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DIGITAL MARKETING: The Generative Engine Optimisation Virtuous Circle

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The Virtuous Circle of GEO Content: Aligning with Google’s EEAT and YMYL Standards

Introduction

The digital landscape has evolved dramatically in recent years, with search engines and generative AI tools becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they interpret and prioritise content. While Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) remains vital, forward-thinking organisations are now embracing Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) creating content that performs well not just in traditional search, but also as a foundation for AI-generated responses. When properly executed, this creates a virtuous circle that simultaneously satisfies the vital Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness (EEAT) and Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) which are Google’s requirements to rank.

Understanding GEO and Its Relationship with EEAT / YMYL

Generative Engine Optimisation refers to the practice of structuring content in ways that make it ideal for AI systems to comprehend, extract information from, and reference. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses primarily on keyword placement and technical optimisation, GEO prioritises clear information architecture, factual accuracy, comprehensive coverage, and proper attribution – qualities that perfectly align with Google’s EEAT standards.

The Virtuous Circle in Action

When businesses create content that excels in both SEO and GEO, a positive feedback loop emerges:

  1. Content Creation with EEAT at the Core: Producing content that demonstrates genuine expertise and provides valuable experiences for users.
  2. Enhanced Discovery: This high-quality content ranks well in traditional search results while also being favoured by generative engines for their responses.
  3. Amplified Reach: When generative engines cite your content, it drives additional visibility and traffic.
  4. Trust Building: Citations by trusted AI systems implicitly endorse your content’s reliability, enhancing your domain authority.
  5. Improved Rankings: The additional signals of quality and authority lead to better search rankings.
  6. More Data for Refinement: Increased visibility provides more user interaction data to further refine content.

Key Principles for GEO-Optimised Content

1. Structured Information

Content should be logically organised with clear headings, concise paragraphs, and well-defined sections. This structure makes it easier for both human readers and AI systems to extract and understand key information.

2. Factual Precision

Generative engines prioritise content that provides accurate, verifiable information. Citing credible sources, including relevant statistics, and maintaining factual rigour not only improves GEO performance but directly supports the Expertise and Trustworthiness components of EEAT.

3. Comprehensive Coverage

Content that thoroughly addresses a topic from multiple angles provides AI systems with a robust information base. This completeness signals expertise to both search algorithms and generative engines.

4. Clear Attribution

Properly attributing information, quotes, and research findings enhances trustworthiness. Generative engines are increasingly designed to value and reference content that itself follows good citation practices.

5. Regular Updates

Maintaining content currency demonstrates ongoing expertise and commitment to accuracy. Both search algorithms and generative engines favour recently updated content when recommending authoritative sources.

Balancing Human and Machine Audiences

The most successful GEO strategy recognises that content must serve dual masters providing genuine value to human readers while being optimally structured for machine interpretation. This balance is achieved by:

  • Writing in natural language that flows logically
  • Avoiding unnecessary jargon while maintaining industry-appropriate terminology
  • Including rich contextual information that enhances human understanding
  • Implementing structured data markup to aid machine comprehension
  • Focusing on answering genuine questions rather than simply targeting keywords

Measuring GEO Success

Traditional SEO metrics remain relevant, but GEO success requires additional measurement considerations:

  • Citation Tracking: Monitoring when generative engines reference your content in their outputs
  • Featured Snippets: Assessing selection for these prominent search features (which often feed into generative responses)
  • User Engagement: Analysing how users interact with content after finding it through AI-assisted search
  • Authority Growth: Tracking improvements in domain authority and topical authority metrics

Conclusion

As AI systems become more deeply integrated into how people discover and consume information, optimising for generative engines represents not just a tactical advantage but a strategic necessity. The virtuous circle created by GEO-optimised content that aligns with Google’s EEAT standards delivers sustained benefits; higher visibility, increased authority, and greater trust among both human users and the AI systems that increasingly mediate their online experiences.

By focusing on creating genuinely valuable content that serves real user needs whilst maintaining technical excellence, businesses can position themselves advantageously in both traditional search results and generative AI responses. This comprehensive approach to content strategy represents the future of digital visibility, one where quality, authority and trustworthiness are rewarded across all discovery channels.

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Steve Coulter has a 35+ year sales and marketing career both pre & post Internet. A serial innovator and early adopter of technology and new media. In a world of recombinant business ideas and disruption, increasingly involved in digital transformation and the cutting edge of search. I enjoy partnering with companies who scan the horizon and wish to stay ahead of the competition. 

