by Marly Broudie | Mar 3, 2023 | SocialEyes
Whether you’ve heard about Artificial Intelligence or not, this is a hot topic in the digital marketing space and for good reason. This technology has the power to take everything we know about digital marketing to the next level, and you do not want to miss out on what it can do for your business.
Keep reading to learn what AI is and how it will change the future of your digital marketing.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Simply put, Artificial Intelligence is the use of science and technology to solve problems. Through the use of algorithms, machine learning, and deep learning, AI creates systems to predict and solve problems humans regularly encounter when using technology.
Some examples of AI that are already in use are:
- The facial recognition feature on your smart phone that allows you to log in to your phone by letting the phone’s camera scan your face.
- The autocorrect function when you are typing documents and emails.
- The chatbots used on business websites that provide answers to commonly asked questions.
In digital marketing, AI has already made an impact on how we market and how customers engage with brands online.
How is AI Used in Digital Marketing?
You may have heard of the recently launched ChatGPT tool and how transformational this tool and others like it will be in every industry. In digital marketing specifically, AI will have endless applications. Here are some of the most exciting uses of AI to look forward to.
- Social Media Content Creation
Manually creating your social media posts and captions takes way more time than any business owner expects. For such short pieces of copy, your social posts have immense power over the growth of your client base and client acquisition.
Luckily, thanks to AI, these tools will create effective social media captions that not only nail your brand voice, but also drive results.
AI tools for social content creation will automatically assess the analytics of a social profile and the efficacy of its posts. From there, it will generate new posts based on what has worked best in the past. It can also automatically detect when a post will violate community guidelines to avoid the content being reported.
- Email Marketing Content Creation
Do you have an email marketing campaign? Does it work?
AI tools will create highly personalized and unique emails making up a funnel to your offer. Not only will it create impactful email subject lines based on data from existing email marketing campaigns, but it will also craft the body of the email to be personal to the receiver.
These tools will automatically schedule your emails for the most optimal time, clean up your email contacts list, and even create copy for email templates that are sent to mass portions of your list.
- Improved Digital Ads
The digital advertising space is highly competitive and strategic. Unless you are a professional digital ad manager, you likely don’t have the time to create effective ads, track their data, monitor their success, A/B test your ads, or pivot your ad strategy.
Artificial intelligence is an amazing aid to those tasks.
These tools will do all the market research on customer behavior and interaction with digital ads for you. It will create headlines and copy based on that research, all while using your specific brand tone and voice.
Are You Interested in Bringing Your Digital Marketing Into the Future?
We are constantly on the pulse of innovations and changes in the digital marketing agency, especially when it comes to AI. If you need help marketing your business with the newest and most effective strategies, contact us today.
by Marly Broudie | Mar 3, 2023 | SocialEyes
Omnichannel marketing researches, monitors, and optimizes the entire client journey with your brand. It encompasses the various touchpoints clients encounter from your business, how they interact with them, and how they experience your brand.
For example, suppose you have a law firm that has both a physical location and a website. In that case, omnichannel marketing optimizes how potential clients interact with the physical brand, the online brand, or both.
Your business likely has several marketing channels it uses to garner new clients and close deals. However, by assessing these channels individually, you miss out on how they relate to each other and contribute to the brand’s overall personality and, thus, the overall client experience.
Here, we’ll dive into the benefits of omnichannel marketing and how to incorporate it into your marketing strategy.
The Benefits of Omnichannel Marketing
First, your clients benefit from your use of omnichannel marketing because the focus is truly on them and their experience. Instead of focusing on the separate platforms used for marketing and how to optimize each, you focus on how your clients like to interact with these platforms and what makes them useful for them.
Secondly, your brand becomes more identifiable to clients. Since you implement consistent and cohesive branding elements across every marketing channel, clients can go from channel to channel (for example, from Instagram to your website) and immediately recognize your brand. This is also useful when clients find your business online and then visit your physical location, for example, because the signage on your storefront matches the digital branding assets they’ve already seen online.
Third, omnichannel marketing allows for gathering more precise and targeted data about your client. You are looking at individual channel data and your client’s overall journey data. It allows you to see how they most frequently interact with your social media page, for example, and how that leads to them interacting with your website. You can track their detailed journey through your marketing and sales funnels.
How to Implement Omnichannel Marketing into Your Plan
If you’re ready to start seeing the benefits of omnichannel marketing, there are a few key steps to take first.
- Create Consistent Branding
Every channel you market on should have the same consistent and identifiable branding. This applies to more than just your logo. Everything from the colours used in your PPC ads to the voice and tone of your website copy to the personality of your website chatbot needs to be streamlined. Clients should be able to recognize your brand immediately on different channels.
