“Micro-Moments” Provide Better Insight into Changing Consumer Preferences

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There are many steps in the consumer journey. One of the most difficult aspects of marketing is understanding this journey in its entirety. It may not simply be one single ad that inspired a purchase. There may be several interactions that are going unnoticed.

As consumers continually change, we marketers are faced with the task of keeping up. The digital world is incredibly fast paced. Those who are unable or unwilling to move along with trends eventually fall behind. That is why we here at Onimod Global are always doing our best to keep you up to date on the latest trends and topics.

Google Search Data

Big data has been a big topic of discussion for years now. The unlimited potential that exists in the tiny, seemingly insignificant, data that any individual generates on a daily basis is mind boggling. Many marketers are wondering how they can harness this power to better the brands that they serve.

One of the biggest collectors of data is Google. There is truly a wealth of knowledge to be had in the data mines that this search engine giant holds. Most recently, Google has been exploring the concept of “micro-moments”. According to Google, “Micro-moments occur when people reflexively turn to a device—increasingly a smartphone—to act on a need to learn something, do something, discover something, watch something, or buy something.”

This concept may not seem like much, but Google believes that micro-moments will play an increasingly large role in the life of consumers everywhere. In fact, Google has developed personas to represent the different types of consumers it believes that are represented through these micro-moments.

The Well-Advised Consumer

This type of consumer always does their homework. Whenever they make a decision in their life, big or small, they typically will consult a device first. This could range from anything as simple as a search for a nearby donut shop to a deep dive into the best types of portable bluetooth speakers for under $300.

The Right Here Consumer

Many marketing strategies focus around the idea of personalization. This tactic is touted as a sure fire way to promote better interactions with potential customers. While there is some evidence behind this statement, the method has become so widely used that it is now an expectation of consumers.

Users today do not typically feel the need to enter anything more than “sports bar” when looking for somewhere nearby to enjoy tonight’s game. Instead, they believe that their device and the apps it uses will automatically make an assumption about their location for them. Any sort of site or app that does not comply with this is quickly perceived as irrelevant by the consumer, and repeat usage is unlikely.

The Right Now Consumer

The final persona that Google developed through exploration of micro-moments is the right now consumer. This type of consumer finds satisfaction in things that are most immediate and convenient for them. This trend has become very apparent recently.

Google reports that today, “smartphone users are 50% more likely to expect to purchase something immediately while using their smartphone compared to a year ago.” This means that less time is being spent within the customer journey as users today are more apt to complete a transaction immediately from their device rather than later through non-mobile means.

Final Considerations

What this means for marketers is that they need to pay more attention to these micro-moments in order to better understand their target consumers, and which category each of those consumers fall into. This kind of attention to detail will greatly aid in any marketer’s efforts to better understand the customer journey, which will ultimately lead to better generation of sales.

5 Intriguing Digital Marketing Stats So Far in January

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Although only a little over 2 weeks have passed by in January, 2018 has been an interesting year so far in the digital marketing world with some surprising statistics. Some of the stats listed are from Christopher Heine in his Adweek article that caught our attention.

1. Branded Content Booming on Facebook
Many marketers and organizations have the mindset that spending ad dollar on Facebook is the only way to receive a large amount of impressions, clicks, shares, etc. According to a study from an article in Marketing Land,  they found that branded content posts on Facebook rack up twice as many earned media impressions as paid advertising impressions. “833 branded content posts received 617,986 paid impressions compared to more than 1.2 million earned impressions.”

2. Breakdown of Social Media Users
The number of overall social media users has continued to increase so far in January. According to the Pew Research Center, they found that around “69 percent of U.S. adults are now social media users.” Another interesting statistic they found was that “86 percent of 18 to 29 year olds are the demographic that patronize Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, and other social platforms.” Ultimately, social media continues to attract new individuals and it will be important to keep an eye out on the age demographics of users.

3. App Install Ads
So far in the month of January it appears as if app install advertisements have been a success. Apple claims that “50 percent of consumers who click on ads they see in the App Store download the app.” This is good news for corporations like Facebook, Twitter, and others as the Adweek article touches on how the “app install space has driven revenues for these organizations.” It will be very interesting to see how Google will respond to Apple’s recent app install successes with their Google Play Store.