DIGITAL MARKETING: US Real Estate & U.K. Estate Agency Improvement Packages

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US Real Estate & U.K. Estate Agency Digital Presence Transformation

Transform Your Real Estate Agency Business Online: My Expert Digital Enhancement Package ‘Business Boost’

Is your real estate agency website and digital marketing underperforming? Are potential clients choosing your competitors?

My Audit-Fix-Maximise program delivers immediate improvements and generates more qualified leads and closed deals.

What You’ll Get:
– Comprehensive website and Google Business Profile audit
– Search Engine Optimised content creation tailored to real estate audiences
– Strategic digital marketing alignments with Google’s critical EEAT and YMYL guidelines
– Technical optimisations to improve your visibility in both traditional and AI-powered search

Why Act Now?
In today’s challenging market, your competitors are already enhancing their digital presence. Every day without optimisation means missed opportunities and lost revenue. My proven system has helped real estate professionals increase website traffic and build trust by lifting the Google Review Score from 4.2 to 4.7

Choose Your Performance Level:
Whether you need fundamental improvements or comprehensive digital transformation, we offer customised packages designed specifically for real estate professionals looking to dominate their local market.

Affordable digital transformation packages from only £150 – £400 to set up the programme for success. Contact me to discuss your business, objectives and goals for the programme.

Contact me today.

Call: +44(0)7407 038877 (+WhatsApp)
Email: steve@stevecoulter.co.uk

SCC – Simple – Creative – Cost Effective

DIGITAL INTEL: Hot Topic – Mastering AI Prompts

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Digital Intel. April 2025 Newsletter. Mastering AI Prompts

 

Your Guide On How To Obtain The Most Accurate Results From AI Apps

In today’s AI-powered world, the quality of your outputs depends largely on the quality of your inputs. Whether you’re using ChatGPT, Perplexity, or other AI assistants, your prompting technique can dramatically impact the accuracy and usefulness of the responses you receive. This guide provides effective methods to craft prompts that extract the most precise and helpful information from AI applications. Honestly, working with (& playing on) AI apps is addictive and I’m finding these resources invaluable for business and for achieving top results.

Be Specific and Detailed

Vague requests yield vague responses. Instead of asking “Tell me about climate change,” try “Explain the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and rising sea levels, including current scientific consensus on projected sea level rise by 2050.” The more context and specificity you provide, the more tailored and accurate the response will be.

Use the Chain of Thought Technique

When seeking accurate answers to complex problems, ask the AI to work through its reasoning step by step. For example: “Please solve this probability problem step by step, showing your work at each stage and explaining your reasoning.” This approach helps the AI organise its thinking and reduces errors, particularly for mathematical or logical problems. I like Deepseek because the app shows you it’s working prior to the result. It’s sometimes fascinating to watch the process. (Geek)

Provide Examples

Show the AI exactly what you’re looking for by providing examples. If you want a specific format or style, demonstrate it: “Please generate three product descriptions following this example: [Product: Eco-friendly Water Bottle] This sleek, sustainable water bottle keeps drinks cold for 24 hours whilst helping reduce plastic waste. Made from recycled materials, it features a leak-proof lid and comes in four vibrant colours.”

Set Clear Parameters

Define the scope, length, and format you want: “Write a 300-word summary of quantum computing fundamentals suitable for sixth form students. Include 3-4 key concepts and avoid technical jargon.” Use Role Prompting. Ask the AI to adopt a specific perspective or expertise: “As an experienced climate scientist with background in oceanography, explain how ocean acidification affects marine ecosystems.”

Iterative Refinement [Important]

Don’t expect perfection on the first try. Start with a basic prompt, then refine based on the response:

1. Initial: “Tell me about effective teaching methods.”

2. Refinement: “Based on your previous response, elaborate specifically on inquiry-based learning techniques for secondary school science classes.”

Request Alternative Perspectives

To avoid bias and get more comprehensive information: “Present three different viewpoints on the economic impacts of universal basic income, including supporting evidence for each perspective.”

Specify Your Audience

Tell the AI who the information is for: “Explain how neural networks function to an audience of business executives with limited technical background.”

Use Formatting Instructions

Request specific structuring of information: “Create a comparison of electric vs. hybrid vehicles in a two-column format addressing: initial cost, maintenance expenses, environmental impact, and driving range.”

Ask for Confidence Levels

For factual queries, ask the AI to indicate its confidence: “Explain the current understanding of dark matter in astrophysics, and indicate your confidence level for different aspects of your explanation.”

