Brian Meert's Blog, page 68

TikTok Ads Manager Now Available to All U.S. Advertisers

JUL. 8, 2020

Kon Karampelas / Unsplash

TikTok’s self-serve ad platform is now available to all U.S. advertisers, says the social media company in an email to AdvertiseMint. 

Previously, only select U.S. advertisers could gain access, including AdvertiseMint, which recently became a TikTok Partner Agency. Now agencies of all sizes and budgets can use the platform to reach their target audience. 

What Does TikTok Offer?

Because TikTok’s platform is still in the early stages, its offerings are not as expansive as competitors such as Facebook or Pinterest. However, the platform’s popularity and user growth gives brands access to a wide audience.

TikTok’s self-serve ad platform mimics Facebook’s, although it doesn’t contain nearly as many tools and features. Still, it does have the basics one needs to run and manage campaigns, including an Ads Manager-type area for ad creation, a Library tab that stores creatives and audience lists, and a Reporting section containing performance metrics.

Currently, TikTok only offers three ad objectives: conversions, traffic, and app installs. Again, TikTok is new to advertising, and it will likely add more objectives as the platform develops. 

As for ad formats, TikTok offers three. Native ads appear between videos and after opening the app. Banner ads appear on top of the app from the Discover feed. Hashtag Challenges appear underneath banner ads, above trending hashtags. 

TikTok may be new, but advertisers can certainly turn that into an advantage. Right now, the platform is not overpopulated with ads, unlike the feeds of Instagram and Facebook. Meaning, there isn’t fierce competition…yet. 

As the video-producing app innovates, more features and tools will be added, improving the advertising experience. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post TikTok Ads Manager Now Available to All U.S. Advertisers appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

100 Resources for Facebook Advertising Beginners

JUL. 8, 2020

Wes Hicks / Unsplash

When it comes to Facebook advertising, you don’t want to impulsively dive in and learn as you go. Although there is always something new to learn, it’s important to educate yourself to craft a strategy that doesn’t spend any unnecessary dollars. To help you get started, here’s a list of 100 useful resources for beginners.

Blogs Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Follow



Influencer Marketing Hub : This website contains resources for influencers, including case studies, tools, and platform reviews. It also has a section with articles that focus on social media. Here you can find tips on digital marketing, from SEO to brand building, funnels, to, yes, Facebook ads.  Social Media Examiner : This is an online resource for social media marketers. In addition to podcasts and video tutorials, the site provides a blog rich with how-tos and advice on Facebook advertising. In fact, the site has a section solely dedicated to Facebook ads.  Jon Loomer : Unlike the aforementioned resources, Jon Loomer’s blog is dedicated only to Facebook. If you need help with the technical side of Facebook ads — setting up the pixel, understanding the Learning Phase, creating Dynamic Ads — Loomer’s blog is the best place to visit.  Entrepreneur : Granted, this online publication focuses on general business topics, from learning to work remotely to taking business risks, highlighting emerging CEOs to creating a startup. However, Entrepreneur also covers topics related to Facebook, on both the paid and organic side. Mari Smith : Although Mari Smith’s blog covers general digital marketing topics, it also contains helpful resources related to Facebook marketing. A few of her Facebook-related articles include tips on how to increase reviews, updates on emerging features, and insights into the algorithm.  Search Engine Land : As the name suggests, this website focuses on SEO and any other search-related topics. However, it does have a section dedicated to Facebook news, updates, and marketing tips. Facebook for Business : Owned by Facebook for Facebook advertisers, this website contains resources on how to grow your business using Facebook ads. Here, you have access to insights, which contain informative studies that inform your marketing strategy.  Ad Espresso : The Ad Espresso blog contains guides that will help you understand Facebook ads. In fact, it has an intensive guide for Facebook advertising beginners.   Business 2 Community : This website contains general topics related to business, including technology, life and entertainment, marketing, and world news. For Facebook advertisers, visit the sections “digital and social” or “sales and marketing.”  Niel Patel : Niel Patel’s blog also covers a broad range of topics related to digital marketing. The most relevant to Facebook advertisers are the social media, paid ads, and online marketing sections.  



News Sites Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Bookmark



TechCrunch : This publication covers technology-related topics, including social media. Here, you will find news related to Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, and company activities.   Facebook Newsroom : If you wonder where the top media companies get their source for Facebook updates, here’s your answer: Facebook Newsroom. Here, you will find announcements on Facebook’s latest products, features, and policy updates.  The Verge : This publication focuses on feature stories that explore how technology affects society and culture. If you’re interested in reading think pieces about Facebook, this is your source.  Business Insider : If you’re interested in keeping track of current events as it relates to the business industry, then this is the publication to follow. Here, you’ll find topics related to finance, tech, strategy, and retail. Mashable : This website focuses on social media. You’ll find stories related to today’s most popular social networking companies, including Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. If you want to stay on top of updates to Facebook’s app and desktop devices, go here.  Ad Age : This publication covers marketing and advertising, in particular, brands and agencies. The feature stories covered here are mostly opinion and think pieces.   Social Media Today : Another website that covers today’s most popular social networking companies, Social Media Today offers a selection of news and advice-type articles.   Digiday : Covering a wide range of topics related to the digital world, Digiday provides articles about marketing, television, and media. Forbes : You will find anything business related here. From crypto to sports, breaking news to billionaires. There is also coverage on Facebook. Wired : This online publication covers technology, science, business, gear, and culture. However, you will also find coverage on Facebook, particularly on CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the moves the company is making.   



Groups Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Join



Facebook Advertising Discussion Group : Owned and operated by AdvertiseMint, this group is best for Facebook marketers searching for help or resources. Simply post a question and group members will be there to give you advice.  Mod Agency Insider : This is definitely not a spam group — you won’t find promotional posts here. However, the group moderator, Mandy McEwen, does post Tuesday promo threads, in which members can promote their latest blog post, resource, etc. There are also hiring and feedback threads.  Facebook Ads Mastermind Group : There are no threads here, but members are welcome to post their questions about Facebook ads. Members are active, so your questions are likely to get a response.  Facebook for Government, Politics, & Advocacy : If you want to learn more about running political ads on Facebook, this is your group. Run and operated by Facebook, this hub posts updates, live discussions with experts, and training resources. Members are not allowed to post to this group.   Facebook Ads Made Easy : Comprising seasoned professionals, students, and business owners, this group aims to make advertising simple and easy through conversation. Members are encouraged to post their questions. 7-Figure Ecommerce Secrets : This group focuses on ecommerce, as it relates to Facebook advertising. If you have questions about connecting your Shopify store to a Facebook ad or increasing ecommerce sales, this is the place to ask.  Facebook Ads for Beginners : This is also a place for Facebook advertising beginners to ask questions and request help from members. However, there are some light promotional posts found here, which indicates the moderator’s lax group policies.  Click Funnels and Facebook Ad MasterMind : Here, you can ask questions related to click funnels and Facebook ads. You can also use this group as a board for services; for example, if you’re looking for an ad expert to help run your ads.  Social Media Masterminds Group : This is a great place to share news related to the industry, do some light promotions, and ask questions. If you do decide to share a promotional post (for example, a link to your blog), do so sparingly — members will call you out. 



