One common thing I have noticed from small businesses is many of them rely purely on word of mouth.

Word of mouth is probably one of the best forms of getting customers because it’s inexpensive and can generate extremely high quality leads.

But if you only rely on word of mouth you’re playing on easy mode, for these same reasons. We’re all amazing at sales when we’re selling to our mom’s best friend and we can all close consistent deals when we have consistent referrals coming in.

I think many in this situation don’t realize that they are playing on easy mode. Getting leads from outside your network is much harder, you may have to do outreach, follow up multiple times and prove to the person they can trust you.

You will deal with rude prospects and time wasters that had no intention of working with you at all. You will have to spend many hours on outreach and invest back your profits into advertising and marketing. Sales and marketing will be a fulltime job for you or someone you hire on your team.

You will have to improve your sales process to deal with the tougher prospects, and maybe even your product offering. Only businesses that have perfected all the stages of their funnel will be able to succeed here.

Most business owners relying on word of mouth will never try playing on hard mode, because they are too used to getting leads for free. They are not ready to invest in marketing and advertising as it’s a big commitment with no guarantee of return. But if you can figure out how to play on hard mode, and hire the right people to make the process scalable you will will be able to take your business much further.

So word of mouth can be the best form of marketing since it can generate you high quality leads that can lead to a quick sale. But it can also be a crutch, and the thing holding your business back from being able to scale reliably. Word of mouth combined with a solid sales & marketing strategy is the best option for businesses looking to scale and willing to invest in their future.

Check out this LinkedIn post where I shared an experience related to this with one of my clients:

The post Word of Mouth is the Best & Worst Form of Marketing appeared first on Toronto SEO Expert.

The Power of Local SEO for Real Estate Investors

We discussed the importance of local SEO for real estate investors. Real estate is inherently local, and investors often focus on specific regions. By optimizing content for local SEO, real estate investors can effectively reach their target audience. This involves creating content that not only addresses general topics but also incorporates specific local information, such as neighborhoods and market trends.

Combining Video and Written Content

During the podcast, I emphasized the importance of combining video with written content to enhance online visibility and engage potential customers. By creating educational videos on platforms like YouTube and complementing them with accompanying blog posts, businesses can develop a wide range of authoritative resources. This approach provides comprehensive coverage of a topic, increasing its relevance and expanding its impact on the target audience.

The Importance of Personal Branding and Partnerships

Personal branding and forging valuable partnerships are crucial in SEO efforts. By establishing a strong personal brand and collaborating with others, you can build authority and trust with your audience. This approach helps maximize visibility and credibility with potential investment partners.

Navigating the World of AI in SEO

We also touched on the emerging role of AI in content creation and marketing. AI can be a powerful tool for generating content ideas, structuring articles, and even creating social media posts. However, it’s essential to approach AI-generated content with a critical eye, ensuring accuracy and relevance.

Simple Website Builders for Real Estate Investors

I also highlighted the importance of using simple website builders like Wix or Weebly for real estate investors to create professional-looking websites without unnecessary complexity. A streamlined web presence combined with personalized interactions can maximize visibility and credibility with potential investment partners. Of course for bigger investors or those with more resources looking to get the most of their website partnering with an agency like mine (Nomadic Advertising) to have your website professionaly built is the best option.

Taking Action Over Perfection

One of the key takeaways from the podcast was the importance of taking action over striving for perfection in content creation. By focusing on crafting authoritative content that addresses the specific needs of professionals, businesses can establish themselves as trustworthy sources of information.

Wrapping Up

Local SEO is a powerful tool for real estate investors looking to establish themselves in specific markets. Through targeted content, combining video and written content, building authority with personal branding and partnerships, and leveraging AI for content creation, real estate professionals can significantly enhance their online presence. I want to extend my gratitude to the podcast host for having me and to all of you for your continued support. If you’re interested in learning more about local SEO and how it can benefit you, feel free to reach out. I’m always here to help!

The post Leveraging Local SEO for Real Estate: A Deep Dive into My Recent Podcast Appearance appeared first on Toronto SEO Expert.