Request Citations

For research-based content: “Provide an overview of recent developments in mRNA vaccine technology, citing specific research where possible.”

Test With Counterfactuals

Challenge the AI’s reasoning: “After explaining why diversification is important in investing, describe a hypothetical scenario where diversification might not be advantageous.”

Frame Complex Problems

Break down complex requests into clearly defined components: “I need help creating a marketing strategy. Please address: 1) target audience identification, 2) competitive positioning, 3) key messaging, and 4) channel selection.”

Conclusion

The art of prompt engineering is increasingly valuable as AI tools become more integrated into our workflows. By implementing these techniques, you’ll not only receive more accurate responses but also develop a more productive relationship with AI assistants. Remember that prompting is iterative, practice and refinement will help you discover which approaches work best for your specific needs.

The most effective prompt engineers understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI systems, setting realistic expectations whilst knowing how to push these tools to deliver their best possible outputs.

Naturally, these skills are not for every business owner, entrepreneur or busy manager. I provide affordable consultancy for digital marketing, content creation, SEO, AI optimisation and as a business enthusiast I enjoy seeing the improvement and extra profit generated by our partnership. Please contact me to discuss how we might work together.

COMMENTARY: How To Avoid Area 14 Syndrome

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SME Business Owners: How To Avoid Area 14 Syndrome.

During the Nineties I managed car sales at a franchised car dealership. We were savvy negotiating targets with all suppliers, as a consequence with application, quality of service & great local marketing, our team hit higher target bands to maximise the bonuses. However, I specifically avoided those conversations with other managers & owners who complained about everything; the franchise, their target, local activity and how everything was so difficult. Not so easy in an era of telephone negotiated dealer stock swaps for sold orders, but we had a great team & I didn’t make all the calls. When we hit 140% of sales target AKA the big bucks while the majority were on 90% I named it ‘Area 14 Syndrome’.

I’m talking about this because right now it’s so easy to talk the economy and business down. The news, OMG it’s so negative. Either the national or international news, or on social media. There’s never been a time like it. Twenty four hours. Relentless.

So, it’s incumbent on you and I as business owners and managers to be self-starters and move the dial, because nobody is going to do it for us.

First up, for example; let’s try not to let the seemingly arbitrary new Trump Tariffs affect our mood, conversation, or how we perceive our own business is going to alter as a result. The US Dollar has strengthened against the Great British Pound blah blah blah.. There’s a thousand outcomes, they’re not all bad.

Secondly, the government has a big job rebooting a U.K. economy that’s flat and dominated by major corporations and monopolies. How do you motivate businesses already making £Billions to sell more? But we’re not thinking about them.

In 2025, a vital foundation for your company is an effective, reliable website. Take a look at yours and check how well it represents your business, attracts sales and addresses the typical problems you might need to overcome such as;

Communicating your capabilities
Generating leads
Specialist recruitment
Building trust
Managing complex sales and manufacturing cycles
Differentiating your business from competitors
Adopting new technologies
Supply chain communication
After-sales support and technical documentation
Expansion into new markets and translation.

These are just a few of the typical problems SME sized businesses in industry need to overcome. You could do worse in February to audit your business website to see which of those require attention, the last time they were altered, or indeed any others you can think of. What will make you more profit?

If my ‘Half Full Essay’ resonates and you would like to work with an enthusiastic Digital Marketing supplier then please contact me, I’ve a great team for any project.

MARKETING PHILOSOPHY: Key Components

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Having confirmed solid foundations in the business and marketing strategy these are the components of a successful marketing campaign.

This typically involves several key components that work together to achieve specific business objectives. Here are some of the most critical elements:

Clear Objectives and Strategy
Goals: Define what the campaign aims to achieve, such as increasing brand awareness or boosting sales.
Strategy: Develop a comprehensive plan that outlines how these goals will be met, including target audience identification and messaging.

Understanding the Market and Audience
Market Research: Conduct thorough research to understand the target audience’s needs, preferences, and behaviours.
Segmentation and Targeting: Identify specific segments of the market to target with tailored messaging.

Compelling Message and Content
Message Clarity: Craft a clear and compelling message that resonates with the audience.
Content Creation: Develop engaging content that captures attention and conveys the intended message effectively.

Media and Channel Selection
Media Channels: Choose the most effective channels to reach the target audience, such as social media, email, or traditional media.
Cross-Channel Integration: Ensure a seamless experience across multiple channels to maximise reach and engagement synergy.

