NEKO Updates, News and Marketing Tips

SEO vs AEO: What Is AEO and Why It Matters in 2026

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:20:12 GMT

Search is changing—fast.

For years, businesses have focused on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to rank higher on Google. But now, with the rise of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, and voice assistants, a new strategy is taking center stage:

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)

So what exactly is AEO—and how is it different from SEO?

Let’s break it down.

What Is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of improving your website so it ranks higher in search engine results.

The goal is simple:
Get your website to show up when people search for relevant keywords.

Common SEO strategies include:

Keyword optimization
Backlink building
Technical site performance (speed, mobile-friendly)
Long-form content creation

Example:
A blog post titled “Best Restaurants in Burlington, Vermont” optimized for search rankings.

What Is AEO?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the process of optimizing your content so it becomes the direct answer in AI-driven search experiences.

Instead of just ranking on a page, your content is:

Selected, summarized, and delivered by AI as the answer.

Where AEO shows up:

ChatGPT responses
Google AI Overviews
Voice assistants (Siri, Alexa)
Featured snippets

Example:
Someone asks:

“What’s the best restaurant in Burlington, VT?”

An AI tool responds with a direct answer—and cites your content.

Key Differences Between SEO and AEO

SEO

Focuses on rankings
Targets keywords
Users click links
Long-form content
Traffic-driven

AEO

Focuses on answers
Targets questions & intent
Users get instant answers
Clear, structured responses
Authority & visibility-driven

Why AEO Matters More Than Ever

Search behavior is shifting from:

“Click and explore”
to
“Ask and get an answer instantly”

That means:

Fewer clicks
More zero-click searches
Higher competition to be the chosen answer

If your content isn’t optimized for AEO, it may never be seen—even if it ranks well.

SEO-style content:

“Top 10 Coffee Shops in Vermont You Must Visit”

AEO-style content:

“The best coffee shop in Vermont is widely considered to be XYZ Café due to its locally roasted beans, strong customer reviews, and central location.”

The second example is:

Direct
Clear
Easy for AI to extract and use

How to Optimize for AEO

If you want your content to show up in AI answers, here’s what to focus on:

1. Answer Questions Clearly

Use headings like:

“What is AEO?”
“How does AEO work?”

Then answer immediately in 1–3 sentences.

2. Use Simple, Structured Content

AI prefers content that is:

Easy to scan
Well-organized
Broken into sections, lists, and tables

3. Add FAQ Sections

FAQs are gold for AEO.

They match how people naturally ask questions—and how AI retrieves answers.

4. Focus on Authority & Trust

AI systems prioritize content that is:

Accurate
Credible
Backed by real expertise

This includes:

Reviews
Citations
Consistent brand presence

5. Be Specific and Confident

Avoid vague language.

Instead of:

“There are many good options…”

Say:

“The best option is X because…”

Do You Still Need SEO?

Yes—absolutely.

Think of it this way:

SEO gets your content discovered
AEO gets your content selected

They work together, not against each other.

The Future of Search

We’re moving into a world where:

People ask questions conversationally
AI delivers a single, trusted answer
Visibility matters more than clicks

Businesses that adapt early to AEO will have a major advantage.

AEO isn’t replacing SEO—it’s evolving it.

If you want to stay competitive in 2026 and beyond, your content needs to do more than rank.

It needs to answer .

What Businesses Should Focus on Online in 2026 (and What They Can Ignore)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:00:17 GMT

With constant updates, trends, and new platforms, it’s easy for business owners to feel overwhelmed by online marketing. The reality? Not everything requires your attention.

As we move through 2026, focusing on the fundamentals matters more than chasing every new idea.

What Still Matters Most

Clear Website Messaging - Your site should clearly explain what you do and how to contact you — quickly.

Mobile Usability - Your website must work well on phones and tablets.

Search Visibility Basics - Updated content, clear structure, and accurate business information help people find you.

Consistent Online Presence (Social Media) - Showing up regularly — even simply — builds familiarity and trust.

What You Can Safely Ignore

You don’t need:

Every new social platform
Trend-chasing content
Overly complex tools

More activity doesn’t always equal better results.

Focus Creates Momentum

When you focus on what matters, your marketing becomes easier to manage and more effective over time. Clarity, consistency, and usability will always outperform noise.

2026 doesn’t require reinvention — it requires intention.

If you’re unsure where to focus your time and energy online, we’re happy to help you prioritize and create a workflow.

Why Connected Marketing Drives Better Results for Your Business

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:01:23 GMT

Why a Unified Digital Marketing Strategy Matters

Marketing is most effective when every piece works together — not in isolation. When your website, social media, SEO, newsletters, and advertising are aligned, your message becomes clearer, stronger, and more consistent everywhere your audience finds you.

Disconnected marketing often leads to mixed messages, missed opportunities, and unnecessary confusion. A website may say one thing, social media another, and advertising something entirely different. Even when each piece looks good on its own, the overall experience can feel disjointed.

Connected marketing solves this by creating a shared strategy across platforms. Your website supports your advertising. Your social media reinforces your messaging. Your SEO helps people find you. Your newsletters build familiarity. Together, they guide customers smoothly from discovery to decision.

When your digital presence is connected, your business feels more professional and more trustworthy. Customers know what to expect, recognize your brand more easily, and feel confident taking the next step.

If your marketing feels scattered or hard to manage, it may be time to step back and look at how everything fits together — or where it could work better.

Not sure how your digital pieces connect? Let’s take a look together.

Marketing Myth vs. Fact: Do You Really Need to Be Everywhere?

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:00:14 GMT

Why Choosing the Right Social Platforms Matters

When it comes to marketing, it’s easy to believe that success means showing up on every platform — every social network, every channel, all the time. But this common belief often leads to burnout, inconsistency, and diluted results.

The truth is simpler.

Myth: You Need to Be on Every Platform to Succeed

Many businesses feel pressure to create content everywhere at once. The result? Stretched resources, rushed posts, and messaging that lacks focus.

Being present everywhere doesn’t guarantee visibility — or impact.

Fact: Consistency on the Right Platforms Matters More

Focused, intentional marketing almost always outperforms scattered efforts. When you choose platforms that align with your audience and commit to showing up consistently, your message becomes clearer and more effective.

Consistency builds:

Recognition
Trust
Confidence in your brand

It also makes your marketing easier to manage and more sustainable over time.

Clarity Beats Clutter

Strong marketing isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing the right things well. By choosing clarity over clutter, your business can communicate more confidently and connect more meaningfully with the people who matter most.

If your marketing feels scattered or overwhelming, it may be time to step back and simplify.

Not sure which platforms make the most sense for your business? We’re always happy to talk it through.

The Importance of a Customized 404 Error Page

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:19:24 GMT

A customized 404 Page is more important than most people think.

A customized 404 page isn’t just a “nice touch” — it’s a damage control page . When someone hits a broken link (and they will, especially after URLs change in a redesign), your 404 page is the difference between:

“Oops, dead end” → user leaves
vs.
“Oops, but here are helpful options” → user stays

Why it matters more during a redesign

Redesigns often involve:

changed page structure
renamed URLs
old content is removed
old backlinks still floating around Google
people with old bookmarks

So traffic will hit potentialy hit missing pages.

What a good custom 404 page does

A strong 404 page should:

match the branding/design (so it feels intentional, not broken)
clearly say the page can’t be found
include links to key pages (home, services, contact, blog, etc.)
optionally suggest popular pages or categories

Benefits (real ones, not fluff)

Improves user retention
Improves trust (“this site isn’t broken, just moved”)
Reduces bounce rate
Helps conversions (people can still find what they need)

How important is it, realistically?

If you’re ranking it against other priorities:

✅ Must-have if:

The site has a lot of pages
SEO matters
The site has old traffic/backlinks
It’s an e-commerce or lead-gen site

⚠️ Less critical (but still smart) if:

It’s a tiny brochure site with 5 pages

Bottom line

During a redesign, a custom 404 page is a high payoff .
Even a basic one with branding + top links can save a lot of lost traffic!

Why Small Website Updates Can Make a Big Impact

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:45:01 GMT

Your website is often the first place someone learns about your business — and first impressions happen fast. In just a few seconds, visitors decide whether they understand what you do and whether they want to keep exploring.

That’s why small website updates can make a much bigger difference than many businesses realize.

Clarity on Your Homepage Matters Most

One of the simplest — and most effective — improvements you can make is ensuring your homepage clearly answers three key questions right away:

Who are you?
What do you offer?
How can someone contact you?

If visitors can’t quickly find these answers, they’re more likely to leave, even if your services are exactly what they need.

Clear Messaging Builds Trust

Clear, straightforward messaging helps visitors feel confident in your business. When your value is easy to understand, your website feels more professional, more trustworthy, and easier to navigate.

You don’t need more words — you need the right words, placed where people naturally look.

A Quick Check Can Go a Long Way

Take a moment to view your homepage as if you’ve never seen it before. Does it clearly explain what your business does? Does it guide visitors toward a next step?

Small adjustments to messaging, layout, or calls to action can lead to better engagement and stronger results over time.

If you’re unsure whether your homepage is doing its job, we’re happy to help.

Connect with us for a website check:
https://www.northeastkingdomonline.com/talk-with-the-website-and-marketing-pros

Is Your Website Ready for 2026? A Practical Checklist for Businesses

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:45:01 GMT

Your website is one of the most important tools your business has — and as we move closer to 2026, it’s worth asking an important question: is your website still doing what it needs to do?

Technology, user expectations, and search behavior continue to evolve. A website that worked well a few years ago may now feel outdated, hard to manage, or less effective at converting visitors into customers. The good news? Getting your site ready for 2026 doesn’t require a full rebuild in every case — but it does require intention.

Here are the key areas every business should review to ensure their website is prepared for the year ahead.

1. Clear Messaging That Matches Today’s Business Goals

Many websites fail not because of design, but because the message no longer reflects the business.

Ask yourself:

Does my homepage clearly explain what we do?
Is our value proposition easy to understand?
Does the content reflect our current services, audience, and goals?

As businesses grow and evolve, websites often stay frozen in time. Updating messaging to match where your business is now is one of the most impactful improvements you can make.

2. Mobile-First Experience

Most website visitors are browsing on mobile devices. By 2026, a mobile-first experience isn’t optional — it’s expected.

Check your site on a phone:

Is the text easy to read?
Are buttons easy to tap?
Is navigation simple and intuitive?
Can visitors quickly find contact information?

If your site feels frustrating on mobile, visitors won’t stick around long enough to learn more.

3. Speed, Security, and Reliability

Website performance directly impacts trust and search visibility.

A 2026-ready website should:

Load quickly
Use secure HTTPS (SSL)
Be hosted on reliable infrastructure
Be monitored for uptime and errors

Even small delays or security warnings can cause visitors to leave. A fast, secure site signals professionalism and reliability.

4. Search-Ready Content and Structure

Search engines continue to prioritize clarity, relevance, and structure.

Make sure your website:

Uses clear page titles and headings
Has updated, relevant content
Is easy for search engines to crawl
Includes location and service details where appropriate

You don’t need to chase trends — but you do need a solid SEO foundation that helps people find you when they’re looking.

5. Easy Content Management

Your website should support your workflow, not slow it down.

Ask:

Can I easily update text or images?
Is it clear how to add or remove content?
Do I rely on outdated plugins or systems?

A modern website should be flexible — whether you manage updates yourself or rely on ongoing website support.

6. Designed to Guide Visitors to Action

A website’s job isn’t just to exist — it’s to guide visitors toward a next step .

Every site should make it easy to:

Contact you
Request information
Book a service
Learn what to do next

Clear calls to action and thoughtful page layout help turn visitors into real opportunities.

Preparing Now Makes the Year Ahead Easier

Getting your website ready for 2026 isn’t about predicting the future — it’s about making sure your digital foundation is strong, flexible, and aligned with your business goals.

A few thoughtful updates now can:

Improve clarity
Strengthen trust
Increase visibility
Save time later
Support long-term growth

If you’re not sure where your website stands — or where it could be stronger — taking a closer look now can make all the difference.

Not sure if your website is ready for what’s next? We’re always happy to take a look and talk it through.

Is Your Business Showing Up Where It Matters?

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:00:16 GMT

The Real Role of Social Media Today

Social media has become one of the most important places where people learn about businesses — often before they ever visit a website or make contact. But showing up online isn’t just about posting regularly or chasing likes. It’s about being present, consistent, and intentional in the spaces where your customers already spend their time.

For businesses of all sizes, social media plays a key role in visibility, credibility, and connection. When managed thoughtfully, it becomes a long-term asset — not just another task on the to-do list.

Social Media Is About Presence, Not Just Posting

It’s easy to think of social media as a content calendar problem: post a few times a week, add some hashtags, and move on. In reality, customers use social platforms to:

Learn what a business offers
Get a sense of its personality and values
Decide whether it feels trustworthy
Stay informed and connected over time

An inactive or inconsistent presence can raise just as many questions as no presence at all. On the other hand, a clear, steady voice helps customers feel familiar with your business before they ever reach out.

Consistency Builds Recognition and Trust

One of the biggest benefits of social media management is consistency — not just in posting, but in tone, messaging, and visuals.

When your content feels aligned across posts:

Your business becomes easier to recognize
Your message feels clearer
Your brand feels more professional

Over time, this consistency builds trust. Customers may not interact with every post, but they notice when a business shows up reliably and communicates with intention.

Strategy Matters More Than Volume

More posts don’t always mean better results. A thoughtful social media strategy focuses on quality, relevance, and alignment with business goals.

That means:

Choosing the right platforms
Sharing content that reflects your services and values
Supporting your website, SEO, and marketing efforts
Reinforcing key messages over time

Social media works best when it supports the bigger picture — not when it operates on its own.

Supporting Long-Term Growth

Social media rarely delivers instant results, but it plays an important role in long-term growth. It keeps your business visible between interactions, helps reinforce brand awareness, and supports other marketing efforts like search and advertising.

When someone finally needs your service, familiarity often makes the difference. A steady social presence helps ensure your business is remembered when the time is right.

A Thoughtful Approach Makes the Difference

Managing social media well takes time, planning, and attention — especially when it’s just one part of running a business. A thoughtful approach focuses less on trends and more on clarity, consistency, and connection.

If your social media feels scattered, inactive, or hard to keep up with, it may be time to step back and rethink the strategy — not just the schedule.

Not sure if your social media is supporting your business the way it could? We’re always happy to take a look and talk it through.

Why Consistency Is the Secret Weapon of Digital Marketing

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:45:00 GMT

When it comes to digital marketing, many businesses approach their online presence in bursts — a busy month of posting, followed by silence, followed by another scramble to catch up. While it might feel productive in the moment, this approach rarely leads to long-term results.

Consistency, not intensity, is what truly moves the needle.

1. Consistency Builds Trust

Customers are more likely to engage with brands that show up regularly. When your audience sees your posts, updates, and branding appear consistently, it reinforces reliability — and reliability builds trust. People want to work with businesses that feel steady and dependable.

2. It Keeps You Top-of-Mind

The digital world is busy, and attention spans are short. Regular posting keeps your business visible, increasing the chances that someone will think of you when they need your services. Sporadic activity makes it easy to fade into the background.

3. Algorithms Reward Consistency

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google, and TikTok prioritize accounts that post consistently and engage with their audience. By showing up routinely, your content is more likely to be seen — and by the right people.

4. Your Brand Becomes Stronger

Consistency isn’t just about frequency — it’s about message and style too. When your brand voice, visuals, and tone remain steady, your business becomes more recognizable. Over time, that recognition leads to loyalty.

5. Steady Efforts Create Sustainable Growth

Random bursts of marketing create temporary attention. A consistent strategy builds momentum that compounds. Small actions, repeated over time, lead to big results — more awareness, better engagement, and stronger digital performance.

Need Help Staying Consistent Online?

If you want 2026 to be your most organized, strategic year yet, Northeast Kingdom Online can help you plan, create, and maintain a consistent digital presence — from social posting to SEO to full marketing management.

Reach out anytime. We’re here to support your goals.

New on NEKO360: Bookings Software — Get Paid for Appointments & Add Your Entire Team

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:01:39 GMT

We’re excited to introduce a powerful upgrade to the NEKO360 website platform : an enhanced Bookings Software that lets you charge for appointments and manage multiple staff members —all from one fully integrated system.

This update helps you streamline scheduling, automate income, and grow your teams without friction.

Paid Appointments Are Here!

You can now charge for appointments directly on your NEKO360 site . Whether you run a beauty salon, consulting firm, wellness center, fitness studio, or any other service-based business, upfront payments make revenue collection automatic— 24/7 .

No more chasing leads or manually coordinating payments. Once an appointment is booked and paid for, everything is tracked and managed within the site dashboard.

Managing paid appointments is simple , too. You can easily:

View all upcoming paid appointments
Cancel bookings
Issue refunds when needed
Track revenue and activity

To activate paid appointments, just set up taxes and connect a payment gateway. NEKO360 supports a wide range of industry-leading providers, including:

Stripe
Square
Mollie
PayPal
…and more

Add & Manage Multiple Staff Members

Another exciting enhancement is the ability to add more than one staff member. This means you can scale your appointment operations by assigning bookings to different team members.

Depending on your site subscription, you can add up to 10 staff members .

Let Visitors Choose From Multiple Services

The upgraded Booking widget now supports multiple appointment types. This makes it easy for you to showcase everything you offer in one place.

For example, a beauty salon can list:

Manicures
Pedicures
Facials
Brow services
And any other appointment type

Visitors browse the available services, select a date and time, and—if payment is required—go straight to checkout.

It’s a smooth, modern experience that boosts conversions and keeps scheduling efficient.

A More Powerful Booking Solution — Built Into NEKO360

With paid bookings, multi-staff support, and multi-service appointment options, the NEKO360 platform now delivers one of the most flexible and robust scheduling tools available for businesses.

Whether you’d like help activating the new features, want a setup done for you, or simply need more information, our team is always happy to assist. Get in touch today!

Why Complete Managed Marketing Programs Are a Game-Changer for Local Businesses

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:45:00 GMT

Marketing today moves fast — new platforms, new algorithms, new expectations from customers. For most small and mid-sized businesses, keeping up can feel impossible without help. And even when you do find support, it often means managing a patchwork of vendors… one for social media, one for ads, one for SEO, another for web updates.

This fragmented approach leads to mixed messages, unclear results, and strategies that don’t work together.

That’s why more local businesses are turning to Complete Managed Marketing Programs — a fully coordinated, done-for-you solution that brings everything under one trusted team.

As a Vermont-based business, Northeast Kingdom Online (NEKO) understands the needs of local companies better than anyone. And our managed marketing programs are built to give you clarity, consistency, and real revenue-driven results.

Here’s how they work — and why they make such a difference.

1. One Cohesive Marketing Plan — Not a Mix of Disconnected Tactics

The biggest reason marketing fails?
Everything is working in different directions.

A Complete Managed Marketing Program eliminates that problem by unifying all of your marketing efforts under one strategic plan, including:

Social Media
Website Management & Content Updates
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Paid Search Campaigns
Banner & Display Ads
Connected TV (CTV) Advertising
Streaming Radio
CRM & Support
Comprehensive Reporting

When every piece works together, your message becomes stronger — and so do your results.

2. A Dedicated Marketing Team That Truly Knows Your Business

Instead of juggling multiple points of contact, you get one dedicated marketing team that:

Understands your business and goals
Ensures your messaging stays consistent
Leads strategy and planning
Reviews performance with you
Keeps your marketing organized and proactive

This is one of the biggest values of managed marketing: real partnership with someone who knows your brand, your audience, and your community.

3. Access to a Full Marketing Team for Less Than One In-House Hire

Hiring a full-time marketing manager is expensive — and still doesn’t give you access to:

SEO specialists
Paid search experts
Content creators
Designers
Digital advertising strategists
Website managers

With a Complete Managed Marketing Program, you get an entire marketing team for less than the cost of hiring one employee.

For small and mid-sized businesses, that means:

consistent budgeting
no hiring or training
no guesswork
expert-level support across every channel

It’s a smarter way to grow without stretching your budget.

4. Every Channel You Need — Handled for You

Marketing only works when you show up consistently in the right places.
That’s why these programs include all the essentials your customers interact with daily.

✔ Social Media Management

Professional, consistent content that aligns with your brand.

✔ Website Management

Content updates, security, performance improvements, and ongoing care.

✔ SEO

On-page optimization, content structure improvements, and visibility-focused updates.

✔ Paid Search & Display Ads

Targeted campaigns that reach customers actively searching for your services.

✔ CTV & Streaming Radio

Modern advertising that reaches people on the platforms they use most.

✔ CRM Support

Better lead tracking, improved follow-up, and stronger customer relationships.

✔ Comprehensive Reporting

Clear insights that show what’s working and where new opportunities are emerging.

With everything managed in one place, you get a consistent message and a coordinated strategy that actually performs.

5. Revenue-Driven Strategies — Not Just Activity

Plenty of marketing agencies focus on doing more … more posts, more ads, more content.

At NEKO, we focus on doing what drives revenue:

Smart targeting
Data-backed decisions
Conversion-optimized content
Clear calls-to-action
Audience research
Comprehensive reporting

Every part of your plan ties back to your business goals — not just “staying active.”

6. Local Expertise You Can Trust

As a Vermont-based business, NEKO understands the landscape, values, and expectations of local and regional customers.

That means your messaging reflects:

real community knowledge
regional voice and tone
local buying behavior
trust-centered communication
small-business-friendly strategy

When your marketing is built by people who understand your community, it feels more authentic — and it works better.

Is a Complete Managed Marketing Program Right for You?

This kind of program is a powerful fit if your business:

is growing quickly
needs more consistent marketing
wants to stop juggling multiple vendors
wants clearer reporting
needs stronger online visibility
wants to save time
needs support from specialists — not guesswork

If marketing is draining your time — or not delivering the results you hoped for — a unified solution may be the turning point your business needs.

A Smarter Way to Grow Your Business

Marketing shouldn’t feel scattered or overwhelming.

With a Complete Managed Marketing Program, you get:

✨ One team
✨ One plan
✨ One clear direction
✨ One trusted partner
✨ Real, measurable results

It’s the simplest, most effective way to strengthen your marketing — and grow your business with confidence.

Why a Custom-Built Website Is One of the Best Investments for Your Business

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:05:52 GMT

Today, customers rely on the internet more than ever to find local services, compare options, and make decisions. That’s why having a professional website is no longer optional — it’s essential.

If your current site feels outdated, difficult to manage, or isn’t generating the leads you expected, a custom-built website can transform how your business shows up online. At Northeast Kingdom Online (NEKO), we specialize in creating high-performing, SEO-optimized websites tailored to the needs of businesses across Vermont and the surrounding region.

Here’s why custom website design is one of the most powerful investments your business can make.

1. Performance-Based Website Design Increases Opportunities & Improves Business Results

A modern website needs more than a nice layout — it needs performance-driven website design that guides visitors toward taking action.

A custom site is built with your goals in mind, helping you:

Generate more leads
Improve customer inquiries
Increase conversions
Support sales and service requests
Strengthen your digital presence

Search engines and customers both prefer websites that are fast, easy to use, and designed with purpose. This is where professional web design makes all the difference.

2. Built by a Vermont-Based Business That Understands Local Customers

When you choose NEKO, you’re partnering with a Vermont-based website design business that knows how local consumers search, engage, and make decisions.

We understand:

What Vermont customers expect from a business website
How to communicate trust, credibility, and authenticity
The unique challenges Vermont rural businesses face
How to create content that supports local SEO

3. Easy-to-Manage Websites (DIY or Managed for You)

A great website should never feel overwhelming.

Every custom site we build is designed to be easy to update, whether you prefer:

✔ Do-it-yourself website edits
or
✔ Utilize our Affordable website management packages

This gives you flexibility depending on your time, comfort level, and business needs. Managing your content shouldn’t require tech knowledge — and with our support, it doesn’t.

This is a major reason people search for “easy-to-manage websites” and “small business website support.”

We make it simple.

4. Fast & Secure: High-Speed S3 Hosting + Free SSL Certificate

Website speed and security are critical for both SEO ranking and customer trust.

That’s why all NEKO websites include:

⚡ High-speed S3 website hosting
�� SSL Certificate for secure browsing (https)

People often search for:

“secure website hosting”
“fast website design”
“SSL included websites”

We deliver all three.

Fast websites keep visitors engaged.
Secure websites build trust.
Both improve your performance in search engines.

5. SEO-Optimized Websites That Help You Get Found Online

A beautiful website won’t help your business if no one can find it.

That’s why every NEKO website includes initial on-site SEO, ensuring your site is:

Search-engine ready
Structured properly
Keyword optimized
Mobile-friendly
Fast-loading
Indexed correctly

Our SEO foundation puts your business in a strong position to grow online visibility from day one.

6. Built to Convert Visitors Into Customers

Your website should help move customers from interest to action.

Every custom site NEKO builds includes conversion-focused website design, with elements like:

Clear calls to action
Strategic content hierarchy
Trust-building sections
Simple, intuitive navigation
Messaging that speaks to customer needs

A purposeful website turns visitors into customers — consistently.

A Custom Website Is One of Your Most Powerful Business Tools

A custom-built website gives you:

✨ A stronger online presence
✨ More opportunities to grow
✨ Increased credibility
✨ Better visibility in search engines
✨ A design that reflects your brand
✨ Higher conversion potential

Whether you’re a new business or a long-standing Vermont company, investing in professional custom website design helps you stay competitive, relevant, and discoverable online.

And when your site is built by Northeast Kingdom Online, you get a genuine partner in your success — not just a website provider.

Why Social Media Management Matters for Your Business

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:00:22 GMT

In a world full of trends, algorithms, and constant digital noise, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by social media. Many businesses start strong, posting consistently at first — only to find themselves running out of time, ideas, or direction.

But here’s the truth: social media still works , and it’s more important than ever. What’s changed is how you approach it. Going back to the basics — consistency, clarity, connection — is what delivers real results.

How Our Vermont-Based Team Supports Local Social Media Growth

At Northeast Kingdom Online, our Social Media Management services are built on trust, partnership, and real, measurable value. Here’s how we help local businesses show up with confidence.

1. Increase Your Performance & Results (Without Guesswork)

Social media shouldn’t feel like a shot in the dark. When your posts have purpose, strategy, and strong messaging behind them, you see real growth.

From engagement to website traffic to brand recognition, our team helps you:

Understand what content performs best
Post with intention and consistency
Build meaningful connections with your audience
Turn followers into loyal customers

It’s not about posting more — it’s about posting smarter .

2. Save Time & Reduce Stress

Running a business is a full-time job. Running your social media shouldn’t be.

We take the planning, creating, scheduling, and monitoring off your plate so you can stay focused on what you do best.

No more scrambling last-minute for a post.
No more feeling guilty about neglecting your accounts.
Just consistent, professional content — handled for you.

3. Work With a Dedicated Account Manager Who Knows You

You’re never just a number to us. When you work with NEKO, you partner with a dedicated account manager who truly gets to know your business, your voice, and your goals.

They become your point person — the one crafting your content, reviewing analytics with you, and helping you stay aligned with your brand’s vision.

This one-on-one relationship builds trust, clarity, and results you can feel.

4. Vermont-Based Team Who Understands Local Rural Business

We’re proud to be rooted right here in Vermont.

That means:

We understand your audience
We share your values
We care about local growth
We’re invested in your success

You’re not outsourcing your brand to a stranger across the country. You’re partnering with real people who live, work, and thrive in the same community you do.

5. Consistent & Professional Messaging That Aligns With Your Brand

Your social presence should feel like you — clear, polished, and dependable.

We help you create content that:

Reflects your brand’s personality
Builds trust with your audience
Strengthens recognition
Communicates your value every time

Consistency builds credibility. Professionalism builds trust. Together, they help your business grow.

Back to Basics. Back to What Works.

The most powerful social media strategies aren’t flashy — they’re thoughtful, consistent, and grounded in real connection.

That’s what we offer.

A trusted partnership.
A dedicated team.
A clear message.
And a simplified, effective approach that takes the stress off your shoulders.

If you’re ready to bring clarity and consistency back to your social media, we’re here to help — right here in the Northeast Kingdom.

Don’t Let Your Brand’s First Impression Be a Fright

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:24:47 GMT

Why Website Design and Mobile UX Still Matter

In today’s digital world, your website is often the very first impression a potential customer has of your brand. And just like a creaky haunted house, a slow, outdated, or unfriendly website can scare visitors away before they even get through the front door.

With the holiday shopping season always just around the corner—mobile-friendly design and seamless user experiences are no longer optional. They’re essential.

Why First Impressions Online Still Matter

Mobile Shopping Dominates

Nearly 70% of online shopping now happens on mobile devices. If your site isn’t responsive and easy to navigate on smaller screens, you’re leaving money on the table.

Speed = Trust

A site that takes too long to load can send visitors running. In a world of instant gratification, slow load speeds cost you credibility—and conversions.

Design Signals Trust

Outdated designs, broken layouts, or cluttered pages send the wrong message. Modern, clean, and well-structured websites communicate professionalism and build trust.

Holiday Surge Pressure

During peak shopping seasons, customers are making snap judgments. If your site isn’t fast, mobile-friendly, and trustworthy, they’ll quickly jump to a competitor.

The Essentials of a Strong Website

Responsive Design: Seamless viewing across all devices and screen sizes.

Optimized Performance: Fast load times, compressed images, and streamlined code.

Modern Look + Feel: A clean, contemporary aesthetic that matches your brand.

Trust Signals: Secure browsing (HTTPS), customer reviews, clear contact info, and user-friendly navigation.

Customer-Centric Content: Messaging that speaks directly to your audience’s needs.

How NEKO Ensures Your Website Makes the Right Impression

At Northeast Kingdom Online, we help businesses stand out—not scare away their customers. Our services ensure your website becomes a trusted, high-performing digital storefront.

Here's How:

Mobile-Friendly, Responsive Design

Your site will look and perform flawlessly on every device, from smartphones to desktops.

Performance Optimization

We fine-tune your website’s backend and visuals to deliver lightning-fast load times.

Modern Branding & Design Work

From fonts and colors to layouts and graphics, we refresh your brand’s digital presence for today’s expectations.

Customer-Specific Content

Tailored messaging that builds trust and connects with your target audience.

Domain + Hosting Solutions

Secure, reliable, and efficient web infrastructure to support your business’s growth.

Why This Matters During the Holidays

The holiday season is make-or-break for many businesses. With increased traffic and heightened competition, your site must deliver a frictionless experience. Customers won’t wait for a slow page or struggle with poor navigation—they’ll simply move on.

By investing in modern design and UX now, you’re ensuring that when the holiday rush hits, your site stands strong as a trustworthy, user-friendly, and conversion-ready platform.

Make Your First Impression Count

Don’t let an outdated website scare off customers. With NEKO’s design and mobile UX expertise, your brand’s first impression will inspire confidence, not fright.

�� Schedule you free website design consultation online today!

How to Get Your Business Searchable with ChatGPT

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:34:09 GMT

Helping Rural Vermont Businesses Be Found in the New Era of Search

When people want answers today, they’re not just “Googling” — they’re asking ChatGPT. From “Where can I find a local web designer in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont?” to “What’s the best bakery in the Northeast Kingdom?” , conversational AI is becoming a new front door to the internet.

So how can your business show up in these AI-driven conversations like ChatGPT?

Below is a simple, local-friendly guide from Northeast Kingdom Online, your digital partner for over 15 years.

Keep Your Business Info Clear & Consistent Everywhere

ChatGPT and similar tools rely on publicly available, verified data to recommend local businesses. The more consistent your information, the easier it is to find you.

✅ Make sure your Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) are identical across your website, Google Business Profile, Yelp, and directories.
✅ Add structured data (schema) to your website so search engines (and AI tools) can easily understand your business details.
✅ Ensure your site is indexed by Bing, since ChatGPT references Bing’s web index.

Tip: You can check Bing indexing by searching site:yourwebsite.com in Bing.

Build Local Credibility Through Mentions & Reviews

ChatGPT looks for credibility cues — the same signals that build trust with customers.

Claim your Google Business and Bing Places listings.
Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews.
Make sure your business is mentioned on other trusted local websites, news outlets, or community directories.

The more your name appears on reliable Vermont or regional sites, the stronger your “trust footprint.”

Publish Useful, Local-Focused Content

AI tools favor content that clearly answers questions people ask (FAQs). Think like your customers:

“Who builds websites for small businesses in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont?”

“How can my Vermont business get found online?”

Create blog posts or pages that directly answer those kinds of questions.
Use natural language, include your location, and focus on educating rather than se lling.

Refresh Your Online Presence Regularly

AI systems prefer up-to-date, well-maintained websites.
✅ Update your homepage and blog at VERY least quarterly.
✅ Keep your “About” and “Contact” info current.
✅ Make sure your site is mobile-friendly, secure (HTTPS/SSL Certificate), and loads quickly.

An active, professional site signals to both users and AI that your business is relevant and reliable.

Engage with the Community — Online & Offline

Your local connections are your greatest strength.
Participate in online groups, share community events, and collaborate with other Vermont businesses.

When local publications, chambers of commerce, or partners mention you online, it reinforces your business’s local authority — something AI tools value highly.

Conclusion

Being “searchable” in ChatGPT isn’t about gaming a system — it’s about clarity, credibility, and community.

By keeping your information consistent, your website optimized, and your local presence strong, you’ll naturally become part of the digital conversations happening every day.

And if you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to help — because we believe the Northeast Kingdom shines brightest when local businesses are easy to find.

Why You Shouldn’t Pause Social Media Management in Your Off-Season

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:29:53 GMT

Consistent Social Media = Consistent Growth

For many businesses, especially those in seasonal industries like tourism, retail, or outdoor recreation, the slower months can feel like a natural time to cut costs and pause marketing efforts. Social media management is often on the chopping block.
But here’s the truth: going quiet in your off-season can cost you more than you save.

Below are the key reasons why continuing your social media management year-round is not only important but essential for long-term success.

Keep Your Brand Visible and Top-of-Mind

If you disappear from your audience’s feed during the off-season, you risk being forgotten by the time business picks up again. Social media works on consistency. By maintaining a presence, you keep your brand top-of-mind, making it much easier to attract customers when your busy season returns.

Think of it this way: if you stop showing up, your competitors will happily fill that gap.

Build Relationships, Not Just Sales

Your off-season is the perfect time to focus on engagement and storytelling rather than hard sales. Share behind-the-scenes content, highlight your team, showcase customer stories, past projects, or create educational posts. This helps you build a stronger connection with your audience, turning casual followers into loyal fans.

People don’t just want to buy from you—they want to trust and relate to you. Off-season engagement helps lay that foundation.

Stay Ahead of the Algorithm

Social media platforms reward consistency. If your account goes dormant for months, the algorithms will deprioritize your content when you return. That means you’ll have to work much harder (and often pay more in ads ) to regain your previous reach and engagement.

By posting steadily so you keep your account healthy and in good standing with the algorithms.

Maintain Customer Service and Trust

Many customers use social media as a primary way to reach businesses. Shutting down management during your off-season means your reputation suffers. Continued management ensures that your audience knows you’re reliable year-round.

Prepare for Next Season’s Success

When the busy season comes, you want momentum, not a cold start. Ongoing social media management keeps your audience informed and excited so that when you’re ready to promote events, sales, or openings, you have an active, attentive community ready to respond.

Social media is more than just an advertising tool —it’s an always-on connection between you and your customers. Pausing management during your off-season creates gaps in trust, visibility, and engagement that can take months ( and extra budget ) to repair.

By continuing your social media management year-round, you ensure that your brand stays relevant, your audience stays connected, and your next season is set up for success.

At Northeast Kingdom Online, we help businesses maintain momentum year-round with tailored social media strategies.

Even in your off-season, your brand deserves to shine.

How AI in Business Drives Growth and Digital Transformation

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 21:31:32 GMT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s transforming how businesses grow and compete today. From small startups to large enterprises, companies are harnessing the power of AI in business to increase efficiency, improve customer experience, and fuel innovation. At Northeast Kingdom Online, we believe AI is one of the most powerful tools driving digital transformation and long-term success.

AI-Powered Automation Boosts Productivity

Automation is central to business growth in the digital era. AI automates repetitive tasks such as scheduling, reporting, and customer service, freeing up employees to focus on strategic work. By streamlining operations, businesses not only increase productivity but also save costs and scale more efficiently.

Enhancing Customer Experience with AI

Customer expectations have never been higher, and AI is helping businesses rise to the challenge. Tools like AI chatbots, recommendation engines, and sentiment analysis enable companies to provide personalized, 24/7 customer support. These capabilities improve customer satisfaction, strengthen loyalty, and create more opportunities for repeat business.

Driving Innovation and New Opportunities

AI doesn’t just optimize processes—it inspires innovation in business. Companies are using AI to develop new products, identify untapped markets, and test ideas faster. By enabling fresh approaches to problem-solving, AI opens the door to new revenue streams and competitive advantages.

Staying Competitive in the Digital Age

The pace of digital change is accelerating, and businesses that embrace AI for growth gain a critical edge. Whether it’s anticipating market shifts, improving customer engagement, or scaling operations, AI ensures companies stay resilient and relevant in a fast-changing economy.

Artificial Intelligence is not just a trend—it’s a cornerstone of digital transformation in business. By integrating AI into daily operations, businesses can achieve sustainable growth, improve customer experiences, and innovate faster than ever before.

At Northeast Kingdom Online, we’re passionate about helping businesses leverage AI to thrive in today’s digital economy.

How AI Helps Small Businesses with Everyday Tasks

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:25:32 GMT

Running a small business means wearing many hats. One moment you’re managing customer inquiries, the next you’re juggling scheduling, meetings, and planning for growth. With limited time and resources, staying organized and efficient can feel like an uphill battle. That’s where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in—not as a futuristic concept, but as a practical tool small businesses are using every day to save time, reduce costs, and work smarter.

Fast Customer Support

AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can handle common customer questions 24/7, from “What are your hours?” to “Where’s my order?” This frees up time for business owners and staff to focus on more complex customer needs. For many small businesses, AI provides professional-level, informative services when you are unavailable.

Automating Repetitive Tasks

Every small business has daily tasks that are necessary but time-consuming—like sending reminders, updating spreadsheets, sorting emails, or tracking inventory. AI can take care of these routine jobs automatically.

For example, AI systems can:

Send appointment or event reminders to customers and staff.
Update schedules and calendars in real time.
Organize emails and flag important ones.
Keep records consistent across different platforms.

By handling these behind-the-scenes details, AI gives business owners and employees more time to focus on growth, customer relationships, and strategic decisions.

Scheduling and Time Management

AI assistants can coordinate calendars, book appointments, and send reminders—helping small businesses stay on top of their commitments. This reduces missed meetings and ensures that every hour of the workday is used wisely.

Helping with Reports and Meeting Notes

Small business leaders often need to prepare reports and keep track of meeting discussions. AI tools can now create summaries, compile notes, and even generate full reports from raw data or recorded conversations. Imagine finishing a meeting and having an AI assistant automatically send out clear notes with action items, or quickly producing a monthly progress report with charts and highlights. This not only saves time but also ensures accuracy and consistency across the business.

AI isn’t just for big corporations. It’s an everyday tool that empowers small businesses to work smarter, not harder. By automating repetitive tasks, compiling meeting notes, uncovering insights, and improving customer experiences, AI allows small business owners to focus on what matters most: building relationships, growing their business, and serving their community.

At Northeast Kingdom Online, we believe technology should make life easier for small businesses. If you’re curious about how AI can help your business thrive, let’s chat!

Top 5 Marketing Mistakes Vermont Businesses Still Make

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:30:16 GMT

Are You Making These Green Mountain Marketing Gaffes?

Ah, Vermont. Land of creemees, stunning foliage, and businesses as unique and charming as our covered bridges. We love our local spirit, but sometimes, that charming, old-school approach can trickle into marketing methods that, well, aren't quite cutting it in 2025.

At NEKO, we’ve helped countless Vermont businesses (big and small, from Burlington to Brattleboro, Stowe to St. Johnsbury) polish their online presence. And along the way, we’ve spotted a few common marketing missteps that, while well-intentioned, might be leaving money on the maple tree.

So, grab a maple latte, relax, and let’s dive into the top 5 marketing mistakes we often see, with a healthy dose of insight and a sprinkle of fun. (Spoiler alert: No, stuffing your footer with 32 town names isn’t helping. Yes, we checked.)

Mistake #1: The "Rack Card Regiment" – Printing a Forest for a Few Fliers

The Scenario: You've got stacks of beautifully designed rack cards, maybe even some glossy brochures. They're sitting in every general store, diner, and visitor center from here to the Canadian border. You feel productive.

The Problem: While print still has its place, relying solely on distributing thousands of physical pieces in a digital-first world is like trying to fill Lake Champlain with a teacup.

Limited Measurability: How many people actually picked one up? How many led to a call? A visit? A sale? Crickets. (Trackable QR codes help and are effective when someone scans them).
High Cost, Low Return: Printing isn't cheap, especially when the engagement is so low.
Static Information: If your hours, offerings, or even your phone number changes, those 2,000 rack cards just became2,000 pieces of expensive trash.

The NEKO Fix: Embrace targeted digital marketing where you can track every click, call, and conversion. Invest in a sleek, mobile-friendly website that serves as your 24/7 digital concierge. Use digital ads (even local ones!) that reach people actively looking for what you offer. Think QR codes on fewer rack cards that lead directly to a special offer on your website – now that's smart!

Mistake #2: Ignoring Google's Front Door: The Unloved Google Business Profile

The Scenario: Someone searches "your service + Vermont town." Your competitor pops up first with photos, reviews, hours, and a direct link. You're... somewhere on page three, maybe?

The Problem: Many Vermont businesses treat their Google Business Profile (GBP, formerly Google My Business) like that forgotten junk drawer – it's there, but rarely updated or optimized. In 2025, your GBP is often the first impression potential customers have. If it's incomplete, ugly, or ignored, they'll move on.

Lost Local SEO: GBP is paramount for local search visibility.
Poor First Impression: Outdated photos, missing hours, or zero reviews scream "we're not really open for business!"
Missed Engagement: People use GBP for quick info, directions, calls, and even to leave reviews.

The NEKO Fix: Claim, verify, and optimize your Google Business Profile. Upload fresh photos (inside and out!), keep your hours accurate (especially for holidays!), actively request and respond to reviews, and use the "Posts" feature to share updates, offers, or events. It's free, it's powerful, and it's your digital welcome mat!

Mistake #3: Your Website as a "Digital Brochure" (Instead of a Sales Superpower)

The Scenario: You've got a website! Hooray! It looks okay, tells people who you are, and has your contact info. But it doesn't really... do anything for your business. It's just a static online brochure.

The Problem: A website in 2025 isn't just a place to exist; it's your hardest-working employee. If it’s not designed to convert visitors into leads or customers, it’s a missed opportunity.

Weak/Missing Calls to Action (CTAs): Are people clear on what you want them to do next? "Learn More," "Contact Us," "Book Now," "Download Guide" – if they're not prominent, people leave.
Poor User Experience (UX): Is it confusing to navigate? Is it slow? Does it look terrible on a phone? Users will bail faster than a flatlander on a muddy road.
No Lead Capture: If you're not collecting emails or contact info, you're losing potential future sales.

The NEKO Fix: Think of your website as a powerful sales and marketing tool. Ensure it has clear, compelling calls to action on every key page. Optimize for mobile (most people browse on their phones!). Make it easy to find what visitors are looking for, and consider implementing lead magnets (like a free guide or consultation offer) to capture interest. Your site should work as hard as you do this summer!

Mistake #4: The Brand Identity Crisis: Looking Like Five Different Businesses

The Scenario: Your logo on Facebook is slightly different from your business card. Your website uses one color palette, but your Instagram uses another. Your email signature has a different font.

The Problem: Inconsistent branding creates confusion, undermines trust, and makes your business look less professional. It’s hard for customers to remember who you are and what you stand for if your visual and verbal identity keeps changing.

Lack of Recognition: If your brand isn't consistent, people won't recognize you quickly, impacting recall and loyalty.
Perceived Unprofessionalism: It can give the impression that your business is disorganized or doesn't pay attention to detail.
Diluted Message: A unified brand communicates a clear message; a fragmented one sends mixed signals.

The NEKO Fix: Develop clear brand guidelines for your logo, colors, fonts, tone of voice, and imagery. Apply these consistently across all your marketing materials – website, social media profiles, print materials, email signatures, and even your physical storefront. NEKO can help your BRANDING & DESIGN! A consistent brand is a strong brand.

Mistake #5: "Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall" on Social Media

The Scenario: You know you need to be on social media, so you post... stuff. Whenever you remember. Whatever comes to mind. Without a real plan or goal.

The Problem: Social media is a powerful tool, but it's not a magic bullet. Without a strategy, you're just making noise.

Lack of Focus: Your content isn't reaching the right people or guiding them to a desired action.
Low Engagement: Random posts often lead to low likes, comments, and shares (which means your content isn't seen by many people).
Wasted Time & Resources: Posting aimlessly consumes time that could be spent on effective strategies.

The NEKO Fix: It's time to revisit your social strategy. What's trending, what's not, and where should your business show up next? Develop a content calendar with clear objectives for each post. Understand what types of content perform best on each platform (e.g., short videos on Instagram, thought leadership on LinkedIn). Engage with your audience, ask questions, run polls, and respond to comments. Social media is a conversation, not just a broadcast!

Ready to Stop Making These Mistakes and Start Winning?

Marketing in Vermont is unique, and it requires a blend of local understanding and cutting-edge digital savvy. If any of these mistakes hit a little too close to home, don't worry – you're not alone, and it's never too late to refine your approach.

At NEKO, we specialize in helping businesses transform their digital presence. From strategic website design to powerful branding and smart social media tactics, we'll help you fix those marketing missteps and build a strategy that truly works.

Let's make your marketing efforts as effective and beautiful as a Vermont autumn!

SEO Myths Vermont Businesses Still Believe

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:30:05 GMT

No, Stuffing Your Footer with 32 Town Names Isn’t Helping. (Yes, We Checked.)

Don't Get Fooled: Common SEO Misconceptions in the Green Mountain State

Alright, Vermont. Let's talk SEO. We know you're busy running your incredible breweries, charming inns, artisan shops, and groundbreaking tech startups. You've heard whispers about search engine optimization – "SEO" – and you know it's important. But sometimes, what sounds like a good idea (or what worked back when flip phones were cool) can actually be holding your Green Mountain business back.

At NEKO, we're deep in the digital trenches, constantly learning what actually moves the needle for local businesses in 2025. And while we love Vermont's charming quirks, we're here to bust some persistent SEO myths with a smile and a stack of data.

So, put down that organic maple syrup, grab a notebook, and let’s debunk some common SEO misconceptions!

Myth #1: The "Town Name Tsunami" Footer is an SEO Goldmine

The NEKO Truth: Focus on genuine relevance. Create specific local landing pages for key service areas if it makes sense for your business model. Build high-quality content that naturally incorporates relevant location terms. Most importantly, optimize your Google Business Profile (more on that later!) – that’s your real local SEO powerhouse.

Myth #2: "Set It and Forget It" SEO is a Strategy

The NEKO Truth: Think of SEO as digital gardening. You plant the seeds (initial optimization), but you also need to water, weed, and prune regularly. This means continuous keyword research, content updates, technical audits, and monitoring your performance. A proactive, adaptive SEO strategy is key to staying visible in 2025.

Myth #3: Keyword Stuffing (Anywhere!) is King

The NEKO Truth: Focus on user intent and natural language . What questions are your potential customers asking? What problems are they trying to solve? Create content that genui nely answers those questions and solves those problems. Integrate keywords naturally within well-written, valuable content. Google wants to see you providing the best answer, not just repeating words.

Myth #4: Reviews Don't Really Matter for SEO

The NEKO Truth: Actively encourage your happy customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile (and other relevant platforms like Yelp, Facebook, etc.). Respond to all reviews, positive or negative, professionally and promptly. This shows Google (and potential customers) that you're engaged and care about your reputation.

Myth #5: Social Media Likes & Followers Directly Boost SEO Rankings

The NEKO Truth: Social media indirectly supports SEO by:

Increasing Brand Visibility: More people know about you, leading to more direct searches for your brand name.
Driving Traffic to Your Website: Social posts with links can bring visitors to your site, increasing engagement metrics that do matter to SEO.
Creating Shareable Content: Great content on social media can be linked to by others, generating valuable backlinks.
Boosting Local SEO: An active social presence can enhance your overall online presence, which contributes to local authority. Focus on building a community and driving high-quality traffic, not just accumulating likes.

Ready to Ditch the Myths and Boost Your Vermont Business Online?

Navigating the ever-changing world of SEO can feel like trying to find cell service in the deep woods – challenging! But understanding these common myths is the first step toward a clearer path.

At NEKO, we specialize in cutting through the noise to build effective, modern digital strategies for businesses. We'll help you focus on what's actually working in 2025 – from optimizing your Google presence to crafting content that converts.

Don't let outdated myths hold your amazing business back. Let's talk about what's working now!

Why August Is the Best Time to Start Your Holiday Marketing Strategy

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:15:00 GMT

Start your holiday marketing strategy now.

As a Vermont business owner, it may feel too early to start thinking about the holiday season while you're still enjoying summer. But when it comes to effective online marketing and web strategy, August is exactly when you should begin.

At Northeast Kingdom Online, we’ve seen year after year that the businesses that start planning early have smoother campaigns, stronger sales, and more success engaging customers throughout the busiest shopping season of the year.

Why Start Now?

What Should You Be Planning?

By starting in August, you can map out:

Website updates – Holiday branding, featured products, shipping info, gift categories
Email marketing – Teasers, early-bird offers, Black Friday/Cyber Monday, gift guides
Social media posts – Scheduled promotions, countdowns, behind-the-scenes content
Digital ads – Targeted Facebook, Instagram, and Google ads based on customer behavior
SEO prep – Optimizing your pages to show up when shoppers search for gift ideas or local products

How NEKO Can Help

Whether you're a small shop in the Northeast Kingdom or a growing online store, Northeast Kingdom Online offers custom web design and marketing services tailored to your goals.

We help Vermont businesses:

Build high-converting holiday landing pages
Create visually consistent email and social campaigns
Plan and execute strategies that drive traffic and boost holiday revenue

Don’t Wait—Start Today

The earlier you plan, the more prepared you’ll be—and the more likely your customers are to shop with you instead of big-box competitors.

Ready to kick off your holiday marketing?

Let’s make this your best holiday season yet.

Get a Jump on Fall Marketing with This Simple Checklist

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 18:12:41 GMT

Simple, actionable steps to refresh your marketing before the busy season hits

As the summer winds down, now is the time to get your business ready for fall. From website updates and email campaigns to social media content and seasonal promotions, a little early planning goes a long way.

To help you stay ahead of the rush, we’ve put together a FREE Fall Marketing Checklist with actionable, realistic steps that any business can take—no matter your size or industry.

Whether you’re refreshing your homepage, scheduling social posts, or planning a fall promo, this simple checklist will get you started quickly.

Ready to take some of the guesswork out of fall marketing?

Why Start Working on Your Holiday Strategy Now?

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 11:15:05 GMT

When summer is still in full swing, it might feel too early to think about snowflakes, stocking stuffers, and seasonal campaigns—but if you're running a business, August is the perfect time to start your holiday strategy.

Here’s why starting on a holiday marketing strategy now matters more than ever:

Ready to Start? Let Us Help.

At Northeast Kingdom Online, we specialize in helping businesses get holiday-ready with web updates, marketing strategies, and content that connects. Whether you need help creating a gift guide or want to launch a multi-platform holiday campaign, we're here to make sure your brand shines—before the snow starts falling.

Don't wait until November. Contact us to begin planning your holiday strategy.

Over Halfway Through 2025: Is Your Website Working for You?

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:41:58 GMT

July is the perfect time to check in on your 2025 marketing goals. Is your website driving traffic and conversions like it should?

As we reach past the midpoint of 2025, it’s the ideal moment to take a step back and evaluate your digital strategy—especially your website. Whether you're a small business owner, a nonprofit, or an entrepreneur, your website should be more than just a digital business card. It should be a tool that drives traffic, builds trust, and converts visitors into customers.

Why July Is the Right Time to Reassess

The summer slowdown offers a unique window to reflect, adjust, and realign your goals for the second half of the year. With six months left in 2025, there’s still plenty of time to boost performance—but only if you know what’s working and what’s not.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Is my website generating consistent traffic from search engines or social media?
Are visitors staying on my site or leaving quickly?
Is my content up to date, engaging, and relevant to my audience?
Are calls-to-action (CTAs) leading to actual conversions (sales, form fills, bookings, etc.)?
Does my website load quickly and function well on mobile devices?
If the answer to any of these questions is “no” or “I’m not sure,” now’s the time to act.

What You Can Do Right Now

✔ Review your analytics. Look at your website traffic, bounce rates, and conversion data. Google Analytics or tools can show you how users interact with your site.
✔ Audit your content. Fresh, relevant content is key to both SEO and user engagement.
✔ Test your site speed and mobile responsiveness. User experience directly impacts your performance.
✔ Update SEO basics. Title tags, meta descriptions, image alt text, and internal links should all be optimized.
✔ Get a second opinion. A professional website audit can uncover technical issues you may not even realize are hurting performance.

How NEKO Can Help

At Northeast Kingdom Online, we specialize in helping Vermont businesses get the most out of their websites. From site reviews and content strategy to full-scale redesigns, we’ll help ensure your digital presence works for you—not against you.

Let’s make sure your 2025 marketing goals stay on track.

�� Contact us for a free consultation today!

Threads, TikTok, or X (Twitter)—Where Should You Show Up This Summer?

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:00:11 GMT

Social media trends change. Your strategy doesn’t have to.

As summer heats up, so does the ever-evolving world of social media. Whether you're running a business, building a brand, or trying to stay connected, you’ve likely noticed some big shifts: TikTok bans looming in certain regions, Meta rolling out changes to Facebook and Instagram, and Threads quietly becoming a player in the digital space. So, where should you be showing up this summer—TikTok, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), or somewhere else entirely?

Let’s break it down.

The TikTok Tipping Point

TikTok continues to dominate with Gen Z and younger Millennials, but it’s not all sunshine and viral dances. As of mid-2025, multiple U.S. states and countries have passed or proposed legislation to restrict or ban the app due to security concerns. For brands relying heavily on TikTok, this creates uncertainty—and a good reason to diversify your social strategy.

Our take: TikTok still offers incredible reach, but it shouldn’t be your only channel. Consider repurposing your short-form video content across Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts to stay flexible.

Meta’s Moves: Facebook, Instagram & Threads

Meta continues to evolve. Instagram is investing more in AI-driven content recommendations, while Facebook has shifted toward a community-first focus (think Groups and Events). But perhaps the biggest shift? Threads—Meta’s text-based platform that launched as a Twitter alternative—is quietly gaining traction.

Threads is particularly appealing for small businesses and creators who want a conversational platform without the chaos of X.

Threads is worth exploring this summer—especially if your brand relies on storytelling, conversation, or quick updates.

What’s Up with X?

X (formerly Twitter) remains relevant for news, commentary, and real-time trends—but it’s also facing user fatigue and decreased advertiser trust. While it still holds influence in certain industries (media, politics, tech), its role in everyday brand strategy is fading.

Only stay active on X if it’s giving you results. Otherwise, it might be time to shift your energy elsewhere.

So… Where Should You Show Up?

The short answer? Wherever your audience is active and you can show up consistently.

But here’s the long-term strategy:

Focus on what you control—your website.
Social platforms come and go. Algorithms change. Features disappear. But your website? It’s your digital home. It’s where customers learn, buy, book, and trust your brand.
Social media should drive traffic to your website, not replace it.

Social media trends change. Your strategy doesn’t have to.

Build your foundation on a strong website, then meet your audience where they are—whether that’s Threads, TikTok, or the next big thing.

Need help updating your website or social strategy?

Northeast Kingdom Online offers design, content, and digital strategy tailored for YOUR businesses. Let’s build something lasting.

Hosting a Summer Sale or Pop-Up? Your Website Should Be Part of the Team!

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Tips for Making Your In-Person Events Shine Online

Summer is the perfect time to connect with customers—whether through sidewalk sales, local markets, or special in-store events. But if you’re not looping your website into the action, you could be missing a big opportunity to build momentum and maximize attendance. At Northeast Kingdom Online, we help small businesses turn digital platforms into powerful support systems for in-person success.

How your website can work as your behind-the-scenes teammate during your next summer sale or pop-up:

Bridge the Gap Between Offline and Online

Your website doesn’t replace your in-person efforts—it amplifies them. By giving people a place to preview, plan, and share your event, you’ll extend the life and reach of every sale or pop-up you host.

Need help building your summer event page or tying in tools like countdowns and schema? Reach out to our team!

We’re here to help businesses shine online—because your website should be part of the team, too.

What’s Working on Social Media in 2025: A Mid-Year Review

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:00:11 GMT

2025 is halfway over, and if one thing’s clear, it’s this: social media never stands still. Platforms continue to evolve, audience expectations shift, and what worked six months ago might already feel stale today. So—what is working right now, and where should your business be focusing its time and energy?

Here’s a look at the standout trends shaping the digital landscape this year—and how to use them to stay relevant and competitive.

Social Media Trends in 2025

Time to Rethink Your Strategy?

At Northeast Kingdom Online, we offer quick strategy sessions and custom content calendar packages to help you align with 2025 trends. Whether you're looking to boost engagement, expand your reach, or figure out which platforms deserve your focus—we’ll help you get there.

�� Book a consultation with us and learn more about our monthly content calendar and social media management services today.

Spam Alert! Guest Posts & Link Building Scams

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:00:19 GMT

Why You Should Ignore “Guest Post & Link Building” Emails (And What to Do Instead)

If you have a website, chances are you've received an email just like this:

Subject: Guest Post and Link Building Services!

Body: We hope you are well!

We are providing “Guest Post Services & Link Building” that will help with increasing your:

Site ranking in Google, Site credibility, metrics, traffic, and SEO score, Improve relationships within your niche, Revenue opportunities, and sales.

Should I send you my full list with the price? or if you want you can share your requirements.

Please let me know if you have any questions

I’m waiting for your good response.

We get it. You're minding your business, maybe sipping your coffee, when yet another unsolicited email lands in your inbox promising to skyrocket your website to Google's front page with "exclusive" link-building magic.

So, should you take them up on their offer? ( Spoiler: No.)

How We Know These Emails are Spam

1️⃣ Shady Link Schemes

Google is smarter than these spammers think. Buying low-quality backlinks can actually harm your SEO rather than help it. Google penalizes websites that participate in link schemes, so you could end up tanking your rankings instead of improving them.

2️⃣ Lack of Transparency

Ever notice that these emails never mention where they'll post your guest articles? That's because these services often place links on spammy, irrelevant, or even penalized websites that add no real value.

3️⃣ Generic & Mass-Produced

These emails are sent in bulk to thousands of website owners. (Including legitimate marketers!) They don't know who you are, what your business does, or what kind of content fits your brand.

4️⃣ Potential Security Risks

Engaging with these senders can expose you to phishing attempts, malware, or even scams asking for unnecessary payments.

What You Should Do Instead

✅ Earn Quality Backlinks Naturally

Instead of buying links, focus on creating high-quality content that others want to link to. Blogging, case studies, and useful resources work wonders.

✅ Collaborate with Trusted Sources

If you're interested in guest posting, reach out to credible industry websites that align with your brand, rather than responding to cold emails.

✅ Check Your SEO Strategy

If your goal is better rankings, make sure your website is optimized properly. Think strong keyword strategy, mobile-friendly design, and relevant, engaging content.

✅ Mark as Spam & Move On

Seriously. Just delete it.

The Bottom Line

Yes, we get these emails too. No, we don't fall for them. And you shouldn't either. SEO success isn't about shortcuts. It's about smart, ethical strategies that build long-term credibility. If you want help growing your online presence the right way, we're here to help!

Need an SEO strategy that actually works? Let's chat!

How Often Should You Post? A Realistic Guide

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:15:00 GMT

Consistency Beats Hustle: Find a Posting Schedule That Works for You

When it comes to marketing your business online, there’s one question we hear all the time:

“How often should I be posting?”

And our honest answer? It depends—but let’s make it realistic.

You don’t need to post every day to succeed, and you definitely don’t need to dance on TikTok at 9 a.m. on a Monday (unless that’s your thing). What you do need is a sustainable strategy that fits your time, your goals, and your audience.

Let’s break it down.

First: What Are You Trying to Achieve?

The ideal posting schedule depends on what you're hoping to get out of your content. Ask yourself:

Are you building brand awareness?
Do you want to drive traffic to your website?
Are you trying to stay top-of-mind with your local audience?
Or maybe you're launching a new service or product?

�� Your goals help shape your rhythm. You don’t need to be everywhere all the time—you just need to show up consistently where it counts.

Social Media Posting: Less Is More (If It’s Consistent)

For most small businesses, 2–4 posts per week on your primary platform (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) is a solid sweet spot.

Think quality over quantity. One valuable post that educates, entertains, or engages your audience is worth more than five rushed ones.
Mix it up. Aim for a balance of promotional content, behind-the-scenes, client highlights, and helpful tips.

�� If that still feels like too much, start with 1 post per week and build from there.

Blogging: Twice a Month Is Plenty

We love blogs (obviously), but we also know they take time. If you’re using content to boost your SEO, aim for 1–2 blogs per month —that’s enough to show Google (and your audience) that your site is active and helpful.

And bonus: you can repurpose blog content into multiple social posts , emails, and even print materials.

Email Newsletters: Monthly or Quarterly

If you're building an email list (and we hope you are!), keep your newsletter cadence manageable.

Monthly is great for staying connected.
Quarterly is fine if your business is seasonal or you’re just starting out.

The key: provide value. A quick tip, an update, or even a friendly check-in goes a long way.

What’s “Realistic” Actually Look Like?

Here’s a basic, low-stress content schedule most small businesses can manage:

1–2 social posts per week
1 blog post per month
1 email every 4–6 weeks

That’s it. And it’s enough to build momentum, strengthen your brand, and stay top-of-mind in your community.

�� Start where you are. Scale as you go.

You Don’t Need to Do It All, You Just Need a Plan

Posting consistently doesn’t mean constantly . The best strategy is the one you can actually stick to.

At NEKO, we help businesses across Vermont find a content rhythm that works for them—whether you’re ready to post 4 times a week or just want help getting one solid blog out the door.

�� Need help building your content plan? Let’s chat.

Using a Website Theme? Here’s How to Make It Uniquely Yours

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 13:00:19 GMT

How to Customize a Website Theme Without Losing Your Brand’s Personality

Website themes are a powerful starting point for small businesses looking to get online quickly without breaking the bank. But we’ve all seen it: the same layout, same fonts, same generic stock photo of someone shaking hands in a boardroom.

Here’s the good news : using a theme doesn’t mean your website has to look cookie-cutter.

With a few thoughtful customizations, your theme-based site can reflect your unique brand and connect with your audience authentically. Let’s walk through how to do it.

1. Start with Brand-First Customization (Not Just the Defaults)

Every good website starts with a strong brand identity. If you’re using a theme, that identity should come through loud and clear, starting with:

Colors : Swap out the default palette for your brand’s primary and accent colors. Not sure what those are? Pick 2–3 colors that represent your vibe—earthy and grounded? Bold and modern? Clean and minimalist?
Fonts : Typography has personality! Choose fonts that reflect the tone of your business (playful, professional, elegant, etc.). Avoid using too many—one for headings and one for body text usually does the trick.

�� Pro tip: Use a style guide or mood board as your visual compass. Themes are templates—you bring the flavor.

2. Choose Imagery That Actually Feels Like You

Stock images are fine—but custom imagery is better. If you can’t hire a pro photographer just yet, consider:

Photos of you or your team in action
Real shots of your location, process, or products
User-generated content from happy clients or customers

If you do use stock images, choose ones that reflect your real audience and values. No generic handshakes, please.

3. Infuse Your Messaging With Personality

Themes often come with placeholder copy. Please, don’t keep it!

Your website copy is where your voice shines. It should answer questions like:

Who do you serve?
What do you offer (and why does it matter)?
What makes you different from others in your space?

Even small tweaks—like changing “Our Services” to “How We Can Help” or “Let’s Work Together” can make your site feel more personal and approachable.

4. Customize Layouts Where It Matters Most

You don’t have to redesign every inch, but small layout changes can go a long way.

Consider updating:

Your hero section (the first thing people see) with a clear headline, short intro, and a strong call-to-action
Your about section to include personal touches (like a photo, a quick story, or your “why”)
Your footer with local info, quick links, or a call to connect

⚡ Don’t be afraid to break from the grid. If something doesn’t fit your content or brand, tweak it or ask for help.

5. Balance DIY With Professional Polish

Themes are designed to be DIY-friendly—but there’s no shame in bringing in backup. A designer or developer (��‍♀️ hi, NEKO here!) can help you:

Customize tricky sections you’re struggling with
Optimize for mobile responsiveness and speed
Make sure your SEO and accessibility are in good shape

Your website should feel like you—and work like a charm behind the scenes, too.

Final Thoughts: Make the Template Work for You

A theme is a tool, not a limitation. With the right customizations, your website can feel just as personal, polished, and powerful as any custom-built site.

Need help bringing your theme to life?

We’re here to help you turn “off-the-shelf” into “one-of-a-kind.”

LinkedIn Isn’t Just for Job Seekers

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 12:00:21 GMT

How Vermont Small Businesses Can Use LinkedIn to Build Authority and Trust

When you hear “LinkedIn,” you might immediately think of résumés, recruiters, and job hunting. And yes, it’s great for that. But if you’re a small business—especially a service-based one—LinkedIn is also one of the most underused tools for building authority, trust, and visibility in your community and industry.

Let’s reframe LinkedIn from a digital résumé hub to what it really is:
A professional networking platform with serious potential for local pros and small business owners.

Why LinkedIn Matters for Local & Service-Based Businesses

Here in Vermont (or anywhere community ties matter), relationships are everything. People want to know who they’re hiring or buying from, and they often want a face, a voice, or a story behind the business. That’s where LinkedIn shines!

Whether you're a therapist, contractor, consultant, or creative service provider, showing up on LinkedIn helps you:

Share your expertise in an approachable way
Stay top of mind in professional networks
Build credibility with future clients, partners, or even collaborators

How Small Businesses Can Use LinkedIn Strategically

Here’s how to make LinkedIn work for your business—even if you’re not looking for your next job.

1️⃣ Optimize Your Profile (as a Person and a Brand)

Most small businesses thrive on personal connections. So even if you have a LinkedIn Company Page, your personal profile often gets more engagement.

Use a clear, friendly headshot
Write a bio that explains who you help and how, not just your job title
Add service links, contact info, and even testimonials

Think of your profile like a digital handshake. It should say, “Here’s how I can help, and why you can trust me.”

2️⃣ Share Insightful, Relatable Content

You don’t need to post every day—but you do need to show up with value. A few LinkedIn-friendly content ideas:

Quick tips from your field
Mini case studies or client success stories
“Behind the scenes” of your process or work
Personal lessons learned as a local business owner

This is a space for thought leadership, not hard sales. You’re building trust by sharing your expertise generously.

3️⃣ Engage Like a Human (Not a Brand)

Comment on posts. Congratulate your network. Join conversations in local groups. LinkedIn engagement is a two-way street, and small businesses that act personally (not robotically) stand out fast.

Bonus: Interacting with others also boosts your visibility on the platform.

4️⃣ Use LinkedIn to Stay Top of Mind with Referral Partners

In small business ecosystems, referrals are gold. LinkedIn lets you maintain lightweight, professional visibility with:

Local business peers
Vendors or collaborators
Past clients who might refer you down the road

By posting occasionally and engaging with your network, you remind people you exist and show off what you’re great at.

You Don’t Need to Go Viral—You Just Need to Show Up

You don’t need 1,000 likes or a massive following to succeed on LinkedIn. You just need to:

☑️ Be present
☑️ Be helpful
☑️ Be yourself (professionally)

Your next referral, client, or collaboration could come from someone who’s been quietly watching and thinking, “They really know their stuff.”

Want Help Making LinkedIn Work for Your Business?

At NEKO, we help small businesses not just “get online,” but show up strategically—LinkedIn included. If you want help optimizing your profile or building out content that positions you as the go-to expert in your field, we’d love to chat!

Is It Time to Redesign Your Website?

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:09:06 GMT

6 Clear Signs Your Website Is Due for a Redesign

Your website should be your hardest-working employee—available 24/7, clear on your message, and ready to convert visitors into customers. But if it’s not doing that… it might be time for a refresh.

Redesigning your website doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It means realigning your digital presence with where your business is now—not where it was five years ago.

Here are six clear signs your website might be due for a redesign:

1. Outdated Visuals

Design trends evolve quickly, and an old-looking site can unintentionally signal that your business isn’t up to date either. If your fonts, colors, layout, or imagery feel stale or generic, a visual refresh can go a long way toward building trust and authority.

