Tag Archive for: Sales Enablement

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How to Ask for Client Testimonials (And Actually Get Them)

man using a phone

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should be asking for client testimonials, the answer is a hard yes – and if you’re not doing it consistently, you’re leaving serious credibility on the table.

We hear the same questions from business owners all the time: “Do people actually read testimonials?” “Should I be doing video testimonials?” “How do I even bring it up without feeling awkward?”

This post breaks down exactly how to ask for client testimonials, why they matter more than ever, and the five-step process that makes collecting them simple. Our CEO, Andrew Marr, also walks through the video testimonial approach in more detail below.

Why Client Testimonials Are a Non-Negotiable Marketing Asset

You’ve done it yourself -scoured Google reviews before trying a new restaurant, or checked Yelp before booking a service. Your prospects do the exact same thing before deciding whether to work with you.

A strong testimonial can be the deciding factor between a prospect choosing you or your competitor. Boast found that 72% of consumers say positive testimonials directly increase their trust in a business. That’s not a small number – that’s the majority of your potential clients making decisions based on what others say about you.

Collecting and showcasing client testimonials lets your best clients do the selling for you. It builds trust before a prospect ever gets on a call, and it positions your business as one that consistently delivers results.

Why Video Testimonials Are Even More Powerful

Written testimonials are valuable, but video testimonials take it a step further. They put a face and a voice behind the words, which makes them far more persuasive and harder to dismiss.

Asking a client to record a short video testimonial might feel bold – many of us weren’t raised to talk openly about ourselves or ask others to advocate for us. But here’s the reframe: when you ask a client for a testimonial, you’re not asking for a favor. You’re giving them a platform to share a genuine success story.

The questions that resonate most with future clients are simple ones:

  • How did we solve a problem for you?
  • How did we help you save time or money?
  • What was it like to work with us?
  • Why would you recommend us to others?
  • How have others in your industry benefited from what we do?

Video testimonials don’t need to be long or highly produced. A focused, 30-second to one-minute video recorded on a phone or over Zoom is more than enough. If your clients need a little guidance on how to record one well, send them our article: “How to Record a Great Zoom Testimonial.”

Once you have the video, distribute it everywhere – your website, blog posts, LinkedIn, email campaigns, and beyond. A great testimonial should work hard across every channel.

How to Ask for Client Testimonials: A Simple 5-Step Process

The biggest obstacle most businesses face is overcomplicating the ask. Here’s a straightforward process that works.

Step 1: Ask – It Really Is That Simple

No testimonial has ever arrived without someone asking for it. Reach out to long-term clients who know your work well, newly satisfied clients who are still riding the high of a great outcome, and anyone in between. The ask itself is the hardest part, and it’s easier than you think.

Step 2: Remove All Friction

Make it effortless for your clients to respond. A short form with two or three guided questions takes them five minutes or less. Timing matters too – ask while your work together is still fresh, either during the engagement or immediately after wrapping up. A quick text message works just as well as an email.

Step 3: Offer Something in Return

You don’t have to send a gift card to incentivize a testimonial. Think about what your clients actually value – sometimes it’s as simple as featuring their business name and logo on your website, giving them added visibility with your audience.

Step 4: Publish It Where It Can Do the Most Work

A testimonial sitting in your inbox isn’t helping anyone. Post it on your website with a professional headshot, share it on social media, embed it in relevant blog posts, and include it in your sales materials. The more places a testimonial lives, the harder it works for you.

Step 5: Put Your Testimonials Where People Are Already Looking

Don’t let a great testimonial live in just one place. Your homepage and services pages are the obvious starting points, but think beyond your website. Post testimonials on your Google Business Profile, where they directly influence local search rankings and first impressions. Share them as social proof on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Drop them into email campaigns and proposals. The more surfaces a testimonial appears on, the more trust it builds – and the more work it does for your business without any extra effort on your part.

Start Collecting Client Testimonials Today

Knowing how to ask for client testimonials is only half the battle – the other half is building it into a consistent habit. The businesses that do this well don’t wait for clients to volunteer praise. They have a system, they ask every time, and they put those testimonials to work across every marketing channel.

If you want help building that system or turning client stories into compelling content, let’s talk.

Frequently Asked Questions About Client Testimonials

How do you ask a client for a testimonial?

The best way to ask for a client testimonial is to keep it simple and timely. Reach out shortly after delivering a successful result and explain that their feedback would help other businesses understand the value of your services. Providing a few guided questions makes the process easier and increases the likelihood of receiving a response.

When should you ask for a client testimonial?

The ideal time to ask for a testimonial is when a client has recently experienced a positive outcome. This could be after completing a project, reaching a milestone, achieving measurable results, or expressing satisfaction with your work. Asking while the experience is still fresh typically leads to stronger and more detailed testimonials.

