It poses the question – what role will social media play in driving sustainability behaviour on a mass scale to drive the green transition? 

Currently, social media is primarily used for keeping in touch with family and friends, filling spare time, and reading the news, but it can be used for so much more. The focus is already shifting to using it as a tool to raise awareness, mobilize support, and advocate for change. Research conducted by Unilever, the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) and a group of nine influential creators from TikTok and Instagram, has discovered social media has more of an influence on sustainable behavior than news, TV documentaries, and governmental campaigns. 

One study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology revealed that social media posts containing climate content are more likely to generate engagement and be reshared, which ultimately increases awareness of sustainability-related issues. Another study published in a sustainability journal shared that social media has the potential to support the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by offering a universal platform for sharing ideas, best practices, and insights concerning the environmental crisis. 

Social media is used every single day by billions of people across the globe. These platforms present a real opportunity to promote sustainability and sustainable behavior. Harnessing this unique power, individuals and businesses can generate collective impact, helping to secure a greener future. So, how can social media be a game changer for sustainability? 

The answer is creating, together with early adopters, a social media platform which would be the driver for a paradigm change. Our early adopters are sustainable, curious, and sustainable enthusiasts who shape the community and actions and create the socially contagious effect of good actions. We are already seeing marketing making the switch to responsible marketing or marketing 2.0 based on empathy and more influencers advocating for important causes. 

The same transformation can be seen in the digital world with social media. Users spend, on average, over 2 hours on social media each day, looking for meaning. They need to use this time to search for collaborative purposes instead. When used correctly, social media can help us better understand issues concerning the climate crisis and find ways to make a difference. There are many ways we can use social media as a platform for good to achieve the society we envision. 

It can help us achieve a sustainable world through its opportunity to raise awareness and mobilize support. On social media, users can use their voices and share their thoughts. Through this, they can inspire others and encourage them to venture into a greener lifestyle. Social media can be utilised as an educational resource to teach people about the importance of tackling climate change and how to make more sustainable choices. 

Social media can be a beneficial resource in making people aware of sustainable products and encouraging eco-conscious behavior. Through social media, businesses and individuals can also share their success stories, which shows others that the journey is achievable and that they can make waves too. Collaboration is essential in the fight against climate change, and social media facilitates worldwide collaboration. It brings together people from all different walks of life from all around the world. 

Users can use these platforms to share ideas, resources, and knowledge, joining forces to drive even more positive change. We have already seen the power of social media for advocacy, with hashtags acting as powerful instruments for activists, bringing important movements to the forefront: #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, #SmallStepsBigDifference, and so much more. We have also witnessed social media being used as a tool to amplify crucial causes. 

Challenges like the Ice Bucket Challenge for ASL or Movember have attracted millions of partnerships, establishing further support around the causes. These are prime examples of viral altruism, which supports the rapid and monumental spreading of social norms, trends, and information. The four ingredients to build on viral altruism are social influence, affective reactions, meaningful engagement and constant moral elevation. 

Through these elements, we can translate social momentum into sustained real-world contributions. On social media, brands are told to post content that falls under SMART dimensions. Dr Sander Van der Linden argued in 2017 that social issues like climate change score very low across these dimensions. Social norms surrounding climate change are not very well pronounced in that most do not see it as a moral issue. Rather, they typically view climate change as a psychologically abstract and distant issue. 

To explore social media’s true potential for driving the sustainable transition, however, we need a platform that practices what it preaches. We need a platform specifically for sustainability that is also driven to enable users to scroll with impact. While topics like climate change are certainly brought over to traditional social media platforms, this is not enough. A sustainability-focused platform would facilitate those important discussions while also educating and raising awareness.

Social media platforms should do more than raise awareness though. We need to close the loop by pointing users to things they can do to live more sustainably. This is where behavior tracking, like using a lifestyle carbon calculator to assess your carbon footprint can be a real game changer. A carbon calculator assesses the environmental impact of one’s lifestyle, exposing impact blind spots so they can make informed decisions concerning sustainability. 

By sharing small actions towards sustainable living on social media, we can motivate other people and organizations to follow suit. Social media users are ready to use social platforms as impact hubs and have already started doing this. We have seen this shift with the arrival of Facebook applications like “I am Green”, which garnered over 2 million members. This initiative allowed users to display their environmental attitude as a badge on their own social media profiles. 

The time for purpose-driven businesses and organizations to use social media platforms to speak to receptive audiences and inspire change is now. Social media can be harnessed as a disruptive force to amass support around sustainable living. As Actor and Environmentalist Leonardo Di Caprio said: “Climate change is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together.”  Social media is that space that will allow us to raise awareness, collaborate, and inspire each other on the road to change. On social media, the voice of one person can reach billions of people, and it has become a powerful weapon for social and environmental change that can ignite the climate movement. In the race to net zero, the time to use such a weapon to save the planet and leave behind a better world for future generations is now.

The post From Likes to Actions: Social Media’s Role in Securing a Greener Future appeared first on SiteProNews.

The Benefits of TikTok Verification

To stand out from the millions uploading and exchanging videos on TikTok, you need credibility, which you can gain from having your account verified. When TikTok users see a blue checkmark next to a content creator’s name, they know that account is well-known and trusted. If you want people to take your TikTok account seriously, this is the way to do it.

People frequently create bogus “mirror” channels to steal viewers’ attention, and trolls or other bad actors might try to pass themselves off as you or your business for any number of malicious purposes. TikTok verification proves to your audience that your account not only belongs to you (and no one else), but shows that you can be trusted as a reliable and credible source of information. With that sought-after blue checkmark on your account, your followers will far more easily be able to cross-reference in the event that anyone else tries to offer them information in your name.

Along with greater credibility, the little blue check that comes with getting TikTok verified lends your account an element of prestige. And since the platform’s algorithm tends to more often favor and promote content from verified accounts, you’ll gain the benefit of more frequent exposure to your current followers as well as a broader audience of potential ones.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of having your TikTok account verified is the ability to monetize it in a variety of ways. For example, as a verified influencer, you have the potential to promote a certain product in a sponsored video, which — depending on your niche and the loyalty of your following — could help establish a long-running collaboration with a sponsored brand you value.
 

Finding Out If You’re Eligible for TikTok Verification

The good news is that, at least as of August 2023, TikTok’s verification process is open to anyone. The bad news, however, is that the details regarding how the platform evaluates applications for verification aren’t exactly clear or transparent. Here’s what we know:

1. To begin the verification process, you must have an active public (not private) TikTok account.
   
2. Whether you are attempting to verify your personal account or one for a business, your account’s profile has to be fully completed in order for it to be authenticated, meaning it must include the following information:
   1. Your name
   2. Your bio
   3. A profile photo
   4. At least one TikTok video posted
   5. For business accounts, you will also need to include a verifiable email domain that represents the business, organization, or entity seeking verification. For example, mine would have to end with “@otterpr.com”.
      
3. Additionally, your account must show activity within the past 6 months of starting the verification process. While having only one video posted four or five months ago won’t necessarily hurt your chances at verification, the more active you are, and the more content you post, the better your chances will be.
   
4. Your account must be 100% authentic — TikTok won’t consider verification for any accounts that parody or imitate other users.
   
5. The last step to getting verified on TikTok requires a level of notoriety, which is made easier if your name, brand, or organization has been highlighted in news outlets and received some significant online engagement. Although this isn’t necessarily needed, consider how much easier it would be for a well-known international brand name to get verified over an up-and-coming influencer.
   

Applying for TikTok Verification

Until recently, TikTok did not provide a portal that allowed creators to submit their applications for verification. Prior to this being implemented, you needed to have a direct contact at TikTok submit your case and move it up the ladder.  

To request verification on TikTok’s new portal, simply open the TikTok app and select your profile in the app’s lower-right corner, then tap “Menu” in the top right. Select “Settings and Privacy,” then “Manage Account.” Tap where you see “Verification,” click “Start,” and follow the on-screen prompts to finish the process and submit your case.

Here’s the thing: for some reason, not all TikTok users have access to this new function just yet. Luckily, even if you don’t see the verification option on your “Account Settings” page, you can still submit a case to request verification on TikTok’s site.

Once you complete the online form, the next step is perhaps the most difficult one in the process: waiting. TikTok’s verification team will analyze your request and get back to you within a few days with their decision.
 

Improving Your Chances of Being Verified on TikTok

If you’re worried about your chances of getting verified on TikTok, remember that the key is to optimize your account as much as possible. Start by making sure you have an updated picture and clearly outline who you are in your profile’s bio, including links to your website and other social media accounts. 

To grow your profile’s visibility in search results, try including more relevant hashtags and keywords on the content you post, repost, and comment on, and post a few new videos on your account that include these. This is especially helpful if those videos are targeted more toward a general audience, since receiving a sudden influx of new followers and engagement will skyrocket your account’s activity and credibility.

Of course, don’t ignore the importance of producing material meant to foster interest and engagement from your current followers or targeted viewers. Depending on your audience and the type of account you have, the type and frequency of engagement you’re after can alter significantly, so ensure you’re posting as often as you can. Whether it’s a couple of times each week or even once per day, your followers will start waiting for your content to appear on their “For You Page.” And as more users engage with your material, it will get linked to even more users’ pages.

