1. Amazon

Amazon is the brainchild of Jeff Bezos who built it from scratch. He made it to the top with Amazon, to be the world's richest person as per 'The World's Billionaires List' by Forbes. Founded in 1994 at a Garage in Seattle, Amazon is now leading the online shopping industry with its outstanding quality of products and services.

You will find a massive range of products on its website and mobile app. They have most of the household or office products listed on their website that you might need. It is the largest company on earth in terms of revenue.

2. eBay

Founded in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar at San Jose, eBay is one of the biggest players in the e-commerce space. It was one of those companies who made it big during the dot-com bubble.

One thing that separates eBay from other e-Commerce websites is that it not only facilitates Business-to-Customer sales. Also, it has the customer-to-customer sales feature where people can sell their used items as well.

3. Walmart

Doug McMillan founded Walmart in 1962 at Rogers, Arkansas. They started with chains of retail stores across the US but soon launched their online portal as well. Walmart also acquired all or significant shares of some good companies such as Jet.com, Moosejaw, Flipkart, etc. over the years to extend their wings.

Walmart is well-known for its wide range of products at big discount prices. Walmart even emphasizes on its USP of low rates for any item in their marketing campaigns.

4. Target.com

Target Corporation started its operations with departmental stores in 1902. It is one of the oldest corporations in the US who has been doing well for over 100 years. In 2018, it was at the 38th rank in the Fortune 500 list of corporations in the US.

They are more focused on providing buyers with trending products at an affordable and low cost than selling low-priced items. It makes them a better choice amongst young people than that of Walmart.

5. Etsy

It is one of the unique e-Commerce platforms where buyers can purchase handicraft as well as factory-made items. It is also well known for the vintage products listed on it by sellers all over the world. The sellers are also provided with individual storefronts where they can register their products for a fee of 20 cents per listing.

Founded in 2005 by Josh Silverman at Brooklyn, New York City, Etsy has been leading the global handicraft and vintage products industry.

6. Wish.com

Founded by two former programmers at Yahoo and Google; Wish.com is another top choice for e-Commerce buyers across the globe. They have raised over $1B in total funding from many top Venture Capitalist firms until now and made it quite a success story.

You will not only find products from small businesses there. There are also products listed by manufacturers on Wish.com which makes the price of some items to be dirt cheap.

7. Costco.com

Costco is a US corporation who facilitates a chain of warehouse clubs which is members-only, but they have a website for online shopping as well. Founded in 1983 in Seattle, they were the second largest retailer in the globe in 2015, just after Walmart.

They are known for their items at a meager price when bought in bulk quantities, but as mentioned above, it needs annual membership to purchase in bulk from them.

Bottom Line

All in all, the selection of the e-Commerce website from where you might want to purchase your products will depend upon the type of product you want to buy. For instance, if you're going to purchase handicraft items, the best choice would be Etsy rather than others.

Nonetheless, Amazon is typically the best choice of most of the buyers around the world due to their fast delivery and excellent customer support. Not to mention, they never fail with delivering high-quality products as well.

This article was updated 5-10-22.

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The Importance of Youtube Subscribers in a Nutshell

Many people consider YouTube to be a search engine and storage for different videos. But, surprisingly, this is a social platform with a very strong community. It is highly dependent on the social activity of users. After Google bought YouTube, every owner of a Google account ( who might be basically using it for Gmail or Docs) automatically gets an account on YouTube too. This fact made dwelling on this platform easier and more pleasant for users.

And knowing this, it’s obvious that people are the most valuable resource for YouTubers. Subscribers define the rating of a blog as for algorithms of the platform, as for other users. A bigger number means popularity and profit ( say hello to ads and monetization). People are a lever that makes the growth happen, so grossing a large number of subs on YouTube is always an ultimate goal.

Social Activity and Success of the Blog

Another aspect that rules the world of YouTube is the engagement and interaction between the blogger and his audience. The more action happens in your channel the better is your rate not only on YouTube itself but on Google too. In the latest years, Google includes YouTube videos in search results. And the main criteria that provide such options are proper keywords that you add to your title and video description, and the rating you achieve through likes, comments, and shares.

And now, we shall explain what things you have to keep in your mind before creating your channel.

The Potential of the Niche

Before you start the channel on YouTube, look through the fresh trends of the platform. Explore the channels and personalities behind the most popular videos. Also, monitor what topics are the most interesting to the audience. Having this experience collected, it will be easier to make plans and adjust your content to what users want to see.

