12 Of The Most Exciting Web Design Trends This Year
Web design is an ever-changing, ever-evolving industry. Because of this, web designers are often faced with an irony : The first being consistency, and the second being change.
Design is an industry that constantly craves and fights for our attention. Each piece of design is competing to get their very own spotlight. The problem is, the design niche has become an environment flooded with stimuli and information. It becomes overwhelming for users and harder for designers to consistently deliver a clear message.
The funny thing is that the design industry constantly experiences change. Web design continues to gradually change everyday. It may not be noticeable right away, but look back and see how much of it has changed. Change is constant and inexorable. There’s always something new to learn and adapt to.
Technology has opened the doors for endless design possibilities. Designers now are experimenting with new technology, incorporating and reinventing previous design trends, and creating new techniques to improve their craft.
Some web design trends are ephemeral while there are some staples like minimalism and flat illustrations that are still being integrated with more advanced approaches.
There are some web designers that fail to consistently sharpen and hone their skills to adapt to all of the changes - and these designers are quickly left behind.
To help designers better grasp the concept of consistency and change, we’ve made a list of the top 12 web design trends that strike a balance between clear content with clean, uncluttered, and rich visuals.
Top 12 Web Design Trends For This Year:
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Enlarged Elements
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Split screen
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Immersive 3D digital design
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Layered Elements
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Interactive Animation
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Custom illustrations
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Dark mode
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Layers and floating elements with soft shadows
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Mixing graphics and photography
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Glowing, fluorescent, and luminous color schemes
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Extreme minimalist navigation
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Microinteractions
01. Enlarged Elements
The purpose of having a website is to effectively communicate your brand’s message right? And what better way to do it than to guide your website visitor’s eye directly to it.
This year, enlarged elements are taking over the design scene. Many websites are favoring large prominent elements like big bold typography, large scale full screen images/videos, and sizable navigation icons.
Having such huge elements will catch the user’s attention and guide their eye directly to your message. This trend should be used to highlight what you want your website visitors to focus on and help them understand what your website is all about.
Enlarged elements make the design feel more modern without looking tacky. The best way to integrate this design is by reducing the design elements to keep your enlarged element the focal point.
Don’t overdo it, adding more elements will be overwhelming and counterproductive. Give your website visitors a space where their eyes can rest. Remember, whitespace is still your best friend.
Okalpha rides along with this trend by using big bold typography to introduce their brand. Their layout delivers their message efficiently by highlighting their message. The bold font catches the user’s attention, and helps them register the message, and resonate with it.
02. Split Screen
There are brands that have more than one idea they’d like to convey, some are able to communicate their message without making their website look cluttered, while others.. Not so much.
If you’re one of those brands that would like to convey more than one idea but still want the site to look uncluttered, try splitting your screen. Doing this will allow you to properly communicate your ideas and give both a chance to shine.
Possibilities are endless with this trend, it’s captivating and engaging enough to capture your audience’s attention. You can have each side behave differently, one can be a photo and the other a video. You can also play around with scroll effects and have each side move at a different pace.
Engine Themes made use of the split screen by allowing the user to drag one side to the other. The purpose was to show their audience the before and after of a coded app design and what it would look like after.
You can see how they injected a visual hierarchy into the design by placing that additional element at the center where the two halves meet. It balances the screen and acts as a focal point to show you how you can drag the button.
03. Immersive 3D Digital Design
3D has always been engaging and eye catching. It’s not something you see everyday, unless you watch a 3D movie. It’s been around for quite some time now, but not a lot have integrated 3D into their design, mainly because of the lack of technology and the hefty price.
However, the constant evolution of technology has thankfully given more and more opportunities for designers to design in 3D without needing top grade tech. VR is becoming more and more mainstream, cost-effective, and hyper-realistic.
This trend allows you to visually break boundaries between digital space and reality. You get to give your users a more immersive and engaging user experience. It’s interactive and fun enough to make users want to stay and explore your website longer.
The colors, graphics, music, and overall feel of the website contributes to engaging your user’s senses. Using 3D design makes your site look futuristic, energetic, and gives it more personality.
The only problem you’ll be facing is the speed of your website. Heavy graphics can slow down your website and might put users off. 3D is cool and it’s easy to get carried away by adding more and more visuals. Try to find a balance between both to not overwhelm your website visitors and to have your site respond faster.
04. Layered elements
If 3D design isn’t your style, you can still add depth to your 2D website design by layering up elements within your web pages. This can be achieved by adding elements on top of each other. You can either place one on top, make the one behind partially obscured, or you can have additional content pop into view once a user hovers over an image.
Be careful though, piling layers can make your design look more cluttered, but once done well, the composition will look legible and engaging.
The trick is to use whitespace around the elements and to add hierarchy for more depth. Make one element bigger and more prominent or highlight the element by changing the color once hovered on.
In the example above, Adidas layered a photo on top of typography that moves in the background. If a user hovers on the text, it changes color and is brought in front of the photo instead. It highlights their product and their message at the same time.
You can try this by adding lightboxes or a parallax scrolling effect. You can also try layering images or text on top of one another.
05. Interactive Animation
People’s attention spans are growing shorter each year. It’s getting harder and harder for marketers and web designers to impress their audience. However, one persistent way to impress is through videos and animation. It somehow always instinctively attracts the eye to that particular element.
There are various methods you can incorporate motion in your design. It can be through microinteractions, or big scale moving objects. It’s engaging and pleasing to the user’s eye. It enhances the user experience and an overall creative way to deliver your brand’s message.
Try to use motion only on the areas of your design you’d like your users to focus on. As fun as having animation in your web design is, it can end up being more of a distraction. If you include motion in your web design, there should be a purpose. Use it sparingly and strategically, make sure it contributes to the story you’re telling through your design.
06. Custom Illustrations
Every element you add in your design serves a purpose. Gone are the days of including images, videos, and illustrations for aesthetic purposes. Design is now more intentional than ever, the use of imagery and visuals are pieces to complete the whole. Each one supports and solidifies the brand’s message and its identity.
The right use of these elements, like icons and illustrations can make a big impact in your design. It all depends on using the right illustrations and how strategic you are with your placements.
It’s better to have your icons and illustrations custom made for your brand to create a coherent visual language that will encapsulate your business’ message.
07. Dark mode
Dark mode has recently become a hot topic in the web design scene. It helps make a website look more sleek, sophisticated, and modern. It’s easy on the eyes and it emphasizes the colors and design elements of any web page.
Visual appeal isn’t the only upside to this design trend, it also has its practical use. Dark mode is better for OLED screens because it conserves mobile phone and tablet energy and extends screen lifespans by asking its screen pixels to fire less brightly. It also reduces eye strain for users who spend hours looking at screens.