Books Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Read



The Complete Guide to Facebook Advertising : A Facebook ads manual authored by AdvertiseMint CEO, Brain Meert, this book contains step-by-step guides on how to create Facebook ads from the ground up and tips on how to run campaigns successfully. Ultimate Guide to Facebook Marketing : Good for both beginners and intermediate advertisers, this book guides you through launching your first Facebook ad campaign to maintaining momentum.  Ogilvy on Advertising : This book helps readers become advertisers. Here, Ogilvy provides tips on how to get into the advertising industry, how to write successful copy, and how to succeed as a marketer. Give: The Ultimate Guide to Using Facebook Advertising to Generate More Leads, More Clients, and Massive ROI : Here, author Nicholas Kusmich emphasizes one important point: Advertising isn’t the same. Old methods no longer work, so it’s time to create a new one. In this book, he focuses on Facebook marketing.  Social Media Marketing Workbook : Best for social media marketers and small business owners, this book guides readers through content marketing on today’s most popular social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd : Author Allan Dib provides guidance on how to create a successful marketing plan that helps you grow your business. His tips include finding new customers, closing sales, and beating competitors.  Seven Figure Social Selling : This 400-paged book by Brandon Bornancin contains tips on getting more leads, appointments, and sales. It also provides actionable advice related to social selling and attracting ideal customers.  Facebook Advertising: Crack the Facebook Ad Code : This book promises to help you reach at least 43 percent of your potential clients, offering insights into reducing campaign costs, increasing conversions, and resolving account issues.  Marketing 4.0: Moving from Traditional to Digital : Written by several experts, this book teaches you how to grab the attention of your target audience and deliver your marketing messages. It also discusses changes to the industry brought by technological advancements.  Digital Marketing for Dummies : This guide shows you how to use proven digital marketing strategies to reach your audience, gain exposure for your brand, and generate revenue. It also touches on SEO and SEM best practices.  



Courses Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Take



Facebook Blueprint : Created by Facebook, this free course helps you understand the social media platform, from both the organic and paid side. You will learn the basics, from objectives to ad formats to ad creation to marketing strategies. : LinkedIn’s course provides online video tutorials led by seasoned marketers. You can choose from a selection of lessons from the program’s extensive library, including social media marketing, content marketing, and marketing tools. A monthly subscription is required to access materials.  General Assembly : General Assembly provides a selection of live classes, from Photoshop to coding to Facebook advertising. AdvertiseMint’s very own CEO, Brain Meert, has taught at General Assembly.  2020 Facebook/Instagram Advertising Course : This course teaches you how to launch ad campaigns, use advanced features, create Custom and Lookalike Audiences, and target specific users.  HubSpot’s Facebook Ads Training : This free course, which lasts for 1 hour and 24 minutes, contains 4 lessons, 15 videos, and 2 quizzes. You will learn how to generate leads, design successful campaigns, and run ads with a daily budget of $1.  Brain Station’s Social Media Marketing Course : A course that can be taken in person or online, it offers guidance on building a social media campaign, creating engaging posts, and evaluating campaign performance.  The Complete Facebook Ads Course – Beginning to Advanced : Spanning almost six hours, this course provides 47 lessons, including the basics of creating Facebook ads, creating and segmenting audiences, and split testing.  Facebook Ads and Facebook Marketing Mastery 2020 : This 13-hour course contains 104 lectures on topics that include the basics of Facebook ads, pages, and pixels. It also offers guidance on reporting, insights, and optimization.  The Complete Facebook Marketing Masterclass : This masterclass focuses on helping you reach new customers, optimizing ads and pages, and developing good marketing strategies.   Creating Effective Paid Ads on Facebook : For 18 lessons spanning 3 hours in total, you will learn how to use Facebook’s advanced targeting tools to reach customers, generate brand awareness, and capture leads.



Video Guides Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Watch



Facebook Ads for Beginners 2020 : This hour-long video walks you through building your first Facebook ad campaign. The live tutorial allows you to follow along as you create your own campaign. Facebook Ads Tutorial 2020 : This video not only shows you how to create Facebook ads, but it also breaks down the different levels of Ads Manager.  How to Write Facebook Ads That Convert Like Crazy : Although not a tutorial like the first two, this 15-minute video gives you tips on how to create ads that convert and insights into the three Facebook ads that perform well on the platform.  Facebook Ads in 2020 : This video is also not a tutorial. Rather, it explains the different levels of Ads Manager, Custom Audiences, Lookalike Audiences, and the Facebook Pixel.  From $0 to $10,000/Month with Facebook Ads in 30 Days : This video shows you the five ways to scale Facebook ads and generate sales, as told by someone who made $0 to $10,000 per month.  Facebook Ads for Dropshipping 2020 : Here, you’ll learn how to run Facebook ads as they relate to dropshipping. You will also learn how to split test and scale your campaigns.  The 7 Types of Facebook Ads and How to Use Them : This video walks you through Facebook’s collection of ad objectives and the best ways to use them. The video also includes footage of Ads Manager, where the objectives are located.  The Best Campaign Objectives You Should Be Using in 2020 : Here, you’ll learn how to choose the right objective so you can lower your ad costs and increase sales.  How to Target Buyers with Facebook Ads : This video is best for beginners who are not yet skilled in ad targeting. It shows you Facebook’s targeting tools and how to create the right criteria to target people most likely to buy.  How to Get 11x Engagement on Your Facebook Ad : This short 8-minute video shares advice on how to increase the engagement on your Facebook ad. 



Thought Leaders Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Follow



Brian Meert is the Founder and CEO of AdvertiseMint. With more than 15 years of experience in marketing, Meert helps clients generate revenue through social media. He is also the author of The Complete Guide to Facebook Advertising. Mari Smith is a Facebook marketing expert who offers mentorship through online training and events. She is the author of The New Relationship Marketing and co-author of Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day. Jon Loomer is a Facebook marketing strategist who helps business owners maximize the benefits of Facebook’s platform. His website, JonLoomer.com, was listed in Social Media Examiner’s Top 10 Social Media Blogs of 2013.   Neil Patel is a public speaker and entrepreneur whose work has been recognized by Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, and Forbes. He is the co-author of Hustle.  Amy Porterfield is the CEO and podcast host of Online Marketing Made Easy. Through masterclasses and guides, Porterfield helps people scale their business online.  Mark Zuckerberg is the CEO of Facebook. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Zuckerberg is best to follow for updates to the company and the social network’s platform.  Gary Vaynerchuck is the CEO of VaynerMedia. Also a public speaker and a best-selling author, Vaynerchuck has expanded his agency to multiple locations, including London and New York.  Nicholas Kusmich is a Facebook marketer who helps business owners increase revenue through Facebook. His clientele includes thought leaders and NYT best-selling authors. Heidi Cohen is the chief content officer of Actionable Marketing Guide. She provides insights on topics including social media, content marketing, and mobile.  Kim Garst is a speaker, thought leader, and co-founder of Boom! Social. An online business owner for more than 28 years, Garst is the author of Will the Real You Please Stand Up: Show Up, Be Authentic, and Prosper in Social Media.



