Author: southernviewmedia

Have you been thinking about starting your own business? Or, if you already have your own business, have you been thinking of new ways to attract customers? 

The world around us is becoming increasingly analytical due to the rise of the internet, which means your advertising should be no exception. The best way to build your business during the current digital era is by creating a digital marketing strategy. By creating a digital marketing strategy, you’ll be advertising on the digital media platforms where your target audience spends most of their time. In today’s world, if you do not exist online, you do not exist at all. 

Here are four main reasons you should invest in digital marketing for your company: 

1. The Internet is Only Growing

The average person spends six hours and 57 minutes on their phone every day. This statistic has only increased over the years and will continue to increase as the internet expands. The expansion of the internet is rapid, and its reach is practically unlimited. Even if people are not on social media, they still use the internet, allowing them to be served Google ads for items they never knew they needed. The internet generates the reach and visibility that traditional marketing wishes it could. Plus, the internet is more persuasive and effective at promoting businesses. The growth and persuasion of the internet alone is the best reason to invest in digital marketing. 

2. Measuring the Results of Your Marketing is Easier

Following the results of your advertising or digital marketing strategy has become much easier thanks to the precise digital tools that exist today. By using digital marketing, you can track the results of your ads in real-time and with great accuracy. This is extremely helpful as it shows what is working versus what is not, and, with that information, your digital marketing strategy can be altered to what works best for your business.

3. A More Precise Audience

Traditional marketing has a very limited range of impact on consumers, as traditional marketing methods cannot segment audiences as well as digital marketing can. There are multiple digital tools to locate your ideal target audience, so when you begin your digital marketing strategy, you are able to connect with people who are more likely to take an interest in your business. From geographic location to interests, digital marketing tools analyze various factors, allowing you to address your desired audience. 

4. Engage With Your Audience

With digital marketing, you are able to easily get to know your customers. Because the internet is interactive, companies can learn a lot about their customers, which helps them make better products and improve their services. Social media is an important part of your business because it allows your audience to express their opinions, likes and dislikes. With your clients’ help, you’ll be able to correct any mistakes and adjust your business model, so it is important to take their opinions seriously. With engagement, your business becomes more human and accessible.

At Southern View Media, we put you online, so you don’t get left behind! Our experts design a personalized digital marketing strategy to help you grow your business like never before. If you are interested in getting started on a digital marketing strategy for your business, contact us today!

Creating a great social media strategy is necessary for any business that wants to boost brand recognition, establish connections with customers and drive revenue. With social media, you can reach a larger audience, nurture relationships with your target market and stay fresh in the minds of your customers. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of crafting an effective social media strategy for your business.

Define your goals: The first step in creating an effective social media strategy is to define your goals. What do you want to achieve with your social media presence? Are you looking to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic or boost sales? By clearly defining your goals, you can ensure that your social media efforts are aligned with your overall business objectives.

Identify your target audience: Knowing your target audience is crucial for creating a successful social media strategy. Who are your customers? What are their needs and pain points? What are their interests and hobbies? Understanding your target audience will help you create content that resonates with them and encourages engagement.

Choose the right platforms: Not all social media platforms are created equal. It’s essential to choose the platforms most likely to reach your target audience. For example, suppose your target audience is primarily composed of younger people. In that case, you may want to focus on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, whereas if your target audience is older, you may want to focus on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Create engaging content: Once you have chosen the right platforms, it’s time to create engaging content that resonates with your target audience. This can include blog posts, images, videos, infographics and more. Ensure your content is informative, entertaining and relevant to your target audience.

Use social media advertising: Social media advertising is an effective way to reach a wider audience and increase brand awareness. It allows you to target specific demographics, interests and behaviors, making it an excellent way to reach your target audience.

Engage with your audience: Building relationships with your audience is crucial for a successful social media strategy. Respond to comments and messages, ask for feedback and run social media contests to encourage engagement.

Track and measure your results: Finally, it’s essential to track and measure your results to see what’s working and what’s not. Use tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Insights to track your website traffic and social media engagement. Use this data to refine your strategy and make adjustments as needed.

