Social Media Monitoring & Intelligence
You have no choice nowadays but to listen to what consumers are saying about your business, products and services on the web – it's almost like a broadcast to anyone that wants to listen – where these mentions, reviews and discussions should be identified as early as possible and appropriate action taken before it's too late.
CLOSEUP Agency can put in place Social Intelligence monitoring to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
It all starts with Social Media Monitoring
The social web is too big for anyone person to monitor what is being said about your business, brand, products or services, which is why Social Media Monitoring is designed to literally scrape the web for mentions about your business and alert you so that you can take action, both in a positive and if necessary negative way. For instance, if a consumer blogged about a great experience they had at your store, with your product or as a result of your service, you would want to incorporate their comments as third party validations into your website as a part of your Social Proof – no better testimonial than one that emanates from a third party channel! On the otherhand, if consumers are complaining about your products or services, you should be able to be alerted so as to take action to deal with the situation, such as by way of a reply that you are taking consumer opinion seriously or otherwise dealing with negative comments that are being made available to everyone on the web.
There are Opportunities in what Consumers are Saying about Your Competition
So it's not only your own brand that you should monitor, rather the negatives and positives expressed about your competitors and the product/service vertical as a whole will show opportunities that your business can meet that are being unmet elsewhere, and in this way by solving voiced consumer problems you will have developed market opportunities before your competition knows about them and/or reacts. Additionally, consumers will often not voice their concerns about a business directly to that business, for any number of reasons, but will feel free to do so in a social network setting. Social media monitoring, analytics and engagement tools therefore help businesses to identify opportunities and potential crises, while at the same time finding new and innovative ways to enhance customer relationships and better service consumers.
Once you see what is being Said about Your Business, You Must React
The companion to Social Monitoring is Social Outreach based on the gathered intelligence. There are both direct and indirect response mechanisms that should be put in place with deal with consumer conversations about a business, where the direct channels must permit a business to quickly and substantively respond to consumer enquiries, concerns and pending crises. Indirect responses can be by way of consumer engagement campaigns, whether at the social network level and/or on your website, or preferably both.
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how Social Intelligence Monitoring can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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Online Brand Development
Google just announced that it's converting all its Business Local listings to Google+ Pages – which means that these Pages will made available in search results and will in part be ranked by the Consumer reviews of the particular business. There is no better time to take control of your business brand before someone else uses Google's changes to outrank you!
CLOSEUP Agency can utilize Social Proof to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
Local Businesses must now be more social – especially on Google+ Local
Google+ Local is set to change the game. The practices of setting up and optimizing your business information and then simply leaving it along has become a thing of the past. You must plan now to begin developing your social media presence on Google+ and elsewhere since Bing/Yahoo similarly use Facebook information by performing Social Listening and Social Media Campaigns. Start working on it now to get ahead of your competition, and to maintain and improve your position in local search rankings.
Your Brand is Already Online when Consumers Talk - Take Control!
More and more today's Branding is online, and through multiple channels. For instance while your website is often the starting point for digital Brand development, you have to take into account and control what people are saying about your brand in parallel digital channels of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Yelp, Foursquare, LinkedIn and more. This can be an overwhelming job for those not prepared and who don't understand how these digital spaces interact and intertwine. On the otherhand, multiple channel Branding offers the incredible opportunity to be in front of potential consumers wherever they might be, and whatever digital channel they prefer, as well as being able to take preventative and prospective steps to build and protect the Brand in the digital frontier.
Must have Consistency Across Multiple Channels in Message and Actions
We've found that consistency is the key to Branding across multiple digital channels - consistency in placement, consistency in interaction, consistency in look & feel, and consistency in the message although different terminology is utilized depending upon the channel chosen. This aspect of a Brand's marketing cannot be underestimated both in the power to expand the Brand's reach and footprint, but also from the perspective of being attuned to and reacting to negative Brand interactions. Essentially, you have to be there in the digital cloud to tell, listen and respond to existing and prospective consumers.
Our NBC "Love In The Wild" Branding Adventure
For the NBC adventure dating series shot in Costa Rica, we pioneered a fan site with close integration into Social Media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. The results were extraordinary in development of Brand presence and increased traffic over the period that the series was released, and ongoing interaction even months after the series climax. Direct interactions with the participants, their fans and NBC wove the Branding into a concentric portal for growing a community. This community building around this Brand showed the stickiness prospective consumers have for what is perceived as Brand with wide presence which translated directly into its increased Star Power!