Still, at least as far as TikTok’s verification team is concerned, the quantity of your account’s content is more crucial than its quality. The most difficult part of getting verified on TikTok is probably uploading consistently since the platform only checks popular accounts for authenticity. Essentially, if you aren’t posting regularly, you may not make the cut. 

Building this strong presence on TikTok requires constant interaction, meaning the more you engage with those who repost or comment on your content, the better your chances will be at obtaining that coveted blue checkmark badge. Although this can feel awkward at first, try replying to some of the most-liked comments on your posts and go from there.

Even if you meet all of the standards and have a perfectly optimized profile, winning the blue check mark is not a given. Every day, thousands of users ask TikTok to verify their accounts, and the majority of them are declined. If you’re one of them, don’t get discouraged — TikTok’s verification process is extremely rigorous. Keep creating high-quality material, continue engaging with your followers, and try again until you get that little blue badge of honor.

The post How to Get Verified on TikTok: An Expert’s Step-by-step Guide appeared first on SiteProNews.

But there’s good news! It’s not hard to learn a few tips and tricks to boost your social media and reach new clients. It all starts with having a goal, knowing your target audience, and from there, it’s as simple as giving them what they want. 

Here’s what you need to know to start expanding your reach and boosting your success using your social media. 

Why Is Social Media Marketing Important for Businesses? 

Pretty much your entire target market is on social media. If you’re selling anything to anyone under the age of 80, then they’re online (albeit in different places online). The simple fact is nobody turns to books, encyclopedias, libraries, phone calls, or visits anymore when they need information or services. 

They turn to the internet. This means when your target market is looking for your product or service, you can bet they’re searching for it online. Online means Google, but it also means social media. 

This means your social media channels can be a valuable tool for driving website traffic, engaging with your audience, building confidence and trust in your brand, and ultimately, increasing sales. 

How Can Social Media Marketing Help You Expand Your Business Reach? 

One of the great things about social media is the opportunity to share. If you’re putting our valuable, shareable content that your target audience enjoys, it doesn’t just stay with you—your people will share it to their own networks. 

This means that if you do social media right, you’re essentially leveraging the audiences/connections of the people who are already your fans. That means you’ve got a huge range of people who could potentially become customers right at your fingertips. 

How to Create a Social Media Marketing Strategy

The key to reaching those potential customers in your current audience’s friend groups is to create shareable content. But in order to do so, you’ve got to know who you’re talking to. 

From there, it’s a simple process… Although be warned, you need to give it at least a few months of consistency before you’re likely to start seeing tangible results. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a social media marketing strategy to start expanding your reach and gaining new customers and clients. 

Understand Your Target Audience 

You can’t create shareable content if you don’t know who you’re creating it for. What appeals to you might not appeal to your audience, so it’s essential to know your audience! Try to nail this down as definitively as you can. 

A fun trick is to create “customer avatars” that embody your audience and make them as human as possible. This will give you a great indication of your real customers’ pain points and worries, so you can address them upfront. 

Let’s assume you’re selling a “Muscle-Building Mastery” workshop for middle-aged people. Here are a couple of potential avatars you might use: 

Bob 

Bob is a middle-aged man with a wife and few kids. He works long hours, so he doesn’t have much time to get to the gym. He’s got a “dad bod”, with a bit of extra weight that he’d love to get rid of. Bob would like to feel like he did in his 20s: energetic, strong, and attractive to his wife. But he’s worried about finding time to work out, and he doesn’t know where to start. 

Jane 

Jane is a middle-aged woman with a husband and three kids. She works a half-day job and tends to the kids in the afternoons, leaving her feeling tired and without a lot of time for herself. She’s 20 pounds overweight and self-conscious, but she just doesn’t have the energy to go for a run. She’s heard that weightlifting can be a great way for women to lose weight, but she’s not sure that’s true… Doesn’t it make them bulky? 

Choose the Right Social Media Platforms

Once you know your target audience’s age, demographics, and interests, it’s easier to figure out where they might spend time online. Older generations tend to favor Facebook, creatives enjoy Instagram and younger generations like TikTok. 

Figure out where your audience is hiding and go there. You can choose one or two platforms to focus on—there’s no need to be on everything. In fact, it could be overwhelming and make you less efficient, so choose one or two wisely. 

Create a Content Calendar 

Plan and create your content upfront. You should be working a month or two in advance, at least! This means if you do have to skip a day due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, you’ve still got plenty of content to go out. 

You can put out any content you want, but make sure it’s relevant to your audience and your niche. Here’s a quick tip: check out what National Days are coming up that could be appropriate to create content around. Also, think about content that would solve a problem for your reader. 

Set Goals for Your Social Media Marketing

Goals can help you see if you’re on the right track. Set small ones in the beginning, like “Get more traffic to the website”. Set a time frame too; we recommend two to three months. At the end of your time frame, see if you’ve achieved that goal. 

In this case, you’ll need to know roughly how much traffic you were getting before so you can compare it to how much you’re getting after those few months. 

Creating Engaging Social Media Content 

There are two keys to social media content: value and engagement. You provide value to your audience and encourage them to engage with you in return. 

Your content should fulfill a purpose for the reader. It can answer a question, solve a problem, make them think, give them new ideas, or simply be an enjoyable read. But there needs to be something to attract them and keep them interested in the post. 

When someone leaves a comment, likes your post, or shares it, other people see that. And that’s extremely helpful to expand your reach. Encourage people to engage as well, and make sure to reply to/like as many comments as you can! 

Paid Advertising on Social Media

In the beginning, paid advertising is worthwhile. The idea is to eventually gain enough organic traffic that you don’t need paid ads, but an ad a month can be valuable in expanding your audience. 

Call to Action 

Your CTAs (calls to action) need to be effective. The main gist of your content should be to provide value to your audience. But you NEED to have a compelling CTA at the end. This is your invitation to get more—buy your product, sign up for your services, read a blog post, check out your website… 

You can have multiple different CTAs in your content. BUT—you should only have one CTA per piece of content. Direct your reader/listener exactly where you want them to go at the end of your content and give them a compelling reason to go there! 

Analyze and Measure Results

Pouring your effort into social media is pointless if you aren’t analyzing your own results. Is your social media having a positive effect on your business? You won’t know unless you’re analyzing some metrics. 

Keep an eye on your social media metrics, as well as on your website traffic and where it’s coming from. Remember the goals that you originally set—these will be your markers for success. 

Your goals may change along the way, but as long as the data shows progress, then you’re on the right track. Keep going—social media is a long game, but one very worth playing!

The post Harnessing the Power of Social Media Marketing to Expand Your Business Reach appeared first on SiteProNews.

Just a mere presence on social media stopped working to boost sales a long time ago. 

Around 80% of business executives think it’s essential to invest additional resources in social media marketing. 

It shows that we’ve moved long past the ‘just post and hope’ strategy. 

Now you need a solid presence in which you operate your accounts thoughtfully and measuredly. 

Below are some of the top ways to leverage social media to boost your Direct To Consumer (DTC) sales and revenue. 

Let’s check them out. 

1. Identify the Best Platform for Your Audience 

“Be where your customers are” isn’t a novel marketing strategy. Brands are practising that ever since the possibilities of personalisation. 

Social media is a big word. There are so many platforms, some popular while others not so much. But popularity has very little to do with selecting your presence. Understand that all social media platforms aren’t equal. You already know your target demographic so try to find out on which social media platforms they’re most active. 

For example, LinkedIn works best if you’re targeting a B2B audience while TikTok and Instagram work best if you’re targeting younger professionals in the B2C domain. 

Once you know where you can find your target audience, you’ll be able to interact with them better and create content specifically for their needs and interests. And once you get the awareness right, you can expect an eventual impact on sales. 

2. Work with Social Media Influencers

Influencer marketing isn’t the ‘next big thing’ in social media marketing. It already is the next big thing. The industry reached $16.4B in 2022 from just $1.7 billion in 2016. Through various influencer marketing strategies like account takeovers, paid sponsorships, giveaways, etc, you can witness a spark in your sales. This is simply because the amount of trust people place in influencers is as good as the trust they place in their friends and family. 

Studies show that influencer marketing is known to deliver an ROI as high as 600% in some cases. Some of the top examples of influencer marketing are Charli D’Amelio and Dunkin Donuts, Julie Sariñana, Ela Velden with H&M, Nick Offerman with My tales of Whiskey, etc. 

3. Simply Purchase Process on Social Media

Your social media sales need to be as smooth as your online store sales. A lot of brands even sell directly to consumers on social media through Instagram shops, Facebook shops, and Rich Pins and Buyable Pins on Pinterest. However, if you don’t have a direct shop on Instagram, ensure that you navigate the user to a checkout page or product page which has listed all the shipping and delivery instructions. 

For example, if an international customer is visiting your page from social media, provide them with the information they can really use before making their purchase. These include the shipping charges, the number of days, the tracking number, etc. Choose an air service freight provider that first delivers top-notch shipping services and only then commits to the customers on your social media. 

4. Share User-Generated Content 

Customers need a sense of assurance before making a purchase from a brand they barely know. Since they’re apprehensive, you give them authentic reviews in the form of user-generated content. This strategy brings online buyers closer to the brand by building trust and credibility. 

Encourage your customers to share their photos or videos with your products and go a step further by sharing that content on your profiles too. It is a genuine way to increase loyalty with your existing customers and encourage your other social media followers to try out your products. 

For example, every holiday season, Starbucks launches the #RedCupContest to promote its holiday-themed seasonal beverages. But the catch? Coffee drinkers need to submit shots of coffee for the chance to win a Starbucks gift card. 

