Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.1.1, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # AZ Social Media Wiz AZ Social Media Wiz Affordable AI Digital Marketing Agency, Phoenix, Arizona ## Posts ### [Video Testimonials - A Great Digital Marketing Tool](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-testimonials-a-great-digital-marketing-tool/) **Published:** September 10, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** Video is hot! People are more likely to sit and watch a video than to read an article. **Content:** **Video is still hot!** People are more likely to sit and watch a video than to read an article. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a staunch advocate of [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) (formatted properly), as it provides the Google search engine with the fresh, relevant content it’s looking for. But video testimonials can easily work with blogs and social media to promote any business. The best spokespeople are happy-camper customers. ## Here’s a perfect example by my client, Natural Medicine & Detox, posted to YouTube. It’s a simple video testimonial of a satisfied client. --- I recently created branded thumbnails for them and optimized all their [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/) videos for search. Red is an eye-catching color. Also, I wanted to clearly show what symptoms the patient suffered from and what treatment helped them. I also embedded them on a page titled “Reviews and Testimonials”. [All testimonials help. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/testimonials-recommendations/)Most people will check out reviews and recommendations from satisfied customers. Also, don’t forget [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/). Connect with your customers and clients and request recommendations or reviews from them. This helps with trust and credibility. Ask them to recommend you on [Google](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/) and [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/), too, especially in your thank-you emails. Additionally, use them to promote special services. Like my client riding on the coattails of an excellent review. In this example, helping pregnant women feel better is a year-round target market. ### User-Generated Content – Another Form of Video Testimonials The next best thing is User-Generated Content (UCG)! Obviously, this is when a happy-camper customer loves your product or service so much that they’ll do a video showing them wearing your clothing or jewelry or using your product or service. Then they post it on THEIR social media accounts, tagging (mentioning) your business! That way, their friends and followers see it. You can encourage this in your “Thank You” emails. Give them a unique [hashtag](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) to use and your username on the various networks. Make it easy for them to do it! Naturally, not all UCG will be videos, but pictures work, too! For example, check out this image from LovePop cards on Instagram. Note the hashtag. When a customer posts a UCG and tags you, you get notified. You can also monitor your hashtag to see which posts have it, save them, and re-post them. If they use your hashtag, that gives you permission to use their posts, videos, or images for your marketing. ## I can help you… - Get you or your company set up with consistent [branding](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) and optimized bios throughout the networks - [Strategize](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-for-success-a-data-based-roadmap-for-improved-marketing/) with you to plan your digital media marketing campaign - Show you or your staff how to use the free tools to - Find your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) - [Grow your following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) and - Manage your social media campaigns in just **30 minutes a day**! I recommend using [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) for social media scheduling. ## Learn how to leverage the power of social media with 1:1 Training and Coaching [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### Why should I use video testimonials alongside my blog and social posts? Video testimonials grab attention and build trust faster than text alone, and they can complement blog content to showcase real results from happy customers. ### How can I use User-Generated Content to boost credibility and reach? Encourage customers to post about your product or service and tag your business, then monitor and repost their content to show social proof and expand your reach. ### What should a video testimonial include to be effective? A strong testimonial should clearly show the patient or client’s symptoms, the treatment or service they received, and the positive outcome, with eye-catching branding if possible. ### How can I get more reviews on Google and Facebook from customers? Ask customers in thank-you emails or after a sale, provide easy links, and request recommendations on Google and Facebook to boost trust and visibility. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Video Marketing, YouTube **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blogging, branding, call to action, digital marketing, digital marketing tool, Facebook, Google, Internet, Internet Marketing, marketing, online marketing, social media, social media marketing, social media marketing strategy, social networking, Testimonials, Tweeting, Twitter, video, video marketing, video testimonials, video testimonies, YouTube, YouTube marketing --- ### [12 Branding Mistakes You Need to Stop Making Now!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) **Published:** June 4, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** One thing small business owners need to understand is that everything you do online: website, social media profiles and posts, and your Google Business Profile, ***everything*** affects how people see your business. I see so many business owners make the same **Branding Mistakes** over and over again. It’s like they don’t care. And they don’t realize how important it is. > ***It’s Your and Your Company’s Image that is at Stake!*** Some may say, “I do get some sales from the site.” How many are some? 1 a month? Imagine how many you **could have** if you had a ***good-looking***, functioning [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) with quality images,[ blogged regularly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/), and used social media correctly***!*** It could go up to 1 a day or more! [How’s your conversion rate?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It") Sure, you want to save money by doing it yourself, but invest in ***[learning how to do it properly and effectively.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)*** If you don’t take social media and online digital marketing seriously in this day and age, you might as well close up shop. I created this infographic in minutes using Gemini Notebook I can show you how to do it in a [11 training session](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) ## Here are some of the top Branding Mistakes I see small businesses make. 1. **Attempting to do it yourself without properly learning how to use the tools.** Sure, you can post on Facebook, but do you know how to ***market*** **on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/)?** You can use Word, but do you know how to use **[WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/ "Why I Prefer WordPress for Websites")?** Creating a [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/) might sound simple enough, but if you don’t do it the right way, it will all be wasted time and effort. And it won’t work. 2. **Not committing to [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-social-media-marketing/) long-term.** It’s a marathon, not a sprint. 3. **Not having a logo!** It’s all about [branding](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/). Moreover, it’s your [online image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/ "What Does Your ONLINE IMAGE Say About You?") and visual identity. 4. **Inconsistent branding.** People need to know who you are and what it is that you do at first glance, ***no matter where they find you.*** Your branding should be the same on your website and all your social media profiles. 5. **Ignoring your social media accounts.** If you have a link on your website to your social media networks, you’d better be **posting regularly**! Nothing looks worse than after clicking on a link, I see the last post was months, even years ago! 6. **Putting social media follow buttons on your website that either go nowhere, to the main network page, or go to an account that hasn’t been active in years. Don’t put follow buttons on your website until you are active on** social media. It makes you look foolish. 7. **Hiring an intern or student to do your social media marketing. Just because someone knows how to post on Facebook doesn’t mean they know how to market on Facebook — yes, I’m repeating myself. Whoever you hire to do your marketing should know ***marketing*** first, then be familiar with the social networks, blogging, websites, content marketing, branding, and how your particular target market uses each of the networks. Moreover, they should be able to develop** [comprehensive strategic and tactical plans.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) 8. **Not using an email address with the company URL for business emails.** It looks more professional to use “yourname@company.com” rather than “yourname@gmail.com”. And don’t use AOL! That really dates you! 9. **Not posting quality graphics.** There are enough free graphics tools out there, so there is no excuse for having fuzzy, cut-off, or crooked graphics. 10. **Making it all about you.** It’s about **them. That is, your target market.** ***Serve, don’t sell.*** Don’t just post your stuff! It’s not about selling. ***It’s about sharing.*** Therefore, share other people’s content that is of interest to your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/). They are thinking, “What’s in it for me?” 11. Not setting [SMART Goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/ "How to Set SMART Goals For Marketing Success"), having a [strategic plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/ "Get the Most from Your Social Media Marketing with a Detailed Strategic Plan"), and a [tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/ "Marketing on Social Media with no Tactical Plan is Wasted Effort"). If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. 12. **Not realizing that it takes *time and effort up front* to build a [following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/).** Plan on spending at least 90 minutes a day on social media and blogging 3 times a week for the first 30 days while you’re **building a following**. Then you go into management and maintenance mode, and based on your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/), you’ll focus on the networks that are driving traffic to your site and where you’re building relationships. There are new AI tools that can help you with all this. [I can show you how they work to save you time and money! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training") ### The importance of your online image… In conclusion, your online materials — website, blog, and social media — should ***encourage credibility and trust. Furthermore, they should entice and encourage your potential target to read more, click on a link to download an ebook, or contact you. That’s called a [conversion](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It"),*** and you want those. ### Are you making some of these branding mistakes? If so, then you’re probably making more. [Check out all the mistakes I’ve seen out there!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Branding **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, branding, Branding Mistakes, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, Google, marketing, Marketing strategies, online image, online marketing, social media, social media marketing, social networks --- ### [What are the Benefits of a Professional Google Analytics (GA4) Setup?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-professional-google-analytics-ga4-setup/) **Published:** September 1, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Do you run a small or medium-sized business? Then, you’ve probably heard that ***you should be tracking your data***. Maybe you even have [Google Analytics (GA4)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/) installed already. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: having Google Analytics on your website isn’t the same as having a ***Google Analytics account that actually works for you***. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)A do-it-yourself GA4 setup, the kind where you click through the default install wizard and call it done, will collect ***some*** data. But it won’t tell you which of your marketing efforts are actually driving revenue or [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/). Or which **[landing pages](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/landing-page-effective-infographic/)** are silently losing potential customers, or which channels deserve more of your marketing budget. For that, your account needs to be configured, connected, and calibrated around ***your specific business goals***. In other words, it needs to be set up professionally. Furthermore, because each business is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all cookie-cutter template. It can get complicated depending on your type of business, if you’re doing Google, YouTube, and/or Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram). Plus, you’ve got the Google AI Overviews and AI Mode factors to consider. ***Let’s walk through what that actually means, and why it matters so much for a growing business.*** Table Of Contents 1. [Why "Just Installing" Google Analytics Isn't Enough](#why-just-installing-google-analytics-isnt-enough) - [Lead Generation businesses get reports centered on:](#lead-generation-businesses-get-reports-centered-on) - - [Ecommerce businesses get reports centered on:](#ecommerce-businesses-get-reports-centered-on) - - [App-based businesses get reports centered on:](#app-based-businesses-get-reports-centered-on) - - [Businesses focused on brand awareness get reports centered on:](#businesses-focused-on-brand-awareness-get-reports-centered-on) 2. [Getting Real Answers, Not Just Data](#getting-real-answers-not-just-data) 3. [Connecting the Dots: Why Linking Matters](#connecting-the-dots-why-linking-matters) - [Google Ads.](#google-ads) - - [Firebase.](#firebase) - - [Search Console.](#search-console) - - [BigQuery.](#bigquery) 4. [Bringing Your Offline Data Into the Picture](#bringing-your-offline-data-into-the-picture) - [Done well, Data Import in Google Analytics lets you:](#done-well-data-import-in-google-analytics-lets-you) 5. [The Foundation Underneath It All: Conversion Tracking](#the-foundation-underneath-it-all-conversion-tracking) 6. [Attribution: The Judge of the Relay Race](#attribution-the-judge-of-the-relay-race) - [What is Attribution?](#what-is-attribution) 7. [From Reporting the Past to Strategizing for the Future](#from-reporting-the-past-to-strategizing-for-the-future) 8. [The New Wrinkle: AI and "Direct" Traffic](#the-new-wrinkle-ai-and-direct-traffic) 9. [What This All Adds Up To](#what-this-all-adds-up-to) - [How does a professional GA4 setup differ from baselines and generic templates?](#how-does-a-professional-ga4-setup-differ-from-baselines-and-generic-templates) - - [Why is linking Google Ads to GA4 important for my campaigns?](#why-is-linking-google-ads-to-ga4-important-for-my-campaigns) - - [What is the role of conversion tracking and how can I ensure its accuracy?](#what-is-the-role-of-conversion-tracking-and-how-can-i-ensure-its-accuracy) - - [How does AI-driven traffic affect GA4 reporting and what should I do about it?](#how-does-ai-driven-traffic-affect-ga4-reporting-and-what-should-i-do-about-it) - - [Why is a DIY GA4 setup not enough for my business?](#why-is-a-diy-ga4-setup-not-enough-for-my-business) ## Why “Just Installing” Google Analytics Isn’t Enough Regardless of your business objectives, digital analytics can help you better understand your website visitors, optimize your campaigns, and ultimately, help you make more informed business decisions. **But only if the account is built to answer *your* questions.** **[Google Analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/) actually anticipates this.** When you first set up a property, you’re asked what kind of reporting snapshot you want, based on your business type: ### **Lead Generation businesses** get reports centered on: - User acquisition - Traffic acquisition - Landing page performance ### **Ecommerce businesses** get reports centered on: - Ecommerce purchases - Promotions - The user purchase journey ### **App-based businesses** get reports centered on: - Events - Conversions - Pages and screens ### **Businesses focused on brand awareness** get reports centered on: [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)- Google Ads campaign performance - Demographic details - Pages and screens There’s also a generic option, “Get baseline reports”, which generates a standard set of life-cycle reports that may or may not have anything to do with your actual business needs. ***This is exactly where most self-installed GA4 accounts go wrong.*** Business owners either pick whatever snapshot seems closest to their situation, or default to the baseline option because they’re not sure which one applies. The reports look fine. Unfortunately, they don’t answer the questions that actually matter to ***your business***. Evidently, most small business owners never go back to fix it, because they don’t know it’s broken in the first place. [A professional setup](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/) starts by asking what decisions you need this data to support, then builds the account around those decisions rather than around a generic template. ## Getting Real Answers, Not Just Data **One of the most underused parts of Google Analytics is Explore**. Specifically, this section is built for digging past the surface-level dashboards into the kind of granular questions that actually change ***how you run your business***. Questions like: - Which users have stopped purchasing at their normal volume? Possibly because a competitor is undercutting your prices? - Which visitors keep coming back to a specific page, so you can build a remarketing campaign that speaks directly to them? - Who added something to their cart but never checked out, and who’s a past customer worth re-engaging? - Which sessions from a particular campaign actually resulted in a purchase? - Where did your highest-value customers, the ones who spent over $100, come from? What landing page brought them in? These aren’t hypothetical questions. They’re the exact kinds of insight that separate a business owner who’s ***guessing*** about what’s working from one who ***knows***. However, ***Explore reports don’t build themselves.*** They require someone who understands how - to define the right segments, - apply the right filters, and - set up the comparisons That way, the answers are actually ***trustworthy***. A professionally configured account has these explorations built and organized from the start, so you’re not starting from a blank canvas every time a question comes up. Analytics and data don’t lie. Nevertheless, analyzing your analytics is important so that you don’t keep running ads or posting content that isn’t working, expecting different results. ***That’s called insanity.*** Unfortunately, I see too many small business owners doing exactly that. And then they wonder why the phone isn’t ringing, the bookings aren’t coming in, their ads aren’t working, and ultimately, sales aren’t increasing. They’ve either dropped or are stagnant. ## Connecting the Dots: Why Linking Matters Google Analytics is powerful on its own, but its real value shows up when it’s connected to the other tools your business already uses. This is one of the most consistently overlooked pieces of a self-managed setup, and one of the most valuable pieces of a professional one. ### **Google Ads.** [Linking your Google Ads account to Google Analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/) lets you use your website’s first-party behavioral data to inform and improve your targeting and bidding. Additionally, you understand how people actually interact with your ads after they click. Also, you can measure your return on ad spend ([ROI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/)) with real conversion data instead of platform-reported estimates. It also unlocks **Smart Bidding** based on the conversions that matter most to your business, richer audience signals for targeting and lookalike creation, and engaged-view conversion reporting for YouTube, so you can see how people who watched your video ads went on to convert, rather than only crediting the ones who clicked. **The impact of this connection isn’t just theoretical.** Businesses that properly link their Google Ads or Google Marketing Platform accounts to a Google Analytics property see, on average, a 23% increase in conversions and a 10% reduction in cost per conversion. That’s not a rounding error; that’s the difference between a marketing budget that’s ***working hard and one that’s working smart.*** ### **Firebase.** If your business has a ***mobile app***, linking Firebase and Google Analytics lets app data, crash reports, notification performance, deep-link activity, and in-app purchases flow into the same reporting environment as your website data. Instead of managing two disconnected pictures of your customers, you get one. ### **Search Console.** Linking [Search Console](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gather-helpful-data-from-google-search-console/) unlocks organic search reporting inside Google Analytics, so you can see how your SEO efforts are actually translating into site behavior and conversions, not just impressions and clicks. ### **BigQuery.** For large, growing businesses ready to go deeper, connecting Analytics to BigQuery lets you query and process your data with far more flexibility and power than the standard GA4 interface allows, useful once your reporting needs outgrow the built-in dashboards. ***[Each of these connections takes a working knowledge of both platforms to configure correctly, and each one meaningfully expands what your data can tell you. None of them happen automatically.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)*** ## Bringing Your Offline Data Into the Picture Your customers don’t live entirely inside your website, and your data shouldn’t either. Google Analytics allows you to import external data from a CRM, a CMS, or even a spreadsheet, and combine it with the behavioral data GA4 already collects. This is called Data Import, and it’s one of the most powerful, least-used features in the platform. ### Done well, Data Import in Google Analytics lets you: [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)- Bring in your product catalog so you can measure ecommerce revenue and conversions down to the size, color, or style of an item - Import customer metadata like loyalty tier, last purchase date, or lifetime value to sharpen your segmentation and remarketing audiences - Import campaign data from non-Google platforms — including newer integrations with Meta, TikTok, Reddit, Snap, and Pinterest — so you can calculate cost-per-click and return on ad spend across every channel you actually use, not just Google’s **That last point matters more every year.** Most small businesses aren’t just running Google Ads. They’re on Meta (Facebook and Instagram), maybe TikTok, maybe Pinterest. A properly configured Analytics account becomes the one place where all of that spend gets measured side by side, on equal footing, instead of living in five different disconnected dashboards that never talk to each other. ## The Foundation Underneath It All: [Conversion](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/) Tracking [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/)Before any of the reporting, linking, or attribution work above can mean anything, one thing has to be right: ***your [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/) have to be tracked accurately.*** This is the least glamorous part of setting up Google Analytics, and ***also the most important.*** A conversion or “key event” is any action you’ve decided matters to your business: a purchase, a form submission, a phone call click, a newsletter signup, a demo request. GA4 doesn’t automatically know which of your website’s dozens of possible interactions count as meaningful business outcomes. Someone has to define them, tag them correctly through Google Tag Manager, and verify that they’re firing accurately and only once per genuine action. **This is where a surprising number of self-managed accounts quietly fall apart.** A “Contact Form Submitted” event that fires every time the page loads, whether or not someone actually submitted the form. A purchase event that double-counts because it’s triggered on both the checkout confirmation and the receipt page. A phone click that never gets tagged at all, so every call-driven lead vanishes from the data entirely. None of these show up as obvious errors; the reports still populate, the numbers still look plausible, which is exactly what makes them dangerous. ***You end up making budget decisions based on numbers that were wrong from the start, and there’s no red flag telling you so.*** A [professional GA4 setup](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/) treats conversion tracking as the foundation it actually is: mapping out every action that matters to your specific business, building the tags correctly in Google Tag Manager, and testing each one before it ever reaches a dashboard you’re going to make decisions from. Everything else — the attribution modeling, the Smart Bidding, the ROI reporting — inherits whatever accuracy (or inaccuracy) exists at this layer. Get it right once, and every report built on top of it becomes trustworthy. Get it wrong, and you can build the most sophisticated dashboard in the world on top of numbers that were never real to begin with. ## Attribution: The Judge of the Relay Race Here’s a way to think about **attribution** that tends to click for business owners. If marketing is a relay race, attribution is the judge deciding how much credit each runner deserves for the win. ### What is Attribution? **Most customers don’t see one ad and buy on the spot.** They see a social ad, forget about it, get retargeted a week later, search your brand name, read a few reviews, and *then* buy. Attribution is the process of assigning credit for that final conversion across every touchpoint that played a role along the way. An attribution model is simply the rulebook for how that credit gets divided. Without a proper attribution setup, business owners tend to default to “last click” thinking, giving all the credit to whatever happened right before the sale. That’s like giving the whole relay race trophy to the anchor runner and ignoring the other three. It systematically undervalues the top-of-funnel and mid-funnel work: the awareness ad, the retargeting sequence, the email nurture, that got the customer to the starting line in the first place. A [professionally built Analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/) account sets up attribution reporting that reflects how ***your customers*** actually move through their journey, so you can see which channels are pulling real weight early and in the middle of that journey, not just at the finish line. That’s the difference between cutting a channel that’s quietly doing essential work and confidently reallocating budget toward what’s actually driving growth. ## From Reporting the Past to Strategizing for the Future There’s a mindset shift that happens once a [Google Analytics account is set up correctly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/), and it’s worth naming directly: you stop being a reporter and start being a ***strategist***. A reporter looks at last month’s numbers and explains what happened. Moervoer, a strategist uses that same data, connected and structured properly, to predict what will happen next. Thus, anticipating the impact of a budget change before making it, shifting from reactive fixes to proactive planning, and forecasting how many future conversions a planned spend increase is likely to generate. That’s the ***practical payoff*** of everything above: better linking, better attribution, and better segmentation don’t just make your reports prettier. They let you ***make decisions about tomorrow’s budget with real confidence, instead of gut instinct.*** **None of that is possible with a bare-bones, default GA4 setup.** It requires an account built from the ground up around ***the questions your business actually needs answered.*** ## The New Wrinkle: AI and “Direct” Traffic [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/)***There’s a newer challenge that’s making professional setup even more important, and it’s one most business owners haven’t thought about yet: AI-driven traffic is quietly distorting your reports.*** Here’s the issue. When someone reads an answer inside an [AI search tool](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/) like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Claude, or a Google AI Overview and then later types your business name or URL directly into their browser, Google Analytics has no way of knowing an AI tool was involved. That visit gets logged as “Direct” traffic. The same bucket that’s used for someone who typed your URL from memory, clicked a bookmark, or opened a link inside a PDF or a text message. And when someone *does* click a link straight out of an AI answer, GA4 often fails to classify that referral correctly, which inflates the direct traffic number even further. Both scenarios end the same way: your direct traffic number gets bigger, and the credit that AI-driven discovery actually deserves disappears into a catch-all bucket. That’s a real measurement problem, because AI-referred traffic tends to behave like word-of-mouth. That is, the volume is low, but the [conversion rate](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/) is often high. If you don’t know it’s happening, you can’t give it credit, and you can’t double down on whatever you’re doing right that’s getting your business mentioned in AI answers in the first place. GA4 has started to address this with a dedicated AI Assistant channel, though it only captures part of the picture. Obviously, the rest still lands in direct. There’s also a newer GA4 feature that tracks how often your business appears in Google AI Overviews and AI Mode, but alas, ***it isn’t turned on by default.*** It has to be manually enabled. If your account was set up with the default settings and never revisited, there’s a good chance this feature is ***sitting there unused,*** and you have no visibility into a traffic source that’s only ***going to grow in importance.*** Related: **[What do the New AEO/GEO/AIO, etc. Acronyms mean?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/)** ## What This All Adds Up To [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)[Pieces of the analytics and money spend puzzle come together with a professional Google Analytics setup](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)Every one of these pieces… - the right reporting snapshot - properly built Explore segments - Google Ads - Firebase and - Search Console setup - Everything linked correctly - offline and cross-channel data imported - attribution modeling that reflects the real customer journey - newer settings like AI Overview tracking switched on… … are reports a default Google Analytics installation does not do for you. It’s not Google Analytics’ fault that you don’t know what you don’t know. Undoubtedly, many small-to-medium-sized business owners are in the same boat. Either they never set up a GA4 account, they set up the account but didn’t connect it to the website, or they’ve set it up, connected it, but don’t even check it monthly. Subsequently, they don’t even know what they’re looking at. ***Google Analytics is genuinely one of the most powerful free tools available to a small or medium-sized business.*** But power without configuration is potential, not results. A [professionally set up account ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)turns that potential into a system that actually tells you… - where your customers come from - what convinces them to buy - where your next marketing dollar will do the most good. If you’ve had Google Analytics installed for a while and have never quite trusted the numbers, or you’ve never gone back to check whether it’s still set up the way your business needs it to be, that’s usually a sign the account was never truly finished, just installed. [***Getting it properly configured, connected, and calibrated isn’t a one-time technical chore; it’s the foundation everything else in your digital marketing strategy gets built on.***](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/) If you’d like a professional set of eyes on your Google Analytics account, from the technical setup and conversion tracking through custom reporting, attribution analysis, and remarketing audience activation, that’s exactly the kind of work [AZ Social Media Wiz’s GA4 setup, reporting, and analysis service](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/) is built to handle. It’s worth having a pro make sure your data is actually working as hard as your marketing budget is. Besides that, I can help you make sense of your analytics reports and strategize to improve them for next month. [It starts with a FREE Discovery Call.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### How does a professional GA4 setup differ from baselines and generic templates? A professional setup starts by asking what decisions you need the data to support and then builds the account around those decisions, rather than around a cookie‑cutter baseline. This ensures reports align with your specific business goals and questions. ### Why is linking Google Ads to GA4 important for my campaigns? Linking Google Ads to GA4 lets you use first‑party behavioral data to inform targeting and bidding, measure ROI with real conversions, and access advanced features like Smart Bidding, richer audience signals, and engaged‑view conversion reporting. ### What is the role of conversion tracking and how can I ensure its accuracy? Conversion tracking defines the actions that matter to your business, and they must be tagged correctly through Google Tag Manager and tested to fire only once per genuine action. Accurate conversions are the foundation for trustworthy reports and good decisions. ### How does AI-driven traffic affect GA4 reporting and what should I do about it? AI‑driven traffic can appear as Direct or misclassified referrals, inflating direct traffic and obscuring AI‑driven discovery. Turn on features like AI Overview tracking and ensure proper attribution so you can credit AI‑driven visits and plan your strategy accordingly. ### Why is a DIY GA4 setup not enough for my business? A do‑it‑yourself GA4 setup will collect some data, but it won’t tell you which marketing efforts actually drive revenue or conversions. Without professional configuration, you may rely on generic snapshots that don’t answer the questions your business needs answered. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google Analytics, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** analytics, analytics reporting, analyzing social media, AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing, data reporting, digital marketing, Google Ads, search engine optimization, seo, social media marketing --- ### [Effective Social Media Marketing on a Shoestring Budget](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/effective-social-media-marketing-shoestring-budget/) **Published:** September 10, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** Navigating social media marketing on a tight budget is essential for small businesses looking to grow. By mastering free tools, learning to manage campaigns yourself, and following a clear, strategic content plan, you can effectively reach your target audience organically. Focus on defining your unique value, analyzing monthly metrics, and building genuine customer relationships. **Content:** As a small business, I know that budgets are tight, especially in these uncertain economic times. Moreover, any entrepreneur knows that marketing, especially ***social media marketing***, is a key factor for any business that wants new customers. Fortunately, many of today’s social media, AI, and digital marketing tools are free to use ***[if you know how to use them properly and effectively.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)*** Furthermore, social media marketing is not rocket science! With solid [strategic and tactical marketing plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-for-success-a-data-based-roadmap-for-improved-marketing/), along with thorough [Google Analytics monthly reporting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/monthly-google-analytics-ga4-reporting-service/), you can see improvements in your marketing efforts rather quickly. ## Strategic social media marketing is crucial now more than ever! [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)Sure, there are tons of shortcuts out there that you can take, but are they really effective? Have you [planned out the strategy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/)? If you’re going to spend money, you need to have a clear plan as well as a budget. You must clearly [define your target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) so you can specifically and ***strategically*** target them. What this boils down to, and what I tell my clients when they ask, “Should I spend money on social media advertising?” — My answer? — it depends. **Do it for free (*organically*) for 3-6 months following [my instructions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/).** Check your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/), insights, and [website statistics monthly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/monthly-google-analytics-ga4-reporting-service/); see what’s working and what’s [not working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/), then adjust your [strategy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) and [tactics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) accordingly. However, if you’re a **startup**, say an **ecommerce** website, and the holidays are approaching, then yes. Also, if you’re in a highly [competitive field or industry](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/), then yes. Actually, there’s a lot that you can do ***organically***: ***without paying.***.. ### **You have 2 choices** when it comes to social media marketing… 1. [Hire someone to do it for you.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/when-outsourcing-keep-it-local/) 2. [Learn how to do it yourself.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) > ***Option 2 is your most cost effective. Actually, about 1/10 of the cost of hiring someone to do it for you. Here’s why I recommend [learning how to do it all yourself](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/):*** - No one knows your business like **YOU** know your business. - The “social” part of social media is about building relationships. Who do you want building relationships with your current and potential clients? A stranger or someone in your organization who knows your business? Though it may seem daunting, [learning how to market your business on social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) in a logical progression that makes sense will get you set up, optimized, and with [strategic and tactical marketing plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) in hand, ready to take control of your marketing! Besides that, you’ll be ready to hit the road running when training is done! ### [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) ## Social Media & Content Marketing Steps & Strategies for Marketing I created this infographic using Gemini Notebook and Canva in a few minutes I can show you how to do it in a [11 session](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) ## The 10 Steps to Successful Online Marketing Here’s what it takes to get started. 1. **Clearly define your target market**(s): You can have more than one. Grab the [Free Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) 2. **[Research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)** your target market: Where are they hanging out online? What are their habits? What questions are they asking? What is their search intent? 3. **Set [SMART Goals.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/)** This puts you on the right path to success. 4. [Develop a **Strategic Plan**: this outlines the online marketing strategies to accomplish your goals. Then, a **Tactical Plan** pinpointing how you’re going to implement the strategies (your to-do list).](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-for-success-a-data-based-roadmap-for-improved-marketing/) 5. [**Set up, brand & optimize** your website and each social network page for AI SEO.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wordpress-seo-blogging-editing-services/) 6. **[Learn how](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)** to properly**[ AND EFFECTIVELY](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)**[ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)**[use](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[ the tools](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)** and how everything works. 7. **[Create Content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/)**: Write blog posts, record videos or podcasts. 8. **Implement, engage &[ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/)**build**[ a following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/)** by sharing, not selling. Just do it! Try a great social media scheduling tool: [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81)! (affiliate link). 9. **Use email automation to entice sales.** I recommend using [Sender](https://join.sender.net/ysgggf4azo2a) (affiliate link) for email marketing. It’s affordable and easy to use! 10. **[Monitor & measure your online marketing monthly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)**: Check your analytics and insights to see what’s working and not working, and adjust your strategic and tactical plans accordingly. ### [Let’s start with a FREE 15-minute discovery call and analysis. Click here to schedule.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### What should I do first for strategic social media marketing as a small business? Start by clearly defining your target market, plan a strategic approach, and then develop a tactical plan that outlines how you will implement the strategies. Use free resources like the Target Market Workbook and focus on organic growth first before spending on ads. ### Should I spend money on social media ads or go organic first? If you’re a startup or in a competitive field, ads can help, especially around holidays. Otherwise, try to grow organically for 3–6 months, monitor analytics and website statistics monthly, and adjust your strategy before investing in paid advertising. ### What are the two choices for social media marketing? Hire someone to do it for you or learn how to do it yourself. The latter is usually much more cost-effective and puts you in control since you know your business best. ### How can I start with the 10 steps to successful online marketing? Clearly define your target market, research where they hang out online and what questions they ask, set SMART goals, develop a strategic plan and a tactical plan, set up and optimize your website and social pages for AI SEO, learn to use the tools effectively, create content, implement and build a following, use email automation, and monitor your analytics monthly to adjust your plans. ### How do I monitor and adjust my social media marketing? Check your analytics and insights monthly, review what’s working and what’s not, and adjust your strategic and tactical plans accordingly based on the data. ### [Let’s start with a FREE 15-minute discovery call and analysis. Click here to schedule.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Business, content marketing strategies, digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, digital marketing techniques, digital media, digital media marketing, Giselle Aguiar, how much should a small business budget for marketing, marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Marketing during COVID-19, online marketing, social media, social media marketing, social networking, social networks --- ### [The Magic Formula You Need to Know for ONLINE MARKETING SUCCESS](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/magic-formula-online-marketing-success/) **Published:** September 29, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** You don’t need to be a magician to be successful at online marketing. You just need to know how it all works together and the steps to take to effectively market your business online. Even in this era of AI Search, it can be done! Watch this video… ## What is the Magic Formula for Successful Online Marketing? **Social Media + Content Marketing = Search Engine Optimization (SEO)**--- ## **Google still owns search.** Even with the increase in the use of AI search tools, Google still has over 86% of all searches in North America. Google’s goal is to give the searcher exactly what they’re searching for. Google wants fresh, relevant content written for the human reader in natural language = Search Engine Optimization (SEO). [Follow the EEAT principle and you’ll do OK!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) ([Source](http://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share/all/north-america)) **You have to think like the searcher.** What are they going to enter into the search box to find you? The consumer is in control. You have to put yourself in their shoes. - Use a Keyword Research Tool - Geographic area - High monthly searches - Low to Medium Competition - List of other related keywords and phrases - Frequently Asked Questions ## The Magic Formula Become a content magnet1. It starts with a [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/websites/website-functionality/) that holds the content. 2. Create [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/content-marketing/) — a blog, videos, podcasts, or a gallery providing fresh material that Google is looking for. Besides that, you want to become a content magnet. 3. You promote that content and engage with your potential customers on social media. That’s the formula: content + social media = [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) or traffic to your website. 4. Given that, you must have a website that’s set up to [capture leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/). You want to [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/) a visitor into a lead with an enticing offer. 5. Then have them in some sort of [email automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) system to nurture them into a sale. Without content AND social media, you won’t get the traffic to your website. 6. However, CONTEXT is now key! ## Trust and Credibility All this effort is to build [trust and credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) because people buy from those they know and trust. That hasn’t changed. And we know in today’s world, a reputation can be lost in seconds. Being compassionate, caring, and understanding of what your target market is going through is how you build trust and credibility. Furthermore, credibility is the most important aspect of your business that you can build. How do you do that? By participating and building relationships – being active on the social networks and creating and sharing content that shows you are an authority in your industry or field, and that you care. ## Pulling it all Together Today’s marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re in it for the long haul. The minute you stop, people and Google will think you fell off the face of the earth. And it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes work. [Don’t dive in without a plan!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) You’ll be wasting time, money and effort and you’ll drive yourself crazy. ## The 10 Steps to Successful Online Marketing Here’s what it takes to get started. 1. **Clearly define your target market**(s): You can have more than one. Grab the [Free Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) 2. **[Research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)** your target market: Where are they hanging out online? What are their habits? What questions are they asking? What is their search intent? 3. **Set [SMART Goals.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/)** This puts you on the right path to success. 4. [Develop a **Strategic Plan**: this outlines the online marketing strategies to accomplish your goals. Then, a **Tactical Plan** pinpointing how you’re going to implement the strategies (your to-do list).](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-for-success-a-data-based-roadmap-for-improved-marketing/) 5. [**Set up, brand & optimize** your website and each social network page for AI SEO.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wordpress-seo-blogging-editing-services/) 6. **[Learn how](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)** to properly**[ AND EFFECTIVELY](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)**[ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)**[use](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[ the tools](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)** and how everything works. 7. **[Create Content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/)**: Write blog posts, record videos or podcasts. 8. **Implement, engage &[ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/)**build**[ a following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/)** by sharing, not selling. Just do it! Try a great social media scheduling tool: [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81)! (affiliate link). 9. **Use email automation to entice sales.** I recommend using [Sender](https://join.sender.net/ysgggf4azo2a) (affiliate link) for email marketing. It’s affordable and easy to use! 10. **[Monitor & measure your online marketing monthly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-analytics-ga4-setups-reporting-analysis-planning/)**: Check your analytics and insights to see what’s working and not working, and adjust your strategic and tactical plans accordingly. ## Need help with your online marketing? [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Content Marketing, Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** content marketing, marketing, online marketing, search engine optimization, seo, social media marketing, video --- ### [5 Reasons Why Your MARKETING is FAILING and How to FIX the Problem](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/marketing-failing-fix/) **Published:** November 4, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** You think you're doing everything right, but your marketing isn't working. You're not getting leads, or sales. Here's what you need to know to fix it. **Content:** You came up with a brilliant idea, set up a website and placed ads on Facebook. However, your marketing is failing. The ads are not working. It’s not the network’s fault. There could be several factors why your marketing isn’t working. They fall into 5 major categories. This, of course, takes into consideration that you have a good product or service and you’ve done your [market research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/). The greatest marketing or advertising campaigns can’t help if no one wants or needs your [product or service](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-importance-of-focusing-on-what-your-target-market-wants/). For example, some of you might remember “[New Coke](https://www.history.com/news/why-coca-cola-new-coke-flopped)“. ## I explain everything in this video… ## 5 Reasons Why Your Marketing is Failing & How to Fix the Problem ## First you need to identify where the problem is…. ## Scenario 1: You’re Getting Reach, but no Clicks In this case, people are seeing your ad or organic (non-paid) posts, but they’re not clicking on the links, they’re not engaging — liking, sharing, or commenting. ## Scenario 2: You’re Getting Clicks, but no Sales In this scenario, you’re getting clicks and traffic to your website, but you have no sales or conversions — that is, visitors are not doing what you want them to do, like download your freebie or join your email list. ## Fixing the Problem No Matter How Your Marketing is Failing Whichever scenario you fall in, it still boils down to 5 reasons why your marketing is failing…. 1. **The message doesn’t match the audience.** Here, you could have the right message to the wrong audience, the wrong message to the wrong audience, or the wrong message to the right audience. What you want to find is ***the right message to the right audience***. 2. **Your website is ugly or doesn’t function as it should.** This is your [24/7 salesperson](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/). A bad User Experience (UX) will cost you sales. The UX starts the moment a potential customer clicks on a link. Whether it’s from a search engine results page (SERP), an organic [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) post or a paid ad, the whole experience has to be enticing and attractive to THEM. 3. **Landing page is too distracting.** A landing page has one purpose — to gather a visitor’s email address and name and maybe 1 or 2 facts about them or to sell a product or service. It should not have any other navigation/menu besides the “Submit” or “Subscribe” button. The landing page is where someone lands after clicking on a promotional post or paid ad. The message on the landing page should match the one in the post or ad. It should sell whatever it is you’re selling. 4. **The call-to-action (CTA) is not visible.** Whatever you want the visitor to do should be the first thing that they see when they land any on your website pages — whether it’s a static page or a blog article. Make it easy for the visitor to do what you want them to do. Don’t make them work. 5. **There’s no follow-up.** If you do get someone to give you their email address and download your freebie ebook, a coupon offer or watch a free video, you’ve got a ***warm lead.*** They may not be ready to buy just yet, and this is where your [**marketing automation**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) comes in. Just letting them sit in a database without following-up with them is throwing that warm lead away. ## If Your Marketing is Failing, Here’s How to Fix It… ### The right message to the right audience… Believe it or not these insights are for a website that catered at that time to women over 40 in the Phoenix Valley They hired an uncouth social media marketing company and they purchased likes The majority were men 18 34 in the Middle East1. **Look at your analytics and insights:** - **Each of the social media networks offers analytics or insights.** Study them. Who are your followers? Look at the demographics — age, gender, location, etc. Which types of posts got the most engagement — likes, shares, clicks, or comments? - **If you did paid advertising**, how did you select your audience — the users your ad would be shown to? I suggest using the networks’ own advertising departments as they can help you determine why your ad is getting the reach, but it is not getting clicks. They want you to succeed when you place ads with them. - **Look at your website’s [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/).** How many visitors did you get in a month? Where did they come from? What were your most popular posts or pages? What’s your **Bounce Rate**? 2. **Clearly define your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) and create [personas](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/).** Who is your target market(s)? You can have more than one. What are their pain points or problems that your product or service will solve or alleviate? 3. **[Research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) your target audience.** What resonates with them? Look at the age bracket or generations. You talk to a millennial differently than a baby boomer. Which social media networks do they frequent the most? 4. **Research your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/).** Who are you up against? What are they doing? What makes you different? How many followers do they have? How often are they blogging? 5. **Craft the Right Message to the Right Audience.** If your posts or ads were getting reach and no one was clicking on them, then it was scenario 1. What’s the right message? Here’s where your research comes in. What is the pain point that you can solve for your target? You have 7 seconds to catch someone’s attention online. As a result, you need quality, eye-catching [videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) or graphics — [visuals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/). Furthermore, test your ads or promo graphics and videos with friends, colleagues or even a [SCORE mentor](https://www.score.org/az/greater-phoenix/) to get an objective opinion. Make sure if you use people in your ads or videos that they reflect your target market. For instance, don’t use the picture of a young, healthy gal when you’re catering to people over 40 with a health product. No magical liquid is going to make them look 29 again! ### Once they land on your website… Now that you’ve got an ad or a promotional graphic or video, what happens when they land on your website? #### [**The User Experience** (UX)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/) ##### **There are basically 3 ways a visitor can enter your website…** 1. The Home or Front Page — or another static page like “About”, “Products”, or “Services” 2. A blog article 3. A Designated Landing Page ##### **Similarly, there are 3 ways that they can find you…** 1. **Search Engine Results Page (SERP)** — they searched for an answer to a problem or question, and one of your pages or blog posts came up in the results. Furthermore, the Meta Description for each of your pages and blog posts is critical here to ensure that someone clicks on your link in the SERP. This is part of the [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) for your site. Besides that, you now need to consider the [Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) or AISEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/). 2. **Social media post or ad** — you got the right message to the right audience, and they clicked on it! Yay! 3. **Directly** — someone gave them your web address, they had a business card, directly mail or other offline source. Or they found you in a listing somewhere, like your local chamber of commerce. ##### **Once they’re on your site, what happens?** #### **Visitor Behavior** ##### **The visitor finds what they’re looking for and ..** - **They read the article,** and they leave. They had a question, you provided the answer in an article, they read it, they’re satisfied, and they leave. Here’s where the pop-up will work. Hey! Before you go… Join our list! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! Get a free \_\_\_\_\_\_! This then takes them to a landing page where they give you their name, email address, and answer a couple of questions so you can segment the list. That’s the intake form. This is connected to an email service like MailChimp. Having the pop-up as soon as someone lands on your site is extremely annoying! How do I know if I want to get your freebie if you don’t let me read the article first?! - **They read the article and are interested in learning more.** Your article satisfied them so well that they want to see what else you know about a topic or what else you have to offer on other topics. This is where your [**categories**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-use-categories-tags-blog-posts/) and tags come in. Also, the search box. This keeps them longer on your site and will lower your Bounce Rate. They may not be ready to buy yet or sign up for your list, but they want to read more. - Once they read the article, **there’s a call-to-action** at the end of the article that entices them to give you their email address or to do whatever you want them to do. #### **The Follow-Up** ##### **Now, you have a WARM LEAD!** Here’s where many small businesses let perfectly good leads fall through the cracks. What happens when they hit the “Send” or “Subscribe” button? - A “Thank You” page should pop up with a link to whatever it is they signed up for. - They should get a confirmation email with the same link as well as the reminder that they joined your list and they will be getting a newsletter every month (or whatever time frame). - In a couple of days, they should get a follow-up email with a video telling them more about what you have to offer based on how they answered the questions in the intake form. This is the first of a [marketing automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) drip campaign with the goal of converting the lead into a sale. ## Don’t Be Overwhelmed! This all may look daunting, but it won’t be if you take everything step-by-step. ***I can help guide you through all this.*** **[Let’s start with a free 15-minute Zoom consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA).** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Advertising, Digital Marketing, Lead Conversion, Marketing, Marketing Strategy **Tags:** ads not working, analytics, improving marketing results, increase conversions, increase page views, increase website traffic, increasing sales, marketing not working, User Experience, why is my marketing failing? --- ### [How to Promote Events Using Social Media: Before, During & After](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-promote-events-using-social-media/) **Published:** July 6, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Events are fun to plan, and one thing’s for sure: you want the event to be successful. The last thing you want is to spend time planning the party and have no one show up. I’ve enjoyed helping several clients promote [grand openings](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/startups-need-grand-opening-success/), conferences, and concerts. Whatever your event might be: a seminar, webinar, open house, fundraiser, product launch party, grand opening, anniversary celebration, or holiday function, you can use social media and especially [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) to promote it and your company – before, during, **and after!** ## **Before Your Events** First, **write out a promotion plan.** Get your whole team playing in the same ballpark and assign organizational and promotional duties. Coordination should start well in advance depending on how large your event is. For instance, one of my past clients held their annual, 3-state event in September. They began preliminary planning in May. Yes, May. Sure, you can put on an event in 2 weeks. ***However, the more time you have to plan, the less stress you’ll have and the more promotion you’ll be able to get out.*** ### **At least 4 weeks before events:** 1. **Create an event on [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SCOREphx)** or use a service like [Eventbrite](http://eventbrite.com/). If you’re going to charge for the event, Eventbrite connects with PayPal to process tickets. Furthermore, on Facebook and LinkedIn you can link it to Eventbrite or whatever system you use for registration. 2. **Create an event hashtag** and use it consistently when promoting it on all the social networks. For the big SCORE Symposium, we used #SCOREPhxExpo, and for Metrocenter Mall’s 40th Anniversary in 2013, it was #Metrocenter40th. When someone clicked on the hashtag, all the posts with it came up. 3. **Post the event link on all your social media** networks and encourage your followers to invite people. Invite all your friends, clients, and followers. Pin it to the top of your profiles on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn. 4. D**o a countdown story on [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/).** Remember that Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours, so you must repost them daily. What’s nice is that it remembers your countdown and you can easily add it without having to keep setting it up. However, you have to re-insert the registration link. People can save your countdown as a reminder, too! 5. **Add the link to your email newsletter**. Send out special invites, announcements, and reminders. Stress the urgency as the event day approaches. “Online \_\_\_ spots left!” “It’s tomorrow!” 6. Put it on your **website and/or blog**. Blog about it. 7. **Do a short video promo.** Upload it everywhere. 8. **Build up curiosity**. Entice people to click on the link by making it a mystery. 9. Share it with **groups** on [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Greater-Phoenix-Score-2564681) and [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/ "Facebook"). 10. If it’s a public event at a special venue, **tag the venue** in the posts. Add them as hosts on Facebook. They’ll have to accept, and then it appears under events on their page. It behooves them to share it with their followers. 11. Post it to your Google Business Profile — they have an events option as part of the Posts area. Don’t just post it on your company’s social pages. Share it on your [personal](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/) profiles. People connect with people. They are more likely to respond to a personal invitation than to a business posting. If you’re going to have speakers and participants, ask them to share it on their social networks using the event hashtag. Keep posting and sharing it at least every other day until 2 weeks before the event. Use [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) or Dlvr.it to schedule posts for the future. Reword each post so it’s not repetitive like: 1. Don’t miss… 2. There’s still room… 3. Not too late to register… ### **2 Weeks before the event, start a countdown:** You’ll want to be posting every day for the next week, then twice a day for the final week before the event. 1. 2 weeks until the…. 2. 1 week… 3. 5 days left… 4. It’s tomorrow!…. Don’t overdo it. Also, be careful not to post the same thing over and over. ***Reword the posts and use different graphics and videos.*** **Invite your LinkedIn connections and Facebook friends.** Be sure you’re not randomly choosing people, as that comes across as SPAM. Carefully choose the recipients that you feel would be interested in the event. Watch that you don’t invite someone who is from out of town. Sure, they may want to come in for it. In that case, give them enough notice. It helps to know your [target market.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) Ever since I’ve been in Phoenix, I quickly learned that Phoenix people are last-minute people. Whatever tool you use, it should have an “add to calendar” feature. This helps in getting registrants to actually attend. Send email or text reminders. ## **During the Event** Encourage participants to check in on Facebook and post pictures on X, LinkedIn, and Instagram using the event’s #hashtag throughout the event. If enough people post on X with it, it may start trending. Create flyers and have them scattered around the event so people remember to use the hashtag. In this day of social selfies, many events use photo booths, with a special branded backdrop so people can take pictures with other participants. You can also ask folks to post questions via X during the event with a different hashtag. Be sure to answer as many as possible. Have someone monitoring it live. I remember one event several years ago in the early days of Twitter. Between me and another gal, we were posting quotes from the speakers on Twitter. Not only did we get the event hashtag trending, but we were also tweeting so fast, we actually broke Twitter! Take pictures and/or videos of the event and participants. ## **After the Event** Upload and share pictures and/or videos on all the networks continuing to use the event’s hashtag. Post them on Pinterest as well as the other networks. Write an event wrap-up blog post and share that post. Contact participants and answer any questions that may not have been answered during the event. Every question can become a blog post, along with a link to the event pictures or video. Keep using the hashtag. Overall, it’s about using the free tools that social media provides to spread the word about your event. Even afterward, people will see it and may attend subsequent events, building awareness of your business and what you have to offer. If you need help planning the promotions for your event, check out my [Event Promotion Services](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) and schedule **[a free 15-minute phone consultation here.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Strategic Planning **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, create a hashtag for an event, digital marketing, event promotion, events, Giselle Aguiar, hashtags, hastags for events, how to use hashtags, Internet Marketing, marketing, online marketing, social media, social media marketing --- ### [Planning Your Social Media Marketing is an Important Step for Success](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) **Published:** June 6, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Ben Franklin said it first, and it still holds true for every business. Planning anything you do in business is crucial, and that includes your marketing! > ***“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”*** > > Ben Franklin Here’s another one that anyone who’s served in the military should know… > “Strategy wihtout tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” > > Sun Tzu, *“The Art of War”* ## You’re Fighting a Battle Or think of it as a challenge. Your goal is to make money through your business. However, you need customers — the people you sell your goods or services to. Without customers, you have no business. But how do you tell your potential customers that you exist? Better yet, who is your customer? What do they want? What do they need? How can you help them? You’re also striving to [beat the competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/). They’re striving to attract the same potential customers. This is getting complicated! ### *It’s also like taking a road trip – planning it out makes sense.* Back in February of 2005, I embarked on a cross-country road trip to relocate from Florida to Arizona. I loaded myself, my stuff, and 2 cats into my Kia Rio Cinco hatchback and hit the road. 1st day – Palm Bay, FL to New Orleans, LA; 2nd leg: New Orleans to San Antonio, TX; 3rd leg: San Antonio to Las Cruces, NM; Last leg: Las Cruces to Phoenix. **I had to plan it out so I could find pet-friendly hotels, motels, or B&Bs.** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/goals-SMART.jpg)My goal was to get to Phoenix in 4 days. It was a **[SMART goal](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/)**. And I made it. Had I not planned strategically and tactically**,** I would have wasted a lot of time looking for motels that had vacancies *and* accepted animals. ## Well, in Business, You Must have a Business Plan! ### ***And it can’t be just in your head! Writing it down makes it real.*** Sure, you can get Business Plan templates online, and that’s a good place to start. But it’s actually hard to do it all by yourself. You’re too attached to your idea or business. It helps to work with a coach. Your state offers free business coaching through the [SBDC](https://americassbdc.org/) (Small Business Development Council). Part of the business plan is the Marketing Plan, and the **[Social Media / Digital Marketing Strategic and Tactical Plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/)** are part of the overall Marketing Plan. (Your marketing plan can include offline advertising and promotions.) ### Sometimes it’s hard to see the bigger picture. **Especially the forecasting.** If you’re looking to get funding from the [SBA](https://www.sba.gov/), a bank, or an investor, ***you need a detailed plan***. How are you going to sell your product or service? How are you going to make money? What are your start-up costs? How long before you are profitable? Do you have a [marketing budget](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/)? If you’ve been in business for a while, you should **review and update your business plan** annually. Business models change. Situations change. You need to take into consideration… - new product or service ideas - if you want to expand - if you need to hire more staff All that needs to be written down. Your plan also needs to have some flexibility. For instance, any business plan made in December 2019 went out the window because of the pandemic. Yes, do a year’s forecast, but your marketing planning should be month-to-month — and allow for flexibility due to unforeseen circumstances. ## **Even Planning Your Social Media Marketing**… Initially, if you start by placing Facebook ads (that’s a [tactic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/)), as many small business owners do, it probably won’t work. Today’s marketing is way more than just placing Facebook ads. If you try to do it without a plan, you’ll be lost, and you’ll say, “Social media doesn’t work!” It does work when you’ve got good **[strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/)** and **[tactical plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/).** And they need to be adjusted monthly based on your data: [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/), insights, demographics, website statistics, etc. That will tell you what’s working and [not working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/). ## The Steps to Effective Social Media Marketing… 1. [**Clearly define your target market(s).** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) 2. What is your [**Unique Selling Proposition (USP**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/)) – What makes you different? 3. [**Research**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) your target(s), then create [**buyer personas**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/). Check out your [**competition**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/). 4. Set [**SMART Goals**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/). What do you want to accomplish? Be specific. 5. Set up a well-branded [**website**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/) and social media profile pages optimized for search – [**branding**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) should be consistent throughout your website and social profiles. Make sure it looks good — it’s your online image. 6. Develop a [**strategic plan**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) to meet those goals then, put together a [**tactical plan**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) to implement the strategy 7. Learn how[ **content marketing**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/), [**SEO**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) & [**social media**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/magic-formula-online-marketing-success/) all work together. Now that you know what you NEED to do, you need to [learn HOW to do it.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) 8. Create and curate content, then [**build a following**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/) and relationships 9. Have a clear [**call-to-action**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/): a free download, coupon or offer, to [**generate quality leads**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) — not everyone is ready to buy at first glance. Then, set up an email [**automation**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) workflow to walk the leads to buy – keep in mind their [buying journey](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-copywriting-website-social-media-improve-results/). 10. Monitor and measure – check your [**analytics**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) and insights every month to see what’s working and not working. Then plan accordingly for the next month. > ***If you keep doing something that’s not working expecting different results — well, that’s definition of insanity.*** ### *Having good strategic and tactical plans will also keep you from being overwhelmed!* ### So, get help! Take a class, hire a [coach](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/), hire an [expert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/). It is a wise investment. #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)#### [Download the free Define Your Target Market Workbook – it’ll help you get started. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) --- #### [Click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consult and analysis of your current marketing efforts. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Strategic Planning **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, biz plan, Business, business plan, Giselle Aguiar, marketing, marketing plan, planning, planning for business, social media marketing, social media marketing plan, strategic plan --- ### [What is Social Media Marketing? How Can Your Small Business Use It Effectively?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-social-media-marketing/) **Published:** May 21, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** No matter what you think of social media, it’s still a powerful, low- to no-cost marketing tool available to every small business owner. The challenge is knowing how to do social media marketing ***effectively***. This video covers the basics of social media networks and how they work together with your website, content marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO). ## Social Media Marketing 101 Video – How to Use Social Media to Grow Your Small Business Yes, it’s a tad outdated, but the basics are still there… Social Media Marketing 101## How Does Social Media Marketing Work? First and foremost, you want to be found when someone searches for what your small business has to offer. Furthermore, you can choose between organic (non-paid) marketing or paid advertising. Social media plays a crucial role in your digital marketing. - Paid advertising - Google ads – pay-per-click (PPC) - Social Media (PPC) - Ads on sites your target frequents, like mom bloggers. - Organic (non-paid) - [Content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) - [Blogs](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/should-i-have-a-blog-on-my-website/) - [Videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) - [Podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/) - [Images](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/) - [SEO – search engine optimization](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/), and now [AEO, GEO, and AIOs!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH") - Actively [posting on social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/ "Social Media Usage Is Up: How to Grow Your Following and Reach!") - [Email Marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) – start for free The way PPC works is you set your budget and select your target audience. Then, each time someone clicks on your ad, the “per-click” price is deducted from your budget. Moreover, that price will vary depending on where you’re advertising and how much competition there is for your keywords & audience. I specialize in ***organic*** content and SEO marketing. That is non-paid. With some sweat equity, you can do this effectively and get results [if you’re strapped for cash](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/effective-social-media-marketing-shoestring-budget/). ### Google Indexes Social Media Profiles and Posts Google still has over 87% of all searches in the U.S. [](https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share/all/north-america)Search Engine Market Share as of April 2026 from StatcounterGoogle’s goal is to give the searcher exactly what they’re searching for. The same goes for the AI Answer Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini. In fact, here you can see the latest stats on their usage in the U.S. [](https://gs.statcounter.com/ai-chatbot-market-share)AI Answer Engine Worldwide Usage by Statecounter### How does chatbot usage compare with traditional search and social media? Search vs social media vs AI chatbot usages worldwide by StatecounterYes, the chatbot usage is minimal compared to traditional search engines. However, it’s growing fast. Furthermore, it’s not going away. As more people get comfortable using them, it will increase rapidly. ## How has chatbot usage grown in the last 6 months? Chart generated by Google Gemini- **ChatGPT’s Slipping Grip**: Despite drawing over **6.2 billion monthly web visits**, ChatGPT’s traffic share has compressed from **78.6% down to 64.5%**. This stems from users diversifying their AI platforms rather than a drop in absolute OpenAI usage. - **Gemini’s Meteoric Rise**: Driven by native Android integrations, Chrome upgrades, and the rollout of Gemini 3, Google’s flagship tool rocketed from **8.6% to 21.5% traffic share**, breaking past the 20% milestone. - **Claude’s Power-User Engagement**: Though steady at **2% traffic share**, Anthropic’s Claude recorded massive spikes in total raw visits (clearing **700+ million monthly visits**) and has seen enterprise subscriber growth surge over 200% year-over-year. - **Perplexity Carving a Niche**: Perplexity holds a rigid **2.0% share**, building a highly loyal baseline of researchers relying heavily on its specialized, citation-backed AI search features. \[Sources: [1](https://a16z.com/100-gen-ai-apps-6/), [2](https://firstpagesage.com/seo-blog/chatgpt-usage-statistics/), [3](https://www.facebook.com/Similarweb/posts/chatgpt-vs-gemini-website-visit-growth-chart-including-january-2026preliminary-d/1352504683583478/), [4](https://aibusinessweekly.net/p/ai-chatbots-comparison-guide), [5](https://www.facebook.com/theeducatedmonkey/posts/chatgpt-led-ai-tools-in-march-2026-by-a-wide-margin-with-about-620-billion-visit/1279422677658816/), [6](https://www.facebook.com/neilkpatel/posts/chatgpt-vs-gemini-vs-perplexity-vs-claude-which-platforms-have-the-highest-conve/1538625347625568/), [7](https://www.techradar.com/pro/new-figures-claim-chatgpt-usage-at-all-time-low-as-quitgpt-movement-dents-popularity-with-gemini-perplexity-and-copilot-all-stealing-market-share)\] Google and the AI bots want fresh, relevant, ***helpful***, [quality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) content written for the human reader in natural language that gives you exposure and better chances of getting mentioned and cited. The search and AI engines determine the context and intent behind a search term. The AI tools will even prompt you to continue with your search. That’s where **[SEO Copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)** comes in. The tool you use depends on the job you need done. [Book a free strategy consultation with me](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA), and we can review your needs to help you learn how to use these tools to save time and money! [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) #### Related Content: - [The Pros and Cons of Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/) - [What is N-E-E-A-T-T? ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") - [What is SEO?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/) ### Why You Need to Think Like the Searcher Google respects social mediaWhat is your target market going to enter into the search box to find you? - The consumer is still in control. - What **QUESTIONS** are they asking? It’s not about ranking for keywords anymore. - How will they find you? - What comes up in a search? - [Website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) - [Blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-often-should-you-blog/)/[Video](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google")/[Pictures](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/ "How to Use Visual Marketing to Boost Your Brand and Sales") - [Social Media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/ "So many SOCIAL MEDIA Networks! Which are Best for Exposure?") - Put yourself in their shoes. Think like them. - [**All this helps build trust and credibility. People buy from those they know and trust.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/) - [**What makes YOU different? What’s your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/) Clearly, you must do your [**research**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/)! Start by defining your[ **target market**(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/), then determine which [social media networks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/ "So many SOCIAL MEDIA Networks! Which are Best for Exposure?") they frequent the most and their online habits. [**This free workbook will help guide you**.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [Free Define Your Target Marketing Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)### Now that you know your target, you need to build and enhance the [**User Experience (UX)**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/). > ***A bad UX will cost you sales!*** ### [Next, Research and Get to Know Your Competition!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/) ## Learn about the Social Media Networks - [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/make-multiple-personal-professional-profiles-on-facebook/) - [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) - [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) - X (formerly Twitter) **[Which Social Media Networks should you use? ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/)** Don’t forget your [Google Business Profile](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/)! This helps not only with [**Local SEO**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) but for ALL businesses that have an online presence. [**Optimize for Search**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/): Once you do your keyword research, write up keyword-centric bios and descriptions for all your social media profiles. Above all, make sure you have [Google Analytics](https://analytics.google.com) installed on your website to track where people are coming from. In addition, you want to set up your [**insights and analytics**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) on the social media networks. On X (formerly Twitter), you have to turn on the analytics, and you need at least 100 followers to start seeing data. That also applies to Instagram and Facebook. (Related: [How to Grow Your Social Media Following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/).) ## Some Final Tips on Social Media Marketing - **Focus on one objective at a time each month**. Don’t try to do everything at once. If you try to juggle too many things at once, you are liable to drop some through a crack. - **Create eye-catching graphics and/or videos** with your marketing message and [calls-to-action ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)(CTAs). There are a lot of free tools that you can use. If you find you’re not very creative — and not everyone is — it’s a right-brain, left-brain thing — hire someone. Don’t be afraid to admit that you can’t do it all yourself! - **Don’t post erratically on social media**. Have a posting schedule, and your analytics and insights will tell you when the optimum time to post is for each network. [***Schedule your posts and monitor everything with a great tool like Sendible!***](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link) - **Respond to comments and queries** within a reasonable amount of time. People who message you on social media expect a response in a few hours, if not faster. Watch and respond quickly to bad reviews. You can use a tool like Sendible to monitor all your social accounts in one place. - **Social Media Marketing is a marathon, not a sprint** – You’re in it for the long haul. Nevertheless, be aware that the road is constantly changing. It does take more time in the beginning as you’re getting used to the platforms and how they work, as well as creating the content. Consequently, once you figure out what works and keep doing it, it will take you less time to do what you need to do. ### Don’t… - …try to please everybody. - …take shortcuts! - …buy followers or likes! - … [jump in without a plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/ "Planning Your Social Media Marketing is an Important Step for Success")! - …rely solely on generic data. - …[rely just on one network](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/ "So many SOCIAL MEDIA Networks! Which are Best for Exposure?"). - …make claims or promises you can’t keep. - …ignore your people! Be Social! ## 10 Steps to Get You Started with Social Media Marketing 1. [Define Your Target Market’s Persona](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) 2. [Research Your Target Market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) 3. [Set SMART Goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) 4. Develop [Strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) & [Tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) Plans 5. Set up [Website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) & [Social](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) & [Optimize for SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/) 6. Set up Email Marketing Automation 7. [Learn How to Properly Use the Tools](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) 8. [Create & Curate Current Content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) 9. [Implement, Engage & Build Your Following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) 10. [Monitor](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) & [measure monthly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## Frequently Asked Questions about Social Media Marketing for the Small Business Owner ### What is the main importance of social media marketing for small businesses? Social media marketing remains a powerful, low- to no-cost tool that helps small businesses gain visibility, attract customers, and grow by effectively integrating with website content, SEO, and content marketing. ### What are some tips for new businesses starting out with social media marketing? Start by defining your target market, setting SMART goals, creating engaging content, posting consistently, responding promptly to interactions, and tracking analytics to refine your strategy over time. ### Why is organic content and SEO critical in social media marketing? Organic content and SEO are vital because they require minimal investment and can produce results through consistent effort, helping your business rank higher in search results and build trust with your audience. ### What are some effective ways to leverage paid advertising on social media? Effective paid advertising includes using Google Ads (PPC), social media ads, and ads on sites your target audience visits, such as mom bloggers, setting budgets, and targeting specific demographics for optimal results. ### How does social media marketing actually work for a small business? It works by making your business easily findable through organic and paid strategies, including content marketing, SEO, and targeted advertising on platforms like Google Ads and social media networks to reach your specific audience. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Social Networks **Tags:** content marketing, digital marketing, how social media marketing works, marketing, new social media networks, seo, social media marketing, social media marketing 101, social media marketing basics, social media marketing plan, social media marketing tips, social media networks, video, webinar, what is smm --- ### [What You Need to Know About LINKEDIN and AI SEARCH BOTS](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-and-ai-search-bots/) **Published:** August 11, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Would you believe that LinkedIn and AI Search Bots are the latest hot couple? As I’ve been researching how the AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and others are finding content, it shouldn’t have surprised me that LinkedIn came in second as the most cited source! ## LinkedIn and AI Search Bots In a recent [Search Engine Journal](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/category/webinar/) webinar, *Proven AI Visibility: From SEO Strategy To GEO Tactics*, Malte Landwehr, CMO, of Peec AI, showed this chart from [Kalicube](https://kalicube.pro/). It lists the knowledge graph sources most used by the AI Search Bots. Not surprisingly, Wikipedia came in first, but look at who’s in the number two spot! **LinkedIn!** That makes sense! I’ve been saying since I started my business that ***if you want to be known as an expert in your field, get on [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/linkedin/)!*** Naturally, you need more than just your professional listing — your resume — and a company profile. You have to work it! ### Are Your LinkedIn Profiles Updated? First off, both your personal and your company profiles have to be optimized, and you need to post to them daily (At least during the week). Here are some other articles to help you get your LinkedIn act together… - [24 Foolish LinkedIn Mistakes and How You Can Fix Them](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/24-foolish-linkedin-mistakes/) - [How to Properly and Effectively Market Your Business on LinkedIn in 15 Minutes a Day!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-15-minutes-a-day/) - [12 LinkedIn Dos and Don’ts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-dos-and-donts/) - [Videos: Make the Best of the 2 Sides of LinkedIn and Unleash Its Power](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) ## New! How to Add a Video to Your LinkedIn Articles Listening to another podcast, I learned that you can now feature a video — ***under 15 minutes*** — as your cover (at the top) on a LinkedIn article! [Check out how cool this is!](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/video-new-evolution-digital-marketing-strategies-how-adapt-aguiar-ndjtc/) Here’s how you do it. From the Home screen, click on “Write article” under “Start a post” in the center. You can publish the article under your profile or your company’s profile. I chose to publish it under mine because I have over 4000 followers on my personal profile and way less on the company one. Go with the one that will get you the most views. Then click on “Upload from computer” and find the video you’d like to feature. ***It must be under 15 minutes!*** You can write the article while it’s uploading. If you have a transcript, simply copy and paste it. The videos I do are presentations with voiceovers, so my presenter notes serve as my transcript.  I added a few screenshots, and in less than 30 minutes, I’ve got an article with a video featured on top! ***What’s really cool is the video plays in the timeline!*** After publishing, you’ll get this screen… **Copy the link and share it with your groups.** The more exposure you get, the better. As often as you blog on your website, copy the article to LinkedIn. As often as you do videos — keep them under 15 minutes — feature them in an article on LinkedIn. Doing this regularly should enhance your [E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) factor not just with Google, but with the AI Search engines. ***I’m here to help!*** #### I can… - Walk you through setting up your LinkedIn profiles — your personal AND company - Show you how to write an article. - Write the articles for you, but I’ll still need some of your input for that “expertise” and “experience”. - Develop a comprehensive, strategic blogging, video, and social media marketing plan so those AI search bots will notice you and site you as a source. - Review your website and social media profiles. - Help you determine who your best target audience is and how best to reach them and get their attention. - Teach you how to blog on WordPress. [Let’s start with a FREE 15-minute Zoom Strategy Session! Click here! ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** LinkedIn, SEO **Tags:** AI, AI search, ai search bots, ai seo, Artificial intelligence, content marketing, LinkedIn, seo, seo copywriting, social media marketing --- ### [Is Creating A Wikipedia Page Worth It?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/is-creating-a-wikipedia-page-worth-it/) **Published:** July 10, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** One of my clients asked me whether it would be worth creating Wikipedia pages for her and her husband. I had my doubts, so I quickly responded that LinkedIn was more powerful, as are Reddit and YouTube. However, that got me thinking. Not knowing much about the intricacies of Wikipedia, I thought I’d ask Claude… ## Can I Create a Wikipedia Page for Myself? The quick answer is yes, you can, but it will be deleted by the powers that be. So, is it worth the trouble? No. Read on for details and my conclusion at the end. **This is what I asked Claude…** > Since Wikipedia is so often cited by the AI bots, for someone who doesn’t have a Wikipedia page, is it worth the trouble of creating one? What does Wikipedia’s future look like? Will it still be around as a data source in 2 or 3 years? ### Claude’s Response Note: I did edit it somewhat for formatting, legibility, and grammar. > Good questions — let me take them in order. > > ### **Should you create your own [Wikipedia](https://Wikipedia.org) page?** > > Probably not by hand, and here’s why. Wikipedia has gotten a lot stricter about self-created content in the last year. In August 2025, editors adopted a new speedy-deletion rule (called G15) specifically targeting AI-generated pages, and in March 2026, English Wikipedia voted 44–2 to prohibit using large language models to generate or rewrite article content, with only narrow exceptions for copyediting your own writing or machine-translating an existing article. Reviewers are now actively trained to spot the telltale signs of AI drafting, and pages that show those fingerprints get pulled fast. > > On top of that, Wikipedia’s long-standing rules already discourage writing about yourself (conflict-of-interest \[COI\] guidelines) and require you to clear a “notability” bar. That is independent, substantial coverage in reliable sources, not just your own bio or press releases. If you don’t clear that bar, a self-written page usually gets deleted regardless of AI concerns, and the deletion history itself becomes a public record that can look worse than having no page at all. > > #### So the realistic paths are: > > 1. If you genuinely meet [notability](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") standards, have someone else write it through normal channels, disclose any COI if you’re involved, and expect real scrutiny. Or… > 2. **If you’re not there yet, it’s not worth the effort or risk right now.** The upside if you do land a legitimate page is real. Though, research analyzing 680 million AI citations found Wikipedia makes up nearly 48% of ChatGPT’s top-10 cited sources. Therefore, a solid Wikipedia presence genuinely does flow into how AI models describe you. > > #### **Will Wikipedia still be around as a data source in 2–3 years?** > >  - AZ Social Media Wiz")[](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_version_of_the_Wikipedia_logo_used_until_2010_(big,_English).png)[](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_version_of_the_Wikipedia_logo_used_until_2010_(big,_English).png)Old version of the Wikipedia logo used until 2010 Nohat concept by Paullusmagnus CC BY SA 30Almost certainly yes, but its role is shifting. Two things are happening at once: > > - *Traffic is declining.* Human traffic fell roughly 8% between May and August 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier, which the Wikimedia Foundation attributes mainly to AI search summaries and social media pulling people away from clicking through to source sites. > - *But Wikipedia is monetizing that shift rather than just absorbing the loss.* In January 2026, around its 25th anniversary, Wikipedia announced AI licensing deals with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity, and Mistral AI, building on an earlier Google deal from 2022. Annual revenue from these AI partnerships could reach tens of millions of dollars, on top of over $150 million in annual donations. > > Financially, the [Wikimedia Foundation](https://wikimediafoundation.org/) isn’t in crisis. It keeps a working capital reserve equal to 12–18 months of operating expenses, and it’s actively diversifying revenue rather than just hoping donations hold up. There is real organizational strain, though: leadership just turned over (a new CEO, Bernadette Meehan, took over in January 2026), and there’s an open worry about a feedback loop where less traffic means fewer new volunteer editors, which could eventually affect content freshness. > > **My honest read:** Wikipedia isn’t going away in 2–3 years. If anything, it’s becoming more entrenched as backend infrastructure for AI systems rather than less. What’s changing is its relationship with readers: fewer people visiting the site directly, more consuming its content secondhand through [AI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH") answers, and Wikipedia leaning into paid enterprise licensing to make that trade work financially. The bigger long-term question isn’t survival, it’s whether that shift erodes the volunteer base that actually keeps the content accurate — since AI still depends on humans writing it in the first place. > > [Claude.AI](https://Claude.AI), editied by a human. ## Claude’s Resources Here are the sources behind the claims in my previous answer: **Wikipedia’s AI content policy (G15, the March 2026 LLM ban):** - **Traffic decline and AI citation share:** - - - **AI licensing deals (Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity, Mistral) and financial sustainability:** - - - - **Wikimedia Foundation budget/reserves:** - [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia\_Foundation\_Annual\_Plan/2025-2026/Budget\_Overview](https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2025-2026/Budget_Overview) > **A caveat worth flagging:** a couple of these (WinBuzzer, MediaNama, WikiBusines) are smaller trade/blog outlets rather than major outlets, so I’d treat specific figures from them as directionally reliable but worth double-checking against the Wikimedia Foundation’s own blog or TechCrunch/Reuters coverage if you’re citing this somewhere yourself. > > [Claude.AI](https://Claude.AI), editied by a human. ## The short answer is NO. In Conclusion, don’t bother with Wikipedia. It’s not worth it. Instead, focus on your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/ "3 Elements of an Effective Website that Produces Results"), which you own. [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/ "LinkedIn"), [Reddit](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/ "SOCIAL MEDIA: Where You Need To Be For AI EXPOSURE"), and [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/ "How to Get Results & Reap the Benefits of YouTube Video Marketing"). They are much easier to work on. In fact, you have more freedom on LinkedIn and YouTube. Reddit is more challenging, but worth it if your topic of expertise is popular and you can add your opinions without being spammy. All in all, you should start by clearly defining your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your FREE Define Your Target Market Workbook!"). Then, after some [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/ "Internet Marketing Services"), set [SMART goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/what-are-smart-goals/ "What are SMART Goals"), and then develop [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/ "Get the Most from Your Social Media Marketing with a Detailed Strategic Plan") and [tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/ "Marketing on Social Media with no Tactical Plan is Wasted Effort") plans to meet those goals. Finally, review your [analytics and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") to see what [worked and what didn’t work](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/ "10 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn’t Working"). [Let’s do a quick call to review your marketing efforts and brainstorm what strategies are best for your business. Click here to book.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** AI Search, Content Marketing **Tags:** AEO, AI Overviews, AI search, ai search bots, AI tools, Claude, content marketing, digital marketing, PR, seo, Wikipedia --- ### [Are You Making these Digital MARKETING MISTAKES?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/) **Published:** June 30, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** April 2025 marked 30 years that I’ve worked in digital marketing. I’ve seen it all! Digital marketing mistakes made by well-meaning small business owners who attempt to do their own marketing and fail miserably. Moreover, their failures and mistakes were ***100% preventable*** had they asked an expert for help. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/oops2.jpg)Did they want to save money? Did they think they could understand the technology? Were they duped by snazzy sales pitches from salespeople who promised them fast, unrealistic results, then didn’t deliver? Were they victims of hackers or spammers? Did they want to help out a friend or relative who really didn’t know what they were doing? Did you not understand the instructions? Whatever the reason for the mistakes, they happen. Unfortunately, it usually takes a while to uncover them, and by that time, a lot of money and effort have gone down the drain. ## **How to Make Sure You’re Getting Your Digital Marketing Right…** ### Understanding what to do and what NOT to do could be the difference between you wasting time, effort, and money or **INCREASING SALES**! Your profiles on the social media networks, as well as your website, are part of your **Online Reputation and [Image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/)**. Also, there is a purpose to doing all this: ***Sales!*** Whether you’re selling services or products, that’s **the bottom line**. Or you want ***[Conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/)***. That is, growing your email list or booking calls — whatever your main [goal](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) is. > *When you don’t see sales after diligent marketing efforts, you need to start wondering, **“[What am I doing wrong](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/marketing-failing-fix/)?”*** What many small business owners fail to understand is that there are many little details. Like, interlinking profiles, blog posts, and pages correctly. Or making sure your physical address is identical in your Google Business Profile (GBP), your website, and other places where you may be listed. There are hundreds more of these tiny details that may hinder you from being found and may be hurting you. Every time I do a [free consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) and review a business’s website, blog, and social media profiles, I see the **SAME MARKETING MISTAKES** over and over again. > *There’s no reason why you can’t learn how to do it properly and your marketing will be effective.* ## **General Digital Marketing Mistakes** 1. **Not setting [SMART goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/).** Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. 2. **[Diving in without a written strategic plan.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/)** You wouldn’t go on a long road trip without a map or some plan as to where you’re going to stay or how long you’re going to drive. The strategic plan outlines how you will accomplish your goals. 3. **Attempting to do it yourself without [properly learning](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) how to use the tools.** Sure, you can post on Facebook, **but do you know how to *market* on Facebook?** You can use Word, but do you know how to use [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)? 4. **No written [tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/).** The tactical plan outlines how you’re going to implement the strategy. 5. **No content strategy.** Without strategy, content is just noise. 6. **[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/customers-copy.jpg)Not knowing [your audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/).** It is **crucial** to know what your target market’s pain points are and what interests them. 7. Not crafting the **right message** for your audience. 8. **Not investing in your own assets.** Your own email list, blog, website, video, graphics, etc. On any other platform, whether a free blogging site or social media, you’re just ***borrowing the space there***. You don’t own it. You have to follow **their rules,** and they can change them at any time AND use your content as they wish. 9. **Not checking your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) on a monthly basis.** Keep doing the same thing expecting different results – that’s **insanity**. Check to see what’s working and what’s not working. Besides your website, each social network provides analytics for free. They tell you follower demographics, which posts got engagement, and even what’s the best time to post. 10. **Not being human.** You can automate a lot of the media, but you still have to be social. Don’t ignore people. If you put your call-to-action button on Facebook to “Message Us,” you need to monitor Facebook Messenger. Obviously, ignoring it is bad customer service. Moreover, it’s a lost customer. 11. **Not committing to social media long-term.** It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Posting once a week will accomplish nothing. It has to be a daily task. 12. **Not having a logo!** It’s all about **branding.[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/Brand2.jpg)** 13. **Inconsistent branding.** People need to know who you are and what it is that you do at first glance, no matter where they find you. You have 7 seconds to catch someone’s attention online. 14. **Ignoring your social media accounts.** If you have a link on your website to your social media networks, you better be **posting regularly**! Nothing looks worse than after clicking on a link, I see the last post was months, even years ago! Ignoring your social media once it’s set up is just as bad as not having it at all. You also have to monitor comments and mentions. 15. **Forgetting to have fun.** It’s about being social and connecting with people. Be friendly, have fun! 16. **Focusing on quantity over quality.** It’s your **[online image.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/)** Everything you put online should be of good quality. 17. **Hiring an [intern or student](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-avoid-getting-locked-out-of-your-social-media/) to do your social media marketing.** Just because someone knows how to tweet or post on Facebook doesn’t mean they know how ***to market on Facebook***. You need to understand how it all works so you can supervise the person. Don’t trust someone to have total control of your business’s online assets and you get locked out or are clueless about whether what they’re doing is right or not. 18. **Trying to [learn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) how to market on social media by reading a book.** The problem with books is that **they are obsolete** the moment they’re published. The networks are constantly changing. 19. **Grabbing pictures off the Internet without permission from the photographer.** You must only use “free-use” graphics and pictures or make sure you give proper attribution to the photographer. A lawsuit can be costly – usually between $500 and $ 5,000. I like [Pixabay](https://Pixabay.com) for free graphics. Additionally, you can create custom graphics using the AI tools. Interestingly enough, if you create an image that’s 100% AI, you don’t own it. You can’t copyright it unless you put a significant amount of human work into it. [**I can show you how to use the FREE tools!** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") 20. **Posting the same thing over and over.** Don’t be boring. Get creative. 21. **Not taking the time to learn [the culture and the lingo](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/).** You don’t want to look like a newbie even though you are. [Check out my Glossary right here!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/) 22. **Making it all about you.** It’s about **them – your [target market.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** ***Serve, don’t sell.*** Don’t just post your stuff! **It’s not about selling. It’s about sharing.** Share other people’s content of interest to your target market. They are thinking, “What’s in it for me?” 23. **Not building relationships.** It’s about people-to-people (P2P). 24. **Not realizing that some people just aren’t that active.** However, passive users still watch, read, and listen. Again, your analytics will tell you where the visitors to your website are coming from. 25. **Not monitoring your brand and name on the social networks.** If someone has a problem, they may use social media to get your attention or to **voice their frustration.** Diffuse the bad & encourage the good. If someone says something good, thank them! Also, make sure any automated posts are posted correctly with pictures and links. 26. **Not responding promptly.** You can’t **ignore people** who message you via social media. It’s like turning your back on someone who speaks to you at a networking event. 27. **Too many selfies.** It’s not all about you. Sure, you can do some fun pictures every so often, but don’t overdo it. 28. **Expecting [followers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) to flock to you just because you’re there.** Unless you’re a celebrity or have hired one, building a following takes time – up front! Develop a [**strategy**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-strategy-think-like-your-target-market/) to reach your target market by providing the content they want. 29. **Posting irrelevant [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/).** Stick to your topic, field, or industry. Yes, you may share related content that would be of interest to your target, but make sure it’s relevant. **[Keep business and personal separate!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/)** 30. [**Not optimizing bios and about sections.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) What are your major, relevant keywords? All your bios, pages, and about sections should have keyword-centric descriptions. Otherwise, you won’t be found. Now, with the FREE AI tools you can discover what your potential customers are asking. [I can show you how to use them! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") 31. [**Not realizing that each network has its own search engine.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/)Google is not the only search engine online. Each network has its own, powerful, internal search engine. **Optimize to get found.** 32. **Not using [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) for exposure.** Hashtags work on all networks. Even [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/ "LinkedIn") and [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/video-marketing/youtube/ "YouTube")! Use them with your major and relevant keywords strategically and consistently for branding. Add 4 or 5 of them at the end of the post. Don’t overdo it. 33. **Not proofreading everything before publishing or posting.** This is your online image. OK, you can get away with the occasional typo, especially if you’re on a mobile device doing a quick post on social media. However, there’s no excuse for **bad grammar** or spelling errors, especially in a blog post or your profile bios. 34. **Not posting quality graphics.** There are enough [free graphics](https://pixabay.com) tools out there, so having fuzzy, cut-off graphics is not an excuse. **It’s your online image!** AND don’t grab one with a watermark! That’s stealing! 35. **[Not having calls-to-action (CTAs)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) all over the place.** You need to tell people what you want them to do often. This is how you build your email list. Use **[marketing automation.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/)** 36. **Not realizing that people log on at different times of the day.** Something posted at 8 am is probably not going to be seen by someone logging on at 3 pm. Use a scheduler. Check your analytics to see when your followers are on and the best time to post. 37. **[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/salesman.jpg)Selling, not sharing.** Actually, it’s **SERVE, don’t SELL!** Don’t share just promotional posts. Share useful content, and people will flock to you. Become a content magnet. I can’t stress this enough. I still see people just posting promotional posts: Buy! Buy! Buy! NO! Be helpful. Educate your customer. Tell stories. Give advice. 38. [**Not realizing that it takes time and effort upfront to build a following.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/)Plan on spending 90 minutes a day on social media and blogging 3 times a week for the first 30 days, while you’re **building a following**. Then you go into management and maintenance mode, and based on your analytics, you’ll focus on the networks that are driving traffic to your site and where you’re building relationships. Once you get past the **learning curve** and are used to the tools, you’ll be able to spend 30 minutes to an hour a day managing your social media. 39. **Mentioning a problem without offering a solution.** You hit a pain point. Give people **solutions** to their problem. Consequently, this is important now that people are searching [AI chatbots](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/ "AI Search") for solutions to their problems. 40. [**Not making sure that you have all the usernames and passwords for all your profiles, sites, and accounts.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-avoid-getting-locked-out-of-your-social-media/)Trusting your login information to just one employee is not wise. Don’t get locked out of your accounts! 41. **Buying followers or likes. It’s a waste of money.** Whether on Facebook, X/Twitter, or Instagram, they are **NOT your target market**. They are **fake accounts**. It will cost you more to have them cleaned up than what it cost you to buy them. Plus, the networks are eliminating fake accounts, and it may hurt your follower count. Yes, one day you’ll have 15,000 followers and the next you’ll have less than 500. That won’t look good at all. There are no shortcuts! 42. **Putting social media follow buttons on your website that either go nowhere, to the main network page, or go to an account that hasn’t been active in years**. You don’t want to look stupid. Don’t put follow buttons on your website until your profile pages are set up, properly branded, and optimized, and you’re active on social media. Furthermore, if you’re not going to be active on social media, it’s best to not have the accounts at all. Remove the links. ***By the way, Google+ has been gone for years. I still see G+ buttons on sites!*** 43. **Taking unsubscribers or unfollowers too seriously. Face it. Not everyone is going to stay subscribed or following** you. People’s interests change. They move on. Or they just don’t like what you’re sharing. If you’re losing too many people, then you need to review your content, tactics, and strategies, as well as who you’re trying to reach. 44. **Not using an email address with the company URL for business emails.** It looks more professional to use “yourname@company.com” rather than “yourname@gmail.com”. And don’t use AOL! It really dates you! ## **[Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/)** **Mistakes** It’s still the largest social media network with over 68% of people logging on daily in the U.S. ([Source](https://gs.statcounter.com/social-media-stats/all/united-states-of-america)) 1. **Creating a personal Facebook account in a company name or a fake name.** It’s against Facebook’s rules to use a personal account to primarily promote a business. That’s why there are business pages. 2. **Ignoring comments on Facebook** – “If you want to build a brand, you have to be accessible to your customers.” ~Robert Herjavec. Check the notifications on your page daily, at least every other day. 3. [**Not completing the About section.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/)They give you a lot of space – use it. It helps get you found. 4. **Trying to upload a rectangular logo into the square.** You can’t. It gets cut off. It looks bad. Don’t be lazy. Use the free graphics tool, **Canv**a, to create a 400 x 400 graphic. That’s the largest graphic needed (X/Twitter), and it will work for the other networks. 5. **Having a fuzzy cover graphic.** This is your online image. Use quality graphics. Canva has all the templates for the cover graphics, so there are no excuses! 6. **Not having a cover graphic that shows people what you do.** You have **2 seconds** to catch someone’s attention, and they need to know instantly what you have to offer. 7. **Not inviting your Facebook friends and family to like your business page.** Be selective when you invite them. There will be some that will like it to support you and some that will truly be interested in your business. And don’t feel bad if someone doesn’t like your page. It may be irrelevant to them. 8. **Not posting daily on Facebook.** Their algorithm is based on people liking and engaging with your posts. It’s recommended to post 3 times a day. Post at different times to take into consideration what time your followers or target audience are online. If you have a major announcement or promotion, do a paid ad and choose “your page’s fans” to get better reach. 9. **Not taking advantage of Facebook Live Video.** This is a great tool to broadcast yourself and gain exposure. 10. **Not uploading videos directly to Facebook.** FB is giving top priority to “native videos” over a link to a YouTube video. They want to keep people on their website, not send them to YouTube! 11. **Not having a call-to-action button.** Every business page has this feature. Use it! But don’t just put “visit website”. That’s not a strong enough call to action. Use “Learn More” instead. 12. **Not checking insights once a month.** Insights tell you a lot about your audience – what posts they liked the most, where they’re located, demographics, etc. You need at least 30 likes to see insights. 13. **Not using their free Audience Insights tool to see how your target market uses Facebook.** 14. **Not monitoring your competition’s Facebook pages.** You need at least 100 likes to add “Pages to Watch” to your Insights. See how often they are posting and how many followers they have. 15. **Ignoring Facebook.** Come on! It’s the largest network. It’s where the people are! Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean your target isn’t there. Even for B2B businesses. It’s a free billboard. Even B2B businesses should use FB as their secondary network after LinkedIn and Twitter. 16. **[Not asking people to check in at your location](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/).** If you have a brick-and-mortar location, ask people to check in. Offer to take a picture of them with their phone. 17. **Not setting up your events on Facebook.** This is a great opportunity for extra exposure. Invite your friends and family. Don’t invite people who are not likely to attend, like those who live in another city or state. 18. **Not putting some text and a link in your posts.** Don’t just post a video without saying something about it. Also, add a call-to-action (CTA). The algorithm picks up text faster. Now more than ever, it’s important to add a lot of text to your social posts. [The AI chatbots pick it up! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/) 19. **Falling for a phishing scheme.** That’s when you get an email that LOOKS like it’s from Facebook, but it’s not. The email says something like, “Your Facebook page is about to be deleted for ….” Of course, you, not knowing any better, freak out and click on the link. By clicking on the link, you gave the bad guys access to your Facebook page. If you ever get an email like that from anyone, look at the email address. Does it look official? Before you click on anything, go log into your Facebook account and see if you have any direct notifications from Facebook regarding the issue. If it is an official problem, then deal with it directly on Facebook. 20. I**gnoring your Facebook page for a long time.** If you’re not posting daily on Facebook, or haven’t posted in more than a month, go and start posting right away. If you’re judged as inactive, Facebook may remove your page, or you are more vulnerable to hackers. If you’re not using it, take it down. ## ****[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/az-social-media-wiz)** Marketing Mistakes** Google considers LinkedIn one of the top referral sites for information on professional people. If someone googles your name, more than likely, your LinkedIn profile will come up in the first few results of the Google search engine results. That’s where you want to be. LinkedIn helps you get known as an expert in your field. ### **What does your LinkedIn profile say about you?** Experience, expertise, subject authority, trustworthiness, and credibility are all crucial in order to market yourself in today’s digital era. #### **Here are a few LinkedIn Reputation Killers that you need to address ASAP!** ***Having a LinkedIn profile without your picture is like going to a networking event with a paper bag over your head***1. **No picture.** There is no reason why you should not have a picture of yourself, not a caricature or a cartoon character. You are networking. People remember faces before they remember names or even occupations. I’ve walked into live networking events where I don’t know a soul, and someone will walk up to me and say, “I’ve seen you on LinkedIn!” I reply, “That means what I do works!” They saw my picture next to posts in one of the local area groups. (More on this later) Not having a picture on your LinkedIn profile is like walking into a networking event with a paper bag over your head. 2. **Incomplete name and location**. You must put your full name and your location. That way, people can find you more easily. Even if you have a “global” business, put your actual location. Also, it must be your name, not your company’s name. People connect with people. People follow companies. Companies have company profiles that are separate from personal profiles. Your personal profile “owns” your company page. (This is also true for Facebook). 