- Collect and Analyze Data
Consider every channel your brand currently utilizes, both online and in person. Do you use flyers and physical advertisements, or billboards? Do you pay for Google and social media ads, or do you work with social media influencers? List every way a client could see your brand.Next, collect the data from each of those touchpoints. Which gets the most traffic, leading to second and third touchpoints that directly lead to sales? Gathering this information will help inform where to focus your marketing efforts.
- Work with an Experienced Omnichannel Marketing Manager
Whether you own a law firm, a real estate firm, or another client-based business, you are likely far too busy to be monitoring and optimizing your omnichannel marketing. To fully take advantage of this lucrative strategy, working with an expert is best.
Reach Out to Us Today
Our omnichannel marketing experts can take care of all these steps for you. Contact us today to learn how.
by Marly Broudie | Feb 23, 2023 | SocialEyes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the digital marketing landscape by providing marketers with powerful tools to optimize their efforts. There is lots of discussion however, that AI will eventually replace digital marketers and the human work in this field. We strongly believe that AI is simply a tool that helps marketers to enhance their work and to maximize productivity, and instead of being nervous about it, we are embracing it.
Let’s explore how AI is being used and why it cannot replace human work.
AI in Digital Marketing
AI is a powerful tool for digital marketers, allowing them to process vast amounts of data and automate routine tasks. This includes analyzing customer behaviour, optimizing ad campaigns, and even writing copy. One of the most significant benefits of AI is that it can provide marketers with insights that would be impossible for a human to uncover. For example, by analyzing consumer data, AI can identify patterns and trends that can inform digital marketing objectives and strategies.
Why AI Cannot Replace Human Work
While AI has the potential to revolutionize digital marketing, it simply cannot replace human work entirely.
There are several reasons for this:
- Creativity: One of the most significant limitations of AI is that it lacks the creativity that humans possess. While AI can generate content, it cannot come up with creative ideas or concepts that resonate with audiences. This is a critical aspect of digital marketing, where creativity and innovation are often necessary to stand out in a crowded market.
- Emotional Intelligence: Another area where AI falls short is in emotional intelligence. Humans can understand emotions and make connections with consumers in a way that AI cannot. Emotional intelligence is essential in digital marketing, where building relationships with communities and prospects is a key objective.
- Strategic Thinking: While AI can analyze data and identify trends, it lacks the strategic thinking skills that humans possess. Humans can identify patterns and make connections that AI cannot, which is essential in developing effective digital marketing strategies.
- Flexibility and Agility: Another limitation of AI is that it lacks the flexibility to adapt to new situations or unexpected changes. Digital marketing is a constantly evolving landscape, and marketers need to be able to adapt quickly to changes in technology, consumer behavior, and market conditions. This is an area where human work is indispensable.
- Judgment: Finally, AI lacks the judgment and decision-making skills that humans possess. While AI can provide insights and recommendations, it cannot make decisions based on intuition, experience, or common sense. This is a crucial aspect of digital marketing, where quick thinking and decision-making are often necessary.
As a digital marketer, it is essential to understand the capabilities and limitations of AI and to use it as a tool to enhance your work. By working in conjunction with AI, marketers can leverage the best of both worlds – the power of technology and the creativity and ingenuity of humans. In the end, the key to success in digital marketing is not to rely solely on AI but to strike a balance between technology and human expertise.
by Marly Broudie | Jan 19, 2023 | SocialEyes
Branding is an essential aspect of any business, as it helps to establish a company’s identity and distinguish it from the competition. In the constantly evolving world of business, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest branding trends to ensure that your company’s branding efforts are effective and relevant. Every year, new tools, algorithms and trends emerge that can help or hurt your brand. Key trends are based on data that is emerging that is showing us behavioural changes among purchasers. By understanding these key trends, you can potentially apply them to your business and take advantage of that added attention you might receive from consumers. So, what can we expect to see in the world of branding in 2023? Here are a few key trends to keep an eye on:
Personalization will be key.
With the proliferation of data and the increasing use of artificial intelligence, companies will be able to personalize their branding efforts like never before. This will involve customizing marketing materials, messaging, and even products and services to meet the specific needs and preferences of individual customers.
Sustainability will be a top priority.
Consumers are becoming more environmentally and socially conscious, and they expect the companies they do business with to prioritize sustainability as well. Brands that can demonstrate a commitment to sustainability will be well-positioned to win customer loyalty.
Authenticity will be more important than ever.