Creating an effective social media strategy takes time and effort, but the results are well worth it. By following these tips, you can develop a social media presence to help you connect with your target audience and achieve your business goals.

Southern View Media is a professional digital marketing agency that specializes in social media strategy. Our team of experienced social media professionals can help you create an effective social media strategy to help you achieve your business goals. Contact us today to learn how we can help you increase brand awareness and drive sales with social media.

Copywriting is an essential element of any website and can make or break the success of your online presence. The right words can help you connect with your target audience, build trust and persuade them to take action. In this blog post, we will discuss seven easy copywriting tips that will help you improve the effectiveness of your website.

1-Know your target audience: One of the most important things to consider when writing copy for your website is your target audience. Understand who they are, what they need, and what they want. Tailor your copy to speak directly to them and their specific needs.

2-Keep it simple: When it comes to copywriting, less is often more. Avoid using complex jargon or industry-specific terms your target audience may not understand. Keep your copy simple, clear and easy to read.

3-Use active voice: Using active voice in your copy makes it more engaging and easier to understand. It also helps to make your message more actionable, encouraging your target audience to take action.

4-Use headlines effectively: Headlines are the first thing your target audience will see when they visit your website. Make sure that your headlines are attention-grabbing, clear and accurately reflect the content of the page.

5-Use storytelling: Humans are naturally drawn to stories, and using storytelling in your copy can help to build an emotional connection with your target audience. Use real-life examples and anecdotes to make your message more relatable.

6-Use persuasive language: Persuasive language can be used to encourage your target audience to take action. Use words and phrases like “you”, “your” and “yours” to make your message more personal and appealing.

7-Proofread and edit: Lastly, always proofread and edit your copy before publishing it on your website. Make sure that there are no spelling or grammar errors and that your message is clear and concise.

Copywriting is a skill that takes time and practice to master. By following these tips, you can improve the effectiveness of your website and connect better with your target audience.

Southern View Media is a professional digital marketing agency that specializes in copywriting for websites. Our team of experienced copywriters can help you create compelling copy that will connect with your target audience and encourage them to take action. Contact us today to learn how we can improve the effectiveness of your website.

In today’s web and social media-dominated world, it’s often a point of nostalgia to reminisce about the early days, when MySpace and a bunch of now-relegated search engines ruled the digital realm. When Southern View Media CEO Michelle Murrill thinks back to the mid-2000s, she sees the roots of a business that has evolved into a significant marketing agency supporting its community with the same passion as its clients, large and small. 

Southern View Media is the Mobile Chamber’s Small Business of the Month. 

The company was founded in 2015, although Murrill and her husband Brad – Southern View’s CFO – began working for themselves nearly a decade earlier. After dabbling in content creation, marketing and sales in the early days of Google ads, the couple moved to Charleston where Murrill started her first website, MomsofCharleston.com. 

“It was a website that featured the places kids could eat free, where they could take piano lessons, or gymnastics,” Murrill said. “We had a community calendar with all the going-ons in the community, and this was circa 2008 before that kind of thing really existed on the internet.” 

That prompted her to learn search engine optimization and the emerging juggernaut of Facebook advertising, giving the site enough of a footprint where it was eventually bought out and the Murrills moved back to Mobile. Once home, they quickly realized there was an opportunity to make an impact in digital marketing on both sides of the bay, and Southern View Media was born. 

Although innovative, Murrill says her company’s success also lies in its understanding of how marketing strategies in 2022 aren’t much different in intention and reach than they were 20 years ago. 

“I sometimes tell clients that it’s basically direct mail, except online,” Murrill said. “And the difference for me is that I’ve owned businesses, and can empathize with them more.  “We understand what they’re going through, how they’re trying to make decisions and find an ROI, and what meets their needs.” 

