Saba Digital Marketing

Saba SEO Logo
Request A Free Consultation

Month: May 2015

Understanding the Fundamental Costs for SMBs

Posted on by admin@saba4321

When it comes to setting a business budget, owners have two things to manage: income and costs. Income is the amount of money flowing into the business whereas costs include the money flowing out of the business. As a small business ourselves, Saba, Inc. wanted to share a few general SMBs costs that need to be considered.

  • Overhead

    Most overhead costs are known and fairly fixed for a year or more. Rent, utilities, office staff, and data processing costs are examples of overhead costs. They can be estimated with reasonable accuracy and should be reflected in the budget accordingly with allowances for growth or problems.

  • Costs of Goods and Materials

    Too often, the cost of goods budget reflects only the direct cost of goods and raw materials when it should actually reflect the total cost of ordering, freight, handling, and warehousing of these critical items.

  • Cost of Sales

    One of the most critical costs to budget is the cost of generating the revenue, which requires an accurate understanding of the sales force. Some sales people generate large volumes of sales but at low margins while others may generate lower sales but at significantly higher margins. Knowing how your sales force produces income can significantly affect the operating revenue a manager has to work with.

  • Cost of Production

    Different employees work at different rates and efficiency. Redoing work or callbacks are the most expensive production costs a business can have. Like the cost of sales, knowing and budgeting for different productivity rates can have a major impact on the bottom line.

  • Cost of Marketing

    Aside from the actual manufacturing of a product, businesses must also account for costs to promote that product. Some industries thrive using traditional marketing methods such as print and advertising, but today, many businesses find success using online marketing method such as PPC and search engine optimization which are often cost-efficient and easily scalable.

Every business is different, but whether it is retail store, a service company, or a manufacturing facility, the budget for a business should be based on historical reality but adjusted for actual costs of doing business. Planning smart makes working smart much easier and more productive.

Why Are Reviews Important for Businesses?

Posted on by admin@saba4321

When business owners are ready to begin an advertising and marketing campaign, there are many tools that can be used to get the desired results. In addition to internet marketing techniques such as running a PPC campaigns or optimizing a website using SEO, business owners should also focus on the power of customer reviews and testimonials.

The Impact of Reviews on Decision Making

Customers frequently use online reviews to make decisions about a company’s product or service. Websites that focus on user reviews, such as Yelp and Google+, have created a platform that is always accessible to prospective clients, meaning companies need to focus on providing the best possible product, service, and experience because a poor review could impact decision making, and subsequently the bottom line, for years to come.

Support for Other Marketing Initiatives

As a San Diego search engine optimization company, we always encourage our clients to focus on reviews for Google+ because it can help local SEO initiatives. Google uses reviews as an indicator that a product or service is well liked by the community and rewards the website with higher rankings in SERPs. Positive reviews on platforms besides Google+ also drive traffic to your main website, which can support organic ranking, while improving overall brand image.

Reviews Create Social Marketing Opportunities

Because reviews are so easily available, customers are quick to share them on various social media websites. Sharing reviews and experiences via Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ help businesses grow through organic sharing and discussions. If you are a part of these networks and respond to your, you will have the opportunity to create a stronger connection with your target audience.

With the right focus, reviews can help your company grow. If you’re having trouble getting started, reach out to Saba, Inc. today and learn more about our online marketing services and SEM packages for businesses in San Diego, California, and throughout the United States. Call us at (858) 277-1717 for more information or to schedule you free website audit and consultation.

What’s the Difference Between SEM and SEO?

Posted on by admin@saba4321

With so many internet marketing acronyms floating around, it can be hard to know what they all mean. Most people researching digital marketing have heard of SEO and SEM, but what’s the difference? Both involve digital marketing with search engines, keyword research, and ongoing campaign optimization. However, each term has slightly different meanings, advantages, and applications.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

In short, search engine marketing means “marketing with search engines.” This includes any and all types of marketing strategies, from search engine optimization (SEO) to pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

Since the term is still relatively new, the term itself might carry different nuances depending on who’s talking. Generally, SEM often focuses on the use of sponsored search results and paid advertising. This form of advertising is sometimes called “paid search,” since you are paying to include your ad next to specific searches.

SEM, when thought of as paid advertising, is relatively straightforward: you pay for ad space that appear next to your chosen search queries, then test and optimize the advertising campaign over time. With this type of marketing, it’s much easier to track your ROI and your results.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization is another type of marketing that focuses only on improving search engine rankings. Technically, it would be classified as one SEM technique.

It is well-known that top-ranking search results earn many more clicks than search results that fall farther down the page. In fact, the vast majority of people almost never click past the first page of search results. This is why SEO receives such emphasis from online marketers who understand how important it is to rank well.

