Neil Patel, co-founder of NP Digital and one of the world’s leading digital marketing experts, has identified eight critical trends that will shape marketing success in 2026. These insights come from analyzing patterns across hundreds of brands and dozens of industries, revealing shifts that most marketers haven’t even noticed yet.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore each trend in detail and provide actionable strategies you can implement immediately to stay ahead of the competition.

1. Stop Sending Traffic Off-Platform: The New Lead Capture Revolution

The traditional approach of driving social media traffic to landing pages is killing your reach and costing you leads. Here’s why this fundamental shift matters and how to adapt.

The Platform Penalty Problem

Social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook actively throttle content that attempts to send users off-platform. Even innocent phrases like “click the link in my bio” or “visit our website” trigger algorithmic penalties that:

• Dramatically reduce your organic reach
• Increase your advertising costs
• Limit your content’s visibility to your existing audience

This happens because platforms want to keep users within their ecosystem, not send them elsewhere. When you try to move traffic off-platform, you’re working against the algorithm’s core objective.

The Mobile Drop-Off Crisis

Even when users do click through to external pages, mobile conversion rates suffer due to:

• Slow-loading forms and pages
• Poor mobile optimization
• Friction in the conversion process
• Context switching between platforms

The On-Platform Solution

The solution is to capture leads directly within the platform using automation tools like ManyChat. Here’s how it works:

1. Trigger Setup: Users comment with a specific keyword on your post
2. Automated Response: The tool automatically sends them a direct message
3. Lead Capture: Collect their information without them leaving the platform
4. Nurture Sequence: Continue the conversation through automated messaging

This approach delivers multiple benefits:

• Reduces friction and increases conversion rates
• Boosts engagement signals to the algorithm
• Captures higher-quality leads based on behavioral intent
• Maintains platform algorithm favor

2. Search Everywhere Optimization: Beyond Google SEO

Search has fragmented across multiple platforms, and your SEO strategy needs to evolve accordingly. This trend represents one of the most significant shifts in digital marketing.

The New Search Landscape

Search is no longer confined to Google. Consider these staggering statistics:

• Instagram: 6.5 billion searches per day
• YouTube: Over 3 billion searches daily
• TikTok: Emerging as a primary product discovery engine
• ChatGPT: Becoming a trusted research and discovery tool
• Snapchat: Invested $400 million in Perplexity to power their search

Buyers now jump across platforms like stepping stones, and most brands only show up on one of them.

Implementing Search Everywhere Optimization

To succeed in this new landscape, you need to optimize for discovery across all major platforms:

Keyword Integration Strategy

Weave your target keywords naturally into:

• Video scripts and audio content
• Captions and descriptions
• On-screen text and graphics
• Hashtags and metadata

Topic Cluster Development

Create multiple pieces of content around the same core theme to:

• Establish topical authority
• Help platforms understand your expertise
• Increase your chances of being discovered
• Build comprehensive coverage of your niche

Conversational Search Optimization

Optimize for how people actually search by:

• Using natural language and full phrases
• Including audio captions and transcripts
• Adding visual text that algorithms can read
• Matching user intent across different query types

3. The AI Slop Problem: Using AI Intelligently, Not Blindly

While AI promises increased efficiency, many marketing teams are experiencing the opposite due to hallucinations, errors, and poor implementation strategies.

The Hidden Costs of AI Dependence

Research shows that both free and paid AI tools have similar hallucination rates, meaning teams are trusting confident-sounding but completely incorrect information. This leads to:

• Wasted time on rework and corrections
• Campaign failures based on false data
• Decreased team productivity despite AI adoption
• Loss of critical thinking and validation skills

The Real Story Behind AI Layoffs

Many companies blame AI for workforce reductions, but industry experts, including Perplexity’s CEO, suggest the real reasons are:

• Overhiring during growth periods
• Slower-than-expected division growth
• Profitability pressures
• Market correction needs

AI becomes a convenient public explanation that sounds better to shareholders than admitting strategic miscalculations.

How Top Performers Actually Use AI

Successful marketers don’t use AI blindly—they use it strategically:

AI for Ideation, Not Execution

• Generate first drafts, not final content
• Brainstorm ideas and approaches
• Explore different angles and perspectives
• Create content outlines and structures

Verification and Quality Control

• Cross-reference all AI-generated statistics
• Verify sources and publication dates
• Fact-check claims and assertions
• Build internal quality assurance processes

AI as a Discovery Channel

The biggest ROI comes from using AI platforms like ChatGPT as discovery channels to drive traffic and conversions, rather than just content creation tools.

4. Digital PR: The New SEO Foundation

As AI tools become discovery engines, they’re prioritizing trusted sources and external validation over self-promotional content.

Why Digital PR Matters More Than Ever

AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini are developing authority systems similar to Google’s, but with key differences:

• They favor external citations over self-promotion
• Structured content gets cited more frequently
• Consistent formatting improves citation chances
• Micro-niche authority builds compound results

The Listicle Strategy

Publishing comprehensive “top 10” lists in specific niches helps train AI to see you as an authority:

• Top 10 SaaS marketing agencies
• Top 10 e-commerce optimization tools
• Top 10 affordable marketing solutions
• Top 10 franchise marketing strategies

The more micro-categories you own, the more AI platforms cite you as a source.