First impressions happen fast. Make sure your site looks like the business you are today.

2. No Mobile-Friendly Version

Over half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t responsive—meaning it doesn’t automatically adjust to look great on phones and tablets—you’re likely frustrating visitors and losing leads.

Your customers are on their phones. Your site should be, too.

3. It’s Slow to Load

Speed matters—for your visitors and for Google. A slow website can hurt your search rankings and your user experience. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, it’s time to optimize… or redesign altogether.

If it’s taking too long to load, it’s taking too long to convert.

4. Your Messaging Is Unclear

Can a new visitor understand who you are, what you do, and who you help—in 5 seconds or less? If not, it’s time to rework your homepage and navigation to clarify your brand message and make the path forward obvious.

Confused visitors don’t convert. Clear, confident messaging builds trust.

5. Low Engagement or High Bounce Rates

If your analytics show that people are leaving your site quickly or not clicking your CTAs, the issue might not be your traffic—it might be your layout, content, or calls to action. A strategic redesign focuses on improving how users interact with your site.

Design isn’t just about looks—it’s about guiding action.

6. Your Platform Is Hard to Update

If it takes a web developer to change a phone number or update a product description, your website is probably working against you. Today’s platforms (like WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace) make content updates simple and scalable.

You should be able to manage your site without needing a tech degree—or a full-time developer.

So... Is It Time?

If even a few of these signs feel familiar, don’t stress—it’s normal to outgrow your website. The good news? You don’t need a massive budget or a total overhaul. A smart, scalable redesign can help your site reflect your business right now—and support where you’re headed next.

Ready to Refresh?

Let’s chat about what a redesign could look like for your business. Whether you need a full rebuild or just a few strategic tweaks, we’re here to help your website work harder for you.

Your Digital Glow-Up Starts With… a Content Calendar.

Wed, 21 May 2025 14:30:10 GMT

It is not glamorous, but wildly effective.

We know—it’s way more fun to dream about viral videos, slick new branding, or a website that practically oozes aesthetic vibes. But if you’re serious about growing your digital presence? Your glow-up begins with something way less flashy:

A content calendar.

Not exactly the stuff of Instagram dreams, right?
But trust us—it’s the foundation of every successful strategy.

Why a Content Calendar Is Your Secret Weapon

A content calendar isn’t just about being “organized.”
It’s about showing up consistently, strategically, and without the stress spiral of last-minute posting.

Here’s what it does for your business:

✅ Keeps you consistent – Because showing up once a month isn’t a strategy, it’s a ghost story.
✅ Helps you plan with purpose – Tie your content to launches, seasons, FAQs—your goals.
✅ Saves you serious time – Batch your ideas. Know what’s coming. No more “what should I post today?” panic.
✅ Makes room for creativity – When your basics are scheduled, you’ve got space to experiment and shine.

But I Don’t Know What to Post...

We hear this all the time—and it’s exactly why a calendar helps.

Start with simple content themes. Think:

FAQs your clients ask on repeat
Behind-the-scenes of how you help
Client wins or testimonials
Tips related to your expertise
Personal stories or values that drive your biz

Pick 2–3 categories to rotate weekly. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—you just need to keep it turning.

Our Not-So-Secret Formula

At NEKO, we help small businesses plan out 30 days of content in under an hour (yep, really). It doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to match you.

The magic is in the strategy, not the sparkle.

Want to Get Started?

Here are a few of our strongest tips:

Work week-by-week with weekly themes—It takes more than one post to reel in a person who can relate to your business' values.
Use an array of media content. Reels, graphics, videos—your audience will love it all!
Batch like a pro! Schedule your content ahead of time!

Final Thought:

Your digital glow-up doesn’t happen overnight—and it doesn’t start with fancy filters or fonts. It starts with showing up, on purpose, for the people you serve.

And that starts with a plan. Let’s build one together.

From Crickets to Clicks: Why Your Social Posts Aren’t Working—And How to Fix Them

Wed, 21 May 2025 14:29:34 GMT

Why No One’s Clicking: It’s Not You—It’s Your Strategy

We’ve all been there:
You spend time crafting the perfect post—maybe even throw in a trending sound or a clever caption—and then…

Nothing.

Crickets.

No likes, no comments, no clicks.

Here’s the thing: It’s not that your content is bad. But if it’s not connecting, it’s not converting—and we’re here to fix that.

Let’s break down the most common reasons your social posts might be falling flat—and, more importantly, how to turn those crickets into clicks.

1. You’re Talking at Your Audience, Not to Them

A lot of content reads more like a billboard than a conversation.
People scroll past sales pitches—but they stop for real talk, stories, and helpful insights.

Fix it:
Start your posts like you're answering a question from a real person. Be curious. Be helpful. And don’t be afraid to show your personality.

Instead of: “We offer expert bookkeeping services.”
Try: “Tired of feeling lost during tax season? Here’s how we help small business owners make sense of their books—without the jargon.”

2. You’re Posting Without a Plan

If your content feels random, your audience will scroll right past it.
Strategy always beats spontaneity.

Fix it:
Use a content calendar to map out posts that align with your goals and speak to your audience’s real needs.
Themes like:

FAQs you’re always answering
Behind-the-scenes looks
Client wins and case studies
Quick tips and industry insights

That consistency builds trust and momentum.

3. It’s Not Clear What You Want People to Do

Great content should always have a job—whether it’s to educate, engage, or drive action.
But if your post ends without a clear next step, people won’t take one.

Fix it:
Always include a call to action (CTA), even if it’s as simple as:

“Comment below if this sounds like you.”
“Save this for later.”
“Want help with this? DM us and let’s talk.”

Clarity = clicks.

4. You’re Prioritizing Perfection Over Connection

Yes, aesthetic is important. But your audience doesn’t need perfection—they need value.

Fix it:
Don’t wait for perfect lighting or the exact right words.
Done is better than perfect. Real is better than polished.
And showing up consistently will beat one perfect post every time.

5. You're Ignoring What’s Already Working

Sometimes the best insights are right under your nose. If you’ve had posts that performed well in the past—double down on what clicked.

Fix it:
Review your analytics and ask:

What posts got saves, shares, or replies?
What topics got people talking?
What formats (video, carousels, stories) worked best?

Repeat, remix, and repurpose. You don’t need to start from scratch every time.

Final Thoughts:

Your content can work harder for you—you just need a strategy that connects.

�� The good news? You don’t have to do it alone.
At NEKO, we help small businesses turn scattered content into strategic conversations that convert.

�� Ready to go from crickets to clicks? Let’s talk!

To blog or not to blog? If growth is the goal, the answer’s always yes.

Wed, 21 May 2025 14:29:01 GMT

What a Blog Can Do That Social Media Alone Can’t

We get it. Blogging might feel like an old-school marketing move in a world of TikToks, Reels, and shiny new platforms. But here’s the truth: If growth is the goal—whether it’s traffic, trust, or more qualified leads—blogging is still one of the smartest moves you can make.

Let’s break down why ongoing blog content matters (now more than ever), what it actually does for your business, and a few easy ways to keep the ideas flowing.

Why Blog at All in 2025?

Because your blog does what no one else on your team can: It builds visibility, trust, and authority while you sleep.

Still not convinced? Let’s look at what your blog can do:

1. It Supercharges Your SEO (Search Engine Visibility)

Every blog post is a new opportunity for Google to find (and rank) your site.
The more quality content you publish—especially content that answers your audience’s real questions—the more search traffic you can earn over time.

Blogging helps you show up when people need you, not just when they already know you exist.

2. It Builds Credibility with Your Audience

Blogging gives your business a voice. It shows that you know your stuff, understand your industry, and genuinely want to help.

From how-to guides to FAQ breakdowns, helpful blog content builds trust—and trust leads to clicks, calls, and conversions.

3. It Fuels Your Social Media + Email Strategy

Stuck on what to post next? Your blog is content gold.

�� Pull quotes for Instagram captions
�� Turn posts into email newsletters
�� Repurpose key points for short-form videos

When done right, a single blog post can power weeks of content across your platforms.

4. It Pays Off Long-Term (Unlike That Viral Trend)

Social media posts come and go—but your blog content sticks around.

A well-optimized blog post can drive traffic for months (or even years) after you hit publish. That’s what we call compounding content power.

“But What Would I Even Blog About?”

We hear this one all the time. Here’s the good news: You already have the content—you just haven’t turned it into blog posts yet.

Here are 5 Blog Post Ideas to Steal Right Now:

The Top 5 Questions Clients Always Ask You
(Answer them. One per post.)
A “What to Expect” Guide for Your Service
(Perfect for first-timers who feel unsure.)
A Myth-Busting Post
(What do people think they know about your industry that’s totally wrong?)
A Before/After Case Study
(With real results + storytelling = magic.)
Your Take on an Industry Trend
(Help your audience make sense of the news.)

Start Simple. Stay Consistent.

You don’t need to blog daily—or even weekly—to see results.
Just show up consistently, speak to your audience’s real questions, and treat each post as a resource, not a pitch. Over time, those posts become your silent sales team—working for you long after you’ve logged off.

And if you’re not sure where to begin?
We can help you plan, write, or just get started with a strategy that actually fits your business goals.

Ready to blog with purpose? Let’s make it easy.
Book a content planning call or use our free ideas above to start writing with confidence.

Frequency Versus Consistency: Finding Your Social Media Sweet Spot

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 10:00:03 GMT

When it comes to social media, one of the biggest questions we hear is: “How often should I post?” While frequency matters, it’s not the only piece of your puzzle. The real key to success? Balancing frequency with consistency. Let’s break it down.

What’s the Difference?

Frequency refers to how often you post—daily, weekly, multiple times a day.
Consistency is about maintaining a steady brand voice, style, and posting schedule over time.

We often find that many businesses focus too much on frequency, thinking that more posts equal more engagement. BUT, posting too often without a cohesive strategy can actually dilute your brand's message! Instead, focusing on consistency ensures that your audience knows what to expect and trusts your brand.

Why Consistency Wins Every Time

Imagine following a brand that posts ten times one week and then disappears for a month. It’s confusing, right? Inconsistent posting can make your audience lose interest—or worse, forget about you altogether.

A steady, predictable posting rhythm builds trust with customers and keeps your brand at the top of mind. Here’s what consistency does for you:

Establishes brand recognition – Your audience will start to recognize your tone, visuals, and messaging.
Improves engagement – Algorithms love consistency! Platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn reward regular posting.
Builds audience expectations – If your followers know you post every Tuesday, they’ll start looking forward to it.

How to Find the Right Balance

So, should you post every day? Three times a week? The answer: It depends on your business and audience. Here’s how to strike the right balance:

1. Set a Realistic Posting Schedule

Pick a frequency that you can maintain long-term. If you can post quality content three times a week, that’s better than daily posts that feel rushed.

2. Prioritize Value Over Volume

Posting often will not help you if your content isn’t engaging. Ask yourself:

Does this provide value to my audience?
Is it aligned with my brand’s message?
Would I engage with this if I saw it in my own feed?

3. Plan Ahead

A content calendar helps you stay consistent without scrambling for last-minute ideas. Map out your posts a month in advance and mix in evergreen content, promotions, and timely topics.

4. Analyze and Adjust

Keep an eye on your analytics. If engagement drops when you post too often, scale back. If your audience responds well to a certain type of post, lean into those more.

Let’s Find Your Perfect Strategy

Every brand is different, and the right balance of frequency and consistency should be unique to you! Need help fine-tuning your social media strategy? Let’s chat! Book a consultation with us, and we’ll help you build a plan that keeps your audience engaged without burning you out.

How SEO and Content Work Together for Maximum Impact

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:00:21 GMT

The Impact of Combined SEO and Content Strategies

Many businesses struggle to achieve their desired online reach despite investing in both content creation and SEO. The missing link is often a lack of integration. Isolated efforts, while potentially effective in their own right, fail to capitalize on the exponential growth that arises from a unified approach. Today, we're gonna look at how you can unlock your business's full potential by strategically combining SEO and content to achieve sustainable online success.

SEO: The basics

SEO stands for search engine optimization. Think of SEO as a way to make your website more noticeable on the internet. When you search, results appear in a specific order, and SEO is what influences that order, helping your site rank higher. The better your SEO, the more likely it is that your site will get more attention.

The basics of content marketing

Rather than relying on overt product promotion, content marketing cultivates customer relationships by providing insightful and relevant resources that appeal to your customer's interests and address their needs. This approach provides value to your customers and builds trust and loyalty, ultimately driving conversions through sustained engagement.

SEO vs Content

SEO is about refining information and making relevant connections to enhance your online presence, ensuring that your content is easily discoverable and valuable to your customers. While SEO is not always a visual process, as much of the optimization happens behind the scenes, it plays a crucial role in increasing visibility and driving traffic. Content, on the other hand, is more visual and takes center stage—it's the media that audiences engage with, whether through watching videos, listening to podcasts, or interacting with written material.

How the two work together

Together, SEO and content work hand in hand: SEO ensures your content is found, while content keeps your audience engaged. When high-quality content meets well-managed SEO, the impact on your business is powerful, driving more traffic, increasing engagement, and boosting conversions.

Make a powerful impact on your business by combining your SEO and content strategies

Individually, both of these tools have the potential to help or hinder your business. If content is poorly executed or not posted consistently, it can give customers the false impression that your business is not the right choice for them. Similarly, if SEO is not optimized properly, it can hinder your business's growth—great content may not reach your target audience, limiting its impact. But when professional, well-informed content and SEO are merged, your business's growth potential is limitless. To unlock that potential, it's essential to invest in both a strong content strategy and effective SEO practices. By aligning these two elements, you'll ensure your content is not only found but also engages and converts your target audience. Start optimizing today and watch your business thrive.

Ready for your business to make an impact?

The Telltale Signs of Clickbait: How to Stay Safe Online

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 10:00:01 GMT

Click Smarter: Avoid the Bait, Stay Informed

We’ve all been there—you’re scrolling through your feed and a headline practically screams at you: “You’ll NEVER believe what happened to this!” or “This ONE trick will change your life forever!” It’s tempting to click, but more often than not, you’re met with misleading content, endless ads, or even worse, spam links!

Clickbait isn’t just annoying; it can also pose security risks and damage your online experience. Here’s how to spot—and avoid—clickbait before you fall into the trap.

1. Overly Sensational Titles

If a headline feels too dramatic, there’s a good chance it’s clickbait. These headlines are designed to spark curiosity or urgency, often using all caps, excessive punctuation, or vague wording.

Examples:

“Doctors HATE this one simple trick!”
“You won’t BELIEVE what we found…”
“Shocking! You’re using your phone WRONG!”

Instead of clicking blindly, take a moment to ask yourself: Does this sound exaggerated? If so, it’s probably not worth your time.

2. Lack of Authentic Sources

Reliable content includes credible sources, whether it’s from a known publication, a trustworthy expert, or verifiable data. Clickbait articles, on the other hand, tend to be vague, offering little to no evidence to support their claims.

Red flags to look for:

No author or publication details
Excessive use of “experts say” or “studies show” without actual references
Over-reliance on social media rumors instead of facts

Before you trust an article, do a quick background check. If the source is questionable or unknown, it’s best to move on.

3. Unusual URLs

Not all links are created equal. If a website’s URL looks strange or mimics a well-known domain with slight misspellings, proceed with caution. Clickbait sites often use these tricks to appear legitimate while leading users to spammy or even malicious content.

Signs of a suspicious URL:

Strange domain endings (e.g., *.xyz, .info)
Extra dashes or misspellings (e.g., faceboook.com instead of facebook.com )
Redirects that take you somewhere unexpected

If a link seems off, hover over it before clicking. If it doesn’t match what was promised in the headline, it’s best to steer clear.

Stay Smart, Stay Safe

Clickbait thrives on curiosity, but you don’t have to fall for it. By watching out for sensational titles, verifying sources, and double-checking URLs, you can protect yourself from misleading content and harmful security risks.

Looking to create engaging, click-worthy (but honest) content for your brand? We can help! Book a consultation with us, and let’s build a digital strategy together that attracts and earns clicks the right way!

The Power of Content Marketing: Why It’s Essential for Growth

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:00:18 GMT

Why Content Marketing Is A Must For Growing Your Business

The word "marketing" encompasses many aspects. Most of us are familiar with various marketing strategies, whether we run a business or not. We are surrounded by marketing daily and respond to it in certain ways, both consciously and subconsciously. Today, we're going to focus specifically on content marketing and how it can help your business grow.

What is content marketing?

Content marketing is an organic online strategy that aims to generate interest in your products and services by creating and sharing valuable content. Rather than directly promoting your brand, it focuses on subtly engaging your audience and building connections that naturally lead to your brand.

What are the different content marketing formats?

Content marketing comes in many different forms. The most common formats are videos, social media posts, blog posts, infographics, podcasts and email newsletters.

How is content marketing effective?

Marketing isn't just about buying and selling; it's also about research and exploration. For the buyer, there are multiple stages, which we refer to as 'the buyer's journey.' One key stop on this journey is researching areas of interest. When your business provides valuable information on these topics, you're offering value to your viewers, which in turn helps promote your brand!

Is my business leveraging content marketing effectively?

To see if your business is making the most of content marketing, check if you're hitting these key points:

Engaging Your Audience

Are you regularly connecting with your target audience through your content?

Clear Goals

Do you have specific content goals, like increasing blog traffic or boosting video views?

Offering Value

Is your content genuinely helping your audience by solving their problems or meeting their needs?

SEO Optimization

Are you using the right keywords and optimizing your content to be found easily online?

Consistency

Are you posting content consistently to keep your audience interested and engaged?

Tracking Results

Are you keeping an eye on your content’s performance and tweaking your strategy based on the results?

Building Relationships

Are you interacting with your audience by responding to comments and feedback?

Ensure your business grows with a strong content marketing strategy

Whether you’re just starting to explore content marketing or can confidently check off everything on our list, it's important to remember that content marketing is a long-term strategy that’s always evolving. To stay ahead, you need a solid plan in place. A well-crafted content marketing strategy can significantly increase your reach and conversions, boost networking opportunities, and enhance your business’s SEO and credibility. By consistently delivering valuable content, you not only engage your audience but also build trust, which is essential for sustained business growth. A strong strategy keeps your brand relevant, helps you adapt to changing trends, and ensures you're always meeting your audience’s needs.

Take a powerful step today toward your business's growth

How to Build Your Email List Without Annoying Your Customers

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:00:31 GMT

Email Marketing That Works:

How to Grow Your List Without Driving Customers Away

We’ve all been there—signing up for an email list only to be bombarded with daily messages we didn’t ask for. It’s frustrating, and it’s the quickest way to make people hit “unsubscribe.” If you’re a business owner, you don’t want to be that brand. What you might not know is that you can grow your email list in a way that feels natural and valuable to your customers—without annoying them.

Offer Real Value

People aren’t going to hand over their email just because you asked nicely. They need a reason. Offer something they actually want, like:

A discount or special offer – “Get 10% off your first order when you subscribe!”
Exclusive content – A free guide, eBook, checklist, or insights.
Early access or VIP perks – Sneak peeks at new products, sales, or behind-the-scenes content.
A free resource – Templates, webinars, or helpful tools related to your industry.

If your incentive aligns with what your audience values, they’ll be happy to sign up.

Make Signing Up Easy

Don’t make people jump through hoops. Your sign-up form should be simple, quick, and visible. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Keep it to just a name and email address (the fewer fields, the better!).
Use a pop-up —but make it polite. A well-timed pop-up (like when someone is about to leave) can work wonders.
Promote it on social media with a direct link.

Set Expectations Up Front

Nobody likes surprises when it comes to their inbox. Be clear about what subscribers will get and how often. For example:

“Sign up for our monthly newsletter with exclusive tips and deals.”
“Get a weekly email with our best content and latest updates.”

This way, people know exactly what they’re signing up for—and they’ll be less likely to unsubscribe later.

Don't Spam (Seriously!)

The quickest way to annoy your audience? Sending emails too often or making every email a sales pitch. Instead:

Stick to a consistent but reasonable schedule (like weekly or biweekly).
Mix in value-driven content ( tips, behind-the-scenes updates, customer stories) along with promotions.
Personalize when possible—using a subscriber’s name or tailoring content based on their interests can make emails feel more relevant.

Make it Easy to Unsubscribe (Yes, you read that right.)

This might sound counterintuitive, but making it easy to leave actually builds trust. No one wants to feel trapped on a list. If someone wants out, let them go gracefully with a clear, one-click unsubscribe button. There's nothing worse than trying to unsubscribe and being lead to 6 different pages to do so.

Engage With Your List

Email shouldn’t be a one-way conversation. Encourage replies, ask for feedback, and make your emails feel personal. When subscribers feel like they’re part of something, they’ll stick around.

Building an email list doesn’t have to mean bugging your customers. Focus on providing value, keeping things simple, and respecting their inbox, and you’ll build a loyal, engaged audience—without the annoyance factor.

Does my business REALLY need a website?

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 20:15:00 GMT

Is a Website Really Necessary For My Business?

Why Having a Website is Important for your Business

In a time when most information is accessed online, users have many options for finding what they need. You might be wondering if having a website for your business is really necessary, especially when there are other ways to connect with your customers. In this blog, we’ll explore why having a website is important for your business and how it can give you a competitive edge. We’ll also examine other methods of customer engagement and whether they can truly replace the need for a website.

I Have a Social Media Page. Why Would I Need a Website Too?

This is a common question we hear when businesses are building an online presence. It's a good question because there are so many benefits to having a strong social media presence online, but for maximum success, it's important to understand that the two are not mutually exclusive - both are important for the growth of your business.

How Will a Website Grow My Business?

A website is the online equivalent of your business's storefront or office. It's where you present your products, services, and value to customers. It’s a space where you can control how your business is showcased, and more importantly, it’s where your audience will get the most detailed and accurate impression of your business and what it stands for.

Can Other Platforms Restrict My Online Growth?

There are many great platforms that can help your business grow. As mentioned, social media is a valuable tool for growth. However, these platforms also host thousands of other businesses in one space. Your website, on the other hand, is exclusively dedicated to your business, allowing your customers to focus their attention entirely on you.

Biggest Benefits of Having a Website

So, we've explored a few reasons why having a website is important for establishing your business's identity. Now, let's take a look at some of the biggest benefits of customer engagement:

Boosting Your SEO Performance: The more places your business appears, the better your chances of improving your ranking on search engines like Google.
Simplification: Having your own website brings new customers directly to you, increasing your chances of conversions. The more steps a customer has to take to find you, the higher the risk that they’ll look elsewhere if the process becomes too complicated or time-consuming.
Building Brand Recognition: Like some of the most successful businesses, brand recognition is crucial for success. Exposure is key when it comes to sales—the more visible and credible you are, the more likely customers are to do business with you.

What Having a Website Says to Your Customers

For potential customers considering doing business with you, your website is likely the first place they will visit to determine if you're a good choice. In a recent study, 84% of users said they trusted businesses that have their own websites, while only 20% trusted businesses that did not have one.

Why Your Business Needs a Website

A website is a crucial component of your business, serving as its online face and allowing you to control how your brand is presented. It’s more than just a digital presence; it’s a platform that lets you engage with customers, highlight your services or products, and showcase the professionalism and dedication behind your brand. When potential customers see you have a website, it sends a clear message that you take your business seriously, which encourages them to do the same. Beyond customer perception, a well-designed website also strengthens your business’s credibility in the eyes of search engines like Google. A strong online presence boosts your search engine ranking, making it easier for potential customers to find you. A user-friendly, well-maintained website with quality, relevant content builds trust, establishes your reputation, and fosters meaningful engagement with your audience. By consistently updating your site and optimizing it for search engines, you can increase your visibility, attract more potential customers, and stand out from competitors in your industry. Ultimately, a professional website isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s an essential part of growing and scaling your business in today’s digital world.

Are you ready to elevate your business?

Top 5 Web Design Mistakes That Could Be Hurting Your Business

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:15:00 GMT

These Web Design Mistakes Could Be Hurting Your Business

Unclear navigation will quickly deter site visitors from continuing to browse your website. During their visit, a potential customer may still be in the process of researching their options. If your website makes it difficult for them to find valuable or easily accessible information, they are likely to click away and search elsewhere.

5 Web Design Mistakes to Avoid

1. Having unclear navigation

2. Non-responsive design

Non-responsive design refers to a website that isn't properly optimized for all devices. This is a common mistake, as we often focus on the desktop version of a site and forget that mobile and tablet versions must be just as responsive and easy to navigate. Since over half of all users access websites through mobile devices, optimizing for mobile is essential!

3. Having a lack of hierarchy

A lack of hierarchy on a website can leave visitors unsure where to focus their attention. Just as this article uses headlines and subheads to signal importance, your website’s typography should do the same. Effective organization both enhances aesthetics and helps guide users toward completing clear actions, achieving goals, and creating a seamless experience. Without proper hierarchy, users may struggle to navigate your site and fail to reach their intended goals.

4. Not prioritizing accessibility

Treating accessibility as an afterthought is a major website design mistake that can be time-consuming to fix. Common accessibility errors include insufficient color contrast, missing or inadequate alt text, poor visual focus indicators, and overlooked accessible labels. For example, buttons like "Read More" should have clear labels for screen readers, and images should include descriptive alt text. Low color contrast can make text hard to read for users with visual impairments, while visual focus indicators, such as outlines around buttons, are essential for keyboard navigation. Addressing these issues improves both accessibility and the overall user experience.

5. Poorly integrated text

The text on your website can hurt the user experience in two main ways: using hard-to-read fonts and presenting large blocks of text without proper formatting. Difficult fonts—whether due to size, style, or poor contrast—can make reading frustrating, causing visitors to leave. Large chunks of text without breaks can overwhelm users, leading them to skip important information. To improve readability, use clean, readable fonts and break up text with short paragraphs, subheadings, images, and bullet points to guide readers and keep them engaged.

Make sure your website is aiding your business

Your website should be an asset to your business. If you’ve read the design mistakes above and recognize any of them on your website, it’s time to make corrections! Your website is a vital tool for helping customers connect with your business, understand your offerings, and easily access your products and services. If visitors struggle to navigate these key elements due to poor design choices, your website could be doing more harm than good, damaging the perception customers have of your business. By improving your design, you enhance the user experience, build trust and credibility, and ultimately drive more conversions and business growth.

Improve your website today and see the results!

How to Get Found Online Without Paying for Ads

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:00:07 GMT

Improve Your Online Presence Long Term

How to Get Found Without Paying for Ads

Let’s be honest—online ads can be expensive. Though they are an AMAZING way to market your business, not everyone has the budget available for paid advertising. With the right strategy, you can increase your visibility organically and bring in more visitors without shelling out for paid ads. Here’s are a few ways to make it happen:

Optimize Your SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is your best friend when it comes to getting found online. Start by making sure your website is fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate. Then, focus on keywords—what are your potential customers searching for? Use those words naturally in your website’s content, page titles, and meta descriptions. Also, don’t forget about internal linking! Link to other relevant pages on your site to help both visitors and search engines navigate your content more effectively.

Create High-Quality, Valuable Content

Content marketing is one of the most effective ways to drive organic traffic. Blog posts (like this one!), guides, FAQs, and even case studies help establish your expertise and keep your website fresh. Google loves fresh content, and so do your visitors! Aim to answer common questions your audience has, and make your content shareable by adding value—think tips, how-tos, or industry insights.

Be Consistent on Social Media

Social media platforms are free (unless you choose to run ads), and they’re powerful for building brand awareness. Post consistently, engage with your followers, and share content that provides value. While it’s tempting to focus on self-promotion, a good mix of informative, entertaining, and engaging posts will help you grow a loyal audience. Replying to a comment can often go a lot further than you might think! Bonus tip: Use relevant hashtags to increase your reach and interact with other accounts in your industry!

Claim and Optimize Your GMB Profile

If you run a local business, your Google My Business Profile is a must-have. It helps your business show up in local search results and Google Maps. Fill out all the necessary information—business hours, address, website link, and photos. Keep your opening hours up-to-date to help build business reliability. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews, and respond to them (both good and bad). This can significantly boost your local search rankings.

Backlinks!

Backlinks—when other websites link to yours—are basically like votes of confidence for search engines. The more high-quality sites that link to you, the more credible your website appears. Reach out to industry blogs, collaborate with others in your circle, or get featured in online publications. The more you're featured outside of your own site, the more findable your business will be!

Email Marketing

If you have an email list (or are building one), use it! Sending valuable newsletters, updates, and offers keeps your audience engaged and reminds them about your business. It’s a direct line to your potential customers—without worrying about ever-changing social media algorithms.

Getting found online without paying for ads takes time, but it is doable with the right approach. Focus on SEO, content, social media, and community engagement, and you’ll start seeing organic long term growth. The best part? It might take a little more time, but once you build momentum, the traffic will likely keep coming!

Social Media Strategy for Small Businesses: Where to Start in 2025

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:00:06 GMT

Social Media Strategy for Small Businesses:

Steps to Grow in 2025

Social media can feel overwhelming, especially when trends change every five minutes (or at least it seems like it). But if you’re a small business owner, having a solid social media strategy isn’t optional—it’s essential. It shouldn't be a daunting task though! You don’t need to be on every platform or post every day to make an impact. In 2025, success is all about strategy over hustle . Here’s a good place to start:

Define Your Goals

Before you even think about posting, ask yourself:

What do I want to achieve with social media?

Do you want to drive traffic to your website, build brand awareness, generate leads, or grow a community? Defining your goals helps you focus on the right platforms and content rather than wasting time on what doesn’t move the needle.

Choose the Right Platforms

Gone are the days when businesses needed to be everywhere. Unless you have a large audience on every platform, there's really no need to stress over having an account for everything. Instead, pick two or three platforms where your audience is most active. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Instagram & TikTok – Great for visual brands, e-commerce, and businesses targeting younger audiences.
Facebook – Ideal for community engagement and local businesses.
LinkedIn – A must for B2B businesses and professional services.
Pinterest – Perfect for businesses in home decor, fashion, and lifestyle.
YouTube – If video content is your strength, this is the place to be. Focus your energy where it counts!

Now, one thing to note is that though you may not need to be on every platform, there are social media tools that make it easy to post to all of your accounts at once! You may need to do some adjusting to your media based on the formatting of the platform, but it can be as simple as clicking a button to get your message out on all of your accounts. Just ask us; it's what we do!

Create a Content Plan

Consistency is key, but that doesn’t mean you have to post daily. A realistic content plan will keep you from burning out. Try weaving in some of these content frameworks to your weekly posting:

Educational Content – Share tips, how-tos, and industry insights.
Engaging Content – Ask questions, run polls, or post behind-the-scenes content. People want to engage to build a personal connection to your brand!
Promotional Content – Showcase your products/services without being too sales-y.
User-Generated Content – Repost customer reviews and testimonials. Mix these up throughout the week and batch-create content when possible to stay ahead. Batching is also a great general tip if you know you'll be too busy to create content!

Talk to Your Audience

Social media isn’t a one-way street. Respond to comments, interact with followers, and engage with other accounts in your industry. Algorithms reward interaction, so the more conversations you spark, the more visibility your content gets.

Leverage Video Content

Short-form video is still king in 2025. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are powerful tools for reaching new audiences. You don’t need fancy equipment—just a smartphone, decent lighting, and a clear message. Keep videos short, engaging, and authentic . Most people don't watch videos like they used to, so short-form is key here.

Track What's Working

You don’t need to be a data expert, but checking your insights can help you refine your strategy. Look at engagement rates, website clicks, and follower growth to see what content resonates. Then, do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.

A successful social media strategy in 2025 isn’t about doing the most—it’s about doing what works. Define your goals, focus on the right platforms, create engaging content, and interact with your audience. Stay consistent, and you’ll see results without feeling overwhelmed! And remember, if maintaining your social media presence on your own feels like too much work, that's what we're here for!

How to Use Social Media to Promote Local Events (Without Feeling Spammy)

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 20:16:02 GMT

Here’s some ways you can h elp promote your event on social media.

Promoting a local event on social media can be tricky. You want to get the word out, but you don’t want to overwhelm your audience with constant reminders. The key is to strike a balance between promotion and engagement.

Create a Content Plan

Instead of posting the same event details over and over, mix up your content. Share behind-the-scenes prep, highlight vendors or sponsors, post countdown reminders, and create engaging polls or questions related to the event.

Use a Variety of Formats

Different people engage with different types of content. Mix up your posts with images, videos, event graphics, and even live streams. Short-form videos on platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok can grab attention, while Facebook events help keep attendees updated.

Engage With Your Audience

Don’t just post—interact! Respond to comments, answer questions, and encourage user-generated content. Ask your followers to share why they’re excited about the event or to tag friends who might be interested.

Leverage Local Groups and/or Influencers

Post in community Facebook groups, collaborate with local influencers, and ask businesses to share your event. This expands your reach beyond your own followers.

Use Hashtags and Location Tags

Relevant hashtags and location tags make your posts discoverable. Use a mix of popular local hashtags and event-specific ones to increase visibility.

Don’t Overdo It

Avoid bombarding your audience with too many posts. A well-spaced schedule—such as a post every few days leading up to the event—keeps interest high without feeling spammy.

By diversifying your content, engaging authentically, and leveraging local connections, you can promote your event effectively without overwhelming your audience. Happy posting!

Is Your Website Accessible? 3 Tips to Improve Accessibility and SEO Ranking

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

3 Tips to Improve Accessibility and SEO Ranking

One of the most overlooked yet crucial aspects of building a website is accessibility. While we often focus on accessibility in physical spaces, the digital space still has a long way to go. In this blog, we’ll explore three key steps you can take to improve your website’s accessibility for users with different needs and the impact this can have on your SEO ranking.

Why it’s important that your business adds accessibility features

Making your website as accessible as possible for your customers is not only an important step in providing good customer service and expanding your audience, but it is also required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Examples of accessibility barriers

Here are some examples of ways that your website may be creating accessibility barriers:

No captions on videos : People with hearing disabilities may struggle to understand the information presented in a video if captions are not provided.
Lack of text alternatives (alt text) for images : Individuals who are blind or visually impaired won't be able to comprehend the content or purpose of images—such as photos, illustrations, and charts—if no descriptive text alternative is available.
Inaccessible online forms : People with disabilities may face difficulty completing, understanding, and submitting forms without key features like:
Labels that can be read by screen readers (e.g., “Credit card number” to indicate where the information should be entered).
Clear, concise instructions.
Error notifications (e.g., alerts highlighting missing or incorrect form fields).

How does this affect my SEO Ranking?

Google has indicated that accessibility is a factor in its ranking algorithm, though it's not the main focus. Ensuring your site complies with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) can help you avoid legal penalties and potential search engine penalties, which could negatively affect your SEO.

How do I improve my website’s accessibility?

If your website does not have any accessibility features or lacks certain ones, you can start by implementing key features. Make sure all imagery has alt text, all videos have captions, and your contact methods are accessibility-friendly. This ensures that people with disabilities can access your content. Screen readers and other accessibility programs are helpful in bridging the gap for individuals who use them, but these programs can only reach their full potential when websites properly optimize their content.

Let us help you make your website more accessible

Why Website Security Should Be Your 2025 Priority

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:00:04 GMT

How to make your website secure

Security breaches and leaked information have become common occurrences in the digital age. With so much of our information linked or used across multiple platforms, it's more important than ever to have a strong security system in place. Protecting users' information is not only vital for their security, but it also reflects on your company and can build or destroy trust between you and your users. In this article, we’ll explore different types of website security threats and how you can secure your website against them.

Common website security threats:

Data breach: A data breach happens when sensitive info gets exposed, either accidentally or through cybercriminals targeting websites to steal data for profit or further attacks.

Denial of service (DOS) : A Denial of Service (DoS) attack tries to crash a website by overloading its servers, while a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack spreads the traffic across multiple sources, making it harder to stop. Blocking one source is easy, but hundreds of constantly changing ones is much trickier.

Ransomeware : Ransomware is malicious software that locks your website or files until you pay a ransom. It's growing more common for small businesses and governments, with criminals encrypting data and offering a decryption key in exchange for payment. It's a profitable crime because paying the ransom is often cheaper than recovering files another way.

Stolen passwords : Most websites are protected by passwords, but these can be cracked by software that tests different combinations or by using default admin passwords. If a hacker gains access to a website’s username and password, they can cause serious damage.

How can I secure my website?

Keep software and security patches up-to-date

Regularly update all of your software, especially if you use Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, and Magento.
Turn on alerts for updates from Microsoft, WordPress, or other vendors to stay on top of new patches and security fixes.

Add SSL and HTTPS encryption

Use SSL certificates to secure monetary transactions.
Enable HTTPS to protect sensitive data, like financial or medical records.

Require complex passwords and frequent changes

Use strong, complex passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and never use personal info when creating passwords.
Change passwords regularly and enable multi-factor authentication for extra protection.

Restrict administrative privileges

Limit admin access to those who need it and monitor permissions closely.
Immediately revoke admin access when an employee leaves, especially if terminated.
Grant temporary admin privileges for special projects, then remove them when no longer needed.

Why Prioritizing Website Security is a Must

An unsecured website exposes not only you and your business to risk but also your visitors. When users visit your site or interact with your online services, they are entrusting you with their personal information. Providing a seamless, positive customer experience means prioritizing their security and safeguarding their data at all times. At the end of the day, staying on top of security isn’t just about keeping things safe, it’s about building trust and making sure your customers feel confident every time they visit your site.

Need assistance securing your website?

Redesigning for Success: What Your Website Needs to Attract New Customers

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:00:03 GMT

How the design of your website can attract new customers

Designing a website is more than just putting information on it. We all notice the difference between a well-designed website and a poorly designed one. Even if we can't quite put our finger on why, we can tell when we prefer one website design over another, and so can your visitors. This isn't just about personal preference; there are key factors that influence these feelings in viewers. Let's break down what makes a website design effective and what leaves it lacking.

What is a website redesign?

A website redesign is essentially when you maintain the core of your website, such as its name, purpose, and content, but you make significant changes when it comes to your website's structure, design, user experience, and other key components.

What are the reasons to redesign your website?

There are several reasons you might consider redesigning your website, with the most common being an outdated appearance or functionality issues stemming from the design.

Signs your website needs a redesign

Some clear signs that your website may need a redesign lie in how viewers engage with your site and changes in your business goals. These can be reflected in your engagement statistics, unmet goals, impending changes, and the visual appearance of your site. Below are some examples of signs that your website is outdated:

Your site looks outdated
First impressions matter! If your site feels old or stale, it could turn potential customers away. Use a redesign to refresh your look and stay relevant.

High bounce rate
If visitors land on your site and leave quickly, it could be due to slow speeds, poor design, or irrelevant content. Aim for a bounce rate under 40%.

Your customers are complaining
If users are frustrated with your site’s design or functionality, it’s time to listen and make improvements.

Your site looks sloppy on mobile
With over half of web traffic coming from mobile, it's important to make sure your site looks great and works well on all devices.

Your site loads slowly
Slow load times can drive visitors away and hurt your SEO.

You're not meeting your KPIs
If your site isn't helping you reach your goals whether it's sales, customer acquisition, or engagement it might need a refresh to better align with your business needs.

You're going through a rebrand
A redesign pairs perfectly with a rebrand. It ensures your site reflects your refreshed brand identity and keeps things consistent.

Does your website need redesigning?

If your website has any of the issues, or your business is growing in a new direction that your website does not currently reflect, redesigning your website may be for you. Websites are often the first impression that customers get of your business. Prioritizing efficiency and creating great first impressions for your viewers is extremely important for maintaining customers and gaining new ones.

Need to redesign your website?

Which Social Media Platforms Are Right for Your Business?

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:00:04 GMT

How to choose the right social media platforms for your business

Having a social media presence is important for your business, but how do you determine which platforms to focus on? There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. While it's true that social media can benefit most businesses, each platform has unique attributes that may align better with certain business types.

The biggest social media platforms and how they can grow your business

To understand which social media platform may be best for you, let’s look at what some of the top platforms offer and where they specialize.

Facebook

Facebook offers businesses a powerful platform with a large, diverse user base, allowing companies to reach a broad spectrum of potential customers. Its advanced ad targeting options let marketers pinpoint audiences based on demographics, interests, and behavior, eliminating much of the guesswork.

Instagram

Instagram can help businesses build their brand identity through visual storytelling, utilizing images, videos, and stories to engage with their audience. With features like Instagram Shopping and product tagging, e-commerce businesses can turn the platform into a digital storefront. Instagram's influencer culture also provides unique marketing opportunities, allowing businesses to boost visibility and credibility by partnering with influencers who resonate with their target audience.

LinkedIn allows your business to make professional connections, showcase industry expertise, and foster collaborations. By sharing insightful content, companies can establish themselves as thought leaders and gain credibility. It's targeted advertising options are particularly valuable for B2B businesses, enabling them to reach decision-makers directly.

TikTok

TikTok is an ideal platform for businesses looking to reach younger audiences, especially Gen Z, with its rapid content discovery and viral potential. The platform's unique algorithm allows content to gain widespread visibility quickly, while influencer marketing and brand collaborations can significantly boost reach. TikTok’s short-form video format and creative tools offer businesses innovative ways to showcase products and services.

YouTube

YouTube offers businesses immense engagement and reach through video content, making it a powerful platform for brand visibility. The YouTube Partner Program provides monetization opportunities, allowing businesses to earn revenue directly. Establish brand authority through tutorials, demos, and vlogs. Its robust SEO capabilities can enhance discoverability, given that YouTube is the second-largest search engine.

Which social media platforms should you use for your business?

Choosing the right social media platform for your business is all about aligning with the platforms that best match your goals, brand personality, and target audience. While large platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube offer wide reach and powerful tools, niche platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok provide more tailored engagement opportunities. Success comes down to understanding each platform’s strengths and using them to connect with your audience. By choosing where to focus your time and resources, you can boost your business’s online presence and growth.

We can help you grow your social media presence

What Is SEO And How Does It Benefit My Business?

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:00:04 GMT

How SEO Benefits Your Business

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is, what is SEO? SEO stands for search engine optimization. You may already know what this is and may be wanting to expand your knowledge, or you may just have started looking into it. We're going to look at what SEO is and more importantly, how it benefits your business.

The basics of SEO

SEO is essentially a way to improve your website’s visibility online. When you search for something, the results are listed in a specific order, and this order is not random. Search engines like Google rank certain websites higher in the search results than others, primarily due to SEO.

How does SEO affect search results?

The order of internet search results depends on several factors and how well these factors are optimized can directly affect your ranking. The better optimized your site is, the higher it will appear in search results.

What factors are considered in SEO?

There are quite a few factors that search engines use when ranking results, some examples are the quality of content on your website like the use of high-resolution images and engaging content, your use of relevant keywords, and your credibility.

Does SEO require paid advertisement?

Although it is not uncommon for businesses to use paid advertisement to rank higher on search engines, it is not a requirement. Effective SEO will organically generate higher rankings and more exposure without the high costs of sponsored campaigns.

How to get started with SEO?

The best way to get started with SEO is to consult with an SEO and digital marketing professional. As there are various factors involved behind the scenes and in the foreground, a professional will be able to meet you where you are and build from there.

Why your business needs SEO

We believe that success lies in ensuring all key areas of your business are covered. If your business doesn’t have SEO or if your SEO is not being maintained and updated regularly, the next important step is to get started. SEO is crucial as it determines how your business is seen and discovered by customers. Even if you’re doing everything else right, you could still miss out on growth and new customers if your SEO is lacking.

Ready to unlock your business's full potential?

To Blog or Not to Blog, What is the Advantage?

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:00:01 GMT

How Blogging Helps Your Business

The advantages of blogging

In a time where approximately 402.74 million terabytes of data is created each day, (yes you read that correctly) you may be wondering how to best utilize your time and to make sure that you’re creating content that appeals to your audience and won’t get lost in a sea of data. Here we’re going to explore the advantages of blogging amidst an ever-growing digital landscape.

Is blogging still useful?

A nice and easy answer here - YES. Blogging is still useful. 77% of internet users read blogs! Blogs are a widely used source of information when a buyer is doing research before a purchase.

How blogging grows your business

Blogging has multiple advantages for your business. It is not only a way to build popularity and credibility for your business but it also helps you connect with interested consumers and helps you directly engage with your intended audience.

How blogging helps with networking

We mentioned that blogging is a way to build popularity and credibility, this can also lead to great networking opportunities. Your blogs may be found and referenced by people within your field, and this can lead to mutually beneficial relationships.

How blogging grows your audience

One of the best things about blogging is its broad appeal. Blogs both interest the audience you have and people searching for information, products, and services that you are trying to reach.

Is starting a blog for your business a good idea?

If you've been unsure about starting a blog for your business, wonder no more. Blogging is a great way to network, increase popularity, and grow your audience, which ultimately grows your business. A good blog will cover topics and provide information in a way that sustains current interest and gains new interest at the same time, making it a valuable resource for your business and a low risk addition to your marketing strategy.

How a Website Redesign Can Grow Your Business in the New Year

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:41:00 GMT

The New Year is a time for fresh starts, bold goals, and renewed focus.

For businesses, it's an opportunity to revisit your digital presence and ensure it aligns with your growth objectives. Northeast Kingdom Online can help you achieve these goals with professional website redesign services that strengthen your brand and deliver meaningful results. An updated, modern website isn’t just a visual upgrade—it’s a strategic tool to drive growth, improve user experience, and keep you competitive in today’s digital-first world. Let us help you refresh your online presence and position your business for success in the New Year.

How a website redesign with Northeast Kingdom Online (NEKO) can transform your business.

Enhanced User Experience (UX)

A website is often the first interaction a potential customer has with your brand. A well-designed website ensures that this interaction is positive and memorable.

Updating your site with a focus on user experience can :

Improve Navigation: Streamline menus and site architecture so visitors can find what they need quickly and easily.
Boost Mobile Responsiveness: With mobile devices accounting for over half of global web traffic, ensuring your site performs seamlessly on all screen sizes is essential.
Speed Up Load Times: Slow-loading pages frustrate users and increase bounce rates. A redesign can optimize load times, keeping visitors engaged.

Strengthened Brand Identity

Your website should reflect your brand's personality, values, and vision. A redesign allows you to refresh your visual identity with updated logos, color schemes, and imagery that resonates with your target audience. This consistency builds trust and recognition, helping you stand out!

Improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

A redesign is a perfect time to implement or refine SEO strategies, making it easier for potential customers to find you online. Key SEO improvements might include:

Optimized Content: Updating keywords and creating high-quality, relevant content.
Technical SEO Enhancements: Fixing broken links, improving site speed, and ensuring proper indexing by search engines.
Local SEO Strategies: Targeting local search terms to attract nearby customers.

Increased Conversion Rates

Your website should be more than just attractive—it should be a powerful tool for converting visitors into customers. A redesign can focus on:

Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs): Strategically placed CTAs guide users to take specific actions, like signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase.
Simplified Checkout Processes: For e-commerce sites, reducing friction in the purchasing process can significantly boost sales.
Engaging Visuals and Content: Eye-catching designs and valuable content can persuade users to stick around and explore.

Keeping Up with Competitors

In today’s fast-paced digital world, trends and technologies evolve quickly. If your website looks outdated compared to competitors, you risk losing customers before they even give you a chance. A redesign helps you:

Adopt the Latest Trends: Integrate features like chatbots, video content, or interactive elements to enhance engagement.
Showcase Innovation: Demonstrate that your business is forward-thinking and adaptable.

Better Analytics and Insights

A redesign often involves integrating advanced analytics tools, allowing you to track user behavior, measure performance, and identify areas for improvement. These insights can guide future marketing strategies and operational decisions.

Scalability for Growth

As your business grows, your website needs to scale with it. A redesign can ensure your site is flexible and robust enough to handle increased traffic, new services, or expanded e-commerce capabilities.

A website redesign is more than a cosmetic update—it’s an investment in your business’s future.

By enhancing user experience, strengthening your brand identity, improving SEO, and increasing conversion rates, a redesigned website can set the stage for significant growth in the New Year. Don’t let an outdated website hold you back. Take the first step towards a brighter digital presence and position your business for success in the year ahead.

Why a Well-Branded Website Matters

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:49:39 GMT

Having a well-branded website is a powerful tool that helps your business connect with your audience, communicate your values, and stand out in a crowded digital landscape. A strong website brand encompasses the visual elements, voice, and unique qualities that make your business memorable and trustworthy.

Let’s explore why having a well-branded website is essential, the key components to consider, and how to create one that resonates with your audience.

Schedule a consultation with NEKO to talk about ways to improve your website and brand today!

How Your Website Saves Your Business Time and Money

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:01:00 GMT

From Automation to Insights:

Ways Your Website Cuts Costs and Boosts Efficiency

Ever wonder how that website of yours is more than just an online presence? Believe it or not, your website is a powerful tool that can save you both time and money. Let’s get into how your website can be your best business ally without you even realizing it.

Automated Customer Service

Think about how often you get the same questions from customers. “What are your hours?” “Do you offer delivery?” Instead of answering these repeatedly, you can use your website to provide this information upfront. An FAQ section or a chatbot can handle these queries 24/7, freeing up your time to focus on more critical tasks. Not only does this streamline customer service, but it also ensures your customers get the answers they need promptly, enhancing their experience.

Streamlined Operations

A well-designed website can automate many aspects of your business. For instance, online booking systems can handle appointments without you needing to pick up the phone. E-commerce sites can process orders, manage inventory, and handle payments automatically. This reduces the need for manual intervention, cutting down on administrative work and reducing the risk of errors.

Cost-Effective Marketing

Digital marketing is often more budget-friendly compared to traditional advertising methods. With your website, you can run email marketing campaigns, social media ads, and search engine optimization (SEO) strategies that reach a broad audience without breaking the bank. Investing in good SEO practices ensures that your site ranks higher in search results, driving more organic traffic and reducing the need for costly ad campaigns.

Centralized Traffic

Your website acts as a central hub for all your business information. From contact details to product descriptions, having everything in one place saves time and avoids confusion. Instead of having to update multiple platforms or answer individual inquiries, you can direct people to your site for the latest information, making it easier to manage and maintain consistency across your business.

Enhanced Efficiency

Running a business involves juggling many tasks, and your website can help with that. For example, if you have a blog or content hub, you can share valuable insights and updates that keep your audience engaged without needing to spend time on one-on-one interactions. Plus, integrating tools like CRM systems into your website can help manage customer relationships and track interactions, streamlining your sales processes.

Improved Customer Insights

Your website can provide valuable data about your customers’ behavior. Analytics tools can show you which pages are most visited, where your traffic is coming from, and what interests your audience. This information helps you make informed decisions about your business strategy, targeting your efforts more effectively and avoiding unnecessary spending on less successful initiatives.

24/7 Availability

One of the biggest advantages of a website is that it’s always open. Unlike physical stores or offices with limited hours, your website operates around the clock. This means potential customers can learn about your business, make purchases, or contact you at any time. This constant availability can lead to more sales and fewer missed opportunities.

Your website isn’t just a digital brochure—it’s a powerful tool that can save your business time and money. By automating tasks, centralizing information, and providing valuable insights, it helps you streamline operations and improve efficiency. So, if you’re not fully leveraging your website’s potential, it might be time to rethink your strategy and make it work harder for you.

Ready to make the most of your website?

How Important is a Mobile Website for Your Business?

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:00:03 GMT

Maximizing Business Success with Mobile Optimization

Why a Mobile-First Website is Essential for Growth

Are you overlooking the importance of a mobile website design? In a day and age where we have transformed into a mobile-first society, learn how prioritizing a well-functioning mobile site design can help to improve overall business performance.

Increased Visibility

One of Google’s main ranking factors is mobile-first website design and user experience. When elements on your website don’t adjust to mobile, this creates a difficult experience for users. Google can recognize this and won’t keep your website at the top of a search engine results page, limiting potential customers from finding you.

Customer Trust

Customers quickly lose trust in businesses when they don’t provide a seamless experience, both online and in person. When someone lands on your site the first time and has a bad experience, they may not be coming back. Creating a great first impression for your customers should be a top priority in all aspects of your business, including your website.

Increased Conversions

A well-designed mobile website can lead directly to higher conversion rates. For eCommerce businesses, this is especially important. When customers can easily navigate your site, view products, and complete transactions on their mobile devices, they’re much more likely to follow through with a purchase. A smooth, user-friendly experience can significantly reduce abandoned carts, leading to increased sales and revenue for your business.

Enhanced User Experience (UX)

The importance of mobile-friendly design extends beyond just looking good on a small screen. It’s about creating an intuitive, seamless experience for users that encourages them to engage with your content. From fast loading times to easily clickable buttons, a mobile-first design ensures that visitors can access the information they need without fumbling, improving overall customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Increased Customer Engagement

A responsive mobile website keeps users on your site longer, encouraging deeper engagement with your content. Whether you’re showcasing products, services, or valuable information, a mobile-optimized site makes it easier for users to explore and interact. This leads to higher engagement rates, more repeat visitors, and ultimately, better customer retention.

Better SEO Ranking

Google’s mobile-first indexing means that websites optimized for mobile have a better chance of ranking higher in search engine results. With about 60% of traffic coming from mobile devices*, Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites. If your site isn’t mobile-responsive, it could hurt your rankings, making it harder for potential customers to find you.

Increased Accessibility

A mobile-friendly website ensures that your business is accessible to everyone, regardless of the device they’re using. In a mobile-first world, many users exclusively browse and shop on their phones. By optimizing your website for mobile, you make it easier for all customers to access your business, widening your reach and ensuring you don’t miss out on valuable traffic.

Having a responsive, mobile-optimized website is essential. From improving your search engine rankings to boosting customer engagement and conversions, a mobile-friendly site can directly impact your business's success. Prioritize mobile design, and you’ll see the results in increased visibility, trust, and revenue.

*https://explodingtopics.com/blog/mobile-internet-traffic

Is Your Website an Expense or a Profit Center?

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 13:00:21 GMT

Outdated Website Holding You Back?

Unlock Profit Potential with Expert Web Design

Your website is one of your most powerful business tools, but are you treating it as an asset or just another expense? Many business owners find themselves stuck in a cycle of constantly fixing broken plugins, struggling with outdated designs, or spending hours trying to tweak their website without the expertise to do so efficiently. While it might seem cost-effective to manage your website on your own, the reality is that these efforts can quickly become time-consuming and expensive, pulling your focus away from growing your business.

The Time Drain of DIY Website Management

When you spend too much time troubleshooting technical issues or redesigning pages that never seem to look right, you lose valuable time that could be spent on core business activities. Constantly fixing issues is not only frustrating, but it can also cost you potential revenue if your website doesn’t function properly or provide a seamless experience for users. Every broken link, slow-loading page, or poor user experience can turn away potential customers and reduce conversions.

Hiring a Professional Is An Investment

That’s why hiring a professional website designer is not just an expense—it’s an investment in turning your website into a profit center. Website designers are trained to develop effective website layouts, user experiences (UX), and backend functionality that work in harmony to support your business goals. With years of experience, they can complete web design tasks efficiently and effectively, ensuring your website operates smoothly and drives conversions, rather than draining resources.

How a Professionally Designed Website Boosts Your Business

A professionally designed website can increase your business’s visibility, improve user engagement, and generate more leads. The right designer knows how to create a website that not only looks great but also performs optimally across all devices. They also stay on top of the latest trends, ensuring your website stays competitive and relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Let The Experts Handle It

We believe that when it comes to your business website, it’s best to leave it to the experts. By investing in professional web design, you can shift your website from being a financial drain to a valuable asset that supports your business growth. Don’t let your website be an ongoing expense—make it a profit center by trusting the professionals to do what they do best.

Facebook Page Likes v.s. Facebook Follows: Know the Difference and How it Affects How Your Content is Seen

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 13:20:49 GMT

Know How Your Content is Being Seen

Comparing Facebook Page Likes and Follows

Have you ever noticed that your Facebook business page has both likes and follows? While the difference may seem subtle, it can impact how your content is seen across Facebook.

Facebook Likes

When you come across a Facebook page, you can like it. This action automatically triggers both a page like and a page follow. For personal Facebook pages, “liking” a page shows it to their friends and can sometimes be displayed in their profile information that they like a certain page.

Liking a page is intended to show others what you’re interested in and inform Facebook of relevant ad content to display to you.

Facebook Follows

Opposed to how you simultaneously like and follow a Facebook page when you follow it, it does not automatically like it. By following a page, you will be shown content posted to that page on your Facebook feed.

How Content is Displayed to Users

As long as a user both likes and follows your Facebook page, they will see your content. However, if they unfollow the page and just continue to like it, they will not be shown page posts in their feed. Rather, their page like will only be represented to their friends on their profile and on the business page.

A great example to understand the two is you could choose to like your favorite restaurant on Facebook to show your friends how much you enjoy it but you don’t wish to see content from them popping up on your feed. Or, you could follow a favorite clothing brand so you never miss news about an upcoming sale or new items that are being added.

Follows are the most indicative of the number of people who want to see content from your Facebook page, while likes simply serve as a “thumbs up” of approval to a page.

Ready to build a strong social media presence?

Why NOT to Use WordPress in 2024

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:27:35 GMT

Beyond Wordpress:

Why You Should Explore Other Website Platforms in 2024

WordPress has long been a go-to platform for many users due to its ease of use and extensive plugin ecosystem. However, there are several reasons why WordPress might not be the best choice for your website needs.

Security Concerns

WordPress’s popularity makes it a prime target for hackers. With thousands of plugins and themes available, security vulnerabilities are common, and not all developers prioritize security. While WordPress regularly updates its core software, third-party plugins and themes can introduce risks if not maintained properly. In 2024, when cybersecurity threats are increasingly sophisticated, relying on WordPress may expose your site to significant risks.

Performance Issues

Despite improvements over the years, WordPress sites can still suffer from performance issues. The platform’s reliance on plugins for additional functionality can lead to bloated code and slow loading times. Websites with numerous plugins or poorly optimized themes often experience sluggishness, impacting user experience and SEO rankings.

Complexity with Customization

While WordPress is known for its flexibility, this can also be its Achilles' heel. Customizing a WordPress site to fit specific needs often requires extensive coding knowledge, especially when dealing with complex functionalities or unique designs. Themes and plugins might not always align perfectly with your vision, leading to a trial-and-error approach that can be both time-consuming and frustrating.

Over-reliance on Plugins

One of the hallmarks of WordPress is its extensive plugin ecosystem. While this is important in terms of adding features, it can also lead to issues with compatibility and stability. Plugin conflicts are common and can cause significant problems, requiring constant updates and maintenance. For businesses and individuals looking for a more streamlined and reliable solution, this dependency on third-party plugins can be a significant drawback.

Bloated Backend

WordPress’s admin interface can become cumbersome as a site grows. With a large number of plugins and extensive content, the backend can become cluttered, leading to a less intuitive user experience. Managing a WordPress site effectively often requires a steep learning curve and ongoing attention to maintain order and efficiency.

SEO Challenges

Although WordPress has many plugins that claim to improve SEO, these tools can sometimes lead to suboptimal results if not configured correctly. Additionally, WordPress’s reliance on plugins for SEO functionalities means that you’re dependent on external solutions that may not always stay updated with the latest SEO best practices.

While WordPress remains a popular choice for many, its limitations in security, performance, and complexity are becoming increasingly pronounced. Exploring alternatives that offer better security, faster performance, and more streamlined customization could be a more prudent choice for your web development needs. Evaluating the specific requirements of your project and considering newer technologies may help you avoid the pitfalls associated with WordPress and find a solution that better meets your goals.

Want to discuss your options? Need help making the switch?

Why Have a 3D Virtual Tour Scan Done for Your Business

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:06:05 GMT

3D virtual tours can take your business to a new dimension.

In the digital age, staying ahead of the curve means embracing technologies that may increase customer engagement and streamline operations. One such technology is Matterport, a leading platform for creating immersive 3D virtual tours. Whether you run a real estate agency, a retail store, a hospitality business, or any other enterprise, a 3D tour scan can offer numerous advantages.

Here’s why you should have a Matterport 3D Virtual scan done for your business.

Investing in a Matterport 3DVirtual Tour scan for your business is not just about adopting new technology; it's about enhancing your customer experience, improving your marketing strategy, and optimizing your operations. By offering an immersive and detailed view of your space, you can attract more clients, and build trust.

Contact us today for an estimate to scan your space!

The Importance of Updating Holiday Hours Online

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:55:59 GMT

Why updating your holiday hours online is essential & how it can benefit your business.

As the festive season approaches, businesses everywhere prepare for a surge in customers and the accompanying challenges. One crucial, often overlooked task during this busy period is updating holiday hours online. While it may seem minor, keeping your online information accurate and current is vital for ensuring customer satisfaction, maintaining your business’s reputation, and maximizing holiday sales.

Enhanced Customer Experience

Reduced Frustration and Inconvenience

Imagine a customer planning their day around visiting your store, only to find it closed when they arrive. This scenario can lead to frustration, negative reviews, and a loss of trust. By clearly displaying holiday hours on your website, social media, and Google My Business, you ensure customers have the correct information and can plan their visits accordingly.

Improved Customer Communication

Clear and updated holiday hours are a key aspect of customer communication. Customers appreciate businesses that go the extra mile to provide accurate information, especially during the busy holiday season. This transparency can enhance your relationship with your customers and foster loyalty.

Boosts Business Efficiency

Manage Staff and Resources

Accurate holiday hours help you manage staff schedules and resources more effectively. When customers are well-informed about your operating hours, you can better anticipate the flow of visitors, ensuring you have the right amount of staff and stock to meet demand.

Optimize Marketing Efforts

Your marketing campaigns should align with your operating hours. For instance, promoting a holiday sale while not updating your holiday hours can lead to confusion and missed sales opportunities. By keeping your hours current, you ensure that your promotional efforts are effective and reach customers at the right times.

Enhanced Online Presence

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engines like Google prioritize businesses with accurate and updated information. By regularly updating your holiday hours, you can improve your SEO rankings. This increased visibility can drive more traffic to your site and physical store, translating into higher sales and customer engagement.

Maintains Consistency Across Platforms

Consistent information across all online platforms, including your website, social media profiles, and online directories, strengthens your business’s credibility. Inconsistencies can confuse customers and lead to a loss of trust. Regularly updating your holiday hours ensures that all platforms reflect the same information, presenting a professional and reliable image.

Tips for Updating Holiday Hours

Use All Available Platforms

Update your hours on your website, Google My Business, social media profiles, and any other platforms where your business is listed. This approach ensures maximum visibility and accessibility for your customers.

Set Reminders

As the holiday seasons approach, set reminders to update your hours. It’s easy to overlook this task amidst the holiday rush, but timely updates are crucial.

Communicate Changes Proactively

If your hours change unexpectedly, communicate these changes proactively through email newsletters, social media posts, and updates on your website. This proactive communication can prevent customer dissatisfaction and confusion.

Utilize Online Tools

Many online tools and platforms offer features that allow you to schedule changes in advance. Utilize these tools to automate the process, ensuring your holiday hours are updated without the last-minute scramble.

Updating your holiday hours online might seem like a small detail, but it has a significant impact on your business’s success during any festive season. It enhances customer experience, boosts business efficiency, and strengthens your online presence. By taking the time to keep your hours current, you ensure a smooth and successful holiday period for both your customers and your business. Don’t overlook this essential task—make it a priority and reap the benefits this holiday season.

Contact us to learn about the tools that make updating your business hours quick and easy!

The Significance of Google Business Listings

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:15:15 GMT

Boosting Online Visibility and Increase Consumer Trust by Utilizing Google Business Listings

Establishing an online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes these days. One tool that can significantly enhance your company's online visibility and credibility is Google Business Listings. This seemingly simple listing can have a huge impact on a business's success.

Let’s explore why Google business listings matter:

Cross-Channel Marketing Integration: Maximizing Campaign Effectiveness Across Multiple Platforms

Thu, 30 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

From Likes to Leads:

Mastering Cross-Channel Integration for Marketing Success

Reaching your audience where they are is more important than ever. With consumers seamlessly transitioning between multiple online channels, integrating your marketing efforts across platforms is key to maximizing campaign effectiveness and driving results. So, let's jump into the world of cross-channel marketing!

First things first, what exactly is cross-channel marketing, and why is it important? Cross-channel marketing involves coordinating and integrating your marketing efforts across various online channels, such as social media, email, search engines, and your website . By ensuring consistency and cohesion across these channels, you can provide a seamless and personalized experience for your audience, ultimately driving engagement and conversions.

One of the most significant benefits of cross-channel marketing is its ability to reach your audience at multiple touchpoints throughout their customer journey. Rather than relying on a single channel to drive all your marketing efforts, cross-channel integration allows you to meet your audience where they are and guide them through each stage of the buying process. Whether they're browsing social media, searching for information online, or visiting your website, your brand remains top-of-mind, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

Cross-channel marketing enables you to leverage the strengths of each platform to amplify your message and reach a broader audience . For example, while social media may be great for building brand awareness and fostering engagement, email marketing may be more effective for driving conversions and nurturing leads. By strategically combining these channels and tailoring your messaging to suit each platform, you can create a cohesive and impactful marketing strategy that resonates with your audience.

But perhaps most importantly, cross-channel integration allows you to gather valuable insights and data on your audience's behavior and preferences. By tracking user interactions and engagement across multiple channels, you can gain a deeper understanding of how your audience interacts with your brand and tailor your marketing efforts accordingly. This data-driven approach enables you to optimize your campaigns in real-time, ensuring maximum effectiveness and ROI.

Now, let's talk about some practical strategies for integrating your marketing efforts across platforms. First, establish clear goals and objectives for your cross-channel marketing strategy. Whether it's increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, or boosting sales, having a clear roadmap will guide your efforts and help you measure success. Next, ensure consistency in branding and messaging across all channels. From your website and social media profiles to your email campaigns and advertisements, maintain a cohesive and unified brand identity to reinforce your brand's message and values. Additionally, leverage automation and marketing technology to streamline your cross-channel efforts and scale your campaigns efficiently. From automated email workflows to social media scheduling tools, use technology to automate repetitive tasks and free up time for strategic planning and optimization.

Cross-channel marketing integration is essential for maximizing campaign effectiveness and driving results. By coordinating your marketing efforts across multiple platforms, you can reach your audience at various points throughout their customer journey, leverage the strengths of each platform, gather valuable insights, and optimize your campaigns for success. So, don't miss out on the opportunity to elevate your marketing game with cross-channel integration!

Creating Compelling Calls-to-Action: Strategies to Drive Conversions on Your Website

Thu, 23 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Mastering CTAs:

Strategies for Website Conversion Success

Whether you're looking to generate leads, increase sales, or drive engagement, crafting compelling calls-to-action (CTAs) is essential for driving conversions on your website. In this blog, we'll explore effective strategies for creating CTAs that inspire action and drive results.

What is a CTA?

First and foremost, let's define what a call-to-action is and why it's important. A call-to-action is a prompt or directive that encourages users to take a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or downloading a resource. CTAs serve as guideposts for users, directing them towards the next steps in their journey and ultimately driving them towards conversion.

Clarity is Key: Crafting Clear and Specific CTAs

One of the most important aspects of a compelling call-to-action is clarity. Your CTA should clearly communicate what action you want the user to take and what benefit they will receive by doing so. Avoid vague or ambiguous language and instead, be direct and specific. For example, instead of simply saying "Learn More," try something more descriptive like "Discover How to Boost Your Sales Today."

Design and Placement: Making Your CTAs Stand Out

In addition to clarity, the design and placement of your CTA can significantly impact its effectiveness. Your CTA should stand out visually on the page, using contrasting colors, bold typography, or eye-catching graphics to grab the user's attention. Place your CTA strategically within your website's layout, ensuring that it's easily visible and accessible to users as they navigate your site.

Contextual Relevance: Tailoring CTAs to Match User Intent

Furthermore, consider the context in which your CTA is presented. Tailoring your CTAs to match the content and intent of the page can make them more relevant and compelling to users. For example, if you're offering a free trial of your product, place the CTA at the end of a product description or testimonial where users are already primed to learn more.

Leveraging Social Proof and Urgency: Building Trust and Prompting Action

Another effective strategy for creating compelling CTAs is to leverage social proof and urgency. Including testimonials, reviews, or user-generated content near your CTA can help build trust and credibility, making users more likely to take action. Additionally, incorporating time-sensitive language or limited-time offers can create a sense of urgency, prompting users to act quickly to avoid missing out.

Testing and Optimization: Refining Your CTAs for Maximum Impact

Lastly, don't underestimate the power of testing and optimization when it comes to your CTAs. A/B testing different variations of your CTAs can help you identify which designs, messaging, and placements resonate most with your audience. By continuously monitoring and refining your CTAs based on user behavior and feedback, you can maximize their effectiveness and drive even greater conversions.

Creating compelling calls-to-action is essential for driving conversions on your website. By focusing on clarity, design, context, social proof, urgency, and optimization, you can craft CTAs that inspire action and drive results for your business. At NEKO, we specialize in creating effective digital marketing strategies that drive conversions and elevate brands. Contact us today to learn how we can help you create compelling CTAs that drive results for your business.

