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Can you believe it’s September already? Nope, neither can we! As we dive headfirst into Q4 planning, we’ve been having some great chats with clients. From what’s next for social media (will the updates ever slow down?) to the latest in – you guessed it – AI, there’s always something to keep us on our toes. But, while we’ve been working on some exciting new website builds, the question on everyone’s mind seems to be: “Is SEO still worth it?”
We get it: with all the buzz around social media and AI changing how people find information online, it’s tempting to think SEO might be taking a backseat. Spoiler alert: it absolutely isn’t! In fact, SEO isn’t just surviving – it’s thriving these changes. Let’s break down why SEO should still be a key player in your business strategy in 2024.
1. Your Customers Are Still Searching
Despite all the noise from social media, search engines remain the go-to resource for people looking for information. If you want your business to be visible when potential customers are actively searching for what you offer, good SEO is non-negotiable.
The twist? Search behaviour is evolving. People are getting more specific with their queries, using longer phrases and questions. To stay ahead of the curve, you need to target these long-tail keywords and create content that directly answers those niche questions. Not only does this boost your rankings, but it also brings in traffic that’s ready to engage with your brand.
2. Local SEO Drives Footfall
If you have a brick-and-mortar store or cater to a local area, local SEO is your best friend. The rise in “near me” searches and location-specific queries means people are actively looking for businesses like yours.
However, local SEO isn’t just about being found; it’s about standing out. By optimising your local presence – think up-to-date Google Business Profile, glowing reviews and easy-to-find contact details – you’re making it easier for nearby customers to choose you over the competition.
3. SEO Builds Trust and Authority
Showing up in the top search results is like getting a virtual high-five from Google. It signals that you’re a trusted authority in your field, which is especially important in industries where credibility is everything.
Plus, optimising for SEO often leads to a better overall user experience on your website. Faster load times, mobile optimisation and quality content all contribute to a site that not only ranks well, but also earns the trust of your visitors. Win-win!
4. Content and SEO Go Hand-in-Hand
Gone are the days when SEO was about keyword stuffing and link schemes! Today, it’s all about creating high-quality content that genuinely helps your audience. When you align your content strategy with your SEO goals, you end up with a website that’s not just optimised for search engines, but also truly valuable to your visitors.
By focusing on content that answers your audience’s questions and meets their needs, you’re not just improving your rankings – you’re attracting more qualified leads. These are the people who are already interested in what you offer, making them more likely to convert into loyal customers.
5. SEO Offers Long-Term ROI
Unlike paid ads, which stop working the moment you stop paying, SEO is the gift that keeps on giving. A well-optimised site with strong content can continue to draw in traffic and generate leads long after your initial investment.
Think of SEO as a marathon, not a sprint. It requires time and consistent effort, but the long-term payoff can be huge. With SEO, you’re building a foundation for sustained growth and success.
SEO in 2024 and Beyond
SEO isn’t just still relevant; it’s essential! It keeps you visible when it matters most and ensures you’re reaching your target audience in a meaningful way.
But remember, SEO isn’t a one-and-done strategy. It’s constantly evolving, and staying on top of the latest trends is crucial. That’s where we come in. We’re not just here to help you keep up – we’re here to help you lead the pack.
Ready to take your SEO game to the next level? Let’s chat about how we can tailor a strategy that works for your unique business needs. Drop us a line – we’re excited to help your business thrive on search engines!
It’s that time again: time to create some content! You know the drill: you’re sitting at your desk, coffee in hand, ready to tackle your social media posts for the month – then suddenly, your mind goes blank. Yep, we’ve all been there!
But, the good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. At ie instinct, we live and breathe all things Social Media Marketing, meaning we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves to help you break out of that content rut and start creating posts that’ll have your followers coming back for more.
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill suggestions – we’re talking about tried-and-tested tactics that’ll help you connect with your audience, showcase your brand personality and keep your feed fresh and engaging.
Get ready to say goodbye to creator’s block and hello to a vibrant, engaging social presence!
1. Tune into trending topics
In a world where feeds are constantly refreshing and attention spans are shorter than ever, staying on top of trends is crucial. But where do you start? You could try setting up Google Alerts for keywords relevant to your industry, follow industry-specific hashtags on platforms like X and LinkedIn or even join industry groups on LinkedIn and Facebook to stay in the loop. Just remember to always align trends with your brand voice and values before jumping on board!
2. Peek behind the curtain
People love feeling like insiders, so give them that exclusive access they crave. This could be snippets of your team’s day-to-day, walking through your product development process or giving a virtual tour of your workspace. This kind of content humanises your brand and helps build a stronger connection with your audience.
3. Harness the power of nostalgia
Nostalgia is a powerful tool in social media marketing – it helps people connect with your brand on a whole new level. But you don’t have to limit yourself to sharing old photos (although those can be great too!). Share your company’s history, revisit past campaigns (just like Coca-Cola have again recently with their ‘Share a Coke’ campaign) or showcase how your industry has evolved over time. This type of content not only provides interesting insights, but also helps position your brand as an experienced player in your field.
4. Get visual
Eye-catching visuals are no longer nice-to-haves – they’re essential for stopping that scroll. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a professional graphic designer to create content that stops thumbs in their tracks! Infographics are a great way to show information in an easily digestible format. Got some impressive stats about your industry or product? Turn them into a colourful, shareable carousel.
