How Do I Start Social Media Marketing?

One of the most challenging experiences as a marketer I faced ever is running social media accounts smoothly.

I’d like to come up with viral content ideas every day, but the reality is that I failed miserably many times. And realized, we're all human. At times, with planning content, while aligning with the campaign’s goal, we hit a wall.

How can I be a good social media marketer?

If you're a beginner in the social media marketing or a professional - who is looking for a few guidelines to get going, I've compiled a list of useful tips to reinforce your accounts, no matter your expertise level and type of your campaign - organic or paid.

What?	Why?	How?
Sync posts across all social media accounts	To measure metrics across all accounts	Use tools that will let you sync posts across various accounts but remember -“sync” means here same topic, not the same format for all the platforms
Reuse older posts	For re-engagement	Update your backdated content with fresh ideas and republish
Don’t post at odd times but do on weekends	Establish your best time and day to post on social media through experiments for optimum outcome	Ensure that your target audiences can get fresh content during their preferred time and day
Include Hashtags	To increase the relevancy and life-span of your posts, and engagement	Try mixing up existing and popular hashtags with your own custom hashtags - be a trendsetter is equally important sometimes like be a trend follower
Use visuals	Visual content has more appeal at any point in time to anyone	Include pictures, videos, gifs, infographics in your posts whenever possible
Posts often	The usual life-span of any content on social platforms is very little - so posting multiple times a day initially (when the account is like a newborn baby) is important, later when the account will have enough reputation, you can enjoy some irregularity but that again depends on the situation	I am not saying to post every hour – probably doing so may make you feel stress about coming up with new ideas every time and also limit the breathing space of the viewers; rather create a posting calendar and keep optimizing it
Do not forget about branding	Every piece of content should portray the brand you are promoting in an intelligent way	Set a color pattern, tone, and language, topic ideas, etc. for posts - make sure to blend your brand into your social media marketing effort strategically to   establish your brand
Engage through interaction	To make real connections with audiences which essentially help you reduce your social media management costs and set your audience your referrer in the long run	Answer all their queries with the committed mind, reply to the reviews with an open mind, establish a proactive follow-up routine with all the comments you receive, express your gratitude to their feedback, take the criticisms (if any) courageously - but do not stop interaction through your content with audiences to engage better
Invest a few bucks	To get services from real professionals as and when required	Try to understand the thin line that lies between ordinary and extra-ordinary - since your audiences are targeted by your competitors too, it is wise to take the help of, for example, a professional designer to post some visual contents on social media or run a few paid ads for a limited period of the time or proof-read the content through a pro editor - a lot of freelancers are around to provide you such services against nominal fees if in case you have doubt about your own creativity or time constraint - after all behind each social media post, a lot of effort has to invest
Find/invent/explore new ways	To expand your social media strategy	Aim to diversify your social media operation to keep things fresh, innovative, and exciting - do not miss out on opportunities waiting for you to broaden your horizons, if not work, at least you come to know about a new thing which itself is gainful
Tie the knot with influencers	To promote your product and/or service rapidly	Discover and then reach out to the influencers in your industry for partnerships (of course keeping the marketing budget in mind) so they become the advocate of your brand - do not forget to measure how they are actually influencing to grow your brand
Focus on USP	Authenticity matters	Play to your strengths - unless complete monopoly, you have to face stiff competition but that’s fine until you know your unique selling points (USPs) and build your social media campaigns on and around that - and there is always scope for improvement
Dream big but stand on your feet	To sparks lead generation (or goal conversions whatever you set as KPI)	Unless it’s a complete giveaway, never forget to add/include a CTA (call-to-action) in your content to direct your audience for taking your desired path
Confidence, courage, and idea	The focus should be on helping out both users and search engines so that they can understand properly and digest quickly the content they need	Reach out to the right audience at the right time with the right piece of content so they can feel an urge for connecting with me to get even more

Producing meaningful content often can be difficult, even if you're a social media pro. The reality nowadays is, social media trends are changing every now and then based on changing tastes and behaviors of both internet users and search engines, and experiencing it as a social media manager seems like a real challenge.

These tips are neither exclusive nor exhaustive but will help us in many ways like, how to organize and optimize a social media campaign, upgrade your content, and grow your target audience, and many more. But don't stop here. Keep checking my blog on social media marketing for more information.

How Do I Run A Google Ads Campaign?

This is an audit to convince your analytic mind in the face of performance anxiety that as a Google paid ad campaign manager, I’ve learned a few things about running a productive and meaningful search network-based text ad campaign that other people might find interesting or useful.

Many of us search the internet, to find a list of all the important-seeming things we must follow for PPC ad campaigns in 2019 and beyond. So I thought writing a checklist might help me more effectively than scrutinizing anything else.

I’ve come a long way since my first entry into the world of Google Ads. So I am very confident that certain readers find this list useful.

How do I make my Google Ads campaign successful?

Revisiting the lessons we learned - reconsidering them, even sharing them with others - allows them to flourish further. Purposes of this checklist vary from person to person, from campaign to campaign, but study this checklist (in no particular order) for optimizing ROI to invoke magic.

Consider what logical in your case, then, apply to see what you want to follow in your effort to combat competition and manifest a more meaningful and desirable campaign outcome.

1. The campaign setup is, truly, more important than anything else.
   
   
2. The goal conversions you want so badly to achieve might not prove as beneficial as you think they will. So don’t sweat it when, occasionally, you fall short.
   