Understanding Analytics: Tracking Your Brand's Success

Thu, 16 May 2024 13:00:01 GMT

From Insights to Action:

Harnessing Analytics for Brand Success

Understanding analytics is key to unlocking the full potential of your brand's online presence. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting out, tracking your brand's success through analytics is crucial for making informed decisions and maximizing your marketing efforts.

Understanding Website Analytics: Unlocking Insights into User Behavior

First things first, what exactly are analytics? In simple terms, analytics refers to the measurement and analysis of data to understand trends, patterns, and user behavior. When it comes to your brand's online presence, analytics can provide valuable insights into website traffic, user engagement, and conversion rates. By tracking these metrics, you can gain a deeper understanding of how users interact with your website and digital content.

Google Analytics: Your Ultimate Tracking Companion

One of the most popular tools for tracking website analytics is Google Analytics. This powerful platform provides a wealth of data on website traffic, including the number of visitors, their demographics, and how they found your site. With Google Analytics, you can track key metrics such as bounce rate, average session duration, and conversion rates, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and optimize your website for better performance.

Tracking Marketing Campaigns: From Ads to Social Media

But analytics isn't just about tracking website traffic; it's also about understanding the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. By incorporating tracking codes and UTM parameters into your marketing efforts, you can monitor the performance of your ads, social media posts, and email campaigns. This allows you to see which channels are driving the most traffic and conversions, enabling you to allocate your marketing budget more effectively.

The Importance of Data-Driven Decision Making

Now, let's talk about why analytics is so important for your brand's success. For starters, analytics provides concrete data to support your marketing strategies and decisions. Instead of relying on guesswork or intuition, you can use data-driven insights to tailor your messaging, target the right audience, and optimize your marketing campaigns for maximum impact.

Measuring ROI: Demonstrating the Value of Your Efforts

Analytics allows you to measure the ROI (return on investment) of your marketing efforts. By tracking conversion rates and revenue generated from each campaign, you can determine which tactics are delivering the best results and which may need adjustment. This not only helps you make more informed decisions but also demonstrates the value of your marketing efforts to stakeholders and clients.

Continuous Improvement: Evolving Your Brand's Digital Presence

But perhaps most importantly, analytics empowers you to continuously improve and evolve your brand's digital presence. By monitoring key metrics and performance indicators, you can identify areas of opportunity and address any issues that may be hindering your success. Whether it's optimizing your website for better user experience or refining your marketing strategies to better resonate with your target audience, analytics provides the insights you need to stay ahead of the competition.

Understanding analytics is essential for tracking your brand's success in today's digital age. By harnessing the power of data-driven insights, you can make smarter decisions, optimize your marketing efforts, and ultimately drive better results for your brand. So, don't let the wealth of data overwhelm you—embrace analytics and take your brand to new heights!

Guidelines for Addressing Favorable Feedback with Examples

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:00:44 GMT

Tips for Responding to Positive Reviews

Securing online customer reviews on platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp has emerged as a pivotal aspect of business promotion. With a staggering 93 percent of consumers admitting that online reviews sway their purchasing decisions, it's evident that maintaining a favorable online presence is paramount.

To leverage this trend effectively, it's imperative to refine your online image and present your business in the best light possible. Once you've mastered the art of soliciting reviews, it's time to capitalize on the positive feedback.

The initial step involves actively engaging with these reviews. Every positive review should be acknowledged, emphasizing appreciation without appearing complacent. A prompt, sincere thank-you message should be accompanied by a clear call-to-action to amplify your marketing efforts.

In the following sections, we'll dissect each of these steps, offering example templates to ensure that your business is equipped to respond to positive reviews with intent and purpose.

Main Points for Responding to Positive Reviews

Responding to Positive Reviews

It's essential to acknowledge and respond to positive reviews as it demonstrates appreciation and fosters customer loyalty.
Tips for Effective Responses: When replying, express gratitude promptly, keep it concise, and encourage further engagement, such as sharing their positive experiences on social platforms.

Leverage Positive Feedback

Utilize positive reviews by showcasing them on your website and social media channels to attract a wider audience and capitalize on the positive feedback loop.

Why Responding to Positive Reviews Matters

Positive reviews reveal your loyal supporters – those who enthusiastically endorse your business and eagerly spread the word. These advocates are likely to become repeat customers, a crucial factor as retaining existing customers costs significantly less than acquiring new ones, nearly seven times less, in fact.

In the absence of such positive feedback, your business risks being overshadowed by negative reviews, especially since it takes 12 positive experiences to counteract a single negative review. Upon receiving new positive reviews, craft responses that amplify the enthusiasm of your supporters, fostering them into a dedicated free-marketing force for your brand.

How to Respond to Positive Reviews

Here are a few of the things you should keep in mind when responding to positive reviews for maximum impact:

Thank the Reviewer

The reviewer just said something nice about your company—it would be poor manners if you didn’t thank them! Be sure to always thank the reviewer first and foremost, so they know that their kind deed didn’t go unnoticed. After all, they didn’t have to leave you a nice review or give you feedback at all. Show your appreciation and make it personal. Reference specific things they mentioned, like agreeing if they point out one of your stellar employees.

The following example shows you actually took the time to read and appreciate what your customer wrote.

Thank you so much for your kind words, Jane. We really appreciate you taking the time out to share your experience with us—and we agree—Jordan is truly a gem to have on our team! We count ourselves lucky to have customers like you. We look forward to working with you again in the future!

Respond Quickly to Positive Reviews

Reviews are often left immediately following a purchase, visit, or specific experience. Time is of the essence for you as a business owner. If you let a positive review sit for months before responding, it looks like you didn’t care at all about it, even though your customer cares a lot about you

By responding as soon as you can, you show how appreciative you are of the customer—it’s a simple action that will accompany your words of thanks. Otherwise, if you wait too long, the customer will be alerted to the late response and reminded that they were ignored. They will also probably have moved on and forgotten about you if you don’t stay top-of-mind.

Keep It Short

Nobody likes to read lengthy responses; keep them short and sweet. Do your kind customers a favor and keep your message brief but impactful. If you say too much, the value of your words could decrease, and you might even come off a little too enthusiastic. Short and simple wins every time.

Example:
Thanks for the awesome review, Dan! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and we’re happy to hear we hit the mark for you. Come back and see us soon. Cheers!

Be Authentic and Personal

Most people agree that robots pretending to be humans on the internet are not cool, so don’t act like one! Customers can immediately tell if they are getting a cookie-cutter automated response versus a warm, real human connection. This person took the time to talk about your company, so the very least you can do is give them the decency of a real response. Don’t forget to sprinkle in specifics or personality while keeping it short.

Example:
George, thank you for the great review! We’re so happy you loved your experience, and we can’t wait to have you back for your next service appointment. Until then, we’re here if you need anything.

Invite Them to Take Action

Responding to positive reviews is great, but if you want to maximize your success, it’s important to add in a small call-to-action. Make it feel natural. It could be anything: asking them to share their experience with their friends, sign up for another appointment, or find you on social media. It’s up to you and your business goals. But make sure to strike while the iron’s hot and invite reviewers to take further action while they’re happy.

Example:
Thank you for the kind words, Laura! We’re so happy your visit went so smoothly. Would you mind sharing with your friends who are due for a service appointment, too? We’d love to continue providing great service to awesome customers like you. Thanks again!

Share the Positive Review

Finally, while you’re asking reviewers to share, you should be sharing as well! Share the good news of the good reviews on your social channels—people who follow you but don’t do business with you (yet) might be prompted to look more into your services or products.

For example, you can take a positive Google review and post it on your business’s Facebook page or add it to the testimonial section of your website so any visitors know right off the bat what to expect. Get the good news out there for everyone to see.

We hope you’ll realize the importance of responding to positive reviews. By doing this small service, you can reap big rewards and gain some loud internet cheerleaders.

Simply express gratitude to your reviewers, ensure timely, personalized responses, and encourage further engagement. Additionally, showcase these favorable reviews online to amplify your company's excellence to a wider audience.

The Vital Role of Customer Reviews for Business Growth

Thu, 09 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Beyond Testimonials:

How Customer Feedback Drives Digital Success

These days online presence reigns supreme and the voice of the customer has never been more influential. Customer reviews hold significant power, serving as a critical factor in shaping consumer perceptions and driving business growth. For digital marketing and website design companies, understanding the vital role of customer reviews is crucial to staying ahead of the game.

Customer reviews are more than just testimonials; they are a reflection of the customer experience and a valuable source of feedback for businesses. Positive reviews serve as social proof, building trust and credibility among potential customers. At NEKO, we recognize the importance of cultivating a positive online reputation through customer reviews. Each review provides us with valuable insights into our clients' experiences, allowing us to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. By actively listening to our customers and responding to their feedback, we demonstrate our commitment to delivering exceptional service and exceeding their expectations.

Customer reviews also play a pivotal role in driving business growth by influencing search engine rankings. Search engines like Google take into account the quantity and quality of reviews when determining the credibility and relevance of a business. Websites with a higher number of positive reviews are more likely to rank higher in search results, increasing visibility and attracting organic traffic.

In addition to enhancing search engine optimization (SEO), customer reviews also contribute to the development of brand loyalty and advocacy . Satisfied customers who share their positive experiences online serve as brand ambassadors, spreading awareness and driving word-of-mouth referrals. Studies have shown that consumers are more likely to trust recommendations from friends and family or online reviews than traditional advertising.

However, it's essential to note that not all reviews will be positive. Negative reviews, while challenging to receive, present valuable opportunities for growth and improvement . Rather than viewing negative feedback as detrimental, businesses can leverage it as constructive criticism to identify areas of weakness and implement corrective measures. Responding to negative reviews in a professional and empathetic manner demonstrates accountability and a commitment to customer satisfaction.

Addressing negative feedback publicly provides an opportunity to showcase transparency and dedication to resolving customer concerns. By acknowledging and addressing issues promptly, businesses can salvage customer relationships and turn detractors into loyal advocates.

Customer reviews play a vital role in shaping consumer perceptions, driving business growth, and fostering brand loyalty. At NEKO, we understand the significance of harnessing the power of customer feedback to enhance our services and build lasting relationships with our clients. By actively engaging with customer reviews and prioritizing customer satisfaction, we strive to exceed expectations and achieve excellence in digital marketing and website design.

Reputation Management Guide

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:00:14 GMT

Managing Your Online Reputation

Step into the comprehensive realm of reputation management with our ultimate guide. Within these pages, we delve deep into the intricate world of reputation management, shedding light on its paramount significance for local enterprises. Effectively managing your reputation transcends mere interpersonal encounters with customers; it is a fundamental pillar of running a thriving business.

This guide is meticulously crafted to equip you with the insights needed to adeptly navigate both online and offline reputation management landscapes. Expect to uncover a treasure trove of proven strategies, invaluable tools, and expert advice tailored to empower you in cultivating and preserving a favorable reputation for your local business.

Definition of Reputation Management

Reputation management encompasses the proactive management and regulation of how your business is perceived by various stakeholders, including customers, competitors, and the broader public. This entails strategically overseeing your reputation across both digital platforms and offline interactions, recognizing that perceptions of your business are shaped by your actions in both online and real-world environments.

Why Reputation Management Holds Vital Importance for Small Businesses

Regardless of personal preferences, the online perception of a business significantly influences its overall reputation. In today's digital age, with smartphones ubiquitous, consumers frequently resort to the internet to explore local offerings before making purchasing choices.

Consequently, cultivating a favorable online presence that sets you apart from competitors is imperative to attract customers and secure their business.

Here's a guide on effective reputation management strategies:

Tools for Monitoring Your Online Presence

Google Alerts and Social Media Monitoring: These tools help you keep track of mentions and discussions related to your business on the internet.
Online Review Platforms: Monitoring reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook allows you to stay informed about what customers are saying.
Social Listening: This involves tracking conversations on social media to understand how your business is perceived.

Respond to Online Feedback

Managing online feedback, both positive and negative, is the secret to exceptional reputation management. By engaging with your customers online, you can demonstrate your commitment to their satisfaction and continued business.

Build a Positive Online Presence

To enhance your online reputation, consider these strategies:

Social Media Engagement: You know what sets you apart, but do your potential customers? Active and engaging social media profiles can help you shape your unique value proposition and create a positive brand image.
Content Marketing: Creating useful and engaging content helps showcase your expertise and reliability.
Partnerships: Collaborating with local influencers, charities, or causes can boost your credibility and reach a wider audience.

Offline Reputation Management

While your online reputation is important, your offline reputation carries equal weight.

Here’s what you need to do to improve it:

Provide Exceptional Customer Service

As the saying goes, word travels. So, make sure the latest gossip going around about you is nothing but good news. Offering exceptional customer service leaves a positive impression on your patrons and can potentially lead to positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Community Involvement and PR

Engaging with your local community and participating in public activities shows the people living there that you are invested in giving back to your community. If you do something good for others, make sure to show it off. Write a blog post about it on your website, share photos on social media, and try to get noticed in the local newspaper.

Handling Crises and Negative Press

While we always hope it will never happen, it is better to expect the best and plan for the worst. That means in times of crises or negative press, a well-prepared strategy can help you address issues and protect your reputation.

How to Build a Reputation Management Strategy

Creating a reputation management strategy involves several steps:

Research, Observe, and Evaluate Your Online Image: Understand how your business is currently being perceived online through reviews, comments, and mentions. Is there something you could be doing better?
Formulate Multiple Strategies: Develop plans to manage your reputation, both reactively and proactively.
Establish a Communication Style Guide: Create guidelines for addressing comments and feedback professionally and consistently.
Share Your Plan: Communicate your reputation management strategy with your team or organization to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Implement Changes: Good or bad, all feedback is valuable, so make improvements based on these comments to enhance your reputation.
Keep Records: Document your progress and outcomes as you work to build and maintain a positive reputation. That way, you can learn from your mistakes and devise better strategies.

Online Reputation Management Tools

Do you need to keep close tabs on what people are saying about you but are short on time? That’s when a reputation management tool could come in handy.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular ones out there:

Social Monitoring Tools
These tools allows you to keep track of your brand’s mentions and conversations on various social media platforms. You can quickly identify what people are saying about your business and respond accordingly .
Google Alerts
Set up alerts for your business name, products, or relevant keywords. Google will notify you when new content related to your business appears online, allowing you to stay informed.
Review Tracking Software
There are various tools designed specifically for tracking and managing online reviews. They help you monitor review platforms like Yelp, Google, and Facebook, making it easier to respond promptly to customer feedback.

Reputation Repair Strategies

If your reputation has taken a hit, all is not lost. Reputation repair strategies can help you bounce back and regain the trust of your customers.

Here’s how:

Professional Responses to Negative Reviews
When negative reviews surface, your response can make a big difference. Craft professional, empathetic, and solution-oriented responses to address customer concerns. Offer to make amends and resolve issues to rebuild trust.
Request Reviews
Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews to counterbalance the negative ones. A steady flow of positive feedback can overshadow past issues and even boost your reputation.
Incorporate Feedback
While we would all like to simply sweep bad comments under the rug, it’s best to actively address the issues raised in negative reviews. Negative reviews are often the most honest feedback you could receive, so use it as an opportunity to make improvements in your products or services. It helps you to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and showcase the positive changes you’ve mad e.

Proactive Reputation-Building Strategies

Being proactive is key to long-term success.

Consider these strategies to strengthen your reputation:

Customer Service Excellence
Outstanding customer service is a cornerstone of a positive reputation. Make sure all your staff are trained to best meet your client’s needs, address customer concerns promptly, and go the extra mile to exceed expectations.
Showcase Your Expertise
Position your business as a local expert by sharing valuable content, insights, and knowledge. This not only educates your audience but also builds trust and credibility.
Engage with the Community
We can’t emphasize this enough. Active community involvement and engagement can make all the difference for the folks you serve. Supporting local causes, participating in events, and contributing to your community is a great way to stand out from the rest.

Managing your reputation is crucial for the prosperity of any local business. By applying the tactics and utilizing the resources detailed in this guide, prepare to attract positive attention and recognition for your endeavors.

Spring Cleaning for Your Website

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 17:00:01 GMT

Spring Into Action

Transform Your Website with These Refreshing Spring Cleaning Tips

As the vibrant colors of spring start to bloom, it's not just your home that could use a bit of tidying up. Your website, the digital storefront of your business or personal brand, deserves a thorough spring cleaning too. A fresh online presence not only enhances user experience but also boosts your website's performance and visibility. So, let's roll up our sleeves and dive into some essential tips for sprucing up your digital space.

Declutter Your Content

Just like cleaning out your closet, it's time to declutter your website content. Go through each page and assess whether the information is still relevant and valuable to your audience. Remove outdated posts, update information, and streamline your navigation. A clean and organized website not only makes it easier for visitors to find what they need but also improves your site's search engine optimization (SEO).

Optimize for Speed

Nobody likes a slow website. Visitors today have little patience for long loading times. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze your site's speed and identify areas for improvement. Compress images, leverage browser caching, and consider upgrading your hosting plan if necessary. A faster website not only enhances user experience but also positively impacts your search engine rankings.

Check for Broken Links

Broken links can harm your website's credibility and frustrate your visitors. Use online tools or website plugins to scan for broken links and fix them promptly. Ensure that all internal and external links are working correctly. This not only improves user experience but also contributes to better SEO by preventing crawlers from encountering dead ends.

Update Your Design

A dated website design can make your online presence seem stale. Consider giving your website a fresh look by updating its design elements. This doesn't necessarily mean a complete overhaul – sometimes small changes like updating colors, fonts, or adding new visuals can make a significant impact. Ensure that your design is mobile-friendly, as an increasing number of users access websites on their smartphones.

Enhance Security Measures

Security should be a top priority for any website owner. Regularly update your content management system (CMS), plugins, and themes to patch any vulnerabilities. Consider implementing an SSL certificate if you haven't already, as it not only secures your site but also boosts your search engine ranking. Spring is an excellent time to review and strengthen your security measures to protect both your website and its users.

Review and Update SEO Strategies

Search engines constantly evolve, and so should your SEO strategies. Conduct keyword research to ensure you are targeting the right terms for your industry or niche. Update meta tags, titles, and descriptions to align with current best practices. If you have a blog, revisit and optimize old posts for relevant keywords. A strong SEO foundation is essential for improving your website's visibility and attracting organic traffic.

Implement Social Media Integration

In the age of social media, it's crucial to integrate your website with your social profiles. Ensure that your social media icons are prominently displayed, and consider adding social sharing buttons to your content. This not only encourages engagement but also contributes to a cohesive online presence.

Spring is the perfect time to breathe new life into your website. By following these tips, you can create a fresh online presence that not only captivates your audience but also sets the stage for success in the digital landscape. So, roll up your sleeves, get your virtual mop and broom ready, and let the spring cleaning begin!

E-Commerce Essentials: Building a Successful Online Storefront

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:45:00 GMT

Mastering E-Commerce:

Essential Strategies for Online Store Success

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes, and e-commerce has become an indispensable avenue for reaching customers and driving sales. With the right approach, building a successful online storefront can open up a world of opportunities for your business. Let's explore the essential elements you need to consider when venturing into e-commerce.

Choose the Right Platform

Selecting the right e-commerce platform is the foundation of your online store. Consider factors such as ease of use, scalability, customization options, and integration capabilities with payment gateways and other tools.

Optimize User Experience

A seamless user experience is essential for converting visitors into customers. Ensure your website is mobile-responsive, intuitive to navigate, and visually appealing. Streamline the checkout process, offer multiple payment options, and provide clear product descriptions and images to enhance the shopping experience.

Invest in Quality Content

Compelling content is key to attracting and engaging your target audience. Create informative product descriptions, captivating visuals, and engaging videos to showcase your products effectively. Incorporate customer reviews and testimonials to build trust and credibility.

Implement Effective SEO Strategies

Optimizing your website for search engines is crucial for driving organic traffic and increasing visibility. Conduct keyword research to identify relevant search terms, optimize product pages and content with targeted keywords, and focus on creating high-quality backlinks to improve your site's authority and ranking.

Secure Payment Processing

Security is paramount in e-commerce transactions to instill confidence in your customers. Implement robust security measures, such as SSL encryption, to protect sensitive data during transactions. Partner with reputable payment processors to offer secure payment options and comply with industry standards and regulations.

Provide Excellent Customer Support

Exceptional customer support is essential for fostering loyalty and satisfaction among your customers. Offer multiple channels for communication, such as live chat, email, and phone support, and ensure timely responses to inquiries and concerns. Resolve issues promptly and go the extra mile to exceed customer expectations.

Implement Analytics and Tracking

Utilize analytics tools to monitor website performance, track user behavior, and gain insights into customer preferences and trends. Analyze metrics such as website traffic, conversion rates, and sales data to identify areas for improvement and optimize your e-commerce strategy accordingly.

Develop a Marketing Strategy

Effective marketing is essential for driving traffic and generating sales for your online store. Leverage various digital marketing channels, such as social media, email marketing, content marketing, and paid advertising, to reach your target audience and promote your products effectively.

Focus on Mobile Optimization

With the increasing use of mobile devices for online shopping, optimizing your website for mobile users is essential. Ensure fast loading times, intuitive navigation, and responsive design to provide a seamless shopping experience across all devices.

Continuously Evolve and Adapt

The e-commerce landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. Keep abreast of industry trends, monitor competitor activity, and regularly update your website with fresh content, new products, and innovative features to keep customers engaged and coming back for more.

Building a successful online storefront requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences. By focusing on these e-commerce essentials and continuously refining your strategy, you can create a thriving online business that stands out in a competitive marketplace.

Northeast Kingdom Online, Celebrating 15 Years

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 19:39:52 GMT

NEKO: 15 Years of Crafting Digital Excellence

Fifteen years ago, amidst the tranquil landscapes and vibrant communities of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Northeast Kingdom Online LLC (NEKO) embarked on a mission to empower businesses and individuals through the digital realm. As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we reflect on the journey that has shaped NEKO into a cornerstone of digital innovation and service excellence in our region and beyond.

Digital Solutions for Vermont and Beyond for 15 Years!

NEKO was born from a vision to bridge the gap between traditional businesses and the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Recognizing the transformative power of the internet, we set out to provide comprehensive digital solutions tailored to the unique needs of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

Over the past fifteen years, NEKO has evolved alongside the dynamic digital ecosystem. What began as a modest venture specializing in website design has blossomed into a full-fledged digital agency offering a diverse array of services. From website design and development to marketing strategies, social media management, graphic design, branding, and consulting, NEKO remains committed to providing encompassing solutions that drive growth and success for our clients.

At the heart of NEKO's success lies a steadfast commitment to excellence. We believe in going above and beyond to exceed our clients' expectations, delivering results that are not just satisfactory but truly exceptional. Our team of skilled professionals brings together expertise, creativity, and dedication to every project, ensuring that each client receives personalized attention and tailored solutions.

As a proud member of the Northeast Kingdom community, NEKO is deeply invested in giving back and fostering local growth. Over the years, we have had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse range of businesses and organizations, contributing to our region's economic vitality and cultural richness. Whether through non-profit work, partnerships with local initiatives, or internship programs, we remain committed to supporting our community every step of the way.

As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we also look forward to the future with optimism and excitement. The digital landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, presenting new opportunities and challenges alike. With our unwavering dedication to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, NEKO is poised to continue leading the way in digital empowerment for years to come.

Thank you for being a part of the NEKO family.

Fifteen years ago, Northeast Kingdom Online LLC set out on a journey to empower businesses and individuals through the transformative power of the digital realm. This year, as we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we are proud to reflect on the impact we have made and the relationships we have built along the way. With gratitude for our clients, partners, and community, we look forward to continuing this journey of growth, innovation, and service excellence!

The Power of Visuals: Integrating High-Impact Graphics into Your Website

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 18:30:00 GMT

Captivate Your Audience:

The Art of Integrating Compelling Visuals on Your Website

The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" holds more truth than ever before. Visual content has become a dominant force in online communication, captivating audiences and driving engagement like never before. Whether you're building a personal blog, corporate website, or e-commerce storefront, integrating high-impact graphics is essential for creating a memorable and immersive online experience.

Capturing Attention

In a crowded online space, attention is a valuable commodity. High-impact graphics have the power to capture attention and draw users into your website. Vibrant images, striking illustrations, and captivating videos can instantly grab the viewer's eye and encourage them to explore further. By incorporating visually appealing elements into your website design, you can make a strong first impression and keep visitors engaged.

Conveying Information

Visuals are not only attention-grabbing but also effective tools for conveying information quickly and efficiently. Infographics, charts, and diagrams can simplify complex concepts and data, making them easier to understand and digest. By presenting information in a visually engaging format, you can enhance comprehension and retention, ensuring that your message resonates with your audience.

Enhancing Brand Identity

High-impact graphics play a crucial role in shaping your brand identity and conveying your unique personality and values. Consistent use of color schemes, typography, and imagery helps reinforce brand recognition and foster a cohesive brand experience across all touchpoints. By incorporating branded visuals into your website design, you can strengthen your brand presence and leave a lasting impression on visitors.

Increasing Engagement

Visual content has been shown to significantly increase engagement levels compared to text-only content. Eye-catching images and interactive multimedia elements encourage users to interact with your website, spend more time exploring your content, and ultimately take desired actions, whether it's making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or sharing your content with others. By providing a visually rich and engaging experience, you can boost user engagement and drive conversions.

Boosting SEO

Visuals can also play a vital role in improving your website's search engine optimization (SEO) performance. High-quality images and videos can enhance the visual appeal of your website, reducing bounce rates and increasing dwell time, both of which are important ranking factors for search engines. Additionally, optimizing image alt text, filenames, and descriptions can help improve your website's visibility in image search results, driving additional organic traffic to your site.

Creating Emotional Connections

Visuals have the power to evoke emotions and create meaningful connections with your audience. Compelling imagery, emotive photography, and storytelling videos can resonate with viewers on a deeper level, eliciting feelings of empathy, inspiration, or nostalgia. By tapping into the emotional aspects of visual content, you can forge stronger connections with your audience and foster brand loyalty.

Differentiating Your Brand

In a competitive online landscape, standing out from the crowd is essential. High-impact graphics allow you to differentiate your brand and set yourself apart from competitors. By showcasing unique visuals that reflect your brand's personality and values, you can create a memorable and distinctive online presence that leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

Integrating high-impact graphics into your website is essential for creating a visually compelling and engaging user experience. From capturing attention and conveying information to enhancing brand identity and boosting SEO, visuals play a crucial role in shaping the success of your online presence. By harnessing the power of visuals effectively, you can create a website that not only looks great but also drives results for your business.

Digital Marketing Trends to Watch

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 18:15:00 GMT

Digital Marketing Evolution:

Trends Reshaping the Way Businesses Connect with Consumers

Staying ahead of the curve is essential for success. As technology continues to evolve and consumer behavior shifts, keeping up with the latest trends can help businesses reach their target audience more effectively and drive better results. Let's explore some of the key digital marketing trends to watch in the coming months.

Video Marketing Dominance

Interactive Content Engagement

Video content continues to reign supreme in the digital landscape. With platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels gaining popularity, businesses are increasingly incorporating video into their marketing strategies. From product demonstrations and tutorials to behind-the-scenes glimpses and user-generated content, video marketing offers a powerful way to engage and connect with audiences.

Interactive content, such as quizzes, polls, surveys, and interactive infographics, is on the rise as brands seek to increase engagement and foster deeper connections with their audience. Interactive elements encourage active participation, driving higher levels of engagement and interaction compared to static content formats.

Personalized Marketing Experiences

Social Commerce Integration

Consumers expect personalized experiences tailored to their preferences and interests. Leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence, businesses can deliver targeted marketing messages, personalized recommendations, and customized content to individual users. Personalization enhances user engagement, increases conversion rates, and builds brand loyalty.

Social media platforms are expanding their e-commerce capabilities, allowing businesses to sell products directly through social channels. With features like Instagram Shopping, Facebook Marketplace, and Pinterest Shop, social commerce integration offers a seamless shopping experience for consumers, driving conversions and revenue for businesses.

Sustainability & Purpose Driven Marketing

Data & Privacy Security

Consumers are increasingly gravitating towards brands that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Purpose-driven marketing initiatives, such as cause-related campaigns, eco-friendly products, and corporate social responsibility efforts, resonate with socially conscious consumers and can differentiate brands in a crowded marketplace.

With increased scrutiny on data privacy and security regulations, businesses must prioritize compliance and transparency in their digital marketing practices. Building trust with consumers by safeguarding their data and respecting their privacy preferences is crucial for maintaining brand reputation and credibility.

Staying informed about emerging digital marketing trends is essential for businesses looking to stay competitive and effectively engage their target audience. By embracing these trends and adapting their strategies accordingly, businesses can position themselves for success in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

The Art of Effective Email Marketing Campaigns

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 11:00:04 GMT

Inbox Impact

Navigating the Art of Effective Email Marketing

In the world of digital marketing, email remains a powerful and direct communication channel. Crafting effective email marketing campaigns requires a delicate blend of creativity, strategy, and data-driven insights. This blog explores the essential elements that make up the art of effective email marketing, helping businesses connect with their audience, build relationships, and drive meaningful results.

Understanding Your Audience

The foundation of any successful email marketing campaign lies in a deep understanding of your audience. Before drafting a single email, take the time to segment your email list based on demographics, preferences, and behaviors. Tailoring your content to specific segments ensures that your messages are relevant, resonant, and more likely to capture the attention of your recipients.

Compelling Subject Lines

The subject line is the gateway to your email. Crafting compelling and intriguing subject lines is crucial for enticing recipients to open your emails. Whether it's creating a sense of urgency, posing a question, or offering a solution to a problem, your subject lines should be concise, engaging, and aligned with the content inside.

Personalization and Customization

Personalization goes beyond addressing recipients by their first name. Leverage data to personalize content based on the recipient's preferences, previous interactions, and purchase history. Tailored content fosters a sense of connection, making your audience more receptive to your messages.

Clear and Engaging Content

Once your email is opened, the content must captivate and convey your message effectively. Keep your messaging clear, concise, and focused. Use engaging visuals, compelling copy, and a well-defined call-to-action to guide recipients towards the desired outcome, whether it's making a purchase, signing up for an event, or downloading content.

Mobile Responsiveness

In an era where mobile devices dominate, ensuring that your emails are mobile-friendly is non-negotiable. A responsive design guarantees that your emails display seamlessly on various devices, enhancing the user experience and increasing the likelihood of conversions.

Strategic Timing and Frequency

Timing plays a crucial role in email marketing success. Pay attention to the day of the week and time of day when your audience is most active. Experiment with different send times to find the optimal schedule for your target audience. Additionally, be mindful of email frequency to avoid overwhelming subscribers and risking unsubscribes.

A/B Testing

Email marketing is an iterative process, and A/B testing is a valuable tool for optimization. Test different elements such as subject lines, content, images, and calls-to-action to identify what resonates best with your audience. Use the insights gained from A/B testing to refine and improve future campaigns.

Building Trust Through Consistency

Consistency is key in email marketing. Maintain a consistent brand voice, design elements, and frequency of communication. Establishing trust with your audience takes time, and a consistent approach builds credibility, making recipients more likely to engage with your emails and take desired actions.

Segmentation and Automation

Take advantage of email marketing automation to streamline your campaigns and deliver targeted messages at the right time. Set up automated workflows based on user actions, such as welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, or post-purchase follow-ups. Segmentation and automation work hand-in-hand to deliver personalized content efficiently.

Measuring and Analyzing Performance

Data is the compass guiding your email marketing strategy. Regularly analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates. Use this data to gain insights into what works and what needs improvement, allowing you to refine your strategy for future campaigns.New Paragraph

Mastering the art of effective email marketing campaigns involves a strategic blend of creativity, data-driven insights, and a commitment to building meaningful connections with your audience. By understanding your audience, crafting compelling content, leveraging personalization, and embracing optimization techniques, you can create email campaigns that not only capture attention but also drive engagement and conversions. As the digital landscape evolves, the art of email marketing remains a timeless and impactful tool for businesses seeking to foster lasting relationships with their audience.

Content Localization: Tailoring Digital Strategies for Global Audiences

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 11:00:02 GMT

Global Connection

Crafting a Global Digital Presence Through Strategic Content Localization

Reaching a global audience has become a priority for businesses seeking to expand their reach. Content localization, the process of adapting digital content for specific regions or target markets, is a key strategy for breaking down language and cultural barriers. This blog explores the importance of content localization and provides insights into effective strategies for tailoring your digital content to resonate with diverse audiences worldwide.

Understanding Content Localization

Content localization involves more than just translating words from one language to another. It's about adapting your content to the linguistic, cultural, and contextual nuances of a particular region. This process ensures that your message not only speaks the language of your audience but also aligns with their cultural norms, preferences, and expectations.

Why Content Localization Matters

Cultural Relevance:

Different cultures have unique values, traditions, and communication styles. Adapting your content to reflect these cultural nuances helps create a connection with the audience, fostering trust and relatability. What resonates in one region may not have the same impact elsewhere, making cultural relevance a crucial factor in global digital strategies.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

Localization goes beyond language; it involves optimizing content for search engines in specific regions. Search engines prioritize content that is relevant to local users. By incorporating region-specific keywords, phrases, and cultural references, your content is more likely to appear in local search results, improving your overall SEO performance.

User Experience Enhancement:

Providing a seamless and culturally sensitive user experience is vital for global success. Localizing not only the language but also the design, imagery, and user interface of your digital platforms ensures that users from different regions feel comfortable and engaged. A positive user experience can significantly impact customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Market Expansion:

Adapting your content for different markets opens up new opportunities for growth. By addressing the specific needs and preferences of diverse audiences, you can attract a wider customer base. Content localization is a strategic investment that can lead to increased market share and revenue in various regions.

Strategies for Effective Content Localization

Thorough Market Research:

Before diving into content localization, conduct comprehensive market research for your target regions. Understand the local culture, language variations, and consumer behavior. This knowledge forms the foundation for creating content that resonates authentically with the audience.

Professional Translation Services:

While machine translation tools are convenient, they often lack the nuances required for effective content localization. Invest in professional translation services to ensure accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and a natural flow of language. A well-translated piece goes beyond words, capturing the essence of your message in a way that resonates with the local audience.

Adaptation of Visual Elements:

Visual content is a powerful communicator, but its impact varies across cultures. Consider adapting images, graphics, and videos to align with cultural preferences and sensitivities. Avoid using visuals that may be offensive or misunderstood in the local context, and instead, opt for images that reflect the diversity and values of the target audience.

Localized Website and User Interface:

Customize your website and digital platforms to cater to local preferences. This includes language options, date formats, and currency symbols. An intuitive and culturally adapted user interface enhances the overall user experience, making your digital presence more appealing and accessible to diverse audiences.

Overcoming Challenges

Consistency Across Platforms:

Maintaining consistency in messaging and branding across different regions can be challenging. Establish clear brand guidelines and ensure that localized content aligns with the overall brand identity. Consistency fosters a unified global image while respecting local nuances.

Ongoing Updates and Monitoring:

Markets evolve, and so should your localized content. Regularly monitor performance metrics, user feedback, and cultural shifts in your target regions. Stay agile and update your content to reflect changing trends, ensuring ongoing relevance and effectiveness .

Content localization is a dynamic and essential component of a global digital strategy. By understanding the cultural intricacies of your target markets and implementing effective localization strategies, you can break down barriers, connect with diverse audiences, and elevate your brand on a global scale. Embrace the power of tailored content to create meaningful connections, foster brand loyalty, and drive success in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.

Website Analytics 101: Understanding and Utilizing Data for Success

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:00:01 GMT

Decoding Data

A Comprehensive Guide to Navigating the World of Website Analytics

When running an online business, having a website is just the beginning. To thrive and make informed decisions, you need to immerse yourself in the world of website analytics. This blog will guide you through the basics of website analytics, helping you grasp the importance of data and how to leverage it for success.

The Essence of Website Analytics

Website analytics involves the collection, measurement, analysis, and reporting of web data. By implementing analytics tools, businesses gain valuable insights into user behavior, website performance, and the effectiveness of marketing efforts. This data-driven approach empowers businesses to make informed decisions, optimize their online presence, and ultimately achieve their goals.

Key Metrics to Track

Traffic Sources:

Understanding where your website traffic comes from is fundamental. Analytics tools like Google Analytics can reveal whether visitors find your site through search engines, social media, direct links, or other sources. This insight helps you allocate resources effectively and optimize your marketing strategies.

Visitor Behavior:

Analyzing user behavior on your site is crucial. Metrics such as page views, bounce rate, and time on page provide insights into how visitors engage with your content. High bounce rates may indicate a need for better content optimization, while analyzing popular pages can guide future content creation.

Conversion Rates:

For businesses, the ultimate goal is often conversions – whether it's a sale, a sign-up, or another desired action. Tracking conversion rates helps you understand the effectiveness of your website in turning visitors into customers. Identify high-converting pages and analyze the user journey to enhance the overall conversion process.

Device and Location Data:

Knowing the devices and locations of your audience is essential for optimizing your website's user experience. Mobile optimization is increasingly critical as more users access websites from smartphones. Analyzing location data can also inform targeted marketing campaigns tailored to specific regions.

Page Load Times:

In today's fast-paced digital environment, users expect speedy websites. Slow page load times can lead to high bounce rates and negatively impact user experience. Analyzing this metric helps you identify and address performance issues, improving overall website efficiency.

Implementing Analytics Tools

The most widely used website analytics tool is Google Analytics, offering a comprehensive suite of features. To get started, integrate the tracking code into your website. This code collects and sends data to the Google Analytics platform, where you can access a wealth of information about your site's performance.

Other analytics tools, such as Adobe Analytics and Matomo, provide alternative options with unique features. Choose the tool that aligns best with your business goals, budget, and technical requi rements.

Utilizing Data for Decision-Making

Content Optimization:

Analyzing which content resonates with your audience allows you to optimize for relevance and engagement. Identify high-performing pages and use that insight to enhance other parts of your website. This iterative process ensures continuous improvement.

Marketing Strategy Refinement:

Evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing channels by analyzing traffic sources. Adjust your strategy based on the channels driving the most valuable traffic. This might involve investing more resources in successful channels or optimizing underperforming ones.

User Experience Enhancement:

By understanding visitor behavior, you can enhance the user experience. Identify pain points, optimize navigation paths, and ensure that your website meets user expectations. A positive user experience not only improves satisfaction but also contributes to better search engine rankings.

Goal Setting and Tracking:

Establish specific goals for your website, such as conversion rates, sign-ups, or downloads. Regularly track and analyze these goals to measure your site's success and identify areas for improvement. Adjust strategies as needed to align with your overarching business objectives.

Website analytics is a powerful tool for businesses seeking to thrive in the digital landscape. By understanding key metrics, implementing analytics tools, and utilizing data for decision-making, you can optimize your website, enhance user experience, and drive success. Embrace the insights provided by website analytics, and let data guide your journey towards a more effective and impactful online presence.

The Role of Social Media in SEO

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 12:00:02 GMT

Beyond Keywords

Unveiling the Synergy Between Social Media and SEO for Digital Success

Businesses and digital marketers are constantly seeking ways to enhance their online visibility and drive organic traffic to their websites. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has long been a cornerstone of this effort, focusing on optimizing websites to rank higher in search engine results. In recent years, the role of social media in SEO has become increasingly prominent, presenting new opportunities and challenges for marketers.

Social media platforms have transformed into powerful tools for building brand awareness, engaging with audiences, and driving traffic. While the relationship between social media and SEO is complex and dynamic, understanding the key ways in which they intersect can significantly boost your online presence.

Social Signals & Search Rankings

Search engines, including Google, take into account various factors when determining search rankings. Social signals, such as likes, shares, and comments on social media platforms, are increasingly recognized as influential factors in search algorithms. Engaging content on social media can amplify your brand's visibility and contribute to a positive feedback loop, improving your search rankings.

When users interact with your content on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, it sends signals to search engines that your brand is relevant and valuable. While the direct impact of social signals on SEO is still a topic of debate, there is a consensus that a strong social media presence correlates with improved search performance.

Link Building & Social Shares

Link building remains a fundamental aspect of SEO, and social media plays a pivotal role in this process. When your content is shared across social platforms, it can attract attention from bloggers, influencers, and other website owners. This increased visibility can lead to organic backlinks as others reference and link back to your content.

Quality backlinks are crucial for SEO, as search engines perceive them as votes of confidence in your content. By actively sharing and promoting your content on social media, you create opportunities for others to discover and link to your website, contributing to a healthier link profile.

Brand Authority & Credibility

Establishing and maintaining brand authority is essential for SEO success. Social media provides a platform for businesses to showcase their expertise, share valuable content, and engage with their audience. A strong social presence can enhance your brand's credibility, which indirectly affects search engine rankings.

When users recognize and trust your brand through social media interactions, they are more likely to click on your content in search results. Search engines interpret this as a signal of authority, potentially boosting your rankings. Consistent and authoritative messaging across social media channels contributes to a positive online reputation that can influence search engine algorithms.

Local SEO & Social Media

For businesses with a local focus, social media is an invaluable tool for enhancing local SEO. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow businesses to create and optimize local profiles, share location-specific content, and engage with the local community. Positive reviews, check-ins, and geotagged posts on social media can significantly impact local search rankings.

Optimizing your social media profiles with accurate business information, such as location, opening hours, and contact details, ensures that search engines can properly index and display your business in local search results. This integration of social media and local SEO is particularly beneficial for brick-and-mortar businesses aiming to attract nearby customers.

The impact of social signals, link building, brand authority, and local SEO all highlight the interconnected nature of these two digital marketing pillars. As businesses navigate the complex realm of online visibility, leveraging the power of social media alongside traditional SEO strategies is essential for maximizing their reach and impact in the digital space. By fostering a strong and strategic social media presence, businesses can enhance their SEO efforts and establish a more robust online presence.

The Importance of Brand Consistency Across Platforms

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 12:00:03 GMT

Crafting Brand Cohesion

Why Consistency Across Platforms Is Key

In the world of digital marketing, where consumers seamlessly navigate between various online platforms, maintaining a consistent brand image is paramount. The team at Northeast Kingdom Online recognizes that brand consistency is not just a buzzword; it's a strategic imperative that can significantly impact a business's success. In this blog post, we'll delve into why brand consistency across platforms is crucial and explore how it contributes to building a strong and recognizable brand identity.

Establishing Trust & Credibility

Consistency is a cornerstone of trust. When consumers encounter a brand that maintains a uniform visual identity, messaging tone, and values across different platforms, it instills a sense of reliability. Trust is the foundation of strong customer relationships, and by presenting a cohesive brand image, businesses signal that they are dependable and committed to delivering a consistent experience.

Recognition In A Crowded Marketplace

In a sea of competing messages, a consistent brand presence is key to standing out. Whether a customer encounters your brand on social media, your website, or in an email, maintaining a uniform look and feel reinforces brand recall. A recognizable brand is more likely to capture the attention of potential customers and leave a lasting impression, ultimately increasing the likelihood of conversion.

Building Brand Equity

Brand consistency contributes to the long-term development of brand equity. Consistent visual elements, such as logos, color schemes, and typography, become associated with the brand over time. These visual cues play a crucial role in building a strong brand identity that resonates with consumers. As brand equity grows, so does the perceived value of the brand, making it a valuable asset in the marketplace.

Enhanced Customer Experience

In the digital age, where customers seamlessly transition between devices and platforms, a consistent brand experience is crucial. Whether a customer interacts with your brand on a website, mobile app, or social media, maintaining a cohesive user experience ensures that they feel comfortable and engaged. Prioritizing the optimization of brand consistency enhances the overall customer journey across various touchpoints.

Adaptability In a Multi-Channel Landscape

With the proliferation of digital channels, businesses need to be agile in adapting their brand messaging and visual identity to different platforms. The importance of tailoring content to suit the nuances of each channel while ensuring that the core brand essence remains consistent cannot be overstated. This adaptability ensures that the brand remains relevant and resonates with diverse audiences across various online platforms.

Streamlined Communication

Consistent branding simplifies communication. Whether a business is introducing a new product, sharing updates, or running a marketing campaign, having a uniform brand presence streamlines the communication process. A cohesive brand strategy that aligns with business goals makes it easier for businesses to convey their messages effectively and with clarity.

Employee Alignment

Brand consistency extends beyond external communications; it also plays a crucial role in aligning internal stakeholders. When employees understand and embody the brand consistently, it fosters a sense of unity and collective purpose. An internally cohesive brand culture translates into a more authentic and compelling external brand image.

Brand consistency across platforms is not just a design guideline; it's a strategic imperative that influences consumer trust, recognition, and loyalty. By prioritizing brand consistency, businesses can navigate the complexities of the online world with confidence, ensuring that their brand stands out and resonates with their target audience.

How Is Local SEO Beneficial?

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 12:00:03 GMT

The Power of Local SEO

In the Northeast Kingdom & Beyond

The Northeast Kingdom has become a hub for local entrepreneurs and enterprises seeking to establish a strong digital presence. As businesses in this picturesque region flourish, the importance of Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) cannot be overstated. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of Local SEO for businesses in the Northeast Kingdom and beyond, and how it can propel them to greater heights.

Understanding Local SEO

Local SEO is a specialized branch of search engine optimization that focuses on optimizing a business's online presence to attract local customers. With search engines increasingly prioritizing location-based results, ensuring that your business appears prominently in local searches is crucial. For Northeast Kingdom Online, a digital marketing and website design company, harnessing the power of Local SEO is at the core of helping businesses thrive in the digital age.

Visibility In The Northeast Kingdom

The Northeast Kingdom, with its charming towns and vibrant communities, is a unique market that demands a tailored approach to online visibility. Local SEO allows businesses to reach potential customers in the Kingdom who are actively searching for products or services in their vicinity. Whether it's a quaint bed and breakfast in St. Johnsbury or an artisanal shop in Newport, being easily discoverable in local search results can significantly impact foot traffic and sales.

Boosting Foot Traffic & Sales

For brick-and-mortar businesses in the Northeast Kingdom, foot traffic is often synonymous with success. Local SEO helps businesses appear in local map results, online directories, and localized search queries, making it easier for potential customers to find and visit physical locations. This not only boosts foot traffic but also translates into increased sales and customer engagement.

Mobile Searches & Local Intent

In an era where mobile devices dominate our daily lives, the importance of optimizing for mobile searches with local intent cannot be overstated. People on the go are searching for businesses, services, and products near them, and Local SEO ensures that your business is front and center in these mobile search results. Northeast Kingdom Online understands the nuances of local intent and tailors strategies that align with the mobile habits of consumers in the Kingdom.

Building Community Trust

The Northeast Kingdom is known for its strong sense of community, and local businesses play a vital role in fostering that connection. Local SEO not only increases online visibility but also builds trust among the local community. When residents see their favorite shops, restaurants, or service providers ranking high in local search results, it reinforces the sense of community and loyalty.

Beyond The Northeast Kingdom

While local businesses in the Northeast Kingdom benefit immensely from targeted Local SEO strategies, the reach of such efforts extends beyond geographical boundaries. As tourists and visitors explore the region, effective Local SEO ensures that businesses capture the attention of a broader audience. This creates a ripple effect, contributing to the economic growth and sustainability of the entire Northeast Kingdom.

The power of Local SEO is transformative for businesses in the Northeast Kingdom and beyond. Northeast Kingdom Online stands at the forefront of this digital revolution, empowering local entrepreneurs to not only survive but thrive in the competitive online landscape. As businesses embrace Local SEO, they are not just optimizing for search engines – they are investing in the growth and prosperity of the Northeast Kingdom community.

2024 Ecommerce Trends

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 12:00:03 GMT

Navigating the Trends Reshaping Online Shopping

What To Expect In 2024

As we venture into 2024, several trends are shaping the e-commerce landscape, transforming the way businesses operate and how consumers engage with online platforms. In this blog, we'll explore some of the notable e-commerce trends that are set to dominate the industry in the coming year.

Sustainable Shopping

With increasing environmental awareness, consumers are showing a growing preference for sustainable and eco-friendly products. E-commerce businesses are responding by incorporating sustainability into their operations, from sourcing materials to packaging and shipping practices. Brands that emphasize their commitment to environmentally responsible practices are likely to attract a more conscientious customer base.

Personalized Shopping Experiences

As data analytics and customer profiling become more sophisticated, e-commerce platforms are focusing on providing personalized shopping experiences. Tailored recommendations, targeted marketing campaigns, and individualized product suggestions based on browsing history contribute to a more personalized and enjoyable online shopping journey. This trend not only enhances customer satisfaction but also increases the likelihood of repeat business.

Social Commerce

The integration of social media and e-commerce continues to gain momentum in 2024. Social commerce platforms allow users to discover and purchase products without leaving their favorite social media apps. This trend blurs the lines between socializing and shopping, making it easier for consumers to make informed purchase decisions based on recommendations and reviews from their social circles.

Mobile Shopping Dominance

The prevalence of smartphones has led to a significant shift toward mobile shopping. E-commerce businesses are optimizing their websites and applications for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience for on-the-go consumers. Mobile payment options and streamlined checkouts are becoming increasingly important as more users make purchases using their smartphones.

Subscription-based Models

Subscription-based e-commerce models are gaining popularity, offering consumers a convenient way to receive products regularly. From curated subscription boxes to essentials like groceries and toiletries, businesses are capitalizing on the subscription trend to build a steady and predictable revenue stream. Customers appreciate the convenience and personalized touch of subscriptions, fostering long-term relationships between brands and consumers.

Community-Centric E-Commerce

In 2024, e-commerce platforms are recognizing the significance of fostering a sense of community among their users. Brands are investing in building online communities where customers can share experiences, reviews, and product recommendations. Community-centric features such as forums, discussion boards, and live Q&A sessions create a virtual space for users to connect with like-minded individuals who share similar interests or preferences. This trend not only enhances brand loyalty but also provides businesses with valuable insights into customer needs and preferences, allowing for more agile and customer-centric decision-making. As the digital marketplace continues to expand, the sense of belonging and shared experiences within these online communities becomes a powerful driver for e-commerce success.

As we navigate through 2024, e-commerce continues to evolve, driven by changing consumer preferences and technological advancements. From a focus on sustainability and personalized experiences to the integration of social commerce and the dominance of mobile shopping, businesses must adapt to these trends to remain competitive in the ever-expanding digital marketplace. Embracing these changes not only enhances the customer experience but also positions e-commerce brands for success in a landscape that is constantly reshaping itself.

The Impact of Valentine's Day Marketing

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 12:00:01 GMT

Love Is In The (Digital) Air

'Woo' Your Customers This Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, a celebration of love and affection, has evolved into a significant cultural and commercial phenomenon. Beyond the traditional expressions of love, businesses and marketers seize the opportunity to capitalize on the season of romance. In this blog, we'll explore the profound impact of Valentine's Day marketing on both consumers and businesses.

Emotional Connection

Valentine's Day marketing is unique in its ability to evoke strong emotions. It taps into the universal desire for connection and love, creating a perfect environment for brands to foster emotional bonds with their audience. Successful campaigns often play on sentimental themes, emphasizing the importance of love, relationships, and heartfelt gestures. Brands that effectively harness these emotions stand to create lasting connections with consumers as the association of positive feelings becomes linked to their products or services.

Increased Consumer Spending

One of the most noticeable impacts of Valentine's Day marketing is the surge in consumer spending. The National Retail Federation reports that millions of people open their wallets during the weeks leading up to February 14th, with expenditures ranging from gifts and flowers to dining experiences and romantic getaways. This influx of spending is a boon for businesses, especially those in the retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors. Savvy marketers tailor their campaigns to tap into consumer desire to express love through thoughtful purchases.

Diverse Target Audience

Valentine's Day isn't just for couples. Forward-thinking marketers have recognized the potential of broadening their target audience to include singles, friends, and pet owners. Anti-Valentine's Day campaigns have gained popularity, appealing to those who may not be celebrating traditional romantic love. By recognizing and catering to diverse demographics, businesses can expand their reach and make Valentine's Day marketing more inclusive and relatable to a wider audience.

Social Media Amplification

The digital age has transformed the landscape of Valentine's Day marketing, with social media playing a pivotal role. Campaigns go beyond traditional advertising methods, utilizing platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to engage with audiences on a personal level. Hashtags, challenges, and interactive content contribute to the virality of campaigns, making them more shareable and extending their reach far beyond initial expectations. The immediacy and interconnectedness of social media enhance the impact of Valentine's Day marketing, allowing brands to engage directly with their audience in real-time.

Brand Visibility & Recognition

Valentine's Day provides a golden opportunity for brands to increase visibility and enhance recognition. Creative and memorable campaigns become a talking point, generating buzz and word-of-mouth marketing. As consumers discuss and share their favorite Valentine's Day advertisements, brands enjoy heightened awareness, creating a lasting impression that extends beyond the holiday itself. Consistent and thoughtful Valentine's Day marketing can contribute to long-term brand loyalty as consumers associate positive sentiments with the brand.

The impact of Valentine's Day marketing is profound and multifaceted. From emotional connections and increased consumer spending to diverse target audiences and social media amplification, businesses can leverage this romantic holiday to enhance brand visibility and recognition. By tapping into the universal themes of love and affection, marketers can create campaigns that resonate with consumers and leave a lasting impression, fostering brand loyalty in the process. As Valentine's Day continues to hold its place as a cultural and commercial landmark, businesses that embrace its marketing potential are poised for success in the ever-evolving landscape of consumer engagement.

Unraveling the Five S's of Digital Marketing

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Strategy, SEO, Social Media, SEM and Site Design

A Digital Symphony

Digital marketing has become an essential part of every business strategy. It is a powerful tool that helps businesses reach their target audience, engage with them effectively, and ultimately drive sales. However, to maximize the potential of digital marketing, it is important to understand its fundamental principles. In this blog post, we will explore the five S's of digital marketing: Strategy, SEO, Social Media, SEM and Site Design.

Strategy: The Foundation of Digital Marketing

The first 'S' in digital marketing is Strategy. A well-defined digital marketing strategy acts as a roadmap that guides all your online activities and helps you achieve your business goals. It involves identifying your target audience, understanding their needs and preferences, setting clear objectives, and determining the best ways to reach and engage your audience.

A good digital marketing strategy should be flexible enough to adapt to changes in market trends and customer behavior. It should also include a plan for measuring performance and adjusting tactics based on results. Without a solid strategy in place, your digital marketing efforts may lack direction and fail to deliver the desired outcomes.

SEO: Enhancing Visibility in the Digital Landscape

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is another crucial aspect of digital marketing. SEO involves optimizing your website content with relevant keywords so that it ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). High rankings on SERPs increase your visibility online and attract more organic traffic to your website.

SEO is not just about stuffing keywords into your content; it also involves improving site speed, ensuring mobile-friendliness, creating high-quality backlinks, providing a great user experience among other things. Remember that SEO is an ongoing process; search engine algorithms are constantly changing, so you need to keep up-to-date with the latest SEO practices.

Social Media: Engaging Your Audience

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn have become indispensable tools in digital marketing. They provide businesses with a platform to interact directly with their audience, build relationships, and foster brand loyalty.

Effective social media marketing involves more than just posting regular updates. It requires creating engaging content that resonates with your audience, responding to comments and queries promptly, and staying active on the platforms where your target audience spends most of their time. Social media also offers valuable insights into customer behavior which can be used to refine your overall digital marketing strategy.

SEM: Boosting Your Online Presence

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is another key component of digital marketing. While SEO focuses on improving organic search rankings, SEM involves paid advertising strategies such as Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising and display advertising.

SEM allows businesses to increase their visibility on search engines rapidly. It can be particularly useful for new businesses that are yet to establish their presence online or for promoting specific products or services. However, SEM requires careful planning and management to ensure that your advertising budget is spent effectively.

Site Design: Creating a User-Friendly Experience

The final 'S' in digital marketing is Site Design. Your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers, so it's crucial that it makes a good impression.

A well-designed w ebsite should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and fast-loading. It should also provide valuable content that meets the needs of your visitors and encourages them to take action – whether that's making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter or contacting you for more information.

Understanding the five S's of digital marketing - Strategy, SEO, Social Media, SEM and Site Design - can help you create an effective digital marketing plan that drives traffic to your website, engages your audience and boosts sales. Remember that successful digital marketing requires ongoing effort; it's not a one-time task but an ongoing process that needs to be continually monitored and adjusted to meet changing market conditions and customer needs.

10 Types of Digital Marketing

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Innovate & Elevate

Decoding Key Marketing Strategies

Digital marketing has become the cornerstone of reaching and engaging with target audiences effectively. As your trusted partner in the digital realm, Northeast Kingdom Online is here to guide you through the diverse landscape of digital marketing. Let's delve into the 10 types of digital marketing strategies that can elevate your brand in the digital space.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the backbone of digital marketing, focusing on optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). By incorporating relevant keywords, creating quality content, and improving website structure, SEO enhances your online visibility and attracts organic traffic.

Content Marketing

Content is king, and content marketing revolves around creating and distributing valuable, relevant content to attract and engage a target audience. Whether through blog posts, videos, infographics, or social media, compelling content establishes your brand as an authority in your industry and fosters customer loyalty.

Social Media Marketing

Leverage the power of social media platforms to connect with your audience, build brand awareness, and drive engagement. Crafting a consistent and compelling social media presence across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn can significantly boost your brand's visibility and interaction with potential customers.

Email Marketing

Despite the rise of newer marketing channels, email marketing remains a potent tool for nurturing leads and retaining customers. Personalized and targeted email campaigns can effectively deliver promotional content, updates, and offers directly to your audience's inbox, fostering a direct and ongoing relationship.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

PPC advertising allows you to bid for ad placement in search engine results or on various websites. You only pay when users click on your ad, making it a cost-effective way to drive targeted traffic to your website. Platforms like Google Ads and social media advertising enable precise targeting based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.

Affiliate Marketing

Collaborate with influencers, bloggers, or other businesses to promote your products or services. In affiliate marketing, partners earn a commission for each sale or lead generated through their referral. This strategy not only expands your reach but also aligns your brand with influencers who resonate with your target audience.

Influencer Marketing

Capitalize on the influence of individuals with a substantial online following to promote your brand. Influencer marketing involves partnering with influencers to create authentic and engaging content that introduces your products or services to a wider audience, fostering trust and credibility.

Video Marketing

The popularity of video content continues to soar. Video marketing involves creating engaging videos to showcase your products, share testimonials, or provide valuable information. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are powerful channels for reaching audiences through visually compelling storytelling.

SMS Marketing

Capitalize on the ubiquity of mobile devices with SMS marketing. Send targeted and personalized text messages to your audience, promoting special offers, discounts, or event notifications. SMS marketing is a direct and immediate communication channel that can drive engagement and conversions.

Local SEO & Geo-targeting

Enhance your visibility in local searches by optimizing your online presence for specific geographic locations. Local SEO strategies, such as creating a Google My Business profile, managing online reviews, and using location-based keywords, help businesses appear in local search results and attract nearby customers.

Implementing a diverse and integrated digital marketing strategy is essential for staying competitive. At Northeast Kingdom Online, we specialize in tailoring these strategies to suit your business goals and drive tangible results. Whether it's optimizing your website for search engines, crafting compelling content, or harnessing the power of social media, we're here to navigate the digital realm and elevate your brand to new heights.

7 Key Search Trends to Watch in 2024

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT

The Next Wave

2024's Search Trends

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. As we enter 2024, businesses are gearing up to adapt to new search trends that are poised to shape the online landscape. Northeast Kingdom Online, your trusted partner in digital marketing, website design, and social media management, brings you the seven key search trends to watch in 2024.

Voice Search Optimization (VSO)

With the increasing popularity of smart speakers and voice-enabled devices, voice search is on the rise. Optimizing your website for natural language queries is essential to capture this growing audience. Consider incorporating long-tail keywords and creating content that answers specific questions, aligning with how users speak rather than type.

Video Content Dominance

Video continues to dominate online content consumption, and search engines are prioritizing video results. Invest in creating high-quality, engaging video content for your website and social media platforms. Utilize video transcripts and relevant keywords to enhance search engine visibility, ensuring your content is discoverable by your target audience.

Mobile-First Indexing

Google's shift to mobile-first indexing means that the mobile version of your website is now the primary version considered for ranking and indexing. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, with responsive design and fast loading times. This not only improves user experience but also boosts your search engine rankings.

User Experience (UX) Signals

Search engines are increasingly emphasizing user experience as a ranking factor. Websites that offer a seamless, intuitive, and user-friendly experience are likely to rank higher in search results. Focus on improving page load speed, navigation, and overall website accessibility to enhance your UX signals.

E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Google places a strong emphasis on E-A-T when evaluating the quality of content. Ensure that your website content is not only well-written and informative but also showcases your expertise in your industry. Build authority through high-quality backlinks and transparently communicate information to establish trust with your audience.

Semantic Search and Natural Language Processing

As search engines become more sophisticated, they are better able to understand the context and intent behind user queries. Incorporate semantic markup, schema.org, and structured data to provide search engines with additional context about your content. This helps search engines deliver more accurate and relevant results to users.

Local SEO & Hyperlocal Targeting

Local search continues to be a crucial aspect of digital marketing, especially for businesses with a physical presence. Optimize your website for local keywords, create and maintain a Google My Business profile, and encourage positive online reviews. Additionally, leverage hyperlocal targeting in your advertising campaigns to reach audiences in specific geographic areas.

As your dedicated digital marketing partner, Northeast Kingdom Online is committed to helping you navigate these search trends and stay ahead in the competitive online landscape. Whether it's optimizing your website for voice search, creating compelling video content, or enhancing your local SEO efforts, we have the expertise to elevate your online presence.

In 2024, staying informed and adapting to these key search trends will not only improve your search engine rankings but also enhance your overall digital marketing strategy. Embrace the opportunities presented by these trends, and let Northeast Kingdom Online be your guide to success in the dynamic world of digital marketing.

What Is SEO?

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 12:00:01 GMT

SEO Demystified

Unveiling the Power of Search Engine Optimization for Digital Success

In the digital era, where businesses are increasingly moving online, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become a buzzword. If you're new to the world of digital marketing, you might be wondering: What is SEO and how do you use it? In this blog post, we will demystify SEO and provide a comprehensive guide on how to use it effectively to boost your online presence.

Understanding SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It's a digital marketing strategy that focuses on enhancing a website's visibility in organic (non-paid) search engine results. The primary objective of SEO is to attract more traffic to your website by improving its ranking on search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo.

SEO involves various techniques that make your website more appealing to search engines. These include optimizing your web content with relevant keywords, improving site navigation, ensuring mobile-friendliness, and building high-quality backlinks.

Why is SEO important?

In today's competitive market, SEO is more crucial than ever. Search engines serve millions of users per day looking for answers to their queries or solutions to their problems. If you have a web site, blog or online store, SEO can help your business grow and meet its objectives.

Most search engine users (more than 65% according to various studies) are likely to click on one of the top 5 suggestions in the search engine results pages (SERPS). To take advantage of this and gain visitors to your website or customers to your online store, your website needs to appear in one of these top positions.

SEO not only improves a website’s overall searchability and visibility but also contributes towards creating a better user experience. With the evolution of Search Engine algorithms focusing more on user experience metrics and mobile-first indexing; it’s evident that user experience directly affects an SEO campaign’s effectiveness.

How to Use SEO: The Basics

To effectively use SEO, you need to understand its two main components: on-page and off-page SEO.

1. On-Page SEO: This involves optimizing the elements on your website that you have control over. These include your content (such as blog posts, product descriptions, and images) and the technical aspects of your site (like site speed and mobile-friendliness).

Keyword research is a crucial part of on-page SEO. It involves identifying the words and phrases that potential customers might use when searching for your products or services online. Once you've identified these keywords, incorporate them into your web content naturally and strategically.

2. Off-Page SEO: This refers to actions taken outside of your own website to impact your rankings within se arch engine results pages (SERPs). The most common off-page SEO practice is backlink building, which involves getting other reputable websites to link back to yours. Search engines view these backlinks as votes of confidence in your content, which can significantly improve your site's ranking.

SEO Best Practices

While understanding the basics of on-page and off-page SEO is essential, it's also important to stay updated with the latest SEO best practices:

1. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: When it comes to content creation and link building, quality matters more than quantity. Focus on creating valuable content that answers users' queries effectively and earning backlinks from reputable sites in your industry.

2. Optimize for Mobile: With more than half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly is no longer optional—it's a necessity.

3. Use Analytics Tools: Tools like Google Analytics can provide valuable insights into how well your SEO efforts are working. They allow you to track various metrics like organic traffic, bounce rate, conversion rate, etc., helping you make data-driven decisions.

SEO is an integral part of digital marketing that can significantly boost your online visibility and drive more traffic to your website. However, it's not a one-time task but an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and adaptation to the ever-changing search engine algorithms. By understanding what SEO is and how to use it effectively, you can stay ahead of the competition and make your mark in the digital world.

Branding in the Digital Age: The Importance of Fine Tuning Your Image

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 12:00:01 GMT

Mastering The Digital Canvas

Strategies for Crafting a Cohesive Online Brand

Establishing a strong online presence is not just about having a website—it's about cultivating a cohesive online identity that resonates with your audience. Northeast Kingdom Online understands the pivotal role that branding plays in shaping the success of businesses in the virtual realm. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of branding in the digital age and share insights on creating a cohesive online identity that leaves a lasting impression.

Understanding Digital Branding

Digital branding is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the comprehensive representation of your brand across various online platforms. It goes beyond mere visual elements, weaving together messaging, user experience, and overall brand personality. In the digital age, where first impressions are often digital, a well-defined online brand is instrumental in shaping how your audience perceives and connects with your business.

Consistent Visual Elements

Visual consistency is a cornerstone of effective digital branding. Whether a visitor lands on your website, engages with your social media content, or interacts with your email campaigns, maintaining a consistent color palette, typography, and imagery is paramount. This uniform visual language not only strengthens brand recognition but also instills a sense of reliability and professionalism.

Creating a style guide that outlines the specific visual elements and guidelines for usage i s a practical step in ensuring consistency across all digital touchpoints. Businesses can collaborate with design experts like NEKO or utilize online tools to create and maintain a cohesive visual identity.

Compelling Storytelling

In an era where authenticity and connection are paramount, storytelling emerges as a powerful tool in digital branding. Crafting a compelling brand narrative involves more than just listing products or services—it's about creating a storyline that resonates with your target audience on a personal level. Share the journey of your brand, highlight your values, and showcase the human side of your business.

Businesses can leverage various content formats, such as blog posts, videos, and social media updates, to tell their story. By integrating storytelling into their digital strategy, they not only engage their audience but also establish a memorable and relatable brand image.

Responsive Web Design

Seamless and responsive web design is fundamental for a positive user experience in the digital landscape. As users access websites from an array of devices, a responsive design ensures a consistent and enjoyable interaction across desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. Prioritizing user experience through intuitive navigation, quick load times, and mobile optimization enhances not only user satisfaction but also contributes to a positive perception of your brand.

Businesses can collaborate with web design professionals who specialize in responsive design to ensure that their websites are not only visuall y appealing but also function seamlessly on any device, providing a cohesive and accessible brand experience.

Social Media Consistency

Social media platforms serve as potent tools for brand promotion, but maintaining consistency across these channels is paramount. Businesses should align their social media strategies with their overall branding efforts, ensuring that the brand voice, messaging, and visuals remain cohesive. This consistency fosters a unified brand presence and reinforces brand values across diverse platforms.

Creating a content calendar that integrates with the overall brand strategy can help businesses maintain a consistent social media presence. This includes not only the content itself but also the tone, style, and visual elements used across various social media channels.

Engaging Content Creation

Content is the lifeblood of digital branding. Whether through blog posts, videos, or social media updates, compelling content reinforces your brand message and values, establishing your brand's authority in the digital space. Creating a content strategy that aligns with your overall brand goals ensures that your content is not only engaging but also consistent with the overarching brand narrative.

Businesses can leverage various content formats to cater to diverse audience preferences. Collaborating with content experts or agencies can provide valuable insights and creative input, ensuring that th e content aligns with the brand's identity while resonating with the target audience.

Measuring & Adapting

In the digital realm, data is a valuable asset. Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) allows businesses to measure the effectiveness of their digital branding efforts. This includes analyzing website traffic, social media engagement, conversion rates, and other relevant metrics. By gaining insights into user behavior and preferences, businesses can adapt and refine their online identity for continuous improvement.

Regularly reviewing analytics data and gathering user feedback provides valuable informa tion about what resonates with the audience and what may need adjustment. This iterative process of measurement and adaptation ensures that the digital brand remains dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs and expectations of the target audience.

Creating a cohesive online identity is a nuanced process that requires strategic thinking and creativity. It's about shaping a brand that not only stands out but also resonates authentically with your audience. As businesses navigate the complexities of the digital age, crafting a strong digital brand is pivotal for long-term success.

