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9 Tactical Video SEO Tips to Improve Your Content Performance

MARCH 28, 2021

How many of you think you could walk across a balance beam a thousand feet in the air? Don’t worry, we’re not going to put you to the test. But what if the beam was on the ground. A bit easier now, huh? (But maybe not after happy hour…)

Something similar occurs for digital marketers. We have tons of best practices and general rules to follow and we become masters of them. But then we take on something a little more unfamiliar and it can feel like an entirely different game despite following many of the same rules. Case in point: SEO vs. video SEO. Check out the lowdown from Wistia on video SEO with 9 tactical tips to improve your content performance.

Video titles matter. Maybe you already have the perfect title. Maybe you don’t. 🤷‍♀️ That’s okay. The point is, you should be thinking about a video title. While the file “client_video_FINAL_complete_4” tells you what the video is, others won’t have the slightest clue. Be sure to change the title to something other than the file name.

A thumbnail that screams ‘pick me’. Remember the days of hopping in the car with the fam and picking out a movie at Blockbuster? It was always much more exciting to see the actual movie cover rather than just a generic Blockbuster logo with a title. Your video thumbnails need to entice people to click. Put together an image that isn’t just a screenshot from a section of your video and make it easily viewable at 116 x 65 pixels.
Create a video sitemap. Google was made to crawl websites to find and index content to match with relevant queries. Whenever you upload a new video that will appear on your site, be sure to include a sitemap. This tells Google what the video is and can help indicate which other content it’s relevant to.

Keep reading for 6 more tips.

Twitter trending topics: How they work and how to use them

MARCH 23, 2021

Twitter trending topics are enough to make your heart skip a beat. Though oftentimes the news is positive, trends can sometimes confirm our worst fears. Just a few weeks ago we saw skinny jeans trending and not for any reason we wanted. Don’t even get us started on the mass panic whenever Tom Hanks surfaces in the trending section.

Trending topics on Twitter are incredibly useful. Not only do they help us stay current on the latest news and pop culture phenomena, but they also provide information we can use to market brands, improve campaigns, and connect with audiences. Sprout Social is highlighting how Twitter trending topics work and how to use them.

How Twitter trending topics work.

In a nutshell, Twitter’s algorithm will display hot topics people are talking about right now. The latest trends will always take priority, but what you’ll see is partially tailored to the people you follow and the niches they occupy. You can personalize trends based on location as well. Also, if the highlighted trending topics aren’t helpful to you, then search a topic or hashtag or subscribe to specific topics to get more targeted info.

How can marketers strategically leverage Twitter trends?

Understand audience sentiment around major topics. When people talk about your brand or products, you’ll want to know if what they’re saying is good or bad. Positive sentiment can help inspire future campaigns while negative sentiment can alert you about a change you need to make.

Use hashtags to join the conversation. Insert your brand where it makes sense. You don’t need to use hashtags for every trending topic to stay relevant. Just stay on top of what is pertinent to you.
Use Twitter Promoted Trends for a paid marketing solution. You can run an ad right within the trending section. This is a great way to get people talking about a new product or campaign.

See the full scoop for more ways to utilize trends.

Make Writing Easier, Without Lowering Your Standards

MARCH 22, 2021

Infomercials are the best. All it takes is, “DOES THIS EVER HAPPEN TO YOU?” and we’re hooked. Cue the black and white scene revealing the ridiculous, yet somewhat relatable struggle of a clumsy person followed by the full-color clarity in the next scene where they find the solution. Whatever product these Oscar-winning ads show off happens to make everything easier.

Well, the black and white struggle of writing is about to turn to full color because Copyblogger is showing us 3 ways to make writing easier without lowering your standards.

Capture your ideas. If you have a password manager, you know how much easier it makes your life. Capture all your ideas just like you save your passwords: write them down. When inspiration strikes, don’t bank on your brain remembering; bust out your notes app or a small journal and scribble away. Our minds can move a mile a minute, so it’s important to keep a log. This can be for solutions to problems, dumb ideas that don’t work, or just any general observations from your daily life.

Recognize that self-doubt is normal. Writing content can be a breeze at times and at other times it’s an enduring struggle. One feels great and one feels awful, but if you’re having real trouble it’s not because you’re bad at it. Struggles lead to breakthroughs, so don’t get hung up on the number of rewrites you’ve needed or the creative block you’re experiencing. What matters is you push through, because if you do, then more often than not you’ll produce something worth reading. Imposter Syndrome be damned!
Get into a framework. Defining your framework will help you to launch into your process. Your framework could be a numbered list of points to hit in a blog post. It could be a morning yoga routine. Maybe it’s a podcast focusing on creativity. Your framework should get you into the right headspace to do your best work.

Read on for the full scoop.