The Goldmine of Customer Lifetime Value

One of the critical points I emphasized during the podcast is the importance of understanding the lifetime value of customers. Businesses often get caught up in chasing immediate returns, neglecting the long-term value a customer can bring. By grasping and optimizing customer lifetime value, businesses can make more strategic decisions regarding their marketing investments.

The Dynamic Duo: Website Optimization and CRM

Having a professional website is a great start, but it’s not enough. I discussed the importance of optimizing websites for conversions and the role of Client Relationship Management (CRM) software in tracking customer interactions. CRM systems are invaluable for sending reminder emails, promotions, and monitoring customer spending, which plays a pivotal role in understanding customer lifetime value.

Navigating the Waves of the Digital Landscape

The digital marketing landscape is akin to shifting sands. I talked about how the advent of AI and changes in search engine algorithms require businesses to be adaptable. Knowing where your customers are and how they search for services or products is key. Being able to pivot your strategies in response to these changes can give you a competitive edge.

A Real-Life Success Story: Water Damage Restoration Company

During the podcast, I shared a case study of a water damage restoration company that experienced tremendous growth through a tailored digital marketing strategy. This example showcased the impact of a well-thought-out and executed marketing plan in driving business success.

Wrapping It Up

Being a part of this podcast was an enriching experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my knowledge and insights on digital marketing strategies. Understanding customer lifetime value, optimizing websites, utilizing CRM systems, and staying adaptable are just a few of the many elements that can catapult a business to success.

If you have any questions or would like to dive deeper into any of the topics discussed, don’t hesitate to reach out. And don’t forget to listen to the full podcast!

The post Unveiling the Secrets of Digital Marketing: 3 Insights from a Recent Podcast Interview appeared first on Toronto SEO Expert.

The Beginning of My Digital Marketing Journey

My interest in entrepreneurship began during high school when I dabbled in various projects, such as creating e-commerce stores and gaming websites. However, I struggled to attract customers and gain traction. This led me to explore marketing and work with other companies to grow my skill set. As I honed my marketing abilities, I became confident that I could successfully generate customers and revenue for any business I started.

Finding My Niche in SEO

My initial focus was on SEO due to its potential for generating traffic and business with minimal upfront capital. As a freelancer, I scoured the internet for SEO knowledge and began working with different companies. This experience allowed me to identify what worked and what didn’t, and I eventually landed a full-time marketing role in a company.

Learning from Others and Filling Knowledge Gaps

While working with this company, I collaborated with another consultant who helped me fill the gaps in my SEO knowledge. We shared our respective expertise, and I realized that I had valuable knowledge that many others lacked. The success I brought to the company through my SEO work boosted my confidence and propelled me further into the digital marketing world.

Persuading Businesses to See the Value of SEO

Initially, I struggled to convince business owners of the importance of SEO and its potential to bring more customers to their businesses. However, I eventually changed my messaging and focused on addressing their pain points, emphasizing that the goal of SEO was to generate more business rather than simply ranking high on Google. This approach resonated with clients who were not familiar with SEO, leading to fruitful collaborations and business growth.

Transition from Local SEO to Bigger Clients and a Customized Approach

In the early days of my career, I focused on local SEO, working with small businesses in Toronto. As I grew in my career, I began working with larger, nationwide companies, including publicly traded ones. However, my agency still caters to small and medium-sized localized businesses, providing tailored and customized services to clients from various industries.

Adapting to the Changes in the Internet and the Impact of AI on SEO

The internet is changing rapidly, especially with recent developments in AI and chat GPT. I view these changes as opportunities rather than threats. I believe AI will not replace human content creators, but rather help them become more productive and efficient. While AI-generated content can be useful, it is essential to have a human behind the process, ensuring the content’s quality and relevance. My agency has been cautious about adopting AI-generated content, as we value the quality of human-generated content and the potential risks associated with AI-generated content.

