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Guest Post: How Animated Videos Can Help Your Business Reach More Customers

Today, companies have a bevy of tools they can use to interact and engage with their customers. But those same tools can compete for the attention of the same target audience, posing a unique challenge for companies and their marketing team.

Study after study indicates that the attention span of the average consumer found online has been dwindling. Online interactions can be cut short by a variety of reasons, ranging from slow loading of a website to lack of engaging content.

 

Another tool to add to your arsenal

When it comes to drawing (and holding) the attention of your target customers online, whether it’s on your social media pages or even on your website, one powerful tool that you can use is the animated explainer video.

Why should you invest in the production of an animated explainer video?

As the old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Videos engage both the senses of sight and sound, making these superior to text or even infographics.

Humans are physiologically and psychologically wired to take in and process visual information thousands of times faster compared to a block of text. But apart from that, that processed information is more likely to be retained compared to merely reading something.

It doesn’t take much to reap the benefits of an animated video. Even just a few minutes of footage can pack in much information. Compare that to reading a 700-word article that can take anywhere between three to five minutes to read.

 

How can you use animated videos?

Another unique advantage of animated videos is their versatility.

Marketing is one key aspect where animated videos shine. With these videos, your imagination is the limit. Untethered from the limitations of ordinary videos, you can tell your animation studio how exactly you want your brand to be represented. 

Animated videos are almost peerless in terms of storytelling. Whether you are introducing your company to the public or new employees, or telling customers how your products work, the diversity of animated videos makes other platforms pale in comparison.

Animated videos can also be used to boost your SEO rankings. For one, these videos can increase the time a user spends on your website. And the more time site visitors spend on your website, the more search engines like Google see this as a sign of the quality of your website and its pages.

 

And if you post these videos on YouTube, the second largest search engine, your search engine ranking is more likely to move up.

 

Live vs. animated

How do animated videos compared to live videos where you have human actors? In order to better answer that question, it is critical to look at a few factors.

 

Animated videos contain various elements. Typically, the process of making one begins with a script and a storyboard. From there, the process moves toward the actual animation and the addition of music, voiceovers, and sound effects.

Production times can range from weeks to months, depending on a few considerations, including requests for revisions. Live videos can take just a few days to shoot.

Like animated videos, live videos start with a script and a storyboard. From there, you will need to cast actors and put together a production team for various elements, including props, costumes, and sound.

 

In terms of savings in both time and money, animated videos almost always win over live videos. That’s because everything is made from scratch. An animated studio does not have to deal with hassles like the fickle weather, finding a suitable location for a shoot, or even the temperament of actors.

On top of that, animated videos have a higher click rate compared to their live counterparts.

 

On the converse side of the coin, live videos exude an authentic vibe. When viewers hear and see emotions from the actors, your company can quickly gain their trust. Live videos can also be produced faster. 

However, these videos can be quite expensive and can take a substantial amount of work to produce.

 

Which should you choose?

That will depend heavily on your budget and intended purpose. For companies that aim to reap the benefits of videos, but want something that can be produced quickly and at a fraction of the cost of a live video, animated is the way to go.

 

AUTHOR BIO: Anthony Lam is the founder of Punchy Digital Media, a creative agency that helps organisations grow using animated videos and creative visual content. Punchy has a team across Australia and Asia and has worked with clients such as Apple, Westpac and the Australian Government, running campaigns and reaching millions of people.

Guest Post: The Importance of Evergreen Content

 Creating content that is unique and relevant to your business and will drive traffic to your site is an important part of any business’ marketing strategy. You want to create quality content that people will appreciate and keep coming back to over and over. This type of content is called evergreen content.

This article will discuss what evergreen content is, why it’s important for your business, how your businesses can create and incorporate evergreen content into their marketing strategy. 

What is Evergreen Content?

While you may have never heard of the term evergreen content, you surely have browsed the internet and came across some examples of it before. So, what exactly is it? Evergreen content is simply relevant, quality content that will continue to be relevant even years after it’s posted. The type of content that you keep coming back to and referencing time and time again. 

