Customer reviews play a critical role in building trust, improving visibility, and converting new customers. They also help signal quality to both search engines and AI platforms. That’s why Google’s recent updates are important for any business actively collecting reviews to be displayed on Google Business Profile and Google Maps.

In April 2026, Google updated its Review Policy to clarify how businesses are allowed to request reviews. While the changes are focused, they directly impact how review collection strategies should be handled moving forward.

This update focuses specifically on how reviews are solicited.

Quick Summary

• Businesses cannot require employees to collect reviews
• Businesses cannot ask customers to include specific content in reviews
• Reviews must be voluntary, unbiased, and customer-driven

What Changed in April 2026?

Google introduced stricter rules around how businesses request reviews, specifically targeting practices that influence or structure customer feedback.

1. Review Quotas Are Now Prohibited

Businesses can no longer require employees or teams to collect a specific number of reviews.

This means:

• No internal quotas for review collection
• No performance incentives tied to review volume
• No structured requirements for staff to request reviews

The goal is to ensure that reviews are collected naturally—not as part of a forced or gamified process.

2. Customers Cannot Be Asked to Mention Specific Employees

Businesses are no longer allowed to request or influence reviews that identify individual staff members.

For example:

• Asking a customer to “mention your sales rep by name” is no longer allowed
• Encouraging specific phrasing or content in a review is now restricted

Reviews must reflect the customer’s experience in their own words, without direction or scripting.

Existing Google Review Guidelines

While the April 2026 update introduced new restrictions, it also reinforces long-standing Google policies around review authenticity.

Incentivized & Filtered Reviews Are Not Allowed

Google has long prohibited:

• Offering rewards, discounts, or incentives in exchange for reviews
• “Review gating,” or only asking satisfied customers to leave reviews

These practices can lead to review removal and may impact your overall review profile.

Reviews Must Be Voluntary and Unbiased

Customers should feel free to leave feedback without pressure or direction.

This includes:

• Not influencing what a customer says
• Not requiring customers to leave reviews at the point of service
• Allowing customers to leave reviews on their own time and device

Policy Compliance Affects Review Visibility

Reviews that do not meet Google’s guidelines may be removed. Repeated violations can impact the overall performance and trust signals of your review profile.

What This Means for Your Business

These updates don’t prevent you from collecting reviews—but they do change how your strategy should be structured.

Moving forward, successful review strategies will focus on:

• Authentic, voluntary feedback
• Consistent, compliant collection practices
• Natural language from real customer experiences

Businesses that align with these expectations will continue to benefit from reviews as a strong signal for both trust and visibility in search.

Why This Update Matters for Local SEO and AI Search Optimization

AI platforms and search engines increasingly treat customer reviews as a direct signal of trust, credibility, and real-world performance.

For small businesses, that means reviews do more than influence what prospective customers think. They also help shape how your business appears and is recommended across local search results, Google Maps, and AI-driven answers.

These updates reinforce that:

• Reviews should be authentic and unbiased
• Feedback should be customer-driven, not business-influenced
• Trust signals are based on quality, not manipulation

Businesses using outdated review tactics may see:

• Reviews removed
• Reduced visibility in search
• Lower trust signals in AI-generated recommendations

Best Practices for Collecting Google Reviews

To stay compliant and competitive:

1. Keep review requests simple: Ask for feedback without guiding what customers should say.
2. Do not influence content: Avoid asking for names, keywords, or specific phrasing.
3. Avoid incentives or filtering: Do not offer rewards or selectively request reviews.
4. Let customers choose when and how to review: Encourage reviews, but allow customers to leave them independently.
5. Focus on quality over quantity: Detailed, genuine reviews are more valuable than high volumes of generic feedback.

How to Stay Ahead of Google Review Policy Changes

Google’s review ecosystem continues to evolve, with an increasing emphasis on authenticity and user trust. Businesses that proactively adapt their strategies will be better positioned to maintain strong visibility and credibility.

If you’re unsure whether your current review process aligns with these updates, it’s worth taking the time to review and refine your approach.

Key Takeaway

The April 2026 update does not limit your ability to collect reviews—it clarifies that:

Reviews must be earned, not structured.

Businesses that prioritize authentic customer experiences will continue to benefit from strong review performance across both search engines and AI platforms.

Need Help Aligning Your Review Strategy?

At Mainstreethost, we help businesses adapt to changes like this while maintaining strong visibility across search and AI platforms.

If you have any questions or would like us to review your current process, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help—let’s chat!

The post Google Review Policy Update (April 2026) appeared first on Mainstreethost.

