When it comes to driving online traffic, you’ve got two main players in the game: ads and organic marketing. But where should you put your money? Let’s discuss. 

Depending on what you’re selling and who you’re selling to, your strategy could go one of two ways. Are you all about selling directly to consumers? Then ads might just be your ticket to success. But if you’re in the B2B world, where building relationships is key, organic marketing could be your golden goose (but more on this later).

Let’s hear from Amanda Rogers, Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Digital Storyteller, as she discusses the age-old dilemma in the video below:

Ready to find out where your marketing dollars should be going? Let’s get into it.

Understanding Organic Vs. Paid Advertising

Before we discuss which type of marketing will work best for your business, let’s review the differences.

Organic Marketing 

Organic advertising is all about attracting attention to your brand naturally. It involves creating valuable content and optimizing it so that it shows up in places like search engine results or social media feeds without paying for placement.

Examples of organic advertising include:

• Writing blog posts for your website
• Encouraging customers to leave reviews and testimonials
• Posting updates on social media without boosting them with ad money
• Creating videos for YouTube

In organic advertising, you’re relying on the quality and relevance of your content to draw people in and maintain a relationship, rather than paying for visibility upfront.

Paid Advertising

Paid advertising, on the other hand, is like renting space to get noticed. With paid advertising, you’re paying money to platforms like Google or Facebook to display your ads to specific audiences.

Examples of paid advertising include:

• Running Google ads that appear at the top of search results
• Promoting posts on social media to reach a larger audience
• Placing banner ads on websites or sponsoring content

In paid advertising, you’re essentially paying for guaranteed visibility, but each time someone interacts with your ad, it costs you money.

Which Will Work Best For Your Business?

As we’ve mentioned, your type of business dictates which type of marketing will work best for you.

For DTC Businesses: Paid Marketing is a Fit

If you’re selling lip gloss directly to the customer – absolutely you should probably invest in ads and you can click off this blog right now because we can’t help you with that (but thanks for visiting!)

For B2B Businesses: Organic Marketing Works

Many B2B business owners think “well, why would I bother with organic marketing when I can just pay Google to show up first under people’s searches? They’ll click on the ad and I’ll get the business and that’ll be great.“

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’ll be honest: we find that is not how people are shopping for what they want with B2B businesses. Instead, they’re doing their homework – they’re doing their own research, they’re visiting your website, they’re checking out your LinkedIn.

What does this tell us?  You need to have a trusted relationship with somebody before they’re going to give you their business. And, to build this B2B relationship, you will want to invest in organic marketing.

In summary, for our DTC friends, paid ads are your ticket to success. But for us in the B2B space, organic marketing is the secret sauce to building those long-lasting client relationships.

What Organic Marketing Can Look Like for Your B2B Company

Organic marketing for B2B companies takes on various forms, each aimed at cultivating meaningful connections, establishing industry authority, and driving sustainable growth. Let’s explore what organic marketing can look like for your B2B company:

Thought Leadership Content

Publishing insightful blog posts, whitepapers, case studies, and industry reports can position your company as a thought leader in your field. By sharing valuable insights and expertise, you can attract the attention of potential customers and establish credibility within your industry.

Social Media Engagement

Active participation on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and industry-specific forums allows you to engage with your target audience on a personal level. Share relevant content, participate in discussions, and provide helpful advice to build relationships with prospects and industry peers.

Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing remains a powerful tool for B2B companies to nurture leads and maintain ongoing communication with clients. Sending personalized emails with valuable content, updates, and exclusive offers can keep your brand top-of-mind and drive engagement.

Webinars and Virtual Events

Hosting webinars, workshops, and virtual events tailored to your target audience’s interests and pain points can position your company as a trusted advisor. These interactive sessions allow you to showcase your expertise, educate prospects, and generate leads in a more personalized setting.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Optimizing your website and content for search engines is essential for organic visibility and traffic generation. Conduct keyword research, optimize meta tags and descriptions, and create high-quality, informative content that addresses your audience’s needs and queries.

Client Testimonials and Case Studies

Sharing success stories, client testimonials, and case studies can provide social proof of your company’s capabilities and the value you deliver to clients. Highlighting real-world examples of how your solutions have helped businesses overcome challenges can build trust and confidence among potential customers.

By leveraging these organic marketing strategies, B2B companies can foster meaningful relationships, establish thought leadership, and drive sustainable growth over time. Organic marketing may require patience and consistency, but the long-term benefits of building authentic connections and trust far outweigh the initial investment.

Why Organic Marketing Matters

Building Trust and Credibility

• Authenticity allows businesses to establish themselves as trusted authorities.
• Consistently deliver valuable content and engage authentically to build trust.

Establishing Thought Leadership

• Showcase expertise and become thought leaders in your field.
• Share valuable insights and industry trends to attract potential customers.

Driving Sustainable Growth

• Focus on long-term success by investing in content creation and engagement.
• Generate a steady stream of organic traffic and leads for stability and growth.

Enhancing Brand Loyalty

• Deepen connections with personalized experiences and tailored content.
• Foster brand loyalty and turn customers into brand advocates.

Maximizing ROI

• Prioritize organic traffic and engagement to achieve a higher ROI over time.
• Reduce reliance on paid advertising and enjoy long-term benefits.

Organic marketing offers a pathway to building meaningful relationships, establishing industry authority, and driving sustainable growth for your business. 

Learn More About Digital Storyteller

So, are you ready to save money on ads so you can spend it on wine? Us too. At Digital Storyteller, we specialize in organic marketing for financial services companies. If you’re looking for a digital marketing agency that will grow your business better than just pushing paid ads, contact our team today.

Navigating the world of B2B marketing for financial service companies can be quite the challenge. Why? Because it takes more than just a hodgepodge of tools; it demands strategies that adapt to innovation and a cohesive system where all components work in sync to achieve success. In plain terms – everything from your website, social media posts, emails, and blogs must form a unified marketing strategy. 