Many websites and softwares are now coming out with dark mode options for users who would prefer the practicality and aesthetic appeal of this trend.
08. Layers and floating elements with soft shadows
Flat design is no longer a thing. This year’s web design trend is all about creating depth. You can add this trend to your design by using soft shadows and adding floating elements to create more depth and to add interest to your web page.
An opposite to the more traditional flat design, try adding soft drop shadows to your images and graphics or try layering elements on top of each other. This will make your design feel more lightweight and dynamic.
09. Mixing graphics and photography
If you want a design with a more memorable and striking visual appeal, try overlapping graphics on top of high-quality photos or vice versa. The trend is all about letting your creativity go wild.
It’s a flexible trend that allows you to use it to add extra pizzazz to your web design, or to use it to strategically contribute to your brand’s story. This trend will be most effective if everything is coherent with your brand’s identity.
10. Glowing, fluorescent, and luminous color schemes
Pantone’s color of the year has no say with web design’s fluorescent and luminous colour scheme trend. This bold, courageous, and attention grabbing color scheme will make designs stand out. The glow-in-the-dark saturated colors will highlight any element you’d want your users to focus on.
Duotones are at the forefront of this design trend. It’s all about keeping the design look futuristic by incorporating neon colors with its counterparts to make websites more effervescent.
11. Extreme minimalist navigation
In most cases, simple is in fact better. This especially goes for website navigation. Extremely minimalistic navigation is the new trend.
In order to better the user experience, the trend is taking away all the frills and complications of a website’s navigation. The user should spend more time immersed in the web page than having to think about how they can navigate through the site.
Large scale photos/videos and minimum text can make up most of your website, and that should be enough to impress your users. The large elements of your page should be on the foreground and be the main focus of the design.
Only use photos that are relevant and worthy to be the main attraction of your site. The image needs to have a crafty and powerful punch to your visuals.
12. Microinteractions
Microinteractions or UI animation is a tiny design element that plays a significant role in adding to user experience. It adds a more ‘human’ feeling to websites that will impress users.
These small interactions can be anything from a CTA changing color, a cursor change when hovered on an element, or even the little emoji you have on Facebook.
Users get to feel more immersed and engaged in what they’re doing through these microinteractions. They let website visitors use their senses. Microinteractions give websites more life!
This trend may seem a bit shallow and feel like it serves no purpose aside from its aesthetic appeal, but it really does contribute to the overall user experience. It takes mundane and generic functions into a different level by making it more memorable and lively for the user.
A Mix Of The Old And The New Web Designs.
Balance is this year’s overarching theme. Web design is all about striking a balance between consistency and evolution.
Many of this year’s web design trends are derived from old effective ones. It’s the reinvention of the old to create something new and take it a step further.
The practice of reinvention helps web designers keep up with the constant changes in the industry but still effectively deliver a message. Using tried and true techniques and evolving it to fit with the trends will definitely solve the irony of the web designer. If you have any questions about web design, feel free to contact us!
8 Cheap And Affordable Ways To Promote And Advertise Your Business Online
Businesses often shy away from any form of online advertising because of the costs. They think promoting their businesses online will cost them too much money. Knowing how to advertise your business can be tricky. However, if you know where to look, you’ll find that the internet has many advertising platforms that cost next to nothing.
The internet has given small businesses the means to advertise and promote their business without needing to put out wads of cash. Online platforms like Facebook, Yelp, and Twitter are simple yet efficient and effective ways to promote your brand.
Advertising requires creativity and resourcefulness. It's about utilizing the tools you have. If you’re looking for inspiration to spark your creativity, you’re in the right place. We’ve listed 8 cheap and affordable ways to help you gain insight into how to advertise your business online without extensive expertise or significant investments.
1.Social Media Is A Need
Investing in social media has become a necessary part of any digital advertising/marketing campaign. Not only will you be able showcase your brand on a global scale and gain more exposure, you’ll also be able to have direct contact with your target market.
No matter who your target audience is, you’ll be able to find them on social media’s 2.3 billion active users. You don’t have the excuse of saying only millennials are on social media.
Your only problem with social media is being able to cut through the noise. One way you can do that is by creating killer content. Posting the right content on social media will expand your presence and also increase brand recognition.
You might be asking what the right kind of content is. Well, the right kind of content has to be:
- Know your audience - This is the most important tip of all. You need to know your audience, do some research on them, craft a hypothesis, and test out your theory. Trust me, this will play a big factor in the tips below.
- Relevant to your niche - Never underestimate the power of context when crafting your message on social media. You need to publish content that’s only relevant to your business and field. Your tone when speaking to your audience on social media needs to match theirs. Additionally, it has to make your audience feel comfortable when engaging with your brand. That’s why doing prior research on your audience is important.
- Use the right tool - There are many social media platforms out there, but which one should you choose? Let’s go back to our first tip, the answer is there. Go back to your research and find out which platform your target audience often uses, what time they use it, and why. Knowing and using the right tool can help you play to its strengths in order to drive the most engagement. One technique implement to find your audience is through hashtags.
- High quality photos/videos - Nobody wants to see a blurry out of focus image on social media. High quality photos and videos create an impact on your social media, especially since it’s one of the most shared types of content.
2. Join Online Communities
There are countless online communities all over the web, and surely there is a place for your business to join. It’s extremely beneficial for businesses to join these communities, something as simple as actively contributing and building rapport with the community will help. Just don’t try to shove your business in their face, do it passively. A subtle promotion tactic could be putting a link in your signature or only mentioning it once appropriate.
Another thing you can do to get involved in your community is by attending events. Donate a few goods to charity, or blog about your business’ volunteer work. Sponsor events in exchange for promotional materials. Check online for local events that you can attend, choose the ones that will be most beneficial to you based on your target market and goals. You’ll be killing two birds with one stone, you get to help your community and advertise your brand.
You can also leave comments on blogs that are related to your content, this will help your content quickly rank on search engines. Doing this will get Google and other search engines to pick up your site and index your content with a higher rank if the website you left a comment on is reputable. The association with reputable websites will boost your SEO rank.
Try to add as much value to your comments in order to grab the attention of the blog or website’s audience. Additionally, impressing them will likely lead them to visit your website. Adding value will also build rapport with other bloggers and experts in your niche or field. In turn, this will open more opportunities for you to work with them and support each other’s businesses.
3. Insert Calls-To-Action In Your Emails
Emails are still a tremendous promotion opportunity. 59% of respondents say that marketing emails influence their purchase decisions (SaleCycle, 2018).