3. **Incomplete heading**. Your heading tells someone what you do at a glance. You must put your title and your company. Don’t just put “owner” or “entrepreneur”. Put your company’s name. 4. **Less than 50 connections**. 50 is the magic number on LinkedIn, along with a complete profile. Connect first with your friends, family, co-workers, former colleagues, former classmates, and everyone on your email list. Then, connect with people you’ve met at networking events. After the event, sit with the cards you collected and invite everyone to connect with you on LinkedIn. Remind them where you met: “John, it was nice meeting you at the networking event last night…” 5. **No vanity URL.** If your LinkedIn address has a bunch of numbers at the end of it, you need to create your vanity URL. This makes it easier for you to put your LinkedIn profile address on your business card. If you have a common name, you’ll need to add your middle name or initial. LinkedIn will let you know if your name is available. 6. **No summary**. Here is where you promote your business, not your life story! You have a business; you’re not looking for a job. Here’s where you add relevant keywords describing what you do and what you offer. Use bullet points, not long, wordy paragraphs. Don’t use “flowery language” either. Get to the point. You’ve got plenty of space here. Use it. 7. **No job experience**. People want to know about your background and where you got your experience. If you’re young and just starting, add a college or volunteer job in there. Make sure that your current position is where you are working now and that it connects to your company profile. 8. **No company profile**. As mentioned in #2, companies have company profiles. You must have an email address at the company URL to set up a company page. 9. **No recommendations**. Recommendations are important as they carry more weight than “endorsements”. Anyone can click on the “endorse” button — even if they know you or not. Recommendations have to be personally written by someone who knows you or your work. If you have happy camper clients, request a recommendation. You must be connected on LinkedIn to do so. 10. **No skills.** These are your keywords. You can put up to 50 skills. Use them. You can add or delete skills depending on the relevance to your current position. 11. **Not participating in groups.** There’s a group for every interest and industry out there. Search for those where your target market hangs out, groups for industry news, and potential referral sources. Post and participate in discussions regularly. Respect their rules. 12. **Not having a link to your website**. The link must go to your current website, and the website should work properly and showcase what you do. The link helps with search engine optimization (SEO). It helps promote your business. 13. **No business email address**. Unless you’re looking for work, the email address should be your company email with your website URL. Keep it professional. 14. **No phone number**. If you are in business for yourself, you need to make it easy for people to contact you! There are still many folks out there who prefer to call rather than email. It’s easier to call you from a mobile phone. More and more people access LinkedIn via the mobile app. If your phone number is there, all they have to do is touch it to call you. (It’s OK if you’d rather not put your number in there. But at least have a business email address!) 15. **Failing to link your company profile to your personal experience.** I’ve seen more than one person do this. Once you create the business page, you need to go to your personal profile and link your business profile to your experience. Doing this will link the business page to your experience and show you as an employee of the business. 16. **No link to X (formerly [Twitter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/marketing-on-twitter/))** – you’re missing a huge marketing tool if you’re not on X and if you don’t have your X account linked to your LinkedIn Profile. 17. **Not using Hashtags.** Hashtags work on LinkedIn, and people can follow them. Use them to increase your exposure. 18. **No link to your blog**. Again, you’re missing the **biggest online marketing tool** if you’re not using a blog to show off your expertise. 19. **Having multiple links to the wrong sites**. One person has 2 links to her one Twitter account. Another has a link to a site that either no longer exists or hasn’t yet been built. Please don’t link to your website until it’s finished and ready for prime time. 20. **Posting about sports, religion, politics, or personal topics.** LinkedIn is a professional, business-only site. Save the personal stuff for Facebook. Unless you work in sports, religion, or politics.) 21. **Not Taking Advantage of LinkedIn Articles to establish yourself as an expert in your field.** It’s like writing an article for your local Business Journal. Write at least a 500-word article. Repurpose blog posts from your website, but at the end include a link to the original website to maintain [authority](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/). [I can show you how to do this! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") 22. **Trying to set up a company profile that’s not listed in your experience.** You have to list your company in your experience under the same name. You are connected to your company as an employee. 23. **[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/lots_of_email.jpg)Sending promotional selling emails just because someone is in your network.** That’s spamming, and it is not tolerated anywhere in social media. Just because I’m connected with you doesn’t mean that I’m interested in your product or service. It’s not who you know; it’s who your friends know. Be subtle. Remember, ***Share Don’t Sell!*** 24. **Starting a group thinking you’ll get participants**. Just because you start a group doesn’t mean people will flock to join. It will help if you have an existing organization and a plan for what will be the theme and discussions. 25. **Spamming groups.** No better or faster way to lose credibility than to self-promote in a group. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) 1. **Getting on Instagram when you don’t have any visuals to share.** Not every business needs to be on **Instagram**! If you have a product, are a local business like a retail store or restaurant, do events, or have an eCommerce site, then definitely. It’s more [B2C than B2B.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/b2b-vs-b2c-which-social-network-should-you-use/) 2. **Keeping your account private.** You’re on social media for exposure and to gain followers. This won’t help 3. **Not branding your pictures.** Websites added in captions are not linked unless you pay for advertising. Add your web address and logo to your pictures. Use one of the free online graphics tools like Canva to create good, eye-catching graphics. 4. **Not using [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) for branding.** Since links don’t work, use hashtags to gain exposure. You can put up to 30 hashtags. 5. **Posting too many pictures together.** Spread them out. Gives you more exposure. Use free tools like Hootsuite, Dlvr.it, or Buffer to schedule out to Instagram. 6. **Not posting enough.** If you’re only posting once or twice a month, you might as well not bother. Have [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) and [tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) plans. 7. **No link to your website in your bio.** This is the only place on Instagram where you can add a link to your website for free. 8. **Holding a contest when you don’t have a following.** This is like the billboard in the middle of the ocean. No one is going to see it. 9. **Not tagging your location.** Especially for local businesses and events. 10. **Not tagging other users.** You get more exposure when you mention others related to the picture. 11. **Not doing videos.** Instagram has Live Video Streaming, Stories, and Reels. Get creative! Have fun! Casual is OK! ## **[Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/)** **Mistakes** 1. [**Skipping Pinterest because you’re a B2B business.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/)Pinterest is a very powerful [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) helper, as pictures and videos pinned from your website take the link with it. 2. **Not realizing that Pinterest is more than babies & cupcakes.** Yes, if you want consumers and soccer moms, you need to be on Pinterest. However, Pinterest is where people plan how they are going to spend their money. **A MUST for any ecommerce business.** 3. **Using a personal account for business.** Keep [business and personal separate](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/). Go to to create a business account or convert a personal one into a business one. Delete any personal pins and boards. 4. **Not verifying your website.** This will connect your website with Pinterest, and they will track pin action from your site. 5. **Not moving pins around seasonally.** If it’s summer, I don’t want to see Christmas holiday tips on the top of your page. 6. **Not taking advantage of the 500-character description areas on boards and pins.** Here’s where you can add links and hashtags with relevant keywords. 7. **Having empty boards.** If you have an idea for a board, but don’t have pins for it yet, keep it “secret” until you fill it. 8. **Creating a board for one or two pins.** Boards are categories. Broad or specific, add pins to it. 9. **Posting inconsistent bursts of pins.** Pinning regularly works best. 10. **Not adding original content.** Sure, repinning other people’s pins is good, but you should post fresh videos and pictures regularly. 11. **Using shortlinks.** Shortlinks like bit.ly or ow.ly are great for X and print, but not needed on Pinterest. In this case, the longer URL helps with SEO and gives credibility. 12. **Not adding categories to your boards.** This helps you come up in searches. Make sure it’s relevant. If you create a board on the fly, go in later, edit it, and add the description. 13. **Not sticking to board topics.** Don’t get lazy and stick everything in one or two boards. Keep them categorized. 14. **Pinning just your stuff.** Have other boards of related pins that your target may be interested in. 15. **Not pinning engaging content.** If you want to grow your following, share visuals of interest to your target market. 16. **Not creating a Showcase to highlight your best boards.** 17. **Not using [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/).** Hashtags help classify pins. Use them consistently with major keywords. 18. **Not checking analytics monthly.** Pinterest tells you which pins got the most engagement as well as what else interests your followers. This is valuable information. 19. [**Not pinning pictures from your blog posts after you’ve published them.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/)This helps with SEO. ## **[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/youtubelg.jpg)[YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/)** **Mistakes** 1. **Not taking YouTube seriously.** It’s the 2nd largest search engine, and it’s owned by Google. Nuff said. 2. **Uploading just one video and that’s it.** If you’re not going to do a video at least once a month, don’t bother setting up a channel. 3. **Not setting up a business channel correctly.** If you’re going to do videos regularly, then set up your YouTube channel properly and completely. 4. **Mixing business and personal.** You can have 2 separate channels. Keep them separate. 5. **Not uploading a proper and quality cover graphic.** This is the toughest one to set up. It needs to look good on an HD TV and on a smartphone. 6. **Not naming individual videos with what that video is about.** Proper titles help you come up in search. 7. **Not adding a description to your videos.** This also helps you come up in search. Use your focus keywords. 8. **Uploading duplicate videos.** You might think this is helping, but it’s not. YouTube videos do not have a shelf life. They don’t disappear. As long as they are published as “public”, anyone can view them at any time. What you can do is reshare them on social media or as a YouTube post in the Community area. 9. **Not adding a “default” description.** Have your defaults already filled out with your company info – this saves a lot of time. 10. **Not putting your video in the right category.** True, sometimes your video doesn’t fall perfectly in one of their categories, but at least put it in the closest one. For instance, I have a client who is an alternative medicine clinic. There isn’t a “health and wellness” category. I’m classifying them in the Science and Technology category. Medicine is science. It’s logical. Think logically. 11. **Not putting calls-to-action at the end of your videos.** You’ve got someone’s attention. They’ve watched your whole video. Tell them what you want them to do! 12. **Not taking advantage of all its features.** There are lots of features to help you promote your business. [**Learn how to use them well.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") 13. **Uploading low-quality videos.** True, not every video has to be professionally done, but it still is your online image. 14. **Thinking you can make lots of money becoming a YouTube star.** It isn’t as easy as it used to be. They keep changing the rules of monetization. Read them first. 15. **Not having at least one professionally done “corporate” video.** Again, it’s your online image. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Make it a good one. Use this as your channel ad. 16. **Not adding a logo or subscribe button.** Make it easy for people to subscribe to your channel. 17. **Thinking you’re going to go viral.** Unless you’re a celebrity or have hired one, it probably won’t happen. Going viral is a fluke. 18. **Failing to add links to your website in the description.** Helps with SEO. **Hint:** put it in the default description and put the whole URL. 19. **Not connecting Twitter.** Set it up so that as soon as you upload a video, it gets tweeted out. More exposure. 20. **Not embedding your video in blog posts on your site.** Get more exposure. 21. **Failing to create a Channel Trailer.** This is a short commercial for your channel. Why should someone subscribe? What type of content will you be sharing? How will someone benefit from the videos? 22. **Not deleting outdated videos.** Upload a video, and it’s there forever unless you take it down. 23. **Not doing Shorts.** These are like Instagram Reels. YouTube is showcasing them more these days. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## ****X (formerly Twitter)** Marketing Mistakes** 1. **Not Posting.** Ya gotta post! How do you expect to [get followers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-types-twitter-users/ "Which X/Twitter User Are You? Grow Your Following Wisely") if you don’t share anything? If you’re trying to build a following, thank a new follower and go check out their profile and what they tweet about. If they don’t tweet, I don’t follow back. Simple. 2. **You’re an [unknown](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-types-twitter-users/).** Are you a real person? Then upload a picture. If you’re a business, upload a logo. It’s your brand and image! Don’t use a cartoon or object for a personal profile either. There are way too many blank-heads on Twitter! They look like fake accounts. 3. **No Bios.** Who are you? What do you tweet about? X gives you 160 characters to describe yourself. It’s not your life story, just who you are & why you’re there. [Hashtag](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) keywords. 4. **Not uploading a cover graphic.** This is a free billboard. Make sure it’s not fuzzy. 5. **Over-Posting.** Just as bad as not tweeting is over-tweeting or automating everything. Seeing more than 3 tweets in a row from someone makes me wonder if they’re using a robot or if they are a real person. Use the scheduling tool in X Pro, Buffer, [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (Ad) or Hootsuite to schedule your tweets to post with enough time in between them. X is on 24/7, and that way your tweets can be on when you’re not. 6. **Not taking advantage of commenting on a post when reposting.** When you “quote” a tweet instead of just hitting “Repost”, X gives you an additional 160 characters. Use that to add a hashtag or your opinion. 7. **Using Foul Language.** I will unfollow someone in 2 clicks the moment I see foul language. 8. **Insulting people who unfollow you**. Just like you don’t like everyone you meet and everyone you meet won’t like you, not everyone will like what you tweet. It’s not a crime to unfollow someone. 9. **Using an auto-post program that tweets how many followers and unfollowers you have.** Who cares? 10. **Bragging about how many followers you have** – followers don’t equal sales. Unless you have the proper marketing, follow-up & sales channels set up, your “followers” will fall into the black hole. Using social media to attract people to your site, product, or service is just part of the marketing mix. 11. **Ignoring new followers.** A simple “Welcome new followers” or “Thx 4 following!” tweet is a sign that you want to start a relationship with your followers. That’s what it’s all about. 12. **Don’t Direct Message (DM) new followers**. Especially with automated DMs. You’re a person; they’re a person. Relationships happen between people, not robots. [The pros and cons of using AI.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/ "10 Pros and Cons of Using AI for Writing Content to Save Time") 13. **Posting only about your product or service – It’s not about you; it’s not about your product or service. It’s about what you have to offer your followers. Share relevant information, stories, and** advice, and it doesn’t always have to sell something. 14. **Not keeping tabs on your competition.** Do this with a private list. Monitor what your competitors are doing. 15. **Not [learning the lingo](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/) before trying to communicate with the natives.** You don’t want to look like a newbie (even if you are)! 16. **Duplicating tweets.** Even if it’s your CTA tweet, reword it. ## **[**Blogging**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/whats-your-story-blogging-for-business/) Mistakes** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)1. **Using the free [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) or other free, third-party blogging platform.** Though this is a good way to get started if you’re on a shoestring budget as a startup business, you want to be on your own platform, not a borrowed one. 2. **Using industry jargon.** You’re the expert; your reader is not. Write for an 11-year-old. 3. **Not writing for the human reader.** Write for your target market with the search engine and keywords in mind. 4. [**Not creating fresh, relevant content** **regularly.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/content-youre-creating-effective-just-noise/)To be effective and grow a following or build an email list, you should blog 2-3 times a week. [**No less than weekly** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/)once you’ve built an audience. 5. **Not sharing your content on social media.** This is the main way to publicize your blog posts. Drives people to your site. 6. **No credible links.** Both internal and external. Internal to related content on your site and external to related, relevant content on someone else’s site. Use the [Pillar Pages](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/) structure. 7. **Trying to be cute with your headline.** Your headline should entice people to click on the link to get them to your website. Use the free [Headline Analyzer](http://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer) to help you create catchy headlines. 8. **Writing long paragraphs.** Break up your content with bullet points and H2 and H3 sub-headings. 9. **Not adding the title of the post or keywords to image “alt text” descriptions.** If someone pins your picture on Pinterest, this is the description that comes up. Don’t make the user have to add their own description. 10. **Not adding keyword tags relevant to your blog post.** This is what the search engine sees. 11. **Not proofreading before publishing.** Check spelling and grammar. It is your online reputation! 12. **Not having links to other internal, related content to entice people to stay on your site longer.** The longer people stay on your site, the more chances they’ll do something. 13. **Leaving default widgets like “archives”.** No one is going to look for what you wrote on a specific day. They’re looking for topics or categories. 14. **Not having a “tag cloud” with the tags (keywords) that are relevant to your article.** This is another way to keep people longer on your site. 15. **Not putting a call to action at the end of each blog post.** You’ve got the visitors’ attention. What do you want them to do? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)## ****[Websites](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/) & [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)** Marketing Mistakes** 1. **[Not having a website.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/)** You can’t expect to get new clients or customers without having a website. You can’t just have a [Facebook page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/can-your-facebook-page-initially-serve-as-your-website/) and expect it to convert clients. 2. **Thinking that if you build it, they will come. NOT!** Having a website and not blogging or sharing on social media is like having a billboard out in the middle of the ocean. Sure, a passing ship may see it, but that’s not going to be enough. 3. [**No lead generation strategy**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) **– or lead capture on your website.** You need to convert visitors to leads, then nurture them into sales. That’s where [Marketing Automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) comes in. 4. **Not understanding how today’s [SEO (Search Engine Optimization)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) works.** Especially now with the AI search engines! 5. **Not optimizing each post or page for the search engines.** If you’re on [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/ "Why I Prefer WordPress for Websites"), several SEO plugins make this easy. 6. **Using [colors](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/ "Video: How to Use BRANDING and Color for Your Online Image") that YOU like** rather than colors that your target likes or that will influence actions. 7. **Putting “Welcome” as a headline or title.** This word is too generic. It doesn’t help with SEO at all. 8. **Not fully thinking out what you want to accomplish** **with the website.** What are your goals and objectives? Who do you want to reach? Everybody is NOT your target market! **[Here’s where Planning comes in.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/)** 9. [**Thinking a website is just an online brochure.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) It should be working and selling for you 24/7. 10. **[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/call-to-action-buttons/)Not having a [giveaway](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)** that your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) wants and will give you their email address for it. Just having “Sign up for our Newsletter” is not enough enticement. 11. **Not having a [landing page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/landing-page-effective-infographic/) for your giveaway.** Just having a place to enter an email address and a “subscribe” button is not enough. You’re missing the “What’s in it for me?” factor for your visitors. You’re asking them to give you something private and precious – their email address. What exactly do I get? How often are you going to email me? 12. **Having a boring “Join our Newsletter List” [call-to-action.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)** The visitor is thinking, “What’s in it for me?” Tell them. Give them a freebie – something useful to them – in exchange for their email address. 13. **Having pop-ups.** They are extremely annoying. My greatest pet peeve is the exit ones. I want to bookmark or share the blog post, I move the mouse to do so, and the pop-up appears, and I have to look for the “x” or “close” button. I don’t even read it. You do want to have a clear call to action in the top or right-hand side of the page. More discreet pop-ups are the ones that appear at the bottom corners. They’re visible, but not obstructive. However annoying, they do work. 14. **Keyword stuffing.** Repeating your major keywords too often will hurt you. Certainly it doesn’t help. 15. **Broken links.** How annoying is it to click on a link and get “404 Page not Found”? This also hurts SEO. 16. **Duplicating content.** You can’t just mirror a site anymore. There are proper ways to repurpose content. 17. **[Labeling your homepage “Home”.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-tip-home-is-not-your-company-name/)** “Home” is not the name of your company. Or “About”. About who? About what? Don’t use generic names for your main pages. 18. **Ignoring [“meta” descriptions.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/ "How to Write Inviting Title and Meta Tags that Capture the Clicks")** These show up in Google searches. They have to be the right length and with relevant keywords. 19. **Not using [analytics.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/)** Analytics should be checked monthly. Which sites are driving the most traffic to your site? How long are visitors staying on your site? How many new visitors are you getting compared to returning visitors? 20. **Optimizing the wrong keywords.** Make sure they’re relevant to your business. 21. **The site takes too long to load**. Graphics that are too big, too much code, and too many plugins contribute to a slow-loading site — among other factors. If it takes more than 5 seconds to load, you’re in trouble. Related: [Google Core Vitals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/) 22. **No mobile optimization.** Being not just mobile-friendly, but also mobile-responsive is crucial to come up in Google mobile search. 80% of searchers use Google on a mobile device. 23. **Not having a blog on your site.** [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) makes it easy to have a static website and a blog all in one. Without the [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/), you don’t have the fresh content that Google is looking for, and you don’t have content to draw people to your site.[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/follow-buttons/) 24. **No social media follow buttons.** You have to make it easy for people to follow you. 25. **Having social media follow buttons that either go nowhere or link to your networks, and you haven’t posted anything since 2013.** If you’re not active in social media, don’t put buttons on your site. It makes you look stupid. (Yes, this is a repeat, but it’s important.) Yes, I still see this! It’s so sad! 26. **No social media sharing buttons.** Make it easy for people to share your content with their friends.[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/share-buttons/) 27. [**Not having an “About” page.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/)Here’s where you toot your own horn. Why are you qualified? What’s your company’s history? Who are the people behind the brand? What’s your passion? Why did you start your business? For instance, one of my past clients is in the military reserves. That’s an important factor! That shows that he’s responsible, has integrity, and good morals. What good things are you hiding from potential customers? 28. **Thinking that a website built more than 2 years ago is still OK.** It’s not. An outdated website affects your online image and SEO. Besides that, the AI search bots will ignore outdated content and go find fresher information at your competition. 29. **Putting links in your navigation that go to empty pages.** Putting “coming soon” or “under construction” hurts your SEO. 30. **Having your social media follow buttons only at the footer of your page.** You want people to follow you. Don’t make people hunt for your social media links. 31. **Not updating your site regularly.** Google and the AI search bots ignore sites with outdated content. Keeping it fresh keeps the bots happy. [Blog at least once a week.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/) Three times is best. 32. **For [LOCAL](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-tips-for-a-profitable-and-prosperous-2025/) Businesses – not putting your location and/or service area EVERYWHERE.** How are local, potential customers going to find you if you don’t tell them where you are? Besides them, you need to tell Google where you are! 33. **Not having a Google Business Profile properly set up with a link to your website.** This tells Google who you are and what you have to offer. 34. **Not having complete and optimized **[Title and Meta tags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/)**.** These are important if you want to be found when someone is searching for what you have to offer. 35. **Having an ugly website.** 36. **Ignoring the [User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/).** A bad UX will cost you sales! 37. **Not having Google [Analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) set up and monitoring your website.** 38. **Trying to build your own website** using a sitebuilder without connecting the final site to your domain name. Yes, [sitebuilders](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-free-is-a-free-website-is-it-a-good-place-to-start/) are cheap and supposedly easy to use, but it’s like a construction contractor giving you a bunch of wood, pipes, and electric wiring and telling you to go build a house. (GoDaddy is notorious for this.) ## **Conclusion** Have you been keeping score? How many of these mistakes have you made? Don’t feel bad. You’re in a big boat along with many other small business owners who just don’t know what they don’t know. ***Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is stupidity.*** ### **If you counted at least 20 of those marketing mistakes, that’s too many! Here’s what you need to do next:** 1. **Analyze** your current marketing efforts. What’s working, what’s not working. I can help you through this! [Book a FREE 15-minute virtual call to get started!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) 2. [**Define Your Target Market’s Persona.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) This will give you direction. 3. **[Research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) your target market.** Get to know them – what are their pain points? Which networks do they frequent the most? Do keyword research to find out what searchers are entering into the search box to find you. 4. **Develop a [Strategic Plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/).** Based on your research, what is going to be the strategy to reach your target and meet your goals? 5. **Develop a [Tactical Plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/).** This will be a guide for you to implement your strategy. 6. **Setup & Integration – Optimize for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/).** Your website needs to be set up to capture leads. Your social media profiles should be an extension of your website with quality graphics and optimized for SEO with relevant keywords. 7. [**Learn How to Properly Use the Tools.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") Learn [the lingo](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/) and the culture of the networks. Learn how to use tools to automate some of the media. 8. **Create & Curate[ Content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/).** Find content from trusted sources of interest to your target market to share on your social media networks. 9. **Implement, Engage & [Build a Following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/).** Just do it! It takes about 90 minutes a day for the first 30 days to build a following, as well as blogging 2-3 times a week. 10. **Monitor & Measure.** Once you’ve built a following, you’re in management mode. Check your notifications daily and respond to inquiries. Check your insights and [**analytics**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) at the end of each month. See what’s working or not working. Adjust your marketing plan accordingly. [ROI vs KPI?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/ "How to Measure Your Social Media Marketing SUCCESS ROI or KPI?") ### Now, you may be overwhelmed by all this. Yes, it’s a lot to take in. You’re also learning several platforms at the same time. **[That’s where my 1:1 coaching comes in!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)** ### [Let’s do a FREE 15-minute call, and I’ll analyze your website and social media efforts. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [Click here to schedule.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blogging, digital marketing, digital media marketing, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Instagram, Internet Marketing, LinkedIn, marketing, marketing mistakes, online marketing, Pinterest, search engine optimization, seo, social media marketing, social networks, Target market, Twitter, websites --- ### [Social Media Marketing Strategy: Think Like Your Target Market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-strategy-think-like-your-target-market/) **Published:** February 3, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** One of the stumbling blocks that many small businesses face when delving into social media marketing is that they’re too attached to their business. You know your product, service, or industry inside and out. Who you really don’t know is your target market. You feel your product or service is the best and the greatest. You think your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-website-mistakes-need-fix-2017/) is gorgeous, your social media pages are cool, and your marketing materials are perfect. And that’s the problem — to your target market, they may not be. Your social media marketing strategy must cater to your target audience. Otherwise, they will go elsewhere! ## Take a Step Back and Look Objectively at You, Your Business, and Your Target Market [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/frustrated.jpg)Does your target market get frustrated when they get to your site they dont find what they need or wantI learned to do this when I was unemployed. One of the hardest things to do is to market yourself — even as a marketing professional — because to you, you’re too attached to yourself! **You need to look at everything objectively.** Therefore, take a step back and look at it all ***through the eyes of your target market*.** ([If you haven’t clearly defined your target market, you need this: **Defining Your Target Market Workbook**.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Target market persona")) *Everything* means your website, social media business pages and profiles, business cards, brand, logo, and collateral material. Consider the buying process. Think like your target. Does it make sense to someone who just discovered you? ## Ask yourself these questions: - **Is it pleasing to the eye?** Just because you like the colors doesn’t mean that everyone else does. Is it too busy? Is it too wild or loud? Is it too plain? [A bad UX and UI will cost you sales! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/) - **Do all pictures and graphics convey the brand nicely?** Are they the right size and not fuzzy? This is no time to be sloppy. Quality matters! **You only have one chance to make a first impression.** - When someone lands on the page – whether it’s your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/), social network page, or [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) – **do they know what it’s about**, what you do, what you have to offer, and how you can help them? Are the “about” bio sections complete? Does your website have an [about page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) that tells people who’s behind the brand or company? - **Is your [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) visible**, or do people have to scroll down to see it? What do you want a person to do when they get to your site? Is it confusing? It may seem simple to you, but then you’re the expert; **your target is not.** - **Is it easy to navigate?** The last thing you want is someone getting lost on your site and giving up when they can’t find what they want or need. ***Related: [How to Improve the User Experience on Your Website to Increase Conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/)*** ## Think Like the Searcher – Your [Target Market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/Eureka.jpg)Eureka I found it- What are their pain points or problems that your product or service can alleviate? - What will they enter in the Google search box to get to your information? - Determine what questions they are asking the [AI search tools](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/). - Are you providing the information they’re looking for? - Do your posts, headings, and taglines pique their curiosity? In addition, doing an [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) (search engine optimization) keyword research with the free Google Keyword Tool will help you uncover questions or phrases for your particular business, field, or industry that you may not have thought of. ## Your Target Market on Social Media Furthermore, if you have at least 100 [followers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) on [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/), you can look at their demographics via the social platform’s **[insights and/or analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/).** They’ll tell you age, gender, location, and even the best time to post! Sometimes you’ll discover that you’ve been sending the [wrong message to the wrong audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/marketing-failing-fix/). For instance, if you’ve been using pictures of young people, but you see that your fans and followers skew older, you need to adjust your marketing messages. ## It’s not all about you! **Consequently, it’s about what you can do for your potential customers!** It’s about being helpful. Moreover, it’s about getting that “happy camper” customer what they were looking for! Overall, what are they going to find at their “**Zero Moment of Truth**?” > ***Zero moment of truth is that instant when you grab your laptop, mobile phone, or some other weird device and start learning about a product or service you’re thinking about trying or buying.*** > > (“Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is about Help Not Hype” by Jay Baer- I highly recommend it!) That’s what **Inbound Marketing** is — ***being found*** when your target market is looking for what you have to offer. In conclusion, there are numerous elements that contribute to effective digital marketing, which can be overwhelming. I can help you! [Let’s start with a FREE 15-minute Zoom consult. Click here to schedule it.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) I’ll analyze your website and current marketing efforts and give you tips on how to improve them. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Social Networks **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Business, business pages, content marketing, digital marketing, digital media, digital media marketing, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, inbound marketing, Internet, Internet Marketing, Jay Baer, marketing, Marketing and Advertising, marketing strategy, online marketing, social marketing, social media, social media marketing, social media marketing strategy, Social network, social networking, social networks, Target market, website functionality, websites --- ### [A Local SEO Tale of 2 Auto Repair Shops](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-tale-of-2-auto-repair-shops/) **Published:** August 3, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Local SEO begins on your website. I once did a consult for an auto repair shop in the Phoenix Valley. He had poor [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) and needed to boost the business to his local, brick-and-mortar shop. He had some social media profiles set up. But like many small business owners, he had no idea what to do with them. I did a Google search for “auto repair \_\_\_\_\_ (his city)”. His listing came up about 3/4 of the way down on the ***2nd page***! (These days, you want to be in the top 5-10 organic spots.) > ***92% of searchers will pick businesses on the first page of local search results.*** > > [Renderforest.com](https://www.renderforest.com/blog/google-search-statistics) I was curious about the one that came up first in the ***Organic*** search results (non-paid). I clicked on his link and here’s ***what they had in common:*** - The websites were similar with good calls-to-action: “Click here to schedule an appointment.” - They were both members of the BBB and A+ accredited. - Neither of them had a blog. ## What’s the difference? What gives one guy great SEO and the other nothing? ##### \#1 had: - Links to [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/ "Facebook") and Twitter (X) at the very top. - Links to AAA, BBB, and other certifications. - A Facebook widget in the footer that pulled the feed from his Facebook page. - ***And he was [actively posting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/ "What You Need to Know on How to Build a Social Media Following") on Facebook*** > ***Obviously, if you’re not coming up on the top of Google for your major search terms, face it, the searcher will go to your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/)!*** ## [What’s the Recipe for good SEO?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/magic-formula-online-marketing-success/) - For a [LOCAL brick-and-mortar business](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/): Have your [Google Business Profile](https://www.google.com/business/) set up correctly so you come up in Google Maps. - External links to relevant sites: social media, BBB, organizations, associations, chambers of commerce, partners, etc. Make sure that the links open in a new tab so the visitor doesn’t lose your site. - Actively posting and engaging in the major social media networks. - [Blogging 3 times a week](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/). - [Strategically use Facebook and Instagram: here’s how.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) ## So, if you’re marketing like it was the last century, here are your choices: - Hire someone to get you set up properly - [Hire someone to do it for you](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) - [Learn how to do it yourself, which, with a little “sweat equity”, works!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/) ### [Let’s start with a free 15-minute consult, and I’ll review your current marketing efforts and give you some tips on how you can improve them.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Google Search, Internet, Internet Marketing, local search, Local SEO, marketing, search engine optimization, seo, social media, Social network, social networks, Web search engine, Website --- ### [How Much Should a New Business Have in its MARKETING BUDGET?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/) **Published:** November 4, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** I work with a lot of startups & one thing they miss is considering a marketing budget to effectively promote their business in today's digital world. **Content:** Marketing is an essential function of any business that wants to draw new customers. Whether B2B or B2C (or both), you must promote your business so people know you exist. Obviously, to do so effectively, you need a ***marketing budget***. Today’s marketing is way more complex than back in the day before the Internet existed. Therefore, it is crucial for small business owners to carefully plan and research what marketing options will be most effective, both in terms of cost and results, and set aside funds in a marketing budget. ## **But How Much Does Marketing Cost?** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/marketing-1466315_640/)That depends. For a local business, you should consider print, direct mail, and digital. For an online or consulting business, the Internet holds a lot of choices that may work for you. ## **Let’s look at all the Aspects of Your Marketing Budget:** ### **Website:** First, you need a **[website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-website-mistakes-need-fix-2017/)**. Your website should be a **[24/7 functioning ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/)salesperson for you. It needs to be [branded](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/create-your-online-brand/) properly with [calls-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) to capture leads and, most importantly, optimized for** search engines ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)). Yes, there are free and do-it-yourself (DIY) platforms out there, and they are a good place to start if you’re on a tight budget. However, keep in mind that you will more than likely outgrow it as your business grows and you need more functionality. What could possibly go wrong if you try to build your own website? [Click here to find out.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/) Your website is also the center of your whole **[online image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/)**. You should also have an **[“About” page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/)** that tells who you are, why you do what you do, your passion, expertise, etc. This goes towards building [credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/). People buy from those they know and trust. ***Transparency*** is key for a potential customer considering purchasing your products or services. #### Marketing **Budget for a Website:** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/top-12-blogging-mistakes/22if-you-dont-have-time-to-do-it-right-when-will-you-have-time-to-do-it-over22-john-wooden-600x600/)Depending on what you need it to do, ie, shopping cart or booking system, it may cost from **$5,000 – $10,000+**. A very simple, well-done website with 5-10 pages could run you from $1200-5000. ***Do your homework before you hire someone.*** Google them, read reviews, and look at other websites they’ve done. Just because they say they can build a WordPress site doesn’t mean they know everything about [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) and follow best practices. Furthermore, just because they are listed on a web hosting company’s site doesn’t mean they know what they’re doing. Social media needs to be integrated into the website. **Check out their social media accounts.** Are they active? How many followers do they have? What do they blog about? **Does it seem like they know what they’re talking about?** #### Understand the difference between a web designer and a web developer. The difference may be obvious at first — **the designer is more creative and the developer is more technical**. You really need both. The designer is the person who’s going to look at the aesthetics — does it look good to the visitor? Is it pleasing to the eye? Is it attractive to your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)? This person will also be in charge of basic [functionality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/websites/website-functionality/) — navigation/menu, calls-to-action (CTAs), etc. The developer covers the back end — [security](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/), backups, and the technology behind the functionality. The designer tells the developer where to put the CTA. The developer makes sure it works like it’s supposed to. For example, an ecommerce store will need a shopping cart and a payment gateway. All have to be [secure](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/) and working smoothly. These are two aspects that must be considered. Sometimes you can get the designer and the developer in one person. Most times, they are part of a team. #### Whoever you hire must be knowledgeable / expert on… 1. Whatever **platform** you’re using, ie. [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/), [Shopify](https://shopify.pxf.io/eKD1mX) (affiliate link), Etsy, etc. Ask for samples. Contact the company and ask if they were happy with the designer/developer. ask… - How many websites have you created on this platform? - How long have you worked with this platform? - Are you aware of all the recent changes/updates, etc.? 2. **The technical aspects of search engine optimization (More on [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) below)**. Every page must be optimized following Google’s specifications. The site must also pass [**Google’s Page Speed Test**](https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/) to load fast enough on a mobile device. Otherwise, Google will demote you on its search results page. You will need good [SEO Copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/). 3. Your potential **customer’s buying journey**. The [UX, or user experience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/), is critical. ***A bad UX will cost you sales!*** The designer/developer must consider the User Interface (UI) when building your site. ### [Copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-copywriting-website-social-media-improve-results/) This is a combination of skill and talent. The right words on a webpage can lead the visitor to what you want them to do, or it can make them leave your website forever. Good [**copywriting**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/) is written for the human reader with the search engine in mind. Get quotes from at least 3 designers/developers. The more complex and complicated your website needs to be, the more expensive it will get. For instance, a friend told me that a nonprofit organization got a quote for a new WordPress website at $10,000. They negotiated it down to $5,000. > [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/)[***If you are thinking about doing it yourself, which you certainly can — the question is should you? Read this first….***](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/) ### Domains This is your web address or URL. **Domain names** cost about **$12/year to start.** **You don’t need to buy all the versions. Try to get the .com. This is NOT your trademark! You** don’t have to register with your state or national agency. ### Hosting ****Hosting is next.**** This is where your website files are going to sit. Shop around. **Compare apples to apples.** One company is cheaper for the first year, but more expensive when renewal time comes around. Another gives you 25,000 visitors per month, while another only gives you 10,000. That’s something you need to think about. Typical costs for shared hosting for a basic startup are around $10.00/m. I recommend [LightningBase](https://secure.lightningbase.com/aff.php?aff=485) (affiliate link). They only do [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/), have great tech support & websites load quickly. ### **[Website Security](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/)**: An Important Factor in Your Marketing Budget The last thing you want is to discover that your site has been hacked. It has to be rebuilt. Major headache! It will behoove you to find someone to manage your website, protect your site, and clean it up if it gets hacked. If you don’t do this, you risk your website being hacked, infected with malware, or being held for ransom. Cybercrime is on the rise. Security is crucial. You may think that you’re too small to be hacked. Not so! Hackers use bots to crawl the web looking for websites with vulnerabilities. If your site isn’t protected properly, if it isn’t updated with all the latest security and platform updates, it’s vulnerable. I know. My site was hacked twice in 2014, and I lost a lot of content that I had to recreate. Not fun. After the second time, I hired someone to redo it and protect it. Protection, usually billed monthly, is **$49/m**. I recommend [OnSiteWP](https://www.onsitewp.com/clients/aff.php?aff=19) (affiliate link WordPress Only) #### A good website maintenance company will not only protect your site, but they will… 1. Run regular malware scans 2. Report every month 3. Set up daily backups so that if you are hit or something else happens, your content is not lost. Likewise, if you are on an ecommerce site like Shopify or Etsy, they should cover all the backups and security. Always check to see what services they provide. Your website must be up, running, and ready for prime time BEFORE you start any campaigns or promotions anywhere. You may want to do some “coming soon” teasers. That’s part of the planning process. ## **SEO (Search Engine Optimization):** You want to be found when someone is searching for what you have to offer. Yes, you can hire someone to do your [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/) and [AISEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/), but you can do it yourself with keyword research, regular [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/), and being active on [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/). However, if you want to outsource this, figure on anything from **$350 – $500** upfront fee for optimizing your site, and then an ongoing fee of **$500 – $1000** or more a month for monitoring, reporting, and blogging. See social media below… ## **Graphics:** **Sure, you can use free tools like Canva to create graphics**, if you are so inclined, but you may want to have your logo and social media cover graphics **professionally done**. Depending on the designer, they can charge from **$50 – $100/hr,** and based on how many redos, it can cost from **$200 – $1000+.** > ***You want to have quality graphics as these portray your online image.*** You’re also going to need graphics for promotions. Canva can help you there, too. ## **Market Research and Planning:** Because there are so many marketing channels, [**you need to determine your target market niche(s)**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/). This requires some **research**. You can do it yourself by searching online for the information you need on your specific target(s), the economic overviews of your particular industry, and your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/). [Then, based on the research, develop both strategic and tactical marketing plans. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/)Hiring this out will cost anywhere from **$500 to $1000**, depending on the type of business it is. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## **Social Media Marketing:** **Today, you have to be on [ALL the networks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/) because the AI search bots look everywhere for content.** However, focus on the ones your target market frequents the most (you’ll learn this from your research) and where you’ll get the most exposure and [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/). You can learn how to do this all yourself, but know that it takes more work upfront to [build a following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) and search for your target market on the networks. You also need to produce content. (See the next section). Just posting willy-nilly on Facebook or Instagram is not social media marketing. That’s a waste of time. If you hire someone to do it for you, plan on spending from **$500 – $750** upfront for setups and ongoing from $500 – $1500 a month, again, depending on your business and target(s). Furthermore, if you think that you can trust your social media marketing to a high-schooler, college student, or intern, think again. First, they don’t last very long. They’re inexperienced and they don’t know ***marketing***. Naturally, before you start any social media campaign, you need a [marketing plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/). Otherwise, you’ll be lost. ***Any agency that doesn’t offer a marketing plan is just stealing your money.*** Just because they know how to post on Facebook and Instagram doesn’t mean that they know how to **MARKET** a business on Facebook and Instagram. There’s a big difference. Plus, this is YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR LIVELIHOOD. You’re going to trust an inexperienced person? That’s foolish. There are many free online tools for scheduling and automating, but keep in mind that, as with learning any new software program, there is a learning curve. I recommend [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link). It will take you more time at first until you get used to it. The majority of these free tools have upgraded versions with more features. They can cost from **$10 – $50+** a month or **$50 – $400+** a year. ***Compare and try them before buying.*** Make sure they do what you need them to do. Read reviews. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)## **Blogging, Videos, and Other Content:** ****Google wants fresh,**** relevant content written for the human reader. Video marketing is also hot and fairly easy to do. Pictures and podcasts are also good content. Much of this you can do yourself, but again, it’s time-consuming. Furthermore, they need to be of *****good quality*** as these reflect your company’s [image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/).** ### Blogging **A good content marketer/blogger** will cost around **$50-100 per post (300-500+ words),** and you need to have a fresh post at least once a week, 2-3 times a week is optimal. Make sure when you hire a content writer that the articles are unique and have never been published before on the web. To be sure, ask them to send you a sample. Then, copy the first paragraph and paste it into the Google search box. How many times does it come up? If it’s once or twice and it’s under the same company’s websites or social media, then it’s OK. If you see it come up more than 5 times on different businesses’ websites, then they are mass-produced, and you don’t want that. See, Google gives authority to the first time an article is published. That’s why you always want to publish the article first on your website, then share it on social media, duplicate it on LinkedIn, or otherwise repurpose it. [What is E-E-A-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) Consequently, if you do hire someone to blog for you, make sure that they are creating ***original content.*** Put that in a written agreement. ### [To Outsource or Not to Outsource? ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/good-social-media-manager/) ### Videos Depending on the extent of the type of video marketing you want to be done, a short, professional, 2-minute video can go for **$100 – $400**. Longer, more complex productions will, of course, cost more. [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) is owned by Google, and it’s the second-largest search engine. Make sure your channel is optimized. ### Podcasting Doing [podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/) requires some sort of recording, hosting, and distribution system, which may also have a cost. Podcasting also takes planning and maybe even having other people involved. [Check out this article for more info on podcasting.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/) ## **Print and Direct Mail:** You may want to use some old-fashioned print and direct mail advertising. Especially for local businesses, these may be an effective option. Postcards are the most affordable. Depending on how many you are sending, printing, and the paper stock, they can cost from **$250 – $2000.** You also need to buy a list, and that cost will vary with how many names and what contact information you want. Shop around. ***And, no, you can’t buy email lists***. It’s against the law. Build your email list organically with a lead-capturing offer on your website and draw them in with good content. Here is more info on [email marketing automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/). ## **Paid Online Advertising:** If you want to get more instant exposure, especially for a local business, you might want to invest in some Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ads on Google, on Social Media Networks, as well as on blogs and sites that your target audience frequents. Again, based on your research, you’ll determine which networks are best for reaching your target market. With PPC, you don’t get charged unless someone clicks on your ad. You have to pay upfront, say, $25 for one week, and on most networks like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and Pinterest, you can target people by location, age, gender, and even likes and interests. Moreover, having a strategy for what you want to accomplish with the ad beforehand increases your chances of success. What’s nice is that you can track it, and the networks have comprehensive reporting systems. So, for budgeting purposes, set at least **$25/week** to start. Any less than that won’t give you the reach you need. Yes, you can hire an agency to place your ads for you, but there is a cost.. ## Putting Your Marketing Budget Together By now, you’re probably thinking, “Why do I want to get into business?” Well, I highly recommend working with a FREE business mentor. If you’re in the U.S., there’s an SBDC office near you. ***Yes, some things are still free!*** The SBA also has tools and offers assistance in getting funding so you can put all this in a business plan that makes sense. Yes, you need one of those, too! #### One thing you must remember… > ***Put Your Best Foot Forward — Always!** * This is no time to be lazy or to think — “it’s good enough”. Use [quality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) content, graphics, and videos. Proofread your website pages, blogs, ads, and even your social media posts. **There’s a lot of [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/) out there.** And not just your direct competitors, but also competing for people’s attention online. Prepare, plan, ***and be patient. It doesn’t work overnight.*** I can help you determine which is the best route for your particular business. [Let’s do a free 15-minute Zoom chat! ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) If you want to go the DIY route — if you don’t have a marketing budget, figure you have to invest some sweat equity. I wrote my ebook, ***[The Blueprint: Strategies for Effective Social Media and Digital Marketing](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089NBXX17/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Blueprint%3A+Strategies+for+Effective+Social+Media+%26+Digital+Marketing&qid=1591299013&sr=8-1)***, just for you. It’s a step-by-step guide to digital marketing. [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Save Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Marketing, Small Business Tips **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Marketing Budget, new business, planning, research, seo, social media, social media marketing, startups, Website, websites --- ### [The History of the Internet (1995-Present)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-history-of-the-internet-1995-present/) **Published:** April 23, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** 30 years ago, in April of 1995, I discovered the World Wide Web (WWW) — the Internet. I was doing graphic design, creating newsletters, flyers, logos, etc., for small businesses. I saw the WWW and I said, “I can do that!” and I taught myself HTML coding. That started my 30-year journey through cyberspace. There was no WordPress, no GoDaddy, no site builders. I look back and am amazed at how the Internet has evolved. Here’s a condensed history of the Internet from 1995 to the present that highlights some of the pivotal points. ## The History of the Internet ## 1994-1996 - **The World Wide Web is born:** The release of the Mosaic Netscape 1.0 browser marks the beginning of the modern Internet era. It opened the world to anyone with a computer and a modem. - **Commercialization of the Internet:** The National Science Foundation (NSF) lifted restrictions on commercial traffic, which opened the floodgates for businesses to establish an online presence. - **This accelerated as the Internet shifted from a primarily academic network to a global marketplace.** Companies like Amazon and eBay emerged, kicking off the “Dot-Com” Boom. - **Some of the early search engines** and lists were Yahoo!, AltaVista, Lycos, Excite, and Ask Jeeves (later Ask.com, and now defunct). I got a Yahoo email and still use it for personal use! Living in Miami, I connected with the first ISP (Internet Service Provider), Netrunner, which offered Internet access. People were asking them who they knew to create web pages, and they recommended me. I found that I had an uncanny ability to learn software programs quickly. To help promote my newfound skill, I held classes for members of the North Dade Chamber of Commerce. I showed them… 1. What is the Internet? 2. Where is it going? 3. Why your business needs to be on it. Funny, how I’m [still teaching](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training") the same thing regarding social media, websites, and digital marketing. I remember doing an article for a local newspaper on industries that the Internet would revolutionize. On top of my list were Real Estate, Travel and Tourism, and Retail. Today, these industries couldn’t function without the Internet. Connections were very, very slow in those days. Dial-up required a phone and a modem, and it took forever to connect and “surf” the Internet. I’d click on something and go wash dishes or something while I waited for a webpage to load. ### AOL I can’t write a history of the Internet without mentioning AOL. AOL’s origins trace back to **1983**. In 1985, it functioned under the name Quantum Computer Services, and it eventually evolved into America Online (AOL) after a rebranding in 1989. This transformation set the stage for AOL to become a dominant force in the dial-up era and an iconic part of early Internet culture. I remember when I first encountered email at a friend’s house. I saw it and said, “Who needs that?” Look where we are now! We can’t live without checking email. Back then, we anxiously waited for that iconic “You’ve Got Mail” greeting. My first email address was “GigiMiami@aol.com”. It feels like a lifetime ago! ## 1997-1999 - **SixDegrees.com was founded in 1997** and was the very first recognizable social network. SixDegrees allowed users to create profiles and connect with friends, laying the groundwork for later platforms. - **Google was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.** They introduced a novel approach to organizing information online with its PageRank algorithm. This new way of searching the web set the stage for the explosive growth of digital information. The trick was how to fool the search engine into ranking your website above others. That launched the whole [Search Engine Optimization (SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)) industry. - **IRC (Internet Relay Chat)**, introduced in 1988 by Jarkko Oikarinen, fundamentally reshaped online interaction by creating the first widely adopted, real-time, text-based communication protocol. By allowing people to connect across individual servers in a decentralized network, IRC popularized the concept of public channels and private messaging. It was the start of chat rooms, instant messaging, and chatbots. - In 1999, **Napster** launched, popularizing peer-to-peer file sharing and upending the traditional music industry. Its impact sparked both enthusiasm for freer content exchange and debates over copyright, reshaping media consumption habits. Intellectual property owned by Google Taken from The Internet Archive Wayback Machine for googlecom on December 2 1998 Fair use [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9455408)### Ancient [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/inbound-marketing-2/seo-internet-marketing/ "SEO") Back then, after I finished creating a website, I had to list it in all the search engines and directories. We could have waited until it was “crawled”, but that would take forever. Eventually, someone created a way to enter the URL in one place and submit it everywhere. ### Y2K A tech crisis and a cultural phenomenon. [Y2K Scare of 1999. From Houston Public Media, a service of the University of Houston.](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2024/12/20/509397/25-years-later-y2k-remains-an-odd-but-fascinating-historical-blip/) The problem started way before the year 2000. In the early days of computing, programmers used two-digit formats for years (e.g., “98” instead of “1998”) to save precious memory space. As the new millennium approached, people realized that when the year rolled over from “99” to “00,” computers might interpret it as 1900 instead of 2000. This could wreak havoc across industries, disrupting financial transactions, power grids, air travel, and essential systems. Cue mass hysteria: governments and corporations scrambled to fix the issue, spending billions on Y2K preparedness. Some feared widespread system failures, societal collapse, or even apocalyptic chaos. Some conspiracy theorists called it “The End of the World!” Y2K patches were created and installed in computers to hopefully save the world. Fortunately, when the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2000, **nothing happened.** The world went on as usual. ## 2000-2003 When the new century rolled around, people saw it was safe to get on the Internet, and it boomed. My businesses boomed. It was wild. - Yet, the dot-com bubble burst. Overvaluation of Internet companies led to a stock market crash, causing many startups to fail. This economic shakeout not only redefined investment strategies in tech startups but also paved the way for more sustainable business models on the Internet. - In 2001, [Wikipedia](https://Wikipedia.org) launched, offering an unprecedented model of open, collaborative content creation. This platform democratizes knowledge-sharing and became a key reference point for information on nearly every subject. This was the end of large volumes of encyclopedias. - Friendster launched in 2002 as one of the earliest networks to gain widespread attention, using many of the social connectivity features that would appear in later sites. - [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) was also born in 2002-2003 as the first professional online place to network. It’s still the place to connect with colleagues, business owners, and future employers, while gaining credibility as an expert in your field. - MySpace came around in 2003 and quickly surged in popularity, especially within the music and entertainment scenes. At its peak, it was the leading social networking site in the mid-2000s. It died due to bad management. ### WordPress [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/wordpress/) has a fascinating origin story, rooted in the early days of blogging and open-source software. Back in 2003, two developers, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, decided to build upon an existing blogging platform called b2/cafelog, which had been abandoned by its original creator. Their goal was to create an easy-to-use, customizable, and open-source Content Management System (CMS). That effort led to WordPress 0.7, the first official release. Over the years, WordPress has evolved from a simple blogging tool into a powerful CMS and website creating platform, thanks to continuous improvements, a vast plugin ecosystem, and the rise of themes that allowed users to customize their sites. By the mid-2010s, WordPress dominated the internet, powering over 30% of all websites worldwide. Today, it remains one of the most influential web platforms, used for everything from blogs and business sites to e-commerce and even enterprise-level applications. Its open-source nature and strong community have ensured its longevity and adaptability, making it a staple in digital publishing. Related: [Why I Prefer WordPress for Websites](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) ## 2004 - Facebook launches, connecting people in new ways and transforming online social interactions. - Web 2.0 emerges: Dynamic, user-generated content becomes the norm, with blogs, wikis, and social networking platforms gaining popularity. ### The Birth of the Blog **Blog** is short for “web log”. This platform gave the average person a voice online. Blogs burst out from platforms like Blogger, owned by Google, and later [WordPress](https://wordpress.com). Anyone could write about anything. ([I delve deeper into blogging in this article.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/)) Needless to say, the blogging boom gave rise to a new era of personal journalism and content marketing, transforming how ideas and news are shared. Today, blogging gives not only individuals a voice online, but businesses can also give free advice, share their expertise, and become known worldwide. It also helps tremendously with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). I recommend blogging regularly — at least once a week — to keep your [fresh content in front of Google](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/). ## 2005 ### YouTube – The Video Revolution YouTube went live in 2005, offering a user-friendly platform for sharing video content. This marks a significant shift in media consumption—from traditional broadcast and cable TV to on-demand, user-generated video that reaches a global audience. YouTube dramatically changed how we share and consume video, giving rise to a new era of content creation and online entertainment. Personally, that’s where I get my news. I can subscribe to the channels that are important to me. Its popularity launched the careers of many “YouTubers.” Besides that, it’s owned by Google and it’s the 2nd-largest search engine, next to its parent. [Learn how to leverage the power of YouTube here](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/). ### Reddit Established in June 2005, Reddit introduced a community-driven model where users submit, discuss, and vote on content across countless “subreddits” covering nearly every topic imaginable. It’s also the start of microblogging. Today, Reddit’s resurgence is due to Google indexing its subreddits. One of my clients had a significant amount of visitors to her website from Reddit, so I told her she should have a presence there. ## 2006 – 2010 - Twitter entered the social media realm in July 2006. Twitter pioneered real-time microblogging with its 140-character (later 280-character) limit. It reshaped how news, opinions, and conversations spread online. I got on Twitter in 2006 to promote a novel I wrote. In 2022, Elon Musk saved Twitter from extinction and eventually renamed it “X”. Besides being a free speech platform, it’s still a major content marketing and SEO force. - Tumblr, founded in 2007, was a microblogging platform that combined text, images, quotes, and multimedia. It enabled a creative and diverse form of digital expression. It was the place to reach Millennials in college at the time. What happened to Tumblr? Automattic, who owns Tumblr has been struggling with it. Despite its challenges, Tumblr still has a dedicated user base, especially in niche communities. It seems the Millennials stuck around. - The iPhone launched in 2007, igniting the Mobile Internet Revolution. Now, users had access to the Internet anywhere they went. “There’s an app for that!” was the tagline for Apple. Fundamentally, it changed how people interact with digital content and services throughout their day. - DuckDuckGo made its mark in 2008 by emphasizing privacy and non-tracking search results. While its market share remains smaller than that of the giants, its focus on user privacy has earned it a loyal following and a prominent place among alternative search solutions. - Also in 2008, we had a new browser horizon when Google Chrome debuted, emphasizing speed, security, and a user-friendly experience. The browser’s success pushed industry standards higher and influenced how web browsers are designed worldwide. - WhatsApp came onboard in 2009 and grew into one of the world’s premier messaging apps, known for its simple, reliable approach to global communication (later acquired by Facebook). - Bing was developed by Microsoft in 2009 as the successor to MSN Search and Windows Live Search. Bing entered a market already dominated by Google and it still struggles to get market share. However, with unique features, different indexing methods, and integrated services, Bing carved out its own niche as a major search engine. - [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/) was established around December 2009 and gained widespread adoption by 2010. Pinterest became a leading visual discovery and bookmarking platform, inspiring millions with ideas and creative content. The big intrigue was that you had to be invited by someone who was already on it. When it first came out, all I saw were cupcakes and babies. Now, it’s the place for marketers to reach consumers when they are planning to do something. - With the growing use of smartphones, [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) launched in 2010 as a mobile-first photo-sharing application. Instagram quickly captured imaginations with its emphasis on visual storytelling and has since expanded to include videos and other creative tools. Communication shifted from text to visual storytelling. This change influenced both personal expression and [digital marketing strategies](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-media-marketing-2/strategic-planning/). - 2010 brought the rise of big data: The amount of data generated online exploded, leading to new techniques for data storage, processing, and analysis. - The Internet of Things (IoT) gained momentum: Connected devices proliferate, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds. In 2010, I built my first WordPress website for an employer. It was on-the-job training! Today, I live on WordPress. For me, it’s the best website platform out there. ## 2011 – Present After being laid off for the 2nd time in 3 years, I decided that I could start a business teaching small business owners how to promote themselves online via blogging and social media. Hence, AZ Social Media Wiz was born in November of 2011. I held Meetups in various places, and people kept coming up to me asking, “Can’t I just hire you to do it for me?” I said, “Sure”. After a while, I realized that it’s best to teach small business owners how to do it themselves. It’s not that difficult! [Here’s what you need to do. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) Many times, after helping clients get their social media going, we realized that their website was bad and not working properly. They weren’t getting [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/). Therefore, I expanded my services to include website design and redesign, [SEO copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/), as well as social media marketing. - Snapchat was born in 2011 and popularized the concept of ephemeral messaging—where images and videos disappear after a short time—and reshaped how younger users communicate visually and playfully. Instagram soon copied this with “Stories”. - In 2013, Edward Snowden’s disclosures regarding government surveillance brought privacy issues to the forefront. The revelations spark global debates on digital rights, data security, and the balance between transparency and intrusion. - The following year, the principle of net neutrality—ensuring equal access to all online content—became a heated regulatory and political issue. This debate influenced how ISPs managed traffic and shaped ongoing discussions about digital democracy. - Google My Business launched in June 2014 as a free tool to help business owners manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps. It is now [Google Business Profile](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-tips-for-a-profitable-and-prosperous-2025/) and all businesses should be on it — especially local ones. - In 2015, [Artificial intelligence (AI)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/) entered the mainstream: Machine learning algorithms power new applications, from chatbots to image recognition. 10 years later, AI has dominated not only research but also content creation and search engines. - TikTok originally launched as Douyin in China in 2016. TikTok was introduced to a global audience in 2017. It quickly became a sensation due to its short-form, algorithm-driven video content that appeals to a broad, international audience. Will TikTok survive? Who will buy it? As of this publishing, it’s still up in the air. - In 2018, the privacy issue surged with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which was implemented. It imposed strict guidelines for data handling and privacy. The regulation not only reshapes policy in Europe but also sets a precedent for digital data rights globally. - 2019 brought the misinformation and digital trust to the forefront. Increasing concerns around misinformation on social media drove vigorous debate about the roles and responsibilities of online platforms, digital literacy, and the need for transparent algorithms and ethical data use. - The content restriction on the major social networks led to the birth of alternative social platforms. Rumble mirrored YouTube. Truth Social, Donald Trump’s network, mirrored Twitter. There were also Gab, MeWe, and Frank. They never gained the popularity of the legacy networks. - 2020 and the pandemic created a need for businesses to quickly pivot and sell online. This created an ecommerce boom. Online conferencing via Zoom also took off. What saved my business then was blogging and Zoom webinars. It was the digital transformation. - The Metaverse dawned in 2021 when Facebook rebranded to “Meta”. This was a strategic pivot toward building immersive virtual environments. This reorientation reflected broader ambitions within tech to transcend traditional online experiences. - 2022: Generative AI and the New Digital Frontier. Advanced AI Language Learning Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT captured global attention, transforming everything from content creation, research, and customer service to digital art and education. This breakthrough heralds an era where generative AI tools become integral to everyday online interactions. - 2023–Present: Evolving Governance and an AI-First Internet. Debates about data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and ethical technology continue to shape global policy. Concurrent developments in 5G, edge computing, quantum computing, and further AI innovation signal an ongoing evolution toward a more personalized, decentralized, and intelligent web ecosystem. ## Internet Knowledge is Critical When I started creating websites back in 1995, the Internet wasn’t even a household word. No one knew what it was, what it could do, or how to use it. Funny, but that problem still exists when it comes to small business marketing. Nevertheless, this timeline illustrates how technological innovations, regulatory shifts, and cultural revolutions have collectively forged the modern Internet—a constantly evolving space that blends creativity, commerce, and community. In conclusion, the Internet has come a long way since its early days, and it continues to evolve rapidly. As we move further into the 21st century, the Internet will continue to play an important role in our lives, connecting us in new ways and transforming how we live, work, and play. The Internet is not going anywhere. Embrace it. Adapt to it. Learn it. Otherwise, you’ll get left behind in the dust. If you’re struggling to effectively market your business online, please [book a free 15-minute Zoom call with me. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) **And please connect with me on the social networks:** - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/az-social-media-wiz/) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) - [Google](https://g.page/r/CbBwLC_nTByAEB0/review) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AZSocialNetWiz) - [Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) - [RSS Feed](https://feeds.feedburner.com/AzSocialMediaWiz) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** history of the Internet, history of the world wide web, history of the www, online marketing, social media, social media history, social networks, what is the Internet --- ### [Why You Need to Ensure Your WORDPRESS WEBSITE is SECURE](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/) **Published:** September 3, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** The last thing you need when you’re trying to run your business is to discover that your WordPress website was hacked. More than likely, you’ll discover it when a potential customer emails you saying, “Your site is down!” Frantically, you contact your hosting service’s tech support to find out what happened, only to find out that security and back-ups were YOUR responsibility, and it’s going to cost you $xxx+ to get it back up. ## Why Only WordPress? Well, if you’re on an eCommerce site like Shopify or Etsy, that’s part of the fees. Same if you’re on Wix, Squarespace, or another site-builder. That’s actually one of the benefits of using a site-builder. Consequently, if you have a site created on Drupal or another platform or even pure HTML, you’ll need to contact the developer and/or the hosting provider. See, on a self-hosted [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/ "Why I Prefer WordPress for Websites") website, it’s ***YOUR responsibility to install security and backup plugins.*** ### The Importance of Keeping Your WordPress Website Updated Just like you have security updates to your computer’s operating system, your browser, and software programs, [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) (WP) has security updates, too. There are the main updates with bug fixes and improvements based on feedback from users and developers. Subsequently, whenever there’s a WP update, plugins and themes need to be updated, too. If you don’t, here’s where the hackers can get in. Unfortunately, hackers create bots to scour the web for vulnerabilities, like neglected updates. In other words, the bad guy looks for that back window left just a crack open so he/she can get in and wreak havoc. ### How Bad Can it Get? Very bad. ***You can lose your whole site.*** Recently, someone who wasn’t keeping up with her WordPress updates had her site hacked. It was totally messed up. It’s costing her $1000 to have it rebuilt. That’s a cost she wasn’t expecting. Nevertheless, she needs her website up. She contacted her hosting service, and they said it was her problem. Someone told a past client that she didn’t need to worry about those updates. Eventually, the hackers came. Turns out the bad guys installed ***malware*** that was directing any payments from her store’s PayPal account to the hacker’s PayPal account. Another problem, unrelated to hackers, is when a plugin or theme doesn’t get along. Your whole site can crash, or something stops [working as it should](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/when-digital-marketing-technology-doesnt-work-right/). It happens, and it’s not your fault. However, you still need it fixed. In my experience, it’s better to be safe than sorry! Think of the security and backup protection as insurance for your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/). ***Skip at your own risk.*** ## WordPress Monthly Maintenance and Security Service ### Monthly WordPress Maintenance Service Once your site is built, you can’t just publish it and forget it. It needs regular maintenance: core WordPress updates, plugin updates, and security. Unprotected and neglected websites are vulnerable to hacking bots. **Monthly website maintenance: $75/m, includes back-ups, security, as well as minor edits and changes. Billed on the 1st of each month.** Does not include hosting! If you need hosting or are not happy with where you’re hosted, I have some recommendations. Note: If your website is hacked, there may be an additional charge to restore it based on the severity of the attack. If you are not one of my clients and you have a hacked WordPress website, contact [OnSiteWP](https://www.onsitewp.com/clients/aff.php?aff=19). --- [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** WordPress **Tags:** cybersecurity, security, security plugins, security updates, self-hosted WordPress, updates, website security, websites, WordPress --- ### [How to Gain Exposure with What Will Be Trending in September](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/gain-exposure-trending-september/) **Published:** August 24, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** There’s been a lot of hot “breaking news” lately on social media. However, especially on X (formerly Twitter), I still see observance or awareness days trending. In other words, what’s trending hasn’t changed. These are also great topics for timely blog articles for exposure and to draw traffic to your website. However, you must strategize and plan well ahead of the observance day! Waiting until the last minute will only result in sloppy posts that will hurt your brand rather than enhance it. Here are some of the observance and awareness days in September to help you strategize and plan your marketing to maximize your reach. Get creative! Even take them offline. For instance, did you know Sept. 1 is National Hotel Employee Day? If you’re in the travel industry or cater to tourists, this might be a good day to thank hotel employees for recommending your business to their guests. A gift card will brighten their day, and they’ll remember you for it. Some are fun and silly, and some are serious, but the idea is to get exposure by spinning your marketing message around these. You can do special promotions, articles, or respond with your support. Think about your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) and what’s important to them. ## How to Use this List to Gain Exposure Months start trending early in the morning on the 1st and usually will last the whole day. It’s also OK to post articles any time during the month, though you’ll not get the advantage of the [**trend on X.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) Weeks will trend for the first day of the week, and again, it’s proper to keep posting throughout the week. Days start trending early in the morning. **[Use Sendible to schedule out posts.](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81)** (Affiliate Link) If you’d like to see the full lists of awareness days, weeks, and months, check out these calendars: - [National Day Calendar](https://nationaldaycalendar.com/) - [Awareness Calendar](https://www.awarenessdepot.com/awarenesscalendar.html) - [Cute Calendar Observances](https://www.cute-calendar.com/category/observances.html) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## September Awareness and Observance Days for Maximum Exposure ### Month - National Italian Cheese Month - Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month - National Self-Care Awareness Month - National Americana Month - Baby Safety Month - Better Breakfast Month - Classical Music Month - Fall Hat Month - Hispanic Heritage Month – September 15 to October 15 - Little League Month - Inter-generation Month - International Square Dancing Month - International Update Your Resume Month - Healthy Aging Month - National Blueberry Popsicle Month - National Chicken Month - National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month - National Courtesy Month - National Honey Month - National Library Card Sign-Up Month / Literacy Month - National Menopause Awareness Month - National Mortgage Professional Month - National Mushroom Month - National Pain Awareness Month - National Papaya Month - National Piano Month - National Potato Month - National Preparedness Month - National Prostate Health Month - National Recovery Month - National Rice Month - National Sewing Month - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Month - Save Your Photos Month - Self Improvement Month - Whole Grains Month - National Suicide Prevention Month ### Weeks: - First week: - National Childhood Injury Prevention Week - National Payroll Week – Week of Labor Day - National Waffle Week - Second week: - National Healthcare Environmental Services Week National Compassionate Leadership Week - National Beauty and Barber Week - National Truck Driver Appreciation Week - National Suicide Prevention Week - National Biscuit and Gravy Week - National Assisted Living Week - Third week: - National Construction Appreciation Week – Third Full Week - Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week – Third Full Week - National Singles Week - National Keep Kids Creative Week - National Historically Black Colleges & Universities Week - National Indoor Plant Week - National Rehabilitation Awareness Week - National Farm Animals Awareness Week - National Eczema Week - National Farm & Ranch Safety & Health Week - National Security Officer Appreciation Week - Last week: - International Week of the Deaf - Changes Annually: - Active Aging Week – Week of October 1 – starts September 29th. - National Fall Foliage Week – Begins last Sunday of September - National Days of Prayer and Remembrance – September 8-10 ### Days: 1 – World Letter Writing Day National [Forgiveness](https://seekthegospeltruth.com/2020/11/02/forgiveness-is-as-important-as-spreading-the-good-news-of-jesus-christ/) Day National Food Bank Day National Hotel Employee Day 2 – V-J Day – Japan’s surrender in WWII World Coconut Day International Bacon Day World Beard Day National Hummingbird Day 3 – National Cinema Day U.S. Bowling League Day 4 – National Wildlife Day National Spice Blend Day National Food Bank Day – 1st Friday in Sept. 5 – International Day of Charity National Play Outside Day – First Saturday National Tailgating Day – First Saturday 6 – National Read A Book Day Lazy Mom’s Day Read a Book Day National Pastor’s Spouses Day – First Sunday 7 – Beer Lovers Day Labor Day – 1st Monday in September Grateful Patient Day 8 – International Literacy Day World Physical Therapy Day National Star Trek Day 9 – Teddy Bear Day 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day World First Aid Day National Swap Ideas Day 11 – National Make Your Bed Day 9/11 Remembrance / Patriots’ Day 12 – National Day of Encouragement Day of the Programmer National Hug & High 5 Day National Just One Human Family Day Rosh Hashanah – begins at sunset 13 – Celiac Awareness Day National Bald is Beautiful Day Day of the Programmer National Peanut Day Positive Thinking Day [Uncle Sam Day](https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/uncle-sam-day-september-13) Grandparents Day – 1st Sunday after Labor Day Pet Memorial Day – 2nd Sunday in Sept. 14 – National Parents Day Off National Sober Day National Live Creative Day 15 – National Online Learning Day World Lymphoma Awareness Day International Day of Democracy Wife Appreciation Day National Tackle Kids Cancer Day National Felt Hat Day [Voter Registration Day](https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/) – changes every year 16 – National Stepfamily Day Working Parents Day [Mayflower Day](https://seekthegospeltruth.com/2020/11/15/truth-what-happened-at-the-first-thanksgiving-the-providence-of-god/) National Guacamole Day Puppy Mill Awareness Day 17 – Constitution and Citizenship Day National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day – to confront HIV-related issues for aging adults. International Country Music Day National Professional House Cleaners Day National Dance Day National IT Professionals Day 18 – Air Force Birthday National Cheeseburger Day World Water Monitoring Day World Bamboo Day National Tradesmen Day – 3rd Friday National POW/MIA Recognition Day – 3rd Friday 19 – Talk Like a Pirate Day International Eat an Apple Day International Coastal Cleanup Day – 3rd Sat. Responsible Dog Ownership Day – 3rd Sat. National Singles Day – 3rd Sat. 20 – National Care for Kids Day National Pepperoni Pizza Day 21 – World Alzheimer’s Day International Day of Peace National Chai Day World Alzheimer’s Day National Gymnastics Day World Gratitude Day National Cleanup Day National Family Day – 4th Monday Yom Kippur 22 – National Centenarians’ Day American Business Women’s Day Autumnal Equinox – First Day of Fall Car Free Day Online Recovery Day 23 – International Day of Sign Languages National Brave Day Innergize Day – Day after the Autumnal Equinox 25 – National Tune-Up Day World Dream Day World Pharmacist Day National Daughter’s Day National Comic Book Day 26 – National Pancake Day International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons National Situational Awareness Day Shamu the Whale Day National Public Lands Day – 4th Sat. National Hunting and Fishing Day – 4th Sat. National Family Health & Fitness Day – 4th Sat. 27 – World Tourism Day National Scarf Day Chocolate Milk Day National Day of [Forgiveness](https://seekthegospeltruth.com/2021/05/07/genesis-32-33-are-you-wrestling-with-god-can-forgiveness-be-bought/) (Yes, there are 2 of them this month!) Gold Star Mothers and Family Day – Last Sunday in September 28 – National Good Neighbor Day National Drink Beer Day International Day for Universal Access to Information 29 – National Coffee Day World Heart Day Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Day Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day 30 – Love People Day International Podcast Day International Translation Day [National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – National Orange Shirt Day](https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/orange-shirt-day-september-30) [](https://my.timetrade.com/book/CJJGC)Book a 1 Hour Strategy Session Now $75hourShare this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, What's Trending, X (Formerly Twitter) **Tags:** awareness days, AZ Social Media Wiz, digital marketing techniques, Giselle Aguiar, National What Month, observance days, social media marketing, Twitter, Twitter trends, what's trending --- ### [Should I have a Blog on my Website?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/should-i-have-a-blog-on-my-website/) **Published:** July 6, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** You can word this question however you want: Should you have a blog on your website? It’s asked hundreds of times. My answer? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)***Absolutely!*** **If you don’t have a blog on your website, you’re missing out on the main means of keeping the [Google search engine happy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/).** The more fresh, original, and ***helpful*** content you create on your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-website-mistakes-need-fix-2017/), the more the Google crawler will come and index it. Besides that, the [AI answer bots](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/ "AI Search") are looking for the same fresh, relevant content as more and more users are asking questions. > ***The search bot looks for text and links. It doesn’t see pictures or videos.*** Not only that, but a blog helps convert potential customers from a visitor into a lead or a sale. It… - Shows off your expertise and [authority](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/) - Guides the reader to the [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) (CTA) - Educates and answers questions your potential customers may have. > ***Write for the human reader in natural language, but with the search engine in mind.** ([SEO Copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/))* ### Every blog post on your website must contain: 1. [**Title** **and Meta Description**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/) with your focus keyword in it. It could be one word or a phrase that is the main topic of what that blog post is about. The title should be enticing enough for the visitor or social media follower’s curiosity to be piqued so they click on it to read it. This [drives the visitor](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) to your site. If you have a [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) website, I recommend the Yoast SEO plugin, as well as these other free plugins. 2. At least **300-500 words** (even if the main content feature is a video). The [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) article needs to deliver on the title. It can be as long as it needs to be for you to educate your target audience, explain, or tell a story. 3. At least **a featured image** or picture with text wrapped around it. Make sure you describe the picture by filling out the Alt Text area when uploading it. The text is what the search engine spider sees. Having the title or focus keyword helps. Also, if your picture is pinned on [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/), that’s the description that will show in the pin. 4. **Internal links** to related [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) on your website – to other blog posts or pages. 5. **External links** to ***relevant*** content – you can cite a source of a quote, picture, or video. 6. A [**call-to-action**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) at the end of the article. What do you want the reader to do once they’ve finished reading the post? Download a free ebook or get an offer? Contact you? Schedule a free appointment? Here’s where you capture the [lead](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) that the blog post generated. 7. **Relevant keyword tags** – here you choose all the keywords or phrases that pertain to the post. You can choose several, but don’t go crazy. These appear at the end of the post so people can click on a word to see more articles on that topic. ## [Blog on your website at least 3 times a week.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) It’s been proven that [3 times a week is the charm.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) Use an editorial calendar to plan your posts ahead of time — a simple spreadsheet or your online calendar will work. If an idea comes to mind, use your phone’s reminders or voice memo to “jot” down the idea so you don’t forget it. ## What about a free blog on another site? *Why would you want to send traffic to someone else’s site?* Nevertheless, if your budget is tight, you can start on the free [WordPress.com ](https://WordPress.com)site. However, you’ll probably outgrow that platform in a few months. On a self-hosted WordPress website, you have complete control over the whole site. Nevertheless, it’s easy to export (migrate) your content when you’re ready to upgrade. #### Here’s **[Why I Prefer WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/).** ### Get a free analysis and 15-minute phone consultation. **[Click here to schedule yours.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)Save Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, WordPress **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, Blog on my Website, blogging, content marketing, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Google Search, search engine optimization, seo, Should My Blog Be Part Of My Website, Should You Add a Blog to Your Site?, Should You Separate Your Blog from Your Website, social media, Web search engine, Website, websites --- ### [How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) **Published:** August 20, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** Your website's About page is crucial for building trust and credibility with potential clients. Because people prefer doing business with real people rather than impersonal entities, an effective About page tells your story, highlights core values, showcases expertise, and stays scannable. Learn how to optimize your About page to convert visitors into loyal customers. **Content:** What does your About Page say about ***you***? Not just your company, but ***you and your team*** (if you have one). The “About Us” or “About the Company” page is there so a visitor can see ***who is behind the product or service***. For small businesses, it’s really more about ***the people, not the entity.*** Despite the fact that more people are using AI, people prefer to deal with people. The AI bots also want to see credibility and authority. This is where the [N-E-E-A-T-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") comes in. It’s amazing how boring many About pages are. Considering that t***he About page is usually one of the most-viewed pages on a website,*** it should be the most important page next to the home page. ## A Good About Page Will… 1. **Show who’s behind the logo**: founders, owners, team, experts, etc. Here’s where you showcase your expertise. 2. **Tell the company’s story**: where, how, why it was started — your purpose and passion. 3. Have some **pictures or videos of the people**, what they do, and what they have to offer a client. Show off expertise and experience. 4. Highlight **core values, your mission statement, and your goals.** 5. **How long have you been in business?** If you’ve been around for a while, here’s where you say it. ***If you’re brand new,*** here’s where you explain how you saw a problem and figured out a solution or invented something that will benefit people. It’s important, especially if you’re competing with the big guys. Potential customers will buy from the little guy before the big guy ***if that trust and credibility factor is there***. In this digital age, people want to **get to know the people** who are the company. People do business with people, not entities. People tend to trust people above companies. Besides that, they want to know how you can HELP them save time or money, relieve a pain point, solve a problem, or make their lives better. ### How much is too much information? Well, the rule of thumb is only to ***write as much as absolutely needed to explain who you are and what you do.*** You have less than 7 seconds to catch a visitor’s attention. People don’t like to read long paragraphs. Use bullet points. You don’t have to reiterate or oversell your services or products. Let your service or product pages do that. If you’re a local business, put how long you’ve lived in the city or state. ### Optimize for SEO: Don’t just put “About Us” as the title. Add your company name to it. It helps with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). ### [HubSpot has a list of 15 About Pages that Rock as well as a free download of the examples.](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/remarkable-about-us-page-examples) **Some of the basic takeaways are:** 1. Tell a story 2. Be human 3. Make it easy to skim 4. Skip the business babble 5. Be humble 6. Be data-driven – if applicable 7. Break the mold 8. Be multilingual, if applicable 9. Know your audience ([Download the Free Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)) 10. Stick to what’s important 11. Align your personal brand 12. Be unexpected 13. Have fun, but be professional 14. Be memorable 15. Show, tell, and have a soundtrack — now, that’s creative! ### Of course, not all these will apply to your business. Confused? Not sure where to start? [If you need help, schedule a free 15-minute discovery call, and I’ll analyze your website and about page for free!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Websites **Tags:** about the company page, about us pages, AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, Trust and Credibility, websites --- ### [What is Social Proof and Why Do You Need It?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-proof/) **Published:** July 6, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** ***Social Proof** is the positive influence when people find out that others are doing something.* This includes shout-outs, reviews, recommendations, and sharing of your quality content. ## What exactly does Social Proof mean? For example, one of my clients, [Simply Smashing Rage Room](https://simplysmashing.com/), several years later, is still following my advice and giving customers who check in on Facebook and Instagram extra breakables for their rage-release session. When other business pages [were losing reach due to Facebook’s algorithm](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/ "The NEW Challenges of Marketing on FACEBOOK & How to Overcome Them"), his increased. Customers were not just checking in but uploading videos to their social networks of themselves breaking stuff. All their friends saw them. That’s also called [User-Generated Content (UCG)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/user-generated-content/ "User-generated content"). Evidently, the average Facebook user has at least 100 friends. I have over 600. How many do you have? Imagine if one of my friends shared a post with his or her friends. That’s **Social Proof. And you want it.** > ***People buy from whom they know and trust.*** **Social Proof is a form of Influencer Marketing.** For instance, if someone with a lot of followers likes what you are posting, the advice you have to offer, or your product or service, they’re going to tell their friends. Likewise, if they DON’T like it, they’ll also tell their friends. ## Social Proof is the “Keeping up with the Jones” theory. #### Check out these stats: - 97% of Americans read reviews before choosing which local business to use. ([Source](https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/)) - 77% trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. ([Source](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/research/online-review-statistics.html)) - The different generations use social proof differently. ## How do the Different Generations Use Social Proof to Make Buying Decisions? In 2026, online opinions influence generations through drastically different channels, benchmarks, and levels of trust. While **72% of Gen Z shoppers prioritize peer reviews over brand messaging**, older generations rely on different platforms and verification standards to form their opinions. ### **Gen Z** Gen Z relies on decentralized, community-driven social proof rather than traditional review sites. - **TikTok as a Search Engine:** **58% of U.S. teens (ages 13–17) use TikTok directly for product reviews**, bypassing Google entirely to find video-based opinions. - **Peer Over Influencer:** Independent customer validation is paramount; **72% trust standard customer reviews**, whereas only 55% trust sponsored influencer opinions. - **The Real People Mandate:** **35% of Gen Z engagement is driven by seeing real people** talk about a brand, valuing raw authenticity over highly polished, corporate, or AI-generated aesthetics. ### **Millennials** Millennials bridge the gap between social discovery and traditional e-commerce verification. - **Equal Trust Weights:** Along with Gen Z, **91% of Millennials trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation** from a family member. - **The Multi-Platform Habit:** Millennials are the most thorough researchers, routinely consulting **2 to 3 different platforms** (such as Google, Amazon, and Instagram) before committing to a purchase. - **Platform Preferences:** They favor **Instagram and Facebook equally (42%)** for product discovery and checking peer sentiments. ### **Gen X** Gen X focuses heavily on utility, local business reviews, and direct brand accountability. - **Facebook & Google Dominance:** Gen X heavily favors **Facebook (88% usage) and Google** to read [local](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-tips-for-a-profitable-and-prosperous-2025/ "Local SEO Tips to BE SEEN and GET FOUND") business opinions. - **Text Over Video:** Unlike younger cohorts who demand video proof, Gen X prefers **written text and traditional star-rating breakdowns**. - **Support Sentiment:** They actively read community forums and Facebook comments to judge how a company handles customer service complaints. ### **Baby Boomers** Baby Boomers are the most skeptical of online opinions, preferring established corporate platforms. - **The Discovery Reversal:** Only **13% of Baby Boomers discover products via online influencers**, while 41% still rely on traditional television and radio. - **Closed-Ecosystem Trust:** When they do look at online opinions, Boomers overwhelmingly trust **Amazon and verified brand websites** over social media comments or open forums. - **Anti-AI Sentiment:** Boomers express the highest level of distrust toward AI-curated review summaries, preferring to read individual, timestamped human entries. #### Here are some types of Social Proof that you should always improve. Based on your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your FREE Define Your Target Market Workbook!"), focus on improving these… - Number of happy customers served - [Testimonials](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-testimonials-a-great-digital-marketing-tool/ "Video Testimonials – A Great Digital Marketing Tool") - Ratings and [reviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") - Expert mentions - Unpaid celebrity endorsements - Wisdom of friends - Awards and rankings ## **Now you’re probably wondering, “Yikes! Where do I start?” The answer is simple.** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)### **Sources:** - [https://wearetalker.com](https://wearetalker.com/gen-z-trust-reviews-and-independent-research-more-than-influencers-when-evaluating-brands/) - [https://wearebrain.com](https://wearebrain.com/blog/how-gen-z-is-using-social-media/) - [https://sproutsocial.com](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/guides/generational-marketing/) - [https://www.experian.com](https://www.experian.com/blogs/marketing-forward/what-2026-consumer-insights-mean-for-marketers/) - [https://prophet.com](https://prophet.com/2025/12/ai-is-everyones-luxury-premium-brands-cant-afford-a-generational-blind-spot/) - [https://magnetoitsolutions.com](https://magnetoitsolutions.com/au/blog/web-design-trends-for-gen-z) - [https://www.emarketer.com](https://www.emarketer.com/content/customer-reviews-gen-z-s-most-trusted-brand-signal) - [https://www.askattest.com](https://www.askattest.com/blog/research/gen-z-media-consumption) - [https://www.linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/online-reviews-statistics-trends-2026-seo-samba-pznof) - [https://sqmagazine.co.uk](https://sqmagazine.co.uk/online-review-statistics/) - [https://www.loopreturns.com](https://www.loopreturns.com/blog/key-differences-between-gen-x-millennial-and-gen-z-shoppers-that-retailers-cant-ignore/) - [https://www.sciencedirect.com](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0368492X2000016X) - [https://sproutsocial.com](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/new-social-media-demographics/) - [https://wiserreview.com](https://wiserreview.com/blog/online-review-statistics/) - [https://www.mdpi.com](https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/7/2/81) - [https://www.ipsos.com](https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/myth-busted-boomers-are-no-more-likely-younger-generations-have-been-knowingly-victimized-online) - [https://www.adroll.com](https://www.adroll.com/resources/guides-and-reports/cookie-tracking-and-personalization-preferences-trends) - [https://yougov.com](https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/55070-influencer-marketing-insights-one-in-four-americans-discover-products-through-influencers-in-2026) - [https://www.ryviu.com](https://www.ryviu.com/blog/how-different-generations-trust-online-reviews) - [https://reputeup.ai](https://reputeup.ai/blog/online-review-stats/) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, inbound marketing, Influencer Marketing, online marketing, online reviews, social media, social media marketing, social proof, user generated content --- ### [How Can Not Blogging Weekly Hurt Your Reputation?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/) **Published:** June 8, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** You need to keep Google happy as well as attract new visitors to your website. Blogging regularly will do this. **Content:** The purpose of **blogging weekly** is to keep Google happy, feed content to the AI search bots, and attract new visitors to your website who will convert to leads or clients. It also helps build trust and credibility, as well as establish you as an expert in your field or industry. ## What does Google want? ***Google wants fresh, helpful, relevant, quality content written for the human reader in natural language.*** Furthermore, the AI Search Bots want really FRESH content! Read: [What is Google’s E-E-A-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) Then Read: [What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") ## What do your potential customers want? Unmistakably, your potential customers want answers to their problems, information, advice, or to be entertained – and they want it now! The last thing Google, a chatbot, or a potential customer wants to see is that your last blog post was written in March 2020. OK, you may not be that bad. Moreover, the AI bots see content that is 6-10 months old as outdated and will ignore it***.*** Stagnant websites get passed over and they will go to the freshest site, which will probably be your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/ "What You Need to Know to Beat the COMPETITION Online"). ## *If you’re not blogging weekly? How are people finding you?* First, if you haven’t updated your website in years, it won’t come up on Google search. Besides that, it’s probably blocking the AI answer bots. Likewise, if your site is NOT ***[mobile-friendly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/) and responsive***, and it takes **[too long to load](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/),** you absolutely won’t come up, the AI bots will leave, and so will potential customers. Basically, the only traffic you may be getting is from someone who clicked on the link on one of the social media networks. More than likely, they already know you or have your business card. **Too few, I bet.** Or they Googled your business name exactly. Most businesses will come up when someone searches for their name. But if there’s another business — a [competitor](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/) — with a similar name, ***and their content is more recent or relevant,*** they’ll come up first. Not good. ### **Now, let’s look at it from the potential customer’s point of view.**.. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/7K0A0116.jpg)For example, let’s say it’s an entrepreneur looking for a contractor in a specific city because she’s opening a new business. She goes on [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) and searches for “commercial contractor my city”. She sees that the 2 folks who come up are not in her network. Thus, she can’t contact them via LinkedIn. However, they have links to their respective websites. The searcher clicks on the links and visits the websites. Contractor 1 has a site that looks dated and old-fashioned. She clicks on About Us to read about the company, who they are, how long they’ve been in business, etc. Then she clicks on “Blog”. The last article was in 2020, just text, long paragraphs, and no pictures or videos. Under Portfolio, there are pictures with no descriptions. Clearly, she couldn’t tell where the projects were, how long it took to build, or if it was under budget. #### When Blogging is Done Right… [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/7K0A0108.jpg)Over at Contractor 2’s site, there are high-quality graphics with their **last 3 projects** on the home page. Each is linked to a **blog post** describing each project in detail. At the bottom are **tags and categories** with links to similar blog posts by type of project. Moreover, the person searches for articles about projects similar to what she’s planning to build. She thinks, “This company has experience doing projects like the one I’m planning. I’m calling them.” Also on their site are **testimonial videos** and Google Reviews showcasing recent projects from start to finish, with the happy camper client opening the door of their redone place. Yes, like the “reveal” on those home improvement shows. Ah, but before the entrepreneur makes the call, she’s going to check their **Facebook page** and any **updates**. (The first company didn’t even have a Facebook page. Oh, my!) There she finds recommendations, pictures, and videos. She’s sold. ### Wow! That took maybe an hour. Which is how long it should take you to write a blog post. > ***Blogging regularly builds trust and credibility. People buy from whom they know and trust.*** ## What should you be blogging about? - Tell Stories – people like to identify with people in stories; use pictures of people like your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/). - Don’t let this happen to you! Hypothetical situations. - FAQs – anticipate what a potential customer will be asking. Use [Quora](https://quora.com) to find out what your target is asking. - Industry news – careful with the industry jargon, though. Remember, your audience is not the expert. You are. Write for an 11-year-old. Unless, of course, your target is high-tech experts. - Offer tips, advice, and useful information. - Blog about what you know. Showcase your expertise and experience. - Embed videos — introduce the video, then summarize it with keywords in bullet points. ***What about using AI? Read this: [The Pros and Cons of Using Artificial Intelligence for Content Marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/)*** ### [Blogging 3x a Week helps Increase Traffic to your Website. Here’s proof!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) Ideally, you should blog 3 times a week. Especially if you have a new website, so that Google and the AI search bots will notice you. In that case, blog 3-5 times a week for the first 2 weeks, then 2-3 times for the next 2 weeks. After that, you can go once a week. Share everything on your [social media platforms](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/ "SOCIAL MEDIA: Where You Need To Be For AI EXPOSURE") for AI exposure. Check your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") at the end of each month. Consequently, if it’s showing that your website traffic is falling because you’re not blogging as often as you were, then that means you have to increase the frequency of your blog posts. With today’s search bots searching everywhere for content, with that initial blogging pattern, your content should get picked up and cited quickly. If you’re not sure what to do? Let’s do a free 15-minute consult. [Click here to schedule.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does Google want from blog content? Google wants fresh, helpful, relevant, quality content written for the human reader in natural language. The AI search bots also want really fresh content. ### Why should you blog weekly? Blogging weekly keeps Google happy, feeds content to the AI search bots, attracts new visitors who can convert to leads or clients, and helps build trust and credibility while establishing you as an expert. ### What should you blog about? Blog about telling stories, answering FAQs, sharing industry news in plain language, giving tips and useful information, and showcasing your expertise with projects, testimonials, and embedded videos. ### How often should you blog and how should you adjust the frequency? Ideally blog 3 times a week, especially for a new website, then 2–3 times for the following weeks, and eventually once a week. Check analytics monthly and increase frequency if traffic is falling. ### How does blogging affect a potential customer’s perception? Blogging regularly builds trust and credibility; a potential customer will buy from someone they know and trust, especially when they find detailed, visual, and recent content such as project descriptions, testimonials, and social proof. Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Content Marketing, Digital Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blogging, content marketing, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, Google, inbound marketing, online marketing, search engine optimization, seo --- ### [Beware of AI Slop! What You Need to Know Before Using AI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beware-of-ai-slop-what-you-need-to-know-before-using-ai/) **Published:** August 5, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** AI slop occurs when artificial intelligence generates content without human oversight, leading to embarrassing errors like distorted images and poor grammar. This guide explains why careful proofreading is essential to protect your online reputation. Learn how to balance automation with human review to avoid costly branding mistakes and maintain a professional, high-quality digital image. **Content:** AI Slop happens when you let AI do its thing without human intervention. That is, careful proofreading, editing, and image examination. Keep in mind that AI has no common sense, wisdom, or compassion. It just puts out what it thinks you asked for. Here are some examples of AI Slop… ## Examples of AI Slop ### What’s Wrong With This Picture? This was a printed program. I’m looking at it and notice the guy sitting on the windowsill has 3 FEET! Maybe it’s because I have a graphic designer’s eye, but I caught it right away. Remember the “What’s Wrong with this Picture?” games as a kid. They’re back!  --- ### Grammar Check I saw this on LinkedIn. (Sorry, but I didn’t save the post, so I can’t give credit to the person who shared it.) Apparently, this was a flyer mailed to residents near a brand new McDonald’s restaurant. They had the right idea, but the banner kind of falls short. Maybe it was supposed to be, “We Are Home and Lovin’ It”. Or maybe, “Our New Home and Lovin’ It”? Proofread, proofread, and proofread it again. --- ### Another guy with 3 FEET! This was from a video I watched. The image stayed long enough for me to notice. He has 3 FEET! What’s with these AI programs? Didn’t the programmers teach them that people have 2 feet? If you review the video before posting and notice AI Slop, you HAVE TO correct it. **Letting mistakes like this go hurts your [online image!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/ "What Does Your ONLINE IMAGE Say About You?")** ***This is no time to be lazy!***  --- ## Catching AI Slop Use this matrix as a guide for when to use AI and when NOT to use AI… [](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7490662881366192128?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_updateV2%3A%28urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7490662881366192128%2CFEED_DETAIL%2CEMPTY%2CDEFAULT%2Cfalse%29)[This Matrix is from a LinkedIn Post by AI for Executives](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7490662881366192128?