But don’t worry – we’re breaking down the system, component by component, to help you create a cohesive strategy (and we’re even including a downloadable content calendar… you’re welcome).  Let’s dive in!

Website: The Core

Your website serves as the central hub where potential clients can learn about your financial services and the value you bring to the table. A user-friendly, informative website is essential for attracting and engaging your target audience. 

Website Tips:

Optimize User Experience (UX): Ensure easy navigation, appealing design, and responsiveness across devices for an engaging user experience.

Clear Value Proposition: Communicate unique benefits concisely using visuals to address client challenges.

High-Quality Content: Feature informative blogs, whitepapers, and case studies to establish credibility and address audience pain points.

Strategic CTAs: Guide visitors with well-placed CTAs for actions like subscribing, consulting, or resource downloading.

Lead Capture: Use forms for valuable resources in exchange for contact details to build your email list.

Testimonials and Case Studies: Display client stories for trust and showcasing successful outcomes.

SEO Optimization: Improve visibility with keyword-optimized content for organic traffic. (but more on this later!)

Fast Loading Speed: Ensure quick loading by compressing images, minimizing plugins, and optimizing code.

Security Measures: Prioritize SSL certificates and regular updates for visitor confidence.

Analytics and Tracking: Implement Google Analytics to refine your strategy based on data.

What is the Best Platform for Websites? We Vote WordPress

WordPress is the ultimate choice for websites, catering to diverse needs from simple blogs to complex e-commerce setups. With clean code, SEO enhancement, robust community support, and easy scalability, it empowers you to create a responsive, budget-friendly, and user-centric online presence.

Social Media 

Your social media presence is a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal. It serves a dual purpose: supporting your brand’s message and driving valuable traffic back to your website. 

Platforms for Brand Awareness

Your profile, posts, and visuals should reflect your brand’s essence, forming a recognizable and memorable digital footprint. 

Engaging Strategies

Your audience should not only pause to admire your posts but also feel compelled to interact, share, and engage. How do you achieve this? By tapping into their preferences, addressing their pain points, and crafting content that resonates on a personal level. Whether it’s a thought-provoking question that ignites discussions or a visually captivating infographic that simplifies complex concepts – your strategies should serve as a bridge that leads them from a casual scroll to a click that lands them on your website.

Effective Post Types

Let’s get practical. Here’s what works:

Informative Infographics: Decode financial jargon with visuals – you’re making complexity a breeze.

Expert Insights: Share nuggets of financial wisdom, from investing insights to tax tips.

Real Success Stories: Showcase your knack for turning financial challenges into triumphs.

Interactive Polls: Engage by asking their thoughts on financial trends – their opinions matter.

Quick Trivia: Sprinkle in interesting financial facts to keep things engaging.

Behind-the-Scenes: Offer a glimpse into your world – it humanizes your brand.

Remember, it’s a mix of entertainment and education. Make your social media a space where followers can learn, engage, and find value.

Emails: Campaigns, Engaging Subject Lines, and More

Referral Partner Campaigns:

Staying top of mind with the people who refer you business is probably the fastest way to see increased revenue. Your referral partners effectively walk you into deals with a 5star recommendation. Make sure you share updates, insights and new offerings with this demographic regularly. Share your one-pager, share your new-business wins and share team highlights to stay connected.  

Client Nurture & Upsell:

Client nurture & upsell emails are a powerful tool to strengthen your relationships with existing clients. These emails focus on providing existing clients with a deeper look into all the services you provide. You would be amazed that your clients don’t know that you can offer services beyond the scope of work they receive.  A strong client workflow ensures your existing clients do go elsewhere for a service you could provide them. 

Prospect Emails:

Prospect emails are a tough vertical to master.  These are the emails that get deleted, overlooked, and ignored in your own inbox.  Finding strategies to get in the door through email marketing is the holy grail for marketers.  Think about what your clients struggle with. What is the “inciting incident” in the drama of their lives that brought them to you?  What problem can you solve for them? Now, be very clear on your subject lines.  Let tehm know what value they’ll get by reading your email. Then be sure to add calls to action that will help you determine whether or not your message is resonating.  Give something before you ask for something. Download this free forecaster template/ checklist for tax season/ how to walkthrough.  Do not sell them something, give them something. 

Former Clients – Stay in Touch:

While former clients may not be actively using your services at the moment, keeping them engaged ensures that your brand remains fresh in their minds. This opens the door to potential future opportunities, referrals, or even repeat business. A simple “hello” or periodic updates can go a long way in maintaining a positive relationship with your former clients. We like to put them on a newsletter list. 

Newsletters:  Connect, Educate, Inspire:

Oh, the dreaded newsletter. What will we say? Will they read it? Who has time for this?  We like to say a newsletter should connect, inspire and educate.  Here’s how:

Connect: Highlight your team, a client, an event or a case study.  Connection is a human to human interaction.  Share something that’s either fun or meaningful, not just your LI CV. 

Inspire: Do you volunteer as a company? Sponsor a charity? Do you have a favorite quote or a book or podcast? Inspire people to see you as more than a vendor. 

Educate: If you’re writing blogs that inform and solve problems, this part is easy! Pick a blog: highlight the major point it makes and add a link and teaser to the email.  

Your monthly social posts highlighting the team, your website case studies, and your blog posts combined will give you all the content you could possibly need for your newsletter, making it easy to put together! 

How to Write a Good Subject Line for Partners, Clients and Prospects

​​Crafting compelling email subject lines is essential for engaging partners, clients, and prospects. A well-crafted subject line can make the difference between your email being opened or ignored. Here are some tips for writing effective subject lines for each audience:

For Partners:

Personalize It: Use the partner’s name or company name to create a personalized touch.

Example: “Can you help us refer better clients to you, [Partner Name]?”

Highlight what YOU can do for THEM. You’re giving before asking and that’s important.

Example: “How would you like us to refer clients to you?”

Time-Sensitive Emails: Create urgency with time-bound opportunities.