5. Create Valuable Content for Users

Social media provides a great opportunity for brands to get a little personal. Considering the essence of the platforms, you also need to be ‘social.’ Develop content that is reflective of that. Publish compelling content but in a manner that is conversational and engaging enough to urge users to make a purchase. 

Be it your captions or your videos, reels or posts, you need to be original, creative, and informational. Leveraging informational content gives context to your product and gives ideas to customers about how to use the same. You can also promote your blog posts, guides, and any other kind of information that has the potential to convert interest into sales. 

6. Create Brand Specific Hashtags

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are a game of hashtags. They bring attention to your brand and let you get discovered more easily. 

But it can do more than just spread awareness. With unique and sales-oriented hashtags, you can drive engagement, increase your sales, and bring together a community that is interested in a particular product. 

For example, a London-based womenswear brand named Rixo encouraged their followers to tag them and use the hashtag #humansofRixo. They also clubbed user-generated content with hashtags that extended the collaboration of the users with the brand. 

7. Invest in Social Media Advertising 

Apart from your organic efforts, you need to leverage paid marketing when necessary. Merely finding your target audience on social media platforms is not enough. Social media platforms have paid advertising options in terms of ads or content promotion. Utilise them to ensure high visibility among a relevant target audience. 

However, before you do so, have your KPIs and tracking metrics in place. On Instagram, you can advertise through stories and sponsored posts and videos. You can do the same on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Finishing Thoughts

Building trust is at the heart of social media selling. Right from using user-generated content to even publishing informative posts, it’s all about going the extra mile to engage and entice customers. If you’re doing that while following the above-mentioned strategies, you’re on the right path to enhancing your DTC sales from social platforms and staying ahead of the curve. 

The post How to Leverage Social Media to Boost DTC Sales appeared first on SiteProNews.

In this article, we’ll explore five effective ways that B2B companies can boost their online presence. We’ll cover strategies ranging from creating a professional website to leveraging social media, publishing high-quality content, engaging with customers and prospects online, and monitoring and analyzing online performance. By implementing these strategies, B2B companies can establish a strong online presence and stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.

1. Create and Optimize a Professional Website

Creating a professional website is one of the most important steps that a B2B company can take to establish a strong online presence. A website serves as the digital face of a company, providing customers with information about the company, its products and services, and its values and mission. Here are some key steps to create and optimize a professional website:

• Develop a clear and consistent brand identity: Your website should reflect your company’s brand identity, including its values, messaging, and visual elements. Use consistent branding across all aspects of your website, including color schemes, fonts, and logos.
• Make your website easy to navigate: Ensure that your website is easy to navigate and that visitors can easily find the information they need. This includes creating a clear menu structure, using intuitive labels, and providing clear calls to action.
• Optimize your website for search engines: Use relevant keywords and meta descriptions in your website’s content and code to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).
• Ensure your website is mobile-friendly: With more and more people accessing the internet on their mobile devices, it’s important that your website is optimized for mobile viewing. Make sure your website is responsive, with a design that adjusts to fit different screen sizes.
• Use high-quality images and video: Incorporate high-quality images and videos into your website’s design to make it visually appealing and engaging.

By following these tips, B2B companies can create and optimize a professional website that effectively represents their brand and helps them establish a strong online presence.

2. Leverage Social Media Platforms

Social media can be a powerful tool for B2B companies looking to boost their online presence. Social media platforms provide an opportunity to reach a wider audience, engage with customers and prospects, and showcase products and services. Here are some tips for leveraging social media platforms to boost your online presence:

• Choose the right social media platforms: Identify the social media platforms that your target audience uses the most and focus your efforts on those platforms. For B2B companies, LinkedIn is often a key platform for networking and lead generation, while Twitter and Facebook can be effective for building brand awareness.
• Optimize your social media profiles: Ensure that your social media profiles are complete and consistent with your brand identity. Use high-quality profile pictures and cover photos, and include a clear description of your company and what it offers.
• Share engaging content: Share relevant and valuable content with your social media followers, including blog posts, infographics, and videos. Use a mix of content formats to keep your followers engaged and interested.
• Engage with your followers: Respond to comments and messages from your followers in a timely manner, and use social media to build relationships with your customers and prospects.
• Use social media advertising: Consider using social media advertising to reach a wider audience and target specific demographics. Platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook offer robust advertising options for B2B companies.

By leveraging social media platforms effectively, B2B companies can expand their reach, engage with their audience, and establish a strong online presence.

3. Publish High-quality Content

Publishing high-quality content is an effective way for B2B companies to boost their online presence and establish thought leadership in their industry. By creating content that is valuable, informative, and engaging, B2B companies can attract new customers, build brand awareness, and establish themselves as experts in their field. Here are some tips for publishing high-quality content:

• Develop a content strategy: Develop a clear strategy for your content marketing efforts, including the types of content you will create, your target audience, and your distribution channels.
• Create valuable content: Create content that is valuable and informative to your target audience. This could include blog posts, whitepapers, case studies, and other types of content that address common pain points or challenges that your customers and prospects face.
• Use visual elements: Incorporate visual elements like images, infographics, and videos into your content to make it more engaging and shareable.
• Optimize your content for search engines: Use relevant keywords in your content and meta descriptions to improve your content’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).
• Share your content on multiple channels: Share your content on your website, social media platforms, and other relevant channels to expand your reach and attract new customers.

By publishing high-quality content, B2B companies can establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry, attract new customers, and build a strong online presence.

4. Engage with Customers and Prospects Online

Engaging with customers and prospects online is essential for B2B companies looking to boost their online presence. By building relationships with customers and prospects through online engagement, B2B companies can improve brand loyalty, increase customer satisfaction, and attract new customers. Here are some tips for engaging with customers and prospects online:

• Respond to comments and messages: Respond to comments and messages from customers and prospects in a timely manner. This shows that you value their input and are committed to providing excellent customer service.
• Participate in online communities: Participate in online communities relevant to your industry, such as forums or social media groups. This provides an opportunity to engage with prospects and customers, answer questions, and establish thought leadership.
• Host webinars or online events: Host webinars or online events to provide value to your audience and engage with them in a more interactive way.
• Personalize your communication: Personalize your communication with customers and prospects by addressing them by name and tailoring your messaging to their needs and interests.
• Monitor your online reputation: Monitor your online reputation by tracking mentions of your brand on social media and review websites. Respond to negative reviews or comments in a professional and constructive manner.

By engaging with customers and prospects online, B2B companies can build relationships, increase brand loyalty, and establish a strong online presence.

5. Monitor and Analyze Online Performance

Monitoring and analyzing online performance is essential for B2B companies looking to boost their online presence. By tracking metrics and analyzing data, B2B companies can identify areas for improvement, measure the effectiveness of their marketing efforts, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their online presence. Here are some tips for monitoring and analyzing online performance:

• Set clear goals: Set clear goals for your online presence, such as increasing website traffic, generating leads, or improving customer engagement. This will provide a framework for measuring performance and tracking progress.
• Track key metrics: Identify the key metrics that are relevant to your goals, such as website traffic, conversion rates, engagement rates, and social media followers. Use tools like Google Analytics or social media analytics to track these metrics over time.
• Analyze data regularly: Analyze your data regularly to identify trends and patterns. Look for areas where performance is strong and areas where improvement is needed.
• Experiment with different strategies: Experiment with different marketing strategies to see what works best for your business. Test different types of content, distribution channels, and messaging to see what resonates with your target audience.
• Use data to make informed decisions: Use your data to make informed decisions about how to optimize your online presence. Make adjustments to your marketing strategy based on your findings and continue to monitor performance to track progress.

By monitoring and analyzing online performance, B2B companies can identify areas for improvement, optimize their marketing strategy, and establish a strong online presence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, boosting online presence is essential for B2B companies looking to attract new customers, build brand awareness, and establish thought leadership in their industry. By creating and optimizing a professional website, leveraging social media platforms, publishing high-quality content, engaging with customers and prospects online, and monitoring and analyzing online performance, B2B companies can establish a strong online presence and stand out in a competitive marketplace. By adopting these strategies and continually optimizing their online presence, B2B companies can achieve long-term success and growth.

The post 5 Ways B2B Companies Can Boost Their Online Presence appeared first on SiteProNews.

What is a Hashtag?

Hashtags are used in microblogging and photo-sharing services such as Twitter, it is a metadata tag that is prefaced by a hash symbol. Some of the examples are #fashion, and #beautiful, you just have to use this symbol (#) before a word.

Why Should You Monitor the Hashtag?

Monitoring hashtag performance is essential for businesses because it helps in keeping up with everything that is being mentioned about you and your brand, or your marketing campaign online.

A hashtag strategy is important because using the correct hashtag will help to become more visible to your target audience. Hashtag in social media has significantly grown, they are very common and are used on most social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Benefits of Tracking Hashtags on Twitter

1. Determining your primary audience is crucial when using a hashtag. Geographic, Demographic, Psychographic, and Behavioral are the four levels of segmentation that will help in finding the audience. Research yourself which hashtag has the most retweets and views on your post or any other influencer post, track them, and follow their activity, from them you will know which hashtags are in trend and also find your target audience.