Building External Authority

Focus on getting other trusted sources to cite and recommend you:

• Pitch journalists and industry publications
• Contribute to industry reports and studies
• Participate in expert roundups
• Build relationships with industry influencers

Technical Optimization for AI Citation

Make your content easy for AI to extract and cite:

• Use clear headers and bullet points
• Include tables and structured data
• Add schema markup to your pages
• Keep content updated with last-modified dates
• Integrate case studies and verifiable statistics

5. AI Ads: Facebook Targeting Meets Google Intent

When ChatGPT launches advertising, it will combine the best of both worlds: Facebook’s behavioral targeting with Google’s search intent accuracy.

The New Advertising Paradigm

AI ads will target users based on:

• Complete search history and patterns
• Intent signals over time
• Behavioral interests and goals
• Problem identification and solution seeking

For example, if someone searches for marketing agencies but their last 9 searches were about weight loss, the AI might show them a fitness ad instead because that’s their primary current interest.

Preparing for Identity-Based Targeting

To succeed in this new advertising landscape:

Define Your Category Early

• Establish clear brand associations
• Build topical authority in your niche
• Create content that teaches AI who you help
• Focus on specific problem-solution relationships

Leverage First-Party Data

• Integrate CRM data with ad platforms
• Use purchase history for targeting
• Track customer interaction patterns
• Build detailed customer personas

Create Specific Positioning

Instead of saying “we’re a marketing agency,” say “we help SaaS companies scale from $1M to $10M through performance marketing.” This specificity trains AI to understand exactly who you serve.

6. Browsers as AI Platforms: The Next Discovery Frontier

Browsers are evolving into AI-powered platforms that provide answers, recommendations, and ads before users even visit websites.

The Browser Evolution

Major browsers are integrating AI capabilities:

• Chrome’s Gemini: AI-powered search and recommendations
• ChatGPT’s Atlas: Browser-integrated AI assistance
• Perplexity’s Comet: Search and discovery integration

This means users can get answers, comparisons, and recommendations directly in their browser without visiting individual websites.

Preparing for Browser-Centric Discovery

Early Adoption Strategy

• Start running AI-driven ad campaigns (like Google’s Performance Max)
• Learn how these systems optimize and target
• Build experience with AI advertising platforms
• Test different creative and messaging approaches

Technical Preparation

• Implement comprehensive structured data
• Use schema markup throughout your site
• Create clear, scannable content formatting
• Optimize for easy AI extraction

Content Strategy Shift

Treat your website as a data source that feeds AI systems, not just a destination for human visitors. This means:

• Organizing information for easy extraction
• Creating comprehensive resource pages
• Maintaining accurate, up-to-date information
• Building authority through consistent, quality content

7. Live Content: The Authenticity Advantage

In a world saturated with AI-generated content, live video provides the authenticity and human connection that audiences crave.

The Live Content Opportunity

Despite growing demand, few brands are capitalizing on live content:

• Nearly 30% of YouTube users watch live streams weekly
• Live content receives higher engagement rates
• Platforms prioritize live content in their algorithms
• Live streams build stronger audience relationships

Benefits of Regular Live Content

Audience Connection

• Builds trust through real-time interaction
• Humanizes your brand
• Creates community around your content
• Establishes thought leadership

Content Multiplication

• One live stream creates multiple content pieces
• Platforms auto-generate clips in different formats
• Horizontal and vertical versions created automatically
• Repurpose into shorts, reels, and TikToks

Live Content Strategy

Consistency Over Production Value

• Go live weekly with valuable content
• Focus on teaching and helping your audience
• Answer questions and address current trends
• Share case studies and behind-the-scenes insights

Content Ideas

• Q&A sessions with your audience
• Industry trend analysis and commentary
• Case study breakdowns
• Tool demonstrations and tutorials
• Guest interviews and collaborations

8. Multilingual Content: Global Reach Without Barriers

Language barriers are disappearing thanks to AI-powered translation and voice synthesis technologies.

The Global Content Revolution

Tools like YouTube’s auto-dubbing and HeyGen enable automatic translation and voice synthesis in multiple languages, allowing creators to:

• Reach global audiences instantly
• Expand into new markets without additional costs
• Generate 30-50% of views from non-native languages
• Scale content production globally

Implementation Strategy

Platform Optimization

• Enable multilanguage audio on YouTube videos
• Use automatic translation features
• Optimize video settings for global distribution
• Monitor performance across different languages

Website Globalization

• Implement hreflang tags for international SEO
• Add language selectors to your site
• Localize call-to-action buttons and forms
• Ensure checkout processes support multiple languages
• Create region-specific landing pages

Content Localization

• Adapt content for cultural differences
• Consider local market preferences
• Adjust messaging for different regions
• Test performance across markets

Implementing These Trends: Your 2026 Action Plan

To successfully implement these trends, prioritize based on your current capabilities and market position:

Immediate Actions (Next 30 Days)

1. Set up on-platform lead capture using tools like ManyChat
2. Enable multilanguage audio on your video content
3. Start going live weekly with educational content
4. Audit your content for AI-friendly formatting

