Author - Dana

Are You Considering a New Digital Provider?

Update: Facebook shuttered Jobs on Facebook (February 2023) and Instant Articles (April 2023) Are you an ad agency considering or perhaps re-evaluating how to manage all your digital advertising for clients? Whether you are a one-person agency, a startup, or a team of seasoned professionals, everyone reaches the point where they can not efficiently do it all on their own....

OTT & On-Site Visit Tracking: Two Great Strategies Come Together

In my last blog OTT/Connected TV AND On-Site Visit Tracking has ARRIVED, I referenced the Jetsons and Saturday morning cartoons, which I know showed my age. If you are old enough to have experienced Saturday morning cartoons and the Jetsons, you may also recognize this next reference as well! During those Saturday morning cartoon marathons, we also had awesome...

OTT/Connected TV AND On-Site Visit Tracking has ARRIVED

When I was younger, ok MUCH younger, I used to watch the Jetsons during Saturday morning cartoons. If you are not familiar, the Jetsons was about a futuristic family that premiered in 1962 and it was set 100 years in the future, so 2062. So, what did the Jetsons predict that is already here in 2021? Well, things like...

Age is not important unless you’re cheese, or an advertiser

Helen Hayes was very wise to compare age to cheese. She additionally said, “Childhood is a short season” and isn’t that the truth. Age really is just a number, unless you are targeting a digital campaign then it is totally a new restriction. Picture it, Summer of 2021, I’m visiting my parents with my teenage sons in tow and decide to...

Are you maximizing your Pay-Per-Click campaigns? Responsive, Dynamic and Call Ads bring more possibilities than ever.

Pay-Per-Click Ads, Google Ads (formerly Ad Words), Paid Search Ads, it all means the same thing. Not only do these types of ads have a lot of names, but they also have a lot of new options to consider.  If you are currently offering these ads to your clients, or maybe just thinking about offering these types of ads,...

What are the most common objections to using digital advertising?

More and more companies are including digital advertising as a critical component to their marketing strategies. However, there are still some companies out there who have not yet jumped in, or maybe have jumped in and didn’t like the results. We know how important digital is and how big of an impact it can make for small and medium sized...

What digital products work best when Targeting a Hispanic Audience?

All of them. That’s right, you have more flexibility and targeting options than ever before to reach Hispanic consumers with digital ads. Want to try Social Mirror™? Check out this comprehensive (and not even complete!) list of possible behavioral categories to choose from! The same exhaustive list can also be used to target with Display Ads, Native Ads, Online Audio...

OTT/Video Pre-Roll/Linear TV…What’s The Difference?

Video ads keeping getting more popular with advertisers and brands are seeing the value. 85% of brands use video marketing in 2020, which is up from 63% in 2017. According to the iab, nearly 3 in 4 buyers are planning to increase their digital video ad spend in the next 12 months, and nearly two-thirds of digital budgets are allocated...

Are Social Mirror Ads Working for Businesses?

The answer to that is a resounding YES! If you are not familiar with what Social Mirror Ads are, first have a look at my last blog and explore more details here. In a nutshell, Social Mirror ads mimic the look and feel of top social media platforms. However, the ads appear not on the social platforms, but on...

What are Social Mirror Ads?

It can be difficult to decide which social media channels to advertise on. Are you good on Facebook and Instagram or do you need to be on TikTok and Snapchat as well? What about LinkedIn and Pinterest or is that spreading the budget and audience too thin? How do you do all the things? Enter Social Mirror Ads! (Click on...

Are your digital political ads ready to go?

If you are talking to any clients or prospects about running digital ads for political, especially on Facebook or Instagram, it is time to close the sale and start executing. Facebook has released some new information about political advertising, and the restrictions are tighter than ever.  I’m highlighting Facebook as a product because political ads on the platform are so...