Balancing AI-generated Content with Human Creativity and Emotion

The quality of AI-generated content is not always up to par with human-created content. AI-generated content often lacks personality and emotion, which are crucial elements in creating engaging content. I believe that creating unique content with a human touch, backed by research and data, will result in higher-quality content compared to AI-generated content. The key is to find a balance between leveraging AI to improve productivity and maintaining a human touch in the content.

Reflecting on Eight Years in the SEO Industry

I have been in the SEO industry since 2014, starting with local SEO and transitioning to larger clients and a more customized approach. Over the years, I have continuously adapted to the changes in the internet landscape and the impact of AI on the industry. By maintaining a focus on human creativity and emotion, I aim to provide high-quality content and services to my clients.

Common Challenges Clients Face When Going Online

When most clients come to us, they’ve successfully built their business through word of mouth, referrals, and leveraging their own network. While these methods are powerful, they can be inconsistent in generating leads and business. Clients often struggle with content creation, both for Google and SEO, as well as on the social media side of things. Many clients simply don’t have the time to create and maintain content while running their business, so we step in to help with content creation and management.

The Future of My Agency and Plans for Expansion

We’re always looking to grow and expand our agency, but currently, we’re focused on growing our customer base and working with more innovative companies. We believe that partnering with innovative companies is not only more enjoyable but also allows us to be a part of their innovation. For example, we’ve recently started working more with companies in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector, which is an industry that has a lot of potential for growth. We aim to build partnerships in spaces where we believe there’s going to be tremendous growth, and we want to help make that growth happen.

Embracing Innovation and Collaborating with Unique Companies

Our company’s mission is to work with innovative companies that might not otherwise be found online if they don’t partner with an agency like ours. We enjoy working with companies that offer unique products and services, as it’s more fun to market them and help them grow. We also get to be a part of their innovation, making our work even more fulfilling.

My podcast feature provided a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my journey as a digital marketing expert and share valuable insights about SEO and marketing strategies. If you would like to listen to the full interview, I have embedded it into the top of this post. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to learn more about how digital marketing can help your business thrive.

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As the founder of Nomadic Advertising, a digital marketing agency, I was recently invited as a guest on a podcast where I shared my insights and experiences related to various topics in the digital marketing realm. One of the topics we discussed in-depth was the versatile and widely used CMS platform, WordPress. I spoke on the reasons why WordPress is a favored platform by many of our clients, which includes its flexibility, risk mitigation, and its self-hosted nature. The platform provides clients with the freedom to make any changes to their website’s code without restrictions. Additionally, it is the most widely used CMS platform on the internet and has budget-friendly options. However, I also acknowledge that other platforms like Wix and Squarespace have their use cases in the digital marketing space, especially for individuals who are not web developers and have limited capital.

We then transitioned to a more complex topic of blockchain and fintech industries and how companies can effectively market themselves in such industries. I pointed out that these industries have unique vocabularies that can be difficult for people to comprehend, and ad platforms like Google and Facebook are often reluctant to accept advertisements from companies in these industries due to bad actors, making marketing a challenging feat. To overcome these challenges, I recommended that companies in these industries focus on organic marketing channels such as search engine optimization (SEO) and create educational content to help users understand their industry. By focusing on organic channels, companies can avoid concerns regarding ad accounts getting disapproved or shutdown. Through organic content, companies can build a community, generate organic traffic and position themselves as an authority in the space. As many companies, including major players like FTX and Celsius, are imploding, the time is right for new companies to establish themselves as authorities in the space. Thus, in a nutshell, my recommendation for any company in a highly technical space with a lot of confusion is to create content-driven marketing, build a community, and become an authority in the space.

As an experienced entrepreneur, I also shared valuable tips with the audience during the podcast. One of the tips I shared was the importance of developing a unique approach instead of copying competitors. I related my experience of going door-to-door to sell my services and failing to make a single sale. Instead, I had to discover my own approach to grow my business.

Another critical tip I shared was the importance of prioritizing sales, as no business can exist without them. While my background is technical, and I initially focused on having the best SEO and technical components, I soon realized that sales should come first. I advised listeners not to expect any marketing hack to grow their business and to be relentless in their efforts to make sales.