It has become a core part of how people discover and engage with information—changing how users search, take in information, evaluate credibility, and decide what to trust.

This means that we (content creators, marketers, writers, business owners…everyone, really) must adjust our approach to content in order to stay visible and relevant—both literally (in the SERPS) and figuratively (with the times). 

So, whether it’s voice assistants, chatbots, or generative search tools, your content must be ready to serve answers quickly and accurately.

That’s where AI-friendly content comes in. 

What Is AI-Friendly Content?

AI-friendly content is content that can be easily understood, categorized, and surfaced by AI-powered engines and tools.

So, that can include:

• Platforms or generative engines such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, etc.
• AI-powered results such as AI Overviews within Google.
• AI-powered voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa.

So, if you’re thinking “My audience doesn’t use AI to search,” I can confidently say that yes, they do. 

It may not be direct, but if your audience is Googling something, or asking Siri a question, they’re utilizing AI in one way or another. 

All of these AI search tools not only offer a different approach to people finding and consuming information, but they have introduced a new way for businesses to be found online.

A New Way to Search

AI search results (in any form) are largely based on intent and context.

As such, many users turn to AI search for its ability to navigate complex, conversational queries. This could include:

• Personalized planning: “Make me a 2-day itinerary for Boston in April, with vegetarian food options in close proximity.”
• Context-based recommendation: “What are good rainy-day activities in Seattle for a couple with a toddler who naps mid-afternoon? We’re arriving at 10 AM, and can’t check into our hotel until 3 PM.”
• Identification: “What classical song is used in commercials and has high-ish operatic singing? It’s not Lacrimosa by Mozart.”
• Comparisons: “I have sensitive, combination skin. Based on online reviews and discussions, which of these moisturizers is best for me?”
• Step-by-step troubleshooting: “My cake fell flat. I followed the recipe linked, didn’t overmix, didn’t substitute, and my baking powder is new. What could’ve caused this?”

Queries like these tend to be more tedious in traditional search, making AI a more succinct way to fulfill a very specific request.

However, AI is also used—and can be beneficial—for more straightforward searches.

For example, imagine you have a scratchy throat.

If you’re talking with a friend and mention that you need a cough drop, they’ll make the logical connection that your throat hurts.

If you search “I need a cough drop” on Google, the AI Overview appears above the traditional search results, providing information on which cough drops to buy and where to buy them.

If you write “I need a cough drop” in ChatGPT, it provides a list of cough drops, with information on what symptoms each helps with. Essentially, AI isn’t just matching keywords; it’s trying to understand the meaning behind the search itself.

So for businesses looking to gain visibility within this new way of searching, here are a few key things to know about AI search:

• Semantic understanding: AI connects concepts, synonyms, and context. For example, “sore throat remedies” and “how to soothe a scratchy throat” are treated as similar.
• Natural language processing (NLP): AI breaks down sentences to extract meaning, entities, and sentiment. In terms of content, this means that AI isn’t just matching the nitty gritty, but actively judging the likelihood that your content actually answers a user’s questions.
• Summarization ability: Generative AI creates summaries and answers using content it finds—so clarity and structure are critical.
• No click required: Some AI platforms serve your content without a user clicking through, so you need to deliver value quickly and clearly.

How Can You Make Content More AI-Friendly? 

So the good news is, it only takes a few tweaks to your writing and editing process to help your content be more AI-friendly.

Just remember, helpful, human-first content will always be the priority—but these tips will help you gain visibility in both traditional and generative engines (talk about a win-win!).

Incorporate Structured Data

Including structured data that clarifies both the structure and meaning of your content is crucial for both SEO and AI search. 

This is typically done in two ways: through semantic tags (sometimes referred to as semantic HTML tags) and schema markup. While both serve the purpose of helping machines interpret web content, they do work differently:

Semantic tags are built into a website’s HTML, such as <article>, <header>, etc., to define the structure and purpose of content on a web page. These tags help browsers, search engines, and assistive technologies understand the hierarchy and meaning of content, improving accessibility, SEO, and maintainability of the codebase.

Schema markup is a standardized type of structured data added to your website’s code to explicitly define the meaning of your content and help machines understand what that content represents. 

There are multiple types of schema that can be implemented on a page, allowing you to label everything from products and events to recipes and business locations. This added context can improve categorization and page indexing, and enhance visibility through rich snippets or AI-generated summaries.

Utilize Informative, Properly-Formatted Headings

Headings are what guides users, search engines, and AI to the answers they’re looking for on a page, so it’s essential that your headings are informative and accurately connect to the content that follows.