Podcasts Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Listen to



The Duke of Digital Podcast is hosted by AdvertiseMint CEO Brian Meert. Bringing in industry experts and public figures, including Wave Car COO Zoli Honig, Meert discusses topics related to digital advertising, online businesses, and marketing.  Modern Marketing Engine is hosted by CMO of Vengreso Bernie Borges. With guests who are experts in the industry, Borges discusses audience targeting, results-driven strategies, and more.   The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast , hosted by John Jantsch, discusses topics such as entrepreneurship, business, and branding.  Marketing Made Easy is hosted by Amy Poerterfield, who talks about online marketing topics with industry experts.  This Old  Marketing pays tribute to the old tactics — telling stories, retaining customers — that are now used in online marketing. This show is hosted by Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose.  Smart Passive Income features some of the most popular marketers in the industry, including Gary Vaynerchuck, Amy Porterfield, and Tim Ferriss.  Marketing School is a podcast hosted by duo Neil Patel and Eric Siu. They talk about all things digital, including Google, SEO, email marketing, and so much more.  Growth Marketing Toolbox explores the best in growth marketing tools and technology. Join Nicholas Scalice as he talks about social media, commerce, advertising, and more.  Modern Retail Podcast , produced by Digiday, features executives in the retail industry. Past guests include Burrow CEO Stephen Kuhl, Parachute founder Ariel Kaye, and Recess CEO Benjamin Witte. Don’t Get Me Started is a podcast about advertising, hosted by Dan Blaser, head of the advertising department at The Creative Circus. Rather than focusing on the industry, however, Dan focuses on the people. 



Events Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Attend



Facebook F8 is an annual conference created for developers and entrepreneurs who use the platform to build products and services. This event includes updates to Facebook and its family of apps, Oculus, and other Facebook-owned products.  Social Media Strategies Summit is a two-day event made especially for social media marketers. The agenda includes conferences about social media, digital advertising, and marketing.  Strategic Marketing USA is a Reuters event that promises more than 25 sessions, 40 speakers, and networking opportunities. Speakers come from well-known brands such as Reddit, LinkedIn, and PBS.At DigiMarCon World , guests can hear from experts in the digital marketing industry, gain insights, discover effective strategies, and network with leaders.  Facebook for Business holds various virtual and in-person events for business owners and marketers advertising on the platform. Past events include lectures on maintaining a business during COVID-19, Blueprint training, and talks on strategies.   Social Media Marketing World is perfect for marketers, agency owners, and consultants. Past speakers included Mari Smith, Jon Loomer, and Jasmine Star. At Social Media Week , attendees gather to speak to industry leaders, network, and participate in fun activities. The event includes more than 300 speakers and 150 sessions.  Ad Exchanger Industry Preview focuses on the future of marketing technology: What to expect in the next 12 months. The event includes speakers, sessions, and networking opportunities.  SXSW features speakers ready to discuss advertising, marketing, and branding. Attendees have the chance to participate, learn, and network.   Digital Growth Unleashed focuses on attracting the right audience, understanding the customer journey, A/B testing, and more. 



Quizzes Facebook Advertising Beginners Should Take



Ad Espresso : This 24-question quiz will test your knowledge on Facebook’s policies, advertising tools and features, ad specs, campaigns, strategies, analysis, and optimization. The quiz takes 14 minutes to complete.  John Loomer : With 30 questions in total, this quiz will test your Facebook advertising knowledge. You’ll be asked to identify advertising tools, answer technical questions, and solve scenario-based problems. AdvertiseMint : Best for beginners, this 20-question quiz comes in two parts.  You’ll be tested on terminology, Facebook’s policies, advertising objectives, and more.  Facebook for Business : This quiz gauges your expertise and suggests Blueprint courses based on your results.  Social Bakers : In this quiz, you will answer questions related to ad objectives, targeting, placements, and more.  Kavod Digital : Here, you’ll be tested on your media buying skills. To succeed, you must know the best strategies to run and manage ads on Facebook.  SocialWize : With only 6 questions to answer, you can finish this quiz in five minutes. Questions err on the beginner’s side. 99 Signals : These 16 questions will test your Facebook marketing expertise. You will be asked about headlines, objectives, ad formats, and more. Facebook Blueprint Practice Test – Buying : This practice test will measure your media-buying knowledge and prepare you for the Blueprint exam to get your certification. This is highly recommended for people planning to get Facebook Blueprint Certified. Facebook Blueprint Practice Test – Planning : This 30-question practice test will measure your media-planning knowledge. It is highly recommended for marketers seeking to get the Blueprint Media Planning Professional certification.

By Anne Felicitas

The post 100 Resources for Facebook Advertising Beginners appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

5 Ways to Promote Your Cannabis Business on Social Media

JUL. 6, 2020

Enecta Cannabis Extracts / Unsplash

Cannabis is not only one of the most lucrative industries, but it’s also one of the fastest growing. According to recent statistics, the cannabis industry is expected to grow to a whopping $73.6 billion by 2027.

Therefore, if you’re considering investing in the highly lucrative cannabis industry, do not reconsider. In fact, thousands of entrepreneurs all over the world are already reaping hefty bonuses after setting up cannabis ventures. 

However, high demand doesn’t always equate to high profits. Instead of leaping into the industry headlong, you should put in place viable marketing strategies for your cannabis products. One of the most effective ways to market cannabis is through social media.

The Benefits of Social Media Marketing

A Wider Audience

According to Statista, the global population of social media users stood at 2.95 billion in 2019, with projections indicating the number could rise to 3.43 billion in 2023.  

Although not everyone on social media is an online shopper, you can make your brand known to billions of people all over the world. Plus, most social media platforms implement functions such as sharing and tagging to let your friends and followers share your page or products for even wider visibility. 

Interactive and Flexible 

Though you may already have a company website or blog, your clients and prospects are likely to react sooner to a post on your social media platforms. The availability of page management tools means you can manage all feedback in real time. That way, you can counter all negative reviews before they have a chance to ruin your company’s online reputation. 

In addition to interactivity, social media also comes with some flexibility. You can choose a target market for your marijuana business from any of the major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Snapchat. 

Cost-Effective

It’s free to create a profile in nearly all social media platforms. It’s also free to promote your products on social media organically, as long as you do not violate the company’s community standards. 

The best part: If you succeed in racking up a massive following on your social media accounts, major companies will pay you to endorse their products. If there are no conflicts of interest, you can sign these endorsement deals and use the revenue generated to grow your cannabis brand even further.

5 Ways to Promote Cannabis on Social Media

Target Medicinal Users

Choosing the right audience for your cannabis business is paramount. This will influence how you market your products. Cannabis consumers are classified into recreational users and medicinal users. 

For starters, you might consider targeting your products to medicinal users. That’s because there are fewer legal and logistical challenges involved in marketing medical marijuana as opposed to recreational marijuana. 

Remember, you want your audience to understand how they’ll benefit from cannabis, and you can only do that by focusing on the medicinal value of your products. As time goes by, you can consider incorporating recreational cannabis.