While some may disagree with my approach of not focusing on one industry and instead working with clients from various industries, I emphasized the importance of doing what works for oneself. I also acknowledged that what may work for one person may not work for another.

Overall, the podcast provided an excellent opportunity for me to share my insights and experiences with the audience. I hope it will be helpful to those looking to improve their digital marketing strategies. I encourage everyone to listen to the full podcast and learn how to apply the tips and strategies discussed to their business.

The post WordPress, Blockchain Marketing & More appeared first on Toronto SEO Expert.

Nearly every business has some sort of social media presence these days but not all businesses have a social media strategy. If you want your social media presence to work for your business, you need to create a strategy. A good social media strategy starts with understanding your goals and objectives. Once you know what you want to achieve, you can start developing a plan of action. With the right social media strategy, you can build a strong presence, increase your brand awareness, engage customers and grow your business.

Why have a social media strategy?

When it comes to social media, businesses often fall into one of two categories: those that have a social media strategy and those that don’t. If you’re in the latter category, then it’s time to change that. Here are four reasons why you need a social media strategy:

1. To stay relevant. In today’s world, if your business isn’t online, it might as well not exist. Social media is one of the best ways to reach out to your target audience and stay relevant.

2. To create a connection with customers. Social media provides businesses with a way to connect with their customers on a more personal level. This can help build loyalty and trust between the customer and the business.

3. To differentiate yourself from the competition.

4. To build your brand. Social media is the perfect way to create a personal brand for your business and show customers that you’re a person, not just a faceless corporation.

Know your audience: Who are you trying to reach?

One of the great things about social media is that it provides businesses with the ability to target their audience more accurately than ever before. In order to take advantage of this capability, it’s important to first understand who your target audience is. 

Start by creating a buyer persona, which is a representation of your average customer. This can be done by mining data from your current customer base or performing online surveys. Once you have a good idea of who your target audience is, you can start targeting them on social media by using relevant keywords and hashtags, tailoring your posts to fit their interests, and paying attention to the platforms they use most often. 

Another way to target your audience on social media is by using Facebook Ads. With Facebook Ads, you can laser-focus your ads on specific demographics, interests, and even behaviors.

Goals: What do you want to achieve?

The first step to setting social media goals is to determine your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your social media posts? Once you know who you’re trying to reach, you can start figuring out what kinds of posts will resonate with them. 

Keep in mind that not every social media platform is right for every business. You may find that Instagram or Snapchat are a better fit for your company than Facebook or Twitter. Figure out which platforms work best for you and focus your efforts there. 

Your social media goals should be realistic and achievable. Shooting for 10,000 new followers in a month is probably unrealistic, but gaining 100 new followers is more achievable. Make sure your goals are measurable so you can track your progress and see how well you’re doing. 

Finally, make sure your goals align with your overall business goals. If you get to the end of a year and realize that you had no tangible impact in your business, then the time you spent will be wasted. In summary, make sure that you have clear forecasts and goals. Stick with them at all costs.

Platforms: Which platforms work best for you?

There are so many social media platforms to choose from when promoting your business. Which one is right for you? It depends on your target audience.

Facebook is great for businesses targeting a general audience. The platform has over 2 billion active users and offers a variety of ways to reach your target market, including paid advertising.

LinkedIn is ideal for businesses targeting professionals. The platform has over 500 million users and offers features like groups and sponsored content that can help you reach your target market.

Twitter is perfect for businesses targeting consumers who are looking for real-time information. The platform has 330 million active users and allows you to share short videos and images, as well as links to your website or blog.

Pinterest is perfect for businesses targeting women. The platform has over 60 million users and allows you to create boards with images, videos, and links that can help you reach your target market.

Instagram is ideal for businesses targeting consumers who are interested in digital lifestyle brands. Instagram also has a large number of active users with a high level of engagement. The most successful Instagrammers often have dedicated fan bases that create communities around their own unique interests and style.

Content: What type of content will you produce?