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_updateV2%3A%28urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7490662881366192128%2CFEED_DETAIL%2CEMPTY%2CDEFAULT%2Cfalse%29)The girl with 3 arms AI slop in video I love the tagline, and it’s so true! ***“Just because AI CAN do something doesn’t mean it SHOULD!*** ### High Cost of Error: - **Review EVERY TIME:** AI prepares it, humans approve it. This goes for… - Financial reports - Legal work - Medical assessments - **Don’t Use AI:** 100% Human Decision… - Hiring or firing - Ethical decisions - Crisis management ### Low Cost of Error: - Automate: Let AI handle it. To a point. Please, if you’re going to use an AI-created document to send to someone or use a transcription for a YouTube video description, PROOFREAD IT! - Transcriptions - Meeting notes - Summaries - Formatting - AI as a 1st draft. AI starts, then a human refines it. This is the best choice! - Blog posts, articles, social media posts, marketing campaigns. - Emails - Brainstorming **Related Content: [Pros and Cons of Using AI ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/ "10 Pros and Cons of Using AI for Writing Content to Save Time")** ## Avoid AI Slop I have to admit the AI tools are getting better. Last year, a graphics program I used could never get text correct in an image. After a few revisions, I gave up and left it without the text and had to add it later in another program. I created the top graphic of this post with [Google Flow](https://labs.google/fx/tools/flow), which uses Nano Banna. Infographics are also fun to create using [Google NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google.com/). It took me a few tries to write the prompt to get the results I wanted. I still can’t get NotebookLM to add my logo graphic to the bottom of the infographic without it distorting it. I have to tell it to leave a black space at the bottom, then I upload it into Canva.com to add my logo to it. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/top-12-blogging-mistakes/)12 blogging mistakes infographic created with NotebookLM In other words, be careful when creating graphics with your branded logo! [**I can show you how I created this graphic as well as give you some prompt-writing tips in a customized 1:1 learning session. Click here for more info.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training") ### Why you want to avoid AI Slop New LinkedIn Reporting Seems like AI slop For one, Google, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other platforms are labeling 100% AI-generated graphics. LinkedIn even added an option to report AI slop! Second, you don’t want someone to take your social media post, share it with their followers, and call you out publicly for an AI slop mistake that should have been caught by a human. Nothing like bad publicity that could have been 100% avoided! Lastly, it’s [YOUR ONLINE IMAGE!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/ "What Does Your ONLINE IMAGE Say About You?") Letting AI slop go unchecked is a quick way to hurt your reputation. You don’t want that. Reputation cleaning takes a lot of time, money, and effort. Don’t be lazy. Use AI as a tool, but ALWAYS review it before posting or sending it out. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)--- ### What is AI Slop and why does it matter for my business content? AI Slop happens when you let AI do its thing without human intervention, meaning you don’t proofread, edit, or check images. It matters because AI has no common sense or compassion and can produce results that misrepresent your message or brand, hurting your online image. ### How can I identify AI Slop in my posts or graphics before sending them out? Review every piece where AI was used: check text for accuracy and tone, scrutinize images for distorted details, and confirm that the final version reflects your intended message. If something feels off, fix it before posting. ### What is the recommended approach to using AI for high-stakes content like reports or branding? Follow a high-cost-of-error rule: AI prepares it, humans approve it for items like financial reports, legal work, and medical assessments. For hiring, ethical decisions, or crisis management, avoid AI or use it only as a starting point with thorough human input. ### When is it acceptable to automate with AI and when should a human be involved? AI is good for low-cost items like transcriptions, meeting notes, summaries, formatting, blog posts, emails, and brainstorming. It should start the process, but a human should refine and approve the final output to protect accuracy and your brand. ### What practical steps can I take to prevent AI Slop from harming my online image? Always proofread AI-generated content, ensure graphics align with your branding, and be mindful that platforms label 100% AI-generated graphics. If in doubt, review twice and consider using a human touch or a 1:1 coaching session to improve prompts and results. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Branding, Content Marketing **Tags:** AI slop, AI tools, Common AI mistakes, content marketing, digital marketing, mistakes, online image, online reputation, social media, social media marketing, using AI, using AI tools, What is AI slop --- ### [How to Gain Exposure with What Will Be Trending in August](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gain-exposure-with-what-will-be-trending-in-august/) **Published:** July 24, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** For retailers, it’s back-to-school time. So, besides that, what’s going to be **[trending on X (formerly Twitter)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/)** (and the other social networks) in August? ## How to Use this List to Take Advantage of What’s Trending “Month” observances usually trend the first week. However, you can use it during the whole month. The “week” observances usually trend on the first day of the week. Days usually start trending early in the morning. So when **scheduling posts**, have them go out first thing on the day. I post these at the end of each month so you know what’s going to trend in the upcoming month. This will make it easy for you to plan how you can spin your marketing message to take advantage of and gain exposure. You can create a fun or promo message, write a blog post — ***especially if it relates to your business*** — or just show your support. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/)This will also help you create a **content or editorial calendar** for your blog and/or social media posts. You can use them on other networks, but just know that these really don’t “trend” on other networks like they do on X (formerly known as Twitter) — maybe on Instagram. **Below are August days.** Here are the 3 Calendars that I go to for this info. They have most of the observances linked to the organizations or history of the observance or awareness days. This is just a few of them. Visit the calendars for the full lists. - [National Day Calendar](https://nationaldaycalendar.com/) - [Awareness Calendar](https://www.awarenessdepot.com/awarenesscalendar.html) - [Cute Calendar Observances](https://www.cute-calendar.com/category/observances.html) Keep in mind, unless politics is your business, keep yours to yourself on your company’s social media profiles. [Keep business and personal separate](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/). You never want to alienate one side or the other. ## August Observance & Awareness – Plan & watch for them trending on Twitter: You can also use the scheduling tool, [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link), to post to other social media networks like Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn. Though trends really don’t work as they do on Twitter, it is still relevant to post regarding these observance and awareness days. - Happiness Happens Month - National Wellness Month - National Dog Month - Family Fun Month - National Catfish Month - National Eye Exam Month - National Golf Month - National Water Quality Month - Romance Awareness Month - National Goat Cheese Month - National Sandwich Month - Get Ready for Kindergarten Month - Black Business Month - National Immunization Awareness Month – should be interesting with COVID-19 vaccine! - Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month - Cataract Awareness Month - International Peace Month - Medic-Alert Awareness Month - Motorsports Awareness Month - Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month - National Back to School Month ### Trending Weeks: - International Clown Week – First Week - Simplify Your Life Week – First Week - World Breastfeeding Week – First Week - National Fraud Awareness Week – First full week - Stop on Red Week – First Full Week - National Farmers Market Week – First week in August - National Bargain Hunting Week – Second Week - National Night Out – Second Week - National Health Center Week – Second Week - Exercise with Your Child Week – Second Week - National Motorcycle Week – Second full week in August - Startup Advocacy Week — Second full week in August - National Resurrect Romance Week – Second Full Week in August - Elvis Week — Week of August 16 - National Aviation Week – Always during the week of Orville Wright’s Birthday, August 19 - Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over – Third Week (2 weeks before and through Labor Day) - Be Kind to Humankind Week – Fourth Week [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)### Days – Remember, they usually trend in the morning! [Use the Sendible scheduler to plan — works for all social media networks (affiliate link).](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) 1 – Respect for Parents Day Congressional Startup Day – for entrepreneurs to connect with their lawmakers – changes annually National Play Outside Day – Every First Saturday National Minority Donor Awareness Day American Family Day National Girlfriends Day World Lung Cancer Day (Stop Smoking!) International Mahjong Day Friendship Day Sunflower Day – First Saturday in August National Mustard Day – First Saturday Summit Day — Go hike a mountain! – First Saturday (Be aware of the heat in Arizona!) [National Veterans and First Responders (VFR) Day](https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-vfr-day-first-saturday-in-august) – First Saturday 2 – National Coloring Book Day Sandcastle Day – First Saturday International Hangover Day – the Day after International Beer Day 3 – National Watermelon Day National Sisters Day – First Sunday National Grab Some Nuts Day American Family Day – First Sunday National Friendship Day – First Sunday 4 – National Coast Guard Day National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day [National Night Out ](https://natw.org/about/) – First Tuesday in August 5 – National Work Like a Dog Day World Calligraphy Day National Oyster Day 6 – National Root Beer Float Day Fresh Breath Day National Wiggle Your Toes Day National IPA Day – first Thursday 7 – Purple Heart Day International Beer Day – First Friday in August Lighthouse Day National Water Balloon Day – First Friday in August International Forgiveness Day 8 – Happiness Happens Day National Dollar Day International Cat Day Global Sleep Under the Stars Night Bowling Day – 2nd Saturday Garage Sale Day – 2nd Saturday International Infinity Day 9 – National Book Lovers Day International Day of the World’s Indigenous People International Co-working Day 10 – National Lazy Day Agent Orange Awareness Day National S’mores Day [National Spirit of ’45 Day ](https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-spirit-of-45-day-second-sunday-in-august)— Honors the can-do attitude of an entire generation affected by the trials and hardships of World War II. (2nd Sunday) World Lion Day 11 – National Sons’ and Daughters’ Day National Presidential Joke Day – this should be interesting. Note: I don’t recommend leaning in any particular political direction when it comes to business. (Unless, of course, it is your business!) Play in the Sand Day 12 – International Youth Day National Vinyl Record Day World Elephant Day National Middle Child Day National Bowling Day 13 – Left-Handers Day National Filet Mignon Day 14 – V-J Day – On this day in 1945, news broke around the world that the Imperial Government of Japan would surrender, ending a long, grueling world war. National Navajo Code Talkers Day 15 – Relaxation Day Leathercraft Day 16 – Tell a Joke Day Airborne Day Elvis Presley Day Roller Coaster Day National Rum Day 17 – National Nonprofit Day Thrift Shop Day National I Love My Feet Day — get a [foot bath](https://naturalmedicineanddetox.com/services-at-natural-medicine-detox/services-ionic-detox-foot-bath/)! National I Love My Feet Day Black Cat Appreciation Day  18 – Fajita Day 19 – World Humanitarian Day World Photography Day World Honey Bee Day Bow Day Aviation Day National Potato Day 20 – Radio Day World Mosquito Day 21 – Senior Citizens Day International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 22 – Tooth Fairy Day Be an Angel Day 23 – International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition Ride the Wind Day National Cuban Sandwich Day 24 – Vesuvius Day Waffle Day Independence Day of Ukraine 25 – Second Hand Wardrobe Day National Banana Split Day Kiss and Make-Up Day 26 – National Dog Day Women’s Equality Day National Webmistress Day — Yay, Me! Though I prefer to be called a ***[Webmaster](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/)!*** 27 – Just Because Day 28 – Red Wine Day Bow Tie Day 29 – International Day Against Nuclear Tests 30 – International Day of the Disappeared National Beach Day Grief Awareness Day 31 – National Eat Outside Day I hope these give you some ideas to help get exposure for your business. Get used to doing this every month and you’ll be able to plan ahead easily. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** What's Trending, X (Formerly Twitter) **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, back to school, content marketing, Giselle Aguiar, marketing, National What Month, social media, social media marketing, Twitter, what's trending --- ### [AI Search for 2026: What to Expect and What to Do Now](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/) **Published:** January 8, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** Boost your business presence as search evolves! Discover how AI influences discovery and how to optimize your content for trust and clarity. **Content:** The digital landscape is undergoing its most significant transformation since the invention of the search engine. I’ve been working in digital marketing [since 1995](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-history-of-the-internet-1995-present/ "The History of the Internet (1995-Present)") and have witnessed the gradual evolution of tools and platforms, including social media networks and search engines. People took their time adapting to the platforms. Not so with the Answer Engines. ## What Makes the AI Search Evolution Different? **Head-spinning velocity.** Throughout my years in this business, I have never seen technology change and grow in usage as quickly as it has now. Besides that, the AI Answer Bots are making it easy for people to use them! For small business owners—whether you run a neighborhood boutique, an online shop, or a consultancy—the rules of “getting found” have changed. In 2026, marketing will no longer be just about ranking #1 on Google. It will be about being the trusted answer provided by AI. This shift is called [Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) or Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), among other terms.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/) ## The New Reality: How People Search in 2026 Dont be overwhelmed by all the AI tools and the new AEO Search is no longer a straight line from “chiropractor near me” to a click. It is now a fragmented journey where searchers bounce between social media, community forums, and AI assistants. > **37% of consumers start searches with AI instead of Google** > > Search Engine Land - **The “Crocodile Mouth” Effect:** You may notice your “impressions” (the number of people who see your brand) are increasing, while your “clicks” are decreasing. This happens because AI tools answer questions directly, so users don’t always need to visit your website ***unless they need what you have to offer or have additional questions.*** - **Conversational Discovery:** People are asking complex, real human questions. AI evaluates these intents and summarizes information from multiple sources to give one clear answer. - **Local Shifts:** For local businesses, “Ask Maps” has replaced Google Business Profile Q&A. For instance, someone may ask, “What’s the best storage facility in (insert location) where I can store a 3-bedroom house temporarily?” directly into their Google Maps. It then scans the web — everywhere — for reviews, recommendations, and mentions of your business. ## Understanding the AI Tools [ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/): This is the most popular “answer engine,” currently holding a massive share of AI referral traffic. It prioritizes extremely fresh content—often citing information that is newer than standard Google results. It is also moving toward “agentic” search, meaning it can eventually find a product and purchase it for a user. (By the way, Microsoft’s Bing [Copilot](https://copilot.microsoft.com/) uses ChatGPT) **[Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai/):** A hybrid tool that acts like a conversational search engine. It is highly valued for real-time research because it provides clear citations and links to the sources it uses. Their browser, Comet, is an incredible tool for analyzing data and reporting fast. Recently, I took the analytics reports from the [Google Search Console](https://search.google.com/search-console/about) and came up with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) using Perplexity’s Comet browser. **[Google Gemini](https://gemini.google.com) & AI Overviews (AIO):** Gemini is the AI model that powers Google’s algorithm. [AI Overviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") are the summaries you see at the top of Google search results. These behave like traditional search but prioritize “answer-ready” content from your website. ## The Role of Reddit, Community Forums, and Social Networks **AI models don’t just read websites.** They collect not only data that’s on the Internet, but it picks up posts, conversations, and comments that people post on Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Quora. AI cites Reddit often (up to 30% of the time) because it craves authentic, human perspectives that corporate websites often lack. ([Source](https://www.conductor.com/academy/aeo-geo-benchmarks-report/)) Related: [What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/) ## Actionable Steps To Get Cited Now AI doesn’t just “crawl” your site; it tries to understand and reason with it. Remember, it’s “***machine learning***”. Thus, you need to feed it fresh, trustworthy content, not stale, and definitely not vague. Think… ## **What does your content, wherever it appears, communicate about your trustworthiness?** ### Website and Content Structure - **Short and Precise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):** Break your content into clear, topical, self-contained blocks that can stand alone if extracted by an AI. However, don’t put all your FAQs on one page. Add FAQs to blog posts and pages. - **Put Questions in Headings:** Use H2 or H3 heading tags for your questions (e.g., “How do I choose the right-sized storage space?”) followed by short, direct, factual answers. - **Tables and Lists:** AI loves structured data. Use tables for comparisons and bulleted lists for steps, data, or features. - **Find Content Gaps:** AI tools can help you find content gaps on your website. That is, any topic that is missing from your blog content. Using any of them (Gemini, ChatGPT, or Perplexity), upload a CSV file of your sitemap. Then, ask it to analyze the content and find any gaps. Your sitemap is simply an index of all your pages and blog posts. Depending on your website platform, an SEO tool can retrieve it for you. - **Don’t Just Research Keywords.** Type common customer questions into ChatGPT and Perplexity. If your business isn’t mentioned, see which competitors are, and analyze their content structure to see what you’re missing. - **Keep Content Fresh:** AI assistants look for the freshest, most accurate information. Add “Last Updated” dates to your pages and ensure product inventory, availability, or service details are current. Your blog’s archive page and individual posts should also include dates. Yes, that means you need to blog weekly. More than likely, you won’t have to completely redo your website, and you don’t need a big budget. ***Just reformat the content and optimize it for the AI bots.*** Most importantly, write and structure your site for your human potential customer first, but keep the AI Answer Bot in mind. In other words, ***don’t forgo the User Experience, which leads to conversions, to get noticed by AI.*** ### Amplify [E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/ "What is the new “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?") [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/)[What is Googles E E A T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/ "What is the new “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?")Both Google and AI models prioritize [Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/ "What is the new “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?")). I’ve written about this extensively in past issues of MSM. - **Your Company Story:** Clearly state your founding date, location, leadership, team, core values, and unique mission in your [“About” page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page"), so AI can “map” who you are. - **Authorship:** Create detailed Author and [About Pages](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page") with bios and links to each team member’s [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-and-ai-search-bots/) profile to provide credibility, authority, and trustworthiness ### Optimize Everything [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-tips-for-a-profitable-and-prosperous-2025/)**Optimize Your [Google Business Profile (GBP)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-tips-for-a-profitable-and-prosperous-2025/):** For [local businesses](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-tips-for-a-profitable-and-prosperous-2025/), this is your most important asset. Double down on review acquisition. AI looks at your [reviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/) and attributes to answer user questions in “Ask Maps”. Ask Maps will get information from your website as well. Make sure all your blog posts get posted to your GBP as soon as they are published. Use a tool like Dlvr.it. ## Social Media Posts **It’s no longer solely about engagement on [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/).** It’s about sharing posts with ***substance***. You have the space on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Use it! Consistently use your major keywords in your text posts, captions, and video scripts. Short-form, vertical videos (TikToks/Reels/YouTube Shorts) are grabbed by Google to provide visual answers in search results. [On X, you can have more character space if you upgrade to Pro. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/11-easy-ways-grow-twitter-followers-get-noticed/) ## The Word for 2026 is *Clarity* **Clear, precise, and reliable answers will win the most customers.** In closing, I want to quote one of my sources, Ben Harper, author of “The Answer Engine Playbook.” > “Think of traditional SEO like a library where you hope someone picks your book off a shelf of thousands. AI search is like a helpful librarian who has read every book and gives the customer a summary. To be recommended, your “book” doesn’t need to be the biggest or loudest—it just needs to have the clearest table of contents and the most reliable facts so the librarian can trust what they’re saying.” > > [Ben Harper, author of “The Answer Engine Playbook.”](https://llmlisted.com/the-answer-engine-playbook/) **How I used AI to write this article:** I had **44 sources** of blog posts, videos, and PDFs to analyze, study, and then compose the article. It would have taken me days to go through everything. (Like I used to do in prior years!) This year, I uploaded them to [Google’s NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google.com/), and I had an article in less than a minute. Now, I did have to edit it and add my own [E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/ "What is the new “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?"). ***Never post an AI-written article verbatim.*** Google knows. If you want to [learn how to use all these cool tools and get a free analysis, book a free consultation](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA). [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** AI Search, Local SEO, Search Engine Optimization, SEO **Tags:** 2026, AEO, AI, AI search, content marketing, content marketing strategies, digital marketing, GEO, search engine optimization, seo, social media --- ### [How to Use Visual Marketing to Boost Your Brand and Sales](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/) **Published:** April 28, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Everywhere you look, you see **visual marketing**: pictures, photos, graphics, animations, and/or videos. For instance, did you know that [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google") videos appear frequently in Google [AI Overviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-ai-evolution-in-digital-marketing-how-to-adapt-adopt-for-exposure/ "The AI Evolution in Digital Marketing: How to Adapt & Adopt for Exposure")? Plus, how does [AI Search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") fit in? Besides that, what are today’s **visual marketing** trends, platforms, and tools — including AI? ***If you want your marketing messages to stand out, you have to get visual.*** ## Let’s break down your Visual Marketing Options: ### Video Marketing For video marketing to be effective, you should be ***creating at least 2 videos a month.*** That takes some [planning](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/). And I bet you’re thinking it’s going to be expensive. If you have the budget, investing in professionally created videos on your website is recommended for branding. Still, with today’s **smartphones and tablets**, and free AI video and editing tools, you can easily **record videos on your own**. It’s OK that they look **casual and impromptu.** The important thing is that you get your **marketing message** across and have a clear [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) (CTA) at the end so the viewer will do what you want them to do. ### Here are some Video Marketing Ideas: - **Native Video:** This is when you prerecord a video and upload it directly to Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram. Before this, you just shared a link to the video from [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google"), but the networks give more visibility to ***native videos***. On [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/ "LinkedIn"), you can even start recording directly from the mobile app. On [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/facebook/ "Facebook"), all videos are Reels. That includes both vertical and horizontal videos. On both Facebook and LinkedIn, you can upload videos to your individual profile as well as your business page. However, on LinkedIn, you are limited to videos under 15 minutes or less. - **Live Broadcasting:** Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Instagram Live, YouTube Live, and X’s Spaces allow you to broadcast yourself from a mobile device or a laptop as long as you have a good, strong wifi or cell signal. LinkedIn has a live broadcast feature, but you’ll need a third-party broadcasting service, which is an extra cost. On X, live feeds get top visibility. If you have several devices like a laptop, smartphone, and tablet, you can broadcast simultaneously onto more than one network. Do this for a while to see where you get the most response. This also takes some work, so it helps to have another person with you. After you’re done broadcasting on most sites, you can save the videos and share them with your followers, even embed them on your website as a blog post. - **Stories:** These are short slideshows or videos on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) and [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) (Reels), Snapchat, and [YouTube Shorts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/ "How to Get Results & Reap the Benefits of YouTube Video Marketing"). Basically, you’re telling a visual story of your product or business in a few seconds. - **Presentations with a voice-over:** This may be the simplest way for many people — especially B2B businesses — to produce videos. Write up your script in the presentation presenter notes and rehearse it before recording. Personally, it’s my favorite way of producing videos. ## Here are some Video Marketing tips: - Invest in a tripod with a clamp for your phone or tablet. Or, a selfie stick if you’re going to do a lot of walking and talking. - Plan what you’re going to say and do. Though impromptu short videos also work. - Use the free video editing software programs. If you’re on a Mac, you have iMovie, and on a PC, you can download Movie Maker for free from Microsoft. YouTube also has an editing platform. - Good lighting is key to all videos. Don’t put the light behind you — you’ll look like a silhouette. - Make the **first 15 seconds** compelling enough so the target audience is enticed to watch the whole thing. - Always end with a clear [CTA](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/ "Capturing Leads that will Convert with the Right Calls to Action"). Make it easy for people to do what you want them to do. - Think vertical: especially for shorts, reels, and stories. - Horizontal videos are good for longer, educational videos. - There is a bevy of free AI video creation tools. Check them out. Play with them and see which you like best. Most are free to a point, some are free forever, but they give you “credits”. If you run out of credits, you can buy more. ToolLink**VEED****Powtoon****Runway Gen‑2****Synthesia****HeyGen****Kapwing****EaseMate AI**https://www.easemateai.com/**Google Vids**## Video Editing Tools for Mobile Devices Download them from your app store… - **For social media:** - **CapCut:** A leading free editor with **AI tools**, templates, auto‑captions, and **4K export**. Great for social content creators who want fast, polished results without paying. - **InShot:** Ideal for **quick vertical videos** (Reels, TikTok, Shorts). Simple interface with filters, music, text, and direct social sharing. - **For professional mobile editing:** - **LumaFusion (iOS only):** A **pro‑level** mobile editor with multi‑track timelines, advanced color tools, and desktop‑like performance. Popular among mobile filmmakers. - **For cross‑platform workflows:** - **Adobe Premiere Rush:** A cross‑platform editor that syncs with **Premiere Pro**. Offers auto‑reframe, motion graphics templates, and cloud syncing—perfect for creators who work across devices. - **For more control without complexity:** - **VN Video Editor:** Clean interface, multi‑track editing, and no watermark. Great for creators who want more control without a steep learning curve. - **KineMaster:** Feature‑rich with multi‑layer editing, effects, and precise controls. Good for creators who want more than basic trimming without going full pro. ## Pictures and Graphics: P**ictures are key to selling your products** and services — especially on [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/) and [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/). But what about B2B businesses like accountants and consultants who don’t really have visuals with a wow factor? That’s where **infographics** come in. Bascially, they are graphics with information. It’s a way to make non-appealing data visually appealing. ### Tips for using Pictures and Graphics: - Make sure all pictures and graphics are of good quality. - Don’t make the text too small. - Always brand them with your logo and website. If you’re not paying for advertising on Instagram, links don’t work in posts so it’s important to have your website on the graphic. (However, they do work in stories! Use them there. - Put a Call-to-Action ([CTA)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) on the graphic. Tell people what you want them to do. - Take colors into consideration. There is a [psychology of color](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/). - Use the free graphics tool, [Canva.com](https://canva.com), to create graphics. - For infographics, the FREE Google AI tool, [NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google.com/), will blow you away! Googles [NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google.com/) makes it super easy to create cool infographics Image by [Skill Leap AI](https://www.youtube.com/@SkillLeapAI) from the video below --- ### Personalized Email Marketing with Videos: Videos should be an integral part of your [email marketing automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/). One of the purposes of your website is to convert visitors into leads — people somewhat interested in what you have to offer — that’s called [lead generation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/). Unless you cater to impulse buyers, more than likely, you’re not going to get a sale on the first visit. You need to capture that lead with an enticing CTA — give them something in return for them giving you their email address. Once you’ve got that email address, you can send them marketing emails ***to nurture that lead into a sale.*** The best way to do that is to ask one or two questions (no more than 3) on the landing page of the CTA offer that will segment your email list. That way, you can personalize subsequent emails with videos based on their responses. **If the message in the email is not relevant, you’ll lose the lead.** They’ll unsubscribe with a click. It takes some planning, but once it’s set up, marketing automation works ***all by itself.*** Personalized emails can also work well after a networking event or trade show. ## User-Generated Content is Visual Marketing: There’s no better visual marketing tool than a **customer testimonial.** That’s when they upload a picture or video of them wearing your clothing or using your product — and tag your business! That’s what’s called User-Generated Content (UCG). Since Facebook changed its algorithm to give more visibility to users’ posts, the best thing you can do to get your business noticed is to have a user upload a picture of themselves at your shop or restaurant, wearing your clothing or gear, and **tag your business on it**. That’s where [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) come in. Make sure you get permission! You can do **a contest with a hashtag.** Tell customers to post themselves with your product, create a unique hashtag, and spread the word. Make sure the rules of the contest are clear, and you specify that any pictures entered become your property and you have full license to use them in marketing. If you have a [brick-and-mortar store or restaurant,](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) the best time to get them is when they’re there and are happy. Train your staff to offer to take a picture of their group in the restaurant or while trying on a dress with their cell phone. #### You really don’t have any excuses why you shouldn’t incorporate [**visual marketing** into your marketing strategy.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) ## [Let’s have a brainstorming session!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Video Marketing **Tags:** content marketing, digital marketing strategies, digital marketing techniques, digital marketing tips, digital media marketing, social media marketing, video marketing, video marketing strategy, video marketing tips, visual marketing --- ### [What Makes Your Business Different?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/) **Published:** August 3, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** How is your business different from the other guy down the street who does what you do? Or the other business that comes up in Google or AI chatbot searches for your same keywords, questions, and phrases? ## What’s Your USP? Before you can start marketing your business, you need to identify what your **Unique Selling Proposition (USP)** is. What makes you unique, better, and different than your competitor? I once gave a seminar on [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) for the BBB, and in a room of about 20 people, two air conditioning companies were represented. Both serve residential and commercial customers. Let’s take their industry for example. ### What could be the differentiating characteristics? - **Location.** Here, the Phoenix Valley covers a huge area. For a local business, how far will you drive for a customer? - **How long have you been in business?** This leads to [credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/ "Building Trust & Credibility in a World of Fake News"). - Are you BBB Accredited? What’s your rating? Awards? Reputation? - **[About the Company](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page").** Who’s behind the company? All of that is important. When someone’s a/c unit breaks, especially here in Phoenix, they are going to go online to find someone to fix it fast. What’s going to come up when they search for “a/c repair near me”? - [Your Website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/ "What You Need to Know to Build a Website that Works") - [Google Business Profile](https://www.google.com/business/) - Your Social Media Profile Pages – [reviews and recommendations](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-proof/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") ***What is a potential customer going to find there?*** [Good reviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In")? Testimonials? A nice selection of products? Fast service guarantee? Service area? ***Put yourself in the searcher’s shoes.*** Is what they see online about your business going to entice them to call or click on “Request a Quote”? For many businesses, it’s not about a product, but the service you provide. If you’re willing to go the extra mile for a customer, that makes you different. > “A business can peg its USP on product characteristics, price structure, placement strategy (location and distribution) or promotional strategy. These are what marketers call the “four P’s” of marketing. They are manipulated to give a business a market position that sets it apart from the competition.” > > [Entrepreneur](http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/unique-selling-proposition-usp) ### Other Differentiating Factors Could Be: - Pricing - Knowledge and expertise, years in business - Certain services that you offer that your competition doesn’t. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)**Another key factor is your target market.** [Defining your target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) will help you get to know them, and you may be able to cater your products or services to ***their needs*** rather than a huge broad market. ## 3 tips from that Entrepreneur Magazine article I quoted above: - Put yourself in your customer’s shoes. [Create personas.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/ "What You Need to Know about Creating BUYER PERSONAS") - Know what motivates your customers’ behavior and buying decisions. - Uncover the real reasons customers buy your product instead of a competitor’s. I’ve put together the **[Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** to help you do just that. No matter if you’re B2B or B2C, you still have to get to know your target. **[This workbook will help. Click here to download it.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** #### If you’re not sure if you’ve got everything set up right, I’ll be happy to give you a free analysis of your current marketing efforts! [**Please click here to schedule a free 15-minute call.**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)Save [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Business Plan, Marketing, Target Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Business, Giselle Aguiar, Google, identify your target market, marketing, social media, social media marketing, Target audience, Target market, target marketing, unique selling proposition, USP, What makes your business unique --- ### [24 Foolish LinkedIn Mistakes and How You Can Fix Them Now](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/24-foolish-linkedin-mistakes/) **Published:** January 27, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Google and the AI search bots consider LinkedIn one of the top referral sites for information on professional people. If someone googles your name, more than likely, your LinkedIn profile will come up in the first few results of Google and the AI search engines. That’s where you want to be. However, if your profile doesn’t showcase your best image or is missing major keywords, forget it! It never ceases to amaze me how many LinkedIn mistakes I see people making! > You have less than 7 seconds to catch someone’s attention and make a good impression! ## **What does your LinkedIn profile say about you?** **Here are a few LinkedIn Reputation Killers (LinkedIn Mistakes) that you need to address ASAP!** ### Your Personal Profile (Resume) Having a LinkedIn profile without your picture is like going to a networking event with a paper bag over your head1. **No picture.** There is no reason why you should not have a picture of yourself, not a caricature or a cartoon character. You are networking. People remember faces before they remember names or even occupations. I’ve walked into live networking events where I don’t know a soul, and someone will walk up to me and say, “I’ve seen you on LinkedIn!” I reply, “That means what I do works!” They saw my picture next to posts in one of the local area groups. (More on this later) Not having a picture on your LinkedIn profile is like walking into a networking event with a paper bag over your head. 2. **Incomplete name and location.** You must put your full name and your location. That way, people can find you more easily. Even if you have a “global” business, put your actual location. Also, it must be your name, not your company’s name. People connect with people. People follow companies. Companies have company profiles, which are separate from personal profiles. Your personal profile “owns” your company profile. 3. **Incomplete heading.** Your heading tells someone what you do at a glance. Obviously, you must put your title and your company. Don’t just put “owner” or “entrepreneur”. This is not where you sell. This describes what you do at a glance. Use your major keywords. You have more characters now — use them! 4. **Less than 50 connections.** 50 is the magic number on LinkedIn, along with a complete profile, to be an “all-star”. Connect first with your friends, co-workers, former colleagues, and former classmates, then connect with people you’ve met at networking events. After the event, sit with the cards you collected and invite everyone to connect with you on LinkedIn. Remind them where you met: “John, it was nice meeting you at the networking event last night…” 5. **No vanity URL.** If your LinkedIn address has a bunch of numbers at the end of it, you need to create your vanity URL. This makes it easier for you to put your LinkedIn profile address on your business card. If you have a common name, you’ll need to add your middle name or initial. LinkedIn will let you know if your name is available. 6. **No about section.** Here is where you promote your business – not your resume or your whole life story! You have a business; you’re not looking for work. Here’s where you **add relevant keywords** describing what you do and what you offer. Use bullet points, not long, wordy paragraphs. Don’t use “flowery language” either. Get to the point. You’ve got plenty of space here. Use it. Furthermore, don’t write long paragraphs. Use bullet points with either the “-” or “\*” as the bullet. (No formal formatting here.) 7. **No recommendations.** Recommendations are important as they carry a lot of weight. Recommendations have to be personally written by someone who knows you or your work, and they have to be connected to you on LinkedIn. 8. **No skills.** These are your keywords. You can put up to 50 skills. Use them. 9. **No extras.** These are certifications, volunteer experience, publications, etc. ## Business Networking on LinkedIn You must have a LinkedIn Company Profile Page for CREDIBILITY1. **No company profile.** As mentioned in #2, companies have company profiles. This helps with [trust and credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/). Company profiles are indexed separately from individual profiles. 2. **Not participating in groups.** There’s a group for every interest and industry out there. You join as yourself, not as your company. Search for those where your target market hangs out, posts, and participates in discussions regularly. Read their descriptions and rules. Make sure your profile is ready for prime time before you request membership in a group. The group owners will check you out to make sure you’re not going to spam them. Don’t post too often. Hang out in the group for a while and get a gist of what members are posting. Comment or respond to posts. Introduce yourself and your company when your membership is approved. You can share your website here and a bit about what you do and what you expect to gain from group membership. 3. **Not having a link to your website** – The link must go to your **current website**, and the website should ***work properly and showcase what you do.*** The link helps with **search engine optimization (SEO).** It helps **promote** your business. 4. **No business email address** – Unless you’re looking for work, the email address should be your **work email** with your website URL. If you are job searching, make sure your email is not a funny or cute name. **Keep it professional.** 5. **No phone number** – If you are in business for yourself, you need to make it ***easy for people to contact you!*** There are still many folks out there who prefer to call rather than email. **It’s easier to call you from a mobile phone.** More and more people **access LinkedIn via the mobile app**. If your phone number is there, all they have to do is touch it to call you. 6. **No link to X (formerly Twitter)** – You’re missing a huge marketing tool if you’re not on X and if you don’t have your X account linked to your LinkedIn Profile. 7. **No link to your blog** – Again, you’re missing the **biggest online marketing tool** if you’re not using a blog to show off your expertise. Moreover, it helps with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)! 8. **Having multiple links to wrong sites** – One person has 2 links to her one X account. Another has a link to a site that either no longer exists or hasn’t yet been built. That looks bad. 9. **Posting about sports, religion, politics, or personal topics.** LinkedIn is a professional, business-only site. Save the personal stuff for Facebook or Instagram. Unless, of course,e you work in sports, religion, or with the government. Still, avoid personal topics. Save those for Facebook and Instagram. 10. **Thinking that LinkedIn is for B2B only.** LinkedIn users are consumers, too! In fact, they are a more sophisticated consumer. [As always, know your target audience and their pain points.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-importance-of-focusing-on-what-your-target-market-wants/) 11. **Not connecting your company profile to your experience.** This may happen if you set up your company profile titled differently. You have to have your company listed in your experience with the same name. You should be connected to your company as an employee. 12. **Not knowing the difference between “Start a Post” and “Write Article”.** “Start a Post” is a status update similar to Facebook. “Write Article” is writing an article in LinkedIn’s blogging platform*.* It’s like writing for your local Business Journal. Write at least a 500-word article. 13. **Sending promotional emails just because someone is in your network.** That’s spamming, and it is not tolerated anywhere on social media. Just because I’m connected with you doesn’t mean that I’m interested in your product or service. It’s not who you know; ***it’s who your friends know.*** If someone asks me for something, like a professional photographer, I go to my LinkedIn network first. 14. **Starting a group, thinking you’ll get participants**. Just because you start a group doesn’t mean people will flock to join. It will help if you have an existing organization and a plan for what the theme and discussions will be. 15. **Spamming groups.** No better or faster way to lose credibility than to self-promote in a group. Needless to say, you’ll also get scolded or worse, kicked out. ### Whether you’re B2B or B2C, you can benefit from having a LinkedIn profile. You: Become known as an expert in your field- Show off your expertise - Toot your own horn - Establish [credibility and trust](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) - Network with potential referral sources - AND have a better chance for the AI search bots to cite your content! > **Remember, it’s not who you know, it’s who your friends know.** ## I’ll be happy to review your LinkedIn profiles and give you some FREE tips! [Click here to book a free 15-minute phone consult. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** LinkedIn **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, LinkedIn, online marketing, seo, social media, social media marketing, Social network, social networking --- ### [Tips on How to Benefit from Optimizing Your Content Marketing Now](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) **Published:** July 30, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** You want to become a content magnet People will follow you if you share good quality useful contentYou may be asking yourself, “What is Content Marketing?” The short answer is [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/). It’s also producing [podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/) and [visuals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/ "How to Use Visual Marketing to Boost Your Brand and Sales"), like videos, infographics, and animations. Nevertheless, blogging on your website is the foundation for effective digital marketing and [search engine optimization](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-new-website/) ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)). Additionally, content marketing is how you build your **[following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/)** on social media networks and **[grow an email list](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/)**. **Blogging connects you to your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) and positions you as an [expert in your field.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") That is, a *trusted source* of information.** The strategy is to talk about what you know, which is your business, your expertise, service, or products. Furthermore, you want to ***educate*** your potential customers. Don’t assume they know everything! Offer advice and ***helpful*** content. ## What is a Good Content Marketing Strategy? In this video, I explain the basics of content marketing. Keep in mind that today, we have money-saving and time-saving AI tools to help you create your content. I can show you how in **[1:1 customized training sessions.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!")** ## The Keys to Success for Your Blog Are: - **Make it as long as it needs to be**: It should be at least 300 words. Moreover, you can go longer if you need to explain your point further, educate, or tell a story. - **Write in natural language**, written for the human reader but with the [AI search bot in mind](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/ "AI Search for 2026: What to Expect and What to Do Now"). Do your keyword and question research first. Then incorporate them in the body of the blog article. The keyword or question lists will also provide topics of what people are searching for. Remember *[Google’s E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/)* and the new [*N-E-E-A-T-T*](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?")! - **Write for your** [**target audience**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/): What will solve their problems or make their lives better? **Answer their questions.** Use a free site like [Quora](https://www.quora.com/profile/Giselle-Aguiar) to find out what people are asking about your topic. Remember, you are the expert; they are not. Write as if you were writing for an 11-year-old. Refrain from using a lot of industry jargon. If you must use it, explain what it means. - **Always use a graphic**: Make sure it is large enough, but not too big that it makes the [page load slowly.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/ "Are Google Core Web Vitals Still Important?") Above all, use pictures that depict your target market. If you’re trying to reach millennials, don’t use pictures of older folks. Of course, you can use more than one picture. And, to help with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?"), include the “alt text” description of the graphic using the keywords or phrases in your title. - **Use an editorial calendar**: [Plan it out,](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) but be flexible to incorporate **new questions**. Undoubtedly, this is crucial with the AI evolution. You want to be in tune with what your target is asking the AI chatbots. Take advantage of what’s going to be [trending](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/whats-trending/ "What's Trending") on social media. I publish a monthly “What’s Trending in…” article with awareness and observance days to help you plan and take advantage of upcoming holidays and trends. - **[Tell stories](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/whats-your-story-blogging-for-business/)**: Like success stories, project stories, people stories. Folks like to see themselves in articles and get ideas. - **Blog at least once a week**. [2 – 3 times a week is optimal!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) If you’re just starting, you’ll need to blog at least daily for 2-3 weeks so that your content will get noticed by Google, the chatbots, and your potential clients. ## What are the types of Content Marketing? ### Blogging is just one form of content marketing… - [Videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) - [Podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/) - Pictures - Shared content from trusted sources that is relevant or related to your business. - Infographics: I discovered a cool and easy tool to use to create infographics in minutes! I can show you how to use it in a [1:1 customized training session! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") ### Which Content Type will Work for You? Are you a fair **writer?** If not, to do blogging, you may have to [hire an editor](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/ "Effective SEO Copywriting is the Trick to More Reach on Google") or take a writing course at your local library. Are you a better **talker**? Then you may want to consider **videos or podcasting**. Is your business [**visual**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/)? Then videos and pictures will be your main content forms. Again, with today’s AI tools, creating this content is way easier. ### The ultimate goal of content is to give your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) the information they are seeking while***…*** - Getting exposure - Improving your [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) - Building a [social media following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/) - Driving [potential leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) to your website - Building your [email list](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) - Enticing them to [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/ "How to Improve the User Experience on Your Website to Increase Conversions"). - Establishing [credibility and building trust](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) > ***People buy from whom they know and trust!*** Consequently, another question is the platform on which your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) sits. Personally, [**I prefer WordPress and here’s why.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) With WordPress, you also have many free plugins to save time, add functionality, and help with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/) and [security](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/). Besides that, you can always find someone who knows WordPress to help fix your website. I’ve been working on WordPress for over 15 years, and I would never go back to coding HTML or attempt to use another platform. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## Content Marketing FAQs ### What is Content Marketing, and why do I need to do it for my business? Content marketing is the practice of creating and sharing valuable content such as blog posts, podcasts, visuals, and more to engage your target audience, build trust, and support SEO. It connects you with your audience, helps grow your following and email list, and positions you as an expert in your field. ### What makes a good Content Marketing Strategy? A good content marketing strategy combines long, natural-language posts that address real questions from your audience with visuals, videos, and a consistent publishing schedule. It should use an editorial calendar, focus on SEO, adapt to AI and trending topics, and educate potential customers. ### What are the keys to blogging success? The keys to success for your blog are to write long-form content when needed, use natural language tailored to your target audience, include a strong graphic, plan with an editorial calendar, tell stories, post regularly, and optimize for SEO and user experience. ### What types of content marketing should I consider besides blogging? Besides blogging, you can use videos, podcasts, pictures, and shared content from trusted sources. Infographics are also effective, and each type should be chosen based on your audience’s questions and what best showcases your expertise. ### What is the ultimate goal of content marketing for my business? The ultimate goal is to give your target market the information they are seeking while getting exposure, improving SEO, growing a social following, driving leads to your website, building your email list, and ultimately establishing credibility and trust with potential customers. ## Here’s a HOT TIP! Today’s AI search bots look for CONTENT that answers people’s questions. Thus, your website pages and blog posts need to be well-optimized for Google and the AI search engines. That’s what’s called on-page [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/content-marketing-seo/). ### I can help you plan your content and social media marketing and check your SEO! [**Click here to schedule a free, 15-minute call.** ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Content Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blogging, blogs, content marketing, content marketing strategies, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, Google, inbound marketing, marketing, social media, video, video marketing, What is Content Marketing --- ### [How to Use LinkedIn to Build Authority, Trustworthiness, and Credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-use-linkedin-to-build-authority-trustworthiness-and-credibility/) **Published:** July 29, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** D**id you know that LinkedIn is one of the top 5 sources cited by AI Answer Bots?** In the last year, LinkedIn has increasingly been cited as a credible source of information, and the AI Answer Engines cite the people or companies sharing it. Besides Reddit, YouTube, and Wikipedia, LinkedIn is usually one of the top 5 platforms cited by AI Answer Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s Gemini AI Overviews. And it’s much easier to use than Reddit! It is the place for you to become known as an expert in your field or industry. In the video below, I show you what you need to do to increase your chances of getting cited in the AI chatbots. ## LinkedIn: How to Use it to Build Authority, Trustworthiness & Credibility & Get Cited by the AI Bots --- ### How I got started using LinkedIn I’ve been on LinkedIn since the summer of 2008. When I started my business in 2011, I started blogging and sharing the articles to LinkedIn, [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/ "Facebook"), and [Twitter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/twitter-social-networking/ "Twitter") (now X) equally. After a couple of months of steady content marketing, I looked at my website’s [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") and saw that after the search engines, LinkedIn was driving the most people to my site. That convinced me to tweak my profile and company page and get serious about it. Microsoft owns LI. And LinkedIn has become a top source for the[ AI Answer Engines](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH") for trusted, credible content. I’ll cover a few of the basics of the LinkedIn personal and company profiles and the tricks to increase your chances of being cited. **I’m not going into the LinkedIn basics here. I have [another article with the videos for both the LinkedIn Personal Profile and the Business Profile. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/)** ### LinkedIn is one of the top-cited domains According to some sources, LinkedIn is the 2nd-most cited domain by LLMs — Large Language Models, the AI answer engines: ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Google Gemini AI Mode, Perplexity, and Claude. I’m not making this up! Look at these charts in the video! I like to say that LI is among the top 5. Its ranking will vary by the source. What’s great is that LinkedIn is way easier to use than Reddit and less time-consuming than making [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google") videos. ## The Top Things to Fix on Your LinkedIn Profile [](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/)1. **You should have a vanity URL.** When you view your profile, if you look at the top address bar and see a bunch of numbers at the end, you want to get rid of them. Click on “Edit your public profile” in the upper right to get your Vanity URL with just your name. Click on the pen icon to edit. The pen icon is all over your profile sections and where you can edit them. 2. **Optimize your personal profile.** It’s more than just your resume. If you own your business, your profile should not give the impression that you’re looking for a job. You want to become known as an expert in your field or industry and establish credibility. It helps with reputation management & Google searches (SEO) and AI citations. You also have a few seconds to catch someone’s attention and make a good impression. 1. Upload a professional-looking headshot. No selfies, please. 2. Then you have your headline. Use emojis. You have 220 characters. Use them. The first line is the one that shows when you post something. Make it count. 3. **Your company logo.** When you click on your logo and company name, it goes down to your experience. You need to have a Company Page connected. 4. **Get a verified account.** It’s free. You’ll need to have the LI mobile app installed on your phone. It will walk you through the process. 5. **Upload a cover graphic.** It’s a FREE BILLBOARD! The exact dimensions are 1584 x 396 pixels. Click on the pen icon in the upper right to add or change yours. Please don’t leave the boring blank one. Create it in the free graphic tool [Canva.com](https://Canva.com). 3. **Your current contact info.** It’s important to have your current contact info. If someone asks me for a referral, I certainly won’t give them a person who doesn’t have a way to contact them! You can add your phone number if you want people to call you; an address if you have a location where you want clients and customers to visit. Plus, this is a place to put your website links, that creates legitimate backlinks to help with SEO. Scroll down to the bottom right and click on Edit content info. 4. **Ask for recommendations.** A recommendation is written by someone who knows you or your work. Don’t ask people who don’t know you for a recommendation. If you’re on someone else’s profile, you can click on “Add Section…” to ask someone for a recommendation. You must be connected to a person before you ask them for a recommendation. 5. **Fill out your “About” section completely.** Your About section is very important because it tells people and the AI bots what you do, what you’re good at, and why people should hire you, buy your products or services, or cite your content. Click on the pen icon to edit. - It’s not your life story! It’s a summary of who you are and what you do, your company & what you have to offer. - A brief description of positive business relationships. - You have 2600 characters here. Use them! - Get down to business. Use keywords, and avoid long paragraphs. - Create bullet points. Use emojis. They are eye-catching. - Make sure that it doesn’t sound like you’re looking for a job, and this isn’t your full company profile. This is about YOU. Here’s where you toot your own horn. What are your passions? Why did you start your company? Where you’ve done public speaking, name dropping, etc. - **Use the Featured section.** Add links to your videos, blog posts, LinkedIn posts & articles, promos, and upload files, PDFs, and SlideShare presentations. Update them regularly. This helps with SEO, credibility, and exposure! ## Rolling Out! AI-Powered Search! You can search for people, groups, companies, jobs, articles, and posts. Search by keywords and names, and very soon you will be able to ask it questions because it will be ***AI-powered.*** By the way, “rolling out” means that not everyone sees it at the same time. Here’s where the old Rolodex gets left in the dust. For instance, several years ago, a client of mine asked me if I knew of a commercial contractor with experience dealing with the city of Tempe. I searched for “contractors” and then for the location of Tempe. If that was AI-powered, my client could have asked it, “I need a commercial contractor who is experienced in dealing with permitting in the city of Tempe.” It’s a bit more ***specific***. This would open the search up to contractors who weren’t necessarily ***in*** Tempe, but have experience ***working*** in Tempe. Big difference. ### Posting, Sharing, and Writing on LinkedIn From the home screen, you can start a post by writing a message or sharing a link. Share an image, or upload a video (no more than 15 minutes long). I’ll get into “write an article” in a bit. #### Should you upgrade on LinkedIn? Should you upgrade? Well, it depends on what you want to accomplish. One benefit is that you can message or email someone who is not in your network. What’s nice is that you can try it for free. Try it for 30 days and see if it helps. I did learn that as a premium member, you can put a slideshow as your cover graphic. [Click here for more details. ](https://business.linkedin.com/small-business) ## Create a LinkedIn Company Page [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/az-social-media-wiz/)[AZ Social Media Wiz LinkedIn Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/az-social-media-wiz/ "AZ Social Media Wiz LinkedIn Company Page")These are the Business Listings on LinkedIn. In the olden days, we had phone books. The White Pages were the people listings. That’s your personal profile, and the Yellow Pages were the business listings. LinkedIn works the same way. A company should not have a personal profile. **Think of this as an extension of your website.** It’s a free listing and a free billboard. Cover graphic dimensions: 1128 x 191. This is part of your online image! Also, note that the cover graphic is a different size than the personal cover graphic. Again, use the free graphics tool, [Canva.com](https://Canva.com), to create a custom graphic in the exact dimensions. [**If you don’t have a LinkedIn Company Page, click here to set one up.** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/setup/new) Start with Company. They’ll walk you step by step. A showcase page is a sub-page where you can highlight products or services that you offer. You can add those later. [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/setup/new)Follow the prompts to create your page. The Company Overview or About section can have up to 2000 characters. You have the space — use it! The description should be keyword-centric. Add your Website. It’s another backlink. It helps if you’ve already done some [keyword research ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/keyword-research/ "Keyword Research")to find the most popular search terms that are relevant to your business. Fill out everything. Next, add up to 20 specialties. These are keywords that help you come up in searches. Important! ## Connect Your LinkedIn Company Page to Your Personal Profile This is a crucial step that many people miss — connecting your company page to your personal profile. Once you’ve created your company page. Go back to your personal profile and go to your experience. The top one should be your current company. Click the edit pen icon, go to the Company or organization section, and start typing your company name. Click on it when it comes up. Here you can also expand on your experience and expertise. You get a lot of space. Use it. If you need help writing your descriptions, I can help you. [I can also walk you through all the steps so you don’t miss any of them.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)## How to Build LinkedIn Growth Architecture Turn your professional profile into an AI-powered lead generation engine in about 30 minutes a day! Now, we’re going to get down to the nitty-gritty — to why you’re here. How to turn your LinkedIn profiles into an AI-Powered lead generation engine in about 30 minutes a day. ***Plus, how to increase your chances of getting cited in the AI search bots.*** You might be sceptical about the 30 minutes a day part, but understand that at first, yes, it will take you a bit more time while you get used to using the platform and the tools to create posts and graphics. But just like driving a car or riding a bicycle, it will become easier and take you less time to do what you need to do as you work on this regularly. For instance, take profile optimization. It may take you 30 minutes or more to optimize your profile, but once that’s done, it’s done. You may need to tweak it every so often, but that’s a minor task. By the way, the set of slides in this section was created using [NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google.com/?pli=1), a Google Labs tool, based on 8 sources, and those are at the bottom of this post. The Trap: Before we optimized each post for reach — using hashtags and buzzwords that maybe got some eyeballs on it, but they were not your target audience. Thus, you didn’t get any qualified leads. If you chase numbers without strategic intent, you get nothing. The Pivot: stop treating every post like it has the same job. In other words, stop chasing views and likes and engagement. LinkedIn is Now an AI-Powered Search Engine. In the video, I showed you that it’s the 2nd most cited domain across major AI tools, sometimes beating Wikipedia, YouTube, Reddit, and news publishers. 11 to 14% of all AI responses reference LinkedIn, driving about 8 million citations per week. The algorithm now understands meaning and synonyms, not just exact keyword matches. It tracks the buyer’s professional journey over time. In other words, the more a buyer uses an AI tool, the better the tool gets to know their preferences and buying habits. ### Bye-bye Vanity. Hello Semantics. Today the objectives are: 1. New Goal: Maximize invisible interactions and AI citations. 2. Content: Deep, niche expertise solving highly specific problems. 3. Mechanics: Semantic matching (synonyms) and structural formatting. 4. Requirement: Specificity. Accounts under 500 followers get cited at the same rate as massive accounts. In other words, the number of followers you have doesn’t make a difference to the AI bots. The content does. However, as you post more content, you’ll get more followers. But remember, that is a vanity metric. Also, it’s ok if you don’t have lots of connections. It’s OK if you think your target audience isn’t on LinkedIn. Focus on putting out specific content and answering potential customers’ questions. The AI bots will pick it up. ### The algorithm rewards invisible engagement. Visibly: comments matter, but only with comment density. That is deep, conversational back-and-forth replies, not just generic praise. In other words, get people to comment by asking their opinions in the post. Then, respond to their comments. You’ll be notified if someone comments or reacts to your post. Below the surface is the dwell time: they swiped through a carousel, they read, watched a video, or clicked on an infographic, or they clicked on “More” to expand the post and read all the text. Also, they save it, repost it, or send it to a friend. Those invisible signals push overall engagement up by 14%. Besides that, there’s a 48-hour window. If a post lacks early engagement, the algorithm buries it permanently. ### Here’s what the AI answer bots pick up: - Technical details: numbers, data, tools. - Named entities: name-dropping, naming specific companies, products, or services in the post text. - Topic specificity: Niche problem-solving beats broader trends. LI has what’s called Unicode formatting. That’s adding bold and italics to text in posts. You see it if you copy and paste from a website and it brings the formatting with it. Try to remove it. It doesn’t help and actually hides the text from ChatGPT. The trend used to be to put the link in the comments because supposedly, the platform gave it less reach. That may be so, but remember, reach isn’t our goal anymore. It’s being cited by the chatbots. Put links in the text area of the post. You can put more than one. It’s all about building trust with your content. The same content that shows a potential buyer that you are trustworthy is what the LLMs will pick up as authoritative answers. State the question. Answer the question. Include deep, documented niche expertise. ### Here’s a blueprint to help guide you in posting. This is taking the conversion funnel or buyer’s journey and putting specific content where it will work best. - **Top-of-Funnel, Growth Content (35%)**: Broad industry observations are designed to attract new followers. For example, you could write a “newsjacking” post reacting to a recent industry or economic report. - **Middle-of-Funnel, Authority Content (35%)**: Share deep expertise and educational posts that build trust using an infographic or a video. - **Bottom-of-Funnel, Conversion Content (20%)**: These are lead-generating posts. The most effective format here is case studies. For instance, a consultant can detail how an underperforming mom-and-pop self-storage facility went from 60% occupancy to 95% occupancy in six months. Highlight the exact steps taken and provide real numbers as proof. - **Personal Content (10%)**: Share stories about your journey as a professional or business owner to humanize your brand, showcase your expertise, and deepen connections with your existing network. This helps build trust and credibility. #### Let’s break each stage down: ##### For growth, borrow momentum to attract new followers who match your Ideal Customer Profile or ICP. 1. Newsjacking. Borrow attention from trending industry news. For example, last week, Google announced that you can now track social media profiles on the Google Search Console. I reposted that news item from Google, with a short comment. 2. Educational Carousels or infographics. The pictures are eye-catching and scroll-stopping. Don’t forget to include a long text message for the chatbots! 3. Awareness reality checks. Name a frustration your audience faces but hasn’t articulated yet. Validate their reality without solving it immediately. ##### Prove your expertise through Frameworks – make the reader believe you can deliver on your promise. Telling stories of your personal experience. From adversity to a turning point. 1. Lesson – a clear takeaway. No trauma-dumping without extracting a concrete lesson. 2. Application – exact actionable steps showing how the reader can put this into practice today. 3. Visual proof – add photos of you doing the work. But avoid low-status selfies. ##### Conversion: De-risk the purchase with proof. - Turn engaged followers into qualified leads by answering unspoken doubts. - Case studies - Show massive results - Before and after pictures - Make the client the hero, and you’re merely the guide - Include raw proof: screenshots, text messages, Slack messages. - Objection handling: identify common sales call pushbacks. - Address them directly in a conversational post format. - Execute the sales call before the prospect even books the call. Handle the objections before they bring it up. ##### Personal: Deepen the connection with the human element: - The Goal: make your audience remember you specifically, not just your generalized advice. - The Rule: You must earn the right to share personal content by providing extreme value first. - The Execution: Share real updates about your journey, behind-the-scenes struggles, or the core “why” driving your business. - The Warning: Avoid forced corporate parables, like what your dog taught you about B2B sales. ## 3-Part Infrastructure for Sustainable Execution 1. Source material. Don’t start from scratch. Upload meeting transcripts, standard operating procedures (SOPs), sales call recordings, email messages, videos, and blog posts. 2. This example uses Claude. I like NotebookLM. Claude is good for creative marketing messages and creating hooks. I have Google Workspace, which gives you a bevy of Gemini AI tools. Play with both and see which one you like better. I can show you how to use them in a customized 1:1 training session. 3. Put a calendar together. This is suggesting a tool called Kanban. Google Workspace also has a tool, as does Claude. Again, play with them and see which you like better. The idea is to organize everything so you have clear strategic and tactical plans. ### Reverse-engineer your writing process: 1. What’s the intent, like which of the 4 funnel stages is it for? 2. Write the body first. Get the framework, specific numbers, examples, etc. for the text part of the post. 3. Mine for the Hook. I picked up a Claude “Skill” to write post hooks. There is a special trick to the amount of text that shows in a post before the “… more” to reveal the rest. I will share this skill with you and show you how to use it if you book a training session with me. 4. Add a visual. Diagrams, infographics, eye-catching images, and videos. 5. Match the call-to-action (CTA) to the intent. Growth – ask a question. Conversion – link to lead magnet. ## Last but not least: the Ultimate Visibility Hack. **The GREAT TIP of the DAY! LinkedIn Articles! Posting is good; articles are GREAT!** 50-66% of all AI citations come from LinkedIn articles, NOT feed posts! 1. Take an original blog post. If you’re betting on Google SEO, good luck. You’ll have better luck repurposing it as a LinkedIn Article. It has a better chance of being picked up than a regular post or sharing a link. 2. How long? 500-2000 words. Original, structured, comprehensive. Make it as long as it needs to be to explain whatever it is you’re talking about. State the question. Answer the question. 3. It’s OK to duplicate content in 2 different platforms! Simply copy and paste the blogs into LinkedIn articles. Same content, 2 massive indexing pipelines. 4. The outcome: a 3-year head start on competitors who are ignoring the AI Search revolution. ## How to Write an Article on LinkedIn… From the home screen, click on “Write article”. If you copy and paste from your website, and the blog is well formatted, it will bring the formatting with it. In this case, it’s OK. Link keywords within the article to other articles on your website to help with SEO. You can write an article as your page or as yourself. That depends on which profile has more exposure potential. Write it as yourself if you have more followers than your business page — which is usually the case. However, remember that the AI bots grab from both. Thus, it wouldn’t hurt to publish it as yourself first, then in a couple of weeks, republish it as your business. ## Have you got your LinkedIn act together? There you have it. If you ***consistently*** and ***strategically*** post content on LinkedIn, your reputation as an expert in your field should be enhanced dramatically. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** LinkedIn, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AI bots, AI search, building a brand, content marketing, get cited by the AI bots, LinkedIn, seo, social media, social media marketing, Trust and Credibility, video --- ### [Top 12 Blogging Mistakes You Need to Fix Now!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/top-12-blogging-mistakes/) **Published:** May 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** **[Blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/)** is a crucial part of online marketing in today’s digital and AI-driven world. Even if you’re blogging regularly, at least a few times a month, you may not be getting the **results you want** or expected. Moreover, it’s challenging to find the time to write an article that’s at least 500 words. You can go longer if you need to explain something in depth. AI tools can help you save time. However, there are many details you need to remember. Therefore, the question is…are you making these blogging mistakes? When I’m asked to do [a free analysis](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA), I usually find the same mistakes on many people’s blog sites. First, let me tell you that you’re in a big boat with lots of folks who ***don’t know what they don’t know***. I’ve been doing digital marketing for over 30 years, and I’ve seen it all! Sadly, I’m still seeing rookie mistakes from people who should have done their research but didn’t. > **However, ignorance is no longer an excuse.** ## Here are the Top 12 Blogging Mistakes and Some Simple Fixes… With the evolution of [AI search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/ "AI Search"), your blogs need to be structured properly. ***Otherwise, the AI answer bots won’t cite your content.*** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)1. ****Using the free WordPress or other free**** blogging platforms. On any other platform, whether a free blogging site or social media, you’re just borrowing the space there. You don’t own it. To boot, you have to follow their rules, and they can change them at any time, and use your [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/content-marketing/ "Content Marketing") as they wish. I recommend having your own WordPress website. If you have a tight budget and you do want to start for free, go with [WordPress.com](https://WordPress.com). At least when you do want to migrate to your own WordPress site, your content can be exported easily. However, keep in mind that as your business grows, you will outgrow the free-to-a-point platforms. Moreover, know that you are limited to what you can do with it. 2. ****Using industry jargon.**** You’re the expert. Your reader is not. You don’t want your message to go right over their heads, right? Write for an 11-year-old. Use the [Flesch Reading Score](https://yoast.com/flesch-reading-ease-score). Several WordPress SEO plugins will test your posts for you. Obviously, if you work in a tech or medical industry, you are talking to peers. Thus, you talk in their language. 3. ****Not creating fresh, relevant content** **regularly.**** To be effective and grow a following or build an email list, you should ***[blog 2-3 times a week](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/)***. And, once you’ve built an audience, you can get away with blogging weekly, ***no less than that.*** 4. ****Not writing for the human reader.**** Write for your **[target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** with the search engine, the AI search bot, and subject matter keywords in mind. Use a thesaurus. Don’t overuse your keywords. 5. ****Forgetting to proofread before publishing.**** Check spelling and **grammar**. Moreover, Google notices! Furthermore, it is your online reputation! Preview the post, then read it aloud to yourself. Now with AI tools like Claude, you can upload your article and have the AI tool check it for you. Be careful if [you use AI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/ "10 Pros and Cons of Using AI for Writing Content to Save Time") to write it. You must add your own [NEEATT](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?")! 6. **Writing long paragraphs.** Break up your content with bullet points, lists, and H2 and H3 sub-headings. (This helps with AI-[SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/), too!) 7. ****Not sharing your content on social media.**** This is the main way to publicize your blog posts. Furthermore, it drives people to your site. Besides that, it helps with AISEO. Google loves those relevant backlinks. Besides that, the [AI Answer Engines](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH") like short, concise answers to questions. 8. ****No credible internal and external links.** A**dd internal links to related content on your site and external links to related, relevant content on someone else’s site. The keyword here is “relevant”. 9. ****Trying to be cute with your headline.**** Your headline should entice people to click on the link to get them to your website. Yet, creating “clickbait” is a no-no. Write a good headline, then deliver the content. 10. **Not adding the title of the post or keywords to image “alt text” descriptions.** If someone pins your picture on [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/ "The Pinterest Difference: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It!"), this is the description that comes up. Don’t make the user have to add their own description. On top of that, doing this also helps with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?"). The search engine picks up the file name and the “alt text” description. Also, don’t leave the file name with the original file number like from a camera. Call it what it is. 11. **Leaving default widgets like “archives”.** Widgets are the boxes you see in the sidebar with calls-to-action. No one is going to look for what you wrote on a specific day. They’re looking for [topics or categories](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-use-categories-tags-blog-posts/). If anything, put a widget with a drop-down menu of your categories. 12. ****Not having a “tag cloud” with the tags (keywords) that are relevant to your article.**** This is another way to keep people longer on your site. Additionally, keywords are what the search engine sees. Look over to the right sidebar, and you’ll see mine. >>>>> 13. ***Bonus!*** **Relying solely on AI for the content.** Obviously, AI can help you save time with research. HOWEVER, you MUST add your personal [expertise and experience ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/)to each article. That will help you rank on Google and get cited by the AI chatbots! ### In conclusion, [learning](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) how to properly and effectively blog on your website can only benefit you. ***Furthermore, stop thinking of blogging as a chore. Consider it as a way to talk to your target market, to educate your potential customers, and to provide value to their lives.*** #### Think these are a lot? [Check out all the other mistakes that I see people making online with their marketing.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/) Save Save Save [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Content Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, b2b content marketing, blogging, CBS 5 AZ segment on social media, content marketing, content marketing SEO, content marketing strategies, Content strategy, copywriting, Giselle Aguiar, search engine optimization, seo, web content marketing --- ### [5 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn't Working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/) **Published:** July 14, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** What’s your social media marketing strategy? Posting and posting and posting some more? Are you getting the results you want? Are you frustrated because your marketing efforts aren’t working? > ***Insanity – doing something over and over again expecting the same results.*** ## Is Your Social Media Marketing Yielding… - increased traffic to the [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/)? - better search engine results page (SERP) rankings ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/))? - increased sales? - increased [following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/)? - [brand](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) awareness? - whatever your [business goal](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) or objective is? - [conversions?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/) Infographic created with NotebookLM [Want to learn how to create cool infographics in less than 10 minutes](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!")## These are the top 10 Reasons why your Social Media isn’t Working: 1. **You didn’t set [SMART](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) goals or create **[strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-strategy-think-like-your-target-market/) and **[tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/)****s.** Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. That way, you’ll know when you’ve achieved them. Or if you did write up a plan, it was written years ago and is probably irrelevant now. A strategic plan is a living, breathing document that changes each month. The tactical plan outlines how you’re going to implement the strategic plan. This is like a to-do list of what you’re going to do when and for how long. 2. **You are trying to reach a [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) that’s too broad.** Defining a target market niche is crucial. You talk to men differently than you talk to women. The same thing applies to baby boomers or millennials. **Do your [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/).** If your target market is on LinkedIn, why are you spending so much time on Facebook? Maybe it’s the other way around. You have to know your target to know where they’re hanging out online. 3. **[All you are posting are sales pitches.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/)** It’s not all about you! You need to follow the 10-4-1 rule. Out of every 15 posts in any given network, 10 are other people’s content of interest to your target, 4 are your original blog posts or tips, and 1, only 1 is a direct sales post. ***Share, don’t sell!*** Furthermore, **you’re not [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) enough. Ideally, you should [blog 2-3](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) times a week. The more often you blog, the more traffic you’ll drive to your site if you’re sharing it on social media properly. Your [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/should-i-have-a-blog-on-my-website/) should also be set up** correctly as part of your business website. 4. **You’re not checking your [analytics and insights.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/)** These tell you invaluable information about your followers, what types of posts they like and engage with. They will also tell you if you’re reaching the right target. This is especially critical for local businesses. Having 1000 Twitter followers is grand, but useless if only 7% are in your geographic area and you’re a local retailer. 5. **You’re not devoting enough time.** If you’re starting from scratch with little or no following, it takes ***90 minutes a day*** of work over all the networks besides blogging 3x a week for 30 days to [grow a following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/). Moreover, once a following is built, then you can manage your social media in 30 minutes a day with the free online tools. Yes, it takes some ***sweat equity***, patience, and perseverance, but ***depending on your business, you should start seeing results in 2-3 months.*** ### **Related: [Why Your Marketing isn’t Working and How to Fix it](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/marketing-failing-fix/)** ## 5 Reasons Why Your Marketing is Failing and How to Fix the Problem… Obviously, most of these items are time-consuming. Especially if you’re not sure how to do it. You can learn how to do it yourself. [***I can teach you***](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/), or train a staff member. ### [If you’re not sure what you need, we can do a free 15-minute phone consultation and analysis of your social media efforts – click here to schedule! ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Managing Social Media, Marketing Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Social Networks **Tags:** analytics, AZ, AZ Social Media Wiz, blogging, content marketing, digital media, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, improving marketing results, LinkedIn, marketing, marketing mistakes, online marketing, planning, social media, social media classes, social media marketing, social media training, strategic marketing plan, tactical plan, training --- ### [How Effective Is Social Media for Generating Quality Leads?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-effective-is-social-media-for-generating-quality-leads/) **Published:** July 14, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** **Very. When done properly.** Social media can be very effective in generating quality leads. ***However***, it takes planning, preparation, posting, participation, persistence, patience, and perseverance. Yes, [the 9 Ps of Social Media Marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-business-success/)! [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/Marathon_Runners.jpg)A mistake that I see many companies make is trying to do it fast, off the cuff, or trying to take shortcuts. ***They don’t work!*** > ***It’s a marathon, not a sprint!*** ## In the question in the title, there are two major keywords: *Effective* and *Quality* This is what you want. If you attempt to take shortcuts or stop doing what you’re doing because you’re frustrated, it will cost you valuable time and money, and you won’t get the results you want. ## 10 Things You Need to Do to Generate Quality Leads: 1. **[Clearly define your target market(s).](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-importance-of-focusing-on-what-your-target-market-wants/)** Failure to do this will result in drawing visitors to your site who are not at all interested in what you have to offer. 2. **Research your target**. Where are they hanging out online? Which networks do they prefer? What is their buying journey for your product or service? You need to know all this before setting out to conquer the market. What questions are they asking? What would entice them to become quality leads for you? 3. ***[Research your competition!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/)*** What are they doing to generate quality leads? 4. Create [**Personas**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/) for each target market. Obviously, you can have more than one. Are you [B2B or B2C](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/b2b-vs-b2c-which-social-network-should-you-use/)? 5. Have a **good [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/)** that showcases what you can do for a potential client, has a clear call to action, and a way to ***capture the leads***. Without this, all the social media in the world won’t help you. The idea is to convert visitors into leads, then nurture those leads into sales. 6. Then, have some sort of [**marketing automation**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) drip campaign set up to convert the leads into sales. Clearly, this is because not everyone is ready to buy right away. 7. **Set [SMART goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/),** develop a **[strategic plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/)** for each network, and then create a **[tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/)** on how you’re going to implement the strategy. 8. **[Blog at least 2-3 times a week.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/)** It’s the fresh, relevant [**content**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) that Google is looking for. Blogging less often than once a week makes your website stagnant, and Google will ignore you. Moreover, I recommend [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) to schedule out content. 9. **Get Social Savvy!** Share the posts on social media as well as other people’s relevant [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/content-youre-creating-effective-just-noise/) of interest to your target market. You need to search for, follow, and connect with your target market. [**Build a following and relationships**.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) Subsequently, get to know them as they get to know you! 10. **Monitor and measure.** At the end of every month, you need to check your social [analytics and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") to see what’s working and what’s not working. If you continue to do what’s not working expecting different results, well, that’s the definition of insanity. Make sure you have [Google Analytics](https://analytics.google.com) installed on your website ***before you start***! As a result, it will be easy to track where your visitors are coming from and what they’re doing on your website. Furthermore, it’s free to use. ### What about [**ROI**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/)? When do I see the return on investment? #### It depends on… - [How much time](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/finding-the-time-to-manage-your-social-media/) you put into it if you’re doing it yourself. - How much money you invest if you’re [hiring someone ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/outsource-social-media-marketing/)to do it for you. - Your industry and how [competitive](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/) the field is. - [How creative and clever you are.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) - What’s important for you to measure? Sales? Growing a list? These are Key Performance Indicators ([KPIs](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/)). For some businesses, it may take a month; for others, 3-6 months, before you start seeing results. Don’t expect instant magic to happen. Again, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You’re in it for the long haul, yet social media may very well be the main way you get new business. It takes more time upfront to plan, create, build, and implement. As you get used to the platforms and get data on what’s working and what’s not working, it will take you less time to do what you need to do. ### Done right, it works. You’ll get those Quality Leads. Unfortunately, I see too many small business owners do something wrong because they don’t know what they don’t know. That’s where I can help you to learn, save time, and money with [1:1 customized training and coaching. Click here for more info. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Sav Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Lead Generation, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, B2B, B2C, business-to-business, business-to-consumer, define your target market, Generate Quality Leads, Giselle Aguiar, lead capturing, lead generation, marketing, marketing plan, online marketing, planning, social media, social media marketing, Strategic planning, Target market --- ### [B2B vs B2C Which Social Network Should You Use?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/b2b-vs-b2c-which-social-network-should-you-use/) **Published:** July 14, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Since each social network has a different audience, you need to consider the type of company you are to better reach your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/). Not taking time to determine this results in marketing that doesn’t work, time wasted, and frustration. ## Is your company more Business-to-Business (B2B) or Business-to-Consumer (B2C)? Sometimes it can overlap. Simply put, if you sell more to businesses rather than directly to the end consumer, then you’re B2B. If your target is the average consumer, then B2C. ## Here’s how the social networks breakdown when comes to B2B vs B2C: - **B2B / B2C** - Facebook: 40/60 - LinkedIn: 80/20 - Pinterest: 20/80 - YouTube: 50/50 - X (formerly Twitter): 50/50 - Instagram: 10/90 - TikTok: 0/100 In other words, if you’re B2B, [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/), along with Twitter (X) and [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), should be your primary networks, with [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) as secondary (for paid ads) and maybe [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/) if you have a lot of visuals, and for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). For **B2C**, your primary networks should be Facebook, [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/), YouTube, and Pinterest, with Twitter (X) and LinkedIn as secondary networks for credibility, exposure, and SEO. TikTok is a challenge, but you can’t beat it to reach a younger audience. ### **How to judge which social network is best for you**… [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)Social media marketing need not be overwhelming [I can help you get a grip on it](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!")For 1 month, post and share content equally in all of them. That includes doing a [video](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) on YouTube once a week. Then, at the end of the month, look at your website’s [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) to see which ones brought in the most traffic. You then need to adjust your [strategic and tactical plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) accordingly. ## What if I’m Both? If your target markets are both B2B & B2C, you need to decide what your breakdown is based on which brings in the majority of your income. What’s the percentage of B2B business to B2C? For example, I once spoke to a lady who had an insurance company. She told me that her B2C side was doing well and she wanted to focus on the commercial insurance side. I told her to spend more time on LinkedIn. That’s THE great professional network. She shouldn’t stop posting to Facebook and Instagram, but definitely focus on LinkedIn. Another client of mine opened a break room in Tempe near the university. When the students were on break, business slowed. He asked me how to get corporate team-building clients. I told him, “LinkedIn”. Pure and simple. Recently, I asked an accountant what the percentage of his business was B2B and B2C. He answered 80/20. Then I told him, you have to get your LinkedIn act together. Furthermore, focus on the networks where you’re getting the most engagement, where the [insights ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/)and demographics reflect your[ target market(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/), and where you’re building valuable relationships. Remember, some B2B connections may be excellent referral sources. Honestly, it **helps to have a [good, comprehensive, strategic plan based on industry and market research.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/)** ### Need help deciding which social media network to use? I can help. ### [Click here to schedule a FREE 15-minute virtual consult and analysis of your marketing efforts.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Social Media Networks **Tags:** B2B vs B2C, B2B vs B2C Which Social Network Should You Use?, digital media marketing, Facebook, Google, Internet, Internet Marketing, LinkedIn, marketing, Marketing and Advertising, online marketing, Pinterest, social media, social media marketing, Social network, Twitter, Which Social Network Should You Use?, YouTube --- ### [Social Media: How to Grow Your Following, Exposure, and Reach!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) **Published:** July 14, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** The best way to grow a social media following is still **organically**, not paid. You never want to buy followers. They are fake accounts, and the networks regularly purge fake and bot accounts. You also don’t want to spend valuable ad money to grow your following. Moreover, it’s a waste of money. Followers are finicky. The moment you post something they don’t like, they unfollow you. Nevertheless, [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/ "SOCIAL MEDIA: Where You Need To Be For AI EXPOSURE") has become a trusted source for AI answer bots to grab content. Therefore, it behooves you to strategically plan your social media marketing. ## How do you grow a social media following? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/followers.jpg)**First, you need to post quality, relevant content daily** that’s of interest to your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/DefineYourTargetMarketWorkbook.pdf "Define Your Target Market Workbook"). If you don’t post, there’s no reason for someone to follow you. Before you start posting, you need to ask yourself… - [Who is your target market?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/DefineYourTargetMarketWorkbook.pdf "Define Your Target Market Workbook") What interests them? Get a [Free Define Your Target Market Workbook here. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/DefineYourTargetMarketWorkbook.pdf "Define Your Target Market Workbook")Even if you’ve defined your target market before, their needs, problems, ***and pain points may have changed!*** - What type of content are you going to create? [Blogs](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/), [videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) ([YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) is owned by Google and helps get exposure), [podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/), or [graphics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/ "How to Use Visual Marketing to Boost Your Brand and Sales")? Now’s the time to try something different! - Who are your trusted sources of good, [quality, relevant content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) of interest to your target market? ## How to get People to Notice you on Social Media: ### X (formerly Twitter) On **X (formerly Twitter),** make sure to thank people for following you, re-posting (sharing) your posts, and mentioning you via a post, not with a direct message (DM). [Take advantage of what trends on X regularly.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) Incidentally, I write an article at the end of each month highlighting what’s going to be trending, like awareness and observance days. Search for this month’s through my search bar in the upper right. **Follow the people you’re targeting.** This works on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. They’ll get a notification when you start following them and they’ll decide if they want to follow you back or not based on what you’ve posted. Do a search for your topic’s hashtag and see who is posting using that hashtag. Keep posting helpful, quality content, and your followers will become advocates and share your content with their friends. ### Facebook If you’re B2B, on **[Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/),** you can follow a company’s page with your page. They’ll get a notification. For B2C, you can’t reach out to individuals without doing paid ads. You can invite your friends and family to like your page. However, keep in mind that not all of your friends may be interested in your product or service. For instance, my cousin in Vermont invited me to like her Real Estate page. It’s very unlikely that I’m going to be interested in buying a house in Vermont. **Facebook groups** are very popular. #### Should you start a Facebook Group? If you want to start a group, it helps to have a core number of people which will, in turn, invite other people. Don’t expect to start a group and it will fill with members automatically. [Did you know that Facebook offers workshops for Group managers?! ](https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-is-running-new-workshops-to-help-group-admins-manage-their-communi/576125/) You can use a tool like [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link) to automate and schedule sharing to your group on Facebook, as well as your Facebook business page. #### Join Existing Groups Se**arch for and find groups with…** - your target market - potential referral sources - industry peers Some Facebook groups allow you to join as your [business page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/can-your-facebook-page-initially-serve-as-your-website/ "Can your Facebook Page Initially Serve as your Website?"). Search for groups with a significant membership who are actively discussing your target market’s interest. For example, someone who is selling a new product for hunters should find some groups where hunters hang out. Share content there 2-3 times a week (and not just your stuff). Make sure you read the group’s rules and respect them. Share useful information — DON’T SELL! ### LinkedIn On **[LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/)**, users get notified when someone views their profile. But the best way to get noticed on LinkedIn is in **groups**. Use the same strategy as for Facebook. You join LinkedIn groups as yourself — not your business. Unfortunately, there’s no easy or automatic way to share to groups on LinkedIn or schedule posts. You have to go into one group at a time, copy the URL of the webpage you want to share, and paste it into the post box. [Read this article on LinkedIn to know which groups to join and how to maximize this tool. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) Pick 5 of the most populated and active groups in your topic, industry, or local area, and once a day, share something with each group. Make sure it’s relevant! Ti**me-saver tip:** Save the bookmark to the group’s page on your browser so you can return to it quickly. Also, don’t log out of LinkedIn. **Additionally, react and comment on other people’s posts.** They’ll notice you that way. ## How often Should I Blog? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/We-Can-Blog-It-e1440621842885.jpg)**Ideally, at first, especially if you’re brand new and Google doesn’t know you, DAILY, for at least 2 weeks.** Then **[2-3 times a week](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/)**. Once your **[analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/)** tells you that Google is the main source driving traffic to your website, then you can go down to once a week. **Share every blog post on your social networks.** Use [Dlvr.it](https://Dlvr.it) to automate posting to your social media accounts and your Google Business Page. This is a great time-saver, and it’s worth the upgrade. Tell stories and blog about what you know. [Showcase your expertise](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/). Write and comment on industry news. Post customer testimonials. Remember, you’re trying to help someone solve a problem or alleviate a pain point. [Here are some tips on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help you create your content. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)## Adjusting What Type of Content You Create 1. **Put your audience first.** That’s where that important research comes in. Be helpful. Be compassionate. Get on the social networks and see what people are posting. Follow your category hashtags and see what people are posting and who’s posting it. Connect with them. 2. **Do new keyword research, as well as FAQ research.** The list provided of keywords, phrases, and questions will give you ideas for future posts. 3. **Change the type of content you create.** If you’ve been blogging anything less than once a week, you need to increase it. People are looking online for content of all types. Moreover, try another format like videos, infographics, live streaming, and/or podcasting. 4. **Connect with other colleagues** and see what they’re doing. Check out your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/)! 5. **It’s not a total rebranding or new launch.** It’s a pivot, an adjustment of the type of [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/what-is-content-marketing/ "What is Content Marketing") that you’re producing. Rebranding is expensive and this it not the time to do it. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)### Here’s a tip to help with SEO: You need to manually share it on [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/) and your [Google Business Profile](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-tips-for-a-profitable-and-prosperous-2025/ "Local SEO Tips to BE SEEN and GET FOUND"). However, using [Dlvr.it](https://Dlvr.it), (free up to a point), you can automate the sharing to the social networks and Google. ### Here’s another tip that many people forget: Have both **social media share and follow buttons** on your website. Make it easy for people to follow you and make it easy for visitors to share your content with their friends. These are also legitimate links that Google notices for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/). ## How long does it take to grow a Social Media following? I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that it’ll happen overnight because it won’t. If starting from scratch, plan to ***spend at least 90 minutes a day for the first 30 days*** — and that’s just on social media, not blogging. Yes, it’s a little ***sweat equity.*** However, once you’ve got a following built, using the **free tools**, you can manage your social media marketing in 30 minutes a day. (And blog once a week.) ### What if I don’t spend this time up front? > **The longer you wait to build your following, the longer it’s going to take you to start seeing results.** ### How many is a good social media following? In 30 days, you should have: - X – 100 followers - Facebook – 100 likes - LinkedIn – 50 connections and 20 followers on your company page (invite your connections to follow your page) - Pinterest – 25 followers - Instagram – 100 followers - YouTube (if you’re planning on monetizing your channel) – 10,000 views On most of these, you need at least 100 followers to get decent insights and [**analytics** — data on who’s following you.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) However, depending on your industry and target audience it may not take you that long. I once grew a client’s Twitter following from zero to 100 in 2 weeks. It would usually take me 30 days. I [tapped into the right target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/startups-need-grand-opening-success/) by finding the right hashtag. ## Your Follower Count is a Vanity Metric Keep in mind that your social media follower count is a vanity metric. Yes, it looks good and is impressive if you have a lot of followers. Having a large following does not influence the AI answer bots one bit. It may help with your reach, but that doesn’t help with the AI bots either. Nonetheless, the better quality content you post to feed the AI chatbots, the faster your following will grow as a result. Furthermore, the more followers you have, the greater the chance that your excellent content will get shared. ## It’s so overwhelming! Where do I start? 1. **Clearly define your target market. [This free workbook will help](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)**. 2. **Do some research** and figure out what interests your target, where they hang out, and what **keywords** they’re most likely to use when searching for what you have to offer. 3. Create [target market personas](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/) based on your research. 4. **[Set Goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-social-media-marketing-goals-metrics/).** 5. **Develop a [strategy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/)** to reach those goals. 6. **Determine your [tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/)** to implement the strategy. 7. **Set up, brand and [**optimize**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/)** your social media profiles. 8. **Learn** how to properly and EFFECTIVELY use the tools. [**Here’s where my 1:1 training will come in. I can guide you through your social media accounts and help you maximize them.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) 9. **Just do it.** Implement, connect, build relationships, create, and curate content. 10. **Monitor and measure.** Check your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) every month to see what’s working and not working. Then, adjust your strategic and tactical plans accordingly. > ***If you build it they will come – NOT!*** ### [If you’re not sure which way to go or where to start, click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consult and analysis of your social media efforts.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Related: - [Startup Budgets for Digital Marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/) - [Which Network Should I Be On?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/) - [Are you making these Digital Marketing Mistakes?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, building a following on social media, content marketing strategies, Giselle Aguiar, how long does it take to build a following on social media, how to build a following on social media, social media, social media marketing, social media reach, social media strategies, Social Media Strategy, social networking --- ### [Social Media and Your Personal Online Brand](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-online-reputation/) **Published:** July 9, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Your online brand, image, or reputation can change from good to bad in seconds. > ***When was the last time you Googled yourself?*** > >  Some time ago, a gal who was looking for a job Googled her name, and a sad story of a little girl who was kidnapped in Europe came up. Same name, different person. She asked me, “What can I do about it?” Not easy. It’ll take a little work. If the kidnapping was not recent news, but she’s never been found, it’s still going to be in the search engine results. If there is an update to the news story, it would rank at the time it broke and as long as it was top news. ## **Be Proactive with Your “Brand”** **What she, and anyone, can do is be proactive.** Create good, personal profiles in all the social networks: [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/), [X/Twitter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-types-twitter-users/), [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/24-foolish-linkedin-mistakes/), [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/), [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/), etc. With what ***you want people to know about you.*** Keep it positive. Don’t brag too much. For a company, it would be business pages and profiles. (Related articles: [Keep Personal and Business Separate](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/); [LinkedIn Pages](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) **Do a short video** introduction of yourself, upload it to [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), then put the video transcript in the description — Google picks up the text, not the video content. **Start a [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/),** write a post at least once a week. Make sure you have a “byline” or author profile and an [“about” page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/). [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)> ***The more common your name, the harder it will be to keep your information on the top.*** I first started doing Internet marketing in 1995. When Google came around in 1998, and I googled my name, the only other “Giselle Aguiar” was a meteorologist in Brazil. Not anymore. There are several on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. ### **Make Sure that folks who are looking for you can find you.** All my life, people have misspelled my name. Some time ago, in the keyword tag on my personal website, I wrote every single misspelling of my name that I ever encountered. Do this, too, on your YouTube Channel. Also, put your school and university information on the networks so former classmates can find you. Especially on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/). > ***Bury the bad with the good.*** **Monitor your mentions (reputation) on the networks and Google yourself often. Moreover, you can’t remove bad information with your name in it, but you can replace it with positive information and push it down on the search results. Create a Google Alert for your and your company’s name and monitor anything written online. When you Google yourself, your LinkedIn profile should come up first if you don’t have a website. Make sure it’s up to date with a current picture, title, and job experience. Moreover, if you’re going to attend a business networking event, make sure your LinkedIn profile is current! I get frustrated when I meet someone** and have their business card in my hand, yet I can’t find them on LinkedIn because: - There’s no picture, so I’m unsure it’s them. - The company on LinkedIn doesn’t match the business card. - Their location is not where I am and where I just met them. Furthermore, just putting your country or “global” doesn’t work. - Their email addresses don’t match. - They don’t have a company profile page. - They don’t have their contact information completed. - The website link goes to a bad website or nowhere. ### **[What Does Your Online Brand or Image Say About You?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/)** Does it say… - Hey, I’ve got my act together! - I’m a work in progress. - I am totally clueless. The greatest #EpicFail is a technology company or a web marketing agency with a bad website, incomplete company profile pages, cut-off logos, no cover graphics, and they haven’t posted in years. > ***The “cobbler’s kid’s never has new shoes” excuse only goes so far.*** **First impressions, online branding, image, and reputation are the strongest elements in your marketing.** **Furthermore, it can make or break a sale. Bad social media can turn a potential customer over to your competitor.** You used to have 7 seconds to catch someone’s attention. Now, it’s only 2. If they can’t understand what it is you do or have to offer at first glance, they’re going elsewhere. 1. First, each business social media profile page is a **Free Billboard!** Take advantage of it. Use quality graphics and invest in a graphic designer if you’re not graphically inclined. Having an incomplete social profile is like having a sloppy lobby. Think of each network profile page as an extension of your [website. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) 2. Second, the “about” sections and bios **help potential customers find you** when they’re searching for your product or service. [Each network has its own internal search engine.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/) 3. Third, they are ways to **engage with your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)**, peers, and strategic partners. 4. Fourth, they help **establish you as an expert in your field** and help build [trust and credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/). If you don’t have the time to set up your social media profile pages correctly, [hire someone like me](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) to set it up for you! That’s what I do. **How much is your time worth?** You can’t keep putting it off. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, Google, online image, online marketing, online reputation, social media, social media marketing, social networks, Twitter --- ### [3 Elements of an Effective Website that Produces Results](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/) **Published:** July 9, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** What does an “**effective website**” or “results” mean to you? - **Would you like more visitors to your site?** That’s nice, but are they buying or [converting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/)? That is, doing what you want them to do? - **Increased conversions?** That’s when a visitor to your site buys something, books an appointment, or downloads a freebie to be added to your email list. - **More sales?** ## That’s it! The bottom line: more sales! [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/silver.jpg)Unfortunately, many small business owners only have a really nice online brochure that doesn’t come anywhere near being an ***effective website.*** And, guess what? **It’s not your fault.** It’s another case of not knowing what you don’t know. Usually, when a small business owner hires someone to build a website for them, they want the best price for what they *think* they need. You hired someone who told you that sure, they can build a WordPress website for you. Well, anyone can. That’s the beauty of WordPress. It’s fairly easy to construct a site. However, like when constructing a house, you need **3 critical things**: 1. The foundation and walls: bricks, wood, paint, etc., aka the **DESIGN**. 2. Functioning parts: plumbing, electrical, etc., aka the **DEVELOPMENT**. 