Finding the right niche to occupy is hard, yet worth the effort. Remember that popular themes like food, travels, or beauty require more deep research and lots of planning because these are crowded. So you will have to find something unique and specific to your channel, to get yourself to the same shelf as your favorite YouTubers.

Manners and Expression

Another point of your research is the way you must behave yourself. Look carefully at how different YouTubers encounter different reactions from the public with their manner of speech and positioning. See what behavior gets a more positive vibe and where subscribers demonstrate more activity. Don't forget that haters are not absolute evil. To nail the black PR, you must know for sure where to draw the line to your provocations. Constructive criticism in the comment section of your reference bloggers is something that will help you to avoid mistakes.

Entertaining Your Youtube Subscribers

Watch carefully, what are the hottest trends on YouTube. Activities that provide any kind of interaction with the viewers are a huge lever for increasing the rates. So knowing what people like to do the most would be a nice idea. On YouTube, due to the specific of the platform, the direct conversation between a blogger and his audience is possible only through comments, which is why to pay attention to these kinds of activities:

• Questions. Ask what your audience thinks about your video. This method makes your viewers feel involved and their opinion - valuable.
• Encourage people to subscribe and like your videos. Calls to action from you are good reminders to do that
• Give your audience an opportunity to suggest the topic for your new films.
• Reply to the comments people leave under videos and start discussions that can generate more replies from users

The complexity of communication between you and your audience should stop you from having user-generated content. You can always add some screen time to your films and show how much you appreciate the creations of your followers.

What are the Main Features that Define your Target Audience?

Before you start producing and uploading your content, you must clearly understand who will be receiving your message. There are many aspects that must be counted in when you form the community of your channel:

• Age
• Occupation
• Gender
• Profession
• Hobbies and interests

These are the main things to consider when you build up the task and plan for your growth. If you hit the interests of your target group accurately, you will quickly gain rating and recognition on the platform.

Distinction Between True Criticism and Trolling

When you become a blogger, you must realize that you are now a public person. So even before you begin your career, you should spend some time observing the behavior of people in the comments of other bloggers. The goal of that is to learn what is constructive and helpful to you even if it is not too pleasant to read, and what is pointless and stupid aggression. So here are a few tips for you that will help you to understand where is sour truth and where is dumb hate.

• Advice that is given with goodwill usually does not contain any personal accusations
• Trolls often try to offend not only you but your audience as well
• Explicit language is usually a mark of trolling

The key rule to remember in any situation where you meet trolling is that you must not engage in destructive arguing and negativity, because it can decrease your ratings before you know it.

And as a pleasant bonus for you, we have gathered the most useful tips for gaining subscribers from scratch.

1. Use cross-platform promotion to secure that your loyal fans from other networks come by
2. Post regularly. Consistency is vital for YouTube because even the best content can be neglected if it comes out without a certain schedule. If something unpredictable happens and you cannot maintain the regularity, find time to shoot an explanation and apology to your viewers.
3. Add a trailer to your channel. This feature is like a small presentation of your personality and videos. It catches the attention easily and helps an occasional user to make a decision to stay on your page.
4. Produce incredible thumbnails. This small picture is the first thing that a potential viewer sees when he finds your video. So it has to be a fine promo for your film.
5. Unite your videos into playlists. Simple and elegant method to increase your rates.
6. Comment on other films on YouTube. Sharing your opinions and experience can help you to find a like-minded crowd that will eagerly follow you.
7. Work on your titles. Include the most relevant keywords to your niche and learn the art of making headlines
8. Always stick to your prominent topics. Changing the niche can cause the loss of subscribers.
9. Keep an eye on the hottest news in your industry and on YouTube. Highlighting the trends first will drive the interest of the new public to you, as people want to find out new things faster.
10. Whatever happens, be yourself. Sincerity and honesty are fine qualities in real life and in the online images too. Your viewers will always know if your words are not true. So keep it real at the limit you find comfortable and keep going.

All the best!

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Hosting a website is not as difficult as you might imagine. You won’t need to have any experience or know-how to code or configure the server. Everything technical is taken care of for you, though there are some hosting options, such as a VPS (virtual private server) where you will need some technical knowledge to get things working.