Optimizing Conversions: How to Turn Website Visitors into Customers

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Unlocking Digital Success

Crafting a Path from Clicks to Customers

The success of a website is measured not only by the number of visitors it attracts but by its ability to convert those visitors into customers. In this blog post, we'll explore the art and science of optimizing conversions, offering insights and tips on turning website visitors into valuable customers.

Understanding The Conversation Funnel

Before delving into optimization strategies, it's essential to grasp the concept of the conversion funnel. The funnel represents the journey a visitor takes from landing on your website to completing a desired action, such as making a purchase. Aligning your website design and content with each stage of the funnel guides visitors seamlessly toward conversion.

Compelling Call To Action (CTA)

At the heart of conversion optimization lies the call-to-action (CTA). Whether it's "Buy Now," "Sign Up," or "Learn More," a compelling CTA prompts visitors to take the desired action. A strategically placed and designed CTA, using persuasive language, encourages immediate engagement, making the next step in the customer journey clear and enticing.

User-Friendly Website Design

A seamless and user-friendly website design is fundamental to conversion optimization. Intuitive navigation, clear information architecture, and a visually appealing layout create a positive user experience. Visitors should easily find what they're looking for without encountering obstacles that might lead to frustration or abandonment.

Responsive design is critical, ensuring that your website functions flawlessly on various devices. With the increasing prevalence of mobile browsing, a responsive website design is key to capturing potential customers across all platforms.

Compelling Content

Content is a powerful tool for engagement and conversion. Invest in high-quality, informative, and persuasive content that not only attracts visitors but also keeps them engaged. Whether through blog posts, product descriptions, or multimedia elements, content should address the needs and interests of the target audience, building trust and credibility.

Strategic Use of Visuals

The impact of visuals on user behavior cannot be overstated. Employ the strategic use of visuals, including high-quality images, videos, and graphics, to enhance the overall user experience. Visual elements should complement the content, conveying information in a compelling and easily digestible manner. Well-designed visuals not only capture attention but also contribute to a positive perception of your brand.

Streamlined Checkout Process

One of the critical points in the conversion funnel is the checkout process. A cumbersome or lengthy checkout process can lead to cart abandonment. Ensure a streamlined and user-friendly checkout process, minimizing the number of steps required to complete a purchase. Features such as guest checkout, multiple payment options, and progress indicators can significantly enhance the efficiency of this crucial stage.

Implementing Trust Signals

Building trust is paramount in converting visitors into customers. Incorporate trust signals throughout your website, such as trust badges, customer testimonials, and secure payment icons, to reassure visitors and instill confidence in the legitimacy and security of your business. Transparent policies, such as clear return and refund information, further contribute to building trust with potential customers.

Data-Driven Optimization

In the digital age, data is a powerful ally in the quest for conversion optimization. Utilize analytics tools to track user behavior, identify bottlenecks in the conversion funnel, and measure the effectiveness of various elements on the website. A data-driven approach allows businesses to make informed decisions and continuously refine their strategies for optimal results.

Optimizing conversions is an ongoing process that requires a strategic blend of design, content, and user experience. By understanding the conversion funnel, implementing compelling CTAs, prioritizing user-friendly design, creating compelling content, using visuals strategically, streamlining the checkout process, implementing trust signals, and leveraging data-driven insights, businesses can unlock the full potential of their online presence and drive meaningful conversions.

Off-Season SEO: Why Consistency Matters Year-Round

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 12:00:01 GMT

Staying Relevant During the Off-Season with a Killer SEO Strategy

In the world of digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial tool for driving organic traffic to your website. Many businesses focus their SEO efforts during peak seasons, such as the holiday season or the launch of a new product. However, maintaining an SEO strategy during the off-season is equally important. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of keeping your SEO strategy consistent year-round and the benefits it can bring to your online presence.

Search Engines Don’t Hit the Snooze Button

The digital world operates 24/7, and search engines like Google never take a break. They’re busy little bees, indexing and ranking websites round the clock. When you neglect your SEO efforts during the off-season, you’re risking your site’s visibility, losing valuable search engine rankings and organic traffic. Even during slower periods, users are still searching for information, products, and services related to your industry. By maintaining your SEO strategy, you ensure that your website remains visible and competitive.

Long-Term Gains

SEO is a long-term game, and the results don't happen overnight. Building a strong online presence takes time and consistent effort. By maintaining your SEO strategy during the off-season, you're laying the groundwork for sustained success. Your website will be well-positioned to capture the attention of potential customers when the high season returns.

Algorithm Updates

Search engines are constantly evolving their algorithms to deliver better and more relevant results to users. By staying engaged with SEO throughout the year, you can adapt to these changes more effectively. Ignoring your SEO strategy during the off-season may leave your website ill-prepared to handle algorithm updates, potentially causing a drop in rankings and visibility.

Content Creation and Refinement

One key aspect of SEO is content creation. During the off-season, you have the opportunity to create and refine your content. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, and other forms of media. By consistently producing high-quality content, you not only keep your website fresh but also give search engines more reasons to index your site and rank it higher. Engaging content also keeps your audience interested and informed, leading to better customer retention.

Competitive Advantage

Your competitors might be taking a break during the off-season, thinking that SEO can be put on hold. Seizing this opportunity to maintain or even increase your SEO efforts can give you a significant advantage. While others are scrambling to catch up, your website will maintain its strong online presence.

Brand Consistency

Your website is an essential part of your brand. Consistency in your online presence, including SEO efforts, is key to maintaining a strong brand identity. When your customers can rely on your website to provide useful information year-round, it builds trust and reliability.

Off-Season Marketing

The off-season can be an excellent time to focus on alternative marketing strategies. By maintaining your SEO efforts, you can attract visitors to your website and guide them toward your other marketing channels. Whether it's email marketing, social media, or other promotional activities, your SEO strategy can serve as the bridge to connect with your audience.

In today's digital age, SEO is an ongoing commitment that pays dividends year-round. The importance of maintaining an SEO strategy during the off-season cannot be overstated. Consistency in your SEO efforts ensures that your website remains visible to potential customers, builds trust, and sets the stage for long-term success. So, don't take a vacation from SEO during the off-season; instead, use this time to strengthen your online presence and stay ahead of the competition.

For SEO results that will put you on the map, contact Northeast Kingdom Online today.

Choosing The Right Marketing Team For Your Small Business

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Unlocking Growth

Why Is Partnering With The Right Marketing Team So Important?

From captivating website designs to effective digital marketing strategies, finding the right team to elevate your brand can make all the difference. As the heartbeat of your online endeavors, your chosen marketing team plays a pivotal role in shaping your business's identity and driving growth. Here are key considerations to ensure you're choosing the right marketing team for your small business.

Understanding Your Business Needs

Before embarking on the quest for the perfect marketing team, take a moment to deeply understand your business needs. Define your goals, target audience, and the specific areas where you need assistance. Are you looking for a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, an engaging website design, or both? This clarity will guide your search and help you find a team that aligns with your objectives.

Expertise & Experience

The digital landscape is dynamic, with trends evolving rapidly. Your chosen marketing team should not only be well-versed in the latest technologies but also have a track record of success. Look for teams with a diverse portfolio that showcases their expertise across different industries. A seasoned team brings valuable insights and can adapt strategies to suit the unique needs of your small business.

Comprehensive Services

While specialization is crucial, having a team that offers a range of services can be a significant advantage. From website design and development to search engine optimization (SEO), social media management, and content creation, a comprehensive marketing team ensures that all aspects of your online presence are cohesive and effective. This integrated approach can lead to a more seamless and impactful brand experience for your customers.

Client Testimonials & Reviews

One of the most reliable ways to gauge the effectiveness of a marketing team is by reviewing client testimonials and online reviews. Happy clients are a testament to the team's ability to deliver results and provide excellent service. Look for testimonials that highlight not only the success of the campaigns but also the team's communication, responsiveness, and commitment to client satisfaction.

Customization & Flexibility

Every small business is unique, and your marketing strategy should reflect that. A good marketing team understands the importance of customization and tailoring their approach to suit your specific needs. Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions, and opt for a team that takes the time to understand your brand, industry, and objectives, crafting a strategy that is uniquely yours.

Communication & Transparency

Effective communication is the bedrock of any successful partnership. Choose a marketing team that values transparency and keeps you in the loop throughout the process. Regular updates, clear reporting, and open lines of communication ensure that you are aware of the progress and can provide input when necessary. A collaborative relationship with your marketing team fosters trust and enables them to better understand your evolving business needs.

Budget Considerations

While investing in digital marketing is essential, it's equally important to find a team that aligns with your budget. Be transparent about your financial constraints and work with a team that can provide scalable solutions. A good marketing team will prioritize your objectives while working within your budgetary constraints, ensuring a sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership.

Choosing the right marketing team for your small business is a critical decision that requires careful consideration. By understanding your needs, seeking experienced and versatile teams, and prioritizing open communication and transparency, you can set the foundation for a successful online presence. The right marketing team will not only elevate your brand but also become a valuable partner in your journey towards business growth in the dynamic digital landscape.

Anatomy of a Successful E-Commerce Website

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 20:47:21 GMT

Navigating the Digital Marketplace

Beyond the 'Checkout' Button

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital commerce, having a robust online presence is no longer a luxury but a necessity for retailers looking to thrive in the competitive market. An effective e-commerce website is the cornerstone of this online strategy, serving as the virtual storefront for businesses. We understand the intricate details that contribute to the success of an e-commerce platform. In this blog post, we'll delve into the anatomy of a successful e-commerce website, offering valuable tips for online retailers.

The success of an e-commerce website hinges on a combination of design, functionality, and user experience. At Northeast Kingdom Online, we're here to help you leverage your expertise to create a dynamic and effective online presence, driving growth and success in the ever-evolving world of digital commerce.

Importance of Email Marketing In the Off-Season

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:19:44 GMT

Slow Season Success

How Email Marketing Enhances Your Business Year-Round

In the world of digital marketing, there's a common misconception that email marketing is only effective during peak seasons or when you have something big to promote. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Email marketing is a versatile and powerful tool that can play a crucial role in maintaining and growing your business even during the off-season. In this blog post, we'll delve into the importance of email marketing during quieter periods and explore how it can benefit your business.

Build Stronger Customer Relationships

During the off-season, the focus shifts from rapid sales to nurturing customer relationships. Email marketing allows you to engage with your audience on a more personal level. You can send personalized messages, express gratitude for their continued support, and provide them with valuable content that keeps your brand top-of-mind. By building stronger customer relationships, you foster loyalty and create advocates who will stick with your brand when the busy season returns.

Strategic Product Launches

The off-season is the ideal time to plan and execute strategic product launches. Email marketing provides a direct and targeted channel to introduce new products or services to your audience. Tease these offerings through email campaigns, provide exclusive previews, and offer early access to generate excitement and anticipation. This approach ensures a smoother and more successful product launch when the peak season arrives.

Data-Driven Insights

Email marketing is not just about sending emails; it's also about collecting valuable data. During the off-season, you can take the time to analyze the performance of your email campaigns. By reviewing open rates, click-through rates, and conversion metrics, you gain insights into what works and what doesn't. This data-driven approach allows you to optimize your strategies, experiment with new approaches, and refine your email marketing efforts for maximum effectiveness in the busy season.

Off-Peak Promotions

While peak seasons are undoubtedly essential for generating revenue, the off-season provides an opportunity to run off-peak promotions. Email marketing is a cost-effective way to drive sales during quieter periods. You can offer exclusive discounts, special promotions, or bundle deals to entice your subscribers to make a purchase. By strategically timing these promotions, you can balance your revenue streams and keep your business thriving year-round.

Email marketing is a year-round, invaluable tool for businesses. Its adaptability and effectiveness shine during the off-season when building customer relationships, planning strategic product launches, analyzing data-driven insights, and running off-peak promotions are paramount. By mastering these strategies, you can maintain engagement, nurture loyalty, and prepare for the busy times ahead, ensuring a more robust and sustainable business model. At Northeast Kingdom Online, we're here to help you leverage the power of email marketing to keep your brand in the spotlight and help your business thrive, regardless of the season.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can enhance your email marketing strategy.

Best Time For Website Redesign? Now!

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:34:03 GMT

Catch the Digital Wave

Reinvent Your Online Presence

In today's digital age, your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. It's your virtual storefront, and just like a physical store, it needs to be appealing, functional, and up-to-date. Your website is a reflection of your brand, and it can significantly impact your online presence, credibility, and, ultimately, your business success. That's why it's essential to know the best time for a website redesign. And the answer is simple: Now!

A Dynamic Digital Landscape

The digital landscape is constantly evolving. New design trends, web technologies, and search engine algorithms emerge regularly. What was stylish and effective a few years ago may now appear outdated and less functional. To keep your website competitive and engaging for your audience, you need to stay ahead of the curve.

Google's Love For Freshness

Search engines like Google favor websites that provide fresh and relevant content. Regularly updating and refreshing your website can improve its search engine ranking and visibility. If your website has been static for years, a redesign can help you incorporate these changes, making it more appealing to search engines and, in turn, to potential customers.

Reflect Your Brand Evolution

As your business grows, your brand identity may evolve. Your website should reflect these changes. If you've rebranded, changed your business focus, or expanded your product or service offerings, a website redesign is a must. Your website should accurately represent who you are now, not who you were when it was initially built.

Responsive Design Is A Must

With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, having a responsive website is not an option; it's a necessity. A responsive design ensures that your site looks and functions well on all devices, providing an optimal user experience. If your website isn't responsive, you're likely losing potential customers who visit your site on mobile devices.

Improve User Experience

User experience (UX) is a critical factor in the success of your website. If your site is challenging to navigate, slow to load, or cluttered with outdated information, you risk driving visitors away. A website redesign allows you to optimize the user experience, making it easier for visitors to find what they're looking for and increasing the chances of conversions.

Security & Performance Enhancements

Security is a paramount concern in the digital realm. If your website is outdated, it might be vulnerable to security threats and attacks. A website redesign can include the implementation of the latest security measures, protecting both your data and your visitors' information. Additionally, optimizing the performance of your site ensures that it loads quickly and efficiently, preventing visitors from getting frustrated and leaving.

Stay Competitive

Your competitors are not standing still. They are continually working on improving their online presence and user experience. To stay competitive in your industry, you need to invest in your website. A well-designed, modern, and user-friendly website can set you apart from the competition and attract more customers.

Analyze & Adapt

A website redesign provides an opportunity to analyze your current website's performance and identify areas that need improvement. By collecting data on user behavior, you can gain insights into what's working and what's not. This information can help you make informed decisions during the redesign process, ensuring that your new website is more effective and aligned with your business goals.

Boost Conversations

Ultimately, your website's primary goal is to convert visitors into customers. A well-planned redesign can focus on optimizing conversion paths, making it easier for visitors to take the desired actions, whether that's making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting your business.

SEO Optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an ongoing process. As search engine algorithms evolve, your website needs to adapt to maintain its visibility in search results. A website redesign is an excellent opportunity to ensure that your site is fully optimized for search engines, helping you attract organic traffic and reach a broader audience.

In the fast-paced digital world, your website is a crucial asset for your business. It's not something you can set and forget. To stay competitive, improve user experience, boost conversions, and maintain a strong online presence, a website redesign is essential. The best time for a website redesign is now. Don't wait until your site becomes outdated and ineffective. Take the leap and invest in a fresh, modern, and user-friendly website that will help your business thrive in the digital age. Contact Northeast Kingdom Online today, and let's start the journey toward a better online presence for your brand.

Looking for a website revamp? Contact NEKO today!

How SEO & Web Design Work Together for Online Success

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 13:00:01 GMT

Unlocking the Synergy Between Web Design and SEO

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses to thrive. Two crucial elements of this online success are Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and web design. While they are distinct disciplines, SEO and web design are closely intertwined and should work harmoniously to achieve the best results. Today we'll explore how SEO and web design collaborate to enhance your online presence and drive success,

User Experience & Web Design

User experience (UX) is a cornerstone of effective web design, and it directly impacts SEO. A well-designed website should be user-friendly, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. Here's how web design contributes to SEO through a positive user experience:

Content Structure & SEO

A well-structured website design can significantly impact the organization and accessibility of your content. Effective content structure makes it easier for search engines to understand your website's relevance and context. Here's how it works:

Consistency & Branding

Effective web design goes hand in hand with establishing a consistent brand identity, which is vital for SEO. Brand recognition can impact user behavior and trust, influencing search engine rankings. Here's how consistency in design and branding benefits SEO:

In the digital landscape, SEO and web design are not standalone concepts, but rather collaborative components that can elevate your online success. When these two elements work together seamlessly, your website becomes more than just visually appealing; it becomes a well-optimized online platform that attracts and retains visitors while also climbing the ranks in search engine results pages. To achieve the best results, consider enlisting the expertise of professionals who understand the symbiotic relationship between SEO and web design, ensuring that your online presence thrives.

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Web Accessibility: Ensuring Your Site is Inclusive for All Users

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 13:00:02 GMT

The Importance Of Web Accessibility & An App Made For It

A website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. To reach a broader audience and ensure that everyone can access and navigate your site, web accessibility is paramount. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of web accessibility and introduce the "Accessibility by UserWay" app, a powerful tool that helps your website comply with ADA laws and adhere to WCAG 2.1 & 2.2 guidelines, making it inclusive for all users.

Understanding Web Accessibility

Web accessibility refers to designing and developing websites in a way that ensures all users, including those with disabilities, can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the content effectively. It's not just a matter of compliance with legal requirements but also a commitment to inclusivity and equal access for all. Here's why web accessibility matters:

Introducing "Accessibility By UserWay"

Accessibility by UserWay is a powerful app designed to make web accessibility implementation seamless and efficient for website owners and developers. This app stands out for its commitment to compliance with ADA law and adherence to the WCAG 2.1 & 2.2 guidelines at every step of your web accessibility journey. Let's explore how Accessibility by UserWay can help ensure your website is inclusive for all users:

1 Million Users And Counting

Accessibility by UserWay has gained the trust of over 1 million websites and millions of users with disabilities, making it a reliable and widely recognized solution for web accessibility needs. Here's why so many website owners have chosen UserWay:

Web accessibility is not just a legal requirement but also a moral obligation to ensure equal access to information and services for all users. The "Accessibility by UserWay" app offers an effective and efficient solution for website owners and developers to make their websites ADA-compliant and conform to WCAG 2.1 & 2.2 guidelines. Join the ranks of over 1 million websites that trust UserWay to provide an inclusive online experience for everyone, fostering a more accessible and equitable digital landscape.

Source Links:

Changes to Google Insights Metrics

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:53:49 GMT

Changes in Google Business Profile Insights

If you've noticed a decline in some of your Google Business Profile (GBP) metrics (formerly known as Google My Business), you might be curious about the reasons behind it. You might be asking yourself, " Why have my Google profile views dropped? "

Don't worry, there's no need to panic. The cause of this decline is a recent update to the Google API, which was implemented to enhance data accuracy and provide more precise search term information for local businesses. To better understand the changes in Google Business Profile performance metrics, continue reading.

What Are Google Business Profile Insight

GBP Insights offers data regarding a business's performance in local search, including metrics like profile views, how customers discover the business, and their interactions with the profile. Unlike other free Google tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics, Google Business Profile Insights is specifically tailored to local search presence and performance.

By consistently tracking local performance, businesses can gain valuable insights into their performance in local searches on both mobile and desktop platforms. This includes understanding how frequently specific search terms lead customers to their Business Profile.

This feature also provides a range of search-related metrics for measuring customer engagement and performance, suitable for organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large multi-location brands.

Changes in Google Business Profile Insights and Their Implications

Google has made some modifications to its APIs that affect the definition of certain metrics for GBP, including profile views, searches, and direction requests. These updates were implemented to improve the quality of data available through GBP.

As a result of these changes, Google has removed certain data points from its Business Profile performance insights dashboard.

These exclusions comprise:

Post views and clicks
Query volumes categorized by direct, brand, and discovery
Views across photos uploaded by users
This means that businesses will no longer have the same level of visibility into the performance of their Posts and photos as they did before.

However, businesses will still have access to the following metrics:

Map views (desktop and mobile)
Search views (desktop and mobile)
Website clicks
Call clicks
Driving direction clicks
Keyword queries

The most significant change is that previously, each interaction with a business profile on Search or Maps would count as a view. For instance, if a customer clicked on a GBP to view reviews and then requested directions, it would register as three separate views. With the recent update, all these interactions are now consolidated into a single unique user interaction within a 24-hour timeframe. Consequently, you might observe a decrease in profile views compared to previous periods. However, this change results in more accurate data that reflects the true nature of customer interactions.

What to Expect

Thanks to Google's API update, your Google Insights page will now include a detailed breakdown of searches, enabling you to see the specific search terms that led customers to your GBP. This new data provides a valuable opportunity to gain insights into your search engine optimization (SEO) and the keywords driving traffic to your business.

Additionally, you can anticipate the introduction of new, insightful customer interactions, including:

Business Bookings: The number of bookings received through the business profile.

Food Orders: The number of food orders placed through the business profile.

Business Conversations: The count of unique conversations initiated via the business profile.

2023 Holiday Online Shopping Statistics You Should Know!

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 16:03:29 GMT

2023 is looking like the longest holiday shopping season yet!

This year, people are buying their holiday gifts early. Very early.

Everyone has spent the past two years watching the pandemic impact on the holiday shopping season with supply chain issues, price fluctuations, and retail staff shortages.

Consumers are kicking off their shopping months in advance this year to get what they need, when they need it, and for the right price. In fact, as early as July, Google searches for “Black Friday deals” grew by over 200% in the U.S. compared to last year. This buyer enthusiasm means retailers have the chance to attract savvy shoppers early and distribute revenue opportunities across a longer period of time.

2023 Online Shopper Statistics

Sources:

https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/consumer-interest-in-holiday-season-deals
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/increase-holiday-sales

5 Key Elements of a High-Converting Landing Page

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:00:01 GMT

Elements That Lead To Landing Page Success

Landing pages play a pivotal role in converting website visitors into leads or customers. A well-optimized landing page can make the difference between a casual visitor and a dedicated customer. In this blog post, we'll delve into the essential elements that make up a high-converting landing page, equipping you with the knowledge to maximize your online marketing efforts.

Creating a high-converting landing page requires careful consideration of these five key elements: a compelling headline, clear and concise copy, compelling visuals, a strong CTA, and trust-building elements. Remember that effective landing pages are not one-size-fits-all; they should be tailored to your specific audience and offer. Regular testing and optimization are also crucial to achieving the best results. By crafting landing pages that engage, inform, and convert, you can drive more leads and customers to your business and maximize the impact of your digital marketing efforts.

So urce Links:

The Power of Reviews: Managing Your Online Reputation

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:00:01 GMT

Are Reviews Important? The Short Answer: Absolutely.

An online presence is essential for businesses to thrive, and one crucial aspect of this presence is your online reputation. Online reviews, whether they're on Google, Yelp, or industry-specific platforms, have a significant impact on your reputation and, consequently, your success. In this blog post, we'll delve into the power of reviews and provide insights on managing your online reputation effectively, ensuring that your business shines in the digital landscape.

Understanding the Influence of Online Reviews

Your reputation is a precious asset that can significantly influence your business's success. By understanding the power of online reviews and actively managing your online reputation, you can ensure that your business shines brightly in the eyes of potential customers. Remember that authenticity, responsiveness, and a commitment to continuous improvement are key to fostering a positive online reputation that sets you apart in the competitive digital marketplace.

Source Links:

Why You Need Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 13:50:29 GMT

SEO stands for "Search Engine Optimization," and it refers to the practice of optimizing a website, its content, and its various elements to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). The primary goal of SEO is to attract organic (non-paid) traffic to a website by ensuring that it appears higher in search engine rankings when users search for relevant keywords or phrases.

There are several reasons why SEO is important:

SEO involves a combination of on-page optimizations (improving content, meta tags, URLs, etc.), technical optimizations (site speed, mobile-friendliness, structured data, etc.), and off-page optimizations (building high-quality backlinks, social signals, etc.). It's an ongoing process that requires monitoring, analysis, and adjustments to stay in line with search engine algorithm changes and user preferences.

Ultimately, SEO helps businesses connect with their target audience, increase online visibility, and achieve better results in the competitive online landscape.

US Retail E-Commerce Sales Set for Unstoppable Growth

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 14:06:13 GMT

The Soaring Trajectory: US retail eCommerce sales will reach $1.720 trillion by 2027

The digital landscape has revolutionized the way consumers shop, turning the traditional retail paradigm on its head. E-commerce, driven by technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences, has been steadily gaining ground, with the United States emerging as one of its most robust playgrounds. As we gaze into the crystal ball of economic trends, it becomes evident that the US retail e-commerce sector is poised for a remarkable and unyielding surge in growth through 2027.

Technological Advancements Fueling the Flame

The proliferation of smartphones, seamless mobile connectivity, and the advent of 5G are breathing life into the already vibrant e-commerce market. With smartphones acting as virtual shopping assistants, consumers can now browse, compare, and purchase products with unprecedented ease, regardless of their location. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are adding an immersive layer to the online shopping experience, bridging the gap between physical and digital retail environments.

Shifting Consumer Preferences

The shift towards e-commerce isn't just about convenience; it's also a reflection of changing consumer preferences. The younger generations, particularly millennials and Gen Z, have grown up in a digital era, and their shopping habits are inherently aligned with online platforms. These consumers value personalization, convenience, and unique shopping experiences, all of which e-commerce platforms can offer through targeted recommendations, easy navigation, and interactive interfaces.

The Influence of Social Commerce

Social media platforms are evolving beyond just networking tools; they are becoming powerful avenues for commerce. The integration of shopping features directly into platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest has transformed the way consumers discover and purchase products. The visual nature of these platforms aligns perfectly with the 'see now, buy now' mentality, driving impulse purchases and increasing e-commerce sales.

The future of US retail e-commerce is nothing short of electrifying. The convergence of technological advancements, changing consumer dynamics, and innovative business strategies are propelling this sector to unprecedented heights. As we journey towards 2027, the landscape will continue to evolve, presenting retailers with endless opportunities to adapt, innovate, and thrive in the fast-paced world of online commerce. Brace yourself for the e-commerce revolution – it's here to stay and soar!

Key stat from Insider Intelligence : US retail ecommerce sales will reach $1.720 trillion by 2027, hitting a milestone of more than 20% of overall retail sales, according to our forecast.

Source: https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/us-retail-ecommerce-sales-growth-2027?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=COTD%208.9.2023&utm_id=COTD%208.9.2023&utm_term=eMarketer%20Daily&utm_content=COTD%208.9.2023

The Art and Science of Professional Website Design

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:07:30 GMT

Creating a Digital Masterpiece

In today's digital age, a professional website is more than just an online presence; it serves as a virtual storefront, a brand ambassador, and a gateway to the global market. The significance of an aesthetically appealing and well-designed website cannot be understated. This blog article delves into the art and science of professional website design, exploring the key elements and principles that create a digital masterpiece.

Professional website design is a delicate balance between art and science, blending aesthetics with usability and functionality. By adopting user-centric design principles, embracing minimalism, ensuring responsiveness, maintaining branding consistency, and focusing on visual appeal, readability, and loading speed, web designers can create a digital masterpiece that captivates users and achieves business objectives. In the ever-evolving digital landscape, investing in professional website design remains a crucial component for success in the online world.

NEKO360 Website Editor Overview

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 21:31:26 GMT

Introduction to the NEKO360 Website Editor

Getting comfortable with the tools to edit your NEKO360 website is very important.
In the video below we show you around so you know more about how to navigate through the editor so you can customize your responsive website quickly and easily!

How Can Blog Posts Help Your Business?

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:45:21 GMT

The Power of Blog Posts

In today's digital age, where competition is fierce and online presence is paramount, businesses need to leverage every possible tool to stay ahead. One such powerful tool is blogging.

A well-crafted and strategically executed blog can do wonders for your business. At Northeast Kingdom Online, we understand the potential of blog posts in helping businesses thrive. In this blog post, we will explore how blog posts can benefit your business and why they are an essential part of your marketing strategy.

Enhance Search Engine Visibility

Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in driving organic traffic to your website. Regularly publishing high-quality blog posts with relevant keywords and optimized content can significantly boost your website's visibility in search engine results. By targeting specific keywords related to your industry, products, or services, you increase the chances of appearing in relevant search queries. Improved search engine rankings can lead to increased organic traffic, brand exposure, and ultimately, more conversions for your business.

Building Customer Engagement

Engaging your audience is crucial for developing strong customer relationships. Blog posts offer an interactive medium to connect with your readers, encourage discussions, and gather feedback. By enabling comments and social media sharing options on your blog, you invite readers to share their thoughts and opinions. Responding to comments and fostering conversations establishes a sense of community around your brand. Additionally, engaging blog content increases the likelihood of social media shares, expanding your reach and attracting new potential customers.

Generating Leads

Blogs are an effective lead generation tool when strategically integrated into your marketing strategy. By offering valuable content, you can capture leads by including call-to-actions (CTAs) within your blog posts. These CTAs can encourage readers to sign up for newsletters, download e-books, participate in webinars, or request a consultation. By providing a valuable resource in exchange for contact information, you can expand your email list and nurture leads further down the sales funnel.

Establishing Thought Leadership

Blog posts provide an excellent platform for you to share your expertise and knowledge with your audience. By consistently publishing insightful and informative content, you can position yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Sharing industry trends, best practices, case studies, and expert opinions helps build trust and credibility among your target audience. When customers perceive you as an authority in your field, they are more likely to choose your products or services over your competitors.

In the digital landscape, where competition is fierce and attention spans are short, blog posts have emerged as a valuable tool for businesses. They not only enhance search engine visibility and establish thought leadership but also build customer engagement, and generate leads. At Northeast Kingdom Online, we understand the power of blog posts in driving business growth. Incorporating a well-crafted blog into your marketing strategy can bring numerous benefits, helping you stay ahead of the competition and connect with your target audience in a meaningful way. So, don't miss out on the incredible advantages of blogging – start creating valuable content today and watch your business flourish.

Introducing the All-New Media Slider with Video in NEKO360

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 20:41:39 GMT

New Slider w/video addition to our NEKO360 platform!

We are excited to unveil our latest feature, the Media Slider with Video, designed to enhance your website's visual appeal and engage your visitors in a dynamic and interactive way. With this new addition to our NEKO360 platform, you can now effortlessly showcase videos alongside images in a captivating slider format, taking your website to the next level.

The Media Slider with Video offers a range of benefits that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Here are some key highlights:

Stunning Visual Presentation: Our Media Slider is designed to captivate your visitors from the moment they arrive on your website. With smooth transitions and sleek design options, you can create an eye-catching and professional look for your media slider. Customize the slider's layout, colors, navigation, and more to match your website's unique style and branding.

Enhanced User Experience: The Media Slider allows users to interact with your content in an engaging way. Visitors can pause, play, or navigate through videos and images at their own pace, giving them control over their browsing experience. This level of interactivity fosters a sense of involvement and encourages visitors to explore your website further.

Mobile-Friendly and Responsive: We understand the importance of delivering a seamless experience across all devices. The Media Slider with Video is fully responsive, ensuring that your content looks great and functions flawlessly on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. No matter where your visitors are accessing your website, they can enjoy a smooth and immersive media experience.

Versatile Applications: The Media Slider can be utilized in numerous ways to suit your website's needs. Whether you want to showcase product demonstrations, highlight customer testimonials, present event coverage, or share educational videos, the possibilities are endless. The versatility of this feature empowers you to creatively engage with your audience and effectively convey your message.

Getting started with the Media Slider with Video is a breeze. Simply log in to your account, navigate to the website editor, and add the Media Slider element to any page. From there, you can effortlessly upload images and embed videos, customize the slider's appearance, and preview your changes in real time.

We believe that the Media Slider with Video will revolutionize the way you present media content on your website. Its seamless integration, stunning visuals, enhanced user experience, responsiveness, and versatile applications make it an indispensable tool for businesses and individuals alike.

Upgrade your website today and harness the power of the Media Slider with Video. Captivate your audience, boost engagement, and make a lasting impression with this cutting-edge feature. Get started now and take your website to new heights of visual storytelling!

How will this affect sites that include the Current Image Slider?

The new Media Slider widget replaces the previous Image Slider widget. Any existing sites you have with the previous Image Slider widget will remain as they are with the slides they include. If you’d like to switch to the new Media Slider for your existing sites, you’ll have to remove the older image slider, and then add the new Media Slider widget to your site instead.

Things to Consider When Buying a Domain Name

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:05:00 GMT

When buying a domain name, there are several important factors to consider.

Here are some key things to keep in mind:

Remember, choosing the right domain name is an important decision that can impact your online presence, branding, and SEO. Take your time, consider these factors, and select a domain name that aligns with your goals and vision.

Find the perfect domain name at NEKODomains.com

The importance of ensuring your business listings are present and accurate.

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 16:44:03 GMT

Ensuring that your business listings are present, accurate, and protected from unwanted changes is crucial for several reasons!

Let's explore the importance of each aspect:

Here are some steps to safeguard your business listings:

By ensuring the presence, accuracy, and protection of your business listings, you establish a strong online presence, build customer trust, and maximize the opportunities for business growth.

The Importance of Responsive Website Design: Reaching Users Across Devices

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 21:00:33 GMT

In today's digital age, where the majority of people access the internet through various devices, having a responsive website design is crucial for businesses and individuals alike. Responsive design ensures that your website adapts and provides an optimal viewing experience across multiple screen sizes and devices.

This article explores the importance of responsive website design and its benefits for both users and businesses.

In an era where users expect seamless experiences across devices, responsive website design has become a necessity. Its importance lies in providing an optimal user experience, reaching mobile users, improving search engine rankings, and reducing costs. Investing in a responsive design not only benefits users but also allows businesses to stay ahead of the competition in today's digital marketplace. By prioritizing responsive design, you can ensure your website remains accessible, engaging, and impactful, regardless of the device your audience chooses to browse with.

Making the Most out of your Newsletters!

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:31:04 GMT

Sending newsletters is crucial for maintaining effective communication and building strong relationships with your audience. Newsletters provide a direct and targeted channel to share valuable information, updates, and promotions with subscribers who have willingly expressed interest in your brand or content.

Tips for Making Your Newsletter a Success

Newsletter Frequency: Finding the right balance is key. Consider your audience's preferences and your available content. Whether it's weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, consistency is vital for building anticipation and engagement.
Valuable Content: Your newsletters should offer something unique and useful to your subscribers. Share exclusive updates, tips, insights, or even discounts. Make sure each edition delivers value and leaves your readers wanting more.
Personalize & Segment: Tailor your newsletters to specific subscriber groups based on their interests or demographics. Personalized content boosts engagement and shows your readers that you understand their needs.
Clear Call-to-Action: Include a clear call-to-action in every newsletter to guide your readers towards the desired action, whether it's visiting your website, purchasing a product, or participating in a survey. Make it easy for them to take the next step.
Mobile-Friendly Design: Optimize your newsletters for mobile devices. Most people check their emails on their smartphones, so ensure your content and layout are responsive and visually appealing on smaller screens.
Analytics & Feedback: Monitor the performance of your newsletters using analytics tools. Track open rates, click-through rates, and other metrics to evaluate their effectiveness. Additionally, encourage feedback from your subscribers to continuously improve your newsletters.

Newsletters allow you to engage and nurture your existing audience. By regularly sending relevant and compelling content, you can keep your subscribers informed, entertained, and connected to your brand. This helps to cultivate loyalty and trust, as well as encourage repeat engagement and conversions.

They enable you to showcase new products, services, or features, and promote exclusive offers or discounts. With the ability to personalize content and tailor messages to specific segments of your audience, newsletters can significantly enhance your marketing campaigns' effectiveness and conversion rates.

In summary, sending newsletters is essential for maintaining effective communication, nurturing relationships, driving engagement, and boosting conversions. It enables you to connect with your audience, deliver valuable content, and achieve your marketing goals while strengthening your brand's position in the market.

Unveiling the Power of Your Online Presence!

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:16:33 GMT

Your online presence is the digital reflection of your personal or professional brand across various platforms like websites, social media, forums, and blogs.

It's more than just having a website; it's a game-changer!

The power of your online presence refers to the influence and impact you can have through your activities and interactions on the internet. In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for individuals and businesses alike.

Here are some key aspects highlighting the power of your online presence:

Global Reach: Break geographical barriers, connect with people worldwide, and open up infinite opportunities.
Brand Building: Establish a cohesive and influential brand identity, showcasing your values, expertise, and unique voice.
Engagement and Interaction: Spark conversations, build relationships, and foster loyalty through direct communication on social media.
Amplified Visibility: Increase your chances of being discovered by potential clients, employers, or collaborators, putting yourself on the digital map.
Credibility and Trust: Enhance your credibility, validate your expertise, and build trust by showcasing positive experiences.
Adaptability and Agility: Stay ahead of the curve, adapt to changing trends, reach new demographics swiftly in today's fast-paced world.

In summary, the power of your online presence lies in its ability to reach a wide audience, shape your personal brand, build networks and relationships, establish influence, drive business growth, manage your reputation, and access information and learning opportunities. It is crucial to be mindful of how you present yourself online and leverage the available digital tools and platforms to maximize the benefits of your online presence.

The Advantages of Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 22 May 2023 12:30:00 GMT

The Top 5 Reasons Your Business Needs Social Media

In this blog post, we will explore the various advantages of social media marketing for small businesses. Social media has become an integral part of our lives, and businesses of all sizes are taking advantage of this platform to promote their products and services.

For small businesses, social media marketing can be a game-changer, providing them with the opportunity to reach a wider audience, engage with customers, and ultimately, grow their business.

The Role of Design in Branding and Marketing

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 18 May 2023 12:30:00 GMT

Design Your Branding and Marketing To Attract Customers

Design plays a crucial role in branding and marketing by creating visual representations of a brand that communicate its message, values, and personality. A well-designed brand identity can attract and engage customers, differentiate a brand from its competitors, and build a strong emotional connection with its target audience.

Here are some ways in which our custom designs can contribute to branding and marketing:

Visual Identity: A brand’s visual identity, including its logo, color palette, typography, and imagery, is often the first thing that customers see and associate with the brand. A strong visual identity can make a brand instantly recognizable and help it stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Brand Storytelling: Design can help brands tell their story visually. Through graphics, illustrations, and other design elements, brands can convey their history, mission, and values in a way that resonates with their target audience.
Packaging Design: Packaging is an important aspect of branding, especially for consumer products. A well-designed package can attract customers and communicate the product’s features and benefits.
User Experience: Design plays a crucial role in creating a positive user experience, whether it’s a website, app, or physical product. Good design can make products more intuitive to use and help customers achieve their goals more easily.
Advertising: Design is a key element in creating effective advertising campaigns. Advertisements with eye-catching visuals and clear messaging are more likely to capture the attention of customers and drive conversions.

In conclusion, design is a critical component of branding and marketing. It can help create a strong and distinctive brand identity, communicate brand values and personality, and engage customers. By leveraging design effectively, brands can build meaningful connections with their target audience and drive business success.

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Your Web Design and Blog Creation Needs

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 15 May 2023 12:15:02 GMT

Why You Should Outsource Your Web Design and Blog Creation

Outsourcing your web design and blog creation needs can be beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, outsourcing allows you to access a larger pool of talented professionals with a diverse set of skills and experience. This means you can find experts who can bring fresh and innovative ideas to your website or blog, and who can work efficiently and effectively to deliver high-quality results. Outsourcing can also help you save time and money since you don't have to invest in hiring and training staff, providing workspace and equipment, and paying benefits and taxes.

Secondly, outsourcing your web design and blog creation needs can help you focus on your core business activities. If you're an entrepreneur or small business owner, you may have limited resources and time to handle all aspects of your business, including website design and content creation. Outsourcing these tasks can free up your time and energy to focus on areas where you can add the most value and make the biggest impact on your business.

Lastly, outsourcing your web design and blog creation needs can help you stay ahead of the competition. A well-designed and informative website and blog can help you attract more visitors, generate more leads, and build a stronger brand reputation. Outsourcing can help you create a website and blog that are not only visually appealing but also user-friendly, search engine optimized, and responsive to different devices and platforms. This can help you stand out from your competitors and establish a strong online presence that can drive growth and profitability for your business.

10 Ways to Improve Your Website's SEO

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 11 May 2023 12:30:04 GMT

Here Are Ten Ways We Can Improve Your Website's SEO

2023's Top 5 Web Design Trends

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:01 GMT

Top 5 Web Designs in 2023

The Role of Email Marketing in Building Your Online Audience

Thu, 04 May 2023 12:15:00 GMT

5 Reasons Why You Should Have Email Marketing To Build Your Online Audience

10 Tips for Creating a Killer Social Media Strategy

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 01 May 2023 12:30:01 GMT

Boost Your Social Media Strategy

The Power of Online Reviews and Testimonials for Your Business

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 12:15:00 GMT

Take Control of Your Online Reviews

The power of online reviews and testimonials for your business cannot be overstated. In today's world, where consumers are more informed and skeptical than ever before, online reviews and testimonials play a crucial role in influencing purchase decisions. Positive reviews can build trust and credibility for your business, while negative reviews can damage your reputation and hurt your bottom line. By actively managing and leveraging online reviews and testimonials, you can turn them into a powerful marketing tool that helps you attract and retain customers.

One of the key benefits of online reviews and testimonials is that they provide social proof for your business. Social proof is a psychological phenomenon that describes the tendency of people to conform to the actions and opinions of others. In other words, people are more likely to trust and follow the recommendations of others who have had a positive experience with your business. By showcasing positive reviews and testimonials on your website and other marketing materials, you can tap into this powerful psychological driver and boost your credibility and reputation.

Another benefit of online reviews and testimonials is that they can help you improve your business. Negative reviews and constructive feedback can provide valuable insights into areas where your business needs to improve. By actively listening to your customers and taking their feedback seriously, you can make changes to your products, services, and customer experience that can help you attract and retain more customers in the long run. Additionally, responding to negative reviews in a timely and professional manner can help you demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and build trust with potential customers.

We here at Northeast Kingdom Online can help you manage all your online accounts with our Reputation Manager.

The Importance of an SSL Certificate

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 19:04:30 GMT

Why is an SSL Certificate Important?

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that provides authentication and encryption of data between a web server and a web browser. It is an important component of online security and can provide several benefits to a website and its users.

Here are some reasons why having an SSL certificate is important:

Overall, having an SSL certificate is important for online security, authentication, trust, and potentially even search engine optimization. It is particularly crucial for websites that handle sensitive information or conduct e-commerce transactions.

SSL certificates are included on ALL NEKO360 websites , which means you have one less thing to worry about!

Understanding Website Bounce Rates

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 15:21:02 GMT

Website Bounce Rate? Why does it matter and what does it mean?

When it comes to measuring the effectiveness of your website, one metric that is often used is the bounce rate. A bounce occurs when a user visits your website and leaves without taking any action, such as clicking on a link or making a purchase.

Bounce rate is a critical metric that measures the percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page. This metric is important because it tells you how engaging and relevant your website is to your target audience. A high bounce rate indicates that visitors may not be finding what they are looking for on your site and are leaving quickly. On the other hand, a low bounce rate may indicate that your site is meeting the needs of your visitors.

Another factor that can contribute to a high bounce rate is slow page load times. Visitors are more likely to leave your site if it takes too long for pages to load. To improve page load times, you can optimize your images and other media.

To understand bounce rates, you need to first understand how they are calculated. Bounce rate is calculated by dividing the number of single-page visits by the total number of visits to your website. For example, if your website had 100 visits, and 40 of them were single-page visits, your bounce rate would be 40%.

It's important to note that not all single-page visits are bad. Some visitors may have found exactly what they were looking for on that one page and left satisfied. For example, if you have a blog post that answers a specific question, a visitor may come to your site, read the post, and leave, resulting in a single-page visit that is not necessarily negative.

Here are a few common reasons why visitors may leave your site after viewing only one page:

Slow loading time: If your website takes too long to load, visitors are likely to leave before even seeing your content.

Irrelevant content: If your website doesn't provide the information or products that visitors are looking for, they are likely to leave and search elsewhere.

Lack of engagement: If your website doesn't engage visitors with compelling visuals or calls to action, they may leave without exploring further.

Unlcear Navigation: If your website is difficult to navigate, visitors may leave out of frustration.

To improve your bounce rate, you need to identify the specific problem areas on your website and address them. This may involve improving your website's loading time, redesigning your site for better usability, or creating more engaging content. By reducing your bounce rate, you can increase the number of visitors who stay on your site and potentially convert into customers or loyal followers.

In conclusion, understanding and improving your website's bounce rate is crucial for the success of your online business. By focusing on creating engaging content, improving site navigation, and optimizing page load times, you can reduce your bounce rate and increase the number of visitors who take action on your site.

How an Online Presence Can Help Build Trust and Credibility for Your Business

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:15:01 GMT

How Your Online Presence Helps Better Your Business

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for any business that wants to build trust and credibility with its customers. An online presence can help businesses establish a credible and trustworthy image, making it easier for potential customers to trust them. A well-designed website that is easy to navigate, and provides helpful information about products or services, can go a long way in building trust and credibility.

Social media is another critical component of building a strong online presence. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn allow businesses to engage with their customers and create a two-way conversation. This interaction helps to establish a sense of trust and credibility, as it shows customers that a business is responsive to their needs and concerns. A consistent and active social media presence can also increase brand awareness, making it easier for potential customers to find and connect with a business.

Online reviews and testimonials are another powerful tool for building trust and credibility. Many customers now rely on reviews and ratings from other customers before making a purchase decision. Encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews can help establish a positive reputation and build trust with potential customers. Businesses should also be responsive to negative reviews, addressing any concerns or complaints promptly and professionally. This shows potential customers that a business is committed to customer satisfaction and willing to take responsibility for any mistakes or issues that may arise.

Northeast Kingdom Online is here to help you better your online presence with our Reputation Manager.

Social Media and Increasing Brand Awareness and Visibility

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 19:37:13 GMT

How social media marketing can help small businesses increase their brand awareness and visibility.

Social media marketing has become an essential tool for small businesses to increase their brand awareness and visibility. In this blog article, we will explore the various ways in which small businesses can leverage social media to promote their brand and reach their target audience.

Firstly, social media platforms provide small businesses with a cost-effective way to reach a large number of people. With millions of users on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, small businesses can tap into a vast audience base without breaking the bank. By creating engaging content that resonates with their target audience, small businesses can increase their visibility and reach a wider audience.

Secondly, social media allows small businesses to build and nurture relationships with their customers. By regularly engaging with their audience and responding to comments and messages, small businesses can build trust and loyalty with their customers. This can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals, which are crucial for small businesses to grow and thrive.

Thirdly, social media platforms provide small businesses with valuable insights into their audience. By analyzing engagement metrics such as likes, comments, and shares, small businesses can gain insights into what types of content their audience finds most engaging. This can help them refine their social media strategy and create more effective content that resonates with their target audience.

Finally, social media marketing can help small businesses establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. By sharing informative and educational content, small businesses can position themselves as experts in their field and gain credibility among their audience. This can lead to increased brand recognition and awareness, as well as a boost in sales and revenue.

In conclusion, social media marketing can be a powerful tool for small businesses to increase their brand awareness and visibility. By creating engaging content, building relationships with their customers, gaining valuable insights into their audience, and establishing themselves as thought leaders in their industry, small businesses can leverage social media to grow and thrive in today's digital landscape.

Here are 5 ways in which social media marketing can help:

Reach a larger audience

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have millions of active users, and advertising on these platforms can help small businesses reach a much larger audience than they would through traditional advertising methods.

Increase brand recognition

Consistently posting content on social media can help small businesses increase their brand recognition and visibility. This is especially true if they use their branding elements consistently across all their social media platforms.

Build a community

Social media allows businesses to engage with their customers and build a community around their brand. This can help foster brand loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.

Drive traffic to the website

By sharing links to their website on social media, small businesses can drive traffic to their site and potentially increase sales.

Cost-effective

Social media marketing can be a cost-effective way for sany businesses to promote their brand. Many social media platforms offer targeted advertising options, which can help businesses reach their ideal audience without spending a lot of money.

Overall, social media marketing can be a powerful tool for small businesses looking to increase their brand awareness and visibility. By leveraging social media platforms effectively, small businesses can build a strong online presence and reach a larger audience than they would through traditional advertising methods.

Increase Discoverability with Local Business Schema

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:45:27 GMT

Increase site discoverability with Schema

Increase site discoverability and make it easier for search engines to understand key facts about your website’s business with Local Business Schema. A valuable site addition to any business with a physical location!

More about Schema

Schema markup is code that makes it easier for search engines, crawlers and browsers to understand structured data regarding a website’s content or business , and it makes it easier for search engines to identify the websites of businesses with a physical location.

Google and other search engines use Local Business Schema to enrich their knowledge about a business.

When a local search is conducted, this empowers them to know and display the following information:

When the business is open/closed.
A business’s logo (and present it in the knowledge graph card on the right side of the Search results page).
The phone number of a business if someone searches for "{business name} phone number".

As a result, the search engine returns the website in relevant search results.

The Importance of User Experience in Web Design

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:15:00 GMT

How is Your Websites User Experience?

The user experience (UX) is the overall experience of a user when they interact with a website or application. It encompasses how easy it is for a user to navigate the site, find the information they need, and complete their desired actions. A well-designed UX is crucial for any website as it can make or break a user's impression of the site. A positive experience encourages users to spend more time on the site and return for future visits, while a negative experience can result in frustration and abandonment. Thus, it is essential to prioritize UX in web design to ensure a positive experience for users.

One of the primary goals of UX design is to make the site easy to use and navigate. Users should be able to find the information they are looking for quickly, without having to sift through a cluttered interface. A well-designed site should also be visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing to users. This can be achieved by using a consistent color scheme, typography, and imagery, which can help create a cohesive brand identity and enhance the overall user experience.

Additionally, a good UX can have a significant impact on a website's conversion rates. If a user can easily find what they are looking for and complete their desired actions, such as filling out a form or making a purchase, they are more likely to convert. On the other hand, if the process is confusing or frustrating, they may abandon the site without completing their intended action. Therefore, by prioritizing UX in web design, businesses can improve their conversion rates and ultimately increase revenue.

Let us help you, help your business!

What is Social Media Marketing?

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 12:00:14 GMT

Social Media Marketing? What is it?

Social media marketing refers to the practice of using social media platforms to promote and market a product, service, or brand on social media platforms to reach a larger audience, engage with customers, and increase sales.

What does Social Media Marketing Involve?

Social Media Marketing i nvolves creating and sharing content on social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others to reach a targeted audience, as well as monitoring and responding to customer feedback and interactions.

What is the Goal of Social Media Marketing?

The goal of social media marketing is to build brand awareness, engage with customers and potential customers, increase website traffic, generate leads, and ultimately, drive sales. Social media marketing can take many forms, including creating and sharing blog posts, videos, images, infographics, and other types of content. It can also involve paid advertising, such as social media ads, influencer marketing, and sponsored content.

How Can a Business be Successful in Social Media Marketing?

To be successful in social media marketing, businesses need to have a clear strategy, understand their target audience, and create engaging and valuable content that resonates with their audience. They also need to be consistent in their messaging, and postings and engage with their followers to build trust and loyalty.

The Importance of Content Marketing

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:00:08 GMT

Why is Content Marketing Important?

Content marketing is a crucial aspect of modern business strategy that involves creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience.

Here are some of the reasons why content marketing is important:

In summary, content marketing is an essential part of any modern marketing strategy, helping businesses to attract, engage, and retain customers by providing valuable information and building strong relationships.

What is Content Marketing?

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:00:09 GMT

Content Marketing? What is it?

Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach that involves creating valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a target audience. The goal of content marketing is to engage and inform potential customers, build brand awareness, and ultimately drive profitable customer action.New Paragraph

Forms of Content Marketing

Content marketing can take many forms, including blog posts, social media updates, videos, podcasts, infographics, and e-books. The content should be tailored to the interests and needs of the target audience and should provide value in some way. This can include educating the audience, entertaining them, or solving a problem they may have.

Effective content marketing requires a solid understanding of the target audience, a clear strategy, and a commitment to consistently producing high-quality content. When done correctly, content marketing can be a powerful tool for building brand loyalty and generating leads and sales.

Key Elements of a Modern Marketing Strategy

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 21:05:25 GMT

Modern Marketing Strategy Key Elements

Modern marketing strategy is a constantly evolving field.

Here are some key elements to include in a modern marketing strategy:

Key Steps to Take to do Digital Marketing Effectively

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 17:50:06 GMT

Steps to Create an Effective Digital Marketing Campaign in Vermont

Digital marketing is an essential part of any business’s success in the modern world.

With the rise of technology, more and more businesses are turning to digital marketing to reach their target audiences and increase their sales. But how do you go about doing digital marketing? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the key steps you need to take to do digital marketing effectively.

1. Defi ne Your Goals

Before you start any kind of digital marketing campaign, it’s important to define your goals.

What do you want to achieve with your campaign?
Do you want to increase brand awareness or generate more leads?

Once you have a clear idea of what your goals are, it will be much easier for you to create a successful campaign.

2. Choose Your Platform

Once you have defined your goals, it’s time to choose which platforms you will use for your digital marketing campaign. There are many different platforms available such as social media, email, search engine optimization (SEO), and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

Each platform has its own advantages and disadvantages so it’s important that you research each one carefully before making a decision on which one is best for your business.

3. Create Engaging Content

Content is key when it comes to digital marketing campaigns so it’s important that you create content that is engaging and relevant to your target audience. This could include blog posts, videos, info-graphics or even podcasts – whatever works best for your business and resonates with your target audience.

It’ is very important that the content is optimized for search engines so that people can easily find it when they search online for related topics or keywords.

4. Monitor Your Results

Finally, once your digital marketing campaign is up and running, it’s important that you monitor the results closely so that you can make adjustments as needed in order to maximize its effectiveness.

You should track things like website traffic, conversions, leads generated and social media engagement in order to get an accurate picture of how well your campaign is performing and where improvements may be needed.

By following these steps, you should be able to create an effective digital marketing campaign that will help grow your business and reach new customers online!

What is ActiveCampaign?

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:06:01 GMT

ActiveCampaign

Do more than automate your email — activate your entire customer experience using ActiveCampaign.

ActiveCampaign provides the email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM tools you need to create incredible customer experiences.

ActiveCampaign's category-defining Customer Experience Automation Platform (CXA) helps over 150,000 businesses in 170 countries meaningfully engage with their customers. The platform gives businesses of all sizes access to 500+ pre-built automations that combine email marketing, marketing automation and CRM for powerful segmentation and personalization across social, email, messaging, chat and text.

What technology does ActiveCampaign include?

ActiveCampaign fuels business growth by automating 1:1 communications through the entire customer lifecycle.

Deliver connected experiences across channels

Go beyond email. Leverage a complete set of marketing tools (including email, web, chat, social, and text) to meet your customers where they are, and meaningfully engage at every stage of the customer lifecycle.

Popular Features

Personalize experiences across channels
Segment individuals by buyer preferences, behavior, tags, custom fields, and more
Send people through automated workflows based on their unique interests

Automation

Choose from hundreds of pre-built automation recipes or easily create your own.

Email

Send relevant emails at the right time by leveraging features like dynamic content and predictive sending.

SMS

Trigger text messages that survey customers or ask for a review post-purchase.

Integrations

Connect the marketing tools you already use in your business.

Web

Build relevant experiences into the fabric of your website and landing pages.

Social

Extend your messaging into key social channels like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

How to Organically Grow with YouTube Shorts

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 21:29:06 GMT

YouTube Shorts has one of the best organic reaches on the platform!

Use YouTube Shorts to promote and grow your YouTube channel. Every time you post a Short, it's an opportunity for your content to get a view, and that view could turn into a channel subscriber or someone who engages with your main channel content.

Here are some tips to help you organically grow using YouTube Shorts

Learn more about YouTube Shorts & Short-Form Video Marketing

NEKO360 Image Editor

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 21:46:11 GMT

Make your photos stand out using the NEW NEKO360 image editor features!

We are excited to announce the NEW NEKO360 image editor!

This is jampacked with photo editing options that are utilized directly in the NEKO360 platform.

The new image editor has numerous options that weren’t available before. Now you can do a lot more than just cropping or resizing your photos, you now are able to use various adjustments, apply filters, add text to your image, and a lot more!

The new set of photo editing tools comes with a new look - we’ve made it pretty and beefed up its capabilities as well as its performance. Check out some of the new editing options, like adjusting the brightness, contrast, and highlights.

In addition, you’ll find enhanced image editing tools like:

Filters
Resizing
Adding text
Improved transforming tool
Adding stickers

How do you use the new image editor?

It's super simple! When you are in the NEKO360 website editor, click on an image and select Edit. The new image editor will launch and you’ll be ready to adjust the image however you want.

Play around and get comfortable!

Feel free to contact us if you would like us to walk you through utilizing this new tool.

3D Virtual Tour Captures

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 20:59:23 GMT

WHAT IS A 3D VIRTUAL TOUR?

A 3D virtual tour represents an interactive 3D model of a space. 3D scans are widely used in real estate and hospitality as a way of providing potential customers with an online "walk-through" of the space from any location. It is also a way for customers to become comfortable with your space or contact you about renting your space for a wedding or any other event.

It's perhaps best described as " reality capture ," as that's precisely what takes place, and the process brings any built environment directly to anyone, from anywhere, on any device. Viewers can navigate the 3D space simply by clicking or tapping their screen; they can look up or down, as well as side to side, just as they would in real life. The transition from one point to the next within a tour is seamless!

How it Works

Our all-in-one platform transforms real-life spaces into immersive digital twin models. So much more than panoramic scans, this empowers people to capture and connect rooms to create truly interactive 3D models of spaces.

Digital Twin?

A digital twin is a digital copy of a real-world place or object. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies enable the creation of digital twins, which are dimensionally accurate 3D digital models that can be updated quickly to reflect changes with its physical counterpart.

Immersive Walkthroughs

3D Virtual tours offers immersive views of your space through Inside View, Dollhouse View, and even a Floor plan View.

Tips and Strategies for Creating Effective YouTube Shorts

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:44:35 GMT

Tips on Creating Short-Form YouTube Video Shorts

People want accessible consumer content, that they can watch on the go. This has led to a trend in short-form video, with TikTok, Reels, and now YouTube Shorts!

The YouTube Shorts platform is only available in India and the United States, there are 15 billion daily views even though they have only launched the platform recently.

Like any of the other platforms, if you’re going to optimize your success and attract viewers, you need to implement effective strategies.

Keep Your Videos to an Appropriate Length

As you may be aware, consumers, attention spans are declining, which means, you have less of a chance to get their attention in a shorter amount of time. Make sure you keep your videos short and sweet!

Make sure your video is in the correct ratio for the platform so it works correctly when uploaded.
Start with an attention-grabbing line. Follow it up with the story to keep the viewer watching the entire video.
Create thumbnails to stand out on YouTube. Create a captivating thumbnail to get some attention that is related to your video,
Break your longer topic into small sections and create a series of shorts.

Understand Your Target Audience

What Appeals to your audience? Some brands will use YouTube Shorts as how-to videos or for comedic purposes. You should have some idea of the tone that works for your brand.

Make that your starting point!

If your brand is new or you are just starting out creating this content, here are some tips to get you moving.
Think about who your target audience is.
What do you want to achieve with these videos, Make people laugh? Inspire people? Educate people?
What do you expect the videos/content to do for you? Get followers or subscribers? Sell products or services?

Optimize the Titles of Your YouTube Shorts

Limit character use to 50-70.

Use appropriate hashtags in your descriptions. Include the hashtag #short so the system can recommend your videos to viewers.

Custom Thumbnails for Your Shorts

Select a frame from the video that represents the video.

Customize the look of the thumbnail image by changing the color, and adding text, shapes, and/or effects.

Download your new thumbnail image by clicking on “Download” in the lower right corner of your screen.

Repurpose Your Content

Short-form video content has become very popular and is increasing every day. Repurposing your video content can save you time and keeps your social media accounts updated.

Share YouTube Shorts content on sites like Facebook or Twitter.
Add your content on Instagram Reels.
Write up a blog article based on your short video

YouTube Shorts. What is that?

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 17:30:55 GMT

YouTube Shorts? How many people actually use this?

YouTube Shorts is a way for anyone to connect with a new audience using just a smartphone and the Shorts camera in the YouTube app. YouTube's Shorts creation tools makes it easy to create short-form videos that are up to 60 seconds long with our multi-segment camera.

Chris Jaffe, the VP of Product Management, said, “Shorts is a short-form video experience for anyone who wants to create short, catchy videos using nothing but their mobile phones.” He added, “Shorts is a new way to express yourself in 15 seconds or less.”

YouTube’s Shorts creation tools make it easy to create short-form videos that are up to 60 seconds long with our multi-segment camera.

As Jaffe has explained, “Creation is at the core of short-form video, and we want to make it easy and fun to create Shorts. We’re starting to test just a few new tools for creators and artists with our early beta in India:

“A multi-segment camera to string multiple video clips together. The option to record with music from a large library of songs that will continue to grow. Speed controls that give you the flexibility to be creative in your performance. And a timer and countdown to easily record, hands-free.”

YouTube Shorts Statistics for 2022

2 billion people use YouTube every month.
YouTube Shorts receives 15 billion views daily.
More than 70% of YouTube watch time is through mobile.
More than 70% of YouTube Shorts are longer than 15 seconds.
YouTube has a $100 million YouTube Shorts creator’s fund.
74% of Adults in America Use YouTube
77% of People Aged Between 15 and 35 Years Old in America Use YouTube
According to YouTube shorts statistics, 56% are male, while 44% are female.
YouTube Is the Second-Most Visited Website in The World

Today, viewers may find your Shorts by tapping Shorts at the bottom of the YouTube app.

They may also find Shorts:

On the YouTube homepage.
In their notifications.
By checking their Subscriptions.
Featured on your channel page.

Once they tap into a Short, viewers can scroll to watch more short videos.

And it’s worth knowing that views of Shorts are counted the same as regular videos. Plus, subscribers gained from watching your Shorts count toward Creator Awards Program milestones .

If you want to do the best YouTube video SEO, you have to optimize your videos properly.

Optimize Titles
Optimize Descriptions
Add Hashtags
Customize Thumbnails

YouTube Shorts can be used to gain long-form subscribers!

Social Media Video Marketing

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:26:37 GMT

It is no secret that video is becoming a staple in today's marketing strategies.

The number of available formats for social media video shows this point very well, think about Instagram Reels, and Facebook Stories.
92% of social media marketers say video is a vital component of their strategies. That being said, the format is still underused across the major social media networks.

Social Media Video Marketing Stats

Anyone who scrolls through social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook knows videos are everywhere! Videos definitely play a major part in everyone's social media experience.

Below are some social media video marketing statistics that can help you determine how, when, and why to use videos as part of your visual content strategy.

54% of marketers say that video is the most valuable content type for achieving social media marketing goals.
Video is still the most underutilized format across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, comprising 14%, 11%, and 5% of each network’s content.
93% of businesses have acquired new customer(s) via social media video.
26% of marketers state that Instagram Stories are valuable types of social content.
50% of social media users prefer video over other content.
85% of social media users want more videos from brands.
People share video content with friends and family twice as much as any other type of content.
58% of viewers will watch the entirety of a business video if it’s less than 60 seconds long.
85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound .
Videos get 35% more views on Facebook when they are square (vs. landscape). Square videos also outperform landscape videos in Likes & engagement.

What this means for your social media marketing strategy

We’ve already established the benefits of video, but the data indicates brands are still struggling to make them a regular feature of their social media content calendars. If you want to stand out on social, be one of the few to make the most of the many video options out there.

As you build your social media marketing strategy for the upcoming year, pepper in a few Reels or pencil in a plan to use your Stories.

Be consistent, track your performance, and experiment to see what resonates with your audience.

Why don’t some Businesses use video?

23% of non-video business owners that market on social media don’t use video for marketing as they lack time .
16% of non-video business owners that market on social media don’t use video for marketing as they don’t know where to start with creating video.
13% of non-video business owners that market on social media say they don’t use video for marketing as they don’t feel it’s needed .
10% of non-video business owners that market on social media don’t use video for marketing because it’s too expensive.
7% of non-video business owners that market on social media don’t use video for marketing as they say they’re unclear on the ROI of video.
5% of non-video business owners that market on social media say they don’t use video because they’re unable to convince key decision-makers to use it.
However, 79% of non-video business owners that market on social media say they would like to start using video as a marketing tool in 2022 (10% more than last year.)

Sources :
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-video-statistics
https://www.wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics

Instagram Stories Tips

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 21:50:39 GMT

How to use Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are vertical, full-screen photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. They appear at the top of the Instagram app, rather than in the news feed.

They incorporate interactive tools like stickers, polls, and Instagram Story filters to make your content really pop. Here’s how to get started with the format.

How to make Instagram Stories

Tap the plus icon at the top or swipe right anywhere in Feed.
Scroll to Story at the bottom.
Tap white circle at the bottom of the screen to take a photo, or tap and hold to record a video. To choose a photo or video from your phone's gallery or camera roll, swipe up anywhere on the screen. You may see gallery suggestions to help you choose what to share.
Tap the draw icon, the text icon, the sticker icon or event the effects icon to add content to you photo or video. To remove text or a sticker, drag and drop it on trash can icon at the bottom of the screen.
When you're ready to share, tap Your Story in the bottom left.

* Note : Stories disappear from your profile, Feed and Direct inbox after 24 hours, unless you add them to your profile as story highlights

How to use Instagram Stories Stickers

To add a sticker to your Instagram Story:

Start creating your Story following the steps.
Once the photo or video is ready to go, tap the sticker icon at the top of your screen—it’s the square that’s smiling and has a folded corner.
Select the type of sticker you’d like to use. Each type has its own properties, so experiment to see how each one behaves when you tap on it. You can pinch and drag to relocate and resize the sticker.

For more tips visit the Instagram help page here: https://help.instagram.com/1660923094227526

By 2025, 80% of B2B Sales Interactions Will Occur Digitally

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 21:47:42 GMT

Gartner Research - 80% of B2B Sales Interactions Will Occur In Digital Channels by 2025

Gartner conducted research on the Future of Sales which shows that by 2025, 80% of B2B (Business-to-Business) sales interactions between suppliers and buyers will occur through digital channels.

Gartner's' projection is based on survey data which indicates that 33% of all buyers prefer a seller-free sales experience – a preference that climbs to 44% for millennials. B2B buying behaviors have been shifting toward a buyer-centric digital model, a change that has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore Gartner, expects that an exponential rise in digital B2B interactions between buyers and suppliers will break traditional sales models.

Gartner recommends to meet customers’ buying preferences and adopt a more digital-first approach, chief sales officers (CSOs) and other sales leaders must consider the following:

Diversify Digital Selling Tools & Channels: Sellers need digital tools that build engagement with customers, particularly with their customers’ decision makers, in a way that replicates the traditional forms of selling. These digital engagement tools are necessary to overcome the challenges of aligning larger groups of internal stakeholders virtually and asynchronously. Sellers must be able to use multiple, different, simultaneous digital sales channels.

Rethink Sales Enablement: To learn how to align selling activity to customers’ preferred engagement channels and purchasing journey, sellers will need entirely new methods of sales enablement. Gartner’s 2019 survey of B2B sales organizations indicated that sales enablement was the most critical priority last year. The pandemic accelerated this priority, as CSOs seek new techniques to reduce the risk of lost sales.

Prioritize the Seller Experience & Coaching: To keep sellers engaged and executing sales, CSOs must find the right balance between the technology deployed and the volume of content that sellers interact with to do their jobs. CSOs and sales enablement leaders must train sellers both synchronously and asynchronously in order to better optimize virtual sales enablement practices.

Be ready to engage the “everywhere customer"

Source: https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-09-15-gartner-says-80--of-b2b-sales-interactions-between-su

Social Media Post Ideas for Businesses 2022

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 15:45:03 GMT

Figuring out what to post can be a daunting task for many business owners. Being consistent on social media is critical in order to establish an online presence. Not sure where to start? Keep reading for content ideas to keep you consistent!

See what people are asking about your industry. Use these questions as an opportunity to create content by answering them in a social media post.

Everyone loves insider info! Give tips and tricks on topics related to your industry. For example, a car wash can give tips and tricks on keeping your car clean and organized.

Introduce yourself and or your team. Let your audience have a personal connection to your business by telling them about you, your team, or the history of the business.

Share relevant industry news and events.

Share images and videos of behind-the-scenes! Creating a new product? Making a tasty new recipe? Now's your time to share it with the world! This is a great opportunity to let customers in on something special. Try out live streaming or short-form video to give a tour of your business or to show what new things you're up to!

Post your new and old blog posts. This is a great way to link people back to your website and to repurpose content that you have already spent the time creating.

Share posts from other businesses in your niche. Building a good rapport with not only customers, but with other businesses, can be great exposure.