Contact CLOSEUP Agency expand your Brand's online presence and Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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Search Engine Optimizations (SEO)
Your SEO must be target market researched -too many times we've been brought in to a site that's been "Search Engine Optimized" only to find that the keywords utilized either have nothing to do with the site's target market, are uncompetitive or not current to what the world is really searching for – in order to be truly effective!
CLOSEUP Agency uses target market SEO to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
Target Market SEO starts with a Research based Optimization Program
Sometimes you think that a search word or phrase is perfect for your business – but in order to make it work you have to consider first whether your consumers are actually using it in their searches, second the scope of the market in terms of how many searches are actually being done with that phrase, and finally the level of the competition for that phrase in terms of the number of search engine results. Only then can you determine a proper SEO keyword optimization strategy that will be effective. A summary of considerations in SEO keyword choices include the following -
- Research on keyword traffic specific to your target market
- Research on keyword competitiveness, in how hard is it to rank on the 1st page for that search term
- Research on what the competition is doing and just as importantly what it's not doing that can show missed opportunities
- Research on appropriate keyword search channels, including Google, Bing & Yahoo, but also Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn that have their own internal search engines and optimizations
Research & Strategy – we use a range of tools to identify the best keyword strategy for your site. For instance, is your business seasonal or related to seasonal volume changes in keywords? Are certain products or services to be prioritized for traffic? Business considerations such as these underpin our recommendations for appropriate keyword strategies.
Strategic Validation & Competitor Analysis – Are your keywords targeting the right markets and demographics? What strategies are your competition using? Where could your site get the best return? These are the types of questions we can help you answer.
Design & Build Analysis – If you are designing, redesigning or redeveloping your website and are looking for confirmation of whether it will be SEO-friendly, we review template and accessibility analysis - key elements of the site architectures. As well CMS (Content Management Systems) can be suggested as search engine friendly alternatives for best-practice execution.
Content Optimization – So very important for ongoing SEO and keyword placement, we theme optimize your website content consistent with Google's latest algorithm considerations and your target market keywords either as part of an SEO set-up or as an ongoing activity
Link Building – High quality white hat link building should be part of your keyword strategy to reinforce keyword relevancy. We identify the nature and types of links that will generate the best return for your site, both in terms of building traffic and increasing Page Rank.
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how an SEO program can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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Mobile Marketing is the Next Stage of the Web
Mobile marketing opportunities are here! There is no more a convenient tool than a mobile phone that's with consumers 24/7 and therefore it can't be any surprise that online searches are now greater than from desktop PC's !
CLOSEUP Agency makes Mobile Marketing campaigns to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
The Next Stage of the Web is Mobile and it's Already Here!
At the start of 2012 there were over 25.8 million mobile phone subscribers in Canada (CWTA stats)- of this number nearly half (48%) of mobile phone users between 18 and 34 years old had a smartphone (data taken from the 2011 Cell Phone Consumer Attitudes Study – Quorus Consulting Group).
According to Google's research, more consumers use a mobile phone than use a computer (see report) and the mobile internet is today's main driver of growth in time spent online. Rapid consumer adoption is creating opportunities and requirements for businesses to engage with mobile consumers. Gaining deep insight into mobile search & usage patterns provides the base and starting point of offering your products and services, as well as information satisfying true customer demands.
How to Take Advantage of These Mobile Opportunities
To attract mobile visitors to your website you have to have a number of elements that work together. First is a mobile-friendly optimized website that shows well on mobile devices including phones and tablets. Google has a special mobile-bot that is designed to index mobile websites, being those websites that offer a truly mobile optimized experience – this means that while many of today's website can be viewed on mobile devices, they are not mobile friendly optimized in terms of being able to be viewed easily on a mobile phone without enlarging or scrolling or squinting. Next is to utilize trendy technologies that are hot today such as QR Codes and SMS texted promotions to direct traffic to the website. According to a MSN study 29% of mobile users are open to scanning a mobile code in order to get access to coupons. Finally, is to utilize location centric campaigns such as coupons and other promotions that can be sent to mobile devices and immediately redeemed by consumers on the move.