There should be a clear heading hierarchy with every page having only one H1, followed by H2s and H3s accordingly.

Now, because AI uses semantic understanding and recognizes natural language patterns, it’s more likely to cite content that mirrors how people phrase their searches. So, headings structured around the way users actually ask questions can help improve your chances of being featured in AI-generated answers.

For example, a heading like “How does schema markup help SEO?” directly reflects a common search phrase, helping to identify your content as highly relevant. 

Now having clear structure within a page isn’t a new concept—it’s a key part of SEO, helpful content, and general web accessibility. But now it plays a direct role in how content is interpreted, displayed, and prioritized within AI search.

Leverage Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords reflect how people actually speak and ask questions, making them immensely useful for AI-driven search results. Using long-tail keywords naturally in content and strategically in headings can help boost recognition and relevance. 

For long-tail keyword research, you can turn to:

• Google Analytics and Search Console
• Google Autocomplete
• AnswerThePublic
• Keyword Tools
• Online Forums (such as Reddit)
• Related Searches

Create Conversational, Purpose-Driven Content

Just like humans, AI also favors conversational, natural content.

This is due in part to the nature of how AI search works. Since AI leverages semantic understanding (connecting concepts, synonyms, and context) to deliver answers, its results tend to have a more conversational tone. 

Plus a lot of AI search is happening directly with chatbots or chatbot-style search, which naturally makes the search experience more of a conversation rather than sifting through a list of traditional search results.

So, content that has a natural flow to it and important context clues aligns with both how people search and how AI delivers responses, making it easier for AI systems to feature your content in their results.

Some quick tips for writing natural, reader-friendly content:

• Stay professional: Aim for a tone that feels approachable without sacrificing clarity or credibility. 
• Consider the user’s intent: Ask yourself: is the user trying to solve a problem? Compare options? Learn something new? Let that guide your approach.
• Avoid jargon: Use plain language whenever possible. If industry terms are necessary, explain them clearly. Your audience doesn’t want to hear jargon from you, why would they want it from AI?
• Answer questions naturally: Incorporate common questions and structure your content to respond in a clear, accessible way—this could include using question-based headings or asking questions directly in the copy.

With all this talk of writing, there is one important thing to keep in mind here: stay true to yourself. Everyone has a writing style; it’s just about tailoring it here and there to make the point you’re trying to make all the more effective. 

Making your content easier for AI to understand should never come at the cost of its quality or authenticity. Now more than ever, having a unique voice is crucial, and it’s important not to lose sight of that in the effort of making content that is cited by AI.

Tip: Having comprehensive buyer personas can open the door for more effective, impactful copy. To learn more about buyer personas, you can check out my blog, Creating Buyer Personas for Better Marketing.

Keep Content Digestible

73% of people admit to simply skimming blog posts. 

Humans naturally scan for key points when deciding to read or click away from a piece of content. So, it makes sense that AI models are designed to parse, scan, and summarize information efficiently.

Making your content digestible not only helps readers grasp your message, it also gives AI a clearer understanding of what points you’re making and the overall context of the content.

This can help you gain visibility in traditional search, boost your appearance in AI summaries, and increase citations in AI-given answers. And with nearly 60% of searches ending with no clicks, getting your content surfaced in featured snippets, AI Overviews, and directly within AI conversations has never been more important. 

Some ways you can make your content more digestible include:

• Ensure that each section within your content focuses on the specific point you’re trying to make
• Avoid run-on sentences
• Utilize smaller paragraphs to avoid walls of text
• Use bullet points, numbered lists, and bolded phrases to help emphasize important content (AI loves lists!)
• Add a summary box or TL;DR with key information for long or dense sections

Does Word Count Impact Visibility in AI Search?

Now, with all this talk of digestible content, you might be wondering: “What about word count?”

It’s a fair question, and content length has always been a hot topic. I mean, there’s the famous Shakespeare quote, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” 

Or, for fans of The Office, “Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?”

Here’s my answer: Keeping content digestible doesn’t necessarily mean keeping it short. It means being purposeful. 

In the words of my manager, things should be as long as they need to be. And remember, you can always break a larger topic up into a content pillar! 

So, instead of focusing on word count, consider the following when writing and editing your content:

• Am I avoiding unnecessary jargon, fluff, or filler? 
• Is each section leading to the main point I want to make?
• Is there an easy-to-follow structure to the content?
• Will my readers get the answers and information they’re looking for? 

Whether it’s 300 words or 3,000 words, each part should serve a purpose—for education, context, or even an eye roll at a lame pun. If you’re doing that, you’re on the right track. 