Let your the world see how great customers think your business is! Share positive feedback and testimonials from customers to your social media channels.

Share relevant industry news and events. Put your own spin on it with a short comment. Regularly posting informative articles to turn your page into a trusted resource for relevant information. You can add a short comment with why you think it's important to share.

Research and case studies. Research such as data and statistics and case studies are also good raw material for social media content. These give your audience a quick peek into your industry.

Discounts and promo codes. A survey by MarketingSherpa highlights that 56% of the consumers connect with a business on social media to avail regular coupons and promotions. This adds another item to your to-share list.

5 Reasons Why You Should Be Sending Newsletters to Your Customers

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 17:00:03 GMT

Sending newsletters is an effective way to stay in front of your existing customers and retain their business.

Awareness

While your main goal is to make future sales, newsletters also serve to provide brand awareness to your customers. Sales and promotional emails are not always attention-grabbing. However, a thoughtful newsletter about your company, the owner, or the team, as a few examples, can help customers to feel attached and therefore more aware of your business.

Showcase Your Expertise

You are the expert! Send customers newsletters containing information about your industry and the types of products you sell. For example, a nutritionist may send a newsletter about, '5 foods that give you energy'. Readers will be curious to know more, engage with the email, and be happy that they were provided with value, with you to thank!

Redirect To Your Website

Newsletters are a great opportunity to indirectly initiate a transaction by leading them to your website. A great example of doing this is to provide previews of blog posts in your newsletters and prompt people to read more on your website. People will want to peak around the website to learn more!

Promote Social Media Channels

Grow your social media following by letting customers know where else they can stay in touch with your business in your newsletter. By directing customers to your social media channels, you will continue to reach more and more potential customers as your posts are engaged with and shared.

Run Special Promotions

Newsletters can effectively let customers know about special promotions going on! Let them know about what deals your business is offering and direct them to your website.

Understand Your Instagram Engagement

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:12:47 GMT

When your Instagram followers engage with your post in any way, it tells the Instagram algorithm that you are an important account and will bring you to the tops of their feeds. Post engaging, actionable content, to rake in the likes, comments, shares, and saves that will help to grow your Instagram presence!

'Hearting' or liking a post shows that people enjoy your content!

Comments are a great way to initiate direct interaction with your followers. Ask questions in your post to get a conversation brewing.

Having your post shared to a user's story will lead to more exposure for your business. When one person shares your post, it puts you in front of a whole new audience!

Instagram now allows users to save posts to view later. By posting thoughtful content such as a tutorial, product recommendations, etc, it prompts users to take action and save your content for later.

IndexNow Enabled On All NEKO360 Websites

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 15:30:02 GMT

Keeping your website relevant at the top of the search engine is now easier than ever! Your NEKO360 website is now integrated with IndexNow, a tool designed to ensure that the most recent content on your website is indexed by search engines.

How does it work?

When new content is added to the website and republished, IndexNow will automatically submit the newest, updated content to participating search engines to begin immediate crawling.

This exciting new feature will keep your website updated with the freshest content in search engines' indexes and search results.

NEKO 360 Update! Eye Dropper Color Picker Option Now Available

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:16:48 GMT

Update your website more quickly using the new eye dropper tool, which enables you to match colors on your NEKO 360 website quickly and accurately.

This option is now part of the Color Picker within the NEKO 360 website editor.

Match the colors perfectly on your website with the new eyedropper tool, which enables you to pull a color from anywhere on your NEKO 360 website - images, texts, you name it - and match it perfectly somewhere else. No need to spend any time trying to figure out a color’s exact name or value.

The eyedropper tool makes it easy to update your website with consist colors, quickly and easily.

Examples where you can use the eyedropper color match tool:

Pull a color from an image, and use it for the headline or button.
Pull a color from anywhere on the screen and drop it in the editor.

Add Any Social Media Icon Quickly & Easily with NEKO360

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 19:31:28 GMT

Expand your website’s social reach by adding links to social media networks such as TikTok, Discord, Houzz and more to the Social Icons widget. You can also link easily to niche social networks that cater to more specific social groups.
Choose from new icons in the icon picker under Social & Media.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, simply upload an SVG of the icon.

Social networks links are so important!

Having social media links on your website enables your customers to engage with your preferred social media channels. This way visitors can stay in touch with you after they leave the website.

With this improvement, it's easy to add additional icons at any time to meet your changing needs, and to accommodate new, newly popular, and niche social networks.

New Animations! More Great Ways to Liven Up Your Website with NEKO 360

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 17:59:14 GMT

Looking for new ways to liven up your NEKO 360 website? We’ve got just the thing.

With the newest animations, you can slide, rotate and roll elements onto your sites, creating attention-grabbing buttons, calls to actions, images and more.

Bring Life to Your Website

Animations bring your website to life, draw attention to the most important areas, and guide your website visitors where you want them to go.

NEKO 360 animations, accessible via the NEKO 360 Content Editor of most widgets and elements, are easy to apply and customize. Without any coding, you can set how the animations are triggered, control how long they last, set their intensity, and more!

Thanks to our customers feedback, we’ve added the following animations to the NEKO 360 platform:

Rotate in
Roll in
Slide in

We're working on more animations and customizations, and will let you know as soon as they're ready.

In the meantime, you can learn more about other NEKO 360 website animations!

Kick-start Your Online Presence!

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 21:33:22 GMT

NEKO Listings Builder is the most comprehensive business listing solution for local businesses.

Your customers perform online searches before visiting a storefront or making a purchase decision. One of the best ways to help consumers discover your business is to ensure you have correct online business listings.

Get found. Generate traffic. Grow revenue.

Establish accurate business listings and rank higher in search engine results, such as Google. Get started for free , and then optionally upgrade to powerful presence management tools—Listing Distribution and Listing Sync Pro . Our solutions are the most comprehensive business listing solution on the market.

Listing Sync:

Quickly establish accurate business information on Google My Business, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for no additional charge. Own your business listings and keep your customers up-to-date.

Google My Business Insights:

Understand how your business is performing on Google Search and Maps. Google Insights in Listing Builder provides a valuable glimpse into your customer's activities.

FAQs

What are online business listings?

Online business listings are like phonebook Yellow Pages—but online. These listings give consumers information about where to find you, what time you are open, and how to to get a hold of you.

Why do you need accurate listings?

Consumers depend on accurate listings when searching for a local businesses

online. Incorrect business listings lead to lost sales opportunities, frustrated consumers, and weakened search rankings. In fact, 73% of consumers

stated that they lose trust in a brand when an online listing shows incorrect

information. Therefore, accurate listings are considered to be an essential

component of the local marketing stack.

How can you get business listings?

Our Listing Sync Pro service gives you one place to create and sustain accurate listings across a network of over 70 listing sites, including Google, Apple Maps, Facebook, Yellow Pages, and dozens of others. The more listings you have, the easier it will be for consumers to find you online.

Why is a strong presence important for a local business like me?

A strong online presence is the first step toward success. Your customers and prospects need to be able to find you, both online and in the street. Ask yourself this, when was the last time you went out to eat at a new restaurant or planned to go see a new movie and did not look it up online first? Chances are, you did some research beforehand and it's extremely likely that your customers are doing the same. When customers and prospects look you up online, make sure they can find you and that the information they come across is correct.

Why is it important for local business like me to have a mobile optimized listing?

For SEO, priority is given to good customer experience on mobile devices. Consumers will use mobile devices to find desired goods or services and will generally begin these searches with a category or brand search. For example, a brand search is “Joe’s Pizza in Denver” and a category search is “Pizza in Denver”. (Note: On a mobile device the “in Denver” often does not need to be explicit.) In the case of a category search, the user has intent to purchase something in a category but has not decided or does not care about the brand. In these searches, the user’s intent is generally heavily skewed toward proximity and location. So search engines generally deliver the closest locations and it is therefore important that location information is crawlable, is displayed on each page, and is in meta-data and keywords.

Better Blog Search Engine Optimization

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:23:04 GMT

Make it easier for people to find your content online!

Make it easier for people to find your blog posts online, and improve your blog post SEO, by setting a unique meta title for each of your blog posts.

This enables you to set a title that’s the optimal length for Search Engine Optimization and has the best keywords.

Meta Titles

Meta titles are the titles that help search engines understand what a specific page is all about. They are displayed on search engine results pages (SERPs), web browsers and social networks.

Until now, the meta title for your blog posts was the same as the blog post title itself. So if your blog title was 21 Ways to Earn 1 Million Dollars Before Noon without Leaving Your Office , that would be what search engines displayed on their SERPs.

Now, you can edit the Meta title field so it's the optimal length and has a CTA. For example: Earn 1 Million Dollars Before Noon. Learn how!

The New Meta Title Field

Open the settings of any blog post and you’ll see the new meta title field at the top of the Post Metadata section. It includes a character counter, so you know exactly how many characters are in the meta title.

The original post title will appear by default. You can leave it as it is or replace it with an alternative title that follows meta title best practices:

Optimal length is no more than 512 px (between 45 and 65 characters)
Place the most important words at the beginning of the title
Include keywords, unique selling points and a CTA, if you can

Use Consent & Cookie Management to Keep Your Customers Informed

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 18:59:50 GMT

In today's world, we need to be constantly aware of emerging trends, new technologies, and risks that exist in the world. It is becoming increasingly important for businesses to create and maintain a privacy policy that makes clear to the website user how you intend to use the collected information. We highly recommend incorporating a tool that forces users to accept Cookies upon entering the site.

These two tools together can help build user confidence and protect your organization from liability connected to user privacy. To get our clients started, we would like to share a few tools that can help.

Privacypolicies.com

This site offers an entry-level, no-cost privacy policy that can be incorporated into your site. This policy is basic and we recommend having it reviewed by a contract lawyer if you are unsure if it covers your liability.

app.privacypolicies.com/wizard/privacy-policy

Usercentrics

Now available directly within your website editor is a tool designed to provide Cookie Opt-in functionality to any site within our platform. This is a third-party tool that has no cost for the basic package. We highly recommend adding this to your site.

Whether you utilize these tools or others, it's important that business owners take website privacy very seriously. Our team is here to assist and will install U sercentrics at no cost. Our team can help answer questions about these topics and even help implement solutions.

To have Usercentrics added to your NEKO360 website at no cost please call us at 802-473-1887 or reach us by email at support@northeastkingdomonline.com .

About Usercentrics

Usercentrics Consent Management Platform

Compliance & Marketing in Harmony

Enable your website and businesses to obtain and document consent in accordance with data protection regulations, directly on the website. This enables site visitors to opt-in first before any tracking scripts or code are loaded. Users get granular control and visibility into which trackers are loaded.

Usercentrics Consent Technologies

Get Consent for All of Your Technologies

Usercentrics is compatible with all your favorite marketing tools from Analytics, A/B Testing and Tracking to Retargeting, and more.

Why You Should Start Using a CMP

Protect Your Advertising Revenue

No consent equals significant restrictions for your digital marketing and a drop in your advertising revenue.

Benefit from new privacy KPIs
Turn privacy into a competitive advantage
Optimize your opt-in rates

Minimize Your Legal Risk

Stay on the safe side with a CMP that can easily be adapted to your legal strategy and to the current legal situation.

Privacy breaches are visible to everyone at all times
Protect yourself from warnings and hefty fines and spare yourself any hassle with the authorities

Boost Your Users’ Trust

Win your users’ trust with professional transparent consent management and get ahead of the competition.

Be transparent in the way you inform your customers about what data is processed, by whom, and for what purpose
Harvard Study: Transparency increases opt-in rates by 11%

Usercentrics Meets All Requirements for a CMP

Seamless Integration

Usercentrics is deeply integrated with the website to ensure you're always in compliance. They will regularly scan the website for new trackers and update automatically.

Collect Consents in Accordance With the Law

Reach safety by being compliant with all legal requirements (GDPR, ECJ, following the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework)

No Loss of Data

Continue to use your own conversion tracking and analytics tools without fear of not complying with privacy regulations.

Learn More About Usercentrics, A Consent Management Platform

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 21:52:56 GMT

Usercentrics Consent Management Platform

Compliance & Marketing in Harmony

Usercentrics Meets All Requirements for a CMP

Seamless Integration

Usercentrics is deeply integrated with the website to ensure you're always in compliance. They will regularly scan the website for new trackers and update automatically.

Collect Consents in Accordance With the Law

Reach safety by being compliant to all legal requirements (GDPR, ECJ, following the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework)

No Loss of Data

Continue to use your own conversion tracking and analytics tools without fear of not complying with privacy regulations.

Get Consent for All of Your Technologies

Usercentrics is compatible with all your favorite marketing tools from Analytics, A/B Testing and Tracking to Retargeting, and more.

Why You Should Start Using a CMP

Protect Your Advertising Revenue

No consent equals significant restrictions for your digital marketing and a drop in your advertising revenue.

Benefit from new privacy KPIs
Turn privacy into a competitive advantage
Optimize your opt-in rates

Minimize Your Legal Risk

Stay on the safe side with a CMP that can easily be adapted to your legal strategy and to the current legal situation

Privacy breaches are visible to everyone at all times
Protect yourself from warnings and hefty fines and spare yourself any hassle with the authorities

Boost Your Users’ Trust

Be transparent in the way you inform your customers about what data is processed, by whom, and for what purpose
Harvard Study: Transparency increases opt-in rates by 11%

To have Usercentrics added to your NEKO360 website at no cost please call us at 802-473-1887 or reach us by email at support@northeastkingdomonline.com .

Usercentrics, Consent & Cookie Management Platform

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 21:34:46 GMT

About the Consent Management Platform

With Usercentrics, you'll enable your sites to comply with internal privacy and data collection regulations such as GDPR.

Usercentrics enables businesses to obtain and document consent, so site visitors can control third-party technologies on the website. Usercentrics follows the industry gold standard IAB Transparency and Consent Framework. Adding it to your website enables you to go to market seamlessly, without having to worry about which tracking code does what, and which data it collects.

How it works:

Identifies a website’s data collection & tracking technologies and prevents them from loading.
Obtains consent from site visitors to load tracking.
Gives site visitors control over which tracking technologies they allow to load & provides information about them.

Usercentrics integrates seamlessly into your website.

After installation, a new floating widget and cookie consent banner is added to your website. By default, tracking scripts and third-party embedded code will not load for site visitors. This means visitors won’t be tracked by analytics such as Google Analytics, and services that perform tracking like YouTube, Facebook & SoundCloud won’t fully load until the user enables them.

To have Usercentrics added to your NEKO360 website at no cost please call us at 802-473-1887 or reach us by email at support@northeastkingdomonline.com .

Easily Add Custom and Google Fonts to Enhance Your Website

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 19:30:02 GMT

Limitless font possibilities with custom and Google fonts!

Uploading fonts is simple and easy, they are an amazing tool to create a beautiful stylized site. Using unique brand-specific fonts can attract visitors, and drive engagement. A sites font can make a huge difference in user experience, they affect the mood and tone of the site. If you want a fun and playful site, or a serious and professional site with thousands of Google fonts, and custom font you can bring in the possibilities are endless.

Typography Tips

Although web trends are evolving, leading to what fonts people are using changing there are always some best practice techniques that stay relevant.

Use two (three at max) different font per website: Setting global text for headers and paragraphs is the best way to create an attractive website. Too many different fonts can be distracting, consistency throughout a website ties each of the pages together.
Readability: Make sure when you choose a font, it can be easily read. If the font is too similar to the background, too small, or unclear it will lead to frustrated visitors. So make sure that the font is clear, large enough to be easily read, and contrast the background.
Serif fonts are perceived as more serious, while san serif is perceived as more casual: Serif fonts have little feet on them (ex Serif font) while, sans serif does not have them and look more contemporary.

Keeping these tips in mind while uploading and picking fonts for your site. With this large access to new fonts you can create a wonderful website, that is uniquely your brand.

New and Exciting Animations!

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 18:15:48 GMT

Even more animation customizations than before, create a unique and dynamic site.

Eye Catching Animations!

If you want your customers to interact with and notice buttons, services, and images; eye catching animation is the way to go! Animation is an amazing tool to pull in a viewers attention and lead them through your site.

New customization

Now we have added a completely new animation trigger along with new customization settings. Along with the entrance trigger that places the animation as soon as you enter the page, you can now change the trigger to be a scroll trigger . When using the scroll trigger, the animation plays out when the user enters the set viewport.

Lets learn a little more about our new settings:

Duration - Now you can control how long the animation lasts.
Viewport - This controls where the animation begins and ends.
Intensity - The power of the animation, how quick the animation occurs.
Delay - When the animation begins.

Animation Best Practice

Stick to your theme: Make sure that the animations you use stay inline with the sites theme and style
Remember usability: If you are using a scroll animation for text, make sure you are giving the user enough time to read the text
Moderation is key: While animation is an amazing tool to catch the users eye, we do not want to overdue it. Too many animations could become cumbersome and appear aggressive. We want the site to run smoothly and naturally.
Consistency: A dynamic site can create a beautiful engaging way to drive business, however, we do not want to use too many different kinds of animations on our site. Set a standard animation style and stick to it.

Keeping in mind all of these best practice and using the new customizations, you can create a wonderful eye catching site!

Google Analytic Integration Upgrade

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 17:04:08 GMT

Google Analytics Integration now supports Global Site Tags!

Google Analytics is simple and evolving! Google Analytics is now supporting Google's new Global Site tags, what this means is that our Integration systems are ensuring capability with the latest Google Analytics.

This new support is not the only update, you can now track even more Google properties including:

Google Adwords
Google Marketing Platform
Google Tag Manager

How to integrate Google Analytics tracking system

Integration with Google Analytics is simple and easy! To start tracking properties go to the settings of your site, then to the Google Analytics section, from there you can input the tracking ID.

Here are all the properties you can track right now with Google Analytics:

Google Analytics Property ID (UA-*)
Google Tag Manager (GTM-*)
AdWords Conversion ID (AW-*)
Flood Light / Double Click Tracking ID (DC-*)
Google Global Measurement ID (G-*)

After you have integrated your Google Analytics you will be able to track all site visitors for that specific property and click-to-call, eCommerces purchases, form submission, and even more! With all this amazing information you will be able to better prepare for the future, improve marketing decisions, get a better ROI, and have a more complete idea of how your customers are interacting with your business online.

NEKO360 Has Added 16 New Fabulous Fonts to Choose From!

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 17:57:20 GMT

People say you can’t have too much of a good thing, and we can agree when it comes to fonts. We are happy to announce that NEKO360 has 16 new fonts in the platform, for a grand total of almost 250.

Highlighting Some New Fonts

You've got six, trendy fonts featuring cursive letters that mimic handwriting . They're terrific for creating eye-catching titles and tag lines that have a personal touch. Avoid using them for paragraphs or long texts because they can be a bit hard to read.

Several of the new fonts are modern, rounded fonts, with no serifs ( serifs are the little feet on the ends of the main letter strokes ).

These fonts tend to be easy to read, and are great for designing longer texts.

Multiple font weights, for even more variety

Several of your new fonts come in multiple font weights, giving you even more design options. For example, Jost comes with 7 weights, Gothic A1 with 8 weights, and both Epilogue and Spartan have 9 weights apiece.

Even more typographic possibilities with the new text editor

The new text editor gives you additional styling techniques that increase your design options even more. ALL CAPS, character spacing and huge font size options (up to 500px) give you plenty of room for creativity.

A few more words about the new fonts

A well-designed website should have no more than three fonts, and these should be chosen with care. Choose clear, readable fonts for long texts, and save the more creative fonts for headlines and short sentences. Think about the look and feel of the site, and choose fonts that compliment.
Read more on using fonts wisely here: www.northeastkingdomonline.com/tips-about-using-fonts-wisely

Tips About Using Fonts Wisely

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:07:30 GMT

Fonts are a wonderful tool for supporting a website's distinct tone and style, and they need to be used wisely. Here are some tips for choosing your site fonts.

Use two to three fonts on a single website.

Too many fonts can be distracting and unattractive. Use a single font for paragraphs and general texts; use no more than two fonts for titles.

Choose san serif fonts for a more relaxed look.

Sans serif fonts don’t have the little feet on the ends of the letters. They tend to look more modern and are easier to read on titles, buttons, and short texts.

Choose serif fonts for a more serious look.

Serif fonts have little feet attached to the ends of the letters. They tend to look more traditional and formal.

Use bold, fun fonts for titles and short texts.

This is the place for using eccentric fonts as they draw attention to the text.

Make sure fonts are easy to read.

For paragraphs, a good font size is 15 to 18px. For titles, go for something bigger (40 to 100px).

Spruce Up Your Site with Animations: Now on NEKO Mobile & Tablet!

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 19:14:47 GMT

With animations on NEKO mobile and tablet, you can create captivating experiences on all versions of your responsive website!

Getting Started With Your New Mobile Animations

With the new mobile and tablet animations that you've had on desktop, you can now use them to help draw attention as they browse your site, so they better know what to look at and where to go.

To add animations: go to the mobile or tablet site version you wish to edit, click the context menu of the element you want to animate, and click Entrance Animation. There are several different animations to choose from.

Note: Animations are separated between desktop, mobile and tablet. For example, if you change the mobile animation, it doesn't change any others!

Mobile Animations - Best Practices

Animations are a great way of drawing attention to specific areas on your website and encouraging visitor's to engage in actions you want them to. Need to encourage visitor's to your site to scroll down? You can use an animated downward arrow to solve that problem.

Animations on mobile should be thoroughly thought out, it's best to keep the following practices in mind:

Mobile & desktop are different.
Mobile sites are usually more playful, so on mobile the animations you choose may reflect this! For example, what looks right on desktop (like a slide in from the right) might display even better as a bounce on mobile.

Utilize animations in moderation.

Choose where you add them wisely! Too many can be distracting or overwhelming for site visitors.

Site hierarchy - think about it.

Animate elements that are more important, instead of those that are less important. It may be more valuable to animate a "Shop Now" button than a "Read More" link.

Choosing the right kind of animation.

Not all animations have the same effect or style. It's important to choose the element animation that will communicate your site's desired look and feel. Fade in is more subtle; Zoom or Bounce are more bold and energetic.

New Product Gallery Filters: On Sale & What's New - NEKO360

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 20:49:47 GMT

With the shopping season approaching, it’s the perfect time to start sprucing up your online store!

And you’ve got two new Product Gallery widget filters to help you accomplish just that: On sale & What's new.

With these filters, you can increase conversions and boost revenue by building galleries that focus on new products.

Have selected products on sale? The On Sale category automatically displays items that have been marked down in your store catalog, so they can be highlighted in their own gallery.

Have new items in stock? Highlight them with a category filtered to What's New, and you’ll automatically display products that have been added within the past 30 days.

Both of these filters will help you improve conversion and boost sales by drawing attention to the most interesting elements in your online store.

Create stunning store sites with the Product Gallery widget

For ideas on how to use the Product Gallery widget to build stunning sites and boost sales, check this article out .

Multiple Image Select

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 17:10:18 GMT

NEKO360 Multiple Image Select

Save time when selecting images with the new multi-image select capability. Available in every image picker, both Quick View and Full View, it enables you to choose multiple images simply and in record time, speeding up image management.

Save Time, Design Faster

Here’s how to use it:

1. Open the Image picker.

2. Select an image and click Shift. Scroll until the last image you want to choose and click Select again.

That’s it. All the images between the first and second click will be selected.

Manage Your Images More Quickly, Too

Use multi-image select to quickly arrange site images into folders. This makes it easier for you to find the images you want to use in each area of your website.

Product Gallery Widget: Increase Sales with Stunning Storefronts

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:24:08 GMT

Create a fantastic shopping experience on your eCommerce website with the new Product Gallery Widget.

Flexible, quick-loading and synced with your Store Catalog, it enables you to create high-converting product galleries that are easy to design, effortless to maintain, and bring a new level of design capabilities to your online store.

Increase Sales with Fantastic-Looking Storefronts

The new Product Gallery widget has all the flexibility of the Image Gallery widget, making it easy to build a fantastic-looking storefront on your eCommerce website. Choose from multiple layouts, control fonts, colors, buttons and more, for maximum impact and effectiveness.

Boost Site Lighthouse Scores

When you use the Product Gallery Widget the page loads faster, so it’s great for site speed. Add it to your homepage instead of the Main Store widget, and boost your Lighthouse scores.

Unlimited Galleries per Page

You can build separate Product Galleries for every category in your store, arranging them on the same page according to their order of importance. For example, want to highlight fall accessories? Place an Accessories gallery at the top of the homepage and arrange more Product Galleries below, each displaying a different store category. Set the order on the page according to which elements you want visitors to see first.

Effortless Maintenance with Automatic Store Data Sync

The Product Gallery widget syncs directly with the Store Catalog, updating automatically according to your store stock.

Items go on sale?
Run out of stock?
A product is moved from one category to another?

Whatever happens in the Store Catalog automatically updates in the widget, so there's no maintenance required.

Building Gorgeous Store is Easy. Here’s How

1. Open your eCommerce site, go to the Widgets panel, and add a Product Gallery Widget.

2. In the widget's Content Editor, choose the category you want to display. To change store content (add categories, move products from one category to another, etc.), go to the Store Settings.

3. Products in the category you choose automatically display in the widget. Customize the layout, fonts, button styles and more in the design tab.

4. Add as many Product Galleries as you like to display your full store variety.

Much More in Store for your Stores!

This is just one of several new store capabilities - we've got more planned for the future, including improved SEO, new store pages, category improvements and more, all aimed at increasing sales on your store sites.

Still need help updating your online store? Get in touch with NEKO today, we are happy to help!

Call us at 1-802-473-1887

Email us at sales@northeastkingdomonline.com or support@northeastkingdomonline.com

Schedule Blog Posts in NEKO360

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 21:11:35 GMT

Publishing fresh content on your website on a regular basis is important for bringing new and returning visitors to your site.

With the new Schedule Blog Post capability, you’ve got a content management tool built right into your blog. Use it to set up blog posts in advance, so you can plan your content strategy, manage resources, and keep your sites filled with fresh, relevant content.

Benefits of Scheduling Blog Posts in Advance

1. Enables you to manage content and plan ahead

When you schedule posts in advance, you have one less thing to worry about, because you know the content will go live when you want it to.

2. Easier to maintain a consistent blog schedule

Keeping a consistent blog schedule - posting once a day, once a week, or twice a week - is important for any content strategy. By scheduling posts in advance, you ensure that they go live according to that schedule, even when you’re not there to post them.

3. Great for collaborating with team members

If you’ve got someone on your team dedicated to blogging, this tool enables them to set up several blog posts for a single site, then move on to another site. It boosts efficiency and often leads to better quality content.

4. Post at the best time for your visitors

The writers on your team may not be working at the same time that site visitors are reading content. Set the time when you want your posts to go live to coincide with the best time for your readers.

5 . Reduce stress during your busiest seasons

Once you have a line-up of blog posts set to be published at a certain date and time, you won’t have to write under stress to meet deadlines.

Visit our Customer Support Center for more NEKO360 Blog information here: https://support.multiscreensite.com/hc/en-us/sections/360009761613-Blog

Keep Your Website Safe and Secure with SSL Certificates

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 16:38:43 GMT

Have you ever noticed that some website URLs start with HTTP while others start with HTTPS? Maybe you’ve noticed a tiny lock icon in the top left corner of your browser? What exactly does it all mean?
Websites that are HTTPS have an SSL certificate.

SS-what?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and is a secure protocol developed for sending sensitive information over the internet. If a website you are on has an SSL certificate, it means that the site is secure and encrypted. Any data you enter is safely shared with that website and that website only.

Let’s talk technical for a second. How does SSL actually prevent information theft?

When you start to break down what SSL is, you’ll discover it’s asymmetric (or public-key) encryption. This requires each party to generate a public and private key pair. Imagine a padlock on a gate. Anyone can go up to the lock, inspect it, and even try to open it with their key. However, only the right key can actually unlock it. In this example, the padlock is a public key, they are visible to the general public. Private keys are exactly that, private. These private keys are used to unlock public keys.

When you fill out a form on a website without an SSL certificate, the information can be intercepted by a hacker. This site would be classified as not secure.

The information you submitted could be anything from a banking transaction to your credit card information. A hacker could intercept your information in a number of ways, one of the most common is when a hacker places a small, undetected listening program on the server that is hosting a website. That program ‘wakes up’ when a website visitor starts typing their information. This listening program will begin capturing the information and send it back to the hacker.

When you visit a website that has an SSL certificate, your browser will form a connection with the web server and bind to it. This connection is secure so that no one besides you and the website where you’re submitting your information can see or access it.

This connection happens instantly. There is no manual work required. You simply need to visit a website with an SSL certificate and your connection will automatically be secured.

Why is SSL so important?

You might be thinking, I’m not accepting sensitive information through my website!
Regardless of if you are in the business of accepting delicate information or not, having an SSL certificate is still incredibly important.

SSL and Online Payments

If you are conducting online transactions through your website, it is imperative that you have an SSL certificate. As an online shop, it’s your primary responsibility to ensure that the information being exchanged over your online store is protected.

How do you prove to your customers that their usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers are not being revealed to malicious hackers? Having an SSL certificate!

SSL and Consumer Trust

Did you know that Google Chrome is the most popular web browser? 44.5% of internet users search the internet using it. On the Chrome browser, you are able to easily spot a site with an SSL certificate. Next to the URL is a tiny lock icon. If a site has an SSL certificate it shows it locked, however, if a site does not have an SSL certificate the lock will be open and red text will read ‘Not Secure’. The second a customer lands on a website that is labeled ‘not secure’, they are going to feel less comfortable browsing it, even if there is no sensitive information being passed across it. SSL certificates have become an absolute necessity for any business that wants to be perceived as trustworthy.

There’s no denying the confidence and trust that an SSL certificate can provide to a site. Choosing an SSL certificate to secure a website demonstrates that a business values customer trust, which is essential to financial success, customer conversion, and business growth.

SSL certificates are automatically included with your NEKO360 Website.

Custom domains with NEKO360 have had SSL encryption for several years, but until now, it was a manual process that required you to request a certificate.
Now, we take care of it for you. We automatically generate your site SSL certificate on your NEKO360 website, which means you have one less thing to worry about.

It also means Google won’t penalize your sites by marking them as “ Not Secure ”.

Set Image Slider Speed in NEKO360

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 20:10:18 GMT

You’ve got more design flexibility in the Image Slider, and can now control how long slides stay on the screen. Set the time to suit the content, so site visitors have the best experience on your NEKO360 website.

Image sliders are a great way to grab visitors' attention, enabling you to show multiple images in a single section of your site.

Now, in addition to controlling the type of slide transition and animation, you can also control the slide show speed, and set whether you want slides to pause when visitors hover.

Slides with Text - Set Enough Time to Read

Set a longer slide time, so visitors have time to read text.

Slides without Text - Set the Time That's Right for Your Site

Slides can be set to transition more quickly, creating atmosphere and interest.

Upload Videos Directly to your Website

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 18:27:45 GMT

Upload videos directly to your website as easily as you add images and in any format you want. You’ll save time and effort, all while bringing motion, excitement and atmosphere to your website.

Upload Your First Video & See Just How Easy It Is

From now on, you don’t need to use external services like YouTube and Vimeo to show videos on your website. Simply upload them directly to your site via the Video widget or any row/column background. The videos look great on all devices and can be customized by displaying controls, autoplay, loop and mute.

Uploaded Videos: Better Site Speed & Quality

Videos uploaded directly to your sites are optimized and served in MP4 format. This means your videos won’t slow down your sites or impact your Lighthouse scores. They also display better in row/column backgrounds than any external videos.

Ready to give it a try?

Open any Video widget or row/column background, and click Upload Video. The videos will upload directly to your site and be stored in the site Video Picker so they are always accessible and can be reused.

Videos are a Simple Way to Say So Much

Videos are an excellent way to convey moods and messages on your sites. Use them to:

Grab visitors’ attention
Create a cool atmosphere
Show a product or service in action
Generate excitement
So much more

NEKO360 Shrinking Header Updates

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 13 May 2020 18:46:45 GMT

Change Text, Button, Icon Colors!

You’ve got more shrinking header flexibility than ever, and can now control the color of text, buttons, icons and more in headers that shrink and stay at the top of the page. This enables you to create great looking shrinking headers, with the best colors for your site design.

A shrinking header is a smaller version of the site header that appears when visitors scroll a site on desktop. Shrinking headers enable you to keep important information such as navigation, Calls to Action, social icons and more fixed at the top of the page, without taking up too much space as visitors scroll down the site.

They are particularly handy on sites with large headers, and sites designed for long scrolling, as they ensure that key information is always visible and accessible.

New flexibilities and more design possibilities

Until now, you could change the logo and background color on scroll.
Now, you can also control the color of:

Text
Button text
Button background
Icons & social icons
Selected page & hover

This makes it easier for you to create great-looking shrinking headers that contrast well with the regular header and complement your website design , highlighting icons, links, buttons and more, when visitors scroll down the site.

For example , if you had a transparent header with navigation, you can now give the Shrinking Header a black background, and change the text, icon or any button colors to another color!

Gift Cards Are Now Available In The Online Store - NEKO360

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 18:04:55 GMT

Gift Cards are Always in Season!

Add digital gift cards to your online stores and make it simple for visitors to buy a present, even if they don’t find exactly what they want. T his way you can boost sales & stimulate growth in your store.

Gift cards are a great addition to your online stores.
Here are just a few of the benefits:

Suitable for every type of store.

Gift cards are a perfect solution for every type of offering: from clothing and toy stores to salons, bakeries, and more.

Grow sales.

In most cases, people who receive a gift card spend MORE than their value. So they are truly a win-win offering for your stores.

Reduce lost opportunities.

If an item is out of stock, offering a gift card in its place is a great way of securing the sale until the item comes back in stock.

Attract new customers.

When your customers buy gift cards for others, they introduce your store to a new audience that may turn into loyal customers.

Automatic delivery

Gift cards are automatically delivered by email to customers once an order is paid. Gift card can be used as payment for multiple orders in your store until fully redeemed or expired.

Increase your revenue

Gift cards are a universal gift to sell for any occasion. Plus, recipients tend to spend more than a card amount.

Get paid upfront

Get the payment when a gift card is purchased and fulfill the order later on, when the card is redeemed.

Enabling Gift Cards is Easy

Gift cards are available with Advanced and Unlimited store plans.

To enable them in your store right now, go to Manage Store > Catalog > Gift Cards.

Video Backgrounds On Mobile & Tablet Available on NEKO360

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:49:40 GMT

Video backgrounds - now on your mobile and tablet NEKO360 websites!

Catch visitor’s attention, create a cool vibe, convey a complex message effectively, all with video backgrounds.

Now available on mobile, tablet and desktop sites.

To add a background video, open any row or column and enter the URL for the video you want to display.

On desktop, you can display Youtube, Vimeo and DailyMotion videos;
On mobile, only Vimeo and DailyMotion videos will display.

Great reasons to use video backgrounds:

Create a great vibe: If your client has a funky store, seasonal offer, or anything else that can be conveyed effectively with a video, use this instead of a hero image to create a big impact at first glance.
Simplify complex ideas: If your client has a relatively complicated process they want to convey, videos are a great solution. They can convey a process from start to finish much more effectively than simple text.
Show your product in action: Nothing is as effective as seeing a product in action. Create a high quality video that shows your client’s product being used and visitors will really see the value.
Food, food, food: Restaurants, bakeries, cooking classes and more are excellently conveyed with videos that show fresh food being prepared or served.

Tips for creating great background videos

Use only high quality videos.
Adjust their position in the container so they look perfect on all devices.
You can also add text on the video. If you do, make sure to add an opacity overlay color (black, 40%) so the text is visible.

What is NEKO Social Media Marketing Manager? How Can it Help Grow Your Business?

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 22:20:27 GMT

To be successful on social media you need to post a nonstop stream of relevant content and engage with customers across all social channels.

Social Media Manager will make posting content to Social Media channels easy!

To be successful on social media you need to post a nonstop stream of relevant content and engage with customers across all social channels. Even when you don't think people are listening, POST anyway!

Post everywhere from one place: Social Marketing provides one place to publish and schedule posts for all your clients' social accounts.
Engage your followers: Social Marketing makes it simple to connect with your clients' followers. Respond to their customers, share ready-to-post content, and build stronger social relationships with followers.
Generate social leads: Discover new leads on Twitter and engage them with the click of a button!

Which social profiles can you connect and post to with Social Marketing?

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google My Business (Google Posts), and LinkedIn. From one place, business owners can publish content to multiple social sites with the push of a button, utilize in-line conversations so the context of interactions isn't lost and schedule a calendar of posts.

Check out this quick demo of the NEKO Social Media Marketing Manager

Want to know more? Schedule a No Charge Introductory Consultation online here: www.northeastkingdomonline.com/contact-northeast-kingdom-online

Dynamic Pages are now Even Easier to Create with NEKO360

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 21:08:45 GMT

Dynamic Pages are now even easier to build with the new Internal Collections.

Now you can manage all of your data directly inside NEKO360 so you can create multiple pages quickly, based on a single layout, all without leaving the platform.

Simple, fast, no code required.

Internal Collections are real game-changer for Dynamic Pages - Here’s why:

Easy, easy, easy: You can now create Dynamic Pages without connecting to an external platform or source - all from within the editor. This makes it easier and faster to get started.

Ready-to-use Dynamic Pages: You’ve got 4 predefined Dynamic Pages in the editor (blank page, real estate, team member and single service) already connected to an Internal Collection. Simply add one to your site, update the content, and you’re set. No design required and no need to connect the widgets, because they’re already connected.

**Don't forget to add List or Photo Gallery widget to your site and connect it to the collection so visitors have direct access to the dynamic pages

5 Reasons SEO is Essential for Website Success

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 20:11:25 GMT

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a term you’ve most likely heard before. As digital marketing continues to rise, so does the contest for web visibility. If potential customers can’t find you online, you’re missing out on a huge demographic. That’s why we’ve narrowed down five important reasons to use SEO.

1. Website traffic

Traffic is the most important focus of a website other than web design. Up to 64% of website traffic comes from organic search, so if you’re not using SEO tactics, you’re not getting found. The internet is a sea of information; it’s easy for customers to get lost and distracted. Search engines find your site using crawlers that identify key phrases, then index them for users’ organic searches. If these crawlers can’t find your site, neither can potential customers. And if people don’t find your site, they’re not going to sign up for your newsletter or see your sales.

2. Competitive edge

SEO isn’t new. Most businesses are familiar with it and its importance. It’s very likely that your competitors are already using SEO, which is all the more reason for you to get on board with a strategy of your own. And if you’re focusing on local SEO, the playing field is much smaller. Local search is becoming more and more important, and finding your niche can put you ahead of competitors focusing on a broader scale. Now’s the time. The longer you wait, the more you risk other businesses cementing their positions and keywords.

3. Better rankings

When over 70% of clicks happen on the first search results page of Google, you don’t want to be past page two. That means that over 70% of users find what they’re looking for on that first page, which is why you need to use SEO to get there. Using local keywords and having up to date location information are two important steps to take to get Google to notice your site.

4. Mobile

Speaking of the user experience, one of the most important factors of website success is whether or not it’s mobile responsive. Responsive web design keeps your HTML and URL the same on web and mobile devices. Google favors websites that are mobile responsive, so take that into consideration when forming your SEO strategy.

5. Inbound marketing leads

SEO and inbound marketing work hand in hand. And while some inbound strategies require lots of attention, SEO requires initial setup, but can then work on its own for awhile. It’s an affordable method of bringing in business. What’s more, effective SEO brings customers to you. You really can’t go wrong.

SEO for ROI

You know why SEO is important for the success of a website and your business overall. Being found in search is one of the best ways to find new customers when they’re seeking out your products or services. While SEO is increasingly important, maintaining rankings and working to constantly push out competitors is an arduous process. If you don’t have time to stay up-to-date on Google’s algorithm changes, cleaning up meta data, keyword research and link building, it may be time to consider outsourcing.

What is Content Marketing and Why Does it Matter?

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 18:19:30 GMT

In the heyday of traditional marketing, attracting and retaining customers was an intimidating task for local business owners to accomplish, especially when the inflated budgets of larger businesses made it difficult to compete. Today, there are many different avenues for business owners to interact with consumers, and social media makes it easier than ever for business owners to reach potential customers through strategic tactics like content marketing.

Content marketing, also referred to as inbound marketing, involves the creation and distribution of relevant content that provides value to your business’s target audience. Content marketing can be shared with consumers in numerous forms: infographics, ebooks, white papers, case studies, how-to guides, etc. The main purpose of content marketing is to offer consumers value by presenting a solution to their needs, thus influencing the buying cycle.

Content marketing and the buying cycle

The main difference between traditional marketing methods and content marketing tactics is how each strategy affects the buying cycle for consumers.

The benefits of pull vs. push in marketing

Traditional push marketing methods like flyers, billboards or commercials seek to influence the comparison and purchase stages of the buying cycle by promoting or offering incentives that make a product or service seem superior to alternative solutions. Content marketing, or pull tactics, aim to increase consumer awareness and provide helpful information about the product or service your business offers as a solution. The beauty of content marketing is that it may lead consumers to recognize a problem or need in their lives that they would have otherwise been unaware of. This will draw them into your business when they are ready to buy, rather than knocking on doors or cold calling to try and convince someone to buy something from you now. Utilizing content marketing tactics in your business’s strategy also introduces several benefits, many of which are long lasting.

The benefits of content marketing

Content marketing serves as a means for your business to attract, inform and engage with consumers. Here are some of the benefits that can accompany an effective strategy:

Brand awareness

Publishing valuable content will lead consumers to discover your business and product offerings as they search for solutions to the problem they are facing. By making content available to consumers, your business will communicate an awareness of consumer needs, humanizing your brand with a personality that is friendly and helpful, as well as creating the opportunity for customers to form a relationship with you.

Brand equity

Content that is relevant to the needs of consumers and offers them a valuable solution establishes your business as a thought leader in your industry, which helps build a trusting relationship with consumers. Attaining this level of credibility will lead consumers to prefer your goods and services over alternative solutions, since they are aware of the unique value proposition offered by your business: that you are the knowledgeable experts in your field.

For example: why do avid cyclists go to smaller specialty bike shops instead of a big box store that offers bikes? Because of the level of knowledge and expertise that the smaller shop offers is something that cannot be easily replicated by the bigger box stores.

This is example is similar to how content marketing can work to increase thought leadership and brand equity for your business. By sharing your expertise in the form of content, you will boost your credibility with customers. They know that they can come to you for solid advice because you have provided them with relevant, helpful information in the past.

Effective long-term results

If the content your business releases is designed to be a mix of time-sensitive and evergreen pieces, your business’s content library will still be relevant to consumers as time passes. High-traffic content will also improve search engine rankings, and the consistent release of content can serve as a continuous source of interested consumers.

Content marketing: the main sell

Content marketing is an effective strategy to interact with consumers and introduce them to your business’s brand. By providing consumers with value before they even visit your store, you are building positive relationships and connections to your brand, resulting in long-lasting customer loyalty and brand equity for your business.

What Makes a Good Online Reputation?

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 21:59:59 GMT

Being present (listed online) and having a good reputation (reviews and reputation management) go hand in hand. Not being listed on a reference site customers use is just as bad as having bad reviews on that site. Building a consistent online presence and a positive reputation is important for both consumers and search engines.

Some of the most important aspects of the online footprint include:

number of business listings
consistency of business listing information (name, address, phone)
overall sentiment in reviews
frequency or current velocity of new reviews
overall volume of reviews
social activity and engagement (especially with reviewers)

Customers now view social recommendations and reviews as more authentic, expecting reviews to be a mirror of the actual customer experience that they would experience themselves. This means that maintaining your business’s online reputation is gaining importance as each review is a perceived snippet of what your potential customer expects to experience.

Do you have questions about your Businesses Online Reputation?

NEKO can help answer your questions about your businesses online reputation, c ontact us at 1-888-511-2010 today for a free consultation or demo the NEKO Reputation Manager .

Schedule your Free Consultation Online !

What is Online Reputation Management?

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 21:33:32 GMT

A business’s reputation used to be what they said about themselves in their advertising and the reach their customers had via word of mouth. Now, consumers are pushing out a company’s reputation and image collectively by providing real-time feedback online through review sites, social media, forums and other channels. Basically, if it is an online source and a consumer can say something about a business on it, then it is a channel where your business’s reputation should be managed.

Digital marketing and online reputation management for business

Online reputation management is a part of a greater digital marketing strategy that works alongside review management, business listings, paid search/ads, social media management and SEO to help your business stay competitive and relevant online.

While your business should be managing each of these segments of digital marketing to maintain your online presence and (consequently) offline reputation, many businesses are not. They really should: four in five consumers surveyed use search engines to find local information from multiple devices to find store address, business hours, product availability and directions.

Why your business’s online reputation matters

An online reputation needs to be backed by reviews and ratings by consumers. Without them, there would be no reputation to manage and quite frankly, it would appear as if no one ever visited the business.

Ready or not, consumers are talking about your business

Whether a business chooses to manage their reputation online or not, consumers are talking about their favorite and not-so-favorite businesses. If a business simply ignores their reputation online, the consequences can be detrimental.

Unmanaged negative responses can create an angry mob mentality and bad word of mouth spreads like wildfire. While a business may not realize how exactly one instance can affect their online reputation, it is possible that only one negative post on a highly ranked site can actually be what shows up near the top of a search results page when a consumer searches for that business’s name.

Consumers Control the Conversation and Everyone’s Feedback Matters.

Social media is a two-way conversation — businesses can no longer broadcast the message they want people to see. There is a democratic nature to social, with brands, consumers and everyone having an equal voice in a shared space. Customers can rave about a business or let everyone know they had a terrible experience. Social networks have dramatically changed the way businesses communicate. Today, consumers can converse with brands and vice versa as if they were talking to a friend. As a result, businesses have had to become more personable than simply a business entity and manage their social presence in a manner that reflects as such.

Reputation drives conversion.

What people see online matters. Approximately 74% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations—this is a huge shift in thinking that has become more prominent as time goes on. This trust in reviews translates to dollars, as customers put their money where their trust is. A Harvard Business School study found that a restaurant that sees a one star increase on Yelp will see revenues increase anywhere from five to nine per cent.

Many businesses find that cultivating their digital profile on their own is too time consuming. There are reputation monitoring tools that make keeping up with customers way easier, saving time and money. Whatever your business does, it is essential that you are not perceived to be ignoring your customers online.

The worst thing your business can do is appear unresponsive.

Have questions or need help monitoring your online reputation?

We can help you monitor your businesses online reputation quickly and easily with NEKO Reputation Manager .

Set up a FREE Consultation with us online today!

Call us at 1-888-511-2010 for your free consultation to demo the NEKO Reputation Manager !

Use #Hashtags on Social Media to Grow Your Online Presence

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 19:34:14 GMT

How hashtags can help you reach the out-crowd and engage the in-crowd!

The facts are in: if you are not using hashtags, you are missing out! With a tweet with hashtags being 33% more likely to get retweeted, these handy hashtags can make the difference between #GameOver and #Trending when it comes to social media success. Hashtags are more than just a fad, they are a means of organizing information and standing out from the crowd. Hashtags are also a way to engage with millennials where they shine brightest – through social media savvy. With millennials beginning to outnumber previous generations, speaking their language has become increasingly important. Do not miss out on this opportunity to #GetSocial!

Hashtag Basics

The hashtag (#) turns any word, or group of words, into a link that can be searched. When writing a hashtag, leave your grammar at the door – no punctuation, no spaces! The best way to keep your message clear is to capitalize each word #LikeThis, otherwise known as using CamelCase.
Got it? Let’s move on!

There are two ways businesses can use hashtags to their advantage.

To reach the out-crowd by joining a conversation that is already in progress.
To engage the in-crowd by starting a new conversation.

Reaching the out-crowd

As a business, using hashtags to reach potential new customers is a no-brainer. How do you do this effectively? By joining a conversation that is already in progress! Start thinking about what words people would search when looking for a business like yours. If you don’t know where to start, remember the old saying, “Keep your friends close, and your competitors closer”! Follow businesses who are doing similar work to you on all your favorite social media websites – especially those who have a great following. What hashtags are they using, and how many? Keep in mind that less is more both in scope (as hashtags that are more niche have a more engaged following) and in presentation (as too many hashtags looks inauthentic).

For example, this, “Take a bite out of our best burger today! #BurgerLover #Foodie #CheatMeal” is better than this, “Take a bite out of our best burger today! #WhatsForDinner #Foodie #EatClean #CommonTable #OnMyTable #TasteMade #ForkYea #OnTheTable #FoodStyling #BeautifulCuisines #HeresMyFood #TheArtOfSlowLiving #FreshFoods #CheatMeal #BurgerLover #Foodstagram #BurgerLife”.

So, K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Social-Media-User! Using hashtags by joining a pre-existing conversation takes your business and puts it in front of someone who would have never found you otherwise. That’s something you can feel #Blessed about!

Engaging the in-crowd

The second way that you can use hashtags to build your business is by starting a conversation with the followers that you already have by creating an original hashtag. Brands from Calvin Klein (#MyCalvins) to Charmin toilet paper (#TweetFromTheSeat) have managed to create original hashtags that engage their audience in a way that builds their social media momentum. Original hashtags can be used for promotions, contests, events, or general brand awareness. Just be sure that when you are creating an original hashtag that it is clear, simple, unique, and catchy. No one will want to join your conversation if it’s confusing or boring.

Imagine if Coca-Cola’s classic #ShareACoke hashtag was #TakeACocaColaAndGiveItToSomeoneElse – not very fun or memorable! Original hashtags give your followers something to talk about and a way to interact with your business on a personal level.

Not all social media sites are created equal

Using hashtags is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each platform will have its unspoken rules of how many hashtags are acceptable.
Where Instagram shows posts with an average of nine hashtags performing the best,
Facebook posts get the greatest engagement with only one hashtag.
Each social media site is unique in its function and audience, so take the time to explore the sites you want to use for your business before posting.

These tips and tricks for how to use hashtags as a business are about more than getting ahead in a technological age.

Hashtags, above all, are about building community. By putting a simple pound sign in front of a word, you are taking that message and immediately sharing it with someone who cares about what you do and how you do it. This tool is a revolutionary way to make your words matter and allow them to connect with not only a new customer, but a new spokesperson for your business. From #MotivationalMonday to #FlashbackFriday, use your new hashtagging skills to make both the in-crowd and the out-crowd your new #BFFL.

With NEKO Social Media Manager you can quickly and easily post to multiple Social Media Channels all in one place and even adjust each post per platform!

Post everywhere from one place: Social Marketing provides one place to publish and schedule posts for all your clients' social accounts.
Engage your followers: Social Marketing makes it simple to connect with your clients' followers. Respond to their customers, share ready-to-post content, and build stronger social relationships with followers.
Generate social leads: Discover new leads on Twitter and engage them with the click of a button!

Get in touch with NEKO today for your free demo of NEKO Social Media Manager!

Call us at 1-802-473-1887

Email us at sales@northeastkingdomonline.com

How to Utilize Your Social Media Monitoring Insights to Grow Your Online Presence

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 20:27:25 GMT

Once you’re set up with the tools you need for monitoring, tracking, measuring and analysis, what do you do with the information?

This is the key moment where you determine how to act on the knowledge you’ve received with Social Media Monitoring Tools.

Shift Social Strategy

Is your strategy working?

Are you truly getting traction on your primary social channels?

You may discover that it’s time to re-evaluate the resources and effort you put into certain channels.

Results from monitoring your competitors on social media could also yield some interesting insights as well. You may find that a new video tactic has people in your area or industry buzzing about a close competitor.

Why let them go unchallenged?

Work on Developing Relationships With Leads & Influencers

If you can jump into conversations and authentically solve problems for people, do it!

This tactic can be especially relevant when it comes to people’s frustrations with your competitor’s products or services. When you do this, it’s essential that you come from a really genuine place and offer tips or advice geared around helping people. People don’t want to be spammed , and sensitive topics should be off-limits.

However, in many industries you should feel free to have real conversations with people around the topics they care about ( which also happen to be topics YOU care about as a business owner! ).

Spotting and reaching out to influencers in your industry can have an amazing effect for your brand as well. People look to influencers to help them make purchasing decisions all the time, and if you can develop strong relationships with key influencers you can expect better results for much less work.

Develop New Products/Services

Listening to the needs of your target audience is a smart way to refine your solutions and develop new ones. If enough people are saying they hate a product, or wish they could tweak it, it’s probably worth looking into what the issue is and try to determine what could make that product better.

For example, GoPro did exactly that when they introduced their new camera – GoPro Hero4.

“We analyzed the social media discussions regarding both releases – Hero3+ and Hero4. The insights gathered during the Hero3+ premiere included lots of suggestions for features that could improve customer experience, which then appeared later on in the succeeding model – GoPro Hero4.”

On the flip side, if your customers LOVE one of your products, there may be an opportunity to develop similar or complimentary products or services.

You can then turn around and apply all this awesome feedback as testimonials!

Consider Updating Customer Service Policy and Process

Social media has led to a major shift in how customer service is carried out by many companies. People want instant answers, and are less likely to put up with call centers. Many won’t even pick up the phone when they have a problem. According to a new report from Conversocial, 54% of customers prefer customer service via social media.

The upcoming generation of millennials will only amplify this trend.

People are sticking to their favorite social media platforms to air out their complaints, and you need to know if this is happening in your industry (and be ready for it).

In Jay Baer’s book Hug Your Haters, author and consultant Dave Kerpen notes that:

“If a customer calls you on the phone to complain, surely you wouldn’t hang up on them. And not responding in social media is akin to hanging up on them, only worse, because there are actually other people watching and listening.”

Letting complains hang out there unanswered is not acceptable to current and potential customers, and it shouldn’t be to you!

I’ve thrown a lot of information you’re way. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and put off testing these strategies for yourself. To help you get started, contact us today and get set up with the social media tools you need!

Call us at 1-802-473-1887

Email us at sales@northeastkingdomonline.com

What Social Media Monitoring Can Teach You About Your Business

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 20:34:28 GMT

Intro to Social Media Monitoring

The online universe is a system of digital communities in which people are gathering and discussing a wide variety of topics, including YOU. In your personal life, you may or may not care to find out what they’re saying, but in business, it’s essential to your survival that you know.

Online, you can use social media monitoring to track mentions of your brand, competitors, product and any other keywords that are applicable to your business.

The information you accumulate can help you make major decisions about your marketing strategy, the products and services you offer and how people regard your brand. Plus, it can help you identify leads, build relationships, stay on top of trends, learn about your competitors, protect your brand and more!

Why Should You Use Social Media Monitoring?

1. To gauge social sentiment

What do you know about your brand’s reputation? You can get a feel by reading your reviews and speaking with customers, but you’d be missing a wealth of more informal brand or product mentions.

Plus, you need to be there to respond! A recent survey found that 89% of social messages go ignored. That’s a problem—and an even bigger missed opportunity.

People use social media to discuss the topics they care about within the communities they choose. That’s where you need to listen to truly discover how people regard your business, the issues they’re having, and the things they love.

2. To find leads & build relationships

Are people searching for your products and services? You’ve seen those calls on Facebook for recommendations, or the plaintive cries for help on Twitter: “I want pizza!” When you monitor your brand’s keywords or phrases, you can jump in and answer these requests (Just mention your current Monday 2 for 1 pizza deal!). NOT selling anything can be really effective too. Be a part of the conversations that are happening online about your industry.

3. To stay on top of trends

When you’re closely monitoring discussions in your niche, you may be able to catch new and evolving trends as they emerge. For example, when Instagram launched its “Stories” product, Snapchat growth took a major hit (growth slowed by 82%). In response to news like this, you may decide to alter your marketing strategy to be one of the first to dive into a new social channel or try a new tactic.

Why is this important? In an over-saturated market, doing the same thing as everyone else can get you lost in the crowd. Finding ways to stand out will help you get noticed and stay relevant in your industry.

4. To perform competitor research

Has your competition launched a product similar to what you offer, but at a lower price or with a few more bells and whistles? Did they just launch a marketing strategy that your customers are loving? Did they just screw up royally using a tactic you’ve been considering? Keeping your finger on the social pulse will alert you about these types of scenarios and unforeseen issues that may have huge repercussions for your business.

5. To protect your brand

Building your brand’s reputation takes a lot of time and effort, but it can all be lost in seconds.Monitoring your social channels allows you to identify any issues customers have and jump on solutions before they blow up.

Stuff happens. It’s inevitable.

It’s how you respond and how quickly you respond that matters. In fact, we’ve found that if a business resolves its issue quickly and efficiently, 95% of unhappy customers return to you.

Listening, identifying the issue and showing your customers you care and are taking steps to resolve the issue is what can turn them from a brand killer into a champion for your business.

Most businesses are aware that they should monitor social media for mentions related to their brand, products, services, competitors and industry. You might actually be doing so already. But do you have a plan in place to analyze, respond and integrate results into your business’s ongoing strategy?

If you don’t, you might be missing some golden opportunities

Social Marketing Manager

Seamlessly customize and update with the all-in-one composer

Schedule content for all of your networks at once, Generate new leads, and interact with your existing client base- all within the same innovative social media tool.

NEKO Reputation Manager

With Reputation Management, you can keep on top of online activity affecting the reputation of a business, including reviews, listings, and social media, helping you make expert recommendations, and provide proof-of-performance.

Ways to Use Social Media for Growth in 2020

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 18:35:56 GMT

Utilize Stories on Instagram & Facebook

To Get Started:

Try doing 1 - 2 stories a week to get a feel for it and get some analytics. Once you have an idea of what people like to see you can start creating more stories based on those analytics.

Videos on the stories can be up 3 minutes long on Instagram but people seem to respond better to the shorter videos that are approximately 30 seconds long. Try keeping your videos 15-30 seconds longs to start.

Engage your audience in these videos and stories by asking them to DM to learn more or get more information on your product or service. This way you can send them links to your products which equal more engagement opportunities overall.

Engage with other Social Media Accounts

Follow hashtags so you can engage within your social media feed
Search through your hashtags on daily basis. Like 20-30 posts and comment on at least 10 posts each day. Repeat with different hashtags as necessary.
Always respond with a like and respond back to any comments on your posts

Use Relevant Hashtags for Greater Visibility

Hashtags became popular on Twitter but soon spread to other platforms, including Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pinterest. Hashtags work to categorize your content for users, and when used in the right manner, they help interested users find your content easily.

Using hashtags seems as easy as placing the # sign in front of your keywords. However, it is essential to think about the hashtags you want to use, as your customers may never discover unique hashtags.

In general:

Use one or two impactful hashtags
Try not to use unusual hashtags as no one will be searching for them
Use hashtags that are short and/or memorable
General terms drive better results
Some people say 5-6 hashtags are best some say 10-11 (Instagram allows 30 Hashtags per post)
Take 30 minutes to find 30 tags (look at competitors and audience for ideas)
Use a mix of tags that meet different audiences, it doesn’t always need to be in the millions to get views (it is a balance)
Make sure your hashtags match each post (create categories of Hashtags you'd like to use)

Maximize Conversions On Social Media

Generating high-quality traffic is not enough unless you can convert that traffic into paying customers. Use social media to boost your conversion rate in two simple ways:

Include a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA) - Use a strong call-to-action that tells your customers what you expect them to do after reading your content. An appealing CTA will encourage your customers to take the desired action, which could be signing up for a service or purchasing your product or service.

Offer Some Freebies or Discounts - Everybody loves discounts and freebies. Creating a contest or giveaway on social media is quite entertaining and encourages customers to interact with your brand in the hope of winning a gift or receiving a discount.

Track Social Media Mentions

Whenever people talk about your brand or product on social media – whether positive or negative – that constitutes a brand mention or social media mention.

Brand visibility is a huge benefit of social media mentions. However, brand mentions can also be leveraged to improve your customer service by reaching out to unhappy customers.

More and more people prefer to use social media as the first point of contact with a business, brands that monitor social media mentions can respond to these mentions quickly, leading to higher engagement and customer satisfaction rates.

With NEKO Reputaion Manager you can see what is being said all over the web, monitor customer reviews from dozens of major and vertical-specific review sites and see when your businesses are mentioned online, with sentiment analysis.

Keep Tabs on Your Competition

Competitive analysis on social media helps you analyze where you stand with respect to the competition and draw inspiration from their strategies. Use social media smartly to learn from your competitors and see if you can tweak any of their strategies to achieve your business goals.

If a company is doing better than you – say, it has more customer engagement and fans on its page – there must be something they are doing right.

Examine how your business performs against the competition on search engines, in regards to review ratings, total reviews, and perform social comparisons using NEKO Reputation Manager .

Use a Social Media Managment Tool

Using social media is a great way of connecting with your customers on a platform they are already using. However, most customers use multiple social media platforms, with most preferring one over the other, making it difficult for brands to track customer feedback, social mentions, and discussions.

A simple way to tide over this issue is by investing in a social media management tool like NEKO Social Media Manager that allows you to manage and post on multiple social media platforms from a single dashboard.

Connect with Instagram on your NEKO360 Website

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:33:41 GMT

Connect with Instagram using the Photo Gallery Widget

Connect Instagram to your NEKO 360 website and bring this hugely popular social network directly into your website. You'll boost site engagement, ensure images are always fresh, and increase your Instagram exposure.

Simply connect a Photo Gallery widget to your Instagram account, and your up-to-date Instagram images will be displayed on your NEKO360 website, with no additional effort or maintenance. This means you don’t need to go into the site to update images. They’ll automatically update every time they update on Instagram creating a seamless connection between your website and social media.

Instagram in 2020

Instagram is the world’s fastest growing social media platform, and has huge benefits for businesses of all types and all sizes. Here’s why:

Instagram has 1 billion+ monthly active users. That makes it the third most popular social network in the world (after YouTube and Facebook).

Instagram is increasingly popular among older audiences. Instagram has always been popular amongst younger ones, but the largest growing audience is older than 18, making it super important for businesses who market to this age category.

80% of Instagram users follow a business. And the number is growing all the time. This makes Instagram a great way for businesses to reach customers when they are not on their site, ultimately increasing engagement and conversion.

Integration is easy and flexible

It takes just a moment to connect your site with Instagram and once you do, you forge a direct connection between your site and your social network. In addition, you ensure a ongoing source of high-quality images on your site. No need to update the gallery manually.

Just click Connect Instagram in any Photo Gallery and enter the Instagram account details.
Once connected, you have all the design flexibility of the Photo Gallery widget. Choose the number of images you want to display at one time ( you can show up to 100 ), how you want to display them, and more.

Some inspirations & examples

Reasons Your Local Business Listings Need to Be Accurate

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 21:37:54 GMT

As a business, how likely is it that potential customers will come through your door?

The whole point of an online presence is to entice customers into your store, your leasing office or your showroom so you can convert them to paying customers rather than just browsers online.

Further, nothing is more frustrating as a customer than finding out that you have been given the wrong information about where a business is located. As a customer, how likely are you to give this company your business? Not very. In fact, according to Placeable, 73% of consumers stated that they lose trust in a brand when the online listing shows incorrect information.

1. Missing hours of operation information can be a dealbreaker

There are many things that people look for in listings, whether they are looking at that search engine on a PC or on a mobile device. The top piece of information that most people look for is the hours of operation , since their search is likely for a business that they frequent quite often.

In fact, in a study conducted by local data aggregator Localeze, hours of operation were noted as the most helpful feature in selecting a business during local search. 76% of respondent reporting that they expect this information when searching and 61% believe that it is a feature that helps them to select a business.

Even if people are new to a business, it doesn’t give people a good impression if the business hours are not listed and they don’t know that it’s only open from 11 a.m-6p.m. Tuesday-Saturday .Imagine that potential customer who is ready to spend their money in store, but shows up on Monday at 7 p.m. only to find it closed. That customer is likely going to do another search on a mobile phone to find a different store and spend their money there.

2.You can’t spell NAP data (and score a citation) without an A(ddress)

While most people would assume that the number one reason people do a search online is for the address or location of a business, the address is actually behind hours of operation as the second most desired information. But, of course, the whole point of being in business is to make money doing what you love or selling what you love. And that happens by attracting foot traffic and increasing customer base.

It bears repeating that if a business address is incorrect on listing sites such as Google or Bing, then customers will not be crossing the threshold. A simple thing such as the wrong number on a street address, or even the wrong town, can mean that a customer cannot find you. The US Postal Service relies on a complex system of checks to verify and standardize addresses, and many of the search engines will default to the USPS for correct mailing addresses.

What this means for the average new business owner is that unless a business is in an established location, getting the correct address on their listing means that both the address from City Hall and the information on USPS must be consistent. If USPS doesn’t recognize that address, then a business owner must contact them to verify their new address and get that information updated on USPS’s online database.

3. Local searchers are mobile creatures

According to Localeze, mobile-phone-based searches drive in-store purchases with more than 75% of searches ending in a purchase—if a business has their listing details correct. Now if half of the people searching for a business listing on a local search engine, such as Google Local/Maps, can’t find the store’s business listing details, then the business is going to lose 100% of their business.

For ease of use for potential customers, some of those details need to be as readily available as possible in a mobile-friendly manner. This can be accomplished with a responsive website that supports cellphone and tablet-specific versions.

4. Updated, accurate websites still serve as a first impression

At the same time, more than 60% of searches on PC platforms such as website portals, Internet Yellow Page directories and local sites have a similar chance of ending in a purchase. While mobile searches are becoming more of a standard in where a customer searches, a business owner should not discount the power of a fulsome, consistent and accurate listing that is reflective of the business website.

Any listing should be linked to the business’s website and feature the exact same information, but more of it. While a website should be enough to entice a customer to visit or buy, if those inconsistencies exist, then trust issues may arise in a business’s practices before a customer ever crosses their threshold.

5. Local searchers mix it up across multiple devices, situations and times

People who search for listings are doing it in many more ways than when the Internet first coalesced into existence about two decades ago. In that time, we went from working on desktops to laptops to PDAs to Blackberries to Apples to tablets—and in each iteration, the methods of search have changed.

However, that has slowed over the last five years or so as web developers realize that they need to be smarter. Rather than designing three different sites for three different platforms, they have created websites that are scalable to the search device. And that has been helped along by the proliferation of types of devices in use everyday.

According to Pew Research Center, In 2015, smartphone ownership in America was at 68%, with tablet and computer ownership at 45%. Statista says that almost half of American adults use their smartphones the most to search for local information online, the other half being split between computers (40%) and tablets (11%). According to Localeze, like the types of devices used, what we are searching for varies by the time of day and device. Entertainment is searched for during work hours on computers, restaurants during evening using phones and health/fitness evening using tablets.

The most important part of those mobile searches is accuracy. If someone cannot find your business in a local search or find inaccurate results whilst out and about, then your business has lost the chance for that browser to become a customer. So having those listings correct in all of the device formats is a must as we, and our technology, continue to evolve in the way we interact with local businesses.

6. Local search results are trusted sources of information

Last but certainly not least is the fact that local search results are considered the most trustworthy. In a study by Neustar, it was determined that these searches, such as “used games Raleigh”, are what people do the most since they put that trust in local business more than big box, big website stores.

Think about it, would you rather find a local store where you can get that latest purse in town right now? Or you can wait a week for delivery, which is four days past the event that you want it for! Local searches lend themselves to instant gratification and that interaction between browser and salesperson will convert that browser from someone who might get just the minimum to a loyal customer who feels like a million having spent a little more, but getting what they consider to be gold!

Those interactions are what lead people to local searches and the absolute necessity of getting your listings correct. Trust leads to loyalty, which leads to more business, which leads to happy customers and business owners.

And it all starts with that correct listing in that customer’s local search.

NEKO Location Management

The most comprehensive business listing solution for local businesses.

Establish accurate listings and appear in more places across the web. Packed with four powerful presence management tools - Google Insights, Listing Sync, Listing Distribution and My Listing - Listing Builder is the most comprehensive business listing solution on the market.

Get in touch with NEKO today for your free demo of NEKO Location Management!

Call us at 1-802-473-1887

Email us at sales@northeastkingdomonline.com

SSL Certificates Included with NEKO360

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:46:07 GMT

Effective immediately, every new site you build with a custom domain on the NEKO360 platform is protected with SSL.

This means the connection between the site and its visitors is safe, visitor data is protected, and you get a boost to your online brand reputation.

Custom domains with NEKO360 have had SSL encryption for several years, but until now, it was a manual process that required you to request a certificate. Now, we take care of it for you. We automatically generate your site SSL certificate, which means you have one less thing to worry about. It also means Google won’t penalize your sites by marking them as “ Not Secure ”.

Protecting your website with HTTPS is incredibly important for your business, as it creates a positive experience for visitors, boosts your reputation online, and builds trust with customers.

Read all about why having an SSL Certificate is vital for your website.

Why is Social Media Important?

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 22:13:56 GMT

Since the early 2000s, social media platforms have revolutionized the way people connect with one another. Today, there are billions of active users of social media worldwide. Business owners who take advantage of the ocean-sized lead pool created by social media channels will undoubtedly reel in a boatload of benefits.