Should I ask for written or video testimonials?

Both written and video testimonials can be effective. Written testimonials are easier for clients to provide and can be quickly added to your website and marketing materials. Video testimonials add a personal element by allowing prospects to see and hear real clients share their experiences, which can build trust more quickly.

What questions should I ask in a client testimonial?

Focus on questions that highlight the client’s experience and results. Helpful questions include:

  • What challenge were you facing before working with us?
  • How did our services help solve that problem?
  • What results did you achieve?
  • What was it like working with our team?
  • Would you recommend us to others, and why?

Can I use client testimonials on my website and social media?

Yes, but it’s important to get permission before publishing a client’s testimonial. Once approved, testimonials can be used on your website, Google Business Profile, social media platforms, email campaigns, proposals, and other marketing materials to build credibility and trust.

How many client testimonials should my business have?

There is no perfect number, but consistency matters. Businesses should aim to collect testimonials regularly rather than gathering a large batch once and stopping. A steady stream of fresh testimonials demonstrates ongoing client satisfaction and helps keep your marketing content relevant.

Do client testimonials help with SEO?

Client testimonials can support SEO by adding fresh, relevant content to your website and increasing trust signals for visitors. Reviews on platforms like Google Business Profile can also improve local search visibility and help potential customers find your business more easily.

What if a client doesn’t respond to my testimonial request?

It’s common for busy clients to miss or forget testimonial requests. A polite follow-up message a week or two later is often enough. Making the process as simple as possible, such as providing a short form or a few questions, can significantly improve response rates.

Should I offer incentives for testimonials?

In most cases, satisfied clients are willing to provide testimonials without financial incentives. Instead of offering gifts or payments, consider highlighting their business on your website or social channels, which can provide additional exposure and value.

How often should I ask for client testimonials?

Asking for testimonials should be part of your regular client process. Whether you serve a handful of clients each month or hundreds each year, creating a repeatable system ensures you’re consistently collecting fresh social proof and strengthening your credibility over time.

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Why You Should Conduct Site Audits

Why You Should Conduct Site Audits

You See a Doctor Every Year, Shouldn’t Your Site? The same way that your own health sometimes requires a little TLC or a trip to the doctor’s office for extra attention, your site does too.

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The Linkedin Algorithm Explained: How to Make it Work for You

If you want to improve your LinkedIn game and ensure that your posts get seen by the right people, you’re in the right place. And to sweeten the deal, we’ve got a free download at the end of this blog post (you’re welcome.)

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the LinkedIn algorithm in 2025. We’ll explain how LinkedIn categorizes posts, how to avoid being flagged as spam, how to achieve high-quality status, and which formats are preferred. We’ll also share tips on how to make the most of the golden hour, when to post, how to encourage meaningful engagement, and what not to do.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of how the LinkedIn algorithm works and be equipped with the knowledge to take your LinkedIn game to the next level. So, let’s get started!

How LinkedIn Categorizes Posts

When you post, LinkedIn puts it in one of three categories:

  • Spam
  • Low quality
  • High quality

How to Avoid Being Categorized as Spam

To stay out of the spam folder, follow these updated 2025 guidelines:

  • Use correct grammar and proper formatting
  • Limit external links (preferably none in the post body; place in comments instead)
  • Tag no more than five people, and only if they are likely to engage
  • Avoid posting more than once every 12 hours
  • Don’t use engagement bait (phrases like “Comment if you agree!” or “Like this post!”)
  • Avoid low-quality or overly AI-generated content

How to Achieve High-Quality Status

This part is key to expanding your reach. Here’s what to do:

  • Only tag people who are likely to respond
  • Use around three hashtags: one broad, one niche, one hyper-niche (e.g. “#socialmedia,” “#b2bsocialmedia”)
  • Use carousels (PDF posts) or short videos when appropriate
  • Focus on niche, high-value topics
  • Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions
  • Use keywords your audience is likely to search
  • Encourage saves and long-form comments (15+ words)
  • Avoid editing posts after publishing

Preferred Formats for 2025

LinkedIn is rewarding posts that encourage dwell time and engagement:

  • Carousels and PDFs: perform 1.6–1.9x better than static text
  • Short videos (30–60 seconds): still perform well but are slightly less favored than PDFs
  • Interactive content like polls: can drive strong engagement if relevant

The LinkedIn Golden Hour

The first hour after posting remains crucial. This is when LinkedIn evaluates whether your post deserves broader distribution. The algorithm now factors in:

  • Comments with substance (not one-word replies)
  • Saves/bookmarks
  • Time spent viewing (dwell time)

Make this hour count by engaging with other posts, replying quickly to comments, and posting when your audience is online (typically weekday mornings 8–10 AM or evenings 5–7 PM).