Incorporate FAQs 

Including FAQ sections within your content can help AI retrieve information even more efficiently, since the format reduces filler, and FAQS often mirror how users naturally speak and search. 

When it comes to creating your FAQ section(s), there are a few ways you could get started:

• Experience: Think of any common or repeated questions you get, and start with those! Typically, these will revolve around areas such as pricing, service areas, and service inclusions.
• Research: Check out your competitor’s FAQ pages, or leverage forum sites like Reddit to see what questions users are posting in relevant communities. 
• AI: Prompt your preferred AI tool to provide a list of FAQs for your business/industry.
• User Queries: Use real user queries from tools like Google Search Console, Google’s “People Also Ask” boxes, or sites like Answer the Public.
• FAQ Services: A marketing agency can definitely help research and develop strong FAQs for your site. 

When writing your FAQs, keep the formatting simple—one question, one straightforward answer. This way, everyone involved (AI, users, and traditional engines) can easily identify what they’re looking for.

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

Talking about AI-friendly content wouldn’t be complete without mentioning GEO.

GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, is essentially SEO for AI search. GEO works hand-in-hand with SEO and focuses on optimizing areas that AI prioritizes, such as structured data, long-tail keywords, clear content… Basically, everything I mentioned above.

As AI becomes more integrated into how users find and interact with content, optimizing for AI search alongside your traditional SEO efforts ensures your brand stays relevant, discoverable, and trustworthy.

How to Check if Your Content is Showing Up in AI Search Results

While every piece of content won’t automatically surface in AI results, there are a few ways you can follow up on your efforts. 

• Ask AI: Ask AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to summarize or answer questions related to your topic or targeted keywords, and check if they reference or reflect your content.
• Google Search: Search for your target queries in Google and note whether your content appears in AI-generated summaries or is cited within them.
• Analytics: Tracking data from Google’s AI mode is now available within Search Console Reporting, making it simple to identify your AI traffic. Additionally, you can add custom filters to identify specific AI sources like ChatGPT. 

There are also specific AI visibility tools—this article by Search Engine Land breaks down some of the top contenders.

Keep in mind that AI search is always evolving—systems are learning, improving, and updating responses over time. Because of this, changes in visibility or results may not happen right away, but consistent effort helps set you up for long-term success. 

Key Takeaways

With all my talk of structure and clarity, I’d be remiss not to include a helpful list of some key takeaways:

• AI evaluates your content. Use optimized headings and clear hierarchy to help AI, search engines, and assistive devices understand your page.
• Semantic structure gives meaning. Use semantic tags for structure and schema markup for context so AI can better interpret your content.
• AI prioritizes intent-driven, natural language. Create FAQ sections, mirror audience language, and use long-tail keywords to help visibility.
• Proper formatting boosts readability and AI extraction. Use heading hierarchy and organize your page clearly so it’s easier for AI tools to pull relevant information for their summaries and snippets.
• Purpose improves performance. Keep content clear, aligned with user intent, and true to your unique voice.
• Measure and adapt for better visibility. Track AI interaction, citations, and performance using tools like ChatGPT, Google Search, and analytics platforms.

Moving Forward

As search continues to evolve, the best approach is to continue to create content that meets real needs, answers real questions, and adapts as search behaviors change. 

By focusing on best practices like the ones in this blog, you can ensure your content is readable, valuable, and visible in traditional search and AI search alike.

The post Making Your Content More AI-Friendly appeared first on Mainstreethost.

However, high-quality and creative imagery is imperative to social media marketing success, so it’s important to know the proper dimensions for each network you use.

Download our free eBook here to learn how to win over your audience on social media.

That’s why we decided to gather the information for you and keep it in one continuously updated place for your convenience. We also sprinkled in some social media image best practices. Pretty handy, huh?

We thought so, too.

Social Networks

For easy access to the information you’re looking for, click on one of the following to jump to that section:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• X Pro (TweetDeck)
• Google Business Profile
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Snapchat
• Tumblr

Facebook Image Sizes

Featuring high-quality imagery on Facebook shows your audience that your business is legitimate, reputable, and pays attention to the details (no matter how small).

Facebook wants to provide a positive user experience on their platform—that’s why getting your image sizes just right will help your brand stand out and look its best in the Feed.

Facebook Profile and Cover Photo Dimensions

Most businesses use this space for their logo rather than a person’s photo. However, if your business is run by you and only you, using a photo of yourself might not be a bad idea. The best size for your Facebook profile photo is 320 x 320px—and remember, it’ll display as a circle on your page.