2. Identifying your brand influencers and measuring the most popular accounts that have used a certain hashtag is a great way to flag potential ambassadors that would deliver the best ROI. like if you are going to a baseball match and you know nothing about it, then you will first look for the best players of baseball who regularly post on #baseball and try to imply their strategy. In the same way, you should look for influencers who have the same brand as yours and try to look at what has worked for them.

3. Competitors and content research are the most important research. They provide us with the image of our brand by knowing and tracking our competitors, we can analyze what can work for our brand and what does not. To educate your content strategy you have to track your hashtag in your industry, for that you can use some hashtag tracking tools.

4. Sentiment analysis is used to help in finding out, how a user is feeling about your product or your post and what thoughts they are having while reading your stuff, creating a positive environment around you and your users is a must because then only they will able to trust you, if there is more negativity than people don’t want to read that again, there will be distrust among your users.

How to Monitor Hashtag Performance on Twitter?

Choose Your Hashtag Wisely

Choosing a hashtag is one of the difficult tasks, it will only be easy if you know your brand upside down, and for that, you have to research a lot on your brand or product, proper knowledge is a must. Make sure you have your own unique hashtag, through which people can relate your brand, and use clear, easy-to-read, and relevant.

Consider Your Timeline

You should be clear about your timeline, and which data will help you the most. Most of the tracking hashtag tools do not provide historical data, and some give only after the subscription. So it becomes more important to use the tools. Make sure you set up hashtag tracking before you start a campaign, to ensure that you have access to the entire campaign history.

Identify Your Key Metrics

The most important metrics that business track are called key metrics or KPIs, which shows the overall health and performance of your hashtag.

Customer engagement– This is the means through which you can create a relationship with your customers, it will show the number of likes, shares, clicks, and comments a hashtag received and help you to improve.

Customer impression– It is an advertisement or any other form of digital media rendered on a users screen, you may hear of “ first impression is the last impression”, it should be authentic, how many times this hashtag is seen depends on the quality and sentiment of that post, number of tweets multiply it by number of followers is equal to the number of impressions.

Customer reach– Discover which tweets you should be resharing multiple times in order to hit more of your audience, Twitter reach means how many feeds this hashtag shows up on.

Choose a Hashtag Tracking Tool

Amazing hashtag monitoring tools will help you see which hashtag is performing well, and what your audience is most interested in. Some of the best hashtag tracking tools are TrackMyHashtag, keyhole, and Brand24.

1. Trackmyhashtag

TrackMyHashtag is a Twitter hashtag analytics tool that allows tracking Twitter hashtags, keywords, accounts, or events. It can help you access real-time as well as historical Twitter data, only by typing (hashtag, keyword, @mention, or any topic). It provides data for any time period since 2006 in Excel or CSV format which you can use when needed.

Following are some of the features and metrics provided by TrackMyHashtag.

1. Real-time hashtag tracking- Track any hashtag, Twitter account, or keyword mentioned in real-time and see the results on the dashboard.
2. Historical hashtag data- Fetch the data from 2006 to the present time, write any keyword or hashtag it will show you all the historical data.
3. Competition hashtag analytics- Plan a social media marketing strategy and analyze the activities of your competitors.
4. Measure and analyze- With the help of an AI analytical platform, you can measure the reach of your Twitter hashtag campaign.
5. Find social media influencers-Find all the most influencer users who are trustable or responsible to promote any Twitter hashtag campaign.

2. Keyhole

Keyhole is a social media analytics platform that helps you effortlessly track hashtags, keywords, @accounts, and URLs on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook. It helps to create customizable reports and intuitive layouts which helps to create actionable insights.

Some of the features are:

• Influencer tracking- Identify top creators of your industry, and ensure that they only work with genuine influencers.
• Hashtag analytics- Generate and share reports for all your social media campaign and social channels, and find and analyze any conversation with hashtags to improve your social media presence
• Keyword tracking- It can find any online conversation that mentions your keyword
• Twitter historical data- keyhole historical data include total posts users, impressions, and influencers, they deliver reports in 1 business day.

3. Brand 24

Brand24 is a social media analytics tool that offers the ability to alert when the conversation on your brand hashtag reaches a certain volume. Some of the features are:

• Data exporting- Turn your data into automated PDF reports and infographics
•  Filtering- Focus on what is important for you by narrowing the results.
• Alters- Customize your alters the way you need them.
• Influencer score- Find out your industry influencers to make correct decisions about who you should be working with.

Conclusion

I have mentioned every possible detail that one needs for monitoring hashtags, and have written an abundance of content about which tool you should use, so you don’t have to waste any more time exploring the various alternatives, initiate TrackMyHashtag free trial and test the tool yourself.

The post How to Monitor Hashtag Performance and Engagement on Twitter appeared first on SiteProNews.

However, not every platform is the right fit for your business. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular social media sites and explain why each one may or may not be the one that can grow your brand.

Choosing the Right Social Media Platform for Your Business

Content marketing on the right social media platform is one of the most effective and affordable means of growing your business. Conversely, if you choose the wrong social media platform, you stand to waste valuable time or even damage your brand. First, consider your target audience. Think about the people you want to reach with your content and where they spend their time online — are they spending most of their time on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn?

Next, consider how much time and money you have available. Each social media site offers different levels of access, from Facebook’s free accounts, allowing basic posting privileges, all the way up to LinkedIn’s premium plans providing additional features and benefits. If budget constraints are an issue, consider getting started with one free account. You can always invest resources into a more expensive site later.

Some of the Best Social Media Platforms for Growing a Business in 2023

Facebook

Facebook is the world’s largest social media platform, boasting 2.96 billion monthly active users at the end of 2022’s third quarter. If you want to reach a massive audience and capitalize on the benefits of social media advertising, Facebook is an excellent choice. In fact, anytime a business owner comes to me and wants more leads and sales, I almost always start them on Facebook. It provides a wide range of features that make it easy for you to engage with customers and build your brand. You have access to a variety of targeting options for reaching different audiences, a newsfeed to alert followers to what you’re doing, and the ability to host live video events or create custom ads leading to your website.

Instagram

Instagram is another tool that can grow your business. It is primarily a visual platform, allowing you to share photos and videos of the products, services, or events that you offer, and boasts an audience of over 2 billion active monthly users who will see that content if you post it in an appealing way.

Given these numbers, Instagram is ideal for building brand awareness and generating leads since it allows businesses to showcase their products in an artistic way and generate attention with catchy hashtags. Because users engage with each other through comments or likes on posts, it’s also a great place to build a community around your business, generate customer reviews, and sell products.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an excellent platform for B2B businesses that want to find leads, boost sales, increase brand awareness, and network professionally. This social platform has 875 million users worldwide and 310 million monthly active users. The platform allows users to create profiles and connections based on their specific industry role or level of expertise. To get started on LinkedIn, ensure your company page is filled with relevant information about what you do and why people should hire your services or buy from you. The more complete your profile, the better your chance to grow your business.

YouTube

YouTube ranks as the world’s largest video-sharing platform and second-largest social media platform. It has over2.6 billion users and over 122 million active users each day as of 2022’s third quarter. YouTube also makes up a huge part of Google’s revenue, making it an important platform for any business that wants to reach people globally.

The key to growing your business on YouTube is generating creative content that engages viewers. The more engaging your content is, the more likely people will watch it and share it with their friends.

Some of the worst social media platforms for growing a business in 2023

Twitter

Twitter is a popular social media platform that provides an opportunity for businesses to connect with customers on a non-business level. This can be useful in strengthening relationships, although Twitter doesn’t offer the same level of personalization that social media platforms like Facebook do. 

Twitter may help you get your business’s name out there, but it’s not a good platform for growing your business. The platform has so many users that it can be hard to get noticed if you aren’t already well-known. It’s essential to understand how Twitter can be used in combination with other platforms rather than trying to use it alone.

Snapchat

Snapchat is not an ideal platform for business growth. Each month, the platform’s Spotlight feature sees125 million active users, and its Snap Map feature sees 250 million. In terms of social media reach, that is a small user base. In addition, Snapchat primarily appeals to younger users. As of July 2022, users aged 13 to 17 made up 20.5% of Snapchat’s total audience, and users18 to 24 accounted for 39.1%. Given these demographics, Snapchat may not be the best place to advertise if you’re trying to reach older audiences.

TikTok

TikTok is a video-sharing app that allows users to create short videos for followers. The platform boasts 1 billion active monthly users, making it less popular than Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. In addition, the majority of people viewing a post on TikTok will only watch the first 15 seconds before scrolling away. Before your business puts a lot of time and resources into video creation for this platform, be sure it is worth your investment. 

Each social media platform comes with its own audience and its own set of pros and cons. The goal of using any medium is to reach new customers and grow your audience through content marketing. No one social media platform is best or worst for everyone, but some will be better suited for your business needs than others. It all depends on your audience, the time you can invest in social media management, and your business goals for the marketing content. Investigate each platform and make an informed decision about which ones work best for you.

The post Best and Worst Social Media Platforms for Growing a Business appeared first on SiteProNews.

With the cost of healthcare rising even faster than inflation, people are turning to Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok to help manage their health. For doctors looking to capitalize on this, there are several factors to keep in mind as to how they manage their social media presence and reputation online.

Being Present

Decades ago, it was unheard of for a hospital or medical practice to advertise. Last year, however, the healthcare advertising market exceeded $21 billion, and it is forecasted to climb even higher over the next five years. 