Mobile is inextricably linked with Social Networks
The MSN study shows that 91% of mobile access is to socialize – this statistic becomes even more important in your website marketing when you consider Google's use of their Google+ social network which now under Google+ Local will have a check-in and reviews capability as a means of ordering search results for both mobile and PC searches. Already over 1/3 of Facebook's users use mobile Facebook to keep in touch with each other. So both from the perspective of SEO and Social Network Marketing, your business Mobile Marketing strategy will become ever more important to execute and execute well.
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how Mobile Marketing Campaigns can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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QR Codes Extend Your Website Marketing
QR stands for "Quick Response" codes and which are also known as "2D" Barcodes, are those square shaped graphic images that can be scanned by smartphones – upon scanning the codes send instructions the phone go to a website, dial a number or other automated function – making these Codes a great user convenience and a great marketing opportunity.
CLOSEUP Agency can provide a QR Code campaign to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
QR Codes are Becoming Increasing Popular
There are now more smartphones than desktop PCs! This means that the QR Code is becoming increasingly popular as a timesaving device that can take a user to a Brand's website, send an opt-in text message or take the user to a data collection form, all as a quick and easy means to market to prospective consumers.
Originally created in Japan to track automobile parts, QR Codes are truly a marketer's dream. They are becoming commonplace on art, billboards, buildings, buses, art, magazines, real estate signs and more - partly because of their ease of use and the explosion in smartphones. Current technologies make scanning the code in realtime quick and easy, allowing the embedded action to be initiated automatically.
Business Branding Opportunities with QR Codes
The way QR codes work is by storing information in a two dimensional image. Certain common images can hold up to 7,089 characters and as QR Codes are fault tolerant, they can be damaged and missing a portion of the code due to damage or wear and still be readable, there exists an opportunity to include graphics or colors into the codes for creative and marketing attention. For instance Brands can place their logos in the QR code. Additionally, since use of QR Codes can be tracked, marketers can be informed of when, where and potentially who uses a QR Code as a means of campaign testing and optimization.
Use QR Codes in conjunction with Your Mobile Website
Since the QR Code user is mobile, using their smartphone to scan and get information, the information they receive whether it be a form, text, video or other, should be in a mobile friendly format to render and show perfectly on a mobile device. What this means in practical terms is that directing a QR code to a regular website will likely have a low ROI due to the need to enlarge, scroll and find information, whereas a Mobile-friendly optimized website could present your marketing message in the best way for the smartphone user. As well mobile friendly websites are designed to download quickly, give the slightly slower speeds of the mobile web and be coded in a manner that user can view animations, images and videos on their devices. QR Code campaigns therefore go hand in hand with mobile-friendly optimized websites and should be used together for maximum benefit and impact.
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how QR Codes can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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Making your Website Mobile Friendly
Optimization for the mobile web does not mean that a website can simply be seen on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, rather that the user experience is configured specifically for mobile devices. This means that your website content can be viewed easily without enlargement, side to side scrolling and that the images and videos are mobile device compatible, so that the mobile user experience is easy, clear and engaging, thus avoiding early departure for a competitor's mobile website.
CLOSEUP Agency can build Mobile Friendly optimized websites to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
Smartphones are Now Outselling desktop PC's so Your Website Must be Mobile
According to a Microsoft Mobile study already in 2011 more than 50% of all "local" searches were done from a mobile device. Just as important is where these searches were done – they found that 86% of mobile users were watching TV while using a mobile phone – the mobile device is convenient and consumer convenience ultimately is a game changer. A Google Mobile study (at http:/google/events/thinkmobile2011/html) similarly found that mobile searches quadrupled in 2011 and that for many items one in seven searches are now from mobile devices. In addition Google mobile statistics showed:
• 1 in 3 mobile searches are local.
• After looking up a local business on their smartphone, 61% of users called the business and 59% visited the business.
• 79% of smartphone users use their smartphones to help with shopping
• 71% of smartphone users that see TV, press or online ads, do a mobile search for more information.
• 79% of large online advertisers still do not have a mobile optimized site.
Current Opportunities for Businesses that go Mobile Friendly
The research shows that while the trend is toward mobile searches on the web, most businesses are behind the trend in not having mobile friendly optimized websites. This means that there is indeed opportunities for first mover businesses to capitalize on this new consumer trend by offering a better mobile experience than available from the competition. In addition, Google announced the existence of a special mobile bot or search indexer in early 2012, that is specifically looking for websites that are mobile optimized to include in its search rankings. By being mobile optimized your business can look toward more favourable treatment by the world's largest search engine – a win-win for the business, consumers and search engines.
