Name: Smart Cow Marketing
Price range: $$$

Smiley Face Being Different - Smart Cow Marketing Digital Marketing Agency

Discover 5 Surprising Facts About Digital Marketing

03/01/202402/07/2024 by scmarketing

As the world continually evolves in the digital space at record speed, businesses have to keep up to succeed and grow. Digital marketing is a crucial aspect of modern-day marketing because of its wide reach and cost-effectiveness. However, as much as digital marketing is vital for any business looking to grow, there are still surprising facts that a lot of people do not know. Here, we reveal five things you probably didn’t know about digital marketing.

SEO Is Not Just About Keywords

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a popular digital marketing strategy used to increase the online visibility of a website or web page. Keywords and phrases are the words people use to search for your business online. An example of a keyword or phrase is ‘Florist in Croydon’. Use these keywords and phrases in web content and meta descriptions to improve your ongoing SEO.

However, it’s important to know that it’s not the only aspect of SEO that helps you rank on Google. It’s important to understand that there are over 200 ranking factors, according to Google, used to determine website ranking. Improving mobile optimisation, creating good content, using good images, speeding up pages, and building quality backlinks all help with onsite SEO.

Video is the Future of Digital Marketing

Did you know that video is the future of digital marketing? Studies have shown that video content can increase engagement, improve brand recall, and drive sales. With the rise of social media and the availability of video marketing tools, video content has become a crucial part of any effective digital marketing campaign. It’s important for businesses to take advantage of video marketing to increase their online visibility and attract more customers to their brand.

Email Marketing Is Not Dead

Many people believe that email marketing is dead, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Email marketing is still a relevant digital marketing strategy that has proven to be effective over time. In fact, research shows that email marketing is the most effective channel for customer acquisition and retention. So, if you’re looking to attract more customers or retain your current ones, email marketing is an excellent option to consider.

Social Media Is Not Just For Millennials

Social media has been around for a while now and some people still assume it’s only used by millennials and you need to be on Tik Tok to be in the mix. However, research shows that social media cuts across all demographic groups. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are used by people across different age groups and locations.

As a business it’s important to leverage social media marketing to reach your target audience and build brand awareness. However, it’s paramount to remember to consider which social channels your audience is likely to be using. Don’t just choose a social platform because you’re familiar with it. Really consider where your target audience will be and go find them there.

It's Not Just About Followers, It's About Engagement

Having a large following on social media is great, but it’s not the most important aspect of digital marketing. What’s most important is engagement. Engagement refers to the number of likes, comments, shares, retweets, and clicks that your content receives. It’s vital to create quality, relevant content which engages your audience, helping to build brand awareness, improve customer experience, and drive sales. So rather than focusing only on building your following, focus on creating engaging content that connects with your target audience.

Digital Marketing Expert Croydon

Digital marketing has proven to be an effective and inexpensive way to reach a large audience. However, to be successful at it, you need to keep up with the latest trends and always be willing to adapt. By knowing these facts about digital marketing, you can stay ahead of the competition, build a stronger brand, and drive more sales.

Remember, it’s not about following a one-size-fits-all approach, it’s about creating a customised strategy that works for your business. Talk to our Digital Marketing consultants here in Croydon. We can discuss our range of digital marketing services and help create that tailored online marketing strategy for you to improve your online presence and increase lead generation. 

7 Proven Email Marketing Strategies to Increase ROI

02/02/2024 by scmarketing

Email marketing can be a powerful tool to help businesses get noticed and grow. However, it’s only effective if done right. To make an impact, it’s essential to use engaging, relevant content tailored to your target audience. Here we share seven proven strategies to unlock the power of email marketing and increase your Return on Investment (ROI).

1. Build a Strong Email List

The first step in email marketing is building a strong email list. The quality of your email list is crucial to your success. You want to avoid sending emails to people who are uninterested, outdated, or purchased. Instead, focus on organic ways to gain new subscribers, such as through sign-up forms, events, and giveaways. Make sure the subscribers are fully aware of what to expect from your emails.

2. Segment Your Email List

Segmentation is the practice of dividing your email list into smaller groups based on shared characteristics. This strategy allows you to send more targeted messages, which results in higher engagement and conversion rates. Some ways to segment your list include demographic data, buying behaviour, and email activity. Not only does this improve engagement rates, but it also helps to ensure that your messages are delivered to the right people at the right time.

3. Personalise Your Emails

Personalisation is key to making your subscribers feel valued and understood. Personalised emails have been proven to increase open and click-through rates. Rather than using generic messages, customise your emails to make them more relevant to your subscribers. You can start by using your subscribers’ first names in your emails, but there’s more to personalisation than that. Consider using their behaviour, interactions, or past purchases or tailoring the content to align with their interests so it’s more relevant to them.