Although Southern View Media serves clients throughout the Gulf Coast, from restaurants to industrial manufacturers, Murrill seems to be most excited about the work her company does locally. The firm went from sharing an office in Mobile when the pandemic hit to buying a building in Daphne. Once it was deemed safe for everyone to start gathering again, it pivoted from everyone working at home to coming into the office a couple of days a week. In support of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, for which Murrill is an ambassador, Southern View’s office has become a hub for regular small business meetings and expos. They even offer co-working opportunities for other businesses and business people. 

“What sets us apart and makes us who we are is our networking, credibility and work throughout the community, meeting people,” Murrill said.

Choosing the right logo can be a challenge. You want something memorable, which is why most people think of their logo as being an image or symbol rather than text (although some logos do include text). You also want something that says who you are and what you do without being too generic. Then, there’s color you need to think about: Does it need to match your brand identity? What about its legibility for people with visual impairments? Choosing the right logo isn’t just about aesthetics—it affects how much trust your customers have in you.

So, read on for tips on ensuring your new logo does its job well!

Give your customers an idea of who you are.

Your company logo serves two main purposes: To identify your business and to give customers an idea of who you are. If you’re a startup, it’s especially important to get this right because it’ll be a key part of how your customers perceive your brand.

If you’re starting from scratch, there are lots of different options available when it comes to creating a logo—and even more ways of thinking about what kind of image best represents your company. The most common type is called wordmarks or logomarks (or sometimes logotypes), which use just one word with no additional decoration. But many other types can work just as well in different situations. For example, if you want something more eye-catching than plain text but don’t want anything too complicated either.

Make sure it’s scalable.

A logo should be able to be used on all of your marketing materials, from business cards to social media. If a logo can only be used in print and not online, you will have problems. Make sure the design is scalable and can translate well into digital formats, like social media.

Make it memorable.

When it comes to logos, there are a few keys to success. A good logo should be memorable and unique. It should have a clear and consistent message and color scheme so that it can easily be recognized by its audience. You want your logo to stand out from the crowd in the best way possible: Make sure the design is simple enough that people can remember it!

Do your research.

If you’re just starting out, research the competition. This can help you figure out what kind of logo might be right for your brand and the customer experience you want to create. If your products are high-end, consider looking at some of the luxury brands in your industry; if they’ve been around for a while, then they’ll have had time to perfect their image. The same goes for companies that are considered leaders in their field. If there’s an industry organization or association like that already established, look into how those logos were designed and what makes them so effective.

If you’re trying to appeal to a younger audience (and most businesses do), take some time to understand what kinds of trends are currently popular among young people—but don’t forget about older generations either! You can find all sorts of useful information by researching what kinds of designs people liked growing up as well as today’s trends among millennials.

Color matters, for better or for worse

While color can be used to convey a feeling or brand identity, it can also be used to give off a different message. For example, red is often associated with energy and passion; green represents balance; purple is associated with luxury; and yellow signifies optimism and creativity.

At first glance, this may not seem like something too important, but consider this: It’s only when we understand what our consumers want from us that we can begin fulfilling those needs — and do so in a way that resonates with them emotionally.

Choosing the right logo isn’t just about “being creative”—it can affect your customer base.

Choosing a logo is one of the first steps to starting a business, but it can also be one of the most important. A good logo can help your customers remember who you are and what you’re about–and make them more likely to trust you. But if it’s too complicated or generic, they’ll just forget about it! So make sure that your name is memorable and communicates exactly what type of business you are in before making any big decisions on design choices, like color scheme or font size.

If you need help with a logo design, then reach out to our team of creative experts at Southern View Media. One of our digital strategists would love to sit down with you. Visit www.southernviewmedia.com to learn more.

Customer engagement is the key to a successful small business. If you’re looking for ways to increase engagement, check out these five tips:

Offer a customer incentive program

Your customer incentive program can be used to increase your social media following, email list and website traffic.

• Offering discounts: You should incentivize customers with a discount if they are willing to follow you on social media, subscribe to the newsletter or add their name to the mailing list. You could offer them a percentage off of the total bill if they do all three of these things.
• Offering rewards: Customers love receiving rewards; it makes them feel special and appreciated. You can use this as an incentive by offering them a reward after every purchase made at your store. For example, when you sell product A at $30 they get a free gift with the purchase.