Going Mobile can be Easy by using Existing Website Content
It's possible to simply repurpose your existing website content for optimal mobile consumption if the website is built on a CMS (content management system), else a separate mobile website may be required. In either case you want to make sure that the most important elements of your website including mobile capable data collection forms, coupons that are mobile capable and telephone numbers that can simply be clicked to call, in order that the consumer can take immediate action while on the go upon visiting your mobile website.
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how Mobile Website Optimization can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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PR & Press Releases can have A Big Impact
A tried and true means of getting the message out to media outlets and connections is through a Press Release, which also today doubles as web based content that can often by searched and indexed by the major Search Engines for a twofold benefit.
CLOSEUP Agency can compile a Press Release to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
Press Releases now include Photo, Videos and Website information
A press release, news release, media release or video release is directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something newsworthy. Usually they are emailed or submitted through a distribution system to assignment editors at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television stations, and/or television networks – can be targeted on a regional, national or vertical basis - for maximum effect. Release distribution websites have changed the way press releases are submitted thereby making news distribution more affordable and offering a level playing field for smaller businesses. These distribution sites are a repository of press releases and also provide for the release to be searchable via major search engines.
Drafting PR to be Noticed and Picked Up
The aim of a press release is to attract favorable media attention and provide publicity for businesses, products, services or events related. The press release must therefore necessarily provide reporters with information containing sufficient basics required to develop a news story. Announcements are commonly the subject of a press release such as scheduled events, promotions, awards, new products or services, accomplishments, etc. In every instance the Press Release must be properly drafted so as to first get the media's attention, and next to provide a sufficient story that the reporter will take it and run with it or make further enquiries as to how the story could be fleshed out.
As the internet has developed, press release writing styles have evolved. Today editors of many media outlets often lack the staff to convert traditional press release prose into more readable, print-ready copy. As a result Press Releases must therefore be written as finished articles which deliver more than just the bare facts. A stylish, journalistic format coupled with a provocative storyline containing notable quotes can help to ensure wider distribution.
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how Press Releases can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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Making Impactful Business Sales Presentation
The quality of a Sales Presentation often determines whether a prospect buys from You or Your competitions. Unfortunately most presentations lack the excitement and clarity of a Call to Action sufficient to motivate consumers to make buying decisions. You want a presentation that will help you motivate buyers.
CLOSEUP Agency can build a digital Sales Presentation to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
What CLOSEUP Agency can do for Your Business Presentations
First, We make a Presentation Relevant … to your target consumer. This may require more than one presentation since the discussion of your product or service must be adapted to each type of customer you are seeking to attract and sell to – portions of the Presentation will be consistent throughout - but it will be modified to include specific points that are unique to particular customers describing how the key slides relate to their situation and show exactly how your product or service solves their specific problem.
Second, We Create a Connection between your product/service and the consumer. We focus on the benefits of your products and services, not the features. The presentation is about telling customers what they will get by using your product or service versus your competitors within the context of their specific problem.
Third, We Get to Your Point. Today's consumers are far too accustomed to tuning out to long-winded presentations. We showcase your key points are and make them quickly for highest engagement and recall.
Fourth, We Are Animated. Boring and unimaginative describe most sales presentations – so if you really want to stand out from the crowd you musty demonstrate enthusiasm and energy in the presentation.
Fifth, We Use Showmanship. Consider the impact of the showing how something will happen approach compared to the typical approach of saying something like, "We can help make it happen." This is the key difference in incorporating some form of showmanship into your presentation.
We use the Steve Jobs Presentation Philosophy
Make Impactful Presentations, Make it about the Consumer and Make it Short – these are the essences of crafting a presentation that sells and was one of the hallmarks of that great presenter Steve Jobs. He suggested turning case studies into stories that your customers can associate with, and relate to as he said in his first short story, "You can only connect the dots by looking back."
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how a digital Sales Presentation can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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Photos & Videoshoots add impact to Your Business
There is shift to visual storytelling in today's digital marketing campaigns which is consistent with how various social media channels encourage engagement (see Facebook's Timeline). This paradigm shift presents new opportunities and challenges for marketers. Pictures and videos are attracting attention, being able to express emotions or ideas and consumers find it easier and quicker to identify with them. Accordingly you need pictures and videos that create a cohesive consumer experience and encourage a deeper relationship with your business.