   
3. Monitor competitors closely but remember, others are never thinking about you as much as you think they are.
   
   
4. Discover your USPs before start writing text ad copies.
   
   
5. It’s important, of course, to not take your problems regarding the keywords selection process and perceived failures seriously. But it also helps to make a habit of reminding yourself of the other aspects of users’ search behavior.
   
   
6. Similarly, it’s never a bad idea to run a test campaign preferably based on Analytics data. There’s a reason why so many successful ad campaign managers have confessed to being obsessive data analysts. You can create several “Campaign Drafts”, “Campaign Experiments”, and “Ad Variations” (all can be found under the “Drafts & experiments” menu) to test your ideas.
   
   
7. Endeavor persistently to find scope for improvement in landing page design through which users find purpose. Of course, it requires strategy, curiosity, bravery, and persistence. You have to try lots of different things, fail, rinse, and repeat it again. It’s a search that lasts for many years and years. It’s a continuous battle to find something more compelling. Challenge yourselves to continuously expand what in your industry might be possible to do or achieve.
   
   
8. Find meaning in your work and, more specifically, in laying out ad groups based on thematically separated keywords. Trust me, amazingly, Google’s system will pay you back.
   
   
9. There are several specific things you should do to consider strategically in your selection of negative keywords. One is to identify people who are not actually looking for your products or services. In your analysis, think seriously about what (or which search term) converts actually and why it works. Emulate them. Put them in a special bucket and rest everything you can think of as negative.
   
   
10. Commit to practicing in an approved manner. The best way to optimize your campaigns’ performances is to monitor them almost every day meticulously than most probably think necessary. The general equation being: plan + reiteration = progress.
    
    
11. It doesn’t matter how good history you have, which is why you should seek always to measure your campaign performance against set KPIs to be on time for things.
    
    
12. For similar reasons, try, as you’re able, to stay knowledgeable with the latest developments bring to us by Google.
    
    
13. A healthy Google Ads account = collection of more profitable ad campaigns. Plus, optimizing further your campaigns’ performances makes you feel better as in charge of the account.
    
    
14. Managing a PPC campaign is less fun if you never allow yourself in activities that bring you joy. Then indulge appropriately.
    
    
15. Effectively taking care of your mental well-being is the first building block of any successful ad campaign. Treat your mind as you would any other essential Google Ads account tool.
    
    
16. Practice moderation and do not follow any PPC checklist blindly. You have to find your own unique style to progress at your own speed. This will help you build in return a positive ROI-based campaign in the long run.
    
    
17. Show your potential customers you care about them. Build every inch of your landing page accordingly.
    
    
18. Read at least once Google’s help pages and/or support forums whenever you have time.
    
    
19. Take the help of “Performance Planner” (an inbuilt Google Ads tool) every time you have a semi-coherent reason to - it also helps to recognize opportunity and things as worthwhile and important. Get excited, even about the little things.
    
    
20. Don’t try operating any kind of vehicle without knowing how to ride it. Similarly, evaluate all the options you have before finalize your bid strategy. Resist the temptation of automation at first. Bad things will happen. Trust me.
    
    
21. That said, don’t be afraid to try new, scary-seeming things like, “Portfolio strategies” and “Advanced controls” - can be found under “Shared Library”. Expand your horizons! Acquire experience! However, think twice before applying anything.
    
    
22. In fact, do everything you can - as often as you can - to broaden your perspective through reviewing data in “Audience lists”, “Audience insights”, and “Audience sources” - all are under Audience manager - another exceptionally helpful tool available for campaign managers.
    
    
23. That said, aim to establish a fruitful daily routine. Planned repetition makes you (AND THE CAMPAIGNS that you are managing) better. In many ways, we prove a product of our routine. Construct it accordingly with the help of the “Search attribution” feature of Google Ads.
    
    
24. There never comes a time in your life when you can afford to say - I need not practice or work on my PPC knowledge to become better. You have to stay loyal to your strategically designed campaigns specific to “Rules” and “Scripts” (both can be found under the Bulk Actions feature). You must continue trying to deliver better outcomes by leveraging the power of the “Keyword Planner” tool. You can never afford to become complacent, at least not if you want to continue improving the ROI. Because to improve, ultimately, is to improvise. Let your abilities go full throttle.
    
    
25. When you waste hours scrolling through Facebook, you’re practicing indolence. When you are using the “Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool”, you’re practicing to be self-aware.
    
    
26. Invest time in team-building or partnering with similar-minded people so they can influence you positively, appreciate your achievements, and create healthy competition for you. After all, we are a product of who we surround ourselves with. More practically, surrounding yourself with people who themselves try to maintain positive mindsets will make it easier for you to do the same.
    
    
27. Do your best in all circumstances to be a team player, to be a true professional. Respect your peers however trust your own ability and ideas - be courageous and confident. Don’t get overconfident though.
    
    
28. Think transparently, speak clearly, and act considerately. Reflect all these character traits at the time of campaign creation and setting KPIs for the same.
    
    
29. Do not stress much on (at least initially) CTR, Ad Rank, CPC, ROAS, and blah-blah-blah - all the technicalities. A lot of people try to run campaigns on those terms. To me, without first considering the consequences of the right combination between keywords, landing page(s), and ad text(s) - may upset people they care about.
    
    
30. You can mitigate your risk of losing your ground to competitors by making a habit of keeping a tap on the latest changes before they do realize the actual potential. Simply put, the present is important, as well as anticipating the future. For example, in preparation for the upcoming holiday season, Google has declared two new ways to reach our target audience with our text ads. With the help of “Affinity Audiences” and “In-market Audiences”, we’ll be able to get out to relevant prospects with ease.
    