There are thousands of different hosting companies operating all over the world, that offer a complete range of hosting solutions. There are several different types of hosting available, and in this article, we will look through them, as well as provide you with an explanation of everything you need to know about hosting your own website.

What do you need?

There are three basic things you will need. They are your website, the domain name, and web hosting. Your website will obviously be the site you have built or will be building. There are many ways in which you can build a website, with the most popular being through the use of a CMS (content management system) such as WordPress, which is the most popular website builder in the world.

Your domain name will be the address of your website. It is what people will type in when they want to visit your site. There is a range of domain extensions available such as .com, .org and country-level domains such as .co.uk and .fr. Which name and extension you use for your website is entirely up to you.

Your hosting is what you use to host your website. Depending on the type of website that you have, or will be building, then you will choose the hosting option most suited for your requirements.

The different types of hosting

As mentioned previously, there are a number of different hosting options available. Which one you use will depend on your website, but for most people starting out, the shared hosting option is the most practical and affordable.

If you want to check out some excellent web host comparisons, then pop over to the Fortune Lords website where you’ll find lots of helpful information. Below we will look through the various hosting options you’ll find available at the majority of hosting companies.

Shared Hosting

This is the most popular hosting option, as it is relatively cheap when compared to other options. Shared hosting, as the name suggests, is where people are sharing the resources of the server that they are using. This means that there are limits to the amount of disc space, data transfer, domains, and email accounts that you can use and create. Most hosts will offer a choice of shared hosting packages with varying limitations on the server resources.

Shared hosting requires no technical knowledge or experience, and most hosts will use the cPanel management system, which is an extremely easy-to-use administration panel to control and manage your hosting account.

VPS Hosting

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is similar to shared hosting, but in this case, you are able to run your own virtual server using allocated resources provided by the web host. VPS hosting will provide you with greater resources than those from shared hosting, so this is a better hosting option for those who are running medium-sized businesses or e-shops with a reasonable amount of traffic to the sites.

Users will need to have some basic experience in running a server, and they are not the best option for a beginner, who may find things a little difficult to get to grips with.

Dedicated Hosting

This is the big daddy of web hosting, where you have an entire server, and all of its resources, for yourself. You will be the only one using the server, so you won’t need to worry about other users using your resources. With a dedicated server, you can install your own software and operating systems, and have much greater power and performance than any other type of hosting. Dedicated servers come in a range of options, so if required, you could have an extremely powerful one.

You will need to have technical knowledge in order to use and maintain a dedicated server. There are some hosts that do offer managed dedicated servers for those who are not so experienced or technical, but these come at a higher cost.

What is the right type of hosting for me?

In most cases, the shared hosting option will be the most suitable option, especially for those who are just starting out in the world of websites and hosting. It’s an option that requires no technical knowledge, and where all technical aspects of the server are managed entirely by the web host. Shared hosting is the best choice for new websites or those that don’t have a huge amount of traffic.

If you are running a website that is large such as an e-commerce site or an educational website with courses and members, then you’ll most likely need something a little more powerful, which is where VPS hosting would be ideal. But for those with a large amount of traffic, then a dedicated server might be a better option.

If you are unsure about which web hosting package to use, then simply speak to the host. Explain to them your dilemma and let them know a little bit about your website. In most cases, they will be able to suggest the best option for you based on your requirements.

One thing to check with any potential web host is the ability to upgrade your hosting account. Maybe you will start on a shared hosting package, but after a year or so, you see that you require more resources, so you will want to know that you can upgrade your hosting account with little or no disruption at all to your website.

Some concluding thoughts

Hosting your website is not a difficult thing. It’s not something you need to stress or worry about. It’s a relatively simple process, and your web host will always be on hand to guide you through the process or help with any problems that you face.

Just make sure that the web host you work with is one that offers a good selection of hosting options, has fair pricing, and above all, offers a good level of customer support.

The post The Newbie Guide to Web Hosting: What You Need to Know appeared first on RELEVANCE.

Ways Content Creation Can Get You a Dream Job

For a start, content creation is a way for you to put your expertise into writing. This means that you don't have to be a skillful writer at first to get started. It will be the hours and years you put into practice that will boost your creativity and amp up your competencies.

