”

ClickUp task Status of a list

You can get all data in one place, without browsing through different spreadsheets. You can also filter this data by week, month, or specific date range.

3. Track Time Spent on Different Tasks and Projects

ClickUp project management tool lets you do solid up-to-the-minute time tracking and reporting. You can use it to log hours spent on different tasks and projects, and track progress in real time.

Here’s how to track time using ClickUp:

Go to any task and start the timer using the green-colored play button below “Time Tracked.” The timer will start counting up, and you can stop it whenever you want.

If you forget to start the timer or need to log time for a task that you didn't track in real time, you can log hours by clicking on the “Time Tracked” tab. Select “Manual” and add hours manually. Save your logged hours.

ClickUp manual time tracking

You can track the total number of hours logged by each person on any task.

If you want to edit any logged session timings, just click on that particular entry and tap the edit icon. Enter the desired timings and click on “Save Changes.”

ClickUp manual time log editing

4. Collaborate and Communicate with Your Team

ClickUp offers enough collaboration options so that your team can stay on one platform for all task and project-related communications.

You can add comments on individual task cards, tag multiple team members, assign those comments to specific people, and even reply in nested threads.

Along with comment threads, you can also see the details of every activity on the task card, ranging from Status changes to document updates and assignee additions.

ClickUp task activity

5. Track Project Progress

ClickUp provides a clear and comprehensive view of your project progress. This way, it’s easier to identify and resolve issues before they become more significant problems.

Select individual Folders and Lists from the left sidebar to check the progress of all tasks under them. Select “Group by Status” in the top-right corner.

ClickUp List progress tracking

When it comes to progress tracking, ClickUp’s “Everything” view is my go-to place.

You can group tasks by Status, and add filters like specific date range of the tasks and completed/active tasks. Select team members to whom the tasks have been assigned.

ClickUp task progress reporting

It’s also easy to search for tasks related to one particular list.

You can view the same data in different views that we discussed earlier. For example, here’s the Board view, which can be a good choice if you’re used to managing projects on Trello.

ClickUp progress reporting Board view

6. Create Custom Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks

ClickUp automation options help you create consistent processes for repetitive tasks and workflows so you can concentrate on improving other areas.

Use ClickUp’s pre-built automation recipes to automate regular tasks, Status changes, List changes, and so on. Or, set custom Statuses and fields to a task and then save the task card as a template.

ClickUp automation

For this, you just need to click on the “Save as Template” option (right below “Browse Templates”). This will save your changes to the task card as a fresh template.

You can reuse these saved templates to create tasks with similar functionality, custom fields, and dependencies in the future.

ClickUp task template

7. Integrate Seamlessly with Other Business Tools

ClickUp allows you to connect your favorite tools and apps to your workflow. This includes a hassle-free integration with:

  • Communication and collaboration platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Loom, and Zoom
  • Marketing tools like HubSpot
  • File management solutions like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox
  • CRM solutions like Salesforce
  • Writing tools like Grammarly
  • Calendar tools like Google Calendar

You can automatically import your data from project management solutions like Asana, Monday, Trello, Basecamp, Jira, and Wrike in just a few clicks.

ClickUp’s Customer Support

ClickUp’s team values customers the most. They provide 24/7 live chat support throughout the onboarding process and even beyond that.

Based on my experience, they are quick to respond to queries about features, automation, Dashboards, and almost everything you may be finding challenging.

Other than live chat support, ClickUp also has an in-depth knowledge base, full of guides, demo videos, and help Docs. Plus, you can learn how to master ClickUp and maximize your productivity by signing up for ClickUp courses here.

ClickUp courses to master the tool and increase productivity

ClickUp’s Pricing Plans and Inclusions

ClickUp offers several pricing plans to cater to the needs of freelancers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations.

You can start using ClickUp for free with its Free Forever plan. The plan offers access to all essential features of this project management software.

The best part is that it doesn’t limit the number of users or tasks.

Most small teams opt for ClickUp’s Unlimited or Business plans, which offer features like:

  • Unlimited storage
  • Unlimited integrations
  • Unlimited Dashboards
  • Unlimited Custom fields
  • Guests with permissions
  • Column calculations
  • Advanced automation features
  • Advanced time tracking
  • Workload management
  • Gantt charts

ClickUp’s Unlimited plan is best for small teams and $7 per member per month (billed annually). For its Business plan, you need to pay $12 per member per month (billed annually).

clickup pricing plans

You won’t need to upgrade to their Business Plus or Enterprise plan until you’re collaborating with multiple teams from different companies. These plans are mainly for teams that want to define custom roles and permissions for different members.

Enterprises may also opt for these higher-value plans for the advanced security features and 1000+ integrations that come with them. For this plan’s pricing details, you need to connect with their sales team.

If you opt to pay per month, ClickUp plans will cost you as follows:

Free Forever PlanUnlimited PlanBusiness PlanEnterprise Plan
Free$10 per member per month$19 per member per monthContact their sales team for custom pricing.

ClickUp’s new add-on: You can add ClickUp AI to any paid plan for $5 per member per month to leverage the power of artificial intelligence to increase the efficiency of your business processes.

Comparing ClickUp with Other Project Management Software Solutions

This was all about what ClickUp is and how it can help you streamline work and improve your task force’s efficiency. Now, let’s see where it stands against project management platforms like Monday, Trello, Asana, and Jira.

