Dramatic Lighting

Culture Portrait

Exterior Headshot

Interior Headshot

Behind the Scenes

Close-Up Photography

Environmental Portrait

Fun Photography

Business Interior Photo

The post Marketing Videos & <span class="search-everything-highlight-color" style="background-color:yellow">Photography</span> appeared first on Clix.

In today’s world of an often cluttered online space, coming across innovative,

If we think of a website similarly to how we would view a used car, it helps put this notion into perspective. Let’s say you go to a used car lot and a sparkling vehicle catches your eye. While on the outside it may look visually pleasing and refined, it could have a faulty engine and no breaks. However, this car would pass the “eye test” and fool those who merely look at the exterior. If you were quick to jump the gun and purchase it based on a great price for a flawless appearance, you will eventually learn that the car performance and price correlate. In that same respect, if a website is designed to be graphically interesting and does not keep in mind user experience (UX) or technical components, it is nothing more than a work of art.

Therefore, user experience should play a vital role in website design. Various tools exist for companies to analyze this aspect. For example, heat and scroll map software generates a series of reports on a webpage over a period of time. From the findings, a strategic team can gain insight into user behavior and better determine if a page needs to be reworked in order to benefit UX.

Making adjustments based on UX is crucial, especially as accessing websites through mobile devices becomes increasingly popular. You want to ensure that your website creates a clear path for users to convert on both desktop and mobile. A mobile-friendly is website crucial, as sleek design and functionality on a desktop alone is simply not enough.

Apart from the user experience related to website design, search engine optimization (SEO) and other technical components of a site are important. In order for your site to be found favorable in the eyes of Google, and thus rank higher, hundreds of ranking factors are taken into consideration. Providing relevant, credible, optimized content specific to what your key demographic is searching is a starting point. Trusting SEO in the hands of a technical team, such as the team at Clix, would be advantageous.

Thus, if user experience is factored into website design along with sound SEO practices in place, your website is headed in the right direction. Another aspect to keep in mind would be the overall health of your site. For example, if a theme or plugins are left outdated,images and links on your site may break. With numerous broken elements, your website becomes less credible as a resource, damages the UX, and potentially impacts rankings. Taking a proactive approach to monitoring these items becomes of great importance.

Overall, having the knowledge to determine if your site needs help is a significant first step, but sometimes the hardest. Jason Hylan, Clix CEO, gives an analogy of knockoff handbags on the streets of New York City. Similar to these replica handbags, there are companies that may pass the “eye test,” as we discussed previously. The service they provide can appear to be what your business needs. As with many things in life, you get what you pay for. If the service you pay for is far cheaper than the standard, your website design and technical elements (if any) will reflect that.

At Clix, we strive to be not only a leader in website design and digital marketing services but also a trustworthy partner to the companies we serve. We want our digital marketing efforts to have substance at the core. For more information on our services, or what sets Clix apart from others in the field, contact us today!

The post Why “Gorgeous” Website Designs Still Fail to Convert appeared first on Clix.

2017 will bring about more changes than any year before and with it comes the rise of something that many online marketers may have lost sight of in paid media: creativity.

There will be new ad formats, new advertising platforms, new targeting demographics and options, new competitors, new conversion and audience tracking, and new ad extensions. That sounds great, but who knows how to use all of these new options effectively? In the information age, the most informed will reap the biggest benefits. If you’re standing still or doing what you did last year, you’re going to be left behind. And if you’re not advertising online already, then what the hell are you doing?!

With that said, here are the top 5 PPC trends of 2017:

1. New Targeting Options Change The Game

Face it: Google and Facebook probably know you better than you know yourself. There is an endless amount of private data about everyone, but how can advertisers use that to their advantage?

Google only recently released demographic targeting for search ads, which already proved to be successful and effective.

Letting search advertisers target by demographic was just a small glimpse into the collective knowledge that Google holds so close to the chest. In 2017, look for Google to give advertisers a bigger peek into what they know about users.