    
31. Timing is important - when you want to show your ads to whom? So, schedule your ads accordingly. You should also carefully consider the devices option – whether the ads will be displayed on all - computers, tablets, and mobile devices or only on your selected ones.
    
    
32. Keep checking “Recommendations” for untapped areas. But important to remember, “Your optimization score” is just an indicator. Don’t put much emphasis on it. At the same time, keep an eye on “Demographics” data so you can make informed decisions to optimize your ad campaign performance.
    
    
33. Sometimes, you have to raise your voice for yourself, stand up to bullies, and demand what you’ve earned. For that, the “Change history” feature and “Reports” and “Dashboards” will help you out. Stay always up-to-date with insights. If anyone questions you, counter them with valid data with you.

Finally, remember that this list is neither exclusive nor exhaustive.

This serves me, thus sharing with you all. Whenever you run into them - don’t follow them blindly. Rather, distill from them what matters most to you as a person, relevant to your Google Ads campaign management, then discard the rest and move on.

I would suggest you write your own checklist for running Google Ads campaigns better. It will serve the community. Hopefully, remind you what you have achieved and where to focus.

Yes, I have not restricted my checklist only to technicalities regarding running any successful Google Ads campaigns as I firmly believe that, PPC campaign management is more about a psychological game rather than how good you are with your technical Gyan!

How Can I Do Digital Marketing At Home?

Most digital marketing courses I have seen and/or hear about, are very theoretical and a trainee might not know what to do from a practical point of view in the end.

Eventually, after spending money and time, most of the trainees are middle of nowhere.

For those, here are a few suggestions to consider, that will have a direct impact on you - for a successful career in digital marketing.

1. Discover your interests first

Sync your skills, interests, values, and personality.

• Are you passionate about search engine optimization?
• Are you interested in web development?
• Or do you have a flair for designing?

Take a moment to consider where your interests lie.

How will this benefit you professionally?

Digital marketing has many types like - content marketing, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, social media marketing, pay-per-click advertising, affiliate marketing, email marketing, instant messaging marketing, etc. They are independent of each other. You may have knowledge about all these but love to explore most anyone. For example, you may very fond of doing the technical SEO part - the most important part of running any successful digital marketing campaign. I love doing PPC - most of my professional career spent on that to date. Finally, it’s good to have knowledge about all of these but better if you master anyone and build your career on and around that one.

Find your areas of interest.

2. Follow your passion

Do what you love.

It may be a cliche, but it is still a fact. It is in your hands to take that first step towards doing something you love (NOT like!). Start training and cherishing your passion today.

How will this benefit you professionally?

As I already explained, you should know most (if not all) of the nitty-gritty about digital marketing but must not engage at the same level as all. With some, you go deeper. Rests are in the repository of your knowledge to tackle smoothly when the situation demands.

Discover what you love.

3. Learn a new language

Open the door to limitless options.

Become skilled at a new language upsurges your employability. It also increases your brain activity and makes you a fast learner.

How will this benefit you professionally?

Local marketing campaigns are gaining popularity rapidly. If a Spanish client comes to you for your service or a marketing campaign needs to target a French-speaking audience in Canada, your knowledge will surely give you an edge over others. In addition to that, you can check for overseas job opportunities and can consider working remotely.

Unlock new opportunities.

4. Relax your mind and body

Live, exercise, diet, work - succeed.

Listening to music, reading books, simple fitness routines, gardening, learning to manage mental stress - there are solutions all around you!

How will this benefit you professionally?

Learning stress management especially in modern workplaces is beneficial without any doubt no matter what level of responsibilities one has. A peaceful mind is always leading you to the path of success by helping you extraordinarily execute ordinary tasks.

Spend quality time with family and friends.

5. Save, invest, spend

Design your dream financial future.

Understanding how to manage your money optimally can really pay off. Take back control of your financial life by learning about investments and personal money management.

How will this benefit you professionally?

Managing marketing and/or advertising budget systematically will help you optimize the ROI from it.

Draw a custom financial roadmap.

6. Develop a new skill or set of skills

Break the monotony of a routine.

Do something that you haven't done before. Grasping a new skill can lead to delight and more confidence.

How will this benefit you professionally?

From writing to development to design a landing page - these are all part of a digital marketer’s job profile. So if you are a developer and start learning about UX and UI, then your development work will have more impact on what you are developing. Again, if you are a writer, and gained some knowledge about SEO then your copies will have more impact on readers as well as on search engines like Google. On the other hand, if you are a PPC expert and have knowledge about web development, then can surely a lot of ad costs by fixing website bugs.

Discover a new hobby.

7. Lift your communication skills

A continuously needed skill (full-stop).

Whether writing a business email, or networking during a social gathering, effective communication is an important life skill.

How will this benefit you professionally?

A clear and precise way of communication will ease everything.

Set up a solid base.

8. Work on your strong point (practice hard)

Get better at what you're already good at.

If you have already found your passion, then it is key to keep learning more about it and relentlessly thriving to be the best. The more you practice, the better you get at it.

How will this benefit you professionally?

Practice makes perfect. The digital marketing field is developing every now and then - so you must stay persistent and overcome any mental complacency.

Set personal goals and achievements.

9. Build your profile

Turn your CV into your journey.

A flawlessly built online profile is essential for all modern job seekers.

A well-built LinkedIn profile + A blog series on your passion + A perfectly written resume = A winning combination!