Currently, the number of brands present on two or more social media platforms has surpassed 90%, and in 2016, Facebook reported reaching 50 million small business users. Despite this level of online presence, business owners consistently report that social media is the second most difficult marketing tactic to execute effectively (immediately behind Search Engine Optimization, AKA SEO). Business owners believe that learning how to properly utilize social media platforms is time consuming, and that their time would be better spent on other marketing tactics.

Don’t take the bait—social media IS important!

Remember the boatload of benefits discussed earlier? We didn’t mean this:

Social media increases your brand’s visibility

Just as there are plenty of fish in the social media sea, there are also a TON of boats looking to land a big catch. Ensuring your business and brand are present and active on multiple social channels will create the opportunity for consumers from different demographics to find and follow you. Also, half of consumers follow brands to indicate their loyalty, so a business’s current customer base will also increase brand awareness and visibility. The more followers a business has, the more likely it is to be seen. Additionally, if a business owner treats these followers as a sentient community rather than a stagnant lead pool, it will help improve customer service and brand image.

Social media improves your customer service

A business’s presence on social media creates the opportunity for dialogue with consumers, and 60% of followers expect a brand to interact with their followers directly through social media. With more than half of marketers utilizing social media as two-way street for communication, it is important for business owners to give their audience what it wants. By providing engaging content, exclusive social offers and genuine responses to feedback like reviews or questions, you will be able to build brand loyalty and lasting customer relationships with your social community. Did we mention that all of this comes with a minimal price tag?

Social media is easy on your budget

Old school marketing tactics like snail mail ads or flyers can be expensive, and it will undoubtedly take time to measure their ROI. Joining and posting to social media is free of charge—there’s no limit to how many posts you can publish, and your efforts are seen by followers immediately. Paid advertising on social media is also an option, and this tactic will allow you to target specific audiences you want to reach. The best part is that your budget for paid social advertising can be as large or as small as you see fit, it’s all designed to meet your business’s unique marketing needs. Investing in social media with time or money can help with more than just a business’s social accounts, too.

Social media can boost search engine ranking

Effective social media use will allow your business to harness the power of another internet beast.

You may recall from earlier that business owners find SEO to be the most daunting digital marketing tactic to take on. By fostering a social media following, providing content that will likely be shared, and interacting with its consumers online, businesses are able to climb the ranks in search engines. The better your ranking, the more likely you are to be found, and thus the social media cycle begins all over again!

Keep the fish biting

With so many benefits tied to using social media, you’re probably wondering how to move your business forward using such a powerful tool. Posting in all the social channels can be intimidating, and oftentimes you might be left wondering if you have anything worth posting at all.

It’s important to create social media content that provides value to your customers without hocking spam day in and day out. To succeed on social media you need to know your consumers and keep them entertained.

With NEKO Social Media Manager you can quickly and easily post to multiple Social Media Channels all in one place!

Post everywhere from one place: Social Marketing provides one place to publish and schedule posts for all your clients' social accounts.
Engage your followers: Social Marketing makes it simple to connect with your clients' followers. Respond to their customers, share ready-to-post content, and build stronger social relationships with followers.
Generate social leads: Discover new leads on Twitter and engage them with the click of a button!

Get in touch with NEKO today for your free demo of NEKO Social Media Manager!

Call us at 1-802-473-1887
Email us at sales@northeastkingdomonline.com

Struggling With Social Media?

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 19:15:18 GMT

Here are 7 Social Media Tactics for Businesses That Struggle With Social

A strong social media presence is one of the best ways to be heard, and businesses are no exception to this rule. Forget the doorstep; there’s a whole world of potential customers and fans at your fingertips who are actively looking for brands that they can identify and engage with on a personal level. However, social media skills have to be learned, and many businesses struggle to find an audience and connect with them online. If yours is one of them, what can you do to make the best use of social media and all its benefits? How can you create content that gets people to stop scrolling and start reading, liking and sharing?

These 7 social media strategies will help your business build a presence and a following in the most crowded rooms online by creating content that entertains, educates, inspires and engages.

Make a Plan

Before you rethink your entire social media strategy, ask the tough questions.
What are your goals as a business, and how will a strong social media presence help you to achieve them?
What actions are you going to take to build presence, and how will you measure your success?
Establish achievable and quantifiable objectives that are informed by your marketing and business goals, and put a time-frame on how long they should take to achieve. Find the right KPIs and tools to evaluate your progress, and don’t be afraid to change your tactics if something isn’t working.

And remember: don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! If you’ve done something in the past that worked well, think about how and why it worked, and let it inform your strategy as you go forward. Similarly, look to past failures and learn from them: how have your past social efforts missed the mark, and how can you avoid these mistakes going forward?

With a road-map to social success in place, your business can begin to make guided changes to its social strategy that work toward definite goals.

Know your Audience

There are so many eyes and ears out there on the web, but do you know who is going to listen to your brand’s voice?
Identifying and empathizing with your demographic and how they spend their time online makes a huge difference in making your voice heard. Picture your ideal customer.
What interests them?
What are they passionate about?
What do they read, watch, and talk about with their friends?
What are their goals, and how can the things you do help to achieve them?
The better an understanding you have of your ideal customer, the easier it will be to find people like them online and speak to them with your content.

Listen to your audience and their conversations online about your industry in general and your brand in particular. Find the keywords and phrases in these conversations, learn how they’re used, and put them into practice in your own content. These keywords, which can include anything from industry jargon to misspellings of your company’s name, make up the language that your customers speak – to walk the walk, your business needs to talk the talk.

Finally, knowing the social media influencers your audience follows and engaging with the things that interest them can put you straight into your audience’s line of sight. Learn from what influencers do to engage your audience, and put it into practice in your own social media strategy.

Tell your Story

Just like every person, every business has a story; no two are alike. Use your social media channels to build a narrative around your business that shows how it got to where it is today.
Invite your audience to think about where they enter into that narrative: how are your followers involved and invested in your success?
How can the things your business does change a person’s day, or change the way they live their lives?

One way to nail a narrative is to find your niche and own it. If your service or product fits into a certain lifestyle, build a story around it, and highlight your place in it. You know the unique value of your business – tell the world about it, and appeal to an audience that will benefit from it.

Get Conversational

Social media is a two-way street, and driving engagement with your brand means taking hold of the reins and engaging with your audience. Make your business part of the conversation online by asking and answering questions, making friends, and following back. Things don’t always have to be about sales: sharing holiday greetings, discussing local events, and starting a dialogue about current news stories are all ways a business can drive engagement from their audience and learn more about their demographic.

Most importantly, share with your audience and encourage them to share with you! Ask your audience about what they want to see, take the feedback and deliver on it. If you see someone doing something cool with your product or sharing a success story, like it, retweet it, or give a shout out! When your audience is engaged with your brand, you become a part of their network, and everyone gets to see how your business fits into the lives of people just like them. This widens your audience and compounds your chances of generating engagement.

Go Live!

Facebook Live has quickly become a powerhouse marketing tool for the biggest brands. Your followers are notified the moment you go live, and can join at any time to watch you broadcast the things that matter to the both of you.
Is your company reaching a milestone, or releasing a brand new product?
Has your warehouse just received a long-awaited and much anticipated shipment?
Go live, and share the moment with your fans!
Hold a live Q&A session, give fans a sneak peek at exciting things in the works, or simply broadcast a day in the life of an employee. When your fans see the real people behind your products or services and share in their successes, it lays the foundation for a fanbase that is engaged, loyal, and eager to see more!

Call to Action

Make your statements short and sweet, and provide a way for your audience to follow up and learn more. Succinctness is a virtue and brevity is the soul of wit, especially in the fast-paced world of social media, and many social media platforms have embraced this philosophy to the point of integrating it into the very nature of user interaction. Twitter’s 140-character limit is an obvious example, but Snapchat’s ephemeral photos and videos and Instagram’s bite-sized Boomerang and Stories features are more recent examples. These limitations allow you to create captivating copy and striking visuals that inspire interest and are digested at a glance. Once you have their attention, encourage users to follow up by clicking a link, signing up for an email newsletter, or looking through a complete product line to get more of the content that hooked them!

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3…

Finally, always be improving. Don’t focus on a single successful formula and stick to it. Variety is the spice of life, so keep an eye out for new trends, new conversations, and new mediums to get your message out there – but be scientific about it. Keep your eyes on the KPIs, put your strategies to the test by comparing their results, and learn from your failures as well as your successes to evolve along with your audience and your social media networks as they grow.

To wrap things up

The world of social media is constantly evolving, and with these tactics your business will find its place in the world beyond a brick and mortar shop or a domain name.
Take stock of how far you’ve come, and set clear and measurable objectives that correspond to your business goals.
Get to know your audience, tell them your story, and get involved by listening to what they have to say.
Go live, give your followers a taste of what you have to offer, and provide the means for them to learn more about what you can do for them. Always pay attention to what works, learn from what doesn’t, and test out new ideas to keep improving your reach. Most importantly, remember the point of social media: to connect people!
Use your social media channels as a platform to connect to and grow your audience, not just as a megaphone to talk at them.
Now get out there and give the people something to talk about!

With NEKO Social Media Manager you can stay in one place to stay social!

Get in touch with NEKO today for your free demo of NEKO Social Media Manager!

Call us at 1-802-473-1887
Email us at sales@northeastkingdomonline.com

NEW EVENT SECTIONS

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 17:05:24 GMT

Let your site visitors know what's going on at a glance with 9 eye-catching and informative new Events Sections, built using the Table, Calendar and Gallery widgets.

Scroll down to see previews/examples or go to the editor and find them in the new Events tab of your Sections panel.

Events Sections

Upcoming Concerts

This Section is built using two Table widgets, one after the other.
Content in Table widgets can now include links, so you can connect any field in the widget to a URL, popup, page anchor, etc.

To build this section on your own, follow these steps:

1. Start with a row with one column. Add a background image to the row and toggle on the parallax effect.

2. Add the following widgets to the row, one on top of the other: Icon, Title, Table, Social Icons.

3. Select an X in the Icon widget, add a title to the Title widget and design the table as follows: Turn the toggle on for the first column and even column width. In the first column, set the font to 20 px, white and bold. Set the header color background to white with 60% opacity; set the font to 16 px, blue and bold. Set the even row background color to purple with 20% opacity. Set the odd row background color to white with 20% opacity. Set the row font to 16px, white.

4. To set the entrance animation: right-click on the table > entrance animation >fade in from left/right.

5. Copy the entire table and paste it immediately below.

School Calendar

Company Agenda

Upcoming Events

Salon Events

Theater Schedule

Health Club Classes

Gallery Events

Need help adding or editing this section/widget on your website or are you having trouble editing your website?
Please feel free to contact us, we are happy to help!

Email us at Support@northeastkingdomonline.com or call us at 802-473-1887

Tips on How to Respond to Positive Online Reviews

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 17:08:44 GMT

Responding to Positive Reviews

A good or bad reputation can mean the difference between a business thriving and expanding, or closing their doors for good. In the digital age, a business’s reputation is controlled by consumers using online review platforms like Yelp, Google and Facebook to announce the quality of their business publicly. The good news is that this lets businesses easily monitor and manage their online reputation , a power they can put to good use by responding in a timely manner to the reviews they receive.

While negative reviews often get this most attention, positive reviews are as or more important! It’s important to respond to positive reviews to thank customers for taking the time to review your business and to encourage others to do the same.

With 92% of consumers reading reviews online , businesses can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. An effective response will help ensure that a happy first time customer becomes a regular, and 70% of complaining customers will come back if you resolve the complaint in their favor. The first step is engaging with them.

Here are some tips on how to respond to positive reviews:

It’s simple. Thank the customer, name drop, promote and tell the customer what to do!

1. Say thank you and be specific

No one would let a compliment pass them by in real life. Apply that same principle to a review response! And make sure to reiterate your customer’s compliment. This let’s the customer know that a real person took time out of their day to acknowledge them, and that feels good.

2. Use the business name and keywords

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to drive your business up in search results—positive reviews work wonders in search. Referring to your business name, location and category (restaurant, coffee shop, hotel, etc.) helps index that review online.

3. Market, market, market

Is your business famous for a certain secret sauce? Are you having a promotion next month? A review response is a great place to get the good word out.

4. Give your customer a task

Not as scary as it sounds. Invite them to try something different the next time they visit, or bring a friend!

As you can see, there’s a ton of potential hidden in a positive review response. Instead of one advertisement to rule them all, each review is an opportunity to sell your business!

Still have questions or need help monitoring your online Reputation?

We can help you monitor your businesses online reputation quickly and easily with NEKO Reputation Manager . Visit https://reach.northeastkingdomonline.com/reputation-manager for the details!

Contact us at 1-888-511-2010 today for a free initial consultation and demo !

Schedule your free consultation online here: FREE CONSULTATION

Blog for Fun and for Profit: Six Tips to Get You Started!

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

How to Build your Business Blogging Skills

So, you have decided to take the leap into the blogosphere. Great!
There’s no shortage of reasons why blogging can benefit your business. However, the world of business blogging may still feel like uncharted territory.

What should your blog discuss?
How many posts should get published, and how often?
Just who the heck is going to read this stuff, anyway?

This blog about blogging is intended to help you hit the ground running with tips on creating timely and fresh blogs that meet the needs and engage the minds of your readership.

The Foundation

A great blog article starts with a plan, and the planning stage is where you first answer the questions that will determine what you write about, and why you’re writing in the first place.

Before you get started, be sure to nail down answers to the following questions:

Start with buyer personas — who is going to be interested in what your business has to say? What are their pain points, and how do your products or services address and resolve them? Targeting your content to a specific readership makes it more likely to be seen (and shared).
Develop a list of keywords relevant to your buyer personas. What kinds of search terms will they use when they’re looking for solutions? Knowing your keywords and putting them into use can optimize your blog to be found, guide your writing process and keep your copy consistent.
How often will you write? The fresher and more frequent your content, the more you’ll have to offer to your readership, and the more Google’s page rankings will look favorably on your website.
Set measurable goals in both the short and the long term. Are you looking to grow your email list and cultivate new leads, or are you focused on making your brand’s voice trusted and authoritative in your field? Whatever your goals, ensure that you have reliable metrics for measuring your progress.

Pick your Topics

Are you drawing a blank every time you sit down to write? It may be easy to simply write a product feature or fluff up a sales pitch, but it’s important to remember that the point of your blogs is to provide value to your audience, not to sell to them. Take a look at your buyer personas and their pain points or problems, and assemble them into categories. These categories and their relevant personas will focus your writing and guide your use of keywords to optimize the SEO boost that the post provides. From here, you can begin to address some general topics.

Another great source of blogging inspiration is your existing customer base. Think about the kinds of questions from customers that you answer on a regular basis. Many of these represent common pain points, and can easily turn into full blog posts. For every one customer who comes in or sends and email with a common question, just imagine how many there are tapping their query into Google in search of an answer!

For example , a furniture store might write a blog on the difference in durability between leather, vinyl, and fabric upholsteries, or the different types of mattresses and their levels of support. An informative post that answers common questions and gives your readers information that they can act on is going to rank higher on search engines and position your business as a source of information that readers can trust.

Content is King

Getting the copy down is one thing, but your blog will be as dry as a bone without engaging content to supplement that copy. The content that your copy supports, more than anything, is what sets your blog apart from your competitors and drives the solution to your readership’s problem.

It’s best to make your own, but there are plenty of resources out there for those who don’t collect data or employ a design team.

Statistic Visuals

Provide relevant and substantiated statistics in the form of graphs and infographics—these add credibility to your posts, and can provide shock value when used properly.

Header and Sub-header Images

Use visuals to break up the text. The text of headers and sub-headers can often be incorporated into a relevant image that draws the reader’s attention and invites them to read further. A well-chosen graphic or photograph can serve to break up the monotony of plain text as well as add a visual frame to the information the audience receives.

Screenshots/photos
Finally, use screenshots or photos to demonstrate your solution in action. Remember that you’re here to provide value, not to sell.Getting to the end of a blog and feeling like you just read a really long ad means that you’re not going to come back for anything informative or authoritative. The more your readers can learn from your post, the more likely they are to return to your blog when they have another question that needs an answer.

What’s your Story?

Tell compelling stories. Narrative can be a powerful tool, and we’ve known how to use it in sales and marketing for a long time. The same goes for your blogs. Framing the movement from conflict to resolution as a journey makes your audience more receptive to the information you have to share and puts it within a familiar and memorable framework.

Start with choosing a narrative voice. Anecdotes and stories about your business can use a first-person voice to draw readers in and demonstrate your unique way of overcoming challenges in ways that others can learn from and put into practice. A second-person voice (like the one used in this blog) allows readers to visualize themselves acting out your solutions as your offer them, while a third-person voice is suited to communicating stories about how your business has been part of another customer’s success.

Leverage your buyer personas and their challenges to tell stories that will engage your audience and show how your business fits into their lives. Your posts don’t have to read like a novel, but putting your info in action will help transform your blog from a lecture into a success story.

Sharing is Caring

You’ve written something you’re proud of, so be sure to put it out there! Share your new blog article on your business’ other marketing channels, and put the work in to gain readers other than Googlers and regular visitors to your site. Leveraging your business’ social media following to widen your blog’s audience has the added benefit that a new post that a follower finds useful or interesting is always easy to share with their own network. The more readers that come to see your business as a trusted source of information, the better!

Your blogs can also link to one another. Where there’s an overlap in information or your blog posts address similar issues, have them link to each other! An engaged reader will always be ready to find out more, and demonstrating that you have more information to offer is never a bad thing.

Finish up Strong

Finally, and importantly, bring things home with a with a call to action. Have you ever gotten to the end of an interesting article, how-to or blog post and been filled with the inspiration to immediately test what you’ve learned?
While the point of your blog isn’t to sell, it’s important to give your readers something to engage with that allows them to take action and apply their new knowledge. Whether it’s more content, a link to a product or promotion or a contact form, your readers will have a way to act on their inspiration, and you will have a way to track engagement and turn readers into leads.

Hopefully this article inspires you to start writing! By following these blogging tips, you should on your way to inspiring your own readers with stories, compelling content, and valuable info!

How to Respond to Negative Reviews

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:22:05 GMT

Believe it or not, the same premise applies to negative review response as it does to positive reviews. How you respond to a negative review impacts not only the reviewer, but all the sets of eyes that come afterward. Seeing a business handle a particularly challenging review online suggests that management is proud of their business, and willing to go the extra mile to maintain their online and offline reputation !

See the light with these four steps: apologize, promote, get offline, and keep it simple.

Tips on how to respond to negative reviews:

1. Apologize and sympathize

The first step towards fixing a problem is acknowledging that one occurred. Regardless of what happened, a simple apology and sympathy for your customer’s experience goes a long way.

2. Promote

So the famous crab cakes weren’t up to par the day this particular customer visited. If they’re what you are known for, why not reiterate that? “Our crab cakes are usually a hit, we’re sorry to hear that they weren’t up to par when you visited!”

3. Move the conversation offline

Don’t open a can of worms. Keep the lid on tight by offering the reviewer the chance to reach out via phone, email or both .

4. Keep it simple

Avoid specifics and don’t ask questions. Those conversations are much better served in a space away from the prying public.

One last pro tip:

Leave your business name, location and category out of this. You don’t want your negative reviews showing up in search!

Now that wasn’t so bad, was it? You can use software to pull in your reviews from all over the web so you can respond quickly. And if you don’t have time, seek out all of your online reviews our Reputation Manager services can do it for you!

Still have questions or need help monitoring your online Reputation?

We can help you monitor your businesses online reputation quickly and easily with NEKO Reputation Manager . Visit https://reach.northeastkingdomonline.com/reputation-manager for the details!

Contact us at 1-888-511-2010 today for a free consultation and demo !

How to Reach Your Audience With Digital Advertising.

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 19:33:37 GMT

Digital advertising comes in many different varieties, including display advertising (those web banners next to your favorite Youtube videos), sponsored ads (such as those on Google and Facebook), and of course, search ads—just to name a few!

So where do you start?

While there are so many online options to choose from, reaching your intended audience will still require a little bit of work. Luckily, using digital advertising to get your message across is easier than you think.

Pick the right Platform

In 2008, only 24 percent of the United States had a social media account. Today that number has skyrocketed. While traditional mediums such as television and newspapers still have their place, most companies are turning towards digital advertising for the majority of their needs—and who could blame them?

As of 2016, tech titans Google and Facebook together control over nearly 76% of total internet revenue growth. Furthermore, in the third quarter of the same year, Google and Facebook together controlled 99% of advertising growth , with this number projected to be on the rise). So why would you settle for anything but the best? Pick the right digital platforms and go where you’ll be seen.

Know your Audience

Knowing your target demographic is undoubtedly one of the most beneficial tools in your advertising toolbox.

Why? First off, not only does it give you a leg up for reaching the most likely people to buy your product or service, but it also helps to pick the appropriate platform and technology to deliver your message. But be warned. Once you have their attention, there’s still plenty of work to do!

To push all the right buttons, advertisers need to know exactly what to say. Great content moves people—and in turn, products. It keeps audiences engaged, entertained and coming back for more!

Be Original

Did you know? The average click-through rate of display ads across all formats is a measly 0.06%. From the moment that first browser opens in the morning until that last cat video before bed, internet users are bombarded with dozens of digital advertisements. By the time they get to work they’ve seen so many digital ads that they’ll likely only remember one or two, if that.That’s why it is vital to have the most creative content on the web to achieve that long sought after CLICK .

When YouTube celebrities Rhett and Link rattled funny bones as the ‘Commercial Kings’ in the late 2000’s, they were an instant hit. Their witty (and often outrageous) videos generated millions of views for small businesses. How, you ask? By parodying cheesy retro-style TV ads. And while you don’t have to break out into 90’s jingles and fake mustaches, you can win over big crowds by being entertaining, and authentically you.
So go against the grain and dare to be different!

Get Interactive

As the internet continues to advance, media is consumed differently. More and more people are getting their entertainment and news from streaming options such as Netflix, Roku, Hulu and YouTube.

So what does this mean for digital advertising? Interaction! Interactive ads get a higher click-through rate of around 6 percent, whereas most digital ads remain at a fraction of one percent.

Good advertisements tell a story that engages the audience. If you’re a restaurant owner, enticing future customers with a snappy ad no longer cuts the mustard. But when you intrigue potential buyers with an eye catching video, a hilarious one-liner or a captivating call to action, you give them autonomy. Don’t tell customers what to think, but instead show them why buying your product is the best decision.

Keep it short and sweet

Don’t say too much! Short messages that pack a wallop and avoid cliches go a long way in the digital advertising world. Hook readers in with a memorable joke, a one liner, or a quick play on words.

Tug at their heartstrings

When Coca Cola launched their Remove Labels campaign it gave audiences a friendly reminder not to judge someone by their looks, but by their words. And whether your message is sensitive or funny, at its core it should come across as authentic.

Today’s audiences are smart and expect more than basic pandering. They want engaging content that scratches beyond the surface of a product and relates to them on a meaningful level. That’s why today’s most memorable campaigns reject tradition in exchange for something more sincere.

While traditional word of mouth will always impact local business, the trick is to give them something positive to talk about. The most important thing about your digital advertising campaign should be about connecting with your audience.

A little passion goes a long way.

Successful digital advertising plucks viewers’ heartstrings and entices with humor. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster by conjuring up feelings of forgotten memories and nostalgia. Most importantly, whatever your approach, be sure to make an emotional connection with your audience—leave them breathless and standing in awe, or contemplative with the warm fuzzies. Make your digital ad memorable and appealing, and thereby your brand.

Remember, if you think your message is fun and entertaining, so will your audience!

New Floating Buttons with NEKO360

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 19:39:03 GMT

Increase Conversions with New Floating Buttons

Keep the most important element on your site front and center with new Floating buttons . This new option, available currently in the Button widget, enables you to ensure that the call-to-action is visible at all times, even when visitors scroll down a page.

Buttons that encourage visitors to Contact Us, Get a Quote, Register Now or any other action you want your site visitors to take can be fixed, visible and clickable on all site pages, regardless of where users scroll.

This way, you’ll keep site visitors focused on what matters most to your customers thereby increasing conversions from the website.

A few Floating Button Recommendations

The floating button will appear on every page of the site.
Its size and position can be customized per device.
When setting the button for mobile, we suggest placing it a bottom corner of the screen, so visitors can click easily with one hand.
If you’d like to display an icon rather than text, choose the appropriate layout.

Having trouble editing your website? Please feel free to contact us , we are happy to help!

Email us at Support@northeastkingdomonline.com or call us at 802-473-1887

What are Listings and Why Do They Matter?

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 18:32:15 GMT

Listings are an online summary of essential information for your business that serve as a powerful tool to help customers find you online and in real life. Here’s what you need to know:

-NAP+W

No, we didn’t fall asleep on the keyboard. NAP+W is the acronym that explains all the information that should be included in business listings.

N ame
A ddress
P hone number
+
W ebsite

These four pieces of information are the business listings starter-pack. They provide the basic information potential customers need to have in order to research, contact and locate your business.

Want to score some serious bonus points? Include information like hours of operation in business listings— it’s what consumers are most interested in !

Will my listings work?

The effectiveness of a business listing depends on the information’s presence and accuracy. Listings are available through a variety of sources, including search engines, online directories and maps, or social sites. When it comes to listings presence, more is definitely better. Availability on as many sources as possible will create multiple avenues for consumers to find your business. But (and this is a big but), presence only pays off if the listings are accurate. Listings are accurate if the information is correct and consistent across all potential sources. Seems easy enough, doesn't it?

Why are listings important?

Listings with good presence and accuracy will undoubtedly pay off for your business. Here’s how:

No more hide and seek

See the picture above? Just as the brightly lit bat signal guides everyone’s favorite caped crusader (that’s right Superman, we said it!), accurate and readily available listings will help guide consumers right to your business’s door steps.

They even have similar shapes. Coincidence? We think not…

If a business’s listing is incorrect or missing, the majority of consumers will feel less confident about the brand , likely leading them to choose a competitor’s product or service. The availability of accurate listings ensures customers are actually able to find brick and mortar locations while they’re open for business. This means money in the business owner’s pocket and, just as importantly, it means the business can be reviewed.

“In my humble opinion…”

An ample review pipeline is an essential tool for developing a business’ online reputation and fostering brand loyalty. Reviews allow customers to communicate their experience with a business to potential buyers, but if consumers can’t find a business listed online, their opinion of it won’t be well-informed. Accurate listings create the opportunity for transparency between businesses and consumers in the form of reviews, and the availability of this information will help increase a business’s visibility.

All aboard the search engine

Consistent, accurate listings and the generation of reviews will directly benefit a business’s visibility by boosting its ranking in local search engine results. Search engine optimization is a complex tool, so why not take advantage of it by simply ensuring your business is listed accurately! Increased visibility means more customers, and what business owner doesn’t want that?

Now what?

This listings low-down provides a basic definition and describes the benefits of business listings. Create listings on sites worth lots of points to improve your listings score. We’ve ranked them by importance using a lot of key factors—how many sites reference them, traffic, demographics and more.

5 Reasons You Need Instagram for Your Business

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 17:30:45 GMT

Instagram has entered the territory of “must” rather than “nice-to-have” when it comes to social marketing for businesses.

There are a few key reasons why every business should have an Instagram account, and why you’re going to be pretty left out if you don’t get on this social platform.

1. Skyrocket Your Engagement

The data shows that Instagram is the #1 platform for getting post engagement.

That means that if you want to establish a relationship with your client base (which you do), then you’re going to need that post engagement that only Instagram can provide.

But let’s back it up for a second…

It’s an interesting time to be involved in social media marketing… Facebook is facing major allegations, and as a result—people are doing crazy things like starting movements to delete their Facebook accounts… (For my sake, and the sake of your distant relatives, please do not delete your Facebook). As much as internet trolls might have you think that it’s the social media Armageddon, I assure you that life will go on.

It might be looking a little overcast in the internet landscape, but before we pack our bags —there’s still some hope. Facebook’s more charismatic and adopted little brother (Instagram) still has users entranced with its purity and boasts a pristine opportunity for brands who are ready to stir up the marketing pot.

Now, Instagram is the #1 platform for post engagement because its focus on visual content creates a very unique space for brands to interact with others—and if you’re a skeptic, the numbers don’t lie. According to a study conducted by Forrester , Facebook and Twitter organic post engagement levels are currently less than 0.1%. In comparison, the millennial-centric Instagram boasts regular engagement at 4% for brands. (That’s 40x better btw).

2. Grow Your Following with Ease

80 percent of Instagram accounts already follow a business on Instagram, and 65% of top-performing posts feature products. The translation here is obvious, Instagrammers want to see branded content, and they want to connect with brands.

Add the engagement levels for brands (4%) that we just saw and we have the optimal landscape for growing your branded following on this platform.

3. Generate Leads

Instagram is a tool for lead generation.

We know that social media strongly influences purchase decisions, even if that is at the subconscious level of the consumer decision-making process.

It’s 2018, and our favorite lead generation tool (Facebook) is making algorithm changes that are making it harder for brands to get heard. With engagement rates already resting around the 0.1% mark, it just might be the ideal time to expand your reach to include some Instagram marketing.

With Instagram, 60% of users have first heard of a product or service through the platform, and over 120 million Instagram users visited a website, got directions, or called/emailed/direct messaged a business as a result of their engagement with the platform (sproutsocial). That means that 120 million Instagrammers have been lead to a business through the platform.

You can easily use Instagram to generate new business and sales with strategic content and links in your bio, as well as reach new targeted and engaged audiences through paid ad campaigns through the Facebook ad platform.

4. Stay On Top of “Instagram Reviews”

A little-known fact is that when an Instagram user posts something on Instagram and uses a location tag, this tag isn’t owned or regulated by the business that owns the physical location. All location tags on Instagram, or “Instagram Geotags”,” are tied to a separate public account that Instagram will store posts under.

For businesses, this is a blessing and a curse.

Best Case Scenario:

Say you own a local restaurant and you have numerous dedicated and consistent customers who love to post at your restaurant and have nothing but glowing words to accompany beautiful pictures of your space. When others look at your location on Instagram, this is what they see, and they are that much more likely to convert and become loyal customers as well.

Worst Case Scenario:

You own the same local restaurant, but one dissatisfied customer took it upon themselves to post a picture of your front door exclaiming their disgust with the service that they received. This post has lingered on the web and likely dissuaded other customers from posting to the location, and has resulted in the loss of unknown amounts of revenue through prospects who steered away from your business as a result.

Although you have no control over the things that users might be saying about your brand (much like standard reviews), you can still help mitigate some possible damages by having a branded Instagram account and monitoring the posts on your location. Much like negative reviews left on other review platforms, by responding to negative Instagram posts, you are much more likely to prevent harm to your reputation.

5. Don’t Get Left Behind

As of 2017, nearly 71% of businesses in the United States were already using Instagram. The release of Instagram business profiles and the ability to to run ads/analytics with ease have been large factors in driving the Instagram growth movement.

You may notice that this looks like an exponential growth graph, and that’s probably because it is. Fortunately for you, just because 71% of these businesses are using Instagram doesn’t mean that these businesses are using it to its full potential.

We can make a pretty good estimate as to where this usage rate is going to reside by the end of 2018, so don’t get left behind.

Don’t wait, get started on your Instagram strategy today to generate new leads, amplify your brand, and build new business!

Do you have questions or need help with your Instagram setup and maintenance?

We can help you set up a business Instagram quickly and easily as well as help you manage your social media.

Contact us at 1-888-511-2010 today for a free consultation and demo of NEKO Social Media Manager at https://reach.northeastkingdomonline.com/social-marketing

Review Management Best Practices

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 19:09:43 GMT

Why your business needs to stop removing reviews.

1) People can tell your business is filtering the reviews.

68% of consumers trust reviews more when they see both good and bad scores (Econsultancy, 2012). Customers are more review savvy and can spot when things look too good to be true. 95% of consumers suspect censorship or faked reviews when they don’t see bad scores (Reevoo, 2015).

2) It looks fishy, like your business has something to hide.

30% of consumers assume online reviews are fake if there are no negative reviews (Webrepublic). Only 8% of consumers expect a business to have a 5-star rating before they will consider using them (Brightlocal, 2016). If there are only five star reviews on a review site, customers know that your business is grooming your reviews and assume it’s because your have something to hide.

3) Reviews that are removed will only anger customers trying to share their experience.

If your business doesn’t allow or encourage reviews, your customers that have something to say, good or bad, will find it odd that they can’t leave a review for your business. Customers can still leave reviews for unverified listings and profiles so just because your business can’t see the bad reviews, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

4) It looks like your business doesn’t value customers enough to win them back.

If your business doesn’t allow for feedback, it appears to customers that you don’t really care about them or value customer service. If customers can’t expect good service, don’t expect them to want to visit your business. Customers like to see businesses that are open to feedback and especially the businesses that are listening enough to try to win customers back.

5) It doesn’t give yours business an opportunity to win back their trust.

6) Businesses are missing out on valuable feedback to improve.

While customers at times can be unrealistic with their expectations from a business, some can provide feedback on possible oversights. Oversights happen to the best of us and there is always room for improvement.

Situations when it is okay to gate reviews.

Here are the situations when it is acceptable for your business to filter out which reviews are published:

1) When the review contains graphic material or inappropriate language.

If the review is inappropriate, contains explicit language or graphic material. Fortunately, many review sites are all over this, but if they happen to miss it, you can flag it as inappropriate.

2) When reviews are irrelevant to your business.

If a review doesn’t provide any mention or context to your business, products or services. Sometimes customers leave reviews but they really want to ask a question. If it really doesn’t add context as a review from a customer, it is okay to suppress that review.

3) When reviews are spammy or someone is plugging another business.

If a review isn’t related to your business but is obviously spam, or if a person starts talking about their business instead of you business. In the example below, the review was for a direct competitor and was a case of mistaken identity.

4) When the review is a fake or planted by a competitor (and your business knows it is).

In the case of review fraud, it is completely acceptable to suppress the review and remove it. In the example below, the person hasn’t ever been to the establishment, they just left a review that they read other reviews.

Again, Please Don’t Review-Stuff

The review below is an example of a business owner promoting his own business . There’s a lot of specific detail that even the most committed reviewer wouldn’t delve into. On top of that, the review is so long many people will probably just skim over.

How can your business practice white-hat review management?

Here’s how your business can practice white-hat review management:

Provide exceptional customer experiences
Ask your customer to leave a review (in store signs, surveys, etc)
Read and analyze the review. Does it meet the criterion to suppress or remove?
1. If yes, remove and you are done managing the review
2. If no, the review stays published
Respond to the review
1. If the review is positive, thank them for their feedback
2. If the review is negative, try to move the conversation offline. Try to remedy the situation to win the customer back. If you have remedied the situation, try asking them to adjust their review. If not, then at least the customer may come back.

White hat review management visual guide

Why it’s best to take the review management high-road.

At the end of the day, people can tell that if your business is grooming your reviews if all of your reviews are too positive. From a consumer’s perspective, it is better to see a business with a mix of reviews, mostly positive but with some negatives as well. So long as a business is trying to remedy the situation by responding to the customer and following the proper review management protocols, it actually says more about the business than a business with all perfect five star reviews.

Still have questions or need help monitoring your online Reputation?

We can help you monitor your businesses online reputation quickly and easily with NEKO Reputation Manager . Visit https://reach.northeastkingdomonline.com/reputation-manager for the details!

Contact us at 1-888-511-2010 today for a free consultation and demo!

Improved Social Icons Widget

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 16:10:48 GMT

Now Includes: Whatsapp, Google My Business (GMB) and Waze

Social media links are super important for promoting your business in multiple channels and engaging customers. The NEKO360 Social Icons Widget enables you to do this by adding icons that link to your social media accounts. Now, you can add Whatsapp, Google My Business (GMB) and Waze icons to your website, in addition to the current offerings that include Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and more.

The widget also got a face lift with some design tweaks for social medias like Instagram’s stunning gradient, YouTube’s distinct red, and LinkedIn’s new font.

Enable people to communicate directly with your client via WhatsApp, one of the world’s most successful mobile messaging and call apps.

Google My Business

This powerful platform enables consumers to search for businesses and services via Google Search and Maps. It’s a great tool for helping businesses be discovered and boost their local Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Waze

Make it easier for site visitors to reach your brick-and-mortar location quickly with Waze, the community-driven GPS and navigation app that helps people reach their destination as quickly as possible.

What are the benefits of adding links to social media accounts to your website?

Social media is hugely important today, and companies who maintain social media accounts should link them to their websites.

Here are three great reasons why:

1. Easier to stay in touch.
Website visitors are more likely to follow a company on Facebook or Instagram than they are to sign up for a newsletter . So, adding social media icons gives an additional way for business to communicate with site visitors after they leave a site.

2. Authenticity.
Social media can give website visitors the feeling that a company is dynamic and authentic . While an Our Story page on the site may tell a company’s initial story, links to active social media accounts enable the story to continue.

3. Multiple channels, one central location.
Websites are a great place for gathering all social media channels in one spot. Think of your website as a transit hub for visitors who can then move onwards in the manner that's most convenient for them.

Need help adding or editing this widget on your website or are you having trouble editing your website?
Please feel free to contact us, we are happy to help!

Email us at Support@northeastkingdomonline.com or call us at 802-473-1887

Before & After Widget

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 17:53:23 GMT

Grab Visitors' Attention & Keep it!

Engage site visitors with the NEW, interactive Before & After widget, which enables you to show two side-by-side images. It's an easy, eye-catching way to show comparative images, and a great way to keep visitors on your NEKO360 website !

This Widget is easy to set up and customize!

The Before and After widget is simple to set up and looks fantastic on all devices.
Simply load any images that you like, customize the label text and fonts ( don’t forget to add alt text to support SEO ) and choose the color that best emphasizes your images.
To see the slider in action before publishing just click preview.

So many great ways to use the Before & After Widget

There are countless ways to use the Before and After widget - for everything from showing off home renovations to highlighting the effect of photograph filters .

Here are some examples:

Handyman or home renovation website (before and after renovations)

Beauty salon or stylist (before and after beauty treatment)

Nutritionist or personal trainer (before and after training program)

Landscaper or gardener (before and after landscaping)

Photographer (photo editing services)

Pet grooming, cleaner, orthodontist, dermatologist and more!

Good for Search Engine Optimization Too!

Not only does adding Before & After images engage site visitors by giving them something interesting to see on your websites, but keeping visitors on your site longer is good for SEO , as it indicates to search engines that visitors like what they see.

Having trouble editing your website? Please feel free to contact us, we are happy to help!

Email us at Support@northeastkingdomonline.com or call us at 802-473-1887

New Table Widget with NEKO360

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 17:27:35 GMT

The new table widget is a great new tool for displaying information on your sites. Show contact info, ingredients, branch locations, program events and more in a manner that’s attractive and easy to understand.

The table widget is easy to set up and design, so you can display information effectively. Add the widget to your site and then add content manually or via CSV and customize the font style and colors for the header, even rows and odd rows.

This widget looks fantastic on mobile, and comes with three mobile layouts:

Scroll is excellent for large tables with several columns and rows.
Squish is great for tables with just 2 or 3 columns.
Collapse is good for tables with relatively few rows.

Here are some great table widget examples:

Menu Items

How to build this table in your site:

Add a row with 2 columns and set the row background color to blue.
In the right column, add an image widget. Choose an image with a transparent background (PNG).
In the left column, add 3 widgets: text, title and table. Add your content to the table.
Set the header and row background color to transparent. Set the header font color to beige
Set the even and odd row backgrounds to transparent and the font color to white.
Set even column widget, the border to beige, and the alignment to center.
For mobile, set the layout to Squish.

Product Descriptions

How to build this table in your site:

Add a row with 2 columns.
In the left column, add an background image and set the position to cover.
In the right column, add 4 widgets: shape, title, text and table. Add your content to the table.
Set the header and row background color to black.
Set the header and row color to white.
Remove the border (set it to 0px) and set the alignment to left.

Contact Details

How to build this table in your site:

Add 2 rows. In the first row, add a background image and title widget.
In the second row, add a table widget. Add your content to the table.
Set the background color of the header to light blue and set the text to bold and black.
Set the even row background color to white and the odd row background color to gray. Set the text to black.
Set the border to gray and the alignment to left. Turn on the frame shadow.
For mobile, set the layout to Collapse.

Ingredients

How to build this table in your site:

Add 2 rows. In the first row, add a background image and title widget.
In the second row, add a table widget. Add your content to the table.
Set the background color of the header to gray and set the text to bold and black.
Set the row background color to white and the text to black.
Set the border to gray and the alignment to left.
Turn on the frame shadow and set the top margin to -65px.

Having trouble editing your website? Please feel free to contact us , we are happy to help!

Email us at Support@northeastkingdomonline.com or call us at 802-473-1887

New Rounded Corners Feature

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 20:51:57 GMT

Rounded Corners on Columns & Inner Rows Now Available with NEKO360!

You have been able to round corners on images and buttons for quite some time using your NEKO360 powered website. Now, you can round corners on columns and inner rows, as well.

This new column design capability can have a huge impact on the look and feel of your website, making the website more visually appealing, softer, and easier to read.

It’s a subtle change that can make your sites trendier, more modern, and more readable.

Having trouble editing your website? Please feel free to contact us , we are happy to help!

Email us at Support@northeastkingdomonline.com or call us at 802-473-1887

New Countdown Section/Widget Available with NEKO360!

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 21:04:00 GMT

Use the Countdown Tools to Book Your Seasonal Events or Classes Ahead of Time

With seven new sections featuring the Countdown widgets, you’ll find adding countdowns to your site super easy.

You'll find these new Countdown sections in the Intro and Promotion category. They’re an easy way to create a sense of urgency and excitement!

How to add a Countdown Section/Widget

Hover your mouse cursor between the rows until you see a plus sign pop up in the middle of the row. Once you hover over the plus sign it will say + Add Section.
Click Add Section. This will pop up a side bar for different types of sections you can add to your website. Click the down arrow until you find the Promotions menu section.
Once you click on the Promotion menu you will see pre-built options to use on the right.
Click on the one you like the looks of the most (don't worry you can customize everything once you have it on the site)
Make sure to click SAVE in the upper right so you can edit the section you just added.

Once you have the section added you can change the dates, times, text, icons, photos, colors and sizing! You can completely change the look of this section if you choose to.

Having trouble adding these countdown sections/widgets on your website? Please feel free to contact us , we are happy to help!

Email us at Support@northeastkingdomonline.com or call us at 802-473-1887

NEKO 360 Blog Updates

Wed, 29 May 2019 18:55:58 GMT

Updated All Posts Widget is More Flexible and Engaging

With the improved All Posts widget, you can make blog posts more attractive and enticing, boosting blog traffic and engagement. The updated version has new layouts and greater text and image flexibility, giving you more control over how posts appear anywhere on your site.

Image Customizations

Draw attention to posts by customizing image size by device and adding hover effects.

Full-text Style Controllers

With more control over how the post text looks, it’s easier to attract visitors’ attention. You can customize every text element, including blog title, post title, description and author name.

New & Improved Layouts

The new All Posts widget has four customizable layouts. Choose how many posts you want to show and the number of descriptive lines you want with each post. You can round the corners of each post and add a shadow.

Some tips to keep in mind when customizing this widget:

Keep post titles more or less the same length as multiple posts are shown at once.
Choose great thumbnail images for your posts, as these are the images that appear in the All Posts widget. (Manage these images from the blog panel).
If your blog has lots of posts, considering tagging the posts. This enables you to sort the ones you want to display in this widget according to specific tags.

Goals vs. Objectives: The Simple Breakdown

Tue, 28 May 2019 16:12:45 GMT

Whether you are working on a team project or defining a goal for the overall business, it is important that your team is on the same page when it comes to terminology. The words Goals and Objectives often seem like two interchangeable phrases but they are actually two working parts within a marketing plan that both serve a different purpose for the overall plan.

In this blog article we will explain the difference between goals and objectives to make sure there is no uncertainty when it comes to your long-term and short-term marketing plans.

Goals:

A goal is an overall result that you want to achieve and is usually broad and long term. Often times people use company goals to come up with yearly strategies and guide the direction of all your marketing efforts.

Objectives:

An objective defines the specific actions each team member must take to help achieve the overall goal. For instance, if your overall goal is to increase brand awareness, one objective might be to increase website traffic by 10%.

Goals without a doubt are critical to a company's success. Ultimately goals need to align with your vision and overall purpose. Once that has been figured out, this is where objectives will come into play. Objectives are pretty much the measurable actions you can take to achieve your overall goals.

Conclusion:

When creating a marketing plan it is crucial to make sure you have defined your overall goals and figured out what you would like the outcome to be for that plan. Not until you have figured out your goals will you know what your objectives should be.

What is a Landing Page?

Thu, 16 May 2019 15:12:57 GMT

3 items to think about when developing a new landing page

In digital marketing, a landing page is a web page that is a standalone page created specifically to serve a purpose for a marketing or advertising campaign. This is where a visitor “lands” when they have clicked on a Google ad or something similar. Landing pages are designed with a single focus or objective, which is called a Call to Action (CTA).

The simplicity of a landing page is what makes these kind of pages the best option for increasing conversion rates of your Google Ads campaigns while also lowering your cost to acquire a new lead or sale.

Here are 3 items to think about when developing a new landing page:

Landing Pages Must Contain the Following Elements

When developing a new landing page it is important to include certain items within the page. Below are some items that a crucial for a landing page to include:

- A headline and (optional) sub-headline.

- A brief description of what is being offered or promoted.

- At least one supporting image or short video.

- (Optional) supporting elements such as testimonials, customer logos, or security badges. This helps to create authority in what you are offering.

- Most importantly, include a form or button that offers a call to action on the landing page. This will help to capture important information. If for some reason you can't include a form on the landing page, use a CTA button to direct visitors to the next step.

Keep the Objective Clear and Simple

It is important to try your best to avoid stuffing too much information onto your landing pages. Make sure you are making it clear what the page is about and what you want the visitor to do quickly into the page. Limiting the amount of copy, images, media, and links to only what's necessary can be very helpful for the viewer in navigating through the page. Organizing your content in a proper structure so objects are in logical order is also very important when developing a landing page. Most importantly, make sure your CTA is as crystal clear as possible for the visitor.

Match the Content to the Visitor’s Previous Source

Whether the visitor comes from an ad, email, or call-to-action from another source, make sure that your message matches throughout the entire campaign path. For example, if your ad says “Download our eBook,” then your landing page should say the exact same thing or something very similar. If there is a disconnect in your message then your visitors will feel as if they are in the wrong place and will likely hit the ‘Back’ button.

Example of an Ad:

Example of a relevant Landing Page:

Landing pages are a great way to offer information about a service or product you are promoting and is cost effective. If you would like help creating a landing page, give us a call today at 802-472-1887 or send us an email to support@northeastkingdomonline.com and we will help point you in the right direction!

7 Ways for Entrepreneurs to Spark Creativity

Fri, 10 May 2019 15:42:43 GMT

Being creative can sometimes be easier said than done. Even the world’s most successful entrepreneurs can tell you that they reach points in which they struggle to find that creative spark. As you go down the road of your entrepreneurial journey, you will face many challenges. One of these challenges will include maintaining a flow of creativity that allows you to be both productive and innovative in the workplace.

Fortunately, there are some ways in which you can jump start your creativity and think in a more creative way. Here are eight ways in which you may be able to spark that creative flow.

Step Outside the Box (Or the Office)

We all have experienced times in which we notice we have sat at our desks for hours on end without getting up and moving around. It’s important to remember to take breaks throughout the day, whether it’s to go outside and get some fresh air, go for a walk, do some stretches or enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee. Stepping away for a brief moment can be one of the best things you can do for your productivity. Give your brain a rest and allow fresh ideas to come afloat.

Visualize

Innovation and creativity are said to stem from our ability to be creative. There are many individuals who are wired to be visual thinkers. This can not be said for all people, so if is important to try to some visual brainstorming exercises.

Network

Joining networking groups is a great way to gather some ideas and collaborate with other creative people and entrepreneurs. This is a great way to generate some new ideas and an opportunity to gather feedback.

Research

Of course you don’t want to copy people, but don’t be afraid to look at what your competitors are doing. Research is a great way to help generate ideas and spark creativity. It is also a great way to see what other people are doing that you don’t like. Finding things that you like and don’t like will help you get an idea of what kind of initiatives you want to take next.

Listen to Music

Listening to music is a wonderful way to boost creativity. Research shows that listening to your favorite music can help spark ideas. Whether your favorite genre is classical, country or even heavy metal, putting on a pair of headphones might help to trigger the creative spark you need.

Be Positive

There are various benefits to positive thinking that help trigger creativity. Not only does it make you more willing to open up to that creativity, but it also helps to keep you focused and operate on a more productive level.

Start a Routine

It’s important to set some time out of your day to help get your creative juices flowing. What this routine will include will vary for every person. For me, I listen to music as I get ready every morning. While doing this I try to visualize how my day is going to go and create a mental list of things I want to get done. Like all things, creativity takes practice. You may notice that one routine you try does not work well for you and that’s okay. Just keep trying a different routine until you find something that works for you.

Conclusion

Saying that being creative sometimes be difficult is an understatement. Sometimes it can seem impossible to spark the creativity you are looking for. When you are in this situation, try to look back at these tips and continue to think about them as you go throughout your day. Creativity may not happen over night for you, but if you continue to focus on ways that will help you be creative that is a great start.

5 Reasons Why Uploading Fresh Content Keeps Your Website Relevant

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 20:21:59 GMT

Your website is a living, breathing entity on the internet. Every update you make to your website once it goes live on the internet plays a large part in its interaction with visitors, customers, and search engines. When you are not actively making changes or updates to your website, search engines will view your site as a dead entity -- meaning it has no life and likely does not offer very much to its viewer. If a site is frequently updated with quality content, search engines will see that and love you for it.

Now that we have gone over a basic reason why keeping your website fresh is so important, lets dig deeper into this topic. Here are five reasons why fresh content is critical to your website and SEO.

Fresh Content Means Frequent Indexing

Although keeping fresh content on your site is a great thing, it does not always mean that this will automatically give you higher indexing on search engines. However, the more frequently you update your website with articles, downloads, new images, and new web pages, the more frequently search engines will visit your website. When a search engine looks at your site more frequently, it gives you the opportunity to achieve higher rankings based on the content you provide as long as it is relative content to the page.

Google Loves Frequent Updates

Google is by far the most frequently used search engine and this should come as no surprise. Since Google is considered to be the king or queen of all search engines, it has a huge amount of influence on webmasters and how websites are constructed. When Google expresses its love for websites that update their sites frequently, this is a sure sign that you should continue to add fresh content to your website as often as you can. With that being said, you do not want to make site updates just to make updates. Make sure this is a necessary change and adds additional value to the site viewers. If you update your content often with reliable and valuable information for the site viewer then you have a better chance of Google ranking your site higher with each update.

Fresh Content Increases Your Authority Potential

All webmasters aim to become an industry “authority” in Google’s eyes. The strategy of becoming an authority website is by abiding by the SEO adage, “content is king.” The more informative and valuable content you publish on your site that relates to your industry, then the greater amount of authority your site has. Frequently publishing news related to your industry is also another effective strategy in becoming an authority site. Each time you update your website with a new story, another page is created and indexed by Google. The more you post about a specific topic if the content is good, then the stronger of an authority you become and the more people will begin to trust your website and business as a whole. If you are consistently posting quality content then your users will become more loyal. Loyalty is not something that can be bought so even the small business owners have the opportunity to compete with the big dogs within their industry.

Keep Your Audience Informed and Updated

Another important reason to update your website with valuable and useful content is to keep your current customers up-to-date as well as provide any necessary information for new visitors that could potentially be converted into customers. Your fresh content can help to provide new visitors with valuable information about your business and your products or services offered. If a visitor is led to your site through a search engine then you need to convince them that your products or services offered are the best choice for them compared to the millions of other results presented during their search. Help your viewers understand why they need or could benefit from your product or service. The more information a potential customer can access then the more likely they will be able to make an informed decision to purchase.

Conclusion

Regularly updating your website with fresh content will not only create appreciation and loyalty from your visitors, but it will also put you in good standings with Google and other search engines. If you would like some help with updating your website or have questions about the type of information you should be adding, give Northeast Kingdom Online a call today to set up an initial consultation and will help point you in the right direction!

Evaluating Your Current Website Design: 5 Tips for Non-Designers

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 15:19:42 GMT

In today's day and age it is more important now than ever to have a solid web presence for your business. If you already have a website for your business that is great, but the real question is whether your current website is meeting the needs for your business. Below are some simple tips to think about when deciding whether your current website is meeting those needs for your viewers needs as well as for your business goals.

Tip 1: Know Your Goals

When evaluating your current website it is important to think about what your goals are for your business and the purpose that your website serves. When first thinking about whether or not your website is meeting your needs, an important first step is to evaluate the goals you have for your business.

So what are some of these goals we are speaking of? Obviously optimizing your conversion rate is a huge goal for any website, but it goes deeper than that. You need to make sure you align your design goals with your business goals. For example, If you are trying to increase donations for your nonprofit, ask yourself if the donate button easy to find. Asking yourself these kinds of questions will help to make sure your design is consistent with your goals.

Tip 2: Making Sure Your Website is Mobile Friendly

Today much of your website traffic is coming from mobile devices, so it is incredibly important to make sure your website is mobile friendly. If your website is not mobile friendly and someone goes onto your site from a mobile device they are sure to have a bad experience with it. If this happens, the chances of that person returning to your site is slim to none.

A great way to check whether your site is mobile friendly is a tool in which Google offers that lets you know whether the site is mobile friendly and what items need to be fixed in order for it to be considered mobile friendly.

Click here to see if you meet Google’s Mobile Friendly Requirements.

Tip 3: Does Your Website Have Relevant Content?

It doesn’t just end with the question as to whether your site has content relevant to your business. It is also important to ask yourself whether that content and information is easy for the viewer to find. Make sure the information on your site is easy for the viewer to navigate to. A great way to make sure it is, is by creating a site map.

When you start with your sitemap, think about what you want a visitor to get out of each page. This will help to give you a foundation for evaluating the designs and wireframes. Having goals that you can refer back to will serve as a guide for on-going website management.

Tip 4: Check Your Site Load Time

No customer wants to wait three minutes for a site to fully load. If they have this experience on your website then the chances of them ever going back are very low. It is important to make sure your site can load in under seven seconds to keep the convenience factor key for your visitors. Google offers a page speed insights test in which you can see how long your site takes to fully load and if it meets Google’s page speed compliance test.

Click here to see if your website meets these Page Speed requirements.

Tip 5: Make Sure Your Site Design Goes With Your Branding

For any business it is important your brand image is consistent, and that is through all aspects of the business whether it is print materials, your logo, or your website. Having inconsistent branding can lead to confusion for your customers and potentially make them lose a sense of trust within your brand. Make sure you have developed an idea of what your business brand means to you and what you are trying to convey within that brand.

Conclusion:

Often times we see a knowledge gap between our clients and design specialists and this comes to no surprise because most of our clients do not have the time, energy, or proper training to know whether the site is serving its full purpose and there is nothing wrong with that!

Without having this type of educational background it can be difficult to effectively evaluate your website and making sure it meets your branding guide. If you are questioning whether or not your site needs an update give us a call today and we can help you out!

6 Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid for Better Engagement

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 19:01:40 GMT

Email marketing can be an incredibly powerful tool but if not done properly it can actually negatively impact a business. It is important to create an execution plan when creating and implementing an email campaign. Below are some common mistakes to avoid when creating your email marketing plan.

Skipping proper email campaign planning and preparation

Proper planning and preparation for what awaits you and your future email audience is the first essential step that you have to take. First off, ask yourself some questions before moving on.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself:

Can you really benefit from email marketing?
How will you engage your email list?
What type of content should you be sharing?
How often should you send these emails out without annoying your recipients?

Making a plan and deciding on the details of your email marketing strategy will help you clear up your vision, create relevant content, and ultimately help you reach your campaign goals.

Working with outdated mailing lists

Your email bounce rate and spam score are aspects that you need to be aware of. An email bounce simply means that your email isn’t going through to someone. Bounces happen for various reasons ranging from typos within an email address all the way to a recipient with a full inbox.

Email service providers pay close attention to your bounces and having a high bounce rate reflects poorly on your business. It is good practice to go through your email recipient list on a regular basis and remove any of these email addresses that are not going to the recipient.

Annoying your recipients with too many emails

Even through email marketing is a powerful tool, you do not want to send out so many email blasts that you are annoying your recipients. Be thoughtful in what you are sending out and make sure the email content is relevant to the recipient. This will help to lessen the chances of your recipients hitting the unsubscribe button.

Writing poor subject lines

The subject line within your email is a major factor when it comes to generating high open rates. Depending on how you’ve written the subject line, it will either catch the viewers attention or be completely ignored. There are several ways you can go about coming up with an impactful subject line, but ultimately you will need to see what works best for your email recipients. The best advice we can offer is to try new things, measure your open rate success and do more of what works.

Sending out a non-responsive email design

Today most internet users are using mobile devices when on the web, so it is incredibly important to make sure your email is setup for responsive design. If the recipient opens up an email on their phone that is only designed for a computer or tablet, the chances of this recipient opening another email from you will be drastically lower than if the email appears the best way possible on whatever device they are using.

Having an unclear call-to-action

Making sure you have a clear call to action is incredibly important when creating an email campaign. If there is no call to action, then what really is the point to send out the email? I am not only talking about the text included on buttons but also the text right before that, as well. A call-to-action button is effective only if it’s consistent with the text within the email.

Conclusion

Although email marketing can be a very effective tool, it needs to be executed properly. By avoiding these common mistakes listed above it will help you to fine tune your email campaigns and lead to a more successful marketing strategy.

If you would like some help with your email marketing, give Northeast Kingdom a call today at 802-473-1887 and we can help you to create a thoughtful and effective email campaign and strategy!

Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Brand on Instagram

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:30:33 GMT

If your business isn’t on Instagram these days, you’d better have a good reason. If you sell any sort of products or services, if you have stores, or if you want people to recognize your brand, it’s time to get a business account.

Where to Start

Make sure you have created an Instagram "Business Account"
Fill out your profile information and include your website link.
Think about what types of content you want to share (create a list or excel sheet)
Try creating categories of content (so you can get a better idea of what you want to share regularly)
Think about the Visual Aspects (how do you want your feed page to look)
Stay consistent with your branding
Consistently post updates. Sharing on Instagram regularly helps get more eyeballs on your feed

Use Relevant Hashtags in Your Posts

At least 70% of Instagram posts don't get seen. Use hashtags in all your posts to get seen!

Create a Hashtag list (30 on each post max)

Some people say 5-6 hashtags are best some say 10-11 (Instagram allows 30 Hashtags per post)
Take 30 minutes to find 30 tags (look at competitors and audience for ideas)
Use a mix of tags that meet different audiences, it doesn’t always need to be in the millions to get views (it is a balance)
Make sure your hashtags match each post (create categories of Hashtags you'd like to use)

Utilize Instagram Stories

To Get Started:
Try doing 1 - 2 stories a week to get a feel for it and get some analytics. Once you have an idea of what people like to see you can start creating more stories based on those analytics.

Videos on the stories can be up 3 minutes long but people seem to respond better to the shorter videos that are approximately 30 seconds long. Try keeping your videos 15-30 seconds longs to start.

Engage your audience in these videos and stories by asking them to DM to learn more or get more information on your product or service. This way you can send them links to your products which equal more engagement opportunities overall.

Here are a few story ideas:

Share behind the scenes
Do videos with Q&As
Announce sales, blog posts, webinars or new products/services
Do trivia or quizzes using the question sticker
Utilize polls with the poll sticker - this is great if you are planning content!
Share user generated content

How to Reach New People Through Stories

Use the #Hashtag options
Use the #location option
Use the polls option
Add a call to actions like DM for 10% off

Check your story analytics to see which stories are more engaging and on which days of the week.

Engage with other Accounts

Follow hashtags so you can engage within your feed
Search through your hashtags on daily basis. Like 20-30 posts and comment on at least 10 posts each day. Repeat with different hashtags as necessary.
Always respond with a like and respond back to comments on your posts

Remember that this is a Social Network, BE SOCIAL!

Challenge yourself to find 1 new account every week and engage with their content! Every time you engage with others it may attract them back to you and your profile.

If you don't have time or the resources to crop each of your photos for Instagram try shooting all your photos in Square mode!

What Is Social Media Marketing?

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 22:08:26 GMT

Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms and websites to promote your products or services.

Most social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have built-in data analytics tools, which enable businesses to track the progress, success, and engagement of their campaigns.

You can drive more traffic to your website through social media marketing which would in turn help you sell more products or services.

By using social media platforms you can keep your customers connected while creating more opportunity to expand your customer base while also keeping current customers informed about new services and offerings from your company.

Ways To Help Build a Strong Social Media Presence:

Respond to feedback and reviews
Update social media platforms regularly
Create brand recognition with Internet Users
Read the reports that help you track performance and adjust your online marketing strategy
Use appropriate Hashtags with each post
Use photos, videos and/or GIFs
These are social networks, BE SOCIAL

https://www.northeastkingdomonline.com/social-media-marketing

A Few of the Social Media Platforms Available:

Twitter
Twitter allows companies to promote their products in short messages known as tweets limited to 140 characters which appear on followers' timelines. Tweets can contain text, Hashtags, photo, video, Animated GIF, Emojis, or links to a business website or even other social media profiles. Twitter is used by some companies to provide customer service and updates. Some companies make support available using Twitter, which improves brand loyalty and appreciation.
www.twitter.com

Facebook
Facebook pages allow a business to provide videos, photos, and long descriptions than Twitter, and testimonials as other followers can comment on the product pages for others to see. Currently 93% of marketers use Facebook advertising regularly, which translates to about 3 million businesses that use Facebook to market their business.

The most impressive Facebook statistic out there is that 2.23 billion people log in to the platform every month and over 70.1 percent of users access it via mobile devices.
www.Facebook.com

Instagram
Instagram is a social networking app made for sharing photos and videos from a smartphone. When you post a photo or video on Instagram, it will be displayed on your profile.

As of June 2018, the mainly mobile photo sharing network had reached 1 billion monthly active users, up from 800 million in September 2017!

You know that Instagram marketing is supposed to be really beneficial for businesses and brands. It’s one of the absolute go-to platforms that you need to be using.

There are Instagram ads, newsfeed posts, and Stories, and all of them can help you accomplish your various marketing goals.
www. instagram.com

LinkedIn
LinkedIn, a professional business-related networking site, allows companies to create professional profiles for themselves as well as their business to network and meet others.

Through the use of widgets, members can promote their various social networking activities, such as Twitter stream or blog entries of their product pages, onto their LinkedIn profile page. LinkedIn provides its members the opportunity to generate sales leads and business partners.

Members can use "Company Pages" similar to Facebook pages to create an area that will allow business owners to promote their products or services and be able to interact with their customers.
www.linkedin.com

Snapchat
Snapchat is a popular messaging and picture exchanging application that was created in 2011 by three students at Stanford University named Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown. The application was first developed to allow users to message back and forth and to also send photographs that are only available from 1–10 seconds until they are no longer available.

YouTube
YouTube is a popular avenue; advertisements are done in a way to suit the target audience. The ads on this platform are usually in sync with the content of the video requested, this is another advantage YouTube brings for advertisers. Certain ads are presented with certain videos since the content is relevant. Promotional opportunities such as sponsoring a video is also possible on YouTube, "for example, a user who searches for a YouTube video on horse training may be presented with a sponsored video from a saddle or tack company in results along with other videos.

YouTube also enable publishers to earn money through its YouTube Partner Program. Companies can pay YouTube for a special "channel" which promotes the companies products or services.
www.youtube.com

Need help with your social media strategy? Contact NEKO today!

Five Tips That Make Asking for Referrals Less Intimidating

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 19:13:51 GMT

Asking for referrals for your business can be tough. Often times it can feel like you are being pushy and leave you feeling worried that you are imposing on that individuals time. In reality, if a customer feels happy with the product, service or experience, most of these happy customers will be more than willing to give you a referral if asked.

Referrals are a very important element to promoting your brand and instilling a sense of trust within your brand. The first stage to overcome in asking for referrals is getting over your own insecurities or mental blocks associated with the process.

Here are five tips that will make asking for referrals from your customers less intimidating.

Provide Wonderful Service

While this one might seem a little bit obvious, the first step to feeling confident when asking for a referral is to provide the best service possible. Of course you will feel a little timid when approaching a customer for a referral who has had less than a wonderful experience when working with your business, however, if you are transparent, responsive and helpful from the start of the project to the finish, then why would your client or customer not feel excited to pass your name along to others?

We are all human and do make mistakes, so it is inevitable that there will in fact be a time where a customer or client does not feel fully satisfied with the results of a product or service, or feels like the interaction with the business was less than satisfactory. Just because a customer had one bad experience this does not mean you should count them out for giving you a referral. If you are proactive about reaching out to them, apologizing, and asking for a second chance to make up for the experience and another chance to wow them, you might be able to create an even more loyal customer because they know that you will do whatever you can to satisfy the client and keep the relationship. People appreciate when you are transparent with them and when they know you will go the extra mile to keep them happy, even if it is making up for a mess up.

Start a Conversation

Sometimes it can feel difficult to ask for a referral because it feels like you’re asking for a favor out of the blue. One way to help ease this feeling is to create a meaningful conversation with the person before you ask them for the referral. Some great ways in which you could reach out could include: sending congratulatory notes when you see their business doing well or having reached a milestone, forwarding an article that you think they may find interesting or useful for their business, or even donating a small amount to an event they are hosting. There are many ways in which you can easily start a conversation and show that you support the mission they are trying to achieve. Once you have showed them that you care asking for a referral should be no problem.

Provide Several Different Ways to Gather the Referral

It is always a good idea to ask someone for a referral directly as it is more personable and the chances of them giving you one is higher. However, whether asking for the referral in person or indirectly, it is important to make sure you are making it easy for customers to refer you by giving them multiple ways in which they can give the referral. Some simple ways to indirectly ask for a referral could include doing things like adding a referral link under you email signature, or creating a “refer a friend” button or page on your website. This makes it easy for you to collect referrals from customers by just sending them a link to the page. It also allows customers you haven’t reached out to directly to still submit a referral if they feel decide they would like to.

Create Partnerships

A great way to generate referrals can by by creating partnerships with other business owners. Most small businesses are facing the same struggle when it comes to gathering referrals, so what’s the harm in reaching out and asking for a referral in exchange for doing one for them? A great social media platform for this is called Alignable , which is an online networking platform where small business owners across North America can drive leads and prospects, generate referrals, land new business, build trusted relationships, and share great advice.

Work to find businesses that are providing a product or service that compliments or makes sense with the work your company does. If you own a shoe store it may be beneficial to talk to the cobbler down the street. If you’re a DJ for weddings and events, reach out to the local party equipment rental company. Asking another business owner for referral is not only less intimidating than asking a customer, but it also helps to establish a steady flow of referrals. Business owners will continue to come across prospects who could potentially benefit from your services, whereas past customers might only meet someone every once in a while who’s looking for the good or service you provide. This is not always the case though, for example, say a digital marketing company works closely with an individual who does consulting work. He or she may be a get asset to use as they see several business owners and offer them advice such as getting a new website.

Be Specific In Your Ask

Often times people are hesitant to ask for a referral when it seems broad. For example, “If you know anyone who needs any services or products I offer, let me know.” A good way to counter this is by doing some research. As website designers we often create a list of local businesses that we would like to target just by looking at the businesses websites. We come up with specific thoughts on ways to strengthen each of their site designs or content to help them grow their business. This can be done for all types of businesses looking to expand their customer list.

Conclusion

Asking for referrals can be stressful, but if you provide great service to your customers there is no need to feel shy or nervous about asking. If people are satisfied with your product or service they will want to share this good experience with others. Of course not every person you ask is going to be willing to write a referral, and that is okay. If you’re able to muster up the courage to ask for referrals, you’ll be sure to get at least a few great new leads for your efforts.

Top Benefits of Having a Website

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 14:01:54 GMT

In today’s age, having a website for your business is as crucial as having an office, shop, or phone number. Recent studies have found that six out of ten customers expect access to information about a business online. If you own a business and haven't taken the step towards the digital world, here are some reasons in which you should highly consider taking the jump and building your business an online presence.

Online Presence 24/7

By having an online presence you are giving your customers a way to always find you. Even outside of business hours your website continues to help find and retain new clients and prospects. A website offers the site user a convenient and efficient way in which they can access the information they need in the comfort of their own home with little to no pressure to buy. Nowadays most companies already have a website, so if you don’t you are heightening the chances of losing customers to your competitors.

Information Exchange

At the most basic level, a website provides a quick and easy way of passing along information between the buyer and the seller. You can list your operation hours, contact information, business location(s), social media links, further information regarding your offerings, and so much more.