Example: “Hi [Partner Name] did you get our invitation?” ← this strategy really only works if you are hosting an event. 

For Clients:

Acknowledge Their Needs: Address their pain points or challenges directly.

Example: “When interest rates rise, here are 3 steps you can take to address your rising debt costs”

Results-Oriented: Highlight the outcomes or results they can expect from your services.

Example: “Profitability hacks – 2 easy steps”

Personal Touch: Mention any recent interactions or previous discussions to add a personal touch.

Example: “Great Meeting Last Week, [Client Name]! Here’s an overview of what we discussed”

For Prospects:

Curiosity-Piquing: Spark curiosity to encourage them to open the email.

Example: “Discover the Key to Financial Success…”

Benefit-Driven: Clearly state the value they will gain from opening the email.

Example: “How [Your Service] Can Transform Your Financial Future”

Beyond Words: Why Blogs are Important and How to Use AI to Help You Write Them

Blogs play a pivotal role in the success of your B2B financial services marketing strategy. Their multifaceted benefits encompass more than just providing information. For example, blogs can help your company:

Showcase Industry Authority (You Get to Prove That You Know What You’re Talking About!): In the world of financial services, establishing yourself as a trusted authority is paramount. Blogs create a space for you to demonstrate your industry expertise. This not only fosters credibility but also positions you as a go-to resource for valuable information. 

Enhance Search Engine Visibility: Regular, high-quality blog posts with SEO-friendly keywords can significantly boost your website’s search engine ranking. As search engines recognize your website as a hub of relevant information, your online visibility improves, driving organic traffic and increasing the chances of lead generation. 

Nurture and Engage Leads: Blogs are a versatile tool for lead nurturing. You can utilize AI-generated analytics to gain insights into which topics resonate most with your audience. This data-driven approach enables you to refine your content strategy, focusing on subjects that hold the greatest appeal and relevance.

Stay Current and Relevant (We’ll be real: No one Wants Your Last Blog Post to be Two Years Ago): The financial sector is in a constant state of evolution. Blogs allow you to stay abreast of industry shifts, regulatory updates, and emerging trends. By consistently delivering timely and insightful content, you position your brand as a thought leader that clients can rely on for up-to-date information.

Humanize Your Brand:. Sharing anecdotes, real-life experiences, and unique insights humanizes your brand, making it relatable and fostering stronger connections with your audience.

How to Use AI for Advanced Blog Writing

Incorporating AI technology into your blog writing process can help you to be more efficient, creative and precise. The danger of course with AI is – it’s a machine – it sounds like a machine, it thinks like a machine… So you have to help it… a lot. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively utilize AI in your blog writing strategy:

Videos turned into blogs: 

Video is a powerful tool and, until the advent of ChatGPT, turning a transcript of a video into a well-written blog was a time-intensive task.  If you’re making videos you’ll have 4 – 6 ready to go at a time.  Once you’ve added subtitles and gotten a transcript that’s where AI can really help. ADd your transcript with very specific direction on tone, main ideas, and structure, and let the machine do the heavy listing for you.  THe result: A good first draft with structure and main ideas that is unique to YOUR company because YOU made the video. 

Topic Generation and Research:

AI-powered tools can assist in generating relevant and trending topics within the financial services industry. By analyzing data from various sources, these tools can identify popular subjects, emerging trends, and key keywords that resonate with your target audience.

Content Outline and Structure:

Begin by creating an outline for your blog using AI. These tools can help organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow of ideas. By structuring your content beforehand, you’ll have a solid foundation to build upon.

Draft Creation:

AI-generated drafts are a powerful starting point. These drafts are based on language patterns and can mimic your writing style.  Just remember to have a human edit and add content before you hit publish! 

Grammar and Style Enhancement:

AI-powered grammar and style checkers can help refine your content. These tools identify grammatical errors, suggest sentence improvements, and ensure your writing is consistent with your brand’s voice and tone.

Keyword Optimization for SEO:

AI can suggest relevant keywords, analyze keyword density, and provide recommendations to improve your blog’s search engine visibility and ranking.

Combining These Components: How to Create a Content Calendar

Set Clear Objectives

Begin by defining your content calendar’s objectives, aligning them with your broader marketing goals. Determine how your content contributes to brand awareness, lead generation, or other key outcomes.

Establish Consistency

Consistency is king. Set a predictable content schedule—whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly—to engage your audience and reinforce your brand presence.

Brainstorm and Plan

Gather your team for a focused brainstorming session. Generate content ideas that resonate with your target audience and are tailored to your company’s services.

Allocate Resources

Ensure your team is equipped to execute your plan. Assign tasks and responsibilities for each content piece.

Monitor, Analyze, and Adapt

Regularly review performance metrics, analyzing engagement rates and conversions. Use insights to refine your content strategy and focus on what works.

Free Template Download

To kick-start your content calendar, download our template:

Download Free Content Calendar Template

How Components Collaborate

Now that we’ve discussed each component, let’s break down how they all work together to create a successful strategy. 

Blogs Fuel Social Engagement:

Blogs are the cornerstone of your content strategy, offering rich insights into financial topics. Extracting key points, you craft compelling social media posts. This entices curiosity, drives traffic, and elevates your brand’s stature.

Emails Amplify Blogs:

Emails nurture relationships and deliver value. Capitalize on new blogs by sending newsletters to subscribers. This maintains engagement, drives website visits, and fosters lasting trust.

Blogs Click Together for Ultimate Guides:

Over time, your blogs coalesce into comprehensive guides. Expertly curated, these guides become trusted references, showcasing your financial expertise and attracting organic traffic.

Unlocking Synergy: How Sales and Marketing Drive Success in Financial Services

Sales and Marketing: a Match Made in Heaven

We can’t talk about marketing without talking about sales. Why? An effective sales process can significantly benefit marketing efforts in several ways. Here are some key ways in which sales and marketing can work together to enhance overall business success:

Better Targeting: An organized sales process provides valuable feedback to marketing teams. Salespeople can convey information about the characteristics and behaviors of the most profitable customers. This data helps marketers refine their target audience and create more precise, personalized marketing campaigns.