ClickUp

Monday

Asana

Jira

Trello

Free plan

check
check
check
check
check

Paid plans (billed annually)

Start from $7 per user per month

Start from $8 per user per month

Start from $10.99 per user per month

Start from $7.75 per user per month

Start from $5 per user per month

Workspaces

check
check
check
check
check

Everything view

check
no
no
no
no

Tasks

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Subtasks

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Nested subtasks

Yes
no
Yes
no
no

Checklists

Yes
Yes
no
Yes
Yes

Time tracking

Yes
Yes
no
Yes
no

Multiple assignees

Yes
Yes
no
no
Yes

Dependencies

Yes
Yes

Custom statuses

Yes
Yes
no
Yes
no

Activity view

Yes
no
Yes

Embedded email

Yes
Yes
no
no
no

Automations

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
no

My Verdict

ClickUp is totally worth purchasing. You don’t have to trust my words. You can start with its Free Forever plan and test its features for yourself. Then, switch to a paid plan.

They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with their service. Based on my experience of using it, you won’t need a cashback.

For small teams, ClickUp’s Unlimited plan is sufficient, which costs $7 per member per month. If you want to use advanced automation to make complex task processes easier, you can consider subscribing to their Business plan at $12 per member per month.

I am currently using their Business plan for project management, task assignment, progress/status tracking, communication, file management, performance assessment of team members, and reporting.

Though I’ve not tested their higher-value plans, companies like Samsung and IBM are using their Enterprise plan for increased productivity and world-class security.ClickUp integrates well with your existing business tools and CRM systems, which is another plus point.

FAQs

1. Is there a desktop version of ClickUp?

Yes, ClickUp has a desktop version for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

2. Is ClickUp secure?

ClickUp offers two-factor authentication with all its plans, including the free version. With its Business plan and other premium plans, you also get Google single sign-on.

If you run a large enterprise with greater security concerns, their Enterprise plan provides you with multiple security features like:

– Mandatory two-factor authentication
– Google single sign-on
– Microsoft single sign-on
– Custom SAML single sign-on
– Okta single sign-on
– Okta support for custom roles
– Session management
– Custom permissions
– Custom roles
– Restrict public sharing
– Manage private spaces
– Restrict who can add guests
– Default personal views
– Add and remove users via API
– HIPAA compliance (Contact their sales team for this.)

3. Is ClickUp worth it?

ClickUp is definitely more value for money. Its feature-rich Free Forever plan is already a blessing for freelancers and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Both small and medium-sized businesses can get access to all project management features they may need with ClickUp’s Unlimited and Business plans. These start from $7 per member per month (billed annually).

Large corporations and enterprises may need to spend more but it’s worth the money. That’s because you’ll get top-notch security features, white labeling, custom permissions, custom user roles, and dedicated onboarding and support with those plans.

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What is Lead Generation in Digital Marketing: A Comprehensive Guide https://shanebarker.com/blog/what-is-lead-generation-in-digital-marketing/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/what-is-lead-generation-in-digital-marketing/#respond Fri, 23 Dec 2022 17:22:00 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=68621 What is lead generation in digital marketing? How do you get more leads online? These are questions I encounter regularly from small business owners, entrepreneurs, content creators, and influencers. 

And they’re important questions for anyone who wants to grow their business online. After all, finding leads is a necessity for all businesses. But, it is also a major challenge that every single marketer faces today.

Top Marketing Challenges - Lead Generation
Image via HubSpot

I have been there myself – struggling hard to get leads while I was just starting my entrepreneurial journey. But over the years, I’ve found what works, and today I want to share it with you.

Even if you are starting out into digital marketing, this post will help you understand what a lead is and how to generate more leads to grow your business. 

What is a Lead?

A “lead” is someone who has shown interest in your product or service. For example, if you're a company that sells software, a lead might be someone who requests information about your product or signs up for a free trial.

Leads are people who might be interested in doing business with you but haven't made a commitment yet.

Think of it this way: You have a car dealership. If someone came up to you and said they were interested in buying a new car, they'd be a lead. But if they actually went to the dealership and bought the car, they'd be a customer.

Why Do You Need Leads?

Now you know what leads are, let’s try to understand why exactly businesses cannot thrive without leads? 

Having a steady stream of leads helps ensure that there is always a pool of prospective buyers that can be pursued. When you nurture them effectively, they can turn into paying customers. You need leads to keep your sales pipeline growing.

Leads also help you to stay ahead of  competitors. By actively cultivating leads, you are able to reach out to potential customers before your competition does. This gives you a better chance of securing those customers and building relationships with them.

In addition, leads provide businesses with invaluable insights into the market they operate in. Through lead generation, businesses can better understand demands and trends in their industry. This helps them to develop more effective marketing campaigns that target the right audience.

Finally, leads are essential for measuring the success of marketing efforts. By tracking conversions from lead to customer, businesses can gauge the effectiveness of their campaigns and adjust accordingly. With this data, they can refine their sales and marketing strategies to meet the needs of their target audience better.

What is Lead Generation in Digital Marketing?

Lead generation in digital marketing is the process of attracting and converting scrollers into prospects and customers by using various online channels.

The goal of lead generation is to build relationships with potential customers, nurture them through the sales process, and ultimately convert them into paying customers. 

In order to do this effectively, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of your target audience, their needs, and how they interact with digital channels.

Lead generation infographic
Image via Fiverr

Most digital marketers use one or more of these five methods:

  1. Content marketing
  2. Search engine optimization (SEO)
  3. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
  4. Social media marketing
  5. Email marketing

By leveraging the power of these online channels, your business can gain more visibility online. Through the use of engaging content, you can capture leads and create an effective sales funnel that converts prospects into long-term customers and advocates.

Now that you understand lead generation, let’s take a closer look at why it is important. 

Why Do You Need Lead Generation For Businesses?

Ah, marketing leads! They are the holy grail of any business’s success.  After all, without leads, how would you ever find new customers?