Budget and Resource Allocation
Budget Planning: Establish a budget that accounts for all campaign costs and potential risks.
Resource Allocation: Ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to support campaign execution and evaluation.

Execution Plan and Timing
Project Plan: Develop a detailed project plan that outlines timelines, milestones, and responsibilities.
Timing: Identify the optimal moments to launch and adjust the campaign based on audience receptivity.

Monitoring and Evaluation
KPIs: Set key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure campaign success, such as sales revenue, customer retention, or ROI.
Continuous Evaluation: Regularly assess campaign performance and make adjustments as needed to optimise results.

So…
By integrating these components, businesses can create effective marketing campaigns that drive engagement, conversions, and long-term brand success.

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Steve Coulter is a sales & marketing consultant & creative with 35+ years in senior leadership & entrepreneurship, primarily in automotive & online. A tech-savvy early adopter helping businesses evolve & grow.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

First published on Linked-In,

MARKETING PHILOSOPHY: It’s All About The Basics

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Today’s weblog post: Ensuring Solid Business and Marketing Fundamentals Before Launching New Campaigns & Initiatives.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses often rush to adopt the latest marketing trends and technologies, hoping to quickly capture market share and boost brand visibility. However, this approach can lead to fleeting success if the foundational elements of marketing are not solid. Cementing business and marketing fundamentals before embarking on new advertising and marketing campaigns is crucial for achieving long-term success and building a sustainable brand.

Understanding the Customer

At the heart of successful marketing is a deep understanding of the customer. This involves recognising the hierarchy of needs, wants, and demands, as well as segmenting the market to identify the most relevant target audience. By focusing on customer needs and preferences, thereby solving problems, businesses can create products and services that truly resonate with their audience, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

A Strong Value Proposition

A well-defined value proposition is essential for differentiating a company from its competitors and communicating why customers should choose its products or services. This proposition should clearly articulate the unique benefits and solutions offered by the business,  your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) ensuring that marketing efforts are aligned with the company’s overall mission and vision.

Building a Comprehensive Marketing Strategy

A solid marketing strategy serves as the blueprint for achieving business objectives. It involves setting clear, measurable goals, identifying the target audience, and selecting appropriate marketing channels to reach them. By focusing on core marketing principles, such as the four Ps (product, price, promotion, and place), businesses can create a cohesive marketing mix that effectively influences customer purchasing decisions.

Measuring Success and Adapting

To ensure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, it’s vital to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly monitor progress. This allows businesses to identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions about future marketing efforts. By staying grounded in fundamental marketing principles, companies can adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining a consistent brand image and message.

So…

While the allure of new marketing trends and technologies can be strong, it’s essential to prioritise the fundamentals of business and marketing. By understanding the customer, crafting a compelling value proposition, building a comprehensive marketing strategy, and continuously measuring success, businesses can lay the groundwork for successful marketing campaigns that drive sustainable growth and foster enduring customer relationships. In a world where marketing landscapes are constantly evolving, relying on proven marketing fundamentals ensures that businesses remain competitive and relevant over time.

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Steve Coulter is a sales & marketing consultant & creative with 35+ years in senior leadership & entrepreneurship, primarily in automotive & online. A tech-savvy early adopter helping businesses evolve & grow.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

First published on Linked-In

MARKETING: The Weak Ad Threat

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I spend time researching advertising and too often struck by weak, unfocused and what can only be described as complacent ads.

Advertisements without a strong call to action (CTA) are burning money. Here’s why:

The CTA Imperative. Without a clear directive, potential customers are left confused and unmotivated. CTAs serve as critical signposts guiding users toward the next step in their customer journey.

👀 Key Pitfalls of Weak Copy
– No clear user direction
– Missed conversion opportunities
– Reduced audience engagement
– Lack of psychological motivation

✅ Pro Tips for Improvement
– Use strong, action-oriented verbs
– Create a sense of urgency
– Make CTAs visually prominent
– Clearly communicate the value proposition

Remember: Your copy should not just inform, but ‘inspire action’. Every advertisement is an opportunity to convert interest into tangible results. If the advert is aimed at a specific sector or group have follow up adverts ready to run as a reminder and to be consistent.

Run the rule over each ad.

✅ Great headline

✅ Engaging & informative copy

✅ Call To Action

It’s not 💥💥💥🚀

 

First published on Linked-in.

Contact me if my ‘Do The Simple Things Well’ philosophy resonates.