Medium-Term Strategy (Next 90 Days)

1. Develop topic clusters for search everywhere optimization
2. Launch a digital PR campaign to build external authority
3. Implement comprehensive structured data on your website
4. Begin testing AI-driven advertising campaigns

Long-Term Vision (Next 6-12 Months)

1. Build a comprehensive content ecosystem across all platforms
2. Establish category leadership in your niche
3. Develop global content distribution strategies
4. Create systems for consistent quality control and verification

Conclusion: Leading the 2026 Marketing Revolution

The digital marketing landscape of 2026 will reward brands that understand and adapt to these fundamental shifts. Success will come to those who:

• Embrace platform-native lead capture strategies
• Optimize for discovery across all search surfaces
• Use AI intelligently while maintaining human oversight
• Build authority through digital PR and external validation
• Prepare for identity-based advertising
• Optimize for browser-integrated AI discovery
• Leverage live content for authentic connection
• Scale globally through multilingual content

The brands that implement these strategies now will have a significant competitive advantage as these trends accelerate throughout 2026. Don’t wait for your competitors to catch up—start implementing these changes today.

For more insights on digital marketing strategy and implementation, visit FML Marketing for expert guidance on navigating the evolving digital landscape.

The post The 8 Digital Marketing Trends That Will Define 2026: A Complete Strategy Guide appeared first on FML Marketing.

Introduction

Welcome to the ultimate guide on mastering Facebook ads for beginners. In this comprehensive tutorial, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating effective Facebook ads that drive results. Whether you’re a small business owner, a marketing professional, or an aspiring entrepreneur, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to leverage Facebook’s advertising platform for maximum impact.

Section 1: Understanding Facebook Ads

1.1 What Are Facebook Ads?

Facebook ads are a powerful tool that allows businesses to reach their target audience on the world’s largest social media platform. With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook provides an unparalleled opportunity to connect with potential customers and promote your products or services.

1.2 Benefits of Facebook Ads

Facebook ads offer several advantages over traditional advertising methods. Here are some key benefits:

1. Targeted Audience: Facebook’s advanced targeting options enable you to reach people based on their demographics, interests, behaviors, and more, ensuring your ads are seen by the right audience.

2. Cost-Effective: Facebook ads can be tailored to fit any budget, making it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes.

3. Measurable Results: Facebook’s ad platform provides detailed analytics and insights, allowing you to track the performance of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

1.3 Types of Facebook Ads

Facebook offers various ad formats to suit different marketing objectives. Some popular types of Facebook ads include:

1. Image Ads: Simple yet effective, image ads use compelling visuals to capture the attention of your target audience.

2. Video Ads: Engage your audience with captivating video content that tells your brand’s story and showcases your products or services.

3. Carousel Ads: Carousel ads allow you to showcase multiple images or videos within a single ad, giving you more space to highlight different aspects of your business.

1.4 Facebook Ad Policies

Before diving into Facebook advertising, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the platform’s ad policies. Facebook has specific guidelines in place to ensure a positive user experience. Make sure to adhere to these policies to avoid any issues with your ads.

Section 2: Setting Up Your Facebook Ads Account

2.1 Creating a Facebook Business Manager Account

To get started with Facebook ads, you’ll need to create a Facebook Business Manager account. Follow these steps to set up your account:

1. Go to the Facebook Business Manager website and click on “Create Account.”

2. Enter your business details and follow the prompts to complete the setup process.

2.2 Setting Up Your Ad Account

Once you have a Business Manager account, you’ll need to set up your ad account. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to the Business Manager dashboard and click on “Ad Accounts” in the left-hand menu.

2. Click on “Add” and select “Create a new ad account.” Follow the instructions to set up your ad account.

2.3 Installing the Facebook Pixel

The Facebook Pixel is a powerful tool that allows you to track and optimize the performance of your ads. Follow these steps to install the Facebook Pixel on your website:

1. Go to the Events Manager in your Business Manager account.

2. Click on “Connect Data Sources” and select “Web.” Follow the instructions to set up the Facebook Pixel on your website.

Section 3: Defining Your Advertising Goals

3.1 Identifying Your Objectives

Before creating your Facebook ads, it’s crucial to define your advertising goals. Ask yourself what you want to achieve with your campaign. Some common objectives include:

1. Increasing brand awareness: If you’re a new business looking to build brand recognition, your goal may be to reach as many people as possible.

2. Driving website traffic: If your objective is to generate more website visitors, focus on driving traffic to your site through your ads.

3.2 Setting SMART Goals

To ensure your goals are attainable, it’s important to set SMART goals:

• Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve.
• Measurable: Set metrics to track your progress.
• Attainable: Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable.
• Relevant: Align your goals with your overall marketing strategy.
• Time-bound: Set a deadline for achieving your goals.

Section 4: Audience Targeting

4.1 Identifying Your Target Audience

To maximize the effectiveness of your Facebook ads, it’s crucial to understand your target audience. Consider factors such as demographics, interests, behaviors, and psychographics. Conduct market research to gain insights into your potential customers.

4.2 Using Facebook Audience Insights

Facebook Audience Insights is a powerful tool that provides valuable information about your target audience. Use this tool to refine your audience targeting and ensure your ads reach the right people.

