Content Marketing is one of the most talked about and trusted online marketing tactics.
It can help your business generate online traffic, expand your presence on social media, establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry, and most importantly, bring in new sales and leads.
But despite its current popularity and buzzworthiness, there are still a number of misconceptions about what content marketing is, how it works and what it can do for you. We’re going to clear up some of these misconceptions and help you get a better understanding of how content marketing can help your brand. Read more
The history of blogging is an interesting one. For a while, the purpose of a blog was entirely personal. People would use blogs as a sort of online diary that was public to friends and family. However, as online marketing evolved over the years, it became apparent that the blog held immense value as a content marketing tool. Blogging presented the perfect way for businesses to regularly publish new content to attract and build a large audience.
With that in mind, if you’re planning a content marketing strategy, then you should strongly consider setting up a website blog and do blogging.
How Blogging is Beneficial for Business
The following are a few benefits of blogging for business to improve your online marketing efforts:
1. Generate Organic Traffic From Google
One of the main advantages of blogging is that it can help you generate organic traffic from Google. When you publish new content on your blog, Google will index it and include it in its search results. As a result, people searching for information related to your business will be more likely to find your website.
Of course, how your blog content ranks will depend on how effectively you optimize it for SEO (search engine optimization). You’ll need to:
Use competitive, relevant keywords throughout each blog post
Use internal and external links to improve user engagement
Promote your blog via social media and email marketing.
If you have a social media presence for your business, consider promoting new blog content on every channel you’re using. Doing so will encourage more of your followers to click through and read your latest blog post. It can also help your blog posts rank better due to the increased traffic they’ll receive from social media exposure.
It’s also worth mentioning that posting your blog posts on social media improves the post’s chances of being shared by others. Whoever shares your posts on social media will expose them to an entirely new audience, which can help drive new visitors to your site.
3. Establish Brand Authority
One of the primary goals of any content marketing strategy is to establish your brand as an authority in its industry. One of the best ways to do that is by regularly publishing high-quality blog content.
When you publish new, high-quality blog posts regularly, it showcases your expertise on the topic at hand. It also helps to build trust and credibility with your audience. As a result, your blog can help to not only bolster your brand reputation, but to drive conversions.
Additionally, the better your reputation is, the more likely other websites will begin linking to your blog. The resulting backlinks can expose your brand to bigger audiences and cement your position as a thought leader within your industry.
4. Educate Your Audience
By publishing how-to guides and other informative pieces on your blog, you can help educate potential leads in the beginning stages of their buyer’s journey. Not only will doing so help build your brand authority, but it will also help nurture your visitors through the buyer’s journey. As a result, you’ll be in a better position to capture leads and convert them into customers.
One of the benefits of having a blog is that it can have a long-term impact on attracting and educating new leads. For instance, someone searching for information about a problem they’re having may stumble on a blog post you published a few years ago that remains relevant. If your post was educational, they might stick around, exploring your blog or your website further.
5. Generate Leads
Besides attracting new visitors to your website, your blog can go a long way towards helping you generate leads. Your blog can nurture potential leads and build trust, two critical steps towards capturing a lead. However, the blog posts themselves can act as a vessel for conversion. By ending each post with a call-to-action and an offer, you can entice visitors to sign up to your email list.
Set Up A Blog to Improve Your Online Marketing Today
If you’re not already taking advantage of all that a blog can do for your online marketing efforts, it’s time to start. Creating high-quality blog content is one of the best ways to improve your website’s SEO, drive social media traffic, establish brand authority, educate your audience, and generate leads. All of which can help improve your online marketing success over the long term.
https://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/iStock-913172354-scaled.jpg13652048Nicole Wagnerhttps://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/STLogo-web-header-2024.pngNicole Wagner2024-11-26 08:00:432024-11-25 23:07:19How Businesses Can Use a Blog To Strengthen Their Online Marketing Efforts
(LOMBARD, IL) – Stevens & Tate Marketing has been honored with a W3 Award in the category of Branded Entertainment–Not-for-Profit and a Silver Davey Award in the category of Film/Video-Corporate Image for “Protecting The People In The Land Of Lincoln,” the 50th anniversary video created for its client JULIE, Inc. These prestigious awards recognize excellence in creative work from firms worldwide.