LinkedIn Golden Hour Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s:

  • Post during high-activity windows
  • Engage with other content around your post time
  • Ask thoughtful questions
  • Reply promptly to comments
  • Use a consistent posting schedule

Don’ts:

  • Post more than once every 12 hours
  • Tag people who won’t engage
  • Edit your post within the first hour
  • Rely on engagement bait

What Happens After the Golden Hour

Positive Engagement Keeps You in the Feed

Once your post passes the first engagement filter, positive interactions (comments, shares, saves) help extend its reach—as detailed in LinkedIn Help.

Negative Engagement Slows Your Reach

Negative signals, such as being hidden or marked as spam, reduce post visibility and performance.

3 Key Factors That Influence Your Feed

  1. Personal Connections: LinkedIn considers who you interact with regularly
  2. Interest Relevance: Based on your followed pages, hashtags, groups, and profile info
  3. Engagement Probability: Based on how likely you are to interact with a given post

Understanding B2B Buyers: Key to Growth

According to LinkedIn’s VP of Marketing, Minjae Ormes, the B2B sector has the potential to drive economic growth worldwide. B2B marketing success hinges on understanding buyer group dynamics.

Understanding Buyer Groups

B2B buying usually involves a team of 6–10 decision-makers. Familiarity and trust influence purchasing decisions more than aggressive tactics.

Target vs. Hidden Buyers

Target buyers are product experts. Hidden buyers are internal process experts (finance, legal, procurement) who control nearly half the decision-making process but don’t leave strong signals. They prioritize security over innovation.

To succeed, cater to both groups. Build familiarity and reduce perceived risk.

According to LinkedIn and Bain & Company, emphasize trust and safety, especially if your brand is not well known. Present a united narrative that aligns both target and hidden buyer interests.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, LinkedIn prioritizes authentic, high-value content that fosters real conversation. Posts that generate saves, meaningful comments, and dwell time perform best. Carousels, PDFs, and insightful videos outperform basic text. Stick to ethical posting practices, focus on delivering value, and use your golden hour wisely.

Want to optimize your business’s LinkedIn page but not sure where to start? Download our freebie, here.

Read on to learn how to leverage your business using LinkedIn. Then, get in touch with our team to schedule your FREE Brand Storytelling Session.

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Outsourced VS In-House Marketing: What’s Best For Your Business?

Outsourced VS In-House Marketing: What's Best For Your Business?

So you’re wondering what type of marketing you should implement for your business? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
The two biggest types of marketing are outsourced and in-house. Both want to promote your business to the best of their ability, but they have a few big differences. Learn more about the differences between outsourced and in-house marketing below!

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Social Media for Financial Services Companies

Social Media for Financial Services Companies

The use of social media in financial services is often disputed. Some believe that social media does not hold the same value for business-to-business (B2B) brands as it does in the business-to-consumer (B2C) market.

This, however, is not the case.

While it may be true that B2C companies are often more successful on social media than B2B companies, there are still a multitude of various reasons why building a social media presence benefits a financial services company.

Take it from our Social Media Team at Digital Storyteller: “A marketing strategy without social media is like a margarita without tequila. No one wants that!”

In this article, we’re detailing the key benefits of using social media marketing for financial services companies.

1. Strengthen Existing Relationships

One of the greatest benefits for all businesses to developing a social media presence is to strengthen their existing client relationships.

This may refer to:

  • Engaging with existing or past clients, or
  • Nurturing relationships with contacts that have yet to become clients

Either way, social media networks provide a platform to maintain relationships.

Email marketing and consistent calls are of course another option to nurture relationships! These methods, however, have the potential to get irritating rather quickly.

While blasting your clients’ inboxes with emails may lead them to the dreaded unsubscribe button, they may not feel the need to take such drastic measures when their level of engagement is the casual viewing of sporadic Instagram posts.

Social media provides a relaxed addition to your existing client nurturing process while additionally providing a platform to develop new relationships.

2. Build Trust 

In the same way that Google evaluates content for SEO purposes, viewers evaluate clients based on their authority and expertise. Developing a depth of content on social platforms provides potential clients an opportunity to review your level of expertise within your field.

Over time, existing clientele and prospective clients will likely begin to follow your accounts and engage with your content. Engagement with your content shows that you have a proven following and support system that trusts your business.

Read on to learn more about Instagram engagement.

3. Provide Customer Support 

Social media has turned into an easy, new line of communication.

It has become common for consumers to utilize social media to gain support and answers from companies rather than going through their traditional customer service channels. Various social media platforms provide space where clients are comfortable and familiar.

It is easier for a client to tag, tweet, or comment on a company’s latest post than it is to sit on hold with the customer service line for hours trying to solicit help… No, thanks!