Sure, you could try cold-calling, but that method is pretty outdated and not very effective. Not to mention, it is also incredibly time-consuming.

That's where lead generation comes in. 

If you relate to any of the scenarios discussed below, you should definitely consider lead generation for your business:

  1. You're sick of spending money on marketing that doesn't work.
  2. You're tired of cold calling and door-to-door sales.
  3. You want to target your ideal customer.
  4. You want to increase your sales.
  5. You want to improve your conversion rate.
  6. You want to save time and money.
  7. You want to scale your business.
  8. You want to be more efficient.
  9. You want to increase your ROI.
  10. You want to stay ahead of your competition.

Relatable? If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you need to invest your resources in lead generation specifically, consider all of the benefits. 

Here are some of the main advantages of lead generation:

1. Helps businesses grow their customer base

Lead generation involves identifying potential customers, collecting their contact information, and using those leads to build relationships with them. This process helps you find the right people who are interested in your business and can help you reach more potential customers.

2. Increases sales and revenue

By generating leads, businesses can convert more prospects into customers. This can lead to an increase in sales and revenue for the business.

With strategies that target specific customer profiles, companies can ensure that their message resonates with the right people at the right time.

An effective way to generate leads is by using pop-up forms. Pop-ups are small visual prompts that pop up on the screen when someone visits your website or clicks a link. 

They offer visitors an incentive such as a discount, coupon, or free trial in exchange for signing up for your mailing list or newsletter. Pop-ups allow you to capture potential contacts and turn them into paying customers by nurturing them through marketing campaigns.

Additionally, lead generation can be used to identify new opportunities for business growth and expansion. By connecting with potential leads through various channels, companies can gain valuable insights into market trends that could help inform future marketing strategies.

3. Helps businesses save time and money

Lead generation also helps businesses better understand what types of activities will interest potential customers, so they can target them more effectively. 

By understanding which services or products have the best chance of drawing in prospective buyers, a company can focus its marketing efforts on those particular items or services and make sure that it’s offering something that’s going to be attractive to consumers.

By generating the right kind of leads, businesses can focus their time and resources on converting prospects into customers. This can help businesses save time and money that would otherwise be spent on marketing and advertising.

4. Helps businesses create a competitive advantage

By generating leads, businesses can create a competitive advantage by reaching new markets and creating a larger customer base. This can help businesses maintain their success rate and scale up faster.

B2B Lead Generation vs B2C Lead Generation

When marketing a product or service to a customer, it is important to understand the difference between B2B and B2C customers.

B2B stands for “business-to-business” and describes when one business sells its products or services to another business. On the other hand, B2C stands for “business-to-consumer” and describes when a business sells its products or services directly to consumers.

The main difference between B2B and B2C customers lies in their priorities. Businesses often prioritize efficiency and cost savings over customer experience, whereas consumers are more focused on convenience, quality, and personalization. 

They are looking for different things at each stage of the funnel. Here is an infographic that shows the key difference between B2C and B2B leads:

B2B vs B2C lead generation infographic
Image via Curator.io

That brings us to the point: How does it impact lead generation? From the approach you take to the lead generation tactics that you focus on will vary for both B2B and B2C businesses. 

Let’s understand these differences in detail.

1. Focus And Approach

The focus and approach taken to lead generation differ between B2B and B2C due to the different nature of the customers being targeted. 

B2B businesses typically purchase products or services for long-term use, meaning that their decisions are more complex and involve a greater number of stakeholders. 

B2B sales cycles include numerous steps such as research, negotiation and consultation. Additionally, since B2B businesses make larger purchases, they’re more likely to do extensive vetting of potential vendors. This requires them to dedicate greater resources and time into decision-making. 

All of them add to the amount of time it takes for a sale to be complete. 

When it comes to B2B lead generation strategies, the focus is mostly on educating potential buyers about the product or service. Through white papers, webinars, case studies, blog posts, and other such content marketing strategies, you want to win their trust.  

Whereas in B2C, it's all about the fast lane! You don't have time for extended conversations; you need to grab attention quickly and show prospects how they can benefit from your product or service. It's a case of winning them over with great offers and slick marketing!

2. Context

If you’re generating leads for a business-to-business (B2B) model, you need to make sure your content appeals to the analytical minds of C-level executives. You need to be able to back up what you say with data and show measurable results.

Conversely, when targeting consumers, you need to offer solutions that appeal to their emotions and address their problems directly 

The bottom line is – don’t expect a CEO to be swayed by a discount code! 

B2B lead generation targeting is more specific while B2C lead generation can be wide-reaching .

So, if you want your lead generation strategy to really hit the mark in either B2B or B2C contexts, take the time to understand your target audience and tailor your content accordingly. 

3. Sales Cycle

In B2B, the sales cycle can last weeks, or months. You need to build trust with potential customers and create a tailored solution that fits their needs before they’ll buy from you. It takes patience, tenacity, data and a lot of numbers. 

On the other hand, B2C sales cycles can be a lot shorter. A customer may only need to make one purchase decision before they buy from you – no long-term commitment needed! Once they make a purchase, you can offer incentives that encourage them to make repeat purchases.

4. Tactics

When it comes to creative tactics for generating leads, B2B often relies on traditional methods like webinars, white papers, and email campaigns. These are often the best channels to get access to B2B professionals and get their attention. 

Meanwhile, B2C may involve more trending approaches like influencer marketing, viral videos, and guerilla campaigns.

How to Generate Marketing Leads: 5 Best Strategies

But how do you go about generating more leads without overselling? Well, luckily for you my friend, there are plenty of strategies that work well when it comes to finding those hotshot marketing leads.