Many of these dollars will go towards advertising on social media for two major reasons: one, it is highly targeted; and two, social media offers an interactivity that mirrors the doctor-patient relationship. Any medical practice without an active social media presence will be at a serious competitive disadvantage in the coming years.

What to Say (and What Not to)

While doctors can (and should) be thought leaders, they are somewhat limited by the ethical parameters of their profession. Top among these is their patients’ right to privacy. Doctors are prohibited from discussing a patient’s treatment or history with others, even in generalities. Confidentiality is a right so fundamental that the Hippocratic Oath refers to patient data as “holy secrets,” and this rings true on social media as well.  

When it comes to physicians sharing content from their personal lives, the strategy becomes more complicated.  For example, Instagram’s most popular physician, Dr. Mike Varshavski, boasts 4.4 million followers who are more likely to see photos of his physique or his dog than an endorsement of any single drug or wellness trend. He gives off the persona of an influencer who also just happens to be a medical doctor. Others have focused on overall wellness rather than medicine, such as Dr. Mark Hyman who often shares general advice on diet, exercise, and longevity with his 2.2 million followers, but also steers clear of anything patient or procedure-specific. 

Doctors on social media should not mix business with pleasure. If your account is solely for personal use, don’t mix in medical content. Likewise, if your account is for your practice or to establish yourself as a leader in your medical field, keep the content professional and focused on your niche.

Business Casual for MDs

As with other disciplines, practicing medicine on social media implies a balancing act between professionalism and celebrity. One of the first choices is whether to present oneself as a virtual friend or as an authority. Even if a doctor succeeds in striking the right balance between promoting themselves and their craft — or simply promoting a healthy dialogue — they must  immediately consider the flood of comments and direct messages that will follow a popular post. They must also consider the possibility of disgruntled former patients becoming online “trolls,” a fact of virtual life that has already resulted in litigation.

Just as Twitter and Facebook strive to take down harmful content, a medical influencer must grapple with, for example, comments not attributed to them, but ones still posted by others on their account’s content which might contain misleading or harmful information. They must also make it clear if a product they recommend, such as a pharmaceutical or workout regimen, has paid them for the shout-out.

Damage Control

As the saying goes, it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and less than a minute to destroy it. When a Michigan family physician named Jeffrey VanWingen decided to post some grocery cleaning tips on YouTube during the early days of the pandemic, he had no idea that his homemade D-I-Y video would be viewed more than 25 million times — or that it would create a firestorm. Some viewers immediately pointed out that tips, like washing vegetables with soap, were questionable, while others accused him of scare-mongering. What VanWingen quickly learned is that while there is an “edit” button available for posts on some social media, this isn’t the case with peoples’ memories or screenshots; you can either take down the offending video and apologize for your mistake, or double-down and stand by it. 

Damage control is a critical piece of a social media strategy, yet most influencers don’t tend to consider this when posting. Doctors may consider themselves to be the experts, but a single misguided or misconstrued post can irreparably harm an entire practice in moments. Always carefully review any content that goes out on behalf of your account, regardless of who is physically creating and sharing it. Any consequences will fall on your shoulders.

The post Social Media and Reputation Management for Doctors appeared first on SiteProNews.

If you’re looking to boost your online following, the first step is to find a niche you can create intriguing content for. Once you have that niche, grow your following by posting regularly, engaging with your followers, and networking with fellow creators.

Finding Your Niche

If your goal is to grow an online audience, focus your content around a specific topic. In other words, find your niche and own it. Where can you offer expertise? What do you talk about effortlessly? What topics do you enjoy researching? Where do your passions naturally turn? As you answer these questions, ideas for niche topics should become fairly obvious.

As you accumulate niche content, you’ll begin to attract followers as an authority — and, hopefully, the best source of information — on the topic. For example, as a dental hygienist, I noticed an overwhelming lack of information on oral hygiene and decided to focus my social media content there. My content in this niche rapidly gained a large following. Pursue your passion, and people with an interest will follow.

Engaging Followers and Networking with Creators in Your Niche

Increasing your audience starts with engaging followers. Think of building an online audience like building a relationship. Your task is to create a back-and-forth conversation. Your content may be fascinating, but if you don’t offer people the chance to talk, they won’t stay long.

Entice your followers to share their thoughts, and when they respond with DMs and comments, answer them. When viewers see an active conversation, they’re more likely to join in on it.

Get to know other creators who post content in your niche. These people are not your competitors — they are your friends. Collaborating with them boosts your authority and excites your viewers. Making guest appearances on other channels and hosting experts on yours provides access to new audiences interested in your content.

Start networking with these creators by following their channels, liking their videos, and commenting on their posts. If you notice someone posting great content, share it and give them credit. When they reciprocate, build a relationship and make plans to collaborate. This positive atmosphere goes a long way toward attracting followers on social media platforms.

Posting Engaging Content

Posting niche information is not enough; your content has to be engaging enough to hook followers and keep them coming for more. Be an expert on your audience as well as your niche. For example, when I post to TikTok, I know I’m likely to reach followers between the ages of 16 and 24. I also know this audience is best targeted through a combination of humor and education.

I started by posting primarily comedic content in my niche. When I won a loyal audience, I began introducing more educational content by answering questions from followers and offering tips on dental hygiene.

Posting Consistent and Regular Content

If you hope to grow your following, posting consistently is essential. Regular posts enable your content to rank higher in search engine results. Search engines index fresh content in your social media posts and display them when people search for those same keywords on search engines such as Google or Bing.

Posting regularly allows you to know your followers better. The more often you post, the easier it is to see which posts engage followers and which fall flat. You can establish patterns between the posts that attract new followers and higher views.

Designing content on a regular basis requires commitment. Success on certain social media platforms — such as Instagram or Pinterest — means posting multiple times a day. On TikTok, where I generate content, brands post an average of 1.8 videos per week, and the top 25% of active brands post content five times a week or more. Research finds a correlation between the frequency of your posts and the size of your audience. Accounts with 1,000-5,000 followers publish around one weekly video, while accounts with over 1 million followers post three or more.

When it comes to content, my advice is quality over quantity. However, quantity cannot be ignored. When you have chosen a platform, research how often the popular creators in your niche post, set a schedule for yourself, and stick to it.

Content batching is a technique that saves time, maintains consistency across your posts, and enables you to post regularly. Instead of planning your daily topic, shooting footage, creating graphics, editing, posting the content to your channel, then starting all over again the next morning, batching involves producing a week’s-worth of content at once.

Preparing a week’s worth of content at once may seem time-consuming, but it spares hours in the long run. When you engage in one task, rather than bouncing from one to another, you focus your energy and accomplish far more.

Remember, building your online audience takes commitment and dedication. Discover your niche, then post engaging and regular content. You’re in it for the long haul, so dig in, do what it takes, and don’t be discouraged.

The post How to Grow an Online Following appeared first on SiteProNews.

Many might directly go down the paid digital campaign route; however, if your paid advertisement choices are limited, or you simply wish to expand your promotional outreach in every way that you can, then this ultimate guide on how to promote your brand new site is definitely for you.

Produce Quality Blog Posts

Adding a blog section to your website in order to boost your SEO and raise your site’s ranking on search engines is always an excellent idea. To begin with, producing relevant blog content does not just make it easier for potential users to locate your website, it also greatly contributes to elevating your credibility and reputation as a brand — but only when you strive to maintain a high level of content quality. When done right, blog posts can help your brand position itself as an authority in your field, which may in turn significantly increase your conversion rates.

In order to write great blog posts, you will need to conduct a certain amount of market research, which would have the added benefit of broadening your knowledge and establishing your website as a relevant and accurate source of up-to-date information. 

Guest Blogging

Another way to capitalize on blogging is to collaborate with a guest writer who is an established expert in your field. This will help increase your exposure to their readership, which would subsequently yield some fantastic leads. Connecting with writers who are already established in their profession also helps you expand your own network, which can additionally result in increased visibility and more social media shares.

Moreover, guest blogging can be done the other way around, i.e. you may advertise your website by writing quality content for sites other than your own. You do not even need to wait for someone to notice your work in order to be invited to write for their website — in fact, approaching others with a good pitch is quite common, so do not be afraid to take the first step if you believe you have something valuable to offer which would ultimately benefit both sides.

Make Smart Use of Social Media

Social media platforms, especially those that foster the creation and maintenance of online communities, are more than likely to contain your target demographic. You only need to figure out where and how you can supply them with distinct value, and you can rest assured that you will have plenty of opportunities to promote your website if you have something of significance to say or provide to your target audience. 

Depending on the types of audiences you want your website to appeal to, you should be able to choose where to focus most of your social media marketing efforts. If your brand is looking to cater to gen Z and young millennials, for instance, you will have more luck reaching them on places like Instagram and Tik Tok than on platforms like Facebook or Linkedin. Finding out where best to reach your desired audiences might take some market research as well. 

Nevertheless, it is always advisable to have multiple official social media accounts up and running, and then use those accounts for cross-promotion. For example, you may tweet your Instagram video or publish your most recent blog article on your Facebook page. Both the Instagram video and the Facebook post should contain a link to your website that drives more traffic where you want it. 

Importantly, producing great material enhances the likelihood of your audience sharing it further, which results in free organic marketing for your website. The more individuals that click on your material, the more likely it is that you will improve your overall conversion rates.