To commemorate 50 years of promoting digging safety, the video features stunning drone footage showcasing the diverse landscapes JULIE helps protect—farms, rural communities, suburbs, and cities—capturing the essence of where Illinois residents live, work and play. The core message highlights JULIE’s legacy and the importance of safe digging practices in preventing service disruptions to critical infrastructure like electricity, natural gas, water, communications, Internet, and fiber optics.
“We’re incredibly honored to be recognized by both the W3 and Davey Awards,” said Dan Gartlan, partner at Stevens & Tate. “As a creative agency rooted here in Illinois, it means a lot to us to celebrate JULIE’s history and their powerful role in public safety across the state.”
Through breathtaking visuals and heartfelt storytelling, the video reflects JULIE’s journey toward becoming a trusted leader in utility line damage prevention and celebrates the association’s five decades of commitment to safe digging. The result is a powerful and engaging piece that resonates with viewers on every level.
The long-form video has become a central part of JULIE’s internal marketing and communication efforts. Additionally, Stevens & Tate adapted the nearly three-minute video into two 30-second versions for outreach advertising. These shorter edits are broadcast on various platforms including cable TV, over-the-top streaming services, digital display ads, and social media, allowing JULIE’s safety message to connect with a broad audience. It’s also prominently displayed on JULIEBeforeYouDig.com and has become an essential feature in anniversary events, presentations and meetings with contractors and key partners.
About the W3 Awards
Founded in 2005, the W3 Awards recognize outstanding achievement in web design, video, marketing, mobile sites and applications, social, podcasts, and emerging tech, welcoming entries from agencies, companies and individuals worldwide. The awards celebrate the often-overlooked innovators of digital creativity who push boundaries and bring imaginative ideas to life. From emerging independent creators to well-established global agencies, the W3 Awards highlight projects that are shaping the future of the digital world.
About the Davey Awards
The Davey Awards recognize creative excellence across various media, with a particular focus on small agencies and firms. Although geared toward smaller companies, the awards are judged by industry leaders with impressive credentials. Sanctioned by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), an exclusive body of distinguished professionals from top media, advertising and marketing organizations, the Davey Awards benefit from the expertise of executives from companies like Condé Nast, Disney, GE, Microsoft, Monster.com, MTV, Publicis, Sesame Workshop, The Marketing Store, Yahoo!, and more.
About Stevens & Tate Marketing
Stevens & Tate Marketing is a full-service advertising agency offering on-strategy creative, integrated message development, and cost-effective media planning and execution. The team creates targeted solutions for clients within the not-for-profit, food/grocery, retail, homebuilding/real estate, travel/tourism, business-to-business, healthcare, and senior living industries.
To learn more about Stevens & Tate’s award-winning capabilities, view the agency’s online portfolio at www.Stevens-Tate.com/work. For information on how Stevens & Tate can help Make Things Happen™ for your business, contact the business development team at (630) 627-5200.
https://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_7722.png5371024Mark Beebehttps://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/STLogo-web-header-2024.pngMark Beebe2024-11-22 15:02:232024-11-26 17:00:12Stevens & Tate Marketing Receives W3 and Davey Awards for JULIE, Inc.’s 50th Anniversary Video
In the world of marketing today, a new generation has emerged—the Gen Z, or “TikTok Generation.” With the youngest entering their teens and the oldest approaching 30, this digitally native, socially conscious group has become a powerful consumer force. Marketing on TikTok offers an exciting way to reach them, but this generation is notoriously hard to engage. However, with the right strategy, you can cut through the noise and create genuine connections that make your brand stand out to these young consumers.
