2020 is a win for consumers as smart technology continues to become more intelligent, more cross-compatible and faster than ever before

Here at One Firefly, smart technology is always trending. Because we spend our days researching the latest consumer technology news and talking to clients and industry leaders about the shifts they see in the demand for smart tech, we’re in a unique position to talk about the biggest trends emerging in our field.

The list below is by no means exhaustive, but it does touch briefly on four of the most impactful developments gaining traction in the world of smart consumer technology. 

SEE ALSO: Trust Your Marketing to the Professionals: Here’s Why

Google My Business during COVID-19

With efforts to reduce office gatherings and to protect the safety of their team during these unprecedented times, staffing for Google My Business has been limited. As a result, there are temporary delays and support to review inquiries. Features are limited or are currently removed altogether during this unprecedented COVID-19 situation.

Why Owning Your Website's Google Analytics Account Is Even More Critical In 2020

What Is Google Analytics?

While not something you may look at on a day-to-day basis, Google Analytics is the single most important tool for insight on website performance and visitor data. This free, sophisticated platform provides useful metrics on how people are visiting your site, how long they are staying, and where they are navigating. 

How Does It Work?

When a Google Analytics tracking code or javascript snippet is added to your website, it collects data in real time – so as the page is loaded by a visitor, a hit is transmitted to the platform with its associated data. This data, along with certain data collected by platforms such as Google Search Console and Google Adwords is then organized into your single Analytics account.

One of the biggest advantages of actively collecting this data? You will forever have access to the historical record of the performance of your website which now can be easily juxtaposed to the changes in marketing efforts that you may be implementing. 

SEE ALSO: Top 5 KPIs to Watch in Google Analytics [A Beginner's Guide]

Drive Traffic to Your Website and Boost Conversions with an SEM Campaign

You’ve probably heard the term used on the internet when searching for different ways to market your business, or have seen it pop up in some of the articles or books you have done your research with, but you’re still not really sure what SEM is and what it can do for your business. 

In this blog post, we’ll cover what SEM is, who it is for, and why it may be beneficial for your company. 

SEE MORE: Feedback Matters: 3 Reasons Why Online Reviews Are Critical 

If you have paid anyone to handle your digital ads for you, I’m willing to take a bet that you would prefer they handle the nitty-gritty, tiresome task of making sure the ads do well. Especially with search advertising, also known as SEM, this can translate to a lot of nerdy, data-heavy work. So why in the world would you need to own that account from the start of the relationship?

The money you spend on your SEM efforts is an investment into learning what works for your unique business. If one day you need someone different to manage your Google Ads, and you do not own the account and data, you will need to make the exact same investment again. Even if you already know the language that best resonated with your customers, there is a machine learning component to the search algorithm that cannot be replicated in a new account. Unless you set yourself up to own your Google Ads account data from day one, you are at risk of losing thousands of dollars of your investment.

SEE ALSO: ARE YOU GIVING AWAY THE KEYS TO YOUR KINGDOM?

Our Second Photoshoot Delivers Fresh Approach and Content

With the great response we’ve had to our Mercury Pro website solutions—including the Residential Systems CEDIA 2019 “Best of Show” Award and Connected Design’s 2019 Award—we couldn’t wait to create even more unique content for our brand-new designs. With more experience under our belt, we embarked on a second photoshoot to generate new photos and videos for our Mercury Pro models.

Getting a more varied visual presence for our clients was the top priority. Some of the spaces and technology we featured in this shoot weren't as prominent the first time around. It was also an opportunity to approach things differently based on things we learned the first time around. Eager to find out more about how we got our brand-new digital assets together? Just keep reading for all the details!

SEE MORE: OneFirefly Media Library: Building Visual Authenticity

Expert, industry-savvy marketers are the best way to promote your business

Are you confident in your marketing strategy? Marketing is essential now more than ever, and expanding your plan can help you to grow your business. It can be challenging to develop a solid marketing game plan while also maintaining the day-to-day operations of your business.

A marketing agency takes the responsibility of promoting your business off your shoulders. A team of expert marketers will evaluate your business and help you to come up with an overall strategy. Read our latest blog to learn why you should trust your marketing to the professionals.

SEE ALSO: COVID-19 and One Firefly: Supporting our Employees, Clients, Industry, and our Communities During This Challenging Time

Taking the leap into social media for your business can feel like standing on a dock, debating whether the water will hurt when you jump. If you’ve hired anyone to help you (whether that is an internal team member or an agency), then they should hold your hand through the process. But, if you’re going it alone, it can be a scary time! At One Firefly, we still don’t want you to feel like you’re on your own, even if you decide to rock the independent life. 

When you start to dip your toe in the water, you might have some questions about navigating platforms. To help out, we have compiled some useful resources below about best practices for getting started on Facebook, Linkedin, and Instagram.

Reach People Where They Are, From Attraction to Purchase, With Our Ideas 

According to Hubspot’s Content Marketing Certification course, there are four specific steps within every customer’s journey, from a marketer’s perspective — Attract, Convert, Close and Delight, usually pictured as a funnel. When you look at the buyer’s journey (aka the headspace you’ll need to occupy to write your best, most targeted content), you see the same path through different eyes: A curious website visitor becomes a lead, then a customer and eventually a zealous fan.

Many bloggers don’t stop to consider where their target audience might land on this path, and this oversight greatly diminishes their marketing efforts. When you market without the buyer’s journey in mind, you’re essentially making assumptions about what this individual wants to hear instead of exploring what they need and speaking their language.

How can you turn this common marketing oversight around and start writing more targeted content? Let’s explore steps within the marketing funnel and what your customers might look for at each stage.

SEE ALSO: Engage Your Customers With Language That Speaks Directly to Them