Companies love to see their favorite clients and prospects engaging with them on a personal level through social media. Brands that engage and respond to their clients on social media have overall higher customer satisfaction ratings. 

It’s 2022, your clients are on social media—and your competitors are, too.

The truth of the matter is: Brands are expected to have a social presence.

Giving your clients an additional outlet to contact you offers them the support and guidance they’re looking for.

After all, your product or service already serves to solve a problem that they’re facing. Why not fix another one by making yourself more accessible?

4. Humanize Your Brand 

In a sense, this goes along with the previously mentioned need for customer support. Making your brand available on social media is like positioning yourself as their friend. Social media platforms were created to connect friends and share experiences, so why can’t the same be the case with brands?!

Social platforms allow your brand to share a behind-the-scenes look at the people that make your brand what it is. For example, our co-founders, Andrew Marr and Amanda Rogers, each have their series of relevant videos that we share weekly.

Not only do these videos “share the secret sauce” behind our brand, but they also give our viewers insight into the faces behind the brand! Plus, who doesn’t love a chardonnay review!?

The same may also be the case with your brand. Finding a way to interact with your clients on an informal basis allows them to consider you a friend or peer. It creates a relationship of trust and mutual respect: Two things you definitely want in your client relationships.

5. Gain Insight

Lastly, being engaged on social media allows your brand to gain insight. Be it consumer or competitive insights, social media functions as a reporting platform. 

The way that consumers engage with your social media account can tell you about their buying behavior, likes, dislikes, and needs.

Instagram, for example, has transitioned its functionality to operate similarly to a search engine for users. Tracking the views of your page, accounts reached, post likes, comments, shares, and saves can provide significant insight into how your brand is performing.

Read on for our article “What is Going on With the Instagram Algorithm!?”

Similar claims can be said about your competitors. One of the benefits of public social media accounts is that you can track insight into your competitors’ content. As they provide content for their followers, you have a front-row seat to see what they’re doing!

A Final Word

If your brand is already on social media, there are additional ways to ensure that you are optimizing your channels. This is particularly the case for financial services companies interacting on social media.

Check out this article for additional tips on the use of social media for financial services companies!

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How to Attract the Right Clients

How to attract the right client

So, you’re a business owner looking to get more clients? (Trust us, you’re not the only one!)

Every business owner ever:

But hold on – before you go all Heidi Klum on us and start looking to get MORE clients… Have you taken a minute to consider how to attract the right clients? Yes, the right clients. After all, you don’t want to be marketing your products and/or services to every person you walk by…

Not sure where to start? Lucky for you, we’ve got Andrew Marr, CEO and Owner of Digital Storyteller on camera to chat about how to attract the right clients.

Let’s see what he has to say.

Who is Your Ideal Client?

Clients, for any business owner, are obviously extremely important. Without clients, you’d have no business! (But you already knew that).

This considered, building a successful business and getting more clients is most likely one of your primary goals as a business owner.

Before we jump the gun and talk about getting more clients, however, it’s important to first discuss who the right clients are for you. How can you attract the right clients to your business?

Identifying the Perfect Client

The question isn’t, “Do you want more clients?” Of course, you do! The number one thing is, have you identified your perfect client?

Then, after you’ve identified your ideal client, think: Are you willing to create strategies around that particular client?

Our Perfect Client at Digital Storyteller

At Digital Storyteller, we focus on marketing for financial services companies. The realm of financial services ranges from commercial insurance to wealth advisories, commercial real estate firms, the list goes on.

While we love whisky, chardonnay, puppies, and tacos, we don’t market for companies that have anything to do with these elements. Why not? Because we’ve identified our perfect client (financial services clients) and unfortunately, whisky, chardonnay, puppies, and tacos have nothing to do with this industry (a little sad, right?)

We know it’s difficult not to accept whatever business walks through the door. It’s important, however, to hone in on who your ideal client is and not accept anyone else apart from this target audience.

So, to attract more clients, you have to first, figure out who your perfect client is. Put your energy and resources into that.

Interested in meeting one of our ideal clients? Check out this spotlight we did on our client Frank Crivello, founder and CEO of SBMA Benefits.

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The Eight Best Marketing Agencies in San Diego

Marketing Agencies

Marketing agencies today have more tools than ever to support clients in their marketing efforts. Content creation, website design, SEO optimization, the list goes on. But at Digital Storyteller, we have our eyes on a few agencies in particular. Here are the eight best marketing agencies in San Diego.

Digital Storyteller

Founded: In 2020 by Amanda Rogers 

Who We Are: An outsourced Digital Marketing Agency focused on Financial Services Companies

Where: Encinitas

Approach: At Digital Storyteller, we believe that marketing that is fragmented wastes money and time and reduces impact.  Our team takes a holistic approach to your messaging and content marketing.  