1. Understanding the TikTok Generation
The TikTok generation grew up fully immersed in technology and is considered the first true digital-native audience. For them, social media is more than a content-sharing tool—it’s a lifestyle and a central hub for news, entertainment, learning, and connection. Thus, to reach them effectively, brands need to be present, engaged, and focused on building real connections on these social platforms. Remember, authenticity is key: the TikTok generation wants content that feels genuine and speaks directly to their lives.
With this in mind, let’s explore some strategies that can help brands engage meaningfully with this audience on TikTok and beyond.
2. Leverage Influencer Marketing
Influencers hold a significant place in the hearts of the TikTok generation. From celebrities like Hailey Bieber sparking trends with a single post to micro-influencers with dedicated, niche followings, influencers offer a direct path to Gen Z’s attention. And if a big-name influencer doesn’t fit your budget, micro-influencers are a fantastic alternative; their audiences are often loyal and highly engaged, ready to act on trusted recommendations. The key is finding influencers who align with your brand’s image and giving them creative freedom. While providing basic guidelines can ensure brand alignment, avoid trying to overly control their process. Letting influencers create content in their authentic style builds trust and gives your brand a more relatable, human touch.
User-generated content is the heartbeat of TikTok. For the TikTok generation, peer recommendations and real-life stories carry more weight than traditional ads. Encouraging your audience to create UGC through hashtag challenges, Duets, and other interactive features invites them into your brand’s story. For example, campaigns like Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” and Starbucks’ “White Cup Contest” show how UGC can generate massive engagement, especially on platforms where algorithms often prioritize this type of content. By creating challenges that are fun and easy to participate in, you’re not only inviting your customers to be part of the brand, but also empowering them to share their experiences, expanding your brand’s reach organically!
Coca-Cola – “Share a Coke”
Starbucks – “White Cup Contest”
4. Master the Art of Short-Form Storytelling
TikTok is built on the power of bite-sized stories. Think about the last time you picked up your phone—maybe even to read this. How many times did a notification, ad, or the urge of checking another app divert your focus? Given today’s shortened attention spans, particularly among digital natives, it’s vital to catch your audience’s attention immediately—those first three seconds are crucial. Craft videos that quickly convey emotion, humor, or a unique perspective, and stay in tune with trending sounds, memes, and styles. Here’s a bonus tip: repurposing successful TikTok content on Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts can extend your reach without the need for additional production time, letting you engage multiple audiences efficiently.
5.Data-Driven Marketing on TikTok
Behind TikTok’s playful exterior lies a powerful repository of analytics that can be leveraged for precision marketing. Tracking engagement rates, shares, and watch time can reveal which content is resonating and help refine your approach. Testing different ad formats—like In-Feed ads, Hashtag Challenges, and Branded Effects—lets you pinpoint what Gen Z finds most engaging. Marketing on Tiktok is all about creativity, making the platform an ideal testing ground for new ideas while also providing clear, measurable insights to guide future campaigns.
For the TikTok generation, social media is a space for self-expression and community, not just for following brands. Direct interactions—whether responding to comments, engaging in live videos, or creating Duets—show that there’s a human side to your brand. By fostering community and collaboration, you’re not just marketing a product; you’re building genuine connections. You can also collaborate with other brands that share similar audiences, joining forces for campaigns that amplify your message and broaden your reach. In today’s digital landscape, a loyal, invested community will be your brand’s strongest advocates.
7. Connected TV and Streaming Ads for the TikTok Generation
Let’s step away from social platforms for a moment and explore another often-overlooked channel: Connected TV (CTV). CTV refers to any TV that connects to the internet, allowing users to stream content from platforms like Hulu, Peacock, and Roku. As users continue to migrate from traditional TV to streaming, CTV ads and ads on streaming platforms offer new ways to reach Gen Z. With CTV, brands can blend storytelling with precision targeting, capturing attention on a larger screen and at a time when users are more receptive to content. By pairing TikTok’s creativity with CTV’s focused reach, you can build cross-platform strategies that resonate with the TikTok generation wherever they are.