This type of valuable content can include actionable tips, how-to guides, case studies, resources and tools, everything you need to know about a niche, infographics, lists and more. Avoid time-sensitive subject matters such as seasonal content or content related to a specific date. The more information you can provide to your viewers the better. People like having all the information they need to know at the tip of their fingers. 

While this may seem challenging for businesses that need to constantly update their site to show no longer available or new inventory, such as a car dealership site or an online furniture store, there are other places they can house evergreen content. For example, Audi Bellevue has all of their current inventory on their site, but also hosts articles on their site that will remain helpful to readers, such as an “Audi Wiper Blade Replacement Guide”.

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When creating evergreen content ask yourself if it will still be relevant in a year or two. Of course, it may need to minor updates from time to time depending on your industry trends, but evergreen content is timeless. Remember to think long-term when creating these types of pieces. 

Why Evergreen Content is Important for Your Website

If you’re creating a high-quality post, chances are you’ve taken the time to optimize it for it to rank higher in search engines. Because of the quality content and its relevancy, it will continue to move its way up on search engines. Evergreen content is never outdated, so search engines will continue to view it as valuable. Which brings us to our next point, higher rankings in search engines means higher website traffic. When your content remains relevant, people will keep coming back to it, which means a high volume of eyes will see it even after you’ve published it. The higher you rank in search engines, the more traffic your content and website will receive, which will lead to more potential leads. Creating great content can always generate leads, but evergreen content will continue to bring in leads over time. Think of it as a piece of content that keeps on giving. Since it will continue to remain relevant, people will continue to search for it, link to it and share it. 

How to Create Evergreen Content

So now that we know what evergreen content is and why it’s important, let’s dive into how you can create your own evergreen content that will continue to drive organic traffic to your business. When thinking of topics of focus to create content around, make sure you’re coming up with ideas that are relevant to your specific industry. There will always be multiple versions of a topic, so it’s up to you to put a unique spin on it. 

First things first, brainstorm topics you want to center your content around. Focus on topics that are niche-specific and receive consistent traffic. Do keyword research for that topic and see what keywords you will be able to rank for. Again, when looking up keywords, make sure the topic you are searching for has a high search volume over a long period of time. 

After you’ve decided on a topic, you need to figure out what angle you are going to take that will make readers read your content over others. Once you start creating the content, whether that be an article or infographic, make sure the content is of high-quality. High-quality content is easy to read, provides useful advice or tips, is interesting and provides readers with actionable takeaways. 

For example, let’s look at this hiring process checklist infographic created by ShareAble for Hires. 

For starters, this is a handy guide for employers that will always remain relevant, and the title and content don’t include any jargon that will go out of date. Since it’s an infographic, it’s a piece of content that websites can easily integrate into their blog posts.

 

The content provides readers with actionable steps, is easy to read and is visually appealing- a great example of evergreen content. 

Promote Your Content to Uphold the Evergreen Status 

So now you have a great piece of evergreen content that you know will stand the test of time, but how can we get it to uphold its status long after it is published? It’s up to you to put in the work to get the content where it needs to be, and the rest will follow. Here’s how you can get more traffic to your evergreen content: 

Build Links 

In order for your content to gain the exposure it deserves; people need to be able to find it. Build relationships with other bloggers and websites that would benefit from your content. Obtaining backlinks from other relevant, authoritative sites in your niche can drive more traffic to your content. 

Refresh Content When Needed 

Take the time every few months to refresh any of your content to ensure it remains relevant. This could be as simple as changing the publishing date, reposting on your blog or social media, or adding new, high-ranking keywords into the piece. 

Share on Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool, so take advantage of it. Post your content across all social media platforms to reach a wider audience and drive traffic to your business. Many businesses also create content within their site that include social media share widgets, making it easier for their audience to share their work. One perfect example of this is I Am Net Worthy’s website. Within their site they have a comprehensive blog, then from the information fund on the blog, they create finance “nuggets” for their readers to share on social, in turn increasing their brand recognition and SEO. 

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Track Content Rankings 

Check the rankings of your content often using tools like Ahrefs and SEMRush. See what keywords you are currently ranking for, how much traffic your content is driving to your site and who’s sharing your content. These tools are a great way to figure out what adjustments you need to make to your content in order to uphold its evergreen status. 

