Mediaboss Marketing

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Many businesses are already leveraging artificial intelligence technologies to help them advance and make more data-driven decisions. It has become easier than ever to access the data you need to target your audience more effectively and improve your marketing strategy.

If you're a business owner selling digital marketing services or someone who avails of such services, chances are you've come across challenges in trying to stay ahead of your competition. The industry is becoming more and more competitive, and businesses are looking for ways to set themselves apart.

Digital marketing is a fast-paced and ever-changing industry. To stay ahead of the curve, you need to be able to quickly adapt to changes in search algorithms, consumer behavior and the overall landscape. And on top of that, you need to be able to achieve your desired results without breaking the bank.

Here are five essential features to include in the digital marketing strategy that will help you stay ahead of the competition.

Related: How AI Is Changing Corporate Decision Making

Digital marketing campaigns today require split-second decision-making and the ability to pivot quickly. Since these campaigns generate a large amount of data, you need to be able to analyze it in real-time and identify patterns or trends. This way, you can make the necessary adjustments to your campaign on the fly and improve your results.

This is where AI comes in. Using AI-powered marketing tools, you can automatically collect and analyze data from all your digital channels. This will help you save a lot of time and make better decisions about your marketing campaigns.

Working with a digital marketing agency can be a great way to get expert help with your marketing campaigns. However, you should still have control over the direction of your campaign. After all, it's your business and you know it best.

Marketing campaigns involving search engine optimization (SEO) are complicated and require a lot of time and effort to execute. That's why most agencies do not give their clients full control over their SEO strategy. At times, this can result in campaigns that are not aligned with the business goals.

If you're working with an agency, make sure you're involved in the planning and execution of your SEO strategy. Or even better if they give you the tools and resources to control the overall SEO strategy.

For instance, SEO agencies can allow you to set a focus for your SEO campaigns based on specific keyword groups or regions. This way, you can make sure that efforts are being channeled in the right direction and that you're not wasting time or resources.

Related: Artificial Intelligence Can Help Leaders Make Better Decisions Faster

Lead generation is no easy feat. It's a time-consuming and often frustrating process. But, it's essential for any business that wants to grow. The good news is there are tons of tools and services out there that can help you generate leads, but only a few can do it effectively.

Generally, lead generation tools work by scraping the internet for contact information. But, most of these tools are not very accurate and they often return a lot of false positives. This means that you end up wasting a lot of time sifting through leads that are not relevant to your business.

A good marketing strategy should include a lead generation tool that's accurate and targeted. It should be able to generate leads based on specific keywords or locations. This way, you can be sure that the leads you're getting are relevant and that you're not wasting your time.

It's not enough to just generate leads, you also need to be able to convert them into customers. And, to do that, you need to have a sales process in place. A good sales process should be able to target the right leads, engage them and then close the deal.

The best sales processes are those that are automated. This is where a sales prospecting tool comes in handy. It helps you simplify the process of engaging with leads and then converting them into customers.

A good sales prospecting tool will allow you to manage your leads, track their engagement and finally convert them into customers. It will also help you to scale your sales process so that you can close more deals and grow your business.

Related: 5 Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Radically Transforming Creativity in Business

Sales assets and training are essential for any business that wants to grow. Without them, you will not be able to effectively sell your products or services.

Small businesses, in particular, often have a hard time generating leads and closing deals because they don't have the necessary sales assets. These include things like case studies, proposal templates, email drip campaigns and so on.

Fortunately, there are plenty of resources out there that can help you create these sales assets. You can create a library of sales assets on your dashboard and allow your clients to access it whenever they need it. This way, they can close deals faster and more effectively.

Surviving in today's competitive business landscape is not easy. But, with the right tools and features in place, you can set your business up for success. The five features mentioned above are just some of the things that you should have on your marketing dashboard. If you're not already using them, now is the time to start.

Link:
Invest in These 5 Technologies to Redefine Your Marketing Efforts - Entrepreneur

We need more casinos in New York State. It's always fun to go to the casino. Whether you are a very serious gambler or a casual visitor that only likes to go on special occasions the casino always creates so many memories.