As for your cover photo, you’ll want to use this space to expand on your brand messaging or promote a new product, service, or event. What you decide to do with this space is vital to the success of your page because it will be the first thing a visitor sees when clicking through.

Facebook states that your cover photo will be left aligned with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Through our experience however, we found that your Facebook cover photo should be 850 x 315px (170:63 aspect ratio) to make the best first impression. Seriously, we tested it. This is the exact image size that doesn’t need adjusting after uploading to Facebook, which makes it easier to plan your design!

Facebook Shared Image (Timeline & News Feed) Dimensions

These images appear both on your timeline and in most of your followers’ News Feeds. With the decline of Facebook’s organic reach, try asking your fans to like or share your photos to gain visibility without a significant financial investment. Or consider paying a small fee to boost your posts to ensure that your audience sees it in their Feed.

We found that a Facebook shared image size of 1200 x 630px works best!

Facebook Shared Link Photo Dimensions

If you’re sharing a link to your business’ Facebook Page, there are a few more elements to consider and formats to choose from. When you paste a link into your status, depending on the size of the images on the web page, you’ll be prompted to include a carousel of up to 10 images. You also have the option of sharing the link without using the image—which can come in handy if you’d rather upload a new image to share with the link instead.

However, the most effective method to ensure your image is exactly right when sharing a URL, is by using the Open Graph meta-tag.

The recommended size for Facebook shared link images is 1200 x 630px, and that will get you the best display every time!

Pro Tip: Sharing images and links from other sources allows you to post relevant content to your page when you don’t have time to create your own. It’s also a great way to share content contributed by your audience or other businesses and keep promotions to a minimum.

Facebook Stories

And right at the top of the newsfeed sits your Facebook Stories. These updates stick around for only 24 hours and won’t be shared to your timeline or the main news feed. You can create your stories on the fly, but wouldn’t it be so much easier if you had the image or video (accurately sized of course) ready to go live? We think so, too.

Over 500 million people regularly use stories, so to make sure yours always looks its best, your photo or video should be 1080 x 1920px.

All Facebook Image Dimensions

Instagram Image Sizes

Instagram is all about visuals, which should make the importance of high-quality images blatantly obvious for this social network.

Instagram Profile Photo Size

As with some other platforms, the profile photo is a circle that shows up next to all of your posts and at the top left of your profile page. For businesses, it’s a great idea to use your logo here so all of your photos are associated with your brand.

Instagram stores all profile photos at 320 x 320px, so we highly recommend uploading an image that size or larger!

Instagram Shared Photo Size

Now when you go to post on Instagram, you have a few more options available to you than in the past.

The recommended size for your Instagram photo is 1080 x 1080px. This size will ensure your post looks good in the Feed, as well as on your profile grid.

Speaking of the grid, photos are displayed on your profile grid with a size of 1012 x 1350px and an aspect ratio of 3:4.

You have the ability to upload both portrait-oriented and landscape-oriented photos and videos, as well as a carousel of up to 20 photos per post.

And the platform only continues to become more flexible with its posts; though a 1.91:1 aspect ratio is recommended for landscape photos, Instagram will allow you to go as far as a 16:9 ratio if necessary.

Just remember, to keep images looking sharp across all devices with high-resolution displays, Instagram strives to upload your images at the best quality resolution it can (up to a 1080-pixel width). So, if you upload an image with a resolution lower than 320px, Instagram will enlarge it to 320px. Similarly, if your image has a resolution higher than 1080px, Instagram will size it down to 1080px.

Pro Tip: Instagram is a great place to show your company culture, what happens “behind the scenes” of your business, the process of creating your products, customers using your products, etc.

Instagram Stories

Instagram stories are an excellent way to engage with your audience, offering features like polls, interactive countdowns, and Q&As. The ideal image size for an Instagram story is 1080 x 1920px—these dimensions will ensure that your story takes up the whole screen providing a clean, aesthetically pleasing experience for your followers. Keep in mind, Instagram won’t resize story images, so the closest you can get to that size (or an aspect ratio of 9:16), the better.

All Instagram Image Dimensions

X (Twitter) Image Sizes

Known for its real-time social buzz, X (formerly known as Twitter) is also an extremely popular customer service and experience tool for businesses.

X (Twitter) Profile and Cover Photo Dimensions

Your profile photo will be visible of course on your profile, in your timeline, as well as when your brand name is searched on X. Most businesses use their profile photo as a place for their logo because it is seen practically everywhere: when you Post, when others Repost your Post, when their Repost gets Reposted, and so on.

The recommended dimensions for your X profile photo are 400 x 400px.