3. All the insides: furniture, appliances, decorations, etc., aka the **[COPY](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)** or **[CONTENT](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/)**. Each of these components, like in building a house, requires **specific talents and skills** to build a livable house and an effective website. Sometimes you find the perfect contractor or company who has all of the talents and skills needed. But that’s rare, and it may be expensive. Let’s break each one down… ## A Website Designer A designer is a very creative person who can take your logo and color scheme and create a beautiful online brochure. Moreover, the designer might be a very talented graphic artist and make your site “easy on the eyes”, but [can they write](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)? Do they know the mechanics of creating effective **[calls-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)**, backing it up, creating a shopping cart, and securing it from hackers? Sure, you want to help out your relative who just graduated from design school, but in the end, you’re not going to have a site that **works for you**. For instance, a realtor contacted me and asked me if I could determine why their website wasn’t coming up at the top of Google search results. (Isn’t that everyone’s wish?) Well, the site was gorgeous. It was promoting a new condo in downtown Phoenix. There was **no blog** with fresh content touting the benefits and fun of living downtown. There was **[no way to capture leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/)**. Yes, they had a contact form to set up a tour, but it wasn’t compelling enough. **It lacked good copy and content.** ## A Website Developer [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/tips-to-choose-domain-name-1.jpg)**This is the real techie person.** They can figure out all the mechanical parts of the website. The developer will… - Build a secure shopping cart and add a payment gateway. - Install all the proper plugins to make it [secure](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/). - Back it up regularly. - Make it search engine- and now AI bot-optimized ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/), [AEO/GEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH")). - Make it easy to navigate: that’s part of the [User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/) - Be sure that it passes the Google [Core Web Vitals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/) test: especially if you have a lot of mobile users - Install all the widgets and plugins needed to **engage the visitor** (what makes a site function). - A developer may not have an eye for design, and they probably aren’t creative writers. They usually put up the information that you give them. **But is the [text copy effective?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)** I was asked to review a website, and in reading their “[about us](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page")” section, I ran into the phrase “grown slowly”. It stopped me cold. Slowly? That’s a **negative connotation**. That word doesn’t need to be there. Just having “grown” is sufficient. It implies logical growth, from a mom-and-pop outfit to a company with over 50 employees. Another site listed on their “about us” page the reasons why they chose the products they sell. **All text, no pictures.** A good designer would have added graphics or videos to make it more ***attractive***. ## The Website [Copywriter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/iStock_000011722723Small.jpg)Good marketing copy walks the visitor through a logical progression to exactly where you want them to go. **It’s compelling, enthralling, enchanting.** (Don’t laugh, it’s what you need!) As a result, it captures the visitor’s attention with eye-catching, curiosity-piquing headlines and subheadings. Therefore, it keeps the reader going with bullet points (people don’t like reading long sentences or paragraphs) and **bold** and *italics* for emphasis. ## So where does this leave you? In conclusion, if your website is **not effectively [drawing potential customers in](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/ "Lead Generation and Lead Capturing: What is the Role of the Website?")**, and then [converting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "What Is Your Conversion Rate? How to Improve It Now") them, it’s nothing more than a pretty online brochure. Don’t you think you should do something about it? [**You need to educate yourself on how it all works so that when you do hire someone to do it for you, you don’t get “taken”.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) Recently, I worked with a client who thought the company she hired to redesign her website was honest and above board. Little did she know that after she described her vision for HER website, the company went to several of her competitors and used the same, exact design! It was so obvious! That broke business ethics all the way around! ### *What about doing a website by yourself?* Obviously, if your budget is tight and you can’t afford to hire someone to do it for you, you can always attempt to [build it yourself](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/). However, there are a few things to consider… 1. **Your time** — You need time to [build it](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/), and if you’re not that familiar with the platform you’re using, ***it will take you longer***. Also, you need time to learn HOW to build it in your chosen platform. ***How much is your time worth?*** 2. [**How “free” is a free website?**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-free-is-a-free-website-is-it-a-good-place-to-start/) 3. **Which platform?** Sure, you can relatively easily create a website using a website builder or even the free websites that are out there, ***but is it going to do what you need it to do?*** Furthermore, you will probably outgrow it as your business grows and you require it to do more. **Read: [Why I prefer WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/)**. 4. **Did you miss something?** I’ve been working on WordPress for over 16 years. I know all the intricate parts of a well-functioning website. Did you forget to add your location to the title? Did you test it on all web browsers? Does the form work? Do you have the calls-to-action in the right places? Is it easy to navigate for someone unfamiliar with your business? And lots more questions. 5. **Troubleshooting**: Just like any technology, stuff breaks. Who’s going to determine where the problem is? Moreover, who’s going to fix it? [Not sure where to start or what you need? Please schedule a free 15-minute consult, and I’ll review your current marketing efforts.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Save Save ## Website Frequently Asked QuestionsSave ### What does an effective website really mean for my business, and how does it drive sales? An effective website isn’t just an online brochure; it draws potential customers in and converts them. The bottom line is more sales, which come from visitors taking desired actions such as buying, booking, or joining an email list. ### What are the three critical parts of building an effective website? Like building a house, a website needs design, development, and content. Design covers the look and feel, development handles the technical functionality, and content or copy persuades and guides visitors to take the right actions. ### What is the difference between a Website Designer, a Website Developer, and a Copywriter? A Website Designer focuses on visuals and layout to create an attractive online brochure, but may not handle copy or the mechanics of conversion. A Website Developer handles the technical parts like secure shopping carts, plugins, backups, and SEO readiness. A Copywriter creates compelling marketing copy that guides visitors through a logical path and prompts action. ### Why is good copy important for conversions? Good marketing copy walks visitors through a clear progression, uses eye-catching headlines, keeps reading with bullet points, and emphasizes key ideas with bold or italics. This makes the visitor curious and more likely to take the desired action. ### Should I build my website myself or hire someone, and what should I consider? If budget is tight, you might try building it yourself, but expect to spend a lot of time learning and troubleshooting. Consider whether a free or affordable platform will meet your needs now and as you grow, and whether you’ll outgrow it quickly. Hiring a professional who covers design, development, and copy can save time and reduce mistakes, especially to ensure it’s secure, SEO-ready, and conversion-focused. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Websites **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Business, Conversion rate, conversions, copy writer, copywriter, copywriting, creative services, Effective Website, Giselle Aguiar, Internet Marketing, marketing, online marketing, search engine optimization, seo, small business, Website, websites --- ### [Why I Prefer WordPress for Websites](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) **Published:** November 12, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** What is the best platform for websites? Here's why I prefer WordPress and have been using it for over 16 years. **Content:** Back in [1995, I discovered the World Wide Web](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-history-of-the-internet-1995-present/). As a graphic designer, I thought to myself, “I can do that!” Thus, I learned how to write HTML code and launched my business creating websites, Creative Eye Marketing, in Miami, FL. Back then, if someone who didn’t know code tried to edit their website, it was **very easy** for them to totally mess it up by accidentally deleting one little character. ## Now, anyone can build a website! With online services like Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, GoDaddy, and other easy-looking website builders, and of course WordPress.com, Google, and Microsoft, you can have a **free website** (or at least a very low-cost one)! > Wow! However, ***all these website builders are free (or cheap) to a point.*** As soon as you want to customize the look, get your own domain name, add extra pages, widgets (to do things like promoting events), plugins, SEO, and fancy stuff, you have to pay and pay and pay. Another problem is that you forego [search engine optimization](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)) for ease of use or cost. The test for all these platforms is [**Google Core Web Vitals.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/) Go ahead, test your website[ here](https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/). If you get below 70, you’re losing valuable SEO. Also, if your website was built BEFORE 2020, it is outdated, and you are probably losing rankings, and the [AI search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/ai-search-bots/) bots will ignore you. The FRESHER the content, the BETTER! It’s actually ***more cost-effective*** to get your own hosted website with WordPress installed. Hosting plans start at just a few dollars a month, and WordPress has tons of free, customizable templates (themes) and plugins to make yourself a really nice, [functional website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/). PLUS, ***you own it*!** ## The Benefits of WordPress for Websites - Very User Friendly. Sure, there is a [learning curve](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/), as with all software programs, but once you [learn it](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) — AND use it regularly — it’s like riding a bike! Eventually, it will take you less time to do what you need to do. - There are many webmasters, web designers, and developers who can build or fix a WordPress Site better than any other platform. ***(If you need one, I’ve got a guy!)*** - You can choose from thousands of free themes (templates) to customize your site. - There are thousands of free plugins to help you save time, add functionality, optimize your site for SEO, track your analytics, and sell anything. - Then, [I can teach you how to edit it yourself and how to blog on it.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) Furthermore, just like in any learning situation, it will take you more time up front as you’re learning, but with practice, you get quicker, and it will take you less time to do what you need to do. ## Build it Yourself or Outsource? You must judge how much your time is worth the cost and the qualitySure, you can build it yourself and save money, but [you will need someone to show you how to do it](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/). And there’s a lot to think about and set up. If you have the budget, and depending on your needs, you’re going to have to get both a designer and a developer. Obviously, the latter is for an ecommerce site or anything complicated. Keep in mind, the more cooks who have their hands inside your website, the more trouble you’re going to have. Find a good WordPress webmaster and stick with them. One person’s site that I tried to optimize had very old code that one of the many “cooks” used, and it was a nightmare to optimize for today’s search engine. I wasn’t hired to totally redo the site, just optimize it and do some minor edits. It was bad. If you’re not sure who to hire, [let’s book a Zoom Consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) and we can go over your needs. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### An Example For instance, a client of mine, not knowing any better, struggled with GoDaddy’s site builder to set up event booking, and it was a mess. Events weren’t selling and links weren’t working. With her new WordPress website, we used 3 different plugins to do what she needed them to do. - A calendar plugin for her live events. - An email add-on so she has a lead generator. - An online contact form that makes it easy for people to contact her with various questions on the different aspects of her business. Once completed, the site will yield a passive income for her and her event colleagues. Additionally, it will be a smooth and easy booking and purchase process for her potential students, clients, and customers. Naturally, that should increase conversions, which is the goal of any business with a website. I taught her how to add new events and update the site, and she’s doing great! Nevertheless, the more complicated and complex your website is, [the higher the cost](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/) will be. ### Managing Your WordPress Site Once it’s set up, it’s very easy to manage, edit, and [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) on a regular basis with a little [guidance](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/). However, you should have a [**monthly security service**](https://www.onsitewp.com/clients/aff.php?aff=19) (affiliate link) for when the site goes down or gets [hacked](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/). Yes, every website is subject to getting hacked — no matter how small the business is. Hackers use bots to crawl websites looking for vulnerabilities. Then, they install malware, and you’re really in trouble. **You need to judge *how much your time is worth*.** If you don’t want to spend the money to hire someone to build your website for you, then you need to learn how to do it yourself. That takes a lot of time. Furthermore, even if you are fairly tech-savvy, it still takes a lot of time. ## What about Maintenance? In 2015, my WordPress website got hacked twice. I built it myself and was managing it myself. After the second hack, I decided that I didn’t have time to build it again, and I needed someone who knew more than I did about security and backups. I’m glad I hired him. He has since semi-retired, and I now have [OnsiteWP](https://www.onsitewp.com/clients/aff.php?aff=19) (affiliate link) maintaining both my websites. When something goes wrong, I email them and they find the source of the problem and fix it. It’s insurance and peace of mind. Think of it like plumbing. Sure, you could probably fix the clogged drain yourself, but what if the problem is further down the line? At some point, after you’ve tried and tried on your own, you have to give up and call a plumber. Same thing with your website. Believe me, I’ve seen people totally screw up a WordPress website after [I’ve taught them](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/). Nevertheless, once you learn and blog often, you get used to the platform, it becomes easier to use, and it takes you less time to do what you need to do. ***You can master it!*** The other point is ***quality***. Naturally, you can get some kid to move your site, but all they’re going to do is copy and paste. They probably don’t know the intricacies of [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/), [copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/) to entice a conversion, or how to get the payment processing system to work right and securely. ***[See, it’s way more than just a pretty online brochure! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/)*** ## Migrating a WordPress Website [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)A few years ago, I moved a personal website from the free WordPress.com to a hosted one on [LightningBase.com](https://secure.lightningbase.com/aff.php?aff=485) (where I host this site and of which I am an affiliate). It’s a site where I have blogged daily since January 2020. It was HUGE! It was fairly easy to export the posts, pages, comments, and pictures from the free WordPress.com and import them into the hosted WordPress. As with all technology, there were some glitches. Technically, I outgrew the free WordPress.com after 6 months. Clearly, I shouldn’t have let it go for so long. I did have to rely on one of my former web guys — the semi-retired one, Kerry — for some assistance. The folks at [Lightning Base](https://secure.lightningbase.com/aff.php?aff=485)‘s customer and tech support were great. I described the problems I was having, and they showed Kerry the way to fix them. ### Migrating from another platform. Now, if you’re on another platform, like Wix or a site builder, and you want to migrate to a hosted WordPress website, there is no way to easily export your content. You’ll have to copy and paste all the content, pages, and posts from the old to the new and then format, optimize, and tweak them on the new site. That last part is important. Obviously, just because of the different structures and back-end coding, it will look and work differently. > ***Keep in mind that if you start with a site-builder, you’ll probably outgrow it in about 6 months as your business grows and you need more functionality.*** ### Related Content: - [**How Much Should a New Business Have in Its MARKETING BUDGET?**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/) - [**What Could Go Wrong When Building Your OWN WEBSITE?**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/) - [**Why You Need to Ensure Your WORDPRESS WEBSITE is SECURE**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/) ## WordPress FREE Plugins and Widgets! I love WordPress because of the **free plugins** that make it easy to optimize posts and pages for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/), add widgets to make it easy for people to follow you on social media, subscribe to your email list, and stay longer on your website—*which is what you want!* > ***The longer a visitor stays on your site, the better the chance that they’ll become a customer or at the very least, a follower.*** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)It really helps to [**Define Your Target Market**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) before you start all this, so here’s a free workbook to help you do that. [**Click here to download.** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) Like learning anything new, at the start, it will take you more time to blog. However, the more often you blog, the less time it will take you to do each one. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Internet Marketing, Websites, WordPress **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, blogging, CMS, Content management system, content marketing, digital marketing, DIY, do it yourself, Giselle Aguiar, HTML, Internet, Internet Marketing, Plug-in (computing), search engine optimization, seo, site builders, Website, website platforms, Wix, WordPress --- ### [What You Need to Know to Build a Website that Works](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/) **Published:** April 27, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** I was once asked, [“Could my Facebook business page serve as my website.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/can-your-facebook-page-initially-serve-as-your-website/) No. Your website is yours. Social media profiles should be your backup in case your site goes down. And it’s a way to drive people to your website. You have zero control over what happens on Facebook or the other social networks and they change their rules and features constantly. So, why do you need a website? This video goes into detail on everything you need to consider when planning your website. This will be helpful for startups as well as existing businesses that need to revamp their website. ## Essentials of Digital Marketing: Planning Your Website ## Why do I need a website? 1. [Credibility & Trustworthiness](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/): It shows that you’re legit, not just some fly-by-night, fake entity. 2. 1st Impression – [Branding](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/) – It’s your online image. You only get one chance to make a first impression! 3. [\#1 Sales Tool – lead generation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) – If it’s optimized and functioning properly, it’s your 24/7 sales person. 4. [Social Proof](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-proof/) – Having your reviews and testimonials there adds to the credibility and trustworthiness. 5. [Transparency](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) – Who’s behind the company? Your “About” should showcase your expertise, background, passions, as well as your core values and vision. 6. [Expertise, Experience, and Authority](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/ "What is the new “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?"): Are you the go-to person on this topic? Are you an expert in your field or industry? Here’s where you showcase your experience, which is something [AI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") can’t provide, but it can cite. 7. [Google can find you](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) – Having an optimized website that’s linked to your Google Business Profile is critical for good [Search Engine Optimization (SEO)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?"). 8. You own it, you control it. Facebook, and any of the social networks, can take down or suspend your profile or account if it doesn’t like something you posted. You have no control over that. The [social networks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/ "So many SOCIAL MEDIA Networks! Which are Best for Exposure?") are where you promote your website. ## What do you need to think about when creating a website? 1. What’s your purpose? Ecommerce? Lead generation? Promoting a service? 2. What do you want the visitor to do when they land? [You want to convert a visitor into a lead or a sale. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/ "How to Improve the User Experience on Your Website to Increase Conversions") 3. [How are you going to draw them there?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/ "SEO Best Practices to Increase Website Traffic") “If you build it, they will come” never worked for websites. 4. What type of content will be of interest to your [target](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/)? [Before you start doing anything, you have to clearly define your target market niche. You can have more than one target audience.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) ### [***Are you B2B or B2C or both?***](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/b2b-vs-b2c-which-social-network-should-you-use/) Consequently, you need to set **[SMART goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/)**. Then you need a [**strategic marketing plan**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) that outlines how you’re going to meet those goals and a [**tactical plan**.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) The latter is basically your to-do list. What you’re going to do, where, and for how long. ## What’s the User Experience (UX)? Take into consideration all the different ways a visitor can enter your website. Just as if they were entering a physical location. - There are several “entrances” to your website… - Home Page – usually from the search engines – your front door. PLEASE! [Don’t title your home page “Home Page”. That’s NOT the name of your business!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-tip-home-is-not-your-company-name/ "AISEO Title Tip: “Home” is not Your Company Name") - [Blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/ "What is a Blog and Why do I Need One for My Business to Succeed?") article – from social media or the search engines – a side door - [Landing page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/landing-page-effective-infographic/) – from search, ad, or promo post – another side door Incidentally, you have 7 seconds to catch a visitor’s attention and keep it. A goldfish has an attention span of 8 seconds. If your website — and social media profiles — don’t tell a visitor what you do in 7 seconds, you’ve lost them. ## Put yourself in your visitor’s shoes - User Interface (UI) – everything a user sees on your website [User Experience (UX)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/) – from discovery to finding what they need or want (or what you want them to do) Easy to navigate & Easy on the eyes Internal links – keep the visitor longer on your site. The more time they spend on it, the greater the chances they will do something. Internal search – helps them find more information/products on your site and stay longer. Good [branding](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) – should be consistent throughout your website and social media profiles. Entice the visitor to do something: - [Call-to-Action (CTA): lead generation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) Read/Learn more Follow on [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/ "So many SOCIAL MEDIA Networks! Which are Best for Exposure?") - Don’t make people think! Don’t make people work for what you want them to do! It’s all about the user! --- ## Think of Your Target Audience Build your website for the ***human reader***, with the ***search engine*** in mind. That’s [**SEO Copywriti**ng](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)! Your homepage content should be long enough to clarify who you are, what you do, where you’re located (if you’re local), your [value proposition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/), and what visitors should do next. These visitors should leave satisfied, not overwhelmed or underwhelmed — and absolutely not confused. Put yourself in your target’s shoes and think of the UI and UX. ## What are Other Website Considerations? - Domain Name – “street address” for at least 2 years - Hosting – “plot of land” – “rent” or “build your own.” - Website Platform – the “foundation.” Related: [Why I prefer WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/ "Why I Prefer WordPress for Websites"). - Content – “store” (products/services) and/or “magazine” (blog) - Mobile first – [Page Speed Test](https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/) - [Google Analytics](https://analytics.google.com) - [Security](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/ "Why You Need to Ensure Your WORDPRESS WEBSITE is SECURE") - https – SSL certificate at the hosting level - backups - firewall to block hackers - updates ## Related: [What could possibly go wrong when you attempt to build your own website?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/ "What Could Go Wrong When BUILDING YOUR OWN WEBSITE?") ### Hosting and Structure - Ecommerce: - Pre-built “mall” like [Shopify](https://shopify.pxf.io/eKD1mX), which is a good place to start - Self-hosted – like WordPress WooCommerce (best for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-tip-home-is-not-your-company-name/)) - Business: - Easy site builder, like GoDaddy, Weebly, Squarespace, or Wix – very limited, and most businesses grow out of it in 3-6 months. - Free [WordPress](https://wordpress.org) is very limited and free to a point. Moreover, you’ll soon outgrow it. Besides that, they charge you for upgrading, and it’ll come out more expensive. - Self-hosted (best for SEO) ## What Type of Website Should I Have? The Type of Website You Choose Depends on Your Budget. - No or minimal budget: - Freebie sites… - All the basics covered - Security - Backups - Limited to - Branding & customization - [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) – may be a paid add-on - Functionality: widgets & integrations – more costly add-ons - [Hosted “Managed” WordPress Website – you own everything](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) - 100% customizable - Lots of free “themes” (templates) to choose from - Lots of free plugins & integrations for functionality – including [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/) - When choosing a web host, look at their tech support and customer service reviews. ### [***Why I Prefer WordPress***](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) ## What do I need in the Backend for my website? - MUST HAVE - Backups - [Security](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/) – it’s not “if” you get hacked, it’s when - Updates – fix security issues and functionality - Themes – layout templates - Plugins & Widgets – add functionality - Conversion - Sales – payment processing - Shopping cart – eCommerce - [Email Marketing Automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) - [Analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) - [Optimized for the AI search bots.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-ai-evolution-in-digital-marketing-how-to-adapt-adopt-for-exposure/ "The AI Evolution in Digital Marketing: How to Adapt & Adopt for Exposure") Here’s where the right [COPYWRITING, as well as Schema Markup, makes](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/ "Effective SEO Copywriting is the Trick to More Reach on Google") the difference to have your content cited by the AI Answer Engines. ## Building Your Website — Front End - Home Page – Title – Name of Company – location if a brick-and-mortar – keywords - Pages: - [About the Company](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) - Services or Products - [Blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/should-i-have-a-blog-on-my-website/) - Contact Us - [Call-To-Action on all pages](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) - Internal search function - [Quality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) - [Search Engine Optimization (SEO)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) - [SEO Copy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/) - [Core Web Vitals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/) ## DIY or hire someone to build my website? Don’t go DIY! The problem is that you don’t know what you don’t know! Lately, I’ve seen well-meaning small business owners who have attempted to build their own websites only to miss crucial optimization techniques that they were not aware of. Some managed to create a lovely online brochure with no [functionality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/ "A Successful Company has a Website that is Useful"). Naturally, before you [hire someone](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/outsource-social-media-marketing/), get at least 3 quotes. Keep it local to your country. Ask people you know. Look at similar companies’ websites and see who built it. Don’t just hire someone because they are recommended by your hosting service. A web **designer** is just that — a designer. By the way, a web **developer** is the more techie person. Think of it this way: Do you want an interior decorator to rewire your house? That’s what happens when you just have a designer build a complicated website. Just as if you get several quotes for getting your house rewired, you need several quotes, as well as interviewing several website builders. If your website is just an online brochure with a CTA download, then you’re ok with just a designer. If you have your own ecommerce, membership site, or even a payment gateway, you need a developer. Related: [Budgeting for your website and marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/how-much-should-a-small-business-budget-for-marketing/ "how much should a small business budget for marketing") However, keep in mind that developers are computer people. They usually are not marketing people. If you don’t tell them how to create the best user experience, they don’t know. Many now use AI to create websites that sound like a computer. Remember, you’re targeting HUMANS first — your customers. The AI search bots come second. They are also not [copywriters](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/). They expect you to give them the text that’s to go on the page. Lay it out clearly so there’s no doubt. Don’t leave anything “up to them”. Don’t assume anything nor take anything for granted. ### [***What could happen if you try to build your own website?***](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/) ## Then there’s Maintenance Just like stuff breaks at home, stuff breaks online. There are a lot of entities involved even in the most simplest websites: the hosting service, the platform, the hackers trying to get in, compatibility of WP with the themes and plugins. Each theme and plugin has its own developers who have to keep up with the updates. ### Fixing Problems - Where’s the problem? - Who’s responsible? - Hosting - Backend - Plugins - Theme - Who’s going to fix it? ### ***How Much is YOUR Time Worth?*** You might want to outsource your website design, development, and/or content creation if you have the budget. Research your options to make sure you get someone who will create content that will enhance your company’s brand image. How much is your time worth? How big is the learning curve for you to master this? I can help you determine which is the best way for your business. [**Let’s start with a FREE 15-minute con**sult.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Website Design, Website Functionality, Websites **Tags:** digital marketing, lead generation, online marketing, planning, search engine optimization, seo, seo copywriting, websites --- ### [How to Measure Your Social Media Marketing SUCCESS ROI or KPI?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/) **Published:** September 24, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/)**How do you measure your** marketing success (or failures)? How do you know if your marketing efforts are working? What’s nice about today’s digital marketing is that we have access to a lot of data for free. **Monthly**, you must track your marketing efforts and **review your data**. Don’t get nervous. You don’t need a degree in calculus or statistics to understand [analytics and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/). I’ll explain everything step-by-step. ## ROI vs KPI ### What is ROI? **ROI means Return on Investment.** Traditional marketers are familiar with this term. You place an ad in the newspaper with a coupon. You track how many customers used it and how much sales income it brought in. If the ad cost $100 and it brought in $500 worth of sales, your ROI is $400. That’s simple math. However, with today’s social media marketing, ROI is more difficult to determine. Besides the monetary investment, you have the **investment of time and skill**s, yours or a staff member’s, to create social media posts, graphics, strategies, videos, etc. Then, you don’t know how many people saw the post and later will remember your brand and search for it. If you ask them how they heard about you, they’ll reply, “Online,” or “I searched”. They won’t remember exactly where they saw it. But it helped with brand recognition. ***How much is that worth?*** ### How Does Social Media Help? Believe it or not, social media helps drive traffic to your website as well as with **[SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)**. How do you know **which network is performing better for you?** Or, for that matter, which posts did better than others? Then, when they got to the website, did they [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/)—download a freebie, contact you, or buy something? If not, where did they go? What was your conversion rate? That’s the number of conversions divided by the number of visitors. ROI is easier to measure if you do paid digital advertising, which is like old-fashioned advertising, but it’s online. You can lead a potential customer to a sale by tracking how many clicks the ad got, and on the website, the advertiser will give you a “key”, a strip of code, to add to your website that will track people from the ad. Conversely, if you do ***organic marketing—nonpaid advertising—you have to work with your own goals and metrics, which* are KPIs**. ## What are KPIs? **KPI stand for Key Performance Indicators**. These are anything that matters to you and your business. - **Sales**: Obviously, that’s the bottom line. - **Unique visitors**: How many people visited your site, not counting multiple or subsequent visits? - **New visitors vs returning:** New folks are great, but returning visitors are better. - **[Conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/)**: A visitor downloaded a freebie in return for leaving their name and email address. If you had 100 visitors and 10 downloaded the offer, you have a 10% conversion rate. Average conversion rates are 2-4+%, depending on the industry. [Get more details here](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/). That means you need to **attract A LOT of traffic** and have a **great offer** of interest to your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/). **The role of the website is to convert a visitor into a lead or a sale.** - **Page views**: How many pages did each visitor view while they were on your site? Likewise, how many visitors viewed a specific page? For instance, if you’re doing a special promotion, either paid or organic, you want to see how many people visited the page and compare it to how many took advantage of the promotion. - **Time spent**: How long did they stay on the site? The longer people stay, the better the chances of them doing something. - **Click-through Rate:** This measures how many people click on a link from the search engine. If you had 100 impressions, and 10 clicked on a link on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP), you have a 10% click-through rate. Here’s where your [title and meta tags ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/)make a difference. You find this data in the [Google Search Console. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gather-helpful-data-from-google-search-console/) ## Ways to Keep Track of Your Marketing Efforts – Website Visitors - **[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/analytics/)Set up [Google Analytics](https://analytics.google.com/) (GA)**: GA is a powerful tool and can give you very deep analytics when set up properly. But it needs to be set up and the code added to **each page of your website**. - On a [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) site, there are free plugins like Google Site Kit. - On sites like e-commerce or other platforms, they should have a place where you can add the GA code in the setup or easily connect it. - **GA won’t track anything if the code is not on your pages.** - **Tracking codes**: These are measured with UTM links. Google offers a **[free tool](https://ga-dev-tools.appspot.com/campaign-url-builder/)** to track where a visitor came from. It requires Google Analytics. Use consistently in your promotional posts on social media and your email marketing campaigns. - **Capture leads and grow your email list with intriguing** [**calls**–**t**o-action (CTA)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/): The job of good, [quality content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) is to attract visitors. The job of a good CTA is to ***convert the visitor into a lead***. And these leads are warm, if not hot. They’re interested. - First, your intake form should get some more information than just a name and email. You can ask them 2 or 3 questions to segment your list. For instance, a business offering parenting classes will want to know the ages of the children to promote the classes. You’re not going to promote a class for teens to parents of toddlers. That’s a sure way to get people to unsubscribe from your list quickly. - Once they download your offer, in 2 days, **based on their answers** to the questions, send them an email with a video or a link to a pertinent blog article on your site. If they watch the video or go to the link, then they get another email in a day with a special offer. If they don’t click on anything, then send them a different email with another video or a relevant article. This is **[Marketing Automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/)**, and all this is tracked by the marketing email platform. There are several where you can start for free. ## How to Measure Your Marketing Success with Social Media Insights and Analytics Each social media network has insights or analytics – it’s the same thing, depending on the network’s use of the metrics terms. Even if you’re not doing paid advertising on the networks, these tools are available for **free**. On X (formerly Twitter), only pro accounts have access to analytics. - **Follower demographics and statistics**: ***Once you have 100 followers***, the networks will provide user stats like age, gender, likes, geographic area, etc. It’s important that the demographics of your followers match your target market. If you’re a local business, serving a [local area](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/), and only 7% of your 1000 followers are local, that’s not enough. Sure, it will help with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) and brand recognition for future travel, but is someone in London regularly going to visit your shop? - **Reach**: This can mean different things on different networks. Basically, it’s how many people viewed your post. That means they were logged in, and your post passed in their newsfeed. Good reach helps with brand recognition. - **Engagement** – this is important. ***The more an audience engages with your posts, the more visibility the networks will give you.*** Did they… - Like or react - Share or retweet - Comment - Click on a link - Watch the video – the whole thing or just a few seconds? - [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81): For just $29/m, you can schedule out social posts & they have a great reporting system. You can track engagement, the best time to post, the most popular posts, and more! ## What About Page Likes and Followers? Obviously, the more followers you have on the social media networks, the better. ***Likes are a vanity metric*.** Don’t waste money advertising for likes. You want [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/), that is, clicks to the website. That’s a better promotion. ## What to do with all this Information… Don’t get caught up in all the data. ***Even in this AI world, it’s people first.*** You’re doing all this to **build relationships** that build [*trust and credibility*](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/). Furthermore, the data will tell you what’s working and [not working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/). **First, set [SMART goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/what-are-smart-goals/) for what you want to accomplish in the next 30 days.** Go one month at a time. It’s easier to digest. Moreover, it helps you to be flexible and pivot quickly depending on economic and industry trends. ### Review and Analyze the Data [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/)Then, at the end of the month (beginning of the next), review your analytics and insights. 1. **How many people visited your website?** If you didn’t have Google Analytics set up before, you don’t have anything to compare it to, and that’s true for a [brand-new website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-new-website/). Is the number substantial? Are you happy with it? No? Then you need to [blog more](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/) and [post more on social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/). Make sure ALL your pages are optimized. 2. **How long did they stay, and how many pages did they view?** Obviously, as you put more content on your site, visitors will stay longer. 3. **How did the UTM codes do?** Which promotions garnered the most clicks? Repeat the ones that worked. 4. **How many shares did your posts get?** This gives you social amplification or helps increase your reach. A follower has to really like your post to share it with their friends and followers. 5. **What types of posts did better?** Videos, links, or graphics? 6. **How many new followers did you get?** [Here are some ways to grow your following.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) 7. **Which social networks drove the most traffic to your site?** In your analytics, the search engines are usually first. It may take a while for Google to notice you, so keep blogging several times a week. Next in line will be the social networks. **Focus your time and efforts on the ones that brought you the most traffic.** 8. **Which blog articles were the most popular?** Write more like those. This also gives you an idea of what people are asking and searching for. You then take all this information and use it to **adjust your [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) and [tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) marketing plans for the next month.** Then you repeat. Finally, d**on’t freak out if one metric is down!** It’s just one metric. You have to look at ALL your marketing efforts — especially your website traffic and conversion rates. ## When you have Marketing Failures rather than Marketing Success ### Problem 1: No traffic to your website. If not enough people went to your website, this could mean that your message is wrong or that it’s reaching the wrong audience. In other words, you don’t know your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/). Consequently, you’re not showing them how you can help them with their problems or ***pain points***. ### Problem 2: No [Conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-website-mistakes-need-fix-2017/) You are getting people to your website, but they are not converting. This could be that your… - The [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) isn’t clear or enticing enough. - [Website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/) content isn’t selling your product or service. Or you have a bad [UX and UI.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/) - You’re not attracting the right [target](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-importance-of-focusing-on-what-your-target-market-wants/) for your product or service, or there’s no interest. In conclusion, successful marketing involves creativity as well as [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) to really know your target, your industry’s market, and how best to reach the target(s). If you try and fail, then you need to analyze where you’re going wrong. If it’s working, keep at it! It’s a marathon, not a sprint! If you stop marketing, people will think you fell off the face of the earth! ### This Webinar Video goes into more detail on what if your marketing efforts don’t work… --- ## [Free Analysis of Your Marketing Efforts!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) I can review your current efforts and give you tips on what you need to do to have digital marketing success. Even if you’re just starting out, we can have a short brainstorming session, and I can give you some direction. ***[Click here to schedule](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA).*** [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google Analytics, Marketing **Tags:** advertising, analytics, AZ Social Media Wiz, digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, digital marketing tool, digital media marketing, Giselle Aguiar, Internet Marketing, KPI, marketing, Marketing and Advertising, marketing success, metrics, online marketing, ROI, social media insights, social media marketing --- ### [How to Gather Helpful Data from Google Search Console](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gather-helpful-data-from-google-search-console/) **Published:** January 15, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** The Google Search Console, part of Google Analytics, gives you valuable data on your website’s ranking in the Search Results Pages (SERPs). SERPs are where searchers see the results of their search queries. Google strives to provide the freshest, most accurate, helpful, and relevant content that matches the searcher’s request. Here’s what you need to look for in the Google Search Console. However, before you can retrieve any data, your website must have Google Analytics set up. [Google Analytics](https://analytics.google.com) is free to use and easy to add to your website no matter what platform it’s on. If you have a [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) website, I recommend 2 free plugins: [Google Site Kit](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-site-kit/) and [Yoast SEO](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-seo/). If you need help setting these up, we can do a [1:1 training session](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) and I can walk you through the setup. Understand, that it is crucial that you have [Google Analytics and that you check it monthly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/). ## Top Google Search Console Metrics - **Organic Impressions**: This tells you how often you came up in organic (non-paid) searches. - **Organic Clicks:** This shows how many searchers clicked on the link to visit your website. - **Click-Through Rate (CTR):** This is the number of clicks divided by the number of impressions, shown as a percentage. - **Organic Average Position:** This shows where you came up in Google Search. The smaller the number, the higher your page ranked. - **Top Performing Pages:** This gives you a list of your top-ranking pages and blog posts on your website. ## Example Search Console Report This is a report I pulled for a client, [Ripple Training](https://www.rippletraining.com/). They offer tutorials for video editing software Final Cut Pro, Davinci Resolve, and Motion. Therefore, they want to rank for the software name and “tutorials”, “course,” or “training”. I started in their Google Search Console, but I wanted to sort their results in Google Sheets to better analyze them. ## What This Report Tells Me Naturally, if someone knows the name of your company and Googles that, you should come up first and have a high click-through rate (as shown by the highlighted row). But look at the top one “Davinci Resolve training” — 1758 impressions and only 15 clicks! Wow! ***That means they lost 1743 potential customers!*** And their position was #5! Who doesn’t want to be in the top 5?! Their problem was in their Meta Descriptions. The page for “Davinci Resolve training” didn’t have one. So, Google pulled the first paragraph on the page. It didn’t say anything that would tell an interested searcher that they had “Davinci Resolve training”. It’s the same thing for some of the other search queries. Given that, my job was to compose Meta Descriptions and page text to improve their click-through rates based on [keyword research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/keyword-research/). Hopefully, with the improvements, their business will skyrocket. Additionally, if I take these top keywords and phrases and use them as a basis for keyword research, the Google Keyword Research Tool will give me more relevant keywords. That list would give the client ideas on what to write about. Nothing like writing about what people are searching for! ## What are the Average ***Organic*** Click-Through Rates for Industries? This chart from [CXL](https://cxl.com/guides/click-through-rate/benchmarks/) is a guide to what click-through rate you should strive for depending on your industry. Source [CXL](https://cxl.com/guides/click-through-rate/benchmarks/) as of 2022Evidently, my client needs to shoot for a solid 6% click-through rate for educational sites. Note, too, that most of these industries are highly competitive, which means you need to research your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/) and see who’s ranking above you in the SERPs. Using this data, you can improve not just your click-through rate, but ultimately, your [***conversion rate***](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/). You can’t get people to convert if they don’t first click through to your website! Remember, [the role of the ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/)website then is to convert a visitor into a lead or a sale. ## Other Valuable Insights A new feature from the Google Site Kit plugin is “groups”. It analyzes your visitors. Why? This revelation came up under my results… > *The higher the portion of new visitors you have, the more your audience is growing. Looking at what content brings them to your site may give you insights on how to reach even more people.* > > Google Site Kit Plugin Site Kit analysis for AZSocialMediaWizcomIn the last 28 days, the New Visitor count was significantly higher than the returning visitor count. Their data tells me a lot. ## Top Performing Pages Then, I have the Most Popular Pages Report. Getting a quick view in the Google Site Plugin saves time. If I want to dig deeper, I can go to the Search Console itself. What this tells me is that I need to do a new video on how to market on X (formerly Twitter), as well as Facebook! I imagine that this increase in interest is due to the recent political news. I’ll leave it at that. This goes to show that what’s going on in the world, no matter how unrelated you think it is, can affect your website’s SERP performance. ### *Have you checked your Google Analytics lately?* [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)The Wiz Marketing Detective can find where youre losing potential customers [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google Analytics, SEO **Tags:** content marketing SEO, Google, Google Search Console, search engine optimization, Search engine results page, seo, SERPs, websites --- ### [Blogging 3x a Week Increases Website Traffic: Here's Proof](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) **Published:** July 6, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** Blogging helps get you noticed as an expert in your field. The more often you blog, the more traffic you drive to your website. **Content:** Blogging only once a week is not enough! You’re probably thinking, [“I don’t have time!” Well, that’s another article.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/finding-the-time-to-manage-your-social-media/) Nevertheless, your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) will tell you that the ***frequency of publishing blogs directly affects how many people visit your website!*** ## **Here’s Proof that Blogging 3 Times a Week Really Works.**.. One of my first clients was a gentleman who had a website encouraging trade between the U.S. and Africa. The objective was to attract visitors to eventually sell advertising. Time-wise, I was able to write just one article per week. However, it was taking me hours to research articles like a reporter, and then compose a decent, thought-provoking blog post. That was way too much time. I decided to try a different strategy: embedding videos. I searched [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/video-marketing/youtube/ "YouTube") and found newsworthy videos, then embedded them in a post. Furthermore, I wrote a summary of the video’s content, including keywords. Wow! It took me **20 minutes** to do what used to take me at least 2 hours! So, I started posting these videos **3 times a week.** At the end of the month, when I reviewed the monthly stats to present to the client, I was surprised at the results. There was a remarkable increase in page views! Page views went from about 450 in May to over 1000 in June! Proof that blogging 3x a week is crucial. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/USAfricaGatewayStats-e1450202479260.png)The more you blog the more traffic you drive to your websiteThen it built momentum! We managed to keep it at around 1500 page views a month! Each blog post was shared on [Twitter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) (Now X), [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/ "The NEW Challenges of Marketing on FACEBOOK & How to Overcome Them"), and [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) to help promote it. Their Twitter following also grew as the blog frequency increased. ## Blogging Helps with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) and [AEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH")! > ***If you have a brand new website or have not blogged for a while, Google probably doesn’t know about you. What do you do?*** **Blog, blog, and blog some more!** To get [Google](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) and the AI answer bots to notice you, publish articles 3-5 times a week for 2 weeks. Then go down to 3 a week for the rest of the month. Look at your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) and your [Google Search Console](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gather-helpful-data-from-google-search-console/ "How to Gather Helpful Data from Google Search Console") report. Has your traffic increased? Are visitors staying longer on your site because there’s more to read? Furthermore, share every blog post on your social media and pin them to [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/). This becomes your [content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) strategy. ### But I’m not a good writer! Some people are better talkers than they are writers. In that case, do videos or podcasts and embed them in your blog. Write a script, and that can be the text of your blog. Google doesn’t see the video. It just indexes descriptive text and links. That’s why you must have some text in the article, an introduction, then a summary with relevant keywords in a bulleted list. Today, you also have Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help you do research and compose articles. Even though AI is a great time-saver, there are some precautions. Related: [10 Pros and Cons of Using AI for Writing Content to Save Time](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/). #### It also helps to… - [Clearly define your target audience. Download this FREE workbook!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) - Research them to learn how best to reach them. [I can show you how to do this easily with the AI tools!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") - Plan out your [strategy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/), then your [tactics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/). ## ***Do you need help blogging?*** [We can talk! I can blog for you as a reporter, or you write, and I edit and post. WordPress websites only!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) [Click here to book a free 15-minute virtual consult.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Content Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, blogging, blogs, Business, content marketing, digital marketing, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, how often should I blog, how to blog, increase page views, Internet Marketing, keywords, marketing, online marketing, search engine optimization, seo, social media, social media marketing, social media training, website conversions, websites, YouTube --- ### [How & What Should I Post on Social Media to Get Results?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-what-should-i-post-in-social-media/) **Published:** July 6, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** You've done your research. You've determined who your target market is and which social networks they use most often. Now you need to get your social media strategy going. **Content:** You’ve done your [rese](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/)arch. You’ve determined who your target market is and which social media networks they use most often. Obviously, you want results, right? You want [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/). Those could be ecommerce sales, leads, or calls. Naturally, it’s whatever objectives you determine are your key performance indicators ([KPIs](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/)). Next, you need to get your social media [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) [strategy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) going. ## First, it’s not all About You or Your Company! **It’s about what you can do for your client or potential client.** Besides that, Google and the AI Answer Engines like it when you share ***helpful content***. Your target audience is thinking, “What’s in it for me?” when they come upon your social media profile and posts. What’s more, it’s about providing **valuable information**, educating, helping, solving problems, alleviating pain points, and **answering questions** they may ask before they ask them. > ***In other words, SHARE don’t SELL!*** ### **A good strategy is this:** - Share at least 5-10 posts to X (formerly Twitter) **each day**. Information moves so quickly on X that posts spaced during the day won’t overwhelm your audience. - 5-10 posts to Facebook a week. [Facebook is still very challenging.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) - 5-10 posts to [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) a week. Post to LinkedIn groups 3 times a week. Don’t overburden the group members with your content. Respect their rules. Each group is different. Be sure you read their rules before you start participating. This also applies to groups on Facebook, Reddit, and other community forums. - If you’re a local brick-and-mortar location, don’t forget your [Google Business Profile (GBP](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/))! Even though it’s not a social network, it’s crucial for [SEO.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) Above all, do not treat your GBP like a social network. Post business-related items only. - 5-10 posts on Instagram a week: graphics, pictures, and videos with 5 relevant [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/). - At least 1 5-15-minute video posted to [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/ "How to Get Results & Reap the Benefits of YouTube Video Marketing") every 1 to 2 weeks, with more frequent posting of 1-3-minute Shorts. Of course, be flexible. If you find you’re getting more action from one network over another, then you can adjust your posting and focus more time on those networks. [That’s where your analytics and insights come in.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) ## Don’t be Overwhelmed! Moreover, there is a bevy of tools like [Dlvr.it](https://Dlvr.it), [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link), and [Feedly](https://feedly.com) (my favs) to help you save time, schedule, and automate most of your social media sharing. Note that these tools are free to a point, or they have a free trial. Check them out and decide which one you need and is easy for you to use. Besides that, you can use the free AI tools to help you come up with ideas, hooks, and even a full marketing plan. [I can help you learn how to use them.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") They are easy and help save time AND money! However, keep this in mind: you can automate a lot of your content, ***but you still have to be social***! That’s the ***social*** part of ***social*** media! It’s still about building relationships along with [credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/ "Building Trust & Credibility in a World of Fake News") and authority. Furthermore, if you need help putting together your [social media marketing strategy,](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) getting your [social media profiles ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/)set up, [building your following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/), or just [learning](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/) how to use the tools properly, [click here to schedule a free 15-minute Zoom consult.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Content Marketing, Facebook, LinkedIn, Social Media Marketing, X (Formerly Twitter) **Tags:** 10-4-1 rule for social media posting, AZ Social Media Wiz, Best practice, content marketing, digital marketing, digital media, digital media marketing, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, how often should I post to social media, How often should I tweet, Internet Marketing, LinkedIn, marketing, marketing strategy, online marketing, posting, posting to social media, posts, social media, social media marketing, social media marketing strategy, social media posting, social networking, social networks, Tweeting, Twitter, What should I post on Facebook --- ### [The New 4Ps of Marketing: Using Persuasion to Win with AI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-4ps-of-marketing-using-persuasion-win-ai/) **Published:** June 25, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Back in the day of pre-Google marketing, marketing students learned the “4 Ps”: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. The Internet and Google Search changed that. Search engine optimization ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?")) became about [ranking](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-rank-on-google-and-get-the-results-you-want/ "How to RANK on GOOGLE and Get the Results You Want") and showing up on the first page of [Google](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") when someone searched for what you had to offer. That became the new “Place”. A woman shops at a kiosk selling newspapers and snacks in Azerbaijan I couldnt find any American newsstandsInitially, the “Yellow Pages”, printed directory books, went online. It used to be, “If you’re not in the Yellow Pages, you don’t exist.” Then it became, “If you’re not online, you don’t exist.” It later expanded to, “If you’re not on social media, you don’t exist.” Now it’s, ***“If you don’t get cited in the AI Answer Engines, you don’t exist.”*** The AI Answer Agents have shifted marketing from search back to ***persuasion***. Marketers, whether in self-storage facilities, in commercial real estate, investment firms, or suppliers, need to get back to basics. I’m talking about going back to the Mad Men era of advertising and marketing — the age of ***persuasion.*** In the 1950s and 60s, “Mad Men” referred to the advertising agencies of Madison Avenue in New York City. In those days, they grew brands via ***persuasion***, positioning, and earning trust. We only had a few TV channels, print newspapers, magazines, and radio stations. If you wanted exposure, you had to buy it or have such an outstanding product or service that it got free publicity (PR). ## **The Art of Persuasion** in Marketing ChatGPT is one of the AI search tools that uses the art of persuasionAdvertising, back in the day, was about *influencing the choice someone makes before they’ve even consciously made it*.[1](#3f1bc15d-53be-49a8-b8f1-e2593b04c94f) I’m sure you’ve noticed when using an AI Answer Tool like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity, that it will ***nudge*** you to dig further into your query. **It wants to keep helping you.** For instance, if you search for a travel destination, it may ask you, “Would you like me to compare hotels in that city?” or “Would you like me to create a travel itinerary for you?” or “Would you like me to find the best airline deals?” Most people take advantage of the offer and write, “sure” or “yes, thank you!” AI is anticipating your next logical move. According to a Search Engine Land article,[2](#180494ad-22c2-44eb-b2b7-e19c9b137e4b) 45% of mentions are ***budget- or deal-related***. Those are what consumers want to see the most. The next biggest recommendation is ***product comparisons***. For example, “Would you like me to compare ABC Hotel to XYZ Hotel?” This suggestion would be based on the competition at the given location. The results would initially come from [Google Reviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In"), [Reddit](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-ai-evolution-in-digital-marketing-how-to-adapt-adopt-for-exposure/ "The AI Evolution in Digital Marketing: How to Adapt & Adopt for Exposure"), and [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/ "The NEW Challenges of Marketing on FACEBOOK & How to Overcome Them") recommendations. Other considerations are awards and listicles, like being included in “the best of \[city\]”. ## **Think Buyer Intent** People aren’t just searching anymore; they’re ***asking***. They describe their pain point or problem. Then, AI gives them an answer. Ultimately, it takes them to the next level of their buying journey. You need to clearly understand your target market and their buying expedition and strategically organize your content to meet their needs. ### **Here’s how you need to structure your content for each stage of their journey…** 1\. **Awareness:** Buyers at this stage are looking for a solution to their problem. They have a question and need an answer, and are seeking a provider to help. For local businesses, here’s where your location-based content will come in, as well as your branding efforts. Additionally, those Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/ "What You Need to Know to Build a Website that Works") help both local, national, and global entities. 2\. **Familiarity:** At this point, the buyer knows the general solution to their problem, but there is still ***uncertainty***. Here’s where the ***comparisons*** come in. The potential customer will want to compare one business, service, or product to another by **reading reviews**. If it’s a high-ticket item, major purchase, or service, they’ll look at the credibility of the company, employees, and the owners. You get the idea. They’ll study the “[About Pages](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page")” to see who’s behind the company. They may check social media profiles for topical authority and [credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/ "Building Trust & Credibility in a World of Fake News"). They want to become more ***familiar*** with you to give them the ***assurance*** they need to go to the next step. 3\. **Consideration:** By this stage, potential customers are contemplating their options. They are almost ready to buy, but they need a little more ***persuasion***. They’ll watch explainer videos on YouTube, download white papers, and compare deals, amenities, and benefits. They’re looking for ***social proof*** on sites like Reddit. They want to be convinced. 4\. **Purchase:** At this stage, the consumer is ready to buy. Make it easy, convenient, and smooth for them to do so. Have those calls-to-action (CTAs) everywhere on your website and social platforms. Don’t make them hunt for what you want them to do! A bad User Experience (UX) on a website will cost you sales! Put those CTAs at the end of every blog and social media post, Reel, and YouTube video. You’ve got their attention; tell them what to do next. 5\. **Experience:** Here’s where customer service comes in. Whether they’re moving into a storage unit, making an appointment, or ordering products, a good experience will result in a **loyal, satisfied customer**. A great customer experience is central to your marketing success. 6\. **Loyalty:** Finally, encourage happy-camper customers, at the post-purchase stage, to write a [review](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In"), recommend you to their friends and colleagues, and/or become a returning customer. ## **The New “4Ps” of Marketing** ### **Product (or service), Positioning (place), Price (deals), and Proof.** - **Product/Service:** Clearly promoting what you have to offer hasn’t changed a bit. You still only have a few seconds to catch a potential customer’s attention. And naturally, first impressions matter. Are your current processes optimized for conversions? - **Positioning:** Here’s where you can get strategic by understanding your target, your perfect customer, and their buying experience. Prioritize the comparison part of the familiarity stage. How do you stand up next to your closest competitors? Create product/service (A vs. B) comparisons to help people decide which unit they need or which financial investor to work with. - **Price:** Everyone is looking for a deal. Everyone wants to save money. *Pricing and discounts are the No. 1 driver of AI nudges (48% of all triggers). Maintain structured, real-time deal data to ensure your site is the preferred destination for AI commerce referrals.*[2](#180494ad-22c2-44eb-b2b7-e19c9b137e4b) - **Proof:** Lastly, take advantage of any “support” or “customer service” gaps that your competitor may not be covering. Focus on the post-purchase troubleshooting, support, how-to assistance, etc. Encourage reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Put links to your profiles on receipt/thank you emails to make it easy for your customer to leave you a review. Check out my article in the September 2025 MSM on the power of reviews. Besides that, studies show that people still want to interact with ***a live person.*** AI only goes so far. People want to deal with people. Sure, there will be those who will do their whole transaction online. However, the majority still want that personal touch. ## **Where the Buyer’s Journey Fails** Unfortunately, sometimes hot or even warm [leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/ "Lead Generation and Lead Capturing: What is the Role of the Website?") fall through the cracks in our systems. Here are some things to look out for… - **Bad websites.** Websites that are not set up correctly will block the AI and Google search bots from accessing, indexing, and citing the content. Similarly, a glitchy [User Experience (UX)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/ "How to Improve the User Experience on Your Website to Increase Conversions") or User Interface (UI) will cost your sales. Likewise, a [slow-loading site](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/ "Are Google Core Web Vitals Still Important?") or one that doesn’t render properly on a mobile device scares away not only the AI bot, but the potential customer. They’ll go elsewhere. - **Missed calls.** Nothing is more frustrating than calling a business and getting voicemail or, worse yet, no response. - **Slow responses.** People want fast responses. Even if you have to automate replies to emails or website inquiries, make sure to personalize them and be honest with the follow-up time. - **Difficulty purchasing:** Have you ever stopped in the middle of filling out a form because it was just too long? Streamline your onboarding, purchasing, and/or booking process. In other words, reducing friction and increasing speed equals ***Conversions***! AI evolution is not going away. Success means adapting and adopting. If you need help, don’t hesitate to visit my website and book a free consultation. Have you tried using the AI tools to plan and market your business? Or are you still overwhelmed by all this techie stuff? That’s where I can help. [Let’s start with a FREE consult, and we can brainstorm. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Or, maybe you’re ready to learn. I offer 1:1, customized training sessions so you can learn how to use these time-saving (and money-saving) tools. [Click here for more information.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)## Marketing Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the new “4Ps” of marketing, and how do they apply to today’s AI-driven landscape? The new “4Ps” are Product (or service), Positioning (place), Price (deals), and Proof. They remain central: clearly promote what you offer, understand your target and how you stand next to competitors, offer compelling pricing, and showcase proof through customer service, reviews, and post‑purchase support. ### How does buyer intent influence marketing content strategy in an AI era? Buyers aren’t just searching; they are asking and describing their pain points. Your content should align with their buying journey by meeting their needs at each stage, using awareness, familiarity, consideration, purchase, experience, and loyalty to structure information and CTAs. ### How should marketing content be structured for each stage of the buyer’s journey? Awareness: provide a solution, location-based content, and FAQs. Familiarity: offer comparisons, reviews, and credibility signals. Consideration: present social proof, demos, and deal comparisons. Purchase: place clear calls to action and ensure a smooth UX. Experience: emphasize strong customer service. Loyalty: encourage reviews and referrals. ### What are common gaps that cause leads to fall through the cracks, and how can they be fixed? Common gaps include poorly designed websites that block AI and bots, missed calls, slow responses, and cumbersome purchase processes. Fix them by ensuring fast, personalized follow‑ups, improving UX/UI, speeding up the buying process, and providing easy, accessible paths to complete purchases. ### What role do persuasion and live interaction play alongside AI tools? AI nudges users toward deeper questions or comparisons, but people still want live interaction. The best marketing combines AI nudges with human touch and strong post‑purchase support to build trust, credibility, and ongoing loyalty. #### Sources: 1. [↩︎](#3f1bc15d-53be-49a8-b8f1-e2593b04c94f-link) 2. [↩︎](#180494ad-22c2-44eb-b2b7-e19c9b137e4b-link) 3. [↩︎](#180494ad-22c2-44eb-b2b7-e19c9b137e4b-link) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** AEO, ai evolution, ai seo, content marketing, Marketing Basics, online marketing, search engine optimization, seo, social media marketing --- ### [What You Need to Know about Creating BUYER PERSONAS](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)What is a Buyer Persona? It’s making up a description of what your perfect customer looks like — detailing their demographics. You can have more than one target market. Some businesses are B2B (business-to-business) or B2C (business-to-consumer) or a combination of both. Here are some examples of target markets or buyer personas to give you an idea of how to create yours. But first, you need to download the **[Free Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** (if you haven’t already). I asked a Realtor once, “Who’s your target market?” She replied, “Anyone who wants to buy or sell a house.” “Too broad,” I responded. “Hispanics,” she replied. “Still too broad, get more specific,” I said. “Young Hispanic professionals, with families, who want to buy a house in the West Valley.” “Now we have a target market!” ## Why do we want to get so specific in identifying buyer personas? **It’s easier to create specific content to market to them, knowing their likes and dislikes.** When selling a house, you’re not just selling a building, but you’re selling the community, the city, and the neighborhood. A savvy Realtor who wants to reach young Hispanic professionals will have a blog highlighting everything from restaurants to schools to parks and recreation. Moreover, they will focus on their culture and what the West Valley has to offer. (The Realtor was in Avondale, AZ). ### Here’s a Sample Buyer Persona from an Infographic by ConnextDigital.com Get the idea? ### Here are some buyer personas from some of my clients… #### For Revive Family, which offers online parenting classes: [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)**Determined Dan:** 38, a stay-at-home dad with 3 kids, ages 3, 8, and 12. Besides his Mr. Mom role, he has a home-based business. His wife is a corporate lawyer with a demanding schedule. He was laid off in 2008 and decided to stay home with the kids. Dan is determined to raise healthy kids and manage his business at the same time. He doesn’t know it, but the 12 y/o is sneaking around, taking advantage of times when dad is busy with the younger kids and work. Reach him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. **Overwhelmed Olive and Oscar:** Both in their 60s, they are raising their 2 grandchildren because their daughter is in prison. The grandkids are 8 and 10. They are afraid that they’ll make the same mistakes they made with the daughter. They find so much content online, they don’t know which advice to follow. Nothing makes sense. They are struggling financially. Oscar would like to retire, but can’t. Olive has to work part-time while the kids are in school. Reach them on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest **Both of them are in crisis and are seeking answers and help online.** Now, just taking into consideration ***their ages***, you talk to someone over 40 differently than how you talk to someone under 40. The 38-year-old dad is more likely to be searching on a mobile device, and the grandparents on a desktop computer. As for which social networks to reach them on, for the Dad, the grandparents, [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/), and [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/). [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) for both. #### Buyer Personas For Simply Smashing Rage Room, “a safe place to lose control.” They have rooms they rent out where you can go in and break stuff. When I asked who his target market was, he responded, “Anyone with stress, anger, or frustrations.” Just about anybody. However, he’s both B2C and B2B as he offers “team building”. So his buyer personas varied, and we had to describe them all because there had to be a **different strategy for each one**. **Irritated Iris**: Single Mom of 3 kids aged 8, 12, and 14. She’s worked her way up to a district manager position for a large, national retail chain. Has the added pressure of meeting sales goals for each store, as well as hiring and firing managers. She recently relocated with her family to Chandler from California. Kids are not responding well to the new environment. Reach her via Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. **Concerned Karen**: A 35-year-old Jr. High Teacher, worried about her students and the lack of materials. She deals daily with unruly kids. Though she wants to help them, they don’t want to learn or be helped. She is married with 2 kids of her own, aged 6 and 10. The best places to reach her are Facebook and Pinterest. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)**Frantic Frank**: A 55-year-old Corporate Executive is stressed about meeting sales quotas. The stressed-out salespeople that he manages aren’t producing like they once did. He’s looking for a “team building” activity that will also help reduce stress. He’s married, but his wife’s father just moved in with them. The wife has her own business but is working less because she’s taking care of her father. Reach him via [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) and [X](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/11-easy-ways-grow-twitter-followers-get-noticed/) (formerly Twitter). Reach her via Pinterest and Facebook. #### See what a difference adding details makes? > ***If you try to just post radomly with no rhyme or reason, you’ll be trying to reach everyone and catching no one.*** Today’s inbound marketing doesn’t work like old-fashioned broadcast or outbound marketing. > ***Therefore, the more specific you are in how you talk to your target, the better your marketing efforts will work.*** ### What about the other people? Don’t worry, they’ll find you. If you’re putting out **[content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/)** regularly, **[blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-often-should-you-blog/)**, and posting on [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/), then someone who doesn’t fall into your target persona will find you. That’s where your [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?") comes in. Once you’ve identified your buyer personas, you need to do some [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) on them. The new AI tools can help with this. [I can show you how!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") > ***Now all this takes some time and sweat equity, but if you don’t do it FIRST, you’ll be wasting time, money and effort and not getting the results you should be getting.*** **[Market research and strategic and tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/)** planning are [services](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) that I provide. **[Let’s start with a free 15-minute phone consult! Click here to schedule.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Marketing Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Target Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, buyer personas, content marketing, define your target market, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, marketing, marketing strategy, social media marketing, Target audience, target market personas --- ### [When Outsourcing - Keep it Local](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/when-outsourcing-keep-it-local/) **Published:** April 17, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Sure, you want to save money, but outsourcing outside of the U.S. may cost you big time in the long run! What am I talking about? ## Outsourcing your website, graphics, blog, and/or social media design/implementation services. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/when-outsourcing-keep-it-local/laptop-compter/)**It starts with your marketing budget.** It’s tight, but you know you have to have an online presence with a website and social media. You also need a logo, banners, and cover graphics. This can run between a few hundred and several thousand dollars, depending on your needs. Getting someone outside the U.S. may be tempting, especially when sites like Fiverr offer work for just $5, but you may get someone from anywhere, like the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, or Bangladesh. Here are the pitfalls that you may encounter – and I’ve had several clients with these problems, and ***it cost them a lot to get them corrected!*** 1. **English is not their first language.** You do not want bad grammar or spelling errors on your website! 2. **They don’t understand American culture or social media.** Remember – it’s ***your image!*** 3. They don’t know Google’s proper **Search Engine Optimization (SEO)** protocols – you ***do*** want to get found, right? 4. **Customer service is a nightmare** with the time zone differences. Plus, it’s hard to understand them over the phone. 5. **If there is a problem, you have very little, if any, recourse.** You cannot contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) because they don’t have a U.S. address! 6. If they’re blogging for you, there is no way they can **know your business like *you* know your business.** Moreover, how do you know the content they’re providing is unique to you and not mass-produced? [Read this about creating content with AI!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/) ## Keep it Local! 1. **Get a professional.** Don’t count on a relative to do it for you – it’ll never get done! 2. **Get at least 3 quotes.** Compare apples to apples. 3. **Do your research!** A knowledgeable consumer has a better chance of not getting “taken” by unscrupulous service providers. There are businesses out there that prey on those who don’t know what they don’t know. 4. If you get an **intern**, make sure they’re from a reputable school. 5. **Get references.** Ask to see samples of their work. Even students have had to do assignments for school. 6. Ask someone you **trust** for a referral. 7. **Google them** and see if there are any adverse reviews. 8. **Check the BBB.** Have they had any complaints? Were they resolved? 9. **Look at their social media.** How often do they post? How many followers do they have? ### Keeping it local will also help your local economy. Organizations like **[Local First Arizona](http://localfirstaz.com/ "Local First Arizona")** encourage doing business with local businesses, large and small. Check their online directory. ### If you don’t feel you’re getting good service from that foreign “service provider”, ***[get a free analysis of your website and social media efforts and a 15-minute phone consultation. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA "Contact")*** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## Related: - Don’t Take Shortcuts! - [What Could Go Wrong when Building Your Own Website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/ "What Could Go Wrong When BUILDING YOUR OWN WEBSITE?") - [Marketing Not Working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/ "10 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn’t Working") #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Fivver, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Google Search, graphic design, inbound marketing, Local First Arizona, marketing, online marketing, Outsourcing, Philippines, seo, service providers, social media, social media marketing, social networking, web design, websites --- ### [Q&A: Do I Have to Follow Back Everyone Who Follows Me on Social Media?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/follow-back-everyone-social-media/) **Published:** June 4, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** A small business owner once asked me, “Should I **follow back** everyone who follows me on social media?” It depends. Let me explain. ## Each Social Media Network is Different… They each have their own culture. What’s fine to do in one may be a no-no in another. Here’s a rundown of the following best practices. ### [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/can-your-facebook-page-initially-serve-as-your-website/) On Facebook, a business page can’t follow a person. Additionally, you cannot use a personal account primarily to promote a business. A page can thank a person for liking their page — especially if they’re trying to get the first 100 likes. You get added features at that benchmark. Like, [insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") on who your followers are. Furthermore, it is crucial for a business, especially a local brick-and-mortar, to have a Facebook business set up correctly with its address so people can check in. Recently, I wanted to check into a local restaurant and discovered this very mistake. Not knowing any better, she had set up a personal profile for the business. I gently corrected her. Personally, you can follow someone without being connected to them. Likewise, you can stop following someone and still be connected to them. For instance, I don’t care for the things a cousin posts, but I still want to be connected to her. ### [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) On **[LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/),** you connect with people who would be potential clients and/or referral sources, and you don’t have to accept every invitation to connect. If by chance you connect with someone and they become a pest — by messaging or emailing you too much — you can very easily disconnect them. They won’t get a notification. I usually connect with people who can become a referral source, potential clients, or colleagues. If they are not in the U.S., I ignore the invitation. Also, look to see who you have as a mutual connection. If it’s a close friend or colleague, then go ahead and connect with them. Similar to Facebook, you can follow someone without being connected to them. By the way, LinkedIn is a PROFESSIONAL network. Please refrain from posting personal posts. It’s a place to become known as an expert in your field. ### X (formerly Twitter) X is the only network with a culture where people expect to be thanked for following you, retweeting – sharing a post with their followers — or mentioning – aka a “shout out”. You don’t have to follow everyone back. Here’s how you can judge who to follow or who to ignore on X… Are they in your industry or a related industry? Look to see how many posts they’ve made and how many followers they have. Are they sharing content that’s valuable to you or your target market? You also want to follow influencers and newsmakers *in your industry* — the folks with a lot of followers and who are actively posting. Don’t waste time following influencers who Look at when they joined Twitter/X and when they last tweeted. They could be a newbie. If you like what they’re posting, by all means, follow them back. Basically, everyone starts as a newbie, following a lot of people to get noticed. Then, as you share good, quality content, you become a relationship builder with more or less an even follower-to-following ratio. And that’s the idea — you want to build relationships. #### Related: [5 Types of X Users – Which one are you?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-types-twitter-users/) You eventually become a news-maker. OK, you might not get to the millions of followers like Forbes has, but you’ll have more followers than you are following. At this point, you can be choosier as to who you follow back. Beware of the fake accounts. They usually are a blank head icon — they haven’t uploaded a picture or logo; they may have many followers, but a couple of tweets. You can just ignore these folks. There are also the ones that want to sell you something. You don’t need to thank these either or follow them back, unless you may be interested in what they’re selling. You may encounter information gatherers. These folks follow a lot of people, but they don’t tweet much, and they don’t have nearly as many followers as the number of people they are following. Basically, if they’re not posting regularly, they’re not worth following. This brings me to the point that, if you’re not posting regularly, you’re not worth following, either! ### [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) What about Instagram? Well, the same thing applies. Do you like what they’re posting? If so, then follow them back. On Instagram, you can only like or comment on a picture or a story that someone shared. On both X and Instagram, you can always easily unfollow someone if you don’t like what they’re posting. Hey, and if you have a burning social media, SEO, or content marketing question, please schedule [a free 15-minute Zoom Consult.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Save Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing **Tags:** Facebook, Follow Back, Giselle Aguiar, Instagram, Q&A, social marketing, social media, Social Media Following, social media marketing, social networking, Twitter --- ### [How to Take Advantage of What's Trending on X/Twitter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) **Published:** June 23, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Yeah, some people may “hate Twitter (X)”, but it is still a great tool to get exposure, as well as valuable [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). People hate X because they don’t ***understand*** it. X is like a never-ending news ticker. It’s what’s happening right now in real time. At any given moment on X, one can see what’s trending – what thousands of people are tweeting about. Yes, it’s gotten very political lately, but there are non-political people still on and using it. ## **What is Trending?** A word or phrase is “trending” when a lot of people are posting that word or phrase on **X.** You can also see what’s trending on [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/) — that’s the top search terms people are searching for at any given time. ### **What Trends?** Sometimes, it’s really silly, and you can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out ***why*** something is trending. Usually, it’s a celebrity, breaking news item, event, holiday, sporting event, awareness day/week/month, disaster, weather, traffic, an opinion, etc. It could be a [hashtag](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) or just a name or phrase. (**Related: [What is a Hashtag](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/)**) You can plan for holidays and awareness days by checking [Calendar-at-a-Glance](http://nationaldaycalendar.com/calendar-at-a-glance/) to see what’s coming up.\* ## **So how do you ride on a trend’s coattails?** Easy. Think of how your product, service, or business can tie in with the trend. That is, spin your marketing message to go with the trend. Be creative and clever. Basically, once you know your target market and what interests them, you can plan to what’s going to be trending as well as take advantage of what trends every week. ### You’ll see hashtags like these trending every day: - \#MondayMotivation, #MondayThoughts - \#TuesdayMotivation, #TuesdayThoughts & #TacoTuesday - \#WednesdayWisdom, #WednesdayMotivation - \#ThursdayThoughts - \#FridayFeeling - \#SaturdayMorning - \#SundayMorning ### Who Starts These? Hard to say. As you look at the world, Australia is waking up first. Someone there starts #MondayMotivation, going with an inspirational picture and quote, and then it takes off from there. As the world starts waking up and people log on to X to see what’s going on, more people contribute to the trend. By the time Arizona is waking up, the East Coast has been tweeting for a couple of hours, and that gives us a variety to choose from. At night, however, you’ll see TV Shows and sports trending. Sports usually dominate the weekends. If your target market is interested in these or if you can spin your marketing message to somehow seem relevant to the trending phrase, it will work. The sporting events can represent: winning, power, teamwork, speed, agility, skill, training, etc. Additionally, you can view trends by geographic area. Sometimes someone starts a hashtag that has nothing to do with anything, like: - \#MyVisionForTheFutureIs - \#SignsOfASpoiledChild - \#WhatILearnedToday **Notice that the first letter of each word is capitalized.** ***[Hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) are not case-sensitive,*** but it’s easier for humans to read it with capitalization. They only use letters and numbers. When you enter a space or symbol, it ends the hashtag. Think of how you can spin a marketing message for your company with either of those hashtags. You can create your own. [Here’s some more info on hashtags.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) ## **Remember, it’s** Trending **in Real Time** Depending on the trend, it’s usually in real-time. That means it’s happening now, and if you miss it, you missed it. You don’t want to be “Johnny-come-lately”. ***What’s really important is to see WHY something is trending before you take advantage of it.*** Click on it and read some of the posts. If a phrase or word is trending because of a tragedy, the best thing to do is offer support and compassion. You don’t want to offend anyone. > *Trending hashtags are a great way to make your tweets seen by more people, increase your engagement and reach and ultimately grow your community. You do however need to know when it’s not worth using certain hashtags because the reality is, no one cares about your product when the rest of the tweet makes them think about the disaster that is occurring, they will just think of you as insensitive.* > > ~SocialBro Blog Once, when I was teaching a Twitter class a few years ago, “Glendale” was trending. I clicked on it to see which Glendale, and it turned out to be a shooting at a Glendale, AZ high school. As it turned out, there was a gal in my class who was the manager of a restaurant in Glendale, and I told her, for instance, that now was not the time to take advantage of a trend. She agreed. ### Caution! A word of caution, also, when taking advantage of a celebrity’s misfortune, it may also look insensitive to make fun of them. It doesn’t always have to be a hashtag. It could be a name or phrase. Over 1000 people need to be tweeting about something before it’s considered a trend. If you are a local business, you can change the trends in your city. Similarly, be careful with divisive topics. Obviously, you don’t want to alienate one side or another. ***Stay neutral!*** ### Observance and Awareness Days Having said that, an example is **\#NationalSmileDay**. That’s an observance day. Just like awareness days, though sometimes silly, they do sometimes give you a nice gift that you can ride on its coattails. #### At the end of each month, I check these sites to see what’s going to be trending besides holidays and seasonal topics. - [https://nationaldaycalendar.com/calendar-at-a-glance/](http://nationaldaycalendar.com/calendar-at-a-glance/) - - l \***I publish a monthly guide of what’s going to be trending each month.** Look for it toward the end of the month. Use it to plan and schedule posts ahead of time to take advantage of the trends. These will also help with [content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/). For example, a few years ago, I was working with a Scuba dive shop. November 11 is Veterans Day. The day before is the birthday of the U.S. Marines. I did an article on the history of the Marines and the Navy, and when they started using Scuba divers. I wrote it a few days before and set it to publish on Nov. 10, in the morning. That day, “Happy Birthday Marines” was trending. I re-posted it later in the day while it was still trending. **Social Media can be a *very powerful marketing tool* when used properly.** I can help you get set up, branded, and optimized for search. Then we’ll put a [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) and [tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) together to guide you in your efforts. Then we can have [1:1 training/coaching sessions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) so I can show you how to use scheduling and automation tools to **effectively market your business.** Best of all, I can show you how you can manage your social media marketing in just 30 minutes a day! ## [Schedule a free 15-minute phone consult right now!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, X (Formerly Twitter) **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, how to trend on X, social media marketing, take advantage of what's trending, trending on X, Twitter, using hashtags on X, what's trending, what's trending on Twitter, X trending --- ### [What Is Your Conversion Rate? How to Improve It Now](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/) **Published:** June 23, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** What is a conversion rate? Let’s start by defining a ***conversion***. It’s different for each business. Basically, it’s what you want a visitor, a potential customer, to do when they land on your website. It could be: - [Ecommerce](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-ecommerce/) sales - [Lead generation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/): joining and growing an email list via an enticing offer or free download — ebook, whitepaper, or video. - A click to call or book an appointment - Fill out a contact form - Start a free trial > *A “conversion” isn’t just about making a sale — it involves any essential action a visitor takes on your website, turning them from a casual browser into a lead or customer.* > > [Invespcro.com](https://www.invespcro.com/cro/conversion-rate-by-industry/) A conversion can start with a paid ad on social media, a search engine, or another website. Additionally, they can start with an organic social media post or search engine result page ([SERP](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/)). ## What is a Conversion Rate? The conversion rate is calculated by dividing the number of conversions, clicks, downloads, leads, sales, etc., by the number of visitors to your website x 100%. In other words, if you had 100 visits to your website in a week and you had 10 people convert, your conversion rate is 10%. That’s great! However, take a look at the overall conversion rate benchmarks across several industries in this table with data from [Ruler](https://www.ruleranalytics.com/blog/insight/conversion-rate-by-industry/). **Industry****Average Conversion Rate**Automotive7.9%Beauty & Cosmetic3.5%Construction & Engineering4.9%Education6.3%Finance6.3%Health & Social Care2.3%Legal7.9%Marketing & Advertising6.2%Professional Services6.1%Real Estate2.8%Retail & eCommerce2.4%Software7.6%Travel1.9%> Based on the conversions we’ve analysed across 13 industries, the overall average conversion rate is **5.13%**. That’s notably higher than what we reported in previous years, something we’ll touch on in a moment. > > A few things stand out from this data. Legal, automotive, and software sit at the top, all above 7.5%. Meanwhile, travel, retail, and health and social care are at the lower end, all under 3%. > > From the data we’ve looked at, industries with higher-value or more considered purchases tend to have lower overall conversion rates, not because their marketing isn’t working, but because the buyer’s journey is longer and involves more touchpoints before a conversion is formally captured. Real estate and travel are a good example of this. > > The conversion rate sits at 2.8%, but that’s happening after a lot of research, comparison, and back-and-forth that isn’t always visible in a single session. > > [Ruler](https://www.ruleranalytics.com/blog/insight/conversion-rate-by-industry/) ### How to Increase Your Conversion Rate If you base your goals on your industry’s conversion rates and are happy when you meet them, that’s not good enough! *You should try to always improve them!* Don’t settle for just making it when things can be tweaked to make it better. Obviously, your rate will depend on the [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) on your website, aka [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/), as well as your social media posting. The objective is to draw people to your website. Without visitors, you won’t have people to convert! Consequently, your website plays a key role in converting visitors into leads or sales. #### That’s where the User Experience and the User Interface come in. --- > ***A bad UX and UI will cost you conversions and sales!*** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)You may think your website looks good, but if you’re getting [visitors](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-tips-for-getting-traffic-to-your-website/) and **no conversions**, then it’s not working for you. ***A [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/) is more than a nice online brochure!*** It’s your ***24/7 salesperson!*** For instance, how far does a first-time visitor have to go to do what you want them to do, that is, convert? ***Put yourself in your target market’s shoes and look at your user experience and interface objectively.*** Your [call-to-action (CTA)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) should be everywhere that makes sense. At the top, in the footer, after an explanatory video, at the end of a blog post, in the sidebar, ***but don’t overdo it!*** ## Set [SMART Goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) and Check [Analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") Naturally, if you’re just starting, you won’t have past data to work with. Thus, you have to base your goal on your industry’s average. Set your goals monthly. At the end of each month, look at your [analytics and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/). They will tell you what’s working and not working. If you met or surpassed your goal, then what you’re doing is working — keep it up! Your next month’s goal should be a bit higher. If your conversions fell short of the average, then you must analyze what went wrong. #### Here’s a video to help guide you in determining that… --- In summary, set goals and [plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) marketing campaigns month-to-month. That way, they’re easier to handle and analyze. It’s OK to repost content that worked, that is, drove people to your website. Social likes, comments, and shares are great, and they do help with reach and exposure. However, they are vanity metrics. Naturally, what you want are those website visitors and ultimately, ***conversions***! If you’d like me to review your current marketing efforts, [click here to book a free 15-minute virtual consult.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ### What is a conversion rate? A conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action on your website, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or subscribing to an offer. It is calculated by dividing the number of conversions by the total number of visitors and multiplying by 100%. ### How do you calculate the conversion rate? You divide the number of conversions (or other defined actions like clicks or leads) by the total number of visitors to your site, then multiply by 100%. For example, if 10 out of 100 visitors convert, the conversion rate is 10%. ### Why are user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) important for conversions? A bad UX and UI will cost you conversions and sales. If visitors can’t easily find what to do or complete a conversion, you lose potential leads. Your site should act like a 24/7 salesperson, guiding visitors smoothly to the desired action. ### What should you do to increase your conversion rate? Aim to improve beyond industry averages by optimizing your content and website, and by enhancing the user journey from discovery to conversion. Focus on clear calls-to-action, fast load times, helpful information, and a seamless path to convert. ### How should SMART goals and analytics be used in conversion optimization? Set monthly goals based on your industry benchmarks, then review analytics and insights at the end of each month. If you meet or exceed goals, raise the next month’s target; if you miss them, analyze what went wrong and adjust your strategy accordingly. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Website Design, Website Functionality, Websites **Tags:** Conversion optimization, Conversion rate, conversions, increase conversions, User Experience, UX, websites --- ### [Pinterest for Business: Harness a Powerful SEO & Discovery Engine](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/) **Published:** June 23, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** **Pinterest** is THE social media network if you’re trying to reach the consumer with products or services. It’s grown to over 630 million active monthly users! Furthermore, the top market is the U.S. with 90 to 105 million users. Over 250 million users engage with the platform weekly. Though it is more B2C than B2B, [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/) is more powerful than [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) when it comes to **[SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)** because when someone pins a picture or video from your site, it takes the link with it. Thus, it helps tremendously with **search engine optimization**. Besides that, ***Pinterest is a powerful search engine*** — it’s a discovery channel. That said, it’s more like [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) than [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/)! ## Here’s My Pinterest Basics Webinar: --- Yes! Even if you’re [B2B](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/b2b-vs-b2c-which-social-network-should-you-use/), you can take advantage of Pinterest’s unique marketing power. Hey, [I’ve got a Pinterest account, and I save lots of business articles. ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/)I also post infographics. Certainly, if you are an [ecommerce](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-ecommerce/) business, you should pin all the products from your online store. ## Travel is always HOT! [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/Pinterest-Travel-Pin-RoadTrip-scaled.jpg)The travel industry picked up after the pandemic. People were anxious to get out and start traveling again. So, where do they go to plan their trip? Pinterest. Here they can pick destinations, hotels, tours, sightseeing places, venues for events, even restaurants, you name it! See, Pinterest is where people plan how to spend their money. Additionally, it’s where people look to find answers to problems and challenges, and get ideas, tips, encouragement, inspiration, and motivation. ***That’s the [Pinterest Difference](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/)!*** Personally, I used it to plan my Bucket List items. As I researched places to visit, see, and stay, I pinned pictures and videos to the board. The links made it easy for me to book reservations and contact them with questions. After the trip, I upload my pictures and add links to the places’ websites so other folks can benefit from my experience. ## Pin Away! ### **What can you pin on Pinterest?** - Videos - Infographics - Pictures - Animated gifs - Blog article images Remember, each pin takes the link with it. And even if someone saves the pin to one of their boards, it duplicates the link! ***That’s the SEO backlink power that Instagram doesn’t give you.*** It’s fun, free, and easy! In that case, what are you waiting for? Set up your [business account](https://business.pinterest.com) and pin everything from your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-website-mistakes-need-fix-2017/). Furthermore, don’t forget to verify your website with them so they will track clicks to and from your website. Happy pinning! Related: [What Makes Pinterest Different? ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/ "The Pinterest Difference: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It!") Are you taking advantage of this free tool? Let’s [schedule a free virtual strategy session](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA), and we can discuss if Pinterest will work for you. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Sources: - [https://s204.q4cdn.com/369458543/files/doc\_earnings/2026/q1/earnings-result/Q126-PressRelease.pdf](https://s204.q4cdn.com/369458543/files/doc_earnings/2026/q1/earnings-result/Q126-PressRelease.pdf) - - - Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Pinterest **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, How to market on Pinterest, Pinterest, search engine optimization, seo, social media, social media marketing, social media training, Social network, social networking, social networks --- ### [What's Your Story? How to Blog for Business Success](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/whats-your-story-blogging-for-business/) **Published:** June 23, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Everyone, and every business, has a story to tell. Your **personal stories** help you reflect and understand your life. Furthermore, your **company’s story** can do the same for your business. Starting [a blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) that shares your company’s story means you have a ***willingness to overcome the hurdles in your way: time, learning curve, and fear of failure.*** We’ve all started something and then had to step away before it was finished, right? > ***But what if your business blog was not a chore, but an asset?*** As Mikal E. Belicove points out in the video below, the benefits of business blogging far outweigh the hurdles. When you blog, you… - Control the message about your business that your clients see - Share your news at your own pace - Shape content to fit what your clients need to know - Add *personality* that distinguishes you from your competitors - It’s pretty much free — it just takes a little sweat equity - Solve [potential customers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)‘ problems and pain points - Keep visitors on your website longer, hence helping with SEO - Give Google the fresh, relevant content that it seeks - Answer the questions [potential customers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-strategy-think-like-your-target-market/) are asking - Establish yourself as an expert in your field or industry - Build trust and credibility > ***People buy from whom they know and trust.*** ## The Benefits of Business Blogging --- ## So What’s Holding You Back? - Don’t think you have enough stories? Create hypothetical situations. “Don’t let this happen to you!” - Can’t blog? [I can teach you how to blog on WordPress in an hour. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) - Can’t write? Can you talk? Try videos or podcasts. Embed them in a blog article, then use the script as the text for the blog [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)### Testimonials are not enough. Tell the stories behind the testimonials. - What was the customer’s problem? - How did you solve it? - Is it a problem that other people might have? Related: [What does your About Page say about you and your company? ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) ## A Good Story Captivates A good story captivates your audience. In this video, [Jay Acunzo](https://www.youtube.com/@JayAcunzo) explains what you need to change in your communication style… --- Do you speak in “clip art”? Not good enough. Or, do you speak in “stock photography”? It can be better. Speak in film. Plant a person in a time and a place, then tell the story. Effective storytellers communicate in film. If you don’t feel you can be a good storyteller, we can talk about my [copywriting services](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/ "Effective SEO Copywriting is the Trick to More Reach on Google"). In that case, you, the topic expert, write the main content of a blog post, and I, the SEO copywriter and storyteller, edit it and publish it on your website’s blog. [**I can help you brainstorm ideas for your marketing strategy. Let’s start with a free 15-minute virtual consult. Click here to book it.**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Content Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, blogger, blogging, blogs, Business, content, content marketing, Mikal Belicove, seo, social media training, storytelling --- ### [Which X/Twitter User Are You? Grow Your Following Wisely](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-types-twitter-users/) **Published:** June 23, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** When Twitter (now “X”) was created in 2006, people didn’t get it. Small business owners didn’t understand how to use it for marketing. Many still don’t. It’s OK if you don’t get it. X/Twitter users come in all forms. Many have been on since its inception. When Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022, he made many changes. Mostly, to make the company profitable. He also cleaned it up and reinstated many people who were banned for just being who they are. X is where people go to find out what’s going on ***right now***. It’s where people get information and breaking news. [X](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) / Twitter users have varying reasons for being on X. ## The Difference between the 5 Main X/Twitter Users… One thing hasn’t changed: that’s how it works. I’ve categorized its users based on the **follower-to-following ratio**: how many people follow them compared to how many people they follow. ### The Newsmakers These X users have way more followers than the number of people they follow. They are organizations like news media, magazines, TV shows, celebrities, and influencers. They make the news, and people follow them to get the news. [](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump)### **Information Gatherers** These folks are following more people than they have followers, and they post occasionally. These could be researchers, business coaches, or reporters. If they’ve been on Twitter for a while, they aren’t Newbies. [](https://x.com/oysllc)### **Relationship Builders** These are on X to make friends. They have a fairly even number of followers and of people following them. They tweet often, and people follow them because they like what they tweet about. These folks also care about their followers. Like, thanking them for retweeting and mentioning them. Similar to me on my personal account. [Keep business and personal separate!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/) Building relationships is what the “social” part of social media is about! [](https://x.com/giselleaguiar)Notice the blue checkmark at the end of my symbols This is a verified pro account ### **Newbies** Everyone has to start somewhere! To grow a following, you need to consistently post good content and follow the people you want following you. Take a look at who’s following your competition or related businesses and follow them. When you follow someone, they are notified, and they can then choose if they want to follow you back or not. Your first benchmark goal is 100 followers in 30 days. Once you pass the 100 mark, people will see that you’re credible and tweeting regularly, and your following will grow as long as you keep feeding them what they want. [](https://x.com/CafeFlutesAZ)## To grow your following, your X/Twitter profile page has to be set up correctly with: - **Good, quality graphics** – it’s your online image – make it look good. - Your logo in 400 x 400 pixels – a square – do not upload a rectangular logo into the square – it will get cut off! - Your cover graphic – 1500 x 500 pixels. Create a graphic of that size. Remember, [quality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) counts! - **A complete, keyword-centric bio**. You have 160 characters to describe what you do. Therefore, take advantage of this. It gives you credibility. Use hashtags on the major keywords. - **Your website link** – this helps with SEO (search engine optimization) - **Your name or your company name** – however you wish to be known. - **Analytics** — Unfortunately, analytics, which every account used to have, is now only for pro subscribers and advertisers. [](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz)> ***Eventually, a Newbie will become a Relationship Builder and may eventually graduate to a Newsmaker.*** ## What’s in an X Pro Account? I opted to go Pro on my personal X account to get the blue checkmark, which signifies that I’m a verified account. Additionally, I can write longer posts. I haven’t upgraded the business account since X doesn’t bring that many visitors to my website. I may reconsider later on. Nevertheless, here are the X Premium Pricing as of June 23, 2026. ### **Spammers, Jerks, Trolls, and Fake Accounts** Unfortunately, like in every community, there are nasty, stupid people. Nonetheless, X tries hard to eliminate these, but it’s up to the real users to police them, report them as spammers, and/or block them. Albeit with Grok, X’s AI bot, you can ask if a user is real, if the news is fake, or even to summarize the latest on a topic. **How can you tell if it’s a fake account?** Look at the follower-to-following ratio as compared to the number of tweets. Is it off? Another way is their username/handle – it’s a bunch of random letters, numbers, or words that make no sense. If you see a name followed by a bunch of numbers, that’s probably a robot-generated account and fake. These folks are cunning. They’ll put a person’s picture and fill out a nice, friendly-sounding bio to gain followers. What they post is automated. Spammers will follow you to get noticed and to get you to buy something. Or, even SCAM you. Some try to sell you the “magic pill” that will grow your following into the thousands. Hint: those are **fake followers** and are NOT your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)! > **[*The way to build a following is organically. It takes time and sweat equity, but it’s worth it.*](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/)** ### *So, which X user are you?* [*Tweet me your response*](https://twitter.com/AZSocialNetWiz) or comment below… If you’re still confused about being on X or any of the other social media networks, [**click here**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) to schedule a free 15-minute virtual consult, and I’ll review your current website and marketing efforts. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, X (Formerly Twitter) **Tags:** social media, social media marketing, social media networks, Twitter, Twitter users, who uses twitter, X users --- ### [What Will Be Trending on Social Media in July...](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/trending-on-social-media-july/) **Published:** June 22, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** This July 4th holiday will be like no other as America celebrates its 250th birthday! It also falls on a Saturday. Therefore, it’s observed on Friday, July 3. We have a long weekend! However, before you go on vacation, schedule out your social media posts to take advantage of what’s going to be trending in July. Carefully plan out your promotional posts along with your helpful posts. I highly recommend using [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link)! It’s easy to schedule posts into the future even repeat posts. They also have great analytics and insights so you can see your social media following growing and what’s working and not working. I publish this every month so you can plan how you can “spin” your marketing message to take advantage of what’s trending on social media. These are just some of the observance and awareness days. For the full list, visit these sites: - [National Day Calendar](https://nationaldaycalendar.com/) - [Awareness Calendar](https://www.awarenessdepot.com/awarenesscalendar.html) - [National Day Today](https://www.cute-calendar.com/category/observances.html) These calendars offer some links to details on the observances that might help you if you’re blogging. ## How to use this list: Go over the list and note any interesting days or awareness/observances that **relate to your business** or are **fun or generic** enough that you an ***spin your marketing message around it.*** Then, get creative and have fun! Write a blog post and schedule it to publish on that day. The months’ observances usually trend (lots of people are talking about it) in the first few days of the month. Weeks tend to trend on Sunday or Monday and days start early in the morning depending if it’s a world/global observance or national. So, take time zones into consideration when scheduling. If you miss the first days of the month, even though it might not be “trending” at the time, publish a post anyway as long as it’s in the month of the observance. Schedule out tweets using [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link). And don’t forget those silly, but useful [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) that [trend on X (formerly Twitter)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) regularly! **Most of these observances will have hashtags.