Credibility

In this modern day and age, there is an expectation for any well-known company to have some form of an online presence. Potential customers will be much more likely to lose that basic line of trust with a company if they do not provide basic information online regarding their business hours, location, contact information, or services. When you offer your customers clean and easy-to-read information, they will typically assume that they will be able to expect a positive experience when going with you due to their positive experience on your website.

Market Expansion

As your website is accessible to anyone on the web, the ability to break through geographical barriers has never been easier. This allows you to increase your number of potential customers by just having an online presence.

Access to Consumer Insights

Analytics tools allow you to identify crucial information regarding your website users. This information includes, but is not limited to, the day and time a user went onto your site, the pages in which they spent the most time on, how many people clicked on call to actions on your site, and how many users visited the site within a specific time frame. Advanced analytic tools even provide you with information about how the user came across your website. This is incredibly beneficial when it comes to marketing and advertising.

Growth Opportunity

Websites are a wonderful way of providing a place where potential clients and investors alike can be referred to. It lets people know what your company is about, its goals, what they have achieved, and what they plan to achieve in the future.

If you are looking to expand your companies digital presence and need some help, please feel free to contact NEKO for a consultation meeting. We look forward to expanding your online presence with you!

For more information, check out: https://www.parachute.net/insights/top-10-benefits-of-having-a-website

#WhoCaresIDo

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 23:41:04 GMT

A global campaign inspired by the song and a musical film featuring Paul McCartney and Emma Stone.

Northeast Kingdom Online has been very fortunate to be the web design partner in Paul McCartney's #WhoCaresIDo campaign. Some absolutely fantastic people have worked tirelessly to help bring this campaign to life.

#WhoCaresIDo is a global campaign inspired by the song and a musical film featuring Paul McCartney and Emma Stone. Check out the film and hear Paul's new song on the website created by Northeast Kingdom Online.

Watch the music video and check out the website at WWW.WHOCARESIDOGLOBAL.COM

Will Amazon Take Over the Digital Ad Space?

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 22:35:58 GMT

More recently businesses have been deciding to direct much of their spending toward Amazon ads over other digital advertising platforms. Find out if Amazon is predicted to take over the digital ad space in 2019.

Recently there was a report from CNBC that mentions the digital advertising budgets that have been altered for some businesses. These businesses are deciding to direct much of their spending toward Amazon ads over other digital advertising platforms. The report says that these businesses are using about half of their budget for Amazon which was once used for Google search ads. This new report speaks loudly on the behalf of how Amazon is performing and growing when it comes to their advertising platform.

Some of these key findings include the fact that Amazon is now the third-largest digital ad platform. The only other platforms in front of Amazon is Facebook and Google. This says a lot about how Amazon has been performing recently per this past year. An example of this is the fact that Amazon is growing at a swift rate which happens to be 5X faster than Google.

With this knowledge you might be wondering how long Amazon will stay behind Google and Facebook. This will all depend on two major factors. One is user behavior and the other is how it will change over time. To show you a sneak peak into what this will most likely look like, we will present you will the following data. Read along to find out what is predicted to happen.

Where Are People More Likely to Buy?

In order to answer the above question another question was asked from a large number of internet users dwelling in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. This question was: "Have you ever bought a product based on an ad you saw online?"

Those who responded saying that they did in fact purchase something after seeing an online ad, 30.2% said that they made these purchases due to the ad they specifically saw on Amazon. That is a much higher percentage then of those who said they were inclined to purchase something because of an ad they saw on Google or elsewhere online.

To give you a better picture on what these results look like when someone searches for something here are some visuals. These results are from a search for "best dog food" on Google and Amazon. Pictured below is that of Google's search results:

Below is Amazon's search results:

With both Google and Amazon the products being sponsored are leading the way with their success rates, but Amazon is coming in hot with their purchase rates because people are on their site to usually do one thing: buy. With Google the selling percentages are lower because people are not always searching their platform to buy, but rather attain information about a product.

Another factor that could add to the Amazon ad success rate could be that users searching it’s platform expect to see a list of the products available for purchase. When a user is searching on Google, this is a different story, because they might assume the results that turn up will be more focused around information rather than availability. This makes Google's ads less helpful for for both those kinds of users, those looking for information and those looking to make a purchase.

Market Dominance Could Take Time

If Amazon does in fact triumph in being the lead ad platform, it is going to take time to get there. The chart below from eMarketer is a prediction that the ad revenue from Amazon will grow by around 50% per year and through the year of 2020. This means their market share should be bumped up from 4% to 7% by then.

Although this predicted future for Amazon's ad platform will represent a huge growth, the expansion between Amazon and that of Google and Facebook's digital ad revenue will still be a seemly large difference. This growth for Amazon's digital ad spend will be rather gradual, it is possible it could become a much bigger competitor with Google and Facebook if it can scale it’s video ad offerings.

Another prediction coming from eMarketer is the increase of ad spend that is supposed to grow by 30% by the end of this year and 25% of that will be coming from Facebook. Do note the number from Facebook is only measured along side of other social media networks, such as Snapchat and Twitter, not broader platforms, such as Google or Amazon.

Even though Amazon's ad platform growth is predicted to grow slowly, it should be considered an important platform to utilize for small and medium sized business and their marketers. The best way to see where your brand and associated products would flourish best, would be to check out where its largest or most engaged audience is coming from. Once that is figured out, then use this information to see where it would fit into as an Amazon marketing strategy.

There is also a feature that comes with advertising on Amazon which allows for search engine optimization, much like Google or other platforms. It is especially helpful when the targeted audience is known. There is a site called Keywordtool.io that can aid businesses in finding useful keywords to better target what their users are searching for.

Whether or not these ad platforms work out to the exact percentages as predicted in the coming year or thereafter, understand that it is all helpful when it comes to the businesses digital advertising budget. Who becomes the lead advertising platform will all come down to which one provides the best return on investment for themselves and the user experience for marketers. At the end of the day this information should be to help your business better position its ad spend.

For more information on this topic, be sure to check out this link: https://blog.hubspot.com/news-trends/amazon-digital-ad-space

The Ultimate Guide to Google Ranking Factors in 2019

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 23:01:30 GMT

Learn the most important ranking factors that Google uses to measure how well a web page performs in an organic search result.

Google is used as a search engine more than 3.5 billion times a day. It holds over 85% of the total amount of desktop searches being made. Without a doubt, Google is one of the most popular search engines running. If you are trying to do well when it comes to organic search results, you will need to know what factors play a role in Google's content ranking.

Although a lot of research and effort is put into learning what Google's ranking algorithm looks at when it is continuously searching pages throughout the internet, we will never know exactly. This is due to Google's choice of not releasing a list of everything it takes into account. What we can count on knowing is that Google has told us that it does use ranking signals when figuring the placement of organic search pages, about 200 signals that is. Where a website ranks on Google's search engine is determined by site-level factors, off-page factors, domain-related factors, and several SEO factors.

Now you may be thinking to yourself that 200 ranking factors is a lot of factors to remember. Thankfully you do not have to remember every single one one them, because there are website such as Single Grain and Backlinko that have already done the work for you. They have created an infographic which puts all the ranking factors into categories based on Google's algorithm.

Now that we know there are helpful sources to get us turned in the right direction, we should also understand that no two ranking factors are the same. In fact, measuring importance can help you hone in on what should be tackled first in order to get your website performing efficiently and as soon as possible.

In order to prioritize your SEO work and make the process as painless as possible it is best to factor in these following eight ranking components that are most important to your publishing efforts.

1. Website Architecture

Importance: Important

Although there are other pieces of the SEO equation that can have a greater overall impact on your website's ranking through Google, but your website's architecture is the first thing that should be implemented before launching or re-launching the website.

Your website should be organized by specific subdirectories that have a clear and concise order of text (also known as "slugs") at the end of each page's URL. This will help Google articulate who your website is about and what topics you want the focus to be on.

An example of this would be if you were trying to publish a blog about gardening. If so, you would probably want your content to be specifically previewed with content such as watering, produce, and pests. What your URL might look like by using watering as one of these three subdirectories would be: https://www.yourwebsite.com/watering/how-to-water-accordingly

2. Domain Security

Importance: Very Important

Did you happen to notice the "https" in the URL example above? Well, this is what Google uses to highlight whether your website is considered secure or not. It would be in your best interest to make sure your website it secure and is features as such.

What does https stand for? HTTP means HyperText Transfer Protocol. It is also understood as the transfer of information from the website to the viewer's own browser. HTTP with the S at the end simply means it is secure. This ensures the viewer that the website is safe to view via Google's protocols.

In order to secure your website domain, you will want a SSL certificate. To get this certificate, be sure to visit this blog .

3. Inbound Links

Importance: Crucial

An important page ranking factor that should be taken into account are the inbound links to your website. These inbound link, also known as "backlinks," are hyperlinks which go back to your site when the user clicks a link somewhere else on the internet. These inbound links are important not only to get your user back to your website, but they also influence your rankings.

Inbound links influence your rankings on Google because they say that you are a trusted source according to an outside source from yourself. Although you won't get all your traffic from this type of link, they will speak loudly to what others think about you. Google sees this trust from other websites as a huge judgement of where they believe you should rank. The more that websites link to you, the better.

One aspect to understand about inbound links is that they do not work when you are linking from one of your own pages to another one of your own pages. In order for them to improve your rankings on Google is by having your links directed to your website from an outside domain.

4. Topic Authority

Importance: Very Important

The topics chosen for your website are what make the bulk of all the factors from which Google ranks you. They are what build your page authority for future rankings in order to be substantial over time. The topics you continuously post about is what Google will base your rank in Google's SERPs.

Thinking back to the gardening example above, imagine that this website has 15 articles about watering. After about that many articles Google has recognized that this website's port authority topic is focus on recommended watering examples. Because of these several articles focused around watering, the website will more then likely be ranked highest for it's future articles on this topic rather then an article about Google's ranking factors--no matter how well written or keyword-optimized it is.

5. Keyword Intent

Importance: Crucial

Although what topics are chosen for a website are very important to how Google sees a website, it doesn't mean keywords should be thrown out the window. Keywords are also a crucial part of optimizing a website and without properly doing so your website might not be ranked very high. The usage of keywords is one of the most important SEO strategies to get a website in the spotlight.

Previously Google has quickly looked for when a website posts on their web pages or through their blog posts with keywords that were phrased word for word. They would call this an "exact match." Now the words "exact match" mean something totally different. The websites that do incorporate the highest number of these keywords do not necessarily rank the highest for that keyword. Instead, the websites that show the reason for keyword use have the highest in ratings.

How does one use keywords to effectively increase their ratings? Well, let's go back to our previous examples of the gardening website. With a title like, "The Top 10 Watering Practices," it is not going to rank significantly due to repeating this five-word phrase multiple times within the blog. In order to rank well, the phrase should be repeated at least once, along with actual examples of how one should water their plants, the kind of water being used, how one can achieve good results, why it works, and how long one should practice these techniques.

The reason this method works well for website rating is because of increased traffic which follows when someone searching like terms get the information they are looking for. Once Google sees this increase in traffic it acknowledges the site as a valuable resource for visitors and it in turn gives the site a higher URL result.

6. Content Structure

Importance: Important

Although it is important to give your visitors the answers and information they are looking for, it is not enough. More and more websites are being created and are filled with loads of important content, making your website just another site among many others. In order to make yours stand out from the rest it is important to make sure the content has structure. How your website provides this information will be what gives you the upper hand among the others.

In order to achieve this structure one must format their site with a variety of headers and subheaders. This will make the information easier to understand. Often your content will also include bullet points, lists, images, and cited research: all of which to better engage your readers.

When viewers are reading your content and enjoying what they are seeing they will probably be on your website a substantial amount of time. This will also give you a competitive edge, because it will tell Google that your site creates "session duration."

7. Meta Tags

Importance: Important

Meta tags might sound intimidating and something better left to a computer programmer, but they are not as complicated as they sound and are actually a valuable, yet underused part of content management system (CMS).

The reason they are so important to a website's SEO is because they allow Google to understand what a specific page is all about, as well as how the content of each page interacts with the focus of the article or keywords. There are multiple kinds of meta tags that need to be filled in with either a target keyword or content that is relatable to the keyword.

Tile Tag

A tile tag is the title of a blog and is implemented into the associated HTML. Google uses this to develop the blue, clickable headlines. On non-blog related content within a web page, a title tag can be a helpful solution to a page that do not have a typical blog or article setup. To incorporate this up you would go into the HTML of the web page and add a title tag that is keyword-optimized. This will stand in place of an actual article title.

Image Alt Text

You may know that Google can "crawl" text, but it cannot read or "crawl" images quite the same way. Unfortunately as a result images are left without the capabilities to help increase ranking. To override this problem, it is encouraged to always include alt text that depicts the image and related content of the web page.

Meta Description

The meta description is the string of text within the page's URL that is the color blue. This gives the reader an idea of what the page is about before actually reading any of the content. According to Google the meta description does not need to include specific keywords, but it should be filled in.

8. Page Speed

Importance: Important

How fast a web page loads from the time a visitor clicks on it from a Google search result to when the page loads is called the page speed. There are many factors that play a role in how fast a page loads. Most of the time the faster the website's pages load, the higher ranking results the website receives from Google.

Overall if a web page loads in under three seconds, Google will usually consider the website fast enough to rank them higher in the search results. This ranking from Google can change if the content and kind of visitors are different from an eCommerce website, because they are not expected to run at two seconds or faster.

Factors that can slow a website down can include pages that are heavy with multiple types and sizes of font. One of the main reasons why websites can be slowed down is because of images. If the images on a page are not compressed properly, the loading speed of a page can drop drastically.

Media that is complex or large can also cause the web pages to take longer to load. Although depending on what is needed on a page, this can be a hard factor to alter, but what one can control is how big the file size is for each picture published on the page. To do this, compress each image before you upload them to the page.

Do you know if your website passes Google’s page speed test? You can find this out by clicking here .

Are you ready to learn more about Google's extensive list of ranking factors? If so, check out this link: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/google-ranking-algorithm-infographic

If you need any help or have any questions about how to get your website's ranking higher on Google's search results, feel free to send Northeast Kingdom Online a message or give them a call. We are here to guide you through any website inquiry!

The Ultimate Guide to Using Emojis for Marketing

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 22:16:31 GMT

Connect with your audience through the use of emojis within your marketing strategy.

Emojis can be a fun and effective way to add color, depth, and show emotion within a post. One can use emojis to simply convey a feeling, a thought, or add a bit of color to catch a viewers attention. The use of emojis here and there throughout emails, social media postings, or even advertisements can be a great way to turn a boring piece into something immersed with personality.

Emojis can be a great tool to increase click-through rates, open rates, and general engagement levels. Who knew, right? �� This can certainly be the game changer for many brands and their own identity. With this ultimate emoji guide we will go through what many of the most popular emojis are in reference to and give some examples of how one might want to use them to convey their message. Keep reading to see how you can turn your marketing strategy from �� to ��!

First Things First - What Are Emojis?

For many younger generations this is an obvious or even silly question to ask. Many of the up and coming generations have been using emojis since the day they received their own cell phone, but for those who are used to standard text, emojis might seem a bit unusual or even far fetched for their technological capabilities.

Thankfully most emojis are fairly cut-and-dry when it comes to their underlying meanings and usage. Emojis are simply small icons that have been developed by Unicode Standard. They were once used mainly throughout text messaging, but are now a huge part of websites, emails, and other digital communications.

Where Did Emojis Come From?

The word "emoji" originally comes from e (絵, “picture”) and moji (文字, "character"). Although they are very common today, emojis have not actually been around for that long. Just twenty years ago they were created by a coder who worked for a Japanese mobile service provider called NTT DoCoMo in 1999. They were started after the well-known smiley faces and from there they branched out to become common objects such as food, animals, weather, etc.

In later years, in 2010, emojis were formatted by Unicode to advance them for use outside of Japan. The next six years following this change, several thousands of emoji characters became an edition to the "language" of emojis. These included figures such as, places of worship, variations of skin color, sports equipment, and Zodiac signs.

Now in 2018, there are almost 3,000 emojis that are on the Unicode Standard list. Almost 200 of those have been created this year.

Why Use Emojis?

So, emojis are fun and all, but why should I bother using them throughout my digital postings? Wouldn't it be easier to simply type out what I am trying to convey or express to my readers? ��

Good question. I am glad you asked.

Emojis = Engagement

Here are some important statistics �� that prove why emojis should be used within a marketing strategy in order to boost engagement on

Twitter there was over 25% more engagement with the use of emojis among user’s tweets. On Facebook there was over 57% more likes, 33% more comments, and 33% more shared posts.

Recently, there was a study that proved emojis within the subject line of an email had 50% more opened then those with just plain text.

With the use of emojis, push notifications saw an increase of open rates as much as 85% and an increase in conversions by 9%.

Emojis Convey What Words Cannot

When a text or other digital message is sent with a sentence that is intended to show excitement or other emotions ends with a period, the receiver might interpret the message as something completely different. When the message includes an exclamation point at the end, the receiver might have a easier time understanding that the sender was trying to convey their excitement. What if the message ends with a �� emoji? Without any questions asked, this can be a great way to accurately show that the person sending the message is in fact excited.

For example: "Looking forward to it." vs "Looking forward to it!" vs "Looking forward to it ��"

Each message can give off a different chord from the next. Although the sentiment is the same, the vibe the receiver gets can vary greatly.

Emojis Give Your Brand Personality

Brands can sometimes get lost in the long list of those advertising their message among the never ending amount of competition they face. Although behind each brand their are real human beings that live and breathe and their lives are not too different from yours or mine, they often are not defined by their personality or charm, but rather by their latest sale or newest release.

Give your brand a depth and unique character that will stand out from the next by simply integrating emojis within your next communication. By using emojis you can communicate that your brand is captivating, fun, witty, or fresh. Stand out and define your brand through the usage of emojis to further your brand awareness and create your own persona. Fun brands = known brands.

Your Guide to Emoji Definitions and Uses

Now that you understand where emojis first originated and why you should immerse them in your brand, we are going to explain which ones a brand should use and how they should use them.

Laughing Face Emoji

The �� is the most frequently used emoji on Twitter, according to EmojiTracker . Also, based on Apple's data , the laughing face emoji is now officially named, "Face With Tears of Joy." Often this emoji is used to coincide a humorous post.

Heart Emoji

The next emoji that is most frequently used is the heart ❤️ emoji. This one has been officially named the "Red Heart". The Red Heart expresses love and affection. Although the red colored heart is the most popular heart emoji, it is also available in a multitude of shades and various shapes.

Crying Face Emoji

The third most used emoji is the crying face �� emoji, according to Apple. According to EmojiTracker, it is the sixth most used on it's database. It has been officially named the "Loudly Crying Face", but it is one that can have more than one meaning behind it. It is usually used to convey a sad or negative emotion, but it can also mean that someone is so happy they are crying.

Heart Eyes Emoji

According to both Apple and EmojiTracker the heart eyes �� emoji is the fourth most frequently used emoji. This one is known as the "Smiling Face With Heart-shaped Eyes". Typically it is used when some is happy or likes what they are seeing.

Thumbs-Up Emoji

This emoji is actually not ranked on Apple of EmojiTracker, but we feel it is still important to include. The thumbs up �� emoji as well as an actual thumbs up in person, universally means "Okay." Often this emoji is used as a confirmation that they received a message or agree with the sender.

Emojis To Try In Your Marketing

When it comes to the use of emojis within a brand’s marketing, their are endless amounts of characters that can be utilized. According to HubSpot there are certain emojis that have proven to be more effective then others when marketing. Check out this list of emojis that can really come in handy for your next digital posting and see what can work best for your brand's personality and ongoing message.

Emojis to Boost Engagement

��(Person Gesturing Okay Emoji)

��(Cherries Emoji)

��(Tropical Fish Emoji)

��(Woman Dancing Emoji)

��(Sun Behind Small Cloud Emoji)

Emojis to Encourage Click-Through

��(Octopus Emoji)

��(Horse Face Emoji)

��(Jeans Emoji)

��(Cherries Emoji)

��(Locomotive Emoji)

Next time you decide to send a text, an email, or post on social media, or other digital platforms consider using an emoji. They are an interesting and simple way to sneak in some personality within your message. From a device of your choosing you can add an emoji to your message to express your brand’s fun, sassy, or colorful side. It can be a great way to remind your audience that their are real people with real emotions behind your brand.

For more information about this blog, please visit: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/emojis

How to Choose a Professional Email Address

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 15:00:59 GMT

Create a professional email with some help from our following examples

As we grow up, often our tastes changes, our hobbies differ, and our maturity levels increase. As a teen or young adult we don't always look toward the future when it comes to things like choosing an email. We might find ourselves years down the road wondering why we ever chose an email such as "baller4life@aim.com" and then find ourselves cringing while writing it on a resume or other professional document.

Don't find yourself becoming embarrassed just to share an email address. Take the time to come up with a professional email address that will make a good impression and won't be a red flag to a hiring manager.

Picking an email address can sometimes be a harder task than imagined due to the high number of email addresses being created each year. You might be inclined to use your first and last name, but more than likely there is someone else that has the same name as you and has already used it for their email address before you had the chance.

Thankfully, your first and last name is not the only email address you have to use in order to come across professional. There are several combinations you can choose from that do not limit you to using a silly phrase or your high school nickname.

Below we have some examples on how you can use your first and last name by exercising the different possible combinations.

First name + last name = davidjohnson@domain.com

First name . last name = david.johnson@domain.com

First name - last name = david-johnson@domain.com

First name . middle name . last name = david.lewis.johnson@domain.com

First name - middle name - last name = david-lewis-johnson@domain.com

First initial + last name = djohnson@domain.com

First initial + middle name + last name = dlewisjohnson@domain.com

First initial + middle initial +last name = dljohnson@domain.com

Shorten your names.

davejohnson@domain.com

daveljohnson@domain.com

davelewisj@domain.com

daveljohn@domain.com

Combine your name with your profession, city, or degree.

davidjohnsonwriter@domain.com

davejohnsonwriter@domain.com

djohnsonwriter@domain.com

davidjohnsonnashville@domain.com

davejohnsonnashville@domain.com

djohnsonnashville@domain.com

davidjohnsonmfa@domain.com

davejohnsonmfa@domain.com

djohnsonmfa@domain.com

Who knew choosing a professional email address could be so challenging? Especially since you need to keep it clear and simple, unlike your personal one which can be a little more creative. Fortunately, there are many ways to choose a strong email address. We hope these examples provided above will help you find one. If you are still struggling with picking the perfect one we would love to assist you. Contact us today with any of your email questions or concerns.

For more information about this article: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/professional-email-address

Improve Your Social Media Game

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 00:20:31 GMT

Completely transform your online presence with these tips to help your business thrive in the current day and age

Growing and developing a business in today's economy can be a difficult task. One of the most helpful ways to encourage growth and further interaction with your business is by taking full advantage of everything that our modern age in technology has to offer. Along with websites and online advertising there is a crucial influencer that can play a specific role in the success of your business. What are we talking about? Your business's social media.

Here are a few ways you can improve your social media to increase your sales and broaden your brand’s name. With these few tips and rules to follow, your business can start reaching more prospect customers.

The Look

Social media can vary from one account to the next. Although there are some differences; in which we will go over, there are some main initiatives that will improve your social media strategy. Facebook is a very universal tool that can be used to target those interested in what your brand offers. This account allows for almost limitless ways to share, post, and create visuals and content with just a click of a button. There are no limits on the number of characters used within the posts which allows a business to fully capture their audience without having to cut crucial information out of their posts.

Twitter; although a very important social media platform, can be a bit trickier when it comes to how much content can be shared within a single post. They do limit the content posted to 140 characters or less. This forces the brand to provide very concise content.

On Instagram businesses are restricted to a single video or small photo slide that can quickly capture an audience through visuals. Although it does allow text below the images, users want to be able to depict the message solely by the visual being used. A user’s best approach would be narrowing a focus or specific appearance they would like to reflect, due to the visual effects this platform uses.

Since each social media platform provides their own variations of what they allow to be posted, your business will have to have slightly different ways of presenting your message within each social media account. To adequately reach your social media audiences you will have to tweak your presentation slightly depending on the platform being used.

The Tags

Although there are many differences between each social media platform, there are some similarities that can allow a business to cue into what they would like their post to be about. Hashtags are a good example of this similarity. They are used throughout all the social media platforms and most of the top hashtag words or phrases can be popular throughout all platforms. They are used as an easy way to refine searches among what the user would like to find and connect with.

During the early days after the release of Twitter, hashtags were used frequently and now today they are still being used on the majority of posts. Each day brings a new trending hashtag that can be utilized with posts to promote a topic and keep the audience informed all over the world about infinite resources.

Using hashtags created specifically for your business is great way to promote your business and help it become more recognized among prospects. Although creating your own hashtags can sometimes be difficult due to the huge number of them floating throughout the internet, once a brand narrows in on one it can be a very valuable resource.

The Customers

Interaction with your customers can be just as, if not more important than the original post. Once something is posted on a social media account your followers and the strangers alike have the ability to like, share, or comment on your post. Be sure your business can reply to it’s comments and questions within a reasonable amount of time. Doing this is one of the best ways to show your followers that you appreciate their input and interaction.

Although those following a brand usually are there to learn more about what a business has to offer, there are those who do not have the business’s best interests at heart. This is where unsolicited criticism can come into play. As a business, you cannot control how others interact with your posts, however, you do have the ability to respond in an appropriate way. No matter what is said, try to find a positive way to respond without drumming up controversy. The way a business responds on the internet can truly reflect what kind of people are behind the brand and it can shape their public image.

To have a successful and impactful outreach, it is necessary for a business to have several social media accounts. Try to use these tips when you go about setting up and running your social media accounts. If you do not know how to run each account in an accurate and effective way, don't fret. Northeast Kingdom Online can help you connect and reach more people to further promote your business. We are here to help your business improve its online presence through social media and beyond. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a time to go over your current social media presence and would like help defining your strategy, contact us today!

The Top Ten Trends to Influence Web Development Domain

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 00:13:45 GMT

The future of web development

There are less than 200 million active websites out of the total 1.8 billion websites on the world wide web today. With each and every passing day brings several thousands of websites which are added to this ever growing total.

Along with the multiplying number of websites being created comes an immense competition among brands to be at the top of each person's search engine results. In order to even touch the surface among all of these active websites, you will have to make sure your website is in accordance to the latest trends. A practiced web developer must always think ahead when it comes to the future trends of its age in order to keep up to speed with all its competitors.

Following much thought and research, we have prepared and provided a list of the most common beliefs of what the future holds for the web world. Here are the top ten trends of the future to give a precise prediction of what the most popular websites will be adding to their list of developments.

1. AMP is a New Norm

Ever since Google started putting more emphasis on mobile-friendly websites in 2015, responsive web design has been a working part of many websites to appropriately fit what unveils with each new development. After the 2017 Adobe report, the Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) are said to be accounted for 7 percent of all web traffic among the United States top sites. Being Google sponsored, this project has gained momentum following the interactions with Pinterest, Twitter, and Bing.

So what is AMP all about and why do we need it? It was created to further promote the users positive experience when looking at an ad or waiting for content to load. It has had a near perfect performance for websites and most have become pleasingly accustom to its function.

2. The Arrival of Progressive Web Apps (PWA)

With the technology changes that are continuously progressing as the advancement of mobile sites and native apps become more abundant for users to choose from, come the Progressive Web Apps (PWA).

The idea behind the PWA is the assistance they provide to mobile sites and native apps compared to the rather frequent usage of HTML 5. They can provide the same level of positive user experience.

An example of this integration with a top publisher is the eCommerce website Flipkart. Flipkart has added PWA to their toolkit and it has provided a 70 percent conversion increase for their online business.

3. Chatbots Rock

Have you used online support before? If you have ever searched for customer support on a website you may have spotted a small window, usually positioned on the bottom right of a web page. These are usually a customer support option that users can click on to get any help that is needed. Unfortunately this support option is not always 24/7 depending on the company.

Now there is the Chatbot option. These are used for the immediate assistance of a company’s customer support. With the use of a Chatbot there is no need for actual human presence on the other end of the online support, because the Chatbot can be available at anytime day and night.

Every year U.S. businesses lose out on around $62 million dollars because they don’t have adequate customer service. Having a 24/7 automated customer service representative will allow a company the freedom to reach prospects without physically managing their chat room.

4. Push Notifications Prevail

Push notifications have been most known for their use within online applications, but now they are accessible for websites as well. Websites with push notifications can have the ability to attract a wide array of business through using the tricks of the online marketing trade.

Integrating deals and benefits into the push notifications is becoming more popular than ever before. It is the perfect solution to low engagement posts and pulls traffic further into their site with the alluring content within their push notifications. Although helpful, push notifications should be used with discretion. If a business uses too many of this types of advertising the user may view the website as “spammy” and decide not to further interact.

5. Static Websites do not go Anywhere

There are more and more dynamic websites coming into play with the rest of the web world. Although the number of dynamic websites versus static are drastically increasing, static websites are still around and will not be completely out of the picture anytime soon. What currently matters the most to Google and other top search engines is that the website is simple and has fast load times. This will ultimately reflect in a higher ranking.

With these standards, static websites fit the criteria well. Although these websites will get the placement they need to be clicked on, if the website is also dynamic and engaging with its presentation of content they are more likely to be seen as the interesting company. This will post a threat to those with less going on and lead higher turnover rates.

6. RAIL Concept on the Rise

What is the RAIL Concept? It stands for the Response Animation Idle Load, which means a website can have faster load times and better overall performance compared to other websites. RAIL has been a design concept since 2015, but now in 2018 it has been associated with even better capabilities and a friendly user experience.

RAIL incorporates load times that are just under 1 second, as well as smooth tap, drag, and scroll actions which make the website easier to navigate for the user. With the user-centric approach, the RAIL concept is a useful integration for both the web developer and visitors alike.

7. Motion UI is Ready to Reign

If you are trying to increase your conversion rate, Motion UI is a great way to achieve this for your website. Motion UI is a component made up of hovers, background animations, animated charts, and unique headers. Through this helpful implementation you can design a website that stands out from the rest.

Give the visitors what they want in a website that includes beautifully integrated features of Motion UI. If you would like your online platform to excel you must use visuals that are compelling yet simple in order to increase the interaction between your website and the user.

8. Browser Extensions will be More Popular

The demand of browser extensions such as Google Chrome extensions are becoming more prevalent. These extensions are useful, but some are viewing them as a threat to their privacy. This is due to the access the extensions gain to the user’s online activity when they give them permission.

The best way to use browser extensions in order to get the most out of your web browsing experience is to put a privacy protection plan in place. With the more frequent use of privacy protection plans, the more users have trusted browser extensions. Their usage is determined to become increasingly common with the upcoming years.

9. VR and AR

There are endless possibilities when it comes to the technology that is constantly upping their game. A technology that exemplifies this is the futuristic visual capabilities that VR and AR have. Major companies such as Google, Samsung, and Microsoft are adding the exciting world of VR to their list of investments.

AR is another very fascinating extension of VR, but it can be used for more than just the fun games and cool imaging within apps. There are no boundaries when it comes to what the virtual world is achieving and AR is no exemption of this. It is believed to increase its total market price tag to upwards of $215 billion in 2021.

10. Single Page Applications (SPAs) will Thrive

Several websites including Gmail, Github, and Facebook are using SPAs to eliminate slow load times caused by the reloading of a web page as the user scrolls. SPAs work by loading all the browsers content through JavaScript. These SPAs are helpful additions for the user because they do not have to wait for the web pages to render before seeing their content.

These are the top 10 trends to watch out for as they will become increasingly apparent this year and beyond. If you would like to learn more about these trends, our experienced team of web developers are here to give you more insight. Contact us today and we can get you started in the right direction.

For more information about this article:

https://www.solwininfotech.com/blog/website-design/web-development-trends/

How Web Design Impacts Content Marketing

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:25:28 GMT

A business can format their potential client's first impression through the several elements of their content marketing strategy.

There are multiple elements of design that can impact how potential customers perceive a business solely due to how well the business is able to market to them. Everything from the colors a company chooses to advertise with to what their style preferences are can either have a potential customer ready to buy whatever they’re offering or have them swiftly clicking out of their website and onto the next best thing. Businesses can change these outcomes by focusing in on their design marketing strategy including content marketing.

What is content marketing?

Content marketing generates a customer’s interest by providing relevant information. Although it does not directly advertise its products or services, it does promote its business by giving the customer what they want to see through helpful suggestion.

An example of this kind of marketing is Home Depot. They have a dedicated area of their website that is created and developed specifically for customers who would like a little DIY help. This section of their website hands out free information to teach them how to work on their homes themselves.

Home Depot prides themselves in being a helping hand for the everyday home owner and their website spells this out through providing categorized information to those looking for specific answers. Through doing this they are able to reach people who are looking for materials they supply. Simply put, their potential customers turn into their everyday customers, because those reading their articles are more likely to trust their brand and buy their materials through them rather then through a competitor.

How web design impacts content marketing

Here are some main factors in web design that can impact how users will access your website and later receive your products or services.

Accessibility

Accessibility is one of the most imperative considerations when it comes to the content published on your website. If you plan to add content to your website it should be easy to find for the user. It should be listed in your navigation bar and the pages should be easily identifiable to someone looking for further information. Furthermore, the information you provide should be easy to understand by all your viewers so you do not miss out on opportunity simply because it is too confusing for them to interpret.

If your information is hard to find because it is not identified well, the user will more then likely stop searching and try to find the information elsewhere. No one wants to put in the effort of publishing information just for it to be skipped over because it wasn’t readily accessible to the visitor passing through.

Appearance

Content is very important, but sometimes a first impression can be based on the first look. When a website has a professional appearance it builds trust immediately. Visitors will judge a site as soon as they click into it, no matter how well the information is laid out.

Keeping the appearance up on a website means consistently updating to make sure not only the content is relevant, but the design is too. Nothing speaks careless better then a website that is not up to the visual standard of the current day and age. Make sure your website isn’t lacking a clean and relevant design to imminate the brand confidence your prospect customers are looking for.

Readability

The design of your website should only enhance what your brand is all about. The content and design shouldn’t be competing, but rather complimenting each other. In order for your content and design to work together your visitors should be able to clearly interpret your message. Having several fonts throughout a website is an example of an unprofessional and overwhelming website.

When too much is going on throughout a website visually, it can be distracting and even turn the visitor off to what you have been working so hard to present. Color can be another example of how a website can either shine or take away from the main goal. Having font color that blends in with the background of your website might not be intriguing enough for your visitors. On the other hand if the color is too loud it might not be visually appealing for the user.

Comprehension

The way different people view and comprehend content can vary from individual to individual. Some can read content on a blank canvas and be able to fully absorb every word. Others need visuals to help them bring the text to life.

In order to feed both kinds of learners it is essential to consider whether your visuals help verify what your content says or if it distracts and doesn’t flow with what is on the page.

An example of a well developed page with matching visuals and content is a cooking website. These type of websites usually support their recipes with videos or images of the step by step directions and then with the final product.

No matter what the business is all about, using these types of visuals can help your visitor develop a better understanding of the underlying brand and content itself.

Designing a content-friendly site

Although there are multiple ways that design can influence content marketing, the main goal is to make sure your website is created for the likeness of your viewers. If the website is easy to find and your content is pleasing to both the eye and mind your business has already succeeded.

Here at Northeast Kingdom Online we have a full team of professional web developers waiting to help your business succeed through content marketing and beyond. If you have any questions, we would love to address them with you. Give us a call at: 802-473-1887

For more information:

https://www.webfx.com/blog/web-design/web-design-impacts-content-marketing/

10 Ways to Design Your Website for Mobile Speed

Sat, 15 Sep 2018 03:45:03 GMT

Do you know how your website ranks according to a mobile speed test? Don't let slow load times ruin your chance to reach potential customers.

Mobile speed is an important part of any website and it should be tested to see where it stands according to rank and how its users interact with the website and its associated brand. If your mobile website comes in with low ratings due to slow mobile speed it might mean you are potentially losing out on business. Many users will be turned away if the mobile speed isn’t up to par. You will want to check that your mobile website loads just as quickly as your desktop version. Although this may seem like a difficult task to take on, there are several ways you can improve your mobile speed.

1. Optimize Images

One of the main culprits behind slow mobile website speed are the image sizes on each page. The images account for the majority of data that is downloaded each time a user is on a page of the website. If you format and save an image properly, the amount of bytes being used can be cut down drastically.

Before uploading an image to the website the best way to format it is by downsizing the image as much as possible through cropping. If cropping can be preformed, do that before saving the image and adding it to the file where images are pulled and added to the web. Another step to downsize the images is by compressing them to get that file as small as it can be.

2. Hosting Matters

Although everyone wants to save a few dollars where ever they can, hosting isn’t the place where websites should start their savings. Often as a website grows over time, the website owner forgets or simply neglects to increase their hosting plan. This can account for a lot of mobile websites slow load times.

A simple way to make sure your hosting can handle your ever growing website is by making sure you are using hosting that is designed for top speed capabilities. To do this choose a server option which is solely used for hosting. If you are in need of a cheaper option to cover your hosting needs, you should use VPS hosting. Although shared, this option has a dedicated server for hosting.

When it comes to heavier loads of content such as video, whenever possible opt for external tools to host those files. A great example of this is the use of YouTube. This turns your site files into links which can also improve your hosting speeds.

3. Pay Attention to JS

JavaScript is a powerful element for many websites and it is what controls several neat and interesting effects. There are preferred ways to use JavaScript in order to avoid slowing down a website.

In order to allow all your files to load at once, put the JavaScript at the bottom of your files. Otherwise, browsers will wait for JavaScript to load until it is finished before loading other files if they are ordered after. This will allow the HTML content to render first.

The smaller the files, the faster they load. When it comes to code the same rates apply, so it is best to minify your code which will in turn optimize your mobile loading speeds.

Another way to help you mobile website avoid loading scripts at different times is by using asynchronous JavaScript. Use asynchronous JS to load once the less imperative elements render, because it will then load scripts at the same time rather then subsequently.

4.Use Lazy Loading

Lazy loading is a great way to allow the most important information and visuals to load before everything else on a website. It loads everything on the page a user is viewing and then continues to load the rest of the website’s pages. Along with search engine optimization, your website’s rating on Google improves when it’s loading is broken down to make it capable of accelerated speed.

Some helpful tools to aid you with getting your files loading the right way is WordPress plugins. Lazy Load and WP Rocket are some that won’t take up a lot of room and are very simple to use.

5. Make Use of Caching

Enabling caching is a great way to boost your website speed page by page. Caching works by storing files on a user’s device that are recently requested for a certain period of time. This allows pages to load faster each time a user clicks into them.

6. Cut Down on Redirects

Redirects are often a useful tool for websites, but they can also have a negative impact on your website because they can slow it down drastically. Do your best to eliminate any unnecessary redirects to allow for as much loading power as possible.

One redirect that has a huge impact on a website’s speed is the 301 redirect. This is used to move users from an old outdated page to a new and updated version of itself. Figure out if the redirects you have on your website are worth it and if they are not. If not, get rid of them to improve your mobile website’s overall loading speed.

7. Try Accelerated Mobile Pages

Accelerated Mobile Pages are designed to develop pages that load swiftly on mobile devices. AMP’s can be used within the landing pages of a website. The AMP HTML and AMP JavaScript can be a fitting solution for websites that use location specific pages and online advertising frequently.

A best part of using AMP within the pages of a website is that it will load the website almost instantaneously. Although this can be a great option for a website, be ready for it to add a bit more work to the back end.

8. Remove Tap Delays

Tap delays were originally created to help devices realize when there is a double-tap of a mouse. Basically when the user clicks on something there is a slight delay before the action happens.

Tap delays are rarely essential within most websites, so removing them will only improve the website’s load times. Comment on this blog post or email us to receive the code to remove tap delays from your website.

9. Consider Progressive Web Apps

Websites that have a lot of content including interactive features would do well having a progressive web app. A PWA website runs the same way an app does minus the download. PWA’s can be very valuable because they do not have to be installed in order to use and they are searchable just like a regular website.

Another handy feature that PWA’s offer is that they will usually work when the user is offline. If enabled, the user can even use push notifications, because they work by using caching.

10. Delete All Those Plugins

Plugins were designed for the functionality of websites and they can be very helpful for the user. Often websites have several plugins running in the background and they are very easy to install.

Although plugins can be a helpful tool, they can also add more substance to the website. This can weigh down the website and cause the user to have to wait as the content and imagery downloads. With all these downloads happening the website loses a lot of loading power and slows down.

Like other add-ons, plugins should also be sorted through and deleted or deactivated if they are not being used. Also, the plugins that you are using should be kept up to date in order to keep the website up to speed.

If your mobile site’s load times are slow you might be in need of a website revamp. Feel free to contact Northeast Kingdom Online with any questions or concerns you have with your website. We are here to help! 802-473-1887

For more information on mobile speed, please visit:

https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2018/08/10-ways-to-design-your-website-for-mobile-speed/

8 Key Features Your Homepage Should Include

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 16:51:07 GMT

Your homepage is an essential component of effective web design and often the first impression your business makes on a potential customer

A website’s homepage is an important first impression that a business provides to potential clients. Although the overall design of a website is important; such as, layouts, fonts, colors, and white space, what serves a business even more is the website’s content.

It is imperative for a website to have content on it’s homepage that introduces the business and it’s associated products and/or services. This introduction should give enough information to provide the user a little foreground about your offerings, but not too much it would overwhelm a first time customer. The bases of content on the homepage should set a tone about what the business is all about in only a matter of seconds in order to encourage a client to continue to look through the website.

Here are the 8 basic content features necessary for your website’s homepage success:

Logo

A business’ logo is one of the most essential branding tools and it should be displayed as such on the top of a website’s homepage. It should present a clear visual that depicts exactly what website the user has landed on. Be sure to use the most visible and recognized version of your logo on the homepage in order for the users to immediately connect and identify with your business. Often the logo is used for not only brand recognition, but also as a homepage link. In order to make this obvious be sure to add your logo in the near vicinity of your header.

Navigation

Navigation is a must when it comes to a website’s homepage and it should be inserted within the header to provide a clear course to all your other web pages. Depending on whether the website has a lot of pages a search bar may be a valued tool to implement somewhere near the navigation. Always remember that the navigation for a website should be simple and easy to use for visitors. Navigation should always give the user an easy way to explore the website and find exactly what they are looking for without having to search through each page to do so. To allow for effective navigation and lower bounce rate, title your pages accordingly.

Headline

Your homepage should give a clear understanding of what your business is offering within only a few seconds. The headline is used as a way to communicate this information and then provide an even more detailed sub-headline below. Usually a headline is about 2-3 sentences which offer a concise and targeted text to help the user quickly depict what it is the business can help them with. A headline is usually located somewhere near the top of the homepage where it is quickly noticed.

Call to Action

When building a homepage it is important to have a direct goal(s) in mind to bring a user from point A to point B. This transition is called a call to action (CTA). It can be used to entice the user to dive further into your website by performing an action without the user even realizing it. Many of these CTAs can be used in a number of ways, such as: to provide information to the business, begin the process of a sale, or simply spark a prospect client’s interest. A CTA within the website can be a section or button that is linked to an interior page such as, a form, survey, subscription etc. in order to gather further information about the user for later contact. To improve the chances for a user to continue to browse the website and explore other content, add a CTA that is both easy to use and intriguing.

Social Proof

Social proof is an impactful way to show expertise in the website’s subject matter and develop trust with customers and prospects alike. Ways to stimulate social proof are through testimonials and customer reviews. This is a helpful way to provide new users valued information about how well your business provides products or services to their current or past customers. It should give new users the information needed to recognize your brand as being trustworthy and ready to provide them with the services necessary. One of the best ways to promote your brand and give a good first impression on the homepage is by implementing success stories from the customers themselves.

Photos

People are visual by nature and providing visitors with engaging images is a reasonable way to connect your prospects with the product or service being offered. Rather than displaying an image of the product or service alone, displaying an image that specifically highlights the product or service in use will better provide an association between the customer and the brand. As humans we are drawn to images with people’s faces in them. Using these kinds of photos on your homepage is a beneficial way to further develop a connection between the offerings and the brand.

Text Content

The use in language matters when it comes to the substance behind your words. Content can be used to give context to your products or services by describing what your business can offer, as well as give the customer a reason to relate to why they should have what you offer. It is best to keep the language simple and always consistent, but most importantly brand-specific. In order to connect with a user and maintain interest the website’s homepage should reveal content that is conscious of its target audience, rather than broad statements that any industry could pull from.

Footer

A footer can be almost as important as the header navigation bar when a user scrolls to the bottom of your website’s homepage. Your website should extend three main features in the footer including links, contact, and social media integration to continue engagement. No user should have to scroll all the way back to the top in order to find these main features. Providing links such as important pages within the footer will prompt users to stay on the website rather than clicking out once their interest is lost from scrolling back up. Contact information is crucial within the footer when it comes to users who want to take the next step of interacting with your brand. The social media integration within the footer is a platform for users to further engage and even promote your business, as well as add further social proof to your brand.

Ready to Transform your Homepage?

Here at Northeast Kingdom Online we have several resources including developers, designers, marketers, and more to fully equip you with the necessary tools to get started on your website’s homepage. Contact us today at 802-473-1887!

For more information about this article, please visit:

https://www.globalreach.com/blog/2017/09/27/8-key-features-your-homepage-should-include

Color Meaning & Symbolism

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 18:13:16 GMT

How to use the power of color in your branding

Color can be used in powerful ways to express your brand and it’s associated identity. A brand’s attributes and values can be identifiable through various visual aspects. Some of these aspects can include numbers, words, shapes, symbols, and most importantly color. Color is listed as most important, because it is the most noticeable and memorable element out of all the visual aspects. It is said that color alone can improve brand recognition by 80 percent.

Branding color can even evoke emotion. So much that it can change how someone feels when they look at a brand. Along with emotion, color can also evoke practicality. It is important for a brand to emanate a practical level in order to comprise its own flair among other brands.

People judge. They judge the clothes someone wears, the coffee they drink, and the brands they are associated with among many other things. Judging someone or something never sounds positive, but when it comes to brand identity it is unavoidable. It is found that up to 90% of snap judgments made about a brand as a whole is solely due to the color or colors being used. Outsiders, whether they are already customers, prospect customers, or those not even interested in the brand will judge the brand and what it has to offer due to something as simple as the shade of blue being used.

Colors can emit various meanings based on what people are traditionally used to seeing. Using a similar color to what the brand is associated with will only improve the chances of engagement with the public. Using a color that traditionally speaks a different activity will usually confuse the target audience instead of drawing them in. It is important use color as a way to not only enhance a brands appearance, but also to express exactly what it is you are trying to offer.

In this blog we have spelled out which colors do what when it comes to how a brand can look and feel. This 11-color breakdown can be a helpful guide for those trying to find the correct colors for their brand and image.

Red - Danger, Passion, Excitement & Energy

Meanings: The color red can symbolize several different relations and it can be one of the most eye-catching shades among brands. This color can awake a sense of desire, because it is the same color of exciting elements such as fire and blood which also emit a sense of danger. Then there is the reminder of love which can emanate passion. Red on its own is a powerful color that can give off a feeling of energy, strength, and confidence.

Tips for use: In view of the fact that red is associated with very impactful visuals and meanings, it should be aired on the side of caution. With that said, what makes this color different from the rest of the color wheel can help a brand stand out.

Orange - Fresh, Youthful, Creative & Adventurous

Meanings: Orange can be a great color to blend the association of warmth and energy into one. It has the cheery persona that yellow has and the stop in your tracks ability that red has. The color orange is a very known shade, so known that it is also the name and color of a very popular fruit. Although this is a color that would be hard not to run into day to day, it is actually not the most favorited among the colors, but because of this it allows a brand’s individuality to shine through.

Tips for use: This is a fine color to use for youthful and energetic brands due to the bright identity it radiates. Although orange is a chosen color for a fun and exciting atmosphere it would not be a great pick for a luxury, serious, or traditional brand.

Yellow - Optimistic, Cheerful, Playful & Happy

Meanings: Yellow is one of the brightest colors of them all. Associated with many happy elements, such as sunshine and joy it can communicate friendship and warmth. Because of the happiness that is emitted from this shade it can be seen as being apart of organizations with mental and intellectual backgrounds. It also portrays a sense energy and alertness, which is why many police and hazard signs use this color.

Tips for use: Sometimes the use of yellow within a brand visual can offer an appearance of low cost and value. Depending on your brand this can be either a positive or a negative. If you would like to incorporate the color yellow into your brand, be sure it is well thought out to avoid making your brand and what it stands for coming across as cheap. If done properly yellow can be a valued color in your brand to show a welcoming and energetic property.

Green - Natural, Vitality, Prestige & Wealth

Meanings: This is a color that has two main connections; the first being nature and the environment, and the second being finance and wealth. The green color can coincide with nature and the environment by representing life, because most plants are naturally green which is consistent with an ever developing environment. When it comes to finance and wealth the green can be a connection to the color of money, which is associated with financial wealth and stability.

Tips for use: Green can be a great color for brands to affix themselves to growth and vitality, but if the shade veers too light or too dark it can indicate something other than the goal objective.

Blue - Communicative, Trustworthy, Calming & Depressed

Meanings: Blue is a very widely used and more preferred color. It has a wide range of uses and qualities which is why a lot of companies like to incorporate it into their brand. It communicates a brand’s trustworthiness and reliability to their customers. Have you ever noticed how many social media website use the color blue? Well, this is because it has a calming effect on the eyes and makes it’s users want to continue gazing upon the screen. The reason people relate this color to such calming qualities is because it is seen in several natural environments, such as the sky and the sea. One aspect to watch out for is the fact that the color can also be associated to the emotion depression due to the expression of being ‘blue’.

Tips for use: Because blue can relate to various meanings, be sure to pick the shade of blue that best represents your brand. As a whole the color blue can be a positive shade to market a brand, which is why many companies use it, but it’s popularity might be the very reason you may want to avoid it.

Purple - Royalty, Majesty, Spiritual & Mysterious

Meanings: Purple has traditionally been a color of majesty or nobility, hence it has been used for those considered royal. It has also been a symbol of spirituality for it’s mysterious and sentimental qualities. Lastly, it has often upheld a presence of feminine quality due to several florals possessing it’s different shades, such as lavender.

Tips for use: Although purple is not the most popular color being used in the branding world, it is a great way to advertise as something with a feminine quality, because purple can be a great color for those trying to target women.

Brown - Organic, Wholesome, Simple & Honest

Meanings: Brown is one of the most natural colors which gets exercised often among brands with nature inspiration and organic representation. This color can give off a grounded aura, expressing the strength and wholesomeness of a company. Think about whole grain bread. This bread is made from one of the most natural substances on earth and it is the color brown. It is a color that leaves out superfluous meaning and bares truth.

Tips for use: Brown can be a great asset for advertising outdoor products or natural ingredients to name a few. It can be a bad color choice for brands who need to present a clean appearance, because it can have the same resemblance as dirt.

Pink - Feminine, Sentimental, Romantic & Exciting

Meanings: The color pink has stereo-typically been associated as a color that can only appeal to women. More recently it has become a rather diverse color and it has made up several brand’s visuals providing a different meaning for each company depending on the shade being used. When the lighter shades of pink are being used it is usually to represent a feminine youthfulness, such as baby girl items. A more dusty shade of pink can be the backing to romantic and sentimental meanings. Turning it up a notch, hot pink can give off a fun and energetic attribute.

Tips for use: Pink can be an excellent pick of color for a brand, but be sure to choose the shade in accordance to how you would like to represent the brand. Figure out what kind of customers you would like your brand to identify with and remember the color pink doesn’t have to target just one gender.

Black - Sophisticated, Formal, Luxurious & Sorrowful

Meanings: Black can be an outstanding way for a brand to appear unique and different from others. Although color is usually used to increase brand recognition, black can also be memorable and help set a brand apart from others. Black can have several meanings behind it, but it is usually associated with something rather serious. Due to its intensity black can emit attributes such as luxury, death, evil, and power.

Tips for use: If you would like your brand to pop, black is the perfect choice. It has a contrasting effect when used alongside a bold or bright color. Black can also be transformed when used with different textures such as matte or gloss.

White - Purity, Simplicity, Innocence & Minimalism

Meanings: A noteworthy color usage is white. White can imply a pure, simple, clean, and innocent message. A great usage of this color is demonstrated by the brand Apple. Although there are no dramatic color schemes or contrasts the white is very identifiable. Using white in a brand is a splendid way to enhance other colors without taking away from a clean aesthetic. The usage of white is becoming more popular due to the recent trend, minimalism.

Tips for use: When using white within your brand be sure you are able to display interest in the underlying design. Using white with other colors can be a great way to add intrigue and make the visual aspects of the brand come alive.

Multicolor - Variety

Meanings: The usage of multiple color within one logo can indicate a diverse meaning behind a brand and offer people variety in order to reach different interests. Often multicolor is used among brands with many different backgrounds and beliefs. It can allow a brand to reach its advertising to a wide array of people.

Tips for use: The use of different colors within the same brand can either make or break it’s appearance. Be sure to use colors that can compliment each other to avoid looking tacky or unorganized. Also consider the cost that might be involved, because the more color being used often the more money the logo will cost.

For more information: https://www.canva.com/learn/co lor-meanings-symbolism/

Facebook could now lose its place as America's 2nd-biggest website

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 16:48:34 GMT

After a couple of difficult weeks Facebook is threatened to be superseded by YouTube, whose website is about to take Facebook’s placeholder as the second-biggest website in the US. Research shows that the amount of monthly visits from just two years ago has drastically dropped according to the market-research firm, SimilarWeb. The variance of users is being reporting as a drop of almost 4 billion. Although there is a dramatic shift in the amount of people logging onto Facebook there is something to be said about it’s growing associated websites that are directing these users toward the Facebook app, Instagram, and Messenger.

Facebook has had the biggest one day loss of $100 billion-plus in the stock market history. It has also had to ban coordinated efforts of those trying to influence the US politics. This includes as many as 32 pages and accounts. To top off the unfortunate events that Facebook is experiencing, it is more then likely going to lose its place as the second-biggest website in only a matter of time. This change is being described as a “paradigm shift,” according to SimilarWeb’s Stephan Kraus. Much of the traffic that Facebook has been receiving for so long is going to switch over to YouTube, making YouTube the runner up to Google. This shift is predicted to happen within the next two or three months.

In July there was evidence to suggest that Facebook’s popularity was dwindling when it was revealed that there was an absence of 241 million users both the US and Canada. A month previous to that, it was noted that Facebook had lost 376 million users in Europe. With this said these losses could be viewed in another perspective when checking Facebook’s other networks like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Facebook is essentially trading these users to grow it’s adjacent websites. It can also be known that despite the lower amount of users visiting Facebook’s main site, the mobile app is becoming increasingly more popular with each passing day. Although losing traffic is never the goal for any website, for Facebook this isn’t a total loss, because it is also displaying an act of growth throughout multiple platforms.

YouTube has become the main stage when it comes to user preference for viewing video. It has become the “primary entertainment/information source for the younger generation,” according to SimilarWeb. Google on the other hand is still ranking as the biggest website in the US overall. It comes in with a whopping 15.2 billion users. Neither Facebook or YouTube can touch those numbers and won’t be able to anytime in the foreseen future.

An extra fascinating fact to highlight is the growing quantity of users on Amazon. For a long time Yahoo has been the superior website to Amazon, but the amount of those on Amazon to those on Yahoo has recently been higher, likely due to Prime Day. If these numbers stay on trend it won’t be long until Amazon is continuously in front of Yahoo.

For more information please visit:

https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-could-be-overtaken-by-youtube-similarweb-2018-8

4 Things You Can Do On Facebook To Boost Your Business

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 14:17:15 GMT

1. Set Up a Facebook Page for Your Business

The reason you would want to set up a Business Facebook page is to help remove the communication gap between your business and your customers.

Provide your customers a link to your website and post any links to any of your mobile apps. This will help people find your website and apps so you will have a better chance of making money.

2. Use Engagement Marketing Strategies

People like anything that makes them feel good. Facebook already has funny pages, memes, political joke pages and tons of
informational pages. People like the posts on these pages which is why they follow them.

You will need to adopt a similar marketing strategy as those pages. One that makes people feel good, laugh or even get information they find interesting.

By writing great content it will help your target market interact with your page by starting a conversation by messenger or commenting on your post.

What makes your product great? Why should consumers buy your product? If you can answer those questions you can use your Business Facebook page to convey that to your customer base.

3. Create Contests, Giveaways, Polls and Events

Facebook has all sorts of free tools you can use to get your customers to interact with your Business page.

One way you can get people to interact with your page is by creating a poll. Create a poll on something simple that people care about, like what color choices people would like to see on a certain product. You can get people to interact with your business and get great product information.

You can also start a giveaway by having people like, comment and share your giveaway information. For example, if you run a dog grooming business, you can ask people to like - comment - and share to be eligible to win a free nail trim.

4. Create Live Videos

Create live videos even if you don't have a lot of followers. Going live is one of the best ways to attract attention. It will make people more interested in your business. The videos do not have to be long or fancy as long as you have them. It is great to have live videos to chat with your customers or introduce your staff or new products.

By having live videos your customers can feel more connected to your business and feel like they are wanted by your business.

Use all of these tactics on Facebook to give your business a boost today!

Effective July 2018, Google’s Chrome browser will mark non-HTTPS sites as ‘not secure’

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:11:58 GMT

By the end of July 2018, Google's Chrome browser is going to mark all non-HTTPS sites as 'NOT SECURE'

For several years now, Google has been forcing websites to implement SSL certificates. It all started with their 2014 HTTPS Everywhere campaign, in which the goal was to raise awareness of the value of SSL certificates. SSL later became a Google ranking signal to further encourage website owners to implement these certificates.

Many of you are probably wondering, what exactly is a SSL certificate? Well, in simple terms a SSL certificate is a text file with encrypted data that you install onto your server which allows you to secure and encrypt sensitive information and communications between your website and your website viewers.

SSL stands for ‘Secure Sockets Layer,’ and when a website owner has one, all the data that is passed between web browsers and servers remains private and encrypted.

What does this mean for your website?

If you do not have an SSL certificate installed on your website, Google Chrome will mark your website as a 'NON SECURE SITE' which could in turn drive your visitors away from your site. But how are you able to tell if the website is secure or not? This is actually very simple to determine. If you go onto a website and the site is secure, there will be a little green closed lock next to the HTTPS in the URL. See below for example.

Now if the website does not have an SSL certificate installed, you will not see that little green lock next to the HTTPS, instead it will be flagged with a warning in the URL bar of the browser. See below for example.

Now think of this scenario as if you were a consumer...

Imagine yourself as customer shopping online and Google shows you a 'NOT SECURE' warning when you land on a website.... would you click through to the website or just leave? Most people will leave the site and not return again as they may feel like it is a scam.

Depending on your websites size and software, it could be an expensive and lengthy undertaking to get your site up to code with Google Chrome's new code requirements.

Luckily our NEKO|360 website software includes the SSL Certificate with every website build, no matter how big or small the site may be!

If you are worried that your website does not have an SSL certificate installed, contact us today and see how we can help to prevent your website from being penalized due to these policy changes.

How to Choose a Navigation Setup

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 14:37:08 GMT

In order to keep users on your site instead of clicking out to other similar sources it is highly important to ensure your content is easy to navigate. You will have a higher chance of conversion if your navigation is clear and concise. Once a user becomes frustrated and impatient with how to they are getting around your site there won't be much time left before they decide to completely click out of your site and give their business to someone else.

The more time a user spends visiting your site the opportunity to generate sales increases, which becomes the best case scenario for a website designer and business owner alike.

There are multiple ways to navigate users through your site, but we are going to mention a few of the most popular layouts that most businesses use for their navigation setup. Depending on the content you are implementing and the look and feel you want to achieve, the site’s navigation will also depend on the order you want your users to be directed through each page of your site.

Top Navigation

Top navigation is the most implemented navigation layout being used throughout the web and it is best used when there are not too many menu options listed. It is designed using a horizontal layout where a user can click on the attributing page they would like to go to. For the majority of people it is practiced to read left to right. This top navigation speaks to those users, making it a natural way to look for what page they are trying to find. The "top-level" pages are what you want listed in this navigation bar.

Side Navigation

Side navigation can be used as a simple navigation layout to make the user's experience easier when they are trying to pinpoint a particular page. It is laid out by using a vertical design, usually on the left side of the web page, with the pages listed one top of the other. Although this option may seem simple, it can regularly clutter up a website, making it less visually pleasing to the user. Like top navigation, side navigation is usually reserved for the lesser amount of menu items, in which cutting the tabs down into categories can help prevent page overload.

Mega Navigation

Mega navigation can be a great setup for businesses who have a lot of pages to add to their site. Using this type of navigation can allow all your pages to be accessible without making all the page options appear at once. This type of navigation keeps your pages organized and visually appealing to those checking out what your business and site has to offer. Mega Navigation is a horizontal layout that is activated when the user hovers over a category and a drop down menu follows with several pages listed beneath it.

No matter the navigation layout you decide to go with be sure it is one that will match the aesthetic as well as the organization for the look and usability you are planning to go with. You never want to bring users to your site, just to have them click out in frustration, because they could not find the page they were hoping to. Always have the goal of getting your users to where they would want to go as quickly as possible, so you can give them the best user experience possible.

For more information:

https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/choose-navigation-setup/

Reasons For Investing In A Professional Logo Design

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 15:48:46 GMT

A logo is an important part of a brand's identity and it is the visual cornerstone relating the customer to the company. A logo is what a customer first sees as the company’s identity which makes the business memorable and relatable to those who have brand loyalty. A company should foster this importance and construct a logo that speaks visually about the brand's bright, distinctive, and interesting core.

1. First Impressions

First impressions can last long or become the last impression. A logo is basically the header for the business name and it represents everything the brand has to offer. It can be posted on any material and launch forward speaking for the company through brochures, business cards, websites, stickers and more. This can be the beginning of a customer and brand relationship or it can scare them away with thoughts of the tackiness or unprofessionalism they think your brand has. Be sure you are presenting your brand with the best logo for your business.

2. Results Based on Research

A professional logo is based on research that can elucidate the company's background. It will tell a story of what the company is about and what they are offering to the onlooker. This logo will take the roll of being front and center for the effectiveness or disapproval of the customer. The logo is essentially what people will relate their thoughts to depending on the positive or negative experience they had with that brand.

3. Results Lasting for Long

The logo created for the company associated should not be done without the intentions of it being around for some time. It should be a piece of art that can last the length of time and through the changing trends. No matter the progression of logo design the focus should always remain the same and the customer should always want to find your brand, because of the great meaning behind it. The designer should not have to plan on changing or redoing the logo anytime in the near future.

4. Assists in Shaping your Brand

The logo should be considered one of the most important aspects of design development for a company, because it is a large part of shaping and presenting the brand. Before and while the logo is being designed the business should always be included in how the logo is developed. The business itself is one of the best resources in creating the logo that will further shape and grow with the brand.

5. High Quality Graphics

The logo should include high quality graphics that become the main illustrated frontier of the brand name. It should have colors, fonts, styles consistent of any printing needs, website layouts, or ad creation. It should stand out as being sharp and professional to the brand's ongoing recognition.

If you are in need of logo creation or brand design of any kind Northeast Kingdom Online is here to help. Call NEKO at 802-427-3300 to talk about what you need for your brand's visual prosperity.

For more information: https://www.amitechlabs.com/blog/reasons-investing-professional-logo-design/

Why isn’t anyone coming to my website?

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 20:01:28 GMT

Far too often someone will have a website created for themselves or their business and automatically think they are about to make a lot of money. Unfortunately they may end up disappointed and questioning why their website isn’t making the sales quota they wanted to achieve. Very rarely can someone build a website and immediately see a traffic flow coming in without first building the site's background. What we mean by this is taking care of some essential components that will get your site in front of your customers and attain a higher ranking on Google.

Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization, also known as SEO is the backbone to how your site is shown when someone searches for like services, products, etc. The keywords and phrases being used throughout your site can be optimized to help improve your rank on the search engines. Most people searching the web will not go past the first page of search results. By optimizing your website you increase the chance of your site appearing on the first page if not the very top. This will in turn bring more traffic to your site.

PPC
Are you using pay-per-click campaigns? If you are not, you should. PPC ads are a great way to get your site advertised on popular platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. This kind of advertising can be set up fairly easily and become a fantastic way to invest in your website and it's traffic. Pay-per-click ads can even help you get your site listed on the first page of search engines results by having the option of paying your way to the top spot. Many large companies invest in buying clicks to a landing page through using social media. Landing pages can be helpful by providing the opportunity to market a specific product or service in the exchange of attaining information about these viewers, such as an email or phone number. Later this information becomes a great tool to further market to these prospects and encourage them to view the website.

Social Media
Integrating social media links and share buttons on your website can be another way to increase the amount of users visiting your site. Almost everyone uses social media in one way or another. Building your social media audience can be a great way to add extra interactions of people going to and from what you post on the website. Social media can also be a great outlet for more traffic without costing a penny.

Blogging
If you are the owner of a company who has a website, but feels like it is lacking interesting content a blog might be the way to go. This can turn your informational and mundane content into significant pieces of writing that compliments what your company is all about. Blogs also add more content to your site which can boost your SEO score when Google checks out your site. Posting about related and interesting subjects to go along with your brand can be a great way to draw people back to your website. These blog postings can easily be shared onto your social media, further grabbing the user's attention.

Street Advertising
No matter the category of business you are under, whether you are web based or not street advertising can be yet another way to get your brand out their and familiarised among the public. The more someone sees your name the more comfortable they will feel about discussing an inquiry they may have. This type of conventional advertising can be added to everything from business cards to promotional t-shirts to large billboards.

Call Northeast Kingdom Online today to get help marketing your business and website at: 802-427-3300.

For more information: https://creativeclickmedia.com/why-isnt-anyone-coming-website/

What is Micro-Moment Marketing?

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 15:33:36 GMT

These moments are becoming the new hype in the digital marketing world and Google is calling them micro-moments. They are when a searcher turns to their smartphone or other online device to find information about somewhere they want to go, something they want to do, or something they want to buy. Micro-moment marketing is when brands are able to capitalize on their chance to shape the decision making process of the consumer. These moments can sum to an average of 150 times a day, with their experiences giving businesses an opportunity to communicate with their target market and strengthen the customer brand relationship.

What is unique about Micro-Moment Marketing?

A Micro-moment is the differences between passing a billboard on the way to the mall and the consumer's immediate need to locate an answer to what they are searching for. People are overloaded with the many offers, emails, ads, etc. that are being pushed into their world each and every day. With mobile devices being front and center for many during an average day micro-moments are more frequently capturing the consumer's attention.

What needs to be considered when creating Micro-Moment Marketing?

Since consumers are already being bombarded with several series of content each day, the marketers need to know how to still reach them in the very small amount of time they have available. The challenge is to introduce a clear message about what it is being offering and how it is relevant to them, all in a matter of nanoseconds. If one is unsuccessful in delivering the message in time, the consumer is on to read the next current email or ad.

How should marketers adjust their marketing tactics?

It is all about the value being offered to the consumer and how quickly it can be conveyed. Although the production quality is important in order to capture someone's eye, it is shown to be even more important to base the quality on the actual product that is being offered. The other important aspect to consider is the value a consumer will get out of the experience they have with the brand. This can be an offer, discount, or knowledge, to name a few. Without value the consumers are unlikely to continue their engagement.

How does this relate to the consumer decision journey?

The micro-moments are a combination of the devices and channels being used, along with the intent that is being conveyed. They will be research driven to compare different products with the same intent. Other moments are for purchase driven companies which will need to be matched or better then those with similar offers. The best way to begin this journey is for the business to study it's own data and analytics to see how their consumers are finding their business. Armed with this understanding of what percentage reaches the marketing targets, one will have to strategize it's personalized plan to show up in the micro-moments that matter.

What is the biggest mistake current brands are committing as it relates to Micro-Moment Marketing?

It comes down to mismatching the consumers and what is being offering. Many marketers feel they are supposed to push eCommerce even when there are no purchasing moments. Many consumers will end up taking these check-out pages or long lead-capture forms as more steps then they want to go through just to learn a little information about the brand. This will in turn push consumers away. The better way to engage with the consumer is by keeping the offerings presented in a short and easy to understand way, as well as asking oneself what will make them feel they are receiving value from what it is being offered?

If you need help developing Micro-Moments for your business, give Northeast Kingdom Online a call at: 802-427-3300

For more information:

https://www.inc.com/jonathan-lacoste/wtf-is-micro-moment-marketing.html

4 Reasons You Must Optimize Your Website for Mobile

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 20:16:07 GMT

With a huge rise in the use of mobile devices, it is now more important than ever before to make sure your website is mobile friendly. Studies from Stat Counter Global Stats show that 51.9 percent of people use their mobile phones for online searches compared to the 43.8 percent that use their desktop browsers. Considering how important a website can be for any type of small business, it seems only natural to take the extra steps to ensure your website is mobile friendly.