SEO includes a variety of strategies and approaches, but there are two primary strategies: gaining inbound links (backlinks) and improving on-site keyword optimization. The techniques for earning more inbound links and maintaining on-site SEO change over time, and, like SEM, require ongoing investments and optimization.

Interested in Learning More?

To learn more about SEM and SEO for your business, call (858) 277-1717 and request a free website audit and consultation with the internet marketing experts at Saba, Inc. We’re more than happy to answer any of your questions and can help you determine the right marketing mix for increasing online visibility and traffic. We look forward to hearing from you!

5 Reasons Your Business Needs a Mobile App

Posted on by admin@saba4321

These days, almost everyone uses a smart phone, and businesses that have a custom mobile app developed can use this to their advantage in both attracting and retaining customers. See why more and more businesses are interested in creating a mobile app for their product or service.

  1. Increased Customer Engagement

    Businesses should think of their mobile app as a way to increase their engagement with customers. Just like a website, an app can supplement the products or services that a business offers. In addition, custom mobile apps can be created to do things like schedule appointments, and businesses can even sell things directly from their app. With this, customers know that a business is going out of their way to make it easy for them to engage.

  2. Constant Client Presence

    When companies have a custom mobile app developed, they have a constant presence in clients’ phones. With this, people are reminded of the business every time that they scroll through the apps installed on their phone. The repetition and recognition is a great way to instill customer loyalty.

  3. Easy Point of Contact

    Companies that have their own app provide clients with an easy way to get in contact with them. All they have to do is include a button in their app that allows customers to call them directly, and anyone will be able to get in touch in seconds without the need to look for a phone number.

  4. Enhanced Marketing

    Many mobile apps allow companies to advertise to customers directly with push notifications. While businesses will have to pay for this service, it lets them send messages directly to anyone who has the app installed on their phone. This is a particularly good way to make sure that advertisements get seen, and it can be much more cost effective than other marketing methods like fliers and mailers.

  5. Increased Online Profile

    Having a mobile app in any of the major app stores can significantly improve a company’s online profile. People will find the business when searching in the app stores, and a mobile app can also help with SEO as these often appear on top of the results pages when individuals use major search engines.

For more information about mobile app development, reach out to the marketing specialists at Saba, Inc. We are a trusted internet marketing company that specializes in the creation of mobile apps, web design and development, and SEM. Call (858) 277-1717 and request a complimentary, no-obligation consultation today.

N.A.P. Tips to Maximize Local Optimization

Posted on by admin@saba4321

While many people may not realize it, having a company’s NAP properly displayed on their website can make a huge difference when trying to optimize for local SEO. NAP refers to a company’s name, address, and phone number, and this information is highly important when people are trying to find a company both physically and online. There are a number of ways that companies can use their NAP to assist in local search engine optimization.

  • Include NAP on Every Page of the Website

    Including the NAP on every page of a company’s website is crucial for search engine optimization. When search engine spiders evaluate a site, they will rank it above others in the results page when it is very clear exactly where a company is located. One of the best ways to do this is to include the NAP in the footer that is displayed on every page.

  • Display Nap in Text Format

    It is important to remember that search engine spiders are only able to recognize the NAP when it is displayed in text. Do not put your company’s name, address, and phone number in an image that crawlers cannot read. Basic HTML will work fine, and website owners can stylize the text with CSS if they wish to have it match the rest of their site.

  • Don’t Overdo It

    While it is important for the NAP to be displayed on every page, note that it is best for the NAP to only appear once on each page. Including the NAP multiple times can make it appear like keyword stuffing, and this can have a seriously negative impact on SEO.

  • Keep Other Website Listings Consistent

    When your NAP is listed in other places on the internet, such as your Google+ or Yelp pages, it’s important that all of the information is consistent. For instance, if Street in your address is not abbreviated on your website, it should not be abbreviated on any of your other listings on the internet. Consistency leads to higher chances for ranking in SERPs.

When utilized properly, a company’s NAP can help turn website visitors into clients, while also assisting people in reaching a larger audience. For more information about local SEO or other online marketing tactics such as pay-per-click advertising in San Diego or website design and development, call (858) 277-1717 and request a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with one of our internet marketing experts.

The Most Common & Easily Avoidable PPC Mistakes

Posted on by admin@saba4321

Making sure your pay-per-click (PPC) campaign is a resounding success is ultimately about following basic principles. Our experienced San Diego AdWords managers know that far too many companies make easily avoidable mistakes in respect to their PPC campaigns and wanted to offer a few simple strategies that can ensure you don’t fall into the same trap.

  • Avoiding Low Cost Keywords

    Don’t target the most commonly used and cheapest keywords. Focus first on the keyword that best matches your offering and the one most likely to produce the highest number of qualified leads. Far too many companies choose cheap keywords because they think they’re saving money. However, too cheap and you’ll be directing traffic to your website that will never covert to a purchase or order.