4.3 Creating Custom Audiences

Facebook allows you to create custom audiences based on various criteria. Some options include:

• Website Visitors: Target people who have visited your website.
• Email Subscribers: Reach people who have subscribed to your email list.
• Lookalike Audiences: Target people who are similar to your existing customers.

Section 5: Ad Campaign Structure

5.1 Campaign, Ad Set, and Ad Levels

Facebook’s ad campaign structure consists of three levels:

• Campaign: The highest level where you define your campaign objective.
• Ad Set: The middle level where you set your targeting, budget, and schedule.
• Ad: The lowest level where you create your ads.

5.2 Creating Your Campaign

To create a new campaign, follow these steps:

1. Go to your Ads Manager in the Business Manager account.

2. Click on “Create” and select “Campaign.” Choose your campaign objective and follow the prompts to set up your campaign.

5.3 Setting Up Your Ad Set

Once you have your campaign, it’s time to set up your ad set. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to your campaign and click on “Create Ad Set.”

2. Define your targeting, budget, and schedule. Ensure your ad set aligns with your advertising goals.

5.4 Creating Your Ads

The final step in the campaign structure is creating your ads. Consider the following tips:

• Compelling Copy: Write persuasive ad copy that grabs attention and entices users to take action.
• Eye-Catching Visuals: Use high-quality images or videos that align with your brand and captivate your audience.
• Strong Call-to-Action: Clearly communicate the desired action you want users to take, such as “Shop Now” or “Learn More.”

Section 6: Ad Creative Best Practices

6.1 Ad Copywriting Tips

Crafting compelling ad copy is essential for driving engagement and conversions. Here are some tips to help you write effective ad copy:

1. Know Your Audience: Tailor your messaging to resonate with your target audience’s needs and desires.

2. Highlight Benefits: Focus on the benefits your product or service offers and how it solves a problem for your audience.

6.2 Designing Engaging Visuals

Visuals play a crucial role in capturing your audience’s attention. Follow these best practices for designing engaging ad visuals:

• Keep It Simple: Avoid cluttered visuals and choose clean, simple designs that are easy to understand.

• Use High-Quality Images: Use professional, high-resolution images that reflect your brand’s aesthetic.

Section 7: Tracking and Measuring Success

7.1 Setting Up Conversion Tracking

To measure the success of your Facebook ad campaigns, it’s important to set up conversion tracking. Follow these steps to implement conversion tracking:

1. Go to your Events Manager in Business Manager.

2. Click on “Aggregated Event Measurement” and select “Set Up Events.” Follow the instructions to set up conversion tracking.

7.2 Analyzing Ad Performance

Regularly analyzing your ad performance is crucial for optimizing your campaigns. Use Facebook’s ad analytics to gain insights into your ads’ performance and make data-driven decisions.

Section 8: Split Testing and Optimization

8.1 What Is Split Testing?

Split testing, also known as A/B testing, involves comparing different versions of your ads to determine which performs better. This strategy can help you optimize your campaigns and improve your results.

8.2 Elements to Test

When conducting split tests, consider testing the following elements:

• Ad Copy: Compare different headlines, descriptions, or calls-to-action.
• Visuals: Test different images, videos, or carousel formats.
• Audience Targeting: Compare the performance of different target audiences.

Section 9: Scaling Your Facebook Ad Campaigns

9.1 Increasing Ad Budget

Once you’ve found a winning ad campaign, you can scale it by increasing your budget. However, it’s important to do so strategically to maintain a positive return on investment (ROI).

9.2 Expanding Targeting

To reach a larger audience, consider expanding your targeting options. Experiment with different demographics, interests, or locations to find new potential customers.

Section 10: Troubleshooting Common Issues

10.1 Low Ad Engagement

If your ads are not receiving the desired engagement, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

• Review Your Targeting: Ensure your ads are being shown to the right audience.
• Optimize Your Ad Creative: Make sure your visuals and copy are compelling and relevant to your target audience.

10.2 High Cost Per Result

If you’re experiencing high costs per result, try the following solutions:

• Refine Your Targeting: Narrow down your audience to reach people who are more likely to convert.
• Optimize Your Ad Copy: Experiment with different call-to-action phrases or value propositions to entice users to take action.

Section 11: Staying Updated with Facebook Ads

11.1 Facebook Ads Resources

To stay up-to-date with the latest Facebook ad trends and best practices, explore the following resources:

• Facebook Business Help Center: Access comprehensive guides, tutorials, and FAQs.
• Official Facebook Blogs: Follow Facebook’s official blogs for announcements and updates.
• Facebook Ads Community: Join online communities or forums to connect with other advertisers and learn from their experiences.

Conclusion

Mastering Facebook ads is a journey that requires continuous learning and optimization. By following the strategies and best practices outlined in this tutorial, you’ll be well-equipped to create effective, high-performing ads that drive results for your business. Stay informed, stay creative, and watch your Facebook ad campaigns thrive!

The post The BEST Facebook Ads Tutorial For Beginners in 2024 appeared first on FML Marketing.