Services:

At Digital Storyteller, we take a holistic approach to digital marketing for financial services companies. Our in-house team offers a range of services from SEO analysis to content creation, sales enablement workflow creation to online reputation management, and everything in between.

We create monthly content through a content calendar focused on the target demographic, areas where clients want to be thought leaders, and keywords to rank for. Our blog articles, SEO work, and strategic sharing on social media creates engagement and improves search rankings.

Our email workflows are optimized for client engagement and prospect outreach, based on each client’s tier of retainer. We also use social media strategically to push content to platforms such as LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, with platform-specific strategies guided by our social media manager and implemented by our social team.

We also offer web builds using WordPress, hosted on Digital Ocean and managed within app containers. 

We believe that all elements of digital marketing need to work together, and we provide monthly reporting to show our clients how engagement with their email campaigns, site traffic, social following and engagement, and keyword rankings are building their online presence and creating trust and awareness to shorten sales cycles.

Reach out to our team to learn more.

REBL Marketing

Founded: 2008 By Reb Risty 

Approach: 

  • Start with your company objective and goals.
  • Develop a content strategy and plan for your business.
  • Create amazing content that makes your message sticky and your brand stand out from the competition.

Specialty: Strategic video content for all your marketing channels. REBL strives to help clients turn viewers into customers by writing and producing amazing video content that makes them stand out from the competition.

Services:

REBL offers a range of content marketing services for B2B professional services. Their services are designed to help businesses reach potential customers, build relationships with key stakeholders, generate leads, and establish an authoritative voice in the industry.

Their Brand Builder service involves working with clients to film once per quarter, minimizing the strain on their schedule and investing strategically in pre-production planning to capture all the necessary footage. After the shoot, REBL manages every stage of video production, including editing and production of three video topics/themes per quarter, which are then reconstructed into 12 shorter-length videos for ongoing, multi-channel application every week.

The Social Punch package is custom-designed to help businesses drive awareness, engagement, and leads on social media platforms. The package is based on a business’s specific needs, campaign calendar, target audience, platform, and other variables, and includes video content to promote engagement.

For businesses seeking a comprehensive range of full-length video production, REBL offers the Custom Package, which is priced according to their needs and offers a simple, clean execution style.

KWSM

Founded: 2010 by Katie Wagner after retiring from her TV news career

Where:

  • Orange County, CA
  • San Diego, CA
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Las Vegas, NV

Specialty: Boy, oh boy! KWSM does it all. While every plan is different, they specialize in creating customized digital marketing strategies that help clients get results through:

  • Social Media Management
  • Content Creation
  • Website Design and Management
  • Content Optimization (SEO)
  • Online Advertising
  • PR and Influencer Marketing
  • Video and Photography
  • Social Media Coaching
  • Speaking and Workshops

Their Mission: According to their site, “KWSM exists to help great companies make genuine connections with their customers. We believe good business starts with strong relationships, and the best way to build them is by sharing your story.”

Digitopia

Founded: In 2004

Where: Carlsbad, CA

Our Promise: “We promise to deliver strategic insights. We’ll be easy to work with. And, most importantly, we’ll never leave you in the dark.”

Their Approach: Digitopia uses the phrase process, platforms, people to guide their B2B digital growth strategies.

“We take the stress of inbound marketing off your plate allowing you to focus on all the other important parts of your job. Whether you need…

  • HubSpot help, or
  • Content and inbound strategies (that actually bring in traffic and leads), or
  • Online advertising purpose-built to optimize your spend

…we have you covered.”

Brandetize

Founded: In 2001

Specialty: Strategy, lead generation, website, branding, sales conversions, technology and analytics, and more

What makes Brandetize different from other marketing agencies? Brandetize offers:

  • “Full-service customer lifecycle marketing
  • Customer focused, cohesive goals
  • We’re thinkers, not just doers
  • Strategy comes first, then we execute
  • Thoroughly seasoned staff of experts
  • Partnership model: Get results and write a check from the increase in sales
  • We don’t profit until you profit”

Raindrop Branding + Advertising

Founded: By Jacques Spitzer and Adam Wagner! (Raindrop compares these two to oreos and milk and peanut butter and jelly. In other words, they’re the perfect pair!)

Specialty: Simply put, Raindrop helps build your brand and build your audience. At Raindrop, “our goal with every client is to take you to your next level by helping new audiences to discover you, crafting deeper relationships with your core audiences and allowing you to confidently be the best version of yourself.”

Plus, their video production is top-notch! In fact, they have accrued more than 400,000,000 video views for their clients, been awarded two Emmys, and have produced the #1 performing Youtube ad of 2020.

