Month: June 2019

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App Development Blog Digital Marketing News Sales Social Media

Instagram Launches New ‘@Shop’ Account: What It Means for Retailers

iPhone X sitting on table with screen on
new instagram app @shop

Instagram recently unveiled its latest development in the push toward a more e-commerce oriented platform: @shop. But while the social media giant has released groundbreaking shoppable features in the past, @shop doesn’t appear to be anything revolutionary. That’s because it’s simply an Instagram account (run by the IG team). In this article, we’ll break down what this new account is—and what it means for e-commerce brands.

What is @shop?

Instagram’s new @shop account is an internally managed profile that features a curated collection of up-and-coming brands. The account is primarily focused on products from the fashion, home decor, and beauty categories. Featured brands all share a notable commonality: they’ve been very successful at leveraging IG to promote their company. Instagram has selected these brands to demonstrate the massive e-commerce potential of the social platform.

Community Driven

Another important aspect of the collection is that it’s driven by community trends. In Instagram’s own words:

“@shop is a celebration of small businesses and the creators behind them. The content on this account is inspired by our community of shoppers — you. @shop is a real-time reflection of our community’s interests across top shopping categories like fashion, beauty, home decor and more. ” [Source]

Tagged and shoppable

As the name suggests, @shop is all about shopping. Every image on the @shop account includes a shopping tag, which allows users to browse product collections, view the brand’s IG profile, and visit the company’s website. Shopping tags are a critical piece of Instagram’s ongoing effort to integrate with e-commerce. The tags are a move toward the capability for direct, in-app purchases, blurring the line between social media and online shopping.

What does @shop mean for retailers?

@shop represents Instagram’s ever-increasing e-commerce potential. The platform is extremely influential and has already facilitated the explosive growth of countless new brands. This trend isn’t showing any signs of slowing down—and will continue to present huge opportunities for retailers.

A familiar place

Part of Instagram’s appeal lies in its familiarity. Like Amazon, Instagram has become a “comfort zone” for internet users. With this familiarity already in place, IG is poised to become a trusted e-commerce hub. And since Instagram is a primary source for product discovery, the increased emphasis on e-commerce creates a more holistic shopping experience (from discovery to purchase).

Looking forward…

If trends continue, people will eventually view Instagram as an easy, convenient shopping platform. Purchasing will become more seamless, enabling businesses to reach potential customers where they’re already spending time—and without disrupting them.

Capitalizing on Instagram: How to Get Started

E-commerce brands with a lackluster Instagram strategy are missing out. Failing to keep up with the “Instagram wave” will leave money on the table and allow competitors to gain the upper hand. If you haven’t already, consider the following:

1) Recognize. Small companies in the e-commerce space are achieving huge success on social media. See this, acknowledge it, and ask yourself what your company can be doing get more out of Instagram (regardless of company size).

2) Stay in-the-know. Familiarize yourself with the latest Instagram developments. Use the platform regularly and pay special attention to e-commerce brands and shopping features.

3) Experiment. Digital marketing is a never-ending process of experimentation. Test new features, try new strategies, and analyze the results. Your customers are spending a lot of time on Instagram…it’s up to you to figure out the best way to reach them there.

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Blog

Why Communication Between Sales and Marketing Teams is Key to Business Growth

In a business environment, even when the company is small, there are going to be a variety of opinions, experiences, and strategies presented by the team’s members. The two most important departments of a company are probably sales and marketing. The sales team brings in your company’s revenue, and the marketing department disperses your company’s name to the public. Ideally, the two departments will work hand in hand without any disruptions, but one is dealing with expectations while the other is dealing with reality.

Expectation vs. Reality

It is important to remember that every department in a company has to deliver in some way, shape, or form. This puts stress on them to perform. In the battle between the sales and marketing teams, the marketing team is dealing with expectations based on research, feedback, and focus groups. The sales team, on the other hand, deals with the clients and potential customers. This group deals with rejections and deals that fall through the cracks, which is sometimes out of their hands because customer service is important. When figuring out your marketing strategy, it’s important to keep these things in mind so that both departments can contribute without repeating each other’s actions.

It Conserves Resources

Keeping your sales and marketing teams on the same page is important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, this continuity helps conserve resources. According to SoloFire, on average, 43 hours per month are wasted by sales reps trying to find information, and over half of them can’t find the content they need from marketing to send to their prospects. So, they make their own materials and spend an average of 30 hours per month doing it. On the flipside, 80% of marketing content is never used by sales reps. Therefore, finding a system that syncs up both teams without stepping on each other’s toes is worthwhile for the workload as well as the budget.