4. Continued Growth of Global Advertising
There are always a large number of U.S. organizations that are looking to expand their advertising presence internationally. The article mentions how “events such as the Olympics, European Football Championship and the presidential election propelled global ad revenue to $532 billion in 2016.” The interesting part is that global digital ads “totaled around $160 billion or 30% of worldwide ad revenue.” Based off these numbers, expect to see a larger presence of international digital marketing in the future.

5. New Years Live Viewing
It appears that more people are starting to watch the Times Square ball drop on their smartphones then their televisions. Facebook found that “more than 10 million people used Facebook Live on New Year’s Eve , which is up 47 percent from 2016.” This meant that Facebook had ten times the number of viewers as CNN, as the annual countdown only totaled “1.7 million viewers in prime time.” Moreover, this shows how live viewing has major implications on the future of the television industry as pulling up a live stream on a smart phone is a much more convenient approach than turning on the T.V.

Contact Us:
For more information regarding digital marketing expertise, visit the Onimod Global Website. We provide weekly news updates on the latest in the world of digital marketing. Enjoy!

4 Warning Signs to Look Out For When Choosing a Digital Marketing Agency

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Choosing the right digital marketing agency can be a difficult decision, especially since you are trusting an organization with your marketing budget that consists of thousands of dollars. It’s critical to find an agency that understands your business style and knows what’s going on in your industry. Listed below are some warning signs to look out for when in the process of choosing the right digital marketing agency for your business.

1. Unprofessional Website
Coming across a digital marketing agency with a website that is clearly unprofessional and lacks effort is one of the first noticeable red flags. How is an agency supposed to offer superior digital services if their own website looks poor? Some specific aspects to pay attention to when going through an agency’s website include: inconsistent brand images, old copyright date, poor mobile responsiveness, no custom domain name, lack of contact information, and having an overall poor design.

2. Unrealistic Promises
It’s surprising how many agencies are out there who make promises with prospective clients that are too good to be true. Hearing comments like “we guarantee first page rankings tomorrow” or “we have inside sources at Google and other major corporations who work with us” are huge warning signs. Any good agency knows that effective digital marketing strategies usually take time in terms of planning out, implementing, execution, and analysis. Moreover, an agency that guarantees amazing results in a short period of time is most likely unrealistic and probably won’t deliver on the promises.

3. Lack of Communication and Transparency
Communication and transparency are huge when it comes to digital marketing and client satisfaction. According to an article from Forbes, they interviewed members of the Forbes Agency Council and they found that “the biggest calls of distress we heard from potential clients was poor communication from other agencies they hired.” Transparency is also critical, as agencies should always be open to sharing data and whatever else clients want to see that involves their marketing investments. If an agency refuses to give you access to AdWords and Analytics accounts then something is wrong. Also be sure an agency is truthful and has the capability to back up data with legitimate results.

4. Weak Portfolio
Who are the agency’s current clientele and what kind of work have they accomplished for them? Be sure to look out for any references or testimonials and if they’re legitimate or not. Also, when evaluating an agency’s portfolio look for important data like percent increases in page views, leads, organic rankings, conversions, and any other metrics that may be important. However, one of the most important aspects to research in portfolios or case studies is finding out if clients returned a positive ROI. Also try to find out how many clients an agency has and what their retention rates are. In the end, a digital marketing agency that portrays a weak portfolio is one that should be avoided at all costs.

Contact Us
At Onimod Global we are a proven digital marketing agency and know what it takes to fulfill the needs of every client. Check out Our Work and see what digital solutions we have to offer! We look forward to hearing from you!

Pringles to Debut in Upcoming Super Bowl LII Advertisement

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Despite being a digital marketing company, we here at Onimod Global are interested in all sorts of different marketing methods. That is why today we are taking a more traditional approach to discuss ads for the upcoming Super Bowl LII.

Super Bowl Spot Cost

Each year, brands compete for a coveted spot to advertise during the super bowl. As one of the single most televised events of the year, the Super Bowl brings in some serious cash from advertisers.