The Story Behind the Name: It all begins with this quote: “True friendship looks like raindrops coming together on a window-sill; beautifully and effortlessly before your eyes.” 

As written on their site, “I think we can all agree; best friends are… well, the best. They are there for us, cheering us on, listening to us and helping us to live our best lives. We imagined that same level of trust, open communication and fun-loving spirit as the foundation for our work.

“The result is a truly special connection with our clients that we believe inspires even greater work. Being a Raindropper means partnering generously and creating strategically. We revel in the success of our clients and celebrate the collaborative culture that we share as a team.”

Power Digital

With Offices In… San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

Who Are We? Power Digital is “a cutting-edge, nationally recognized digital marketing agency dedicated to elevating your brand through innovative marketing solutions, custom strategies, channel expertise, and flawless execution.”

Some Rules They Live By: Integrity, loyalty, trust, challenge yourself, find the solution, embrace change, don’t take yourself too seriously, and more as seen here!

What They Do: A better question would be, “What don’t they do!?” Power Digital offers:

  • Affiliate Marketing
  • Amazon Marketing
  • Content Marketing
  • Creative
  • CRO
  • Diligence
  • Email Marketing
  • Influencer Marketing
  • Organic Social
  • Paid Media
  • Paid Social
  • PR and Outreach
  • SEO
  • Web Development

3Q Digital

Founded: By David Rodnitzky out of a coffee shop in Pacifica, CA, in 2008

Their Motto: Infinite Possibilities. Infinite Growth.

Why They Rock: 3Q Digital is growing, growing, growing! With six U.S. locations, two international presences, and over 20 virtual locations, this marketing agency can work with you wherever you are!

3Q Digital Offers…

  • SEO
  • Conversion Rate Optimization
  • Programmatic
  • Analytics
  • CTV/OTT
  • Strategy and Planning
  • Digital Due Diligence
  • Creative
  • And more!

At the end of the day, there isn’t a hard and fast answer for which marketing agency you should use. Each company is unique! (But we think you should choose to work with us!) If you’re ready to take a look at what our outsourced marketing services would look like for you, contact our team at Digital Storyteller today.

We know we’d make a great team, we’re just waiting on you!

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What Is Web Accessibility and Why Is It Important?

What Is Web Accessibility and Why Is It Important?

We are not a one-size-fits-all society, nor are our websites. As our physical world becomes more aware of creating physical accessibility, we should also understand the importance of facilitating web accessibility as well.

As we spend more time surfing the web, learn more about how to increase inclusivity for people with disabilities. It’s just good practice, and it also benefits your company.

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Top 10 Resources for Digital Marketers

person typing on laptop to find resources for digital marketers

So you want to market your business, but you’re not sure where to start?
We wanted to share our favorite resources that make us successful in our industry so you can be successful in yours.

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Save Money on Ads (So You Can Spend It on Wine)

Save Money on Ads (So You Can Spend It on Wine)

When you think of marketing, what do you think of? For many, it’ll include billboards, that one realtor’s face on a bus stop, or the not-so random ads when you’re scrolling through Instagram.
It’s actually much more than that. Yes, paid ads have their time and place to increase your exposure, but let’s let you in on a little secret: there’s a better way to market yourself, and it’s not by relying on ads.
I know, shocking. 

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How to Organize Content

girl sitting in front of digital marketing sticky notes

We’ve talked time and time again about the importance of content marketing and why consistently producing strong content is an ideal marketing strategy. That being said, we know it can be easier said than done.

Here are all our best tips on how to organize content.

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Let’s get REEL! How Instagram Reels Support Your Social Strategy

Let's get REEL! How Instagram Reels Support Your Social Strategy

In a world where we have varying options on how to engage with potential clients, reels open the door to adding your personal flair. From informational how-to videos like how to make your grandma’s top-secret cookie recipe to a silly clip on your opinion of this week’s Bachelor rose ceremony, the possibilities are endless.

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Social Media Brand Awareness Metrics: More Than Likes and Comments

Social Media Brand Awareness Metrics: More Than Likes and Comments

When most people consider their brand’s success on social channels they jump immediately to wanting tons of likes, comments, and followers on their profiles. While these factors are important in many cases, there’s more to social media than these tracking measures.

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Which Social Media Platforms Should I Be On?

person on iPhone visiting Instagram for financial services company

Financial Services Edition

As a B2B financial services company, you may be questioning whether having a social media presence matters for your marketing strategy. We’ll keep it pretty simple for you: It does.

Social media has become a critical part of any marketing strategy. Whether it be organic or paid, B2B or B2C, and so on, social media marketing plays an important role in strategizing for any business.