Choose the Appropriate Platform

As already mentioned, there are numerous social media platforms, and they each vary in the nature of their demographics. Facebook is the largest of them all, which makes it an excellent starting point. 

Create a Facebook page, which resembles your company’s homepage. On this page, you can post information about your cannabis business, including your location, contact information, and hours of operation.

The following are other major social media platforms, along with their defining features:

Twitter – Allows for real-time messaging of texts, links, as well as images and videos. However, the maximum character limit is 140.Instagram – An image-driven platform that boasts one of the highest percentages of active social media users. Its ability to allow businesses to share unique photos of their brands and products makes Instagram the go-to platform for cannabis ventures.YouTube – A video-driven platform that allows you to post interactive videos of your products.LinkedIn – LinkedIn is known as the professional’s social media platform. You can use the platform to land partnership deals with financiers such as venture capitalists or businesses within your niche.Pinterest – This platform is ideal if you’re targeting a project-minded, DIY audience.



Maintain a Professional Image 

Whether you’re dealing in medical or recreational cannabis, you must maintain a professional image to all of your followers. It’s okay to weave in some humor in your social media posts, but never be unprofessional. Remember, social media isn’t short of keyword warriors who are actively waiting to disagree with you on every post. Nonetheless, treat everyone as a potential client.

Partner with Other Brands

There are hundreds of companies already using social media to promote their brands. Don’t be afraid to seek out partnerships. As we already indicated earlier, you only need to ensure there are no conflicts of interest. 

For instance, it would be economically unsound to cross-promote another cannabis venture. Instead, you might consider promoting a beer brand and other products that are known to go hand in hand with cannabis. 

If possible, the contract should also include sharing social media marketing tips and tricks. Most important, ensure that any cross-promotion deal you enter is skewed in your favor.

Use Hashtags Effectively

Hashtags increase your posts’ searchability and reach. The convention is to choose a popular but not very widely used hashtag. Another best practice is to never use too many. Littering your posts and messages with hashtags is akin to keyword stuffing in content marketing. This means it will affect both the overall reaction to that post as well as your SEO rankings. 

As the cannabis industry grows, more companies will be taking to social media marketing. You’ll stay ahead of the pack if you implement out-of-the-box social media marketing tips, such as the ones highlighted here. 

Written by Liz Thomas

The post 5 Ways to Promote Your Cannabis Business on Social Media appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Avoid or Fix Google Penalties

JUN. 29, 2020

Stephen Phillips / Unsplash

Have you ever noticed a sudden dip in your website traffic for no immediately discernible reason? The dip in traffic might be accompanied by an email from Google, saying you received a penalty. This penalty can devastate your business, sending your organic traffic into free fall.

As the world’s biggest search engine, taking 94% of the market share as of 2019, Google is a monopoly. It is vital to the success of any business that relies on organic search traffic. A penalty, if not caught and fixed, can be devastating. 

Source: SparkToro



The Two Main Types of Google Penalties

There are two main types of penalties issued by Google: algorithmic and manual. 

Algorithmic penalties are applied automatically by Google algorithms, such as the Panda, Penguin, and other updates. These updates often result in a change in SERPs for certain sectors, as Google improves the experience for users, identifies sites that are of low quality or have a large number of poor-quality backlinks, and penalize them in search rankings.

Google employees impose manual penalties when websites are suspected of violating Google’s guidelines. Employees will review the website and impose a penalty if they find that the site owner broke the rules. You’ll often hear about a lot of manual penalties around the time of a big algorithm update, but they happen all year round.

What Happens if You Get a Google Penalty? 

There are different levels of penalties, and all of them affect your search rankings to a greater or lesser extent. The mildest punishment is a keyword-level penalty, which prevents or severely curtails your site from ranking for a specific keyword. Other keywords, and the site as a whole, remain unaffected. 

A URL-level penalty affects rankings for a particular URL or directory, while a sitewide-level penalty will affect the entire site. 

At the most disastrous end of the spectrum, Google can entirely delist your site from search results. If your site has been delisted, no results for it will show on Google, even if you search for the exact web address.

[image error] Source: Chodak

Given the ubiquity of Google, getting delisted can create real ongoing problems for your business. After all, if prospective customers can’t find you, you can’t sell to them! 

How to Avoid Penalties (5 Ways)

Fortunately, it’s relatively simple to avoid Google penalties. Most site owners who incur them do so because they have tried to cut corners, perhaps using black-hat SEO techniques to boost their rankings artificially. 

Here are the five ways to avoid Google penalties.

Monitor Your Backlinks and Disavow Low-Quality Links

All backlinks are not created equal — some can even harm your site. If low-quality websites, particularly spammy sites, link back to you, Google will be suspicious of your site. Too many poor-quality backlinks can be an indicator of poor SEO practices. Therefore, take the time to monitor your backlink profile using a tool like Monitor Backlinks.

Source: Monitor Backlinks 

Monitor Backlinks allows you to track the sites that have linked to you and shows you useful information, such as each site’s Trust Flow score and Domain Authority. 

If you spot a spam or low-quality backlink, you can disavow it using Google’s Disavow Links tool. This means Google won’t factor that site into your rankings when it crawls yours. 

Ensure Your Content Is Unique and High-Quality

Posting relevant and well-written content to your site helps build your authority among prospective customers. It also boosts your SERPs ranking. Poorly written, irrelevant, or shallow content shows Google that your site is of low quality.

It should go without saying that you should never copy content from another site and repost it. This is called copyright infringement —  better known as stealing — and Google does not condone it.  

There are ways you can copy content as long as it is attributed correctly. However, you should always publish unique content over attributed content because properly attributed content will not rank in SERPs for any relevant terms.

Keep Your Site Secure

Aside from the other numerous good reasons to keep your website secure, a hacked site can severely impact your Google rankings. Hackers can do significant damage by adding spam, malicious links, or other problematic content through your content management system. 

If Google detects that your site has been hacked, it will add a prominent warning in search results.

Source: Search Engine Land

This can have a significant and immediate impact on search rankings. It can also damage your brand reputation, long after the hack has been caught and the vulnerability patched. 

Keep your site secure by using strong passwords, changing them regularly, and using two-factor login authentication. You should also ensure your site has an SSL certificate, you’re using robust anti-malware software, and you’re keeping your website up to date. You can also use tools that stop brute-force hacking by limiting login attempts. Don’t forget to regularly back up your site, so you can get going again quickly if the worst happens.

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Keyword stuffing is exactly what it sounds like: artificially cramming as many keywords into a web page as you possibly can. Some experts consider it the ultimate no-no of SEO techniques. Google dislikes it because it sacrifices user experience and content quality in favor of beating the algorithm. 

Here’s an example:

Source: Digital SEO Land

Including your keywords in your content is vital for SEO, but you can have too much of a good thing. Experts recommend your keywords should form no more than 2% to 3% of the total text. Otherwise, Google’s increasingly intelligent algorithms will swiftly punish you for keyword stuffing. 

It’s also a counterproductive strategy because, even if it does bring more users to your site in the short term, they’re unlikely to stick around. 

Use Anchor Text Mindfully

Anchor text is the snippet of clickable text that appears when you insert a link into a piece of content. Using it well can significantly boost your SEO. Using it badly, or over-using it, is likely to land you with a Google penalty. 