Email Marketing Through Newsletters

Although you may be surprised to hear this, newsletters are an incredibly efficient form of email marketing. When written and designed well, they allow you to communicate with your potential customer base in a way that is more direct, convincing, and — let’s not forget — affordable. They may also contribute to an increase in subscribers and boost traffic to your website. As a result, newsletters could be an essential component of your marketing strategy. 

There are various creative ways for driving traffic from email newsletters to your website. Some examples include:

• Linking your website content. By including banner pictures, text, and photos in the email, you can easily generate targeted traffic. However, keep in mind that your newsletter should not be a catalog for your entire website. Instead, include direct links to your best-selling goods or a link to a tutorial or demo video that will teach your visitor how to utilize a product.

• Promoting your blog. Many people like to add an extract from their most recent blog entries in their email. This motivates readers to visit the website, and while there, they are also more likely to visit other portions of your website and maybe even make a purchase.

• Including a story that is short and sweet. Save your website’s backstory for a dedicated page on the site and insert a little paragraph in your email to create a non-product related talking point. This will immediately make you appear more approachable and human, as opposed to just being perceived as a wall of text on a screen.

Remember, if your email content is snappy and direct, with strong calls-to-action that urge readers to click, your material will stand out in a sea of numerous other newsletters that your readers may receive.

Get Your SEO Down Pat

Search engine optimization (SEO) is probably one of the most popular methods of website promotion (and, certainly, among the most effective) for the simple reason that it improves a site’s rating on Google and other search engines. And, unlike paid search advertisements, SEO is completely free, meaning that the competition is open to everyone and is based on the quality of the information you publish, the ease of navigation on your website, and the amount of links you get from other sources.

Thousands of guides have been written on how best to harness the power of strong SEO, so this is evidently a topic worth spending more time, effort, and research on. However, generally speaking, impactful search engine optimization can be achieved by including keywords and phrases all over your website, providing alt text to pictures, and optimizing your headers so that search engines can locate your website more easily.

How do you know which keywords to use? Check out your competitors and make use of tools and software that can do the job for you. By entering a few topics that your website is concerned with, a good SEO tool will be able to do the necessary market analysis to find keywords that rank high on search engines.

However, keep in mind that search engines have become much smarter over the past few years, and that they now prefer good quality content over websites that are nonsensically stuffed with keywords. Utilize your keywords of choice in a way that is organic and sensible to the topic at hand. Even a non-discerning reader will click out of your blog post or web page if the text looks way too much like a commercial.

Conclusion

The above strategies are not the only ones you can implement in order to successfully market your new website. If you’re committed to it, it is best to use a range of methods by trying new things and building on what works. However, make sure to carefully track the outcomes of any new strategy you end up utilizing, so you’d know whether to keep at it or stop wasting your time on it.

The post How To Promote Your Brand New Site – The Ultimate Guide appeared first on SiteProNews.

Many put it down as a passing fad, even I thought the novelty would wear off, but these platforms continue to increase in number and often popularity. Social media, to many of us, seems irrelevant, but it can do great things for your small business.

If you are one of these business owners, frustrated with social media, thinking that it’s not a real way to get more customers, I’ve got a wake-up call for you: Unfortunately, this is no longer true.

Everything important is online, including your customers.

According to Deloitte Insights (15th edition), billions of people are plugged in and are living in the digital age, especially the younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z who are growing more fiscally responsible and whose purchasing power is only becoming stronger as they age.

Businesses that have adapted to the social media explosion have become smarter with their campaigns on platforms that require little or no cost. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and even Twitter posts are free, affording business owners big exposure with minimal effort and expense, just so long as they’re smart about their posts, brand personality, and the way they run their platforms.

Those businesses that are reluctant to change and are failing to embrace social platforms need to catch up, as young people are relying more and more on social media for their purchases—and you’re falling behind.

Why Are Business Owners Scared of Using Social Media?

Maximising social media isn’t part of many business owners’ training and they’re afraid of how to use it. A lot of them are frustrated because they don’t know what to post on social media and have no ideas on how to deliver messages and keep them going consistently.

Some of it comes back to our personal lives as well. If you grew up on TV news and newspapers and that’s your go-to now (not on Twitter and Instagram) then you may be afraid of social media because it’s such alien territory for you. It’s definitely not something you’re used to, much less something you’ve mastered (and no, watching your child go through their Facebook feed isn’t experience).

If you don’t understand the platform you’re using it can be difficult to trust it or your own ability to release content online, especially with the frequency that social media demands. Because it’s so quick, saying the right thing in the right way is important, and the fear of social backlash for getting it wrong can leave some business owners paralysed into doing nothing. We’ve seen plenty of people taken down online by getting “cancelled” and it seems like too big of a risk to take.

It can also be hard to believe that social media converts customers because it’s “just” a tweet or a Facebook post. These are toys for fun, how are they supposed to do the work of experienced salespeople? Some business owners hesitate in using social platforms and investing their time and budget because they don’t understand how it benefits them as a marketing strategy. Even being aware of how many people are using devices and the success other businesses have campaigning on these platforms doesn’t change their tentativeness around it.

For those business owners who don’t believe in social media, you can guarantee they aren’t practising social listening. By spending time on social media listening in on conversations people are having about your industry, for (or against) your competitors and about your own products and services, you learn what your customers actually want or what they’re asking for online. This gives you insider knowledge of what to post on social media. When you ignore that you become disconnected from your customers and miss opportunities to grow your business and fill in gaps you find in products, services, and delivery.

How Social Media is Effective for Small Businesses’ Online Presence

It’s time to put prejudice aside and see the facts. Social media can work to enhance your brand and business performance.

According to Hootsuite, 4.48 billion people are active on social media—and my guess is that a good chunk of that 4.48 billion are at least a percentage of your target audience. This means that more than half the world’s population is plugged in. And I bet you want to be exposed to half the world, at the very least, through a strong online brand presence.

By having a successful social media platform you can increase:

• Your brand presence
• Customer loyalty
• Sales and conversions

Social media gives you multiple points to display your brand, even more so than traditional sales because branding is so important online, down to the logos, thumbnails colours, and fonts you use. Those multiple points give you incredible opportunities to increase your brand recognition, and the more people recognise your brand and remember what it stands for, the more likely it is that they’ll keep you front of mind and remember you for a future purchase.

5 Social Media Ideas to Set Your Brand Apart

For those who are at a loss for what to say, unsure of how to keep it going or scared of saying the wrong thing, here are five concrete social media campaigns that will position your brand as unique. You can use these as social media post ideas to set your brand apart and overcome your fear.

1. Share User-generated Content

Let’s face it: Most people love to be recognised. Whether it’s for their work or for something they’re proud of or passionate about, they want their 15 seconds of fame. This is why when a brand recognises them through regrams, shares, or retweets, they feel satisfied and happy, making a positive association with your brand.

Not only that, their excitement will lead them to share that recognition on their own social media, exposing more people to your brand.

One example of this is Glossier, a minimalist makeup brand that consistently posts content from its customers. Next to their perfectly curated feed, they show off how their customers use their products and how effective they are.

2. Run a Contest, Challenge, or Giveaway Related to Your Brand

People love free stuff. And what better way to coax them to your business than a promise of giveaways? By giving them the chance to win something for free through giveaways, contests, or challenges that they can do in order to be eligible to win, they’re more likely to interact with your brand and spread the word.

A lot of businesses that are social media-savvy use the “tag a friend” method where an interested party has to include someone in their entry, exposing the brand to a bigger audience. Others ask entrants to follow them on a number of platforms, making it more likely for them to hear about you and your future news.

A great example of this is the ALS ice bucket challenge. By creating a challenge where people challenged others, ALS was able to exponentially grow their research funding by 187% because of how many people were involved and became aware of their endeavor.

3. Create Consistent Content That Has Professionals Answering Different Questions About Their Profession

This is why the Ask Me Anything format on Reddit, an online platform that’s dedicated to discussing thousands of different topics, became so popular. It was a free-for-all forum that asked different professionals questions ranging from their personal to professional lives.

Popular Reddit AMAs include late actor Robin Williams, a McDonald’s employee who’s had to deal with the famous fast-food clown for five years, and NASA exoplanet experts who answered questions about space and everything around it.

By hosting Facebook lives, Twitter threads, or even Instagram stories that consistently feature an expert, you can attract people who are intrigued by these professions and what they do, getting in-depth answers in exchange.

4. Branded Hashtags

While branded hashtags don’t always take off, when they do, they can spread like wildfire. Witty hashtags or touching stories related to them can attract a lot of attention and spark interest, leading people to engage with them, use them, and increase your brand awareness.

Always’ #LikeAGirl campaign did this flawlessly, showing that femininity is strength and the phrase “like a girl” isn’t an insult.

5. Engage Directly With Polls, Questions, “Caption This” Posts, and This-or-thats

Audiences love to make their opinions and thoughts known, so having them interact with engaging content or answer thought-provoking questions can help you get a better pulse on what’s going on in their minds.

Challenges to caption photos or simple choices between “this or that” (posts where they choose one thing over another) can give you a better idea of their demands as your audience.

People are ready to deliver their own thoughts and see what others have to say. Polls are a great way to read the room and your audience (not necessarily their minds, we might have to wait a few more years for that kind of technology).

You get product feedback with minimal effort all while increasing engagement with your customers and inviting others to interact as well.