In Summary 

To get consistent traffic to your site over time, evergreen content is the way to go. By taking the time to create this valuable content, your business will continue to reap the benefits for a long time to come.  

 

Author Bio: Emily Banks is a Bay Area native who got tired of San Francisco’s cold beaches, so she moved to San Diego. She is currently the Editor for the HR section of 365 Business Tips. When she is not typing away on her keyboard, she can be found eating street tacos in the sunshine.

Guest Post: How to Create a Logo Using Placeit vs. Adobe Illustrator

If your business is growing or you just started a new project, you are probably thinking about your logo design. Why? Because it is basically the most important essential aspect of your whole business. So we can say with confidence, it is a big deal and you should think about it before developing any other thing. Maybe you don’t really know how to create a logo yet, but don’t worry, you are in the right place! Let’s learn how to design a logo with our tool that works as a Photoshop alternative.

Now let’s be honest, picking an app to make a logo may be overwhelming. So we will be comparing the all times classic logo software Illustrator with an online logo maker tool by Placeit. Don’t worry if you feel this is a work you can’t do, we will be guiding you step by step so you can easily make your own logo on either one of these apps.

The Wonders of Using a Logo Creator

Using an online logo creator for your logo is like magic. You don’t have to spend hours designing and you don’t have to hire anyone else to do the job because it is so easy you can really design it yourself! We do have to mention that making your own logo is way cheaper than buying one, but the most amazing thing about using Placeit is that you can make as many logos as you wish, plus other essential branding assets for your business like business cards, posters, flyers, social media posts, and even videos!

How to Make a Logo with Placeit’s Logo Maker

  1. Go to Placeit’s Logo Maker and type your brand’s name in the text box.

The Logo Maker will suggest an industry for your logo, if it’s the right one, click on “Let’s Go”. If it is not the right one, pick the industry you are working on.

2. Choose the template you would like to customize.

3. Customize your template by typing any additional info you want on your logo. Change colors, fonts, graphics.

*Pro Tip: You can move around your elements to play with your logo’s layout.

4. When you are completely satisfied with your design, click on the “download” button.

Also, if you need a vectorized logo for any further editing now or in your future, you can download it from Placeit as a PDF with your vectorized logo!

 

 

How to Design a Logo with Adobe Illustrator

So let’s try to make a similar design from scratch using Illustrator.

  1. Open a new document, for starters you can choose to use a template size or open a custom template with the exact size you need. For this test, we will be making a squared 1000pixels logo.
  2. 2. Select the “Type” tool. Click and drag your text box and type your text.

  3. Customize your text’s size, font, spacing, alignment, using the “character” window.

  4. With your text selected click on the color tool. Move the mouse around to pick a color or you can always type in a hex code with the exact color you want.

  5. To create an underlining shape for your logo’s name first you choose the shapes tool. In this case, we will be using a rectangle tool. Make the same movement as the Type tool, click on your board and drag your mouse until you get your desired size. You will be making a big shape in order to see all the commands inside your figure. At the corners, you will be seeing small white dots, click and drag on these to play with your corners and make the shape rounder.
  6. Change your shapes color.

  7. This part is tricky, it’s time to make your graphics, you can always search for license-free icons on the internet, but for this logo, we will be making the icon ourselves. The easiest way to make your icon is by using the pen tool.  Select the pen tool to create your design, to use it, you have to click on a point of your board and make a second click to connect a line. If you are making a curved line, hold on your mouse click and drag your line. To end your line, click on your last vector (the small white squares) while holding your Alt key.
  8. Duplicate your lines by clicking on your Alt key and dragging your line.

  9. Relocate your line and change its orientation by using the selection around it.

  10. Make lines and arrange them until you get the desired shapes. To group lines into one single object, select them and click on the “object” option on top of your screen and then select “group”.