The trick to nailing email marketing this 2020 is to make it as personalized as possible. Sixty-two percent of marketers believe that personalized messaging is one of the most effective types of email, while 17% believe that plain text email is the least effective. Another thing that makes a real difference in your email marketing strategy including a Call-To-Action (CTA) button. Some of the best examples of great CTAs are:
- MailChimp’s enticing, straightforward, and lighthearted “Prepare For Launch”
- Mercy Corp creating a sense of urgency with “Donate Now”
- Spotify giving you two options and a slider that gives a simple and basic understanding of their service and advantages.
These are just a few examples of how you can make great CTAs you can include in your emails. Another trick is to offer a lead magnet or freebie that might interest your target market and push them into your funnel.
Additionally, if you want more examples, you can read Campaign Monitor’s list of 75 Calls to Actions to Use in Your Email Marketing Campaigns.
4. Offer Freebies
Everyone likes getting free things. Giving away freebies with your brand name on it will definitely increase brand recognition. It’s a simple and hassle-free way to advertise your brand.
Doing this will also grab the attention of people who would hesitate to buy from your brand. You can make it even more engaging by turning it into some kind of giveaway contest.You can ask them to share your latest post or write about your brand under a specific hashtag. Then, whoever does the best job wins the contest. Giveaways are great for generating a lot of buzz in a short span of time.
The giveaway will also introduce your brand to new prospects and you’ll be able to show your appreciation towards clients who are already loyal to you as well.
Another way to do this is by offering discounts vis discount codes, etc. Award anyone who shares your brand on social media by offering a small discount. You can also offer them free trials, consultations, free ebooks, or newsletters.
5. Put Out Interactive Content
Interactive content is considered to be one of the biggest marketing trends in 2020. No one can resist the allure of something this cool. People want shoppable posts, 360-degree videos, AR/VR, quizzes, polls, etc.
Take a look at how Warner Bros. Pictures promoted their movie IT, they posted a cinematic VR experience that will make you feel like you were one of the characters in the movie. The VR video got over 6 million views on Facebook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHUErvVAeIw
This level of interactivity in retail and marketing is new and fresh. Look at the ads on Instagram. Now you’re able to immediately get information about the product by tapping the photo. The dress name and price appears with just a tap. There are also tons of very engaging brand stories on instagram. You can add polls, quizzes, etc.
(INSERT AD)
These types of contents are extremely innovative and it will help your business stand out. Visitors will be able to engage with your brand and it will give them a reason to stay.
6. Work With Local Influencers
These days you don’t need Brad Pitt or Kim Kardashian to become your brand ambassadors. Let’s face it, celebrities that big come with a hefty price. Marketers are now turning to local influencers to advertise their brand for them.
Social media influencers may not have a Kim Kardashian-level reach, but you’ll be able to have an influencer that has established themselves in your niche or target market.
Influencer marketing is becoming more personal this 2020. It will be more authentic because your brand will be promoted by an influencer your target market can trust. Afterall, word of mouth is still one of the most effective marketing strategies out there.
“Consumers are 92% more likely to trust their peers over advertising when it comes to purchasing decisions.”
Joey Little
Getting the chance to work with an influencer will build brand recognition and strengthen your credibility.
7. Host A Webinar
This is something you can do online as well as offline as a way to promote your business and educate your clients. As a business owner, I’m sure you’re tired of hearing the same questions over and over again. By offering a webinar, you’ll have the chance to answer all of these questions. You can take these questions and use them as webinar topics.
Webinars will turn you into a go-to source of information within your industry. You’ll attract new prospects and also get the chance to collect their contact information and get new leads. This will forge new relationships as well as strengthen existing ones.
You’re going to need a high-quality camera. Most smartphones now have great quality, so it could be enough for your webinar. Remember to announce your webinar via social media a week or a few days before you do it so people will have the chance to clear their schedule. You can also personally message clients and invite, or send out invites via email.
8. Personalization
Personalized ads are extremely trendy for promoting and advertising your brand this 2020. People want to be able to experience your brand personally through design, content, context, and more.
“80% of consumers are more likely to do business with a company if it offers personalized experiences.”
Instapage
It’s all about the whole user experience. Some of the most successful marketing campaigns are the most personal ones. For example:
- Coke - The “Share A Coke” campaign has been around since 2011, and it’s still going strong. People love the idea of being able to personalize their bottles.
- Cadbury - They launched a personalized video campaign that would match dairy milk flavors with users depending on data from their Facebook profile. This includes their age, interests, and locations.
- Starbucks - The starbucks mobile app became as personal as possible with data like purchase history and location on their app. You could also personalize your drinks on your app and use their rewards system.
- Netflix - Netflix would recommend movie titles and tv shows depending on your search and watched history
Getting personal really wouldn’t hurt.
To Conclude
There are many advertising methods that won’t require you a big budget, and we’ve just proved it. It may not always be the best way to advertise your business. However, they could be of big help when done well. All you have to do is to get creative and have fun with it.
That was 8 cheap and affordable ways to on how to advertise your business online. Which ones have you tried? Did it work for you? Leave us a comment down below or contact us with any questions!
Best Podcast Microphone Review in 2021
A great podcast microphone is a necessity if you have or want to start a podcast. Podcasting is an ideal tool for you to get your message out to your audience. With technology, you can access the internet and use a computer and an internet connection to start your own podcast. You have the chance to connect with hundreds, to thousands to, millions of people in one go. With a podcast, it is very easy to share your expertise with your audience and create your brand.
Anyone can start a podcast, it’s not a hard industry to break through. But that thought alone makes it a double edged sword. With so many podcasts in the market today, unless the quality of sound of your podcast is good, people will go elsewhere. If you have great content, then having a low-quality microphone is a disservice to your brand.
The microphone you're going to use has the greatest effect on your recordings' sound quality and clarity. The microphone records the speech and then transforms it from real to digital bytes of sound waves. A good microphone can range from less than $100 to a few hundred dollars and can come at a variety of prices. You can choose from the Top 5 we reviewed below, depending on your requirements.
Types of Podcast Microphones
USB Microphones
If you’re just starting out with your podcast you can start with using a USB microphone. They are the easiest to set up, all you need to do is directly plug the mic into the USB port of the PC and start recording. They are relatively simple to use and comfortable.
Their quality of sound, however, is not as high quality as an XRL mic…
XLR Microphones
Shure SM7B Cardioid Microphone
The next level is the XLR microphone... Often used by trained audio engineers.
The connection is a little more complicated than the USB microphone. Instead of plugging it directly into your computer, you need an audio interface.