That being said, social media is constantly evolving and changing. While platforms are updated to best serve their users, it can make it complicated and challenging for marketers to keep up with. Luckily, we’re here to help.

One of the questions we get asked most commonly by new clients is, “Which social platforms should we be on?” Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, the list goes on!

Deciding which platforms work best for your business is important to ensure that you delegate your time and resources towards a strategy that’s going to move the needle for your brand.

Here are the top four social media platforms that we believe all financial service companies should be on.

Facebook 

Often known as the “original” social media platform, Facebook has begun to drop slightly in usage and engagement. While this is the case overall, it still plays an important role and holds unique value in the world of social and business.

Facebook is approaching its 20th anniversary following its creation in February 2004.

Pay-to-Play Platform

In recent years, however, Facebook has become largely a pay-to-play platform. While paid ads aren’t necessarily mandatory for success on the platform, statistics show that putting a little money behind your Facebook strategy has the power to make a significant difference.

Facebook takes its in-house marketing one step further by providing real-world case studies of companies that have found marketing success on their platform. These various stories provide quotes, statistics, and examples from clients on how they successfully implemented strategies on the platform. 

At Digital Storyteller, we have adopted similar strategies when working with Facebook. Each of our clients has a Facebook page to which we share organic content. We produce custom content weekly and share blog posts, visuals, infographics, videos, and more.

We pinpoint each client’s strongest posts and work with them one-on-one to set a realistic budget to boost posts. Following post boosts, we delve into reporting to assess the success of each given boost.

Facebook provides statistics on reach, clicks, cost per click, and engagement in a simplified easy to navigate manner that makes sharing reporting with our clients a breeze.

Bottom line: Make sure your business is on Facebook.

Instagram 

We’re going to give Instagram a nickname: “The social beast.” Since its launch in 2010, it’s amassed over 500 million users. Over 60% of users log in daily, averaging a total of 3.5 billion likes.

Instagram is a critical platform for businesses in addition to individuals. Nearly 49% of businesses have accounts on the platform.

Compared to its competitors, engagement with brands on Instagram is 10 times higher than on Facebook, 54 times higher than on Pinterest, and 84 times higher than on Twitter. Safe to say they’re doing pretty well!

But how can you tailor your Instagram account to your audience? Like Facebook, Instagram offers a pay-to-play option by boosting your posts to a relevant audience. That being said, this doesn’t hold quite as much power with Instagram as it does with Facebook. 

The Instagram Algorithm

But why? Instagram’s goal is to create organic experiences for its users. Its algorithm pays attention to what videos users watch, what they like, which hashtags and account types they follow, and what engagement types they utilize.

Based on these factors, Instagram creates an organic experience by boosting and promoting what they think a user is most likely to want to see. 

Based on these features, it’s important that when using Instagram as a social media platform, you tailor it to your audience. One of the best ways that we’ve found to do this is by getting down to the nitty-gritty and creating buyer personas.

Imagine you’re selling cookbooks… Your target audience might be Jennifer. Jennifer is a married stay-at-home mother of three that loves following influencers that share new recipes and provide inspiration for her girl’s night dinner party. Jennifer is a perfect audience for this product.

Things might be different if Jennifer were a 12-year-old girl that uses Instagram to follow her favorite celebrities and learn the latest TikTok dances. Making sure that you identify and tailor to your ideal audience is critical to the success of your Instagram usage.

Read on to learn more about the ever-changing Instagram algorithm.

Curating Your Business’s Profile

Another important aspect of Instagram usage for businesses is curating your bio and your feed in a way that represents your brand voice. Consistency is key when it comes to creating content that your audience genuinely wants to see. This starts with your bio.

Your Bio

Your bio is the first thing people see when they visit your account, essentially representing your virtual storefront. You have a short blurb—150 characters to be exact—to communicate who you are, and what you do, and ideally convince people to follow you and engage with your content.

While Instagram does not allow for direct linking in their captions or individual posts, they offer the opportunity to share one single link in your bio. Better use it wisely to make sure you’re directing traffic where you want it!

One helpful resource that we can’t commend enough is utilizing a link-building site such as those offered by Metricool or LinkTree. Both of these sites create the ability to provide users with multiple site links within one URL.

Your Feed

Having a well-curated Instagram “feed” or “grid” is also a huge advantage to developing a professional business Instagram account. As previously mentioned, consistency is key.

Whether it be utilizing personalized photos, brand colors, a common filter, or even a precise layout template, there is a multitude of options when it comes to how to set up your post grid.

Here’s an example of one of our client’s Instagram grids, Voit Real Estate Services.

screenshot of voit commercial real estate services instagram feed

Cool, right? Nice, clean, and cohesive.

Moreover, it’s a notable fact that about 40% of customers respond better to visual content than they do to written content. With this in mind, it’s no surprise why Instagram is a massive hub for marketing opportunities.