There are about 6 casinos in Western New York, but it would be fun if we had more options.If you are looking for a road trip, there are certainly some other options throughout New York State. Here are all of the casinos in New York State.

If you love going to the casino from time to time, where is the closest casino to Buffalo? What are other casinos close to Buffalo? They might not be close, but here are ALL of the casinos in New York State and Southern Canada.

The list is in order from closest to Buffalo to furthest.

How Much Was New York Minimum Wage When You Started Working?

READ MORE: See 50 remote jobs that can pay well

Read the rest here:
All of the 20 Major Casinos in New York State - wyrk.com

According to new research, Wyoming has the worst broadband coverage in America, and neighboring states Idaho and Montana are not much better.

Experts at Uswitch analyzed all 50 states and found that Wyoming has the most internet blackspots, with 10.28% of the states population not having access to ADSL, cable, or fibre connections.

Idaho and Montana ranked as the second and fourth worst for coverage, with population blackout percentages of 8.64% and 6.83%, respectively.

Wyoming also has the third slowest broadband in the U.S. behind Idaho and New Mexico, with speeds reaching an average of 20.31 megabits per second,

Deleware has the fastest download speed,with speeds reaching an average of 59.48 Mbps.

For the full study, visit: https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/studies/the-us-broadband-index/

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READ MORE: See 50 remote jobs that can pay well

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KEEP READING: See notable new words that were coined the year you were born

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Wyoming Has the Worst Broadband Coverage in America, Study Says - Kgab

Hello, my fellow search industry friends.

I hope this article can help distract you for a few minutes and give you some respite while reminding you that not all elements of your search engine marketing (SEM) accounts are the same and thus need different measurements.

For those that watch, follow, and/or troll my Twitter account, youve seen me on #ppcchat bashing things like Pmax, Auto-Apply Recommendations, and Google Analytics 4 (GA4).

(Thats in addition to my usual rants about the New York Jets and social commentary on the Real Housewives franchises.)

But after 17+ years in the SEM industry, I can no longer be silent about a topic that has been bugging me for a long time: being able to identify reputable SEM marketers vs. the dime-a-dozen hacks that also exist.

Full disclosure: I am not a guru (I truly hate that term), nor am I the best thing since sliced bread in the SEM industry.

But Ive been around long enough to identify what it takes to build a great SEM team while also identifying those who likely lack the skills and might cause you more pain than they will help you.

But Jon, why should I listen to you?

Well, what makes me qualified to tell you what you should be looking for in an SEM team (or even just an individual) is subjective.

I feel somewhat qualified to provide insight, having worked in search marketing for 65% of the industrys existence (as an independent consultant and at some of the biggest agencies in the world). Ive presented at industry conferences, written articles (like the one youre reading now), and even have some awards (even a trophy, see the 9-year-old one below).

When I first entered the industry as an intern (before I was hired full-time in 2005), the number of agencies across the U.S. doing this type of work (and publicizing it) was fewer than 50.

In 2022, in the small Connecticut city where I live, there are at least eight agencies, multiple in-house operations, and more than a dozen freelancers/consultants.

So, the demand has risen, as have the skillsets. And with it, so has the number of operations/folks in the industry doing the bare minimum (or even less).

Depending on your situation, there are several variables here. Typically, you go one of three routes (there are other types as well, but much rarer), with overlap and differences between them.

Once you identify which of the three you are hiring for, you must decide what level of experience you need (in years, not trial by fire experience, though that should also be taken into account).

Typically fresh out of school/college, no experience within the industry.

Important: If youre looking for a freelancer or consultant, never hire someone at this level.

Only tap into these if youre building an in-house team or building up your agency team.

Some experience, usually under two years of hands-on work. This is likely their second or third gig since getting into the industry.

Disclaimer: I dont recommend folks hiring freelancers with such little experience. That said, there are occasionally some needles in the haystack, but they are rare.

Once again, I only recommend hiring this level if youre building an in-house team or building up your agency team.

This usually represents a wide range of experience anywhere from 2-10 years with the majority of it being hands-on.

Note: These are often good hires regardless of what operation you are in, and typically, they have the most hands-on experience at this point in their career.