** Be careful with apostrophes. [Hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) work only with letters and numbers. When you add a space or a symbol, it ends the hashtag. ## Here’s what’s going to be trending on social media in July: ### **Month** - National Hemp Month - Cell Phone Courtesy Month - World Watercolor Month - Anti-Boredom Month - National Grilling Month - Culinary Arts Month - Ice Cream Month - Independent Retailer Month - Hot Dog Month - Picnic Month - UV Safety Month - Eye Injury Prevention Month - Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month - Smart Irrigation Month - Disability Pride Month – honoring the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). - Beans Month - Corn Month - National Family Reunion Month - National Make a Difference to Children Month - Pet Hydration Month ### **Weeks** - Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance – June 30 – July 6 - Clean Beaches Week – First Week - National Childhood Obesity Week — 1st full week - Therapeutic Recreation Week – 2nd Week - National Doughnut Week — 2nd Week - Everybody Deserves a Massage Week – 3rd Week - Captive Nations Week – 3rd Week – raises public awareness about oppression in communist nations across the world. - National Parenting Gifted Children Week – 3rd week in July - Hepatitis Awareness Week – Week of July 28th ### Days 1 – Postal Workers Day – be nice to your mail carrier U.S. Postage Stamp Day Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day 2 – World UFO Day – considering that UFOs have been in the news a lot lately, this may be a time to have a little fun and get some exposure at the same time! Made in the USA Day Special Recreation for the Disabled Day National Wildland Firefighter Day International Day of Cooperatives 3 – Independence Day Observed – Happy long weekend! Stay out of the Sun Day International Plastic Bag Free Day National Eat Your Beans Day 4 – Independence Day – the 250th birthday of America! Invisible Day National Play Outside Day – 1st Saturday of the Month Thank You Day Hop-a-Park Day – 1st Saturday in July 5 – National Workaholics Day National Bikini Day 6 – Fried Chicken Day National Air Traffic Control Day 7 – Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day World Chocolate Day National Day of Rock ‘N’ Roll Global [Forgiveness](https://seekthegospeltruth.com/2020/11/02/forgiveness-is-as-important-as-spreading-the-good-news-of-jesus-christ/) Day International [Peace](https://seekthegospeltruth.com/2022/09/17/what-is-the-meaning-of-shalom-is-it-just-a-hebrew-greeting/) & Love Day Tell the Truth Day — Gee, why just one day?! 9 – Sugar Cookie Day Fashion Day 10 – Pina Colada Day Silence Day (If only!) Global Energy Independence Day National Kitten Day Collector Car Appreciation Day — 2nd Friday in July Chronic Disease Day 11 – Mojito Day Cheer Up the Lonely Day French Fry Day All American Pet Photo Day World Population Day 7-11 Day All-American Pet Photo Day Cheer Up the Lonely Day World Population Day 12 – National Simplicity Day — why do we have to complicate things? Paper Bag Day 13 – Beans ‘N’ Franks Day 14 – Mac and Cheese Day Cow Appreciation Day – Changes Annually Bastille Day 15 – Give Something Away Day Social Media Giving Day – Related: [5 Target Markets for Nonprofits](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-target-market-personas-for-nonprofits/) I Love Horses Day World Youth Skills Day Pet Fire Safety Day Hot Dog Day – 3rd Wednesday in July 16 – Personal Chef Day World Snake Day Get to Know Your Customer Day – 3rd Thursday of Each Quarter [National AI Day — Learn how to use the AI tools to save time! $50/hr Summer Special Ends July 31!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training Summer Special!") 17 – International Justice Day Bladder Cancer Awareness Day National Tattoo Day World Emoji Day 18 – Nelson Mandela Day World Listening Day Tropical Fruit Day 19 – National Daiquiri Day National Play Day National Words with Friends Day – How about calling someone instead of texting? Ice Cream Day — 3rd Sunday in July 20 – Moon Day – commemorates the day man first walked on the moon in 1969. Lollipop Day [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/)Hot Dog Day International Chess Day 21 – Junk Food Day Be Someone Day 22 – Hammock Day Mango Day 23 – Gorgeous Grandma Day Vanilla Ice Cream Day Refreshment Day National Refreshment Day — 4th Thursday in July Lemon Day 24 – Drive-thru Day Cousins Day Amelia Earhart Day Parent’s Day International Self-Care Day 25 – Hire a Veteran Day Chili Dog Day Wine and Cheese Day World Culinarians Day Day of the Cowboy – Come on, Arizona! Get creative with this one! – 4th Saturday in July. 26 – Aunt and Uncle’s Day Bagelfest Day All or Nothing Day National Disability Independence Day – commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th, 1990. 27 – Love is Kind Day Korean War Veterans Armistice Day 28 – Milk Chocolate Day Water Park Day World Conservation Day Buffalo Soldiers Day 29 – Lipstick Day Lasagna Day Chicken Wing Day International Tiger Day 30 – Father-in-Law Day Cheesecake Day World Day Against Human Trafficking Climb a Mountain Day National Whistleblower Day National Support Public Education Day National Intern Day – Last Thursday in July 31 – Avocado Day Talk in an Elevator Day (Got your elevator pitch down?) — Last Friday of the Month Mutt Day – Yes! Lots of dog pix! International Day of Friendship World Ranger Day [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** What's Trending **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, social media, social media marketing, Twitter, what's trending --- ### [How to Write Inviting Title and Meta Tags that Capture the Clicks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/) **Published:** June 22, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Coming up in the search results is one thing. Getting people to click over to your website is another. Here’s where the title and meta tags come in. Search engine optimization’s ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?")) job is to get your website to show in the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) when a **human searcher** is looking for what you have to offer. The Title and Meta Tags’ job is to entice them to click on the link so they visit your website. Why are they important? You want sales, right? Or to [generate leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/powerful-words-generate-quality-leads/). Those are [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/). You’re converting a visitor into a sale or a lead. You can’t have conversions if you don’t have visitors! Furthermore, you can’t have visitors if the potential customer doesn’t click through to your website. You can’t lose them at the SERP. They’ll go to a [competitor](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/)! First, I’ll define the terms, and then I’ll share some tips on how to craft them so your potential customer or client will actually click on them. ## What is a Title Tag? It is where you write the title of a webpage or blog article. It appears in the tab and at the very top of the browser and shows at the top of the page. It’s also the first thing that the search engine or AI bot sees when it’s crawling your site, as well as the first thing a **human searcher** sees when they’re looking for what you have to offer. ## What are Meta Tags? The Meta Tag is a short 2-3 sentence description of the content of the page or blog post. The search engine uses this to determine how relevant it is to the search phrase entered, and the **human searcher** uses it to decide whether the website contains what he or she is looking for. ### Here are tips on how to optimize those Meta Tags to get those clicks…. 1. **The Key Phrase.** This is the main topic of your page or blog post. It should be one or two words. For instance, in the example pictured, the keyword phrase was “video marketing”. It needs to be both in the title, the slug, which is the URL or link, as well as the meta description. This is for the [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/), and it also needs to make sense to the human. 2. **Meta Description Length.** Ideally, it should be 160 characters. Anything longer than that will get cut off. 3. **The Description.** Here’s where you need to put yourself in your target reader’s shoes. They are looking for an answer to their problem. You don’t want to give the WHOLE answer here, but just enough so they can see that… - It’s what they need or want - The [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-website-mistakes-need-fix-2017/) holds more valuable information - It will behoove them to click on it. In other words, there’s a ***benefit*** to them clicking through to the website. 4. SEO plugins now have the option of having AI write your Meta descriptions for you. Or you can use Google Gemini or Claude. Give it the URL and ask it to write a Meta Description. ## What if you don’t have a WordPress Website? If you are on a platform other than [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/), more than likely, there is a place for you to enter the meta description of a page or blog post. It’s usually under a section called “SEO”. ## What if there is no meta tag? I found what I neededIf there is no meta tag, the search engine will display the **first paragraph**. Obviously, that brings up the question: ***Is the first paragraph on your page or blog enticing enough to keep the reader reading?*** ### “What’s in it for me?” That’s what the searcher is thinking. What’s in it for me? Does this [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) have what I need or want? Does it answer my question? Will the information go deeper than just the answer to the question? The Google Search Console (part of [Google Analytics](https://analytics.google.com)) data tells you how many times your website came up in search and how many people clicked through to it. Obviously, if your site is brand new, you won’t have this. That’s why you have to have your [Google Analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) set up before you start any marketing efforts. As you can see, there are a lot of moving parts in digital marketing. Yes, it takes some time and effort to get everything set up and running smoothly. Nevertheless, with the right goal-setting, strategic, and tactical planning, you should start seeing results in 2-3 months. *Each business is different*, and there is no one-size-fits-all marketing strategy. If you need some guidance on what will work for your business, **[let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA),** and I’ll review your current marketing efforts and see how I can help you grow your business. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** SEO **Tags:** Click-through rate, digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, headlines, meta tags, search engine optimization, Search engine results page, seo, SEO tip, SERP, title tags, website traffic, websites --- ### [Why Should You Keep Business and Personal Social Media Separate?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/) **Published:** June 19, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** In this climate of deeply divided political and cultural issues, it’s very easy to offend someone just by replying, retweeting, or even posting on the wrong social media account. Now, if you happen to work in news media, politics, or a religious organization, this article isn’t for you. I would expect to see those types of posts on your social media. ## Your Professional Social Media [Image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/) is at Stake However, if you are **trying to sell a product or service** to the average consumer (B2C) or to business people (B2B), you need to make sure you don’t alienate a potential customer by liking or commenting on political or religious posts. Remember, too, it’s not just your company’s [brand image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) that’s at stake. It’s your personal, professional image, also. > ***Keep in mind that just about everything you do online is public.*** **So if someone Googles your name, more than likely they’ll find your personal accounts, as well as professional/business accounts.** If you post political or religious views on your personal accounts – that’s OK – it’s expected. ### Here’s how the individual social media networks break down when it comes to personal vs. business: #### [**Facebook** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/can-your-facebook-page-initially-serve-as-your-website/) **Firstly, you need a personal account to create a business page.** However, because of Facebook’s **transparency** rules, you are connected to your business page. If you’re a Realtor, author, or consultant, and use your name as a business, have a separate business page for business only. ***Don’t use the same picture for your personal account and your business page!*** You need to be able to tell them apart. Put a professional-looking picture rather than a casual one on the business page. #### **[LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/)** **This is the professional network.** Obviously, unless you work in politics or a religious organization, keep politics and religion out of your posts. There may be an occasion when politics affects businesses. In that case, if the news is relevant to your business, then it’s OK to share it. Keep in mind that LinkedIn has two profile aspects: Individual People (like the White Pages) and Company Pages (like the Yellow Pages). If you want to learn more about[ **how to use LinkedIn properly and effectively, click here for a free resource.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) #### [**X (Formerly Twitter)**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) **Here, you should have 2 separate accounts with 2 separate emails.** The personal one should be in your name, and the professional/business one should be in your company name and logo. But be careful! Watch which account you’re posting to. (I have, more times than I’d care to admit, sent a personal post to the business account by accident. You can go and quickly delete it, but be aware that in the few seconds that it was out there, someone probably saw it.) #### **[Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/)** Similar to X, you can have 2 separate accounts. If you set up an account on [Pinterest.com](https://business.pinterest.com/en-us/), you’re setting up a personal account. To set up a business account, go to [business.pinterest.com](https://business.pinterest.com). They’ve made it easy to ***convert a personal account into a business one***. However, make sure you **delete any personal boards** before converting to a business account. If you want, you can “share” boards between your business and personal accounts. Be aware that the boards will appear on both accounts. It’s better to have business-related boards on your personal account than personal boards on your business account. AZ Social Media Wiz on Pinterest B2B Social Media example#### **[Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/)** Owned by Meta, which also owns Facebook, it’s easy to accidentally mix business with personal. Like Pinterest and X, you can have to separate accounts with different emails. Instagram is 95% mobile and all visuals. That is, photos, graphics & videos. Connect and share to FB at the same time. However, make sure that your **personal Instagram** account connects to your **personal FB page** and your **business Instagram** connects to your **FB business** page. **AND watch which account you’re posting to!** You can have more than one account registered in the mobile app, so make sure your picture is on your personal one, and your business logo is on your business one, so you can tell the difference. (If you don’t think your business needs a logo, then you need to [check out this article](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/).) Furthermore, if your business is B2B and not very visual, then you really shouldn’t even bother with Instagram. (Or TikTok, for that matter). For instance, I only have a personal Instagram account. One of my B2B clients has an Instagram account that we set up just to get more reach when we advertise on Facebook, but we get better results from Facebook than from Instagram. #### **[YouTube](//www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/)** Here, too, you should **keep personal and business separate.** Don’t use your business account to like and save videos that you personally want to watch later. **Use a personal account for that.** You can have a personal account just for viewing and entertainment without posting any videos. I do. People can see which videos you’ve liked by giving a thumbs up and which you’ve saved to playlists (if they are public). A potential client can easily click on “videos liked” on your channel and see them. You don’t want to offend anybody, and people these days are easily offended. Also, you don’t want to mix family videos with business promotions. ### Public vs Private Social Media Accounts **On the business accounts, you want everything public.** That’s the idea. You’ll get found that way. On the other hand, on your **personal social media accounts**, you can choose to keep different areas private or only visible to friends and connections. Each network has privacy settings. #### **What about Commenting**? **Watch what you comment on!** Be nice. Don’t insult people. Yes, there are stupid trolls out there, and you may not agree with everything posted, but putting a vile comment on someone’s post may come back to haunt you. You don’t know if a potential client is seeing it. ### [If you’re not sure how you’ve set up your social media accounts, schedule a free 15-minute phone consult and send me the links to your accounts, and I’ll review them with you.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### [You can also schedule a 1:1 coaching call if you need help straightening out your accounts.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) ### [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Social Media Networks **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Instagram, marketing, Pinterest, social media, social media marketing, social networking, social networks, Twitter, YouTube --- ### [Elevate Your Video Marketing with These Updated Creative Ideas](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-marketing-ideas/) **Published:** May 19, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Video marketing is the best thing that you can do to promote your small business. Today’s cell phones and apps combined provide easy ways for you to use video to get extra exposure. And it’s not just on YouTube! You can share the same video in many different places, including your website! You dont have to be a YouTuber to take advantage of the power of video marketingSee, video is how most people want to communicate. Folks would rather watch a 1-3 minute video than read a lot of text. Anything that moves catches people’s attention on the social media networks. Here are some Online Video Stats… - Google searches and AI Overviews will feature at least 1 video. - 8 out of 10 of the videos listed are on YouTube. - Social videos get shared 1,200% more times than ordinary posts. Yes, that’s correct. - The longer the video, the lower the engagement rate. - 1 in 5 people who come across a video will watch it. ## What Works in Video Marketing Views count! Obviously, the more views a video gets, the more it will come up in organic algorithm suggestions. That’s true for [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/), [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), and Facebook Native Videos (those uploaded directly to Facebook). Here are some tips for various industries… ### Restaurants and Food Service - Close-ups of **mouth-watering food prep**, 5-10 seconds, work best. Definitely, under 30 seconds max. - Always **high-quality**. - **Fun, creative, and appealing**. The viewer should think, “That’s making me hungry!” ### Retail - The shopping experience - Cute kids - Short, sweet, and to the point - Product demos - Clothing modeled on real people ### What Works for Which Social Media Networks #### Horizontal videos work best for… You may just need your smartphone and a tripod- [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) - [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) - YouTube - [X (formerly Twitter)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) - Embedding in blog articles - Longer educational videos - Webinars #### Vertical videos work best for… - Instagram and Facebook Reels - Stories on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube shorts - [Snapchat](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/snapchat-adds-new-features-reaches-1-million-subscribers/461619/) (They are still going strong!) #### [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) - Entertainment - Inspirational - Emotionally appealing - Long-form - Voice-overs make it more personable - The new “Featured” section is vertical only! #### [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) Fun, **emotional videos** with sound. Besides that, use relevant hashtags. Use captions, as many people watch the videos with the sound off. - Reels – <60 seconds - Instagram Videos – <3 minutes – short, explainer videos or product demos. Also, the wow factor. - Stories – 5 seconds ### Here are some new Instagram tips from the Social Media Marketing Talk Show… #### [X/Twitter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) - News, hot topics - Animated gifs - Interviews - Shorts - <2 minutes #### LinkedIn - LinkedIn video posts are 20 times more likely to be shared! Upload them directly. - Educational - Rally or praise others - Q & A videos - Team building - Relevant hashtags #### [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) Clearly, YouTube is still the **2nd largest search engine** next to its parent, Google. Also, the **2nd largest social media network** next to Facebook. - ***Post on YouTube and get ranked on Google in seconds!*** - Educational videos… - “How to” is still the most-searched phrase - “Best way to…” - “Product Review” - Long-form - Problem-solving - Discovery - [Evergreen content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/evergreen-content/) — In other words, YouTube videos have a very long “shelf life”. Therefore, try not to “date” your videos seasonally, if you can. - If you’re a local, brick-and-mortar business, always put your location! #### [Google Business Profile](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) (GBP) Google now allows businesses to post videos directly to their Google My Business page! That means that they get indexed instantly in the search engine. However, I do recommend reviewing their [Content Policy](https://support.google.com/business/answer/7213077). Here are their video guidelines: ##### Make sure your videos meet the following requirements: - **Duration:** Up to 30 seconds long - **File size:** Up to 100 MB - **Resolution:** 720p or higher Since YouTube is owned by Google, use the same Google account for your business YouTube Channel, and the videos will appear in your GBP. ## Video Marketing Tips Determine if youll need professional equipment and a studio set up 1. **First and foremost, know your [target audience ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)well!** What do they like? What do they watch? Which network do they prefer? On what do they watch it? (Phone, tablet, computer, HDTV?) 2. **Research** - Competition – what are they doing? - Consumer interest - Opportunity – low-hanging fruit 3. **Consistent brand equity** — all videos should have the same look and branding with a watermark or logo. 4. **Have movement in the 1st 2 seconds** 5. **State the benefits in the 1st 15 seconds** 6. **Consider the niche and theme tag words** 7. **Consider the video requirements for each channel** — aspect ratios, size of file, content, etc. For instance, you can put a video as your Facebook cover graphic, but the dimensions are narrower than the standard YouTube horizontal video. File size and video length also must be considered. Unfortunately, each platform has its own preferred guidelines and requirements. It’s best to go over them first before you try to upload content that’s too long or too big a file. ## How Often Should You Create and Post a Video? Yes, videos take more time to produce if you want to do them right. Nevertheless, they work! You can’t deny that. For a successful video marketing strategy, they recommend… - 1, long-form, horizontal video a week (When I heard that, I thought, “Yeah, right!”). See, even I find it hard to find the time to blog! Yet, I do it because it works!) Post these to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and your blog. - 2-4 vertical shorts for social media – TikTok, Reels, Stories, YouTube Shorts All in all, ***you need to get comfortable doing videos.*** If you don’t feel that you’re a good on-camera person, get a friend to help you. Writing the **script** may also be challenging. If you don’t have the budget to hire someone, your local public library may offer writing classes. You have to weigh your time, budget, and quality of your content to decide whether to attempt it on your own or outsource the project. If you try to do it yourself, will the quality be there? Also, how long will it take you to do it? Consider — ***how much is your time worth?*** Also, remember you’re creating content to reach [YOUR TARGET MARKET](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) — people! Talk to them, not the search engine. Don’t overthink it! For instance, when I needed new intro and exit splashes for my training videos, I outsourced them. I know I CAN do them. However, it probably would take me days to do them, when I could hire a pro to do them for me, and I can focus on something else. Likewise, the same with editing existing videos to make them shorter commercials. (My go-to video team is **[Financial Potion Video Production](https://financialpotion.com/).)** Now that you’re even more overwhelmed and probably still don’t know where to start, it’s time to schedule a free 15-minute phone consult so I can help you determine which type of video marketing will work for your business.[ **Click here to schedule…**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Top image by Ron Hoekstra via Pixabay. Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Video Marketing **Tags:** content marketing, digital marketing strategies, digital marketing techniques, digital media marketing, online marketing, seo, social media, social media marketing, video marketing strategy, video marketing tips, YouTube --- ### [How Free is a Free Website? Is it a Good Place to Start?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-free-is-a-free-website-is-it-a-good-place-to-start/) **Published:** May 1, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** A low-priced or free website is ridiculously tempting for the small business owner, just because they’re free or inexpensive. The problem is that just because of their site-builder structure — to make it super easy to use — you forego or lose vital search engine optimization ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)). Obviously, that’s a MAJOR factor in today’s digital world. You need to be found by searchers who are looking for what you have to offer. ***If your website is hindering that, then what good is it?*** ## A Free Website is Free or Cheap to a Point Another factor with these websites is that as soon as you want to customize and add features, you are either limited or it will start to cost money. Some have enticing offers with features that are “free for 1 year”. This is fine except when that 1st anniversary comes around, your monthly cost will go up — a lot. That’s where they get you. If you want a custom domain name, like “mycompany.com” instead of, for instance, “mycompany.wordpress.com” you need to pay anywhere from $10-$20/m. If you want plugins that add functionality, it’s more. For instance, on one of them, if you want the SEO “boost”, it’s free for the first year, then you have to upgrade to the next level or pay an additional monthly fee. ## You’ll Outgrow Your Cheap, Free Website Fast Does your website do what you need it to doAgain, the type of website is good if you’re just starting and don’t have a budget. However, keep in mind that you’re probably going to ***outgrow this site in 6 months to a year.*** Then, you’ll have to go through the process of migrating it to a WordPress website, which is 100% customizable, more cost-effective, and easy to optimize for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-new-website/). Furthermore, it can easily grow with your company. ### Moving a site isn’t as easy as you think… For example, if you’re on [WordPress.com](https://WordPress.com)‘s free site, it’s fairly easy to migrate it to a Hosted WordPress website — if it’s not too big. I made the mistake of waiting 2 years to migrate a personal project’s site and lost images, and a year later, I’m still cleaning it up! However, if you’re on any other platform — Wix, GoDaddy, Squarespace, etc. — you have to copy and paste your text, re-upload your graphics, and re-embed any videos. A note on GoDaddy: They are under [investigation by the Federal Trade Commission](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-takes-action-against-godaddy-alleged-lax-data-security-its-website-hosting-services) because they say their website hosting is secure when it really isn’t. There have been too many of their clients’ websites that were hacked. There’s another [GoDaddy nightmare story ](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/godaddy-transferred-a-domain-by-mistake-and-refused-to-fix-it/573164/)of someone’s domain name being transferred to someone else. Personally, I don’t trust GoDaddy. ***For that matter, just start on WordPress!* *I can help you!*** Recently, I helped a client get off of GoDaddy. Her website was rather complicated. She had events — classes — that she was selling bookings for, and GoDaddy just didn’t work for her. [Check out the finished website here](https://az-medicalmassageschool.com/). #### Related Content… - [More Than Just a Pretty, Online Brochure](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/) - [What Could Go Wrong When Building Your Own Website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/) - [Improving the UX — User Experience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/) ## Free Website Review & Consult Let’s discuss your current marketing efforts, or if you’re a startup business, I can give you an idea of what you need and explain what your options are. ### [Click here to book a free 15-minute Zoom consult. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Websites **Tags:** blogging, content marketing, digital marketing, free websites, website builders, websites --- ### [AI SEARCH and HOLIDAY SHOPPING: What You Need to Do NOW!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-holiday-shopping/) **Published:** August 20, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we search, and in this 2025 Holiday Shopping Season, it will change the way we shop. People will be searching things like, “What is a good gift, under $50, for a 54-year-old man who likes hiking and the outdoors?” What’s going to come up? Your store? Probably not. Especially, if you’re not posting **STRATEGICALLY** on social media and communities like Reddit. Here’s what you need to know about AI Search and Holiday Shopping, and what you need to do right away! ## What’s Different? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-evolution-marketing-strategies-on-how-to-adapt-adopt/)> Whether it’s asking ChatGPT, browsing Reddit, scrolling through TikTok, or speaking to a voice assistant, user behavior is fluid, multimodal, and largely invisible to traditional analytics. > > [Search Engine Journal](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/multimodal-search-is-reshaping-the-funnel-for-seos-and-marketers/553294/) Given that, it’s harder to track where people are going, how they find you, and most importantly, which of your marketing efforts worked and which didn’t. ## How AI Search Will Affect Holiday Online Shopping You need to know this if you are… - An ***ecommerce*** business — whether you sell your exclusive products or someone else’s - A brick-and-mortar ***retail*** location - Planning to sell ***gift cards and certificates*** for services and/or products ## An Example Let’s take the question I posed in the opening paragraph, “What is a good gift, under $50, for a 54-year-old man who likes hiking and the outdoors?” and the gift buyer is a woman with a brother who fits that description, and she asks ChatGPT. (That one seems to be the most popular at the moment.) ***The response includes a list of 10-12 items, but no links!*** Next, our buyer ponders the list, then copies one idea and goes to Pinterest and pastes it into their search box. With that, she gets ***pictures, descriptions, and links!*** Get it? Therefore, it behooves you to ***start strategizing and planning super early*** for this holiday sales season. I can help you! Please book ***[a FREE 15-minute Zoom call ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)***to brainstorm some ideas. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## How to Optimize for AI Search You want to be found when people are searching for what you have to offer. Furthermore, you switch from your regular target market ***to the gift-giver***. That person may be looking for gift ideas — it’s up to you to provide them and make sure they come up in the AI search and answer engines. - **Excellent [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)** — describe your offerings clearly and completely. This is no time to be lazy! - **Have a store on [Shopify](https://shopify.pxf.io/eKD1mX)** (Affiliate Link) – Both ChatGPT and Perplexity have a partnership with Shopify, ***so your products will come up in their search results.*** - **Set up on both Google’s and Bing’s Merchant Centers.** The more the better! Most importantly, you must fill out your about sections, bios, product descriptions, etc., completely and make them keyword-centric. Moreover, not just on your website — including [meta descriptions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/) — for each product or service page. ## Social Media and Communities As it turns out, the AI Search and Answer bots crawl your social media and forum posts for information. In other words, ***it matters what you post!*** They grab text, videos, and images. All pictures and videos should be labeled with the product they’re showing — including the file names! Rename your picture/video files before you upload. Don’t leave “image456.jpg” or “video74839.mov” as the file names. That doesn’t help. Everything needs to be optimized. For instance, on [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/), you have 500 characters for descriptions on both boards and pins. Use it! Don’t just pin items, go into Pinterest, edit each board, and pin with those important keywords and [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/). Remember, on its own, Pinterest is a ***very powerful search engine*** more than it is a social media network. It’s where people go to plan how they’re going to spend their money! Most ecommerce stores integrate very nicely with Pinterest, including [Shopify](https://shopify.pxf.io/eKD1mX) (affiliate link). ## 10 Tips to help you get a jump start on a Successful Holiday Sales Season: 1. You must realize that your **gift-giver** may be a different [**target**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) than the people you’ve been marketing to. For instance, if you sell women’s accessories, you’ve been targeting women of a certain age. Now, you need to target their husbands or boyfriends — the gift-giver. **[Do some research to figure out how best to reach them.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/)** 2. **Choose the right social media networks.** If you’re promoting a **[lo](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/)**[**cal**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) event venue for corporate parties (B2B), then you’ll want to focus heavily on [**LinkedIn**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) and **[Google Business](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/).** If you’re an ecommerce site, then Facebook, Instagram, [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), and Pinterest are going to be your primary networks. But, don’t forget that [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-and-ai-search-bots/) users are consumers, too! And, of course, you’ve got the younger generation on TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube! 3. **Create great, enticing, unique graphics.** You need to stand out above all the other posts — not just your competition! Use only sharp, quality graphics and videos. For instance, videos and animated GIFs are more eye-catching than static, still photographs. 4. **Don’t use the same images over and over again.** You don’t want to be boring. There are plenty of **free-use graphics** out there. I like **[Pixabay.com](https://pixabay.com)**. 5. ****Change your social media cover graphics to reflect the holidays.**** I’d do this by the end of October! Furthermore, keep an eye on your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/) to see when they’ve switched to the holiday mode. 6. **Diversify the people in your pictures.** You want to make sure you’ve got everyone who’s a gift-giver covered! Don’t use the same type of people in your pictures. For instance, if you’re trying to reach the male gift-giver, show a picture of a guy giving a gal a gift. 7. **Showcase your best –UNIQUE– gift-giving ideas on your website or social networks.** The phrase “Unique Gifts for…” has a very high search volume! Incorporate the phrase on your website and social media posts using hashtags. For instance, #UniqueGiftsForMen, #UniqueGiftsForKids, #UniqueGiftsForMom, etc. Create a board on [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/) for each category. Then, pin pictures from your website there. 8. **Do some fun videos.** As I mentioned above, videos and animations are more eye-catching than still photographs and graphics. Have fun. First, not all videos need to be professionally done. Second, use your phone or tablet to record impromptu, casual videos with tips, greetings, and messages. Third, upload them everywhere: YouTube, Instagram Stories and Reels, Snapchat, Facebook, & LinkedIn. In addition, embed them in your blog. As a time-saver, use [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link) to schedule your posts to the various networks. 9. **Make sure to cover all the holidays!** It’s not just Christmas! There’s Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, too. Also, what about New Year’s? You may want to change the cover graphics to celebrate the new year. 10. **Budget some ad spending dollars.** Face it, you might just have to spend some money to ***increase your reach*** — especially if you’ve got formidable competition. Moreover, what’s nice about social media advertising is that with just a little investment, you can **reach a lot of people**. Furthermore, you can specifically target your audience. Again, look at your **[competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/).** How are you going to stand out? How are you going to reach that gift-giver? ## Big Bonus Tip! Obviously, people are very price-conscious and love bargain-hunting. Therefore, focus on highlighting the **VALUE** of your products or services. Shoppers will SHOP. They’ll read reviews, compare prices, return policies, shipping deals, EVERYTHING. And EVERYTHING includes what the AI search tools suggest. ## Don’t Sweat It! Strategize It! In conclusion, it’s time to strategize! Just like it was back when Facebook and Twitter were born — they were disruptors. Today, Artificial Intelligence is a disruptor! Shoppers have new ways to search and shop, and it’s up to you to be sure that your products or services are featured in the new SERPs (search result pages). There’s a lot you can do, and I’m here to help! Need some guidance? **[Let’s start with a free 15-minute Zoom Strategy Session, and we can talk about your goals for the season. Click here to schedule one today!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** eCommerce, Local SEO, SEO, Social Media Marketing, Strategic Planning **Tags:** AI Overviews, AI search, ai search bots, ai seo, ChatGPT, Christmas, digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, digital marketing techniques, ecommerce, Giselle Aguiar, holiday sales, holiday season planning, holiday shopping, marketing, marketing plan, marketing strategy, planning, retail industry, retailing, Strategic planning, tactical plan --- ### [VIDEOS: Do HASHTAGS Still Matter? What You Need to Know...](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) **Published:** September 10, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Do hashtags still matter in social media posts? Yes, they do! But their use and effectiveness have changed over the years. All of the social media networks use them — even [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) and [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/)! Use them consistently to **[brand](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/) your social media** posts. Naturally, it helps to have a strategy. You can create your own hashtags or use generic trending ones. If someone clicks on a hashtag, all the posts with that hashtag come up. ## **What Is a Hashtag?** So, what exactly is a hashtag? It’s a keyword or phrase preceded by the pound sign — like #SocialMediaMarketing — that helps categorize content and make it discoverable. Think of it as a digital filing system that connects your posts to people searching for similar topics. Using hashtags helps you get seen by people who don’t know or follow you, but are interested in the topic. ***It’s a great way to gain followers.*** ## How Have Hashtags Changed? Hashtags behave differently depending on the platform. Instagram and TikTok thrive on them. X/Twitter uses them for trending topics. Facebook and LinkedIn? Less so. Knowing where and how to use them is key to maximizing your reach. Here’s an update video on how hashtags have changed… --- ## Tips on Creating Your Own - Use your major keywords or phrases, like #HealthyAging or #PositiveParenting. Begin with Keyword Research. Use the free Google Keyword Tool, or [I can do it for you](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)! - They don’t work with just numbers. For instance, #2026 doesn’t work. You have to add a word to it: #2026HealthTips - They are not case-sensitive, so capitalize the first letter of each word of a phrase. That makes it easy for the human reader to see them. - They are exact, so #HealthyAging is different from #AgingHealthy. - They only use numbers and letters. As soon as you add a symbol or a space, it ends the hashtag. - Don’t hashtag every word in a sentence. This is a no-no: #Use #hashtags #correctly #for #maximum #effectiveness. ### Niche vs Broad Hashtags - Search for hashtags - topical / keywords - generic, broad ones — like #Business or #Success - custom, niche, or branded hashtags — like #AZSocialMediaWiz - If Local, #YourCity (broad), or #YourCityBrand (niche) - See how many posts there are with each one - Look for variations ## How Many Hashtags Should You Use? - Facebook & Instagram: Max 30, but that may be too much. - LinkedIn: No limit, but LinkedIn’s algorithm now prioritizes content quality and relevance over metadata like hashtags. Overused or generic hashtags (like #business or #success) don’t help much unless they’re relevant to your audience. Hashtags are now a supporting tool, not a primary discovery method. AI-powered recommendations and keyword relevance play a bigger role. - TikTok: 5 - X: limited to 280 characters for free. Unlimited if you have a pro account. - Pinterest: limited to 500 characters in post and board descriptions - YouTube: limited to 5000 characters in your video descriptions, but not hashtags specifically. Use them in titles, too! Check out my YouTube video below, which shows you where to put those hashtags. - Use hashtags sparingly, strategically, and consistently. - Relevance to the post is key. Don’t throw in hashtags because they are trending just to get noticed. That’s spamming and may get you banned or suspended. ## Tips on Using Trending Hashtags - Plan ahead for what will be trending. I publish an article about upcoming awareness and observance days at the end of each month. [You can check out the latest here](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/whats-trending/). - [Take advantage of hashtags that trend regularly on X.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) - Always check to see WHY something is trending to be sure it’s not a crisis. ## How to Use Hashtags Effectively to Market Your Business on Social Media: This is the original video showing specific ways to use hashtags in the various social media networks. Class notes: https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/Hashtags.pdf --- ## Marketing On YouTube --- [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, branding, creating hashtags, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, hashtags, how many hashtags, how to use hashtags, learning social media, LinkedIn, niche hashtags, online marketing, social media, social media training, social networking, Twitter --- ### [What You Need to do to Jump-Start a Business Slump](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/jump-start-business-slump/) **Published:** November 4, 2024 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** You survived the pandemic and subsequent business shutdowns or lockdowns that affected your business negatively. Now, with inflation and supply chain issues, along with government uncertainties, calling what you’re going through a “business slump” is probably an understatement. However, you can do a few things to jump-start your business, attract new customers, and bring back old ones — ***without spending too much money!*** Every business has its good times and bad times; feast or famine; flood or drought, but this economy has truly been a crisis for many businesses. ## There are many Reasons for a Business Slump… - The economy, the elections, national news, a weather event? You can’t do much about those except wait. This is where that rainy-day fund comes in. However, you can [plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) ahead! - Have you been **avoiding online marketing** like social media or [content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) because you find it overwhelming and confusing? - You never recovered from the pandemic slump that many businesses suffered through. - You’ve set up social media profiles on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/), [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/), [X (formerly Twitter)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/), [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/), [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/), etc., but rarely post on them. - You haven’t updated your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) since…. wait! You’ve never updated your website since it was created years ago. If your site hasn’t been updated since June of 2019, you’ve got an [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) problem for not keeping up with Google’s [algorithm updates](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/). - If you have an updated website, you haven’t written a [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) post in over a month… or is it over a year? Or does your site even have a [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/should-i-have-a-blog-on-my-website/)? - Have you had to pivot your business and are having difficulty getting the new concept off the ground? - Are you a brand new [startup](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/startups-need-grand-opening-success/) that just managed to get by in the pandemic crisis? ## Next, do you really understand your target market? **You need to clearly define and get to know your [target market(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)…** - What are their pain points (problems) that you, your product, or service can alleviate? - Have their pain points changed due to the virus situation? - Maybe you have a whole new target audience. - Do you need to educate your target about the benefits of using your product or service? - Do you know what your target market is going to enter into the Google search box when they have a problem that you can solve? ## [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/customers-1.jpg)Third, is your online presence functioning as it should? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)- **Are potential clients finding you?** Where do you come up in Google search when someone searches for what it is that you do? Who does come up on the first page? What are they doing that you’re not? - What are they doing [when they land on your site](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/)? Do you have a [call-to-action ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)where you can capture their email address in exchange for an ebook or other giveaway? - Have you tried sending a monthly newsletter to keep your name “top-of-mind”? Are you following up with marketing emails after they download the freebie? - What about your social media network profiles? Are they set up correctly and are they painting a [positive image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/) of you and your business? - Are you creating fresh [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) — blog posts, videos, graphics, or podcasts — at least [3 times a week](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/)? Then are you sharing them on the social networks? - Are you **actively engaging** with potential clients and referral sources on the social media networks? Is your social media [following growing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) steadily? - Do you have a **[strategic marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/)** plan to reach your target with today’s media? These are tough questions that need to be asked. Moreover, you need to come up with the right answers. If you have more “nos” or “I don’t knows” as answers, then you need to make some changes. ## What You Need to Do to Jump-Start Your Business 1. Decide if you want to or have the budget to **[hire a specialist or consultant](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/outsource-social-media-marketing/)** to guide you in the right direction, make your website functional, and properly set up your social media profiles. 2. If you have the budget, check out my [services](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/), then click here for a [free 15-minute Zoom consultation](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) and analysis of your efforts. 3. If you don’t have the budget, you need to [learn how to do it all yourself](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) or train someone on your staff. Hey, if business is slow, you’ve got the time. 4. The least expensive option is buying my [ebook](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089NBXX17/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Blueprint%3A+Strategies+for+Effective+Social+Media+%26+Digital+Marketing&qid=1591299013&sr=8-1) and learning on your own. It’s your total digital marketing strategy solution. It’ll walk you step-by-step from setting goals through using social media hashtags. Then if you [need help learning how to do something like blogging on WordPress for SEO, we can do a 1:1 session.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) ### [Let’s start with a FREE 15-minute consult!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Save Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Marketing, Small Business Tips **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Business, Business Slump, business tips, content marketing, content marketing strategies, covid-19 recovery, Giselle Aguiar, marketing, Marketing and Advertising, marketing plan, Marketing strategies, marketing strategy, recovery, social media, social media marketing, social media marketing strategy, social media strategies, Target market --- ### [Are People Who Need You Finding You?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-seo-tips/) **Published:** April 7, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** How your website is optimized for Google search (SEO) is crucial to being found when someone is searching for what you have to offer. One evening some time ago, I was walking in my neighborhood, and a lady stopped me to ask for directions. Lady: “Which is 11th?” Me: “11th what? There’s 11th Street, 11th Place, and 11th Way.” Lady: “I don’t know. Street or Place.” Me: “There’s a difference. Do you have the exact address?” Lady: “No. Can I get to 11th from here?” Me: “Yes, you’re on 10th Street, turn left at the intersection and you’ll see all the 11s on your left.” And she drove off. I saw her later on one of the 11s, pulled over probably calling someone because she was still lost. This got me thinking… > ***There must be a lot of people are out there searching for things without a clue of where to find what they want or need.*** [](https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share)Source [Statcounter](https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share)## Some Google [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) Facts - Google has close to 90% of all global searches. - Searchers look for [local businesses](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/local-search/) daily - The majority of searchers will pick businesses in the top 10-15 slots of local [search results.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gather-helpful-data-from-google-search-console/) See, Google doesn’t want lost searchers. That’s why Google will offer other suggestions. It’s finishing our questions and attempting to know what we want even though we’re not sure. That’s [AI — Artificial Intelligence](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/). You’ll notice that AI Overviews now appear at the top of search result pages. That’s a whole new shift in how Google shows content to searchers. Then you have voice search: “Hey, Siri” “Hey, Google” “Hey Alexa”. Besides that, Google is [constantly updating its algorithm](https://neilpatel.com/blog/bert-google/) in its attempt to know what we want even before we know we want it. Additionally, your *[UX and UI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/)* are important so potential customers find what they need or want quickly. ## What SEO do you Need to Be Found? If you Google your business name, more than likely your website will come up on the first Google search engine results page (SERP). This is a sample data for a client of mine If searchers know the name itll come up high and theyll click through> ***But what if someone who needs your product or service doesn’t know your name? What if your business name is not very memorable?*** Obviously, **that’s why** you need to **understand how [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/), keywords, and phrases [work](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/magic-formula-online-marketing-success/)**. I once met with a lady who had a yoga studio in Tempe. The name of the studio was Middle Eastern. Fine, but if you didn’t happen to know the name or how to spell it correctly, there was no way you were going to find it. If you were looking for a yoga studio in Tempe, and you lived in Tempe, you’d search for: “yoga studio Tempe” or “yoga studio near me”. Moreover, that’s where your [Google Business Profile comes in for local brick-and-mortar locations.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) **Related Article: [3 Free Tools & Tips to Help You Come Up in Local Search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/)** ### SEO Factors on a Website - **First, the domain name you choose is critical for SEO.** It may not help if you abbreviate your business’s name. People may not know your acronym. Furthermore, it shouldn’t be very long so you can print it on a business card. If local, try to get one with your location. - **Second, is the title of your home page.** Hint: it’s not “Home”. Read: [Home is not the name of your company.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-tip-home-is-not-your-company-name/) - **Third is loading speed.** This is part of the Google Core Web Vitals. [Here’s what you need to know on that.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/) [You can test your website here.](https://www.statista.com/statistics/315709/online-local-business-search-frequency-us-canada/) - Fourth, update your **[content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) regularly** — fresh and relevant — to match search terms you want to rank for — hence, come up on the top in SERPs. A [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) will help you do this. Related: [Are you making these digital marketing mistakes?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/) ## Some SEO Questions you Need to ask Yourself… 1. Are my [potential customers ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)finding me? 2. If someone is looking for what I have to offer, is my site coming up? 3. Do I have [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) set up on my [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/website/) and social networks? 4. Am I reviewing my [analytics and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/) monthly? 5. Am I publishing the right [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/evergreen-content/) at the right [frequency](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-often-should-you-blog/)? **If you’re not sure about *any* of these, then please schedule a [free 15-minute phone consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) and I’ll review your online marketing efforts and together we can help you market effectively.** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google, SEO **Tags:** digital marketing, domain names, Google, search engine optimization, seo, SERP, website traffic, websites --- ### [SEO Best Practices to Increase Website Traffic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/) **Published:** June 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/change-is-tough-600x600-2.png)Just when you think you’ve figured out how Google and search engine optimization ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)) work, Google goes and makes some changes. Besides that, now, you’ve got the AI search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity! **The challenge for the small business owner is…** - Keeping up with the changes - Adjusting your [marketing efforts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) monthly - Understanding what your [potential customer](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) is going to search for - Come up on top of Google’s Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) or get cited in the AI Answer tools. - [Enticing the searcher to click on your link](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/) - Driving more traffic to your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-copywriting-website-social-media-improve-results/) - Keeping the potential customer there until they [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) into a [lead](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) or a sale > “The future of organic search will be shaped by LLMs \[Large Language Models\] alongside traditional algorithms. Optimizing for rankings alone is no longer enough.” > > Kristina Bergwall, [Search Engine Land](https://searchengineland.com/seo-visibility-systems-469169) ## How Google’s AI Overviews Have Changed Organic Search Love it or hate it, [Artificial Intelligence (AI)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/) is here to stay! Using AI, Google will now promote “[AI Overviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In")” above paid ads and organic (non-paid) content in their SERPs. ### What This Means for Your Organic SEO Efforts… 1. Your organic content will be pushed down and not visible “above the fold” or before the search needs to start scrolling. 2. The AI will attempt to answer the searcher’s question or query at the top. Thus, they may not need to go into the organic content unless they want to go deeper. 3. Therefore, to get noticed, you need to consistently create helpful, quality content that… - Answers questions - Solves problems - Alleviates your target market’s pain points Here’s an example of what a SERP may look like for the search for “best treatment for acne scars”. (I chose that topic in honor of one of my clients, Bella Medical Spa.) The AI Overview shows at the top with dropdowns. However, note what comes up in the results — articles from national health sources! Unfortunately, no spa locations near me. When I tapped on “nearby” in the search, I got 4 sponsored ads or sponsored products, a different AI Overview, along with Yelp, and YouTube videos, and no map on desktop. It did, however, show links to some spas near me. ## What You Need To Do… 1. **Do your keyword research and AI questions research!** What is YOUR target audience putting into the search box to find you? What questions are they asking? 2. **Plan your [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/)!** Not just the [blog posts ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/ "How Can Not Blogging Weekly Hurt Your Reputation?")on your website, but your social media posts. 3. **[Blog at least 3 times a week](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) to start to catch Google’s attention.** Then, continuously update your content so you don’t have articles older than 1 year! Believe me, this is time-consuming. But the AI search bots look for FRESH content. 4. **Update any of your existing content to answer questions in detail.** My trick is to put the blog article back in draft mode, edit it, then republish it. Don’t change the URL (permalink). It will publish as a new post, and Google will think it’s fresh content. 5. **Make sure your website and Google Business Profiles match** when it comes to information, address, contact, etc. 6. [**Optimize your YouTube Channel.** YouTube is owned by Google, and videos feature prominently in AI Overviews. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google") 7. **Focus on getting Google Reviews, as well as reviews on Yelp and other sites.** 8. **Answer your potential customers’ frequently asked questions.** 9. **Organize your content using Pillar Pages.**.. ## What is a Pillar Page, and how does it help SEO? **Pillar Page** — it’s been a buzzword in the website creation and **[SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)** world for a while. But what is a pillar page? And why do you need one? > ***“A pillar page is the basis on which a topic cluster is built. A pillar page covers all aspects of the topic on a single page, with room for more in-depth reporting in more detailed cluster blog posts that hyperlink back to the pillar page.” – [Hubspot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/what-is-a-pillar-page)*** ### So what does this mean for your blog, website content, and SEO? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)***[I can write the SEO Copy for you ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)***First, go through your topics (categories) and select those that **you want to rank for** — the ones you feel describe the gist of your [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/content-marketing-seo/). Pick a few — not too specific and not too broad. If your website is not new, here’s a free tool called [Ubersuggest](https://ubersuggest.com) that will help you see what you already rank for. Another free tool to determine what topics people are searching for is the [Google Keyword Tool](https://adwords.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/). (Related: How to use the Google Keyword Tool & 7 Other Keyword Tools) For example, you would think my main topic would be social media marketing, which is too broad for a pillar page. Yet “Instagram Hashtags” is too narrow. “Instagram Marketing” would be the broad topic, and then there would be links to “cluster pages” on specific aspects of [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/ "Video: The Instagram Marketing Challenge: Tips To Help You Win Now") marketing that go into more detail. ### This video from Hubspot helps explain topic clusters… --- ### Plan out your pillar pages for maximum SEO [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)***[Learn how to effectively blog on WordPress manage your site](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)***Most of us are visual organizers. I like putting ideas on a whiteboard or a flow chart. 1. **Start with your broad topic.** For instance, I created a [Digital Marketing Glossary](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/). From there, all the terms are linked to respective articles. So, it actually becomes an index. 2. **List all the sub-topics related to that broad topic.** 3. List more detailed sub-articles below each one of those. For example, the term “LinkedIn” is linked to the main “LinkedIn” article. In that blog post, there are links to more specific articles like “[How to Use Hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/)” and “[LinkedIn Dos and Don’ts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-dos-and-donts/)“. **Yes, this was a time-consuming project, but it was worth it.** My glossary ranks for various related terms regarding digital marketing. Besides that, it’s what the AI search bots are looking for. It’s important to note that the Google search engine only sees text and links. It follows those links. That’s why you want to add both internal links — to other relevant articles within your website — and external links — to outside relevant websites (like I did with the Hubspot video above). However, when you add the external links, always have them open in a new page or tab, so the visitor doesn’t lose the original website. This keeps people on your website longer. The more time visitors spend on your website, the better the chances they’ll convert. ## But how do you get the people to convert and generate leads? ### Here are some more articles on Lead Generation and Conversions: - [A Website that Works for You 24/7](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/) - [Lead Generation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) - [Calls-to-Actions that Convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) Keep in mind that as AI “evolves,” it will constantly change. I keep up with all this stuff, ***so you don’t have to!*** Please follow me on social media, where I post content from various expert sources daily. #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)In conclusion, all this may look daunting. Nevertheless, it’s necessary if you want your website to be effective. Remember, it sells for you 24/7! The good news is that I can help you! ### [Click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consult and](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [ review of your current marketing efforts.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## SEO FAQs ### How can I convert visitors into leads and customers in this AI era? Focus on providing helpful, actionable content that answers questions and solves problems, optimize calls‑to‑action, maintain consistent posting, and offer lead magnets or consultations. Use pillar pages to guide visitors through a clear path and prompt them to convert, for example, by inviting them to schedule a free strategy session. ### How do pillar pages fit into planning content and SEO? Begin with a broad topic, then list related subtopics and create detailed articles under each subtopic. Link these cluster posts back to the pillar page and include internal links to other relevant articles and external links when appropriate. This structure helps search engines see a coherent topic hub and keeps readers engaged. ### What is a Pillar Page, and how does it help SEO? A Pillar Page is a central page that covers all aspects of a broad topic with room for more detailed cluster posts linked back to it. It serves as the foundation for topic clusters and helps search engines understand the relationships between related content, improving overall SEO visibility. ### What should I do to adapt my SEO strategy to AI Overviews? Start with keyword and AI questions research to understand what your target audience is asking. Plan and publish content regularly, aiming for original blogs and social posts that answer questions, solve problems, and relieve pain points. Update existing content, ensure your Google Business Profile matches, optimize your YouTube presence, encourage reviews, and create pillar pages that organize topics into clusters. ### What are AI Overviews, and how do they affect my organic SEO? AI Overviews are the top answers shown by AI search engines like Google’s AI, which can push traditional organic results down the page and even answer questions at the top. This means your content may get less immediate visibility unless you consistently produce high‑quality, fresh content, optimize for the questions your audience asks, and build robust pillar pages that support topic clusters. Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** SEO **Tags:** AI, Artificial intelligence, AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing, content marketing strategies, drive traffic to your website, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Google Search, increase website traffic, pillar pages, search engine optimization, seo --- ### [What is Search Intent? How to Think Like Your Target.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-search-intent/) **Published:** June 2, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** How can you read someone’s mind if you don’t even know them? That’s what happens when you try to do digital marketing, including SEO and social media, without doing this important research. Unfortunately, doing keyword research and trying to optimize your website as best as you can doesn’t cut it anymore. What you need to discover is the ***search intent*** of your potential customer. WHY are they searching for what you have to offer? Put yourself in your target’s shoes. You can blame AI for this new development. Google and the AI search tools attempt to answer searchers’ questions as best as possible with the information they find online. Here is a sample Google AI Overview. Note what it says under “Treatment for acne scars” — “***From sources across the web***“. ***Announced at Google Marketing 2025 paid ads will be live in AI Overviews NOT below them*** So, if you offer any treatments for acne scars, you’d better have some good articles or videos that AI can find. Many paid advertisers are losing clicks due to what’s called the “Zero-click” search results in the AI Search Engines, like ChatGPT. The searcher simply finds the answer they needed in the AI Overview or in an AI search tool, which often doesn’t include links, and they’re satisfied. Nevertheless, some searchers want more information. They want to dig deeper. Then you have to consider what their buying stage is. ## Content Marketing is Still the Answer! The challenge is to create blogs and/or videos that grab your potential customers’ attention, as well as the **AI Search bot**. What the AI bot is looking for is HELPFUL content, answers to questions, and advice. You need to know your target’s ***Search Intent***. ## What is Search Intent? **Search intent**—aka **user intent** or **keyword intent**—is the primary goal of a searcher when entering a query into the search box. It’s the **WHY** behind the search: whether the person is looking to ***learn something, find a specific website, compare options before a purchase, or complete a transaction***. For example, someone searching for “best running shoes” is likely in the **research phase**. They are gathering information, reviews, and comparisons. Moreover, a search like “buy Nike running shoes size 10” signals a clear readiness to make a purchase. This subtle but crucial difference determines the type of content that will best satisfy each query. Understanding **search intent** is key for both search engines and [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/content-marketing/) creators. Google and other search engines use sophisticated algorithms ***that*** incorporate semantic search. Their goal is to determine the ***underlying goal of a query.*** By matching content to these specific intents, search engines can return more relevant and satisfying results. ### What’s the Trick? The trick is to align content with search intent. Therefore, you must tailor your pages and blogs to ***answer exactly what the user is seeking***. In other words, it’s detailed information, visiting a particular site, reviews in the commercial space, or transactional pages that lead to purchases. This strategy not only improves [user experience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/) but also increases the likelihood of higher rankings in search result pages (SERPs). #### Four Broad Types of Search Intent: - **Informational:** The user is seeking knowledge or answers to specific questions. - **Navigational:** The user intends to visit a particular website or page. - **Commercial (Investigational):** The user is researching options and comparing products, reviews, or services. - **Transactional:** The user is ready to complete an action, often a purchase — [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/). These help shape [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) and content strategies, ensuring that each piece of content is ***designed to meet the expectations and needs of its intended audience.*** ## SEO Strategies to Work with Search Intent Effective SEO strategies for matching search intent begin with a ***deep understanding of why users conduct a given search.*** Recognizing what type of query it is allows you to tailor your content precisely to meet the user’s needs. This foundational insight means dissecting the search behavior behind keywords and mapping them to clear user goals. For example, if someone queries “quick kale recipes,” your content should immediately deliver a fast, straightforward answer rather than a lengthy cooking lesson or affiliate sales pitches and ads. Once you grasp the intent behind search queries, effective [keyword research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/keyword-research/) is the next step. Instead of simply targeting high-volume keywords, ***drill down*** into long-tail variations and modifiers that clearly signal user intent. Look for subtle cues in the query language—words like “how,” “best,” “buy,” or “cheap” indicate different intents. ### Align Your Content with Your Target’s Intent - For informational queries, produce in-depth articles, guides, or videos that offer comprehensive answers. - For commercial or navigational queries, design product pages or landing pages with clear [calls-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) and easy navigation. - Transactional queries should lead to pages where searchers can easily buy a product, get a quote, or sign up for a service. Use rich media like images, infographics, or videos to enhance the experience. Obviously, this ensures that your content doesn’t just match the search intent but exceeds user expectations. ## Optimize Your Pages and Posts On-page optimization plays a crucial role in reinforcing that alignment. Craft engaging [meta titles and descriptions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/) that signal to both search engines and users that your page contains ***exactly what they are looking for.*** Incorporate ***structured data and schema markup*** to help search engines understand the content context better. This may help you get into the AI Overviews. Focus on your user experience and interface — your [UX and UI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/). ***A Bad UX Will Cost You Sales!*** Finally, continuously monitor user engagement and technical performance via [Google Analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/). ## Samples From Clients’ Search Intent Research Here are a few samples of search intent research I’ve done for some clients… #### A Commercial Cleaning Service in Yuma, AZ… Audience SegmentCharacterizationLikely Need State When SearchingExample Search TermsRealtorsHigh-pressure real estate professionals who are focused on facilitating property sales or leases, ensuring properties are aesthetically appealing, and making properties market-ready or occupant-ready quickly. Their reputation and transaction speed are tied to property presentation. They value reliability and speed to secure the best presentation for listings.**Pre-Sale/Lease Presentation & Transaction Efficiency:** They need properties to be immaculate for showings, open houses, or tenant move-ins/move-outs, aiming to maximize appeal, secure quick sales/leases, and ensure smooth transitions. Realtors are typically under tight deadlines to prepare homes for showings or open houses. They need a cleaning service that delivers fast, first-impression-worthy results.pre-listing cleaning Yuma AZ, Real Estate cleaning services Yuma, move-out cleaning for home sale Yuma County, open house cleaning Yuma, post-sale deep clean Yuma AZ, realtor cleaning partner Yuma, move-out cleaning Yuma, Real Estate cleaning company Yuma, showing-ready cleaning service YumaShort-Term Rental OwnersProperty owners who rent out their units on a short-term basis (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo), heavily reliant on guest satisfaction, positive reviews, and efficient turnovers to maintain profitability and high occupancy rates.**Efficient Turnover & Guest Experience Optimization:** They require fast, thorough, and reliable cleaning services between guest stays to ensure impeccable guest experiences, maintain high ratings, and maximize booking potential.Airbnb cleaning Yuma AZ, vacation rental cleaning Yuma County, short-term rental turnover cleaning Yuma, reliable Airbnb cleaner Yuma, deep clean Airbnb Yuma, post-guest cleaning service Yuma, rapid cleaning service for rentals YumaMulti-Family Building Owners and ManagersProfessionals overseeing residential apartment complexes or condominiums, responsible for maintaining common areas, ensuring tenant satisfaction, complying with regulations, and managing property assets efficiently.**Common Area Maintenance, Compliance & Tenant Retention:** They seek consistent, high-quality cleaning for shared spaces, efficient unit turnover cleaning, and specialized services to ensure a safe, habitable environment that meets legal standards and keeps residents happy.apartment complex cleaning Yuma AZ, common area cleaning multi-family Yuma, janitorial services apartment buildings Yuma, move-out cleaning apartments Yuma, post-construction cleaning multi-family Yuma, block cleaning services Yuma, turnover cleaning for apartments YumaCommercial Office Building ManagersIndividuals responsible for the upkeep, operations, and maintenance of office spaces, focused on providing a clean, safe, and productive environment for employees and presenting a professional image to clients.**Workplace Hygiene, Professional Image & Operational Efficiency:** They need comprehensive cleaning services to maintain a healthy and productive work environment, ensure compliance with safety standards, and project a professional image, often balancing quality with budget. Or when an office needs regular maintenance or deep cleaning after events, aiming to boost employee productivity and client impressions.office cleaning services Yuma AZ, commercial janitorial Yuma, office deep-cleaning Yuma, window cleaning commercial Yuma County, post construction office cleanup Yuma, disinfection services Yuma office, commercial office cleaning Yuma, professional office cleaning Yuma, janitorial cleaning service YumaProperty Managers (General)Professionals managing a diverse portfolio of residential and/or commercial properties for owners, handling everything from tenant relations and maintenance to financial oversight and vendor coordination. They require comprehensive cleaning solutions for everything from common areas to individual turnovers in both residential and commercial settings.**Comprehensive Property Care & Emergency Response:** They require a versatile cleaning partner capable of handling routine maintenance, tenant turnover, specialty cleanings, and urgent situations across various property types to protect assets and ensure tenant/owner satisfaction.property management cleaning Yuma AZ, rental property cleaning Yuma County, commercial property cleaning Yuma, emergency cleaning services Yuma, post tenant cleanup Yuma, full service cleaning Yuma property, building janitorial service Yuma, turnover cleaning services Yuma,#### A Company that Offers Online Video Editing Training… Audience SegmentCharacteristicsNeed StateSearch TermsAbsolute BeginnersThese users have little to no prior experience with video editing software. They are looking for fundamental knowledge and guidance. They are often overwhelmed by the complexity of the software.Overwhelmed and seeking basic understanding. They need clear, step-by-step instructions and introductory material. They may be unsure which software is right for them.“learn video editing for beginners” “what is video editing software” “how to edit video on a Mac” “final cut pro for dummies” “Davinci resolve free tutorial for beginners” “motion 5 basic training” “video editing basics explained” “best video editing software for beginners Mac” “free final cut pro trial tutorial”Hobbyists/EnthusiastsThese users edit videos for personal projects, such as family videos, travel vlogs, or social media content. They are looking to enhance their skills and explore more creative techniques. Mostly older retired folks.Driven by passion and a desire to improve their personal projects. They seek inspiration, creative techniques, and intermediate-level tutorials.“final cut pro transitions tutorial” “Davinci resolve color grading tips” “motion 5 text animation tutorial” “video editing tips and tricks” “how to make a cinematic video” “best free video editing plugins” “learn video editing for YouTube” “how to edit travel videos” “motion graphics tutorials for beginners”Career-Focused Editors (Aspiring Professionals)These users are looking to build a career in video editing, whether as freelancers or within production companies. They need advanced skills, industry knowledge, and portfolio-building resources.Motivated by career advancement and professional development. They are looking for in-depth training, advanced techniques, and industry best practices.“final cut pro certification training” “Davinci resolve advanced color grading” “motion 5 visual effects tutorials” “video editing jobs training” “freelance video editing tips” “video editing portfolio examples” “best online video editing courses” “learn professional video editing” “Davinci resolve fusion training”Small Business Owners/MarketersThese users handle their own marketing and need to create video content for social media, websites, and advertising. They prioritize efficiency and practical application.Focused on practical application and achieving marketing goals. They need quick, actionable tutorials and templates that can be easily implemented.“how to edit videos for youtube marketing” “video editing for social media ads” “final cut pro tutorial for business” “davinci resolve for marketing videos” “motion graphics for business presentations” “easy video editing software for small business” “create promotional videos tutorial “video editing templates for marketing” “how to make engaging social media videos”Software-Specific LearnersThese users are already committed to a specific software (Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Motion) and are seeking resources specifically for that program.Focused on mastering a particular tool. They need tutorials, tips, and resources tailored to their chosen software.“final cut pro x tutorial\* “davinci resolve 17 training “apple motion 5 tutorial” “final cut pro effects plugins” “davinci resolve color management” “motion 5 keyframing tutorial” “final cut pro keyboard shortcuts “davinci resolve audio editing” “motion 5 particle effects”Get the idea? One was a local business, the other an ecommerce site. A lot of what’s here is Technical SEO. You may be thinking, “What’s Schema Markup and Structured Data?” Yeah, it’s a bit over my head, too! However, I had to learn not only what it is, but how it works, and which tools make it easy to implement it on a website — especially for local and ecommerce businesses. ## What You Need To Do NOW 1. [Define Your Target Market(s). Start here with this FREE workbook! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) (You can have more than one target, as you can see by my samples.) 2. Then take a step back and think of their ***WHY*** for searching for what you have to offer. Think of every FAQ — frequently asked question — your customers ever asked. 3. Make a list of 10 of your keyword terms and use the Google Keyword Tool to find the high-volume keywords. In summary, you can blame AI for all this extra work you’re facing if you want to be found. Not just that, but beat the competition! If you have a formidable competitor, you have to deal with this, or you might as well close up shop. If you’d like help with your target market’s search intent, let’s schedule a [FREE 15-minute Zoom consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA), and I’ll review your website and current efforts. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** SEO, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AI Overviews, AI search, ai search bots, content marketing, Google, search engine optimization, Search engine results page, search intent, search terms, seo, SERPs, websites --- ### [How to Get Results & Reap the Benefits of YouTube Video Marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) **Published:** November 12, 2024 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine next to its parent Google. Learn how to optimize your channel and videos to reap the benefits of YouTube video marketing. If you want to gain exposure, drive traffic to your website, and reach people who are searching for what you have to offer, you need to understand how YouTube’s powerful algorithms work. Watch this video… ## YouTube Marketing & Optimization Basics --- ## YouTube Stats… - YouTube is the 2nd most-used social media platform, next to Facebook. - It is the 2nd largest search engine next to its parent, Google. - YouTube has almost 2 billion unique monthly visitors worldwide. - They get over 35 billion monthly visits with an average visit duration of over 21 minutes. - With over 500 hours uploaded each minute. ## YouTube Algorithms - Their algorithm offers suggestions based on… - What viewers watch & don’t watch - How long they watch videos - What they share, save, & like - Multiple Algorithms - Your homepage – Recommendation System - Search - Up Next - Shorts YouTube’s algorithm tries to match each viewer to the videos they’re most likely to watch and enjoy. But, with over 500 hours of video content uploaded every minute, this is a Herculean task. Their search and discovery system “finds” videos for each viewer and their varying interests in order to get them to watch more videos that they’ll enjoy so they’ll come back to YouTube regularly. YouTube wants both short and long videos to succeed. Shorts are like Instagram Reels — short, vertical videos. ### Your Homepage – Recommendation Algorithm Your homepage is what you see when you first sign in to YouTube. This is YouTube’s recommendation system, which is designed to find videos for viewers, rather than viewers for videos. When a user visits YouTube the recommendation system pulls in videos and ranks the best candidates according to what that user is most likely to watch. YouTube aims to help each viewer find what they want to watch and maximize long-term viewer satisfaction so they keep coming back. ### Top Ranking Factors - Viewer Satisfaction - Surveys - Engagement Signals - Likes - Dislikes - Clicking on the Not-Interested button - Subscriptions - What you are most likely to watch - Performance Tips - Put yourself in your target viewer’s shoes - Upload consistently to sustain audience interest, increase subscriptions - Personalization - Watch history - Engagement ### Suggested Videos — “Up Next” Suggested videos or “up next” is where YouTube aims to ensure videos pulled into the suggested section are both personalized and related to what a user is currently watching. The ranking of suggested videos is based on machine learning’s understanding of which ones viewers are most likely to watch next. These videos are often related to the video a viewer is watching, but they can also be personalized based on the viewer’s watch history. - Which videos are often watched together - Related by topic - Previously watched - Tips… - Develop a series of videos that will help you get featured. - Identifiable Branding - Consistent calls-to-action - Utilize playlists and end screens ### YouTube Search Videos are ranked based on how well titles, descriptions, and video content match the viewer’s search and which videos get the most engagement for a search. Voice search is something to consider when writing your video descriptions. People don’t talk like they write. Whether they’re using their smartphone, Amazon’s Alexa, Siri, Google Home, or another voice command system, they’ll ask a question. It’s up to you to have the answer to the questions your target market is asking! Keyword research! It’s similar to Google’s goal of providing the best match for the search term, however, freshness doesn’t factor in. You may get videos that are years old as long as they match these criteria. Don’t delete old videos if the content is still relevant! Obviously, if you record a new video with updated information, delete the old outdated, or obsolete one. ## Content Strategy - [Know your audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) - Keyword research & common search terms - Discoverability with optimized titles - Smart video descriptions - Use both [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) and tags - Closed captioning (CC) or SRT (SubRip Subtitle files) for SEO - Create good, strong, quality content - Encourage interaction If people aren’t watching the majority of the video — just a few seconds, YouTube thinks the content is not relevant and will push it down in rankings as a result. ## How to Live Stream from a Mobile Device To stream live from a mobile device you need to - Have at least 50 subscribers. - No [live streaming restrictions](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853834) within the last 90 days on your channel. - [Verify your channel](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171664). - [Turn on live streaming](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026). (You may need to wait 24 hours before you can start your first live stream.) - Make sure you have a good wifi signal and your device’s battery is charged. ## The Community Tab A highly underused feature is the Community tab. This is where you can post and chat directly with your subscribers. You can post blog articles from your website, text, photos, videos, GIFs, and polls. Furthermore, you can request questions from your viewers. This is the real “social” part of YouTube. Community posts are social media-style updates. This feature is visible on desktops or phones — not on tablets at the moment. Adding posts to the Community tab is easy. You can even schedule posts for the future! ## How to Monetize Your YouTube Channel How do you make money on YouTube? It’s well-known that many people have made millions on YouTube. What does it take? - Partner Program - Minimum eligibility requirements - [Follow all the YT channel monetization policies](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1311392) - [Live in a specific country/region where it’s available](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7101720) - Have never violated any of their community guidelines - Upload at least 3 public videos. - Have more than 3,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months. - Or 3 million public “shorts” views in the last 90 days. - Have at least 500 subscribers. - Have a linked Google AdSense account. - [Nonprofits can use YouTube as a fundraiser.](https://www.youtube.com/socialimpact) ## Check out this video from YouTube. --- > *The YouTube channel monetization policies are a collection of policies that allow you to monetize on YouTube. As a YouTube partner, your agreements, including the YouTube channel monetization policies require compliance with these monetization policies to potentially earn money on YouTube.* > > YouTube So, if this is your objective, you have some goals to shoot for. Now, don’t expect to get 3000 public watch hours and 500 subscribers in a month. Depending on your business and industry, it may take 2-6 months of consistently posting videos — several a week — and diligently marketing and optimizing them, as well as engaging your community. ## Data, Analytics & Insights Check your analytics at the end of each month to get the following insights… - Views - How many hours - How many subscribers & growth - Top videos — important! - How they found your videos - Impressions vs clicks-to-view - Returning vs new viewers - Viewing duration ## [Branding](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/) & SEO If you want to impress people, you only have 1 time to make a good first impression! Your channel branding should be consistent with your website and other social media channels. - Logo - User name - Channel Art – Cover - URL - Links - Video thumbnails YouTube channel art needs to be a hi-def graphic that looks good on all sizes of screens from HD TVs to a smartphone. If you upload a picture, make sure it looks good on all devices. Make sure you completely optimize your YouTube Channel so it will come up in their algorithm. [](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz)Click on Customize Channel and then Branding to upload your logo — use the same logo that you use for your social media at 400 x 400 pixels, then upload the channel cover. Moreover, use one of the many free graphics tools. They have YouTube templates. By the way, don’t forget to add your links! Furthermore, keep personal & business separate. If you have a personal YT account, create a new one for your business with a different Gmail address. YouTube is owned by Google so everything connects to your Google Account. ### Channel Customization Here’s where you add the channel trailer — an introduction to you, your business, and what people can expect from your channel. You can also add a video for returning subscribers. Once you have some videos up, you can feature them on the channel home page in the featured sections. Under Settings, start with Channel basic info, country, and then keyword, these are tags — not hashtags! There’s a difference! These are generic keywords that apply to your channel’s current and future content. You have 500 characters — use them! #### Upload Defaults Consequently, here is where you can enter default information on your videos so you don’t have to include this each time you upload a video. ***However, you do need to edit and tweak it for each video.*** Don’t get lazy here! This will affect your SEO! Use hashtags in the description and then you have the keyword tags. Remove any that are not relevant to the video you are uploading. This comes up when you are uploading a video. It’s OK to repeat keywords that you’ve put in the channel info. Then, when you upload a video, push this description down and type in the description of the particular video you are uploading above it. Keep the title blank in the default as that will change depending on the video you are uploading. ## Additional Video Marketing Tips 1. Know your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) 2. Know your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/) 3. Get creative 4. [Set SMART Goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) 5. Plan it out — develop [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) and [tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) marketing plans 6. Weigh your options — [how much is your time worth](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/good-social-media-manager/)? #### Sources & Resources: - - - - - ## Recommended Channels - Financial Potion: - Creator Insider: - Google Analytics: - AZ Social Media Wiz: - Social Media Examiner: - Search Engine Journal: - Channel Makers: - Search Engine Land: ## Don’t Be Overwhelmed! [Let’s do a FREE 15-minute brainstorming session! ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Video Marketing, YouTube **Tags:** branding, digital marketing, how to make money on YouTube, optimizing your YouTube channel, seo, video, video marketing strategy, video marketing tips, YouTube, YouTube channel, YouTube channel monetization, YouTube marketing --- ### [What Makes Good, Quality Content Marketing for Today](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) **Published:** November 13, 2024 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Not too long ago, we used to say that “Content is King”. However, with today’s AI Search Engines, it’s changed to ***CONTEXT is king!*** How people search has evolved dramatically. Thus, businesses need to re-strategize the way they produce and share content. ## You still need to do content marketing in your business if you want to… 1. …**Drive potential customers to your website.** The more people who visit your site, the better your chances of making a sale! 2. … Strategically post on social media so you gain exposure and 3. **…Increase conversions** (sales), you need to **write the right content.** #### Yes, and it takes… - Time - Planning - Creativity **High-quality content** continues to be the foundation of today’s successful digital marketing strategies. Whether it’s written (blogs, ebooks, whitepapers, etc.), visual (video, animated gifs, and graphics) — if you don’t create content, you might as well close up shop. ## So, what Makes Good, Quality Content Marketing for Today? In this video, I tell you about a bevy of free tools and **content marketing strategies** to help you generate your content, be more productive, and in turn, **generate quality leads** **and conversions!** --- ## Content Marketing Strategies to Incorporate and Invest 1. **Create content that your target market(s) wants.** So that you know what interests your target audience, you first need to [clearly define them.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook) Consider age, gender, income level, occupation, likes, dislikes, habits, and other demographics. 2. **Then you need to do some [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/).** Luckily, there are a lot of free online resources to help you get as much information as possible. Find out what type of content they like. [Which social networks ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/)do they frequent? For instance, if you’re trying to reach Millennials – they’re a hot market – you need to think mobile, short videos, podcasts, and Instagram. (Related: How Different Generations Use Social Media.) 3. Think of your potential customer’s buyer’s journey. Your content should walk a potential customer exactly where you want them to go. Will they buy or convert right away, or do they need to be educated more? 4. Decide what you’re good at and what type of content you’re capable of creating. 1. [Blogs](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/should-i-have-a-blog-on-my-website/) – you have to be a decent writer; check out writing classes at the library. 2. [Video](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) – it’s easy with the cameras on mobile devices and laptops, but what about editing? If you’re on a Mac, there’s iMovie; on a PC, there’s MovieMaker, and YouTube has a free video editing tool. 3. Then there are graphics and pictures. Use the free online graphics tool, Canva.com. 5. Keep in mind that all the content you produce is part of your Brand Image. Make sure you put out good, quality content. If blogging, proofread it. Good grammar and spelling count even for SEO. Videos and graphics can never be fuzzy. 6. Keep up your passion. Create content about what you know and what you feel comfortable doing. If you feel you’re not a good speaker, then video won’t work because you’re going to stop doing it. After all, it’s hard. You might want to outsource your content creation if you have the budget. Research your options to make sure you will get someone who will create content that will enhance your company’s brand image. If you do outsource, make sure that they will be creating original content and not selling you articles that they’ve sold to others. That won’t help you with building the authority that Google looks for. 7. Get your social media act together. Social media plays an important part in how you promote and distribute your content. If you need help, we can do a 1:1 training session. 8. Write out a [strategic plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/). Start with [SMART goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) for what you want to accomplish with your content marketing. The strategic plan is how you’re going to accomplish those goals. Include the data from your research. Based on your research, how often do you need to blog? How often will you record a video or podcast? Then the tactical plan details how you’re going to implement the strategy. 9. Be consistent and persistent. [Content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/), as well as social media marketing, is a marathon, not a sprint. If you stop creating content, Google will forget you. If you stop posting on social media, people will think you fell off the face of the earth. 10. Include Email Marketing Automation in your plan. The content on your site along with social media will draw visitors to your website. You then need to convert that visitor into a lead by offering a free download – ebook – yes, more content, webinar or video or a coupon or special offer. You want to capture their name and email and ask them some qualifying questions to be able to segment your email list. Then, set up a marketing automation system. A couple of days after the download, send them an email with a video. If they watch the video, they then get another email. If they don’t watch the video in 3 days, they get a different email. The idea is to nurture the lead into a sale. 11. Make sure your website is [**optimized for search engines**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/). You want your target to find you, right? Do some keyword research to determine what people are searching for regarding what you have to offer. The Google Keyword tool, which is part of Google Ads is free to use, but you need to have a Google Ads account. Look for keywords and phrases with high monthly search volume and low to medium competition. See the **how-to video below…** However, **there are other keyword tools to try.** 12. **Make sure your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) are set up properly on your website.** You need to track where your visitors are coming from Google or the other search engines, social media, email, etc. This will tell you what’s working and not working. Furthermore, each social network has its own insights or analytics which will tell you which posts did well and the reach that you’ve attained. 13. **Write your blogs for the human reader, but with the search engine in mind.** Your articles should be keyword-centric. In fact, your website and social media profiles should also be. This is all part of your search engine optimization (SEO). **[If you’re local, here are some tips to boost your local search results](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/).** 14. **Make sure your content is voice-search ready.** *The folks at [Social Media Explorer offer this advice](https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-marketing-2/9-content-marketing-techniques-you-should-try-in-2019/):* [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/)## How to Use the Google Keyword Tool Yes, the Google Keyword Tool is still valid! However, the way to access it has changed. --- ## Time-Saving Tools for Content Marketing Here are some great tools to help you share your content, grow your following, expand your reach, boost SEO, and build credibility and trust. **[Quora](https://www.quora.com/profile/Giselle-Aguiar)** – popular Q&A site: Yes, it takes some time, but the more questions you answer, the more you get known as an expert in your field. 1. Set up your profile completely. 2. Put links to your Quora profile on your website and LinkedIn profiles 3. Follow questions from your topic(s) of expertise 4. Respond quickly to questions so you’re one of the first to answer. 5. If someone else beats you to it and they answered correctly – in other words, you couldn’t have written it better yourself – then up-vote their answer. It’s like liking it. 6. Share your answers on Twitter. 7. Answer the question in a brief paragraph. Then, put links to pertinent blog articles to “dig deeper” on your website. This helps grow your email list and increases traffic to your website. After a month of answering questions on Quora with this strategy, check your website analytics (make sure they’re set up correctly) and see how many folks came from Quora. (On my site, Quora comes up 2nd or 3rd behind the search engines.) **[Feedly](https://feedly.com/)** – Your online newsstand: You have to subscribe to dozens of blogs and online magazines to be able to keep up with your industry, and competition and find relevant content from trusted sources to share with your social media followers. Subsequently, you don’t need 100 emails daily. That’s where Feedly comes in. I use it daily to find content for my clients. 1. Set up folders to save content you want to deal with or read later. 2. Search for relevant content and look for quality sources. 3. Watch for magazines that publish more than 2 or 3 articles daily. If it’s too much to keep up with, just unfollow. 4. When you find a good article, share it on your social networks using either Buffer or HootSuite. (See below) [**Dlvr.it**](https://dlvr.it/) – automate posting content to social networks. Free to a point. Don’t pick a content publisher that publishes a lot of content daily. Find trusted sources who provide consistent, good, quality content — that’s not a competitor! [**LinkedIn**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) – Publish your blog on your website first to give it content authority with Google. Share it to your LinkedIn personal profile as well as your company business page (use one of the automation tools to do this). Then, in a few days, publish it on LinkedIn, but add a link to the original article at the bottom saying that this article originally appeared on your website. Make sure you have a call-to-action at the end. This will help with SEO, brand awareness, trust, and credibility. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)[Learn how to manage and edit a WordPress Website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)[**Co-schedule**](https://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer) – they have a free (to a point) headline analyzer – you get 25 credits to optimize headlines a month. Try to get a score of 70 or above. **[Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link)** — this is the best social media scheduler out there. I love it so much, I became an affiliate. What’s great is their analytics and insights all in one place. They even give you the best time to post in general or for specific networks. **[Podcasting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/):** Podcasting is now easier than it’s ever been! You don’t need fancy equipment, and you can start for free. [Check out this article for more info](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/). **WordPress.org & free plugins** – I recommend [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) for your website and blog. It combines both, and there are tons of free themes and plugins. If you’re not ready for your own hosted website, start at WordPress.com, which is free to a point, but it’s inexpensive to add a domain name. You’ll also start using the new Gutenberg block editor, which is having problems on hosted websites. However, you may soon outgrow it as it has limited features. As soon as you want to add features, they add an upgrade fee. It’s wiser and more economical to start with a hosted WordPress website that you can customize, and it will grow as your company and needs grow. ### Must-have free WordPress plugins: - SEO by Yoast - Google Site Kit with Analytics and Search Console - Wordfence - Backup Buddy One thing’s for sure, we can’t predict what new tool will come out, what features a social network will add, what will be popular, and what will be trending. Moreover, you need to be ready to adapt to the changes. I share on my social media. Follow me to keep up. If you’re not on my list, click **[here](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** to download the free [Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/), and you’ll get on my list. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Content Marketing, Marketing Strategy **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blogging, content marketing, content marketing strategies, Giselle Aguiar, improving marketing results, websites --- ### [How the Right Copywriting on Your Website & Social Media Can Improve Results](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-copywriting-website-social-media-improve-results/) **Published:** June 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** It’s extremely frustrating when you have what you think is a great website, yet you’re not getting [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/ "How to Improve the User Experience on Your Website to Increase Conversions"). That is, visitors aren’t staying, they aren’t clicking on your offer, and worse yet, they aren’t buying. Whatever you’re doing to attract and drive visitors to your website is working, but they’re not doing anything once they get there. You’re losing them. Why? Usually, it’s bad **[copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)**. Sure, your website **copy** may sound OK to you, but it’s not ***selling*** the visitor. And that is the job of the website! ***It’s your 24/7 salesperson! Good copy should take the visitor from the headline, through the content,*** and to the call-to-action (CTA). It should be obvious and easy. ***Don’t make them work!*** The trick is writing for the human reader, but with the search engine and the AI answer bots in mind. What’s nice is that the search engines are focused on the user. [Google and the AI bots](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") want fresh, relevant, useful, and quality content written for the human reader in natural language. ## How to Think Like the Search Engine in Your Copywriting It’s hard to think like the search engine when they keep changing their algorithms! Their purpose is to present the searcher with the most relevant, freshest content based on the search term they entered in the search box. Then it tries to think for them as to what other related content they could possibly be interested in. How do they do that? ### 2 Different Approaches to [Search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/content-marketing-seo/) - **E-E-A-T** (Experience, **Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness**): This one’s pretty obvious. Who has the most of these qualities? That goes to building [trust and credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/). People buy from those they know and trust. This [article goes deeper into Google’s E-E-A-T.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) Then we have the new [N-E-E-A-T-T.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") - **YMYL** (**Your Money or Your Life**) – This sounds like what a mugger might say to you on a dark street, but it’s the type of content that the search engine determines can directly or indirectly impact a searcher’s happiness, health, finances, and well-being. - **Usefulness** – Is it ***helpful***? Does it answer the searcher’s question? Does it offer solutions to problems or pain points? - **[Quality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/)** – Quality content today means it’s written in natural language for a human reader. Obviously, that doesn’t mean you can take the copy from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and use it verbatim. No, you need to edit it so it sounds like a human wrote it, not a computer. Remember you’re talking to your target audience, not another computer. You can’t have an AI tool write your content without giving it a human touch. Here are the[ Pros and Cons of using AI for writing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/ "10 Pros and Cons of Using AI for Writing Content to Save Time"). ### The Search Results Page (SERP) This is an example of how a meta description comes up in the Search Engine Results Pages SERPsWhere and what comes up here is crucial if you want someone to click through to your website. What they see is the [headline](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/write-awesome-powerful-headlines-blog/) of a page, then the [meta description](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/) outlining what’s on that page. If there is no meta description, the search engine will pull up the first paragraph of text that it finds on the page. You can have complete control over this. Use it! [Google’s Site Kit](https://sitekit.withgoogle.com/) is another free plugin for WordPress that will give you stats on how many times you came up in search and how many people clicked on it. ## Discovery or Attention Stage What I’ve outlined above is part of the discovery or the attention stage of a potential consumer’s buying journey. Consequently, what the potential customer does next is solely up to the website copy. You need to walk them through the conversion funnel with your copywriting. Obviously, the goal is “Action”. ### The Awareness Level of Your Audience There are 5 levels of **consumer awareness**. Also, think of them as buying stages. 1. **Unaware** — They don’t know they have a problem worth solving. At this point, they are asking the AI chatbots something generic. Maybe it’s just curiosity. 2. **Problem Aware** — They sense they have a problem, but don’t know there’s a solution. In today’s AI search, they will be very specific in the question they are asking. They no longer put a keyword and “near me”. 3. **Solution Aware** — They know the results they want but don’t know that you provide them. Here’s where the AI chatbot will nudge them to go deeper in their search. For instance, it will compare products or services. It’ll show features and pricing in an attempt to help the searcher make a choice. 4. **Product or Service Aware** — They know what you sell, but aren’t sure it’s right for them. In this stage, they’re comparing companies or providers. They need a little bit more convincing. Here’s where your [trust, authority, and credibility-building](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page") pay off. They will look at [reviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In"), your [about page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/), and maybe even your [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/ "LinkedIn") page. 5. **Most Aware** — Repeat buyers, referral sources, and loyal customers who refer you to their friends, colleagues, or customers This is part of knowing who your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) is, what their pain points or problems are, and how you are going to solve or alleviate them. > Length alone tells you something. A three-word query (“best running shoes”) is a person at ***the top of a funnel.*** A query three times longer (“which stability running shoes work best for overpronation in humid weather with same-day pickup near me”) is ***a person at the bottom***. They have already narrowed, carrying constraints and context the AI gave them. They are not asking “what are my options.” They are asking “where do I do the thing I already decided to do.” > > Slobodan (Sani) Manić, No Hacks You need [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/ "What is Content Marketing?") on your website that answers their questions, no matter what awareness/buying stage they are in. Here’s where a [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/ "What is a Blog and Why do I Need One for My Business to Succeed?") comes in. In addition, having a search box on your website helps, as well as an index of major keywords (tags) and categories, so a visitor can easily dig deeper. In other words, the longer a visitor stays on your website, the more pages he or she views, the higher the chances that they will do something, ie, ***convert***. ## Steps to Good, Effective Copywriting 1. **It starts with the headline**. You have 7 seconds, if that, to catch someone’s attention online. That’s true for websites, search engines, and social media. There are AI tools that can help you compose enticing headlines. **[I can show you how! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training")** 2. **The first paragraph:** Next in line is the opening paragraph. Make sure it’s captivating and piques curiosity. Just like your headline should. Moreover, your first paragraph should deliver on what the headline promised. For SEO purposes, your main key phrase should be included in the first paragraph. 3. **Highlight keywords and sub-headings, use bullet points and lists:** People skim over pages. That’s where using bullet points, sub-headings, quotes, and emphasizing major keywords and questions comes in (using bold and italics). They’ll keep reading if they think you’re providing what they need. Using color also works here. 4. **Write persuasive copy**: Use power and action verbs that give direct commands. This is your [call to action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/). What do you want the visitor to do? You have to tell them. For instance, “Visit Website” is a soft suggestion. “Learn More” is a stronger command. Yet, getting specific on the benefits of learning more helps with the AI bots. For instance, “Learn How You Can Save Time” is a more direct call to action. In other words, avoid using vague language. Don’t get overly wordy either. Don’t beat around the bush. **Get to the point.** ### WIIFM Remember to stand in your target market’s shoes as you’re composing your copy. They are thinking, “What’s In It For Me?” (WIIFM). ***Are you answering that question?*** In fact, answer the question briefly, in a few sentences first. Then, go deeper or link to a page where they can get details. ## Adapting These Copywriting Strategies to Your Social Media Your social media pages and profiles should be an extension of your website. **Copywriting** tips and rules apply here, too! On [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) and [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/), you have a lot of space in the about sections — use it. On X, [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/), and [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/), your bios are only 160 characters. ***Think keyword-centric.*** Again, think of the **headline** first. ***That headline is crucial to getting people to click through to the article.*** ## Which AI Tool is Good for Copywriting? Out of all the AI tools, I like Claude.ai for copywriting. It’s made for writing. [I can show you how to use it to write hooks for your social media posts and more! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training") ### *If you’re not sure what’s working or not working in your marketing, allow me to give you a [free analysis!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)* [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [Let me do it for you ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Content Marketing, Lead Conversion, Marketing Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Websites **Tags:** copywriting, improving marketing results, lead capturing, lead generation, marketing, search engine optimization, seo, SERP --- ### [Top 3 Ways to Love Your Business Blog so it Actually Works for You!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/top-three-ways-to-love-your-business-blog/) **Published:** March 5, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** A blank page is a terrifying thing. You know you need to [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) to help promote your business. You know that [blogging 3 times a week](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) — or at least once a week helps drive potential customers to your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/). Yet, you can’t seem to sit down and write. You stare at the blank screen for hours, not knowing where to start. ## How can you take your blank business blog from “blah” to “awesome” in three easy steps? 1. ***Recognize the value.*** What better way to distinguish yourself and your business from competitors than by sharing ***your own unique voice***? In addition to helping with **[SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)** (Search Engine Optimization), [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/whats-your-story-blogging-for-business/) lets you share your company story in a way that adds dimension to your brand. Recognizing **value** in what you are doing is the best motivator around. 2. ***Stop being afraid.*** Fear kills creativity. Whether you are still suffering from the red-pen horrors of your high school English class or whether you’ve only recently admitted to yourself that you have to blog but are procrastinating, realize that you already know everything you need to start (or re-start) your business blog. Here are some scary stumbling blocks that you can easily overcome. If you… - **If you think you’re not a good writer**, take a writing class. There are many online options, and your local library probably offers some. Though AI can compose articles for you, you need to be able to edit them and add your opinions, expertise, and experience. (Related: [The New E in Google’s E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/).) - **Don’t know what to write about?** Use a keyword research tool to determine what people are searching for in your field or industry, and use the list they provide for **blog topics**. In other words, there’s nothing better than providing the information that your target audience is searching for! - **If you feel that you’re not tech-savvy enough**, don’t worry. [I can teach anyone how to blog on WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/). 3. ***Find your voice.*** Everyone has one. By working through the process of generating thoughts, organizing ideas, and proofing for technical goofs, you can find your voice. Writing for business involves the same parts of your brain as writing the Great American Novel or the next Hollywood hit. Nevertheless, your goal is different, but the process of generating, refining, and letting it all out is the same. - Use a [headline analyzer](https://headlines.coschedule.com/headlines/) to craft a catchy headline. - Deliver on the headline — no click-bait! - Talk to your target market. Remember, you’re the expert and they aren’t. ## Business blogs do take some time Yes, they do take some ***sweat equity,*** but you’ve got to do it! Therefore, carve out an hour or two a week. The more often you blog, the better. Furthermore, you’ll get used to the software and it will take you **less time** to do each article if you blog frequently. **How long should the blog be?**It depends. For SEO, the rule of thumb is 300-500 words. However, it should be as long as it needs to be to tell the story, answer a question, or educate your potential customer. **What about having guest writers?**Absolutely! Invite guest experts in your field or industry to contribute to your blog. Offer them a bio page with a link to their website. **How about using pre-published content?** Sure you can repurpose content that’s been published elsewhere. However, keep in mind that first, you need permission from the author to use their article if you’re going to fully duplicate it on your site. Furthermore, the authority and expertise factor in SEO stays with the original publication. You can also quote part of a document — always citing the source — and then add your thoughts and opinions. ### ALWAYS proofread your article before publishing! Read it aloud to yourself. Actually, it’s best if you walk away from it for a few minutes, do something else, and then come back to it. Put yourself in your potential reader’s shoes. Does it make sense to someone unfamiliar with your business or industry? If possible, have another person read it. Use a tool like [Grammarly](https://www.grammarly.com/) to help catch errors and typos. ## What about using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Blogging? Personally, being a fairly decent writer, I don’t trust AI. First, AI is a computer. A computer lacks wisdom, common sense, and compassion. Plus, if you’re writing for a certain target market, it may be writing a bit over their heads. Thus, we have a dilemma — to use AI to save time or not? I have one client who used AI to write a few blog posts. They are factual and answer the question, however, they are not very well optimized for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). For instance, I’ve been using Google Translate (a form of AI) to translate some blog posts into Spanish. Though the translations have improved tremendously in the last few years, I still had to proofread them to make sure they made sense and had correct grammar. Sure, Ai can write the article for you and save you time in that sense. Nevertheless, you still have to proofread it! Clearly, you want to always put your best foot forward when publishing a blog. It’s part of your [online image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/)! ### When proofreading AI… - If you’re on WordPress, use the Yoast [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/inbound-marketing-2/seo-internet-marketing/) plugin to help you make sure the post is optimized for the search engine. - Look for words that your target audience may not understand and define them. The Yoast SEO plugin will check the reading level for you. - I noticed that AI tends to write in long sentences and paragraphs, which are difficult to read. Break them up using bullet points where you can. - Make sure the objective of the post is clear from the title to the solution to the [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/). - Have an opening paragraph that entices the visitor to keep reading. Somehow, AI just starts answering the question or explaining a topic without a proper introduction. ## Overall, you still need to blog for your business! In conclusion, try both writing it yourself and using AI. Determine which was easier for you and/or takes less time. Moreover, maybe you can use AI for doing time-saving research and then rewrite the article in your own words. [**You can outsource it, but beware! Read this first!