When creating content for a business social media page, it’s important to consider your target audience. What type of information will interest them and help you achieve your marketing goals? Producing engaging, informative, and entertaining posts will help you keep your followers engaged and interested in what you have to say. Think about the types of things your customers would want to know about – new products, services, sales and discounts, company news and events, etc. Be sure to mix things up regularly, so followers don’t get bored – include photos, videos, infographics, polls, and other interactive content. By producing high-quality content that resonates with your target audience, you’ll be able to strengthen relationships with current customers and attract new ones.

Frequency: How often will you post?

There is no one answer to this question as the best frequency for posting on social media pages varies depending on the business and what it is trying to achieve. However, as a general guideline, posting somewhere between once a day and once a week is often most effective.

Some businesses find that they need to post more often in order to stay top-of-mind with their followers, while others find that they can get away with less frequent posts and still see good results. It’s important to experiment a little bit and see what works best for your company.

But whatever you do, don’t neglect your social media pages altogether – consistency is key!

Tools: What tools will help you achieve your goals?

There are many different tools that you can use for your social media business account. It is important to find the right tool for your business and your customers. Some popular social media tools include Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Buffer. 

Each of these tools has different features that can help you manage your social media account. Hootsuite allows you to schedule posts, track mentions, and analyze your social media traffic. Sprout Social also allows you to schedule posts and track mentions, but it also offers a suite of other tools like engagement tracking and team collaboration. Buffer is a simple tool that lets you create queues of content and then share them at pre-determined times. 

The best tool for your business will depend on your needs and the needs of your customers. Try out a few different tools to see what works best for you.

Conclusion: Wrapping it up

In conclusion, there are a few key things to keep in mind when creating a social media strategy for your business. First, make sure you are clear on your goals and what you want to achieve. Next, tailor your strategy to fit your audience and their needs. Finally, be consistent with your messaging and always keep your audience in mind. By following these tips, you can create a social media strategy that works for your business and helps you achieve your goals.

The post How to create a social media strategy that works for your business appeared first on Toronto SEO Expert.

A lot of people want to start a business but are unsure if it’s the right route for them or even where to start. With the pandemic effecting so many businesses people feel more uncertain than ever about making bold moves such as starting a business. The truth is starting a business has a lot of steps involved but if you are passionate about it and committed than anybody can do it. The earlier you start the quicker you will make progress and you want to be ready for when the market turns around, those that prepare when the economy is at it’s low point will be ready when it’s at it’s height again. When starting a business there is no education requirement and registering a business in many places is very easy and doesn’t cost much other than your time and commitment so you have no excuse to not start today.

There are a lot of different types of businesses that you can start and in the beginning your likely going to have to play a few different roles and wear multiple hats in order to succeed. Do your research and have a go to market plan in mind, get ideas from competitors and try to understand what they’ve done to succeed so you know what to expect.

I own a digital marketing agency called Nomadic Advertising and the process of starting it was not easy but it goes to show that it’s possible to build a thriving business from nothing. I have a few employees now which makes the multiple hats a bit easier to balance but I still have to be pretty actively involved in all aspects of the business. In my experience I would only suggest this path to people that are really passionate about it as you’re going to have to suffer for a bit, probably at least 2 years before things start to get easier. There’s also a huge failure rate as most people won’t make it past the two year mark. Totally worth it in my opinion though.

Some tips based on my experience:

• I bootstrapped my business, if you’re doing the same go for a proven business model, don’t invent something new until you have more capital
  
• Focus on sales, without sales you don’t have a business, you will likely have to try many methods to get sales when you first start
  
• Provide your services at a discounted price when your first starting if you have to but don’t advertise yourself as a discount brand or you will be stuck competing on price, don’t do free work
  
• Try and build recurring services in your business model so you can more comfortably predict future revenue
  
• Stick to one idea, don’t switch around, if you are building your business based on a proven business model you already know it can work you just need to stay committed to it and work on it every single day, staying consistent for a long period of time is required.

Hope you got some value from this post and my tips, let me know if you’d like to hear more advice!

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