1. Use Social Media to Your Advantage

Did you know that, on an average, a person spends approximately 2 hours and 29 minutes every day on social media? Your target prospects are active users of these platforms these platforms. If you can capture their attention, offer them value, you can begin generating leads right there.

In fact, a report shows that social media is the top marketing channel to generate more leads.

Top Marketing Channels Graph in 2022
Image via HubSpot

Now that we know about the unquestionable importance of social media, let's talk about utilizing it's full potential in generating leads and growing your business. Here are some ways in which you can leverage social media to get more leads for your business:

A. Utilize Targeted Ads

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn offer targeted advertising options that allow businesses to target users with specific interests or demographics. 

This helps ensure that ads are seen by people who are more likely to be interested in the product or service being offered, increasing the chances of lead generation success.

602ab0ed882e8d3c88c72821 5e9e734b6363601c18296127 5dfd40a60e4d8e502628c37b sephora facebook ad example 1
GIF via Cyberclick

B. Host Contests and Giveaways

Contests and giveaways are popular among social media users, so businesses should take advantage of this by offering these events to their followers. Doing so encourages people to visit the business’s page, learn more about its offerings, and potentially become a lead.

IG Giveaway Example for Lead generation
Image via Instagram

C. Create Lead Magnets

Lead magnets are an effective way to entice people to opt into a business’s email list in exchange for something valuable, such as an ebook or free download. This strategy can be used on social media or on your website to encourage followers to sign up.

Lead Magnet Example
Image via Sellbrite

D. Start a Conversation

Social media is all about interacting with others, so you should make an effort to engage with your followers. Doing so helps build relationships and trust, which can eventually lead to more people becoming leads.

For example, Benefit Cosmetics started an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on their Instagram page with their team. When a user asked a question on promoting eyebrow growth, their team organically promoted their BROWVO Conditioning Primer. 

IG Stories - Question Sticker Example
Image via Later

E. Humanize Your Brand

People connect better when there’s personal touch in brand communication. Storytelling, sharing This can be done through storytelling, sharing content related to the company’s values, or engaging with followers on a personal level. 

Airbnb Instagram- Humanize Your Brand example
Image via Instagram

2. Get Creative with Content Marketing

An effective content marketing strategy for lead generation needs to be targeted and deliberate. This requires creating content that is specifically designed to move prospects through the sales funnel, from brand awareness to sales close.

To optimize your lead generation efforts, it's essential to create content tailored to each stage of the funnel. 

Here are some examples of how you can use content marketing strategies for lead generation based on the funnel stage:

A. Create a Blog Series

Use your blog to discuss topics related to your product or service in-depth, with each post being part of an ongoing series. This will provide valuable information while helping you establish yourself as an expert in the field. 

This content is for those prospects who are at the top of the funnel and are just getting introduced to your product or services.

MobileMonkey Blog Series
Image via MobileMonkey

B. Host Webinars

Webinars allow you to engage with potential customers in real time, while also providing valuable content. You can use webinars to answer customer questions and demonstrate how your product or service works.

sales webinars
Image via Salesforce

C. Produce Educational Videos

Create short tutorials, explainer videos, and other educational videos that will help potential customers learn more about what you offer. These can be uploaded to YouTube or embedded into blog posts for maximum visibility.

Video via YouTube

D. Share Case Studies

Showcase how your product or service has been successful by sharing detailed case studies with potential customers. This will help them understand the value of your offering and encourage them to take action.

Royal bank of Scotland Case Study Example
Image via Docsend

E. Reach Out to Influencers

Having a big name in your corner can be invaluable when it comes to generating leads and boosting sales. They can help you win audience trust and get more sales. Identify influencers who have an audience similar to yours, and work with them to promote your products or services.

IG Influencer Marketing Campaign Example
Image via Instagram

F. Leverage Existing Relationships

Don’t forget the power of referrals and word of mouth! Reach out to existing customers and ask them to spread the word about your business. You could also showcase their testimonials via social media videos or posts.

Groove Testimonials example
Image via Groove HQ

G. Create an Optimized Website

Once you have the essential elements of your website in place, it's time to start optimizing for lead generation. The key to successful lead generation is driving organic traffic to your website and making sure your content resonates with potential customers. 

Here are a few tips for optimizing your website for maximum lead generation:

Optimize Your Content – Creating content that covers topics related to your product or services is a great way to draw potential customers to your website. 

From blog posts to whitepapers, ensure that all of your content is high-quality and relevant. Additionally, be sure to include keywords within the content you create so it can be easily found through search engine optimization (SEO).

Utilize Landing Pages – Creating landing pages specifically geared towards lead generation is a great way to capture potential leads.

Include forms where visitors can sign up for newsletters, and get reports, discounts, or other offers. This way they are more likely to want to take an action.

High-Converting Landing Page Example
Image via Unbounce

I’ve also written a detailed post on what it takes to create high-converting landing pages. Check it out for more information on how to get leads via landing pages.

Use Different Types of Media – Including videos, infographics and other visuals on your website can be a great way to engage visitors. Visuals help keep visitors on the page longer and are more likely to be shared.

Share Published Posts on Social Media – Leveraging social media is an effective way to reach potential leads and increase traffic to your site. Make sure you have active accounts on the most popular social media platforms and post regularly.

By following these tips, you can create an optimized website for lead generation and drive organic traffic to your website. With time and effort, you can generate more leads and grow your business.

H. Offer Opt-in Forms

Placing opt-in forms on your website or blog can help capture leads who are interested in learning more about what you have to offer. You could offer free downloads or an email newsletter subscription in exchange for their contact info.