It is safe to assume that each and every TV spot comes with a hefty price tag, but just how expensive can they be? Jeffrey Dorfman from Forbes claims that $5 million dollars is a bargain for such a TV spot.

Dorfman explains that the cost for these spots has been on the rise for years, but they still present an incredible value for brands. These ads air in front millions of viewers, roughly 110-115 million viewers to be exact.

This huge audience is exactly what makes the opportunity to advertise during the Super Bowl so appealing. Once you break down the cost of $5 million across 110 million viewers, the cost per view is just pennies on the dollar.

Pringles Premier

The Pringles snack company belongs to Kellogg’s, which acquired Pringles back in 2012. Since 1968 the brand has expanded across the globe to over 140 nations, and continues to market itself in as many new locations as possible.

According to Adweek, the Pringle’s Super Bowl campaign will be centered around the idea of “Flavor Stacking”. Flavor Stacking is a concept designed to entice consumers into creating unique flavors by combining different types of Pringles together.

The upcoming ad is said to be, “an opportunity to show people a fun, new way to enjoy their favorite Pringles flavors with their family and friends,” according to Kellogg’s U.S. Snacks’ senior vice president of marketing, Yuvraj Arora. Be sure to look for the debut Pringles ad, along with many others at the upcoming Super Bowl LII on February 4th!

4 Digital Marketing Skills Every Professional Must Have

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Digital Marketing is a very broad term that consists of many important areas for professionals to master, and is also a fast growing industry for employment. SEO, SEM, social media advertising, email marketing, and data analysis are all critical aspects that every digital marketing expert should have experience with. Besides knowledge of these key areas, what are some other important digital marketing skills professionals should have?

1. Copywriting and Content Development 
Being able to effectively communicate and deliver persuasive messages is one digital marketing skill that can never be overlooked. Content is one of the most important components of every advertising campaign, and is a major factor when it comes to SEO and ranking for certain search queries. It is crucial that every blog post, Google ad, commercial, and company website contains relevant and powerful content. Driving home the “big idea” to every potential consumer is how you get your name out there, and why others should do business with you. Ultimately, content development is a skill that more and more marketers are being asked to master.

2. Website Development Knowledge
Some people confuse digital marketing and website development as two completely separate fields. In some ways this could be the case, yet having website development knowledge will greatly benefit an individual’s digital marketing expertise. Being able to understand the basics of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and how to operate within a content management system (CMS) are all important. Another thing to keep in mind regarding website development knowledge is that it goes hand in hand with SEO, and understanding how to achieve good organic rankings on search engines. Moreover, the more website development knowledge a digital marketing professional has, the better.

3. Research and Strategic Planning
Staying current with the latest digital marketing trends and updates will only set yourself apart from the other digital marketers in the industry. Taking 30 minutes out of your day to read up on articles from Search Engine Land, Forbes, AdWeek, and Search Engine Journal can be extremely beneficial. Effective research can sometimes require more than simply “Googling things” like understanding the industries of clientele and who their target audiences are. In addition to research, strategic planning is also very important. This refers to analyzing past data and knowing how to deliver better results in the long run.

4. Account Management
Having proper account management skills and understanding how to effectively interact with clients is huge. Demonstrating strong account management means you have a firm grasp of execution, planning, strategy, budgeting, data analysis, and more. Being flexible and customer service-oriented is important as well. Campaigns consistently need monitored, problems arise, and some clients experience their best business outside of the typical Monday-Friday 9-5 hours. In the end, account management is huge in digital marketing, and certain “soft skills” often times get overlooked.

Contact Us: For more information regarding digital marketing, visit the Onimod Global Website. We provide weekly news updates on the latest in the world of digital marketing. Enjoy!

Google Set to Launch new “Google Stamp” Platform Soon

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It’s been reported that Google is set to launch their new “Google Stamp” platform in the near future with intentions to compete with Instagram’s stories and Snapchat’s Discover features. Although the exact launch date of the new Google platform is unknown, there has been plenty of speculation about the full capabilities of this tool. This post will explore what is known so far about the Google Stamp and its future marketing implications.