We are regularly asked if we know of any sites where you can download good free stock photos. Since we’ve been in web design for roughly 10 years, we know them all, so it’s just as handy to share this information with you in this article. There’s plenty of choice in this area, but we’ve listed our personal top 6 (in random order) below for you.

Freepik

Our favourite recourse for free stock pics is for sure Freepik. This website is a must for anyone active on social media or with content marketing. And it even goes beyond just photos. You can also download icons, vector/psd.ai files to customise later with photoshop or Illustrator. Best of all…the database is updated every day and we are sure you will find some relevant pictures here.

Unsplash

Unsplash’s database is impressive with more than 200,000 high-resolution photos. The platform grows daily with hundreds of new photos thanks to more than 40,000 photographers who have all made their photos available free of charge for both personal and commercial use. Visit website: https://unsplash.com/

Above we give the creator credits for his/her work, but this is not mandatory. We do it for blogs, but not for other pages on the website.

You can create an account on the website with which you can create your own collections. With an evening of inspiration you can easily create a beautiful collection where you can have a great time in your blogs or social posts. You can easily search for individual photos, but with each search term you immediately get to see the collections that others have already made on that search term.

Pixabay

Another very nice site with a lot of choice is Pixabay. This platform has over a million images to choose from and besides photos, it also has illustrations, vector files, illustrations and videos. As with Unsplash, you can use all materials freely and it is not mandatory to mention the source of the photo.

Pixabay is available in Dutch, so if your English is not too good, then this is probably a better option than Unsplash, for example. On Pixabay you can also create a free account with which you can save your favorite images, follow other users and even send messages.

Pexels

Pexels is a bit smaller than the other free stock photo services, but still a nice site to browse through. With an estimated 50,000 images, there’s always something in between for a blog post or a social post (maybe together with Canva). The database of Pexels grows monthly with about 3000 images, so it’s definitely worth a bookmark!

Magdeleine

One of the nicest free stock photo websites is Magdeleine. Although this platform does not have the offer of all previously mentioned websites, they make up for that with the quality of the photos. Magdeleine prides itself on the fact that all photos on the site have been personally selected on quality and nothing has been lied about. The many original images lend themselves perfectly to blogs or posts for inspiration. Especially if you do something in coaching or management we would definitely look for the tag “People” on the website.

Burst

Burst is a free photo database from Shopify (an e-commerce platform) and offers a nice collection of photos that you can use without mentioning any source. You can use and edit the photos commercially as well as non-commercially.

There is no need to create an account on this website and you can download photos in both low and high resolution. The latter is for example super handy if you need an image for printed matter such as a flyer or brochure. You can search the site in English, but you can also browse through various collections to see if there is something in between for you.

FML Marketing

Client that create a website or webshop with us always wget access to a number of paid stock photo services. For example, you can use up to 20 Freepik Premium photos to build your website or shop at no extra cost.

Thank you for reading our blog! FML Marketing is an online marketing agency, located in Alkmaar, The Netherlands and Estepona, Spain. We specialise in web design, SEO and PPC marketing campaigns.

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Questions? Feel free to contact us for free advice on photos and web design!

The post Free stock photos: 6 of our favourite websites appeared first on FML Marketing.

social media monitoring: 6 do’s & don’ts

DO: Assign a person responsible for monitoring within your organization

Social media is always on. Where messages used to spread more slowly, online reporting continues all day long. Even the smallest messages can affect your brand reputation. Within the organization, therefore, monitoring is not something you ‘just add to’. Certainly not at the moment that a crisis breaks out in which action is expected from your organization.

Think, for example, of a wrong reaction from a web care employee who goes viral or an accident about which reports are soon published via social media. Such events have a direct impact on a brand’s reputation. At that moment it is good to have a person who guides the process of media monitoring, informs the right people and does not panic. This person is extremely patient, can act quickly and thinks in terms of solutions.

DO: Use monitoring tools

To keep an eye on your organization’s reputation, you could hire someone to keep an eye on all channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) all day long. Fortunately, there are several useful and user-friendly tools available today that make social media monitoring a lot easier. Are you just starting media monitoring? A free tool such as Hootsuite offers easy solutions for different channels and offers you the possibility to respond via this tool.

Are you looking for a monitoring tool that can help you make a real difference in the field of reputation management? Then more advanced tools will help you out. Within such a tool it is possible to get graphs of volumes and scope of reporting, but it also offers the possibility of sentiment analysis, stakeholder monitoring and easy reports for internal use.

DO: Put relevant reputation pillars in place

To ensure optimum reputation management, it is important to focus on the pillars that are important for your organization. For example, by including the RepTrak© model in online media monitoring, you can measure the state of your brand’s reputation on a structural basis and where you may need to make adjustments. The model is based on seven dimensions with twenty-three characteristics and, with the right searches, can be easily integrated into a tool.

Does your organization appear online as an innovative company? Or do you show online that you are a sustainable company? By keeping an eye on this on a monthly, weekly or even daily basis, after a while you will gain insight into the online reputation of your brand. You can also see when situations threaten to get out of hand or when you have to make adjustments if you want to maintain or achieve the desired reputation.