Being afraid of social media is a natural response. We fear the unknown and don’t want to approach it. But as business owners, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can learn to generate effective social media content and get to know and love the connection you create with your audience. Social media is not going away, it’s getting bigger and influencing more and more people every day. When you get on board with some unique and consistent online content you open your business up to influence how people view you and your brand.

If you’ve got ideas of your own, feel free to tag or email them to me to keep the discussion going. I’d also like to invite you to join our Facebook group to further the conversation.

The post How To Overcome Your Fear of Social Media appeared first on SiteProNews.

Not all business owners have the luxury of creating their websites. It is only wise to use social media channels to create business pages because most of the internet population can be found there, especially on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, Youtube, Tumblr, etc.

As convenient and less costly as social media is to manage an online business, there are still many challenges business owners can face. You can post your services and products on different social media channels, but the question is, are you reaching your target audience?

It’s hard to tell whether or not you are reaching your target market through social media, and having a blind eye to the performance of your online activities is not a good trait to have when you are surrounded by competition.

So here are signs that your social media pages do not reach your target market:

You Are Not Getting Any Interaction

The number of interactions you get may not be the best way to determine whether or not you are reaching your target market, but it’s an excellent place to start. It’s only natural for social media users to interact with a page, a post, or a comment that interests them, so if you have less to zero interactions, you may not reach the right audience.

Another reason why you are not getting your desired response to your pages is maybe you are reaching your target audience, but your posts do not catch their attention and do not pique their interests. Quality content is a crucial factor in getting interactions to your social media pages because it’s the primary key to getting their attention. If your target market consists of young people, then maybe the reason why you are not catching their attention is because of how poorly made your content is.

Young people are drawn to visuals, and having solid and creative visuals for your content will help catch their attention. You can find suitable applications for graphic designing, including graphic designers from Sonary, just in case you don’t know anyone gifted in that department.

No One Has Shown An Interest To Your Products Or Services

Even after being active on your social media pages and you are still not getting inquiries about your products and services, then maybe your target market is not aware that you exist.

Sometimes not getting any interactions doesn’t ultimately equate to losing sales. Many social media users are not fond of interacting publicly, but they work in the background. However, if you are not getting any sales, then it’s a clear indicator that you do not reach the appropriate audience for your social media channels.

You Are Spending Way Too Much On Other Marketing Strategies

It is a fact that marketing strategies are costly. However, when you are spending way too much on marketing strategies and not achieving any of your objectives in return, then your website or social media pages are not adequately reaching your target market.

Your site alone should be enough to get leads for your business, especially when you have social media pages because it’s a free marketing strategy that should easily reach your intended audience. If you are spending way too much on other marketing strategies, then it tells you that your social media pages are not doing what it is expected to do, getting the attention of your target market to drive sales.

You Are Not Getting Any Followers Or Subscribers

One of the easiest ways to determine if you are reaching your target audience is when you gain followers and connections consistently. Most small businesses and blogs can quickly gain followers and subscribers if they have a good start and maintain the momentum strategically. However, if your social media pages are not gaining any followers or subscribers, then it could be that your target market does not know you or has scrolled past you.

Conclusion

If you have social media pages and most or all of the signs are very familiar to you, you may need to start elevating your social media tactics. Maybe the way you introduce your brand does not appeal to your target market, or your products and services are something that does not have a demand nowadays, or maybe you have what it takes to be the next big thing, but your social media strategies are doing its job.

Assess your social media pages and the content you post to figure out the root cause of why you are not reaching your target market. Once you know what’s causing your online existence to be less visible, start from there and slowly build your way up.

The post Signs That Your Social Media Pages Do Not Reach Your Target Market appeared first on SiteProNews.

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a social media app where users can share short videos of themselves. The app is extremely popular with teenagers and young adults.

TikTok’s popularity, especially among young people, has a lot to do with the presence of common celebrities, the super-smart algorithm, and the emphasis on local material like state competitions.

If you are not on TikTok, you are missing out on a huge opportunity to reach a new audience. TikTok has a lot of features focusing on video. Many other platforms are copying from TikTok to engage their users.

Many companies want to kick start their journey on social media, while traditional platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, are overly crowded. TikTok is an attractive choice if you want to target a younger audience, i.e. Gen Z.

Here are 10 east strategies for marketing your business on TikTok in 2022:

1. Create Engaging Content

This looks like a cliche but this is true. TikTok has the highest social media engagement rates per post, leading others like Instagram and Facebook.

The key to success on any social media platform is creating engaging content. On TikTok, this means creating short videos that are creative and entertaining. Think outside the box and be creative with your content. This is what will capture people’s attention and get them to follow you.

On the other hand, you need to also understand your audience and community before you can create content for them. Despite the fact that you want to market your product, how the content can be relevant to your potential customers is the key consideration in this era.

2. Use Hashtags

Hashtags are important on social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok, because they help people find your content. When you use relevant hashtags, your videos are more likely to be seen by people who are interested in what you have to say.

It’s now more important than ever to utilize hashtags as your main keywords when targeting TikTok content videos since Google has indexed them. So the hashtags are not only for users within TikTok to discover your content, it is also serving the purpose of SEO on Google.

When it comes to SEO, we all know how crucial keywords are despite those many SEO tools that can help you rank on Google. If you include relevant keywords in your content, it will make your brand more discoverable.

It’s critical to experiment if you want to boost your TikTok followers. Keep trying different hashtags until you discover the best ones for your brand.

3. Use TikTok Ads

TikTok offers a variety of ad formats that can help you reach your target audience. You can use video ads, brand takeovers, and hashtag challenges to promote your business on TikTok. However, TikTok ads is certainly not a low-cost option.

You can start by creating a TikTok Ads account. After that, you will need to create your ad campaign and select your target audience.

TikTok offers a variety of targeting options, including location, interests, and behaviors.

Once you have created your ad campaign, you will need to create your ad. TikTok offers several ad formats, including video ads, brand takeovers, and hashtag challenges. Choose the format that best fits your goals and budget.

4. Collaborate With Other Users

TikTok is all about collaboration. You can collaborate with other users to create viral videos. This is a great way to reach a new audience and get more people interested in your brand.

Also, collaboration is a good way to get your brand associated with some brands or KOL’s with a value that your brand also shares.

When you collaborate with other users, make sure that you choose people who have a similar target audience as you. This will help ensure that your video is seen by people who are interested in what you have to say.

5. Use Analytics

TikTok offers a variety of analytical tools that can help you track your progress and see how your videos are performing. These tools can help you optimize your content strategy and ensure that your videos are reaching the right people.

Make sure to check your TikTok analytics regularly so that you can see how your videos are performing and make changes if necessary.

One of the important sections is called “follower insights”. It gives you information about the people who follow you, including their age, gender, location, and interests. This information can be very valuable in helping you create content that appeals to your target audience.

Another section is “follower activity” where you are able to see your followers’ activities by the hour and by day. This information can help you determine the best time to post your videos.

6. Redirect Your Audience to Your Website

Your website is still one of the best assets for your brand on the internet. You should still try to use your TikTok profile to drive traffic to your website.

Make sure to include a link to your website in your bio and in the description of your videos. You can also include links to specific pages on your website in the comments section of your videos.

A company’s website gives clients confidence. Not only that, but when you create a website funnel for your target audience, you establish your authority. Analyze how your consumers engage with your brand using the data from your website funnel.

7. Experiment With Different Content Formats

TikTok offers a variety of content formats that you can use to promote your brand.

Some of the most popular content formats include challenges, lip syncs, and comedy sketches. Challenging other users to do something is a great way to get people interested in your brand.

You can also try lip syncing to popular songs or doing comedy sketches. Be creative and experiment. Many influencers have tried various content formats before they have a viral video,

8. Cross-promote Your Video Contents

It’s critical to cross-promote your video material in your TikTok SEO plan. Don’t squander the number of followers you have on other social media platforms.

Post your TikTok stuff on platforms where you’ve established a following audience. Post your TikTok material on Twitter and Facebook if you have one. Encourage your followers to go to your video by inviting them to do so.

Include a link to your TikTok profile in your email signature. If you have a blog, make sure to include a link to your TikTok profile in your author bio. All these will have a multiplier effect.

9. Add Subtitles to Your Videos

Subtitles are an essential part of any video content, especially if you’re targeting a global audience.

TikTok offers automatic subtitles for all videos in English, but you can also add subtitles in other languages.

This is a great way to reach a wider audience and get more people interested in your brand.

10. Post Regularly

TikTok tends to reward those who post regularly on the platform.

If you want to grow your following and get more views, make sure to post videos on a regular basis.

It’s a good idea to post at least one video per day, but you can also post multiple videos in a day if you have the time and resources.

Wrap Up

These are just some of the things you can do to improve your TikTok marketing strategy for 2022. If you follow these tips, you should see a significant increase in your TikTok following and engagement.

It’s only a matter of time until your business has an online presence. As more brick-and-mortar companies put resources online, consumers’ purchasing habits will change.

To stay on top of the game, you need to increase your online visibility. Other than pushing hard on a budding social media like TikTok, you will need an optimized website and an SEO strategy in place. You can even follow a SEO audit checklist to see how well your website is performing.

It is easy to kick start your TikTok journey. What don’t you just get started now? Leave a comment and tell us how it goes!

The post 10 Easy TikTok Strategies for 2022 appeared first on SiteProNews.

Brands that fail to take advantage of social media aren’t just missing out on potential growth — they also run the risk of looking silly, outdated, or ignorant to their audience. And the truth is that you can easily pivot your strategies by focusing on one specific type of content.