  • Only Using One Ad Copy

    Marketers and business owners often fall into the trap of only using one ad copy. They’ll spend hours crafting the perfect phrases for their PPC campaigns and ignore all other possibilities. Businesses should always test two or three ads to see which one resonates with their target audience and receives the most clicks to create the most successful campaign.

 

  • Only Thinking About Google AdWords

    It’s also a good idea to make sure your PPC campaign is universal across all advertising formats whether it’s AdWords or AdSense. There are millions of publishers who will display your advertisements on their websites, forums, and blogs. As such, you want to make sure you maximize your coverage for all text advertisement sizes and codes.

  • Not Defining a Budget or Measuring Results

    Professional online marketers know that it’s all about measuring the results of your campaign. It’s best to start small with a limited budget and then increase expenditures as you improve your click-through rates (CTR). As they improve, you’ll have a path forward to increasing your expenditures and driving more traffic to your website.

This is but a small list of the common mistakes companies make with respect to their PPC campaigns. Of course, before getting started on your campaign, you’ll want to make sure you’ve done your keyword research and have focused on those specific keywords that best define your product and or service. It’s a good idea to use the same keywords across all your website’s content and online advertising campaigns. The right keyword will reach your audience, while the wrong one will send far too many unqualified leads to your website.

For more tips and tricks for how to increase your online exposure, reach out to Saba, Inc. Along with PPC management, we also provide web design services, mobile app development, and SEO in San Diego, CA. Call us at (858) 277-1717 and request a complimentary consultation with one of our online marketing experts today.

What is A/B Split Testing in Digital Marketing?

Posted on by admin@saba4321

There are numerous strategies that businesses and individuals can use to gain insight on their web traffic, content, and even marketing strategies. A/B split testing represents one of the most useful strategies to use in digital or internet marketing. Let’s quickly delve into what A/B split testing is, why it’s useful, and what it can do to improve your efforts.

What is A/B Split Testing?

A/B split testing involves splitting up one population by sending it to two different destinations. The destinations may be two completely different web pages or the same web pages with minor changes. The best way to understand it is through example:

A business creates a new pay-per-click campaign in Google AdWords. They test using one page, which is referred to as the ‘A’ page, for a certain duration or specific set of time. They then test the effectiveness of another page, which would be the ‘B’ page, for the same period of time as the ‘A’ page. The business then has an overview of how effective each page is with the same population. These tests may be repeated for additional reliability.

Why Is It Useful?

A/B split testing is useful because it can provide a quick insight into the most effective elements on a page. It can give you an idea of where to start altering your pages and strategies to dramatically increase their effectiveness. A/B split testing can mean the difference between having a page that converts every one in five visitors and one that converts every one in ten.

How Can It Improve Your Business?

Split testing can show which elements in a page or a strategy are the most effective. It allows you to employ the scientific method to digital marketing, which means that you have results backed by concrete evidence. This can be used to improve how efficiently your digital marketing strategies are and results in less money spent, more successful conversions, and more profits.

For more information about how to increase your online visibility, leads, and sales, reach out to Saba, Inc. today and learn more about our PPC management, web design and development, and SEO services for San Diego businesses. Call us at (858) 277-1717 and request a free website audit today.

A Lesson in Infographics

Posted on by admin@saba4321

Infographics are a simple marketing tool that, when used properly, can create a powerful connection between a business and its consumers. It transforms so-called boring data and complex ideas into creative and visually enticing graphics that are easy to read and understand. If you want to be a step ahead of your competitors, mastery in infographics is an indispensable skill.

Components of Great Infographics

Take a tour of different social networks like Facebook or Twitter and you’ll likely find at least one infographic. Ask any San Diego web designer and they’ll tell you that infographics are shared frequently and have higher chances of going viral when compared to text-only posts containing the same data because they:

  • Often have a compelling header that grabs the reader’s attention
  • Are designed to meet the needs and preferences of the business’ targeted audience
  • Use appealing color schemes to brighten dull topics or images
  • Make valuable information easier to read through graphs and charts
  • Condense a large amount of data into a simple, compact graphic

Why Use Infographics

Infographics are a great way to share valuable information about your industry with your readers. According internet marketers in San Diego, customers are looking to learn as much as possible prior to making a purchase and are often influenced by the information they read online. If you are able to create an infographic that presents information that is useful to your audience in a straightforward and compelling manner, then prospects will be enticed to purchase your product or service.

Creating an Infographic

It’s important not to just use random facts and figures to create an infographic. Put yourself in the shoes of your prospective client and brainstorm what they might be looking for. What might be preventing them from purchasing your product or service? What are some of the most common questions that your customers ask? The right content can establish you as an authority in your field, also helping to build brand image.