How will this benefit you professionally?

Content is one of the major ingredients in any form of effective digital marketing. Here content doesn’t mean a long or short block of texts after texts. That is why the popularity of videos, memes, infographics has raised over time.

Build your personal brand.

10. Develop an entrepreneur mindset

Awaken the entrepreneur in you.

Yes, it is not so easy. It takes courage, confidence, and idea to overcome fear and self-doubt, but see around, some of the most successful leaders felt the same before pursuing their passion.

How will this benefit you professionally?

Pushing yourself into the unknown is never going to be easy, but the rewards for being brave are infinite!

Be your own boss.

Become your best self, friends!

What NOT To Do In Digital Marketing?

Hi,

Once upon a time, criticisms would have freaked me out. I would have stressed over faults, and reassessed my ability.

Today, I know that how to cherish negative feedback too I receive besides the good job done rated reviews.

Do not freak out.

Let me explain -

The way I perceive digital marketing - my webmaster persona - is not acceptable to everyone.

Because most companies are looking for eligible spammers.

Yes, I worked with all these employers and learned that my understanding of digital marketing is quite different from theirs. That is because I believe online users should always treat with respect. We must not spend money on imitation things to make more money online by squeezing a visitor.

Online users are always attracted to content with an extra dimension - like to see freedom of opinion - something that is different from others.

And for that, I love to experiment week after week with content to see what is working and what is not rather than following some garbage rules imposed on me by employers just because I am his/her employee.

Therefore, even when I show my employers some data that their digital marketing theories are nothing but spam techniques and should stop now, they get furious at me. In the end, very few like to be proved wrong. I do not freak out, feel miserable, or get insulted. I wish them well and say goodbye to the organization as quickly as possible.

After all, why should I keep working on a failed project if they are not a good fit for my dream career?

I have changed jobs many times, get sacked a couple of times due to my unbend attitude and I have no regret. I have seen many who are continuing by bending their ethics to get regular salary only.

Many of my well-wishers say to me, you are neither a rebel nor a conformist. You are just as unsettled in your career as you are unsocial in life.

I do care about their opinion. However, I do not freak out about negative comments anymore.

Instead of utilizing the real power of SEO, social media, we, to capture visitors’ attention forcefully, go for an “advanced advertising” approach. We now more and more accustomed ourselves to launching programmatic advertising campaigns that are extensive, custom, and data-driven.

Our extra effort to make the digital marketing efforts “more profitable” makes it deadly and insensible in reality.

Compare the early days of Facebook that engage us through its clean and simple interface with its complexities nowadays. The growing influence of advertising on Google is now sometimes painful rather than its original exciting, friendly manner of providing search results.

That is not all bad as the technologies are also evolving and their operations are getting smarter. That said the way everyone is chasing conversion optimization is not acceptable.

You can say the online behavior of a person also changed a lot but ask yourself, what role we are playing to push them awkwardly all the time to get a sell?

If you know your target audience, you do not have to stress more than required on advertising. Only because others/your competitors are doing, you should not get yourself into a digital war. That is because you are creating more chaos online whenever you start targeting the audience to see and get clicks on your ads even when they are unwilling to see them.

However, what about those others who are working comfortably in this industry?

You may be working in an organization uninterruptedly and get paid a handsome amount, but it is still smart thinking to pay attention to your careers.

In fact, some of your achievements may build on the sand-made castle, which anytime collapses.

Why? Because it is an issue, you never faced fearlessly.

For example, you may dislike certain ideas of your boss or certain processes in your company, but you never raise your true voice against it for fear of losing your job.

You fear the uncertainties and are afraid to face the growing competition in the job market.

Sometimes, your employer is also aware that you dislike him/her internally but cannot show your actual feelings to him/her because you fear. A fear you do not know does not exist.

This is autocracy or, maybe bureaucracy in the digital world.

In short, employers many times knowingly exploit their employees and that is a bad thing. The message may be a little rough around the edges, but it still holds the truth.

On the other hand, I have seen many employees who many times not maintaining the minimum amount of professionalism they should. Although they are happy to receive monthly paychecks with a smile.

The takeaway?

Love your digital marketing profession as you love your parents. Know your target audience like you know your best friend.

Do not do any injustice to your profession, with your life. Do not fear to protest with dignity when your circumstance inevitably forces you to follow the wrong route.

Also, know that the obstacles/negative criticism can at times be the most valuable. It is hard to face but it brings out the truth.

What do YOU do when you hear or read comments against you, your beliefs?

Stay honest with yourself!

Those who do good things for their own can do to others too.

Thanks to all who are agreeing with me. The people, who are against my theory of making a sober digital marketing culture, welcome too. We shall together make some revolution and evolution to the digital space to make it a more user-friendly marketing and advertising place for all.

I am ending this post with the hope that my, our future is bright. It is time to stick to my own tried and tested digital marketing fundamentals.

Have a great time ahead!

Partha

What Digital Skills Do Employers Want?

If you are searching for an answer to questions like how can I advance my digital marketing career or what skills do I need to be a digital marketer, then this post is for you.

We are living in a digital world. Just see where you’re reading my blog post right now - without that internet-enabled phone, tablet, or computer, you perhaps would never reach this article.

Now, frankly speaking, that I’m a bit old-fashioned. That is why I prefer reading printed newspapers, storybooks rather than reading with a Kindle. Likewise, talking in person rather than through social media is what am I feel more comfortable.