I. Use Retargeting Ads

Retargeting ads (or “remarketing” ads) allow you to show relevant ads to prospects after they've interacted with your website or content. This helps keep your brand top-of-mind and increases the likelihood of them converting into customers.

3. Work on SEO

Once you’ve written great content, it deserves to be seen! Investing in SEO is the equivalent of having an awesome billboard on a major highway – people can see your content from miles and be drawn to it. 

Sure, you could get by without investing in SEO, but then you’d just be the tiny store tucked away in a back alley somewhere. Don’t let your content be forgotten! 

With proper on-page SEO tactics, you can make sure that your content has a greater chance of being shared and clicked on. 

Search engine algorithms consider factors like keyword density and backlinks when deciding which content should be displayed at the top of search results. 

In fact, when you look for a keyword on Google, you’ll see the phrase and its variations in bold in the search results. Check it out:

search engine results
Image via Google

This shows just how important it is to use the right phrases.

By optimizing your content for relevant keywords, you can make sure it appears in more searches and increases your visibility. 

But remember, SEO isn’t something you can just turn on and off. 

It requires consistent work to make sure your content stays relevant and highly ranked. Investing in SEO now will pay off for years as long as you keep up with the algorithm updates and SEO best practices.

If you want an expert’s insights on using SEO for lead generation, check out my podcast interview with Jeff Baker, the CMO of Brafton. 

4. Invest in Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing campaigns are a great way to increase lead generation and build relationships with potential customers. By using email campaigns, you can easily target specific groups of people who may be interested in your products or services. 

Additionally, email campaigns allow you to easily segment audiences based on different criteria such as demographics, location, purchase history, and more. This can be extremely helpful for targeted marketing efforts and personalizing your messages. 

If you want to learn more about email segmentation, check out this video below:

You can efficiently nurture leads with personalized emails and automated follow-ups until they convert into paying customers. You can also use email campaigns to re-engage inactive customers and keep them up to date on new offers. 

Email marketing campaigns are also a cost-effective way to increase your reach since they don’t require much upfront investment, and you can easily track their success with built-in analytics tools. 

With these powerful tools at your disposal, you can maximize lead generation and streamline the customer journey from start to finish. 

5. Leverage PPC Advertising

PPC stands for Pay-Per-Click, and it could be what your business needs to get leads in the door. 

No more waiting around hoping people come across your website; with PPC, you can actively target potential customers and have them coming to you! Plus, it's easy – all you have to do is choose the right keywords, set a budget, and get started. 

You'll be able to target potential customers with ads tailored specifically for them, helping increase brand awareness, generating more leads and ultimately closing more sales. For lead generation, you can even set up lead form extensions.

Not only that, but you'll have full control over your budget allowing you to set limits on what you're willing to spend per click or per day. If there was ever an easy way to get the results you want without breaking the bank, PPC is it! 

If you want to get started with PPC advertising, you can check out the best PPC tools here.

What Are the Best Tools For Lead Generation?

Using specialized tools for lead generation can help you maximize your reach and convert more leads. Lead generation tools are designed specifically to provide data-driven insights that help you make informed decisions.You can learn exactly who, when, and how you should target. 

Additionally, specialized lead generation tools allow you to track key metrics such as open and click-through rates, conversion rates, and return on investment. 

By utilizing these tools, you can identify areas for improvement and optimize your campaigns for higher conversion rates. In a nutshell, lead generation tools can accelerate your sales funnel. 

Based on my experience, here are the top lead generation tools that you should check out:

1. Salespanel – For Lead Generation and Lead Nurturing

Salespanel.io is an all-in-one sales and marketing tool used to create, manage and optimize lead generation campaigns. It can help you nurture leads, score them according to their sales potential, and convert them into customers.

Salespanel - lead generation software homepage screenshot
Image via Salespanel

2. Agorapulse – For Social Media Lead Generation

Agorapulse is great for managing multiple social media accounts in one place. Plus, its analytics capabilities make it one of the top options for finding leads on social media.

agorapulse
Image via Agorapulse

3. GetResponse – For Email Marketing

GetResponse is one of the go-to tools when it comes to email marketing – and with good reason. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to craft targeted emails and track their effectiveness.

If you want to learn more about how to use this platform effectively, check out my post on using GetResponse as a lead generation tool. 

getresponse
Image via GetResponse

4. Semrush – For SEO

Semrush is one of the best tools out there for optimizing content, one of the key components in any lead generation strategy. With one click you can have your content optimized for search engines and ready to draw in leads.

Image via Semrush
Image via Semrush

For more specialized tools, you can check out my post on the best lead generation platforms out there. It has details of key features, pricing, and more for 21 platforms!

Understanding Lead Generation Marketing With Examples

In this section, we'll be going over some of the most popular lead-generation strategies in use today. From webinars and ebooks to surveys, these tactics are all effective ways to generate leads for your business.

To get more leads and turn them into loyal customers, you need to learn how to use these different tactics. 

Here is an infographic that shows how different strategies can work for lead generation and nurturing:

Lead generation Process infographic
Image via Pinterest

Now that you know how to make the best use of lead generation strategies, let’s take a look at some examples:

1. Webinars

Webinars have become a popular choice in recent years, as they provide an interactive way to share content with potential customers in real time. This lead generation strategy is generally used by B2B companies.

Webinars can also be used to build relationships with prospects and showcase all that you have to offer. This allows companies to gain insights into customer interests that can be used in crafting future campaigns.

Wordstream Webinar Signup Form Example
Image via Instapage

2. Ebooks

Ebooks are another great option for lead generation campaigns, as they provide valuable information in exchange for contact information from potential customers. 

This form of content marketing is particularly well-suited for businesses in the tech sector, as it allows them to demonstrate their expertise in a specific area and capture leads in the process.

