Get in touch
804-638-9866

You may be using an Ad Blocker. This website does not contain ads, but Ad Blockers may prevent our website from displaying properly. In order to see all the pages of this website properly, please turn off your ad blocker for this website.

Google Ads Management and SEO for Small Business.

Affordable, Effective Google Ads Management and SEO for Growing Small Businesses in the USA

Display Ad Targeting 1/5

October 25, 2019

What Is Display Ad Targeting ?

3 Reasons Why You Should Care!

(First in a Series of 5 Articles)

Maximizing Your Conversion Rate and Advertising Return on Investment

If you’re like most small business owners, your advertising budget is not of the “deep-pockets” variety. So, whatever promotional route you choose must offer a clear potential for an ROI.

In this article, we’ll talk through a little-known approach to small business advertising that offers three proven payoffs. Businesses that initiate Display Ad Targeting profit from three measurable, business-building results.

  1. Save money when compared to the traditional advertising approaches (More on that in a bit.)
  2. Increase sales your chances of conversion is enhanced along with ROI on your marketing dollars.
  3. Track results know what’s working and what’s not to get the right message to the right people.

OK … hopefully the last few lines have captured your interest to know how Display Ad Targeting may help turbo-charge your business … both top and bottom-line. So, let’s start with a brief description of broad-reach ad campaigns. In the past, marketers would push broad-reach campaigns to get in front of as many people as possible. The approach was one of casting the marketing net as wide as possible with untargeted advertising.

Though this sounds great and in some cases may even work for large national brands with a very broad appea l … it doesn’t make sense for small-business owners . Here are two underlying assumptions by broad-reach marketers that underscore this fact:

  • Assumption : A dvertising creative images and messages appeal equally to all people. In fact, studies show that it’s exceedingly rare for any one ad to appeal equally to all people.
  • Assumption : A ll people will respond equally to an ad despite their location. For many consumers, proximity is a key consideration. The further a prospect must drive, the less likely they are to convert … a critical concern for local businesses.

That brings us to current small business marketing best practices … Display Ad Targeting , a simple concept that targets only those prospects who are likely to buy from you! This powerful approach to advertising focuses on critical business outcomes that really matter to your business – think, enhanced sales, cash flow and profitability.

Targeting Options

Targeting pools of likely prospects significantly drives your chances of conversion and marketing ROI. That’s in stark contrast to spending your ad dollars broadcasting to thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people, in hopes of capturing a few customers. Now let’s look at the most common categories of targeting options … along with examples.

Geographic Targeting : As you have probably guessed, your ads may be selectively targeted to specific zip codes, cities, states or a mileage radius around a specific location or city. Note : This is critically important to small businesses.

Demographic Targeting : Options include:

  • Age – 18-25, 25-35, 35-45, 45-55, 55-65 and 65+
  • Income – Top 10%, 10-20%, 20-30%, 30-40%, 40-50% and lower 50%
  • Gender – Male, Female
  • Parental Status – Children, No children

Lifestyle Targeting : Also known as targeting “Affinity Audiences” based on their online search behaviors. Models of Affinity Audiences may be tailored for your specific offerings. H ere are a few examples:

  • Beauty Mavens
  • Coffee Shop Regulars
  • Do-It-Yourselfers
  • Dog Lovers
  • Luxury Shoppers
  • Football Fans
  • Business Travelers

In-Market Targeting : Targets recent online behaviors over the last few weeks. The indication is the searcher is in-the-market now . Some examples.

  • Luggage
  • Used cars
  • Office furniture
  • Tutoring or test prep services
  • Plumbing fixtures

Contextual Targeting : This targets content on a web page with display ads that address the info the online searcher seeks. For example, a podiatrist’s ad may appear on a WebMD page when someone researches “foot pain”.

Utilize As Many Targeting Options as Appropriate To Find Your Perfect Customer

It’s important to know that the above targeting options are not mutually exclusive. A properly customized Display Ad Marketing campaign may be tailored to your needs with one or more of the above choices . Clearly, the possibilities are huge for your small business.  

Here are a few examples of multiplying your targeting options based on a variety of different enterprises.

Real Estate Agency : Seeks to generate sales leads for their agents.

  • Demographics: 25 to 45 year s old with children, top 30% income bracket, PLUS
  • In Market: Recently searched for homes for sale and / or visited real estate listing websites PLUS
  • Geography: Located within 20 miles of Agency’s office.