Links should flow naturally with the rest of the content and should indicate where they lead. Your anchor text should also be varied: If you use the same phrase repeatedly, you risk Google thinking you’re trying to manipulate its algorithm. This is why it’s important to ensure that your text is optimized.

The safest forms of anchor text are branded URLs (e.g., AdvertiseMint) and long phrases (e.g., using social selling to grow your business).

How to Check if You’ve Incurred a Penalty

If you’ve noticed a sharp drop in traffic for no other apparent reason, a Google penalty may well be the culprit. Monitoring your traffic and analytics regularly will allow you to keep on top of your site’s stats and quickly fix any problems. You’ll need to do a bit more digging to precisely diagnose the problem so you can fix it. 

Diagnosing a Manual Penalty

If you’ve received a manual penalty, you’ll be notified via your Search Console account. Find “Security and Manual Actions” in the left-hand sidebar and click on “Manual Actions.” If you received a manual penalty, you’ll see a report here that explains the issue. Here’s an example: 

Source: Link Research Tools

If you have no manual penalties, you’ll see a green tick and the message “no issues detected.” 

Diagnosing an Algorithmic Penalty

Algorithmic penalties are a little more complicated to diagnose, but with patience, it can be done. 

Find “Acquisition” in the left-hand sidebar and, underneath that, click on “All Traffic” and select “Source/Medium” from the drop-down menu. Select “Google/Organic” and set your date range. This will give you a report of all the traffic you’ve received through organic Google searches. Note where the drop happened and compare the dates against this list of all known Google algorithm changes since 2000. 

If your drop in traffic coincides with an algorithm update, you’ve most likely identified the problem. Reading up on that specific algorithm update will give you insight into fixing the problem. 

You can also use a Google penalty checker tool. Fruition’s Google penalty checker offers both free and paid versions, allowing you to check whether any particular algorithm update has had a positive, negative, or no impact on your site.

How to Fix a Penalty 

First: Don’t panic. 

It’s easy to see that your site traffic has plummeted and immediately freak out. Keep calm —  there are things you can do to fix the problem.

Fixing a Manual Penalty

If you receive a manual penalty, Google will explain the reason for that penalty. This should make it relatively easy to fix. If the issue is caused by poor-quality backlinks, you can disavow those links. If your site has been hacked, you can clean up the mess and restore everything to normal.

When Google notifies you of a manual penalty, it also provides a link to helpful guidelines for what you need to do. There are also extensive guides available online, which will help you fix various manual penalty issues. Keep a record of everything you do in the course of fixing the problem. 

Once you’re sure you’ve corrected the problem, you can submit a reconsideration request via Search Console. Your reconsideration request can be detailed. Explain why you received the penalty and what you’ve done to correct it.

Remember that a real person will read your reconsideration request. Politeness and courtesy go a long way. If your request is denied, don’t despair. You might need to be more thorough in your clean-up efforts, rewrite and resubmit your request, or provide further documentation. 

Fixing an Algorithmic Penalty

You cannot appeal against algorithmic penalties. The only way to change them is to fix the problem and wait for your site to climb back up the rankings again. The good news is this can happen quickly. 

If you determine that the problem is connected to a specific algorithm change, you can use that information to search for instructions on how to fix it. Chances are if you’ve been affected, many other site owners have been as well.

If the penalty’s cause isn’t immediately apparent, start with a brutally honest assessment of your recent SEO activities. Have you cut any corners or engaged in any less-than-ideal practices? If so, you need to undo or amend those actions as soon as possible. 

If you’re not sure what caused the issue, return to the list of the most common causes of penalties above. Have you run afoul of any of them? Here are some questions you need to ask: 

Have you used keywords appropriately or are you guilty of keyword stuffing? Is your content original and of high quality?Have you used anchor text appropriately?Is your site secure? Have you been hacked?How is your backlink profile? Have you received links from less than reputable sources recently? 

In most cases, these steps will be enough to fix the problem. If your traffic still doesn’t recover, it might be time to call a professional to perform a full SEO audit.

It’s Better to Avoid Penalties Than Fix Them

Prevention, as they say, is always better than the cure. The best way to deal with Google penalties is to avoid getting them in the first place. Of course, this isn’t always possible. Google’s algorithm changes can be hard to predict, but you can still keep a close eye on your traffic and troubleshoot any sudden dips against recent updates.

Guard against manual penalties by only using above-board SEO techniques. You might be tempted by the quick traffic increase offered by less reputable methods, but your site will suffer for it in the long run. 

Always follow the rules. Adhering to Google’s guidelines, publishing high-quality content, and using only ethical methods to promote your site are the most surefire ways to avoid those nasty Google penalties.

By Matt Diggity

The post How to Avoid or Fix Google Penalties appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

It’s Official! We’re a TikTok Partner Agency

JUN. 26, 2020

We are proud to announce that AdvertiseMint is one of the few agencies to join the TikTok Partner Program.

What does this mean? This means we have full access and support to create TikTok ads! We can

Help you reach 54 million highly engaged users in the USCraft fun, creative videos to promote your businessGet you on a platform with massive growth potential 



What Is TikTok?

TikTok is the most downloaded social media app in the world, as of 2019. A hub for short video clips, TikTok is known for its viral dance videos and comedy skits.

Who Uses TikTok

Users are between the ages of 16 to 34 who love to share content and interact with a global community. TikTok is also a home for influencers, who have more followers than 16% of the world’s population. 

If you want to influence and market to a younger audience, you need to have a TikTok strategy. 

Ready to get started on TikTok? Let’s talk. 

The post It’s Official! We’re a TikTok Partner Agency appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Run Instagram Ads without a Facebook Business Manager Account

JUN. 23, 2020

Kate Torline / Unsplash

You can now run Instagram ads without a Facebook account or a Facebook Business Manager account. Previously, users could only run ads, manage campaigns, and track performance through Business Manager. Moving forward, users can do all that from Instagram. 

Users who already connected their accounts to Facebook or Business Manager cannot run Instagram ads independently. Those who have not yet connected can no longer connect their Instagram ads to Facebook.

How to Run Instagram Ads without a Facebook or Business Manager Account

To run Instagram ads without a Facebook or Business Manager account, follow these steps. 

Step 1: On the Instagram app, find the post you want to turn into an ad and click “Promote.”

The promote option is only available to users with a professional account. If you don’t see the “promote” button, switch from a personal to a business account.

Step 2: Choose your destination then click the arrow icon to proceed to the next step. 

The destination is the landing page where your ad will take users. You have three options:

Your Instagram profileYour website (you must provide the link)Your Direct Messages (on Instagram)







Step 3: Select a target audience. 

You can either target users who are similar to your followers or create your own audience, manually choosing the audience location, interests, and age. 

Step 4: Set a budget and duration. 

Your daily budget can be as low as $1 or $1,000 per day. Duration can be as short as 1 day or as long as 30 days.

Step 5: Enter your payment method then click “Promote.”

Choose your country (this will determine by which currency you will be charged) and payment method. For the latter, your options include credit, debit, or PayPal. 