Here is an example from my website:

Shane Barker Ebook on Influencers - Lead Generation Example
Image via Shane Barker

3. Surveys

Surveys are also an effective tool for lead generation, as they provide valuable insights into customer preferences that can inform future campaigns. 

Companies can use surveys to ask questions about topics related to their industry in order to understand customers better. This data can be used to craft better targeted campaigns in the future.

lead generation survey
Image via Zoho

4. Quizzes

Quizzes can be used as a fun element for your content marketing strategy. 

You can add quizzes where people answer questions to find out which products are best for them, or learn more about a brand. 

The best part is that quizzes are easy to create and can be shared via multiple channels. You can add them to your emails, website, or even share them on social media channels.

Lead Generation Quiz - Beardbrand Example
Image via Landbot

5. Giveaways

These campaigns often attract interested users who are willing to submit contact information in exchange for a chance to win some type of prize or reward. 

Giveaways can be used as incentives to encourage people to sign up for an email list, follow a brand on social media, or take part in a survey. 

They can also be used as part of an engagement campaign with the potential to drive more website traffic and help create brand awareness.

Giveaways Example
Image via ConvertFlow

Why is it Important to Get Quality Leads?

When it comes to leads, quality matters – a lot! After all, you don't want to spend time and money on leads that won't get you results. Poor quality leads can not only be expensive but they can also take away valuable resources that could have been used elsewhere. 

Lead Quality versus Quantity infographic
Image via Design World

That's why it is so important to invest in high-quality leads; they will help increase your ROI and ensure that every dollar spent is well worth it. So if you are looking to see success with your lead generation efforts, make sure you put your trust in leads of the highest caliber. Quality is key!

Understanding Different Types of Leads

Leads can be broadly classified into four types: Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL), Sales Qualified Lead (SQL), Product Qualified Lead (PQL), and Service Qualified Lead (SQI).

Different Types of Leads

1. Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)

An MQL is a prospect that has expressed interest in buying a product or service based on your marketing efforts or via other channels.

Marketing teams typically use marketing automation tools to track and monitor the effectiveness of different campaigns and identify potential customers who show the most promise. Once these leads are identified, they are passed on to sales representatives for further qualification.

2. Sales Qualified Lead (SQL)

An SQL is a lead who is considered viable enough to enter the sales process. Generally speaking, this means that they have been qualified by marketing and found to meet the criteria set forth by the sales team. 

In the hierarchy of the sales funnel, SQLs come after MQLs. They are typically considered to be warmer leads. Here is a visual representation of them in the funnel:

SQL vs MQL in the Sales Funnel
Image via Hotjar

Sales representatives will then use their own assessment of a prospect’s needs and wants to determine if they are an appropriate fit for the business.

3. Product Qualified Lead (PQL)

A PQL is a lead that has an active interest in the products or services offered by your business after having used the product or services in some form.

Product Qualified Leads Infographic
Image via Refiner

This usually means that they have already engaged with your product or service in some way, such as signing up for a trial, making a purchase, or providing feedback on features. 

In order to identify these leads and maximize their potential value, companies can utilize customer relationship management (CRM) software and analytics tools to track customer interactions over time.

4. Service Qualified Lead (SQL)

A Service Qualified Lead (SQL) is a lead who has expressed an interest in conversion through customer service or support. 

These leads typically come from customer surveys, contact forms, chatbots, and other feedback mechanisms. Basically, it can be any channel that allows customers to provide information about their needs and issues with the product or service. 

You can use this information to create more targeted customer service initiatives, such as creating automated chatbots or offering personalized content that meets the specific needs of each customer.

No matter what type of lead your company pursues, it is important to have a strategy in place for nurturing those leads into paying customers. 

By taking the time to qualify and nurture leads appropriately, companies can ensure they are investing their resources in prospects that are most likely to convert.

How to Qualify a Lead

Once you've found a lead, the next step is to qualify them. This means finding out if they're genuinely interested and able to make a purchase.

Lead Qualification Process Infographic
Image via SuperOffice CRM

How do you get the answers you need? Simple! All it takes is a few tough questions, some follow-up emails, and maybe – just maybe – a dab of detective work.

And don't worry if you can't tell right away if a lead is hot or cold; that's why we created this guide to help you find out for sure. 

Ready to find out who your next customer will be? Let's get started!

1. Ask Qualifier Questions

First, you'll need to know what questions to ask. These should include basic information like their name, company size, and contact details. 

But don't forget to dig a little deeper; try asking them about their current situation and whether they're looking for a solution like yours. That way you'll have a better sense of how likely it is that they'll become a customer.

At this stage, you want to identify who the decision-maker is. This could be a person or group of people who are responsible for making final decisions related to your product or service.

2. Follow Up to Assess Needs

It's also important to follow up with leads after your initial conversation. Check in every few days or weeks (depending on the nature of their inquiry) to see if anything has changed. 

Assess if any new needs have arisen. You may even want to suggest a product or service that matches their needs and see if they're interested in learning more.

3. Look Up Your Leads Online

Finally, don't forget to do a bit of detective work. See what you can find out about your leads online. Look for things like any past purchases they may have made or comments they've left on other websites. 

Doing this will help you better understand their buying behavior and determine whether they’re likely to make a purchase from you.

At the end of the day, qualifying a lead is all about gathering enough information so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue them as a customer. 

With these tips in mind, we guarantee you'll be able to easily distinguish between hot leads and cold ones – no Sherlock Holmes required!

Why Should You Not Buy Leads?

Regarding buying leads, I've got one piece of advice for you: Don’t do it. 