Personalize your marketing efforts

Personalization is important in all aspects of marketing and customer engagement. You cannot expect to increase your business if you are not connecting with your customers on an individual level. You need to know what they want, need and desire. That’s why it’s so important for small businesses to focus on the needs of their clients by listening carefully and taking actionable steps based on the feedback they receive.

In addition, social media makes it easy for small businesses to share stories about their customers—which helps create a more personal experience between your brand and potential consumers. This one-to-one interaction makes customers feel like they have a stake in what you do. The goal is for everyone involved to feel valued. These efforts improve relationships between customers and small businesses. 

Run a contest for customer engagement

• Contests are another great way to engage customers. Whether you’re giving away a prize or running an interactive competition, creating a sense of excitement will encourage more people to participate.
• The prize can be anything relevant to your business—you might offer discounts or free products or even create something unique that relates back to your brand.
• Make sure you have enough prizes for all participants. Also, make sure that you announce the results in a timely manner!

Respond to customers on social media

Responding to your customers can be one of the most effective ways of increasing engagement, especially if you respond in a timely manner and with a friendly tone. Responding to customers is more than just saying “thank you” or “we’re sorry” when they complain about something; it’s also letting them know that their feedback matters.

If someone compliments your business online, thank them! If they have questions about how certain products work or what locations carry them, answer those questions! And don’t forget about comments and suggestions—these are great opportunities for engagement.

Communicate with past customers

Stay in touch with your past customers. If a customer has already purchased from you, then it is likely that he or she will also buy from you again if the experience was good. The key to keeping them happy and interested is asking for feedback. This way, you know how satisfied your customers are and how much more they want from their next purchase.

Asking for feedback does not mean that someone will automatically answer all of your questions about his/her experience. However, this strategy helps improve customer relations as well as build trust between both parties involved in the transaction process—you and them!

The next step would be offering these customers discounts on their next purchases (if they’re available). You could also invite them to special events hosted by businesses like yours where guests are given freebies, discounts and promotional codes provided by organizers so everyone benefits.

We know that customer engagement is a big part of any business’s success, and these tips can help you get started on the right foot.

If you have more questions about engaging with your customers, we recommend that you reach out to the Southern View Crew! You can schedule an appointment with one of our strategists at www.southernviewmedia.com today.

The font you choose for your website can make or break it. If your text is hard to read, people will be less likely to read it and more likely to bounce away. Here’s a list of 10 easy-to-read fonts that have been used by professionals in their branding and web design projects:

Source Sans Pro

Source Sans Pro is a humanist sans-serif typeface, designed by Adobe and Google as a collaborative project. It’s one of the most popular fonts on the web, thanks to its pleasant appearance and versatility in use. This family includes seven weights with italics and small caps; four widths (condensed, normal, extended and expanded); two ornaments (discretionary ligatures); three subfamilies with different text figures; as well as numerous OpenType features such as fractions and small caps figures.

Source Sans Pro is a great font for branding, web design and advertising.

Lobster

Lobster is another free font, but this time it’s a serif font. It’s also a sans-serif typeface, so you have the option of using it in any way you’d like. It can be used as a grotesque typeface, slab serif or anything else that fits your needs!

Lobster is one of those fonts that has been around for years and will probably last even longer. It was created by David Berlow while he was studying at the Cooper Union in New York City back in 1993.

Open Sans

The Open Sans typeface is a sans-serif font designed by Steve Matteson for Google. It is a humanist sans serif with a large x-height, open forms and a neutral, non-threatening appearance. The Open Sans family includes 6 weights (Light, Regular, Medium, SemiBold, Bold and Heavy) with matching true italics.

The font is free to download at Google Fonts and the source code is available on Github.

Roboto

Another font that’s very popular with designers is Roboto. It was initially released by Google in 2010 and has become one of their primary typefaces for Android. The font was designed by Christian Robertson, who also designed similar fonts like Droid Sans, Droid Serif and Noto Sans CJK.