This label often gets applied to individuals in the space for 8+ years. Most of their career to this point is hands-on, but they often give great strategy recommendations as well.

Note: A great hire for any operation, but truly prime for freelancers/consultants.

Truly the saltiest bunch in the space. Id say this typically starts at 12+ years in the industry, and these folks have seen some things.

Note: Great hire for any operation. Likely to be the most expensive freelancers/consultants, but everyone should be able to have some interaction with them.

Once again, this has several variables to it. But here are the things you should know (not applicable for freelancers/consultants):

Having a college degree is nice but not necessary in this day and age.

If you do require a degree, aim for those with one of the following: Marketing, Management, Digital Advertising, Finance, Economics, Data Science, or Math.

Anyone who wants to work with or for you must, at a bare minimum, know how to do a VLookup, Pivot Table, =SUM, =LEN, and Concatenate. Conditional formatting is a plus.

If youre an agency or in-house, and they cant do these, then they likely arent for you.

For anyone looking to build up their skills, I recommend looking into Maven Analytics: great analytics and Excel education operation run by an Excel wizard named Chris Dutton.

This sounds unrelated and weird, but if you cant correctly budget a checkbook, then you cant properly pace an ad budget.

You may only hire them for SEM, but they should be able to think about how it impacts and is impacted by other media and analytics and how that insight can be helpful to one another.

Someone who shows they are adept at note-taking and/or project management.

Having someone confident is great, but having someone with an ego will create problems for you.

They are free to obtain, and someone showing they have at least the search certificate from Google and Bing (I still refuse to call it Microsoft) is great.

It already helps reduce liability for you, as it shows theyve taken the basic training at the very least.

Paid social and self-serve programmatic are very similar to SEM; if someone knows these, they often make good skillset hires.

Part of it really depends on your business size and type, but here is some solid guidance: Make sure the team/individuals working on your business have up-to-date certifications in search at least (analytics, video, display, and Facebook are also great).

If an agency pushes that they are certified beyond just a note on their website, then buyer beware: these are a you should at the very least have this type of thing, not a selling point.

Freelancers and consultants should have them, but you can be more lenient if they tout them vs. an agency.

Having certifications does not make you the best operation out there, but if an agency or freelancer doesnt have them, it tells you that they have failed to do the bare minimum and their knowledge may be questioned.

If an agency (and occasionally a freelancer) is a Bing Elite or Select Partner and/or a Google Premier Partner (rare to have a Bing one without a Google one), it is a plus.

These operations will have more direct access to dedicated search engine reps and other helpful perks like testing betas.

Single-person consultants and freelancers usually do not qualify for these. It isnt a knock against them, but it is a plus if they do have one.

Consider their onboarding approach. This should be a 30/60/90-day game plan and delivered to you when they pitch you. If they dont have one, then accountability quickly goes out the window,

Check references.

It may seem antiquated, but if youre going to pay a lot of money to an operation to manage your advertising funds, you want to ensure they have current or prior satisfied customers.

Some agencies over the years were just hack operations; those who hired them never checked references and now see no return for their payment.

It should go without saying, but people fall for it: Avoid operations or individuals who promise the world at a low price without logic or justification, or if it sounds too good to be true.

Over the years, more than a few shops have done that, from overpromising and underdelivering to lying and misrepresenting themselves. More than a few have been caught, sued, and/or faced federal charges.

Avoid any operation that is not open about or willing to share its start-up and ongoing QA process.

Things happen in this industry; a reactive and ongoing proactive QA process will save headaches and money. If a shop is not open to sharing theirs, I would steer clear.

This is our SEM QA doc. If you want to see the full one, email/tweet me, and Ill gladly share.

For in-house operations, it ultimately comes down to the level of an individual you want.

For entry-level, the requirements are low. Just make sure they can:

If youre hiring for a level above that, youll want to look for:

The red flags of major avoidance are growing every day.

But where to find them and/or how to identify them gets trickier and will take some of your own homework. Some of these are subjective, but youll get the point:

There are many more, but these are the most common issues I run into within the space.