4 Trends to Expect for Spring 2021 Fundraising Campaigns

MARCH 21, 2021

Y’all ready for some spring cleaning? Yes, it’s time to part with those beloved socks that allow your big toes to peek out and say hello. And you may not want to hear it, but your Christmas poinsettias are ready for a new life in the compost bin. Spring holds so much promise, and some changes are needed.

New campaigns are probably in the works for you as well. Say goodbye to things that haven’t worked in the past, because it’s a new day and a new opportunity to refine your strategies. If fundraising is the name of the game for you, then check out these 4 trends to expect for spring 2021 fundraising campaigns from Top Nonprofits.

Emphasizing Mobile Giving. Just about anything we do on desktop can be done on mobile. Marketers know the importance of reaching people where they are, and many people are on-the-go. Mobile giving allows convenience since people don’t need to wait until they’re back home or at their desk to give. Ensure your website is optimized for a flawless mobile experience or else your follow-through on mobile giving will dwindle.

Appealing to Younger Donors. Are you targeting Gen Z within your fundraising campaigns? Right now, Gen Z is made up of people aged 10 – 25. The older segment of this generation tends to advocate for social causes and things they believe in more than their counterparts of other generations. Include this segment in your campaigns and consider fun, socially-distanced events they can attend to learn more about your organization.
Revisit Your Corporate Partnerships. Many organizations are keen to align themselves with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. When someone makes a donation, they may not know about their employer’s CSR initiatives. This could include a donation match or a volunteer grant program. Both of these programs would offer added incentives for employees to donate and volunteer, so encourage your donors to check for these initiatives before donating.

Keep going for #4.

The 7 Best Ways to Grow Your Instagram Audience in 2021

MARCH 17, 2021

Growth is the goal for many of us in some way or another. We go to school, move up in careers, start families, and many other things that aren’t easy. When all is said and done, we’re better than we were before. So don’t despair when you’ve hit the bottom of another Ben & Jerry’s pint during your weekend-long binge of The Crown. At the end of the day, you come out on top with all the growth you’ve achieved. Plus, it’s not like the weather was nice outside that weekend anyway. Then again, your blinds were down the whole time…

Growth is important on social as well. Millions of thumbs skate across Instagram feeds every day, and it’s all about getting them to land on your content. Here are Jeff Bullas’ 7 best ways to grow your Instagram audience in 2021.

Use an Instagram growth service. We’re not talking about buying a bunch of bots to increase your follower count. This isn’t about buying followers at all. A quality growth service will target your ideal audience and like their content in order to prompt them to check out your page. This can seriously boost your existing growth efforts.

Plan and schedule content. You want to reach your followers with fresh content when they’re active. Instagram insights can show you during which times your audience will likely be active. Use this knowledge to schedule your posts for these ideal times and tweak the times as needed. Scheduling is easy in Creator Studio, but a dedicated calendar and scheduling tool will better help you stay on top of your posts.
Optimize your profile. Your profile is where followers can learn more about you and your business and follow through on your CTAs. Tell people what they need to know about you with the 150 character allotment in your bio. Use a tool like Linktree to increase the number of links you can showcase, and create highlights so people can easily navigate to the content they’re looking to find.

See 4 more in the full article.

Video SEO: Ranking on Google vs. Ranking on YouTube

MARCH 16, 2021

YouTube and Google are two cornerstones of the internet. Like Venus and Serena Williams, these search engines dominate the court. They both fall under the Alphabet umbrella and they bear many similarities, but there are some differences to take into account as well. Google serves to answer your questions, whatever they may be. YouTube serves to show you videos. The crossover occurs when Google determines a video is the best way to answer your question. Today, Databox is running through ranking on Google vs. YouTube.

If your goal from the outset is to create a video that ranks on Google and YouTube, then your target keyword will make a big impact. Look for a keyword that ranks highly on both search engines and sees between 100 and 2,000 searches per month. You can also find keywords you currently rank for on Google and turn your existing content/answer into a video.

Now let’s dive into some ranking strategies for YouTube and Google.

Ranking videos on YouTube

Make it long enough. Shoot for at least 10 minutes, then adjust until you find your sweet spot. Your watch time will signal to YouTube how much time people are spending on your videos. Higher watch time signals quality content.
Use video tags. Take a look at the tags used in the videos currently ranking highest for the keyword you’re targeting. Use those tags for your own video to help your video show up in the related videos sidebar.

Ranking videos on Google

Write longer descriptions. Your descriptions can easily give you the SEO boost you need. Treat them like blog posts for your videos. Providing more context and information for your content will give Google what it needs to rank you higher.
Take advantage of other video platforms. YouTube is the most competitive video platform, so post your videos on multiple platforms. Google has to show results from competing video platforms, so this can only help you get a leg up.

Read on for more.