DON’T: Lose your mind

The world of (social) media monitoring is enormous. The number of messages that organizations receive per day is sometimes between 1,000 and 10,000. Good monitoring helps you to get a clear overview of all these reports. Note: these are also messages that you might not have encountered in the normal course of business. An overview of these reports provides many new insights, which can lead to new ideas and solutions.

But you will also come across many negative reports that you have previously overlooked. Don’t panic! Look beyond the negativity and read carefully what your target group actually thinks. Are certain patterns visible? Or are the same people always negative? Map this out within the organization and think in terms of solutions. Monitoring can help you to actually adjust your reputation because you now have a good insight into what is being said about your brand. Think of it as a great opportunity from which your organization can benefit enormously.

DON’T: Ignore important questions or criticisms

Because monitoring provides you with more information, there is a good chance that there are also important and critical questions from consumers, external stakeholders, and interest groups, for example. In order to maintain or strengthen your reputation, it is important that you are able to answer these questions clearly. Put together the most important questions on a Q&A page (question-and-answer page).

Also, be aware that responses through public channels are visible to everyone. It is therefore even more important that you are unambiguous in the answers you give. Also, keep your organization’s customer service well informed of these questions. They are in direct contact with the customer and have a major impact on brand reputation. By responding quickly, clearly and unambiguously to important questions, your reputation will not be compromised.

DON’T: Forgot to ask questions yourself

Be constantly alert to changes in your customers’ purchasing behavior or the expectations they have. By constantly asking yourself how they see your brand and what they think of it, you can specifically monitor those answers.

For example, would you like to know how a recently launched campaign was received? Include this campaign name and related topics in your search. This gives you real-time insights into sentiment, volume, and media value around the campaign. Ask yourself such questions all the time, so that you can see whether the current strategy you are pursuing is a success or whether it needs to be worked on. Are you already aware of everything that is going on online around your organization? Or do you have any tips of your own? Let me know in a comment underneath this article!

Thank you for reading our article 6 do’s & don’ts of Social Media Monitoring. FML Marketing is a boutique digital marketing agency located in Estepona, Costa del Sol. We offer digital marketing solutions to small and medium-sized organizations. To learn more about our premium marketing services, please contact us for a personal approach.

The post 6 do’s & don’ts of Social Media Monitoring appeared first on FML Marketing.

Instagram has decided to ‘punish’ accounts that have bought followers, and likes, harder. In order to do so,The social media company has already developed tools for this purpose. These tools enable Instagram to recognize accounts that make use of this. One of the measures is, among other things, that accounts that are cheating will be asked to change their password. This immediately prevents third-party tools and companies that inadvertently have access to an Instagram account, can access the acounts.

Instagram influencers are a hot topic

Why? Well, actually everyone with an Instagram account is an influencer. Because even with few followers you are – if you notice a little – a nano-influencer. Especially if your Instagram account is thematic.

Instagram growth is a hot topic

Having a strong Instagram account, with many followers, is currently a massive challenge. Only those who have real media coverage will have a chance to reach a tremendous amount of followers. For large, or small accounts, the magic lies in having a lot of interaction. This is the sweet spot of where things are wrong.

Recognize fake Instagram followers

Needless to say, most accounts with an unickely lage amount of followers and likes are fake. You can recognize them, they are the private accounts, they have hardly any followers, sometimes have only posted five messages and the last one was in October 2017. Yet, they like your post and brands are overjoyed about it.

Shoot oneself in the foot

The market is in fact fooling itself. Because brands want to fully use and profit of all that authority on Instagram. But the people responsible for Instagram do not stick their heads in the sand. They are fully aware of the fact that if they want to boost their business model, they have to better monitor the quality of the platform. Whether that will work depends on the cleverness of the algorithm and the robots that have to carry out the cleaning. On the other side, the hackers and Insta-entrepreneurs who earn filthy stacks of cash by selling followers and likes, will not surrender without putting up a fight…

To be continued!

The post Instagram to hunt down fake followers and likes appeared first on FML Marketing.

These profiles are then converted into a business page by Facebook and usually, you can no longer join them. Therefore, just like me, be proactive and turn your personal Instagram into a business account. A business Instagram account also has the advantage that you get access to statistics and promotions. In this article, I will discuss the creation of a company profile, the statistics on Instagram and the option to promote Instagram messages.

Create a company profile

If you get the message from Instagram to make your business account a business account, you can follow that message. Sometimes you get the message that you are not a page manager, while you are. Then first do the following: First, link your Instagram to your personal Facebook page. Permission is then requested to be able to access the pages and you have to give them. Otherwise, you will not get any further. Then you can link your Instagram to your company page.

Company information on your profile

Then, you are enabled to click on the company profile almost at the bottom of settings. You then indicate with your page which information you want to share, such as your e-mail, telephone number, and address. If you have a store, you obviously want to share the address, but if you have an online business or no office where people can visit you can also keep the address for yourself and click on it. Then you can change or delete it.

Now there is a link next to your profile picture that people can click to email, call or to see your address. This can be very interesting because the step to do business with you via Instagram has become a lot smaller. Followers no longer need to go to your website first and find out everything there. It is now just a push of the button and you are in touch. Ideal!

Read also: Instagram and the use of hashtags

Or: Create your Instagram Business account now!