But like others, I’ve had to swim through the digital wave - and quite honestly, it’s in fact made me a lot more resilient in everything I do in my digital marketing profession.

So, while none of the skills below are absolutely essential to survive and thrive in the digital job world, they might be of use to learn in your career. If nothing else, knowing what other teams in your office do will aid you to collaborate more easily with them when you work together on shared projects.

The best way to gain knowledge of anything nowadays to take online lessons - they’re cheap (or completely free), and you can get training anytime, anywhere, and in any mode you wish. I’m not claiming that everyone can be taught anything through online classes, but starting should not be a problem these days. The future isn’t that bad after all.

To get you on track, here are 10 courses you can take - starting today - to advance your digital marketing knowledge, to stay ahead of the crowd (and even add some skills to your resume) in the competitive job market.

1. Social media marketing with YouTube and Instagram

You perhaps mention "proficient in YouTube and Instagram" in your resume about posting photos and videos of you and your friends or family members, but do you actually know how to approach these social platforms professionally? Or even Facebook and Twitter?

If your company does anything with video content or images, it might be in your favor to learn how marketing can be done profitably on these channels.

Check out for a platform-specific curriculum to learn how to leverage each and every social media commercial that’ll benefit your career, as well as your personal brand, say for example boost your professional network and promote your voice on LinkedIn. These lessons will take you through campaign making from start to finish, from uploading to making it viral cleverly your creation among others.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

2. Adobe Photoshop for beginners

Just like social media, editing photos and using them commercially is one of those skills many people claim they have, but don’t really know how to do anything beyond copy and pasting.

Fortunately, many free courses are available online, all you need to know about to find and enroll in a program you prefer. If nothing else, you can make your LinkedIn profile photo more professional.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

3. CMS operations for beginners

For all those out there who have ever wanted to manage a website or blog’s back-end for content publishing or landing page creation, now’s your opportunity!

Some tutorials will guide you to all the basics of a CMS like WordPress operation, a well-known platform for website managers - and a fantastic way to advertise your blogging hobby, from designing to managing content.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

4. HTML programming

Ever wanted to learn how to edit a web page template but never had the real chance - or someone to coach you? Any HTML/CSS/JS tutorials, available online cover all the simple yet essential sides of programming for you to establish yourself as a front-end developer - either at your workplace or just to enrich your own knowledge base.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

5. Search engine optimization

Even if you may not need SEO for your current job profile, it’s always a good idea to pick up this valuable skill for a better understanding of how the search engines really work. SEO drives most of your website’s traffic. All the above-mentioned skills will complement your SEO knowledge. By taking an SEO class, you’ll learn what search engine optimization is, how to select keywords for marketing, and how to compete with other sites for the most visibility.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

6. The Google Analytics course

Like SEO, analytics is a great way of tracking traffic to any site, in addition, to understand how visitors are interacting with the website. Any comprehensive course on Google Analytics will walk you through the different aspects of the tool and how to interpret the data presented to you and then transform the data into information. With this information, you’ll be able to recognize patterns that’ll give you an idea of what users want - and how to make changes to the website following that trend.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

7. Essentials of Outlook

It’s hard to keep track of all your emails, to-do lists, presentations, reports, meetings, etc. if you don’t know how to properly use Outlook. With proper training, you’ll learn how to save time and keep organize everything. Sure, checking and replying to email is boring, but we all have to follow the rules of corporate communication to a certain degree.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

8. Fundamentals of Google Drive operation

Did you know that there are two main aspects of any job function - collaboration in real-time and synchronization - and Google Drive has these both which should radically increase an individual’s productivity and efficiency. Once you know how to use it - will surely become a fan of cloud storage aside from understanding the real importance of using it as a central repository of all project files.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

9. Google Advanced search - search the web like a pro

If you’re like me - spend half of the day on the web and but can’t seem to find things on Google that you’re searching for, regardless of several attempts and changing keywords combination again-n-again, a training session on Google advanced search is perfect for you. This will teach you how to take benefit of Google and/or Bing optimally, as well as all the tips and tricks to save time on finding the best search results.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

10. Writing for the web

Writing is an art and also a little bit of science behind it. Knowing how to write well is a valuable skill and requires a considerable amount of thought and energy. Because we look for quick answers on search engines and social media these days, the content has to be engaging, helpful, to the point, and easy to understand all at once. A content writing course is difficult to find but you certainly will find a program where you can learn when writing, what are the points that you need to keep in your mind.

Write to partha.sdtt@gmail.com for a free consultation.

See, all these courses will help you build a 360-degree approach to your digital marketing career which you want to pursue. Hopefully, now you know, what are the new-age digital skills and how do you develop digital skills. 

Good luck!

How Do You Unplug Mentally?

Hey Friends,

Chances are, you are reading this post end of a tiring, devastating day that has filled with a hectic schedule.

If so, you might want to listen to what I have to say about the influence of disconnecting.

If you are feeling stressed by following your everyday routine (or you do not follow a routine at all), then unplugging yourself from your messy timetable is the best thing you can do right now for yourself.

Following a routine is a sense of organized activities and there is no doubt about it. However, you cannot repair what is incorrect until you give yourself a break.

A year ago, I was also overwhelmed with my life, duties, and daily routine. However, my productivity was not as I (or my family) was expected. I was acting like a robot.

Then I realized I need space to recover for myself.

Giving myself space allows me to -

• Go over my priorities and goals
• Get a brand new look on my timetable
• Polish my skills
• Clear my mind to way out
• Gain a relaxed mind

When we are trapped in our hectic schedule, we do not have the moment or liberty to fix what is mistaken because we do not have the time to do that without prejudice.