For Google to compete with Facebook, it will have to let advertisers in on more than just user demographics (age & gender). Look for Google and Facebook to allow even more precise targeting.

Hopefully hyper-targeted ads won’t scare away too many users, but things might get awkward if Google and Facebook start to reveal how much they know about you.

Think “I Know What You Did Last Summer” was just a movie? Think again.

2. Video. Video. Video.

Advertisers who aren’t utilizing online videos in their advertisements are living in the past. Video is basically mandatory at this point. Users visit your site to learn more, and what is the quickest way to do that? Video!

No one has time to read articles. I’m surprised you even made it this far! If you don’t have videos on your website or advertisements, you need to get on that, like, yesterday. Potential customers feel much more comfortable making purchases when they have a clear view of you, your company, and the benefits that you offer.

Advertisers can show videos to highly-targeted potential customers for a fraction of the price of TV advertising. Many companies are already taking advantage of this. Are you? Look for videos to become an even bigger part of the overall online marketing strategy.

3. Waterproof Tracking

Can you tell me where every single one of your online leads came from? Probably not. There are most likely holes or blind spots in your tracking. Change that in 2017.

This year, advertisers will be looking to close any gaps in their tracking to make sure everything is absolutely “waterproof.” The ability to analyze leads and where they came from is absolutely crucial in 2017.

How do you know what your ROI is if you don’t even know where sales came from? Was that sale from Facebook? Google? Organic search? How can you optimize towards high-performing platforms when you can’t tell which one is doing better?

Look for advertisers to segment their traffic in extreme detail. Make sure that you are not missing any important pieces of the puzzle. At Clix we make sure that our tracking is up-to-date and accurate so that we can make informed decisions.

If your tracking is lacking, your campaign will be slacking.

4. Less Money, Mo’ Problems (a.k.a. Competition)

If you thought everyone was already advertising online, think again. There are still tons of companies who underutilize or do not utilize internet advertising at all. Look for them to join the (already crowded) party in 2017.

With the influx of advertisers, Google and Facebook will become even more cost-prohibitive. Advertisers will need bigger budgets to compete when every business owner realizes that internet advertising is a necessity, not an option.

(Side note: if you aren’t advertising on Facebook, you need to be!)

Competition will be increasingly fierce, so it will be imperative to have a plan and a backup plan (or two). If you’re afraid or confused, find someone knowledgeable like the paid media team we have at Clix to help you navigate the rough online seas.

Gone are the days when the intern is running the online ads. The online advertising landscape is unforgiving, and don’t underestimate the competition – they probably know what they’re doing!

Many advertisers may be flushing money down the drain with terrible ads or targeting, but count on that as the exception rather than the rule. It’s time to take charge and work with someone who is adept at advertising online, so if you have questions, you can always talk to us!

5. Creativity!

Yay! It’s back! Or did it ever leave?

With all of the new targeting options and platforms, it will be those advertisers who are creative and adaptable that will make the most of it.

Quickness is a requirement. You’ll fall behind if you wait a year to implement new strategies or take advantage of new targeting options.

If you aren’t constantly testing new ads and ad formats, then you need to be. Don’t be afraid to try something new. It is often the advertisers that start the soonest that get the best results.

It is up to you to investigate and see how you can improve your campaigns with new tactics. It could mean the difference between receiving 10 leads or 1 lead. Knowledge is power!

Remember:

Internet advertising is not exclusive anymore. Everyone is doing it. The defining factor will be whether or not you use all of the available options, or if you’re smarter than the advertiser next door.

Look for brainpower, creativity, and adaptation to become the most sought-after qualities when looking for someone to handle online campaigns.

In 2017, it may be necessary to hire a professional to run your online ad campaigns. The ever-increasing complexity of the online landscape can be overwhelming for anyone starting out. However, you’re not alone. Take a deep breath. We’re here to help, so feel free to contact us!