In a gist, content doesn't only mean articles or blogs. You can also create videos, infographics, case studies, white papers, and ebooks. And by creating a variety of these content types regularly, you can reap the following benefits for your career and get your dream job:

• Develop and promote your writing skills. Professional correspondence is essential in any career. And you can start developing or maintaining your command of any language if you create content more frequently.
• Learn new skills. As you create content relevant to your niche, you'll also learn to use other tools other than the industry-specific ones you usually use. If you opt to start a blog, for instance, you can also learn basic website management skills and SEO. Or if you are planning to create videos and graphics, you'll spend more time editing pictures and clips using Photoshop and Adobe Premiere. You can include these tools and skills on your CV. Or better yet, create an online portfolio that features the content you create.
• Start and nurture your online presence. Try using Google to search your name. What are the items on the results page? Did you get a mix of search results that includes info about you and some other people you don't know? If yes, your online presence needs a good boost. And you can do that by creating content with your name on them. That way, you can boost your creativity, improve your online visibility, and create an excellent digital footprint.
• Show your expertise. Submitting a CV or résumé is a great way to tell your employer about what you do. But you can also show them what you can do through the content you create. An online portfolio might be what you need to demonstrate your expertise. If you're an engineer, for instance, you can create infographics, videos, and articles about important statistics and trends in your industry.
• Build a global network. Creating a personal website or video channel allows you to build a community of followers, industry leaders, and potential employers. Then, sharing your portfolio of published content is another effective way to make your work visible to a global audience.
• Control and promote your personal brand. Yes, you may also create content for your employers. But these materials will always contain the company's brand. If you're planning to attract your dream job, you must first have the grit to show the real you. You can do this by creating your own content that will showcase your personal brand, especially your advocacies and values.

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Tools for Content Creation

Getting your dream job might be a long journey. But you'll get there. By committing yourself to create content that's relevant to your industry, you can stand out online. If you are now excited to get started, one or more of these content creation tools might be handy:

1. WordPress, Medium, LinkedIn, or Wix – These are the popular blogging platforms you should try.
2. YouTube or Vimeo – These platforms are perfect for publishing videos.
3. Behance – The perfect place for you to showcase your visual designs, such as pictures, illustrations, and digital drawings.
4. Canva, Filmora, or Adobe Creative Suite – These tools will help you edit pictures, create a collage, or make infographics.
5. Evernote – This is a note-taking app that lets you integrate notes with pictures and videos taken from the web for reference or story source.
6. Hootsuite – This is an app that allows you to share your content across multiple social media channels. You can also create social media status updates in bulk and set a schedule for each item to be shared.

Remember, visibility is important in attracting your dream employer. Just have a little patience and desire to learn and boost your creativity by creating content that's compelling and authentic.

The post How Content Creation Can Land You a Dream Job appeared first on RELEVANCE.

1. Budget Review

While more income is coming in than going out, that doesn't mean your budgeting is perfect. Sit down, and review your expenditures. A financial adviser could assess it with you, offering tips on how to cut costs or identify areas where you are overspending or losing. In addition, reconsider your utility use. Change fixtures to be more environmentally friendly. Updated light bulbs, for example, may save you on electricity and overall replacement costs.

2. Customer Service Improvement

Seek a reputation for being loyal and helpful. That comes from the people who pick up the phones or who greet others at the desk. These employees should be consistently happy, ready to serve, and patient. You don't want to grab the phone quickly, rush through an issue and dismiss it. That would show a lack of concern. An answering service could assist in this regard, permitting you to continue your job while someone else aids the clients. The information gets relayed back to you. Simply respond at a feasible time where you can listen and address the questions or issues.

3. Mission Statement

Customers can often tell when a location is only about the payment, and this can be a turn-off at times. Consider how you want workers to interact with clientele or in the office setting. List out at least 5 traits that you think should be demonstrated at every service. Then, write out a statement that shares these ideas. Not only is this a promise to your customer base, but it's also a guideline for people who work for you.

4. Philanthropy

Showing heart may gain some projects; plus, it shows the kindness and generosity that you have. In essence, it's a big thank you for the community support. Host a fundraiser, support a local team, or get involved in regional activity. Usually, you get a sign placed in the location, or you can hang one up in your facility. It may seem small, but it's exposure.