This is why I am sharing my feeling, my realization with you so anyone who is reading this, can step outside their hard time and find what needs putting in place.

If you know, you need time to rejuvenate, then just unplug, refuel, and come back stronger.

I hope to take this break or pause results in the finest transformation for you.

Best,
Partha

How Do I Fix My SEO?

Hi,

Yes, I just cannot work artlessly as I believe search engine optimization (SEO) is a continuous process but not a spontaneous one.

There is a thin line between a content writer and a content developer in SEO. I witnessed many blog posts very recently on Google's new Quality Rater Guidelines and how it is going to affect individuals and overall the industry.

All the write-ups were solid.

Suddenly a thought came to me. Not all of the articles must attract the same level of attraction from their readers due to various reasons obviously.

As I felt it with me, the connection, well, was not equal to all. Some writing bored me not because they were second or third on the reading list.

I believe a writer is the one who primarily responsible for making a connection with his/her readers through writing. The writer can make or break a reader’s mind through his/her creation. Writing is not any more compilation of words or following the word counts blindly. Writing is an art and always remains an art.

I have the opportunity in my career to work with many talented writers but meet very few creators.

A definition of a content creator to me -

Did I spend enough time on it? Did I do enough to make it right? Is this satisfying me?

I am not talking about editing, adding, or tweaking the copy here and there.

I am thinking of it giving birth to a baby and then taking care of the baby.

Nevertheless, there are hiccups.

Going through labor pain is sometimes annoying to some people.

Just like, sometimes, our creativity does not come up.

We have off times. There are time-frames when cannot quite create anything but our work just cannot stop.

As a result, we feel stressed. Maybe, you are not connecting with the writing topic as a writer for a specific period.

Maybe we are just exhausted.

Beating ourselves up is easy and piling on the stress is easier especially when deadlines are around the corner.

The result? We feel worse.. gloomy. We try to channelize pressure off us on others around us subconsciously behaving badly. Feel gloomier afterward.

Finally, nothing gets done the way we wanted.

I have experienced this many times. I spent a lot of time trying to make an SEO plan work when what I should have done is let it go and start over.

So, if you are going through this, know that you are not alone. We all have tough times.

From my experience, I can tell you there are things you can do.

How can I fix my SEO problem?

You can do a lot but here I am sharing my three best ways of survival from falling into an infinite loop of disgrace:

1. Get away from work

The idea is to focus on something different instead. Keep your mind busy with other things that will allow you to get a break.

When we are stuck, we tend to do the same mistakes, repeatedly. Shifting focus temporarily will help us get out of with a solution. Moreover, you will feel much organized and able to think out of the box.

2. Take periodic breaks while working

Work in sprints. Working continuously for long hours does not automatically ensure quality. It is hard to see computer screens for me when I do not give any justification for it. Moreover, you can only strain your neck, back, and eyes a strain.

If you are not amalgamating effortlessly with your work, then simply take a break, and come back afresh. I believe, no matter how solid your SEO plan is, without an energized brain, hard to get back on track.

3. Give yourself OK to fail

It is hard to swallow failure or negative comments most of the time. However, if you focus always on success and sweat over from the fear of failures, then eventually you should give up on your SEO career.

SEO is so dynamic that many times changing plans is the only thing that makes sense.

That does not mean you should stop trying new things or experiments or tests.

How to do SEO?

I could have spent my entire life in an organization by following my senior’s direction. I still would have get blame for any catastrophe because I know that following SEO directions blindly is as dangerous as walking in the desert with only a bottle of water.

As long as you want to do SEO professionally, you should not take anything for granted without testing it properly.

On the other side, sometimes a slight directional change in view is all that you need to make your SEO works. After all, why bang your head against the wall when we know SEO is a developing concept where change is the only constant and starting over could make things much easier?

Believe me, work stress-free and you will recognize the difference in you, your work.

What do you feel?

What is your go-to strategy when your SEO does not pay you back? I would love to learn from you!

Have a great time ahead, everyone!

One last thing, everything you do in your SEO job, do it with dignity, with glee.

Enjoy your progress in SEO! No matter if, no one praise you for your effort to make the SEO community flourish. I am here if you need me.

Partha

How To Set Goals In Google Analytics?

Hi!

Professionally, I do SEO. Therefore, Google Analytics is a common yet decisive weapon in my arsenal.

Yesterday I was reading an article on Google Analytics goal setting. At the end of the reading, I felt a bit miserable.

Why?

I realized how truly goal setting could start turning our dreams into reality.

I would like to draw your kind attention to this topic.

How?

You may have read a lot of articles about how to improve mental health, stay happy, keep your hope alive, etc.

If you like SEO, then you may go through articles on Google Analytics a few times.

A few of those I read too.

Suddenly, I start correlating the article on Google Analytics goal setting with my life. Moreover, I now start understanding more accurately the messages that lie within those inspirational articles on improving mental health, happiness, live a stress-free life, etc.

I realized that reaching our dreams is much easier than it may seem.

All we need to set a goal, keep everything simple along the way to reach that goal, and do not over-optimize anything to reach the goal faster.

The truth is we can reach practically any SEO goal set up in Google Analytics to measure progress, with the right SEO mindset. Likewise, with dedication and proper approach, dreams in our life are achievable too by just anyone.

Setting goals in Google Analytics is one thing and achieving it within the given time frame is another. The situation may sounds familiar to you.