There are various billing methods today; the three most common are commission, hourly/FTE, and retainer.

Now that Ive legitimately scared you, remember that while there are some complete hacks within this industry, there are also many amazing people.

It is all about researching who you hire rather than blindly saying yes to a price.

And please, make sure they know Excel.

More resources:

Featured Image: fizkes/Shutterstock

Read more here:
Picking The Right SEM Operation: Legits Vs. Hacks - Search Engine Journal

There are many reasons to start a business. Perhaps you want to supplement your income from your job. Or maybe youre simply looking for a way out of working a nine-to-five job. Regardless of the motivation to start your business, there are numerous paths you can take. Nowadays, starting your own business is viable given the various opportunities to make money through online channels.

Due to the growth of technology, e-commerce, and the Internet of Things (IoT), making money online at little to no cost is possible. Most online businesses require minimal capital investment to start. That said, below are some of the business ideas you can start with little or no money;

1. Freelance Graphic Designer

In this age where theres a lot of content creation, graphic designing is a handy skill one can possess. Graphic designing is also necessary for website designing, video editing, and search engine optimization. Therefore, many companies are seeking experienced graphic designers at present.

As a freelancer, you have the flexibility to set your own work schedule and choose the projects you want. However, when starting, youll have to look for clients who need graphic design work actively. And once youve built a solid portfolio, itll become easier to link with new clients.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing programs have become increasingly common nowadays. It is especially true with content creators and influencers. These individuals frequently collaborate with businesses to advertise their products for a commission. The affiliate will get a commission every time they bring a new customer to the company.

So, the affiliate marketing business could be suitable for those with a decent social media following on any of the social media platforms. It will be easier to increase traffic on social media, blogs, or other platforms if you have an excellent social media presence.

Nonetheless, this will be a perfect business for some because its not time-consuming as opposed to other jobs. Instead, its something that could become more profitable over time. Only make sure that you look for good affiliate programs. Different affiliate programs have varying commission structures. Therefore, you must visit the various prospective company websites to learn more about their programs.

3. Consulting

One of the more common businesses to launch nowadays is a consulting firm. It is because you can establish a consultancy firm depending on your area of expertise. For example, you could start your own IT consultancy company online if you work in the IT industry. You can use your experience to create a brand.

But, even if you arent relying on experience, you could still take a course and learn how to be a consultant. For example, you could take a social media course and use that knowledge to start your social media consulting business.

However, finding an audience or clients could be tricky with consulting businesses. But with time, you should be able to get a decent clientele once you build a solid resume.

4. Tutoring and Training

You could make money through online tutoring or virtual training programs if youre passionate about something or know something inside out like yoga, cooking, or mathematics.

Tutoring can be fulfilling since youll get satisfaction from the fact that youre doing something you enjoy while helping other people. Its not just about making money but also helping your clients build a skill for their goals in life.

5. Digital Marketing

If you have experience in marketing, you could consider establishing your own digital marketing agency. Its a great business to start because its low cost, plus youll be able to leverage your experience when building that business. However, if you dont have a background in marketing, you could still take courses to learn about digital marketing. You only have to learn how to use the various digital marketing tools; These are the tools youll use to deliver value to your clients.

6. Resume Writer

This business idea may seem odd to some. But, writing a resume or cover letter isnt as easy as you think. Thats why people hire experts to write professional resumes for them. So you could make some decent money from this business idea. The great thing about this business is that its very economical. You may need to take a few courses to polish up your skills. Also, remember that templates are your best friend.

7. Translation Service

You can find some translation jobs if youre fluent in a second or third language. Remember, not everyone has English as their first language. So, when they visit different destinations, theyll need translators.

Translation service is a very low-cost business to start. However, youll have to market yourself to increase visibility, preferably through online channels. You can advertise yourself to firms, hospitals, and conference centers.

Conclusion

There are several businesses that you can start with little or no money. Technological advancement makes it possible to establish online businesses with low costs. Gone are the days when you needed significant capital to launch a business. Nowadays, people have options. The ones mentioned above are just a few of them.

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7 Business Ideas You Can Start With Little To No Money - Baltic Times