The post Top 5 Hot PPC Trends of 2017 appeared first on Clix.

WHO IS CLIX?

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Below are four basic reasons as to why your website may not be appearing in Google’s search results.

Google Can’t Find It

You can’t show up in Google’s results if you have never been found by Google before.

There are two ways that Google finds your site; 1) Site Submit, and 2) Links to your site from other sites crawled by Google. A capable webmaster will know how to submit your site to Google. You can also find more information about submitting your digital assets to Google here -> Pick ME!

The next way would be to build links to your site (backlinks) manually. This is time-consuming and sometimes very difficult task that deserves careful planning and a strategy behind it. A capable webmaster should also know how to go about building quality backlinks. More on backlink building here -> Over Here!

This is a visual representation of a backlink profile via Cognitiveseo.

Google Can’t Read It

Does your site uses Flash and/or does your Robots.txt file allow Google to read the site?

Flash is frequently used to display videos and animations. However, after the 2000s, the usage of Flash on Web sites has declined because search engines have a hard time reading it. Basically, Google only reads numbers and letters. An easy way to see if a Google is reading your content is to try highlighting it with your mouse. If the letters and numbers can not be highlighted, Google probably can’t crawl – or read – that content. Here is an example.

The Robots.txt file is a group of web standards that regulate internet robot behavior and search engine indexing. Google will not and can not read your website if your Robots.txt file is set to disallow it to. Having a capable Webmaster check and/or edit your Robots.txt file is the only solution here.

Google Doesn’t Want To Touch It

Since Google’s job is to serve users the most reliable sites on the internet, Google is sensitive to sites that might have dangerous content, malware, and spam. If you have installed the Google Search Console verification code, then you can see if Google thinks your site contains malware and how Google sees your site.

Google Doesn’t Think It Is Relevant Enough

Google will always try to serve up the most trusted and authoritative sites it can. Highly competitive industries will obviously create very competitive search engine results. Also, general and broad keywords are “competitive” because Google is tasked with serving up the most relevant, trusted, and applicable results for – what could be – and ambiguous search term/keyword. For example, say that you are Audio Visual installation company specializing in Automotive and Boat installs and you are trying to rank in Google for the search term “Car Audio”.

The search term “ “Car Audio” is so broad Google has to try and figure out if the user is looking for:

• The definition of Car Audio
• The history of Car Audio technology
• Recent advancements in Car Audio technology
• Legalities regarding Car Audio systems
• Car Audio Manufacturing Companies
• A local provider of Car Audio Installation services

Now just imagine how many websites across the entire internet could be competing for the same top positions on Google for searches using “Car Audio”. In this case, choosing a more specific targeted search term like “Car Audio installers” would be a term to try and rank well in Google for.

Google has penalized you

Google is constantly making updates and changes to the way their search engines function. As such, there are two reasons to why Google may be intentionally leaving out of SERPS; 1.) Algorithmic potently, and 2.) Manual penalties.

Having an Algorithmic Penalty means Google does not promote your site via the SERPS because it not longer values site’s like yours.

Having a manual penalty means a person actually hit the dump button on your site and you have been completely removed or all by removed from the search engine.

Find out if you have a penalty here -> Right Here!

The post Why You Can’t Find Your Website On Google <span class="search-everything-highlight-color" style="background-color:yellow">Search</span> appeared first on Clix.

I for one have always loved and supported small businesses. I’ve held 5 jobs in my entire life, and all 5 of them were St. Louis based businesses. 4 of them were mom-and-pop shops. This is why it truly pleases me to write about how people, and search engines, are turning more attention to local businesses.

Jayson Demers of Entreprenuer.com recently said, “Local search engine optimization isn’t just about local mom-and-pop shops anymore. Practically any business can take advantage of local SEO’s benefits. Since Google’s fan-named “Pigeon” update in 2014, the importance of local SEO has grown….local SEO has risen in importance, but the ride isn’t over yet. Over the next few years, I anticipate that local SEO will become even more impactful and more useful for businesses.