Google Stamp Overview
Back in August, news was released from the Wall Street Journal that Google has been developing their new Google Stamp product as a direct competitor to Snapchat’s Discover feature. The Discover component is one of Snapchat’s most lucrative and popular features, which enables users to view stories of breaking news, sporting events, celebrities, and every other important thing happening in the world. According to an article from Search Engine Watch, the Google Stamp platform is “expected to function in a similar manner to Snapchat Discover. Users will be able to view difference pieces of content with a healthy mix of video, images, and text to keep readers engaged.” Another interesting aspect to point out is the meaning behind the Google Stamp name. Stamp is a combination of the “St” as an abbreviation for stories and the “amp” acronym for accelerated mobile pages.

Advertising Implications
With the implementation of Google Stamp coming in the near future, this raises the questions of advertising implications and what this will mean for brands looking to get involved. The Search Engine Watch article points out that “advertisers should not view this as a traditional media purchase, as there will need to be close collaboration between content creators and content promoters to ensure that ads are contextual.” As for the campaign format, it’s thought to be similar to launching a campaign on Snapchat or Instagram. The article mentions how “the same team who handles AdWords campaigns would have to integrate new skill sets to make the most of this opportunity to effectively advertise on Google Stamp.” Ultimately, it will be interesting to see what advertising options become available on the Google Stamp and how brands choose to utilize them.

Unanswered Questions
All of the information released so far about the Google Stamp leaves plenty of unanswered questions, as a lot is still unknown about the product. The Search Engine Watch article lists numerous questions that will be important to answer once the Google Stamp officially launches. Listed below are some of the critical questions the article mentions.

– “Which types of queries will trigger Stamp results?”
– “How frequently will Google Stamp be featured in search results?”
– “Will users migrate over to Google to use what seems likely to be a very similar product to Snapchat Discover?”
– “What options will be open to advertisers? Will Google introduce innovative new formats to maximize Stamp’s potential?”

Contact Us
For more information regarding digital marketing expertise, visit the Onimod Global Website. We provide weekly news updates on the latest in the world of digital marketing. Enjoy!

2017 Year in Review: Digital Marketing

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As we near the end of 2017, we recall many of the new ideas and innovations that this year brought to us. In digital marketing, there have been many changes. Digital marketing is centered around change, as it is required for this industry to live and thrive. Now we take a look at some of the biggest changes to digital marketing in 2017.

The Move to Mobile

This past year saw an incredible shift in user preference to mobile devices. It has grown to such a height that mobile search has now overtaken desktop search. The trend began early in 2017, but did not slow down at all. 33.3% of all transactions from Cyber Monday were completed on a mobile device. This mobile activity is up nearly 17% from the previous year.

It is also worth noting that age does not matter when it comes to mobile. Most people assume that the only demographic utilizing these mobile technologies are younger generations. In reality, older consumers are regularly active on digital devices. In fact, 50+ year old consumers had a 12% growth in smartphone usage over the past year. Read more in our article, “How to Reach Senior Citizens Using Digital Marketing”.

Competition Between Social Platforms

In 2017, each major social platform was vying for the spotlight. Twitter attempted to increase their numbers by doubling the character limit from 140 to 280. Sadly, this change did not produce the desired effect they were looking for, as their Q3 reports showed another decline in activity.

Snapchat focused on increasing advertising revenue. Their ‘Snap Pixel’ gives marketers better insight into consumer behaviors, which is certainly valuable when forming any kind of marketing strategy.

In the end, one social media platform came out on top in 2017. There can only be one winner, and this winner is Facebook. Facebook provides a larger audience, better targeting options, and superior results when it comes to digital marketing. Their resources and refined tools cannot be outdone. It is also very likely that their success will only continue to grow in the upcoming year.

The Importance of a Marketing Strategy

Digital marketing has become much more calculated. As the industry grows, experts are looking to make the most precise decisions when it comes to their digital marketing efforts. This means that anyone serious about digital marketing should be using a well thought out marketing strategy.

Long standing organizations have the benefit of possessing a history of data. This data is invaluable. Past behavior predicts future behavior. So, data can show you exactly what decisions to make, without much risk of failure.