In an era of fake news and mistrust of institutions, consumers are seeking out brands that they perceive as genuine and authentic. Companies that can demonstrate a commitment to transparency and honesty in their branding efforts will be more likely to win the trust and loyalty of consumers.
Storytelling will continue to be a powerful branding tool.
Companies will continue to use storytelling as a way to connect with consumers on an emotional level and communicate their brand values. This can involve creating compelling narratives around the company’s products, services, and mission.
Omnichannel social media will continue to be a crucial branding platform
Social media platforms will remain an important way for companies to connect with consumers and build their brand. Brands will need to be strategic in their use of social media, creating content that resonates with their target audience and utilizing paid advertising to reach a wider audience. Omnichannel marketing is the name of the game in 2023. Having a good system in place to track and observe all marketing efforts is critical.
Brand partnerships will be increasingly important.
Collaborating with other brands can help companies reach new audiences and add credibility to their branding efforts. Brands will need to be selective in their partnerships, choosing partners that align with their values and have a similar target audience. The world of branding is constantly evolving, and it’s important for companies to stay up-to-date on the latest trends to ensure that their branding efforts are effective and relevant. In 2023, we can expect to see a focus on personalization, sustainability, authenticity, storytelling, omnichannel social media, and brand partnerships. By staying ahead of the curve, companies can set themselves up for success in an increasingly competitive business landscape.
by Marly Broudie | Jan 1, 2023 | SocialEyes
Every year on December 31, I put “pen to paper” and reflect on the year that has passed, and together with Dave, we set new goals for the year ahead. The goal-setting is actually a constant practice we do at SocialEyes, however, it doesn’t feel official until I publish this yearly blog post!
A bit of a recap over the last few years:
- 2019 was a pivotal year with fantastic milestones – we had our new logo designed, launched our website refresh, got new printed collateral, won some great publication features and threw our first ever charity event in support of Sick Kids – something on my bucket list to do again soon!
- 2020 was a year of reflection, change and transformation – 2020 injected new meaning into our business and also our personal lives. Covid shook our world, our businesses and for many of us, our mental health. 2020 was a year of important lessons – both personally and professionally. We learned the importance of resilience, adaptability and understanding.
- 2021 was the year of agility and growth! – We carried over what we learned in 2020 – and really focused on agility, adaptation, company culture and realized our value as a company and brand. We achieved some great strides – growing our team, slowly expanding into the US, winning some great media and PR opportunities, and got together for our first SEC In-Person Summer Picnic (the first time we got together since March of 2020).
Bringing us to 2022 – the year that I will peg as transformative, eye opening and goal-oriented.
Here are a few of our lessons learned and accomplishments in 2022:
- We started off 2022 with an all-team meeting where we delved deep into who we are as an agency, what sets us apart, what clients can expect from us, and what our competitive advantage truly is.
- SocialEyes is a full-service digital marketing agency focusing on building custom and measurable marketing solutions to help our clients thrive and achieve their business goals, offering a boutique customer experience.
By focusing on our customer service and the “boutique experience” that we offer, clients can expect a level of quality service, results-oriented performance and a team that is accessible, empowered, committed, attentive and accountable. We have become our clients’ marketing partner- we are in it with each and every client, always striving for the best results and top-notch service.
Our team lives by these expectations and it is reflected in our partnerships, retention rates and overall feedback.
- Service Expansion
At one time, SocialEyes was a sole social media agency, and over the last couple of years, we have expanded our service offerings and now operate as a full-service digital marketing agency.
We have become a one-stop shop for all things digital, from social, Google Ads, Web Development, Brand Redevelopment, to SEO, Lead Generation, Videography, Business Coaching and Consulting, and as a result, we have landed some clients that rely on us for ALL of their digital marketing endeavours, and we get to see the fruits of our labour when we get to implement an omni-channel digital marketing approach that includes social, Google, website performance, lead generation, etc., to achieve results.
- We expanded our client portfolio as this was the year of true infiltration into the US.
In 2021, we had a few US clients begin their digital marketing journey with us, and 2022 took us to new heights!
We have made some great connections and are now lucky enough to work with various clients in legal, home building, real estate and the professional services realm in various states.
By the end of 2022, we recognized that 20% of our business is now in the US.
- Our team is all over the globe and the talent is endless!
2020 changed the way businesses operate – and from being a sole in-office business with local employees just a few short years ago, we have been able to expand our talent pool by not being limited to GTA employees.
We have team members operating in the GTA, New Brunswick, US and Israel, not to mention that our team is mastering new talents and skillsets, which makes us, as a team, much stronger, our clients happier, and our team members engaged and excited!