Football Team : Needs to sell more tickets.

  • Demographics: 35 to 65 year s old s men, top 30% income bracket, PLUS
  • In Market: Custom In Market Audience for the name of the football team PLUS
  • Lifestyle Targeting: Football Fans
  • Geography: Located within 100 miles of the stadium.

Accountant : Promoting Business Formation Services.

  • Life Change: Recently started a business PLUS
  • Demographic: Top 20% income PLUS
  • Geographic: 50 miles around Denver, CO

Online Jewelry Store : Promoting sale of wedding rings.

  • Demographic: 25 to 35, top 50% income bracket, PLUS
  • Geography: USA, PLUS
  • In Market: Recent online searches for:
    • Bridal Dresses
    • Wedding Venues
    • Engagement Rings
    • Wedding Photographer

Pest Control Service : Seeking prospects for immediate pest control needs.

  • Demographic: Top 20% income bracket.
  • In Market: Recent online searches for pest control services
  • Geography: Within 30 miles of Phoenix.

Pediatrician : Attracting patients.

  • Demographic: Recent recorded births
  • In Market: Recent online searches for pediatrician
  • Geography: Within 10 miles of physician’s practice location.

Yoga Studio : Seeking to attract female members

  • Demographics: Females age 25 and 65 .
  • Geography: Within 7 miles of the studio.

Utilize As Many Targeting Options as Appropriate To Find Your Perfect Customer

Display Ad Targeting delivers all the advantages that national advertisers  enjoy … with an appeal to specifically targeted audience s at a fraction of the cost of traditional broad reach marketing strategies.

Small business owners, before spending another advertising dollar, be sure to seek expert evaluation of how Digital Ad Targeting will boost your return on your marketing investment.

Be sure to read our next issue to learn how Display Ads are structured to deliver superior results.

The post Display Ad Targeting 1/5 appeared first on Third Marble Marketing.