5. Develop Repeat Sales

Right now you have people coming to you. How frequently is that happening? Are they purchasing things again, or is this a one-time event? Set a goal for how much you want in return gigs. For example, an HVAC company may gain repetitive contracts from other corporations. Perhaps you completed a major emergency repair to their satisfaction. The manager may have called you out again for a tune-up. Could you possibly create a deal where your crew handles all of their HVAC needs? This could be a long-term contract for all of the locations. For homeowners, you might offer two-year specials, reducing the overall cost by a little in order to pick up guaranteed checkups.

6. Create  Your Own Product

Stand out from the competitors by having something that they simply don't. This novelty drives others to you. Consider the limitations of what you do and what would make it better. Innovation could cost you some at first, but if you could offer a unique creation that functions better or lasts longer than in the long run this investment may pay off.

7. Go Online

Move online with a website that is informative and easy to navigate. Much of the younger generation lives on phones or computers. It's much simpler to complete an internet search than to go to a phone book or look in the mail. Along with the platform, begin to investigate SEO writing as this boosts your business's placement on the pages. Going online has its perks, such as being able to make money online.

Running an agency is hard work that never ends. Owners can continue to find new ways to make it better.

The post 7 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Company's Reputation and Profits appeared first on RELEVANCE.

With that in mind, here are four effective tips for re-optimizing old marketing content.

Correct Mistakes, if Any

This should go without saying, but marketing professionals should make it a point to review their old work every once in a while to check for mistakes or factual errors. Even the best copywriters make mistakes from time to time. Thankfully, you have the ability to set the record straight for your readers. Note, if you do decide to make a big alteration to an old blog or article, it may be a good idea to include how and why you’ve updated it - in case any readers become confused.

Add New Information

Odds are, a digital marketing guide first created in 2010 wouldn’t contain much useful information for using advertising platforms on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. As the world changes, so should your content. In some instances, it may make sense to completely discard old content and write a totally new piece. In others though, you can build off of your previous work and simply incorporate new data and figures into it.

Adjust Your Keywords

Successful businesses evolve and grow with time. So, it’s no surprise that an old blog may not focus on the keywords or topics that matter most to your company now. It’s entirely possible to adjust old content to focus on new keywords and central topics. For instance, it’s fairly easy for a skilled marketer to update an old blog about redesigning an office to place greater SEO emphasis on a particular concept, like office signs or wall murals, to name a few.

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Launch it Again

Quietly reorganizing and improving your old content may produce some marginal digital gains. Yet, if you really want to generate new interest in your old content, you should take the time out to give it a proper second launch. Advertise it on social media, send out an email campaign to support it, and promote it on forums where your best customers can find it. Don’t be afraid to admit that you’ve made changes - let the world know and encourage them to contact you further. Doing so will be sure to give your marketing efforts a serious boost!

The post How to Re-Optimize Old Marketing Content appeared first on RELEVANCE.

A business can be successful if customer relationship management is implemented. Customer’s demographics, location, spending habits, engagement with your brand, preferences, feedback, and other vital information, all these data can be acquired from the CRM system. This in turn can help you can design your marketing campaign which will overall help in your business growth.

So here are the 6 reasons why you should invest in a CRM system for your business:

1. More sales can be increased to your existing customers by investing in CRM System

Abundant data about the existing customer is only possible through CRM. To increase or boost your sales, data can be collected of any type to target the right customers with the right offer. One such example is web forms. You can create your customized form and put fields like customers’ names, their addresses, ages, preferences, family members, etc., or whatever you think is ideal to design a perfect marketing tool. This way you can send personalized gifts such as special loyalty discounts or free takeaway.

2. More leads can be generated if you invest in a CRM system

CRM system can help you in several ways to generate more leads. For example, while using web forms you can offer freebies if visitors put their email addresses. That way you are getting prospective customers who may be interested in your product or services.

The second way to generate leads is through customer referrals. You may ask how? If your existing customer’s engagement is analyzed by you, you can get the data of your satisfied customer. You can then ask satisfied customers to refer your company to their friends, family, or acquaintances.

3. Customer Service Improvement

To retain customers, customer service is a must. Just like yours, a customer’s time is also very valuable. A customer will either be happy or unhappy with your products or services. While the happy ones will stay the unhappy ones will leave, unfortunately. So it is important to know who your unhappy customers are.

This data can only be found by using the CRM system Creatio because CRM provides data regarding customer satisfaction. It stores all the details in one central location and makes it easily accessible for your team and anyone from the company. By effectively using CRM you can then hear out their complaints or negative experiences and resolve them in a better way.