Content Creation: A well-defined sales process highlights the key stages that prospects go through before making a purchase. Marketing teams can use this information to create content that aligns with each stage of the buyer’s journey. This ensures that prospects receive relevant content that addresses their needs and concerns at every step.

Lead Nurturing: Marketing generates leads, but not all leads are immediately ready to buy. An effective sales process includes lead nurturing strategies that keep potential customers engaged until they are ready to make a purchase. Marketing teams can develop and deliver nurturing content (e.g., email campaigns, webinars) in alignment with the sales process.

Message Consistency: A well-structured sales process helps ensure that the messaging used by sales and marketing teams is consistent. When marketing and sales are aligned on the key value propositions, benefits, and messaging, it creates a seamless customer experience and reinforces the company’s brand image.

Data and Analytics: Sales processes generate valuable data on customer interactions, conversion rates, and sales pipeline progression. Marketing teams can use this data to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and strategies, allowing for data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

Feedback Loop: Regular communication between sales and marketing teams fosters a feedback loop. Sales teams can provide insights into which marketing materials and leads are most effective in converting prospects. This feedback informs marketing teams about what is working and what needs adjustments.

Customer Insights: Sales teams are on the front lines and gather firsthand insights into customer pain points, objections, and preferences. This information is invaluable for marketing teams to refine their messaging, product development, and overall strategy to better address customer needs.

Shortened Sales Cycles: An effective sales process can help identify and prioritize high-quality leads, reducing the time it takes to convert prospects into customers. This efficiency benefits marketing efforts by allowing them to focus on generating more leads and nurturing existing ones.

Improved ROI: By aligning sales and marketing efforts and optimizing the sales process, companies can ultimately improve their return on investment (ROI) for marketing initiatives. Marketing resources are better utilized, and sales efforts become more productive.

Scalability: When both sales and marketing teams are aligned and have a clear process in place, it becomes easier to scale operations. As the business grows, the synergy between sales and marketing allows for a smoother expansion into new markets or the introduction of new products and services.

Design: Why Brand Consistency Matters

Your brand is the ambassador for your company.  How consistent is your look and feel from conference setups to social posts.  Do you have old logos on PDFs? Does your sparkly new website match your business cards? 

Design consistency can seem like gilding the lily to those who are not thinking holistically about brand presence but, trust us, it’s very important.  Here are some rules to live by for your company’s branding from a visual perspective.  Adhere to these to ensure you are perceived as being just as professional and expert as you actually are:

Color Pallette:  

• Make sure to check the brand colors so they match the original template (save correct hex #’s in your brand kit in Canva)
• Don’t use more than 3 brand colors per page. (2 primary, 1 can be an accent color) This is not a circus.
  

Fonts: 

• Double check fonts from original templates to make sure you’re using the correct fonts
• Don’t use more than two fonts per page. See #circus above
  

Photography Style:  

• Align photography with the website for the overall brand look/ feel (lighter, darker, overlaid, bright, landscape, people, etc. in images)
• Use iStock for image consistency, create a “board” of photos.
• Choose photos that have blank space or areas where text can live – don’t pick super busy images, clutter is hard on the end viewer.

Design Elements:

• Pay attention to what branding elements are used ( circles, squares etc) and be consistent – not raised beveled buttons on a clean square post or design asset.
• Don’t pick random icons, pay attention to line weight, style and color usage.
  

Typesetting – 

• Widows and orphans – Never leave a single word at the bottom of a paragraph if possible. (adjust font size/ box width to fix this).
• Line Spacing – The gaps between sentences can be adjusted. 1.4 is the most comfortable space but can be shrunk to 1.2 or expanded to 1.8 to better fill space. (this can be adjusted depending on how much type there is)
• Character Spacing – The space between letters can also be adjusted. (all caps should be spread out (tracking))
  

Layout / Spacing –

• Negative Space – Leave room between elements so the page doesn’t look cluttered. Use boxes to measure distances between items to keep the spacing evenly distributed.
• Padding – Make sure the padding / spacing is the same on all sides of the text box. 30PX is a good standard.
• Hierarchy– The most important piece of information needs to be larger / bolded /  higher up, to simplify the concept. These should be set online and referenced on all assets by H1, H2, H3 classes. 

Logo Placement / Usage

• Make sure the logo is always on the top most layer.
• If using a dark overlay / use the white version of the logo for best contrast.
• Pay attention to padding around the logo, there is designated safe space (usually one Capital letter’s width) around the logo to keep it readable.
• Do not overlay the logo over a busy image, over a line or intersected with a text box. 

Other B2B Marketing Tips for the Financial Services Industry:

Address Clients’ Challenges:

Focus on clients’ needs by adopting an educational approach. Listen, understand pain points, and offer valuable insights to aid informed decisions.

Ensure Communication Accuracy:

Prioritize accuracy. Research thoroughly, fact-check, and cite reputable sources. Build trust through credible and data-driven communication.

Utilize SEO Research:

Conduct SEO research for deeper client understanding. Identify keywords, explore common queries, and tailor content accordingly.

Consistency is Vital:

Maintain consistent content schedules across blogs, videos, and social media to foster client engagement and loyalty.

Harness Video Content:

Videos connect powerfully. Explain complex concepts, showcase services, and personalize messages for effective client resonance.

Smart Search Ad Strategy:

Prioritize organic ranking through SEO before heavy investments in search ads. Establish authority for sustainable results.

Consider YouTube Ads:

Cost-effective YouTube ads can broaden your audience reach, particularly for video-friendly content.

Equip for Quality Videos:

Invest in top-notch equipment for higher video production quality, enhancing brand perception.

Incorporate Captions:

Boost engagement by adding captions to videos, catering to diverse audiences including those without sound.

Track Calls with Precision:

Use call tracking software like CallRail to analyze campaign effectiveness and understand client preferences.