Finding a Solution Through Software

For companies who have not embraced technology or software, keeping the peace between the sales and marketing teams, as well as conserving resources, may be the motivation you need. A centralized online system helps the marketing team upload their research and information packets. Then, the sales team can easily download them for use in other projects.

All Talk Training says that technology also makes it easier for employees to communicate from various locations. This helps make sure that important information isn’t lost when employees are traveling or working from home. Additionally, all sales transactions can be recorded so that important information no longer falls through the cracks and so that a great customer experience is delivered.

It is possible to keep the sales and marketing teams on the same page without wasting resources and stepping on each other’s toes. Doing so will make your company more cohesive and efficient.

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App Development Digital Marketing Email Marketing Online Marketing Social Media Social Media Marketing

Social Link Named a Top 25 Website Design Company by DesignRush

In recognition of our commitment to superior website design, Social Link has been named a Top Website Design Company on DesignRush. As a comprehensive directory for digital agencies, DesignRush has the ability to assess thousands of web design companies. Their analysis placed Social Link among the best in the business, earning a spot on their recent list, “Top 25 Website Design Companies.”

What makes Social Link a top web design company?

Social Link is an all-in-one website design agency. We provide best-in-class web design services which include all the features necessary for success. Social Link clients receive:

  • Fully customized websites. Templates are limiting. Our custom coding ensures websites are tailored to the unique businesses they’re intended for.
  • Adaptive content management. Spend time creating—not publishing. With our content management solutions, publishing your content has never been easier.
  • Mobile-friendly design. In today’s mobile-centric world, having a mobile-friendly website is essential—which is why all Social Link websites are optimized for a seamless mobile experience.
  • Powerful e-commerce. If a website is selling products, it needs to be fully optimized for e-commerce. At Social Link, we’re experts in creating websites that drive purchases.
  • In-depth analytics. Data provides critical insights. With dashboard analytics, you’ll be able to easily monitor your website and make smarter decisions.
  • Installation and training. We don’t just build websites—we make sure our clients succeed. Social Link provides training to ensure our client’s teams are up-to-speed with the new site.

At Social Link, we pursue excellence relentlessly—and it shows. Our award-winning agency has received many accolades over the years, which continue to motivate and inspire us. We’re proud to announce our inclusion on DesignRush’s “Top 25 Website Design Companies” list…and we plan to stay on top.

Categories
Digital Marketing

4 Digital Marketing Specialties That Aren’t Going Out of Fashion

Digital disruption continues to challenge businesses, which must learn to continually adjust their operations and marketing strategies to an increasingly virtual marketplace. In light of this constant change, it may seem reasonable to assume that digital marketing may simply be a fad that fades into obscurity in the next few decades. But the truth is that the importance of the internet increases with each passing year, and now with more quantifiable data than ever before available, so does the importance of digital marketing. Here are a few specialties that will be with us for a long time to come.

Social Media Marketing

Advertising on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram remains one of the most important avenues for modern businesses to reach their audiences. Creating and sharing content on these websites is crucial, both for establishing an audience as well as maintaining contact with customers. It’s important to establish who your target audience is so you know which platforms are going to best reach your audience.

Data Analytics

You might imagine this merely entails counting likes or website views, but today, using data analytics represents a more comprehensive evaluation. The proliferation of social media, smart technologies, and the internet allows organizations to capture more quantifiable data than ever before. However, collection of this raw data alone does not produce the meaningful insights needed to make strategic business decisions. Making use of agencies that specialize in digital marketing will provide your company with the tools it needs to make sense of all this information, working to grow your business by optimizing conversion rates and increasing sales.

Search Engine Optimization

Often abbreviated SEO, this practice has attained paramount importance in the twenty-first century. It refers to designing websites so that they appear attractive to the search engines used by prospective customers. Individuals who understand the craft understand the algorithms that Google and other giants employ in order to formulate their list of relevant results. Optimizing your written content with this in mind will increase traffic to your website and strengthen your digital presence.

Graphic Design

Just as important as attracting the attention of search engines is attracting the attention of future customers. An aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly website has become essential today for businesses that intend to thrive. Using photography, audio, and video elements results in engaging content that will not only hold a viewer’s interest but work to convert it into a sale.

Rather than fading into the distant past, these practices become increasingly present and powerful each year. At a time when there is increasingly more quantifiable data, it is crucial for up-and-coming businesses to make use of these digital marketing specialties.