I couldn’t agree more.

It’s no secret that as long as you’re logged into a Google account, your search history and your geographic location are both affecting your search results. I’m even starting to notice my own SERPS (search engine results pages) becoming increasingly geo-specific.

Check out this example I ran across while doing keyword research for a client.

EX:

Notice how this completely generic search yielded local results, and those local results dominate the top of the SERP.

Get this: I started to think maybe Google was serving me local results based on the fact that liposuction was a service. Maybe Google assumed people looking for info on services would be looking for St. Louis service providers.

So then I thought of the most general search I could think of… “Sandwich.” I was thinking, “it’s a product,” it’s a service, it’s a noun, it’s a verb… It’s also a transactional and kind of an informational query…what kind of SERP will I get!?

This is what I got:

Another extremely St. Louis oriented SERP!

This is only one example, but it still illustrates my point. A small sandwich shop like Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium could only dream of being on the first page of such a short tail query 2-3 years ago. Marketing a local business with the help of local SEO is becoming more important as Google moves toward a more custom tailored Internet. Search queries that used to be impossibly competitive are now attainable for small business based on their location and solid local SEO efforts.

The post Local SEO Growing In Importance appeared first on Clix.

Taking away four spots may not sound like a big deal, but with local results on highly specific search queries only becoming more important, this may have a big impact for businesses who used to make the cut.

What’s changed?

Besides moving from seven results in the pack to just three, the results no longer link to the Google My Business page or Google+ page. Google has clearly been re-evaluating Google+ and its role in search over the last year or so, therefore a development like this was expected by some.

Mobile and desktop views of search have remained fairly similar despite the change. One thing to note is that mobile results have a call option by tapping a listing to expand it.

Finally, users still have an option to expand the “pack” to see more results—three is simply the default.

Which businesses appear in the “pack”?

As always, which businesses appear for certain keywords and which don’t is a complex secret. However, we can see certain clues that influence positioning, such as geographical proximity, website rankings outside of the “pack,” and even reviews, among others. This just goes to show that a properly optimized website and local listings are only becoming more important to organic search.

So…what now?

As you might imagine, businesses which no longer appear at the top of local search results are not going to be happy about this change. Reduced visibility of even one spot in search results can mean the difference between getting a phone call or losing one to your competitor. If a business has banked on their local search result visibility in the past, then now is the time to reevaluate their SEO or inbound marketing strategy.

Have any questions about this update? Click below to contact Clix today.

The post Google Reduces Local Pack From 7 Results to 3 appeared first on Clix.

On one hand, I like Google because they have provided small companies amazing opportunities and tools to succeed through marketing themselves on the internet. Google does this by providing entrepreneurs and startups cheap infrastructure and applications such as Google Drive and Gmail. Google has additionally provided, My Business Profiles, Adwords Campaigns, and organic search engine results that allow for new ideas and companies to be found as soon as the enter the market.

On the other hand, I don’t like Google because they are a mega corporation that owns nearly all of our digital footprints and buys killer robot corporations like Boston Dynamics. (While this is funny, I’m not sure it fits with the tone of the post.  It’s ultimately up to you, but I tend to avoid anything that isn’t specifically relevant to my topic.  It’s funny, but that could also detract from the overall points…idk its up to you)

I digress…

The internet and search engines have provided users with the ability to instantly cross compare prices on similar products. This has resulted in a sort of commoditization of many products and services, especially hotel rooms and airline flights. The digital travel marketplace as a whole is a global arena where millions of buyers search for travel services at rock bottom prices. This means, buyers are comparing hotel rooms with little or no differentiation between them, and this forces hotel and airline companies to compete almost exclusively on price. This “rush to the bottom” is what I am calling the commoditization of the travel industry.

(The reality of the situation is that most people who are shopping for hotels and flights make their choices based on price are looking to rent a box with a lock and a shower – not an award winning Bed & Breakfast vacation getaway.)