How To Get Conversions With Your Digital Ad Campaign

When is the last time you were immediately compelled to take action on a digital ad? You saw something and BAM! A need you maybe were not even aware of suddenly became so apparent and obvious that you had no other choice but to act, and act now? That is the ultimate goal of a digital campaign. To speak so...

Why is hiring talented interns important?

Update: Facebook shuttered Jobs on Facebook (February 2023) and Instant Articles (April 2023) On one side of the intern / company relationship you have a student or recent graduate looking to apply what they have learned in the classroom and gain some real work experience. There is a clear benefit for the student and often, the opportunity yields a lot...

Working remote for the first time? Distancing while connecting!

We, at Vici, have a lot of experience working remotely.  We have your back on this and want to share our best tips and tools! Remember, no one will be able to interpret or present your capabilities better than you! Much like the Telephone game you may have played as a child, at best, the presentation gets distorted by someone in between you...

What Digital Advertising Products Work Best for Real Estate Clients?

According to the National Association of Realtors there are 1,384,166 total registered members for the month of January 2020. Why does this matter? They all need digital marketing.  With numbers like that, you are bound to know an agent. Maybe multiple agents? Maybe one in your very own neighborhood or your family? You know who they are because they are constantly...

What are OTT ads?

Are you down with OTT? You should be! Recent data shows more than half of all American adults are devouring over the top (OTT) content, and it is not a passing fad. Ask friends for advice on a new show to watch or ask co-workers what movies they recently caught. You are not going to hear them talking about...

How Well Does Digital Advertising Work For The Beauty Industry?

Gorgeously! I am a self-proclaimed beauty junkie, and there is no better place to get a product fix than the internet. My journeys to beauty product conversions are both intentional and accidental. For example, around Halloween I needed ideas for a costume. In about an hour I went from Pinterest for inspirations, to Googling “bride of Frankenstein makeup...

Where were you 25 years ago?

Where were you around this time in 1994? Me? I was attending Bowling Green State University and quite possibly having a Zima with a Jolly Rancher tucked inside. For those of you a bit younger, this was basically a handmade White Claw.  Why should we take note? It was a monumental time for digital advertising, as the first ever...

How Has Behavioral Targeting Evolved?

One of the absolute best things about digital is the ability to pinpoint the exact person in the exact area you are looking for and put an extraordinarily relevant message right in front of them. Often, when I have a super specific person I am trying to reach; I turn to Facebook for their impressive targeting options....

How do you capture part of the billions spent on local political campaign?

How big is the local political advertising pie exactly? MASSIVE. In fact, it is predicted by the BIA that $6.55 billion will be spent in local political advertising in 2020. That number is not a typo, it is an enormous opportunity. So we know there is a huge pie, how is it being divided and what media is getting the...

Can I do digital advertising for Cannabis, Marijuana or CBD Oil campaigns?

Let’s be blunt. Trying to run digital campaigns for Cannabis businesses around all the restrictions and limited targeting categories has been a bit of a drag in the past. There are now a wealth of targeting options available that we offer, including Native Ads, Display Ads and Video Ads . Do you want to reach people who are marijuana...

Is Facebook Listening In On Me Through My Phone?

How many of us have felt like Facebook is listening to our phone conversations? I swear I just mentioned these new Kendra Scott earrings to my friend and now I’m seeing them in my newsfeed? Disturbing! Right? Or is it just effective? It is absolutely unnerving. You feel like you just mentioned to a friend, or even just thought about an item and...

What social platform is gaining popularity?

Instagram. According to latest research, people are embracing Instagram and its popularity is growing. So who is using it the most? Starting at the top we have an overall number of 37% of US adults (beating out Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Twitter). The strongest numbers for Instagram are in the 18-24 range, however, it is important to note...

When should you Geo-Target and when should you Geo-Fence and what is the difference?