Marketing on TikTok is about more than just catchy videos. It’s a strategy rooted in authenticity, creativity, and a community-focused approach where your brand’s personality can truly shine. Gone are the days when brands could rely on being at the center of the customer journey; today, the people are. Embracing these shifts and connecting with Gen Z on their terms is essential to staying relevant and influential in today’s market. So, what’s stopping you from taking the leap?
https://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/Tiktok-gen.jpg7931322Dan Gartlanhttps://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/STLogo-web-header-2024.pngDan Gartlan2024-11-21 13:03:172024-11-19 18:05:30Marketing on TikTok: Strategies to Engage the TikTok Generation
Email is one of the most effective marketing platforms in the world today. Marketing is based on judging books by their covers, thus attractive email subject lines are crucial. The choice of words used in the subject line has a huge influence on the readers and determines whether the hard work devoted to writing the email is fruitful.
Investing additional time into writing good email subject lines increase your open email rates. Investing additional time into writing a good subject line increases your open email rates. This grants you additional exposure increased contact with the target market. Here are some suggestions when it comes to writing strong email subject lines.
How To Create Strong Email Subject Lines?
Use aspects of personalization
For this, use tags in the catchy email subject lines indicating the addressee’s name and locality. For most marketing professionals, this has been observed to increase open rates. Combining this tactic with some targeted automation announcement will improve the effectiveness of the strategy.
Be target specific in creating recipient lists
Though sending blast messages to every contact in your list may seem comprehensive, it may be offputting to some recipients. Due to receiving irrelevant messages, some of your recipients may feel confused and, at times, frustrated. To solve this problem, segment the list based on past experiences and observations of consumer behavior. Forms are good sources for such information because they are filled with descriptions of personal preferences.
Around 40% of emails sent are opened in a mobile device. Assuming your readers might open emails in their mobile device, your best email subject lines should be under 50 characters so it doesn’t get cut off. To minimize the character count, only use the most crucial words in your subject line and take away the unnecessary ones.
Excessive use of exclamation marks and caps lock will make your recipient feel like they’re being yelled at. Not only is the tactic disruptive, but 70% of recipients are likely to mark such emails as spam. Avoid this mistake and use action-based language to catch your readers’ attention instead.
Do not divulge the contents
A strong email subject line hides the contents of the email from the reader and instead makes them curious. Additionally, you should avoid making the subject line overpromising, which means whatever is indicated in the subject line should be consistent with the contents of the email.
Ask reflective questions
Ask relevant questions in email subject lines to attract the reader’s attention. Formulate a question that appeals directly to the recipient, and then provide internal links that provide an answer to the question. This is an efficient strategy that will translate to more email reads.
A/B testing
Though subject lines can be formed based on many ideas, the focus should be the target market. A/B testing involves carefully researching your target audience and experimenting with different subject lines. A successful campaign tests different subject lines on customers and adopts the ones with more reads. It is necessary to research continuously so as to remain relevant and effective.
https://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/3-Reasons-Email-Campaigns-Remain-The-Best-Marketing-Tool.jpg8121292Debbie Szwasthttps://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/STLogo-web-header-2024.pngDebbie Szwast2024-11-20 10:00:442024-11-20 03:22:03Tips to Consider When Developing Strong Email Subject Lines
In spite of the enormous success of social media marketing, many B2B companies still haven’t successfully jumped on the social train. This because many B2B companies are unsure how to utilize their social media platforms to the best of their advantage. Sharing will help alot, when it comes to attraction marketing.