Share Expertise Freely:

Transparency pays off. Offer insights and tips openly to establish trust and position your brand as a credible authority.

Any Questions?

Download our Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing for Financial Services Companies here (yes, you’ll want to check this out).

The goal of an outsourced digital marketing agency is to understand your business and your brand voice to then let the world know how awesome you are.

We start every engagement with a Brand Storytelling Session where we identify your unique brand voice. Then, our team uses bi-weekly client calls, and shared content calendars to make sure you know what’s happening.

We’ll bring you fresh ideas from our kick-a** creative team from a relationship built on trust. Because that’s the beauty of digital marketing.

For those who are interested in learning more about the difference between outsourced marketing and in-house marketing, read on here.

At Digital Storyteller, we are delighted to feature our esteemed client, Centura Wealth Advisory, and their commitment to precise financial planning, unwavering precision, and a clear sense of purpose.

The Liberated Wealth® Process

Centura Wealth Advisory follows a distinctive and comprehensive approach to wealth management, embodied in their Liberated Wealth® process:

Uncover: Centura begins by gaining a deep understanding of the intricacies of your wealth, exploring the complexities, responsibilities, and risks associated with it.

Unlock: Through innovative planning methods, Centura unlocks the full potential of your wealth, exploring new pathways to positively alter its trajectory.

Design: After a thorough review, Centura synthesizes the complexities of your tax profile, offering sophisticated options that drive meaningful outcomes for you, your family, friends, and charitable organizations.

Liberate: Centura passionately embraces the task of liberating your wealth, even when you may not have realized it needed liberation. They navigate the details with dedication, aiming for transformative results.

Steward: Beyond liberation, Centura is committed to stewarding your wealth responsibly, ensuring sustained growth and protection for the long term.

Why Centura Wealth Advisory?

The question often arises: Why is my wealth not liberated? Centura Wealth Advisory answers this by positioning themselves at the top of their profession, bringing a level of ability and dedication that sets them apart.

Innovative Tax Planning: Centura’s tax planning starts with a thorough understanding of your existing financial situation. They illustrate and synthesize the complexities of your tax profile, offering sophisticated options that drive meaningful outcomes while reducing your tax burden.

Real Estate Expertise: Recognizing that real estate is a major component of many families’ balance sheets, Centura excels in real estate planning. Their expertise in this area is frequently at the forefront of addressing clients’ needs and concerns.

Investment Philosophy: Centura’s investment philosophy revolves around achieving the best Absolute Returns given a range of likely outcomes. They employ passive investment management and offer a unique set of Alternative investments that can bring Excess Return to your portfolio.

How Digital Storyteller Enhances Centura Wealth Advisory’s Brand

Digital Storyteller is proud to contribute to Centura Wealth Advisory’s success story through strategic digital marketing initiatives:

Web Design & Optimization: We oversee the maintenance and optimization of Centura Wealth Advisory’s website, focusing on visual appeal, user-friendliness, and search engine optimization to enhance online presence and user experience.

Email Campaigns: Digital Storyteller strategically crafts and executes targeted email campaigns for Centura Wealth Advisory. Our goal is to engage their audience, nurture leads, and foster meaningful connections. By delivering personalized and relevant content, we ensure that each email reflects Centura’s brand identity and communicates their unique value proposition.

Promoting Their Podcast and Educational Materials: We leverage our expertise to promote Centura Wealth Advisory’s podcast and educational materials. Through captivating content creation, we highlight key insights, industry trends, and expert discussions presented in their podcast episodes. Additionally, we strategically distribute educational materials across various platforms to position Centura as a thought leader in the wealth management space.

Whitepapers: Digital Storyteller collaborates with Centura Wealth Advisory to produce insightful whitepapers that showcase their expertise and provide valuable information to their audience. These whitepapers delve into industry-specific topics, offering in-depth analysis and strategic recommendations. We employ a multi-channel approach to disseminate these whitepapers, ensuring they reach a wide and relevant audience.

By incorporating these initiatives into our digital marketing strategy, Digital Storyteller strengthens Centura Wealth Advisory’s brand presence, establishes them as authorities in wealth management, and drives engagement within their target market. Our commitment is to contribute to Centura’s success story by consistently delivering impactful and results-driven digital marketing solutions.

 Interested in learning more about how we help our clients? Read on to see how we elevate brand awareness for businesses like yours.

Interested in learning more about how we help our clients? Read on to see how we shorten sales cycles for our clients. 

Congrats! You made the video. Now, you’re wondering how to turn this video into an SEO-optimized, compelling blog. We hate to break it to you: it is not as simple as hitting “copy” and “paste.” 

Creating a blog from your video content involves a strategic process to ensure seamless integration and engaging readability. In simple words, it takes a few purposeful steps to make your blog as interesting and easy to understand as your video is. But don’t worry – we’re here to help!

Let’s dive into the detailed breakdown of how to transform your video into a compelling (and yes, SEO-optimized) blog post.

Step 1: Produce a High-Quality Video

{inserting link to how to create a great video here}

Perhaps it goes without saying that you should begin by creating your video. Instead of a scripted performance, aim for authenticity. Prepare your points but embrace the natural flow of conversation. Authenticity resonates far more than rehearsed lines that feel forced.

Step 2: Edit Your Video Using Simple Software

Choose a user-friendly software like iMovie for video editing. Follow these key steps:

Zoom and Cut: Use zoom to rectify any discrepancies after editing. Cut out mistakes or unnecessary sections while maintaining a seamless flow.

Adjust Visual and Audio Aspects: Enhance light, sound quality, and volume levels for better viewer experience.

Review at Different Speeds: Listen through at 2X speed to spot any missed errors. Then, watch the entire video at regular speed to ensure coherence.

Save and Name the File: Save the edited video with an easily recognizable name for convenience.

Screenshot a nice moment in your video to use later when you create your YouTube custom Thumbnail. (Do this now because you’ll have captions and speaker titles on the video after this point.)