There are several “geo” terms in digital advertising, and it can be complicated to determine which option is best for your campaign. With so many opportunities and choices it is important to understand the differences. First let’s define our “Geo” terms: Geo-Targeting (Geographic Targeting):  all digital ads are geographically targeted meaning we serve ads to specific geographic areas like a city, zip codes, or...

Social Media: When should you DIY and when should you enlist a digital expert?

There are absolutely times in life it is more cost effective to “Do it yourself.”  Before I take on a DIY project, I try to consider if I have three T’s, meaning do I have the tools, the training and the time. If all signs point to yes, I go for it! All three must be in place...

Can I Daypart My Digital Ads?

Yes, but just because you can, doesn’t mean you should! Let’s start with what is dayparting? It is a tactic by which you schedule ads for certain times, that could mean either certain times of the day or certain days within the week, in the hopes of reaching prospects at the most opportune time of the day. Can you do this? Yes, but...

How Important Are Online Reviews?

Extremely. In fact, 78% of Internet users conduct research online and believe reviews are the most credible form of advertising.   Online reviews are not only influencing consumers, they’re also influencing search engine results.  In fact, Search experts believe that reviews account for about 7-13% of the local organic ranking factors considered by Google. Responding to positive reviews...

The Steps For A Productive Digital Advertising Client Meeting

When going into a digital client needs analysis meeting it can be hard to determine where to start. There are so many products and options to consider it can be daunting to everyone involved. To avoid overwhelming clients with all the different possibilities, it is helpful to do your homework and research first. Prepping for the meeting: Use K-meta.com and...

Are teenagers leaving Facebook? Should that impact your Ad Spend?

My 14-year-old son refers to Facebook as “Snapchat for Old People” yet he still knows every time I post something on Facebook. Teenagers would like us to believe that Snapchat is life, but is that actually true, and more importantly does it matter for your advertising dollars? According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey, today, roughly half (51%) of...

Is couponing effective on Mobile?

Short answer: no. In fact, it is not just mobile, we have yet to find a digital product that works effectively for coupons. What is the problem with digital coupons on mobile? The main reason digital coupons on mobile fail is that they are just too complicated for most people. Think about how the ads are served. You are on...

How To Be A Digital Marketing Guru

Because you are reading this, it is likely that you and your team have now completed your digital training. (if you haven’t, click here and get on board!  You make the effort to keep up to date on all things digital through ongoing education and weekly webinars. You know your stuff and you have put it into action! You...

Are you asking: “How did you hear about us?” (Example)

Please stop. No one will say they heard about you from your digital ad. Most people will say they heard about your business on radio or on TV, even if you are not running on radio or TV!  You don’t have to stop asking, but definitely stop making decisions about your advertising dollars based on the answer to that...

I don’t have time to meet. Can you just send me your presentation?

If you are in sales, you have heard this statement. Probably many times and in different ways: “Just send me your notes.” “Just email me the pricing.” “Just forward your pitch.” All too often when we hear this, we jump to it and start drafting long emails with lots of notes and attaching presentation materials. We give it all away and then follow...

Does my behavior online influence the ads I see?

Absolutely, and it is awesome. One of the main ways we are targeted with online ads is based on our online behavior. Actions we take online and what we demonstrate an interest in puts us into targeting categories. In a way we are virtually raising our hands and saying, “I’m over here and I’m attracted to what you are...

Are you interested in FREE MONEY that can be used on digital?

I find this statistic shocking: “Roughly half of the nearly $70 billion allocated to fund co-op advertising programs goes unused every year.” However, according to estimates from LSA, Borrell Associates and others that is exactly what is happening. So it is not that co-op money is less available as some might believe, it is more that the uses of...

How are small and medium-sized businesses spending their ad dollars this year?

Looking at total ad spend alone; the short answer is “similar to last year.” However, when broken down product by product, we learn that even though half of Small and Medium Businesses are not increasing their overall ad dollars by much, they are adjusting how they are allocating those ad dollars, and more money is moving to digital media. According...