Roboto is a sans-serif typeface that features an undeniable geometric structure. It’s been used in many major brands such as Adobe and Samsung, but it can work well for any brand looking to create a timeless website or app design without sacrificing readability or aesthetic appeal.

Oswald

Designed by Ole Schäfer in 2014, the Oswald family is a sans-serif typeface with a modern and geometric appearance. It has a large x-height and wide proportions, which make it great for headlines and subheads.

Montserrat

Montserrat is a geometric sans-serif typeface designed by Julieta Ulanovsky, with contributions from Juan Pablo del Peral and Rodrigo Fonseca. It is inspired by the work of Frank Gehry, and blends Art Deco and Post Modern design elements. The font was originally created for use in the branding of the “Centro de Promoción de las Artes” (Center for the Promotion of Arts) in Mexico City.

Josefin Slab

If you’re looking for a professional-looking font with a fresh, modern feel, Josefin Slab is the one for you. This free font from Google Fonts comes in three weights—light, regular and bold—and can be used for both branding and web design.

The font’s unique style gives it an edgy aura that is perfect for any brand looking to stand out from the crowd. The thick lines give it an industrial feel while its rounded corners add warmth to the overall look of your brand identity. It’s also easy to read at small sizes which makes it great for mobile menus or anything else where space may be limited on screen real estate.

PT Serif

PT Serif is a sans serif font that was designed by Peter Matthias Noordzij, who also created the typeface Neutraface. This font has been included in many popular books and magazines, including The New York Times. It’s available in 5 weights: Regular, Italic, Bold, Bold Italic and Black.

PT Serif is a versatile font that works well for branding purposes—when you’re designing your logo or other brand assets like business cards and letterhead! But it also makes a good choice for web design because it can be easily read at small sizes.

Lato

Lato is a sans-serif typeface designed by Łukasz Dziedzic and released in 2010 by Google as a free font family. The Latin alphabet is the basis for this typeface, but it also includes special characters for various languages such as Polish, Ukrainian, Greek, and Baltic. The letters of Lato have small curves that make them look like they are written with a pen or brush.

This typeface was designed to be used at small sizes. It has strong vertical strokes that can appear too thick when printed on paper or other flat surfaces.

Make sure you make your website easy for viewers to read!

Your font choice is a vital component of your website design. It’s important to find one that’s easy to read, because if your text isn’t legible and readable, then you’re going to lose potential customers.

You want your font to be easy on the eyes so that it doesn’t hurt readers’ eyes just by reading the text. Some fonts are harder than others for people who have dyslexia or other issues with reading comprehension, so making sure yours is one of these fonts will help you attract more visitors from all walks of life!

We hope this list has helped you find your perfect font. If you’re still unsure, we recommend using something that’s easy on the eyes and balances between serif and sans-serif styles. If nothing else, just remember that no matter what fonts you choose for your website design project, it’ll be best if they’re readable!

If you have more questions about web design, we recommend that you reach out to the Southern View Crew! You can schedule an appointment with one of our strategists at www.southernviewmedia.com today.

When beginning a new campaign, it is easy to want to jump right into the midst of it, including creating ad creatives and writing copy. However, before you begin any task, you should research and establish the keywords that you’ll target. Here are 5 easy mistakes that people make when setting up keywords for Google ads or other digital ads.

Overlooking the importance of relevance.

Relevance is one of the most important factors when considering ad quality. If your ads aren’t relevant to what people are searching for, they are likely to be ignored or clicked on by mistake. This can lead to lower click-through rates and higher costs than necessary.

Google takes into account several factors when measuring keyword relevance: search volume, keyword match type (broad, phrase or exact), negative keywords used and ad copy that includes query terms. To make sure your ads are as relevant as possible for each user that sees them, it’s important to use broad match keywords wherever possible.

Improper campaign settings.

One of the first things you want to do is make sure that you’re using broad match and phrase match correctly. Broad and exact matches are very different, so if you don’t understand what they mean or how they work, your ads will definitely suffer as a result.