Buying a list of potential customers may seem like a surefire way to quickly find people interested in your product or service. That's true – but the leads you buy might not be legitimate or accurate. 

Plus, the quality of purchased leads is often low which means many of them will never become actual customers. You could end up spending money on bad data, getting poor returns on your investment, and damaging your reputation in the process. 

What’s more, there are so many laws about personal data and privacy out there now. Buying lists containing information about potential clients may break one or several of those laws (which could come with hefty fines). 

So, it's probably better to avoid buying leads altogether. It's far more effective and less risky to build a solid marketing strategy. 

You should focus on targeting potential customers who already have an interest in your product or service than wasting time and money on purchasing unknown leads.

Ready to Start Lead Generation?

Alright, let's do this! Now you know the answer to the question of what is lead generation in digital marketing. And you are clear with the basics, you need to put your knowledge into action. It’s time to start creating content that will help attract leads. 

Make sure you're leveraging social media, SEO strategies, email marketing, and other methods of outreach so you can get your message in front of as many people as possible. 

With consistency and efforts in the right direction, you should start seeing some serious ROI from your lead-generation activities soon enough! Good luck!

Do you have any questions about lead generation in digital marketing? Please feel free to mention them in the comments section below. 

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https://shanebarker.com/blog/what-is-lead-generation-in-digital-marketing/feed/ 0 What is Slack? nonadult
Gong Review: Is It the Best Revenue Intelligence Platform? https://shanebarker.com/blog/gong-review/ https://shanebarker.com/blog/gong-review/#respond Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:12:35 +0000 https://shanebarker.com/?p=67713 Do you struggle to understand customer behavior and how it affects your business? Do you want to drive sales growth with real-time insights into customer interactions?

If so, then Gong is the solution for you. Not convinced? Read my full Gong review below.

Gong is a comprehensive revenue intelligence platform that helps capture customer interactions across phone, email, web conferencing, and other channels. It then uncovers what’s said in those conversations to give you insights that help you better understand your customers and unlock more sales opportunities.

Not sure if this platform is worth your money?

In this article, I'll review the Gong software to answer any questions you may have before investing. I'll discuss what Gong is, what it has to offer, and how it can benefit your business.

Let's get started!

What is Gong?

Gong is the leading revenue intelligence platform that helps sales teams unlock their full potential by revealing customer reality.

The Gong Revenue Intelligence Platform™ is unique because it captures and analyzes every customer interaction. With this data, your sales and revenue teams can make decisions based on evidence instead of hunches.

This helps companies like yours improve conversion rates, increase deal sizes, and accelerate employee efficacy.

With Gong’s conversation intelligence, you can figure out what’s going on with your customers and team, and use those insights to adapt, upskill, and hit your targets.

Want to learn more about how Gong works?

Which Platforms Does Gong Work On?

Gong’s reality platform has over 100 integrations, which means that it works well with almost any customer interaction platform. You can integrate and use Gong with your existing business toolkit, ranging from:

  • CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce
  • Automation and workflow solutions like Zapier
  • Communication platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Outreach, Aircall, etc.
  • Web conferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meet, etc.
  • Customer success platforms like Zendesk
  • And more
Gong's integrations

Gong also offers special customer promotions on selected platforms such as Apollo.io, Cognism, and LeadIQ, so you can save on your subscription.

Gong Review: Discussing Its Pros and Cons

Gong has a lot of features and benefits, but it’s important to consider the pros and cons before investing in any software. So, let's take a look at what Gong has to offer.

Gong’s Pros

  • Easy to use for sales representatives and revenue teams
  • Comprehensive customer insights
  • Helps increase conversion rates
  • Collaboration and notes system
  • Integration with different vendors for audio calls
  • Helps improve your style of interacting with customers by offering tips and advice on engagement, talk ratio, words we used too much, etc.
  • Integrates with your existing business toolkit
  • Special customer promotions on select platforms
  • Reliable customer service, capable of resolving issues quickly

Gong’s Cons

  • Can be expensive for some businesses
  • Can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Some call coaching and analytics capabilities are unavailable in the mobile app

Gong Review: What Are the Key Features of Gong?

Gong is packed with features that make it easier for you to understand customer conversations and use them to your advantage. Let's take a look at some of the key features that make Gong so powerful.

1. Sales Forecasting Software

Gong gives you total visibility and transparency into your entire sales pipeline, so you can forecast with confidence and improve your team’s performance. It captures every buyer interaction and helps you foresee potential problems and opportunities.

Here are a few things that make Gong the best forecasting software:

  • Accurate sales forecasts. Gong's sales forecasting software not only collects data from each point of contact with customers but also analyzes where you stand in relation to the competition.
  • Total visibility into your sales pipeline. You can get information about where each deal in your pipeline stands, including the next steps and decision-maker engagement level.
  • Identify and respond to risks in your deals early. Using powerful AI, Gong lets you identify potential issues, like no one talking about the budget, in your deals earlier and helps you react quickly and prevent them from turning into big problems.
  • Review your sales pipeline at a glance. With Gong, you don't have to be part of every deal. You'll be able to get a bird's eye view of your sales pipeline with deal boards and spot any issues early.
  • A reality-based view, analyzing all your customer interactions across phone, email, instant messages, web conferencing, contracts, and more.
  • Alignment across teams, including your sales, revenue, finance, analytics, and customer success teams.

In all, you can expect to get insights about your market and customers, learn what your top-performing sales representatives are doing right, and discover risks hiding in your sales pipeline.

This will help you optimize sales operations and drive more successful customer conversations. If you’re ready to forecast which opportunities could lead to sales, you should start using Gong today.

You may also want to check out this list of tools for building a profitable sales funnel.