Speaker Title Overlay: Use Canva: Create a blank canvas 1920 X 1080 px – then add  a screenshot of your video to help with placement. Add your speaker’s name(s) and title(s) in the appropriate position (Place the title at the top of the video, you’ll have captions at the bottom). Then export with a transparent background so you can add it as a green screen overlay.  You’ll use the fade arrows to smoothly fade it in.

Step 3: Run your video through a Captions/Transcription service (We like Rev.com)

Upload your video and select .txt and burned in captions options. 

Take the txt output and use ChatGPT to help structure your transcription in blog format. 

Be SURE to read it through and edit. Chat Bots only get you about 60% of the way there (and, alas, that’s still an F in any grading system!)

Edit the captions to replace all the Gonna’s with Going to’s and Wanna’s with Want to’s. Make sure names are spelled correctly. Then export the video file and put it back in your editing software. 

Step 3.5: Add  your music and intro/ outro slides

Now that your video is transcribed and has captions, you can add music and intro/ outro slides. 

Make sure that, if you are going to use YouTube videos as ads, you do NOT have an intro slide. Those are precious viewership moments and you want your video’s impact to start off strong straight out of the gate. 

Add subtle music (you can find royalty free licensed music on Envato Elements) 

Add a final card to the end of your video with your company name, contact information, website, email, phone and what you’d like the viewer to do next. (Never hurts to ask!). 

Step 3.75: Make a Custom YouTube Thumbnail

Take your screenshot from Step 2 bullet point #3 and put it in Canva on another 1920 X 1080 px blank custom template. 

Add your Screenshot and then using your brand colors put a box to the left or right of your speaker with the title of your video clearly displayed.

Here’s where the naming is important. A long name is confusing, too short and it doesn’t tell the story.  Don’t be too clever – hopefully, your video is about something you feel is important and the title writes itself. 

Step 4: Structuring the Blog Content

Take that 60% blog you had Chat helped you write and get to work. You’ll want to structure it for humans to enjoy and Google’s bots to crawl efficiently.  Here are some tips to help you structure your content for ease of readability. 

Introduction: Start with an engaging introduction that captures the essence of your video content.

Body: Break down the key points discussed in the video into structured paragraphs. Add depth and context to each point.

Incorporate Visuals: Insert images or graphs or reference shots from the video to complement the written content.

Callouts and Quotes: Highlight important quotes or key takeaways from the video in a visually appealing manner.

Conclusion: Summarize the main ideas discussed in the video and encourage further engagement or action from the readers.

Step 5: Optimizing for SEO and Readability

Boosting your blog’s visibility requires strategic optimization for search engines. To ensure your blog attracts both the attention of search engine algorithms and your readers, follow these actionable steps:

Select Relevant Keywords: Start by identifying and selecting keywords that accurately reflect the content of your video. These keywords should resonate with your audience and match their search queries. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to research and choose appropriate keywords.

Seamlessly Integrate Keywords: Once you’ve selected your keywords, integrate them naturally throughout your blog post. Include them in the title, headings, subheadings, meta descriptions, and body content. However, avoid overstuffing; maintain a natural flow in your writing.

Utilize Headers and Formatting: Enhance the readability of your blog by structuring it with headers and subheaders. These break down your content into digestible sections, making it easier for readers to navigate. Additionally, use formatting features like bold, italics, and bulleted/numbered lists to highlight key points.

Craft Engaging Meta Descriptions: Write concise, compelling meta descriptions that summarize your content and include your primary keyword. These meta descriptions appear in search engine results and should entice users to click through to your blog.

Incorporate Alt Text for Images: Add descriptive alt text to all the images you include in your blog. Alt text not only improves accessibility for visually impaired users but also provides search engines with information about your visual content, boosting SEO.

Include Internal Links: Strategically incorporate internal links to other relevant content on your website. This not only provides additional value to your readers but also helps search engines navigate and index your site more effectively.

Balance SEO with Readability: While focusing on SEO, ensure your content remains engaging and easy to read. Balance keyword usage with natural language and maintain a conversational tone throughout your blog. Remember, your audience’s experience matters as much as search engine rankings.

By striking this balance between SEO optimization and engaging readability, your blog post becomes more appealing to both search engines and your audience, ensuring it stands out amidst the digital noise and drives organic traffic to your content.

Step 6: Embedding the Video

First, upload the video to your YouTube Channel.  You’ll want to have a unique video description that has the main points of the video, the proper hashtags for searchers, and in the first line or 2, your website and phone number. 

Set the video to public and grab the link. 

Use a tool like embedresponsively.com to get the embed code. 

Add your embed code strategically within your blog. Keep it in the first 1/4 of the blog content, for SEO reasons. 

Step 7: Proofreading and Publishing

Proofreading isn’t just about fixing typos. It’s about ensuring your content flows smoothly, is error-free, and conveys your message effectively. Take a step back, read it aloud, and even get a fresh pair of eyes to review it.

Converting your video into a blog involves careful planning and execution. By following these steps, you’ll effectively repurpose your video content into a well-structured, engaging blog post for your audience to enjoy.

Why Videos Perform Well for SEO

Videos have become a powerhouse for SEO, transforming the way content is consumed and ranked by search engines. Incorporating videos into your blog can significantly boost your SEO efforts for several reasons:

Enhanced User Engagement: Videos captivate audiences in ways that text alone often can’t. Users tend to spend more time on webpages that feature videos, signaling search engines that your content is engaging and valuable.

Diversified Content: Search engines like Google appreciate diverse content types. Videos provide an alternate format, enriching your content portfolio and potentially attracting a broader audience.

Reduced Bounce Rates: Engaging videos can decrease bounce rates, the metric indicating how quickly users leave a webpage. Low bounce rates signal search engines that visitors find your content relevant and engaging.

Improved Time Spent on Page: Videos keep users on a page longer, which positively impacts dwell time. A longer dwell time signifies to search engines that your content is valuable and worth promoting in search results.