Spending too much or too little on keywords.

You need to find a balance between overpaying and underpaying for keywords.

You can’t just throw a bunch of money at your campaign and hope it works out. That’s not how it works. If you have no idea what you’re doing, then chances are good that you’ll spend way too much on keywords. The key here is research: make sure that any keyword has enough demand before spending money on it!

Not tracking conversions correctly.

Tracking conversions is one of the most important parts of running a successful AdWords campaign. The reason for this is that it ensures that your ad money will be spent wisely, as opposed to just being thrown into the abyss.

Tracking conversions means tracking the number of people who take a specific action after seeing your ad. If someone clicks through a banner ad without interacting with any other kind of medium like social media or email marketing campaigns, then they might not actually convert into leads or customers later on down the line because there wasn’t enough engagement between them and your business beforehand—and most importantly: no conversion!

Wasting your money and time.

Before you begin your search marketing campaign, make sure that you are tracking conversions. This will help you see how well-targeted your ads are and if they’re actually bringing in business.

Next, make sure that your budget is allocated properly. You might be spending too much money on high-cost keywords or not enough on low-cost ones because of the way they’re set up now. Also, make sure that you are using the right keywords and settings within Google Ad Words so that it’s working for you as effectively as possible. Did you get all of that? If you have any questions, or want to know more, than set up a consultation with one of our digital strategists today! Visit www.southernviewmedia.com to learn more.

If you are looking at marketing platforms, you may have come across the two giants of the industry: Mailchimp and Hubspot. These two companies offer powerful software solutions to help marketers manage their email campaigns and customer relationships. But what sets them apart?

Here, we will explore how these platforms differ, so that you can make an informed decision about which one is better for your small business.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a marketing automation platform. Okay, so what does that mean? Mailchimp helps you grow your business by managing email lists, creating (and sending!) emails and measuring the results of your marketing efforts.

Mailchimp has been helping people like you market their businesses for more than ten years. Mailchimp is great for email marketing, email newsletters and email automation—and it’s so easy to use!

Hubspot

Hubspot is a marketing platform that includes CRM, email marketing and other marketing tools. The software is highly customizable and very user-friendly. Hubspot is great for small businesses because it’s easy to use and comes with a free trial. If you’re looking for something to help manage your company’s customer relations, Hubspot is definitely worth checking out.

Okay, so what about the similarities and differences between the two platforms? They both offer similar solutions but approach them differently.

They Both Offer CMS Integrations

When it comes to integrations, the two offer the same basic choices. Mailchimp integrates with Salesforce and Zendesk (plus a couple of others), while Hubspot integrates with the same.But Hubspot also goes beyond this by integrating with LinkedIn Sales Navigator and Slack. While these may not make sense for every business, they could be incredibly useful if you have specific needs or goals in mind.

They Both Promote Contact Management and Retention

HubSpot allows you to create a custom form and landing page from scratch. It’s a powerful tool that allows you to tailor your forms and landing pages for maximum conversion.

In comparison, MailChimp also lets you create custom forms, but it’s not quite as customizable as HubSpot. That being said, if you don’t want to do any coding yourself, MailChimp’s drag-and-drop builder is a great way to go.

Both MailChimp and HubSpot offer the option of building “thank you!” pages after someone fills out their form. These types of pages are used for thanking customers for submitting their information. However, they’re also an opportunity for brands to ask customers for more information about themselves (such as an email address) so they can be added into an email marketing list or notified when new products become available on the company’s website.

You Should Find the Marketing Platform That Works for YOU

The marketing platform you choose should be one that is most comfortable for your business and will help you grow.

If you’re not sure which platform is best for your business, here are a few factors to consider:

• Is the software easy to use?
• Does it have the features needed to manage email marketing, landing pages and marketing automation?
• How much does it cost in terms of time and money?

We hope that this article helped you understand the differences between Mailchimp and Hubspot. If you still have questions about which marketing platform would be best for your business, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our Southern View Crew at Southern View Media is always happy to answer any questions!