4. Use Compelling Subject Lines and Preview Texts

Your subject line and preview text are the first things your subscribers see when they receive an email from you. Make it count. Use compelling headlines that are informative, engaging, and trigger curiosity. Your preview text should provide context, spark curiosity, or offer a clear benefit.

5. A/B Testing

A/B testing is a powerful tool for improving your email marketing ROI. By testing different versions of your emails, you can identify which elements (such as subject lines, CTAs, or content) are most effective at driving engagement and conversion rates. Over time, this allows you to make data-driven decisions that optimize your email campaigns for maximum ROI.

6. Optimise Your Email Design for All Devices

With more than half of all emails now being opened on mobile devices, it’s crucial to optimise your email campaigns for mobile. This means using responsive design, easy to read content, optimising your subject lines and preheaders for smaller screens, having fast loading times and ensuring that your CTAs (calls to action) are clear and easy to tap with a finger. By making it easy for subscribers to engage with your emails on their mobile devices, you’re more likely to see higher levels of engagement and ROI.

7. Automate Your Emails

Automating your email campaigns can be a game-changer for your ROI. By setting up automated workflows based on user behaviour (such as abandoned cart reminders or post-purchase follow-ups), you can deliver more personalised messages that drive conversions. Not only does this save time, but it also helps to build stronger relationships with your subscribers over time.

Embracing the Power of Email Marketing

Email marketing is a powerful tool with significant potential for lead generation and ROI. However, it requires a strategy that considers email list building, segmentation, personalisation, persuasive copy writing, design, and mobile optimisation. It’s essential to test different strategies, analyse, and adjust accordingly to achieve the best results. By following the strategies outlined in this blog post, you can unlock the power of email marketing and drive your business forward.

Improving email open rates

08/18/202202/14/2022 by scmarketing

There’s over 306 billion business and consumer emails sent and received each day and that’s likely to rise to over 376 billion per day by the end of 2025.

So, with constant stream of emails to an inbox, how can your email about your products and services cut through the noise?

Whilst there’s no quick fix, it’s worth remembering that the subject line is the first thing that your recipient will see. So, what would make you open an email?

Whilst the content of your email needs to shine and be relevant to the recipient for further engagement, spend time on the subject line of your email as you have to get your adudience interested in the first place.

Here’s a round up of some great email subject lines that you can tailor and try in your next email marketing campaign.

Offers and promotions

Be big and bold and indicate the great offer or promotion so people can immediately see what they will miss out on otherwise.

NOW ON: UP to 20% Off
LAST DAY to Get 25% Off
FLASH SALE!
Sign up for just £10 per month

But you can also try intrigue.

Are you taking advantage of this?

Ready for the big reveal?

How can you solve challenges?

Think about your target audience and how your products and services can solve their challenges. Then create a subject line that shows that you understand their issues and you are ready to take care of the problem.

How to improve leads for your business
Engaging with prospects is tough – creating video may be the answer
Struggling with generating fresh content? Download our cheat sheet
New Guide: How to create a blog post
Want to be found in search engines? 10 tips to improve Google rankings

Advocates

Case studies and testimonials you receive are priceless. Use them in your marketing from email campaigns through to social media and on your website to really showcase how you have helped customers and clients. When distributing an email, use statements in your subject line to help entice open rates.

See what our clients are saying
We’ve been named leader in customer services
Our top reviewed products from customers like you

Testing your email campaigns

What’s key is testing your email campaigns to see what works best for your audience. You can try an AvB test which sends a percentage of emails split between two subject lines. After a certain period the email platform will determine which subject line had the best open rate and will send to the remainder of the list.

Email campaign creation

Whilst the subject is a key element of your email campaign, there’s a lot of elements to piece together to create a successful campaign.

From building a list through to personalising content and avoiding spam filters, we’ve created tips for setting up your email campaign in an earlier blog.

Email marketing agency Croydon

Smart Cow Marketing can create effective email marketing campaigns for your business, get in touch, and find out how Smart Cow Digital Marketing can transform your business.

12 Email marketing tips for small businesses

02/02/202201/14/2022 by scmarketing

Everyone wants to make their business stand out from the rest, but it takes more than a creative marketing strategy. The success of your small business depends on mastering all aspects of the marketing mix or the “4 P’s”- product, price, place, and promotion.

Email marketing is part of that equation because it can reach your audience directly, wherever they are – on their desktops, laptops, tablets or cell phones, when it’s convenient for them and through their preferred channel. Not to mention that email marketing costs less than some other marketing tactics and you can use the same message for multiple campaigns.