Dynamic Microphones
Sennheiser E835 Dynamic Cardioid Vocal Microphone
To work, this kind of microphone does not need to be plugged into a power source. They are inexpensive, and regardless of your choice of recording environment, they provide good quality sound.
It’s a good option for when you’re always on the move.
Condenser Microphones
AKG Pro Audio P820 Tube Condenser Microphone
A condenser microphone is used for most professional audio studios.
They cost more than a dynamic microphone, but they generate better quality sound. You get a simple, crisp, and well-detailed sound to appreciate.
However, unlike the dynamic microphone, they require a power source to function properly, and compared to the dynamic microphone, they are a little fragile.
What to look for when choosing a podcasting microphone?
There are two key things you need to keep in mind when you decide to buy a microphone for your podcasting. The first is that you need to pick a microphone that matches your needs the most.There are many outstanding microphones on the market, but they each have their pros and cons. You need to determine for yourself which one is best. The second thing that you need to consider is the main features of a good microphone.
How do you determine which microphone is the best for you?
Budget - Your budget is the most important factor on which the decision on the microphone that you want to buy will rest. The good thing is that today, you get high-quality microphones for even less than $100. As you keep increasing your budget, you will get microphones with better quality, stability and range frequency. You can decide which the best is for you depending on your budget.
Connectivity - You have to decide how you want to connect your microphone. The easiest to connect are USB microphones. Most of the low-budget microphones in the market connect via USB. You can choose from one of the traditional XLR microphones. It is also easy to connect but it just needs a little more effort. If you are just starting out with podcasting, then you should stick with a USB microphone. They are very easy to use and many microphones don’t even need software or drives to connect the microphone to the computer or laptop.
Device to be connected to - In today’s mobile world, there is a slow but steady shift from podcasters using their computers or laptops for podcasting to podcasters using their iPhones or Android devices for podcasting. The advantage of mobile devices is easier set-up and location independence. But if you are using a mobile device, you need to keep in mind that you want a microphone which bleeds out extra noise.
Accessories - You may need a lot of other accessories to go with your microphone. This too can add to your budget. You can check the microphone before you buy it to see what the accessories that are included with it are. The most common accessories that you will need are a microphone stand, a shock mount, a popper stopper, or a computer or laptop to connect with your microphone so that you can start podcasting. Many microphones come as packages or bundles and you save a lot of money if you buy it as a bundle. But you need to be sure that you are buying it because you need it and not just because you get free options.
What are the main features of a good microphone for podcasting?
Cardioid - The microphone should have a cardioid pickup pattern. This will reduce external noise. The cardioid microphones are less sensitive to noise that comes from the side and the back. You may get a better noise rejection from a supercardioid or a shotgun mic. However, for using these microphones you have to be close to the microphone which makes it uncomfortable.
Pop filter: A pop filter is a layer of transparent foam which is acoustically and is inside the mic. This is to prevent popping Ps when you are talking. You can also use an external Pop filter which you can buy and keep between your microphone and yourself.
Shock mount: If there are low-frequency vibrations when you are recording, you can use a shock mount to filter it out. The vibrations come when you are typing on the keyboard or if you touch the table on which the microphone is when the microphone is on. Many microphones have rubber isolation mounts that are inside the microphone so you don’t need to buy an external one. Some microphones have a mount suspended externally around the microphone using elastic bands or straps. You can also add a filter switch that is high-pass on the mic or you can add a mixer so that there is additional protection against low-frequency noise.
Dynamic or Condenser: In a dynamic microphone, the audio signal is created by the movement of a conductor in a magnetic field. There is a lightweight, very thin, diaphragm that moves as per the sound pressure. Dynamic microphones are less expensive than condensers and are less sensitive to high frequencies and sound pressure levels. Also, for most dynamic microphones, you don’t need to have a power supply. There are some dynamic microphones which are as good as a condenser.
Condensers respond better to nuances the sound waves have. It is a simple mechanical system that has a conductive diaphragm that is thin stretched and is kept close to a metal disk which is called a back plate. These microphones need a power supply and are comparatively more expensive.
Additionally, when you are recording a podcast, you need to keep in mind the below points:
The format of the podcast: What is the kind of podcast that you are recording? Will there be multiple speakers or just you? If there will be multiple speakers, what is the frequency that they will be on the podcast?
Set-up: Where are you planning to record the podcast? Will you have a podcast studio or will you be recording in a common area? Some podcasters even record when they are traveling. In that case, they would need a microphone which is light and easy to use.
Podcast Recording Equipment: Will your microphone be enough or would you need to buy a pop filter to even out the sound. Would you need a mixer for editing your recordings? Do you need a microphone stand? Many microphones in the market have their own stand so you can keep that in mind while choosing one.
Now that we’ve discussed a few of the basics, let's take a look at the best podcasting microphones that are on the market today.
Top Podcast Microphones in 2021
We have listed below the Top 5 podcast microphones in 2021
1. RØDE Microphones NT-USB Mini
3. Shure SM58-LC Dynamic Vocal Microphone
4. AKG Pro Audio Lyra Ultra-HD Condenser Microphone
Let’s get started!
RØDE Microphones NT-USB Mini
For podcasters who want to record on the go, this microphone is the best choice. You can quickly plug this in and start recording any place at any time. The NT-USB Mini delivers the same sound quality as a regular Rode microphone, the only difference is its size and portability.
You can record at home or choose to record your podcast in a different location; by doing this, the Rode NT-USB Mini can make your life easier. It even has an amazing magnetic base. Everywhere you go, it's simple to set up and transport with you.
Since it was designed by the manufacturers to be ideal for mobility, they provided an integrated pop filter that helps to remove the cringe plosives. The NT-USB Mini's pickup pattern is only one-dimensional, as it only picks up sound directly from its front which tends to minimize background noise, but not completely.
If you record your podcast mostly on-the-go and you still need a fast setup of equipment, this microphone is a great choice for you. It provides quality sound as well as convenience.
PROS:
- Simple, flexible applications, and produces great sound quality.
CONS:
- Needs a slightly longer USB cable.
Blue Yeti USB Mic
The Blue Yeti is a very popular choice among podcasters. It is a USB microphone famous for its flexibility, robust design, and simplicity to use. It's got a stand installed with it, so there's no need for you to purchase a separate accessory. All you need to do is plug it in and start recording. It has condenser capsules that help your voice sound crisp.
The Yeti provides flexibility in pickup patterns, in addition to being simple to set up and use. You may set it up as bi-directional, stereo, omnidirectional, and cardioid.For instance, you do not need an extra microphone in case of an interview podcast. All you need to do is set up the bi-directional Yeti, and from both directions, it will pick up the tone.