However, if you do not have a large database to fall back on, it is best to begin with broad objectives which are then refined over time as you begin to notice what works and what does not. For more detailed information in creating a marketing strategy, please take a look at our article, “Create the Perfect Digital Marketing Strategy”.

Digital Permeation

As the digital industry continues to grow, it expands across many other industries. Digital marketing presents all businesses with the ability to better market their products and services. The main advantage is digital marketing’s low cost. Of course, digital marketing campaigns can become expensive if desired, but most campaigns produce results for mere pennies on the dollar.

This advantage has allowed digital marketing to infiltrate every area of business possible. There are no real limitations when it comes to digital marketing. Any organization looking to sell their product to a specified target audience can do it.

As a result, digital marketing strategies have been developed for entire industries. Food, healthcare, metal fabrication, you name it. All of these industries have been affected by digital marketing, and will continue to be affected in 2018.

Top Qualities of a Successful Digital Marketing Agency

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What separates a successful digital marketing agency from a mediocre one? Numerous agencies claim they provide the best digital services available and will always go out of their way for client needs, but is this really the case? Listed below are some essential qualities that every digital marketing agency should possess in order to be successful in today’s industry.

Flexibility
Is your current agency available for any needs that arise outside of standard office hours (9-5)? From our perspective, digital marketing is a 24/7 operation and any agency that thinks otherwise is not providing the best service possible. Problems arise, campaigns need monitored, and some industries experience their best business outside of the typical Monday-Friday 9-5 hours. Therefore, flexibility is huge when it comes to digital marketing and if your agency isn’t fulfilling your needs then it may be time to make a change.

Experience
Evaluating the previous experience of an agency is a major factor when determining their success. Does the agency have a proven track record? Are their clients legitimate and relevant to your business or industry? Will they address your specific needs? Always be sure to analyze an agency’s portfolio and case studies to determine if their experience matches your needs. View our Case Studies at Onimod Global and take a look at our credible experience in all aspects of digital marketing.

Transparency
When it comes to digital marketing and working with clients, transparency is a huge quality that clients desire and often expect. An agency demonstrating transparency refers to the clarity of billing, accuracy of data, how campaigns are actually performing, and what’s happening in general. Working with a digital marketing agency that is trustworthy will ultimately lead to better results in the long run. Moreover, transparency is a quality that can never be ignored when evaluating an agency. It separates successful digital agencies from the mediocre ones.

Expertise 
Every agency should be an expert when it comes to SEO, SEM, Social Media, Data Analysis, Website Development, and every other critical component of digital marketing. Is the agency a Google Partner? Are the employees certified in Google AdWords and Analytics? These are important questions to consider when evaluating whether an agency is legitimate or not. All successful digital agencies in today’s industry demonstrate many if not all of these capabilities and always be sure to check out previous work/case studies for reassurance.

Contact Us: At Onimod Global we are a proven digital marketing agency and know what it takes to fulfill the needs of every client. Check out Our Work and see what digital solutions we have to offer! We look forward to hearing from you!

5 Notable Social Media Stats So Far in 2017

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2017 has been an interesting year so far in the world of social media, with some surprising stats and trends. Facebook remains a giant, Instagram is making strides, and Snapchat is utilizing augmented reality to its advantage. Some of the social media stats listed below are from Lauren Johnson’s Article in Adweek that caught our attention.

1. Snapchat and Augmented Reality
Snapchat has recently launched its augmented reality lenses to the public, which now allows users and brands to create their own animated figures and filters. This has given Snapchat an advantage when it comes to the amount of daily content created. According to the Adweek Article, “Snapchat expects 1 trillion photos to be taken with the app this year, which equates to 31,720 snaps every second.” Over 30,000 snaps per second in the year of 2017 is a mind boggling statistic and it will be interesting to see where Snapchat goes in 2018.

2. Facebook Usage Remains Massive
Although other messaging applications such as Twitter, Kik, and Snapchat are experiencing plenty of usage, Facebook still continues to dominate the “messaging empire.” According to the article, “Facebook announced that 17 billion video chats have been sent via messenger in 2017, which doubles the number in 2016. People have also sent 1.7 billion emojis on a daily basis thus far in 2017.” Moreover, Facebook is dominating the social media industry in many aspects and this trend will most likely continue through the next year.