As ever Like, Share & Follow my social media posts the links are above. 

DIGITAL MARKETING: The New Kid On The Block.

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I’m going to introduce you to an innovation around Internet search you have possibly not heard about, but will undoubtedly dominate the conversation (excuse the pun) in the near future.

Every now and then there’s a paradigm shift that alters the way we behave and that moves from something niche, to serious mainstream. Have you ever read Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point? I recommend it to anyone interested in human behaviour and especially where everyday technology applies.

If you are relying upon your website and its performance in search and in 2025 that means Google, you need to understand there is a new kid on the block who is not going away.

That’s ‘Conversational Search’ or CCAI to give it the correct acronym. The usurper of SEO?

Have you noticed how you might have started to use conversational language in the search field? Example a search ‘Rolex For Sale Near Me’ becomes ‘What are the most popular new luxury watches that hold their value?’.

If people are searching the latter and you’ve optimised your site only to rank on Google or with less relevancy or authoritative information you won’t do so well in CCAI, that could have profound effects on your business. As the investment guru Warren Buffet says ‘If you have all your eggs in one basket, you better keep an eye on the basket’. I’d put money on the majority of business owners being myopic about their Google ranking with little interest in alternatives. Let’s be honest, people like me exist because many businesses are not even strong on Google!

So, is CCAI the future of online information retrieval? In January 2025, the landscape of online search is rapidly evolving. CCAI is gaining traction and challenging the traditional search paradigm nowadays dominated by Google. But could it replace the search giant and undermine our SEO tactics? I’m old enough to remember the Nineties where ranking, even inclusion on Yahoo was vital to search success. Anyone remember Alta Vista?

Advantages of Conversational AI Search

  1. Natural Interactions: Users can ask questions in their own words, making the search process more intuitive and user-friendly.
  2. Direct Answers: Instead of a list of links, CCAI provides concise, contextually relevant responses, saving time and effort. Great for research.
  3. Personalisation: AI can tailor responses based on user preferences and previous interactions, offering a more personalised experience.

Challenges and Limitations

  1. Accuracy Concerns: While improving, we’re still at ‘Ford Model T’ stage, AI can still misinterpret queries or provide incomplete information.
  2. Data Recency: Traditional search engines often have more up-to-date information, crucial for current events and rapidly changing topics.
  3. Comprehensive Results: Google’s vast index and sophisticated algorithms still provide a broad range of sources and perspectives although have you noticed how dated many search results are nowadays?
  4. Self Referencing: A real issue with AI is self referencing, where results from AI are included in new website content, thus in time overemphasise importance.

My Verdict

While Conversational AI search is making significant strides, it’s unlikely to completely replace Google in the near future. Instead, we’re moving towards a complementary ecosystem where both technologies coexist, each serving different user needs and preferences. As professionals, it’s crucial to stay informed about these advancements and consider how they might impact our industries. We’ve become complacent with Google SEO fettling, the future of these new search alternatives is exciting, and it’s clear AI will have a role in reshaping it.

What are your thoughts on the future of search? Have you begun to use conversational language in your Internet searches? What will you do to create content that searches effectively in all models?

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As ever, please Like, Share, Save and Follow and please contact me if you would like to discuss improving your digital marketing and growth strategy.

DIGITAL MARKETING: 5 Great Small Business Growth Tips

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5 Affordable Digital Marketing Tips to Grow Your Small Business

Growing a small business can feel like an uphill battle, especially when your budget is tight. But with the right strategies, you don’t need a huge marketing budget to see great results. Here’s a breakdown of five powerful (and affordable!) tactics you can start using today to boost your visibility and attract more customers.

1. Affordable SEO Services for Small Businesses

SEO doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. Small businesses can start by focusing on local SEO, optimise your site for local search terms, claim your Google Business Profile, and build backlinks from local directories. You can also use free SEO tools like Google Search Console or Semrush to help find keywords and fix any site issues that might be holding back your rankings.

Quick Tip: Write blog posts that answer common customer questions – Google loves content that solves problems.

2. How to Improve Social Media Engagement for Business

Getting likes and shares is great, but the real gold in social media is engagement. To build a loyal audience, you need to post content that sparks a conversation. Use interactive posts like polls, Q&A sessions, and live videos. Share behind-the-scenes moments, success stories, and most importantly, respond to comments. The more personal you get, the more people will engage.

Quick Tip: Ask open-ended questions to encourage followers to share their thoughts- it’s an easy way to get the conversation started.