You can configure it in a round table for multiple guests, all you need to do is set it to omnidirectional, and you're good to go.
PROS:
- The overall structure is made of metal and this gives it a solid foundation. It even lasts for a long time
- The top-class sound quality that these mics create every single time is a highlight.
- With four polar patterns, this mic's versatility is literally unbeatable. With these mics, you can record something with
- For a home studio setup, the Blue Yeti microphone is optimal.
CONS:
- It picks up a bit of a muffled noise.
- Mounting is difficult particularly on uneven surfaces, as the mounting stand is a little awkwardly constructed.
- The controls are flimsy.
Shure SM58-LC Dynamic Vocal Microphone
The Shure SM58 is a dynamic cardioid microphone, which means that it’s durable, doesn’t require phantom power, and performs best when recording what’s in front of it.
Cardioid microphones are commonly used by people because they are flexible and forgiving in terms of positioning. Off-axis rejection is helpful, but too much rejection can lead to a frustrating recording with not enough placement precision. Cardioid patterns of recording can record some ambient noise but ignore quiet sounds behind the microphone effectively.
Speak about six inches away from the capsule to get the best sound from the microphone. If you are in a studio environment, be sure to treat the space appropriately to reduce any echoes or noise pollution.
It serves as a high-quality microphone for podcasting, and it enables mobility. It's used a lot in concerts a s it can withstand drops, bashing, and drowning. It is incredibly durable and resilient.
The qualities mentioned above make this mic perfect for outdoor podcast recording.
In the case of interviews in areas that are not your studio, it is also great for digital recording. For road recording and on-site interviews, the Shure SM58 is excellent.
PROS:
- The sound quality is exceptional. The excellent sound does not offer any possibilities for background noise. It perfectly provides a detailed frequency response; it therefore performs well as the high at the low end. You can easily define the nature of the sound as warm and rich.
- The Shure SM58 is a microphone that is robust and durable. SM58 has been subjected to several insane checks, and absolutely nothing will ruin it. If it's dropped from a helicopter or fired by the SM58 microphone, the harsh conditions will still survive to a degree…
CONS:
- The Shure SM58 is intended to be used as a handheld microphone. So it can become a bothersome to keep holding throughout the podcast. Good thing the Shure SM58 comes with a stand adapter you can mount to a mic stand.
- It needs an external pop filter for studio recordings.
AKG Pro Audio Lyra Ultra-HD Condenser Microphone
The Lyra is an amazing microphone that sports and old school design without the old school low quality sound.
There’s no need for a stand or accessory when using it.
The Lyra has four pickup pattern settings. It has a tight, a wide, a front, and front and
back. The front and back configuration will allow mic sharing with one guest, as the name suggests, but both of you need to be close to the mic, as the quality drops with distance. The wide stereo setting is perfect for round table discussions.
The Lyra may be a USB mic, but it still provides outstanding sound quality. It offers audio that is crisp and crystal clear.
PROS:
- Consistent & clean sound
- High audio quality
- Minimal sound compression
- Enables monitoring
- Four pick-up patterns
- Incredible sound frequency
- High-speed USB connection
CONS:
- There is a need to learn how to properly adjust the volume levels due to its sensitivity.
Audio-Technica AT2020USB+
The USB Microphone Audio Technica AT2020USB+ Condenser is a studio-quality microphone that attaches to your computer's USB port directly. This microphone is designed to be used for podcasting, studio recording, and voice-overs, working well with modern recording tools. It is extremely easy to use this microphone on your PC or MAC, you just plug it into the USB port and it's ready to go.
This USB condenser microphone is a side-address studio condenser, like the well regarded AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone from Audio Technica. It has a custom-designed low-mass diaphragm, both for superior transient response and extended frequency response.
The AT 2020USB+'s low self-noise makes it ideal for use with the most sophisticated state-of-the-art digital recording equipment. Well known for accuracy and reliability, this USB microphone version has been developed by the Audio Technica AT2020 studio condenser microphone to be both first-class and convenient.
For anyone looking to start recording on their laptop or home computer, this mic is a must-see.
PROS:
- One of the best USB mics that we've heard before,
- Monitoring without latency
- Multipurpose recording applications
CONS:
- The tripod stand is not very durable.
- Picks up keyboard clicks and noise from a computer fan
- Cardioid Polar Pattern Only
Conclusion
There are plenty of amazing microphones on the market you can acquire for your podcast. We wanted to make it easy for you and narrowed it down to the best of the best.
In order to pick a microphone for podcasting, you’re going to have to weigh your budget and your present level of podcasting maturity. When you level up your podcasting game, there is nothing keeping you from upgrading your microphone in six months.
The majority of podcasters dream of their audience expanding... And right now working with a microphone that is perfect for you is the first step to doing this.
There's no substitute for action, though so choose the microphone from the list above that you think suits you and your podcast the best.
We hope you found this post helpful. For even more reviews, check out our resources page!
The 7 Best Marketing Books of All Time (2023 Must Reads)
Marketing is an ever evolving industry. Trends come and go, tactics change, and technology keeps evolving. However, our team believes the underlying principles of marketing are long-lasting. That's why we are sharing our all-time favorite must-reads, 7 books we think are the best for marketers.
These books were meticulously written by authors and researchers who spent countless hours researching, writing and putting together the most useful information for marketers and businesses. Although there are a lot of resources and blogs you can read online to educate yourself, nothing will ever beat a good book that holds timeless knowledge.
If you are looking to expand your marketing knowledge – here are our 7 picks for the best marketing books to turn you into a kick-ass marketer.
1. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen – By Donald Miller
“In every line of copy we write, we’re either serving the customer’s story or descending into confusion; we’re either making music or making noise.”
We’re all familiar with the effect of storytelling. A great story can impact people by giving them a new or changed perspective. It works for almost everything, especially marketing.
Donald Miller’s Building a Story Brand gives business and marketing leaders proven solutions. It’s packed with useful information that provides readers with a practical step-by-step guide to Miller’s Story Brand 7 framework. The guide shows how you can implement these steps in your marketing operations in order to make your company's message it clear, concise, and emotionally engaging for your customers. It’s a revolutionary and timeless method that will truly give your business an edge and advantage against the competition.
Miller also reveals the secret to helping your customers understand what they gain from buying your products or services in the most compelling way possible. It’s all based on the psychology of how humans perceive and empathize with our product or service offerings through storytelling.
This book is our number one read at Just Digital. Anyone can benefit from this book, no matter the industry. It will change the way you bring value to your customers forever.