CLOSEUP Agency can arrange Photo and Video Shoots to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
Photos Generate 200% Higher Interaction Rate Takeaways
A recent study on Facebook interaction determined that photos have the highest interaction rate. Photos, and closely followed by videos, generate the highest interaction rate as they draw a consumer in visually, are easily digestible and can elicit an emotional response quickly. Using photos and videos can therefore easily increase interaction rates with your consumers.
Using Photos and Videos to Encourage Trust and One-on-One Messages
By someone seeing themselves, whether by existing or desired characteristic, in an image or video on your site, you have taken that first step in cognitive association that reduces the perceived risk a consumer has in dealing with you. In this sense, if what they see is images containing people like them enjoying or taking part in your products and services, on a very fundamental level there will be an enhanced level of comfort very similar to that encouraged by Social Proof. Images should be utilized then not only to showcase your products and services, where truly one image can often been worth a thousand words of text, but also as an associative device to convince consumers to trust and engage with your business.
Videos add to the consumer experience by involving animation that can truly focus a consumer's attention like no other medium. It's almost like a one on one experience where the video can act as a business' spokesperson or sales person in communicating the business message, Call to Action and unique selling propositions directly to a consumer.
Adding Value to the Consumer Experience through Images and Video
Often consumers are not immediately ready to buy and are simply looking for businesses that offer what they will eventually need or what they eventually want to purchase. Images and video are invaluable in this situation in making your business appear authoritative and the go to expert for future buying decisions. Whether you use "How To" or explanation videos and pictures, you are saying to the consumer visiting your website or seeing your presentation, that you know what you are doing, are capable of being transparent about it and with a Call to Action embedded in the image or video, encouraging the consumer to take the next step to call, get information or purchase from you.
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how Photo and Video Shoots can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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Increasing Your Website Traffic
Your website should not be looked at as simply living by itself, rather it should be viewed as the centre piece of a web based solar system. What this means is that having a website without a Web Strategy designed to Increase Website Traffic means that your website will have few if any visitors.
CLOSEUP Agency increases Website Traffic to Increase Your Business in Cambridge, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, Woodstock, Windsor, Hamilton and Niagara areas.
Increasing Website Traffic Starts with Choice of Web Technologies and a Story
When you realize that the web is actually made up of many different traffic channels such as search engines, directory links, banner advertising, social media referrals, social bookmarkting, and more, then it becomes clear that directing traffic to a website requires a plan to attract this traffic. Even if only search engine traffic is to be used, how the website and its constituent parts of images, content, meta-descriptions and more have to be treated, are all considerations when putting together your business web strategy – in choosing what we refer to as appropriate web technologies.
However, the web is often looked at as only a matter of web technology, and while there should be a fundamental digital architecture that forms the basis of being searchable and linkable, the technologies must be designed to do what the web is really about - that is telling a Digital Story. Stories have been passed down through the ages, whether by word of mouth or in print, and have educated us, convinced us and caused us to take action. This concept of Digital Storytelling applies even more so now - it's the stories, the experiences, and the ability to engage that presents the true promise of digital – especially when the world's greatest search engines are focusing their efforts on ranking websites with the most compelling, up to date and popular stories.
Your Web Strategy will then show You how to increase Your Website Traffic
Story telling in ways to educate, convince and cause consumers to take action through engaging content, social media referrals and channels that connect to target markets, are some key elements of what will become your Web Strategy, which among other things should take into account the following aspects of effective web marketing:
#1 - Having a Digital Presence in the Channels utilized by target markets
#2 - Engaging those Channel Members in such a way as to Educate, Convince and Take Action
#3 - Using Digital Delivery methods that offer value to target markets and in turn allow you to track engagements, ROI, and remarket on a permission basis.
To accomplish these goals you need creative concepts and design direction - that in turn is supported by copywriting, content development, and rich media design and development – all part of a cohesive Web Strategy. In this way you will develop content that builds an emotional and meaningful connection with audiences, a cohesiveness Brand message across channels, and increased Digital Traffic to your business and value proposition.
Contact CLOSEUP Agency to see how to craft a Web Strategy to increase Website Traffic that can Increase Your Business - Call CLOSEUP Agency at (226) 444-9718
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Linking Strategies & Campaigns
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Our Location
1379 West River Road
Cambridge, ON, CANADA N1R 5S5
Hours of Operation:
Mon. to Fri. 9am to 5pm
Saturdays 10am to 12am
Telephone:
(226) 444-9718