Social media channels enable you to reach a wide net of potential customers and connect with individuals on a more personal level. More people are using these platforms to research potential purchasing decisions. Therefore, your posts should be educating potential buyers about what you have to offer and showcasing why you’re an authoritative source. Despite what you may have heard, you don’t have to post memes or funny videos to stand out.
If you’ve put your social media strategies on the back burner, you’re missing out on a great opportunity. Here are some ways to improve B2B sales via social media:
How to reach your target audience:
The first step in developing your social media strategy should be to develop a roadmap of whom you want to send your social media messages to. This outline will help you reach the right people at the right time and ensure your messages won’t be lost in all of the noise. Your outline should include the messages you wish to send to your target audience. You’ll want to ask yourself the following:
Who is your audience?
What social media platforms do they use?
What is the end goal of your social media posts?
Once you’ve developed your plan, it’s time to set your posts into action.
When most people think B2B sales and social media, they think of Linkedin. While LinkedIn is known as the top social platform for businesses, this doesn’t mean other platforms should be ignored. Social media isn’t solely about generating B2B sales leads; it’s also about strengthening your brand awareness.
With social media, you’re able to humanize your brand by personally engaging with your audience. Since most people are turning to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, to look for solutions to their problems, your company should be visible on these platforms and ready to assist them.
How to cater your message to businesses:
Social media is a great place to showcase your brand’s level of expertise and gain trusted adviser status. Since most buyers are 60% into the buying decision before they even reach out to a sales representative, your posts should reach them early on in their journey. You can do this by posting helpful and educational content that will nudge potential customers along the sales cycle without seeming “pushy”. Case studies, blogs, product demos, and videos are great ways to initially convey your messages to your audience.
Like all marketing, social media marketing’s end goal is to generate qualified leads. All of your posts should have a content offer or call-to-action in order to urge your visitors to take steps toward purchasing. Make sure all of your social media platforms redirect to your website, and vice versa. Easy navigation is key to successful online marketing.
Your company’s social media marketing will be successful if you create personal relationships with your customers and provide them with valuable and educational content. Social media gives you the opportunity to reach a larger audience than ever before. Take this opportunity and run with it!
https://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2017-08-03-at-9.21.45-AM-2.png563723Nicole Wagnerhttps://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/STLogo-web-header-2024.pngNicole Wagner2024-11-15 09:31:112024-11-13 06:33:53How To Use Social Media To Drive B2B Sales
Inbound marketing is a force to be reckoned with. For businesses, that lack the time or adequate resources to take care of their own inbound marketing, these agencies offer a solution. Inbound marketing agencies work on search engine optimization, social media campaigns, and all-around content marketing. They do all the heavy lifting so that your business can focus on important details.
There are many agencies on the market that can offer you with professional inbound marketing solutions. Selecting the best agency to provide these services can be quite confusing. Below are some of the questions you can use. These questions can help you identify if an inbound agency is right for your business. You can use these questions to determine if an inbound agency aligns with your business direction.
Questions To Ask When Hiring Inbound Marketing Agency
1. Areas of expertise and experience?
Your prospective inbound marketing agency should be able to work with different types of businesses. Take time to understand the scope of their services. Most agencies should be able to handle B2B or B2C solutions with ease.
2. What service packages are available?
When looking for an agency to fill your marketing solution shoes, you need to take wholesome packages into account. These packages usually cover the basics. If you want more specialized solutions, you need to be sure the agency can satisfy your order. The prospective inbound marketing agency should take care of lead generation systems and SEO optimization among other things in the package.
For you to understand and analyze the process that the agency will take, you have to understand how their scoring system works. How do they actually measure the performance of their marketing strategies? What scale do they use? Feel free to ask more case study questions or make recommendations so the agency can provide tailor-made solutions.
4. What strategies seem fit for my business and do you have the required resources?
An agency’s influence is tied to its power in resources. Your inbound marketing agency must have the ability to come up with marketing strategies and follow through with them. It is retardant to deal with an agency that always needs your financial backing. Cost should be mentioned upfront.