What Marketers Need to Know About YouTube Shorts

MARCH 15, 2021

It’s a fast-paced world. So many things to do and places to be! It’s no wonder people are drawn to quick news snippets and short-form video content. There’s so much we want to know and only so much time to take it all in.

YouTube Shorts is one of the latest ways to digest small pieces of content, and Hubspot is telling us what marketers need to know about it.

Let’s start with what makes YouTube Shorts different from its competitors.

Short-form creators could see a bigger reach. YouTube is the 2nd largest website in the world. There’s a massive audience for YouTube, and Shorts is a new offering within this already established platform. If you already have a following on YouTube with your long-form content, then keep delivering this sort of content for your community. You can supplement this content with Shorts to fill in gaps in the long-form content you share.
YouTube Shorts could be less vulnerable than other viral platforms. The case between TikTok and the US government in 2020 kept many on the edges of their seats. While it looks like tensions with TikTok have relaxed for the most part, the situation might still be disconcerting to some. New players have barriers to overcome, while established players have already proven themselves. YouTube isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, which appeals to content creators.

How to Prepare for YouTube Shorts

Optimize Short YouTube Videos. For any videos you create under 60 seconds, add #shorts to the description to identify it. Shorts has yet to fully launch, but this can help your videos get featured in the Shorts library.
Identify Short-Form Topics. What are some gaps in your content you can address in a quick video? Quick tips and how-tos are perfect for shorts.
Audit Your Short-Form Videos. If you’re already creating short-form videos for other platforms, then you should easily be able to tweak them for Shorts. Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Read on for more points.

Create shareable content: 5 Hollywood storytelling tips

MARCH 14, 2021

*Deep authoritative movie narration voice*

In a time when mixed media dominates the attention of humanity, it’s up to marketers to cut through the chaos and deliver high-quality content. Coming ~~every day because the Internet doesn’t quit~~ soon to a social media channel near you.

Grab the popcorn and dim the lights because PR Daily is presenting 5 Hollywood storytelling tips for creating shareable content.

Watch movies…seriously. You don’t need to tell us twice! Hollywood blockbusters are made to appeal to a wide audience. There are a lot of techniques used to capture attention and tell stories in the best way possible. Take into account the structures of movies, character journeys, and the different shots. Never script for testimonial videos and stick to simple questions. For any narrated videos, always use a script and be sure to storyboard before shooting.

Understand the psychology of why people share. At the core of sharing is understanding. People want to be understood. People share things that align with their own beliefs or touch on topics that are important to them. By sharing, they are putting their name on something that resonates with them. This allows others to connect the shared content with the person who shared it which furthers a sense of understanding.

Personify, personify, personify. To craft content someone will share, the content needs to be relatable. People relate to people, so use a person as the focal point in your content. Craft a story around a customer or product engineer who achieved something, found something, discovered something, or overcame something.
Study the “Hero’s Journey.” People love to watch the transformation of a character. This means the main character needs to endure some sort of struggle they eventually overcome. If your customer is the hero, then they will overcome a challenge with the help of your product or service. Peoples’ experiences aren’t all sunshine and roses, so your story shouldn’t be either.

Keep reading for the final installment of this storytelling saga.

17 Checkpoints for Social Media Event Marketing

MARCH 10, 2021

How many of y’all love event planning? Whether you love it or hate it, it takes a lot of work. Luckily, you’re not alone when it comes to event planning. Many before us have successfully (and unsuccessfully) planned events so we can learn from what works best. For instance, if you’re planning a garden party, you might check out The Ultimate Guide to Throwing a Garden Party by James Trickington. (Better buy it fast, because it’s known to sell out.)

Whatever your event is, you’ll want to utilize your social media channels to ensure the event’s success. Here are Socialbakers’ 17 checkpoints for social media event marketing.

Decide On Your Social Media Event Marketing Objectives. While you’re marketing your event on social media, you still want to tie it back to your brand. Create content for each stage of the buying cycle, so you don’t exclude important segments of your audience.

Create a Hashtag for Social Media Events. Hashtags will help you build buzz around topics and events. In addition to your typical branded hashtags, create hashtags specific to your events. Look for short ones that haven’t been used, and consider how easy they are for someone to spell out if they’ve only heard it out loud.

Use Teaser Posts to Drive Interest. Give your audience some piece of content that will build excitement rather than just telling them to mark their calendars. This could be a clip from a past event or even a sneak peek at something you’ve put together for the upcoming event. After you’ve teased the event, you can tell them when, where, and how to attend.
Sell Tickets via Social Media. Most smartphone users feel comfortable purchasing things on their phones, so make it easy for them to purchase event tickets. Mobilize influencers and partners involved in your event to sell tickets as well by offering affiliate links. Also, create ticket tiers such as early bird and VIP, to incentivize people to purchase now or get access to more of your content or offerings when the event occurs.

Don’t miss any of the remaining checkpoints.