Their complaints might be either defective products, misinformation, lack of guidance, sub-par after-sales services, etc. Gaining valuable customer feedback is also possible through advanced CRM. All you need to do is send out customer surveys.

4. Improves efficiency in your team’s organization

In the CRM system, all the details of interactions can be logged between your staff and your customers. Emails, phone calls, calendars, and everything are stored in one place for the smooth functioning of work. CRM can also remind you of your pending tasks that need to be completed. For instance, if a prospective customer asks you to follow up with them after a week if you had called them then this detail can be logged into the CRM system. So after a week, the CRM will remind you to call the customer.

Your CRM is easily accessible and can be accessed from anywhere in the world as it is could base and can store huge data and documents. So this way success can be achieved if there are proper team collaboration and organization.

5. Automation of daily tasks

If tasks need to be done manually then it would take forever. To complete a task other sub-tasks need to be completed as it is all interrelated. Vital sales tasks are time-consuming like filling out forms, sending reports, addressing legal issues, etc. plus there is a chance of human error. That is why CRM comes to the rescue. By investing in CRM the routine pressure on employees gets diminished because it is automated. So this way the CRM can take care of the details whereas the sales representatives can focus on closing sales and resolving customer queries and complaints.

6. Employee accountability can be achieved through CRM

We know that if an organization grows or is growing big the customer also grows and to maintain that more and more employees are needed. Once the customer grows big there is also a chance of losing customers if everything is maintained manually.

But with CRM you can assign your employees or team their roles and responsibilities and can keep track if they are going in the right direction or not. If not the problems can be identified and solved rather than playing the blame game. So there is transparency. This will also allow the employees to work on their weaknesses and allow them to grow further along with the organization's goal mainly effective customer relationships.

Conclusion

So these were some of the top reasons why CRM is important for business.

So in a nutshell, to drive your business there are many tools like lead planning tools, marketing tools, etc. but if you do not consider customers as your assets and underestimate them then these tools aren’t much handy. In fact, you will start losing them.

So this is why CRM is necessary as it saves your money, and time, and holds your employees responsible when you use CRM most effectively and efficiently. Above all, it creates loyal and satisfied customers that are not just happy but they spread the word of mouth publicity if they had a pleasant experience and also refer your products or services to their friends, family, and relatives. Isn’t that great? So what are you waiting for?

The post 6 Reasons Why CRM is Important For Your Business appeared first on RELEVANCE.

Actually, your need for a visual identity that interacts with your audience is even more significant because of your size, as it's how you'll stand out from the thousands of other small businesses within your market place.

Your visual brand identity of the visible images associated with your business. These elements help you convey how you want to be perceived by your audience. And in business perception is everything.

To ensure you nail your visual brand identity make sure you include the below elements.

1. Audience

Successful businesses know the key to creating a winning visual brand identity is by focusing on what information their target audiences are looking for, rather than what they think their brand should be saying.

By understanding your audience's needs and wants, what's important to them, and what challenges they have, you can begin to shape your visual branding to connect with their core values.

The more in tune your visual branding is with your audience, the more likely they'll relate to it. 

2. Logo

A lot of small business owners start and finish their visual branding identity with a logo, which isn't that surprising.  Many people think that a logo is branding! But, it’s only one element in the overall brand picture that you are drawing. However, it’s a super-important element.

Your logo is the first visual branding customers see. If designed correctly, it can convey your business's values, connect emotionally, and be used throughout your marketing campaigns. While, it’s easier (and cheaper) than ever to design a logo, this doesn’t mean that the value of a logo is less. And sometimes ease, leads to complacency.

Your business logo is one of the lynchpins of your branding. It’s a key brand element. However, many new businesses don’t put too much time into really thinking about what they want their logo to say and express. Because, although small, your logo say’s a lot.

3. Color

Color schemes play an essential role in your visual branding identity because they convey numerous subliminal messages about your company directly to your audience, and colors can connect on emotional levels that are proven to influence customers buying decisions.

You can find the color palette best suited to your market place by looking at which ones your competitors are using, and by delving a little deeper into the world of color theory.

Once you have your palette, you can fine-tune it by adjusting the color contrast. Color contrast probably plays an even more critical role than the color itself and has been proven (when used effectively) to have a direct influence on increasing conversion rates.

4. Typography

The typography you choose will have a lot to say about your business.