And let’s not forget about video! Short videos or reels, whether educational, entertaining or both, are continuing to dominate every platform. From quick tips related to your product or service to those behind-the-scenes peeks we mentioned, video is a no-brainer for getting your content in front of new eyes.
5. Celebrate the little things
Everyone loves a good celebration (we know we do)! From National Donut Day to World Emoji Day, quirky holidays can be a fun way to connect with your audience on a lighter note. We recommend looking for social media holidays that are relevant to your industry, and thinking about how you can tie them back to your brand in a meaningful (or entertaining) way. For example, if you’re a tech company, you might want to mark World Password Day or Computer Security Day.
Final word: How to create effective social media content
And there you have it! A bunch of content ideas to freshen up your content calendar. Remember, the key to great social media content is to mix it up and stay authentic to your brand voice – don’t be afraid to try new things, keep an eye on your analytics to see which content works best, and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Still feeling a bit overwhelmed? Fear not – we’re here to support you with all things social media! So if you’d love some friendly backup from an experienced partner, be sure to drop us a line here or via our socials.
And hey, while you’re here, why not grab our free Social Media Content Calendar? It’s packed with daily prompts, holiday reminders and space for your own brilliant ideas. Get in touch here to grab yours and let your social media content shine!
Ah, Social Media Management. It’s like trying to tame a digital dragon – it’s exciting, but boy oh boy, can it breathe fire! As the social media landscape changes faster than a TikTok trend, so do the challenges and opportunities that come with its management. What worked last month might not cut it today (yep, a lot can happen in 30 days!), algorithms are constantly changing and people’s online habits are always shifting. Basically, there’s a lot to keep up with – especially when you’re busy keeping your business afloat.
So if you’re thinking, “How am I supposed to keep up with it all?!”, that’s where we come in: your remote Social Media Specialists. We’re not talking just sprinkling a few posts here and there, oh no! We’re talking a full Social Media Strategy that can drive real business results. But, why exactly do you need us in your corner? We’ve broken it down into 5 reasons why your business could benefit from expert Social Media Support.
1. You want to stay ahead of platform changes
As we know, social media platforms love to keep us on our toes. One day, everything’s smooth sailing. The next? Algorithm change alert!
As Social Media Experts, we’re always on top of the latest changes and trends. When Instagram drops a new feature or Meta does a 180, we’re already 10 steps ahead, turning potential pitfalls into golden opportunities for your brand.
For example, when Instagram introduced Reels, we quickly embraced this format as part of our clients’ strategies, helping them reach new audiences and increase engagement. We’re also partial to sharing a few ourselves, which you can check out on our profile!
2. You want to share impactful content
It’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly trying to churn out content that’s engaging, relevant and resonates with your audience. But, from our experience, it’s not just about quantity – quality and consistency are key to building and maintaining an engaged audience.
Our Content Management skills mean you’ll have a steady stream of posts that tell your brand story and have the power to stop the scroll. We handle everything from eye-catching visuals to compelling copy, using a tailored content calendar – that’s right, made just for you – to maintain a consistent posting schedule, keeping your brand fresher than a mojito on a hot summer’s day (oops, now we fancy a drink!).
3. Your ad spend doesn't have a great ROI
With so many targeting options and bidding strategies to navigate, advertising on social media can feel a bit like a maze. And without the guidance of social media specialists, budgets can quickly go to waste on ads that don’t deliver.
With our expertise in audience targeting and ad optimisation, you can rest assured your campaigns will be fine-tuned for maximum impact and budget-friendliness. We’ll work with you to set clear goals for each campaign, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic or generating leads. From there, we’ll craft ad content that speaks directly to your target audience.
Oh, and we’ll also keep a constant eye on your campaigns by analysing performance data and making real-time adjustments to boost results, so you can really get more bang for your buck.
4. You need help turning data into action
We don’t just collect data, we crack the code, providing you with clear, actionable insights about your social media performance – and use this information to continuously refine your strategy.
We go beyond basic metrics such as likes and followers – we dive deep into all the data we can get our hands on, be it engagement rates, click-throughs and conversions, to get a full picture of your social media performance. We’ll then whip up custom reports that focus on the metrics that matter most to your business.
But of course, we don’t just stop at reporting! We turn these insights into solid recommendations for improving your strategy. This might mean switching up your content mix, changing posting times or tweaking who you’re targeting. Whatever your data’s telling us, we listen and do what’s best for your business.
5. You don't have time to manage everything Social Media
Great social media management is more than just posting. It involves engaging with your community, constantly monitoring trends and handling any PR hiccups among a bunch of other surprises – which can be a full-time gig in itself!
From content calendars to performance tracking, our all-in-one Social Media Management services aim to make your social presence shine. We respond to comments and messages quickly, keep tabs on conversations happening in your industry and are prepared to handle crisis management when needed.
Think of us as an extension of your marketing team: versatile, reliable and always here when you need us!
Ready to take your Social Media to the next level?
So, what do you say? If you’re itching to take your social media to new heights, we’re always happy to chat about how our Social Media Support services can help your business flourish. Get in touch here and let’s start making some social media magic together!