3. Lead Generation Strategies for Local Businesses

For local businesses, lead generation is all about getting noticed by people in your area. Start by partnering with local influencers or complementary businesses to cross-promote. You can also create location-based offers, like exclusive discounts for nearby residents. Don’t forget about paid search ads on Google or Facebook targeting your local area—these are a cost-effective way to put your business in front of the right people.

Quick Tip: Offer a special promotion tied to local events or holidays to attract more foot traffic and leads.

4. Low-Cost Google Business Page Setup

One of the most effective ways to get more local traffic is by setting up and optimising your Google Business Profile (GBP). It’s free and helps your business show up in local search results. Fill out every section of your profile, including hours of operation, business description, and photos. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews—more reviews mean higher rankings in local search results.

Quick Tip: Add posts and updates to your Google Business Profile regularly to keep your listing active and engaging.

5. How to Boost Online Visibility for SMEs

If you want to be seen, you need to be everywhere your audience is. Combine SEO, social media marketing, and content marketing for a comprehensive visibility strategy. Focus on creating valuable content that your audience cares about, whether it’s blog posts, videos, or infographics. Use paid ads to reach new customers, but balance it with a strong organic presence to build long-term trust.

Quick Tip: Use data from tools like Google Analytics to track what’s working and tweak your approach based on real insights.

Conclusion: Ready to Grow Your Business Without Breaking the Bank?

These strategies are affordable, effective, and easy to implement. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, there’s something here for every small business. Get in touch today for a Free Consultation, and let’s create a personalised plan to help you grow your business and boost your online visibility and ultimately, profit.

DIGITAL MARKETING: 5 Top Strategies For SME Businesses

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In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, staying ahead is crucial. Especially for SMEs trying to compete with larger competitors and their budgets! From SEO tactics to social media growth, here’s a quick guide to five key strategies every small business owner should be mastering right now.

1. Digital Marketing Strategies for SME

Small businesses often have limited budgets, but that doesn’t mean they can’t outsmart the competition. A smart strategy blends organic and paid tactics to maximise visibility. Focus on high-ROI channels like local SEO to dominate search results in your area and social media marketing to engage directly with your audience. The key? Target the right people with the right message, and don’t be afraid to experiment with low-cost PPC campaigns to supplement organic growth.

Quick Tip: Don’t stretch yourself thin. Pick 2-3 digital marketing channels that align with your audience and double down.

2. SEO Tips for Small Businesses

SEO can seem like a puzzle, but with the right pieces it’s a great way to boost traffic. Start by optimising your website for local search with Google Business Profile, ensuring you’re visible in local searches. Then focus on on-page SEO—ensure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, and packed with high-quality content that answers your customers’ questions. Don’t forget to build backlinks from relevant sites; they’re SEO gold.

Quick Tip: Consistently publish valuable, keyword-optimised content. Google loves fresh material.

3. Social Media Marketing for Business Growth

Whether you’re a B2B or B2C business, social media is your direct line to customers. But simply posting isn’t enough—you need to create content that resonates. Tap into user-generated content, behind-the-scenes stories, and interactive polls to get your audience involved. Additionally, running paid ads on platforms like Facebook or Instagram can give your brand an immediate visibility boost.

Quick Tip: Video content is king. Short, engaging clips grab attention and drive engagement more than any other format. Which video platform is best for you? Think about Instagram Reels, YouTube or TikTok?

4. Content Marketing Strategies for B2B

B2B content marketing isn’t about volume; it’s about delivering the right information to the right decision-makers. Educational blog posts, white-papers, and case studies are your bread and butter here. Focus on thought leadership to position your brand as the expert in your field. And don’t forget to promote your content across LinkedIn and industry-specific forums to extend your reach.

Quick Tip: Repurpose your content—turn a blog post into a webinar, infographic, or video to maximise its impact.

5. Digital Marketing Trends for 2024

Looking ahead, AI tools are helping businesses automate and optimise everything from content creation to customer segmentation, while hyper-personalisation tactics are becoming more advanced.

Quick Tip: Stay agile—2024 will reward businesses that quickly adapt to new technologies and trends.

Conclusion: Ready to Take Your Marketing to the Next Level?

Don’t just read about it—take action! Implement these strategies and watch your business grow. Want more tailored advice on how to boost your digital marketing? Just Call for a free consultation, and let’s get started on transforming your marketing strategy into a powerful profit and business growth engine.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Black Tie / White Noise

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Noisy neighbours.