However, you may be one of those number-crushers who consistently achieve targets and finish SEO projects on a high note. You are not at all surprised at how easily reach an SEO goal really can be.

Because you have found a process that works for you.

Chances are those number-crushers (who have found the optimum process to achieve targets consistently) optimized well their lives too.

However, not all have found the process until now. Let me share with you some simple steps we can take to reach just about any goal we set out to accomplish.

I have found these are the common traits for those who are not only doing their SEO jobs great but also living a happy monk-like life.

Prerequisite: We DO have to stick to these!

• Break major goals down into minor mini-goals
• Define a clear objective for every move you make
• Align major goals with the end goal
• Set realistic deadline that should keep you energetic to meet goals
• List all your goals in a specific order
• Develop an approach to meet every single goal
• Take notes about your goals in a document to refer to in the future - in both cases - meeting the goals and failed to meet
• Share goals with others too in case any refinement is required
• Imagine the happiness one can feel achieving goals when feel overwhelmed, every time will push you closer to the goal
• Stay passionate about everything but getting over-passionate about goals may backfire - focusing on the process is equally important as focusing on output

Ready to set up goals in Google Analytics? Then be sure to tune your mindset first to quantify your SEO progress through Google Analytics data.

I hope you understand the fact now to do SEO happily; we have to have a happy life. To living a happy life, we must set some goals and hitting them consistently (which means setting up a process). Once we optimized well our life as per our true potential, we can repeat the same in our SEO work! Accordingly, we can able to set logical goals in Google Analytics. Not only had that, we all then able to analyze all the data associated with goals.

If you do, I would like to hear your feedback!

Cheers!

Partha

How Do I Get Into Content Marketing?

For the last five years, wherever I go online, every digital marketing forum has at least three active threads on content marketing.

A lot of conferences and events are occurring around the globe every month and most of you may have attended at least one content marketing boot camp.

In less than three years, marketers, communications pros, journalists, marketing analysts, and more - professionals just like you - are in quest of getting the latest insights on content marketing strategies, interact with thought leaders from around the world through Twitter, LinkedIn, …and the list goes on!

The buzz is getting BIG every year, and the excitement is through the roof! I understand and respect the trend. However, it is a crunch time for us to take an educated step for a brighter future.

What makes a good content marketer?

Unfortunately, many of us know that content marketing has to do, but very less distinguishes it from spamming. There is a thin line between doing marketing with your content strategy to reach out to your targeted audience AND frustrate them by showing them marketing messages repeatedly until they block you.

However, as a responsible marketer, we have several options:

• The main agenda should always help the consumers through content, not to brag with cliche messages
• Maintain a variety as well as continuity in content production - must not use the same content in a different format again n again
• Share opinions through content to receive an opinion from the readers - everything that we create as a medium to communicate with viewers should add some value to the community

If you want to network and meet some of your potential customers leveraging the power of engaging content because you are looking for sales, then content marketing is fine, but if use your content directly to drive sales, then not.

What is the best way to do content marketing?

The marketers need to understand one thing, use content not to improve your marketing game, rather use to make high-level connections - which essentially helps to plan your marketing strategy for the future.

If you are planning to use a tool for automating the content publishing process then that is cool, but for making new connections and nurture old relationships to communicate meaningfully, do not mechanize your content development process.

Please stop misusing any marketing opportunity to grow solely your business. You are doing injustice to you more than anyone else is by creating content perplexedly.

How Do Small Businesses Do SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a subset of marketing (or search engine marketing). Thus, it costs time and money. If you are short on time but have the money, hiring an agency or consultant is an option.

However, if you are short on money, use these do-it-yourself directives to improve your SEO result -

1. Do keyword research

Let's start with keyword research. You know what consumers want because you are the owner of the business. Apply that knowledge in keyword research, create a list of the possible words and phrases that consumers use to find your business online.

It also helps you to estimate the demand for your product/service that you have to target.

I am not telling you which tool you should use to do this because -

• There are many free and paid tools available online
• There are many resources also available online on how to do keyword research

All I can suggest here, any tool no matter how powerful and accurate it is, never ever can suggest better keywords for SEO than your own business brain.

2. Know your opposition

During the process of searching and finalizing keywords, watch for the top-ranked websites in the search engine results pages (SERP), for the same key phrases. Try to find answers to the questions like -

• Who they are?
• What are they doing well and poorly?
• How do they use keywords inside the website and the content they have?
• What is their USP (unique selling point/proposition)?
• How they engage with their prospects?

Studying online business reviews and ratings besides checking social media activity to learn about competition is an easy way to start.

In digital marketing most of the reviews and ratings are part of paid ads - so, the best way to rely on your own field experience and take business decisions.

After all, the people who are searching for you (your target audience) online are the people who use to take your brick-n-mortar service earlier.

3. Design your web pages

With an understanding of what customers want, and the keywords they use to find you online, build pages on your business website to adhere to those search queries.

You have competitor analysis with you, so build an individual page’s layout corresponding to that study backed by the latest trends and thought - as a customer, what I should need on a page to take conclusion affirmatively.

4. Optimize your site

The next step is to categorize the pages meaningfully and create a logical structure for a website. Depending on your variety of products and services, you should expand the website vertically as well as horizontally.

Any website today should be mobile responsive and that is a basic requirement to cater to the ever-growing number of smartphone and tablet users.

Also, make sure that the experience of those users is smooth and engaging in terms of page load time.

You simply cannot have a technically perfect website but you can minimize/remove easily fixable bugs from the site to make it overall healthier.