Your cover photo, however, is only seen when a user clicks to your profile—but that doesn’t mean it’s not important! It’s a large photo across the top of your profile, so you want it to be high-quality and represent your brand.

It’s recommended that you upload your X cover photo at 1500 x 500 pixels, but because the cover photo is responsive, yours may end up looking larger or smaller depending on the size of your browser or screen.

To be safe, we suggest keeping all important content and design elements of your cover photo within the safe zone.

And when you’re creating your cover photo, don’t forget to account for your profile photo in the bottom left corner!

Pro Tip: Cover photos are a great place to describe what your brand does, display a new product, or use as free advertising space.

X (Twitter) Timeline Photo Size

While X has a limit of 280 characters (for now…), X Premium subscribers can post up to 25,000 characters. But don’t worry, you can always use visuals to assist in representing your brand and enhancing your shared content.

Attaching a photo to your Post used to take away 23 characters (because it needed the URL to link to the photo), but now, links and media attachments (e.g. photos, GIFs, videos, and polls) are no longer counted in the Post character limit.

And it’s a good thing too because Posts with images are over a third more likely to be Reposted than those with only text.

You can include up to four images per post. When you’re uploading a timeline photo, we suggest dimensions of 1280 x 720px for the perfect landscape presentation. Additionally, you’ll want to aim for 720 x 1280px for vertical images, and 720 x 720px for square images. For GIFs, 1280 x 1080px works best.

All X (Twitter) Image Dimensions

X Pro (TweetDeck) Image Sizes

TweetDeck is now X Pro, which is included as a feature in the upper tiers of a (paid) X Premium account. To get access to X Pro, users must upgrade to either an X Premium account, which costs $84 annually, or an X Premium+ account, which costs $229 annually.

You still can’t make separate images for X (Twitter) and X Pro since X Pro is not a separate social network, so everything you post on one site will show up on the other (there’s no way around it).

However, you still want to take into consideration the way that your X images appear on X Pro because the dimensions do vary in size a bit.

Pro Tip: Some of your header image design will be covered by your profile photo and bio in X Pro. So if you have important text or imagery that you’d prefer be seen at all times, be careful about centering those elements.

PLEASE NOTE: Any images you upload to X will appear on X Pro, so you cannot have two different image sizes. However, be sure to keep the below dimensions in mind when creating X images to ensure that they render well across both platforms.

Google Business Profile Image Sizes

Engage with your customers and keep a fresh presence on Google with eye-catching imagery that will help you stand out in both the search results and on Maps.

Google Business Profile Logo and Cover Photo Dimensions

Consistency is key with Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly Google My Business (GMB)—ensuring that your brand is easily recognizable right from the search results page.

With a strong GBP profile photo that represents your company (most commonly, it will be your logo!) and a cover photo to show some personality, you’ll make a great first impression when your business is searched for.

Google recommends that your GBP profile photo should be 720 x 720px and your GBP cover photo should be 1024 x 576px.

Pro Tip: Your cover photo is shown when a user is searching in Google Maps. Within your GBP account, you can choose what image you would prefer to display here, however keep in mind, it does not guarantee that it’ll be the first image to populate for your business.

Google Business Profile Posts Dimensions

GBP posts allow you to push events, updates, blog posts, offers and company news directly to the Google search results page.  Posts offer a unique and visual way to attract the interest of people searching for your brand. These posts only stay active for a week, so be sure to update them frequently.

You can start posting from directly within the Google Business Profile interface. Be sure to use captivating images and attention-grabbing headlines to stand out. Your Google post size should be 1200 x 900px or an aspect ratio of 4:3.

All Google Business Profile Image Dimensions

Pinterest Image Sizes

Pinterest is a valuable search tool in itself; 80% of weekly users have discovered a new business, product or service on the platform, and 83% have made purchases based solely on a brand’s Pinterest content.

Pinterest Profile Photo Size

Your Pinterest profile photo should be 280 x 280px which makes it an easy aspect ratio of 1:1. Remember, your profile photo is uploaded as a square, but will display as a circle at the top of your profile.

For those with Pinterest business accounts, you also have the option of adding a cover photo to your profile! We recommend your Pinterest cover photo size be at least 800 x 450px with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

If you opt not to include a cover photo, that’s okay too! Your profile will look just the same as it always has, no empty spaces or missing images.

Pin Image Size

With Pinterest’s layout being more portrait-oriented, vertically designed pins tend to perform better. When deciding on size, create a pin that caters to what you want to visually represent; larger pins do not necessarily mean you’ll attract more attention.