As with color, one of the first visual design decisions you have to make is which font style you'll use for your branding identity. This is because your typography will be visible throughout your branding, and it has to suit your market place and platforms by being readable on numerous scales.

The general rule is to use three or fewer font styles, one for headers/titles, another for body content, and an optional third for your logo, as it helps create continuity with your site and other platforms.

5. Social Media Branding

As previously mentioned, your overall visual branding identity should be designed with your customers in mind. Still, this approach is even more critical when it comes to your social media branding.

Yes, you have to focus on small elements like color and typography, but when it comes to social media marketing, it's more about your overall strategy, get that right, and the potential for growth is endless.

However, there are some golden rules that you should follow:

Stay consistent across all your channels by post regularly (there are social media tools that can help with this) and using the same color schemes and profile images, etc. By doing so, you give your business a consistent visual identity that appears professional and creates familiarity with your audience.

6. Content

Content takes many forms, a blog, a website, social media, podcasts, images, videos, live-stream, and data-driven research. While they all require a different approach, they do have one thing in common, your visual brand identity.

Regardless of the platforms you use, your message has to correlate with your brand. And this makes life easier for you because once you have chosen your visual identity's core elements, you can apply them to every type of content you use. Before long, you'll have a brand that online communities will easily recognize.

7. Strategy

Your visual strategy has a purpose. To communicate your message by using visual strategies proven by analytical research to connect with your audience.

And connecting with your audience is what it's all about.

To do this successfully, your marketing decisions must use the principles of visual communication. You have to develop strategies that put your content in front of your audience and convey it in a way that engages and motivates them to act.

Start by finding the platforms that your audiences are using, then research the marketing tactics used on them (for example, on Instagram it's images), then base your strategies around them.

8. Value

A brand's values are what your company stands for and believes in; it could be environmental, profit sharing, sustainability, quality of the workplace, or providing a much-needed solution.

These values are what gives your business a personality, a soul, a conscience, enabling customers to feel they can relate, connect, and bond with your brand over a common cause, without them you're just another faceless corporate machine.

While the values you align yourself with might not suit every potential customer, those that are suited often become lifelong ones, your values also help you stand out from your competitors.

Knowing your brand's values, sticking to them, and communicating them to your market is essential, ensure that they're reflective in everything you do as the public doesn't tolerate hypocrisy.

9. Brand Story

Your brand's story is your brand's personality. It's what customers would say about you behind your back, or in reviews!

A popular way of finding your brands story is to think of it as a person, what would they be like? How would they act, etc.? Or a celebrity, who would it be?

How your company is perceived is based on how it talks (your brand's voice), and it's you that has to set the tone.

When you have a person or in mind, reduce every aspect of their personality into a short description, one that you'd be proud to use to describe your brand.

10. Memorability

A recent statistic shows that consumers need to see a new brand seven times before they'll trust and buy from it, and three-quarters of consumers make their purchasing decisions because of a brand.

This is why your visual brand identity must be memorable, and your business doesn't have to have huge advertising budgets to achieve it.

By focusing on your brand's values, story, content, excellent customer service, high-quality products, and authentic marketing strategies created around your customer's needs, you can build a memorable visual brand identity.

The post 10 Key Elements of Your Small Business's Visual Brand Identity appeared first on RELEVANCE.

In fact, it is said that Benjamin Franklin used content marketing in Poor Richard’s Almanack which sold 10,000 copies a year. This yearly almanac debuted in 1732 and lured readers into his print shop and paper mill business, making him a fortune.

Obviously, content marketing techniques have been revolutionized over the past 200 years, but the purpose still remains- to distribute valuable content that attracts a target audience that leads to profitable customer action.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some basic, time-tested strategies you should follow to get the best returns especially if you’re new to content marketing.

Know Your Audience, Use Simple Words

Ben Franklin had a diverse audience eager to read his almanac, and he was able to incorporate his marketing strategy to promote his printing business to those that needed that service. His almanac used simple language that appealed to a wide audience in that era.

In the modern world, the same strategies apply. You’ll need to find your target market.

Look for keywords that are of interest to your industry. You can do it on your own or use one of the many content marketing services out there.

If you don’t have a customer base to refer to, look at what your competitors are up to and see if your products can provide value to a niche market they’re overlooking.