- PR and Speaking Events
We had some great strides this year in media mentions, features, speaking engagements and more including but not limited to:
- Marly was included in Top 100 Magazine, Top 40 Under 40
- United Country Real Estate Annual Convention, Keynote Speakers in Destin Florida
- Speaker at the Buzz Conference in Toronto
- Speaker at an EXP Realty Training Session
- Rolled out two Law Society of Ontario Accredited Courses online
- Executed multiple webinars for realtors, lawyers and financial service providers
- Published articles in:
- Los Angeles Wire
- Real Estate Magazine
- US Reporter
- The Lawyer’s Daily
- New York Weekly
- Social Media Examiner
- Newswire Canada
- Masthead
- Ceo.ca
- Yahoo Finance
- Miami Wire
- ….last but not least, the launch of the SEC Academy.
This is a big one and something that has been in the works for a while, and still is for 2023!
As an agency that has always focused on the correlation between digital marketing and business development, consulting, coaching, and training has always been something we wanted to get more into.
For those that are interested in mastering the art of using digital marketing for business growth, we now have solutions through the SEC Academy – courses, webinars, training sessions, customizable group coaching and more!
In 2022, we turned this vision into a realty by formally launching the SEC Academy, which resulted in hosting multiple training sessions for clients and colleagues, rolling out ONLINE MASTER CLASSES and Webinars for those who want to learn how to master the art of digital marketing for business growth.
We are working on MORE for the SEC Academy, so stay tuned for some exciting stuff in 2023.
Now, let’s not be confused, the year was not all rainbows and butterflies. Every business has setbacks, challenges and overwhelming times (we sure did this year as well), however, even with challenge, 2022 was a fantastic year and we are really excited for what 2023 has in store for us!
Our goals for 2023 is to:
- Stay dynamic
- Continue building meaningful relationships with our team and our clients
- Focus on results-oriented marketing strategies
- Pivot and shift objectives where and when we have to
A big thank you to everyone on our team, our amazing and loyal clients and ALL of our supporters! We are so grateful!
To a successful 2023 for us all!
by Marly Broudie | Dec 9, 2022 | SocialEyes
The digital marketing landscape changes quickly. It’s crucial that marketers stay ahead of the curve and implement changes to their marketing plans before it’s too late. That’s why we’re sharing some of our top predictions and insights for 2023 so you can start planning your marketing strategy for next year right now.
- Welcome to the Metaverse
Tech experts predict that the next evolution of the internet will be the Metaverse: a digital world where humans conduct almost all their activities in this 3D virtual, shared space. Facebook changed its name to Meta last year and pledged $10 billion to this far-out concept. Big brands have announced how they are entering the Metaverse, like Starbucks Odessey, for example.
As far as your 2023 marketing goes, you don’t need to start integrating NFTs quite yet. Consider starting with a 3D avatar on your Facebook or Instagram page. You can create a virtual, animated version of yourself (or your company’s mascot) and start using it to interact with your followers.
- Keep Up with TikTok
Although short-form video content has taken the marketing world by storm, longer-form video content hasn’t thrown in the towel (just take a look at YouTube’s massive growth over the last four years!). Consumers are still interested in longer content.
TikTok announced this year that it was increasing its maximum video length to 10 minutes. You can use TikTok’s Creative Center to search audio trends, see the top-performing ads, trending hashtags and more to help you plan your marketing content and ads.
- Holistic Marketing
To compete with others in your industry, you need to be investing in marketing systems that cover all your bases, from social media to user experience to Google ads. The various digital aspects are all connected, so leveraging one helps you leverage another.
There has never been a more important time to hire a digital marketing team to help you participate in this arena.
- Don’t Sleep on LinkedIn
If you have a B2B business, growing your presence on LinkedIn is a must in 2023. It’s predicted that by 2024, 25 per cent of all ad spend in the United States will be spent on LinkedIn.
Not only can you create and promote ads, gain connections, and nurture leads on LinkedIn, but it is one the best social platforms for establishing authority and credibility. If your business depends on a stellar reputation (what business doesn’t?), then you need to capitalize on LinkedIn.
- User Experience is EVERYTHING
It’s obvious that the experience users have on your website and social pages impacts their opinion of you. It’s not enough to simply show up online, you need to cater to users and ensure their experience is over-the-top amazing.
One important aspect we see growing in popularity in 2023 is the use of chatbots on websites. These automated chat boxes appear in a pop-up on your website to help users find what they’re looking for, answer their questions, and facilitate a seamless funnel.
Is Your Marketing Plan Ready for 2023?
Make 2023 the year you skyrocket your company’s growth through digital marketing. Our team of marketing experts is ready to help. Contact us today to learn more.
