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You've got your business rockin' and rollin' in the digital space - website, social media, email marketing, the works. But here's the big question - is that enough? The answer is not the most straightforward, but it's honest - maybe!
Got a minute? Check out our quick update on what's new in the industry.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is testing out autoplay video ads in their users’ mobile feeds. The videos will begin playing automatically as you scroll over them and will be distinguished from other content by a “Promoted” label. This is the second time LinkedIn has tested out video ads. Back in 2012, they rolled out support for video ads but, at that time, videos had to reside on YouTube instead of being embedded directly in the LinkedIn newsfeed.
Google has always said that "high-quality content" plays a role in a website's rank in search engine results, but they've only recently shed some light on what exactly that means. With the release of a guide aimed at helping Google's internal content creators, Google has shared some top tips for creating high-quality web content. In this post, we dive into a few of the tips Google shared in their Developer Documentation Style Guide.
Got a minute? Check out our quick update on what's new in the industry.
Facebook
Not so long ago, Facebook rolled out a very visible feature at the top of users' newsfeeds: Facebook Stories. Despite their visibility, they haven't been nearly as popular as Instagram Stories but that may be about to change. Facebook has just announced they will soon be allowing users to cross-post their Instagram Stories to Facebook, via the Facebook Stories feature. This means that Stories shared on the Instagram platform can also be shared in your Facebook Story as well.
A new website may feel like a big investment, both in time and money, but it is essentially the face of your brand, and therefore, totally worth it.
If your website has not been updated in the past three years, it is likely time for a refresh. Web systems are constantly being upgraded, design styles change and, most importantly, users expect so much more from a website these days. Making sure the user is having a positive experience when they are on your website should be your top priority.
Got a quick minute? Check out our update on what's happening in the industry.
Google
Have you converted your website over to HTTPS yet? If not, you could be in for a not-so-great surprise this month. Google has announced that Chrome browsers will now show a red "Not Secure" alert on non-HTTPS websites whenever users try to fill out a form on the site (including Contact Us forms). It will also show for all visitors visiting the website in incognito mode. This warning previously only appeared on non-HTTPS websites if a users tried to enter a credit card or username and password. By rolling it out to all forms on all non-HTTPS websites, Google is firmly pushing website owners into the HTTPS camp. This is all part of a larger effort from Google to make websites more secure.
Did you know that millennials have $200 billion in buying power? We were shocked too. With about 80 million millennials in the United States alone, it has become vital to ensure you are effectively marketing your brand to this audience. Don't get us wrong - you shouldn't give Generation X'ers or Baby Boomers the boot, but enhancing your strategy to focus on a few important avenues is a must!
1. Core Values
Millennials like to align themselves with companies that share the same values and are making a difference. It is important to find the right cause to support to ensure you are capturing and maintaining the interests of your millennial consumers. Promoting your core values throughout your marketing strategy is important, whether that be on your website, through social media or in brand videos.
Got a minute? Check out our quick update on what's new in the industry!
Twitter
Twitter announced this week that they're testing out an expanded character limit. Now, instead of the 140-character limit, people can tweet their thoughts in up to 280 characters. The feature has been made available only for a select group of users and Twitter has made clear that they're considering this a test rather than a formal roll-out. In addition, they've replaced the character count in the Twitter compose screen with a circle that gradually fills in as you approach the limit.
Our Take:
- Twitter's 140-character limit enforces brevity — one of the platforms biggest differentiator.
- While 280 characters is still rather limited, we think a smaller requirement forces businesses and individuals on the platform to be creative and get right to the point.
As we head into the last few months of the year, the countdown is on to develop your marketing strategy for the new year. No pressure or anything, but this is important stuff! Here are some do's and don'ts to help you build and execute a winning marketing strategy — next year and beyond.
Do review your website. It is a good practice to review your website every year, so now is a great time to go through it page by page. If there are housekeeping items that need to be done or major updates you're thinking of implementing, make a wish list for your website management company.
It's hard to believe that we are about to head into the fourth quarter of 2017. While this has different implications for different businesses, there are a few universal marketing tips to help you end the year strong.
1. Connect with your customers. While you probably already do this on a regular basis through emails, phone calls, etc., it is very important to stay on their radar right now. Whether you are a retail business that relies on holiday sales, or a service industry that wants to retain customers for 2018, reach out to your current customers.
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