  11. Next, you will be vectorizing your fonts. Select all your text by holding the shift key. Then on your upper screen click on “type” and then the option “create outlines”. If at any time you want to go back just click on “command” + “z” or if you are using a PC use “Ctrl” instead of the command key.
  12. Align all your elements, select everything on your logo and click on your align tool.
  13. Almost done! Click on “file”, “save as” and choose files locations and format. Always save your original design in Ai format and have a second format, most likely PDF, for easy sharing. You can also click on the “export as” options in order to get a PNG file or a JPEG.

    Compare These Logo Makers Pricing

    A Placeit subscription gives you unlimited access to all of Placeit’s mockups, design templates, and video makers as well as half off the logo maker to not only make your logo but also promote your designs, products, and brand like a pro. Easily create a logo for your brand with this subscription and use this tool from any computer, tablet or even on your phone!

    On the other hand, if you feel confident about your editing skills you can take a look at the whole Adobe suite pricing to get this software on your computer at once! Ask an expert so you know which version is better suited for your PC or Mac software update.

Let’s Wrap Up How to Design a Logo

The most important thing to consider is that you do need a logo to start your brand. So maybe play around with these tools or try other sites and choose the option that is better suited for your needs. All we can say about Placeit is that this is the option for the ones that are looking for something easy, affordable and quick but still need a professional hi-quality logo. This is why Placeit’s Logo Maker is always a great idea.

Valeria Santalla is a multi-disciplinary graphic designer and writer that loves to create branding images for local business, she currently collaborates at Placeit.net one of the largest logo maker and design template library website.

 

 

Guest Post: 4 Cybersecurity Myths Your Business Might Have Fallen For

The world of cybersecurity is new for many business owners. Without understanding how it all works, it can be very easy to fall for some of the most common myths thrown around about how cybersecurity works. Here are four myths that your business may have fallen for which you should remedy as soon as possible.

A Strong Password Will Protect Your Business

Just because you set password requirements to make it hard to guess, that’s not the only form of login authentication that you need. Rather, you should be utilizing two-factor authentication alongside data monitoring. This will ensure that if hackers can get through the initial password login, they can still be stopped by the second authentication step.

Only Specific Industries Get Targeted By Hackers

While IT companies do tend to target select industries when it comes to their services, it’s important to note that all industries can be targeted. As long as you have some sort of sensitive data, hackers are willing to breach your system. This could be sensitive data about your customers or your business itself.

Anti-Virus Software Is Enough to Keep Out Intruders

This is one of the biggest cybersecurity myths that is out there. While anti-virus software programs are a necessity for business owners, they’re one part of the entire cybersecurity strategy. Your business will need multiple tools to protect against online intruders. Don’t just purchase anti-virus software and assume that you’re fully protected from hackers. That’s simply not the case at all.

Small Businesses Aren’t Targets for Hackers

There are many fish in the sea and it’s easiest to go for the big ones instead of chasing the small ones. That is what we’ve all been mistakenly told when it comes to cybersecurity. This just isn’t the case. Rather, small businesses made up over half the data breaches for businesses last year. Hackers know that small business owners don’t typically take the security measures that big businesses do. Therefore, they know that they can breach small businesses with ease as compared to large businesses.

There are a lot of myths flying around when it comes to the concept of cybersecurity. Understanding what these myths are and what the facts actually are about cybersecurity, you can get a better idea of what your business needs to be better protected in the future. You should enlist the help of a professional IT consultant when it comes to understanding the truth about cybersecurity.

 

Anica is a professional content and copywriter from San Francisco, California. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here. https://plus.google.com/u/0/110201410531526652293

Guest Post: Avoid Customer Friction Using These Slick Techniques

Regardless of what type of business you run, when it comes to generating conversions on your website, it’s important to make the process as simple as possible. A user may not take a desired action if doing so involves too many steps.

While you may not have a slick digital agency auditing your customer journey, there are some things you can do on your own to reduce “friction” for the user. To do so, keep the following tips in mind:

Improve Site Speed

The number of steps required to take a particular action isn’t the only factor that prevents users from converting. If your pages load too slowly, users will leave the site. In fact, Google research has confirmed that most mobile users leave pages that take more than three seconds to load.

Review your site’s code with your developer. They may identify areas where it can be cleaned up to improve page speed.

tablet showing graphsMake Recommendations

Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever to provide users with personalized options when they visit your site. This can help you guard against the effects of decision fatigue.