LinkedIn 

LinkedIn is a marketing MUST in the financial services industry.

LinkedIn differs from other social media platforms because it is more strongly based on personal and genuine connections. The “friend of a friend,” “we met at a conference,” or “Oh, I recognize that brand name” attitudes go a long way in today’s day and age.

The unique circumstances that we’ve experienced over the past two years as a result of the ongoing pandemic have further changed the name of the game when it comes to professional networking.

A survey conducted by LinkedIn themselves revealed that “B2B buyers are 5X more likely to engage with a professional via a warm introduction than via cold outreach.”

While cold outreach is a reality for many B2B businesses, LinkedIn offers these businesses the capabilities to connect with their audiences on a more personable level. Additionally, it allows for more accurate persona targeting. 

In addition to serving as a virtual professional networking platform, LinkedIn has positioned itself as a leader in news delivery. The same survey previously mentioned also shares that 79% of small and medium businesses consider industry-specific news/articles to be the most valuable content shared on social media.

Social media platforms, LinkedIn in particular, have enabled users to identify the news sources and industries that they want to hear from specifically. Rather than opening up the morning paper and spending time sifting through the garbage that you’re not interested in, hop on your LinkedIn account in the morning to see what your followers have posted lately.

The people that users follow and engage with are often the sources that they want to hear from. Enabling users to deliberately identify the sources they want to see and eliminate (or simply just not follow) the ones that they don’t wish to see content from has turned LinkedIn into somewhat of a personalized news outlet.

Twitter

Twitter is a great platform to keep your business’s personality alive.

While financial services companies more commonly target more professional and refined messaging, Twitter offers the opportunity to incorporate your brand’s voice more casually.

Just Say It!

Being that Twitter only allows posts that contain up to 280 characters, you’ve got to figure out what you want to say and just SAY IT. Removing the fluff and the details is sometimes the best way to get across and be remembered for what’s important.

While starting your morning by reading the latest news articles or blog posts might be your favorite part of the day, sometimes all your consumers want is quick, simple facts. You’ve been there, right?

Adding a human element to your brand is made easy by the relaxed, casual voice most often shared on Twitter. Whether it be celebrating a holiday with a hashtag (#HappyWomensDay or #HappyEarthDay), often your company’s tweets don’t need to be as much of an event as full-blown in-depth content.

While writing a blog post or filming a video might take hours of prep, edits, and reviews, posting a one-line tweet may be an opportunity to simplify.

That being said, a successful Twitter strategy usually involves tweeting from five to 15 times daily. While each tweet in and of itself may be a simplified way to reach out to your audience, doing it more often is what’s going to help move the needle.

It’s often noted that it takes people an average of 11-13 touch points before a message truly breaks through. With that in mind, tweeting five to 15 times a day provides an opportunity to interact with your audience on various occasions.

Compliance and The Financial Services Industry

Another important fact about Twitter for financial services companies, in particular, is the growing challenge of compliance with specific Twitter terms and conditions. The financial industry is highly regulated on social media.

Companies need to state clearly who they are, and what they do, clarify any risks or benefits, and provide full transparency about all of their services. GDPR is therefore not the only regulation that financial businesses need to obey. 

Many other directives were implemented in banking industries in the last few years. Whilst not all of them have a direct impact on social media communication, some of the legal initiatives do.

Take a look at MiFID II, which is focused on refining consumer information and making it easier to understand.

Pinterest

You might be surprised to see this one on the list, but we couldn’t help but mention it: Pinterest!

Pinterest is an image sharing and social media platform with over 400 million monthly active users. These ‘pinners’ (so they’re called!) use the platform to find inspiration and ideas for their interests and hobbies.

At Digital Storyteller, we’ve recently started to grow our Pinterest account by sharing information on user-generated content, site audits, client management, organic marketing, and more!

Pinterest is awesome because you can link to specific URLs on your “pin,” which grabs a user’s attention through use of a photo.

For example, below is a ‘pin’ we posted when the news hit that Elon Musk decided to purchase twitter. This pin linked to our article titled, “What’s Going to Happen to Twitter?” Here, we provide more information on the subject.

Using Pinterest in this way builds your business’s credibility, and encourages users to come back to your page for inspiration or information.

So, give it a shot! Get your business Pinning.

A Final Word

When it comes to implementing an effective social media strategy for your business, there is much to be considered. Various platforms perform better or worse based on your business type, target audience, and intended involvement level.

If you’re looking for support in developing a social media strategy and don’t know where to start, reach out to our team of experts at Digital Storyteller.

With our specialization in the financial services industry, our experience and expertise is growing stronger every day. Call or contact us today for more information or to schedule your FREE brand storytelling session.

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