2. The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand out From The Crowd – By Allan Dib
“Focusing on the cause (value) rather than the effect (making money) will lead to much greater long-term success.”
The 1-Page Marketing Plan is a must-read for start-up founders, small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to grow their business. It can be difficult and daunting to create and implement your own marketing plan when you have so many other things to manage. Allan Dib's 1-Page Marketing Plan breaks down the process of creating one into small chunks to make the process easier.
The book is essentially a compilation of different marketing ideas and resources that Dib categorizes into a nine-step model.
Dib's nine-step model talks about user persona, value proposition, acquisition channels, nurturing systems, LTV strategies, CAC thoughts and recurrence. The nine-step model is then categorized into three major sections, the before phase, the during phase, and the after phase to give entrepreneurs a real step-by-step guide.
It’s an extraordinary read, especially if you’re a starting and managing your own business. This book thoughtfully compiles key marketing advice scattered throughout the internet and in different books that would’ve otherwise taken many years to read.
3. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Revised Edition - By Robert B. Cialdini, PH.D.
“A well-known principle of human behavior says that when we ask someone to do us a favor, we will be more successful if we provide a reason. People simply like to have reasons for what they do.”
People who understand how to influence and persuade others make great business leaders and marketers. They have the power to get people’s attention, hold it, and get them to respond favorably.
If you want your company to flourish, you will need this skill. This book will teach you the six universal principles of influence and apply it to your business and everyday situations. At the end of the book, you’ll be able to understand how your customers think and perceive your brand.
We’d rate this book a five out of five! It’s interesting, and it breaks down psychology in a straightforward, comprehensible way.
4. DotCom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online (1st Edition) – By Russel Brunson
“The problem is you can’t spend enough to acquire a customer, and the way to fix that problem is to fix your sales funnel.”
Dubbed as “The Underground Playbook For Growing Your Company Online,” ClickFunnels founder Russell Brunson shares his secrets to helping countless entrepreneurs grow their companies online.
The book gives you a clear vision who your business swerves, and why. As you read it, you will learn how to attract, obtain, and retain customers online, the goal of the majority of marketing managers and CMOs these days.
It’s perfect for companies and marketers that have a strong digital presence, or even for those who are looking to venture into the digital sphere. It has everything you need to launch a full online marketing campaign and more.
5. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE – By Phil Knight
“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”
Bill Gates named this book as one of his top five favorite books in 2016, and we think it's still worth reading today!
It won't give a rundown of marketing, nor the secrets and strategies to accomplishing success for your business. If you’re looking for that, this isn’t the book for you.
Instead, you get a real look at the struggle and story of one of the most successful companies in the world and what it took to get to the top. This book will teach you life lessons and might even leave you in tears.
Shoe Dog is a must-read, not only for marketers and entrepreneurs, but for everyone. You’ll end the book feeling inspired, and you’ll gain a different perspective of what makes a brand successful.
6. How to Write Copy That Sells: The Step-By-Step System for More Sales, to More Customers, More Often – By Ray Edwards
“By the time they’re done with your copy, they need to see that the only way they can reasonably expect to get to that end state is… by using your product.”
Every marketer and business owner goes through a slump. We've all been through days when you get truly frustrated because no one seems to be listening to you or buying your products. If you’re currently suffering from that slump, or if you want to prevent it from happening, now is the perfect time to read this book.
This book will teach you how to write fast and effective copy without sounding too "salesy". The step-by-step guide demonstrates how you can write copy by presenting facts and using stories to get people to flock to your business.
By the end of this book, you will discover that you don’t have to trick people into buying your products or services. It’s a fun read, and we can assure you that you’ll get more than what you paid for from this book.
7. Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy – By Martin Lindstrom
“When we brand things, our brains perceive them as more special and valuable than they actually are.”
Why do you buy the things you buy? Why do you prefer one brand over another? These are questions you can find answers to in Buyology. The book gives you an in-depth look into influence and the factors that affect decision-making.
Understanding the factors that impact decision-making will teach you how to fully utilize the resources available, ultimately improving your marketing game.
In the book, Lindstrom shares experiments done with different brands and companies, as well as their results. Through these experiments, we can see the different approaches marketers make when persuading a consumer. Once you read it, you will understand how these factors influence consumers in a real life setting.
It’s a fast and fascinating read that uncovers how you can influence your market, and also uncover your own buying behavior.
*Bonus* The Client Acquisition Blueprint: A SIMPLE, Step-By-Step Blueprint For Creating an EPIC Marketing Strategy & Online Presence – By Hugo Fernandez
"Your ability to create value, communicate it, and exchange it will determine your success. In order to live out your dreams, you need to build and maintain the vehicle that honors the value formula."
As a bonus, we included our very own CEO and awesome human being Hugo Fernandez’s book.
If you want to learn the secret to predictable and sustainable growth for your company, this book is for you! Growing your business is no easy feat, it takes someone like Hugo who’s accomplished exactly that, to share his real life experiences and guide you through the process.
The book features an easy-to-follow blueprint that will help your business grow, no matter what your business is. At the end of the book, you’ll have a solid marketing strategy for your own business.
Conclusion
There are many marketing books out there, the ones in this list the best marketing books we've found so far. These books have given our team a variety of perspectives and insights on marketing. We hope they will offer you many lessons that you can apply to your marketing operations and companies, so make sure to add them to your reading list.
Our team is always looking to learn, and we know the list of great marketing books out there is longer than just seven. We’d love to hear your book recommendations, so please leave them in the comments below. And if you need help organizing your digital marketing operations and getting the best ROI make sure to contact us!
Google Display Ads Banner Sizes: A Quick Resource
Google display ads are everywhere! The question remains - does size matter? Well, we’re here to give you all the answers you need.
Any business that spends money on advertising would want to get a bigger return. These businesses would keep looking for tactics and strategies online, reading article after article, to ensure an increase in ROI.
One factor these businesses often overlook is the size of their ad. Google’s display ads network offers a variety of ad sizes for businesses to choose from, but which one should they use?
Google has more than 10 different Google display ad sizes to choose from, but which one will help you accomplish your goal? Do you go with banners or skyscrapers? It causes quite a lot of confusion.
To help you, we’ve created a quick resource you can use to look at all the sizes Google has to offer.
To start things off, let’s quickly define what google ads are.
What Are Google Display Ads?
Display ads are individual ad units like banners or videos/photo content on websites that do the obvious – advertise.
You’ll see these ads like banners, images, text, video, or animation on relevant third-party websites. It’s pretty much any kind of visual ad featured on a website.
For example:
What are Google Display Ad Sizes?
What are Google Display Ad Sizes?