Here is my point.

Where there are systems of data and money to be made, Google is waiting. Just as they’ve done with maps, video, stock quotes, and more… Google is now showing signs that even hotel reservations will be able to be booked without ever leaving a Google-owned property.

Recently Tnooz.com published an article explaining how Google’s hotel finder prompted them to book the hotel from the SERP using their Google Wallet settings. (Notice the label “You are booking with Hotel Rouge on Google”)

Let’s Get This Straight

They completely cut out every middleman.

Here is another example. If you search for a hotel in Putney Vermont. Google returns the geographically relevant hotels, aggregates reviews from all over the internet, displays pricing and accommodation information, and then prompts the user to close the sale within their own digital property.

This is huge, and here’s why: Imagine for a moment you start searching through Google for items like Converse shoes, blue ray players, or a pair of sunglasses. Then, you start clicking on the products lsitings.

When you eventually find the cheapest price for your trusty black Chucks, you then check out via your Google Wallet right there in listing. Google takes a cut of the profit and the “online retailer” is now just a third party logistics provider and simply ships the product to you. Talk about some major vertical integration…

The post Is Google Becoming An Online Market Place? appeared first on Clix.

1. You won’t get out of your own head

Everyone is different. Not everyone thinks like you, acts like you, or values the same things as you. Remember, your opinion is not the only one and other people may find value where you don’t.

The second I find myself in “total disbelief” while performing research and analysis, I need to step outside or get a cup of coffee. I have a hard time believing people think differently than I do—it’s one of my biggest obstacles during strategy meetings.

2. You forget not everyone works in your industry

Remember the whole world doesn’t work in your industry every day. Not everyone knows the ins and outs of your business like you do.

Take the time to stop, smell the roses, and find little details that potential customers and clients might really enjoy. One great example of this would be how MillerCoors claims that “Coors Light’s unique frost-brewing process locks in a taste as cold as the Rockies.” Now, you might like to know that all lagers are conditioned at near-freezing temperatures, and cold filtering is a popular alternative to pasteurization, because it’s FASTER AND CHEAPER. Not only does MillerCoors recognize that not everyone is a brew boss, but they are leveraging that ignorance in a very creative way.

3. You don’t invest in tools

Working for an internet marketing agency has provided me the opportunity to work with some crazy cool SEO tools. The amount of free software out there is amazing and it is changing the digital marketing landscape for the better. But! Keep in mind the paid version of a certain software is probably WAAAY better than the free version.

Don’t be afraid to invest in software. If you know what you’re doing, these tools can be invaluable.

4. You try to do it all

Yes, you are the greatest most capable person you have ever met… now hire someone and pay them what they are worth.

People go to college to get degrees in creative writing, technical writing, graphic design, and web development. Knowing your own limitations and knowing when to cut your loses and pay a professional can be the best solution sometimes. Taking time and money to go back and fix something that was never right in the beginning is usually a slow, painful, and expensive endeavor.

5. You don’t like talking about yourself

If you and your business are genuinely outstanding and your customers are satisfied, it’s not cheesy to ask for an online review.

There is no shame in promoting the genuinely outstanding qualities of your business. Finding a balance between commercial confidence and humility is key.

6. You don’t measure up

Compare yourself to the competition.

This is very simple, but most people find it difficult to actually do. Every consumer and/or client out there is comparing you to another vendor, manufacturer, or service provider. Don’t be afraid to do some (persuasive) comparison for them – and get creative! A simple graphic of a checklist with tally marks is boring.

7. You don’t ask for advice

Ask your customers and clients how you are doing and how you can improve. After all, no one knows your target market better than YOUR TARGET MARKET!

Simply following up with clients over the phone or via automated email follow ups can yield priceless information.

8. You don’t know where you belong

Take the time to think about where you belong in the digital realm and who you are trying to reach – this is a simple case of demographics.