By Alex Huibsch April 2, 2025
In the digital age, brand voice consistency is key to building a strong, recognizable brand. Whether your business engages customers through social media, blog posts, or customer service interactions, maintaining a consistent tone and messaging across all platforms is crucial for brand identity and trust. Here are some practical strategies to ensure your brand voice remains consistent everywhere your audience interacts with you. 1. Define Your Brand Voice Before you can ensure consistency, you need to define your brand voice. A brand voice is the personality and tone you convey through your content. It reflects your business values, culture, and mission. For example, is your brand voice professional, friendly, humorous, or authoritative? To define your brand voice, consider the following: Core Values: What principles guide your company? Are you about innovation, reliability, or creativity? Target Audience: Who are you speaking to? A brand targeting Gen Z might have a casual, witty tone, while a brand targeting professionals might lean towards a more formal voice. Emotional Tone: What emotion do you want your audience to feel? Whether it’s excitement, reassurance, or motivation, your voice should reflect this. Once you’ve identified these elements, document them. Create a brand voice guide that outlines key phrases, vocabulary, and examples of how your voice should sound. This guide will serve as your compass, ensuring consistency across all platforms. 2. Create a Style Guide A style guide is essential for maintaining consistency, especially as your business grows and more people get involved in content creation. Your style guide should cover: Tone and Language: Specify the tone and style of communication for each platform. For example, social media might be more casual and conversational, while blog posts could be more informative. Grammar and Punctuation: Consistency in punctuation (e.g., using the Oxford comma ) and grammar rules can greatly affect how professional your brand appears. Imagery and Design: While voice is primarily about language, the visuals that accompany your message should also align with your tone. Whether you use bright, playful colors or more minimalist, subdued hues, your design should reflect your voice. Having a comprehensive style guide means anyone creating content on behalf of your brand knows exactly how to communicate. 3. Train Your Team Your entire team must understand and embrace your brand voice. Whether it’s your marketing department, customer service team, or content creators, everyone needs to be on the same page. To keep your brand voice consistent across platforms, provide your team with resources like: Workshops and Training: Hold regular sessions to reinforce your brand's messaging and tone. This could include writing exercises, social media role-playing, or reviewing successful brand campaigns. Ongoing Feedback: Offer constructive feedback on content to ensure it aligns with your voice. Whether it's through content reviews or monthly meetings, consistently check in with your team. Remember, keep your brand voice flexible enough to adapt to different contexts (like more serious tones during a crisis) but consistent in core elements, such as clarity and empathy. 4. Understand Platform Nuances Each platform has its audience and unique characteristics, but your brand voice should remain consistent across all of them. Here’s how to tailor your brand voice while keeping it unified: Social Media: Social platforms are usually informal and fast-paced. You can use humor, emojis, and casual language to connect with your audience. Blog Posts: Blogs are a great place to showcase your brand’s expertise. Use a more polished, informative tone, but still keep it in line with your brand voice. A friendly, approachable tone can make your content more relatable. Customer Service Interactions: Whether it’s over chat, email, or phone, your customer service team must embody your brand’s tone. For example, if your brand is known for being friendly, ensure that your team’s responses reflect that particular attitude even when dealing with complaints or difficult customers. Being aware of platform differences helps you maintain a unified message while tailoring your approach to fit the environment. 5. Use Automation Tools Wisely As your business scales, automation tools can be lifesavers in maintaining consistency. However, it’s important not to let automation become robotic. Use tools like social media schedulers or CRM software to streamline communication, but always ensure that the voice feels human and genuine. When using automated responses (especially in customer service), incorporate your brand voice into the script. Use friendly, helpful, and personalized language, and be mindful of how these responses will be perceived. 6. Monitor and Adapt Consistency doesn’t mean rigidity. Regularly monitor the performance of your content across different platforms to ensure your message is resonating with your audience. Use analytics and feedback to gauge how well your brand voice is being received. For example: Social Media Analytics: Track engagement rates to see how your voice is performing on each platform. Customer Feedback: Pay attention to how customers respond to your tone in service interactions. If your voice is too formal or too casual, it may not align with their expectations. Adjust your approach as needed, but always stay true to the core values of your brand. 7. Keep It Authentic Above all, your brand voice must feel authentic. In today’s digital landscape, customers can spot inauthenticity a mile away. Your voice should reflect the real values and personality of your company. Whether you’re posting on Twitter, writing a blog, or answering a customer service question, staying true to your brand will help build trust and loyalty. Final Thoughts A consistent brand voice is essential for creating a cohesive customer experience and fostering brand loyalty. By defining your voice, creating a style guide, training your team, and adapting to platform nuances, you can ensure your messaging is clear and unified. Remember, authenticity is key. Be sure to stay true to your brand’s values and always communicate with your audience in a way that resonates with them. Ready to Strengthen Your Brand Voice Across All Platforms? Struggling to find time for content creation while managing your business? At Third Marble Marketing , we specialize in writing clear, consistent, and compelling content that resonates with your audience. Whether you need engaging copy on your web pages or informative blog posts, we’re here to help! Our Content Writing Services are designed to enhance your SEO while staying true to your brand’s core values. We ensure consistency in tone and messaging across all platforms, creating a cohesive brand experience that fosters trust, increases engagement, and drives success. Contact Third Marble Marketing today to learn more about how our content writing services can elevate your brand voice and consistency!