Keep reading for 12 tips to help boost your small business’s email marketing campaign strategies.

1. Build an Email List

Building an email list of potential customers is likely one of the first things you think about when considering email marketing campaigns. In fact, email marketing is all about building that list and keeping those potential clients interested in your small business.

If you already have a list of clients’ names, great! If not, don’t worry. There are a lot of ways to build a quality email list without spamming contacts. Here are a few ways to collect email addresses:

Offer a freebie or special discount in exchange for an email address
Use social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to promote sign-up forms
Encourage customers to sign up when they check out from an online store or place an order
Promote an email sign-up link on your website
Set up auto responders, which automatically send follow-up emails to anyone who subscribes or contacts you through your website. This way you can stay in touch with potential customers without the time commitment of writing personal emails.

2. Identify Your Target Audience

Before you begin strategising marketing campaigns, you must identify your target audience and their preferences. By creating different email campaigns based on the interests and needs of each group, businesses can reach out to new customers while keeping loyal fans engaged.

For example, if your business sells natural skincare products, you might want to send a campaign geared toward those interested in eco-friendly habits, including green or yoga living.

On the other hand, if your company offers business advice and professional services, potential clients may be interested in learning about new Tax advice or incentives for hiring employees.

3. Be Informative

One of the best ways to utilise email campaigns is to inform your customers about new products, sales, or updates. Customers are always looking for deals and bargains; email marketing can help you get in front of the right people at the right time.

Not only should your emails inform customers, but they should also give them what they want – fast!

4. Be Personal

Email marketing is one of the few internet marketing tools available to you that enables you to be personal in your company’s interactions with customers. You can, and should, let your voice come through when you write emails to customers.

When sending out emails from your small business, think about personalising your email campaigns to help build trust and credibility with your customers by showing them that you’re real – not some automated bot.

5. Test Your Campaigns

Before you set up your first email campaign, remember that there are no rules for this type of marketing strategy. By testing different messages, subject lines and frequency of emails, you can send out campaigns to small groups in order to optimise the content before launching a large-scale email marketing campaign.

Your business should test new ideas and strategies with a small group of clients or customers before sending them to the entire list. Consider asking for feedback from these early subscribers about which emails were most useful, interesting, etc., in order to make your future campaigns even more successful.

In addition, you can schedule different types of email campaigns to make the most of your marketing efforts. For example, you could offer a free product or service in exchange for an email address and send out newsletters weekly which include sales and up-and-coming products.

As with any marketing campaign, goals and objectives should drive the frequency and type of emails that are sent. If your small business has a limited budget, consider sending out informative emails monthly rather than bi-weekly.

6. Include Links/Buttons

Email marketing campaigns are most effective when they include links to company websites with additional information about new products and services. You can also include your contact information to encourage new business and enquiries.

Including links or buttons within the body of an email is an effective way of communicating with customers without having to worry about spam filters blocking out links that direct visitors off your site.

7. Take Advantage Of Mobile Devices

Ensure that your emails are compatible with all types of mobile devices and offer a web version if necessary.

8. Include A Call To Action

When writing emails to customers, remember to include a call-to-action within the body of the email to generate interest in your product or service. Adding a call-to-action button within the body of your emails will encourage customers to do business with you right away instead of visiting another website.

9. Remember Your Purpose

If your company is sending out emails for marketing purposes, keep your goals in mind when writing and setting up your campaigns. Your emails should be informative, easy to read and accessible to anyone who receives it.

10. Avoid Spam Filters

Spam filters are designed with the intention of keeping email marketers out of users’ inboxes, which means that important emails might end up in junk folders instead. To avoid this problem, make sure you avoid spammy words or phrases, use clean HTML and include opt-out options within the email.

11. Use A Professional Email Address

When sending out emails from your small business, be sure to create a separate account with an easy-to-remember address for your company instead of using the same one that you use for personal correspondence. This will help to avoid confusion and keep your professional email from being flagged as spam.

12. Track Your Results

Once you’ve launched and finished a successful email marketing campaign, track the results of your efforts by monitoring open rates and click-through rates. This type of tracking will allow you to discover which campaigns were the most effective at reaching your target audience.

Even after you’ve launched a campaign, keep an eye on the results to ensure that everything is running smoothly and efficiently. If certain elements are not working correctly or generating interest, make any necessary changes to improve your email marketing process. While it might take some time to perfect a campaign, the time spent is worth it in the end.

Email marketing agency Croydon

Smart Cow Marketing can create effective email marketing campaigns for your business, get in touch, and find out how Smart Cow Digital Marketing can transform your business.