Depending on the agency you want to work with, the completion time for projects will vary. Look for those who will work within the time frame you have provided.
6. What is your client retention status?
You can tell a lot from a business and the amount of clients they retain. High retention rates indicate high turnover. You want to work with a business that is trusted and supported with a number of people.
7. How do you integrate your team?
As a business looking for a marketing agency, you want to be sure that everyone involved understands your goal. Work with agencies that are open to taking direction and involving you in major/minor decisions.
8. How is ROI measured?
There are agencies that do not provide these services or only provide these services in limited function. It is better to work with agencies that do detailed ROI measurements. This way you can easily track how your investment is progressing.
With these questions, we are confident you will be able to select the right agency for your company. Look for an agency that gives you a creative edge and allows you to focus on your sales. We wish you all the best!
https://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/Inbound_Marketing.jpg705705Nicole Wagnerhttps://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/STLogo-web-header-2024.pngNicole Wagner2024-11-13 09:00:532024-11-13 06:25:598 Important Questions To Ask When Hiring Inbound Marketing Agencies
If you’re tuned in to inbound, you’ve surely found some valuable resources on the internet. There are some failsafe, go-to websites out there that can help you hone your marketing skills. They can also help you develop better content, and drive traffic more effectively. Here are some of our favorite top 5 inbound marketing resources:
5 Inbound Marketing Resources
1. HubSpot
Arguably the world’s leader in inbound marketing software, HubSpot has more than changed the game of online marketing. As a matter of fact, they practically wrote, broke, and authored the rules of inbound as we know it.
From HubSpot’s comprehensive blog covering everything from marketing to sales and everything in between to the highly lauded HubSpot Academy, there’s something for every marketer. For instance, HubSpot has an interactive course dedicated to content marketing that can provide you with a big picture view of everything you need for a successful content marketing strategy. Subscribe to their updates, and you’ll have access to free webinars, marketing kits, and endless tools as they evolve.
One of HubSpot’s most valuable tools is it’s Website Grader. Enter your website and email, and the Grader will score your website in four categories: performance, mobile, SEO, and security. Use this as a starting point to improve your site’s visitor experience.
Great content is the cornerstone to any inbound marketing strategy, and the Content Marketing Institute is a must-visit for any inbound marketer looking to pump out quality work. The CMI has pooled together many industry experts to create a comprehensive white paper and ebook library. These are full of techniques for how to engage readers, keep them connected, and tell better stories.
Creating excellent content is a great start to establishing expertise in your field and against your competition; however, attracting folks to your page is a whole different idea all together. Moz is the go-to expert for all things SEO. Their endless SEO learning library offers invaluable insights and data. Elevate your SEO game with Moz’s comprehensive resources.
Canva is a free website which allows you to design visually appealing cover photos, social media posts, and presentations. It is used throughout the industry by some of the biggest names in inbound. Canvas also holds a complete library of how-to’s for all things Canva and design related.
The resources available through Canva can help you generate infographics, Facebook cover photos, posters, and more without guessing what dimensions you should work with. Canva’s pre-sized canvases optimize your content for the end digital user without skewing graphics or pixelating fonts.
5. Social Media Examiner
Once you’ve published your content, created some stylish Canva graphics, and SEO’d your blog posts, turn to Social Media Examiner for helpful tips on how to get your content in front of your social media followers.
As SEO trends and Google’s algorithms constantly change, social media has updated its algorithms. If you’re doing it alone, you’re taking shots in the dark, but thanks to Social Media Examiner, you can stay ahead of the constantly changing world of social media.
https://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/inbound_marketing_b2b.jpg535654Nicole Wagnerhttps://stevens-tate.com/wp-content/uploads/STLogo-web-header-2024.pngNicole Wagner2024-11-07 09:00:142024-11-07 23:05:20Five Inbound Marketing Resources Every Marketer Should Know About