**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/when-outsourcing-keep-it-local/) Related: [The Pros and Cons of Using AI for Content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/) Wondering how you can create and maintain a beautiful blog that suits your business? [**I can teach you!**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)[**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, blogging, Business, content marketing, marketing, search engine optimization, seo, writing --- ### [How to get AI-SEO for a new WEBSITE or a Neglected One?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-new-website/) **Published:** September 8, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** **Search Engine Optimization ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/))** – everyone with a [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/) wants it. Yet, it can sometimes be elusive if not done properly. Furthermore, what about the AI search bots? How are they going to pick up your site when someone asks them a question that you can answer? Now, I am assuming that you have a finished website [optimized for the search engines properly ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-tale-of-2-auto-repair-shops/)by a webmaster worth their salt. Or maybe you’ve neglected your blogging and content marketing for some time, and Google forgot you exist, never mind ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini. ## How Stopping Your Blog Affects Your Exposure If you were blogging regularly — say once a week — and you took a break — either you went on vacation or just stopped blogging for any reason — you would lose your SEO ranking! Google will consider your site stagnant and will ignore it! You don’t want that. The AI search bots have nothing to scrape. (That’s what they do, by the way, scrape content from EVERYWHERE. ### So, what do you do if you have a brand new site — or a neglected one — to get noticed and ranked by the search engines? ## There are 3 Crucial Marketing Strategies to Obtain Good AI-SEO… 1. **Content:** Your pages need to be ***optimized with the relevant keywords* and the RIGHT STRUCTURE.** Then you have to **[blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/)**. And in the beginning, since you’re starting from scratch, you should **[blog daily](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/)** if at all possible. ***Write for the human reader in natural language, but with the AI search bots in mind.*** The more often you blog, the happier you make Google and the search bots by feeding them what they want. 2. **Social Media:** Set up ***keyword-optimized business profiles*** in these major networks: **[Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/)**, [X (formerly Twitter)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-types-twitter-users/), [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) Company Page, [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/), [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/), [Reddit](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/), and [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/). Each one of these will have a backlink to your website, and every time you write a blog post, you must share it on all the networks. Make sure your web address is correct in each profile. 3. **[Have Patience and Perseverance:](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-business-success/)** It doesn’t happen overnight. Depending on your industry, competition, how often you blog, the quality of your content, and your activity on the social networks, it may take from 1.5 – 6 months to start seeing results. Yeah. It takes work. But if you don’t have a budget to hire someone to do it for you, you have to [learn how to do it yourself](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/). It’s not that difficult if you have the right tools, understand how it all works together, and plan your [strategy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) and [tactics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/). If the site has been neglected, it may take 3 months to get the SEO juice back. And don’t give up! It’s a marathon, not a sprint! > ***The more you blog, the more traffic you will draw to your website. The more traffic you draw to your website, the greater the conversions.*** ### Your Blogging Tactical Plan… - Do keyword research to see what your target market is looking for and determine your target’s [search intent](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-search-intent/). This will also give you topics to blog about. - Update your website’s Headings with those major keyword phrases. - Answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) — each one should be a blog post. - Blog daily for the 1st week - 3-4 blogs in the 2nd week - 2-3 blogs during the 3rd and 4th weeks - Share every blog article on your social media sites and duplicate it on your LinkedIn personal profile with a link back to the original article at the bottom. Then check your analytics. Blog at least once a week, ongoing. Any less and you risk losing SEO. Plan around vacations. Don’t stop blogging! ### **Don’t be overwhelmed! [*Click here to schedule a free 15-minute strategy!*](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** SEO, Websites **Tags:** AI, AISEO, AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing, content marketing strategies, digital marketing techniques, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Google Search, LinkedIn, new website SEO, Pinterest, seo, seo social media, social media, social media marketing, social savvy, Twitter, Web search engine, Website, websites --- ### [Why You Need to Use Categories and Tags in Your Blog Posts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-use-categories-tags-blog-posts/) **Published:** May 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** What would you do if I told you that taking a few seconds to do something that will **improve your** [**search engine optimization** (SEO)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/), **keep visitors on your site longer**, **and increase your page views**, you’d do it, right? I hope so. Taking just a few seconds to use categories and tags in all your blog posts will absolutely help. ## Here’s why you need to incorporate categories and tags in your blog posts… [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)1. **Categories and tags are keywords that help you rank.** Google loves keywords. Especially those that are relevant to the nice fresh content that you’re writing. Those very keywords, you discovered from your research, your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) is entering into the search box. Additionally, they’re the ones that will help you come up on the **first page of Google** when someone is looking for information on that topic. 2. **The AI answer bots use them to understand what the page is all about.** That way, they can better cite your content. 3. **They help keep visitors on your site longer.** When used, Categories and Tags appear on all your blog posts. When someone clicks on one of them, all the articles with that topic come up. Furthermore, it piques the curiosity of your visitor. **They increase your page views.** ***The longer a visitor stays on your site, the more pages they view, the higher the chances that they’ll do something***, like convert into a lead or make a purchase. ## Where do I add Categories and Tags? In a [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) blog, they are over on the right column about halfway down the page. **Choose no more than 3 categories.** You can choose as many tags as are relevant to your blog article. Think of the category as the general topic of your post and the tags as the major keywords that you mention in the article. ### **Below the Categories are the Tags.** In addition, use as many as are relevant to your post. However, don’t overdo it. Choosing these comes easier after you’ve done your keyword research. Always add your name and your company name to the tags. If you’re local, add your city. Think of different ways to say the same thing. Once you’ve used tags in more than one post, click on “Choose from the most used tags,” and you’ll see a “tag cloud”. The ones within the larger font are the ones that you use most often. Just click on them to add them. ***Saves a ton of time!*** #### Another mistake I see people make is leaving “Uncategorized” as a category. This is an easy one-time setup fix. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/WP-menu-Posts.jpg)Over on the left menu, under Posts, click on Categories. Here, you can add all the topics that you plan to blog about in advance. You can always add a category on the fly from the right menu. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/WP-settings-menu.jpg)Then, on the left under Settings, Writing, find “Default Post Category”, and choose one of the most generic topics that describes your blog. This way if you forget to pick a category, it won’t be under “Uncategorized”. “Uncategorized” doesn’t help whatsoever – it definitely isn’t a keyword! If you have blog posts with “Uncategorized”, they’ll be automatically changed to whatever topic you indicate here. When [blogging regularly,](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) [at least weekly,](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/) and using categories and tags consistently in **all your blog posts**, you’ll start to see an increase in the number of page views per visit and a decrease in the bounce rate. ### Have you been blogging and not using categories and tags? In WordPress, you can easily **add them to past blog** **posts** by going to “All Posts” from the left menu. You’ll see a list of all your posts and columns for both categories and tags. Hover your mouse over the post title, and you’ll see links. Click on “Quick Edit,” and you’ll be able to add the relevant categories and tags for that post. Click on “Edit” to open the full editing screen if you need to. ### [What if your blog is on WordPress?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/ "Learn How to Effectively Blog on WordPress!") First, you might want to think about moving it to a hosted/managed WordPress website. Nevertheless, if you’re stuck on another platform for a while, most of them do have a system of categories and tags. Search their help menu for assistance. In conclusion, this is just a small part of what it takes to **blog effectively**. I can guide you, 1:1, through planning what to write about, [how to blog on WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/), how to **get exposure and drive traffic to your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/)** with social media marketing, and how to see what’s working and [not working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/) each month. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Marketing Strategy, SEO **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, blogging, content marketing, Giselle Aguiar, improving marketing results, inbound marketing, online marketing, search engine optimization, seo --- ### [11 EASY Ways to GROW Your X FOLLOWERS & Get Noticed](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/11-easy-ways-grow-twitter-followers-get-noticed/) **Published:** October 7, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Why bother with X (formerly Twitter)? Because you want **exposure**, visibility, and **SEO** ([Search Engine Optimization](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)). Simple. You want to build a **following**, be seen, and get found. **X** is great if you [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/should-i-have-a-blog-on-my-website/) or create [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) regularly, and you want to [drive people to your website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-tips-for-getting-traffic-to-your-website/). Yes, it’s very political, but it’s still a strong network for exposure. Politics and breaking news are not the only things going on there. Then you have Grok. I’ll explain. ## Three Benefits of Carefully Building and Nurturing X as a Marketing Tool 1. **Visibility**: You need to be seen so that potential customers and referral sources can know what you have to offer. 2. **Social Amplification**: Extend your reach by posting content that followers will share and using [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) strategically. 3. **Connection**: Get better connected with your fans, customers, and supporters. Build relationships. **Posts on X come up in Google search!** You can’t just set up an X account, automate some content, and expect it to work. Then, there’s Grok, their AI tool. It’s the future. Here’s what you need to know… ## The Power of Grok on X Grok is X’s built-in AI assistant, developed by [xAI](https://x.ai/), designed to be witty, fast, and deeply integrated into the platform. Its strengths include: - **Real-time insights**: Pulls directly from live X posts, trends, and conversations for up-to-the-minute answers. - **Humor + personality**: Inspired by *Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy*, Grok responds with wit and a rebellious streak, making interactions engaging. - **Advanced reasoning**: Uses multi-agent systems for complex problem-solving, from coding to policy analysis. - **Content creation**: Summarizes long documents, drafts posts, brainstorms ideas, and even generates code. - **Voice & conversation**: Supports natural, fluid dialogue for hands-free use. - **Developer tools**: Offers coding guidance and debugging help. - **Future roadmap**: Expanding into multimodal AI (image, video, and audio processing) for richer interactions. In short, Grok isn’t just a chatbot—it’s positioned as the “truth-seeking AI companion” that makes X more than a social platform. ## Free vs. Paid Accounts on X ### Free Account - Access to core X features: posting (limited to 280 characters), following, and direct messaging. - Limited Grok usage (basic queries only). - Ads are displayed throughout the platform. - No advanced customization or monetization options. ### Paid Subscription Tiers (X Premium) X offers **three subscription levels** under *X Premium*, plus an advanced Grok add-on: TierPrice (approx. watch for specials)Key Features**Basic**$3/month or $32/year• Edit posts (within 1 hour) • Longer posts (**up to 25,000 characters**) • Longer video uploads (up to 3 hours / 8GB) • Text formatting (bold/italics) • Bookmark folders • Custom app icons • Small reply boost • Higher Grok usage limits**Premium**$8/month or $84/year• All Basic features • Blue checkmark (verification, optional to display) • Reduced ads (~50% fewer) • Creator monetization (ad revenue share, subscriptions) • Media Studio access • X Pro dashboard access • Greater Grok usage • Higher reply prioritization • Ability to gift a Premium subscription**Premium+**$40/month or $395/year• All Premium features • **No ads** anywhere on X • Write and publish long-form **Articles** • Radar (advanced trend + keyword tracking) • Highest reply prioritization • Even greater Grok usage & special tools**SuperGrok (add-on)**$30/month or $300/year• Unlocks **Grok Heavy** with multi-agent reasoning • DeepSearch mode for complex queries • Image generation (future multimodal features) • Designed for power users, analysts, and developers### Key **Takeaways**: - **Free users** get a taste of Grok and the basic X experience. - **Basic** is for casual power users who want editing, longer posts, and light Grok use. - **Premium** is for creators and professionals who want monetization, verification, and fewer ads. - **Premium+** is for heavy users who want a clean, ad-free experience with advanced publishing tools. - **SuperGrok** is the AI enthusiast’s tier—unlocking Grok’s full potential. ## Should You Pay or Stay Free? Well, it depends on what you want to accomplish, who you want to reach, your industry, and your competition. It will be best for you to book a [free 15-minute Zoom Strategy Session to discuss your options. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### Here are some tips to grow your following on X… 1. **Clearly [define your target market(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/).** You’re going to be searching for your target on X search, but you need to identify who you’re looking for. Otherwise, you’ll waste time. Do a little [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) on them, too. Grok can help! 2. **[Brand](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) your X account** like an extension of your website. You have less than 7 seconds to catch someone’s attention. In those few seconds, they should know exactly what you do and what you have to offer. Upload either your picture or your logo. It has to be 400 x 400 pixels. The banner is 1500 x 500 pixels. Create quality graphics in the correct dimensions. You can’t take a small graphic and stretch it to fit. It will look fuzzy. You also can’t upload a rectangular logo into the square. It will get cut off. 3. **Write a keyword-centric bio with [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/).** Think keywords. This is no place to be cute or funny. You have only 160 characters to describe what you do and what you have to offer. Make every word count and mean something. Make sure you add the link to your website and your location if applicable. 4. **Post. Share some content.** Because X moves so fast and people log on at different times of the day, you can easily post 10-20 posts a day using a scheduler or automating content. ***However, for every 15 posts…*** 1. **10 should be other people’s content.** That means repost and add a quote with your opinion or insight. 2. **4 are your original content or tips.** Share, don’t sell. Post useful content. Answer people’s questions. 3. **1, no more than 2, should be selling posts with calls-to-action.** These promo posts should entice a potential customer to click on the link. 5. **Search for your target market using X’s search box and Grok. Try several keywords and phrases. If you’re local, add your location to the search. Take notice of their location, how many followers they have, and how many people they are following. You’re looking for people who are active and with a decent following (well over 100). Now, take into consideration how long they’ve been on X. They may be** new, but they still are potential customers. How many posts? Read some of them. What are they posting about? 6. **Follow people.** As soon as you follow someone, they are notified. They will then check out your profile and decide if they want to follow you back. Follow people or companies that are either… 1. **Potential customers**: They should reflect the description you came up with in your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) research. 2. **Potential strategic partners**: Connect with people in related industries who could serve as referral sources. 3. **Influencers**: These are people with a lot of followers, and those followers are your potential target market. For instance, for a company that sold parenting classes, we followed and connected with Mom Bloggers. Some had thousands of followers! 4. **Content providers**: These are people in your industry or related industries who post good, quality content that’s worthy to share with your followers and of interest to them. Don’t follow people that YOU are interested in. K[eep business and personal separate.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/) 7. **Use lists to classify users.** Definitely make one for Influencers so you can easily follow them and share their content. Furthermore, if a list is public, other X users can subscribe to it, and anyone that you add to it will be notified. A private list is just that — private — for your eyes only. 8. **[Monitor your competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/)[.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/)** See what they’re posting and how often. You can do this discreetly by setting up a private list. They won’t know you’ve added them to it. 9. **Check what’s [trending](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/)** in the morning and then later in the day. See if there’s anything that you can use to spin your marketing message around to get more exposure. 10. **Use** [**ha**shtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) properly. Hashtag major keywords. Create your own. But don’t overdo it! Not every word needs to be hashtagged. When someone clicks on a hashtag, all tweets with that hashtag, as well as account bios, will come up. 11. Have an **X follow button** on your website and blog to make it easy for people to follow you. ## You Have to Post! However, if you do set up an account on X, you MUST post regularly! If you don’t, then when someone clicks over from your [**website**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) or discovers you, and they see that you have no tweets or you haven’t posted in over a month (or a year!), that is a bad mark on your **[online image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/).** People won’t follow you if you’re not sharing content that interests them! It’s that simple. I recommend using [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link) for scheduling and monitoring your social media. It’s a great time-saver! #### If a lot of what I’m saying here seems like a foreign language to you, then check out [Ultimate Online, Digital Marketing Glossary](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/)! Now, this is just X. You can’t ignore the [**other networks**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/). Each has its own culture and ways to build a [following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) and platform. You need to familiarize yourself with how each social media network works so you can leverage its power effectively. The best way to do that is just to set up an account and follow people. This is called “social listening”. A tool like **[Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81)** (affiliate link) can help you do that. If you are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, [schedule a free 15-minute Zoom](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) strategy session, and we can brainstorm! [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, X (Formerly Twitter) **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, how do I increase my Twitter following?, online marketing, seo, social media, social networking, social networks, trending on X, using Grok, X Premium, X trending --- ### [The NEW Challenges of Marketing on FACEBOOK & How to Overcome Them](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) **Published:** February 11, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** Facebook constantly creates new challenges for the small business owner to promote their business on their social media network. **Content:** Facebook never ceases to amaze me. As soon as you set up sharing automations and think you’ve got it going right, they make changes, and you lose reach. You’re not doing anything different. They changed how things work. Nevertheless, love it or hate it, Facebook is still the number one social media network in the world! So, you have to adapt to their rules and their changes if you want to promote your business on it. ## What is Reach? Reach is the number of people who see your ORGANIC posts. Impressions are the number of times your post shows up on a screen. A viewer may view a post more than once. Then there’s ENGAGEMENT. Those are likes, shares, and comments. Though engagement tells the algorithm that the content is good, it is a vanity metric. ## Why is Facebook so Difficult? Dont be frustrated with your Facebook digital marketingFacebook, like most social media networks want the users to stay on their platform. Thus, if you share a link in the post, it will get less reach — fewer people will see it. That defeats the purpose of your posting, right? Recently, you may have gotten a message from them saying that you are only allowed two (2) links per month in Reels (videos). Yes, ONLY two shared links. Why? Besides the fact that they don’t want users to leave the platform, they also want to make money. Hence, if you want to continue sharing links, you can upgrade to a Meta Business Verified Account ($15-500 a month, depending on your needs). Likewise, another option is to do paid ads. Instead of spending $15 a month guessing who will see your posts, you can do a paid ad on both Faceboom AND Instagram for $15 and pick your audience. From what I hear, this will eventually roll out to not just Reels but also organic posts. In the meantime, I’ll continue to automate posting to Facebook until they contact me. [***If you’re a local brick-and-mortar location, read this article with tips on how one of my clients kept growing his Facebook likes and reach while others were stagnant or losing reach.*** ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) ## Facebook Native Videos — Now Called Reels are Key to More Visibility Facebook’s vision is to be a “discovery engine” by giving more reach to REELS. In other words, they are competing with [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google") and TikTok. #### This is how Facebook realized its vision: - Made Reels successful. - Built a world-class recommendations algorithm. - Unlocked messaging-based sharing. Facebook’s ‘discovery engine’ means they recommend more content from accounts users aren’t connected to.1 Have you noticed that on Instagram, you see “suggested” posts from accounts that you don’t follow? That’s their AI — [Artificial Intelligence](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/). It’s pulling content that it thinks you may be interested in. ## This may help the ***Challenges*** for those just starting… **It’s fairly easy to [build a following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/) organically on Facebook, especially if you’re just starting.** If you’re a **B2B** business, **concentrate on [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) and X**. Still, post on Facebook to help with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/), but don’t expect miracles unless you do paid ads. More on those below. \[Related: [B2B or B2C or both?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/b2b-vs-b2c-which-social-network-should-you-use/ "B2B vs B2C Which Social Network Should You Use?")\] ### If you’re trying to reach the consumer (B2C), then here are some tips: 1. **Native Videos.** Upload videos directly. ***Don’t just share a YouTube or Vimeo link.*** Remember, keep the user on Facebook. However, don’t upload the same video over and over again. [Here are some ideas for a video strategy.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) 2. **Go LIVE.** Facebook wants its users to stay on their site. Thus, they will give more reach and exposure to Live broadcasts and streaming videos. The trick is to engage your customers and followers. Plan it out and promote it well before the event. 3. **Post to Facebook 3-5 times a day.** Alternate the types of posts between your [blog articles, offering news, tips, and advice](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/), a live reel, a couple of articles from relevant or related sources (obviously not competitors), and 1 promotional post a day with a [Call-to-Action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) link back to your website. Use [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link) to schedule posts. 4. **Post long-form content.** To catch the attention of the AI Search Bots, you can share a full article in an organic post. You get 63,206 characters! You get 8,000 characters in a comment and 20,000 characters in a message. Depending on the device — desktop or mobile — the post will be truncated (shortened). So, put your keywords or phrases at the beginning. (Source: [Lettercounter.org](https://lettercounter.org/blog/facebook-character-limit-guide/)) 5. **Encourage User-Generated Content (UGC)** from your customers. If they post pictures of themselves enjoying your services, products, food, etc. They will tag the location and/or your company page. 6. **Join groups.** Some Groups on Facebook allow pages to join. However, be aware of each group’s rules and respect them. Do not spam the groups. They will kick you out. 7. **Post good quality content.** Go for [quality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) over quantity always. Answer people’s questions. 8. **Have a “Like us on Facebook” button** and/or widget on several pages of your website — especially your blog — to make it easy for people to Like your page. ([This also applies to the other social networks.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/)) 9. **Like and Comment on other people’s business pages as your page.** Long comments carry more weight than short comments. Comments are more valuable than if someone just likes a post. ([I can show you how to do this in a coaching session](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/).) 10. **Invite your friends (personal) to like your page.** Furthermore, be alert to those who will only like it because it’s you and have no interest or need for your products or services. They do, however, make good referral sources. 11. **If you have an email list, send them instructions on how to see your posts first.** Take a screenshot of your page with the “Follow” drop-down showing where they select “Add to Favorites”. Tell them if they don’t want to miss your content or special promotions, to do this. (Feel free to use this graphic to make it easy.) ## Here are some more Facebook Marketing tips: On my Facebook business page I get more views from non followers than I do from followers I share all my posts public for maximum visibility- Absolutely **use Facebook if you’re a B2C business.** - **Have a [strategic plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/)** written out before you jump in. - **Check your [Insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/)** at the end of each month to see what worked and what didn’t work, and to see how your following is growing (or not). Has your reach steadily increased over time? - **Download your stats** from Insights and see which types of posts got the ***most engagement,*** then post more of those. - **Respond to people who comment on your page.** The more you do this, the more Facebook will like you and give you more visibility. People are more likely to buy from companies that respond on social media. And that applies to the other networks, too. **Social media is about community and building relationships.** - **Realize that you own your email list.** Facebook owns your FB audience. - Encourage your happy camper customers to review you on Facebook (and [Google](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In"), too!) Put links to your profile in the Thank You email. - **Don’t ask for likes, shares, or comments on your post.** If your content is good, and your audience likes it, hopefully, they’ll like it enough to engage with it. - **Check your notifications.** If someone liked your post and they’re not a follower yet, Facebook will let you know, and you can invite them to like your page. There’s a good chance they will. - Make sure your “**Like on Facebook**” button or icon and link are on your email signature and in ALL your [promotional emails and newsletters.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) Above all, ***[know your audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Free Define Your Target Market Workbook").*** Your strategy should be based on who you’re trying to reach. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)## The Challenges with Advertising on Facebook Doing paid advertising on Facebook is challenging. (Which is one of the reasons I don’t provide the service. I encourage ***[organic (non-paid) content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/)***.) However, I recently helped a client set up a Facebook ad. She relaunched a nonprofit and wanted to reach a new market. When she had the nonprofit before, she grew her Facebook likes to over 2000. Unfortunately, since it’s been dormant for several years, we needed to reach those followers. **We noticed that organic posts were only getting a reach of 9. Yes, *9*. Out of 2000!** That’s why she wanted to do an ad. We went through Facebook’s Business Suite and built a carousel ad with several graphics in a slide show. We picked the audience and sent it off to be approved. It was rejected. Of course, they don’t tell us WHY it was rejected. They just said it violated its usage terms and gave us a link. We looked at the audience and the text in the ad, reduced the audience, removed text that might offend their sensitive algorithm, and resent it. It was rejected AGAIN. At that point, ***it’s useless to try to argue with their computer.*** You can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what word or phrase is offending it. Unfortunately, unless you’re a verified creator or business, you won’t be able to get customer support. Now, we were stuck. After some thought, I suggested that she create a post introducing the organization, and then boost the post to her fans and their friends. The ad was approved, and she did get some click-throughs to the website. Spending money advertising on social media SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT! ## What are Facebook’s Current Statistics (2025-2026)? Still, it’s Facebook, and you can’t deny its usage statistics. - 3.07 billion global users - 279.8 million users in the U.S. - 76% are women - Average session lasts 10 minutes - 2.11 daily active users (DAU) - 69% of monthly users log in daily (global) Sources: [Quantumrun](https://www.quantumrun.com/consulting/facebook-users/), [Resourcera.com](https://resourcera.com/data/social/facebook-statistics/), [Demand Sage](https://www.demandsage.com/facebook-statistics/) Moreover, keep in mind that Facebook is not the only game in town! You can advertise on Instagram without going through Facebook. There’s also [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/) for the B2C market and [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) for B2B. Similarly, ***[YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) is a good place to get high exposure for both.*** Other digital advertising outlets are popular blogs and magazines that your target audience frequents. ***If you struggle with how to put a [strategy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-strategy-think-like-your-target-market/) together, I can help you with that. [Click here to schedule a free 15-minute call](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA).*** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## Facebook Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Facebook Reach and How Does It Affect My Business Visibility? Facebook reach refers to the number of people who see your organic posts, while impressions denote how many times your posts are shown. Engagement includes likes, shares, and comments, which signal the content’s quality to the algorithm, but engagement is considered a vanity metric. ### How Can Facebook Reels Help Increase My Business Visibility? Facebook Reels are part of the platform’s push to become a discovery engine, competing with YouTube and TikTok, by giving more reach to short videos. Utilizing Reels can boost visibility as Facebook favors this type of content in its algorithms. ### What Are the Best Strategies for Building a Following Organically on Facebook? To build a following organically, focus on posting high-quality, engaging content, including native videos and live broadcasts, posting consistently, encouraging user-generated content, joining relevant groups, and actively engaging with comments and other pages. ### What Should I Do If My Facebook Ads Keep Getting Rejected? If your Facebook ads keep getting rejected, review the ad content, audience targeting, and visuals for compliance with Facebook’s policies. Simplify your message, avoid offensive language, and consider promoting organic posts rather than creating direct ads, especially if you’re not verified. ## Related Content: - [Help! My Facebook Page Was Hijacked! How it Happened and What to Do](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/facebook-page-hijacked/) - [Can your Facebook Page Initially Serve as your Website?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/can-your-facebook-page-initially-serve-as-your-website/) - [How to Make Multiple Personal & Professional Profiles on Facebook for More Reach!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/make-multiple-personal-professional-profiles-on-facebook/) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Facebook **Tags:** advertising, AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing, content marketing strategies, digial marketing, digital marketing strategies, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Marketing and Advertising, posting on Facebook, social media, social media marketing, social media networks --- ### [No Matter What Industry You're In, Content Marketing for AI SEO Works Best!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/content-marketing-seo/) **Published:** May 20, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** The number one traffic channel is organic search, and [content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) (Search Engine Optimization), AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), or GEO (Gernerative Engine Optimization), when done right, absolutely works. On most [websites](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/ "What You Need to Know to Build a Website that Works"), when you look at analytics, out of 1000 visitors in a month, 600-700 come from search engines. Over 80% of them are from Google. The rest of the visitors are distributed between social media, email, direct, paid, or referral sources. ## SEO Traffic Sources by Niche Industries This table gives you an idea of the main traffic sources to websites by niche. Table generated by Copilot. **Niche****Organic Search****Direct****Paid Search****Social****Referral****Email****AI Traffic**Notes**B2B SaaS / Developer Tools**55–65%20–25%10–20%3–5%5–10%3–5%0.1–0.3%High intent; organic still dominant; AI traffic declining in dev tools (−26% YoY).**E‑commerce (single‑niche)**40–55%20–30%15–25%5–10%5–10%1–3%0.1%Paid search growing fastest (+76% YoY).**News / Current Affairs**30–40%40–50%5–10%10–15%5–10%<1%0.1%Direct traffic extremely high due to brand loyalty.**Personal Finance**60–70%15–20%10–15%3–5%5–10%3–5%0.1%Highest RPM niches; organic search is king.**Health & Wellness**55–65%20–25%10–15%5–8%5–10%2–4%0.1%Organic search declining slightly but still dominant.**Food / Recipe Blogs**65–75%10–15%5–10%10–15%5–8%2–3%0.1%Highly SEO‑driven; social still meaningful.**Travel Blogs**60–70%15–20%5–10%10–15%5–10%2–3%0.1%Seasonal volatility 3–5×.**Tech Reviews / Tech News**50–60%25–35%5–10%5–10%5–10%1–2%0.1%Direct traffic rising due to brand recognition.**Gaming**40–50%25–35%5–10%15–20%5–10%<1%0.1%Social is unusually strong here.**Entertainment / Celebrities**35–45%35–45%5–10%10–15%5–10%<1%0.1%Direct + social dominate.**Education / Online Courses**55–65%20–25%10–15%5–8%5–10%3–5%0.1%AI assistants reducing informational browsing.**Parenting / Family**60–70%15–20%5–10%10–15%5–10%2–4%0.1%Organic + social blend.**Local Services (plumbers, HVAC, etc.)**70–80%10–15%5–10%1–3%3–5%<1%0.1%Hyper‑intent searches (“near me”) dominate.## Definition of Sources of SEO Traffic **Search**: This is people searching by keywords or phrases, even asking questions on a search engine like Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and even AOL. **Direct**: These people have your web address and type it into the address bar (or they have it bookmarked) to go directly to it. They could have seen it somewhere, like in an ad or a business card. We’ll never know which. **Social Media**: When you share your blog posts or content on social media networks, [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/), X (formerly Twitter), [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/), and [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/), you’re creating a backlink to your website. Note that on [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/), links don’t work in posts like on the other networks — unless you pay for them. However, they do work in Instagram Stories and, of course, in your profile. Nevertheless, if what you post is strategic and effective, your content — videos and pictures — should entice people to visit your profile and click on the link. I had a client for whom that worked tremendously. **Referral**: This is your link on a relevant website. For instance, when I write for an outside source as a guest contributor, I’ll get referrals from there. Other relevant sites would be associations, communities, or groups that you belong to. **Email**: Sending even a monthly newsletter to a list can help drive potential customers and repeat customers to your site. Don’t put the whole article in the email, but the title (headline), an excerpt, and the link. Just enough to entice someone to go read the article on your website. **Display Ads**: Lastly, display ads. Notice that for most of the industries listed, this is the least effective method of driving visitors to your website. Now, the question stands — when should you buy ads and where? Obviously, this requires having an advertising budget. I’ll get to that in a minute. Consequently, I get asked this question all the time. ## Should I Spend Money on Advertising? It depends. First, **who is your competition?** If you’re in a highly competitive field, like health, fitness, tech, fashion, or even Real Estate, you’re probably going to have to spend some money to get yourself noticed. Second, **who is your target audience?** One good thing about doing paid ads is that you can pinpoint your target niche and reach thousands with a small budget. Third, **how much time do you have?** It usually takes a good 1-3 months to build a social media following organically (non-paid), as well as produce enough content to get Google’s attention. Now, with the AI tools, this time is shortened considerably. Rumor has it that if your content is structured correctly, you should start seeing traffic on your site sooner. Moreover, if you’re looking at a holiday gift-giving season, you’ll definitely need to do some paid ads. I usually tell folks to try content marketing for [AI SEO organically](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH") (non-paid) for 1-3 months and see if they get the results that they want. If you have a [brand new website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/) or haven’t blogged for a while, you’re going to have to blog at least 3-5 times a week for the first 2 weeks, then go down to 2-3 a week in the first month. After that, you can probably get away with blogging once or twice a week. ## Analytics Clearly, [analytics and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) are essential for you to know what’s working and not working. Especially when you’re investing your time and effort in content marketing for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-new-website/). You must review them after each month to see where your traffic is coming from and if it’s steadily increasing. Based on that data, you adjust your [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) and [tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) marketing plans accordingly. Subsequently, if you’re getting more people from Facebook and Pinterest, then it’s obvious that you need to focus more time on those two networks. ## What if my content marketing efforts don’t work? In this video, I explain the different places your content marketing could go wrong… --- Many times, if you aren’t getting the results you want, you need to take a step back and figure out why. 1. The marketing message was wrong — you can tell this if you get the reach (visibility) and no one clicks to your site. Try something else. A different offer, maybe? Go back to your [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/). 2. You got the reach, 50% clicked through, but only 1% converted. A conversion could be a sale, or opting in to an email list in response to an offer. Here, the problem might be that the [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) on your website was not set up correctly. Or, your landing page has too many choices. You can’t have any distractions on the landing page that may draw the visitor elsewhere. Your intake form could be too long. Don’t ask more than 2 or 3 questions to help segment your list. Your payment gateway may not look secure or easy enough. 3. You’re not selling your product or service correctly. The copy or content on your website should lead the visitor to [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) — either into a lead or a sale. Worst comes to worst, the product isn’t good. Or, something on your website turned them off. Here’s where an impartial [coach](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) can come in. Many times, someone will come to me and say, “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong!” I’ll usually take a look and instantly know what the problem is. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)## What Type of Content Marketing for SEO should I be doing? 1. **[Blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/)**. Google wants fresh, relevant [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) written for the human reader in natural language. Write for your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) with the search engine in mind. 2. **[Videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/)**. [Videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-know-marketing-efforts-successful/) are hot! [YouTube is hotter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google")! 3. **[Podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/).** These are way easier to do than videos. If you offer advice or commentaries on news and current events, then podcasting is for you. All in all, content marketing for SEO is still king, and it works! Let’s schedule a free Zoom call so I can review your current marketing efforts. **[Click here](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA).** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Content Marketing, SEO **Tags:** advertising, blogging, call to action, content marketing, content marketing SEO, Content strategy, conversions, digital marketing, search engine optimization, seo, websites --- ### [What is the new "E" in Google's E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) **Published:** March 31, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Did you know that Google added a new “E” to their criteria for ranking high in search results to make it E-E-A-T? What do these stand for, and why are they important for ranking in the search engine? 1. **Experience** — This is the new one, and you’ll see why Google makes it a new ranking factor. It’s what makes you an expert in your field or industry. For instance, I’ve worked in digital marketing for 30 years. I take all that **experience** and share it. 2. [**Expertise**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) — Does that material showcase the writer’s expertise? Does the author have a high level of **knowledge or skill?** 3. **Authority** — Is this a topic that is often covered on this website? Is this the go-to person on this subject? 4. [**Trustworthiness**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/) — Is the information provided correct? Can you trust it? Are they legit? In fact, the first 3 lead to [TRUST](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/). Furthermore, people buy from those they know and trust. It’s also how Google rates the QUALITY of the content. See, Google still wants to give the searcher the freshest, best, and most relevant content that matches what they entered into the search box — written for the ***human reader.*** ## What makes Experience different from Expertise in the E-E-A-T criteria? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/)Obviously, anyone can study enough and become an expert and an authority in anything. However, experience is a whole different thing. Who are you going to trust, someone who has worked in an industry for decades or an intern who’s just starting out? This also puts a damper on AI — [Artificial Intelligence](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/). The problem with AI is that it’s, well, artificial. It’s a computer. It has no ***experience, wisdom, or common sense***. Recently, I attempted to edit an article for a client. I had no idea the client had used AI to create it. It was horrible. It took me 3 hours to rewrite it to get it to make sense. My thought all along was, “This person can’t be that bad of a writer!” It wasn’t until after it was published that the client told me they used AI. No wonder! Had I known that in the beginning, I would have addressed the article differently. In other words, it wasn’t a human who wrote it, it was a computer. Moreover, if the content is to be written for the human reader, how can a computer understand what a human is feeling? Thus, it also lacks ***compassion***. > *One of the most interesting comments by Google was a reminder that their algorithms and signals are based on human content and because of that will rank natural content at the top.* > > [Search Engine Journal](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-on-ai-content-and-e-e-a-t/489608/) ### Tips to Help with E-E-A-T - Give examples of your personal experience with the particular problem or topic you are talking about. Here are some phrases that you can add to an article… - In my experience… - For instance… - A past client of mine… - Have a complete [about page](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) or an “about the author” bio on your website which showcases your experience, expertise, and authority. - Have a complete [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) profile that lists your professional experience — your resume. Make sure you add any awards, certifications, and accolades. - Another LinkedIn and social media tip is to consistently share content on the topic, field, or industry from other sources. That shows respect. I have several trusted sources whose content I automate to post on social media using [Dlvr.it](https://dlvr.it). On X (formerly Twitter — when do we stop saying that?), you can create lists of content providers to make it easy to share their content. (It’s not retweeting anymore.) - If you’re not an expert, quote experts or invite someone to collaborate. - Properly optimizing [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) videos also helps. Since Google owns YouTube, it indexes videos quickly. Therefore, you have to properly add video descriptions, hashtags, as well as topic tags, so its algorithm will pick up your videos. ## Why is this important? > *It is important because often searchers want to know first-hand information before they decide to purchase something or use a certain service.* > > *This implies that Google tends to “reward” pages where the author has actually experienced the topic they are writing about.* > > [Search Engine Journal](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-e-e-a-t-how-to-demonstrate-first-hand-experience/474446/) In conclusion, if you are struggling to write or create content that showcases your E-E-A-T and ranks for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/), I will be happy to look at what you’ve done and give you some tips. [Click here to schedule a FREE 15-minute Zoom consult.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google, SEO **Tags:** blogging, digital marketing, Google, search, search engine optimization, seo --- ### [The Pinterest Difference: Why You Shouldn't Ignore It!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/) **Published:** May 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** The two most misunderstood social media networks are X (formerly Twitter) and Pinterest. If you’ve watched any of my older videos or taken any of my social media marketing classes, I liken the social networks to cars. X is like a sports car – fast, newsy, it’s life in 280 characters or less. It’s great for exposure and SEO if you [take advantage of what’s trending](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/). ***My Bucket List Board on Pinterest***Pinterest is the minivan. The majority of the users are women and half of them have kids. If you want to reach soccer moms, they’re on Pinterest. But something that I call the **“Pinterest Difference”** is crucial for businesses to understand when trying to reach the **average consumer** – you catch them when they’re ***planning to spend money.*** > *“One of the things we’re trying to figure out strategically is how to tap into consumers earlier in the inspiration or planning phase,” says David Doctorow, senior vice president of global marketing at Expedia, one of Pinterest’s charter advertisers. “We don’t have great ways to identify consumers in that part of the journey.”* > > ~ [Forbes Magazine](http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2014/10/15/inside-pinterest-the-coming-ad-colossus-that-could-dwarf-twitter-and-facebook/) Besides that, the [AI search bots ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/ "AI Search for 2026: What to Expect and What to Do Now")grab content from Pinterest. Especially when it comes to products, gift giving, and advice. ## How Does Pinterest Work? Yes, this is a tad outdated, but it covers the basics on how Pinterest works and how you can use it to get backlinks and showcase your products and services. ## How People Use Pinterest People turn to Pinterest when planning for a baby, wedding, vacation, redecorating, and remodeling. They check the latest styles and trends in fashion, color, home decor, hairstyles, technology, and you name it! And they go there for ideas and tips for gift-giving, crafts, decorations, weight-loss, diets, recipes, parties, inspirations, motivations, and ***solutions to their problems***. Think of Pinterest as a powerful search engine — not a social media network. > ***“If Facebook is selling the past and Twitter (X) the present, Pinterest is offering the future.”*** ***Anything Travel is hot on Pinterest*** Think about that. On Facebook, people post pictures of what they were doing or what they did. Twitter is real-time – it’s what’s happening now. What’s trending at 9 am probably won’t be the same even 10 minutes later. ### People plan things on Pinterest like their Bucket List **Pinterest is for planners.** Search for terms like bridal, bucket list, and places to visit, and you’ll get more than enough things to choose from. That quote from the guy from Expedia in that Forbes article says it all. > ***There is no where else where you can reach consumers “earlier in the inspiration or planning phase.”*** ### ***That is the Pinterest Difference.*** ## Pinterest Helps with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)! ***Nostalgia Boards on Pinterest******Pinterest boards on food and healthy eating and living*** ***great for someone in the health and wellness industry***Every time someone pins a picture or video from your website, ***it takes the link with it***. That creates a legitimate ***backlink***. When someone clicks twice on a pin, it goes to the originating website. So, after you publish a blog article or produce and upload a video, you need to pin it to Pinterest. Before you dive in, you need two plans –**a [strategic one](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) and a [tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) one.** Without them, you will be swimming in a huge sea of pictures and videos, wasting time, money, and effort with little results. ***Make sure you have share buttons to make it easy for people to share your content with their friends*** Most browsers have an add-on or extension to add a “Pin It” button to your browser to make it quick and easy to share to Pinterest. ### ***Pinterest Works for B2B Also!*** ***Ive got my business Pinterest account filled with infographics and pix with links to all sorts of marketing articles including my own*** ### A Wow Story One of my former clients is [Simply Smashing Rage Room ](https://simplysmashing.com/)in Tempe, AZ. I was helping the owner get set up before their opening. Furthermore, I knew that he would get some free exposure on the local TV stations, so I wanted to make sure that Simply Smashing came up when someone searched for “Anger Room Tempe” or “Rage Room Phoenix”. My strategy was to [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) — a lot — at least [3-5 times](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) a week to make sure that Google noticed the website. I did a lot of research on stress — causes, symptoms, and illnesses that arise from too much stress, as well as the most stressful occupations. One article I wrote for him was “How to Increase Serotonin Levels in Your Brain”. It featured an infographic (a picture with information in it) on ways to de-stress. I pinned it on Pinterest. When I reviewed the website analytics at the end of the month, ***the site got over 6,000 visits*** from Pinterest alone! My first thought was, “There are a lot of stressed-out people on Pinterest!” > **That goes to show you that you never know what will take off and what won’t.** #### Related: [Using Pinterest for SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/) ### Setting up Your Account for Maximum Effectiveness Savvy Collector on PinterestOne of my favorite [setup projects](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) was the Savvy Collector. She has an online art gallery. For her Pinterest, I set up boards for each major category in her gallery: sculptures, pottery, jewelry, etc. Within those, we pinned all the pieces from her website. Caution! If you’re selling unique pieces like she is, make sure to remove pins from articles that are sold. - [Set up a business account ](https://business.pinterest.com/en-us/)— you can convert a personal account to a business one; however, [keep personal and business separate!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/) - You have 160 characters for your “bio”. Keep it keyword-centric. Avoid flowery language. - Add relevant keywords, phrases, and questions to all pins and board descriptions — you have 500 characters to describe a pin and a board. Take advantage of the space! - Add the link to your website if you’re uploading from your computer - On boards, pick the right category. This will help you get found through Pinterest’s [powerful internal search engine](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/). - Once you have 5 boards filled with a few pins, set up a showcase. ## Advertising on Pinterest Advertising on PinterestUpon looking at Savvy Collector’s website analytics, I saw that she was getting most of her traffic from Pinterest. She told me that she had a problem because she advertised one piece, then it sold, and the ad was obsolete. **The solution:** advertise a category — like Jewelry — especially in the gift-giving season. Link to the category on the website. Subsequently, when one piece is sold, the ad can still run. ## Getting Help with this and other Social Networks I can help you with… 1. Planning for a gift-giving season 2. Analyzing your marketing efforts 3. Brainstorming with you to maximize your strategies ORGANICALLY (non-paid). 4. Make sure your branding is consistent and use quality graphics 5. Training on how to use time-saving tools like [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link). 6. [Show you how to blog on WordPress. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/) 7. Monthly coaching sessions to help you plan and then review analytics [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Pinterest, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Business, content marketing, customers, Giselle Aguiar, inbound marketing, Internet Marketing, Pinterest, social media, Social network, social networking --- ### [How to Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Social Media (or Your Website)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-avoid-getting-locked-out-of-your-social-media/) **Published:** June 30, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Did an employee or intern leave with your social media or website login and passwords? Or did you outsource your social media or website build, and they never provided you with the passwords or administrative access? It’s happened to many of my clients. For instance, one client’s Twitter (now X) account was set up by an employee using her work email address. She’s no longer with the company. They deleted her email. No one wrote the password down. They lost their company name as a Twitter username. Another had a similar issue with an intern. Yet another with a well-meaning volunteer. Your social media accounts are the way you promote your business. You MUST ## X (formerly Twitter) On X (formerly Twitter), you can get in if you don’t know the email but have the password. That’s easiest because you have the username. However, you’re stuck without the password. If you click “forgot password”, they’ll send an email to the email address on the account. If that email is no longer working, too bad. You can try to contact X, but good luck with that. You essentially need to create a new account using a different email address and username. Pinterest works similarly to X. ## Facebook **[Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/can-your-facebook-page-initially-serve-as-your-website/) is just as complicated.** To create a Facebook page, you need to be logged in to your **personal account**. If an employee created it with his or her Facebook account and did not add you as an admin or owner with full control, ***you have no access***. You can’t just log into it. To be added as an admin, you need to be connected to the person who created the page. Make sure that you’re added as an ADMIN. Only Admins can add or remove people from page roles. It’s also wise to remove people who are no longer working with you. [Learn about Facebook Page Roles.](https://www.facebook.com/help/249601088403018/?helpref=search&query=merge%20pages&search_session_id=c1c9d1f12ec0e137fa53f56734ccb9fb&sr=1) Or maybe your [Facebook Page got hacked! Here’s what to do in that case. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/facebook-page-hijacked/) ## LinkedIn **LinkedIn is easiest.** You can have several admins on the page. However, you must be connected to them on LinkedIn. They do not have to be employees of the company. If a former employee created the page under their account and did not add you, you need to contact them and ask them to add you as a Super Admin of the page. Learn about [LinkedIn Page Admin Roles](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a541981). Now, if you can’t contact the former employee or service provider, you can try to contact the network. Response times will vary. Worst case scenario, you’ll have to just forget that page or account and create a new one. The only problem with that is there will be duplicate pages out there for potential customers to find, and it will be confusing — especially if the old page has outdated information or old branding. On both [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/help/249601088403018/?helpref=search&query=merge%20pages&search_session_id=c1c9d1f12ec0e137fa53f56734ccb9fb&sr=1) and LinkedIn, you can merge pages. Furthermore, on LinkedIn, if you’ve accidentally set up multiple accounts, you can [merge](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1337200?query=merge%20duplicate%20accounts&trk=selfserve_assist) them. ## How to avoid losing control of your social media… 1. Make sure that whoever you hire to do your social media — whether in-house or outsourced — gives you all the usernames, emails, and passwords for your accounts if they’re setting them up. Make sure the agreement includes provisions for changing passwords, users, termination, etc. This is one thing that I do for my clients. They always have full access to their social media accounts, and I show them how to manage their pages. 2. Make sure that at least one management-level person is an admin on Facebook and LinkedIn. Note: You cannot have a personal account under the company name. It is against the rules of both Facebook and LinkedIn. 3. Make sure that you write down any passwords on paper somewhere, as well as online in a secure place, and that more than one management person knows where they are. ## This Applies to Your WEBSITE! I’ve heard of website developers from outside the U.S. holding websites hostage. The owner had absolutely NO RECOURSE. I told him to find a local, U.S. host and copy and paste all the content from the site to a new one hosted in the U.S. If the hosting and web developer/designer has an office in the U.S., you have recourse through the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In other words, if you keep business in your country! Don’t fall for the unbelievable offers from international entities. Thoroughly research who you’re going to give your business to! Many people trust their webmasters to manage their websites 100%. Moreover, they could be very honest people. Nevertheless, you MUST know how to log into the back end of your website. Additionally, make sure you have the account information for your hosting provider as well as the website itself. I’ve partnered with [OnSiteWP](https://www.onsitewp.com/clients/aff.php?aff=19) (affiliate link) for [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) Website development. We’re both based in Arizona. After we’ve built your website, we give you full access and a training session on how to blog and do minor editing on your website. It’s YOUR Website. You own it. You should have control over it. If you need updates done, we’ll be happy to do them for you. There may be an additional cost depending on what the changes are. If you are unhappy with your hosting provider, we’d be happy to give you a quote! [Click here to book a FREE 15-minute Zoom call to review your site and marketing efforts. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) > ***Think of these logins as the keys to your house or car. Who do you trust with them? What do you do if something happens to that person or persons?*** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/Password-Allen_Ludden_Jack_Klugman_Tony_Randall_Odd_Couple.jpg)Remember when passwords were simple### [If you have this problem with your social media accounts, please click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consult and analysis and I’ll evaluate your situation and give you options. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Social Media Networks **Tags:** accounts, AZ Social Media Wiz, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, LinkedIn, outsourcing social media, security, Twitter, websites --- ### [How to get the Right Visitors to Your Website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-tips-for-getting-traffic-to-your-website/) **Published:** April 7, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** You’ve built your website. It’s gorgeous. Now how do you get people to visit it? Better yet, ***how do you get potential customers*** to visit it? Getting traffic to your website takes effort including creating **compelling [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) regularly**, like blogs and videos, and being active in social media. ## Here are 5 Tips to help you get more Traffic to Your Website: ### First you need to **clearly define your target market ([Get a free Workbook here](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/))**. Picture your perfect customer. That’s who you want to attract. That’s who you’re going to write content for and who you want to please. What do they want to know? Answer their questions. > ***You also must realize that you’re the expert and they’re not.*** Make sure your marketing message isn’t going over your target market’s heads. The most beautiful website is useless if your potential customer can’t figure out how you can help them solve their problem. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blueprint-strategies-for-effective-social-media-and-digital-marketing/)[Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blueprint-strategies-for-effective-social-media-and-digital-marketing/)**That takes a little research.** Get to know your potential customer. I explain exactly how you can do that in my ebook: ***[The Blueprint: Strategies for Effective Social Media & Digital Marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blueprint-strategies-for-effective-social-media-and-digital-marketing/)***. It takes the social media marketing template that I use for my clients and outlines all the strategies and tactics that you need to make your online marketing efforts effective. Whatever you’re selling — be it services, a product or a workshop — your headlines need to be eye-catching and enticing without being click-bait. **Think of movie trailers.** They show you just enough to get you capture your attention, be tempting and alluring. When they make a movie, they know exactly who the target audience is going to be. Moreover, they create all the advertisements around what interests them. ### Next you have to Plan out What Type of Content you’re Going to Create: You want to become a content magnet- [Blog posts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) - [Videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) - [Podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/) - [Graphics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/) **Take into consideration, besides your target, you or your team’s talents and skills.** The easiest and quickest form of content is[ blog posts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/should-i-have-a-blog-on-my-website/). [Blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) is the fresh, relevant content that the Google search engine is looking for. Write for your target. You’re the expert, they are not. Don’t use a lot of industry jargon. Explain clearly what you need them to learn. Your blogs should educate potential customers and establish you as an expert in your field. [Videos take a bit more planning](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), but today with tools like [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), TikTok, [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com) and your cell phone, you can quickly create short marketing videos. **[Podcasting is audio recordings.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/)** You need a channel to broadcast on, but you can start one for free. Additionally, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment. Graphics can be pictures or infographics with informative data. You should blog optimally [3x a week to really drive traffic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) to your site – ***no fewer than once a week!*** You can easily share someone else content by embedding it into your blog post, which will also **save time**. You’re not stealing the content, but sharing it. Always give proper credit and attribution unless it’s a free-use, public-domain graphic. Site the source and link to it. (This actually helps with SEO as a relevant external link.) ### Third, you need to Distribute the Content or Promote it using Social Media and Email. Share your blog posts instantly to [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/), Twitter and [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) with the free tool, [Dlivr.it](https://Dlvr.it). Pin any pictures or videos from your blog page to [Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/). The link to the page goes with it so when someone clicks twice on the pin, they go to your site (also helps with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)). Share it more than once. Schedule it out with tools like [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link) a week or so later. At least once a month, you need to send out a newsletter with your latest blog articles to stay top of mind. This is part of your [marketing automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/). Feature an excerpt of your blog articles to entice people on your email list to go to your website. The more often people visit your website, the better the chances they’re going to do something (like [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)). ### Then, Monitor and Measure. Each Month, You MUST Review Your Website[ Statistics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/): - Which sites brought you the most visitors? - Monthly visitor count should be steadily increasing month after month if you are following the steps noted above. ***You’ll notice that if you skipped a week of blogging, your visits went down.*** - Which posts and pages were the most popular? Write more like those. - [Google Analytics](http://www.google.com/analytics "Google Analytics") (GA) can give you statistics like how long visitors stayed on your site, where they came from new versus returning visitors, tracking conversions and much more. GA has a WordPress plugin – Site Kit. It’s free and connects to your GA account. Google Search Console gives you how often you came up in search, the most search-for terms and most importantly, the click-through rate. ***Related Content:*** T[he Importance of the Meta Tag (Description](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/)) and [What if Your Marketing Efforts Don’t Work?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/) > ***The longer a visitor stays on your site, the higher the chance they’ll take some action.*** **Always have some sort of [Call-To-Action (CTA)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/).** The best things are a freebie, like an ebook or whitepaper, or a coupon where they have to enter their name and email address to get it. ***[This converts a visitor into a lead](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/).*** This gives you a [conversion rate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_rate "Conversion rate") – if 100 people came to your site, but only 10 clicked on the offer, then you have a 10% conversion rate. ### Lastly, adjust your Marketing Plan – Strategy and Tactics – Based on your Website Analytics. > ***Doing this monthly helps you keep control your marketing.*** **Look ahead to the next month.** What’s coming up? What’s going to be trending, like awareness and observance days? Take advantage of this by spinning your marketing message to be relevant to what’s trending. Furthermore, **look for my What’s Trending on Social Media blog posts that I publish at the end of each month. They list what’s going to be trending on social media so you can spin your marketing message around it and *get more exposure.*** ### Not sure what if you got everything set up correctly? Not getting traffic to your website like you’d hope? [Click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation and analysis.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Save [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Lead Generation, Websites **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing, Conversion rate, digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, digital marketing techniques, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Google Analytics, Internet Marketing, search engine optimization, seo, social media, website traffic, websites, WordPress --- ### [5 Target Market Personas for Nonprofits to Succeed](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-target-market-personas-for-nonprofits/) **Published:** June 15, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/nonprofit-socialmedia.jpg)Unlike for-profit businesses that usually have one main target market, maybe two, nonprofits have at least 5 distinct ones. These 5 target market personas need to be clearly identified and embraced. Ideally, you need to get to know them — intimately. You also need to find them on social media networks, get their attention, and ***build relationships*** with them. I’ve worked with several nonprofit organizations (NPOs) in my career. From sitting on boards to setting up their social media to managing their websites, my heart breaks for them as I see them trying, but not succeeding. ## Here’s a rundown of the 5 Target Market Personas for Nonprofits: Like with any business, you need to clearly [define your target market ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your Free Define Your Target Market Workbook!")personas. 1. **Donors and Sponsors**: These are your main fundraisers. They love your cause and show it by their generosity. They may not have the time to help, so they provide financial support. 2. **Volunteers**: They are the heartbeat of your organization. They are passionate about the cause and show it by giving their time. Furthermore, they come in all levels, from grunt workers to administrators, to team leaders, and organizers. 3. **Advocates:** These people believe in your cause and show it by being ambassadors on social media and raising awareness. They’ll share your content with their friends without thinking twice. 4. **Clients / Members**: The people you serve. If you’re a charitable organization, they are the people you help. If you’re an association, they are your members. Clearly, without clients, you have no reason to exist. 5. **Board Members**: These are the brains of your NPO. They help make major decisions. These are volunteers who have the experience of running their own companies or have C-level or managerial backgrounds. Most importantly, they contribute their knowledge and expertise. > ***Now, some of these can overlap. Board members can be donors and sponsors. Everyone can be an advocate and everyone can help share on social media.*** ### How can you use Social Media to find these People? - **[LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/)** (B2B): Here you’ll find your nonprofit’s executives, donors, sponsors, board members, and association members. Join and contribute to groups. Post regularly to your personal updates and to the organization’s LinkedIn company profile. Write an “article” (300-500 words) a few times a month to gain exposure. Search for, follow, and connect with people who are actively supporting similar causes and nonprofits. - **[YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/)**, **[Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/), [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/)**, and TikTok (B2C): Reach volunteers, advocates, and clients. These media channels are the best way to showcase your organization, what you do, how you help, etc. Therefore, these are great for events and building awareness using [visuals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/ "How to Use Visual Marketing to Boost Your Brand and Sales"). - **X (formerly Twitter)**: Excellent for getting exposure, building awareness, driving traffic to your website, and search engine optimization ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)). - **[Besides that, the AI answer bots absolutely LOVE to pick up content from the social networks.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH")** Especially [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-and-ai-search-bots/ "What You Need to Know About LINKEDIN and AI SEARCH BOTS") and [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google")! ## Tell Lots of Stories to Get More Reach and Exposure First and foremost, [telling stories](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/whats-your-story-blogging-for-business/) is the most powerful tool any non-profit organization has. Undoubtedly, people love tug-at-the-heartstrings and success stories. **[User-generated content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) (UGC) is gold.** Encourage volunteers and clients to share stories and events on their social accounts and tag your organization. [Watch this Instagram webinar to understand how it works.](https://youtu.be/ARQ37IbGPZY) A story that tugs at the heartstrings usually gets a lot of reach for nonprofits. ### What is social media reach? Reach is measured by the number of unique people who see your post or ad. Consequently, this is not to be confused with “impressions”. Likewise, impressions are how many total times your post or ad was shown to a user. For instance, if one person sees it 3 times, it’s one reach count, yet. 3 impressions. ### What makes stories from nonprofits so special? They have what’s called “sharability”. Evidently, people love stories and want to share them with their friends. Your reach increases by the number of followers each user has. Much more than that, they entice people to give, volunteer, and/or become an advocate. It all has to do with ***emotions***. People love to cry, care, cheer, even get angry, then do something about it. **Related content: [What does it mean to go viral?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/want-go-viral-tell-stories-provoke-emotions/ "Do You Want to go Viral? Tell Stories that Provoke Emotions")** **These stories can be blogs, videos, or image carousels.** Obviously, not everything has to be professionally done — just of good [quality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/). Like, watch for typos in the titles and captions. Nevertheless, if you happen to have a volunteer or board member who is a pro at creating graphics and/or videos, let them help as much as they want! For instance, right now, a big cause that’s gone viral is the Ridglan Farms beagle rescue. One of the many NPOs helping is the [Beagle Freedom Project](https://bfp.org/ridglan/). Personally, I love beagles. Unfortunately, I’m allergic to dogs and can’t own one. Otherwise, I would happily foster one of these adorable pups. Thus, I’m happy to be an advocate and share the videos and reels that they post on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Because I do so, the algorithm shows me more and more videos that some of the foster moms and dads have taken of the rescued beagles. Now, that’s how you go viral. It also helps to get the amount of news coverage that they’ve gotten. Don’t be shy. Contact your local media outlets and get some free publicity! #### Don’t be Overwhelmed! Undeniably, you may think this is all very time-consuming, and it is. Albeit, without [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/ "Get the Most from Your Social Media Marketing with a Detailed Strategic Plan") and [tactical marketing plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/ "Marketing on Social Media with no Tactical Plan is Wasted Effort"), you will be overwhelmed. Moreover, I can show you how to use the new AI tools to create social media posts, ads, write articles, and even create reports. ### Never lose control of your accounts! Nonetheless, you must have total control of all your social media accounts. In other words, make sure you have all the [account information and passwords.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-avoid-getting-locked-out-of-your-social-media/) Sometimes, a well-meaning volunteer will start accounts for you. Most importantly, you lose control over what’s posted and miss opportunities. Make sure your top executives and trusted staff have access to your account information. Likewise, you must educate your current volunteers, advocates, and staff on how to best support your organization on social media. **Naturally, you can easily learn how to structure your nonprofit’s marketing efforts and reach your targets with my[ 1:1 customized training and coaching.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)### Start by downloading our free **[Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)**. You’ll need to do one for each of your targets. Or you can schedule [a free 15-minute Zoom consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) and brainstorming session! [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## Related Content: - [What Happens if Our Marketing Efforts Don’t Work?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/ "10 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn’t Working") - [What’s Your Conversion Rate?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It") - [Content Marketing in Today’s AI World](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/ "What is Content Marketing?") [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## SaveSavFrequently Asked Questions Regarding Social Media for Nonprofits… ### What are the 5 target market personas nonprofits should identify and focus on? The five target market personas are Donors and Sponsors, Volunteers, Advocates, Clients / Members, and Board Members. Donors and sponsors provide financial support, volunteers give their time, advocates spread awareness on social media, clients or members are the people served by the nonprofit, and board members contribute their experience and leadership. ### How can nonprofits use social media to find donors, volunteers, advocates, clients, and board members? Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with executives, donors, sponsors, board members, and associations, posting in groups and writing articles periodically. For volunteers, advocates, and clients, use YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok. The purpose is to showcase your work and events with compelling visuals and engage with supporters who share similar causes. ### Why are storytelling and user-generated content important for nonprofit reach on social media? Storytelling is the most powerful tool for nonprofits because stories tug at emotions and are highly shareable. User-generated content from volunteers and clients, when tagged to your organization, expands reach and authenticity, helping to attract donations, volunteers, and advocates. ### What is the difference between reach and impressions in social media metrics? Reach measures the number of unique people who see your post or ad, while impressions count how many total times your post or ad was shown. If one person sees it three times, that’s three impressions but one reach. ### How can nonprofits maintain control of their social media accounts and involve the right people? Ensure you have all account information and passwords and that top executives and trusted staff have access. Educate current volunteers, advocates, and staff on how to support the organization on social media to avoid losing control when volunteers help set up accounts. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Target Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Charitable organization, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, identify your target market, Instagram, LinkedIn, marketing, non-profit, Nonprofit organization, nonprofits, npo, social media, social media marketing, Social network, Target market, target market personas, Twitter, YouTube --- ### [GET FOUND On Social Media - they're as Powerful as Google](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/) **Published:** September 24, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** The main social media networks, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, X, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube, each have very powerful internal search engines and algorithms that rival Google. Here are some easy tips to help you optimize your social media profiles to get found when someone is searching for what you have to offer. Furthermore, the AI search bots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini scrape, that is, grab content from the social media networks. Additionally, you have online communities like Reddit and Quora, which also have internal search engines. If you don’t have your **business profiles optimized for all the search engines**, you won’t come up in search results. They work the same as Google, based on ***keywords and phrases*** that searchers enter into the search box to find what they need. Also, your **social media business profiles** appear in Google searches. Searching for information on a business, I entered the name, and their [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/) company profile came up first, above their website! I was searching to get more information on a political candidate, and when I Googled her name, her **Facebook business page** came up ***before her website!*** ### Here are some tips to help you tweak your social networks to make them **POWER PROFILES!** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/)1. Clearly define your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/). The better you get to know your [target market niche](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/whats-your-niche/), the better you’re going to be able to reach them. 2. Do some keyword research. This will tell you the keywords and phrases your potential customers are using. [Google Keyword Planner ](https://adwords.google.com/ko/KeywordPlanner/Home)is the best. It’s part of their Ads program, but it’s free to use. 3. Once you have your keywords, it’s time to get creative with your **social media profile descriptions**. 1. **X (Formerly Twitter) and [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/)** only give you 160 characters. **[Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/)** is shorter at 150 characters. TikTok gives you only 80 characters. So avoid using “flowery language” and make it ***keyword-centric***. 2. **[Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/)** and [**LinkedIn**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) give you a lot of space; use it! But it’s the same thing, keep it **keyword-centric**. 3. [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) gives you several places to add descriptions, including the video defaults and the channel description. By the way, YT is the 2nd largest search engine next to its parent, Google. “How to” is the most searched-for phrase. 4. **Spell-check and proofread!** Some of these search engines give you exact matches. If you misspell something, it won’t come up. 5. **Put yourself in your target market’s shoes.** Look at everything from their [perspective. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-business-success/) 4. **Make sure you have the correct URL (web address) linked properly on your website.** This helps with overall Search Engine Optimization ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)). I don’t know how many times I’ll click on one of the social media buttons on a website, and it goes either to the main network page (not their profile or business page) or “sorry, this page doesn’t exist”! That hurts your [online reputation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-online-reputation/)! ## It’s Part of Your Branding > ***You have only 7 seconds to catch a visitor’s attention. Make it good!*** Your graphics should be of good quality, not fuzzy, and a visitor should know instantly what it is you do and what you ***have to offer.*** ## Need help with your social media profiles? ### I’ll take a look at what you have, website and social networks, and give you some tips on optimizing them. [Click here](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) to schedule your free call. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Search Engine Optimization, SEO, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Networks **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, search engine optimization, seo, social media, social media business pages, social media marketing, social media marketing profiles, social media profiles, social media search, Social network, Web search engine, YouTube --- ### [Free Tools and Local SEO Tactics for Brick-and-Mortar Success](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) **Published:** June 19, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Endeavoring to market local brick-and-mortar businesses organically (non-paid) is actually fairly simple when you take advantage of these **free tools: Instagram, Google Business Profile, and Facebook.** ## Case Study: How one local business managed to increase Facebook reach when others were losing theirs… Due to the many algorithm changes that social networks constantly make, it is harder for business pages to get the reach they used to enjoy. Even if you had thousands of likes, your reach was significantly lower than it used to be when you posted something. Consequently, when you post organically on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/ "The NEW Challenges of Marketing on FACEBOOK & How to Overcome Them"), [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/ "Video: The Instagram Marketing Challenge: Tips To Help You Win Now"), [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google"), and [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/ "LinkedIn"), you aren’t getting the reach and exposure you need. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/screenshot-2019-07-25-13-26-54/)Imagine my surprise when a former client of mine re-hired me to help increase his SEO, and I reviewed his website analytics and Facebook insights. Interestingly, I saw that the likes on his page had increased substantially, as well as ***the reach***. Why? ***Because he followed my advice since he first opened.*** The business is [Simply Smashing Rage Room — yes, it’s a place where you go to break stuff and release your anxieties, anger, stress,](https://simplysmashing.com/) and frustrations. When someone comes in, he asks them to check in on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SimplySmashingRageRoom/), then gives them extra breakables like bottles, plates, etc. Before you start implementing any marketing efforts, you want to make sure your Facebook **business page is set up properly, 100% complete, and well-branded**. Recently, I visited a local restaurant, and I wanted to check in and take a picture of my meal, but a Facebook business page did not come up in the location tracker. When I searched for the name of the business, they came up, but as a personal page. That’s a MAJOR mistake. No one can check in, no one can recommend them, no one can tag their location. ### What Does Checking In on Facebook Accomplish? This is social amplification1. **Users are posting on their personal timelines**, tagging the business. ***Facebook’s algorithm change gives more visibility to people’s posts rather than direct posts from business pages.*** If my client just took pictures and posted them on his page, he wouldn’t get the same reach. However, by encouraging customers to check in or tag the business, all of the person’s friends and followers have a better chance of seeing the post. Usually, they post a video or picture with the check-in, which makes it more eye-catching. 2. **On the business page, it shows that the person checked in.** The more check-ins you have, the better. This increases “[**social proof”**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-proof/). 3. **The person’s friends comment on the post.** Then the person usually replies with, “You’ve got to try it!” or “It’s awesome!” **Now who can resist that?** The more comments you get, the more people see it, because the friends of friends see the comments. [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)### How Other Brick-and-Mortars Can Use Facebook Check-ins: This is what a user sees when they go to make a post on Facebook using the mobile app Notice PhotoVideo Check in and at the bottom Tag eventThis would require some sort of flyer or promotion when a customer walks in, and your staff knowing how to promote it and what to look for once the person checks in. They need to show a staff member the check-in before they get their incentive. AND please make sure your wifi is working and customers know how to log on! - Restaurants: Offer a free cookie, drink, appetizer, side, dessert, etc. - Clothing stores: A discount or some freebie promotional product. - Spas: A discount, an add-on, extra time, product, etc. - Fitness: Free drink, energy bar, etc. - Events: Free drink, a discount, free parking, etc. You get the idea. Give the customer an incentive, and they’ll happily check in. If you need help thinking about how your business can incorporate this, **[book a free 15-minute phone consult right here.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** ## Google Business Profile (GBP) & Google Maps If you haven’t already, you need to set up a **[Google Business Profile (GBP)](https://business.google.com)** account. **Fill out all the pertinent information.** If you’re new, **your location will have to be verified**. There are various ways to get verified. Above all, make sure that your GBP is 100% complete with current address, pictures, website link, accurate description, proper main category, hours, etc. Furthermore, everything should match what’s on your website. Besides that, your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/ "A Successful Company has a Website that is Useful") is a major cornerstone of your business. Simply Smashing Rage Room Google Search Result for the business name ### What else can you do on your Google Business Profile to Boost Local SEO? **Connect your social media profiles.** Google is rolling out (that means that not everybody gets the feature at once) a feature that [pulls in your social media posts](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/darrenshawwhitespark_breaking-news-google-is-now-pulling-social-activity-7460344757555335169-mtw3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHxMFEBrjGbeLvk2HMEQ82HRZZE4ElYhG8)! MORE EXPOSURE! [Google is also rolling out the ability to connect your GBP to your Google Analytics. ](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-analytics-is-adding-google-business-profile-data/578107/) [They are also adding GBP features to the Gemini app. ](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-is-adding-business-profile-tools-to-the-gemini-app/578824/) ***[Posting regularly to your GBP will help with your SEO](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/darrenshawwhitespark_bad-vs-great-google-posts-learn-more-here-activity-7463665804476321793-iYK4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHxMFEBrjGbeLvk2HMEQ82HRZZE4ElYhG8).*** What you post will show up next to the Google search engine results page (SERP) when someone googles the name of your business. This is a very underused, yet highly effective tactic! Have you got your Google Business Profile act together? I’ll be happy to check it for you! [Book a free virtual consult. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## Instagram Business Instagram Business profile of one of my past clients Its set up properly and now the location is under the locations button**Instagram has a business account option for local businesses, which gives you the ability to add your location.** This makes it very easy to market your local business. If you already have a regular Instagram account or are setting one up, make sure you set it up as a “Business account” and connect it to your Facebook Page. Add your physical address, hours, phone, etc. When someone takes a picture or video at your place of business, they can **tag the location**. Moreover, it tags your profile at the same time. When it’s connected to your Facebook Business Page, you can post to both at the same time. **But remember, links Do Not work on Instagram posts!** Adding a link to the post actually ***hinders your reach.*** The only link should be the one in your profile. Users know to look there. On the other hand, you can add links to STORIES as a sticker. Remember, stories only stay up for 24 hours. **[This article gives more tips on Local Instagram Marketing.](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/instagram-local-business-profiles)** ## Tracking your Marketing Success What’s nice is that you can **see the results of your efforts**. In the first week of the month, review the [analytics and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") for the prior month. 1. **Website Stats:** - How many visitors went to your site? How many page views and how long did they stay on your site? [Conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/ "How to Improve the User Experience on Your Website to Increase Conversions")? - Where are they coming from? Google should be the top. If not, then you’re not blogging enough. Then come the social networks and other referral sources. - What are they clicking on? 2. **Facebook Insights:** - Has your reach increased? Have you gained new likes and followers? - What type of posts are getting the most reactions, and what time of day are your fans on the network? - Who are you reaching? Who are your fans? Are they your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)? 3. **Google Business Profile (GBP):** - GBP will send you the analytics via email. - How many people used GBP? - What did they do — ask for a phone number or directions? Did they click through to the website? 4. **Instagram:** - Actions on your account — likes, tags, comments, etc. - What did they do? — Did they click through to the website? - Insights about your followers, such as age, gender, and location. These are very important! ***Do they reflect your target market?*** [**Here’s more on Analytics and Insights.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/) ## YouTube Tips Here’s an [in-depth article with a video](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google") on what you can do to boost [Local SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/inbound-marketing-2/seo-internet-marketing/local-seo/ "Local SEO") on your YouTube Channel. YouTube is owned by Google, and videos come up regularly in AI Overviews. - Put your city in your channel name and description. - Your branding should clearly tell someone in seconds what you have to offer and [how you can help them.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-strategy-think-like-your-target-market/ "Social Media Marketing Strategy: Think Like Your Target Market") - Your titles should explain what is in the video in 100 characters - Fill out the description fully with hashtags and keywords about what’s in the video - Create an eye-catching thumbnail - Tag your location - Add relevant tags and keywords. I can show you how to set up default descriptions to help you save time and optimize your YouTube Channel. [Book a 1-hour session! ](https://calendar.app.google/xkA6T5KdGjbK4ntV8) For example, I optimized this client’s channel name by adding their city. This is a clients YouTube Channel that I am currently working on to optimize her video thumbnails and descriptions for Local SEO [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## One More FREE Tip! Make sure ALL your images on your website have the ALT-TEXT filled out with a short description of the image, as well as your business name AND city/state location. On WordPress, you have 2 places — the Alternative Text AND the Description. People don’t usually see this unless they have their images turned off in their browsers — which is rare these days. Nevertheless, Google sees it, and it makes a big difference in Local SEO. Simple, right? OK, you may find this a bit overwhelming, but if you take one at a time and put together both **[strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/)** and **[tactical plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/),** you’ll start to see the results fairly quickly. Let’s start with a [Free 15-minute Zoom](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) call so I can review your marketing efforts and give you some ideas. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)### How can brick-and-mortar businesses increase organic reach using free tools like Instagram, Google Business Profile, and Facebook? By fully leveraging free tools and keeping profiles complete and well-branded, local businesses can improve visibility. Set up and optimize your Google Business Profile, use Instagram business features and location tagging, and maintain an active Facebook presence with consistent posting and encouraging check-ins and interactions. ### Why is encouraging customers to check in on Facebook beneficial for reach and social proof? Check-ins trigger posts from customers on their personal timelines, which broadens exposure beyond your page’s direct posts. They show on your business page, boost social proof, and lead to more comments from friends, increasing reach as friends of friends see the post. ### What steps should I take to set up and optimize my Google Business Profile for better local visibility? Create a Google Business Profile, ensure your location is verified, complete all details, and keep information consistent with your website, including address, hours, photos, main category, and website link. ### What are the best practices for using Instagram for local business marketing? Use a business account connected to your Facebook Page, add your location, and ensure your profile includes address, hours, and phone. Encourage tagging the location in posts, but remember links don’t work in posts—use the profile link and consider links in Stories via stickers. ### How should I track and measure the success of my local marketing efforts across these tools? Regularly review analytics and insights from your platforms. Check website visits and conversions, source of visitors, reach, and engagement on Facebook, GBP analytics for user actions, and Instagram follower activity and website clicks to gauge whether you’re reaching your target market. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google, Local SEO, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Google, Google Maps, Google My Business, Instagram, Instagram Business, local brick-and-mortar, local business, Local SEO, marketing local businesses, search engine optimization, seo, social media marketing --- ### [Are Google Core Web Vitals Still Important?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/google-core-web-vitals/) **Published:** June 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Google’s Core Web Vitals are ***still vitally important*** to a website’s performance! Have you tested your site recently? A lot of factors could affect it. Learn what you can to improve your score and [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). Google page speed is part of its Core Web VitalsBefore I started this business in 2011, I remember Google’s major “Panda” and “Penguin” updates. That changed how websites ranked or didn’t rank on Google’s Search Engine Results Page (SERP). With this major update, businesses that enjoyed being on the first page of Google by cheating the search engine with black-hat tactics found themselves buried or kicked off Google completely. It ruined businesses that depended on being on the first page. Today, page-loading speed is critical. Especially for the AI search bots that come to your site looking for content. If your site takes too long to load, they will go elsewhere. Like your [competitor](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/ "What You Need to Know to Beat the COMPETITION Online"). Likewise, if a potential customer has to wait for your website to load before they can do something, they, too, will go elsewhere. ## What You Need to Know About Core Web Vitals This is the LAST THING you want to see***First, understand that Google still has over 90% of all global searches, so, yes, you need to pay attention.*** ([Source](https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share)) Second, a lot of this is technical stuff, and you may need a web developer to help you. Now, if you are on a platform like Shopify or Etsy, ***it’s up to them to figure it out for you***. If you’re on **Wix, Weebly, or a site builder**, they may or may not have this figured out. In either case, they should have something about **Core Web Vitals** in their help system or at least inform you of what it means for your website. ***If not, it may be time to move your site to a [self-hosted platform](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/).*** Furthermore, the best one, in my opinion, is [**WordPress**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/). Ultimately, it’s preferred because you own it, you customize it, and you control everything. Including updates. Plus, it’s not that difficult to learn! I can teach you how to [ **Manage YOUR WORDPRESS WEBSITE**!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) On the other hand, if you already have a hosted website, [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/), or other platform, you’ll need to test your site to see where it’s failing. **Use [Google’s Page Speed test](https://pagespeed.web.dev/).** ## The Three Vital Components of Core Web Vitals Undeniably, the idea behind these Core Web Vitals is to improve the **[user experience (UX)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/)**. In the long run, this will benefit you as potential customers are more likely to find you, stay on your page, and [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/). > ***A bad UX will cost you sales!*** 1. **Largest Contentful Paint (LCP):** This is how fast a page loads on a mobile device. Here’s what may affect it… - **Slow server response time** – this is at the hosting level. If, after you run the test, this comes up as an issue, contact your web host. - **Java and CSS code and script in the back end of a page that blocks rendering** (loading) – this is at the developer level. If you’re on one of the page builder sites, this may be a factor that ***cannot be remedied***. On WordPress, changing your theme would be an option. I can help you find an SEO-friendly theme. [Book a free call now. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) - **Large graphics or videos** – I know that the large graphics are cool, but if they take too long to load, they hurt you rather than help. I still recommend putting a video on your home page to help explain what you do or have to offer, but upload it to [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/), and then just embed the link. That way, the video is watchable on your site, but the load is on YouTube. 2. **First Input Delay (FID)** – This measures how soon a visitor can interact with your page. Pop-ups, cookie banners, and other dynamic elements will hurt more than help. Especially on a mobile device. The most frustrating thing for me is trying to read an article on my tablet, and a stupid pop-up blocks the whole screen. Sometimes, it’s so big that I have to turn the tablet so I can see the “x” to close it. That’s what this is all about. If this causes sites to remove popups, I’m all for it! If you must have a pop-up, put it at the bottom or set it to open when the visitor is leaving the page. Additionally, JavaScript can also hinder this. Unfortunately, that’s what most of these easy, DIY site builders use as their foundation. Again, it may be time to upgrade to [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/). 3. **Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)** – This looks at the visual stability of each page. Previously, I had this problem on my site. When I redid it, I just uploaded the graphics to a slider on the home page, and didn’t pay attention to the sizes of the pictures. They were all different sizes. In other words, when the slider automatically showed the next graphic, it would move all the page text either up or down. I ended up removing the slider altogether. It wasn’t needed. Other elements that can affect this are… - Advertisements of different sizes - Cookie banners - Notices or pop-ups - Images, embeds, and iframes without dimensions – this will happen if your website hasn’t been updated in a few years. - Certain web fonts. If you are using fancy web fonts, these also may be hurting your site. ## In Summary, the Three Core Web Vitals cover… 1. LCP – loading 2. FID – interactivity 3. CLS – visual stability So, the first thing you need to do is run [Google’s Page Speed Test](https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/). Then, review the results and show them to your webmaster to see how your site can be improved. Consequently, if you have a WordPress site, Google has a free plugin, Site Kit, that connects to Google Analytics, Search Console, and the Page Speed Test. This is what came up for one of my clients. I have some work to do… Google Core Web Vitals test from the Google plugin Site Kit for WordPress showing Mobile Core Web Vitals test resultsUltimately, there’s no time to waste! These Core Web Vitals affect your website’s functionality, SEO ranking, and getting cited in the AI answer chatbots! If your website doesn’t work effectively for you, what good is it? ### ***If you’d like me to test your website, [click here to book a free 15-minute phone consult.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)*** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://secure.lightningbase.com/aff.php?aff=485)[Affiliate Link](https://secure.lightningbase.com/aff.php?aff=485)All in all, if you find that you need to change hosting providers and you want to go to WordPress, I recommend [Lightning Base](https://secure.lightningbase.com/aff.php?aff=485) (affiliate link). It’s where I have this very site. Good tech support, loads fast on the server side, and they only do WordPress. I wouldn’t be an affiliate if they weren’t great! If you have a **WordPress website** that needs major work, I recommend [OnsiteWP](https://www.onsitewp.com/) (Tell them I sent you!). They can help you with tweaking an existing website, as well as creating a whole new WordPress website if you need to move from a site-builder platform. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)--- [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ### What are Core Web Vitals, and why do they matter for your website? Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure user experience, focusing on how fast and smoothly a page loads, how quickly users can interact with it, and how stable the layout is. They matter because they affect your site’s performance, SEO ranking, and even how AI answer bots cite your site. ### How can I test Core Web Vitals and use the results to improve my site? Run Google’s Page Speed Test to see where your site stands, then review the results with your webmaster to identify what to fix. If you’re using WordPress, you can also use the Site Kit plugin to connect Analytics, Search Console, and Page Speed data for easier monitoring. ### What are the three vital components of Core Web Vitals, and what can affect each one? The three components are Largest Contentful Paint, which reflects how fast a page loads on mobile and can be affected by slow server response, blocking JavaScript or CSS, and large graphics; First Input Delay, which measures how quickly a user can interact with the page and is hurt by pop-ups and heavy JavaScript; and Cumulative Layout Shift, which looks at visual stability and can be caused by images, ads, banners, or fonts that shift content during load. ### Should I switch to WordPress or another platform to improve Core Web Vitals? If you’re on a hosted site builder and finding Core Web Vitals hard to fix, a self-hosted platform like WordPress is often best because you own and control it, can customize it, and update it more easily. In some cases, upgrading hosting or moving from a site builder to WordPress can help with performance. ### What practical steps can I take to improve Core Web Vitals on my site? Test with Google’s Page Speed Test, optimize server response times, reduce or optimize JavaScript and CSS that block rendering, use smaller or properly sized graphics, avoid intrusive pop-ups, and ensure images and fonts have defined dimensions to reduce layout shifts. If possible, consider hosting on a fast WordPress setup and review plugins and themes for performance. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google, SEO, Websites **Tags:** AEO, Google, Google Core Web Vitals, mobile first, mobile websites, page load speed, search engine optimization, seo, website load speed, websites --- ### [Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) **Published:** June 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** **Insanity**: Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. We all know the definition of insanity. ***Then why are you doing social media marketing without checking your analytics and insights?*** During the first week of each month, you should review the previous month’s analytics on your website, as well as the insights on your social media business pages. Here’s what you need to look for…. - Did you meet your goals? You actually have to set [SMART goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) each month. You want your website visitors to keep increasing and your [social media following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) to keep growing. - Did your marketing efforts accomplish what you wanted? [Conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/ "How to Improve the User Experience on Your Website to Increase Conversions")? Sales? Bookings? New [Leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/)? - Are you ranking on Google or being cited by the AI Chatbots? Your [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) and [AEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-ai-evolution-in-digital-marketing-how-to-adapt-adopt-for-exposure/ "The AI Evolution in Digital Marketing: How to Adapt & Adopt for Exposure") might need tweaking! ## You should be checking your social media analytics and insights monthly. They tell you: - The **demographics** of your fans and [followers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/11-easy-ways-grow-twitter-followers-get-noticed/ "11 EASY Ways to GROW Your X FOLLOWERS & Get Noticed") – this is important – are they your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)? - Where they are **located** – if you’re local, you want a good majority in your local area. If they’re not, then you need to change your strategy and tactics to attract people closer to home. - **Age and gender** – Do they represent your target? You “talk” differently to the various age groups, men, and women. - Which posts got the most **engagement**? – Reach/Impressions are nice, but they tell you how many people had the potential to see your post. **Engagement is likes, shares, clicks, and comments.** - Which ***types of posts*** got the most engagement – pictures, videos, text, links? **All these tell you what’s working and what’s [not working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/).** Therefore, if what you’re doing is not reaching your target, then you need to adjust your marketing plan accordingly. (You do have a[ marketing plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/), right?) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)### Your Website’s Analytics and Statistics give you Valuable Information also: - How many **unique visitors** have you had in any given time frame? - **New and returning visitors:** This is important. Are your visitors [converting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/)? - **Which sites referred users to your site?** Where are the visitors coming from? Social media, other sites, the AI chatbots, and the search engines. This helps you plan your social media strategy. You focus on the networks that are driving people to your website. Make sure your website is optimized for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?") AND [AEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH"). - Which are your most **popular posts and pages**? Give them more of what they like! Tweak and update these posts and pages. - How many **pages** did each visitor view while they were on your site? Are you interlinking related posts and pages? - **Time viewing: This** is a [Google Analytics](http://www.google.com/analytics "Google Analytics") feature that measures how long someone stayed on your site. You want visitors to stay on your site as long as possible, reading other posts and looking through your information. ***The longer people stay on your site, the more likely they are to buy something.*** - The **[Google Search Console](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gather-helpful-data-from-google-search-console/)** tells you where you come up in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) and how many people clicked to visit your website. ## **What about Social Media Analytics and Insights** Each of the major social media networks offers analytics/insights for business pages and accounts. On X (formerly Twitter), analytics is part of their advertising program now. On [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/ "Facebook") and [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/instagram/ "Instagram"), you need at least 100 likes/followers to start getting data. All website platforms have a place to connect them to Google Analytics. Furthermore, there’s a free Google Analytics plugin for [WordPress](http://wordpress.org "WordPress") sites called [Site Kit](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-site-kit/). It’s 100% FREE. Not like others, where you need to upgrade to see data. ## **Oh, and don’t forget your [email marketing ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/)reports!** If you send out a regular newsletter (at least monthly), you should track the open rate, the click-through rate, and take a look at which links got clicked on the most. You also want to see how many people on your list are actually actively opening and reading your emails. You may want to segment the list somehow to get better results. If you’re sending out the same old emails, you’re probably not going to be very effective. In conclusion, when you’re armed with this data, you can then [plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) for the next month. Check out my monthly “[What’s Trending](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/whats-trending/)” article to take advantage of what will be trending on social media to gain exposure. Your [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) and [tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) plans should be adjusted each month based on your analytics. **Related Article: [ROI or K](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/)**[**PI?**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/) ***Related Content: [What if Your Marketing Efforts Are Not Working?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/)*** #### [I can take a look at your website’s SEO and page loading speed in a free 15-minute phone consult. I’ll also review your current digital marketing efforts. Click here to schedule. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)### Why should you check analytics and insights every month for your social media marketing? Because analytics show you what’s working and what isn’t, so you can adjust your marketing plan each month instead of guessing. Monthly review helps you see if you’re meeting SMART goals and whether your social following and website visitors are growing as planned. ### What should you look for when reviewing your website analytics monthly? Look at how many unique visitors you have, how many are new versus returning visitors, which sites referred traffic, which posts are most popular, how many pages each visitor views, and how long they stay on your site. These indicators help you understand engagement and potential conversions. ### How do social media analytics and insights inform your strategy? They tell you demographics, location, age and gender of your followers, and which types of posts generate the most engagement. This data helps you tailor your content to your target market and optimize where you focus your efforts. ### What should you monitor in email marketing reports to improve effectiveness? Track open rate, click-through rate, which links are clicked the most, and how many people actively read your emails. Consider segmenting your list to improve results and avoid sending the same old messages. ### How can you use analytics to plan for the next month? With data on visitors, engagement, referrals, and top-performing content, you can adjust your strategic and tactical plans monthly. Use insights to refine SMART goals, improve conversions, and align your marketing activities with what’s actually driving results. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Content Marketing, Digital Marketing, Google Analytics **Tags:** analytics, Analytics and Insights, AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, Google Analytics, Internet, Internet Marketing, marketing, measuring social media, site statistics, social media, Website, websites --- ### [Building Trust & Credibility in a World of Fake News](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/) **Published:** March 14, 2025 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** With so much fake and misleading news on social media (even Google Ads), who do you believe? Better yet, how do you, as a small business owner, build trust and credibility, promote your business, **and stand out amid all the online chatter?** Furthermore, how do you avoid or work around when Google or a social network blocks you because of what you’re posting? I try not to get into politics on my business accounts and keep my [views to my personal accounts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/). However, an article that I came across on my newsfeed stopped me in my tracks and prompted me to write this piece. I don’t want to get political, but I am aware of users—businesses and nonprofits—who are still being banned or blocked on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. I tried pinning an article from one of their sites on Pinterest and was blocked with an error message saying it was **inappropriate content.** Who are they to judge what is appropriate or inappropriate content? (Note: I’m not going to get into a free speech argument here or what’s fair and not fair.) ## Google and the Social Networks are Privately Owned Platforms [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/censored/)Let’s say you owned a theater and you wanted to open it up to anyone to use it for free to stage plays, concerts, or lectures. One day, you pop in to see who’s rehearsing and find that they are presenting something you find **offensive**. Or a neighboring business owner sees a poster and is offended and complains. Now, you need to start interviewing and vetting people before you let them use your space. Are you discriminating? What about free speech? Well, it’s your **privately owned** theater. You can decide who can and cannot present there. **The same goes for social media networks. Look at it all from their shoes. They have the right to censor posted content. They all have user agreements. (You know, the thing that you agreed to without reading when you set up your account.) That means terrorists can livestream** bombings, massacres, and shootings. Or can they? They can try, but their posts will be taken down as soon as the network is made aware of them. ## How does this affect your business? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/building-trust-credibility-in-a-world-of-fake-news/trust-puzzle/)Now, you might be thinking, “I don’t fall into these categories.” Sure, but then you are competing with everyone else for users’ attention with all that’s out there. ***People buy from those whom they know and [trust](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/).