Creative Marketing

Google is just like you. They want to present internet denizens with the best possible response to their needs as quickly as possible in order to create a favorable impression. A favorable impression means the user will come back again and again because they trust the system. In the past, Google got tricked into serving up all kinds of spammy content on the first page of search results. Customers clicked, were unhappy with where they landed and they took it out on Google. So Google went to work refining the algorithm it uses to determine the best response to a query and it’s sent quite a few website owners into a tizzy. Let me assure you that everything Google is doing is in your best interest. By eliminating the poor quality sites, they’re making it easier for consumers to find your site – but Google can’t do it alone. You have to prove to the Google spiders that you’re worthy of becoming a first page result.

Instagram Stories are 10 second videos or slideshows that disappear after 24 hours – yes, just like Snapchat but with one huge difference. With Snapchat, a person has to be following you in order to see your posts, but with Instagram, anyone can find your posts while browsing. That’s why Instagram Stories are a better marketing tool than a post on Snapchat. Before you run off and start filming, there are a few things you should know:

It’s funny, the things we remember about places we’ve been. We might not remember the name of the place or the street it’s on but we do remember the unusual details – details that make us want to go back for another visit. The same thing happens online. I used to scrapbook and every now and then I get the urge to start again. When I do, I head for that online store with the cherries. I can’t ever remember the name or the URL, but I remember that they used cherries for loyalty points. I pop that into Google and there it is: A Cherry on Top.

21 million people are playing Pokemon Go on a daily basis making it the biggest mobile game of all time beating even the infamous Candy Crush. What’s even more remarkable is the fact that the average US IOS user spends more time playing the game per day than they spend on Facebook. All of this and the game is less than a month old. How does this tie-in to marketing your business? To figure that out, we first have to understand how the game works and how it differs from your typical mobile game.

Instagram has become an art form all its own. Some people use it to post random photos of themselves and their pets, but some artists are using the channel in unique ways that are totally inspiring. When we're feeling stuck, here are some of the Instagramers that help spark our imaginations. @Idafrosk Ida creates art on a plate using simple foods and simple shapes. There are food artists whose work is more complex, but we love the "hey, I can do that, too" feel of Ida's work.

Speaking at the 2016 Mobile World Congress this week, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg said, "Most of the content 10 years ago was text, and then photos, and now it’s quickly becoming videos. I just think that we’re going to be in a world a few years from now where the vast majority of the content that people consume online will be video." Video. Does that word scare you? Does the thought of standing in front of the camera hawking your wares make you feel faint? You’re not alone but you’re also missing out on a great opportunity if you click now and close this window.

At a glance, Instagram looks like a skinny version of Pinterest. Both sites rely heavily on images but that's where the similarity stops. Organization, links, sharing and demographics; we'll walk you through the differences between then two so you can decide which one is a better fit for you and your target audience.

In any discussion of social media, Twitter generally comes in a poor second or even third to Facebook. But when you’re talking specifically about social media as a marketing tool, I say Twitter comes out on top in three ways. First, Twitter is fast. The messages are short which makes it incredibly easy to skim. Facebook is overloaded with lengthy posts, ads, a cluttered sidebar, chat boxes and notifications all over the place.

Social media can be a marvelous tool for not only keeping in touch with your current customers but for finding new customers as well. I say “can be”, because like all things on the internet it takes time, effort and a bit of luck. So why bother? Because in 2016, every business needs a social media presence. A Facebook page says you’re serious about what you’re doing and that makes customers feel more confident. Sounds silly, doesn’t it? But a recent survey showed that 48% of shoppers check a brand’s social media pages before committing to buy a product.