Instagram statistics

First, you had to check your statistics via external sites and grant them all kinds of permissions. Now you can check your statistics on Instagram yourself. If you click on the icon of the statistics in the app you will first get a kind of general page. This indicates how many people have seen your messages that week. Then you see the most popular messages, the time when your followers are online that day.

Views

In the views, you first see the total number of times your messages have been seen. Then you can swipe through and then you also see the number of people you have reached that week, how many people have seen your profile and how often you clicked through to your website.

Popular messages

In the popular messages, you can see which messages have been seen the most in the last 30 days. If you click through it you will get an overview with every number the number of how many times it has been seen.

Followers

For followers, the average time for your followers on Instagram is on the day you watch. If you click on more, you will also see how many followers you have and how many new you have received that week.Then you see the gender distribution of your followers. The ages of your followers, where you can also click on the gender for more specific insights, and you see where your followers come from. This may be important, especially for local companies. Because you want followers in your environment. At the bottom of the followers, you can click through to the other days of the week to see at which times your followers are online. This is useful for the best timing when posting messages.

Promote messages directly on Instagram

And therefore no longer via Facebook! It is the link with Facebook after a social medium that you can use individually for your online marketing activities and get people quickly on your website or on your phone. Promoting a message on Instagram is similar to promoting a message on Facebook. Would you like to know more about drafting, planning and promoting messages for Instagram? Then we can always help you with a workshop, social media coaching, or social media management.

The post Instagram for Business: Create company profile appeared first on FML Marketing.

Quantity and number of hashtags

Many people place as many hashtags under their a photo, with a maximum of 30 pieces. From now on Instagram will pay attention to the use of the same and the number of hashtags. If you always use the same 30 hashtags with each photo, it can now be that Instagram gives you the label ‘spammy’. Ultimately this can lead to a shadow ban!

A shadow ban is often used with spam accounts/bots, because it often has nothing to do with the site or the subject. The result is that the content is no longer visible to others. In the case of Instagram, this means that your own placed photo in your feed is shown normally. However, when other people search for corresponding hashtags, your photo is not shown.

How do you prevent this?

Below I give 3 tips on how to best use hashtags

1. Location of hashtags

Many people put their hashtags in the first comment of their post. It is recommended to always place the hashtags in the body of the post (the direct text below your photo).

2. The number of hashtags

It is recommended to use between 5 and 10 hashtags by mail. This way you prevent the ‘spam label’.

3. Which hashtags

Do not always use the same hashtags. Vary with hashtags by mail, this way you remain unique and Instagram does not give you the ‘spam label’. Win-win!

How to find more relevant #hashtags on Instagram

Besides scouting Instagram users manually to find the right hashtags, there are two more effective ways to get new and relevant hashtags. The first one is using the search bar in the top of your screen. If you choose the ‘tags’ tab, you will be able to search the popular tags.

The second option is a handy tool called Display Purposes. This simple, yet effective tool will search for more relevant hashtags, based on a hashtag (s) that you enter in the search box. Easy, fast and super effective!

FML Marketing – Social Media solutions Costa del Sol

Thank you for reading our Marketing blog. We try to share as many free tips as possible on our blog. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for more free insights or subscribe to our newsletter in the footer of the page. Or contact us if you are looking for a professional social media approach or social media content strategy.

The post #hashtags on Instagram: the dos & don’ts for 2018 appeared first on FML Marketing.

The benefits of video

The use of video has many positive effects. It is no coincidence that companies are increasingly opting to use video in their content strategy. These are the main advantages:

• You transfer more information in a shorter time because the brain processes images much faster than text. The information is also better remembered.
• When people watch a video, they stay on your website for longer. Thanks to the higher reading time, you will not only stay in the spotlight for longer, but your position in Google will also be strengthened.
• Whatever your marketing goal is: the effect will certainly increase with the aid of video! For example, you get more clicks in your newsletter, you sell more products on a sales page and you create more interaction on social media.

Different types of videos

Already convinced of the power of video? Beautiful! Then it is now time to compare the different forms. Not every type of video will fit your business (goals).

Ads
The oldest form of corporate videos is obviously commercials on television. And this form of advertising is also extremely popular. However, advertising in the form of video nowadays has many more possibilities. So you can also choose to show a short advertisement for specific YouTube videos. That way you can show the advertisement to a targeted audience, no matter what branch you work in. The result? More impact! It is important that the video is catchy and conveys a clear message within a very short time.

Product videos
Before you make an important purchase, it’s nice to know how the product works. In that case, images tell you more than words. Using a product video, you as a company can transfer important information in a playful and striking way. A product video can be inserted in different ways, namely:

Introduction: the characteristics of a new product
How to: extra explanation and instruction on the use of a product
Review: A comprehensive test of the product (sometimes compared to a similar product)

Webinar
When video is used as an educational form (with various speakers), we also call this a webinar. This is an effective way of conveying information because it has been proven that people can remember the message better thanks to a video. Interesting for (high) schools, but also for other organizations that want to transfer their expertise.

Do you want to inform your customers about your work or about a new approach? Then you can organize a webinar, for example with experts from the profession and professionals within your organization. A webinar is also an attractive internal communication tool for large companies. In this way, all employees are aware of important announcements, wherever they are. People can watch live, but in many cases, a webinar can also be watched.