Here are 4 reasons you must optimize your website for mobile:

1. Mobile Gets Traffic

Just as the number of smartphones are increasing, so is mobile website traffic. Many sources show that smartphone users are engaging with mobile websites while doing other things such as watching TV, commuting to work, or even while they are sitting at a computer. Given this information on mobile internet use, it is easy to see why having a mobile friendly website should be on the top of your priority list.

2. Mobile Users are Different

Mobile users have different objectives than most desktop users. Most desktop users are looking to do a decent amount of research before making any buying decisions. For mobile users this is not the case. Mobile users typically want to navigate information in a quick and efficient way. Customers have reported that many of their mobile purchases tend to be impulse buys. This information shows the importance of optimizing your mobile experience to match a website visitor’s needs and behaviors in the context to how they will most likely be browsing your website.

By making a simple and intuitive path of purchase, you will align more with mobile users who want information rapidly to make decisions on the fly.

3. Better Brand Engagement

Research shows that mobile users who believe a website offers excellent mobile experiences are more likely to return for future business. With that being said, multiple internet users move between devices to complete a task -- this is also known as multi-screening. Say a potential customer is using a desktop browser to search your website for a product or service and they return to your site on a mobile device. If your website has not been optimized for mobile, the chances of that potential customer revisiting your site is very slim. Having a good mobile site helps to create a sense of trust and authority in your brand, this is crucial if you want to make these users returning customers.

4. Increased Conversions

As stated before, mobile shoppers are different than desktop shoppers. Mobile shoppers have little patience for a website that does not have a clear call to action. Studies show that 1/3 of customers will actually leave a transaction if the site isn’t optimized for mobile. To make the most of your mobile site, is it crucial to make sure your CTAs are clear and easy to navigate.

Do you know if your website is mobile friendly?

Google offers a service in which you can enter your website URL to check if your website is mobile friendly.

Click here to take the Mobile-Friendly Test:

https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly

If you want to optimize your website to be mobile friendly but don't know where to start, give Northeast Kingdom Online a call today @ 888-511-2010 and we can help put you on the mobile friendly path.

5 Reasons Why You Should Hire A Professional Web Development Company

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 15:39:30 GMT

When planning for your business' website a big decision is choosing who will develop your site. This does not only influence how your website will appear, but it will also influence how your brand as a whole is developed and presented to your viewers. The question you might be asking yourself is whether you should hire an individual or a professional company? Or if you should build the website yourself?

Here at Northeast Kingdom Online we are all too familiar with these types of questions and how to handle any kind of inquiries thrown our way. With our experience of how these scenarios usually turn out we have grouped together a few reasons for why you should hire a professional company versus trying to do it yourself or hiring a random individual.

1. Custom Design

Custom design is a must these days if you want your brand to stand out from the rest and put you above your competition. Using a professional website design team can eliminate any obstructive boundaries when it comes to how you would like your site to appear and function.

A custom website can generate and increase online sales more than a basic site would. The only limitation that could hold you back is the amount of money you are able to spend. Professional web developers can work within your budget to bring you to the highest search engine ranking possible.

If you decide to hire an individual you might find that their approach to how you would like your site might be a lot different than what you envision. A professional web development team have a greater ability of being able to take your ideas and create something worthy for your brand name. Professionals have a lot of experience with many different customers and their ideas to be able to fulfill your company’s expectations more.

2. Visual Properties

Some of the greatest focus that web developers have is the main functions a website has and how smooth everything runs. The visual aspects a site has can be equally if not more important to keep a visitor on your page. The graphics, colors, and other visual aspects are controllable when you hire the professionals over trying to do it yourself or putting your brand in a random individual's hands.

Professional web designers can make your site come alive and appear exciting to the viewer. They can take care of every part of the website creation and continue to maintain and update the site to keep it current with the changing times. They are creative and are able to present you different options and layouts for you to choose or modify. The team can also watch out for slow page load and avoid anything that is unnecessary which can halt your website's pages from loading fast enough.

3. Latest Technologies

You may be unaware of the daily changes that technology have each and every day and how it can truly affect how your website runs and is presented. Hiring a web development team can be a great way to rest assure your website is always being updated with the latest and greatest technology available.

Unless you are constantly researching the latest trends and what new offers are being implemented in that technology it is hard to keep up with everything your site could be implemented with. Even a low end budget can benefit from a professional design team, because you can be trained how to use the associated platform and all the new and trending functions. This can save your budget over time and give you chance to bring out your creative side.

4. Take Care of SEO

Search engine optimization, also known as SEO is a very important process to implement when it comes to getting your website up and out in front of your prospective customers and competition alike. This is the basis for your site to get the views it needs to turn leads into sales and get listed and highly ranked on the top search engines like Google.

SEO can be a very in depth process, but not one to skip over. One can create a beautiful website, but without the optimization on the world wide web the site won't reap the benefits. You might start learning about SEO and find out how important it is, but not know where to begin. This is where the knowledge and expertise of a web development team can become rather handy. They can make sure your site is regularly being search engine optimized to keep everything fresh and up to date, because that will further your visibility and ranking.

5. Webmaster Service

You may believe that spending money on a site through a random individual or spending the money through an editor to do it yourself is a one time process that will get you where you need to be on the web, but unfortunately a website it never complete. Why is this? Well, as previously mentioned technology is an ever changing commodity that will continue to need maintenance to keep the site relevant and in front of the forever changing online society.

Keeping up with the changes that will need to be done weekly, at minimum might end up being rather costly when hiring a one man show and rather time consuming for oneself to keep up with all those updates. To keep your site up to date and in the spotlight you will want to hire a professional web development team to implement these changes on regular basis. They are also a great resource to call if something came up that needed immediate attention.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Northeast Kingdom Online. We would be happy to go over any ideas or concerns someone has about starting up a website of their own. Call NEKO at 802-427-3300.

For more information: https://www.richestsoft.com/blog/5-reasons-hire-professional-web-development-company/

Benefits of Social Media for Business

Thu, 24 May 2018 16:46:18 GMT

Some entrepreneurs believe that social media is a temporary marketing tool that should be taken advantage of while it is popular. Others believe there are no advantages of social media to develop their business and it would take a lot of time and learned skill to get the process started.

Social media appeared and developed rather quickly not long ago and because of that it has been viewed to some as a passing marketing tool and one that is not considered profitable. However, the statistics show a very different picture of the impact that social media can have for a business and the growth it can strike. According to the Social Media Examiner, 97% of marketers are currently using social media within their marketing strategies.

This usage demonstrates that there is a good reason to use social media and there is in fact great potential for business to grow through employing these platforms. Unfortunately there is a huge lack of understanding for many who do not yet see the influence social media can have on their sales and how this marketing can greatly grow a business’ profitability. Here are a handful of ways that social media can improve sales and make a business more profitable:

Revenue

One of the main reasons for using social media is to create and increase revenue intake. The use of social media can result in a higher conversion rate in some very distinct and powerful ways. To increase the revenue, the business will need to build a social media community in order to advertise products or services among those following their social media platforms. This will increase the humanization element that becomes present when brands are further interacting with their customers through these social media platforms. The social media posts or even ad creations can link back to the business' website and further their interaction with it’s brand.

Brand Development

Each and every opportunity a business has to increase their visibility is valuable and a chance that shouldn’t be missed. Social media networks should be used to voice the brand's name, the products it has to offer and to further syndicate the content and grow it's customer base. This process will allow the business to interact with their customers at a more personal level and present the perfect opportunities to advertise. Many times the social media presented can be the first time a prospect has ever run across a particular brand and it will familiarize them with who the business is in the case of stumbling across that same brand in the future.

Research

Social media can be a powerful and educational tool for a business even if the business doesn't believe it is what best suits them. It can be a great resource to check in order to get a glimpse into what a business’ competitors are up to and how they are performing with their similar products or services being advertised. Even if the brand does not seem to find time in order to keep up with it’s own social media, it can be very beneficial to quickly login to the platforms to better understand the current advertising that is being used among other businesses. Using a marketing company can be a valuable asset if time is the main reason for not utilizing the social media platforms.

Search-Engine Discoverability

Social media can be another great way to improve a company’s website ranking among the search results. When the social media following increases, so does the search engine optimization (SEO). The social media being utilized can greatly influence the business' visibility, which can increase it's following and in turn increase the conversion rate. Although not every interaction made will turn into a conversion, it will however promote the website and improve the rank of it's listing.

Among the many reasons for why a brand should implement and utilize social media, it has also been proven to have a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than outbound marketing. The higher amount of social media followers, the more brand trust there is to make the company appear more credible. This is proof that social media for businesses can be a positive influence of the conversion on current and prospect customers alike.

5 Simple Digital Marketing Strategies That Can Help Your Business Grow

Wed, 16 May 2018 20:11:49 GMT

Digital marketing is an important strategy to use in the ever-changing online market. To a small business, digital marketing as a whole can seem very overwhelming, but if it is broken down into simple steps the process can seem more attainable and worth the extra time and energy put into it. Here at Northeast Kingdom Online we would like to give you a little insight on how we strategize a digital marketing plan for a business. Here are five simple tips we have to aid in the growth of your business.

1. Setting a Goal

Setting goals are a surefire way to give your business the fuel it needs to be successful and gain more recognition where your business needs it. Whether your goal is getting more customers or trying to appear in front of your competitors, brainstorming a goal that is current for your business objectives is sure to help increase your chances of prospering. Choosing your goal before jumping into a digital marketing plan or strategy can help you know what areas to focus on and help you to avoid feeling like you are tackling a project blindly.

2. Creating a Marketing Funnel

To ensure your business is effective when developing a digital marketing plan, be sure there is a marketing funnel ready to run. So what is a marketing funnel? It is from the time that the customer is still considered a potential client to the point in which they turn into an actual lead for your business. Once they become that lead, the business should have a way to show them their path through this funnel. These strategies could be plans such as call-to-actions, offers, or lead magnets. To better envision this marketing funnel think of it as four separate, yet integrated parts within the digital marketing process: awareness, interest, desire, and action.

Awareness: This is the customer’s awareness of whatever it is your business is offering as a service, product, etc. The offering has brought them to your website for a reason. Something caught their eye, interested them or led them to believe they need to learn more. This is the stage where you are the attraction and they are the bate. Once their interest has spiked it is your time to funnel them into the next step of the plan. Your goal here is to find out who the customer is and why they have landed on your website. A call-to-action or lead magnet can be greatly useful as a way to provide the customer something they need in exchange for something that is valuable to you. This valued information could be a phone number, email address, or even their location.

Interest: The next part expresses where their interests are. This will allow your business to provide them with further information that is geared toward their specific need or want. This will further express that your business is aware of who they are, their individual preferences and that you took the time to get to know them at a more personal level.

Desire: At this point you have gained enough information to know what it is the customer has been attracted to or what service or product they want to learn more about. After learning this information and supplying the customer with more specific information on what they looked at; they can now further select a service or product that they think meets their needs. Now is the time to either schedule a consultation to go over the product or service they are interested in through an email or call-to-action. It is the perfect time to show them what they are missing, why it is a good fit for them, and how it will benefit them.

Action: The action is the last step to the process of getting the customer to purchase a service or product that your business is offering. This last step is what can turn your potential client into a lead. You have supplied important information, showed your customer that you care about their individual needs, and you have shown them that you have what they need to benefit them. Your last actions are to discuss the price, payment options, and whatever else your customer might need to confirm the purchase.

A marketing funnel will not only allow your business to gain more leads, but it will also ensure they will be a returning customer due to their satisfaction. Provided your business has given the customer what they were looking for and given a great process of purchase, they will be more apt to spread the positive word about your business and your products or services. Although the marketing funnel may seem like a big process to get started, once it is broken down into these separate steps it is much simpler to proceed.

3. Developing a call-to-action

In the second step we have discussed the benefits of using a call-to-action, but what exactly is a call-to-action? A call-to-action (CTA) is a piece of information that encourages the customer on your website to take an action, whether it be in the form of text, a button, or through imagery. This CTA could be a subscription to an emailed newsletter or a viewing of a product demo. The process a CTA has is getting the customer to your landing pages where you can then collect further contact information like emails, phone numbers, or mailing addresses for something valuable to them in return. The more CTAs your site has dispersed throughout, the more chance you have of grabbing the information needed to potentially lead in a sale. If your CTA is effective the more leads and conversions your company will have.

4. Creating an Effective Lead Magnet

Lead magnets can be a great way to gently push potential customers into the marketing funnel. They can be used alone or with a CTA to increase its chances to get your customer to the next step of becoming a lead for your business. The lead magnet essentially supplies the customer with a relevant piece of information or sample of the product they are interested in. These lead magnets or offers should be something they see as having enough value to share their personal contact information. With this gathered information your business should direct them further into the digital funnel. Providing the customer with something they want for something you want can be a great way to bring them closer to the end result of being a lead instead of just a potential customer.

5. Driving Traffic

Before any of the funnel process can take place with getting a customer to a lead position, there must first be traffic on your website. There are several ways of achieving this and here are a few we can recommend:

Quality Content: Develop and upload quality blog posts and articles to your website to better build your site's SEO. Using these posts on multiple platforms with links leading to various pages throughout your site will help to improve your visibility and drive further traffic to your site when clicked on.

Keyword Strategy: Adding keywords to the content of your site and the SEO section is a great way to gain more search results, which then leads to more traffic on your site.

Website Optimization: Make sure your website is functioning properly to ensure your visitors don't click off your site in frustration.

Social Media: Engaging posts within social media and other platforms can drive more views to your site and make your website more attractive to those checking your business out.

These 5 simple digital marketing tips can do wonders for your website and brand. Digital marketing is just the place to start if you want your business to bloom. If you want more information about these steps or would like some help setting up your own marketing strategy, give Northeast Kingdom Online a call today and we can help you get started!

For more information: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/roger-bryan/5-simple-digital-marketin_b_4816425.html

9 cutting-edge web design trends for 2018

Wed, 09 May 2018 16:44:54 GMT

Web design is an ever changing industry which is no surprise considering it is 2018. There are challenges that web designers face continuously as technology advances and broadens. Web designers are working full force to keep up with these changes by capturing the website's user-ability, consistency, clearness, corporate style, innovation, and adaptability all while appearing seamless to the user.

In 2017 there were several advancements and milestones that were achieved within the web design outfit. Headed into the new year, these developments have continued to become more apparent. Mobile usage has trumped the desktop usage and browsing leaving the web development industry working in overdrive to perfect the mobile friendliness of each and every site that is launched. This year should bring even further advancement with the performance and visual representation of mobile view. Desktops will also be challenged to become even more relevant as the mobile devices become increasingly utilized. With these several changes that have been brought to the forefront, here are nine web design trends that are taking the lead in 2018.

Nine web design trends to watch in 2018

1. Drop shadows and depth
Shadows have been a regularly used design tool for several years, but now the web browsers are coming out with many new variations of this effect. Some of these new drop shadow and depth changes are a result of the new parallax and grid layouts that web designers are using to create a more realistic approach to their work. These effects can grab the user's attention to add more focus to what needs highlighting as well as adding an overall appealing visual appearance. Although using shadows to alert the user that they are hovering a linked button is not a new design, using this effect along with bright and multiple color usage is a combination that gives the page a 3D effect rather then a flat web page.

2. Vibrant, saturated color schemes
Colors, colors, colors. This is the year for vibrant and saturated color schemes within the online world. Vibrancy is a the key to illustrating new and fresh web pages. Previously, web designers have stayed on the safe side when it comes to choosing color schemes for brands and websites, but now more than ever they have created colors, saturations, and design direction with no limitations. Monitors and mobile devices have gradually advanced their screens to be able to beautifully produce these colors and images to the viewer. Colors that are used with vibrancy and do not coordinate can seem extreme, but actually work wonders when it comes to catching the attention of a web surfer.

3. Particle backgrounds
Particle backgrounds is the new version of video background that otherwise had performance issues while running the site. These backgrounds are considered animations that load quickly and appear as a fitting part of a background in a web page. These lightweight JavaScript offer a moving image that does a great job grabbing the user's attention so brands and site owners can have great recognition instead of getting forgotten amidst the many pages the web has to offer. These same effects are also becoming a hot ticketed item for social media to also produce memorable impressions.

4. Mobile first
Mobile devices have become the main source of browsing in the web world. The majority of people browse the internet on their mobile devices more than their previous counterpart, the desktop computer. With this knowledge web designers have more then ever put their focus on how things appear and connect to the user through the mobile device. Previously smartphone usage and the like have taken a frustrating toll on those trying to navigate the web. With these advanced devices being put to use there has been the need for easy navigation and clear presentation for the mobile user. The latest mobile design in the industry is the roll-out burger, which is a minimization of the menu for the small screens when being scrolled through.

5. Custom illustrations
Custom illustrations are a perfect way to add a brand's personal touch that can also make it unique from every other website. These illustrations can be a fun way to add surprising and one-of-a-kind elements to the appearance of a brand's image. These illustrations can be just what the right-brained viewers need to see to process everything a site owner is trying to convey. For these types of thinkers it gives the ability to view a business as exciting and purposeful. No matter what the brand is trying to represent, custom illustrations are the way to capture their personal essence.

6. Big, bold typography
Typography has been around for a longtime within the web industry. It has been a way to present the tone of voice and personality of a brand and evoke the information needed to reach its viewers. Custom fonts and sizing should become an even wider array due to the powerful resolution and sharpness devices now have to offer. The contrasting of hand-made text fonts and sizing enables several browsers to create unique and interesting typefaces for the user experience. Headers within web pages that are utilizing these contrasting san serif and varying sizes will aid as eye grabbers for the user.

7. Asymmetry and broken grid layouts
Asymmetrical and broken grid layouts have been a huge hit for the web designers of 2017. Now headed into 2018 these previously considered unconventional trends are becoming further produced to appear on all the top websites. This type of layout is a further eye catching and memorable trend that can be used as a great way to add edge to a page and even be considered an experimental piece. This trend might be viewed as a risky design to implement on traditional sites, but for the large scale businesses this might be the exact look they need to push their lead above their competition.

8. Integrated animations
Animations are becoming a more popular integration to include within websites. This is true thanks to the advancements technology has been making in the web world. These integrated animations can engage the user and capture their attention where it is needed. They can be a great aid in directing the user to where the site is trying to highlight importance. These graphics can be helpful to animate smaller, less significant pieces like a loading icon or a hover state for a button. Businesses can get a lot of use out of the integrated animations by fitting the user's personal situations within their sales tactics.

9. Dynamic gradients
Gradients are taking over the colors that the original flat design once had. Expect to see dynamic color gradients become even more popular in 2018 as the trend of eye catching and 3D variances appear all over the internet. Previously these gradients were used for subtle shading. Now they are appearing more colorful and louder than before. One of the more popular usages of the gradients are though filters on photo editing software to add interest to the image. Background gradients can be another great approach to adding something to a site that doesn't have a good fit for an image placement.

Looking forward to the 2018 web design trends
2018 is sure to be full of bold colors, playful animation, varying typography and more in order to truly grab the web page's audience. We look forward to seeing these integrations and what other surprises this year's designers come up with to capture the world wide web. If you want to try integrating some of these web design trends of 2018 but have no idea where to begin, give Northeast Kingdom Online a call today and we can help you get started!

For more information, check out: https://99designs.com/blog/trends/web-design-trends-2018/

5 Reasons Why Uploading Fresh Content Keeps Your Website Relevant

Thu, 03 May 2018 18:42:19 GMT

Every update you make to your website plays a powerful part in the interaction and visibility it has within the search engines. Once the changes are published and the site is live the goal is for your visitors, customers, and those browsing the web to see your website creation. The only thing holding you and your site back from being seen by the world wide web is whether or whether not your site is noted as ever changing with updates and quality content.

If you keep up with your website changes it will give search engines just want they need to get your brand out in the open for those searching for the similar products or services you have to offer. The quality of content being posted can be a reason among many others for why your site might not be getting the views it deserves. Here are some more reasons for why it is important to update your site regularly with fresh content.

Fresh Content Means Frequent Indexing
The more often you update your website with fresh content like articles, web pages, alt text, downloads, the more search engines will visit and grade your website. The more search engines, including web crawlers look at your site and see that your content is up to date the higher probability your site will have a higher ranking among the other search results.

Web crawlers are used by search engines to scan the web for websites. They are high-tech programs that are also known as Googlebots. They index a site by how many algorithmic factors that are determined by a search engine. An example of an indexed site is the mix of links on the site, the amount of appropriate keywords being used, as well as it's updates. The search engines notice every time you make an update to your website and it will arrange your ranking based on that information. So, if you are trying to increase the chances of a higher ranking you must update the content regularly in order for a search engine to take another look at your site and change where you are located among their rankings.

Although more content on your site can be helpful, it is not the only goal you should have. The quality of the content is even more important than the amount. If your site has a lot of content without the quality aspect then your site will be penalized or it and your ranking will drop.

Google Loves Frequent Updates
Google is the most used search engine over all search engines and it has a lot of influence on how web developers construct their sites. Google is more likely to present a site higher on the search results when it approves of the content being implemented. When this happens, be sure to frequently update the content and always leave room for quality as much and often as you can.

Unnecessary changes or posting several times a day it not needed, but you should shoot to update your site with fresh, quality content at least once to twice a week. Frequent updates will ensure the Googlebot will keep crawling back to check your web pages to increase the probability of your site being viewed by adding this content to the Google index.

Try adding an image or article or just changing up the site a few times a week to get your site noticed. One of the best, easiest, and most effective ways of keeping your website updated is by adding blogs to your site. If you viewers read these and even happen to comment on your blogs, that is even better, because that can count for update to your site as well. Choose topics that will be appropriate for your brand, but interesting for your viewers to draw more attention to each one of those updates you make.

More Content and More Keywords
Each and every time you publish more content onto your site you have more opportunities to add more keywords. Keywords are an important addition in order to promote a site, because they are high ranking on the algorithm chart. They give search engines the chance to add your site to it’s indexing. Regular content, like blogs and articles offer the opportunity for you to optimize the content with added keywords which can then attract visitors to your website by showing up in their results when they search using those keywords.

When implementing keyword updates, remember that the amount of keywords on the site does not ensure a high ranking spot on the list. You don't have to add a bunch of content just because it works with the keywords you are using, or vise versa, because it will not improve your chances for ranking when Google indexes the site. Rather it is the highest quality of keywords that can be matched with the content being posted that counts towards your website’s ranking.

The SEO of your website is in fact affected by the keywords you list, but it does not build your SEO all by themselves. A SEO campaign cannot be built solely around the keyword or keyword phrases as was previously the case. Now you must implement these keywords with quality content that contains the keywords, but only if they are naturally a part of the sequence. What this means is that your content should be more focused on explaining something, answering a question, or even creating a scenario for the reader. Writing your blog or other content around keywords will miss the target. Write the content around what you think you readers would like to see.

Fresh Content Increases Your Authority Potential
Most webmasters try to become what Google views as an authority site. To become one of these sites you must implement SEO and use it with the most informative and valuable content which can go hand in hand with your brand. The more quality content that is published the more your site is viewed as being authority potential.

Another way to becoming an authority site is by regularly publishing news updates. Each news update that is created is considered another page for Google to index. If you happen to look at your competitor's websites you will find that they have several pages that are indexed by Google. The more quality content being published, the more opportunity to become an authority site.

The more often you write about a particular topic and as long as this topic pertains to your brand, the more of an authority your site will become and the more people reading what you have to say will believe you. Trust goes a long way and the more you are trusted by your viewers, the more purchases will be made, the more contact you will have, and the more you will achieve an understanding of what your customers want and need. Always try to keep that open ended conversation going by replying to each inquiries on your site. Eventually your reputation will get stronger and you will further the authority your brand holds.

Keep Your Audience Informed and Updated
Along with improving your ranking and becoming visible to those in need of your services, the quality updates you make to your website is a great way to keep your regular viewers updated and informed with the necessary information to convert them to leads. One way to inform the regulars is by using a RSS feed to notify them of any fresh content they would be interested in.

Fresh content can reassure your audience that you are the brand they need for the services or products they want. Once a visitor reaches your website you must then convince them you are the company to choose before the competitors have a chance to steal your potential business. Center your articles and other content around customer satisfaction, because this will help show them you care about their satisfaction and how your company can achieve this for them.

Keep your website updated with current content to gain not only trust from visitors, but also keep you reviewed by the most powerful search engine, Google.

Ask yourself what you would do if you came across a website similar to yours. See if there is enough informative content on your website to capture their attention or if they will end up clicking out of your site to compare your offerings with others? If you were in their shoes what would you do? The majority of visitors won't continue to seek a providers services or products if their last article or blog was from 2010. Visitors what to see that your site is recently updated and active before making their next move.

If you need any help keeping your website current with fresh content and engagement Northeast Kingdom Online is here to help! Give us a call at 802-427-3300 to see what we can do for you.

For more information: https://seositecheckup.com/articles/5-reasons-why-fresh-content-is-critical-for-your-website-and-seo

10 Benefits of Blogging

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 19:43:21 GMT

Blogging is a simple tool that can help a business in many ways. Not only does blogging help to engage with your customers, it also has many other benefits. Here are 10 reasons why your business should be blogging.

A blog is a simple and easy way for your business to connect with and share information with customers. It’s one of your direct communication channels.
It can help to develop relationships with potential and existing customers.
Your blog can help boost your SEO. Search engines love valuable content and will reward you for it.
According to a HubSpot survey, sixty percent of businesses who blog acquire more customers.
Along with other forms of social media, blogging helps to give your business a voice. A blog creates a place to talk about new products or services being offered, new market trends, and share your companies initiatives beyond your website.
Blogging helps to keep you focused on your content marketing strategy.
Blogging can help build confidence, relationships and sales for your business.
Blogging can help attract organic traffic to your website through your blog.
This can help to build authority in your industry.
A great way to answer commonly asked questions about your business.

Blogging on your website is one of the most effective and easiest ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors. By providing your own unique thoughts and insights, you can naturally grow your website traffic, customer trust, and sales. If you have any questions about starting up a blog or need help setting up your blog, give Northeast Kingdom Online a call today and we can help get you started!

5 Reasons Why You Need a Facebook Page for Your Business

Fri, 29 Dec 2017 18:25:18 GMT

With basically every target market as well as millions of individuals who fit within that target market, having a Facebook page for your business is crucial. If you do not have a Facebook page you are missing out on millions of opportunities for your business. If you don't have a Facebook page yet, here are 5 reasons why it is so important.

1. Branding & Identity
Facebook is now the largest social media network, this should come as no surprise. Many consumers will search a business on Facebook and often if they cannot find the business page on Facebook, the business is at risk of lacking validation that you are a legitimate business. By having a Facebook page you are helping your business brand itself as a professional entity which can help to create a pipeline between you and your audience. In addition, Facebook has incredible reach which will help you to create identity beyond just your website and expand into a much larger market.

2. Create and Identify Your Audience
Defining an appropriate target audience is one of the most critical components in marketing. Some components when identifying your audience can include demographics, psychographics, your products or services offered, and your goals. Knowing exactly who fits within your target audience is critical and a Facebook page can help to simplify this process.

3. Communication
Not only does Facebook help you to identify your audience, but it also gives you a platform for communication between you and your audience. Facebook allows you to post many types of useful content such as polls, questions and answers, private messages, and more. This not only helps you to get your message out there, but to also helps to establish authority and trust within your brand. This is a great way to humanize your branding image.

4. Advertising
With Facebook Advertising now available, you can amplify the reach of something as simple as a blog post and because its gone viral, a single post can drive mountains of organic traffic to your business. Facebook also offers paid advertisement so for as little as $5 you can take advantage of the power and reach Facebook has to offer with just a few clicks.

5. Traffic
One of the most obvious reasons for creating a Facebook page is increasing traffic. Facebook can drive a huge amount of traffic to your Facebook page, your website, and other external assets.

If you do not yet have a Facebook page or would like some help optimizing your current page, give Northeast Kingdom Online a call today @ 888-511-2010 or check us out online and we will help you get started today!

5 Marketing Strategies to Start Off the New Year

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 16:22:18 GMT

As we are coming into the new year many of us running a business are asking ourselves, did we meet all of our marketing goals in 2017? Now is the time to reflect on this past years efforts and determine any new strategies for 2018. Here is a list of 5 strategies to help you market your business better in the new year.

1: Refresh your marketing strategies in December
There is no reason to wait until January to start developing your marketing strategy for the new year. Try to take some time and reflect on the past year and efforts to see what worked and what could be revised. With that information hit the ground running to start implementing before your competition does. There are various things in which you can reflect on; some of which include:
- Did you have the right target market?
- Are there any services that you would like to add or omit?
- How are you doing? And where do you want to go?

There are several elements to think about for marketing in the new year. It will be helpful to start thinking about this now before January hits.

2: Revitalize your content strategy
Content is everything. You have heard this statement time and time again. Many of us say we will get to it, yet most of us do not find nearly enough time to make this a reality but now is the time! Quality content is crucial to dominate SEO rankings and to maintain engagement with your customers. Start off by thinking about a few topics that you would like to include in your content. This will help to give you a good starting point with some direction behind it.

3: Focus on Inbound Marketing
As the world becomes more digital, we want to switch gears from focusing on outbound marketing such as print materials or radio. In most cases, today inbound marketing generates more leads than outbound efforts. Instead of focusing on outbound marketing, start focusing more on your content by developing a quality blog, digital newsletters, or other types of content relevant to your business.

4: Adjust your social media strategy
Social media is a great way to get your name out to consumers while also humanizing your business. It is no secret that Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and Google + are major players in the social media arena. This is a great place to get a message out to your customers and increase engagement for your brand. It is important to assess which platforms would be most beneficial for your business. Once you have decided which platforms best fit within your branding strategy, now it is time to fine tune those various platforms. If you have decided on a platform, however, don't think that it is the right one for you, don't be afraid to pull the plug on that platform and increase attention more towards the ones you think are helping the most to promote your business.

5: Revamp the homepage on your website
You may have put in quite a bit of time, money, and effort to make the homepage of your website breathtaking. Although much effort has been put into the homepage already, now is the time to give your homepage a much-needed face lift once you have refreshed your marketing strategy. Even if you haven’t completely changed up your marketing strategy, there may be some changes you’ve neglected to make like updating any new services or product offerings. Your website is an incredibly important place to keep current information regarding your business.

If you have any questions about revising your marketing strategy from last year and want some help to begin implementation, give Northeast Kingdom Online a call today at 888-511-2010 and we can help you bring out the business image you want for this new year!

How Local Listings Can Improve Your Web Presence

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 18:52:37 GMT

In today's market, consumers are generally searching for businesses online. The days of flipping through books like Yellow Pages is no longer as efficient as it once was. Now businesses are quickly learning that they must build this online presence through online local listing management tools and software.

If you are unfamiliar with this term, a local listing or directory is an online profile that lists your business’s name, address, phone number, and other business information that would be useful for a consumer to find your business. Some of these directories include Google+, Yelp, and Yellow pages, as well as over a 100 others.

Here are 5 ways in which managing your local listings can help you improve your online presence:

1. It Can Help to Drive Visits & New Contacts
If your information differs on various online directories, prospects will become confused and have a difficult time getting in contact with you or even finding you. Have you ever tried contacting a business but the contact information you found online was incorrect? This happens to people several times a day and it can be incredibly frustrating for the customer. It is very important to have consistent information regarding your business contact information all across the web. Having inaccurate information can result in losing potential customers.

2. It Can Get You in Front of Social Media Users
Although social media is not technically a directory listing, it is another place where potential customers can find information about your business. If your business has social media accounts, make sure all of the contact information is consistent with the information on the website. Companies and clients alike place importance on social media when it comes to finding correct or incorrect contact information. This can cause one to overlook your business and go elsewhere for the same services you offer.

3. It Can Help You with Your Online Reputation
With all of the different forms of online review sites and social media platforms, people have the ability and means to be talking about your business at any time. When managing your local listings, it is crucial to keep an eye on your online reputation. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Keeping an eye on the good reviews as well as the bad, can help provide you with the information you need to improve your overall web presence.

4. It Can Improve SEO
Updating your business listings can help you to improve your search engine optimization for your business, by offering consistent information about your business across the web. Mismatched company name, address, and phone number information will damage the business' credibility in search engines. Having the appropriate information online can assist your organic rankings, because even the slightest variations will hinder a search engine's confidence.

5. It Can Raise Your Google Rating
Google can give you a score based on the correct, incorrect, and missing information in and throughout your online listings. If you have inaccurate or inconsistent listings Google may see that as negative information regarding your online presence. You may get penalized from how inconsistent your listing information appears.

Online listing information can be incorrect and inconsistent for several reasons. Perhaps you moved to a town over or your business got a new phone number. You may have not realized in the past that if something changed within the contact information it is important to update all the directories associated. Let's not forget misspellings, because unfortunately mistakes do happen. Correcting your listings can be a very time consuming and a frustrating process if you try and do it yourself. Getting help to keep these listings up-to-date and accurate will be a great way to optimizing your user's experience.

Summary:
Consistency is key when it comes to local listings, however, having consistent information on your directories is just the start. There are several factors that make your business stand out against your competitors online such as reviews, star ratings, photos, among many other initiatives.

Working with an experienced company can be incredibly helpful to ensure that your information is not only consistent but is listed at it's maximum potential. If you feel like your business is in need of some assistance, give NEKO a call today at 888-511-2010 and we can help you get started!

Sales and Marketing Internship Opportunity

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 19:25:32 GMT

Strong willed sales person needed!

Our sales team provides unique marketing services that create opportunities for clients to grow. These services are priced fairly and in high demand. If you are in sales classes at Lyndon State College or have any sales experience you can work with us to provide customers with services they need while making generous commissions.

The right person should possess:

Experience in customer service or sales
A basic understanding of websites and advertising
Comfort with both warm leads and cold calling
Strong organizational skills and a natural drive
Most importantly- be able to adapt and learn from failures
- When making sales calls there will be various prospects to deal with- some of which are friendly and some that are more challenging. It is important to realize that there will be a high chance of failure, so it is crucial to be able to learn and adapt from those failures.

What will you learn from this internship?

Developing and revising your own sales pitch for NEKO Reach which will be implemented for email marketing and cold calling.
Hands on experience in a digital marketing environment.
Basic knowledge of the digital marketing field.
Optional certification available through Google - Free of charge!

About the optional certification:

You will learn concepts in online advertising and sales skills. This will assess the effectiveness of sales representatives to sell Google digital solutions to businesses.

This is for those who want to prepare for the fundamental aspects of online advertising and Google AdWords as well as consultative sale skills from Google's "The Trusted Digital Media Advisor" program.

You will have the opportunity to earn your Certificate of Completion* upon passing the Digital Sales Exam.

Through studying and taking the exam you will learn:

Benefits of online advertising and AdWords
Google advertising network
Where your ads can appear
The quality of your ads
What the advertising costs include
Targeting your audience
Setting bids and budgets
Tools to plan a campaign
Tools to measure your performance

Company Summary

Northeast Kingdom Online LLC has been serving the business community locally since 2009 with a combined 40 years of design experience. The Northeast Kingdom Online team is dedicated to providing businesses with whatever it needs to create a complete brand image. Whether they need Logo Design, a website, digital marketing or just business cards, we are there to help. With over 100 website builds under our belt we understand the process and what it takes to create powerful websites that advance the goals of our customers. Our team is available Monday through Friday for personal interviews if desired.

Ways to Apply

Give us a call at 802-427-3300
Email your resume to Support@northeastkingdomonline.com
Fill out the application form on our website http://www.northeastkingdomonline.com/internship-opportunities

CUSTOMER RETENTION | THE SECRETS TO KEEPING YOUR CUSTOMERS HAPPY

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 15:57:00 GMT

Every business should be tracking customer satisfaction metrics, but the real question is -- how do you make sure these customers are truly satisfied? Competition is at every turn in the business industry and it is crucial to make sure your customers have a great experience every time. It is important to note what can impact customer satisfaction to keep them coming back for more. Their happiness is what feeds your business.

THE COST OF UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS
In this day and age the economy is becoming more and more customer centered. Even slight dis-satisfaction can result in a higher number of customer loss. Having poor customer service in and throughout your business can result in customers switching to other organizations and in turn leaving yours.

Customer to business loyalty can drop as much as 50 percent, making a once very satisfied customer only somewhat satisfied. Even before trying to gain new customers, businesses should turn their focus towards what they can do to keep their current clients happy. Making sure these customers are satisfied will mean doing everything in one's power to retain them.

THE SECRET TO (CUSTOMER) HAPPINESS
What can you do to make sure your customers are sticking around? One of the most important ways of achieving this customer satisfaction is to make sure they are being treated as more than just another customer or a check off the list. Here are five suggestions to prove to your customers they are more then just a number.

1. HAVE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION
There are many new advances in technology today. Many of these advances include live chat which can allow the customer to better access someone in customer service or support, rather than being on hold for several minutes or even hours. Live chat can be used as an effective tool to better serve your customers. It can speed up the overall process by being able to connect with more than one customer at at a time. It can also reduce cost by achieving multiple ways to communicate with your customer base. This kind of technology can help keep your customers happy and continuing to seek out your services.

2. DON’T MAKE CUSTOMERS REPEAT THEMSELVES
Having customers repeat themselves can be very frustrating for them and it can also look as though you're not truly listening to what they are saying. Try to listen to what they are trying to convey instead of thinking about what you want to say next. There is nothing worse then trying to butt in and trump their words with something you feel the need to say. Restate important information to be sure nothing gets lost in communication. This will avoid any kind of mixed communication down the road. Having this listening strategy can show your customers that you value what input they may have.

3. TAKE CUSTOMER FEEDBACK SERIOUSLY
Customer feedback can be collected in various ways to recognize exactly what concerns and praise customers may have about your business. Feedback can be brought to your attention through surveys and online media, and these can be used as windows to a customer's perspective of how they view your company. Don't take this feedback lightly. Replying to the feedback can be a great way to illustrate that you appreciate what they are saying and you will do your best to relieve them of any concerns they may have. It has been proven that when customers see you are replying to feedback and especially negative feedback, that they are more likely to utilize your services. People like to see that you are promptly replying to your clients whether it be good or bad feedback.

4. AVOID PLAYING HOT POTATO
Although most businesses are equip with the right answers to inquiring customers, they don't always have them right off the bat. Instead of the usual response of passing the customer off to another employee, do your best to find the answer yourself. If you are still unsure of the correct response, tell them you will call them back with an answer. This will avoid passing them off to another team member and it will also avoid keeping them on hold for long amounts of time.

5. BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT
When a business makes a mistake it is better to be honest and admit the wrong doing instead of try to cover it up or make excuses. Most customers will appreciate the integrity of the company and have a higher appreciation for the work that you are doing for them. This will also alleviate any customer fears that might otherwise look as though they're hiding something. Be honest with your customers and in turn there will be more trust and a long lasting loyalty for years to come.

CONCLUSION
It isn't hard to figure out what creates good relationships between you and your customers, but actually utilizing these tips can help you hold onto your customers for the years to come. Always remember the golden rule about treating customers the way you would want them to treat your business. Be proactive in looking for new ways to satisfy your customers. As the times change you may need to change your tactics. What customer satisfaction all comes down to is doing your best to always leave your customers smiling on the other end.

For more information about this article go to: https://blog.podium.com/2016/09/02/customer-retention-keep-customers-happy/?utm_source=hartfordsmall...

6 Simple Tips for Small Business to Boost Social Shares

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 19:52:39 GMT

Shares have become the social media marketing equivalent of gold, especially for small businesses. Each share that you get is like a chain reaction where the message is then relayed to a whole different audience. Due to this chain reaction, this can greatly help generate leads and sales.

So the real question here is, what tips and tricks are out there to help create a social media marketing strategy that will generate more shares and increase engagement? Here are five tips to help you get from point A to point B.

1. Create Compelling Headlines
One of the most important aspects of coming up with the right social content is coming up with a great headline. The headline is what will grab viewers attention, so coming up with a great catchy headline is crucial when posting content on social media.

2. Choose Effective Visuals
Multiple sources shows that including a visual such as a picture, video, or GIF dramatically increases chance of engagement on a post.

3. Research Industry Issues
When releasing content, it is also important to provide viewers with something that is beneficial to them. Whether it is promotional or informative, content needs to be posted with a point.

4. Post At The Right Times
Planning to schedule your posts at a certain time can help drive more engagement. There has been a good deal of research done regarding the best time for someone to share content onto social media sites. The results of this data shows that there are few different times within the day that posts seem to get higher engagement.

When thinking of the best time to share content, try to think of yourself and when you are typically most active on your social media. This should help to determine the best time for you to post. For myself, typically this would be anytime on week days between 4pm and 8pm.

5. Look For Common Threads In Successful Posts
If you are trying to come up with content specific to a certain field, try looking up the most shared content in that field. Look for similarities within that content, whether it’s the subject, industry focus or even just overall style.

It is important to find what speaks to your audience, whether it is valuable content or just something you think people will find interesting and engage with.

6. Humanize Your Content
Even if the point of your post is not related to your business, it is important to keep a human tone on your businesses social media accounts. Creating content that people can relate to helps drive engagement. Whether the post is a recipe video or a DIY project, setting a human tone allows people to relate to your business on another level, which in turn can help build trust to your brand.

Gaining more shares and engagement on your social media helps market your business while also creating the image of a human behind your brand. Whatever content you decide to post, always think about what your goal for that post is. Simply releasing content on social media and hoping for the best is not going to bring in the best results. You need to strategize your methodology before hand and plan for maximum engagement on social media. Need help with this? Call Northeast Kingdom Online today at 1888-511-2010!

4 Ways to Prepare Your Marketing for the Upcoming Holiday Season

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 15:00:36 GMT

Whatever products or services you sell even if not a traditional gift item, you are most likely already beginning to think of ways to help boost your business for this coming holiday season.

Many consumers are already in the spending mood, so why not capitalize on that?

While you're getting your operations strategy prepared for the holiday season, it is also important to develop a marketing strategy as well. Here are some things to keep in mind when marketing for this upcoming holiday season.

1. Think more value, not more discounts.
When people think of holiday shopping, they often think of discounts. Because of that, almost all stores are offering several discounts. To differentiate yourself, you don’t necessarily need to have a better discount, you just need to have a better story.

2. Prepare an advertising budget, and stick to it.
It is important to take the time to lay out all your upcoming expenses and generate a sales forecast to help determine what your advertising budget should look like to the upcoming holiday season.

3. Identify the appropriate channels to distribute your message.
Advertising is no longer just as simple as getting ads printed out in a local paper. Today, there are several ways to get your promotions out to the public. What you choose to utilize can depend on many factors such as your budget, time frame, and where you intend your audience might be. It is important to consider all of these factors when choosing the type of channels you want to distribute on.

4. Produce all marketing materials now.
Once you’ve decided on a budget and the different channels you want to utilize in your marketing strategy, you’ll want to get all your marketing materials designed as soon as possible. Once the holiday season starts, the last thing you will want to do is run around like a chicken with its head cut off, so its important to try to get prepared as soon as possible.

If you are looking for any help determining what your marketing strategy should be for this holiday season, Northeast Kingdom Online is here to help! Give us a call today and see how we can help optimize your marketing performance this holiday season! 1-888-511-2010

5 Metrics to Measure the Success of Facebook Videos

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 17:04:53 GMT

In the past few years video has become the highest converting medium in the social media space. When it comes to content, video is the king of social media marketing. So a good question to ask ourselves, why does video convert more than any other form of social marketing? Simply stated, it’s more human than other versions of social marketing. The movement more closely represents life. If it’s a video with people in it, faces give off emotional cues we understand and can identify with.

As smartphones have become more easily accessible across the world, real human connection is decreasing in some ways. We need human interaction, so how do we fill the void? We do this through social media!

So now that you get a sense as to why video marketing is so important in this day and age, now it is time to learn how to measure the success of your videos posted to social media.

Here are the metrics that matter the most for video performance:

1. View-through Rate
This metric tells you how many people your video reaches and how many of those who were “reached” viewed the video. A video view is typically defined by watching the video for at least 3 seconds (though Facebook’s newer average watch time replaces that metric).

If 30 percent of your audience sees your video on average, then 30,000 of 100,000 fans are viewing your video. This would be considered a decent number in advertising. If fewer than 30 percent are watching your video, it means something may be wrong with the video itself.

It is important to engage with your audience right away when creating a video. You will want to connect emotionally or catch your audiences attention right out of the gate. Otherwise, you’ll lose out on the view-through rates.

2. 10 Second Video Views
The next metric you want to monitor is how many of your views turn into 10 second views. You want to be able to figure out how many quality views you are receiving for your video. A good way to measure this is by checking if viewers are bouncing after the first few seconds. This will help you determine if your audience actually enjoys the content you’re producing and posting, or if you’re just wasting your time.

3. Video Engagement
When it comes to your video content, positive engagement is very important. Studies show that on average, about 9 percent of your entire reach will be able to see your post. So if you have 200 fans, only 18 of them will see your video. If those fans give you some form of negative feedback on your video, it will compromise both the reach on your video and that of future content. Positive engagement usually consists of likes, comments and shares of the video.

4. Video Average Watch Time
We know that if people watch more than 3 seconds of your video, then it results in a “video view.” If they watch 10 seconds or more of that same video, that is considered to be a fairly high level of engagement. When the average view time gets up to this point, it indicates that people are consuming your content.

5. Video Length
Ideally, you want the length of your video to be somewhere around 20-90 seconds. Anything beyond that amount of time may suffer when it comes to keeping your fans engaged. Adding captions to your videos is a good idea, because these videos usually play on mute by default. If there is no caption, your fans will be less likely to view your content unless you let them know what the video is about beforehand.

Video has the potential to be the most powerful and effective marketing tool you use, especially if you produce highly engaging content. The feedback and data you get from Facebook videos should help move you in the right direction.

Reach and Engagement

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 20:09:36 GMT

Making the Most of Social Media Marketing

Reach and engagement are the two main metrics that companies typically use to track social media marketing, but there there are still questions about how to optimize their efforts and marketing dollars between these two measurements. While it is often thought that reach and engagement are equally important, ideal optimization between the two depends on the overall goals of the business. This article will help to explain both metrics, and look at their overall value for marketing efforts.

What is reach?
Reach is a measure of the range of influence of any content - it is the measurement of how content is spread across various social media channels. At the most basic level, reach can be thought of as the number of eyes your content is being seen by. For example, on Facebook, total reach is the number of people that have seen your post. Your post reaches someone when it shows up on their news feed. Reach is simply the amount of people that have seen your post whether they engage in the post at all.

Total reach can be broken down into three categories, wich include: organic, viral and paid. Organic reach is the number of unique people who saw your post on their feed. Viral reach is the number of unique people who saw your post from a story published by a friend or someone you know. Paid reach is the number of unique people who saw your post through an ad.

What is engagement?
Engagement measures the actions taken by users on your posts. Continuing with the Facebook example, engagement is measured as the number of times your post is liked, shared or commented on. So the more interesting or unique your post is, the more likely you will have increased activity and engagement on these posts.

Engagement is largely driven by the content of posts and the strategy of a company’s marketing team. It is achieved over time as marketing efforts build a dynamic community where consumers actively share content and stories.

Should you reach? Or should you engage?
Now that you know that both reach and engagement are critical components within the marketing strategy, the question is, which is the best strategy for companies to follow? Increased reach leads to increased awareness, while increased engagement leads to building a strong community around your brand.

It makes sense that your business would want to extend its reach out to as many people as possible, however, many times recipients are not really looking at this message, it is just being displayed on a site they are on. While reach is important as a building block, engagement is a better way to measure whether or not a given message is resonating and helping to build and promote engagement, while getting followers actively involved. Although both reach and engagement are important, the way to really optimize these tools is by using them both. Reach first, and engage second.

If your business needs help optimizing its marketing efforts or has no idea where to even start, Northeast Kingdom Online can help! We offer a variety of social media marketing tools which will give you the freedom to worry about other important details of your business, while we worry about every aspect of your social marketing. Give us a call today at 802-473-1887 and see how we can help minimize stress and optimize your marketing performance!

5 Digital Marketing Tips

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:12:57 GMT

To Increase Your Brand's Growth Online And Improve Ad Results

It is no surprise that companies will spend a significant amount of time and money on advertising and marketing their brand’s products or services. Advertising and marketing used to be offered only on offline channels such as TV and print.

Now marketing and advertising has shifted significantly towards the digital age. Unlike old-fashioned advertising, what is so great about the digital world is it's ability to do real time tracking. Now, with digital marketing and digital advertising you can track and tweak your ads for better performance as often as you need to which will help to get better results.

While the benefits of digital advertising seem endless, as a brand how can you make sure that you’re maximizing performance and boosting your ROI? When implementing campaigns, there are various practices in which will help get the best results possible. I have outlined five steps of how these practices can be integrated into your marketing strategy.

Step 1: Provide Clear Calls-To-Action (CTA)
Every successful advertising campaign should contain a clear and compelling CTA. This tells the user what their next step is and is how they get from the advertisement back to your site. This helps to keep the consumer move further down the funnel and closer to the point of conversion.

Step 2: Provide A Compelling Message
With any digital platform, messaging is a critical step as it’s the central communication with a potential customer. Data shows that you lose the attention of most digital users within just a few seconds. With this limited time to gather the users interest, it is crucial to provide a compelling message to these users. Stick to messaging that provokes emotion and encourages users to click through the ad. The best practice for this is to just provide a short catchy phrase.

Step 3: Provide Designated Landing Pages
Whatever the content may be, it is incredibly important that you drive users to a landing page that is relevant to that content. This simple, yet crucial step will help to keep users on your site, offer better user experience, and ultimately improve conversion rate.

Step 4: Imagery Matters
For each digital campaign, it is essential that you think about how you’re serving users with these ads. Users on average spend about 5 hours per day on their computer or mobile devices. Sources show that users are likely to see about 5,000 ads or brands within that time. There is no way that our brain absorbs all 5,000 of these ads or brands, so having catchy imagery helps to get your ad to stand out over competitors.

Step 5: Test, Monitor, And Test Again
You’ve probably heard it said several times, that for any marketing channel, testing the effectiveness of your efforts is important. When running a digital campaign, this is no exception. Without monitoring your campaigns you are not able to identify areas that are succeeding vs. areas that need improvement. There are so many factors in setting up a campaign that need to be taken into consideration, some being; the time of day, language choice, audience segment, image selection, or other targeting options. With so many factors to consider, it is critical that you pay attention to these factors and monitor which campaigns are doing better based on the varying elements. Often times, we create two similar campaigns, where we can test ads with varying content. This is called A/B testing.

In this day and age, digital marketing has serious potential. For most brands, it’s one of the top most effective ways to get your company, products or services in front of a qualified and targeted user. Keep in mind the above tips when you are creating your campaigns and trying to optimize your conversion rate.

For more information on this article, check out:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielshaoolian/2017/04/24/5-digital-marketing-tips-to-increase-your-b...
http://blog.telesian.com/how-many-advertisements-do-we-see-each-day/

The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding

Fri, 21 Jul 2017 19:21:45 GMT

The psychology of color and how it relates to persuasion is one of the most interesting and controversial aspects of marketing. This is because color has been known to have a powerful psychological impact on people’s behavior and decisions, and this knowledge has been harnessed all too well by designers and marketers alike.

Color is universal and is a source of information. People make up their minds within 90 seconds of their initial interactions with either people or products. Research shows that about 62‐90 percent of the assessment is based on colors alone.

Here are some ways in which the psychology of color impacts branding and marketing as a whole.

Purchasing intent is greatly affected by colors due to the impact they have on how a brand is perceived.

Color helps to create brand identity. Research has shown that there is a substantial connection between the use of colors and customers' perceptions of a brand's personality.

Environmental and cultural perceptions play a strong role in dictating color appropriateness for different genders.

Keep this information in mind when choosing your brand's primary color palette. Given the utterly different taste preferences shown, it pays to appeal more to men or women depending on whom makes up a larger percentage of your ideal buyers.

Benefits of Being a Certified Partner with Google

Fri, 14 Jul 2017 15:48:29 GMT

It is no secret that Northeast Kingdom Online has earned the Google Partner badge. Having this badge is very beneficial for advertising agencies, digital marketing professionals, and other online consultants who manage AdWords accounts.

Being a Google Partner means that we deliver quality service to our customers, offer a competitive advantage to our clients, and have received the proper training to help grow businesses online. Here are three benefits of being a Google Certified Partner:

Connect with Google: Companies who have earned their Google Partner status may have access to additional events, training sessions, and more.

Keep up with PPC Best Practices: To maintain Google Partner status, agency team members must take and pass two certification exams. One of the mandatory exams includes AdWords Fundamentals. For the second exam, you are then able to pick based on what your advertising goals are, these options include Search, Display, Shopping, Video, and Mobile Advertising. As a Google Partner, we are also able to attend free training sessions to keep up with the latest PPC practices

Stay in front of Competition with Beta Features: Companies that have earned a Google Partner badge have access to Google’s beta features, which means that after Google has developed a new feature or application, Google partners can test and use out these features before it is available to the general public.

There are several benefits included in being a Google certified Partner. For more information about how to become a Google Partner and more benefits of being partners with Google, check out: https://support.google.com/partners/answer/3125774?hl=en

Utilizing Micro-Moments in the Digital World

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 19:23:23 GMT

Thanks to mobile, our primary job as marketers is to be there and be useful for consumers in moments of need. Utilizing micro-moments in the digital world is now more crucial than ever before. Before we go in depth about why micro-moments are so important, I am sure many of you are asking yourselves, what are micro-moments?

Micro-moments are moments when someone is looking for answers, I want to know, I want to go, I want to do, and I want to buy. Moments when the spotlight of intent is shimmering in our direction.

For example, when someone walks by a person that has a yellow umbrella and thinks to themselves, “Hey, I really like that umbrella!” They will often times then look up yellow umbrellas online to purchase now or in the future. This is a micro-moment!

Today 65 percent of transactions start on mobile. With such a high shift towards the use of mobile phones, it is more important now than ever to take advantage of these moments.

As a marketing professional, I cannot stress enough how important it is to simply be there and be useful during the consumer decision journey. This includes asking yourself several questions regarding this journey.

What do consumers want to learn about your category, products, or services?
Are you helping consumers find nearby branches and locations on their mobile devices?
Where are consumers researching your products? How can you support consumers who are researching on-the-go?

It is very important to be prepared to answer these questions for the consumer the first time they get onto your site. Without utility in the moment, not only will consumers move on, they actually might not ever come back.

For more information about how to utilize micro-moments, check out:

https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-resources/micro-moments/future-of-marketing-machine-learni...

Improve Consumer Experiences on Mobile

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Blog Owner) — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:55:40 GMT

The 3 Areas Brands Should Invest in to Improve Consumer Experiences on Mobile

Digital user experiences are more important than ever. Whether it’s on the web, mobile, or a digital assistant, consumers’ relationships with technology continue to evolve. People are finding faster and more efficient ways to get things done. As a result, brands are no longer competing with other brands in their category. They’re now competing with the best digital experience a user has ever had.

1. Help me faster

Consumers are shifting their thinking from “Who does it best?” to “Who does it best, now?”

2. Know me better

Consumers want to be served relevant experiences—regardless of context, device, or channel.

3. Wow me everywhere

Consumers expect seamless experiences every time they interact with a brand.

Get more info here: https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/data-collections/brands-improve-user-experience-on-mobile/?utm_mediu...

Placing First

Fri, 20 May 2016 15:45:13 GMT

Your exposure using SEO

First and foremost, what the heck is SEO??? SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the manipulation of key words within a website which allows search engines (such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.) to decipher what your website has to offer. When someone conducts a search on the web, the search engine uses a very complex set of algorithms to find only the most relevant pages to that specific search. Search engines send robots, otherwise known as "spiders," to "crawl" through your pages to find the key words which are meticulously placed that relate to the search conducted in just fractions of a second. The more relevant the information found on your pages relates to the search, the higher you will place in that search. These are often referred to as "natural," "organic," or "earned" results. Effective use of SEO costs nothing, but will allow you to stand out to really rise above your competitors.

Search engines have to constantly adapt to new information to ensure that relevance is always achieved as opposed to landing on pages of no use or relation to what you were searching for. This happens when web masters get out of hand with key words, placing them in places where they don't necessarily belong or cramming to many key words in where they don't relate. There are hundreds of factors which effect where your site will appear on a search engine, but search engines typically assume that the more popular a site, page, or document, the more valuable the information it contains must be. This can be achieved simply by ensuring your information in always up to date and relevant.

"Search engines are answer machines. When a person performs an online search, the search engine scours its corpus of billions of documents and does two things: first, it returns only those results that are relevant or useful to the searcher's query; second, it ranks those results according to the popularity of the websites serving the information. It is both relevance and popularity that the process of SEO is meant to influence." More information can be found in this awesome beginners guide to SEO,  http://d2eeipcrcdle6.cloudfront.net/guides/Moz-The-Beginners-Guide-To-SEO.pdf

Mobile Compatibility

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:41:37 GMT

Are you Compatible or Optimized?

Have you ever gone to visit a website on your phone only to find it takes to long to load or you can’t easily find the information you are searching for? Most consumers have a pretty short attention span and will abandon your website. In fact, KISSmetrics through Google(2013) found that 61% of visitors will abandon a site that isn't mobile-friendly and 40% of consumers will abandon a web page that takes longer than three seconds to load. With that short attention span, your website must be top notch and optimized to ensure you are not losing potential clients.

How do you know if your website is optimized or compatible? You can either go here to get an easy answer from our experts or you can ask yourself some of the following questions. If your website will not show up on a mobile device at all- you are NOT compatible and are losing tons of potential clients.

Does your website fit the screen dimensions of the mobile device you are using?
Do you have big, easy to find buttons for quick contact if someone wants to call or email?
Does your video, photos and other media load quickly?
Is your site easy to navigate?
Is your sites information short and sweet? Similar to bullet points or quick tidbits?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions- congratulations! Your site is optimized for mobile usage. If you find that you have to pinch and zoom to read your information, or there is no clear buttons to simply contact your company- you are compatible with mobile, but are most likely losing potential clients due to difficult navigation.

Don’t worry- if you are not mobile compliant, this can be fixed! A separate mobile website can be built off of your current website without having to redo your entire site. If you are ready for a complete redesign, we will happily assist you in creating a visually appealing website compatible with PC’s, tablets and mobile phones.

Brand Recognition | Graphic Designers in Vermont

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 19:10:11 GMT

Earning trust through consistency

Have you ever noticed how simple it is to identify some business just by a simple image or logo they have? Recognizing a brand based solely on its logo is the result of consistency, repetitiveness and targeting through a huge market. Some companies have mastered this by even further by including a catchy tune or phrase so consistent- that it dominates the market. That simple tune- “I’m lovin it” is hard to mistake. It automatically plugs the hymn in with it in my mind. “Ba-da-da-da-dum… I’m lovin it.”** Have you figured it out yet?

When a potential customer or client has seen your brand time and time again, it gives a sense of trust. Out of sight, out of mind. Keep your business name at the front of your targeted customer's minds to gain long time customers. Take a look at some more really popular logos that have been established through many outlets such as television, internet, radio, news print and etc. Can you identify all of them?

If you struggled to identify who they were, I'm willing to bet you at least recognized them. From right to left- USPS, Nike, Apple, Disney and Pepsi. How'd you do? To create strong brand recognition takes some work, but is worth it in the end. Take a look at these useful tips that can help you understand the importance of brand recognition as well as ways to meet your goals when it comes down to being identified.

These tips can be found at http://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2013/04/16/10-ways-to-better-brand-recognition/#662418db7b19

1. Provide great customer service.

Today’s customers are looking for guarantees, prompt turn around time and exceptional service after the sale. When making an Internet purchase, customer service can often become a major factor in the final buying decision.

2. Develop a heart-felt story that speaks to why you are in business.

Your Internet clients and customers, as with all clients and customers, want to know, like and trust you. I believe your target market needs to accept you as the person behind the brand before they will buy what you are offering.

3. Work to keep your name in front of your market.

I believe in the saying “out of sight and out of mind.” Here’s a fact of Internet business life: If you are not consistently reminding your target market that you are actively doing business, they will forget about you and go elsewhere.

4. Provide value – exceed their expectations.

Providing on-going value to your target market is vital to better brand recognition and becoming the well-respected “go-to” person in your field. Are you offering webinars, teleconferences or classes to your market?

5. Regularly send tips and how to’s in either a newsletter or email.

I’ll say it again, “Out of sight, out of mind.” If you aren’t regularly staying in touch with your customers and/or target market, you’re going to lose business.

6.Write a blog.

One way to help your target market know, like and trust you is to write a blog that informs, entertains and educates. The key to a successful blog is consistency. You develop a loyal following by regularly providing blog posts that offer quality information and ongoing value to your target market.

7. Develop, produce and host a Blog Talk Radio show.

You can increase your rating as an “expert” and reach a broader market by developing a free Internet radio show on Blog Talk Radio. An added benefit to hosting your own show is that once the show is recorded, you can download it to your blog or website.

8. Host a Facebook Group.

Another free marketing resource for your current Internet customers is inviting them to participate in a Facebook Group. In your Facebook Group, participants can share tips, ask questions and network with one another. The benefit to you is that you can stay in touch with your target market in “real-time.”

9. Write a book.

If you regularly write blog posts or newsletter articles, you have the makings of a book. It is easy and inexpensive to write an Amazon.com Kindle book or self-publish using a service such as CreateSpace.

10. Use the same photo/logo in all your marketing materials.

This tip seems obvious but is often overlooked. Be consistent in your branding. Use the same photo and logo on your blog, e-signature, newsletter banner and all other forms of Internet communication. It’s one additional way you’ll be instantly recognizable to your target market.

**“Ba-da-da-da-dum… I’m lovin it.” and all product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

How to Grow Your Business with Display Impressions

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 20:57:01 GMT

The Power of Display Impressions

Have you ever been surfing the internet to find something specific when it conveniently pops up on the right hand side with a pretty picture and a link directly to the website? Maybe you have never noticed this before- go ahead and Google ‘tool boxes,’ I’m willing to bet that a list of images for a wide variety of tool boxes showed up on the right side of your search. This is by no means an accident- but more over a strategically placed bit of information that relates directly to what you were looking for.

This is display advertising. This is a great tool for businesses to utilize. Not only does this help create brand recognition, but it also gives the business owner a chance to target a much larger audience than someone just driving by their store who may not even be looking for anything the store has to offer. When someone conducts a search specifically for ‘tool boxes,’ businesses that offer them can compete to stand out amongst the rest. Can you see the power in this?

Each click to your website creates a sales opportunity. A few more benefits of display advertising are as follows:

Present high quality, high impact ads over a display network of over a million sites
Potential reach of over 90% of internet users
Create brand recognition with Internet Users
Designate geographic areas as small as 1 mile
Qualify your audience by age, location or interests
Easy to read reports help you track campaign performance and adjust your strategy

Every view gives you an increased chance for revenue as well as a new permanent customer. Let the NEKO team create visually appealing and audience capturing ads for you today. For a limited time only, we are offering 55,000 targeted impressions for only $147.00.

Mean what you say and say what you mean.

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:38:11 GMT

Attention span on the decline

It is clear to everyone the 'Attention Span' of surfers is declining by the day. Companies use all kinds of metrics to try and answer this $64,000,000 question.? Anecdotal evidence abounds, the attention span of surfers is scarcely 10 seconds on a good day.

True for elders and middle age, 6 seconds is a stretch for young adults and Generation Y. TV advertisers switched to 30-second spots from 60-seconds and despite Madison Avenues best efforts, there is a nationwide move afoot for 10 second ads while some markets notably are pressing for 5 seconds. We are all in business of email marketing. We create messages every day but the question is "Do we really want people to engage and read or are we just filling blank pages?"

Media Guru's tell us it is a scientific fact that anything over 500 words in any preliminary article goes to 'delete'. Exceed the legal load limit for your message and you guarantee losing audience. The truth is if you can't explain your message in 250-400 words, you either need a good content copywriter or are not sufficiently familiar with your product as will be needed.

Create trust/concern/care......make your words prove these attributes are essential to who you are, what you have to sell or give.

Prove value/relevance/applicability....know or say what are the issues the customer/client may have for which your product or service is a solution. Don't go to a grocery store if you haven't eaten first, don't take a child to a toy store if you have no money.

Speak directly to the person who is your audience. If you have three audiences, grandmas, kids and teenagers, figure out the voice who speaks to those people, in words they can 'HEAR' and write your story accordingly. It doesn't do well to say 'goo-goo' to students and 'Yes Ma'am' to children.

Relax! We are here to help!

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 21:34:44 GMT

Adjusting to the Digital Era

As a business owner, you juggle multiple tasks everyday. As a growing business owner though, understanding how to guide potential clients to your location or website is becoming increasingly difficult and very competitive.

Advertising used to be composed of direct mail pieces, phone books, shows, newspapers, radio and television, etc. Once the internet was born, the options of advertising became endless in the digital world. An ever changing world where Google governs the laws, and the everyday person shopping is the executioner. Don’t be executed, make your digital presence top priority.

In a fast paced world and industry, people are easily bored or discouraged. Having a website with a poor design, difficult navigation, high loading times, broken links and most importantly, if its not compatible with mobile devices- will all cost you a potential customer. More and more people conduct searches from their mobile devices, having a site that works well on all platforms today is a must.

Lastly, create reasons for your browsers to love you. Offer them advice, build their trust. Keep your brand on their mind by creating value for them. Blogs offer a positive understanding for the thorough investigator. Good social media posts are quick to grab attention if advertised correctly. These methods of contact build a relationship that can grow and spread.

When it comes to your digital brand, standing out amongst the rest is key. It takes dedication and a good understanding of the digital world to navigate and display properly, but it's worth it. If you ever should need assistance in building or growing your presence, our trained and professional team is available. For more information on how digital presence will affect your business, browse our website.

NEKO Updates, News and Marketing Tips

SEO vs AEO: What Is AEO and Why It Matters in 2026

What Is SEO?

Common SEO strategies include:

What Is AEO?

Where AEO shows up:

Key Differences Between SEO and AEO

SEO

AEO ﻿

Why AEO Matters More Than Ever

SEO-style content:

AEO-style content:

How to Optimize for AEO

1. Answer Questions Clearly

2. Use Simple, Structured Content

3. Add FAQ Sections

4. Focus on Authority & Trust

5. Be Specific and Confident

Do You Still Need SEO?

The Future of Search

What Businesses Should Focus on Online in 2026 (and What They Can Ignore)

What Still Matters Most

What You Can Safely Ignore

Focus Creates Momentum

Why Connected Marketing Drives Better Results for Your Business

Why a Unified Digital Marketing Strategy Matters

Marketing Myth vs. Fact: Do You Really Need to Be Everywhere?

Why Choosing the Right Social Platforms Matters

Myth: You Need to Be on Every Platform to Succeed

Fact: Consistency on the Right Platforms Matters More

Clarity Beats Clutter

The Importance of a Customized 404 Error Page

A customized 404 Page is more important than most people think.

Why it matters more during a redesign

What a good custom 404 page does

Benefits (real ones, not fluff)

How important is it, realistically?

Bottom line

Why Small Website Updates Can Make a Big Impact

Clarity on Your Homepage Matters Most

Clear Messaging Builds Trust

A Quick Check Can Go a Long Way

Is Your Website Ready for 2026? A Practical Checklist for Businesses

1. Clear Messaging That Matches Today’s Business Goals

2. Mobile-First Experience

3. Speed, Security, and Reliability

4. Search-Ready Content and Structure

5. Easy Content Management

6. Designed to Guide Visitors to Action

Preparing Now Makes the Year Ahead Easier

Is Your Business Showing Up Where It Matters?

The Real Role of Social Media Today

Social Media Is About Presence, Not Just Posting

Consistency Builds Recognition and Trust

Strategy Matters More Than Volume

Supporting Long-Term Growth

A Thoughtful Approach Makes the Difference

Why Consistency Is the Secret Weapon of Digital Marketing

1. Consistency Builds Trust

2. It Keeps You Top-of-Mind

3. Algorithms Reward Consistency

4. Your Brand Becomes Stronger

5. Steady Efforts Create Sustainable Growth

Need Help Staying Consistent Online?

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Let Visitors Choose From Multiple Services

A More Powerful Booking Solution — Built Into NEKO360

Why Complete Managed Marketing Programs Are a Game-Changer for Local Businesses

1. One Cohesive Marketing Plan — Not a Mix of Disconnected Tactics

2. A Dedicated Marketing Team That Truly Knows Your Business

3. Access to a Full Marketing Team for Less Than One In-House Hire

4. Every Channel You Need — Handled for You

✔ Social Media Management

✔ Website Management

✔ SEO

✔ Paid Search & Display Ads

✔ CTV & Streaming Radio

✔ CRM Support

AEO

How Our Vermont-Based Team Supports Local Social Media Growth