*** That’s a problem with all of today’s fake news. The networks and Google are cracking down on fake reviews and fake accounts, so you always want ***to look authentic and above board.*** ## How do you stand out and not look like fake news? 1. Make sure you are **transparent** in all your social media profiles. - Have an updated website with a complete [About Us](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/) page that tells your story. - Your [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) personal/individual profile has a good, recent, professional-looking headshot so people can see who’s behind the business. - You have a [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/24-foolish-linkedin-mistakes/) company profile page with a link to your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/). They have a call-to-action button. Choose “Learn More”. - Fill out your [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) about section completely. They recently made changes to the business pages, so make sure you’ve covered all the areas. - Don’t automate EVERYTHING on social media. You can’t forget the “social” part of social media. It’s about building relationships with potential and current customers, as well as referral sources. 2. All your **[branding](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) should be consistent** throughout your social media profiles and [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/). You’ll look fishy if you have some fuzzy pictures on some and your picture where your logo should be. It’s your [online image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/). Make it look professional. 3. **Get real customers** to provide you with real testimonials, recommendations, and reviews on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and LinkedIn. Encourage them to do so in a thank you email or when they’ve made a purchase. Don’t give them an incentive. That’s the same as buying reviews. 4. Before you share someone else’s content on your social networks, verify that it’s from a **trusted source** and it’s not “clickbait”. 5. Don’t create **clickbait headlines** on social posts. Clickbait is when you write a catchy, enticing headline that has nothing to do with what the article, offer, or page is about. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Obviously, you don’t want to be labeled fake news or a scam artist. 6. Watch which [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) you use. Always check to see WHY something is [trending](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) before you try to spin your marketing message around it. 7. Don’t create content that’s 100% [AI-generated](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/). 8. Create content that showcases [E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/). 9. If you or your business supports or are passionate about a **politically sensitive cause**, and that’s what you write and post about, be aware that you may be banned from some of the networks. If you are, [let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone call to go over your options.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## How May Your Business Be Affected by Fake News and Censoring? It depends. It may not affect you at all. However, be careful not to follow accounts that may be **fake**. You can’t do much about the fake accounts that are following you. (Furthermore, NEVER BUY fake followers or reviews!) On most of the networks, users can see who you’re following. They should see themselves represented there, as well as **influencers** in your field or industry. That is, people you respect and whose content you’ll share. Those are **trusted sources**. (Related: **[How to Build Your Following Organically](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/)**). ## Social Media Alternatives With all the censoring going on, here are networks that tout free speech. Check them out… - Gab – an alternative to Facebook - [MeWe](https://mewe.com/) – an alternative to Facebook - [Rumble](https://rumble.com/) (A YouTube alternative) - [Telegram](https://telegram.org/) – messaging - [Gettr](https://gettr.com/) – an alternative to X - [Truth Social](https://truthsocial.com/) – Donald Trump’s Network Since these came out, the ones that have stood out as most popular are Rumble, Telegram, and Truth Social. ## Should you be on ALL of these? That depends on your target audience. Download my free[ Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/), then [schedule a call](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) when you’ve completed the task. Can what you’re publishing get you in trouble? Were you banned or suspended from a network? Let’s do a **[free 15-minute phone consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** so I can evaluate the situation and see how to overcome it. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing, Social Networks **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, building trust and credibilty, content marketing, fake news, getting banned, getting censored, Giselle Aguiar, social media, social media marketing, social networks --- ### [Successful Digital Marketing Starts with SMART Goals and Metrics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-social-media-marketing-goals-metrics/) **Published:** June 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Success means different things to different people. Successful social media and digital marketing means increased sales, exposure, and repeat customers. ***What do you want*** to accomplish ***with your Social Media Marketing?*** Got you thinking, right? Well, successful social media marketing starts with setting goals and metrics. Moreover, they have to be ***SMART goals.*** I see too many small business owners dive into social media and digital marketing without [planning](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/ "Planning Your Social Media Marketing is an Important Step for Success") anything. ***You can’t have a plan without goals!*** How do you know what you’re doing is working? Jumping in without goals is a useless effort. Furthermore, you waste valuable time and money. Therefore, you need to be SMART about it! ## What are SMART Goals? SMART Goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Each one has to have these attributes. ### **Specific:** “Getting more sales” or “building awareness” is not specific. That’s very general. Sure, you want more sales. Who doesn’t? The best way to get specific on this is to determine how many new clients or customers you need to make a ***profit*** each month. Start with how much money you want to make in the next 12 months, fiscal year, or calendar year. Divide that by 12 or however many months are left in the calendar year, and that becomes a specific monetary goal that you want to reach every month. Now, how many new clients do you need to reach that goal? A SMART goal could be 5 new clients every month. The question then is **HOW are you going to get them?** That’s where [strategizing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) comes in. **Next, you need to determine how many new visitors you need to visit your site in order to [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It") them into those 5 new clients.** ### Where do you start? Begin with how many visitors you are currently getting. Hopefully, you’ve got some analytics set up on your site, like Google Analytics, which is free, but it won’t help you until they are set up. Hence, if you’re just starting, you’re not going to have anything to go by. Set a sensible, realistic, attainable goal for website visits, like 100 visitors in a month. That’s not too high if you are planning an aggressive campaign. If you surpass it, excellent! Raise the bar a little higher for the next month. If you don’t meet your goal, you’ve got to review what’s not working and change your strategy and tactics. Then, determine the conversion rate. Depending on your marketing message, site, industry, company, product, or service, the conversion rate can be anywhere from .1% to 10%. Ultimately, to reach the goal of 5 new clients, you need 100 visitors to your site in one month at a **5% conversion rate**. If you don’t get that at the end of the month, you have to ask yourself, “[What did I do wrong?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/ "10 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn’t Working")” or “What didn’t I do?” You may be able to find out what your industry’s standard conversion rate is by doing some research on Google or an AI chatbot. Maybe it’s your [copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-copywriting-website-social-media-improve-results/ "How the Right Copywriting on Your Website & Social Media Can Improve Results")? ### **Measurable:** What do you want to accomplish? - New, [quality leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)? - New clients? - Sales? - [Increase your website traffic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/)? - Grow your [email list](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/landing-page-effective-infographic/)? - Grow your social media [following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/), likes, or engagement? - Get more appointments? - Get the phone to ring? At the end of the month, you can look at your finances, reports, and [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") and see if you’ve met the goals. ### **Attainable:** **A 5% conversion rate is not that easy to attain.** A more realistic one would be 1% for the first month — especially if you’re new to [planning](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/ "Planning Your Social Media Marketing is an Important Step for Success"). [Blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) 3+ times a week will draw people to your site. Post to [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/create-your-online-brand/ "How to Create Your ONLINE BRAND with SOCIAL MEDIA") several times a day to effectively build awareness and [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). The same goes for income. Clearly, wanting to earn a lot of money, but what is reasonable for you? If you set this goal too high, you’ll be disappointed when you keep missing it. ### **Relevant:** If you’re more [B2B than B2C](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/b2b-vs-b2c-which-social-network-should-you-use/), having 100 followers on Instagram is not relevant at all. That goal, however, is relevant on [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/). However, the reverse would apply to a B2C company trying to reach consumers with a product or service. Also, increasing likes and engagement are vanity metrics. Certainly, they are nice to have, but that’s the ultimate goal. By the way, your [following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/ "Social Media Usage Is Up: How to Grow Your Following and Reach!") won’t grow if you don’t post. Therefore, start with an aggressive campaign. I can help you with this! [Book a FREE call!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### **Time-Bound:** **It makes sense to use the monthly time frame.** It’s manageable and gives you time to develop the strategy and tactics that you’re going to use to meet your goals. Especially if you need to pivot because of a major event, trends, or news. It’s also convenient to look at your analytics and insights when you’re doing your end-of-the-month bookkeeping. Saying you want 100 followers on X (formerly Twitter) in 1 week is not attainable. I’ve done it in 2 weeks for a client, and it took a lot of diligent posting, understanding the [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) niche well, researching keywords, and creating the right hashtags and posts. Their analytics told me a lot about the client’s followers and the other topics they were interested in, which helped me determine what content to post. ## What about Overall Goals and Objectives? Sure, you can have overall goals and objectives, as well as long-term goals. However, for ***successful social media and digital marketing, go month-to-month***. It’s easier to plan for the next month when you only have to manage one month at a time. Nevertheless, if your business depends on holiday or seasonal business, you may need to do a 3-6 month plan, but have monthly campaigns, strategies, and tactics planned out. Think about what happened to any annual goals set in December of 2019? They went out the window quickly. Undeniably, setting month-to-month goals makes it easier to pivot when something happens. Inevitably, something will happen. ### Write down your SMART Goals! ***Goals become real when you’ve got them written down somewhere.*** Whether it’s a Word document, a whiteboard, a spreadsheet, an app, a software program, a bulletin board, or Post-it notes — whatever works for you. ### What are some Successful Social Media Marketing metrics? What are your [KPIs ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/)(Key Performance Indicators)? - Likes and [followers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/11-easy-ways-grow-twitter-followers-get-noticed/ "11 EASY Ways to GROW Your X FOLLOWERS & Get Noticed")? - Engagement - [Website clicks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gather-helpful-data-from-google-search-console/ "How to Gather Helpful Data from Google Search Console") - [Video](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) views - Visits to your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/) - [Conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It") - [Call-to-Action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) button clicks on Facebook - [Target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your Free Define Your Target Market Workbook!") demographics – if you’re local, you need to make sure that a high percentage of your following is local! ## Don’t know where to start in setting SMART Goals? [***Why not schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation so I can review your current marketing efforts?***](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) I’ll test your SEO and page-speed loading, as well as look at your social media profiles, branding, and your SMART Goals. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Save [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google Analytics, Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** analytics, analyzing social media, AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, goal setting, Internet Marketing, marketing, online marketing, SMART goals, social media, social media marketing, Social Media Metrics, What are SMART Goals --- ### [Why is it Important to Focus on What Your Target Market Wants?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-importance-of-focusing-on-what-your-target-market-wants/) **Published:** June 16, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Many marketers make the mistake of jumping into blogging, posting, and/or advertising on social media without considering who their target market is and what they want or need. Obviously, you must think about the customer and not about what you want to sell or what you like. When a potential customer lands on your website, they’re thinking, “What’s in it for me?” “Can these people help me?” “Do they have what I want?” “Can they solve my problem?” It’s about them, not about you! ## It Takes Vision It’s not a vision of what ***you want to do for yourself***, but what you can do to ***better serve people***. Many companies build or produce a product or service that they want rather than what the market wants or needs. > ***When you fill a need for others, wealth follows. That’s the reward, not the vision.*** > > **~David. L Steward, author, entrepreneur in “Doing Business by the Good Book”** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/Edsel_Pacer_2-Door_HT_1958.jpg)The Edsel the car Henry Ford made that nobody wantedOne of the best, historic examples of this is Ford Motor Company’s 1957 [Edsel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edsel "Edsel"). The name alone resonates with failure, and it became the joke of the 1950s. Henry Ford wanted to honor his son, Edsel, with a very different car, priced between the Mercury and the Lincoln, competing with General Motors. The Edsel had: - Debatable styling - State-of-the-art equipment – like push button controls for the transmission on the steering wheel - Self-adjusting brakes - Safety rim wheels - And the ugly “horse collar” grill ### The Problem: The Edsel was what Ford wanted to sell, but it was not what the public wanted to buy. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/1964-mustang-rc.jpg)Fast forward a few years to 1964. **Ford’s vision changed. The company envisioned a moderately priced**, 4-door sports car. They felt it filled a void in the market. Hence, the Mustang was born, and in its first year, it set a sales record of over 400,000 sold with profits of over $1 billion. Not bad for 1964! The difference: They ***researched***. They looked at the automobile market and created what **they saw was missing.** The [Ford Mustang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mustang "Ford Mustang") is still considered “America’s Sports Car.” A totally different image than the Edsel! ### There are many things to consider before you jump into marketing your business: - Is your [product or service unique?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/) What makes you different? - Does it fill **a need** for a decent-sized market — big enough, but not too big? - Can that target market **afford it**? - Is there enough **interest**? - Do you have an Edsel or a Mustang? - How have the current economic conditions affected your target? ## Using AI to Research Your Target Market Besides that, your target market is now using [AI to answer questions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-ai-evolution-in-digital-marketing-how-to-adapt-adopt-for-exposure/ "The AI Evolution in Digital Marketing: How to Adapt & Adopt for Exposure"), find solutions to problems, and discover what to buy. Furthermore, you can use the AI tools to help you not only research your target, but also determine their search intent, buying journey, and ability to buy. The AI tools can also help create marketing plans for you. With the right prompts, you can save time and money! I can show you how in a [customized 1:1 training session. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training") ## [Free Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) If you haven’t figured this out yet, this free download may help. The **[Free Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** will help you think of who your best customer is and some of their buying habits. Once you’ve got your market clearly defined, then with [a little research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/), [strategic and tactical plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/), you can get started marketing on social media. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)### *Taking one step at a time, you can Take Control of Your Marketing!* [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Save ## Frequently Asked Questions on Target Markets ### What is more important in marketing: selling what you want or serving what your target market wants? It’s about the customer, not about you. When a potential customer lands on your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/ "What You Need to Know to Build a Website that Works"), they’re asking what’s in it for me and whether you can solve my problem. Marketers should focus on what the market wants and needs, not what they personally want to sell. ### Why is the Edsel a cautionary tale for marketers? The Edsel shows what happens when a company pushes a product the company wants to sell rather than what the public wants to buy. It had debatable styling and advanced features that didn’t align with market demand, unlike the Mustang, which was created after researching and meeting market needs. ### How can you determine your target market before marketing your business? Start by asking if your product or service is unique and what makes you different, whether it fills a meaningful need for a sizable market, if that market can afford it, and whether there is enough interest. Compare your offering to proven examples like Mustang and Edsel to gauge market fit. ### How can AI help with researching your target market? AI can answer questions, find solutions, and reveal what people want to buy. It helps determine search intent, buying journey, and affordability, and can even assist in creating marketing plans with the right prompts. ### What practical steps can you take today to take control of your marketing? Take one step at a time by defining your target market with tools like the [Free Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your Free Define Your Target Market Workbook!"), doing some market research, [planning strategically, ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/ "Get the Most from Your Social Media Marketing with a Detailed Strategic Plan")and setting up a [tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/ "Marketing on Social Media with no Tactical Plan is Wasted Effort"). [Consider booking a free strategy session to start building your marketing plan.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Advertising, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Target Marketing **Tags:** Edsel, Ford Motor Company, Ford Mustang, improving marketing results, Internet Marketing, marketing, Target market --- ### [What is Evergreen Content and Why Do You Need it?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/evergreen-content/) **Published:** June 16, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** When you think of an “evergreen”, you think of pine trees. They are called evergreens because they are green all year long. They don’t lose their leaves in the fall. I grew up in Upstate New York, and my mom loved them. ## What is Evergreen Content? Evergreen content is blog articles or videos that are timeless. No matter what month, year, or season, the topic is relevant, makes sense, and is interesting to the reader or viewer. It has a long “shelf life.” For instance, my articles on what will be **trending in January** and **Now’s the Time to Start Planning for Holiday Sales** are ***not*** evergreen content and would not be relevant in March. Thus, I wouldn’t want the plugin, [**Revive Old Posts,**](https://revive.social/) to keep posting those to X and Facebook after they’re no longer viable. (That’s a cool, free plugin that automatically and randomly shares blog posts to X and Facebook and to the other networks in the upgrade.) Revive Old Post WordPress Plugin excluding tagsThe last thing I want is to see a post on how social media helped Hurricane Harvey survivors shared now. I don’t want to delete the article — which I could — because it’s a good story and it may very well help in the next natural disaster. Most importantly, you don’t want to look stupid. Needless to say, I’ve seen it on other people’s social networks. ## When to Delete Obsolete Content or Edit it **Now, there are times when you want to delete obsolete content.** For example, I’ve deleted all blog posts on Google Plus, because it’s gone. Sometimes an article may just need to be edited or updated. I’m doing that now with all of my older blog posts (Including this one!). Likewise, I had to edit all my blog posts on Twitter when Elon Musk changed the name to X. Furthermore, with today’s AI Answer Bots, your content needs to be FRESH. That is, not older than one year! The AI bots check the published date and will go elsewhere if they think the content is outdated. Moreover, on WordPress and most blogging platforms, you can change the published date to a more recent date so it looks like it’s brand new. The trick is to revert it to draft status by clicking “Published” and setting it to draft on WordPress. Then click on the published date, click “Now,” and it will republish it as new. Your RSS feed will think it’s a new post and share it on your social networks (if you have automatic sharing set up). ## Why You Want Evergreen Content **Evergreen Content** is like that little black dress. It’s timeless. Wear it to work or out for cocktails; to a casual date or to a fancy party. As a result, **Evergreen Content can be shared anywhere and at any time.** - Evergreen content can help boost your [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) ranking, helping drive traffic to your website. - You can recycle it in emails, if pertinent. - Send it to a customer who needs it as an answer to a question. - Share it on [Quora](https://www.quora.com/profile/Giselle-Aguiar). - Use a plugin like Revive Old Posts to get the content out there to draw new visitors to your website and help with your SEO. ***Note:*** Don’t use Revive Old Posts until you have at least 20 blog articles published. You don’t want to share the same thing over and over again. Start with sharing every 6 hours, then as you write more content, you can share more often. - Schedule them out with a tool like [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link). - Use them as promos. - Use them to reply to people in groups. > ***Time-Saver Tip:*** I have a notepad (text file) with links to my evergreen posts, which makes it easy to copy and paste. ## What Types of Content Work as Evergreen? Evergreen content is a continual, valuable resource for your audience and potential customers. Here are some types of blog posts that can be evergreen: - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). These are popular with the AI bots as they are looking for answers to users’ questions. - Lists - Glossaries — [like mine](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/)! - Guides. - Reviews of relevant movies or books. - Interviews. Be careful with outdated topics. I have some videos that I recorded on Facebook Live when that launched. They are a bit dated, but the information still holds. Mention that in your post. - Customer [testimonials](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-testimonials-a-great-digital-marketing-tool/ "Video Testimonials – A Great Digital Marketing Tool"), user-generated content (UGC – when a happy customer takes a picture or video of themselves using your product or service), and success stories. - Case studies. However, watch for outdated data. I just updated a blog post that had a chart from 2013. I replaced it with a more recent chart that had new data. - How-tos. **Naturally, update them as needed.** An evergreen article ceases to be evergreen the moment something in it changes or is obsolete. Be careful when sharing data. Make sure it’s current! **Avoid putting the date or year in your URL or title.** Especially in the URL. If you have to edit the URL for the post, that will create a new link, and the old link will not work anymore. Thus, leading anyone who clicks on the old link to your “404 Not Found” page. That’s not good and hurts your SEO. I use a tool called Broken Link Checker on my WordPress site, which will let me know when a link on any of my blogs or pages is bad. Add the date at the top of the page and in the Meta Description to let people know that it is updated. ## So, what are you waiting for?! > ***The more you blog, the more visitors you will attract to your site and the more impressed Google will be with your [E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) on the topics.*** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[**Learn to Blog Effectively on WordPress**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Content Marketing **Tags:** blogging, content marketing, content marketing SEO, content marketing strategies, define evergreen content, digital marketing, evergreen content, marketing, seo --- ### [What is a Blog and Why do I Need One for My Business to Succeed?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) **Published:** June 16, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** **Blog** is short for “web log”. Many people have them. They can be personal, casual blogs, and then there are business blogs. **A personal blog** can be by anyone about what interests them: food, hobbies, politics, travel, religion, pets, etc. It’s a way to get your “voice” heard. ### **For Business**, however, a blog is… > *“A collection of articles that provide helpful, valuable, educational, and remarkable content to your target audience. By providing value, blogs can easily and effectively draw prospects to your website.”* > > [Hubspot](https://hubspot.com) ## If you want more traffic, leads, and customers, then you need to blog. Especially in this age of AI Overviews and AI Answer Bots. This image is from a webinar by [Conductor](https://www.conductor.com/), and it shows that blogs are one of the top-cited page types in Google AI Overviews. Top cited page types in AI Overviews**It impacts** [Search Engine Optimization (SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)**)** – gives Google, and the AI search bots, the fresh, quality, helpful, and relevant content they are looking for, hence, ***you get found*** when people search for what you have to offer. Optimize content around keywords with the keyword research tool. As you blog, you build a “keyword footprint”. You’ll rank on Google and get cited. ## Engage with potential customers. Blogs convert visitors into leads with conversion opportunities — [calls-to-action (CTAs)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) They establish your “thought leadership”. Blogging helps you build credibility and authority as a trusted source and ***an expert in your field.*** Read: [What is the New “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) ## If You Build it, They Will Come! ## If You WRITE IT, They Will Come! **Written blogs are** a crucial part of **digital marketing success. *But the content needs to [be great](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) and FRESH.*** The AI bots look for recent posts. Anything older than a year will be disregarded! If you provide great content ***and share it on your social media***, you’ll get… - More social shares - More [social followers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/ "What You Need to Know on How to Build a Social Media Following") - Inbound links - More traffic to your website - Better quality [leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) - In the end, more [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/)! You must share your blog article as soon as it’s published to your social networks, and pin the picture(s) to [**Pinterest so it will help with SEO**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-business-marketing/). Moreover, you can re-share it on social media. Especially if it’s RECENT [**Evergreen Content**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/evergreen-content/), and then [**repurpose it on LinkedIn.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) If you’re a [**local brick-and-mortar, post it to your Google Business Profile also.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-free-tools-market-local-business/) ## **Write for Your Target Audience.** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)[**Know your audience**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) and use language that they understand. Avoid using industry jargon and sounding too techie. You’re the expert. Your target is not. Don’t write over people’s heads. Write for an 11-year-old. **Provide practical solutions, give advice, *and educate* your target.** It’s about them, not you! ***No hard selling!*** ## **Blogging Success Takes Time** It doesn’t happen overnight, so don’t expect it to! If you’re just starting, you need to blog daily so Google will notice you, at least 5 times a week, for the first 2 weeks. This will also give you content to interlink in subsequent articles. Yes, you can use AI to help write your content, but just the FIRST DRAFT. Every article needs your human touch. It needs your experience and expertise. **Read: [What the new N-E-E-A-T-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?")** **If you need a WordPress blog or site setup,**[ contact me.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/contact/) I can also help show you how easy it is to create a free blog on [WordPress.com](http://WordPress.com "WordPress.com") and [**how to blog effectively with the Gutenberg Editor.**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) The free site is limited to what you can do and how you can customize it, but it can serve as a free website if you’re just starting. (Can’t beat free!) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)## In Conclusion… One last thing to remember, **don’t overthink** it. Have fun and write about what you know, love, and are passionate about! Tell stories! Talk to your target audience. If you need help deciding what type of content, what to blog about, and other overwhelming issues, let’s do a [FREE 15-minute Zoom consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA). [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## Business Blog FAQs ### What is a business blog, and why should you blog for traffic, leads, and customers? A business blog is a collection of articles that provide helpful, valuable, educational, and remarkable content to your target audience. By providing value, blogs can easily and effectively draw prospects to your website, helping you get more traffic, leads, and customers. ### How does blogging impact SEO and help you get found by Google and AI search bots? Blogs give Google and AI search bots fresh, quality, helpful, and relevant content they are looking for. By optimizing content around keywords with keyword research, you build a keyword footprint, which helps you rank on Google and get cited as you blog. ### How can blogs engage potential customers and convert them into leads? Blogs engage potential customers by offering practical solutions, education, and credible information. They use calls-to-action to convert visitors into leads, establish thought leadership, and build credibility as a trusted expert in your field. ### What should you write about, and how should you tailor your writing to your audience? Know your audience and use language they understand. Avoid industry jargon and write for an 11-year-old level in clarity. Provide practical solutions, give advice, and educate your target. It’s about them, not you, and there should be no hard selling. ### How long does blogging success take, and what are some starting tips if you’re new to blogging? Blogging success doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re just starting, you should blog daily for the first two weeks (about five times a week) to get noticed and build content for interlinking. You can use AI for the first draft, but every article needs your human touch and expertise. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Content Marketing, Internet Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, blogger, blogging, blogs, content marketing, Giselle Aguiar, Hubspot, inbound marketing, search engine optimization, social media, web-log, websites, what is a blog, WordPress --- ### [What is a Landing Page and What Makes an Effective One?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/landing-page-effective-infographic/) **Published:** June 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** You’ve got a sharp-looking website for your business, determined who your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your Free Define Your Target Market Workbook!") is, and came up with a fantastic offer to generate leads and grow your email list. Now, you need an effective **landing page**. What makes a landing page different from your other pages? Here’s what you need to know… ## The Anatomy of a “Perfect” Landing Page Here are the elements of an effective landing page, aka a squeeze page… [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)Capture Leads with the Right Calls to action1. **A great headline.** A good headline entices the visitor to keep reading. By the way, it’s not clickbait. I like the [**Co-schedule Headline Tool**](https://headlines.coschedule.com/headlines/). It’s free and easy to use. You want a score above 70. The higher, the better. 2. **Highlight the benefits first.** The visitor thinks, “What’s in it for me?” or “Does this solve my problem?” Furthermore, state the problem, then provide the benefits/solution in bullet points. 3. **Tell them what you want them to do.** That’s your [**call-to-action (CTA)**.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) It’s a command. In addition, make the button clearly visible and “above the fold” — so the visitor doesn’t have to scroll. 4. **Make it easy on the eyes**. That’s the right color scheme. The contrast between text and background should make it easy to read. The text should not be too small. There is a **[psychology to color](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/).** Red or orange buttons create a sense of urgency. However, if those colors don’t match your color scheme, pick a button color that stands out. 5. **[Get visual](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/).** [Videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) are best to explain the offer and benefits, and pictures should be sized correctly — not too large as they need to load quickly. Make it short and sweet. Capture the visitor’s attention in the first 15 seconds. 6. **[Display Social Proof. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-proof/)**That is, reviews, recommendations, and trust symbols. 7. **Expand on that social proof with credible testimonials.** Moreover, user-generated content (UGC) works great here. That’s when a happy-camper customer takes a picture of themselves with one of your products or using your service. 8. **Minimize navigational links.** In fact, remove navigation altogether. The reason being, you don’t want people to get lost in your website. You want them to get to the business of giving you their name and email. 9. **[Keep your intake form short and sweet.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/)** You want their name, email address, and maybe ask no more than 3 questions to help you segment your list. 10. **Place your form above the fold.** Don’t make people search or scroll for what you want them to do. 11. **Try A/B testing.** If you’re not sure what color scheme will work or what buttons or call-to-action to use, try A/B testing. However, keep in mind, this does take some time, and you have to create two landing pages. Nevertheless, sometimes just changing the color or text of a button will make a huge difference. The link to this page doesn’t need to be in your main navigation. It should be a graphic or button in various places around your website and of course, social media posts. (Related: [Branding and the Psychology of Color.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/)) ## The Anatomy Of A Perfect Landing Page Check out this infographic I created using NotebookLM from Google in a couple of minutes. All in all, the objective of having a landing page is to [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) the visitor into a lead with the right [call-to-action.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/ "Capturing Leads that will Convert with the Right Calls to Action") As a result, you’ll get [qualified leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) and a segmented email list to be able to personalize your [email marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/email-marketing-works/ "EMAIL MARKETING Still Works! Here’s What You Need to Know…") campaigns. Having said that, the job of marketing automation is to nurture the lead into a sale. ### **Related: [What happens if you’re not getting your desired results?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/)** If you’re struggling with this, let’s [schedule a free 15-minute phone consult, and we can brainstorm your marketing efforts.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## Landing Page FAQs ### What makes a landing page different from other pages on my site? A landing page is designed to convert visitors into leads with a clear call-to-action, and it typically minimizes navigation so visitors stay focused on providing their name and email. ### What are the key elements of a perfect landing page? A great headline, benefits highlighted first, a clear call-to-action that is above the fold, an easy-on-the-eyes design with readable text and a contrasting color scheme, supporting visuals, social proof and credible testimonials, and a short intake form. ### Why should the call-to-action be above the fold and clearly visible? The CTA should be above the fold so visitors don’t have to scroll to take action, making it easy for them to know what you want them to do right away. ### How can I improve my landing page’s effectiveness through testing and visuals? Try A/B testing to determine what color scheme or button text works best, and use visuals such as videos and properly sized images to explain the offer quickly and keep attention in the first 15 seconds. ### What role does social proof play on a landing page? Display social proof like reviews, recommendations, trust symbols, and credible testimonials, including user-generated content, to build trust and encourage conversions. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Lead Generation, Website Design, Website Functionality, Websites **Tags:** content marketing strategies, digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, infographic, Landing page, lead gen, lead generation, marketing, squeeze page, web pages, website design, website functionality, websites --- ### [How to Find the Time to Manage Your Social Media Marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/finding-the-time-to-manage-your-social-media/) **Published:** June 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** If I had a dime for each time someone said to me, "There's not enough time in the day to run my business never mind doing social media!", I'd be rich. Yes, Social Media is free to use, but it takes Sweat Equity. Here's a how to manage your day effectively to be able to prioritize, actually get stuff done and not drive yourself insane! **Content:** When I speak [before various business groups](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/book-giselle-aguiar/), I tell them to [blog at least 3 times a week](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/ "How Can Not Blogging Weekly Hurt Your Reputation?") and spend at least 30 minutes a day managing social media [marketing plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/). **And that’s after you’ve [built a following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/), which takes *even more time and effort* for at least the first month!** The response I usually get is… Your time is valuable Learn the Time Management skills you need to get stuff done> *“Where do I find the time?”* > *“There’s not enough time in the day to run my business never mind doing social media!”* Unfortunately, if you’re going to do social media, you have to ***do it correctly***. Otherwise, you’ll **waste your valuable time,** your[ reputation ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/)will suffer, and you won’t get the [results you want.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-social-media-marketing-goals-metrics/) Furthermore, if you don’t spend the time upfront [building your social media presence and following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/), it’s going to take you longer to start seeing results. > Yes, Social Media is free to use, but it takes ***Sweat Equity*.** ## Time Management Tips You need time to plan, learn how to use the networks properly, create and curate content, and actually participate, engage, and build relationships with your potential customers. A friend gave me **Dave Ramsey’s book, *EntreLeadership***, and the chapter on Time Management was exactly what I needed! (Yes, I, too, need to find more time in the day!) Here’s how you need to prioritize or divide up the tasks of your day. Believe me, it works! I used this chart for a couple of months, and when I got a new to-do task, I looked to see where it fell. It’s amazing how much can be done later or delegated. After a while, I got used to it. See, ***time management is a skill***. Therefore, the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. ### Quadrant Breakdown **Quadrant 1:** Items are things like putting out fires, customer service issues, strict deadlines, and anything to keep clients happy. **Q 4:** These are just as easy – basically time-wasters like checking your *personal* social media. That’s why it’s important to [keep personal and business separate](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-keep-business-personal-social-media-separate/). **Q 3:** This one gets tricky as some urgent items can seem important. Having your email program open while you’re trying to work can make some emails seem urgent, but they’re not. Close your email program till you’re done, and then go and check your emails. Same thing with the phone. I turn my phone upside down and put it on buzz while I’m working. When I take a break, then I’ll see if someone’s called. All my devices are Apple, and I use the “Do Not Disturb” feature that silences notifications while I’m working or taking personal time. If someone needs to reach you, they’ll leave a message. Don’t bother calling someone back because they called you and you see their number in your “missed calls” and they didn’t leave a message — it’s probably a telemarketer. > ***Ask yourself – will doing this help me reach my goals?*** **Q 2:** These are important but not urgent. What falls in here are things like eating, sleeping, drinking plenty of water, exercising, education, reading, catching up with industry news, managing finances, taking breaks so you don’t overwork yourself, etc. If you put these off for too long, they’ll move to quad 1 and become urgent. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/iphone-410311_640.jpg)Most cell phones these days have the ability to take notes and set up to-dos and reminders. I use my calendar, reminders, and a simple project management program to keep myself sane. I’ve started blocking time in my calendar and setting reminders to do work, and keep certain days for outside meetings, medical appointments, and errands. I also try to schedule outside meetings and errands near each other. ## Another important thing is to have a day of rest. > *Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.* > > *Exodus 20:9-11* God rested on the 7th day, so you should too. Your “Sabbath” can be any day of the week, as long as you use it to rest. ***Overworking yourself will only make you sick, and*** then you’ll be no good to anybody. I did that for a while, and then I realized that God had it right. Working 7 days a week is stupid, and you’ll accomplish nothing if you’re too sick or too tired to concentrate. ## The Key is to Have Strategic and Tactical Plans Just like you need a [strategic marketing plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) and a [tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) for social media, each day needs a plan. We are given 24 hours each day, and it’s up to us to use those hours wisely. The good thing is that once you learn how to use the time-saving tools and get used to the platforms, it takes less time to do what you need to do. For instance, with the LinkedIn App on your phone, you can check messages, connection requests, and say happy birthday or congrats to contacts in [10-15 minutes a day](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-15-minutes-a-day/) — ***from anywhere***! ## You CAN Carve Out the Time! **Every business has down times.** Use these times to record a short video message, schedule out related articles from trusted sources, or comment and share posts to help you build relationships with potential customers and referral sources. Moreover, there are many social media marketing and AI tools to help you automate a lot of this posting. Many are free to a point. I happen to love [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link). I used it for a client, and it was easy to use, had great reporting, and I was hooked! There was no need to go into each of the individual networks to get insights like the best time to post and see which posts got the most engagement. In conclusion, social media and content marketing are crucial parts of running your business. Therefore, it behooves you to learn how it all works together, how to use the tools effectively, and analyze your efforts to see what works and [doesn’t work](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/ "10 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn’t Working"). ## Time Management FAQs ### Why is it important to manage time effectively for social media in a business setting? Because social media can waste valuable time and harm your reputation if not done correctly, planning upfront and using time wisely helps you achieve the results you want and build a sustainable presence. ### What is the Time Management Quadrant, and how should I apply it to my day? The Quadrant Breakdown divides tasks into urgent and important categories to help you prioritize. Focus on Quadrant 1 activities like putting out fires and meeting deadlines, Quadrant 2 for important but not urgent tasks like exercise and learning, and limit Quadrant 4 time-wasters like personal scrolling to stay aligned with your goals. ### How can I ensure I have a rest day, and why is it recommended? Having a designated day of rest prevents overwork and burnout, helps you maintain health, and keeps you effective in handling business tasks. The idea is to rest so you can concentrate better when you return to work. ### What role do strategic and tactical plans play in daily social media work? A strategic plan provides direction for marketing, while a tactical plan outlines the specific actions for social media. Each day needs a plan because we all have 24 hours, and using them wisely leads to better results. ### What practical tools or practices can save time and improve efficiency in social media marketing? Using time-saving tools and AI can automate posting and reporting; scheduling, proofreading, and editing still require human oversight. Apps like linked tools for quick tasks and services such as Sendible can help manage posts and insights efficiently. Using the available tools is a great time-saver. AI tools can now save you a lot of time, but you still have to edit, proofread, post, and schedule. One of the things you can do is learn how to manage your social media marketing in 30 minutes a day. [I can show you how.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) Also, having [comprehensive marketing and tactical plans will save you time and money.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Managing Social Media **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Business, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, manageing time, managing social media, Marketing and Advertising, not enough time in the day, planning, social media, social media marketing, time management, Twitter --- ### [Video: The Instagram Marketing Challenge: Tips To Help You Win Now](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/) **Published:** June 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Marketing on Instagram is a MUST for any B2C (Business-to-Consumer) business. Whether you’re ecommerce, brick-and-mortar, or home-based business, Instagram offers you unique opportunities to promote your business organically, without paying, to a large audience. Instagram is a great social media network, especially for B2C businesses. Though I’ve seen some B2B companies on there, it’s mostly in paid ads. Just like all social networks, they work with an algorithm. Understanding how it works and working with it — instead of against it — is the trick. And I’ll show you various tips and strategies to boost your Instagram efforts. ## The Instagram Marketing Basics… Though this video is from 2022, the basic strategies and how it works have not changed.## Key Points for Instagram Marketing - Make sure that you create a Business account and connect it to your Facebook Business Page. You can then send your posts and stories to both accounts at the same time! - You have only 160 characters for the bio! Don’t fill it with fluff. Make it keyword-centric so people know what it is you have to offer! - Don’t forget your website URL in the bio! Additionally, if you’re local, put your street address. - Instagram continuously crawls posts to determine how popular, valuable, and relevant they are. - Then it presents content to users based on their interests… - …liked posts - …shared posts - …saved posts - …searches - …who they follow or unfollow - [Use hashtags regularly and consistently.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) Moreover, hashtags still DO MATTER! However, they work differently. You can’t follow hashtags like before. Only 5 hashtags are allowed per post. Therefore, you need to be strategic when adding hashtags. - **5 hashtags max** - keywords - branding - popular ones - relevant trending hashtags - Get happy customers to post videos or pictures of themselves using your product or service – that’s User Generated Content. Make sure they tag your business account and location if you’re a brick-and-mortar. - You have 2200 characters in a caption — use it! However, links don’t work in captions. Only in the bio and as a sticker in stories! - Grow your following by following and tagging people, but don’t be too aggressive. - Balance educational posts with entertaining ones. - Create posts, Guides, Stores, and Reels - If you’re a local, brick-and-mortar business, tag your location on all your posts. - Nonprofits can even do fundraisers! - Use lots of videos! – [Check out these tips on video strategies](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/). ### When to Post - At first, 3x a day, morning, noon, and evening. - After 30 days, and you have 100 followers, check insights to see when your followers are online. - [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link) gives you the best time to post for the most engagement. - Each audience is different – do your research. ## How to Master the Instagram Algorithm Here is what works… - Speed— quantity of actions immediately after publishing - Add a comment right after posting, like, BTW… - Shares — how many people feature your content on their feeds. - Ask people to share a story by adding a sticker - On Reels, put the call-to-action in the caption. Add a “Read Caption” sticker to the bottom of the Reel. - Sends — how many people send your post to friends? - If you send it to people, hopefully, they’ll send it to friends - Saves — how many people save your post to their boards - Engagement — comments, replies, and likes - Ask, “What do you think?” “What would you do?” or “Yes or No.” - Reply to comments - Start conversations #### Other, Not So Obvious Factors that Influence the Algorithm - Zooming in to see an image better - Screenshots - Pausing on your post - How long does someone stay on your post? - That’s where the carousels come in - Extending comments to read the thread - Clicking anywhere in the post stream - Bio - Guides - Tapping to see who else liked your post Finally, check your insights every month. [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link) provides great analytics, like what’s the best time to post and which were your most popular posts. ## Don’t be overwhelmed! The best thing is to plan everything strategically. I’m here to help! [Schedule a free 15-minute consult](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA), and I’ll review your current marketing efforts and give you some tips to improve your results. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Instagram, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, digital marketing techniques, Instagram, marketing, social media marketing --- ### [Video: How to Use BRANDING and Color for Your Online Image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/) **Published:** June 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Branding in today’s digital age is way more than just having a nice logo, a catchy tagline, and a pretty website. I’ve been doing Internet marketing since 1995, and I’ve seen lots of “brands” come and go. Some do well, and some fail miserably. Whether you’re just starting or your business needs a new look, this is the place to start. ## In this video, I show all aspects of online branding, covering: - websites - social media graphics – updated! - psychology of color - reputation management - online image - re-branding --- ## What Makes a Strong Brand? Why do people purchase brand-name products? They know what they’ll get. ***Consistency***. - A Good Brand – product, company, or person — helps to add or retain perceived value - Builds trust through identity and reputation - Promotes ideas to inspire people - Helps consumers make buying decisions - Helps make you a leader and influencer in your field - Has a consistent message through every medium – digital and print Branding is about building trust. Establish a reputation as an authority in your field or industry. Branding goes back to 3200 B.C. when potters put their mark on their ceramics. Later on, during the Roman Empire, trademarks were commonly used so that shoppers could make a buying decision based on the reputation of the maker. You have 7 seconds to grasp a visitor’s attention – on social media or your website. (A goldfish has an 8-second attention span.) Moreover, people need to see and recognize what it is that you do or have to offer in an instant. ## Here are the elements of a good [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/): [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/)[Does your website do what you need it to do](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/)- A domain name that’s easy to type & tells people what you do – keyword-centric & if you’re local, should have your city or state. - Make sure all links work! No “404 page not found”! - Have an email address @yourcompany.com – looks more professional than using Gmail or Yahoo. - It should be easy on the eyes – no offensive colors – best is a light background with black text. Readable. Legible. It should be easy to navigate – visitors know where to go - Easily seen [calls-to-action (CTA)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) – what do you want people to do when they get to your site? - Complete, helpful, and [quality](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/) content – keyword-centric for [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) – both static pages and [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) articles. Again, people should be able to see what it is that you have to offer at first glance. Write for the human reader with the search engine in mind. Related: [What is the New “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) Further Reading: [What’s your N-E-E-A-T-T? ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") - Your site should have two sets of social media buttons: both follow and share. You want to make it easy for people to follow you on social media and make it easy for people to share your content with their friends. ***Basically, don’t make people hunt and work for what you want them to do.*** ## “What’s In It For Me?” Your potential customer is thinking, “What’s in it for me?” How can you solve my problem? What makes you different? Unique? What are the benefits of your product or service compared to the other choices people have out there? Voicing these will grab your target’s attention. Furthermore, it’s about them. NOT about You! ## Good Branding When someone lands on your social media business page, they shouldn’t have to wonder what you do. Remember, you have 7 seconds to catch someone’s attention. Think of your social media profiles as an extension of your website. If you look at the cover graphic by itself, do you immediately know what the business is? - Branding should be consistent throughout the social networks. - Cover graphics – Free billboards – all different sizes – make sure they are quality graphics. - Profile Graphic – the largest square graphic is X (formerly Twitter) at 400 x 400 pixels. You can use it for others. - It’s your online image and reputation - Fill out the about sections and bios completely using relevant keywords. Do not upload a rectangular logo into the social media square. Use a free graphics tool like [canva.com](https://canva.com) to create a blank square 400 x 400 pixels (that’s the size of the Twitter square- the largest one.) Then put your rectangular logo in the middle of it. You can always take a large graphic and make it smaller. You can’t take a small graphic and stretch it to fit a larger space. It will look fuzzy. > ***Having an incomplete social media profile page is like having a sloppy lobby.*** ### Here’s a branding tip: Prepare all your graphics and descriptions BEFORE you start setting up accounts! ## What’s Your Visual Brand? - Who represents your brand? - You? - Employees? - Customers? - Office or Store - Signage - Billboards - Cleanliness These are all things that you need to think about. Everything from t-shirts and uniforms to your front door and parking lot. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Any people that you use in your marketing should reflect your target audience. People feel comfortable seeing folks who look like them. ## Branding and Reputation > ***A brand is synonymous with a company’s reputation.** **A good reputation can be lost overnight.*** Can you think of certain “brands” – companies or people – that were on top, then something went wrong — or they did something stupid — or something they did in the past came to the surface — and they fell off the top shelf? We won’t mention names. ## Consumers are no longer “Brand Loyal.” Brand loyalty must be earned by consistently providing quality products and services. Such reputations are earned one customer at a time. When building your brand, quality and providing the best service possible can never be compromised, not on the smallest job, not for your most unassuming customer. Also, try as much as possible to stay neutral when it comes to divisive subjects. ### Think before you post! Could your message be misconstrued? In today’s social world, you’re more than likely going to offend someone at some point. Let’s just hope it’s not someone with a lot of followers. Many times, I stop myself before replying or commenting, thinking, “No, I’d better stay out of this.” Keep business and personal separate! But be careful, as your personal brand starts to be connected with your business brand. ## Define Your Voice How do you want your brand to be perceived? This must be consistent throughout. It must be balanced – don’t overdo it – don’t underdo it. It’s your brand’s personality. What do you want your image to be? Fun, carefree, cheerful, or bold, strong, and reliable? Defining this will help you define the way you communicate. Once you decide, it must be consistent throughout your website, collateral material, social media, videos, and blogging. ## [Get to Know Your Audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) Clearly define your target markets(s) and create persona(s). Watch what they post on social media so you get to know how they communicate. You want to get their attention without offending them. Over 90% of people make buying decisions based on social media. Who does your target market trust? Give them that type of content. If you do this correctly, you’ll become a follower magnet. #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)## Brand Advocates Your fans, followers, peers, and happy camper customers soon become brand advocates and ambassadors. They help spread your message. Your following should always be increasing. If it’s not, then you need to see how often you’re posting, what you’re posting, and the responses that you’re getting. That’s where [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) [and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) become crucial assets. ## Re-Branding If you’ve been established for a while and this class has you thinking of rebranding, here are some things to think about…..Rebranding can get expensive. Think of everything that right now has your logo on it – all that has to change. Why do you think you need to rebrand? Is your look outdated? Do you want to appeal to a younger crowd? Are you making a major change in what you offer, like pivoting your business? Does your color scheme reflect the wrong mood? Are you going from local to national? Test different logos and colors with friends and customers first. Out of the logo changes pictured here. I like Google’s logo change the best. What do you think? Please comment below… The key to online marketing success is to fully understand how all these newfangled media and social networking work. The more you learn, the more effective your marketing will be. [I can teach you how to properly and effectively use the tools with 1:1 training and coaching sessions via Skype.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)[**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## Branding FAQs ### What makes a strong brand? A strong brand is built on consistency, trust, and a clear identity across every medium. It should convey value, inspire people, help them make buying decisions, and establish you as a leader in your field. ### What elements should a good website include? A good website should have a domain name that clearly states what you do, working links, a professional email address, a clean design, effective calls to action, and quality content that communicates your offer to both humans and search engines. ### How important is consistency in branding across channels? Consistency is essential. Your branding should look and feel the same on social media, your website, print, and video, so visitors recognize you immediately and trust your message. ### How should you define your brand voice and audience? Define your brand’s personality and target audience, then communicate in a balanced, consistent voice across your website, collateral, social media, and blogs. Create audience personas and tailor content to what they trust and engage with. ### What role do branding and reputation play in online marketing? Branding and reputation go hand in hand; a brand equals the character of your business. A good reputation is earned through quality, service, and neutral, thoughtful communication, influencing how people perceive and choose you online. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Branding, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, branding, brands, building a brand, Business, color psychology, Giselle Aguiar, good branding, Internet Marketing, marketing, Marketing and Advertising, meaning of colors, online image, online marketing, online repuation, re-branding, social media, social media training, video --- ### [EMAIL MARKETING Still Works! Here's What You Need to Know...](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/email-marketing-works/) **Published:** June 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Email marketing is still one of the most effective methods of reaching current and potential customers. However, its effectiveness depends on several factors. Here are some metrics to watch for, as well as some strategies to incorporate. ## What is an Email Marketing Open Rate? You’re not going to sell anything if people won’t even open your email. The more people who open your email, the more likely someone is to take action. A high open rate is mostly determined by its deliverability and its subject line. Obviously, that’s your HOOK. Your email program will tell you what a good open rate is for your industry. Usually, depending on the size of your list, a 7-10% open rate is good. Lower than 6-7% needs improvement. Higher is excellent. When you do see a higher open rate, note what the subject line was. On the other hand, you need to be aware that in mid-2021, Apple made changes to its email app to help with privacy, and it skews the open rates. At any rate, you still want to improve your open rate as much as possible. ### ***People can’t click on your call-to-action if they don’t open the email!*** ### Here are some tips to improve the open rate… - **Personalize the subject line**: Most email platforms today allow you to add the person’s name to the subject line. It makes the message more personal. This is why you should always ask for at least their first name on your [email sign-up form.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/landing-page-effective-infographic/ "What is a Landing Page and What Makes an Effective One?") - **Avoid spammy-sounding phrases**: These will land you in the spam folder, and you’ll have less of a chance of getting seen at all. Phrases like: ‘Free trial’, ‘Increase sales’, ‘Earn money’, ‘Best price’, and ‘Guaranteed’, may trigger whatever spam filter your prospect uses. - **Your name, company name, and URL in the return address.** When you add your name to the “From” line, it’s also more personal and more likely to get opened. Having your company name URL rather than “Gmail” or “Hotmail” gives you more credibility. And please don’t put “no reply”. That, to me, is the coldest, most robotic thing to do. Be human. People prefer to deal with humans. If they want to reply to your email with a question or comment, let them! - [**Use the headline analyzer**](https://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer): This isn’t just for blogs! You can use it to compose an enticing subject line. - **Use emojis and keep the subject line short** — look and sound friendly, not spammy. ## What is an Email Marketing Click-Through Rate? For example, if you sent 1000 emails, 100 people opened them (a 10% open rate), and 10 people clicked on the [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) link. That gives you a 1% click-through rate. Remember when we used to do direct mail? A 1-3% response rate was considered good. ***The click-through rate depends on how well you delivered your subject line, which enticed them to open it.*** Once they open it, what entices them to click through to your landing page, article, or website? By the way, the same [click-through rate](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-gather-helpful-data-from-google-search-console/ "How to Gather Helpful Data from Google Search Console") applies to your website’s [search engine results](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/title-meta-tags-seo-clicks/). It’s the difference between how often your site comes up in search (impressions) and how many searchers click through to it. ### Here are some tips to increase your click-through rate… - **Have a well-designed email marketing message**. Put your logo on top, so the recipient knows where it’s coming from. [Branding](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/) is consistent with your website and social media profiles. ***Be visually appealing.*** - **Use a mobile-responsive template**. You want your email to work on all devices. Most email programs provide this. Don’t try to bulk send emails from Outlook or Gmail. That will guarantee you a SPAM box landing. - **Have enticing calls-to-action**. You have to tell your email prospect what you want them to do. Put yourself in their shoes. What’s going to convince them that they need your product or service? An article excerpt with “Read more…” or “keep reading…” is a better command than “visit website”. “Watch video”, or “Learn more” for an educational piece. “Grab your spot now!” or “Only a few left! Get yours now!” gives a sense of urgency. - **Make sure your calls-to-action are what they’ll be getting.** For instance, if it’s “Book Now”, then it should go to your appointment booking system. If it’s “Sign Up” then to a form, likewise, to a download, offer, or landing page. For example, “Learn More” is a better CTA than “Visit Website”. - **Use [color](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/) in your links and buttons.** Links in the text should be blue and underlined. This is standard and what people look for. Buttons should be red or orange with white lettering. Red and orange create a sense of urgency. You should be able to edit these in your email templates. - **Add a video.** You can’t embed videos in emails like you can on a webpage, but you can show the video’s thumbnail, and when they click on it, it goes to [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google"). [Videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-testimonials-a-great-digital-marketing-tool/ "Video Testimonials – A Great Digital Marketing Tool") should be an integral part of your digital marketing. - **Don’t have too many links and choices.** If you give someone too many choices, they’ll get confused and not choose any. - **Newsletters should have pictures with links.** If you share 2 or 3 blog articles in a newsletter, make sure you add pictures and link them. Also, don’t write the whole article in the email. Just put enough, like the first paragraph or so, to entice the person to click through to your website to continue reading. - **Use User-Generated-Content (UGC)**. There’s nothing like one of your customers sharing a picture of themselves wearing your product! [Here are some tips on how to use UGC.](https://www.jeffbullas.com/user-generated-content-email-marketing/) - **Finally, test, test, and test it again.** I admit it. I was in a rush the other day and sent an email without sending a test one first. When I saw the email later, there was a huge gap in the right column. I don’t know what made it, but it didn’t look good. ## What is an Email Bounce Rate? This bounce rate is different from a website’s bounce rate. More than likely, with each campaign sent to your email list, there will be **undeliverable emails**. There could be many reasons why an email bounces. Your email platform should explain each one, as they may differ in classifications. **A hard bounce is a bad email address**. Sometimes it was just entered wrong, and there’s a typo like: “Gamil” rather than “Gmail”. Those can be edited manually. But if the email just doesn’t exist anymore, it needs to be deleted. Check your email program to see if they automatically unsubscribe these people or if you have to do it. A **soft bounce** could be either an out-of-office auto-reply or a full mailbox. Leave those alone, and they’ll eventually get the message. An abandoned email address will keep sending the “mailbox full” message and eventually be considered a bad email. ## What is the Unsubscribe Rate? You can’t please everybody all the time. ### Reasons why people unsubscribe… - They signed up just to get your initial lead generation offer, then unsubscribed. - Your content is no longer relevant to them. - You send too many emails. ### How do you lower your email list unsubscribe rate? - **Segment your list by asking 2 or 3 pertinent questions in your lead-generation offer form.** This will help you personalize the emails, offers, and content you send based on that prospect’s interests. - **Be relevant.** Depending on what the person answered in the initial form, send them content or offers that pertain to them. - **Don’t try to sell them initially.** Offer them free advice again, based on their answers. - **Be wary of how often you email them.** Tell them when they sign up how often to expect an email from you. If you send a weekly newsletter, stick to the day of the week. Go bi-monthly if needed. Furthermore, if you’ll also be sending occasional announcements, say so. ## What is a Conversion Rate? They opened your email, clicked on a link, and bought something or set an appointment. That’s a [conversion](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It"). That’s a sale or a lead. Consequently, if out of the 10 people that clicked through, and 5 converted, then you have a 50% conversion rate, which is excellent! If zero is converted, then you have to wonder if there’s something wrong with your product or message that’s not convincing enough, or if something is wrong with your payment gateway. ### Things to consider to increase your email marketing conversion rate… - Are you trying to sell a product or service to the wrong target? - Is your message not convincing enough? You may need to sell your prospect a little bit more. - Are you trying to sell too soon in the buying journey? - Is your strategy or tactic wrong? - Are you priced too high? Research your competition. - Does your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) not work on a mobile device? Make sure your website works on mobile. It’s frustrating when you click on a link in an email, then you realize that the website doesn’t work right because you’re viewing it on a mobile device. Sometimes it could be your cookie acceptance button that’s not fully visible on a mobile device, which is stopping the visitor from converting. - Is your purchase-to-payment process too complicated? It should be quick, easy, and secure. - Is your website not secure? It should have a lock icon in the address bar. If not, then you need to talk to your webmaster or hosting company. ### Consider Your Target’s Buying Journey Not everybody buys right away. That’s where a workflow strategy like the one pictured below comes in with email [marketing automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/)… ## In Conclusion Remember, there are real **people**, humans, behind the email addresses. These people have been affected by personal problems, inflation, and world events in one form or another. Here are some final tips to improve your **email marketing** efforts… - Show empathy - Be human - Be transparent - Make things easy - Have a clear call-to-action (CTA) ## [I’d be happy to analyze your current marketing efforts in a free 15-minute call. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [Click here to schedule. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## Email Marketing FAQs ### What is an Email Open Rate, and how can I improve it? An email open rate measures how many recipients actually open your email. It’s mainly influenced by deliverability and the subject line, your hook. To improve it, personalize the subject line, avoid spammy phrases, include your name and company in the From field, use a reliable return address, test with a subject line analyzer, and keep the subject line short with emojis when appropriate. Remember that changes in Apple’s privacy updates can affect open rate tracking, but you should still strive to improve deliverability and engagement. ### What is a Click-Through Rate, and how can I increase it? The click-through rate shows how many recipients click a link in your email after opening it. To boost CTR, design a well-branded, mobile-responsive email; use clear and enticing calls-to-action that match the landing page; limit the number of links; include pictures with links in newsletters; consider adding a video thumbnail that links to a video; and test and optimize continually. Make sure your CTA leads to the appropriate page, such as a booking form or download. ### What is an Email Bounce Rate, and how should I handle hard and soft bounces? Bounce rate refers to undeliverable emails. A hard bounce means a bad email address, often due to typos or discontinued addresses; these should be edited or removed. A soft bounce is usually a temporary issue, like a full mailbox or auto-reply; leave them alone for now, as they may retry. Regularly clean your list by removing persistent hard bounces and monitoring soft bounces to maintain deliverability. ### What is an Unsubscribe Rate, and how can I lower it? The unsubscribe rate indicates how many recipients opt out of your emails. To lower it, segment your list to personalize content based on interests, stay relevant to what the prospect signed up for, avoid hard selling upfront, and control frequency by clearly communicating how often emails will be sent and sticking to a schedule. If needed, reduce sending cadence or adjust content strategy to keep subscribers engaged. ### What is a Conversion Rate, and how can I improve it in email marketing? Conversion rate measures how many recipients who clicked through then completed a desired action, like a purchase or appointment. If conversions are low, reassess whether you’re targeting the right audience, whether your message is convincing enough, whether you’re selling too early, and whether the purchase process is simple and secure. Ensure the landing page and checkout work well on mobile and that CTAs align with the expected action. Consider testing and refining the value proposition and user journey. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Email Marketing, Lead Conversion, Lead Generation **Tags:** analytics, conversions, digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, email marketing, emails, increase conversions, lead generation, marketing, Marketing automation, marketing strategy, metrics --- ### [To Pay or Not to Pay for Marketing? Should You Start Spending Money?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/spending-money-marketing/) **Published:** June 8, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Usually, when someone asks me if they should do paid advertising or otherwise spend money marketing, I say, “Do everything I teach you for 3 months ***organically*** (non-paid). Then look at your analytics and see what’s working and not working.” At that point, you’ll know which social platforms are… - Driving the most traffic to your website - Bringing you qualified leads that convert into customers - Garnering good relationships Then it makes sense to spend money on paid advertising, outside consultants, experts, and management tools to help your marketing on the one or two networks where you’re seeing results. However, there may be some instances when you want to spend some money marketing upfront… ## You may want to invest in… 1. **[Planning and strategizing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/).** You have visions, goals, and objectives. Putting together a good [strategic marketing plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/ "Get the Most from Your Social Media Marketing with a Detailed Strategic Plan") is crucial to having a roadmap as you dive into the world of [social media marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-media-marketing-2/ "Social Media Marketing"). Once the strategy is set, then comes the [tactical plan ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/ "Marketing on Social Media with no Tactical Plan is Wasted Effort")on how you’re going to implement the strategy. What you’re going to do, for how long, and where? You can probably manage this yourself, but you may want to [hire an advisor to guide you](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/ "Internet Marketing Services") and let you know of marketing opportunities you may be missing out on. For instance, many e-commerce folks I coach totally forget about [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/)! 2. **If you’re a [startup](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/startups-need-grand-opening-success/ "What Startups Need to do for Grand Opening Success"),** it takes time to build a social media following. If you’re a [brand-new business](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-new-website/ "How to get AI-SEO for a new WEBSITE or a Neglected One?"), you may not be able to afford to wait 1 to 3 months to grow a following or get that reach and exposure you need. ([Unless you’re under construction, then you can build a following while you’re literally building your business.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/startups-need-grand-opening-success/) That happened with a client of mine.) 3. **You’re not very tech-savvy.** I can **[teach anyone](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)**. No matter how much of a technophobe you are, I can show you how to ***effectively market your business on social media***. Yes, it takes time. Think of it as ***sweat equity***. Furthermore, no one can know your business like you know your business, so hiring someone to do it for you takes some hunting to find the right person who knows your field or industry. Besides that, you should understand how it all works together so you can supervise them properly. 4. **You have a budget.** Many startups don’t have a budget, or they spend it on [building a website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/) and other marketing needs. In that case, you need to figure out [how much your time is worth](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/ "Internet Marketing Services"). Do you hire someone to do it for you? Can you trust them? 5. **You don’t have the time, skills, or knowledge.** If you don’t have the budget, you have to put in the ***sweat equity*** to market your business. Moreover, you need to ***produce content***, ie, [blogs](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/ "How Can Not Blogging Weekly Hurt Your Reputation?"), [videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google"), [graphics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/ "How to Use Visual Marketing to Boost Your Brand and Sales"), and/or [podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/ "Podcasting: What You Need to Know to Get Started"). Creating your marketing content takes time. Do you have the right tools? (I’ll get to that in a bit.) Do you know how to use the tools? (Including the new, time-saving, AI tools?) > **[Spending an hour or two with me now learning how to do it right](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)** *can save you a lot of time and frustration down the line as you try to figure it out on your own.* --- [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)--- ### Learning how to do your marketing is beneficial. Sure, it takes a lot of time upfront, but as you do your marketing daily, you **get more comfortable** in the networks and using the tools, and ***it takes you less time to do what you need to do***. Even if you do end up hiring someone to do it for you, you still need to ***supervise*** them and make sure they’re doing everything they’re supposed to be doing. The only way you can do that is if you ***understand how everything works***. Also, if you do hire an outside agency, make sure they provide you with *monthly reports*. This is your way of tracking their efforts. ## Where Should You Be Spending Money on Marketing? If you’re not carefully choosing where you’re spending money on marketing, you can easily end up spending $2500 a month or more with someone, or a company, and you don’t know how many blog articles they’re doing a month, if your [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?") ranking has improved or not, or if your website traffic has increased at all. The latter two things mentioned here are two **primary objectives** of [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) and **[content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/)** — **better SEO and [increased traffic to your website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/ "Blogging 3x a week increases website traffic – here’s proof").** If the traffic is going to your site, ***but people are not converting*** — that is, not downloading the freebie, coupon offer, contacting you, or buying — then **there’s something wrong with your website**. It could be: - Your offer isn’t enticing enough. - Your [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) isn’t clear to the first-time visitor to your site. - [The information on your site doesn’t walk the visitor to convert or buy.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/) - Plus, a slew of other factors that I don’t have space to get into here. [Read this article on mistakes people make…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/) ### Search Engine Optimization (SEO) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/when-to-spend-money-marketing/search-globe-2/)A [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-copywriting-website-social-media-improve-results/) and social media profiles aren’t worth a darn if you don’t come up on Google when someone is searching for what you have to offer. Here’s what you can buy concerning SEO if you don’t want to learn how to do it yourself. - Per Google AI Search: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) professionals generally charge between **$1,500 and $5,000 per month** on a retainer model. However, exact costs fluctuate significantly depending on the service model, the business scale, and provider type. \[[1](https://www.seo.com/blog/how-much-does-seo-cost/), [2](https://boulderseomarketing.com/seo-costs-guide-understand-seo-pricing-models/), [3](https://www.nutshell.com/marketing/resources/cost-of-seo)\] - **Hourly Consulting**: Typical US hourly rates are between **$100 and $250 per hour**. I charge $75 an hour! I’ve wanted to keep my rates affordable, yet give you the advantage of my [30 years of experience. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-history-of-the-internet-1995-present/ "The History of the Internet (1995-Present)") - Services they provide: - **SEO audit** – testing to see where your site is failing. [You can do this for free here.](https://www.semrush.com/on-page-seo-checker/) - **Technical SEO** setups for your website – your [web designer/developer](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-business-marketing-budget/ "How Much Should a New Business Have in its MARKETING BUDGET?") should have included this in your website building if they were worth their salt. - Monthly monitoring, reporting, and analysis. They should recommend strategies and tactics to improve your results. - [Blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) — Beware that the content they are providing is fresh and unique to your website and written by humans. Some services sell and resell content. ***Duplicate content only helps the website where the original was first published.*** The best way to find out if they provide fresh content is to ask for the sites of current customers. Copy the first sentence of one of their blogs, then paste it in the Google search box to see if it comes up anywhere else. I remember I did this for a legal firm, and it came up on over 50 other websites. Now, that’s throwing your money away. ### [Copywriting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/), [Blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wordpress-seo-blogging-editing-services/ "WordPress SEO, Blogging, and Editing Services"), and Content Creation [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/when-to-spend-money-marketing/laptop-user-2/)This one comes down to your skills, talents, and abilities. Here are some questions you need to ask yourself: - Am I a good enough writer? - Can I write content that will entice people to buy? - Do I have the time to blog at least weekly? (If your website is brand new, you need to blog 3-5 times a week for the first 2 weeks, then go down to 2-3 times a week for the rest of the first month so that Google will notice you.) [What should you blog about?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/whats-your-story-blogging-for-business/) - [What about using AI tools to create content? ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-for-writing-content-to-save-time/ "10 Pros and Cons of Using AI for Writing Content to Save Time") - [What about visuals?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/) Videos, graphics, and pictures. Am I creative enough? There are free tools like Canva to create logos, social media cover graphics, blog titles, and more! For free video editing, if you’re on a Mac, you have iMovie. For PC users, you have Movie Maker. Furthermore, there are AI tools that can create graphics in seconds for you. [I can show you how to use them!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training") - **Do you have the time and skill to create the content?** Do you want to **[learn how to do it yourself](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)** or hire someone to do it for you? ### Social Media Marketing Tools: There’s a bevy of social media marketing tools out there to help you organize, schedule, and automate your social media posting. Many are free to a point. #### AI and 3rd-Party Tools **Start using them for free for 3 months,** or if they have a free trial. Consequently, if you find that you can’t live without it and you’d like to upgrade to get the whole gamut of functions or to add more networks, then factor in their cost into your marketing budget. It’s cheaper to pay for the year. I did that with [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link), which is a great time-saver! You can monitor some feeds, and their reporting is easy and effective. Most of the tools are around $10-30/month with discounts for paying annually. Again, try them first. Then, if you feel the cost is worth it, go for it. Another time-saving tool is **[Dlvr.it](https://dlvr.it)**. It’s great for automating posting from trusted sources that are of interest to your **[target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** that is relevant. LinkedIn disconnects itself every 3 months and has to be reconnected. Be aware that the social networks are constantly changing, and these 3rd party tools need to keep up with them. In fact, with Twitter’s changes to X and beyond, many free features are now paid “pro” features. ## What About Paid Advertising? **Before spending money on marketing, try doing it organically for 3 months.** If you feel you could have better results by spending some money on paid ads, then go for it. I don’t deal with paid advertising, as I believe that anyone can become social savvy enough to manage it all on their own and be successful. However, there are instances, such as when you’ve saturated your market with your current efforts and need to expand your reach. Or, you are in a highly competitive industry. Or, it’s a seasonal time for your business. In those cases, paid ads are the way to go. ***But before you place a paid ad anywhere…*** - Clearly define your [target audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-importance-of-focusing-on-what-your-target-market-wants/) - Define your [USP](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/) (what makes you different) - Have a clear objective of what you want to accomplish (sales, lead generation, etc.) [Set SMART Goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/what-are-smart-goals/ "What are SMART Goals"). - **[Compose the right message](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-copywriting-website-social-media-improve-results/).** [Claude.ai](http://Claude.ai) is really good at this. - [Create the image you want to portray](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/) - [Set goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/), and have a way to [measure](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) them. In short, if you have the budget, spend it well. If you don’t have the budget, invest in some **[1:1 training to learn how to properly and effectively use the tools](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)**. [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Marketing Strategy, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing, Giselle Aguiar, improving marketing results, learning social media, Marketing and Advertising, online marketing, paid advertising, pay per click, social media marketing, social networks --- ### [Lead Generation and Lead Capturing: What is the Role of the Website?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/) **Published:** June 4, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Many small business owners complain, saying, “I’m on social media, but it doesn’t work.” Usually, when I dig deeper, I find that they’re just not using it properly. More than likely, their lead generation system is not set up correctly, or they don’t have one at all. > ***When done correctly, social media marketing is one of the best lead generators around and a great way to drive traffic to your website.*** ### Here’s How: - Post links to your blog and product pages, incorporated with tips and advice on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and even Pinterest. By doing this, you’re getting “link love” — a search engine optimization (SEO) term for **qualified backlinks** to your site. These also help your ranking in the Google search engine. - Build curiosity by using catchy phrases or questions in the first 2 sentences of your post to entice your followers to click on the links. - Provide good quality content that encourages your followers to share it with their followers. - Put links in video and picture descriptions on [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/ "How to Get Results & Reap the Benefits of YouTube Video Marketing"), [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/ "Facebook"), [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/ "LinkedIn"), [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/ "Webinar Video: The Instagram Marketing Challenge: Tips To Help You Win Now"), [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/ "The Pinterest Difference: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It!"), and other sites. (Note: links don’t work on all platforms the same.) - Make sure your website link is in every profile description in ALL the networks you belong to. Logically, now that you’ve driven potential leads to your site, it’s up to **the site to capture the leads.** Otherwise, it’s all been a futile effort. There are 3 Black Holes into which leads can fall, and if you don’t fix them, you’ll waste valuable time and effort and not get sales. ## The 3 Black Holes of Lead Generation Loss 1. **Lost traffic**: How many came and went? It’s possible that what was promised in the post wasn’t delivered by the website. This increases your bounce rate, which affects your [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). [A bad user experience (UX)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/ "What You Need to Know to Build a Website that Works") will cost you sales! 2. **Lost leads**: How many visitors didn’t [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It") right away? Did they get lost on the site and then give up? Did something on your site turn them off? Was something not clear? Never assume your potential customer understands what you want them to do. 3. **Lost customers**: Captured leads who were not nurtured properly. Aka, lack of follow-up. [Email automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/) will solve this problem. **When a visitor lands on your site, it should be clear what you want them to do**. ***Don’t make them think!*** You have only a few seconds to capture their attention and keep it! Don’t make them work either! ## What’s the Call-To-Action (CTA)? Where is it? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/call-to-action-buttons/)The CTA should be easily visible when you first land on a page. Visitors should not have to scroll down to see it. View your site on different devices to see what the visitor sees (different browsers, laptops, tablet & mobile phones, too). There should also always be a CTA at the end of a blog post. > ***If you don’t tell people what you want them to do, they won’t do it!*** Therefore, the objective is to capture the lead’s information. That could be an email address, name, and possibly phone number. Some folks may be reluctant to give out their numbers, but they’ll give you their info if they think they’re getting something of value. ### Here are some ideas for [lead generation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/powerful-words-generate-quality-leads/ "25 Powerful Words to Generate Quality Leads [Infographic]") hooks or CTAs - Buy Now – if you’re offering a product, send the lead directly to the product page in your shopping cart. If you just send them to the website, they’ll get lost. - Download a free \_\_\_\_\_ (ebook, whitepaper, report, webinar, video, tip sheet) - Get a free \_\_\_\_\_\_ (sample, consultation, quote, giveaway, trial, membership) - Subscribe to \_\_\_\_\_ (newsletter, blog, email list) - Register Now - Follow Us - Click here for a \_\_\_\_\_ (coupon, discount) Once you’ve captured their information, the leads have to be nurtured. Consistently feed them. Use a drip email system. But don’t overdo it. ## ***Don’t let them fall through the cracks!*** Regularly evaluate your site’s [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/) – at least once a month. Review your email marketing reports. Take note of which network(s) are driving the most traffic to your website, your click-through rates, and your conversion rates. If 100 people clicked on a link and only 50 converted, where did the other 50 go? And there is such a thing as too many leads! If you’re doing social media right and don’t have a marketing automation system set up to capture, feed, nurture, and follow up with the leads your social media efforts are generating, they’ll never convert into sales. [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Conversion rate, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, lead capturing, lead generation, websites --- ### [When Digital Marketing Technology Doesn't Work Right](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/when-digital-marketing-technology-doesnt-work-right/) **Published:** June 4, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Technology – you can’t live without it, and sometimes it just doesn’t work as it should. We’ve all had computers crash and Internet connections die on us. So what do you do when technology doesn’t work right? I taught a client how to share her boss’s blog posts with [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81), and one time she emailed me, all stressed out, that the post didn’t appear on Facebook as it should have. It’s not if, it’s when you’ll have a technology problem. ## So here’s what’s going on with the technology… ### **There are several entities involved here.**.. Cyberattacks are increasing at a higher rate [Make sure youre protected](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/ "Why You Need to Ensure Your WORDPRESS WEBSITE is SECURE")1. Your computer, its speed, and memory. Recently, that happened when we were trying to stream live. The computer’s memory was full, and the audio was choppy. We had to delete stuff and reboot. 2. Your Internet connection – whether hard-wired (plugged in directly, usually much faster) or a WiFi network. 3. Your browser. When in doubt, close the browser and restart it. 4. The third-party tool you’re using, like [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81). 5. The platform. Whether it’s social media or a hosting platform, they do go down at times. Recently, Shopify was down, and millions of ecommerce stores could not do business. I remember when Amazon AWS went down, and major sites and platforms went down with it. 6. The social network’s API – that’s the code that makes it possible to schedule posts for the future and interact with the network 7. User error. We all make mistakes. These “oops” moments can cause major problems occasionally. 8. Weather. Believe it or not, an electrical storm nearby can mess with WiFi signals. 9. Cyberattacks. Lately, the most frequent problem is cyberattacks. Check out [Bitdefender’s Live Threat Map](https://threatmap.bitdefender.com/) or [CheckPoint’s Cyber-Threat Map](https://threatmap.checkpoint.com/) — it’ll blow your mind. We are constantly being bombarded with attacks or infections (worms and viruses). Related: [WordPress Security](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-need-to-assure-your-wordpress-website-is-secure/) ### So here’s what you can do when technology fails you… 1. Refresh the page you’re working on, whether it’s [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) or another 3rd-party tool, browser, or even the social network itself. 2. Try a different browser. I recommend always having at least one other web browser besides the default one on your computer. I use Chrome for business, Safari for Spanish, and Firefox for personal stuff. Make sure they are updated. Set them to auto-update. 3. If that doesn’t work, check your modem. You may have lost your Internet connection. Unplug it and plug it back in again. 4. Did you goof? We’re not perfect. We all make mistakes. Try again. 5. If you’re short on time, just post it directly into the social network, bypassing the 3rd-party tool. 6. If the problem is on the social network, try later. 7. If the problem persists, search for the issue online or on the help systems of whatever you’re using. Sometimes, if one entity is having issues, they will post it on their website. Usually, if X (formerly Twitter) is not affected, people will be posting about the issue. Funny, when there’s a problem or crisis, they still turn to X! Also, remember that the major networks have many employees working on the site at any given time, which may affect how it functions. ## What about AI Tech? Well, they do run on computers. You know about all these data centers that are popping up everywhere. Most will have their own power source, but some work off the existing grid. Imagine if there is a power outage? ChatGPT was down not too long ago. Remember, they are just tools. What’s nice is that there are several of them. If one is down, use another. #### Here are a couple of sites to check out: - [DownDetector](https://downdetector.com/) — if you suspect one of the social networks, your Internet or cellphone service, or any other service is down, you can check here. - [Is it Down for Everyone or Just Me](https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/)? If you think your website is down or a service or site that you use, you can check it here. Facebook could have shut you out for some reason. Usually, they would have sent you an email. This is a good place to check. If it’s just you, make sure your browser is updated, then close it and relaunch. If it’s not you, then it’s beyond your control. Whatever it is, don’t stress out. Just try it later. Or maybe something’s changed, and you need a little refresher course. ### Need to learn how to use the AI tools? How about evaluating your efforts? ## [Let’s start with a FREE 15-minute call, and I’ll review your current efforts.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Managing Social Media, Social Media Marketing Tools, Social Media Networks **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, digital marketing, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, HootSuite, Internet, Internet Marketing, Marketing Technology, online marketing, online marketing tools, posting, social media, social media marketing, Social Media Technology, Social network, social networking, social networks, tech, technology, TweetDeck --- ### [Local SEO Success Now: Simple Steps for Customers to Find You Via AI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-success-now-simple-steps-for-customers-to-find-you-via-ai/) **Published:** May 28, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** There is a new challenge in **Local SEO**: the AI Chatbot. For a long time, the advice for getting found online was simple: write a ton of stuff on your website. To illustrate, if you sold coffee, you’d write 50 articles about “history of coffee beans” or “best mugs.” The idea was to trick search engines like Google into thinking you were the expert just because you had the most relevant words. More people are using Ask Google Maps to find information on local businessesBut things have changed. Now, people are asking Google Maps or even new chatbots for **recommendations**, not a long list of websites. They don’t want to click through 25 links. Furthermore, they just want to know who is the best, fastest, and most trustworthy near them. In this new world, being the **Trusted Local Leader** matters much more than just writing a lot of generic words. This means you need to stop focusing on “writing more” and start focusing on “being more helpful” and “getting recommended.” ## **The Simple Shift: From Quantity to Trust** Think about finding a good local bakery. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/)Building [trust and credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page") is key for local SEO- **The Old Way:** A marketing person might tell the bakery owner to write blog posts about “The Best Kinds of Flour” or “History of Bread.” This is just filler that no one reads. - **The New Way (Trust):** This happens when local newspapers, neighborhood websites, and customers online all say, “This bakery has the best croissants in town!” You become a **known, reliable business**. Having endless generic tips on your website doesn’t make you an [expert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") if the advice is the same as everyone else’s. Computers are smart enough to ignore that. When **other people consistently point to you as the source of truth**, that creates real [trust and credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page"). ## **Why Google’s New Features Use Recommendations** Today, when people search for local businesses, they don’t use simple searches anymore. Instead of typing “plumber near me,” they might ask, “I have a leaky pipe and need someone honest and reliable who works on weekends—who can I trust?” The AI doesn’t just show the closest options. It looks for businesses known for being **honest, reliable, and problem solvers.** The AI tool will only suggest 3 to 5 businesses in response to “trust-based” questions. To be one of those lucky few, your business should be associated with specific, positive solutions in the algorithm’s memory. ### **Your Website is Now a Fact Sheet, Not a Loudspeaker** Often, an AI assistant (like Gemini or ChatGPT) will answer a customer’s question directly without ever sending them to your website. This means your website is no longer a place to shout your message. It’s a **reliable fact sheet**. It’s a resource from which the AI Answer Engine can grab information to answer a customer’s question. For instance, if the AI tool pulls one paragraph from your site to tell a customer about your 24-hour service, does that paragraph make sense on its own? To win today, your important information must be clear and organized so machines can easily read and repeat your claims accurately. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)## **Simple Steps to Master Your Local SEO** B**eing visible and being recommended is what success is all about.** A customer might hire you because an AI assistant told them you were the most “responsive and honest” option in the area, even if they never looked at your website. Becoming a trusted leader doesn’t require a college degree in tech. It requires focusing on **helpfulness, expertise, and reputation.** (Related content: [What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?")) It’s a matter of sending the AI bots ***trust signals***. #### 1. Focus on Clear, Helpful Information (Not Long Articles) Stop trying to write a specific number of words. Instead, directly **answer the questions** your customers *actually* ask when they call you. Shorter is better now! - **The 3-Part Rule:** Organize your information to clearly state: - **Who** you are (The local expert in your field). - **What** you do (The main services you offer, like high-quality window washing or emergency roof repair). - **How** do you help ([What makes you different?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/ "What Makes Your Business Different?") Like being fully insured or having quick response times). - **Detail over Quantity:** One complete, detailed guide on “How to prepare your house for exterior painting” is worth more than ten short, generic posts about “home tips.” - **Be Direct:** Avoid complicated marketing talk. Remember [your audience](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your Free Define Your Target Market Workbook!"). You’re the expert. They are not. Answer questions, solve problems, and get straight to the point. Keep your answers quick and simple. #### 2. Make Your [Customer Reviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") Work for You The **specific words customers use in reviews** matter more than just your star rating. The computer uses those words to “describe” your business. By the way, even when a satisfied customer just writes “great service”, you can write a detailed response including what services they received. Above all, include your location, type of service, and the problem you solved. - If your reviews often mention “great value” or “always on time,” the computer will use those exact themes to recommend you when someone asks for an “affordable” or “reliable” service. - Ask customers to be specific about what you did for them. Instead of “Great job,” a review that says, “Repaired my fence after the storm on short notice and stuck to the quote” provides the proof the computer needs to recommend you. - Encourage customers to add pictures to their reviews! A picture of a repaired fence or a finished landscaping job makes the review stand out. #### 3. Check and Update Your [Google Business Profile](https://business.google.com) (GBP) In conjunction with your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/ "What You Need to Know to Build a Website that Works"), your Google Business Profile is the most important part of being found locally. - **Keep your business categories and services very specific.** If you do specialty work, like repairing solar panels or catering for large events, make sure that it is clearly listed. - **Treat profile updates like news bulletins.** For example, if you want to be known for specific types of work, use photos or videos to show off your expertise. Your GBP is NOT a social media platform. Share blog articles, special promos, and events. - **Ask your staff to remind customers to take pictures of the good work you did.** Then, ask them to upload them to your GBP. Encourage customers to give you a [Google Review ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In")by adding a QR code to your receipts, having the QR code at the register, or sending a thank-you email with the link. #### 4. Get Other People to Talk About You [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/)The AI Answer Engine doesn’t choose unknown businesses. It picks from **known, established businesses**. This means your business needs to be mentioned by others online—in local news, community groups, and local directories. - **Get some Local PR:** When a local journalist writes about “Small Business Trends in Our Town,” you want them to mention *your* expertise or quote *your* company data. When a real person mentions you as an expert, it is the strongest signal to the AI that you are trustworthy. - **Get very involved in your local community:** - Help out your neighbors during a community event or crisis. - Sponsor a local kids’ sports team or a charity event. - Tell stories about how you helped a customer solve a big problem. ### **What if I’m brand new and no one knows me yet?** It’s a tough start, but the AI bots are fast. If you start producing helpful, clear information and promoting it on social media *regularly* and consistently with simple videos and images, the systems will recognize you quickly. ## Yes, it will take some work. In conclusion, no one ever said that running a business would be easy. Naturally, it’s hard work. Unfortunately, many small business owners fail at what should be a natural task: telling potential customers about what they do and how they can help them. Moreover, [marketing basics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-know-marketing-efforts-successful/) are the same, and it starts with clearly identifying and getting to know your target market. I’ve made that step very easy with my [FREE Define Your Target Workbook. Grab yours now! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your Free Define Your Target Market Workbook!") [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)Subsequently, I can help guide you in developing customized [strategic and tactical plans](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/ "Planning Your Social Media Marketing is an Important Step for Success"), as well as show you how to use the FREE AI tools to create graphics and videos in seconds. (Like the graphic I created for this blog post.) Let’s start with a [free virtual call and brainstorming session. Click here to book.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** AI Search, Local SEO **Tags:** AEO, ai evolution, AI search, branding, digital marketing, GEO, local busineses, Local SEO, search engine optimization, seo, small business --- ### [12 Website Mistakes You Need to Fix for Success](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-website-mistakes-need-fix-2017/) **Published:** May 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** “My online marketing isn’t working! I have a [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/ "A Successful Company has a Website that is Useful"), but I’m not getting any sales (or [generating any leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/))! What am I doing wrong? I need to drive traffic to my website!” I’ve been doing Internet marketing for over 30 years, and I’ve seen many small businesses make the same website mistakes. Mostly when attempting to do everything themselves. I hear this all the time. As a small business owner, you know that having a [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/3-elements-effective-website-produces-results/) is important. Furthermore, ***it’s way more than a pretty online brochure!*** Regardless of whether the business is B2B or B2C, as I review websites, I see the same mistakes over and over again. ## Here are the TOP 12 Website Mistakes I see small businesses make on their Websites. 1. **Thinking that if you build it, they will come — NOT!** Having a [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-your-website-for-effective-results/ "What You Need to Know to Build a Website that Works") and not [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/ "What is a Blog and Why do I Need One for My Business to Succeed?") or sharing on social media is like having a billboard out in the middle of the ocean. Sure, a passing ship may see it, but that’s enough. Moreover, you need to blog at least 2-3 times a week for the first couple of months, especially if your site has been stagnant or is brand new. It’s all so Google will notice you. Each blog post needs to be shared on all the major social media networks: [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/ "Facebook"), X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Yes, Pinterest! It takes the link with it, helping with **[SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)**. Once you’ve built some momentum and a [following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) on social media, you can reduce your blogging to once or twice a week. However, check your **[analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/)** each month. If you see your monthly web traffic has fallen, go back to 2-3 times a week. Still, your analytics won’t lie. 2. ****No [lead generation strategy](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)** **– or lead capture** on your website.** You need to convert visitors into leads and then nurture them into sales. That’s where a good Marketing Automation campaign comes in. First, you need a good Call-to-Action. Something of value to your target market – an ebook, free course, webinar, whitepaper (if your business is more technical), or a coupon. Keep the form short. Ask only for their email address and first name. In addition, you can ask 1-3 questions to segment your email list, but no more than that. Once you’ve got their email address, put them in an automated email drip campaign system. Think about your email messages strategically to direct your warm leads into sales. Not everyone who lands on your website is ready to buy right away. 3. **Not optimizing each post or page for the search engines.** In my opinion. There are several good WordPress SEO plugins. That will walk you through everything you need to do so your post or page will be noticed by Google and now, the [AI search bots](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/ "AI Search"). Besides that, it helps with “readability”. You need to write for your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/), but with the AI search bot in mind. Remember, you’re the expert. They’re not. ***Write for the human reader with the search engine in mind.*** [What’s your N-E-E-A-T-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?") 4. **Not fully thinking out what you want to accomplish with the website.** What are your goals and objectives? Who do you want to reach? Sure, your main objective is to increase sales. Nevertheless, your site needs to walk the visitor from their landing on a page or blog article, to where you want them — ***the [conversion](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/)***. You want to convert a visitor into a warm lead, and then you need to nurture that lead into a sale. (See #2 above) Having well-done market and keyword research, along with a strategic marketing plan, will work as a guide for your website and online marketing efforts. 5. **Having popups.** They are extremely annoying. Don’t you remember that, once upon a time, pop-up windows were blocked in browsers? Now they’ve made pop-up plugins for WordPress, so they can’t be blocked by browsers. My greatest pet peeve is the exit ones. I want to bookmark or share the blog post. I move the mouse to do so, and the pop-up appears, and I have to look for the “x” or “close” button. I don’t even read it. You do want to have a clear call-to-action at the top or right-hand side of the page. More discrete pop-ups are the ones that appear at the bottom corners. They’re visible, but not obstructive. Moreover, think about the first-time visitor. That person clicked on an interesting title and wants to read the article. They don’t know you yet! How can anyone think that the person wants to sign up for a newsletter or get a report? 6. ****Not using analytics**.** [**Analytics**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-social-media-marketing-goals-metrics/) should be checked monthly. Which sites are driving the most traffic to your site? How long are visitors staying on your site? How many new visitors are you getting compared to returning visitors? 7. ****Having social media follow buttons that either go nowhere or link to your networks, and you haven’t posted anything since 2023.**** If you’re not active in [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/managing-social-media/ "Managing Social Media"), don’t put buttons on your site! What’s more, it makes you look stupid. You need to make it ***easy for people to follow you and to share your content with their friends.*** That said, don’t make people hunt for the social media links. Also, label them so people know which is a follow button and which is a share button. 8. ****Using a “website builder” or “drag-and-drop” site****.**** What makes these sometimes [free sites](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-free-is-a-free-website-is-it-a-good-place-to-start/ "How Free is a Free Website? Is it a Good Place to Start?") easy to use is the “drag-and-drop” feature. However, that feature creates a lot of code in the background. The search and AI engine bots don’t like all that code. Usually, they make your website load more slowly, which is not good at all. The bots are looking for text written for humans and links. All that code is like a brick wall. Also, you’re on **their platform**. That means you don’t own. Those platforms are created with proprietary software, which means they will only run on their system. If you want to easily move it, you can’t. 9. ****Not investing in your own assets.**** Your own email list, [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/ "What is a Blog and Why do I Need One for My Business to Succeed?"), website, [video](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/ "How to Use Visual Marketing to Boost Your Brand and Sales"), graphics, etc. On any other platform, whether a free blogging site or social media, you’re just **borrowing the space there**. You don’t own it. You have to follow their rules, which they can change at any time, and use your [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/content-marketing/ "Content Marketing") as they wish. 10. ****Not having a blog on your site.**** **[WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/)** makes it easy to have a static website and a blog all in one. Also, without the blog, you don’t have the fresh content that Google is looking for, and you don’t have content to draw people to your site. Google ignores static websites. 11. ****Thinking that a website built more than 2 years ago is still OK.**** Believe me, it’s not. An outdated website affects your online image and SEO. Besides that, the technology behind it is outdated and may make your site vulnerable to hackers and crashes. Are you blocking the AI answer bots? [Book a free call with me, and I’ll check. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) 12. ****Having a boring “Join our Newsletter List” call-to-action.**** The visitor is thinking, **“What’s in it for me?”** Tell them. Give them a freebie – ***something useful to them*** – in exchange for their name and email address. #### Believe it or not, when I combine these with others that I’ve seen, as well as all the social media ones, there are over 200 common mistakes small businesses are making with their online marketing efforts! ## *No wonder you’re frustrated!* ### [Click here to see what other fixable mistakes you may be making…..](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/) In conclusion, ***any mistakes are fixable.*** Some repairs are simple, some not much. Nonetheless, you need to address them if you want your online marketing efforts to work. **[Let me take a look](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** at what you’ve got, and I’ll give you a truthful analysis and advise you on what you need to do to make your marketing efforts more effective! [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/Be-fearless-in-the-pusuit-of-what-sets-your-soul-on-fire-600x600.png)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Websites **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing SEO, Giselle Aguiar, online marketing, seo, Web search engine, Website, website mistakes, websites --- ### [What You Need to Know on How to Build a Social Media Following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/) **Published:** May 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** If you’re just starting with marketing your business on social media or if you’ve had your accounts set up but haven’t been using them, you need to ***spend some time up front*** building your **social media following.** Besides growing your following, posting on social media now helps you get noticed by the [AI Answer Bots](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/ "AI Search for 2026: What to Expect and What to Do Now")! ## 8 Steps You Need to Take to Build Your Social Media Following: Don’t think you can skip any of these and have your marketing [efforts work](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/ "10 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn’t Working")! Yes, it may seem complicated and complex, and it is. However, thinking you can take shortcuts or bypass any of these will hurt you in the long run and cost you more time and money. 