By Alex Huibsch March 26, 2025
Step-by-Step Guide to Optimizing Your Google Business Profile:
By Alex Huibsch March 10, 2025
Which One Do I Need? When it comes to driving traffic to your website, you’ve likely heard the terms SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and PPC (Pay-Per-Click). Both are essential digital marketing strategies, but they serve different purposes. So, how do you determine which one is the right fit for your business? The truth is that SEO and PPC work best when used together, but understanding their differences will help you decide where to focus your efforts based on your goals and budget. Let’s take a closer look. What is SEO? SEO focuses on improving your website’s visibility in organic search results. This involves optimizing your website’s content, structure, and technical elements to rank higher on search engines like Google in the organic section of the Search Results Page. Some key components of SEO include: Keyword Optimization : Identifying and using relevant keywords in title tags, meta descriptions, alt tags, and onsite copy to attract the right audience. High-Quality Content : Creating valuable, authoritative, and informative content that appeals to users and search engines. Technical SEO : Improving site speed, mobile-friendliness, and security to enhance user experience. Backlink Building : Earning links from reputable websites to increase domain authority. Benefits of SEO Builds Long-Term Organic Traffic : Once your website ranks well, you can enjoy a steady stream of visitors without ongoing ad spend. More Cost-Effective Over Time : While SEO requires an upfront investment in content and optimization, it becomes more affordable as your rankings improve. Boosts Credibility and Trust : Appearing in organic search results gives your business more authority in your industry. What is PPC? PPC is a paid advertising strategy where businesses bid on keywords to appear in sponsored search results. Every time a user clicks on your ad, you pay a fee. Google Ads is the most popular PPC platform, allowing businesses to target specific demographics, locations, and search queries. Benefits of PPC Delivers Instant Traffic : PPC generates immediate site visitors, whereas SEO results are not immediate. Highly Targeted : You can reach specific audiences based on keywords, location, demographics, and even online behavior. Measurable Results : PPC provides detailed analytics, allowing you to track performance and adjust campaigns for better ROI. Scalable: Depending on your immediate business needs, you can increase and decrease your budget, and therefore the number of leads and sales you get each month from PPC. SEO is not that nimble. Setting Realistic Expectations: SEO is a Marathon, PPC is a Sprint When deciding between SEO and PPC, it’s important to set realistic expectations for results. Think of SEO as a marathon and PPC as a sprint. Both can get you to the finish line, but they work at different speeds and require different strategies. SEO: The Marathon Approach SEO takes time, just like training for a marathon. You won’t see results overnight, but with consistent effort, you’ll build momentum and endurance. Timeline Expectation: Months 1-3: Research, technical optimization, and content creation. During this period of time, expect little to no ranking improvements. Months 4-6: Gradual ranking improvements and some organic traffic growth. Months 6-12: Stronger rankings, increased traffic, and leads (provided ongoing effort continues). 1 Year & Beyond: Established rankings, steady organic traffic, and a strong foundation that requires maintenance, but not constant spending. The key takeaway is that SEO compounds over time. The more effort you put in early, the more rewards you reap later. PPC: The Sprint Approach PPC is like a sprint—you get results quickly, but you have to keep paying to stay ahead. If you stop running (funding your ads), the traffic stops too. Timeline Expectation: Week 1: Campaign setup, keyword research, and ad creation. Weeks 2-4: Ads go live, and traffic starts coming in immediately. Months 1-3: Performance optimization. This entails adjusting bids, refining targeting, and improving ad quality for better ROI. Ongoing: As long as you continue funding your ads, you’ll keep generating traffic and leads. PPC provides instant results, but costs can add up. Unlike SEO, which continues to bring traffic over time, PPC stops working the moment you turn off your ads. What’s the Right Strategy? Need leads now? Start with PPC. Want long-term sustainable growth? Invest in SEO. Want the best of both worlds? Run PPC while building your SEO strategy in the background. Understanding these timelines will help you manage expectations and make informed marketing decisions. In Closing All in all, SEO and PPC are not competitors. In fact, they complement each other. Investing in both strategies can maximize your visibility and help your business grow.  If you need help deciding where to start, contact Third Marble Marketing , and we’ll help you craft the perfect strategy for your goals and budget!
By Alex Huibsch March 5, 2025
Tips for Driving Engagement on a Budget
By Alex Huibsch February 13, 2025
Adapting to AI, Voice Search, and Google's Evolving Algorithms
By Alex Huibsch February 12, 2025
The Google Reviews Count Bug: A Worldwide Issue
October 10, 2024
Washington, DC Area Law Firm Wins Big
By Alex Huibsch October 3, 2024
One bad review can cast a long shadow online. It can deter potential customers and damage your reputation. But before you panic, there's good news! Google allows businesses to flag reviews that violate their policies, and with the right approach, you can get them removed. This email is your one-stop shop for reclaiming your online reputation. We'll walk you through the process step-by-step, including some extra tips to maximize your chances of success. Important: Remember, Google won't remove reviews simply because you disagree with them. They only remove reviews that violate their policies. You can find a full breakdown of Google's review policies for more information.
August 23, 2024
How Third Marble used Google Ads to increase three different HVAC businesses leads. Three case studies rolled into one!
By Alex Huibsch August 13, 2024
Are you looking to turn more website visitors into paying customers? You're not alone! Here at Third Marble Marketing, we've helped countless businesses achieve dramatic conversion increases. In this post, we'll share 9 powerful tips that can help you do the same.
More Posts
Share by: