AaronRobb.ca

Business and Marketing
From My Point of View

Canada gets Adwords Targeting via Postal Code

September 18, 2012 // by aaron

Google’s Adwords have been working hard to allow for very specific targeting recently. I’ve been impressed with the number of small Canadian towns that show up in it’s targeting settings, as I set up campaigns for local companies. To be even more specific, they now have added targeting by postal code to the type of targeting you can do.

Most people may not find this interesting, and may just think that ‘why not just target by city?’, but the real benefit of this is to partner PPC ads with physical admail. You know, those flyers, postcards, etc that you get in the mail? Those, if unaddressed, are normally sent out in groups based on postal codes. Most cities have known general demographic areas, where the majority of people living there are categorized together. For example, where I live in Brights Grove, is know to be a more ‘senior’ area. So marketing companies target certain postal codes with physical mailers.

Where the new targeting with adwords comes in, is that if I have a mailer going out that promotes a paintball company, and I’m targeting certain postal codes with my mailer, then it makes sense for me to keep the branding/messaging targeted to those people. If they see an ad online for a product/service/brand that they also just saw in the mail, then it strengthens the marketing.

I wouldn’t use this targeting for most campaigns, but when we are going for mail-based specific areas, then I really see this as an easy advantage for using Adwords.

How to Add a Header Image to Twitter

September 18, 2012 // by aaron

Today Twitter announced some new design changes to its profile pages. One especially big change is that you can now add a header image to  your profile. More specifically, you can add an image under your photo/bio, which makes me think that in the next while things will still change more, as the header image is kind of hidden still.

Anyway, for those looking to get your own header image, here are steps to do it:

  1. Log into Twitter.com 
  2. Click on the little gear in the top right, beside the Search Box, and click on ‘Settings’
  3. From the left menu, select ‘Design’
  4. In the second section down, under the ‘Customize your own’ title, there is now a Header upload area.
  5. Find an image you want (has to be max 1200px wide by 600px high), and upload it.
  6. The next screen will let you shift the image how you want, in case the dimensions are not correct. Note, that your profile image and bio text is right in the middle of this, so try to keep any major graphics to the top, bottom or sides. See twitter.com/aaron_robb for how i did mine.
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Have a cool image for a header? Link here to your profile for others to check out!!
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7 Online Listing Tips for Real Estate Agents

December 15, 2011 // by aaron

We’ve been in the process of buying a house and over the past few months I’ve realized that many agents don’t really know how to use MLS (Canadian home listings) to it’s best. When your target buyers are becoming more computer and tech savvy, you must make sure the listings are up to par.

 

So here is a list of a few tips that I came up with while browsing the listings:

1. Communication is key. If your phone number and email are on the listing, then answer your phone and respond to emails fast! And better yet, make sure those emails/numbers actually work!
(True story: I once had to do some googling to find the owner of a house we wanted to see and contacted them directly after numerous attempts
to call the agent failed because they didn’t respond to emails and the phone number listed was actually a fax number.)

2. If you’re listing a house online, include photos! And I don’t mean just the outside shot, but every room. And get all those images before it goes online otherwise it looks like you’re hiding something. It’s not that hard to delay a day or two to just get a photographer there!

3. Find and invest in a good photographer. With the amount of quality media available to people online, and the very high definition screens, we expect photos to look good.

4. Don’t BS the listing description. We know that ‘cozy’ means small, ‘unique’ means odd layout, etc. I know it has to sound good, but keep it honest.

5. LEARN WHAT CAPS MEAN TO COMPUTER USERS!

6. List all the rooms and proper dimensions. We can’t always visualize the size of rooms from photos and we can’t read your mind about what rooms exist but aren’t listed.

7. Realize that automated mapping systems are not perfect. Check your map placement after adding. I’ve found homes that were a good kilometer off of where they actually were.

Have you had your own thoughts on listings? I’d love to hear them!

Search Engine Marketing Tip: Addresses

November 9, 2011 // by aaron

When was the last time you tried to find a business online that you knew the location but not the business name? Or maybe you saw an address in an email signature that you wanted to check out.

Chances are, you’ve looked up an address in Google, typed in “111 Main St. City” and seen businesses listed who are at that address.

If you’ve done a good job with SEO, they will see what your business/site is about in the search results. That is if there are no other companies with better ranking for that address.

But there is a way around this. If you add your address into your search engine ad’s keywords, there’s a good chance you’ll be one of the only ones coming up, and it will be above the organic listings. You can also use this space to promote monthly products or services, or something new that you now have.

Keep in mind using variations of how people could search the address. Ie: 111 main st. OR 111 main street, etc.

It’s a simple trick, but one that may get you that lead you need.

 

Restaurant Branding Tip: Kleenex

October 19, 2011 // by aaron

Here’s a quick thought for restaurants that I find incredibly simple yet it’s hard to find one that actually does it: provide kleenex in bathrooms. Now I know this sounds simple, and potentially pointless, but it’s something people will notice.

Have you ever had to blow your nose or sneeze in a restaurant bathroom? You start fumbling for toilet paper, which is more annoying than anything.

I’m a fan of hot food, including chicken wings, and one thing that normally happens with spicy food is a runny nose. Restaurants who serve wings or other spicy food could build a better brand, even if just subconsciously by providing this simple convenience to it’s patrons. I can name local restaurants that have gone that extra step.

So why don’t more restaurants do this? Cost? Added chore in bathroom cleaning?

Branding happens in the restaurant as well as outside it. Extra steps can matter to your customers. Even these little ones.