We recommend a size of 1000 x 1500px for your standard Pinterest pins, and 1000 x 2100px for giraffe pins. For square pins, the recommended size is 1000 x 1000px. And if you’re posting a story on Pinterest, the recommended size is 1080 x 1920px.

If you’re creating a collections pin, you’ll want your hero image to have either a 1:1 or 2:3 aspect ratio, with the recommended sizes for each being 1000 x 1000px or 1000 x 1500px, respectively. To look best in the feed, each secondary image should have a 1:1 ratio.

Pinterest Board Display

The first thing you see when you visit someone’s Pinterest profile is their collection of boards. Name your boards appropriately and we recommend including a relevant, 222 x 150px cover photo for each of them. You don’t want empty boards (or no boards at all), but you don’t want a plethora of boards with no purpose, either.

Pro Tip: Ensure that your first two or three boards are directly related to your industry or audience. You don’t want visitors to leave your profile because they don’t understand what your business does or can’t quickly find the information they’re searching for.

Also, infographics tend to do really well on Pinterest.

All Pinterest Image Dimensions

LinkedIn Image Sizes

LinkedIn is primarily for networking with other professionals, but it’s also a resource for businesses to connect with other businesses, prospective employees, and industry leaders. You can choose between a personal profile and business page (both with free or paid options).

LinkedIn Personal Profile and Background Photo Size

You should have a respectable, professional photo of yourself for your personal LinkedIn profile. This way, you always know you’re making a good first impression with new connections! Your LinkedIn personal profile photo will look its best at 400 x 400px.

On LinkedIn, the background photo replaces the “cover photo” at the top of your profile page. As an oblong shape, it can be difficult to find imagery that fits the space well—that’s where creating your own visuals comes in handy. The recommended size for your LinkedIn background photo is 1584 x 396px.

LinkedIn Company Logo Size

The standard logo for a business account is a small square at the top of the profile page that is displayed next to your company’s name.

The square logo is what people see when they search for your company on LinkedIn, go to your profile, or see your posts in their news feed. Just like for your personal page, we suggest a LinkedIn company logo size of 400 x 400px.

LinkedIn Company Cover Photo Image Size

The cover image on a business page stretches across your profile above your logo and company name. The recommended size for your LInkedIn company cover image is 1128 x 191px.

Pro Tip: Use a photo of your employees or your business’ building as a banner photo—and avoid random stock photos. For background photos, it’s usually best to choose something subtle that doesn’t distract too much from the content on your profile.

LinkedIn Timeline Image Sizes

Sharing images on LinkedIn is a great way to gain attention and spread brand awareness.

For single images shared, LinkedIn recommends photos have anywhere from a 3:1 to 4:5 aspect ratio, with a width of 1080px.

When it comes to sharing a link from your website, or any other third-party link however, the image will be pulled from the URL. 

Now, that image used to post full-width with the link on your page, but LinkedIn made some changes in 2024—if you create an organic post with a third-party link, the image will show as a small thumbnail, displaying at a mere 128 x 72 px on desktop. But, if you create a Sponsored Content ad from your post, it will show as it used to as a full-width, eye-catching image that you can’t miss while scrolling.

This is LinkedIn trying to keep people on the platform as much as they can, but it has definitely made it a bit more difficult for businesses trying to share their own content from their websites.

For business accounts, you’ll also have access to a “Life” tab, which is a great space to show off your company culture and lifestyle. For sharing images in your Life tab, you’ll want your main image to be 1128 x 376px. For company photos, we recommend a size of 900 x 600px, and for custom module images, 502 x 282px works best.

All LinkedIn Image Dimensions

YouTube Image Sizes

YouTube is a video-sharing social network that is accessed by users on the largest variety of devices, including tablets, phones, desktops, and televisions, so it’s important to have imagery that displays correctly across devices.

YouTube Channel Icon and Channel Art

A small profile photo overlays the top left corner of your YouTube page. As important as profile and cover photos are to representing your brand, on YouTube, many users will most likely see one of your videos before they view your channel page. This makes having striking images even more important so that users associate the videos with your brand and are familiar with you when they do reach your page.

The recommended size for YouTube channel icons is 800 x 800px, and your channel art should be 2560 x 1440px.

Pro Tip: You only upload one image for your YouTube channel art, but it will display differently across different devices. When you upload an image, you can crop it to fit the desktop layout (see the GIF below for a demonstration) – but make sure the important elements are right in the center to ensure they aren’t cropped out on smaller screens.

YouTube Video Uploads

Our recommended video upload size is 1280 x 720px, which is based off of a 720p HD display. For more information on other displays and sizes, check out this YouTube Help article!