Potential for Backlinks: Engaging videos have higher potential to attract backlinks from other websites. Backlinks are essential for SEO, signaling authority and relevance to search engines.

By integrating videos into your blog content, you’re not only catering to diverse audience preferences but also enhancing your SEO performance through increased engagement metrics, reduced bounce rates, and improved content diversity.

The point is so many individuals watch videos nowadays.

Why is Video Important to My Digital Marketing Strategy?

So, why is video important? At Digital Storyteller, we love our metrics and stats. Let’s take a look at the booming industry. Did you know…

• “Video is the number 1 source of information for 66% of people.
• Over 500 million people watch Facebook videos every day.
• More than 75% of all video views come from mobile devices.
• The global video market was valued at $39.61 billion in 2018…” (Imagine where it’s at now!?)
• “YouTubers upload 300 hours of video content to the platform every minute.
• 93% of businesses gain new customers as a result of branded video content.”

Need Some with your Digital Marketing Strategy?

Ready to maximize your digital marketing strategy with engaging videos and top-notch content? Let’s chat! Contact our team at Digital Storyteller today to elevate your online presence and drive exceptional results.

At Digital Storyteller, we’re excited to shine the spotlight on our client Signature Analytics!

We partner with Signature Analytics to spotlight their expertise, share their journey, and amplify their specialized services. Our role is to assist in elevating their message and brand, enabling them to connect with businesses and foster smart decision-making rooted in sound financial practices.

Let Us Tell You About Signature Analytics: The Smart Choice for Outsourced Accounting & CFO Advisory Services

Signature Analytics believes that smart business decisions start with excellent day-to-day financial management.  To run your business well and make the best decisions possible,  you need reliable financial insights. Whether your company is growing or pivoting or if you’re simply looking at the landscape and engaged in scenario planning, we can help ensure your decisions are being made based on real numbers.

With an outsourced accounting team from Signature Analytics, you get accurate, relevant, and timely reporting and financial insights to help you make smart business decisions. 

Signature Analytics offers outsourced accounting and CFO business advisory services, geared towards empowering businesses to achieve their goals through:

Streamlined Accounting: Enhancing accuracy and efficiency in financial processes.

Comprehensive Assessments: Tailored assessments to improve accounting processes.

Outsourced Accounting Services: Providing accurate, relevant, and timely reporting for informed decision-making.

CFO & Business Advisory Services: Forward-thinking financial leadership and strategic planning support.

What Sets Signature Analytics Apart

At the core of Signature Analytics’ distinctiveness lies their unique approach, embodied in the Signature Analytics Five Step Method: define, develop, and achieve your goals.

This structured methodology involves a comprehensive analysis of your existing accounting structures and processes. Through this detailed exploration, Signature Analytics customizes the ideal solution tailored to your business needs. Leveraging these insights, they assemble the right outsourced team to deliver the accurate, relevant, and timely financial insights crucial for your business’s successful operations.

Signature Analytics Services

1. Comprehensive Assessments

In the initial 30 days, Signature Analytics deeply analyzes your company’s goals, internal accounting, and technology. This informs a strategic plan to fortify your accounting department for long-term growth.

People Assessment: Evaluating staff roles and capabilities.

Process Refinement: Implementing enhancements for day-to-day efficiency.

Technology Optimization: Fine-tuning systems for improved performance.

2. Day-to-Day Accounting

Post-assessment, Signature Analytics manages your daily accounting using a meticulous 5-step approach for accurate and timely financial reporting.

Monthly Close Process: Ensuring precision in financial statements.

Expense Controls & SOPs: Monitoring budgets and documentation.

Cash-Flow Management: Analyzing cash sources and uses for better financial foresight.

3. CFO Advisory Services

Access expert CFO insights and business advisory services for future-focused financial strategies.

Strategic Financial Insights: Planning, KPI development, and revenue recognition.

FIT Team Expertise: Technology improvements and reporting enhancements.

M&A Support & Audits: Expert guidance for acquisitions, audits, and profitability analysis.

Signature Analytics excels in comprehensive assessments, efficient day-to-day accounting, and strategic CFO advisory services, ensuring precise financial insights and strategies for long-term business success.

Signature Analytics supports the following industries:

• Professional Services
• Nonprofits
• Technology
• Manufacturing & Distribution
• Recovery & Wellness
• Life Sciences & Biotech

How Digital Storyteller Enhances Signature Analytics’ Brand

At Digital Storyteller, we’re instrumental in enhancing Signature Analytics’ digital footprint and refining its marketing strategy. Here’s an overview of our contributions:

Social Media Management: Leveraging captivating articles, blogs, and social media posts to disseminate Signature Analytics’ message across relevant platforms. Our team excels in content creation and scheduling for maximum exposure and engagement.

Web Design & Optimization: Overseeing the maintenance and optimization of Signature Analytics’ website. We focus on visual appeal, user-friendliness, and search engine optimization to bolster their online presence and user experience.

SEO Strategy: Employing SEMRush research to develop targeted content with carefully selected keywords. This strategy aims to elevate Signature Analytics’ domain authority and foster organic growth by improving search engine rankings.

Content Creation: Producing informative and engaging blogs and videos that showcase Signature Analytics’ expertise and industry verticals. These optimized pieces are strategically distributed across social media platforms and integrated into their blogs.

Design Services: Offering comprehensive design solutions for conferences, QR codes, postcards, giveaways, and business cards. These materials are meticulously crafted to leave a lasting impression on clients and partners.

At Digital Storyteller, we take immense pride in contributing to Signature Analytics’ success story. Through a holistic digital marketing strategy, we fortify their brand, expand their reach, and drive substantial growth within their industry.
Interested in learning more about how we help our clients? Read on to see how we shorten sales cycles for our clients.

A recent study by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) forecasts that by 2030, AI will generate over USD 15 trillion for the global economy and boost local economies by as much as 26%. 