Social media videos.

We could start this off with a whole laundry list of statistics about why video is such a big part of a good social media strategy. But for the sake of getting right to the valuable information, let’s limit ourselves to just four stats.

1. 25% of marketers say live video is the most effective part of their social strategy. 
2. 50% of social media users prefer video to other forms of content. 
3. 85% of social media users want more videos from brands they follow. 
4. Social media users share 2x the number of videos as any other type of content/post.

There’s really just one takeaway from all of this: Video content is valuable, influential, and basically a requirement for any brand that wants to grow its presence on social media.

4 Popular Types of Social Media Videos

1. Tutorial Videos

Whether you are focused on growing a brand or marketing a product, your social media followers are interested in what you are “selling.” (That’s why they’re following you, after all.)

That interest often leads to curiosity, a desire to learn more about what you do or what you have to offer. Or maybe it becomes a sense of comfort about using your product, which in turn can lead directly to sales, trials, downloads, etc.

A tutorial video can be as easy or as complicated as you like. From installing a basic screen capture software to filming yourself with a product, you can show your followers how to use a specific product or service you offer.

And as one of the most popular types of videos on YouTube, tutorial videos are a reliable and effective option for any social media account.

2. Q&A Videos

According to one study, 81% of consumers go online to research a product or service before they make a purchase. And if you’ve ever searched for information about a product, chances are you spent time checking out FAQs or Q&A videos to help make your decision.

A good Q&A video can serve a few different purposes. On one hand, they offer an easy way to boost audience engagement — you can field questions from followers, host giveaways or challenges, and show people that you care about customers by welcoming user feedback.

On the other hand, Q&A videos also provide an opportunity for you to really humanize yourself and/or your business. Think of a Q&A video as an interview, except you’re allowing your followers to interview you. They’ll get to know you better, and in the process develop a better understanding of what matters to you.

Hopefully, that establishes a sense of trust in you and your social media content.

3. Behind-the-scenes Videos

Speaking of interview-style videos as a way to humanize your business, going behind the scenes is a popular way to pull back the curtain around your brand and your process. And just like Q&A videos, a behind-the-scenes video can introduce yourself, your collaborators, and your brand values.

Social media has rewritten the script for how businesses speak to their customers. Behind-the-scenes videos are a great way to explore your brand and products in a genuine, no-nonsense manner while also presenting those details in a personal, humanized way. 

4. User-generated Videos

User-generated content (UGC) has become a staple of the most popular (and successful) social media channels. Follow your favorite brand on Facebook or Instagram and you’ll most likely find content created by a customer but shared by the brand.

UGC works on a variety of levels. It shows that you’ll reward audience engagement, sharing your platform with the people who are passionate about your product or service. It’s also an easy type of video to make, since it requires little to no effort on your part but you get the benefit of any traffic or excitement that the video generates.

To put that into perspective: 51% of consumers worry that only half of brand-generated content is authentic or genuine. UGC sidesteps this issue by highlighting — or even celebrating — user testimonials, which carries a lot of weight with prospective customers.

Produce Great Social Media Videos With Any Budget

Each of these four popular social media video types can come in different shapes and sizes. A “tutorial video” could be a step-by-step how-to video, or a webinar, or a whiteboard video — the goal is to educate people, but benefit from the accessibility and shareability of a video.

Another great thing about this approach is that most of these video types have a pretty low barrier of entry, even for small businesses. You don’t need a $5,000 YouTube camera to shoot these types of videos, and you don’t even need to hire an editor or videographer to polish the final products.

Things like tutorials, Q&As, and UGC are almost expected to be “rough” or “authentic” in terms of quality. You can shoot these kinds of videos on a smartphone, because what matters most is how the content is presented rather than the visual quality or production value.

Viewers will go into a specific type of video with certain expectations. People want to learn something in a tutorial, they want to get answers from a Q&A, and they want to hear honest testimonials from a UGC video.

And by meeting those expectations — and doing it in a way that engages, entertains, and educates the viewer — you can take full advantage of video content on your social media channels.

The post 4 Types of Video Content You Need to Grow a Social Media Channel in 2022 appeared first on SiteProNews.

However, the increase in the number of social media platforms and the evolution of the functionalities gives rise to various challenges for businesses. In order to get a higher ROI, it is important for brands to recognize and understand the different challenges.

Here are the top 5 social media challenges that brands are facing in recent times. Let’s take a look!

Determining the Right Platform to Focus On

One of the biggest social media challenges for businesses is the determination of the ideal platform to market their brand. They fail to recognize the social media platform that they must invest all their resources and time in.

Often brands think that the most popular platforms are the ones they must leverage. However, in reality, it is a mistake they commit. Popular social media platforms are not always the right choice for your business.

It is important to choose a social media platform that matches the goals of your business. In order to determine the right social media platform for your business, the first thing you must do is identify your target audience. 

Analyzing the demographic data of your target audience, such as age, location, etc., can help in finding out the platforms they use the most. Make sure to target that social media platform where your audience is most likely to spend their maximum time.

You can also take into consideration the kind of content your target audience likes to make the right choice. For instance, you carry out a survey and find that your audience prefers video content more. This is an indication that your brand must leverage platforms like YouTube.

In addition to these, consider your social media goals while making a choice. For instance, if you want to achieve more sales, Facebook ads can be a suitable choice. But if your main goal is to increase brand awareness, testing platforms may help.

Crafting Quality and Engaging Content

The next social media challenge brands are facing is creating high quality and engaging content to post on the different social media platforms. A number of businesses report that crafting high quality content takes a lot of time.

An ideal solution to this problem is to repurpose your existing content and use it for different social media platforms. However, make sure to find and leverage the best-performing content of your brand.

For instance, if you have a 10-minute video content that you posted on YouTube, you can use that content for other platforms. You can easily cut short snippets from the long video and post them on platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram Stories.

You can even think of creating a unique social media post with the information you have collected while making the video. However, in addition to this, you also need to ensure that your team is capable of engaging your target audience with your brand.

Even though creating high-quality content takes time, it is worth it as it can provide you with better returns in the long run. You can reduce your frequency of posting. But make sure to post high-quality, unique, engaging, and authentic content at regular intervals.

Instead of posting on a daily basis, you can think of doing it twice a week at a fixed time. This will help in connecting your target audience with your business better.

Finding New Ideas for Content

Another significant challenge that brands face is that they fail to find new ideas in order to craft content and engage the target audience. As a matter of fact, coming up with a new idea every time is actually a bit tricky.

Especially, when the social media platforms are overcrowded with content, you need to come up with completely unique ideas that make your post stand out. It helps in grabbing the attention of the target audience. However, this is quite more challenging than it seems to be.

In order to overcome this challenge, one of the best solutions is to leverage user-generated content in order to make your pages more engaging. Next, you can think of spending some quality time in researching the top content types that are trending.

This can provide you with some ideas to create new content for social media platforms. Another way to overcome this challenge is to conduct polls on different trending topics on Instagram. You can post your latest blogs on social media platforms like Instagram.

You can post important stats or articles relating to your industry on LinkedIn. You can even highlight the significant milestones of your brand on LinkedIn. You can create engaging graphics and post them on Facebook as well as Instagram.

Once you have a clear idea of what type of content you are planning to create, you need to think about who your target audience will be. This will help in framing your content according to their specific likes, dislikes, and preferences.

This will help in enhancing the experiences of your target audience. Make sure not to create content just for the sake of doing it but as per the specific needs of your audience. Taking a look at your already existing content can also help in coming up with new content ideas.

Creating Content to Generate More Leads

Creating lead-generating social media content is another social media challenge that brands face in recent times. In order to overcome this challenge, the best way is to have a solid CTA that will take your audience to the desired landing page from the social media platform.

For instance, if you have planned a social media campaign that aims at driving higher revenues for a particular product, you will have to create a landing page and add a link to that page on the social media platform.

This will enable you to easily keep track of the number of clicks for each page, thereby allowing you to make necessary changes to the strategy. In case your campaign focuses on increasing sign-ups for your email newsletter, you will create a CTA accordingly.

The CTA you add on your social pages must direct the target audience to sign-up for the email newsletter. However, make sure to create social media ads in such a way that it appears casual and spontaneous.

Measuring ROI

Measuring the ROI of social media campaigns is yet another significant challenge that brands are facing in 2022. Measuring ROI in terms of monetary value is quite easy. However, when it comes to measuring brand awareness or customer satisfaction, it is difficult to quantify.

However, the good news is that there are a number of tools that can help you easily measure the social media ROI. All you need to do is research the best tools that are suitable for your business.

Tools such as Google Analytics can help you easily measure the conversion rates, sign-ups, and traffic of your social media campaigns. You can also track the ROI of your various ad campaigns.

This, in turn, will enable you to analyze and evaluate your social media campaigns in order to make the required changes and effectively enhance the overall outcomes.

Conclusion

These are the 5 biggest social media challenges that global brands are facing in 2022. Now that you know the challenges as well as the potential solutions, overcoming the challenges will be relatively easy.

Invest some quality time in order to brainstorm and come up with solutions to the unique challenges your brand is facing on social media. Leveraging social media in the best possible way can help you increase your ROI and enhance the overall success of your business.

The post 5 Social Media Challenges Brands are Facing in 2022 appeared first on SiteProNews.