Google ad sizes are basically the different sizes Google offers on AdSense. There are a variety of sizes to choose from to help businesses create ads that fit different website designs.
Each size has a different click-through rate, some are more popular than others. The size is also a factor that affects the price of your overall ad.
Choosing which ad size to use all depends on your goal. Are you advertising to gain website traffic? Smaller ad sizes are effective for this goal, plus they’re cheaper.
Larger ad sizes are often used by advertisers to help businesses who want higher click-through rates. The larger the ad, the higher the cost. Google argues that Google display ads are still effective, so it's important to know the best size to use for your business' purposes.
An Important Note About Photo Size in Google Display Ads
Google does not accept any photo size above 150kb. Here at just digital, we compress the images to ensure they're not over 150kb.
Does Google Display Ad Size Matter?
Here’s the reality, advertising online isn’t as simple as it seems. You can’t just design an ad and leave it alone, there are many factors to take into account – yes, that includes the size of the ad.
Size definitely does matter.
The thing is, on the Display Network, the websites that run your ads will be the ones to choose which size ad gets featured. If they want to only feature banner ads, then stop forcing that half-page ad to happen.
The wrong ad size will affect and limit the effectiveness of your campaigns, especially if you’re trying to target a specific market.
Studies have shown that some ads are just more effective than others.
From the table above, you can see how ad sizes: 336x280 and 300x600 have the highest click-through rates.
Now that you have a better understanding of the importance of ad size, let’s start discussing the most popular and effective ad sizes.
Want to know more about Google Ads? Feel free to reach out and ask any questions you might have.
Most Popular and Effective Google Display Ad Sizes
Medium Rectangle (300x250)
This ad size is known to work best when it is embedded within text content or at the end of articles. It also has a large supply of ad inventory on Google’s display network, the ad inventory especially increases when both image and text ads are enabled.
Large Rectangle (300x280)
The large rectangle ad is great for grabbing the attention of users, which increases the chances of getting clicks. It performs especially well when placed within an article or at the end. The ad size is just slightly bigger than the medium rectangle and also has an abundant supply of ad inventory.
Leaderboard (728x90)
This ad size is considered to be one of the most common Google ad sizes, and for a good reason. The leaderboard converts well when it’s located just above the main content of the page. It has a long horizontal width that helps increase the impact it makes on users, thus luring more and more users to click. Most businesses use this to display logos, brand names, and text.
Large Skyscraper or Half-Page (300x600)
This ad size is one of the fastest-growing sizes in terms of impressions. It takes up half the page and instantly grabs the attention of users. It stands out next to written content. Many advertisers prefer this ad size because of the benefits, it offers higher payouts for publishers and higher conversions for advertisers.
Large Mobile Banner (320x100)
Many advertisers choose this size because it’s twice the height of the standard “mobile leaderboard.”
Other Ad Sizes :
Horizontal Ad Sizes:
The next few ad sizes are not the most popular ones. These ad sizes have non-standard dimensions, thus making them hard to place on certain websites. Publishers would often skip on these ad sizes because of the size constraints, they would rather choose an ad size that has better inventory.
Billboard (970x250)
Banner (468x60)
Banner (468x60)
Half Banner (234x60)
Large Leaderboard (970x90)
Vertical Ad Sizes:
These types of ad sizes are also often skipped by publishers, this is mainly because publishers would prefer a wide, large skyscraper to effectively grab the user’s attention.
Vertical ad sizes are harder to work with because of their narrowness, it’s hard to fit in text and long sentences. This factor limits the kind of ads that can be displayed without compromising the visual appeal.
Wide Skyscraper (160x600)
Skyscraper (120x600)
Vertical Ad Banner (120x240)
Portrait (300x1050)
Square Ad Sizes:
Square Ad Sizes:Square ads belong to the unpopular section of ad sizes. These are ad sizes you should try staying away from because they are smaller and not as appealing. The small size makes it harder to add text and images without disrupting the flow of the ad. It’ll look unnatural and won’t catch the attention of users as well as a rectangle ad would.
Square (250x250)
Small Square (200x200)
Small Rectangle (180x150)
Button (125x125)
Mobile Google Display Ad Sizes:
Mobile Google Display Ad Sizes:Mobile ads are becoming more and more popular in the last few years. Here are a few banner sizes that work well on mobile.
Mobile Leaderboard (320x50)
Mobile Full Page Flex (320x320)
Mobile Full Page Flex (320x320)Square (250x250)
Square (250x250)Small Square (200x200)
Small Square (200x200)Which Google Display Ad Size Should You Use?
Which Google Display Ad Size Should You Use?We’ve already given you a brief on the various Google Display Ads sizes, now you might be wondering which one to choose.
There are ad sizes favored by publishers more than other ad sizes. The 5 ad sizes we’ve mentioned in the first section are the most popular and have the most ad inventory. These 5 ads also have the highest click-through rates.
If your goal is to make the most money from your Display ads, then choose and create an ad using the most popular ad sizes. Your choices are:
- Medium Rectangle (300x250)
- Large rectangle (300x280)
- Leaderboard (728x90)
- Large Skyscraper or Half-page (300x600)
- Large Mobile Banner (320x100)
The ad size you choose will also depend on the website your ads will appear in. Try manually searching for websites that use AdSense in your niche, then look at the kind of ad formats they run.
It’s all about understanding your industry and the kinds of ads they publish, some industries may prefer leaderboards, while others may prefer skyscrapers.
Conclusion
When it comes to Google Display Ads, size really does matter, especially for impressions and clicks. Choosing the wrong ad size may leave you with fewer clicks, and you’ll end up wasting money. If you have questions about how to promote your business on Google, this is a good blog to check out!
Now you know a bit more about Google Display ad sizes, it’s time you create your ad! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!
How Much do Facebook Ads Cost?
Facebook ads help make advertising more accessible for small businesses who wouldn’t be able to afford advertising slots on TV or radio.
It's affordable and easy to use. In fact, some people could spend more money on coffee each day than they would on Facebook ads. The auction based system will determine the cost of your ad, making it far cheaper than traditional advertising methods.
Before we start talking about prices, let’s define what Facebook ads are.
What Are Facebook Ads
The answer is simple, Facebook ads are the ads you see while scrolling through Facebook on your phone or on the right column of your desktop.
Here are some examples of Facebook ads:
Desktop
Mobile
How Facebook ads work
Facebook ads are essentially targeted ads. They target users based on location, demographic, and profile information (i.e. likes, followed pages). Most of these options are only available on Facebook.
Facebook ads work on an auction based system to control the amount of ads each user sees. This means you can’t buy an ad placement on Facebook, you’re going to have to bid against other businesses to secure an ad placement.