Your audience must be able to relate to the content you’re distributing. Chances are, they’re not interested in technical jargon that doesn’t make sense to them.

Your content should be easy to understand at first glance to keep people interested.

Teach Your Audience Something New

In Franklin’s era, it was hard to come across reading material. Franklin capitalized on this. He was highly intelligent, but he didn’t write all of the content in his almanac. Franklin was more of a curator.

He provided value to his audience by including mathematical exercises and even his ideology of going against the imperial system. This was unheard of at that time.

In your case, you’re the expert in your field. You know the ins and outs of the industry and you know what content topics have flooded the marketplace.

How do you distinguish yourself from the competition? By producing content that is relevant to the industry which has been overlooked.

This could come from your personal experience or by crossing-selecting bits of content from various sources and repackaging them into something new.

Stay Updated

Like any industry, marketing is always evolving. Not only does the medium used to spread content change, but its modus operandi too.

Competition is getting fierce and search engine algorithms get smarter. During the age of blogging, if you didn’t post every day, you’re bound to drop in ranks. Now, Google prioritizes quality over quantity.

It’s much better to have 5 people share your valuable content than to upload 5 pieces of lousy content. Remember, if you can’t be seen, you’re not relevant.

The post Timeless Content Marketing Strategies You Should Start With appeared first on RELEVANCE.

Effective signage is important because it allows you to draw attention to your company and further develop your brand. In comparison to other forms of marketing, signage is cost-efficient because it can give you constant exposure, no matter the time of day, and because it can be used on a long-term basis.

Even with so many effective digital marketing strategies, don’t overlook the power of a good sign campaign. Signage can direct new customers towards your business that might not have otherwise been able to find you.

However, just having signage isn’t enough. You need attractive signs that will catch people’s eyes. You need a good design paired with essential information about your business. And to create these signs, there are some tips you’ll want to take into consideration.

Thinking through purpose

The first thing you want to think about is what you need the sign for. Maybe you need directional signage that can help people get to your store. Or maybe you want to announce an upcoming event or a sale. Or perhaps you’re looking for a way to persuade people to visit your business.

Once you know your purpose, you can start thinking through logistics, such as how large the signs need to be. You’ll also want to consider what materials they need to be made from.

Including must-know info

Once you have a purpose in mind, think about what information people need to take away from the sign. It’s not just about what your business does, but how your business is different from competitive brands.

So, put your business’s name and some sort of message on that sign. But that message is where you need to get creative. What makes your pet store different from the one down the street? Maybe you sell some sort of animal that they don’t? Convey that difference on your signs!

Location, location, location

Having a catchy sign isn’t enough! You have to think about where you’re going to put that sign. You need to find a place that will be highly visible. But you also need to make sure that you’re following local laws.

The location of your sign will impact the size it needs to be and what it looks like. For example, if you’re developing a billboard, you need to come up with a large design that can be quickly read when someone is speeding down the highway.

Creating consistent branding

Consistent branding matters. You want to make sure any signage you develop is consistent with your overall brand. This could include a logo, font choice, tagline, or some other sort of similar visual element.

When you use consistent branding, people will begin to immediately recognize your brand, no matter if they’re looking at your social media or if they’re looking at one of your signs. While your marketing materials don’t need to look identical, there should be some sort of common element(s) that tie everything together.

Get creative with design

The more creative you can be with your sign, the better! Find a way to make your signage memorable, such as some sort of pun that is relevant to your store.

In addition to getting creative with words and graphics, get creative with the type of signage you use. For example, maybe your town won’t permit large signs - instead, you could consider using magnets or car decals as an alternative. You need to find a way to stick out from other businesses in your town!

Professionals can help

Finally, don’t feel like you need to do this alone. There are professionals out there that are experienced in developing the right signage for a business. They can talk you through your business needs and help you develop a timeline.

Companies such as Signarama, which is an NYC sign company, offer a variety of services, from designing signs to maintaining signs. Before settling on one particular company, make sure to read available reviews. Some companies also offer free consulting, which can help you determine if they’re the right company for you.

In summary

Digital marketing is important, but so is building your brand through signage! But simply sticking a sign with your logo on it into the ground isn’t enough. Careful planning and consideration of your company goals can help you develop clever signage! There are also professionals out there that can help you through the entire process.

The post Building Your Brand with Signage - Why Business Signs are so Important appeared first on RELEVANCE.