How to Check if Your Instagram Account Is Connected to Facebook

If you’re unsure whether or not your Instagram account is connected to Facebook, you can check straight from the app. Follow these steps. 

Step 1: From your profile, tap the three-lined icon on the upper-right corner. 







Step 2: Click “Settings.”







Step 3: Click “Payments.”







Step 4: Click “Promotion Payments.”







Step 5: Look for “Your Account.”

Under “Your Account,” you will either see a long string of numbers or a business name. If you see numbers, then your account is not connected to Facebook. If you see a business name, then it is connected.

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Run Instagram Ads without a Facebook Business Manager Account appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Turn Off Political Ads on Facebook

JUN. 18, 2020

Austin Distel / Unsplash

For many, politics on Facebook is not a welcome sight. Those who want to keep their news feeds politics-free can finally rejoice. The social media company is currently rolling out a feature that allows US users to turn off political ads, which they will no longer see on their feeds. 

The change came after Facebook received feedback from users who wanted to see fewer political content on the social media site. With the new feature, all political ads will be turned off, including ads with the “paid for by” disclaimer. 

Although currently rolling out to US users for the weeks to come, the social media company plans to expand the rollout to other countries. 

To turn off political ads directly from an ad you find on News Feed, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click “Confirmed Organization.”

Step 2: Click “See fewer ads about this topic.”

Step 3: Click “See fewer ads about this topic” again.

To turn off political ads from Settings, follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Settings. 

Step 2: Scroll down to “Ad Preferences.”

Step 3: Click “Ad Topics.”

Step 4: Click “Social Issues, Elections, or Politics.”

Step 5: Click “See fewer ads about this topic.”

Here is a video tutorial courtesy of Facebook:

Because the feature is still rolling out, some users will already have access while others will not. 

What Else Is New with Facebook?

Shareable “Paid for by” Tags

In an effort to improve transparency, Facebook is also updating the “Paid for by” tags. Moving forward, when users share an ad with a political disclaimer, the tag will remain intact. Previously, disclaimer tags disappeared after sharing, creating confusion as to whether the post was an ad or an organic post. 

New Ad Library Features

Facebook is also making updates to the Ad Library.  Now, users can track the ad spend of US House and Senate races. Previously, users could only find the ad spend for presidential races. The updated Ad Library also contains a custom tracker that compares the ad spend of advertisers running political or issues ads. 

Voting Information Center

Facebook is rolling out the Voting Information Center, which contains resources about voting. According to Facebook’s announcement, the new feature aims to “register 4 million voters and help them get to the poles so they can hold our leaders accountable.” In 2016 and 2018, Facebook helped 2 million users register to vote. 

Photo courtesy of Facebook

In the Voting Information Center, users can find resources on registering to vote and requesting an absentee or mail-in ballot, as well as alerts from officials.

New Collections Test

Facebook is currently testing a feature that allows users to more broadly share Collections, organized folders containing posts bookmarked on the platform.

Photo courtesy of Tech Crunch

With the new test, users can choose to share Collections with the public, friends, or contributors. Users can also choose to make Collections private. Previously, users could only share Collections by manually selecting people from their friends list.

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Turn Off Political Ads on Facebook appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Creating an Effective PPC Landing Page: 10 Best Practices

JUN. 16, 2020

Le Buzz / Unsplash

Paid traffic rarely gets the credit it deserves.

In most cases, marketers applaud search engine optimization as the strategy that drives sustainable business growth. What’s unsaid is that SEO takes time to yield results. It can take up to a year for you to rank for keywords that matter.

But paid traffic delivers instant results and gives you full control of where you want to take the traffic. Most important, paid traffic converts at a significantly higher rate than organic traffic — 64.6% of people click on a Google adwhen they want to buy an item.  However, to get such superb results, your ad and landing page must work together perfectly.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essentials of high-converting PPC landing pages that boost your return on ad spend (ROAS). The best part? There’ll be plenty of examples along the way, so you see the real-life application of the concepts.

Let’s first cover the fundamentals.

PPC Landing Pages Commonly Asked Questions

What Is PPC?

PPC means pay-per-click, an online marketing strategy where advertisers only pay a fee when a user clicks on their ad.

What Is a PPC Landing Page?

A pay-per-click landing page is a standalone web page designed to convert traffic from a paid traffic source, such as a Google ad or a Facebook ad. It’s a special page where people who clicked your paid ad land, ready for the next step in the buyer journey.

What’s the Purpose of Having a Special Landing Page for a PPC Ad?

The sole purpose of a PPC landing page is to get the visitor to take a specific predetermined step, such as buying a product, taking up a free-trial offer, or downloading a free report.

How to Create a PPC Landing Page: 10 Proven Optimization Tips

So then, how do you optimize your landing pages for maximum conversions? Here are some proven tips to help you get started.

Tip 1: Take Traffic to the Right Place

People who click on an ad are serious about solving a specific problem. They want help here and now. The traffic is hot, and the shoppers are ready to take the next step. Taking such traffic to your home page is a massive mistake because it’s a busy page. Visitors have many options there. They can visit your blog, click on your social profiles, or read customer testimonials. The homepage distracts visitors from taking a specific action connected to the ad they followed.

That’s a waste.

Instead, send paid traffic to a focused, dedicated landing page. This increases the chances of getting conversions because the page is distraction-free. See the difference in design between the homepage and the landing page from this revealing visual from Kissmetrics.

Source: SlideShare

The home page has 57 CTAs that lead to distinct places. With only a single CTA, the landing page is more focused. Either the reader clicks on it or leaves. As a result, more people will convert.

Tip 2: Follow the Rule of One

Your ad addresses a specific problem, right? So it must lead to a specific landing page with a specific goal. The more aligned your ad is to your landing page, the higher the chances of converting the traffic. 

Have total focus — follow the rule of one religiously: One ad. One landing page. One goal. One offer. This means you must create multiple pages for multiple offers. You will see an uptick in conversions because you are not splitting your focus. Visitors will click on your offers since you address one problem at a time instead of overwhelming them with many solutions.

For instance, Airbnb has a laser-focused landing page.

Source: HubSpot

From the headline to the body, from the body to the CTA, from the CTA to the average earnings underneath, everything is about one thing — hosting.
This makes it super easy for readers to understand and take up the offer.

Tip 3: Keep the Ad “Scent”

It’s crucial for people who click on your ad to know they are in the right place as soon as they land on your landing page. If visitors sense a hint of incongruity between the ad and landing page, they’ll bounce off on arrival.

Give visitors a consistent experience. Your page has to “smell” like the page they came from — your traffic source, the ad. Here’s how you can achieve that:

Include the same keyword you used in your ad on your headline.Use a similar language to your ad’s language.Maintain the same page design and imagery.Stick to the same color scheme and font throughout.Let your offer answer the problem your ad promised to solve.

An excellent example of this tactic in action is Tidio, a Livechat Software brand. A quick search for “best chatbot software” shows this ad on the top of SERPs.

Click on the ad, and you’ll see this landing page.

Notice how it uses the exact keyword “best chatbot platforms” on both the ad and landing page headlines? This ensures a smooth landing for visitors. Users continue to read on with confidence because they know they are in the right place.