2. Conversation Intelligence Software

Gong's conversation intelligence software takes conversation intelligence to a whole new level. You can use it to gain deep insights into all your customer interactions across various touchpoints and see how they're impacting your sales.

Gong’s conversation intelligence is powered by AI, which analyzes your customer conversations to give you insights into topics like:

  • What are your customers saying?
  • What's resonating with your customers and what's not?
  • What trends are emerging in customer conversations?
  • What strategies are successful in closing deals?
  • What types of objections or questions do your customers ask most often?

For example, you can get recommendations like which words or topics you should cover less or emphasize more.

Gong's data-driven recommendations using conversation intelligence

You’ll also be able to discover the strategies or topics that are helping your top-performing sales representatives drive sales. This can be a good way to train your sales team.

Gong's insights about top-performing sales strategies

With this kind of data, you can optimize your customer conversations, increase customer satisfaction levels, and close more deals.

3. Call Recording Software

Gong's call recording software captures your team's customer calls via the phone and web conferencing so you can use them to replicate successful conversations with future prospects.

With this call recording software, you get:

  • A complete picture of all customer interactions on web conferencing, VOIP system, phone, in-person meetings, email, etc. for easy review later on
  • Easy access to call recordings, transcripts, and notes
  • The ability to review all customer interactions and find improvement opportunities
  • Coaching opportunities in your representatives' calls
  • The ability to identify issues and take corrective action quickly
  • Faster onboarding and training for new representatives using real customer conversations

Gong's integration with Salesforce and other CRM systems further helps you track customer interactions and follow up on leads.

You can easily stay on top of customer conversations, maximize sales potential, and improve the overall customer experience with Gong.

4. Automation

Gong’s automation feature helps you streamline your sales process, so you can focus on the most important tasks. It helps you automate daily tasks like creating customer emails and updating CRM data, and ensures that you never miss a follow up.

With Gong, your sales representatives can get a list of prioritized actions so they can engage buyers at the right times and move deals forward.

Gong's automated alerts

You'll be able to quickly identify deals that need attention and take the necessary action.

Gong’s automation features will help you reduce errors and increase the efficiency of your sales process. You’ll be able to quickly close deals and grow revenue faster.

5. Customer Success Software

Closing more deals faster is not enough. Gong also provides one of the best customer success software solutions. With this customer success software, you can track customer engagement to ensure that your customers are getting the best experience and they are able to hit their objectives.

This will help you:

  • Provide customer value from onboarding.
  • Help customers reach their objectives to increase retention rate.
  • Identify growth and expansion opportunities for your business.
  • Help new hires learn from the best of the best with call libraries.

Also check out the best customer engagement tactics that can help you grow your business.

How Much Does Gong Cost? Pricing and Plans

Gong’s pricing model depends on a few factors specific to your team and the type of licenses you choose for your team. There is also a platform fee that depends on the number of users supported.

To get accurate Gong pricing information, you need to get in touch with their team. You can start by filling out a simple form on their pricing page.

They'll give you customized pricing information for licenses with the features that are most relevant to your team's needs.

The good part is that you get to enjoy their full stack of tech integrations with all of the pricing plans so you can make the most out of your customer conversations. No matter the plan, they also offer reliable support to help you get the most out of their platform.

Gong’s Customer Support

Gong offers 24/7 customer support via email, as well as access to its knowledge base – Gong's Help Center. It has ample resources that can help you get started, understand the different features of the software, and troubleshoot problems.

You can also access guides to using Gong to the best of its potential and tutorial videos to understand how the features work. Plus, you can reach out to their support team if you have any more questions or need help.

According to customer reviews, Gong’s support team is quite reliable and helps solve issues quickly.

Who is Gong For?

With its comprehensive sales forecasting and conversation intelligence software, Gong is the perfect choice for sales, marketing, and customer service teams. The software is suitable for small, medium, and large businesses alike.

It can help teams close more deals, increase customer satisfaction, and optimize their customer conversations for higher success rates. That's why companies like LinkedIn, Shopify, Sprout Social, and Paychex use Gong to power their customer reality.

Business professionalsEntrepreneurs
Startup ownersBusiness owners
C-level executivesMarketing managers
Sales managersCustomer success managers
SaaS companiesTech companies
B2B business professionalsSales representatives
Customer service executivesMarketing teams

FAQs

1. Does Gong record every call?

Yes, Gong records every call. It captures customer conversations from phone calls, video calls, emails, web conferencing, and more, for easy review later on.

2. What problem does Gong solve?

Gong helps sales, marketing, and customer service teams to optimize their customer conversations and close more deals. It also increases customer satisfaction levels and enables companies to identify issues and take corrective action quickly.

So, no more:

– Holding sales teams back from closing more deals
– Inability to understand customer needs
– Unreliable sales forecasting and missed opportunities
– Unproductive customer conversations
– Poor onboarding and training of new representatives

3. Can you download videos from Gong?

Yes, you can download videos from Gong.

Gong Review: Should You Invest in This Revenue Intelligence Platform?

Gong is a comprehensive sales forecasting and conversation intelligence software that can help teams close more deals, increase customer satisfaction levels, and optimize their customer conversations for higher success rates.

It's suitable for small, medium, and large businesses alike and integrates with a variety of CRM systems and business tools. According to customer reviews, Gong's support team is reliable and helps solve issues quickly.

Using Gong software will help you gain an edge in your industry by getting actionable insights into customer sentiment, market trends, and sales predictions. In other words, Gong is a great choice for teams looking to power their customer conversations and unlock more sales opportunities. It's definitely worth investing in this revenue intelligence platform.

Do you have questions about Gong? Feel free to contact their customer support team for more information.

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