Explanation videos in the form of animation
You want to transfer important information in the right way so that everyone understands you and memorizes the information. When it comes to complicated information, it is, therefore, wise to explain in the form of an animation. Airlines and hospitals, for example, opt for this form of explanation videos to ensure that the information is clear and understandable.

Social virals
It is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to stand out on social media. But when a message from a company generates genuine interaction, you can still count on a wide range. And let us now just have discovered that videos provide a higher interaction.

Are you succeeding on social media to generate a huge amount of interaction with a striking video? Then you are dealing with a viral. This is a video that quickly becomes extremely popular because people like to share the video with their friends. Incidentally, this is not the case with commercial videos. You have to respond smartly to the interests of your target group to score high here.

Business vlogs
Vlogging is no longer to be forgotten in the world of video in 2018. With a vlog, you can communicate with your target group in a personal way. In the first instance, vlogging was mainly reserved for ‘influencers’ who had already built up a large network of followers online. In their videos, they tell what interests them and occasionally share some sponsored content. Because when known vloggers recommend a product, this has a lot of influence on their followers.

Do you not have a big budget? Then vlogging still offers possibilities. Nowadays we also see companies that employ their own employees. There is even the possibility to hire a business vlogger. The impact of a relatively unknown person obviously differs from that of a known influencer. One of the people that significantly increased his reach with video blogging is American entrepreneur Grant Cardone.

Livestreams
Almost every social media channel is now equipped with the ‘live stream’ option. The name says it all: a live stream is a video that is played in real time. In principle, this is much like a webinar, but a live stream is to a lesser extent intended to convey knowledge and information. The atmosphere is more informal and personal. This is the perfect way to give a look behind the scenes or to let an employee speak for example. Keep in mind that you do not get a second chance to do it again.

Business story
Nowadays it is no longer just about ‘what’ an organization sells, but also about ‘why’ you sell this. People simply want to know what kind of company they have to deal with. By displaying your company story, your target group gets to know the personality behind the company. With your own vision, you can inspire them and build a deeper connection with them.

Testimonials
Besides the fact that people want to know who you are, they also want to know how others think about you. You can, therefore, choose to let satisfied customers speak in a testimonial. By showing the experiences of others in a transparent way, you come across as reliable and honest.

FML Marketing – Video Marketing content strategy

Are you interested in making a video for your company? Or are you curious what we would advise in this area? Let us know! At FML Marketing we are happy to help you! We are located on Avenida Litoral 45 Estepona and serve clients in the Netherlands, the UK, and Costa del Sol. (Gibraltar, Manilva, Estepona, San Pedro, Marbella, Málaga.)

The post Video marketing content strategy – Choose from these types of video appeared first on FML Marketing.

Social Media for your business

A professional social media strategy can really pay off for your business. Discover the benefits now, use the button here below!

Social Media packages

5 tips to use Instagram Stories for your company

The Instagram Stories feature has been around for a while and is being used by more than 300 million people worldwide. Not only is it interesting for personal accounts, but companies can also make good use of Instagram Stories.

Instagram Stories are images, boomerangs or short films that you can add to your Instagram account. Your content will then be visible to others for 24 hours (this is also called ephemeral content) and that is precisely the success of Stories. Stories responds to an important trend within marketing: FOMO (fear of missing out).

With these 5 handy tips to use Instagram Stories for your company, you can be sure that you will not miss any opportunities:

1. Set clear goals

The first step is always determining your goals. Think carefully about what you want to achieve with Stories. Do you want to give a look behind the scenes of your organization or promote a product and generate more traffic?

2. Consider the content and make a schedule

As soon as your goals are formulated clearly, you start working on creating and creating the content for your Stories. Make sure you make a clear plan … and you’re good to go! Leave some space for spontaneous actions or current events.

3. Place a link

Stories lend itself well to generating more traffic to your website. There is a big ‘but’ behind it, namely: you have 10,000 or more followers, otherwise you can not place a direct link to your Stories. Very sorry, but no panic. There is a convenient way to generate traffic with a smaller account.

You can – regardless of the number of followers – add a link in the bio on your Instagram profile. You can then state your organization in the Stories by clicking on ‘Aa’ (= function to add text) and then typing @your organization. In this way, you still refer the users to the link (in your bio).

4. Add Highlights

Nowadays it is also possible to store the temporary Stories as Highlights on your Instagram profile. Go to your Story and click on ‘Light’ in the bottom right corner. Ideal for example to highlight your products and generate more traffic.

5. Create a poll

Create interaction and increase engagement by simply adding a poll to your Stories. The poll has two answer options and is an excellent way to ask for the opinion or feedback from your followers. Make the poll a part of your story and involve your target audience in the process. By sharing the results of a poll you make voting more fun.

So you see that Instagram Stories is not only reserved for the individual users but that there are also many opportunities for companies. Get started, experiment and analyze what works best for your organization. Also, tell your story with Instagram Stories.

Do you want to know more about the successful use of social media? Contact FML Marketing now by leaving your details below, or give us a call at (+34) 6 50 80 12 43. 

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