Tip 4: Lead with a Strong Headline

The first thing visitors see when they arrive on your page is the headline. It must convince them to stay on the page, otherwise they’ll leave immediately. Here’s how:

State the biggest and juiciest benefit of your offer.Let your headline scratch the itch introduced by your ad.Tie your headline’s phrasing to your ad’s headline copy.Support your headline with a powerful subheadline.Reveal your product’s unique selling proposition.

Keep your headline short, only ten words. Its purpose is not to say everything but to entice visitors to stay on the page and read the next sentence.

Look at Get Response’s post-click landing page.

The simple headline “email marketing” isn’t earth-shattering, huh? Until you return to the original search query “email marketing.”

It’s all about ad scent:

Search query “email marketing”Ad headline “Email Marketing by Get Response”Landing page headline “Email Marketing”

Now, it doesn’t look so bad. It’s a genius stroke. The headline “email marketing” introduces the offer, and the subheadline “get more opens, clicks, and sales” completes it by adding further details. 

Tip 5: Include a Top-Notch Hero Image

Besides your headline, your hero image is another element that grabs visitors’ immediate attention. By hero I don’t mean Spider Man or Superman. A hero image is the first or main graphic you see on top of a web page. Because it occupies prime space on the page, it plays a crucial role in drawing visitors to your copy. It can either help visitors better understand your offer or hinder them.

As a general rule, stay away from stock images. People have seen them everywhere and don’t recognize them anymore. Use custom images instead.

Here are hero images that work:

Show your product or offer front and center.Depict people using your product.Fit the context of the ad and the offer.Closely match your ad images.

Mattress brand Casper picked the perfect hero image:

Source: Instapage

The post-click landing page shows a couple sleeping peacefully in bed. Showing the product in use appeals more to readers than just a bare mattress would have. And the child running towards the bed completes the picture of one big happy family with the bed taking center stage.

When you are not sure which image to use, try images of people. They tend to convert better.

Tip 6: Use Benefit-Driven, Reader-Friendly Body Copy

Once you’ve hooked visitors with a brilliant headline and hypnotic image, your next goal is to keep them glued to the page. Convince them to keep reading by piling on the benefits of your offer in the body copy. People are selfish. Tell them what’s in it for them. Then they’ll stick around.

How will they profit from your offer? Is your product faster, safer, richer? Whatever the benefits, include them in your body copy. Here’s how to format your copy for easy reading:

Use brief sentences and paragraphs.Include one benefit per bullet point.Use lots of white space, so your copy isn’t crowded.

Survey Anyplace, a software-for-surveys brand, is an outstanding example. The bullets are brief yet benefit-laden. Plus, they’re nicely spaced out.

Brevity is your friend. Don’t belabor your points. People are impatient these days.

Tip 7: Include Trust-Building Signals

Social proof is a critical part of the conversion equation.

People do what they see other people do. That’s why up to 97% of consumers look at reviews before they buy a product. Show visitors you are the real deal so they take up your offer. Instill confidence in your offer. Prove your authority. There are several ways to do that:

Include testimonials from satisfied clients or influencers in your niche.Ass spectacular reviews of your product or service.Flaunt the big-name clients you have served.Show glowing mentions of your company in respected publications.Display awards and certifications you’ve earned from renowned institutions.Leverage the power of numbers if you have sizable customers.

Online course platform Thinkific used the power of numbers intelligently on its post-click landing page for the keyword “launch an online course.”

Who wouldn’t want to join more than 36,000 fellow course creators who reach 10 million students collectively? Such whopping numbers prove beyond a doubt that the platform is a trusted service provider.

Tip 8: Optimize Form Fields 

Everything on your page drives people towards your lead capture form. That’s where you catch the lead. How do you get the most from your form? To begin with, put your form above the fold so visitors don’t have to scroll to see it. According to a recent Nielsen Norman Group study, while people now scroll down a page more than they used to, their attention nosedives below the fold. 

Your best chance of getting a conversion is above the fold while their focus is fresh. As for the ideal number of form fields, experiment. Unbounce carried out a study on the relationship between the number of form fields and conversion rates. See the results below.

Source: Unbounce

More fields equals more friction. 

Usually, the fewer the fields, the higher the conversions, but lead quality becomes poor. This is understandable because filing a short form is easier than completing a longer one. The more fields, the lower the conversions, since it requires more effort. However, the quality of the leads improves. It’s a tradeoff between lead quantity and lead quality.

Also, the weight of your offer determines the number of fields. Surely, you wouldn’t make people fill in a 12-field form just to get a free report, would you? Only an email address can do. But if you own a B2B brand selling a pricey product, you’d want more details, such as job title, phone number, location, and number of employees.

However, things don’t always pan out that way. Sometimes longer forms convert better than shorter ones. If you are using a long form

Draw users with a valuable offer: If people deem your offer valuable, they won’t mind completing a lengthy form. Make it a multi-step process: Multi-step forms are less scary and allow you to increase the number of fields without spoiling the user experience.Pre-populate some fields: By prefilling some fields, you save users time and the hassle of typing.Input field size: Don’t make your input fields too long. They intimidate users. Match their length to the expected length of the answers.

Not only must you put your form above the fold, position it so it stands out from the rest of the page elements. Also, don’t forget to include a privacy policy statement. It helps allay people’s fears of parting with their info.

Tip 9: Captivating Call to Actions (CTAs)

You’ve done well if your visitor is still with you. You are on the home stretch of the conversion race. The finish line is in sight. After your visitor fills out the form, all that’s left is for her to click your CTA. There are three sides to a convincing CTA.

Clear: Be simple. Cryptic copy confuses readers.
Specific: Tell readers exactly what you want them to do or get.Action-oriented: A call to action must do just that, drive action through verbs. Verbs are energetic and forceful. Work them into your CTA.

Leading messaging platform Intercom is an exceptional example.

Because the brand knows it’s dealing with a high-purchase intent keyword “customer support tool,” it doesn’t waste time. It uses a straightforward call to action “get started,” since visitors already know what they want.

Tip 10: Test. Test. Test.

A landing page isn’t a do-once, set-and-forget page. For the best results, you must keep fine-tuning it. But you don’t use gut feeling to perfect your landing page. The secret? A/B testing.

An A/B or split test simply means comparing two unique versions of a web page to determine which one performs best. Test every element of your page, one at a time:

Headline.Hero image.Benefits.CTA.

Add the winning version to the page and move on to the next element. Rinse and repeat until you find the perfect mix that generates the most conversions. For higher conversions on your PPC landing pages, always test and tweak. 

PPC Landing Pages: The Gateway to More Leads and Customers

In summary, use these tips to build winning PPC landing pages. With focus, a bit of patience, and a steely desire to improve through constant testing, you can succeed. You will see more sign-ups, leads, and customers.

Go rock your first or next PPC landing page!

By Qhubekani Nyathi, certified SEO copywriter

The post Creating an Effective PPC Landing Page: 10 Best Practices appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Embed TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and More Posts into WordPress

JUN. 15, 2020

ThisisEngineering RAEng / Unsplash

When writing an article, you sometimes may want to reference a specific social media post to bolster your point. Embedding has made this process easier, improving not only the appearance and credibility of your article but also the readers’ experience. Here’s how to embed posts from today’s most popular social media platforms. 