Again, to give your visitors a superior quality experience while they are on your page, the focus should be on simplicity.

Else, you can find a bunch of blog posts on the web about how to optimize a site; but my one recommendation to you - keep optimizing but not at the expense of degrading the user experience.

5. Produce content consistently

You do not need to be a writer or hire a seasoned writer until you can speak in your user’s language and your users can understand it easily.

Consistency is key. Quality is the main thing.

Content does fit in any form - not need to be text only. However, make it engaging enough so your business's target audience consumes it the way you want.

I do not know any secret recipe for developing content, but I can suggest you check every bit of content before you post on the web from your user’s point of view.

If you are happy with the creation, then you can expect a similar level of acceptance for whom you have developed content. It is as simple as it is.

6. Start building relationships

Link building is a major component of SEO but is ineffective now. You should focus on building business relations.

The more you give away to the web, the better you place yourself on the web.

If you built a compelling website, then users automatically not just want to share their experience with their friends - but visit repeatedly for more.

Eventually, you will start earning links ethically.

The competitive research in point no. two, above, will help you here because you already know now links from which sites give your competitors the mileage.

Accordingly, you can start interacting with those websites meaningfully.

Nevertheless, use your logic again, you know your business, you also know about your target audience, so it is easy to think where those people are like to spend their time online. That is it; chalk out a program and start following it diligently.

The result will soon follow you.

7. Shape your social media network

As part of building public relations, social media platforms are a fantastic way to listen to what others are saying and accordingly help them by providing accurate solutions.

Please do not push them, rather pull them naturally towards you at their own convenience. Connect with your customers and prospects meaningfully but not forcefully.

Give value to these professional relationships as much as you value your personal bonding. Boosts your SEO by nurturing your relationships with the unknown.

I bet if these unknowns will start giving one day happily their reviews and ratings on you and those will be priceless for your business online.

8. Understand data to derive information

In an idle world, you can optimize randomly. However, in an ideal world, you cannot what you do not quantify.

Hence, you need analytics in digital marketing to track performance, to take steps based on data analysis, to understand what is working for your business and what is not.

You can change anything mentioned above if you have data; if your data is telling you that users like more "this" than "that", and then you can do any change more confidently.

Analyze performance for your SEO program is essential too but do not over-analyze anything. Rely on your field knowledge, because data sometimes can give mixed results. That said, relying on data is a good bet nowadays.

No alternative to education: study whenever you get a chance to stay relevant and knowledgeable.

Minimize your tumbling.

Failure is inevitable, you have to face problems and your education will give you the power to encounter every challenge that you face on the way.

Ask questions: always try to start with "WHY" and not with "HOW".

If you are stuck anywhere ask questions to yourself first. You will automatically be redirected to how. How to solve this problem.

Be patient. Stay happy. Believe in your own.

No one can stop you to become a formidable SEO even though you do not have any background.

Cheers!

Why Is My SEO Not Working?

Search engine optimization (SEO) not working? Here is why -

Hey,

So you are upset by the lack of traffic to your website?

Yes, I can understand. You are putting time and money into inviting traffic but not getting results are depressing.

You are probably doing all these -

• Publishing articles
• Building links here and there
• Buying links desperately

Even you are worried about what will happen after the next Google update.

If any of these sounds familiar to you, I have something more bad news that you might be interested in -

Stop doing what you are doing right now otherwise your website continues falling. Getting tons of traffic that increases each month gradually will remain a dream for you unless you have a revised mental state.

There are no hacks, that can save you/your website from falling further as per my knowledge.

How do I fix my SEO?

Here is a solution:

There is a blueprint saved already in your mind that dictates to you until now how to do SEO to get exponential traffic. Reprogram it.

You are carrying an SEO mindset (otherwise you would have not read this post) perfectly tailored to "how Google works in 2008". It’s a failed template used every day by many like us to generate traffic for our clients or for our own.

Stop taking directions from masters or searching for SEO tips and tricks online. Spend time on correcting your mentality first.

Those who create tons of new business for their clients around the world changed either their mentality first or established an illegal connection with Google, Bing, and many more search engine teams to receive favoritism.

How can you improve your SEO?

Rather than wasting your time with SEO theory, tune your mind first and look at actual case studies of sites ranking in late 2018.

• Exactly how they seeing the keywords and consider adding them within the content
• The links they are building a scam or a pure output of an ethical public relations program
• The types of content they are developing consistently
• The approach they are taking for any form of social media interactions
• The way they slice-n-dice results in further improvement

For all these, you have to follow only one strategy - rebuild your SEO mind-map. I am giving you this incredibly valuable suggestion for free.

Why? Because I did the same mistake you are doing and I do not want you to suffer more. Actually, the quicker we all change collectively, the better everyone can leverage the power of modern SEO. After all, we are all members of the same online community.

Then you can apply what you learn to your website immediately after.

How to think about SEO?

I am seeing a lot of digital marketers (young and seasoned both) are doing enough to create a bad reputation about SEO in common mass. Which has to stop right away. And, this is my effort to do that.

If you are not ready to change from your inside, you cannot hold yourself and figure out a different way to increase your website traffic.

Make sure you have developed the right mentality before doing SEO, which is the best you can do to you, to the entire SEO community!

SEO is a very sophisticated thing. I feel pain when people around me telling me, oh! You do SEO through their dubious expression to me, my profession, and to my community.

We have no right to degrade SEO unnecessarily for our own false mindset about SEO.

See you soon!