What are small business marketing resolutions for 2018?

As this year closes and a new one begins, small business owners are seeking strategies that can help them remain competitive and relevant.  They are analyzing past tactics and campaigns and determining where and how to spend their marketing dollars. Digital is absolutely a significant part of marketing budgets and in a multifaceted landscape, Small Business Owners are looking for...

How long does a digital campaign need to run to work? (Example)

One of the core challenges advertisers face is determining how long a digital marketing campaign should last. Digital, like many other mediums, requires frequency. If the campaign is too short, you reduce the probability of your customers seeing your message, and grasping it enough to take some action. So what is the ideal time for a campaign? We believe it is...

What Are The Best Digital Advertising Products For Local Political Campaigns?

According to Ad Age, there is a broad trend being played out across the advertising landscape. Using data to target audience segments and make smarter media buys in digital. Political numbers absolutely reflect that as digital is replacing traditional ad spend in this vertical. Politicians are assigning ad budgets for digital. And, online digital advertising is not covered by the...

What’s the best way to reach Hispanic consumers with digital ads?

In some instances, getting the right message to the right person in the right language is as simple as asking them to push a button.  “For English, Press One. Para Español, Marque Número Dos.” In digital, it is even easier; the button is already pushed as their preferred language is already selected on their browser. How do you reach the audience you...

Digital Ad Reports Are Great But What About The Big Picture?

I receive a lot of digital ads. I’m targeted as much as the next consumer, and the most intriguing digital messages and offers absolutely shine through the clutter enough for me to open my wallet and become a customer. In fact, I made a purchase because of a digital ad just this morning. In this case, I was served...

The best digital campaigns are expertly mixed, just like your favorite cocktail

When creating a digital marketing strategy, it is easy to become enamored with products that are at the bottom of the sales funnel.  It would be easy to think, “I’m going to focus only on Pay Per Click/Search Engine paid ads, Retargeting and SEO because they will help me drive the most conversions.” This way of thinking is not...

Native advertising is one of the hottest areas of online advertising

Digital ad spending is steadily rising, and no area is intensifying faster than native advertising.   Native ads come in many forms, but all share the common goal of not “looking” like an ad.  Native ads match the look, feel and visual context of the website where they are seen. They can run across all devices or be specified mobile only,...

How often do IP addresses change? (Example)

Household IP targeting is the perfect product to use when you need to target one-on-one to specific households and reach a very niche audience. This product works through a patented technology of matching IP addresses to a database of names and physical street addresses and displaying your display or video ads only to those households (or businesses). It works...

Warmer Weather = Digital Opportunity

Now is the time to market to consumers thinking about home repairs! The IAB’s Digital Influence on Home Improvement Plans analysis showed that 22% of consumers who were working on home improvement projects were influenced by ads on mobile, social media and desktop. That is a huge opportunity for advertisers looking to showcase how they might meet all the home improvement...

Desktop Ads Are Still Holding Strong In A Mobile World

Mobile usage is absolutely exploding, but that does not mean that we should ignore the steady performance of desktop.  A smart marketing strategy will leverage the strengths of each device and maximize their unique contributions to the campaign. As mobile continues to grow and evolve, so do the opportunities to advertise using mobile strategies.  However, that does not mean it...

Reaching Moms with Digital Marketing

Of the 80 million millennials in the U.S., one-quarter are now parents. Statistics also show that 83% of new moms are millennials.  According to a recent report from Nielsen, some 39% of women aged 18-49 in the US have a child under the age of 12, including 46% of women aged 35-49. Why does this matter to marketers? Because millennial women tend to...

Why digital advertising in 2017?

Digital advertising allows you to craft an extremely targeted and measurable campaign. If you are not already implementing digital into your overall marketing plan, it’s time to explore the possibilities! Don’t make the mistake of thinking that digital is only for large corporations. Digital is affordable and allows small and medium sized businesses a solid chance to compete for targeted...