That’s a staggering sum, and it promises a major transformation in various industries. Marketers and business owners alike are eager to jump onto the AI train for turbocharged content creation, streamlined operations, and super-efficient budget management. Who could blame them – It’s the dream of lightning-fast SEO-optimized blogs and a flood of online visitors!

However, before we all embark on the AI journey, there are several common misconceptions about AI’s role in marketing that we need to unravel. It’s time to dive into the real scope of AI’s impact on marketing. Let’s take a look. 

First, AI is Not a Standalone Solution (No, Not Even for Content Generation)

The truth is, AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not a standalone solution. It doesn’t work in isolation. To get the most out of AI in your marketing endeavors, you need to integrate it into a well-thought-out strategy. 

AI Enhances, It Doesn’t Replace (I.E. Don’t Fire Your Marketing Team)

AI is a fantastic aid, but it won’t replace your marketing team. Instead, it enhances their capabilities. It can handle repetitive tasks, gather and analyze data at lightning speed, and offer insights that would take human analysts ages to unearth. However, the human touch remains crucial for creative thinking, strategy development, and understanding the nuances of your audience.

Remember – AI is far from infallible, especially when it comes to accuracy and eloquence. So, yes, you should definitely keep a set of human eyes on everything AI churns out.

The Right Data is Key

AI’s prowess hinges on its capacity to process and interpret data. The more data, the better. To fully harness AI’s potential, you must establish a robust foundation of data. This involves several critical steps:

Collecting the Right Data: Start by identifying the specific types of data that are most relevant to your marketing goals. This could encompass customer demographics, online behavior, purchase history, or any other data that provides valuable insights into your audience.

Maintaining Data Quality: Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of your data is paramount. Regularly clean and update your data to avoid inaccuracies that could lead to misguided AI-driven decisions.

Training AI Models Effectively: The real magic happens when you feed AI with high-quality data to train its models. The better the training data, the more accurate and insightful your AI will be. Consistent data feeds help AI understand your audience, recognize patterns, and make more informed recommendations.

Customization is Vital

AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it thrives on personalization. To maximize its effectiveness, customize AI to align with your brand’s unique voice, audience preferences, and specific goals. This requires a few essential steps:

Understanding Your Brand Voice: Your brand has a distinct tone, style, and personality that resonates with your audience. Ensure that your AI-generated content reflects and enhances this voice.

Audience Preferences: Customize AI to understand what your audience prefers in terms of content type, format, and delivery. By aligning with your audience’s preferences, you’ll increase engagement and resonance.

Setting Unique Goals: AI should be programmed to work towards your specific marketing objectives. Whether it’s increasing website traffic, boosting conversions, or enhancing brand visibility, AI should be fine-tuned to support your unique goals.

Human Oversight is Essential

While AI showcases remarkable capabilities, it’s not infallible. It can still make errors, especially when dealing with unprecedented scenarios or unusual data inputs. To ensure that AI-generated content aligns with your brand’s identity and objectives, human oversight is indispensable. Here’s how to integrate it effectively:

Content Monitoring: Your marketing team should routinely review and monitor AI-generated content. This involves checking for accuracy, relevance, and consistency with your brand’s messaging.

Quality Control: Implement quality control processes to catch any errors or deviations from your brand guidelines. This can include proofreading, fact-checking, and ensuring that the content conveys the desired tone and style.

Intervention When Needed: Human intervention is essential when AI encounters unique situations or when content requires a personal touch. Knowing when to step in and refine AI-generated content is crucial for maintaining brand integrity and audience satisfaction.

What Can AI in Marketing: More Than Just Content Creation

Data Analysis and Insights

AI can unlock the potential of your data by providing invaluable insights. Whether it’s deciphering customer behavior, monitoring market trends, or analyzing operational metrics, AI can empower you to make informed decisions based on data-driven recommendations. It’s not just about creating content; it’s about shaping your strategy.

Scaling and Automation

AI empowers businesses to scale and automate their operations. By automating repetitive tasks, it liberates your team to focus on creativity and value-added activities. This not only boosts productivity but also slashes operational costs, enabling your business to grow more efficiently.

Budget Optimization

AI can be a valuable ally in budget optimization. It goes beyond mere cost-cutting; it helps you allocate resources more effectively, identifies areas for cost reduction, and provides long-term financial stability. It’s about smart, strategic budget management.

SEO and Web Traffic

AI can significantly enhance your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) and lead to a sustained increase in web traffic. It’s not just about churning out SEO-friendly content; AI can help you analyze keywords, optimize on-page content, personalize user experiences, and track visitor behavior more effectively.

The Human-AI Partnership

An essential aspect of AI in marketing is understanding that it thrives in collaboration with human intelligence. AI isn’t a replacement; it’s a complement.

Creativity and Originality

AI can draft content efficiently, but it can’t replace the creativity, originality, and emotional connection that human writers bring to your content. AI can be a starting point, but the finishing touch often requires a human perspective.

Context and Understanding

Understanding your industry, audience, and brand identity requires a human touch. AI struggles to grasp these nuances. It’s humans who ensure that your content aligns with your business goals and resonates with your audience.

Strategy and Decision-Making

AI can provide insights, but it’s humans who make the strategic decisions. AI supports your decision-making; it doesn’t replace it.

The Real AI Revolution

AI isn’t a magical shortcut or a quick fix. It’s a powerful tool, and when used strategically alongside human expertise, it can yield remarkable results.

So, instead of wondering how AI can write your blogs, think about how AI can enhance your content creation process, streamline your operations, and bolster your decision-making. By embracing AI in its entirety, you can unlock its true potential and stay ahead in the dynamic landscape of digital marketing.

Final Notes

Incorporating AI into digital marketing is no longer a luxury; it has become a necessity to thrive in the modern business landscape. By capitalizing on the benefits of AI in marketing while remaining mindful of the implementation challenges, businesses can unlock new opportunities, drive growth, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Interested in finding out more? Read on to learn about the ROI of organic digital marketing (yes, it can be measured!) Then, get in touch with our team to schedule your FREE Brand Storytelling Session.