Maybe you run an ecommerce shop. If your shop offers many different products, guests might feel overwhelmed. They won’t make a single purchase because they won’t know how to decide which product is worth their money. With AI, that’s not a problem. You can simply provide recommendations tailored to their specific preferences. With that being said, boosting some of your top performing products through an Amazon marketing campaign can capture the attention of a potential customer at the very moment they are considering and searching for related products. This helps remove decision fatigue from the equation.

Offer Multiple Payment Options

Don’t limit your payment options to one or two methods. Quite simply, the more options you provide, the more users you can appeal to.

Reduce Fields

With any sort of website conversion, whether it’s signing up for an email list or making a purchase, users will often be required to provide some information to complete the process.

Make sure you’re not requiring users to provide too much information. Again, the longer it takes to complete a task, the greater the odds a user will abandon it. Review all your website’s forms and look for ways you can simplify them to prevent this.

Offer Guest Checkout Options

You shouldn’t require users to create an account before making a purchase or taking a similar action on your site. While you may want to recommend creating an account, as this can boost the chances of a user becoming a repeat customer, you don’t want to prohibit users from taking action without an account. Make sure there is a “guest checkout” option for all conversions you wish to generate.

Of course, it’s also important to monitor your progress after making these changes. You need to confirm the steps you’ve taken are actually delivering results. Luckily, if you follow these tips, you’re very likely to generate many more conversions than you currently are.

 

Rae is a graduate of Tufts University with a combined International Relations and Chinese degree. After spending time living and working abroad in China, she returned to NYC to pursue her career and continue curating quality content. Rae is passionate about travel, food, and writing (of course).

New Video: Child and Family Charities – Igniting Hope

At this year’s Child and Family Charities Igniting Hope Fundraising Breakfast, we told three stories from three different programs, Behavioral Health, Gateway Youth Services and Child Welfare. We follow the stories of Lisa, Raquell and Cynthia as they sought out the help of these services and how they were positively impacted.

For more information: https://www.childandfamily.org/

#BetterCallPaul – November 2019 Recap

With the end of November looming, let’s take a look at some of the videos we launched last month. We enjoyed videos from Ingham County Health Department, DayStarr Communications, The Firecracker Foundation and Child and Family Charities.

Guest Post: 4 Signs Your Office Building Isn’t the Right Fit for Your Company

The office building in which your company is located says a lot about your business. If the space isn’t right for you, though, you’ll lose more than a sense of comfort. Below are four signs that your office building isn’t quite right for your company.

Constant Work-Arounds

There are certain issues that plague offices, most of which become part of the daily life of the employees. If you notice that your employees are constantly having to work around the faults of your building, though, that’s not a good sign. If employees know the bathrooms back-up, that they can’t use two microwaves at one time, or that the heating only works on the north side of the building, for example, there’s a chance that there’s something very wrong with your current space.

A Lack of Space

Your office building may have been right for your company a few years ago, but now it’s getting a little too crowded. When you do building and construction research, you need to ensure that you’re planning for your future needs and not just those of today. When you start to notice that you’re running out of space for new employees or that you never have enough conference rooms for all your meetings, it might be time to move.

Client Reactions

The way your clients react to your space might show you that your building isn’t right for you. If your clients never want to meet you at your office or if they express surprise that your company operates out a specific space, you’re experiencing an issue that’s causing you to lose potential profits. You need to ensure that your space represents your company in the way you want it represented.

Restrictive Rules

Finally, restrictive rules on how your business can operate can often be a sign that you’re in the wrong place. If you can’t make use of all of your space, if you aren’t able to secure adequate parking for special events, or if you have to follow specific rules that stop your business from operating efficiently, moving makes sense. Restrictions, whether from a landlord or from your community, can have a huge impact on the utility of your space and thus must be examined to determine if they’re worth dealing with.

Your office building should help and not hinder your business. If it’s causing you problems, it may be time to move. Remember, your location can have a huge impact on your business so make sure that your location is the right one.

 

Anica is a professional content and copywriter from San Francisco, California. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/110201410531526652293

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