3. Retailers Choosing Instagram Over Snapchat
Instagram adopting the “stories” feature has greatly helped the social media channel in terms of attracting retailers. According to a study from L2 Gartner, “1,400 social posts were analyzed from retailers like TJ Maxx and Marshalls, and it was discovered that Instagram stories made up 95% of the brands social posts.” This is huge for Instagram as their story feature usage in 2016 only accounted for “39% of social posts.”

4. GIF Histeria
The use of GIFs (graphic interchange format) so far in 2017 has been astounding. The article reports that “300 million people have used 2 billion GIFs every day in 2017 thus far.” The use of GIFs is mainly seen within the social media platforms of Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pintrest, and Facebook. The use of GIFS doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon and even looks to increase in the future.

5. Instagram Reaching Millennials
It’s no surprise that Instagram’s popularity is growing, especially with millennials. According to a survey conducted by the Bustle Digital Group, “81 percent out of the 1,000 millennials interviewed claimed social media is the most effective way to reach them. From that group, 40 percent said Instagram is the best way to reach them.” Ultimately, Instagram has been making major strides in 2017 and expect the social media giant to even increase their market share in 2018.

Contact Us: For more information regarding digital marketing expertise, visit the Onimod Global Website. We provide weekly news updates on the latest in the world of digital marketing. Enjoy!

Digitally Transform Your Workspace

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Digital marketing is an incredible line of work that is always changing. This profession is based on the innovative spirit of digital, which is translated into the way that digital marketers work every single day.

It can be very difficult to continually reinvent the work you are doing as a digital marketer if your workspace is behind the times. That is why we have put together a list of ways that you can digitally transform your workspace to keep yourself ahead of the competition. This list is based off of an article from AdWeek that can be read fully on their website.

Closer Connections

Many marketers today utilize tools like Go ToMeeting to carry out regularly scheduled conferences with clients or colleagues around the globe. These conference calls are very beneficial, but they do lack in some areas. For instance, you cannot see the individuals that you are talking to. AdWeek argues that this greatly inhibits the call and can even cause it to become a “waste of time”.

It is a bit premature to say that conference calls need to be exiled immediately, but there are technologies coming onto the scene that will allow for a more genuine connection with those communicating.

There is a lot of buzz that has recently been circulating around virtual reality and all of its incredible possibilities. AdWeek mentions a company named MiddleVr, which has already begun the process of developing virtual reality tools that can be utilized in the office. These tools will allow meetings to become much more close and personal, which is believed to positively impact the meeting outcomes.

G-Suite Jamboard

The importance of innovation in the digital marketing industry cannot be stressed enough. One of the techniques that allows digital marketing to be so dynamic is collective brainstorming. Gathering the ideas of many different peoples in many different places can produce incredible results.

This is precisely why the team at Google has put together a tool called Jamboard. Jamboard presents each user with the same visual of a whiteboard. This whiteboard can be written on by any user, and these writings will then be shown to every other user.

Jamboard uses a lot of the same basic ideas that are included in other Google products like Google Docs. The major advantage to using Google Docs is that it allows multiple users to edit the document at the same time while also showing all users any updates to the document. Jamboard will work similarly to Google Docs and will allow teams to collaborate and brainstorm much more effectively, no matter where they are located.

Video Advertising

AdWeek’s article also highlights the ongoing trend of video advertising. We here at Onimod Global have recognized the potential in the video advertising market, and recently put together a comprehensive article on the subject. To read our article, “Maximize the Potential of Your Social Video Marketing Strategy” please visit our blog by clicking HERE.

Organized Communication

Communication is key in any workspace. This is particularly true if your organization is trying to communicate in many ways all over the world. The best way to utilize every piece of information is to write it down and store it somewhere that all crucial members will have access at any given time.

Facebook is developing such a product. Workplace by Facebook is designed to “change the way you work”. The platform instantly updates as posts are made, which makes cross-channel communication simple and easy. The main objective of this tool is to allow users to instantly communicate and quickly turn their ideas into actions instead of delaying the process through conference calls, strategy meetings, etc.