1. **[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)Get to know your [Target Market ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-importance-of-focusing-on-what-your-target-market-wants/)Niche(s):** You must identify your target market personas first. ***This is a crucial step.*** For instance, you talk to someone under 40 differently than you would to someone over 40. 2. **Do some research on the social networks and [your target](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/):** Find out: - Which networks do they frequent the most? - What are their buying habits? - What’s the best strategy to get their attention? - Check out your [competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/), too! What are they doing online? 3. **Develop a [Strategic Plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) where you indicate:** - What are your goals, metrics, and objectives? - What type of **content** are you going to create (blog, video, pictures, podcasts), and what type of **content** are you going to share from trusted industry sources? You can’t just share your stuff. - **Create specific strategies for each of the social media networks:** - If you’re **B2B,** your primary network will be [**LinkedIn**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/az-social-media-wiz). - If you’re **B2C**, your primary networks will be **Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.** - A secondary network for both would be [X (formerly Twitter)](https://twitter.com/AZSocialNetWiz) (for exposure and **[SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)**). - Don’t ignore [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz)and [Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) if you’re B2B – it still helps with reaching people and [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/). And if you’re B2C, don’t ignore LinkedIn – it gives you credibility and LI users are consumers, too! These are tertiary networks. 4. **[](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/tactical-planning.png)Put together a [tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/):** You’re going to spend more time upfront building a following in your PRIMARY NETWORKS. - B2B: - 15 minutes a day on LinkedIn - [Blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/) 2 times a week on your website - [Blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-often-should-you-blog/) once a week on [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/24-foolish-linkedin-mistakes/) (copy a post from your blog) - B2C: - 15 minutes a day on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/) - 15 minutes a day on [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/) - [Blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/ "What is a Blog and Why do I Need One for My Business to Succeed?") 2-3 times a week on your website - Both: **Automate content posting** using free tools like [Sendible](//www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) or [Dlvr.it](https://dlvrit.com/). This could be your re-shared [blog posts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/), as well as other related and relevant content of interest to your target market from trusted sources. Use [Feedly.com](https://Feedly.com) to organize your blog subscriptions. - If you’re starting from scratch or haven’t been on the networks for a while, you’ll need to spend ***60-90 minutes a day building your following.*** The longer you wait to do this, the longer it will take to start seeing results. - **Go Deeper: [B2B or B2C Which Network?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/b2b-vs-b2c-which-social-network-should-you-use/)** 5. **Search for your target market** and follow them on X and [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/instagram-markting-challenge-tips/ "Webinar Video: The Instagram Marketing Challenge: Tips To Help You Win Now"). When you follow someone, they’ll be notified, and hopefully, ***if you’re sharing good content***, they’ll want to follow you back. In other words, you want to build relationships. Needless to say, the “social” part of social media! Likewise, on X, thank people for following you. (That’s the only network where that’s part of its culture.) This should take about 30 minutes a day across all the networks. 6. **Search for and connect with your target market and referral sources on [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/)**. Join and participate in groups. Post regularly to your company page. Use [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/). 7. **Share quality, relevant content on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/).** Unfortunately, you can’t search and contact people on Facebook for your business. However, you can start with your own friends and invite them to like our page. Some groups allow business pages to join. Check them out. 8. **Have both share and follow buttons on your website.** After all, you want to make it easy for people to follow you on the networks and make it easy for them to share your content with their friends. Make sure the links go to your social media profiles and that they work. Furthermore, don’t make people work for what you want them to do on your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-website-mistakes-need-fix-2017/)! Social Media Share ButtonsSocial Media Follow Buttons## Monitor and Manage Naturally, once you’ve built your social media following, you are in management, monitoring, and maintenance mode. Consequently, once you’ve mastered the tools, organized your content, and gotten a gist of how each network works, you can ***manage your social media in 30 minutes a day.*** Of course, with some 1:1 [training](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)! [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)### Here are some follower goals for each of the networks for your first month: - Facebook and Instagram: 30 likes, so you can start seeing your insights, then 100, so you can start monitoring your competition in “Pages to Watch” - LinkedIn: 50 personal connections and 10 followers on your business page. - X (formerly Twitter): To get analytics for your X account, you now have to upgrade to the Pro version. - [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/ "The Pinterest Difference: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It!"): 10-25 followers ## Analytics and Insights At the end of each month, you must review your analytics and insights. - On your website, make sure **[Google Analytics](http://www.google.com/analytics "Google Analytics")** is set up. You want to keep track of the: - Number of **visitors and page views** - **Time** spent on your site - **Referral sources:** Besides the search engines, which social media networks brought in the most visitors to your site? Moreover, these are the ones you want to focus on next month. - **[Conversion](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) rates:** How many visitors converted to leads because they clicked on your [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)? - On each of the social media networks: - The number of **followers**: Have you reached your goal? - Most **popular posts**: Create more of those. - **Best time to post:** When are the majority of your fans and followers online to get the most reach? - **Follower demographics:** Does this match your target market personas? - **Engagement rate:** likes, shares, comments, clicks ### *Then, adjust your strategic and tactical plans accordingly for the next month.* In conclusion, my goal is to help small business owners, like yourself, become social savvy enough to effectively market your business online. Let’s start with a free 15-minute Zoom call, and I’ll analyze your SEO and current marketing efforts. If you’re just starting, this is where to begin to grow your digital marketing presence. [Click here to schedule the call.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Save Save Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing Tools **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, building a Social Media Following, content marketing, digital marketing, digital marketing strategies, Facebook, Giselle Aguiar, Instagram, LinkedIn, marketing plan, Pinterest, Snapchat, social media, Social Media Following, social media marketing, social networking, Twitter --- ### [25 Powerful Words to Generate Quality Leads [Infographic]](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/powerful-words-generate-quality-leads/) **Published:** May 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Marketing is about getting results. Usually, that includes generating quality leads. Moreover, the challenge lies in not just attracting potential customers to your website, but converting them from a visitor into a lead. Furthermore, nurturing leads into a sale. That’s the bottom line, right? Learn how to generate quality leads… ## What are good calls-to-action (CTAs) that will entice people to [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It")? You want to put these CTAs in several places on your website and blog. Your website should walk a visitor directly to where you want them to go and what you want them to do. Make it easy for people to do what you want. Otherwise, they’re not going to do it. I came across this infographic by [Barry Feldman on Social Media Today](http://www.socialmediatoday.com/smt-influencer/landing-page-vs-homepage-and-11-keys-conversion) with a nice list of powerful CTAs that you can easily adapt to your business. #### Use these power words to convert visitors into quality leads… #### [![25 Powerful Words to Generate Quality Leads [Infographic]](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/power-words-infographic.png "power-words-infographic - AZ Social Media Wiz")](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/powerful-words-generate-quality-leads/power-words-infographic/) #### Get Creative! Spin these around to be relevant for your business. What’s more, use them on your social media posts. Mix the CTA posts with your content posts. Make sure that the links go to [landing pages](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/landing-page-effective-infographic/ "What is a Landing Page and What Makes an Effective One?"). The landing pages should not have anything else on them but the offer. No sidebar, widgets, or links to other parts of your website. Nothing to distract people from doing what you want them to do. That is, give you their email address. Also, use these in your marketing [emails](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/ "Save Time and Help Your Business Grow with Email Marketing Automation"). Add relevant graphics. To make sure you get **quality leads**, you need to [clearly define your target market, ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)understand them, and their buying habits. By the same token, your [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/ "What is a Blog and Why do I Need One for My Business to Succeed?") articles need to speak to them in language they understand. Your [headlines](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/write-awesome-powerful-headlines-blog/) should entice a potential customer to click on the link that you shared on your [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/social-media-platforms.png "social media platforms") networks. Save ## ***Are You Creative Enough?*** Hey, it’s OK if you don’t feel that you’re creative enough to come up with the right copy and marketing messages to improve your lead generation and ultimately increase sales. That’s where I can help you with my [SEO Copywriting Service!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Lead Conversion, Lead Generation, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, Business, call to action, calls-to-action, customer, Giselle Aguiar, inbound marketing, infographic, Internet Marketing, Landing page, marketing --- ### [Video: How do I Know if my Marketing Efforts are Successful?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-know-marketing-efforts-successful/) **Published:** May 18, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Wouldn’t it be nice if, as soon as you posted something on social media or wrote a great blog post, you got dozens of new customers coming through your door or visiting your website immediately? Maybe in an alternate universe. I wish today’s **marketing** were getting easier instead of more complicated every day. However, if you want new customers, [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It"), and if you want your business to grow, then you need to get your **marketing efforts** into full gear — done properly and effectively. Yes, it can be done! For you, the small business owner, it makes no sense to simply post content or ads on Facebook without a plan, expecting that it will entice people to take some action. How do you know if that’s what someone saw and then went to your site? How do you know if they Googled or asked ChatGPT, “How do I \_\_\_\_\_\_\_?” and found your blog post that answered their question? How do you know if that person found your website by accident or if someone recommended it? > ***You need to know!*** ## In this Q&A video, I answer the pressing question, “How do I know if my Marketing Efforts are Successful?” ### *It’s a classic, but it’s still valid!* --- Doing the same thing repeatedly, ***expecting different results,*** is the definition of ***insanity***. You’re not insane. You just need a little guidance and training so you can get a grip on your online marketing and measure results as they roll in. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)## SaveWhat are the Steps to Effective Organic Digital and Social Media Marketing 1. **Clearly identify your [target market(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) and [create a persona(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/)** 2. **[What is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/)** – What makes you different? Why should someone choose you rather than a competitor? 3. **[Research your target markets](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/)** and get to know them – which networks do they frequent? What are their pain points or problems that you can solve? 4. **[Research your competition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/)** – How often are they blogging or publishing videos? Where do they come up on Google and [AI search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/ "AI Search") compared to you? How active are they on social media? How many [followers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/ "Social Media Usage Is Up: How to Grow Your Following and Reach!") do they have? What are they doing that you’re not? 5. **[Set SMART goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/)** for your business and marketing. 6. Set up a well-branded [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/) and social media profile pages optimized for [search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-found-social-media-search-engines-powerful-google/). Branding should be consistent throughout your website and social profiles. Make sure it looks good — it’s your [online image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-branding-color-online-image/). 7. **[Develop a strategic plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/)** to meet those goals. Without a strategic plan, you’ll be lost, overwhelmed, and unsuccessful. 8. [**Put together a tactical plan**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) to implement the strategy. This becomes your to-do list. What to post/publish when and where. 9. [**Learn how content marketing, SEO & social media all work together**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/magic-formula-online-marketing-success/). I can [teach you 1:1](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training"), or you can watch some of my [YouTube videos](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/). 10. **[Create and curate content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/)**. Publish consistently and regularly showcasing your [N-E-E-A-T-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/ "How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T?"). 11. **Have a clear [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/):** a free download, coupon, or offer, to generate quality leads — not everyone is ready to buy at first glance. 12. **[Set up an email automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/)** workflow to guide leads to buy and keep you in mind throughout their buying journey. 13. **[Monitor and measure](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/)** – check your [analytics and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") every month to see what’s working and not working. Then plan accordingly for the next month. Ultimately, you need not be overwhelmed by all this. Let’s do a free 15-minute Zoom call to discuss your marketing needs. [Click here to book.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Google Analytics, Marketing Strategy **Tags:** analytics, AZ Social Media Wiz, Giselle Aguiar, improving marketing results, marketing, Marketing Efforts, ROI, small business, social media, social media marketing, Website --- ### [Outsource or Hire? What Makes a Good Social Media Manager?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/good-social-media-manager/) **Published:** May 12, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** You know that social media marketing is important to promote your business; however, you don’t have the time to do it all yourself. What are your options? What do you look for in a social media manager or even an SEO, AIO, and AEO specialist? ## Let’s Cover Your Options First… 1. Hire an [outsider to do it all for you](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/). 2. Hire an employee in-house with the knowledge and experience. 3. [Train](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) a trusted employee on how to do social media and content marketing properly and effectively. 4. Or [learn how to do it yourself](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) and carve out [time](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/carve-time-marketing-successful/) to do it — that’s putting in some sweat equity. ## What to Look for in a Social Media Manager: Whomever you hire, that person should… - Be a social media ***specialist*** who knows everything — all the ins and outs of social media ***marketing*** — not just how to post on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/ "Facebook") or [Instagram](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/instagram/ "Instagram"). - Know how and where to keep abreast of all **social media news**, network, and changes on Google, AI, and SEO. - Have a decent following on the major social media networks: Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram, and be using them regularly. They should have a completed [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) personal profile — which shows you they know what they’re doing. - Understand the difference between all the networks — knowing the lingo, who their users are, and their cultures. - Know how to use tools like HootSuite, Buffer, TweetDeck (no longer free – now called “X Pro”), [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81), etc., to manage all the social media networks. - Know how to use AI for doing market research, developing plans, and reporting. - Understand [SMART goal-setting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) to be able to outline objectives. - Know how to prepare a social media strategic marketing plan to help reach those goals, and outline the strategies for each network. - Know how to develop a tactical marketing plan based on the strategic plan to implement the strategy. - If [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/) is involved, be a decent writer, communicator, and [SEO copywriter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/). - Be familiar with **your industry** or be willing to learn. - Know how to handle **customer service** issues when they come up on social media. - Be **clever** enough to know how to spin a marketing message and take advantage of [**what’s trending**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/) on social media without looking foolish or hurting your company’s reputation. - Understand analytics and insights to be able to provide you with monthly reports showing what’s working and not working. Most importantly — are your goals being met? - Consequently, be able to adjust the strategic and tactical marketing plans according to new goals and campaigns. #### As employee positions go, there are a lot of ways to say the same thing. These are some that are out there are: - **Community Manager:** This person works with one network only, usually including customer service. They are a relationship builder. - **Social Media Manager/Coordinator/Administer:** a person who does everything with managing and monitoring all networks (using the free or paid tools) as well as strategic and tactical planning, analytics, and reporting. This person may or may not supervise employees. The position title depends on the salary. Visit [Salary.com](https://salary.com) to determine the going rate in your area. - **A Social Media Specialist**, like [myself](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/), usually works freelance, on a contract or per-project basis. They [specialize](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) in social media marketing. They don’t usually build websites (But I do!) or manage emails or marketing automation. Then define if you want organic marketing — that is, non-paid — or someone to manage paid advertising. For example, I’ve seen PR firms take over social media for a client and make dozens of mistakes. I specialize in [strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) and [tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) planning, [branding](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/ "12 Branding Mistakes You Need to Stop Making Now!"), and optimizing for search ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?")) and [training](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training"), as well as ***organic*** [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/ "Effective SEO Copywriting is the Trick to More Reach on Google"), digital, and [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) marketing strategies. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## What About Managing Content Marketing and SEO? Clearly, as I mentioned, [content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) and [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) are equally important as managing the [social media networks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/marketing-2/internet-marketing/social-media-networks/ "Social Media Networks"). Just doing social media marketing without content marketing, [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/top-12-blogging-mistakes/), search engine optimization ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/)), and now [AEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/), won’t work. Given that, whoever you hire needs to be up-to-date with the latest SEO tactics, [Google](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) algorithm changes, and the [AI answer engines](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/ "AI Search for 2026: What to Expect and What to Do Now") and tools. ## To Outsource or not to Outsource, that is the Question! ### Here are some things to consider: How much does your time cost- **What’s your budget look like?** - An **outsourced agency** can charge from $750 to $2500 a month, depending on the services provided. However, you don’t need to worry about payroll or benefits. Furthermore, you can find an agency that specializes in your industry or local area. - **Hiring an intern part-time is way less expensive.** However, you forfeit experience and marketing savviness. (By the way, if the intern is not getting college credit, you have to pay them.) Contact your local college or university and inquire about their internship program. - **If hiring a full-time employee**, you have to consider salary and benefits. However, you have more control over them. - **You can also hire a freelancer on contract (1099).** You don’t need to give them benefits, but you do need to provide a 1099 to the IRS. - **Train an existing employee.** Please don’t tell your receptionist or office manager that they’re going to start doing social media marketing, too! They need to be trained to do it properly. Are they creative? Can they write up a blog or tell a story? Can they create an eye-catching promotional post that generates leads? - **[Learn how to do it all yourself! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training")**If you learn how to properly use the tools, you have total control of your marketing. It takes more time upfront between learning and building a following. However, once a [following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) is built, you can manage it in 30-60 minutes a day (besides [blogging](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/)). - Yet another option is a **hybrid plan**. [Hire an expert to get you set up, plan, and build your following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/), while you learn how to use the tools, then take over. - You need to be a little social **savvy yourself** so you know what they’re doing is proper and effective. [I can help you with that! ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training") - Whether inside or outsourced, they should provide you with **[comprehensive monthly reports](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights")** (at least) with analytics and insights to see [what’s working and not working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/ "10 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn’t Working"). Strategic and tactical plans should then be adjusted based on the report. All in all, today’s digital marketing IS complicated if you are clueless. It’s OK to be clueless. Especially since all this stuff changes constantly. That’s where I come in. I can [guide you or train you](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) in whatever you need for YOUR business. If you don’t need to be on Instagram or any other network, I’ll tell you so. #### [Not sure which way to proceed? Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) **If your budget is really tight, then learn how to do it yourself with [my ebook](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089NBXX17/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Blueprint%3A+Strategies+for+Effective+Social+Media+%26+Digital+Marketing&qid=1591299013&sr=8-1) as a guide!** Yes, it will take some sweat equity up front, but just like learning a new software program, the more you use it, the faster it will take you to get something done. **Moreover, the benefit is more [leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/) and more sales!** [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Save Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Small Business Tips, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, hiring someone to do your social media, Outsource or Hire? What makes a good Social Media Marketing Manager?, social marketing specialist, social media, social media management services, social media manager, social media marketing, social media marketing manager, social media marketing specialist, social media specialist, What to look for when hiring someone to do your social media marketing, What to look for when outsourcing your social media marketing --- ### [How to be Known as an Expert in Your Field: What's Your N-E-E-A-T-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-be-known-as-an-expert-in-your-field/) **Published:** May 11, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** What’s Your N-E-E-A-T-T? Wait! I thought it was E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. Yes, but the evolution of AI Search expanded it. Getting recognized as an expert in your field is especially crucial in the age of [AI Search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/ "AI Search"). E-E-A-T is Google’s guideline for content credibility and getting indexed in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). However, the folks at [White Scholars](https://whitescholars.com/why-n-e-e-a-t-t-is-new-standard-for-2026-seo/) and [Kalicube](https://kalicube.com/learning-spaces/faq-list/seo-glossary/n-e-e-a-t-t-things-you-need-to-know/) added the “N” and the additional “T”. ## Where do the AI Answer bots get their information? The AI search bots grab EVERYTHING from EVERYWHERE for information. This data changes constantly, so this is just to give you an idea of where the AI bots go to find information. [](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/500m-ai-searches-later-how-to-actually-improve-ai-search-visibility-citations/573564/)[This graphic is from a Search Engine Journal webinar by Sam Garg of Writesonic](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/500m-ai-searches-later-how-to-actually-improve-ai-search-visibility-citations/573564/)What are you an expert inBlue is ChatGPT, pink is Perplexity, and orange is Google AI Overviews. Look at Reddit. LinkedIn is crucial for building credibility. Wikipedia, which is 25 years old, is cited mostly by ChatGPT. The problem with it is that people write what they want, and it’s hard to verify. Notice the other 2 barely cite it. Lastly, there’s YouTube. It’s owned by Google, so it makes sense that Google AIOs cite it a lot. [Click here for more on YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google"). If you’ve been doing SEO content marketing correctly, then adapting to [AEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/) is easy; it’s basically long-form SEO. In other words, people are asking questions. You need to provide the answers. Therefore, you need to get your N-E-E-A-T-T act together. ## What does N-E-E-A-T-T stand for?  **N-E-E-A-T-T** stands for **Notability, Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness, and Transparency**. It is a holistic approach to proving to Google, the AI Answer Engines, and your audience that you are a legitimate, recognisable voice in your specific niche. Adding the “N” and the extra “T” to Google’s E-E-A-T sharpens your credibility. - **Notability:** This isn’t about being famous. Also, it’s not what’s on Wikipedia. Notability is a hyper-niche. Notability is having enough impact within a specific field, industry, or topic for a very specific audience to warrant recognition. For instance, one of my clients is on the Arizona board of the association in his medical field. - **Experience:** This is something AI can’t provide — YOUR personal experience on a subject. Demonstrate first-hand knowledge and practical involvement with a topic. - **Expertise:** Possessing a high level of knowledge or skill in a particular field or industry. - **Authority:** Are you the go-to person on this subject? If your website is seen as the authority in your field or industry, potential customers and the AI answer bots are more likely to trust the information you provide. Thus, it will lead to purchasing your products or services. Blog posts should be published first on your website to gain that authority. - **Trustworthiness:** The reliability, accuracy, and safety of the content, site, and author. Can you be trusted? Can this information be trusted? Are you a trusted source? Are you legit? Remember this! It’s important! This is what both Google and the AI bots look for, as well as potential customers. In fact, this is a huge issue right now. The searcher doesn’t know who to trust. - **Transparency:** To be trusted, you must be transparent. That means you have to be transparent in your [About page ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page")on your website and your social media profiles. No more hiding behind avatars or fake names. If you’re legit, you need to show who’s behind the brand. ## So, how do you get known as an expert in your field? The first thing you need to do is clearly define and understand who your [target audience is](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/). Once you get to know your target, you need to determine what their **burning questions** are. And sometimes, the questions are the most basic you could ever think of, like, “[What is a blog?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-a-blog/ "What is a Blog and Why do I Need One for My Business to Succeed?")” or “[What is SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?")?” or “[What is Social Media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-social-media-marketing/ "What is Social Media Marketing? How Your Small Business Can Use it Effectively")?” To you, the expert, they may seem stupid, but to the clueless person, they want to know. They’re asking [Google](https://www.google.com/). They’re asking ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity. ### **[Sharpen Your LinkedIn Profiles](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/)** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-and-ai-search-bots/)As you can see from the image above, LinkedIn is a valid place to. Your personal profile should be up-to-date, and there should be a recent, professional-looking headshot. Moreover, use all the space in your summary to highlight your expertise, experience, publications, certifications, and education. There are TWO PROFILES! First, update your **individual, personal profile**, which highlights your education, experience, expertise, and anything else you want to show off. If you are a business owner, your LinkedIn profile should not sound like you’re looking for a job. **Second is your Company Profile.** This is where you brand your business and build that trust and credibility. [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/24-foolish-linkedin-mistakes/) also has its own publishing platform that anyone can contribute to. You can publish as yourself or your page. Which one depends on your branding. Make sure to always add a call-to-action ([CTA](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/ "Capturing Leads that will Convert with the Right Calls to Action")) at the end with a link back to your website. Also, link certain keywords and phrases back to your blog on those topics. One of my time-saving tricks is to repurpose my blogs from [my site to LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/). Just add a line at the bottom that this article originally appeared on… with a link to the original article. That tells Google to give the original post more authority in searches. ## Optimize Your YouTube Channel This may take a little time, but it’s sure worth it in the long run! [I highlight what you need to optimize your YouTube channel in this article](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google"). [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/)[Its not only for Local SEO You can use these tips for any YouTube Channel ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/)### So how do you justify the time involved? **Think of it as sweat equity and part of your marketing.** You may not see results right away, but you’ll be surprised one day when you’re asked to speak at a group or get hired for a job because someone was impressed by your answers and what came up when they Googled you. I can help you re-strategize your content marketing so that your chances of being cited will increase. [Book a FREE Zoom call now!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### What is N-E-E-A-T-T, and why is it important for SEO, AEO, and GEO? N-E-E-A-T-T stands for Notability, Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness, and Transparency. It is a comprehensive approach to establishing credibility and authority in your niche, which helps Google, AI answer engines, and your audience recognize you as a legitimate source. ### Where do AI answer bots source their information from? AI search bots gather information from a wide range of sources available online, including social media, Wikipedia, YouTube, Reddit, and LinkedIn. These sources are constantly changing, and AI bots use them to provide relevant answers based on what they have indexed. ### How can I become recognized as an expert in my field? To be recognized as an expert, you should identify your target audience, understand their burning questions, and provide clear, valuable answers through your content. Building credibility by consistently sharing knowledgeable content, updating your social profiles, and demonstrating your experience and authority is key. ### What are the roles of Notability and Transparency in establishing credibility? Notability involves having a meaningful impact within a specific niche, which makes you recognized by your target audience. Transparency requires openly showing who is behind your brand or content, such as through detailed About pages and social profiles, to build trust and verify your legitimacy. ### Why should I optimize my YouTube channel and LinkedIn profile for SEO? Optimizing your YouTube channel and LinkedIn profile helps improve your online visibility, build authority, and establish credibility with your audience. Proper SEO ensures your content reaches the right people and supports your reputation as an expert in your field. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Content Marketing, SEO, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, branding, building trust and credibilty, E-E-A-T, Giselle Aguiar, Google, how to become known as an expert in your field., LinkedIn, N-E-E-A-T-T, online reputation, personal branding, Quora, reputation, reputation management, social media marketing --- ### [How to Set SMART Goals For Marketing Success](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/) **Published:** May 1, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** It’s been said that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Given that, when you plan your marketing, what are you planning for? Success, right? Well, how do you know when you’ve achieved it? That’s where goal setting comes in. Furthermore, success means different things to different people. That’s where SMART Goals come in. ## Why SMART Goals? When setting goals for your marketing and everything else in your business, it’s important to make them SMART goals. SMART stands for: - Specific - Measurable - Attainable - Realistic - Time-bound Here’s why: 1. You set them in small bites that you can handle. 2. They’re doable. 3. You know if you hit (or missed) the mark. > ***What use is setting a goal if you can’t know if you’ve reached it or not?*** No matter what is going on, the good, old-fashioned marketing principles still apply: - Know your [target market](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) and do your research - Have a [unique selling proposition](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-makes-your-business-different/) - Have a consistent [brand](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/12-branding-mistakes-need-stop-making-now/) message ### *What’s constantly changing is the media and the many marketing choices you have to reach your target.* ### Here’s how to make your marketing goals SMART: #### **S**pecific: “Making more money” is not specific enough. Start with how much you want to make in the next year, then divide it by 12. Based on that number, how many new clients, repeat clients, and sales (whatever) do you need to reach that monetary goal each month? Here’s a sample of a specific goal: > ***2 new clients each month*** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/laptop-writing/)#### **M**easurable: Give your goal a set number. Continuing with the above goal, the question is: *what do we have to do to get 2 new clients per month?* Let’s say you need to start with 10 hot leads. Given a 1% acquisition or conversion rate from your website, you need to have… > ***1000 visitors to your website each month.*** #### **A**ttainable: *Are 1000 visitors to your website each month attainable?* Sure, but you have to put in a lot of **sweat equity**. The more you [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/top-12-blogging-mistakes/), the more visitors you attract. That’s 250 visitors per week. If every time you post a blog post and share it on social media, you generate 100 visits to your site, then you need to publish… > **[*2-3 blog posts a week.* ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/)** #### **R**ealistic: OK. Now let’s get real. *Can you manage to put out 2-3 blog posts a week?* Yes. However, that takes time. ***But it’s time well spent if it’s going to attract the new clients you need to reach that monetary goal!*** In addition to blogging, you have to also be actively posting on social media. #### **T**ime-bound: *Now, you’ve got 30 days in which to reach your goal.* Going month-to-month is way easier to handle than a whole year at a time. Other goals you may want are: - 100 followers on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/ "Facebook"), Instagram, and X, so you can start seeing insights and analytics - [A 2-5% conversion rate](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/) - A certain number of marketing emails a month. Could be a newsletter or specific campaign emails. - Growing your email list - Sales of a specific product or service ### Analyze Your Analytics Finally, at the end of the month, look at your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-social-media-marketing-goals-metrics/). - How many posts did you write? - How many people visited the site? - How many converted (signed up, downloaded, etc.)? - How many new clients did you get? - Where did the visitors come from? Social media? Google? - Which blog posts were most popular? Do more of those. > ***You have to check your analytics at the end of each month to know what’s [working or not working](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/).*** ### [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/analytics-1925495_640/)Did you reach your marketing goals? **Yes?** *Then keep doing what you’re doing, it’s working!* Set the goals a little higher for next month. **No?** Then why? - Did you not blog enough? Well, this one is simple. **[Blog more](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/).** - Did you blog, but [**the visitors didn’t convert**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/)? Ah, were they **turned off** by your website? Did they get **lost**? Was there **no clear call-to-action?** - Maybe you didn’t share the [**content on social media**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/content-youre-creating-effective-just-noise/). It all [**works together**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/magic-formula-online-marketing-success/), you know. - Did you not have a [**strategic plan**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) outlining the strategy needed to reach your goals? - What about a [**tactical plan**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) — or to-do list — to help keep you on track to meet the goals? Also, there could be other factors. [Here’s how to analyze your marketing campaigns](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/). **Related:** [Successful Social Media Marketing Starts with Goals and Metrics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-social-media-marketing-goals-metrics/) At any rate, we go back to –if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Please allow me to guide you through the planning process. ***[Click here to schedule a FREE 15-minute consult, so we can brainstorm some ideas.](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)*** [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, covid-19 recovery, digital marketing strategies, digital marketing techniques, Giselle Aguiar, goal setting, goals for 2019, marketing, recovering from lockdown, setting marketing goals for 2019, small biz, small business, small businesses, SMART goals --- ### [Marketing on Social Media with no Tactical Plan is Wasted Effort](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/) **Published:** May 1, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Have you ever planned a big trip? I’m talking about a longer-than-a-weekend vacation or [a major relocation trip.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-social-media-marketing/) It takes a good tactical plan to make the trip enjoyable and worry-free. Likewise, if you attempt to do your social media marketing without a tactical plan, you’ll waste time and money. Besides that, you won’t get the results you hoped for. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/colosseum-rome/)I made it to the Colosseum barelyBack in the mid-’80s, I had the opportunity to spend 21 days traveling ***by myself* through Italy**. I’d been working on an Italian cruise ship, met some great Italians, and learned the language — sort of. (Being fluent in Spanish, I picked up Italian fairly easily, but I ended up creating “Spantalian”! But I was understood, and that’s what matters.) So, the ***strategy*** was to stay on a certain budget and [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) where I wanted to go in Italy and where I should stay. ## What is a Good Strategy? [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/milan-cathedral/)I turned the corner and the sight of the Cathedral of Milan took my breath away**Question — how do I get around?** Rent a car or rail pass? I figured there was less chance, since I was traveling alone, to get lost if I took the train. I got an Ital-Rail Pass. I loved it! Just hop on a train anywhere at any time. I’d fly into Rome, then go north to Milan for the day, then take the train to Bologna and spend the first night there. Then it was Florence, Pisa, Rome for 3 days, then south to Naples. From Naples, I’d take day trips to the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Afterward, take the train back to Rome and fly home from there. With my camera and guidebook in hand, I took off from Puerto Rico to New York to Rome. It was a red-eye. There was a storm in Rome, so the plane was diverted to Turin, but the airline arranged for a bus to the Rome airport. That was an extra, rather nice, unplanned tour. Things happen. ### **However, I didn’t have *a Tactical Plan* Regarding Hotel Reservations.** [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/ponte-veccio/)I loved the *Ponte Vecchio* Old Bridge in FlorenceWith my American Express Card, I could go to any AmEx kiosk in any train station and book a hotel. I took my chances. That worked well until I got to Florence. As it turned out, there was an art festival that weekend. The line at the AmEx booth was long! **I wasted 2 hours there!** I could have spent those 2 hours seeing the sights! My next stop was Pisa. I had no problem there, but I was concerned about Rome. So I booked my Rome hotel before I left Pisa. That was a smart move. ### Living Dangerously In both Florence and Pisa, I was impressed by the people on scooters who zipped around the traffic. In Rome, I thought, “That’s a good way to get around!” So, I rented a moped — bad idea #1. The guy asked me if I wanted a helmet, and I declined — bad idea #2. Well, as you can imagine, I almost killed myself trying to get around like the locals — *“when in Rome…”* *Anyway,* my trip was a great experience and an inspiration for ***[my first nove](https://www.amazon.com/Deo-Volente-God-Willing-Century-ebook/dp/B079579BC7/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=deo+volente&qid=1570824037&s=books&sr=1-2&linkCode=li2&tag=singresoguid-20&linkId=798fc48dec2ec400ea4cc7d4876c6d57&language=en_US)[l](https://www.amazon.com/Deo-Volente-God-Willing-Century-ebook/dp/B079579BC7/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=deo+volente&qid=1570824037&s=books&sr=1-2&linkCode=li2&tag=singresoguid-20&linkId=798fc48dec2ec400ea4cc7d4876c6d57&language=en_US)***. ## What does this have to do with having a Social Media Marketing Tactical Plan? When you try to do something on your own, make sure you’ve done your [research](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) and get good advice from the pros. I hate to say this, most of you small business owners don’t know what you don’t know! It’s like landing in a foreign country, not knowing the language, where to go, or what to do first. > ***Just because you know how to post on social media doesn’t mean you know how to effectively market on social media.*** ### The first steps to effective and successful social media marketing campaigns are: [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/pisa-leaning-tower/)The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a great example of a plan gone wrong1. [Clearly identify your target market(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) 2. [Create persona(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/) 3. [Research your target markets and get to know them](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/market-research-target-market/) 4. [Set SMART goals for your business and marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-social-media-marketing-goals-metrics/) 5. [Develop a strategic plan to meet those goals](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) 6. **Put together a tactical plan to implement the strategy…** > *The **Tactical Plan** outlines what to do where, when, for how long, using what tools and how often*… ***The first 5 steps*** determine the tactics. Skip them at your ***peril.*** ### *Next, you have to answer these questions:* - [Which networks will be your primary networks, and which will be secondary?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/) - [How often am I going to post on which networks?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-what-should-i-post-in-social-media/) - What’s my [marketing message](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-copywriting-website-social-media-improve-results/ "How the Right Copywriting on Your Website & Social Media Can Improve Results") in each? - What graphics will I use for my profiles? Do I have the right sizes for each network? - How often am I going to create new content? - [Blogs](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/not-blogging-weekly-hurts-reputation/) - [Videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/) - Infographics - Pictures - [Podcasts](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/) - How am I going to create the new **[content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/quality-content-marketing-2019/)**? Am I a good writer? [Can I trust AI](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-ai-evolution-in-digital-marketing-how-to-adapt-adopt-for-exposure/ "The AI Evolution in Digital Marketing: How to Adapt & Adopt for Exposure")? I can do [videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/ "How to Get Results & Reap the Benefits of YouTube Video Marketing"), but how do I edit them? [Podcasting](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/ "Podcasting: What You Need to Know to Get Started")? How do I create [graphics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-get-visual-to-boost-your-brand-and-sales/ "How to Use Visual Marketing to Boost Your Brand and Sales")? - Which [**hashtags**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/) should I use? Create my own? Which are trendy? How many should I use on each network? Do they even still matter? - What’s the right **[call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)** (CTA) to get people to download the freebie or the offer to [generate leads](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/)? - How do I then **turn those leads into sales?** [What is a conversion rate?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It") - **What tools** do I use to monitor responses, mentions, replies, comments, retweets, [analytics, and insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights")? - **[Do I know the lingo?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-glossary/)** Hanging out on some of these networks is like traveling to a foreign country! You want to relate to the natives, not stand out as a newbie! - How do I learn how to do all this? (Hint: **[1:1 training and coaching!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)**) It’s OK if you’ve **[made some mistakes](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-mistakes/)** attempting social media marketing on your own. Hey, I lived to enjoy my trip to Italy! Furthermore, when I made the big relocation trek from Florida to Arizona 20 years ago, I planned every step and stay, and I made it without incident! ## Don’t Travel into the Social Media & Digital Marketing World without [a Guidebook!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blueprint-strategies-for-effective-social-media-and-digital-marketing/) Just like on my trip to Rome, I had a guidebook. I prepared such a guidebook for you — **[The Blueprint: Strategies for Effective Social Media & Digital Marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blueprint-strategies-for-effective-social-media-and-digital-marketing/).** It’s the step-by-step guide of social media, content marketing, and SEO strategies you’ve been waiting for! [Very affordable at under $30! In ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blueprint-strategies-for-effective-social-media-and-digital-marketing/)[it](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blueprint-strategies-for-effective-social-media-and-digital-marketing/)[, I share the strategies I’ve developed from over 25 years of Internet marketing experience. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blueprint-strategies-for-effective-social-media-and-digital-marketing/) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) **If you prefer to do a live 1:1 training, [let’s start with a FREE 15-minute Zoom consult. Schedule it here…](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)** [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Business Plan, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, digital media marketing, Giselle Aguiar, marketing strategy, marketing tactics, social media, social media marketing, tactical plan --- ### [Videos: Make the Best of the 2 Sides of LinkedIn and Unleash its Power](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/) **Published:** April 30, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** LinkedIn is way more than a place for job seekers to network and find jobs. If that’s the last time you used it, then **you’re missing out on a powerful tool.** Having a completed profile with updated information, as well as a company profile page for your business, increases your **[trust and credibility](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/build-trust-credibility-about-page/ "How to Build Trust and Credibility with the Right About Page")** factor immensely. It helps establish you and your company as **experts in your field or industry**. Related: [What is E-E-A-T?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/ "What is the new “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?") **Think of LinkedIn as a global chamber of commerce on steroids.** It’s more B2B (business-to-business) than B2C (business-to-consumer), but LinkedIn users are sophisticated consumers! And it’s full of **referral sources.** They have over 1.2-1.3 billion active monthly users (MAU) with about 135 million logging in daily. Moreover, they continue to see record levels of engagement. Besides that, [LinkedIn is one of the most cited resources for the AI Search Engines](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-and-ai-search-bots/ "What You Need to Know About LINKEDIN and AI SEARCH BOTS"). They’re looking for experts on topics, and they’re going to LinkedIn to find them. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-ai-evolution-in-digital-marketing-how-to-adapt-adopt-for-exposure/)Which sources are cited most by ChatGPT Perplexity and Google AI Overviews This chart is from a webinar presented by [Search Engine Journal ](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/)and Sam Garg Founder and CEO of [Writesonic](https://writesonic.com/) on April 23 2026Below are two basic videos on the 2 aspects of LinkedIn: the Company Profile side and the Personal/Individual Profile side. Mastering these will help you unleash its power. Because… > ***It’s not who you know, it’s who your friends know.*** ## Let’s start with the basics on why you need to use LinkedIn for your business: ### Your Company Page… --- Use the Company Page Banner to promote something Be careful that text isnt cut off by the logo icon **You need one.** Your personal profile is NOT your **[company page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/az-social-media-wiz)**. In that sense, it’s like Facebook — **Company Pages are separate.** Think of the personal profile as the white pages and the company profile as the Yellow Pages. #### Here are some tips: 1. **Upload a custom banner.** It’s a horizontal graphic. You may have to play with it a bit to make sure that it’s not cut off when you upload it and that it doesn’t look bad. **This is your online image. Your online reputation.** Furthermore, always use **quality graphics**. Taking shortcuts or using a less-than-perfect graphic makes visitors assume you provide less-than-perfect service. Use one of the many free graphics tools, you can create one with custom dimensions – 1128 x 191 pixels. Be careful that any text on the graphic is not obstructed by your logo (400 x 400). 2. **An extension of your website.** You have a lot of space to tell people about your business. USE IT! 3. **Add specialties.** These are keywords that come up when people are searching for what it is that you have to offer. This gets indexed in Google so it helps with **[SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)!** 4. **Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons.** You can choose from: - Visit Website – I don’t like this one. It’s boring. Choose… - Learn More – this is more of a command that makes sense - Contact Us – Use this one if you have an offer in your cover graphic/banner - Register & - Sign Up – these are obvious, but they require some sort of event or offer on the cover graphic. 5. **Post updates.** Share other people’s related and relevant content as well as your own. Moreover, you can add the company page to a scheduling tool like [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81), to easily share content to your page. You can also pin a promo post to the top. (Don’t forget to take it down after the promotion or event is over.) 6. [**Showcase pages.** You can create sub-pages from your company page to highlight products and services.](https://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-showcase-pages-secrets/) 7. **Show off.** You can now write an article as your page and start a newsletter to which people can subscribe! 8. **Pick good [hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/).** You can have 3 topical hashtags associated with your company page. Play around with them and see which have the greatest number of followers. Yes, people follow hashtags on LinkedIn. Use them regularly and consistently. 9. Additionally, each of your employees should have their own profile linked to your facility’s page. Look on the right hand side of your page and youll see Events then Hashtags and Newsletter> **Remember, you have only 2 seconds to catch someone attention online!** ### On Your Personal/Individual Profile… [My LinkedIn Profile Header](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/)Having a LinkedIn profile without your picture is like going to a networking event with a paper bag over your head1. **Your profile picture.** This should be a professional-looking headshot so people can see your face. You wouldn’t go to a networking event with a paper bag over your head, would you? So why don’t you want to put a nice headshot on your professional LinkedIn profile? You may not be looking for a job, but you do want potential customers to buy your product or hire your services, right? You need to look credible. 2. Title. This should tell the visitor what you do at a glance. Make sure it’s updated and it doesn’t imply that you’re looking for a job. 3. Location. Accurate and updated. I find it frustrating when a person that I’m searching for doesn’t have their location. If I know you’re in Phoenix, then why does it say you’re in Chicago? You can sell worldwide, but if the person I want to connect with is in Phoenix, I want to be able to find them. 4. About. It used to be called a “summary”. It’s not your life story. It’s describing what you do and how you can help a potential customer. 5. Contact info. Should be current and complete. If you have a company email address, that should be there rather than the one you used when you were looking for a job (your personal email). Here you can also add your website. Choose “Other” when adding your link and add your company name there rather than using “company website” or “personal website”. Add your business Twitter here also, then when you share to LinkedIn, you can also share to Twitter at the same time. 6. Skills. Again, you’re not looking for a job, but people are searching for what you do and you want to come up in searches. Think of the skills as keywords for SEO. Talents? Skills? What do you know? These, like the specialties on your company page — keywords that help you come up in searches. Likewise, remove the ones that are not relevant to what you’re doing now. 7. Featured. You can feature promos, recent blog posts, and special offers on your personal profile in the “Featured” section. Change it up at least once a month. This also helps with [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)! Feature your latest or popular blog posts special offers etc on your personal profile #### Posting to your Personal Profile People can follow hashtags Search for hashtags with your major keywords and use them consistently in your posts and comments Some popular hashtags will say how many people follow it Just like on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/ "The NEW Challenges of Marketing on FACEBOOK & How to Overcome Them"), you can upload a graphic or video, share a link, add text and **[hashtags](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/use-hashtags-effectively-market-business/)**. Use a scheduling tool like [Sendible](https://sendible.com) to share content regularly. Stick to your field or industry. The idea is that people start connecting the topics you post about with your name, picture, and industry. **This builds credibility.** You show off what you know. ### Native Videos on LinkedIn Similar to Facebook, you can upload videos (up to 15 minutes long) directly to LinkedIn on your personal or company profiles. They give more reach to those uploaded directly rather than sharing a link to YouTube. ### Write Articles On LinkedIn Weekly Alright, you’re probably thinking, “I can’t even write for my website weekly!” Yes, I know. But you have to for **SEO**. What you do on LinkedIn is **repurpose the content on your website.** You write the blog on your site, then share the link on LinkedIn. A few days later, copy the whole article to LinkedIn. When you copy the text from the blog, it takes the formatting with it. The only things you can’t copy are the pictures. You need to upload those directly. Always put a link at the bottom linking back to the original post: “This post originally appeared on……(link)” as well as a call-to-action. Doing this regularly helps drive traffic to your website and helps with SEO. And LinkedIn gives more visibility, aka reach, to articles written on their platform! They want users to stay on their site rather than visit someone else’s website. You can also upload and feature a video as your article hero (top) image. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ### Post Events on LinkedIn You can post upcoming events and invite your connections from your personal profile and your business page. ### Connecting and Following on LinkedIn LinkedIn now has the option to change the “Connect” button to “Follow”. **You can follow anyone without connecting to them.** I like that better. If you like what I post and the articles I write, then by all means follow me. We don’t have to be connected. **Just because we’re connected doesn’t mean that I’m interested in your product or service.** However, if I know someone who needs something, I’m going to go to LinkedIn first and recommend someone in my network — it’s my **virtual Rolodex**. #### Connect with the people you know first **Upload your email list.** You’ll get a list of the people on your list who are also on LinkedIn. You can check all, and then LinkedIn will send them an invitation. You can’t personalize it, but this saves time and grows your network quickly. This is a simple feature that will solve a headache. I love it. I keep getting connection invitations from people outside of the U.S. and others whom I really don’t feel comfortable connecting with. Plus, it gets annoying. I’ve got over [3700 connections](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) and over 4100 followers. The next list of people that comes up is those on your list who are not on LinkedIn. Skip these. If they do join LinkedIn, you’ll be notified when they do. Each time you look at your network, LinkedIn will bring up people they think you may know based on your connections and the companies you’ve worked at. If you do know them, by all means, connect with them. The bigger your network is, the more you’ll get out of LinkedIn. ## The Best LinkedIn Content Strategy in 2026 --- **[If you’d like to connect with me and be part of my virtual Rolodex, click here, then click on “More” then click connect.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/)** Obviously, I didn’t cover everything people do wrong on LinkedIn. **[This article covers that.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-dos-and-donts/)** [](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) ## Answering Your LinkedIn Questions… ### Why should my business have a LinkedIn Company Page? Having a LinkedIn Company Page is essential because it acts as a professional online presence separate from your personal profile, helps build trust and credibility, and allows you to promote your business, showcase specialties, post updates, and engage with potential clients or partners. ### How can I optimize my Company Profile on LinkedIn? To optimize your Company Profile, upload a high-quality custom banner that represents your brand, fill out the About section with relevant keywords for SEO, add specialties, use call-to-action buttons effectively, post regular updates, share relevant content, and create showcase pages to highlight specific products or services. ### What should I include in my LinkedIn personal profile to attract business opportunities? Your LinkedIn personal profile should include a professional headshot, an updated title that clearly states what you do without implying you’re job hunting, accurate location, a concise About section describing how you can help clients, current contact details, relevant skills, and featured content like recent posts or offers. ### What types of content should I post on LinkedIn for maximum engagement? Post a mix of native videos, articles, updates, and event notices related to your industry. Use relevant hashtags consistently, share both your own content and curated relevant content, and focus on topics that build your credibility and demonstrate your expertise. ### How can I grow my network effectively on LinkedIn? Start by connecting with people you know, upload your email contacts to invite colleagues and acquaintances, then explore suggestions LinkedIn provides based on your current network and employment history. Also, follow industry leaders and relevant hashtags to expand your reach, and participate actively by commenting and posting regularly. Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** LinkedIn, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, B2B, B2C, Giselle Aguiar, infographic, LinkedIn, marketing, social media, social media marketing, social networking --- ### [Podcasting: What You Need to Know to Get Started](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/podcasting/) **Published:** April 30, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** You dont need a fancy microphone to start podcastingSeveral years ago, I considered podcasting. However, I heard that it takes a lot of planning and that you really need to have 2 people or guests to be successful. With that in mind, I decided not to do one in the digital marketing field. There are several very good social media, content marketing, and digital marketing podcasters out there. I’d rather share good content that I couldn’t have done better myself than attempt to dive into a saturated market. ## What You Need to Get Started Podcasting ### Let’s start with what you DON’T need: You dont need a fancy recording studio to start podcasting - **Fancy equipment** – I started with an old USB headset that worked fine. I later migrated to my headphones. Now, I use my airpods. - **A sound-proof room** – I’ve been recording in my apartment in the evenings and a few times I’ve had to wait till my neighbor’s water stopped running and the kids outside went home. Using the airpods helps suppress background noise. - **Fancy recording and editing software** – even though I can do editing, I don’t want to. But you can if you want to. ### Now for what you do need: - **[A Podcasting Platform: check out these.](https://www.descript.com/blog/article/the-10-best-podcast-hosting-platforms)** A platform their missing is [Substack.com.](https://substack.com/) It’s a free platform and they’ve added the abilitiy to record and promote podcasts. - **A Topic**: Whether it’s a personal passion (like mine) or your business, you need to have a topic. Search on a podcast app for your topic and see who’s already out there. - **How often are they podcasting**, and when was their **last episode**? You’ll be surprised at how many folks start a podcast with good intentions and then stop for some reason. - **How long are their episodes?** I’ve seen anywhere from 5-minute shows to 1 and 2-hour podcasts. - Do they have reviews? This is important. Can you do better? - How are you different? - **A Title** – Here’s where you need to get creative. Search on the app for several variations of your intended title. Make sure someone else didn’t beat you to it. Also, use the [Google Keyword Search Tool](https://youtu.be/mqANl5TEDB) or [AI Search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/ "AI Search for 2026: What to Expect and What to Do Now") to find what people are searching for in your particular topic. Ask an AI tool, “What are people asking about regarding \_\_\_\_\_?” - [**Define Your Audience**](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) – Who are you targeting? Having [target market personas](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/creating-buyer-personas/) for your marketing is just as important here, too. - **A Podcast Icon** – This is your branding. Use it consistently when you share your podcast on social media. - **A Format** - Will it be just you sharing your expertise? - Are you going to partner with one or more people? - Will you have guests? - How long will your podcasts be? Personally, I like them short, sweet, and to the point. But, that’s me. Your audience, by like banter between to people. - Again, what makes you different? - How often will you publish? Once you start, you need to commit to a schedule. ***Yes, it is a commitment!*** - Are you going to do video or just audio? - **Editorial Calendar** – I picked up an old-fashioned desk calendar where I can see the whole month in 2 pages and I can write episode titles or topics. Likewise, a simple spreadsheet will also work. - **Plan ahead** and include things that will be trending on social media. Check out my “What’s Trending” articles that I post at the end of each month. - **How often are you going to broadcast?** I decided to do it daily — each evening. I follow podcasters who just do weekdays, weekly, even monthly. Furthermore, some don’t have a set schedule at all. - **Be consistent** – whatever frequency you choose, ***be consistent.*** If you’re going to publish every Friday, then stick to it. Once you have subscribers, they’ll be looking for your podcast. Note: *because the free platform I was using got bought out by a larger company and they went to strickly video, I opted to stop producing my podcast. However, I may relaunch on Substack.* - **Social Media** – What’s nice about the podcast is that you can easily share it on [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-networks-which-best-business/ "So many SOCIAL MEDIA Networks! Which are Best for Exposure?") and you can tell your listeners to follow you. - **Connect with Influencers** – Search for and follow influencers in your topic’s field. Email them or message them on social media and invite them to listen to your podcast. - **Tag people mentioned in your podcasts** – One of my podcast’s tweets got retweeted because I messaged on [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/challenges-marketing-facebook-overcome-them/ "The NEW Challenges of Marketing on FACEBOOK & How to Overcome Them") about an app that I plugged on the podcast. ### Podcasting Tips - **Pick a time and day that works for you.** Once you commit to doing this, you need to keep at it. Again, ***be consistent***. - **Don’t expect it to take off immediately.** Even if you have a large social media following like I do, it will take a while for it to catch on. But, **keep at it.** Don’t be discouraged when you don’t see your subscriber rate steadily increasing. - **Write up a script for each episode.** It’s so easy to just read it. I’ve noticed with some of the podcasters I listen to, when they are winging it — without a script — it does sound unprofessional. I’ve also been re-purposing blog articles. I’ll embed the podcast in the blog once it’s published. - **Listen to other podcasters** who are in your topic’s field or are popular. - What’s their format? - How many ads do they have? - How do they end it? - **Create an intro.** Use it every time. Again, ***be consistent***. - **Create an exit [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/).** Thank people for listening and invite them to go to the show notes, subscribe, or visit your website. - **Don’t over-sell.** You’re doing this podcast to educate, entertain, or inform. Sales, hopefully, will naturally stem from your efforts. - **Add a link to your podcast from your website and social media.** Make it easy for people to find you. - **Use relevant hashtags** when you share on social media. Again, be consistent. I have a text file with links and hashtags that I just copy and paste to the networks. - **Do take into consideration ambient noise.** Silence your mobile devices. The other night, my tablet notification reminding me to record the podcast went off in the middle of the podcast! Turn off fans and a/c units – you do get a background buzz. - **It’s OK to flub a little.** I’ve had a few false starts, but if I flub a word, I’ll just keep going. People do know that you are human, and though you CAN create a podcast with AI, I don’t recommend it. You want to be If you do have time to rerecord, then by all means, do it. - **[Watch for what’s trending on X](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/)** and share relevant podcast episodes. Podcasting is fun and easy to do. ***Don’t overthink it.*** Moreover, it can eventually help you in marketing your business, passion, or making some extra income. Check out the video below for more expert tips. ### [If you need help brainstorming, schedule a coaching call and I can guide you in your podcasting venture. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)### Great Advice on Storytelling and Podcasting, and not just for B2B! --- ## Answers to questions about podcasting… ### What equipment do I need to start podcasting on a budget? You don’t need fancy equipment to start podcasting; a simple USB headset or AirPods can work fine, and a soundproof room is not necessary as background noise can be minimized with proper techniques. ### How do I choose the right platform for hosting my podcast? Choose a podcasting platform like Descript or Substack, which is free and offers recording and promotion features; ensure the platform fits your needs and audience. ### What should I consider when selecting a podcast topic? Research existing podcasts on your topic to see their frequency, episode length, reviews, and what makes your approach different, ensuring your content is unique and valuable. ### How can I make my podcast stand out and attract listeners? Create a compelling title, develop a consistent format and schedule, design eye-catching branding, and actively promote your episodes on social media and through collaborations with influencers. ### What are some essential tips for running a successful podcast? Pick a consistent time and day, write a script, listen to other podcasters for inspiration, create an intro and call-to-action, stay natural if you make mistakes, and stay committed to your schedule. [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Content Marketing, Digital Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blogging, branding, content marketing, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, how to start a podcast, marketing, Podcasting, podcasts, starting a podcast --- ### [What is the Right Selling Ratio on Social Media?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/right-ratio-social-media/) **Published:** April 27, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** **To sell or not to sell: that is the question.** What is the right selling ratio on social media? That is, the ratio of selling vs. non-selling posts? Seriously, think about it. When you’re on social media, you don’t want to see ad after ad, after ad, after annoying ad, right? Yet, that’s what businesses think they should be posting: how great, better, faster, neater, and cooler their product or service is. Many think that just advertising on social media is enough. It’s not. Organic, or non-paid, non-selling posting is what works these days. What about now in the AI Search Evolution? What do the AI answer bots want to see? ## What is the right selling vs. non-selling posts Ratio on Social Media? The Old 10-4-1 rule for posting no longer applies. Before, it was beneficial for you to share others’ relevant content above your own. NOT ANY MORE! Yes, you can re-share and re-post good content, but now, with the [AI Answer Engines](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH"), you’re sending potential customers to your competition. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/buynow.png)Out of every 7 posts on any given network… - 4 or more are your **original content** — blog posts or tips. SHARE DON’T SELL! Give advice. Answer questions. Be helpful. [Show off your E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/ "What is the new “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?"). - 3 or 4 are reshares of relevant industry content. This could be replying or commenting on a news or topical article. - **Only 1 is a direct selling or promotional post** *Hint: When you publish a blog post, share it immediately to your [social media networks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/) — Facebook, [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/linkedin-powerful-tool/), [X (Twitter)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/take-advantage-whats-trending-twitter/), and [Pinterest](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/pinterest-difference/). This helps with [AI-SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)! Set it up on [Dlvr.it](https://Dlvr.it) (free to a point). Then re-share them every other week or so. You can use a scheduling tool like [Sendible](https://www.sendible.com/?fpr=giselle81) (affiliate link).* It’s OK to duplicate content. After you share the link on your social platforms, in a few days, share the same content in a post with an image. Post the question you’re answering first. Highlight that question in your graphic. Make it eye-catching. Furthermore, animate it. Get creative. However, always remember to write for the [HUMAN](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/ "Effective SEO Copywriting is the Trick to More Reach on Google") — your target — with the [AI Answer Bot](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/ "AI Search") in mind. If you don’t think you’re a [good writer](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/ "Effective SEO Copywriting is the Trick to More Reach on Google"), I can help you. [Let’s talk](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)! ## Selling too much doesn’t help. ***Put yourself in your [target’s](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your Free Define Your Target Market Workbook!") shoes.*** What are ***they*** interested in? What questions are they asking? Do some research. Once you’ve got a following on Facebook, Instagram, X, and/or Pinterest, the [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) on these sites tell you a lot about your followers. Check them monthly. See which of your social media posts got the most reactions: likes, comments, and/or shares. Note the type and post more of those. Additionally, look to see how often and what your [competitors](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/) are posting. > **They are thinking, “What’s in it for me?”** or “How can you relieve my \_\_\_\_\_ \[problem or pain point\]?” Moreover, **[analytics and Insights](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) tell you about your audience.** What other things are they interested in? Who else do they follow? Who do they trust for information and advice? Google Analytics and Search Console will tell you where the traffic from your website is coming from. #### [Related: What happens when my marketing efforts don’t work?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/10-reasons-why-your-social-media-isnt-working/ "10 Reasons Why your Social Media Marketing isn’t Working") [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/)## Serve and Share — Don’t Sell – Don’t be a Spammer ***“Social Selling” is about sharing and serving,*** NOT SELLING. People will unfollow you fast if all you’re posting is about yourself and how great you are. There has to be a balance, and it may take some trial and error to find the right one. The AI Answer Bots are looking for fresh, helpful, and genuine content. ### So, what is the selling right ratio on social media? **These are guidelines.** Again, your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) will give you a more definitive ratio as to what your specific target audience responds to and likes. Based on your analytics, you can more clearly determine what are good, trusted sources of content; what to blog about, and the right call-to-action posts that are more likely to convert a follower into a sale. ### [START HERE: Download the Free Define Your Target Market Workbook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)--- [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing, digital marketing, Giselle Aguiar, inbound marketing, Right Ratio on Social Media, selling vs non-selling, social media marketing, social selling, To Sell or Not to Sell --- ### [How Often Should You Blog for Marketing Success?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-often-should-you-blog/) **Published:** April 24, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Blogging, especially now in the age of the [AI Search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In") evolution, is a vital function of your business. As part of your content marketing, blogging should be strategically included in your overall [marketing plan.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/planning-online-marketing-success-steps/ "What You Need to know to Plan Your Online Marketing for Success") ## Why do you need to blog regularly? Here are the benefits of blogging… 1. It helps with [AI-SEO – search engine optimization](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/) – Google and the AI Answer Engines look for the freshest content that matches the search term or answers the searcher’s questions. 2. It becomes part of your [content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/) strategy – you need to educate your [potential customers](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-importance-of-focusing-on-what-your-target-market-wants/) as to how your business can help them by telling stories. 3. Blogging regularly helps keep visitors on your site longer. If you have a list of topics or keywords, people will want to read more. 4. You [interconnect articles](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/latest-seo-best-practices-increase-website-traffic/) that help with AI-SEO. Google and the AI search bots like links. If you mention something in a blog post that you previously wrote about in an article, you can link to that article. 5. You want to drive people to your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/). Whether they’re coming from the search engines, the AI Answer Tools, or social media, the more fresh, relevant content you put out there, the better your results will be. ## How do you make the blog work? ***Basically, the more often you blog, the more traffic you drive to your website.*** 1. **Your website & blog are the center of your marketing** –[learn how to do it right](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/). [That’s why I recommend WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/). If you’re attracting new visitors with good [content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/content-youre-creating-effective-just-noise/), they are right on your website, and other pages on your site will do well with SEO. 2. **Your website should have a [call-to-action](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/ "Capturing Leads that will Convert with the Right Calls to Action")** where you capture leads. Furthermore, turn visitors into leads and then nurture leads into sales with marketing automation. 3. **Have both [strategic and tactical plan](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/)**[s](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/internet-marketing-services/) along with an editorial calendar. Remember, ***if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!*** 4. **Monitor and measure** what’s working and what’s not working. Check your analytics and insights monthly. 5. S**hare each blog post on your [social media](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/) accounts**. The AI Answer Tools grab information from EVERYWHERE online. State the question in your social post, then answer it briefly, then add the link as a call-to-action. ## **How often should you blog?** First, if you haven’t blogged in a while or you have a [brand new website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-new-website/), you should **blog DAILY** for the first 2 weeks ***so that Google will notice you.*** That’s at least 5 articles each week. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/)[Learn how to blog effectively ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/ "Learn How to Effectively Blog on WordPress!")Then, in the 3rd and 4th weeks, [2-3 blog posts each week](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/). After the 4th week, check your [analytics](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/). How many visitors did you have? Where did they come from? More than likely, you will see the search engines come up first. So, that means that your blogging is working! The free Google plugin for WordPress, Site Kit, connects to your Google Analytics account and makes it easy to see where people are coming from. Ongoing, write at least one article a week. ***Any less and Google and the AI Search Bots will think you’re stagnant and ignore you.*** However, 3 times a week is the sweet spot! Save ## It Takes Some Learning and Organization Obviously, once you learn how to [blog effectively](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/write-awesome-powerful-headlines-blog/), ***the more you do it, the less time it will take you to blog.*** Plus, if it’s bringing in new business, then it’s working and the effort is worth it. That’s how online marketing works. You need to put a lot of effort up front. Once you see what works and what doesn’t work, it will take less time for nicer rewards. ### Start with clearly defining your target market(s) with [this free workbook. Click here to download. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)Save [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging, Marketing Strategy **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, blogging, content marketing, Giselle Aguiar, Google, How Often Should You Blog, improving marketing results, inbound marketing, Internet Marketing, marketing, online marketing --- ### [Do You Want to go Viral? Tell Stories that Provoke Emotions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/want-go-viral-tell-stories-provoke-emotions/) **Published:** April 24, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Here’s an excellent example of a viral video for a brand that actually rejected it. It’s what’s called “user-generated content”. A fan of a product or service creates a video on their own, without prompting from the brand. But this is not about the brand, but the power of ***telling stories that provoke emotions.*** ## About the Video: German student Eugen Merher created this video in honor of a relative of his. He sent the video to Adidas, but it was rejected. So, he uploaded it to [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/ "How to Get Results & Reap the Benefits of YouTube Video Marketing"). As of this posting, it has had over ***16 million views!*** ### I’ll let the video speak for itself – the power of telling stories….. --- #### Don’t you just want to stand up and applaud? Now, you’re probably thinking, “I can’t produce a video like this!” Well, the brand didn’t produce it. A fan did. However, you can still tell stories without going to the lengths of a full video production. Similarly, you have satisfied customers, don’t you? Tell their stories. You don’t have to use their names. Furthermore, even if you’re just starting, use hypothetical situations. Like, “I had a client who had this problem… and I helped them overcome it.” Or even a compilation of several clients. Showcase your [experience and expertise](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/) (E-E-A-T). ## Why are the First 15 Seconds in a Video Critical? **The first 15 seconds are crucial.** You need to catch the viewer’s attention so they’ll keep watching the video. Videos that go viral are usually short and to the point. Don’t use up the first few seconds with a long intro splash. Tell the viewer why they should keep watching it. #### Why doesn’t every video go viral? **Going viral is a fluke.** All in all, don’t focus on wanting your video to go viral — just make it **AWESOME**! Generate emotions. Here are some tips to consider when planning out your videos… - **Make it funny** — using humor tastefully goes a long way. - **Tug at the heartstrings** — this should be the main rule for Nonprofit Organizations, but for-profit businesses can show their compassion and community service. - **Use cuteness** — why do you think people like to watch cats, puppies, and babies? It’s the cuteness factor. - **Be real** — obviously, not all videos need to be professionally produced. Impromptu, behind-the-scenes, casual, and honest videos show the human side of the business. - **Make it memorable** — your potential target may not need your services or products right away, but as a result of a video they remember, they’ll contact you when they need you. > ***[Testimonial](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/video-testimonials-a-great-digital-marketing-tool/) videos also carry a lot of weight. People want to relate with people.*** To be able to generate the emotions of your target audience, you first need to really get to know them. What are their pain points? What makes them happy or sad? **Here’s a free [Define Your Target Market Workbook that will help you get started. ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)** #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)--- In conclusion, if you’re going to take the time to create videos, doesn’t it make sense to plan them out strategically? Let’s start with [a FREE Zoom call ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)to discuss your current and future marketing plans. [Click here to book](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA). [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) #### Related: [Video Marketing Tips! Easy Ways to Promote Your Business](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Note: top photo is a YouTube Screenshot Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Video Marketing **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, content marketing, Giselle Aguiar, going viral, social media, story telling, telling stories, User-generated content, video, video marketing, Viral Marketing --- ### [The AI Evolution in Digital Marketing: How to Adapt & Adopt for Exposure](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/the-ai-evolution-in-digital-marketing-how-to-adapt-adopt-for-exposure/) **Published:** April 23, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Digital Marketing is in the midst of an AI evolution that’s changing how people search, how content is cited, and how small businesses market themselves. AI offers time-saving tools not just for search but also for content creation and marketing planning, helping the small business owner be seen and get found. In this video — the first of a series of 3 — I show you the basics of how all this works together and give you strategies on how to adapt and adopt the new marketing in this AI-Driven World. ## The AI Evolution in Digital Marketing --- ## It’s all about [Conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/ "How to Improve the User Experience on Your Website to Increase Conversions") That’s the bottom line. Whether it’s sales on an ecommerce site, getting the phone to ring, or lead generation, the purpose of all of your marketing efforts is to get CONVERSIONS! Conversions are still your goal — that hasn’t changed. What has changed is how your potential customer is going to get there — how are they going to find you? ## What are the Steps to Effective Marketing? 1. [Define Your Target Market(s)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/ "Get Your Free Define Your Target Market Workbook!"). You can have more than one. 2. Research – Learn as much as you can about your target. Here’s where AI can help you. 3. Set [SMART](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/set-smart-goals-new-year/ "How to Set SMART Marketing Goals For Success") Goals of what specifically you want to accomplish. 4. [Strategic](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/ "Get the Most from Your Social Media Marketing with a Detailed Strategic Plan") & [Tactical](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-tactical-plan/ "Marketing on Social Media with no Tactical Plan is Wasted Effort") Plans. Outline the strategies to accomplish your goals. Then the Tactical Plan is how you’re going to implement the strategy. 5. Set up, Brand & Optimize your website, as well as your social media profiles for [AI-SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-copywriting/ "Effective SEO Copywriting is the Trick to More Reach on Google"). Make it easy for them to find and cite your content. 6. [Learn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/digital-marketing-training/ "1:1 Customized Digital Marketing Training") how to properly and effectively use the Time-Saving AI Tools 7. Create [Content](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-content-marketing/ "What is Content Marketing?") – write blog posts, record videos or podcasts, all optimized for the AI bots. 8. Implement, Engage, & [Build a Following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-build-social-media-following/ "What You Need to Know on How to Build a Social Media Following"). SHARE, don’t sell! Just do it! Get your content out there strategically. 9. Email [Automation](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/ "Save Time and Help Your Business Grow with Email Marketing Automation") to entice sales – don’t let hot or warm leads fall through the cracks. 10. [Monitor & Measure Monthly](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/ "Why You Should Care About Analytics and Insights") – Check your analytics, insights, and your key performance indicators (KPIs), to see what’s working and not working, and adjust your strategic and tactical plans accordingly. ### Really Get to Know Your Audience If your target customer has a question, a problem, or a pain point, they’re now, more than likely, going to ask their favorite AI Search Tool. The question is which tools? Where are they searching? What are they asking? How do I know when they’re ready to make a decision? How do you get your content cited in the AI search results? You need to re-strategize your digital marketing. SMART Goal setting is a basic part of any business. You want to start with SMART, describing what you want to accomplish with your digital marketing in the next 30 days. Do them month-to-month. **For instance, what’s your [conversion rate](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It")?** You determine this by your analytics. If you had 100 visitors and 10 downloaded the offer, you have a 10% click-through/conversion rate. Average on-website conversion click-through rates are 1-3%, but they will vary by industry. That means you need to attract A LOT of traffic and have a great offer of interest to your target audience to meet your goals. At the end of the month, you analyze your analytics and see what worked and what didn’t work, and adjust your goals, strategies, and tactics for the next month. Though the tools have changed, and the media outlets have changed, marketing basics have not. [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)## What has changed is the AI Evolution ### What is an LLM? LLM stands for Large Language Models. They are also called AI Assistants or AI Agents, and they make up 56% of global search volume. Yes, they are taking over search very quickly. **Google is still very much in the game.** Their AI is Gemini. On Desktop or the Google mobile app, you can turn on AI Mode, which is technically a research assistant rather than a search engine. Tap on the beaker icon, and you’ll go to Google Labs and turn on experiments. If you don’t like Google, then go over to Bing and try Microsoft’s Copilot, which uses the popular ChatGPT. 80% of Americans use ChatGPT as an answer engine, with ~ 900 million weekly active users. What is a “GPT”? Generative Pre-trained Transformer. And you can create your own! That’s for another class! And there are more! Grok from X, Perplexity, Claude, and a cool tool from Google, NotebookLM. Recently, to write an article on how [AI is changing search for 2026](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/ "AI Search for 2026: What to Expect and What to Do Now"), I uploaded 45 resources, including videos, ebooks, and website links to Notebook LM, and I had a draft of a 1200-word article in less than 5 minutes. I was blown away. I still had to edit it and add my own [E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/ "What is the new “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T that will Help You Rank?") to it. At this point you might feel like this little guy overwhelmed by all this Let me help you understand how all this works together BTW I created this image in Googles Nano Banana part of Google Labs## What is the Future of AI Search? You cannot deny that this is the future of search and digital marketing. In the last year, I’ve watched countless webinars, read dozens of articles and ebooks, trying to wrap my brain around all this. This quote by Kristina Bergwall, on Search Engine Land, describes the bottom line… > “The future of organic search will be shaped by LLMs \[large language models\] alongside traditional algorithms. Optimizing for rankings alone is no longer enough.” > > Kristina Bergwall, [Search Engine Land](https://searchengineland.com/seo-visibility-systems-469169) ## How is AI Different? Ranking on an AI platform is different from ranking in the old Google Search. Actually, there is no ranking anymore. It’s all about being cited… - 87% are question-based searches - They answer questions in short summaries. - AEO: Answer Engine Optimization - GEO: Generative Engine Optimization - AIOs: AI Overviews - AI search bots scrape content from everywhere. - Websites - Social Media - Machine Learning / Human Input So what happens when an LLM encounters a question it can’t answer with confidence, despite the massive amount of training data? That’s where RAG comes in. ### What is RAG? RAG stands for Retrieval-Augmented Generation. The AI search bots use real-time web search to keep responses fresh and accurate, bridging the limits of static training data. In other words, the LLM runs a web search, but it does it in seconds. You don’t even notice. ## Where do the AI Search Bots get their information? The AI search bots scrape EVERYTHING from EVERYWHERE for information. This data changes constantly, so this is just to give you an idea of where the AI bots go to find information. This chart is from a webinar presented by [Search Engine Journal ](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/)and Sam Garg, Founder and CEO of [Writesonic](https://writesonic.com/), on April 23, 2026. Which sources are cited most by ChatGPT Perplexity and Google AI Overviews## The AI Evolution These stats are constantly changing, but this gives you an idea of where you need to be to get found. The top ones will change positions, but they still remain on top. If you’ve been doing [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/seo/ "seo") [content marketing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/content-marketing/ "Content Marketing") correctly, then adapting to [AEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH") is easy; it’s basically long-form SEO. In other words, people are asking questions. You need to provide the answers. - [Reddit](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/ "SOCIAL MEDIA: Where You Need To Be For AI EXPOSURE") lands in the top 3 most of the time. - [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/ "LinkedIn") will swap places with the top 3. - [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/video-marketing/youtube/ "YouTube") usually lands in the top 3. ## What does it take to be cited in the AI Answer Engines? You still need to be a content magnet, but for the AI-bots. Before, I used to tell people to write for the human reader with the search engine in mind, but now it’s: write for the human reader with the AI-Search Bot in mind. - Gain Brand Mentions - Share fresh content everywhere - Be consistent – duplicate content OK - Join forums, podcasters, expert roundups, etc. - Share recent stats and examples. - First-person insights & original research. - Structure for AI-Bots - What questions is your target asking? - Put the question in a subheading (H2 or H3) - Give a direct answer first, then details and lists. - Show “last updated,” & add date - Have clear author bios and authoritative citations. Now more than ever, EEAT is crucial. ### What is E-E-A-T? - **Experience** — This is something AI can’t provide — YOUR personal experience on a subject. Demonstrate first-hand knowledge and practical involvement with a topic. - **Expertise** — Possessing a high level of knowledge or skill in a particular field or industry. - **Authority** — Are you the go-to person on this subject? Are you a recognized, widely cited source of information in a field or industry? - **Trustworthiness** — The reliability, accuracy, and safety of the content, site, and author. Can you be trusted? Can this information be trusted? Are you a trusted source? Are you legit? Remember this! It’s important! This is what both Google and the AI-bots look for, as well as potential customers. In fact, this is a huge issue right now. The searcher doesn’t know who to trust. ### How Do You Build Trust? Though you’re trying to attract the AI bot, you’re still writing for the human who’s doing the searching. Write for your human target market, speak their language. You’re the expert. They are not. - Write for your human target market, speak their language. You’re the expert. They are not. - Focus on the real buyer’s challenges. Put yourself in their shoes. What are they going to ask next? - Tell connected stories: testimonials, examples, etc. Educate, clarify, reinforce confidence. - Create value. Communicate to help, not to promote. Messages should come across as human and relevant. - Guide buyers through your buying process. Explain everything clearly. - Quality over quantity. Don’t forgo quality to get more content out. ## What’s the New Strategy for AI Search? - Semantic positioning - Brand memory recognition – topical authority: the more your content comes up in relation to both your business and personal brands, the more searchers will recognize it. - Take an empathetic position: uncover real customer questions. I always say, put yourself in your target’s shoes. Uncover real customer questions. Now, more than ever, you need to not just THINK LIKE THEM, but FEEL WHAT THEY FEEL. In other words, get into your target market’s head and understand their needs. That’s marketing basics. - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) with Schema Markup: Yep! All those FAQs on your website are great, but they have to be formatted correctly with Schema Markup. What’s that? It’s simple backend code that makes your content easier for the AI-bots to understand. If you have a WordPress website, there are free plugins that help with this. If you’re on another platform, check to see if they have Schema Markup available. This is crucial for local brick-and-mortar businesses and ecommerce sites. - Including citations, quotes, and stats in your content can boost visibility by 40%. ([Semrush](https://www.semrush.com/)) - 95% of ChatGPT citations are from content updated in the last 10 months. ([Semrush](https://www.semrush.com/)) - 44.2% of citations in ChatGPT come from the first 30% of content ([Search Engine Land](https://searchengineland.com)) - Have a complete and updated [Google Business Profile (GBP)](https://business.google.com) ### What is semantics? Semantics is the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning. Basically, does the content make sense? Does it answer the question? This applies to your website and social media posts. ## Why is Having a Website So Important? I was once asked, “Could my [Facebook business page ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/can-your-facebook-page-initially-serve-as-your-website/ "Can your Facebook Page Initially Serve as your Website?")serve as my [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/websites/website-design/ "Website Design")?” No. You don’t own it. Facebook could take it down, and you’ve got nothing. You have zero control over what happens on Facebook, and they change the rules constantly. Your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/websites/website-functionality/ "Website Functionality") is yours. Social media profiles should be your backup in case your website goes down. Website basics haven’t changed. Here are 5 things you need to think about… 1. You own it, you control it – On the social media platforms, you are “renting” or borrowing a space. They own it, they change the rules, they can shut you down. 2. Credibility & Trustworthiness — you’re not some fly-by-night entity. Before someone makes contact with a human, they will check out your website. 3. 1st impression – you’ve only got a few seconds to make a great first impression – it’s part of your branding. Having a low-quality website is like having a sloppy lobby. 4. It’s your online, 24/7 salesperson, converting visitors into leads as you sleep. 5. Social Proof – adding testimonials, [reviews](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/googles-ai-search-how-reviews-factor-in/ "GOOGLE and AI SEARCH: How REVIEWS Factor In"), and links to your [social networks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/managing-social-media/ "Managing Social Media") that actually work. 6. Transparency — your about page — who’s behind the business — goes back to credibility. People buy from those they know and trust. 7. Publish clear FAQs, definitions, and product information, since well-structured information is easy for AI to reference and insert directly into search results. 8. Become known as an expert and authority in your field or industry 9. Websites are evolving from destinations to infrastructure. They need to be optimized so Google — and the AI bots can find you. There are AI tools that can help you with this. I can help you determine which ones will work best for you and teach you how to use them! [Book a FREE Zoom Call Today!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## The User Experience Matters! --- ## Other Things to Consider… - Your Google Business Profile – very important for [Local SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-tips-for-a-profitable-and-prosperous-2025/ "Local SEO Tips to BE SEEN and GET FOUND")! - [YouTube](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/local-seo-sharpen-your-youtube-strategy-to-rank-on-google/ "Local SEO! Sharpen Your YouTube STRATEGY to RANK on Google") – sharpen your channel for better reach! - Local SEO… - On-page content. - Internal linking and site structure. - Google Business Profiles. - Citations and directories. - Reviews and reputation signals. - Schema markup. ## Are you overwhelmed by the AI Evolution? I’m here to help! Don’t waste time! Book a [FREE Zoom session NOW!](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** AI Search, SEO, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** AEO, ai evolution, AI search, ai search bots, content marketing, GEO, online marketing, seo, social media marketing --- ### [A Successful Company has a Website that is Useful](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/successful-company-website-useful/) **Published:** April 20, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Everything revolves around your **website**—especially now, in the age of AI-Search. Is your website working for you 24/7? You can be emailing and posting on social media, but if your website isn’t set up right, if you’re NOT capturing leads, getting [conversions](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/ "How Is Your Conversion Rate? Here Is Important Advice On How To Improve It"), or sales, somehow, all your efforts are for naught. You’re wasting your time. Worse yet, ***a bad, ugly, or non-functioning website is hurting your business!*** ## ***Your website needs to be more than an online brochure!*** It should be a living, breathing member of your team working to promote your business when you’re not. I recommend a [WordPress](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-i-prefer-wordpress/ "Why I Prefer WordPress for Websites") website. It houses your business’s information in static web pages and also holds your blog. Your [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/ "Learn How to Effectively Blog on WordPress!") is where you’re going to offer free advice, useful information, tips, and something that your target market would be interested in, whether solving a pain point or entertaining them. Additionally, ***you are showcasing your [E-E-A-T](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-the-new-e-in-googles-e-e-a-t-that-will-help-you-rank/)!*** Besides that, your blog content is what the evolving [AI-Search Tools](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/) cite when someone is asking questions about what you have to offer. #### Is your website optimized for the AI search bots? [When shared on social media, the blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/magic-formula-online-marketing-success/) will drive visitors to your site. Moreover, the AI-Search bots will cite your content as it’s picked up in the [social networks](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/). Therefore, it’s up to your site to turn that visitor into a lead or sale with a good [call-to-action (CTA)](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/capturing-leads-covert-right-calls-to-action/ "Capturing Leads that will Convert with the Right Calls to Action") to capture the [lead](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/lead-generation-website/ "From Lead Generation to Lead Capturing – the Role of the Website"). It’s where people give you their email addresses in return for joining your [newsletter](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/need-know-marketing-automation/ "Save Time and Help Your Business Grow with Email Marketing Automation") list and getting great tips once a month. Or, you give them a free ebook, guide, or whitepaper. ***Make it easy for them to do what you want them to do!*** > ***Give them something so they’ll give you their email address.*** Once they do, you can market to them with blog posts, [videos](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/youtube-video-marketing/ "How to Get Results & Reap the Benefits of YouTube Video Marketing"), and personalized content to [convert](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-is-your-conversion-rate-here-is-important-advice-on-how-to-improve-it/) them into a sale. You can track what’s working and not working by your conversion rates and click-through rates. [Your site statistics and analytics tell you that.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/why-you-should-care-about-analytics-and-insights/) ## Your Website Matters to Google! Next to your website, your [Google Business Profile (GBP)](https://business.google.com) is the second most important element of your business’s digital marketing. Furthermore, ***they work together!*** Think of your website as an extension of your GBP and your GBP as an extension of your website. Your GBP is how Google verifies that you’re a legit business — whether a local brick-and-mortar, ecommerce, service-area, or consultant. A poorly set-up website hurts your [SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/ "What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?") and now your Answer Engine Optimization ([AEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/ "What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH")). The same goes for an incomplete GBP. I can help you get these vital elements of your digital marketing set up! [**Click here to book a FREE Zoom consult.**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) ## *Talk to your Target Market* ***[Strategic planning](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/get-most-from-social-media-marketing-detailed-strategic-plan/) is an important step in your marketing efforts*** Share your posts in groups and communities online. [LinkedIn](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/linkedin/) and [Facebook](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/social-networking/facebook/) have groups; [Reddit](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/tag/reddit/ "Reddit") has “subreddits,” which are special-interest communities. Read the group’s rules before joining and sharing. Respect them. > ***It’s about sharing not selling!*** In your newsletter, share an excerpt of the blog post with “click here to read more,” and that will get people back to your site. > ***The more time people spend on your site, the better the chances they’re going to do something!*** If [you’ve tried to create a website on your own](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-could-go-wrong-when-building-your-own-website/ "What Could Go Wrong When BUILDING YOUR OWN WEBSITE?") and weren’t very successful, we can help you get it right! [Book a FREE 15-minute Zoom call for a FREE analysis](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA)! [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) Even if you had someone create your WordPress site, you should learn[ how to update, manage, blog, and maintain it](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/). #### [Join Our Email List…](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/) [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/define-target-market-workbook/)[](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Save Save Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Website Functionality, Websites, WordPress **Tags:** AEO, AZ Social Media Wiz, blog, blogging, content marketing strategies, digital marketing, GBP, Google Business Profile, marketing, online marketing, search engine optimization, seo, social media, Target market, Website, WordPress --- ### [How to Upgrade to a Professional Profile on Facebook for More Reach!](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/make-multiple-personal-professional-profiles-on-facebook/) **Published:** April 17, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Are you a professional or wanna-be influencer? Did you know that you can have a professional profile on Facebook? Furthermore, you can upgrade to the “Professional” version, which adds the ability to place ads, get insights, and monetize your content! Yes, you can make money on Facebook! ## Here’s How the Professional Profile Works… The “[Professional Mode](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2680340558863560?helpref=faq_content)” is a great option for personal coaches, Realtors, doctors, politicians, artists, writers, content creators, and influencers who want to keep a separate personal profile to share day-to-day posts about family, hobbies, events, etc. Whereas in the Pro Mode, you can connect with professionals, referral sources, potential clients, and the like. Additionally, as a Pro, you can earn money! Here’s how it works. Go to your profile and click on the blue “Dashboard Button.” It will take you to your Professional Profile. On the right, you’ll see your profile tools [](https://www.facebook.com/professional_dashboard/help_guidance/professional_mode_guide/)### What can you do with a Professional Profile? If you just want a Business Page with your company logo, select “Public Page”. All in all, I think these are great options to enhance your [online image](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-does-your-online-image-say-about-you/). If you’re not sure which profile is right for you, [click here to schedule a free 15-minute Zoom consult, and I can help you decide…](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Facebook, Social Media Marketing **Tags:** become an influencer, Facebook, Facebook Profile Pro Mode, get paid for content on Facebook, make money on Facebook, more than one Facebook profile, multiple Facebook profiles, online image, professional branding, social media marketing --- ### [How to Write Awesome, Powerful Headlines for Your Blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/write-awesome-powerful-headlines-blog/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Content:** Remember back in the day when you walked by a newsstand and were stopped by a headline on the front page? More than likely, you bought the paper to read the article. That’s how newspapers depended on sales – **the sensationalism of their headlines.** That still holds true today. However, now more than ever, this applies to your blog. There is content overload everywhere. You’re not just [competing](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/beat-competition/ "What You Need to Know to Beat the COMPETITION Online") with your industry competitors for a social media user’s attention. You’re competing with the kids, grandkids, friends, family, other pages, and people they’ve liked, politics, breaking news, causes, etc., etc., etc. Moreover, you want your enticing heading to stand out in the search engine results page ([SERP](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/ "How to Measure Your Social Media Marketing SUCCESS ROI or KPI?")) — you want to get that [click-through](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/measure-marketing-success/ "How to Measure Your Social Media Marketing SUCCESS ROI or KPI?"), which will lead to a [conversion](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/how-to-improve-the-user-experience-on-your-website-to-increase-conversions/). Add to that the [AI search](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/category/ai-search/ "AI Search") bots, but they look for something different. They’re looking for CONTEXT. In other words, articles with substance. ## What are the Elements of Good Headlines? 1. **Good headlines are written for the human reader, but with the AI search engine in mind.** It has to have the focus keyword — the topic — of the article in it, yet its main purpose is to ***entice the reader.*** 2. Have the keywords or topic phrase at the start of the headline, so if it’s a bit long, the SERP will trim it and add the ellipses (…). Both the AI bot and Google will catch what’s after the ellipses. Don’t fight with the tool if it tells you the title is too long. Better a good, long title that explains the topic than a short one that doesn’t. 3. **Have the 4 types of words**: Power, Emotional, Common, and Uncommon. What?! OK, here’s a cool tool that will help you write awesome, powerful, enticing headlines. For free, you get 10 credits a month. ### [Co-Schedule Headline Analyzer](http://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer) Consequently, it will give you a score for your headline. Ideally, you want to get over 70. What’s more, it’s free, and you can try rewording your headline until you get a high score. Sometimes inserting or removing a word or two will make the difference. However, don’t break your brain trying to get a 90 each time. Sometimes, just because of grammar, you’ll be in the 70s. As long as it makes sense to the human reader and it’s the topic of your article, go with it. Additionally, be wary of not sounding like clickbait. Too much sensationalism without the delivery in the article will hurt you in the long run. ## What do the AI Search Bots look for? The AI Search Bots are looking for **context**. They are answering questions. Thus, they look for what’s known as the “entity” or ***topic***. For example, the title of this article has both “headlines” and “blog”. Basically, the AI bot wants to know what this is about. Check out my articles on AI Search: - [AI Search for 2026: What to Expect and What to Do Now](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/ai-search-for-2026-what-to-expect-and-what-to-do-now/) - [What do the New SEO ACRONYMS Mean? Decoding the Abbreviations of AI SEARCH](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/new-seo-acronyms/) - [How to get AI-SEO for a new WEBSITE or a Neglected One?](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-new-website/) - [SOCIAL MEDIA: Where You Need To Be For AI EXPOSURE](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-where-you-need-to-be-for-ai-exposure/) - [What You Need to Know About LINKEDIN and AI SEARCH BOTS](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-and-ai-search-bots/) ### [](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/headline-word-count.png)[How can Blogging 2-3 times a week ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/blogging-3x-a-week-increases-website-traffic-heres-proof/)with Powerful Headlines help? If you blog regularly, at least 2-3 times a week to start, then at least once a week — consistently you will… - Drive traffic to your [website](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/5-tips-for-getting-traffic-to-your-website/) - Boost your search engine optimization ([SEO](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/what-is-seo/)) in traditional search, as well as get you cited in the AI Answer Engines. - Increase your [blog](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/learn-blogging-wordpress/ "Learn How to Effectively Blog on WordPress!") subscribers and/or social media [following](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/grow-true-social-media-following-will-help-business/) when you share your blog articles on your [social media channels.](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/social-media-marketing-business-success/) ### [Click here to schedule a free review of your website and blogging efforts. ](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [**Schedule a Free Discovery Session**](https://calendar.app.google/Uawd3vcCAutL8HyZA) [](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)The Blueprint Strategies for Effective Social Media Digital Marketing Your Total Digital Marketing Strategy Solution [Get it on Amazon Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Strategies-Effective-Marketing-marketing-ebook/dp/B089NBXX17/)[**Buy Now!**](http://bit.ly/471X6SK) Save Share this... - [ Linkedin]() - [ Twitter]() - [ Facebook]() - [ Pinterest]() - [ Reddit]()  Giselle Aguiar Digital Marketing Strategist, Giselle Aguiar is a social media, inbound and content marketing strategist and trainer helping business owners learn how to leverage the power of social media marketing, increase traffic to their websites, generate leads, increase brand awareness and establish themselves as experts in their fields. [See Full Bio](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) [ ](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/about-giselle-aguiar/) Search Engine Optimization SEO Copywriting Content Marketing AISEO, AEO, GEO, AIOs WordPress Websites Google Analytics Certified [  ](https://www.facebook.com/AZSocialMediaWiz) [  ](https://x.com/AZSocialNetWiz) [  ](https://www.instagram.com/icreatephx/) [  ](https://pinterest.com/azsocialmedia/) [  ](https://www.youtube.com/@Azsocialmediawiz/) [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleaguiar/) **Categories:** Blogging **Tags:** AZ Social Media Wiz, blogging, Competition, content marketing, Giselle Aguiar, headlines, How to Write Awesome Powerful Headlines for Your Blog, online marketing, Powerful Headlines for Your Blog, search engine optimization, seo, Twitter, writing --- ### [AISEO Title Tip: "Home" is not Your Company Name](https://azsocialmediawiz.com/seo-tip-home-is-not-your-company-name/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** Giselle Aguiar **Excerpt:** "Home Page", "About Us", "Contact US" - these are SEO opportunities wasted. **Content:** The Title of your homepage should have your company’s name (or your name if it’s a personal site), not “Home”. And it should also say what you do and your location (if applicable). For instance,