There are various types of learning styles. Visual, Auditory (hearing), Reading, Kinesthetic (touch, or tactile learners). What’s your preference? Over the years I’m aware my own is a combination of reading and listening. Then particularly with quotes or important dates, writing out passages and even associating dates by breaking them down and attaching to words cognitively.

Auditory learners are able to ascertain the true meaning of spoken words by listening to changes in tone and build trust from tempo, tone and timbre. They are also good at writing responses to lectures (hand up here). It’s claimed that auditory learners prefer background sound and work better while learning. I’m listening to an album on the HiFi – and louder than you might imagine with no loss of concentration. Auditory learners are great storytellers, solve problems by talking them through and respond well to sound or voice oriented information.

It’s no surprise then that I have taken to Social Audio aka Interactive Podcasting. The pioneer app in this space Clubhouse, is now a year old and new entrants, Twitter Spaces and Spotify Greenroom (aka ‘Greenhouse’​ to hardcore Clubhouse users) are capitalising on the popularity.

If so many learn by listening and a combination of the above, then it’s not that Social Audio should be a surprise but that it’s taken over a decade to arrive. Like all disruptors, why didn’t we all see it coming?

Over the past few days so much debate and comparison between Clubhouse and Greenroom. To paraphrase the great Sir Alex Ferguson, Greenroom is the ‘Noisy neighbour’​ there is nothing to be done by any platform in relation to competition except remain on the planned course and introduce upgrades to ensure an excellent and stable experience for the user. A point that I keep coming back to though is that all professionals will choose whichever app suits them and offers the greatest Return On TIME Invested, and that all competition only breeds improvement in performance and service. In other words, choose your weapon and let the provider make your experience as enjoyable as possible. I have no doubt though that people who arrive at the Greenroom app via the Spotify homepage/podcast section will learn of Clubhouse, perhaps pay a visit and stay if they prefer the greater visual appeal of white space, are an older demographic and a more sophisticated user. The more frantic, with smaller icons, reversed out (dark mode background) Greenhouse will thrive on younger, music and creative themed topics (& hopefully for them) along with the predominantly sports user base they inherited when they purchased the Locker Room app to modify and relaunch.

For me, I have invested four months on and off with Clubhouse and have 600 organic followers who have either appreciated my commentary or profile. I see no point in trying to establish myself on alt.voice platforms and will enjoy the development of the app’s features and the arrival of more like minded, creative thinkers, the like I have come to make the acquaintance of since March.

Come and find me to say hello, I am @ thestevecee on the app.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Back To The Futurism 3

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Futurist Preamble Ramble Pt.3:

The Clubhouse app analogy. Like attracts like, people follow those they respect and meet more like minded, all these people invite their friends to join the app and a ripple effect of like minded & a virtuous circle. An app that existed before the pandemic but floundering, came alive when we were stuck at home and realised that interactive podcasting meant you could contribute to the discourse of your pet subjects and interests. Typically, the larger platforms are now on the bandwagon with their own offerings. Speaking and sound was the last of the senses to be properly catered for by Social Media, the effect of hearing tone in someone’s voice is more personal than text creating an unexpected hit. Unexpected seems to be a thread.

At the creator level, ideas from people across the world are disseminated and applied to individual markets. Collaboration is a natural effect.

On a buyer level, obviously influencers are embedded, but micro influencers are targeting a smaller niche audience from subsets of interests. It’s simpler to market a niche product or service than larger.

How many have dyed their own hair during the pandemic and how many have sought reviews online? Some ultra agile smaller brands have capitalised mightily in the last twelve months by creating simple to use products and receiving rave reviews. The rise of the #RavingFan !

Social Media Groups are simple to create and market to. Brands who interact at a quantum level in these forums build trust in a subscriber that they are the most qualified supplier of goods and services (Social Listening). Backed up by encouraging great feedback within these forums and the Internet in general. Your brand’s clean fingerprints have never been more vital in a world where you simply cannot erase a poor review.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Back To The Futurism 2

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Futurist Preamble Ramble Pt.2

Creatives can use Blockchain as a method of dating and copyrighting their output – Intellectual Property is becoming critical when nation states are prepared to steal copy ideas and products. Leading creatives will create a Cryptocoin that reflects any rise in their stock. Imagine investing in designers Johnny Ive, Dieter Rams or architect Frank Lloyd Wright stock at the beginning of their careers.

The development of creator to brand exchanges where creatives will bid for work and brands can pick from the most competitive and creative talent to bring new messages to their customers.