To learn more about increasing the online visibility of your business, call (858) 277-1717 and request a free website audit from the San Diego SEO specialists at Saba, Inc. We are a trusted and local internet marketing company offering a wide range of services including SEO, PPC, web design, and mobile app creation.

How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Your Business

Posted on by admin@saba4321

Promoting your business on LinkedIn will help you reinforce your brand, grow your potential client base, and increase sales. Our San Diego social media managers recommend that businesses take the time to create quality content and to establish relevant contacts to ensure your community grows alongside your conversions.

Create a Company Page

Creating a company page will allow you to be more accessible to your customers, potential business partners, and even investors if you are looking to expand your business on a larger scale. It is essential that you create a quality page that is attractive and that explains your business exactly as it is. You can also use this page as a recruiting source for new hires.

Build Your Network

Many internet marketers in San Diego will say that building your LinkedIn network is an essential part of gaining online exposure. You will see some people on LinkedIn with thousands of connections, but keep in mind, this is not always the best approach. Rather than reach out to large numbers of people, connect and engage with professionals who are in your industry and can provide you with potential business opportunities. This can help you make the most out of your time and efforts on LinkedIn.

Create Referral Partnerships

As a business owner, you know how difficult it can be to set up face-to-face time with a busy executive; emails are often unreturned and receptionists can’t always be trusted to pass a message along. LinkedIn allows you to connect directly with professionals that share your vision and can give you the opportunity to have a conversation at a time that’s most convenient for them.

Post Valuable Information

Posting valuable information will also help drive people to your company LinkedIn page and company website. If you are providing your network and community with information they deem valuable and helpful, they are far more likely to respond to call-to-actions which can include checking out a new product or sharing a blog with their own connections. Information posted should also be relevant to your business and the interests of your demographics.

Promoting your business on LinkedIn is as simple as being mindful and diligent about the connections and posts you make. As long as you take these steps, your long-term growth potential is infinite. For more information about LinkedIn for business or to learn how to increase your online visibility, reach out to Saba, Inc. We provide social media, PPC, and SEO San Diego businesses trust, and are also a premier marketing agency for companies throughout the United States and Canada.  Call us today at (858) 277-1717 and request more information about our services or schedule a free website audit today.

How to Create Awesome High-Converting PPC Landing Pages

Posted on by admin@saba4321

If you’re running an AdWords campaign, you’re directing your ads to your website, or even better, a landing page. Today, our experienced San Diego pay-per-click (PPC) managers will share why they prefer using a landing page for AdWords traffic and how to create a page that draws your perspective clients in and entices them to contact you.

What is a PPC Landing Page?

When your ad displays in Google search results and a user clicks on your ad, they are taken to a page. When this page is not part of your website (like the home page or a services page), it is called a landing page. Landing pages are crafted to provide specific information about the product or service being solicited in your ad as opposed to directing a user to your general website.

For instance, at Saba SEO, we work with a company that sells flooring for homes and commercial spaces. If we were running an ad that was advertising hardwood floors, we would want the ad go to a page about hardwood floors as opposed to the home page of our client’s website so that it provides the searcher with the most relevant information.

Determine Your Target Audience

After you’ve reviewed your ad copy, it’s important to think about your target audience. Think about what is most important to them and make sure your landing page has information that is relevant to their search. Keep in mind that searchers expect to find information quickly. Organize the content with easy to identify headers and bullet points so key pieces of information can be found quickly. You have only a matter of seconds to convince your user that the page is relevant to their goals for them to take action.

Components of User-Friendly Landing Pages

All landing pages should have a call-to-action to persuade the searcher to reach out, whether by calling, filling out a form, downloading a white paper, or signing up for a newsletter. Call-to-actions should be easy to see and many experts recommend putting call-to-actions above the fold, meaning the user will not have to scroll down the page in order to connect with the company. Great, high-converting landing pages should also have:

  • A compelling title that addresses the user’s need
  • Simple and concise language
  • Benefits about the product or service (before features)
  • Confident guarantees
  • Proof such as testimonials
  • Organized design

Your landing page should also load quickly. Anything more than a few seconds can cause a searcher to hit the back button and visit a competitor’s website. You’ll also want to add conversion codes and tracking from Google Analytics to your landing page so you can get an overall picture of how users are interacting with your landing page. If you find that conversions are still low, test other verbiage and content and see if you find better success.

Interested in learning more about PPC? Perhaps you want to see how organic growth can supplement your current AdWords campaign. Call (858) 277-1717 and find out! Our local San Diego SEO company offers services including SEO, PPC, web development and design, mobile app creation, and social media services. We also offer free website audits so don’t hesitate to contact us today.

Request A Free Consultation

    LEARN MORE