How to Embed TikTok Videos into WordPress

You don’t need a TikTok account to find the videos you want to embed. In fact, you can simply scroll through videos on the Trending and Discover feeds. You cannot, however, use the search feature to look for specific content without logging in. 

Step 1: Go to TikTok.com and click “Watch now” from the upper-right corner of your screen. 

Step 2: Click on the video you want to embed then click the embed icon.

Step 3: Click “Copy code.”

Step 4: Go to WordPress and open a new post. Click the plus icon to add a new block.

Step 5: Click “Custom HTML.”

Step 6: Paste your embed code then click “Preview.”

This is what it looks like when you preview it as a published blog. 

How to Embed Instagram Posts into WordPress

Step 1: Go to Instagram.com, find the post you want to embed, then click the three-dotted icon from the upper right. 

Step 2: Click “Embed.”

Step 3: Click “Copy Embed Code.”

You also have the option to include the post’s caption. If you would rather leave that out, click the blue box to disable. 

Step 4: Go to WordPress, open a new post, and click the plus icon to add a new block. 

Step 5: Click “Custom HTML.”

Step 6: Paste code then click “Preview.”

Step 7: You’re Done.

This is what the embedded link looks like once the post has been published.

 

How to Embed Facebook Posts into WordPress

Step 1: Go to Facebook.com and find the post you want to embed. Click the three-dotted icon from the right corner of the post. 

Step 2: Click “See more options” then click “Embed.”

Step 3: Highlight the code then copy.  

Step 4: Open a new post on WordPress then click the plus button to add a new block. 

Step 5: Click “Custom HTML.”

Step 6: Pase code then hit “Preview.”

Step 7: You’re done. 

How to Embed Twitter Posts into WordPress

Step 1: Go to Twitter.com, find the post you want to embed, then click the upside-down triangle from the upper-right corner of the post. 

Step 2: Click “Embed Tweet.”

Step 3: Click “Copy Code.”

Step 4: Open a new post on WordPress and click the plus button to add a new block. 

Step 5: Click “Custom HTML.”

Step 6:  Paste code then click “Preview.”

Step 7: You’re done.

How to Embed Pinterest Posts into WordPress

Step 1: Go to Pinterest.com, find the post you want to embed, then click the three-dotted icon from the left. 

Step 2: Click “Get Pin embed code.”

Step 3: Choose the size you want, highlight the code, then copy. 

Step 4: Open a new post in WordPress and click the plus button to add a new block.

Step 5: Click “Custom HTML.”

Step 6: Paste code then click “Preview.”

Step 7: You’re done.

How to Embed a YouTube Video into WordPress

Step 1: Go to YouTube.com, click the video you want to embed, then click the “share” button on the bottom right of the video. 

Step 2: Click “Embed.”

Step 3: Click the code then click “copy.”

You have the option to choose when your video plays. To enable, click the box next to “Start at” then type the specific moment in the video (whether at 5, 10, or 15 seconds) when you want it to automatically play. 

Step 4: Open a new post on WordPress, then click the plus button to add a new block. 

Step 5: Click “Custom HTML.”

Step 6: Paste code then click “Preview.”

Step 7: You’re done. 

How to Embed Reddit Posts into WordPress

Step 1: Go to Reddit.com and find the post you want to embed. Copy the post URL. 

Step 2: Open a new post in WordPress and click the plus button to add a new block. 

Step 3: Click “Custom HTML.”

Step 4: Paste URL then click “Preview.”

Step 5: You’re done. 

How to Embed a LinkedIn Post into WordPress

Step 1: Go to LinkedIn.com, find the post you want to embed, and click the three-dotted icon from the upper-right corner of the post. 

Step 2: Click “Embed this post.”

Step 3: Click “Copy code.”

Step 4: Open a new post on WordPress, click the plus icon to add a new block, then click “Custom HTML.”

Step 5: You’re Done. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Embed TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and More Posts into WordPress appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Go Live on TikTok

JUN. 12, 2020

Eliott Reyna / Unsplash

So you’re addicted to TikTok. Welcome to the club. With its endless stream of entertainment and the chance to show your talents to followers, the social media app can be a delightful way to kill an hour or two of your time. 

As if the app can’t get any more entertaining, you discover that — yes — much like its competitors, TikTok also offers a live feature, in which you can broadcast a live video to your audience. How do you do that? Well, it’s simple. 

How to Start a Live Video on TikTok

This is already obvious, but to create a live video, you must first download the app. Available to both Android and Apple devices, you can get TikTok from the Apple Store or the Play Store. You must be at least 13 years old to create an account. 

According to TikTok’s Terms of Use:

The Platform is only for people 13 years old and over. By using the Platform, you confirm that you are over the relevant age specified above. If we learn that someone under the relevant age specified above is using the Platform, we will terminate that user’s account.”

Step 1: Go to your For You page.

Once downloaded, open the app. Doing so will take you to your For You page, which contains a curated train of videos the algorithm believes to be relevant to you. 

Step 2: Click the plus button.

On the bottom of the app, you will see a plus button. Click it. 

Step 1: Swipe left at the bottom until you find “LIVE.” 

Click the “LIVE” button to broadcast your video. 

Who Can Go Live on TikTok? 

Is your “live” button missing? Unfortunately, not everyone has access to this feature. To broadcast a live video on TikTok, you must have more than 1,000 followers, according to Seventeen. Additionally, you must be at least 16, even though the minimum age requirement to create an account is 13. 

The Benefits of Broadcasting a Live Video

Of course, there are benefits to broadcasting a live video, in case you needed some convincing. 

You Can Interact with Followers

Growing your account requires interacting with followers. Use this time to really get to know them. You can, for example, ask what kind of content they would like to see next. You can also answer any questions they have for you. This will help your followers get to know you better.

You Can Earn Money

Going live on TikTok allows you to receive gifts from fans, which you can cash in. This is one of the ways to make money on TikTok. Here is a breakdown of the gifts you can receive:

Panda: 5 coinsItalian Hand: 5 coinsLove Bang: 25 coinsSun Cream: 50 coinsRainbow Puke: 100 coinsConcert: 500 coinsI’m Very Rich: 1,000 coinsDrama Queen: 5,000 coins

The gifts you receive can be converted into diamonds, which you can convert to coins. Diamonds are worth 50 percent the value of coins: one-hundred coins equal 50 diamonds; 50 coins equal 25 diamonds. Each diamond is worth 5 cents. 

You Can Increase Your Reach

When you go live on TikTok, your followers will receive a notification. This feature is unique to live videos — your regular posts won’t get the same special treatment. Going live increases your reach. 

You Can Stay on for Longer than 20 Seconds

TikTok videos can only last as long as 20 seconds. This rule doesn’t apply to live videos. Use this time to deliver your message and connect with your audience. Maybe even shoot a video that would otherwise be too long to post on the platform.

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Go Live on TikTok appeared first on AdvertiseMint.