We have only scratched the surface of the effect of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency. There is nothing to prevent well known brands jumping this bandwagon, encouraging investment in their coin generating interest bearing tokens that can be exchanged for limited edition products, uniquely offered sale goods and media launches and cross brand endorsements. Brands expanding outside of the regular economy into the decentralised economy that even countries like the newly independent Great Britain*, a G7 economy are considering entering – maybe tied into Free Port policies.
*I am Remainer lol but we are stuck with Brexit so we have to make it work.

In summary, a new breed of independently funded creators will provide infinite new competitively priced content to brands wishing to personalise their offerings to a savvy consumer.

Convenience
Consumers want Ease, Speed, Reliability & Consistency.

The rise of apps. Expedited delivery. Free Returns

Tribes & Influences
People want advice from like-minded people or people they admire & respect. We all want to belong.

They want to support brands they relate to and admire too. Cont.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA: Back To The Futurism

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More of the brainstorming from last week’s futurist marketing think tank.

Futurist Preamble Ramble Pt.1

The pandemic has enabled work from home and freelance culture. #WFH This was coming down the tracks with inevitable automation of industries but accelerated due to national lockdown policies. Home schooling (Child & Adult) and public service broadcasting was simply enabled to accommodate this. Surely a key to future economic prosperity would be a permanent extension of learning via television and Internet resources.

Millions of people around the world may become or are already unemployed or soon to be laid off when stimulus and furlough ends. Disruptors will radically alter industries like banking and law one by one as the dots are joined between industries to create recombination businesses like Air BnB and Uber. These were unthinkable a decade ago, but technology and the acceptance to use apps on smart phones by the general public plus price competition is fuelling this rise. The more sophisticated the apps become the more personalised and effective the offering will be to sectors of the demographic.

Already AI embedded plug-ins will track your e-commerce website journey and pigeon hole your behaviour then tailor a specific discount or offering to your buyer type. Rather like the person in a store who makes a purchase when an assistant only has to say “Have you tried the orange top with the blue skirt?” Until now sites like Etsy could only offer you a blanket discount across your range, added to their commission this was prohibitive. Imagine how profit can be increased when on an individual basis you offer only what you need to give to gain a sale? Or recognise a re-visitor who wants something no longer in a sale but would buy with a small incentive.

The New Creator Economy means self employed freelance creators will need to be ultra creative and competitive to create content and bandwidth to make an income. I’ve started using the hashtag #ultracreatives

These will be prolific, high quality content creators.

Cont.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Brainstorming The Future

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Apologies for neglecting my weblog posts, reality keeps me from what I love to do. Some unfinished brainstorming for a Clubhouse friend prior to her Digital (Auto) Dealer Conference presentation ‘Digital Dopamine’ in Florida last week. Broken down into four Instagram posts there’s content in here to apply to your overall thinking. I enjoy applying my experience in retailing and retail advertising / marketing and adding in current shifts in buying trends and expectation. Of course also what is state of the art coming down the tracks at us all. If you’d like to add commentary and your own ideas as a collaborator please feel free to do so in the comments. As ever, please Like, Comment, Share & Save especially the latter which are vital to being on the correct side of the altered Instagram Algorithm. Are you aware of this? The brief was to think tank external influence on selling mid pandemic, post pandemic and through the era of disruptive businesses. Feel free to contact me if you would like to add to the discourse, it’s an ongoing project.

1.Path to sale

Tribes & Influences, Restrictions, Budget, World View, Brand Values (fairness, Green, ethical investors etc.) The Big Picture, Media, Contemporaries, Dominating Values, Funding, Research

2.Inspiration & Decision

Brand attitude to staff and customers, Socially Aware, Reaction to newly taboo methods like fast fashion, plastics etc. Personalisation, Greater Purpose, Entertainment, Engagement, Trust,

3.Buying Experience

Convenience, Feeling Appreciated & Valued.

4.The Sale & Follow Up = Path To Next Sale

Serving (Explaining & serving not selling) Simplicity, Speed, Courtesy.

5.The Future

The End Of Pandemic (Withdrawal of stimulus, furlough), The Creator Economy, Blockchain uses. More recombination industry disruptors. Social Funding / Universal Basic Income – impossible to avoid?Security & Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, 5G / Internet of Things, Sensitive to Sustainability, Protection of Employment, Reduce Consumption, Re-Use & Repair, Alt. Energy & Products Yet Unknown, Gamification, Transhumanism.