If you can’t figure out where you belong or you don’t know how to reach your target market – revisit point #7 and #3.

9. You go through the motions

Banging out content for the sake of “fresh content” and posting inspirational quotes to social media for the sake of a daily post is probably hurting you more than it is helping. Users are people, and the people of 2015 have no time for lame content. You need a real content strategy.

10. You don’t leave your desk

Get out there and meet the people working in your industry!

Just because you run an online store or you run a hyper-local service based company does not mean you can’t get active in your niche. I got my start in digital marketing through the use of online niche forums. Join a community, go to webinars, share content, take someone to coffee, or become an active member of a meetup.com group.

11. You look down on social media

Remaining ignorant to the fact that social media is now a part of life will not help you grow a business in 2015.

“Social media” is not just Facebook and Twitter. Wikipedia lists nearly 200 different social media platforms and that doesn’t count the endless niche forums and enthusiast websites. There is nearly a limitless amount of avenues for you to share, debate, educate, and learn from. Take advantage of the beauty that is the internet.

12. You are “all business all the time”

Link equity and traffic signals brought about from lighthearted click bait has it’s place in the world.

A well-balanced content strategy that addresses every stage of the sales funnel needs to contain content more suitable for the general public. Now, I’m not saying put your logo in cat videos, but I am saying people are not all business 24/7, and your content strategy shouldn’t be either.

13. Communication breakdown

Web developers, SEOs, social media strategists, PPC strategists, PR strategists, and everyone else involved in marketing your company needs to be aware of your digital strategy—all the time.

Nothing makes you or your business look less capable than having conflicting marketing messages, outdated marketing materials, or a convoluted brand image. All team members/marketing avenues need to be marching to the same beat to be as effective as possible.

14. You don’t set goals

How do you know if you are making reasonable progress if you don’t set any goals? Set goals! Any goals! Then, once you have reached your initial goal, do better the next time. If you start losing steam and can’t make new progress, reread this list.

 Conclusion

If your online marketing strategies have lost their steam, stepping back and reevaluating the situation is almost always the answer. Asking people to give you their honest perspective, getting honest with yourself, or sticking your neck out and taking a risk can give the stir you need.

The post 14 Reasons Why You Don’t Succeed In Digital Marketing appeared first on Clix.

The Dimensions tab, which is available in Google AdWords, is a great resource to help you gain insight from your historical performance and optimize your campaign.

What Is It?

Dimensions is a tab located within your Google AdWords account. You can access the tab at the account, campaign or ad group level and view data for that particular tier. The feature allows you to view and filter your historical data based on different points of information, such as the location that drove your clicks and conversions or the time of day that gets a lot of impressions but no clicks.

How Should I Use It?

Dimensions allows you to filter through and dissect your data, to find actionable insights to optimize your campaign off of. If certain geographic locations in your targeted area are performing better (down to the zip code) or certain days of the week are driving more conversions, adjust your bids during those peak performing times to maximize your exposure. In the reverse, reduce your bids for poorer performing times or locations, to improve your KPI performance.

You can also use this information to identify areas to expand on or concentrate focus on. For example, if Florida is driving the majority of conversions, separate the state into its own geo-targeted campaign to support with more budget or tailor your ad copy to be specific to the location.

Here are some top recommended views for your Dimensions data:

• Geographic
  • Identify locations driving the majority of conversions or areas using a lot of the budget but not driving conversions. You can bid adjust locations +/- via Settings -> Locations tab.
• Time: Day of Week
  • Identify days of the week driving the majority of conversions or days not driving conversions. You can bid adjust days +/- via Settings ->Ad Schedule tab.

Keep In Mind

If you are working with a limited budget and want to increase bids for a particular location or day of week, try to decrease the same % from a poorer performing location or day. This should help to still work within the same budget and just get more bang for your buck.

The post PPC Optimizations: Using Google AdWords Dimensions appeared first on Clix.