Whoever bids the highest gets the ad placement.
The Facebook advertising industry is competitive because you have to compete for both ad space against your business competitors and everyone else who is targeting the same market as you.
For example :
You sell sustainable women’s clothing to young Millennials. You’ll end up competing against other sustainable fashion brands, other fashion brands that aren’t sustainable, makeup, gadgets, etc.
You’re basically competing against other industries that are selling products to Millennials.
This is why you have to be extremely specific when it comes to targeting your audience. The more specific you are, the higher the chances you get valuable leads.
Facebook will show you your audience size each time you add a new targeting criteria, you can check how many people are likely to see your ad.
Now that the introductions are out of the way, let’s start talking about prices.
Costs of a Facebook Ad
Generally speaking, the cost of a Facebook ad differs per industry and location, It’s usually somewhere between $0.50 and $2.00 per click. Some industries have to pay more per click than others, so costs will vary.
But the two sure things that will affect your costs the most are: your bid and your budget.
Your budget is the overall amount you’re willing to spend on an ad campaign or a single ad set. There are two types of budget on Facebook.
- Daily budget - amount you’re willing to spend on a campaign each day.
- Lifetime Budget - amount you’re willing to spend for the entire duration of the ad campaign.
Your Bid is how much you’re willing to spend to get a slot for an ad placement.
If you’re new to Facebook ads and not sure how much you’re willing to bid, Facebook ads will automatically calculate an amount for you based on your budget and the duration of your campaign.
Another thing to take note is that you’ll only ever pay a penny more than the closest competitor’s bid and that the cost of a Facebook ad fluctuates a lot.
This is why Facebook ads need to be monitored and tracked, the work doesn’t end after publishing your ad.
Factors that affect your ad spend
As you may already know from what we’ve discussed above, there are many factors that can affect your ad costs. Other factors that affect your ad costs are:
Target Audience
As we’ve mentioned, your target market can affect the cost of your ad. Targeting a highly sought after audience means that your ads will cost more.
This is why businesses tend to slim down their target audience to lessen the costs. However, a smaller target audience might cost more because of the few placements available.
Your Objectives
Upon creating your ad, you’ll notice how Facebook prompts you to choose a marketing objective
These marketing objectives can affect your ad cost. If you think about it, conversions are more expensive because it will take a bit more convincing to get users to make a purchase. Compare that to brand awareness that’s usually more reliant on views.
Competition
This is obvious. The more competition you have, the more expensive the ad slots will be. It’s basic supply and demand.
It also works vice versa, if you didn’t have competition for that target audience, then the ad slots would be cheaper.
Your advertising costs will largely rely on the amount of competitors you have, how much they’re willing to spend, and how big of a brand they are.
The time you choose to advertise
The time and day you choose to advertise your ad will affect the costs. More and more businesses are vying for an ad slot during Facebook’s peak hours.
Peak hours are usually the months leading up to Christmas or other holidays, so expect your costs to increase during those times.
Ad Placement
There are many options to choose from when it comes to ad placements on Facebook. Here’s a quick list:
There are some ad placements that are more popular than others, so they’re naturally more expensive. Studies show that Instagram placements are the most expensive. The average cost is $1.15 per click.
In conclusion, the more coveted the ad placement is, the higher your ad costs will be.
Relevance Score
Relevance score is a metric on Facebook that shows how relevant your ads are to your target audience.
The more users engage with your ad, the higher your relevance score, and vice versa.
Don’t take this metric for granted, it’s extremely important. Ads with a high relevance score are favored by Facebook’s algorithm, making the ad cost less for the same placements.
Lower your ad spend
Now that you’re aware of the factors that affect your ad costs, you should also know the ways to reduce them.
Split Testing
Split testing, also known as A/B testing, is the process of running the same ad twice but with a few tweaks and modifications to test which works better.
For example: You’re a business trying to sell skincare products. For the first ad you can try using a photo that only features your product, then try adding a model with your product for the second one.
You can also try using the same image, but with different copywriting.
This way you’ll be split testing to see which image or copy performs best.
Split testing will give you the information you need to reduce your advertising costs. You won’t be wasting time in the future running an ad campaign that won’t improve your ROI or accomplish your goals.
The smallest of changes in your ads can make a big difference. Studies even show that some businesses reduce their ad spend by 96.72% by changing the copy.
You can easily run a split test on your ads by clicking on the “create split test” toggle in the “Traffic” section, or you can edit an active ad set on Facebook’s Ads Manager then duplicate the active ad set. Facebook will then divide your budget equally between the two ads.
Don’t forget to measure the performance of both ads, then compare which one works best.
Obtain and maintain a high relevance score
Checking your relevance score is one way to track the progress of your ads. A high relevance score means that your ad resonates with your target audience and is getting positive feedback, engagement, clicks, and conversions.
The higher your score, the more Facebook will favor your ads and lower your ad costs.
Make sure you create ads that are fresh and can resonate with your target market.
Updating your ads
People’s attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, so showing the same old ads will lead to them losing interest in your brand, and you losing money.
The changes in your don’t have to be drastic, try switching up your picture, your CTA, or your copy.
Keep your ads fresh and give people something new to see.
Be specific with your target audience
Be specific when targeting your audience, each campaign should have a custom target audience to increase your ad’s efficiency.
You don’t have to include your entire target audience in each of your campaigns because your audience won’t be on the same stages in the digital marketing funnel, so each ad needs to be customized depending on the level they’re at.
Some may be at the start of the funnel, while others could be near the end and just need the smallest push to complete the purchase.
Try segmenting your audience to help you create more targeted and specific ads. This will help your ads improve their performance and lessen your costs.
Cap Your Bid
This is probably the easiest way to lessen your advertising costs.
You’re basically setting a bid control to tell Facebook the maximum amount you want to spend in an auction. So, it shouldn’t surprise you if you lose any ad placements.
To Conclude
The cost of advertising on Facebook isn’t set because of the many factors you have to take into account, but you can expect it to be around $0.50 to $2.00 per click.
With that information, the best way to get an accurate amount is by testing Facebook ads for yourself. Try and start some campaigns and see how much it can benefit your business.
Remember, these are the six key factors that can influence the costs of your ads:
- Target audience
- Your objectives
- Competition
- The time you choose to advertise
- Ad placement
- Relevance score
And you can reduce your spend by:
- Split testing
- Obtain and maintain a high relevance score
- Updating your ads
- Be specific with your target audience
- Capping your bid
Have you tried Facebook ads? How much did your Facebook ads cost? We'd love to hear about it. Comment down below and tell us your experience or contact us!