All YouTube Image Dimensions

Snapchat Image Sizes

With over 443 million daily active users (and the average user opening the app more than 40 times a day), Snapchat provides businesses with a visual way to connect with their audience. Through the use of lenses, filters and ads, Snapchat is a source for engaging, unique content.

If you plan on running ads on Snapchat, keep in mind that the recommended size for Snapchat image and video ads is 1080 x 1920px.

And as of February 2023, Snapchat no longer supports Geofilter ads. Instead, users can create Sponsored Lenses or Story Ads.

Story Ads are a series of 1-10 vertical image or video ads that appear between content, or as a branded icon on Snapchat’s “Discover” section. Image Story Ads have a suggested resolution of 360 x 600px, and video Story Ads have a suggested resolution of 1080 x 1920 px.

Sponsored Lenses, on the other hand, offer an interactive AR (augmented reality) experience. While Lenses don’t have size requirements like Story Ads, they do have a few guidelines to follow. You can find out more about each option, system requirements, and how to get started here.

Below are the updated image sizes required to run successful Snapchat advertising campaigns.

All Snapchat Image Dimensions

Tumblr Image Sizes

Tumblr is a blogging and social platform where users share thoughts, quotes, music, articles, GIFs, videos, images—basically anything. Images are (of course) an important aspect of this social network, but text-based content is associated with Tumblr as well.

Tumblr Avatar (Profile Photo)

Your Tumblr avatar will show up as a small square next to your posts in your followers’ main feeds and is embedded with your username in posts that users come across while perusing Tumblr.

The recommended size for Tumblr profile photos is 128 x 128px.

Tumblr Header Image

For profile headers, your photo should be 2048 x 1152 px. Headers and avatars can appear on both mobile and desktop. Mobile blog appearance will always contain a user’s avatar and header photo and is seen on the Tumblr mobile app, search pages in the app, profile previews, and via the web address www.tumblr.com/YourAccount.

You can customize your blog (including the option to display your header) using a custom theme. Your theme will be seen when people access your blog on a desktop or mobile web browser at YourAccount.tumblr.com. By default, custom themes don’t automatically transfer to mobile display. However, If your theme is responsive, you can turn off the “use default mobile theme” setting to display your custom theme on mobile.

Your avatar may also not be featured on your theme but will show up as your Tumblr’s favicon on browser tabs.

Tumblr Image Post

Now that your avatar is taken care of, it’s time to look to your posts. With eye-catching imagery, your post will have a greater chance of standing out and maybe even get some reblogs!

And it doesn’t just have to be one photo—choose up to 10 images to display per post when using the mobile app, or up to 30 images per post on desktop. Don’t worry, Tumblr made it super easy to create a photoset.

Just remember, the recommended size for shared image posts on Tumblr is 540 x 810px!

Pro Tip: Consider placing your business’ logo directly on the photos you upload to increase brand visibility and recognition.

All Tumblr Image Dimensions

The post 2026 Social Media Image Size Cheat Sheet appeared first on Mainstreethost.

When someone knocks on your business’s proverbial door, they don’t want to be served tricks. If you fail to give customers what they’re looking for, don’t be surprised if they run off. 

The good news? No matter how dead your marketing feels, you can revive it! By eliminating spooky marketing tactics, you just might be able to score yourself some new customers and bring your online presence back to life.

1. Your website is not mobile-friendly

Over half of all global website traffic comes from mobile devices, and a site that isn’t mobile-friendly can send prospects running in the other direction before they even explore your homepage. 

2. Your website is not secure (HTTPS)

Google has been pushing for an improved secure browsing experience for users for over 10 years… So, if your website is still not secure, that’s the real horror story! Check out our HTTPS checklist for more information.

3. Your website provides a poor overall user experience

Even if your website looks great, it may not be performing the way you’d like it to. Go through your site as if you are the customer to experience it for yourself.

88% of users are less likely to return to a site with a bad user experience. If your website traps visitors in confusing navigations, dead-end links, or slow-loading pages, they’ll be just as lost and frustrated as you are—and more likely to abandon ship.

4. There’s no clear purchase path on your website 

A confusing purchase path isn’t just frustrating for customers—it’s downright frightening for your bottom line. 

90% of users say a smooth checkout experience will determine if they purchase or not. If it’s not easy for someone to complete a purchase on your site, they’re far less likely to stick around to do it.

5. You’re overwhelming your audience

There can be a fine line between clingy and consistent. If your audience is constantly hearing from you—whether it’s emails, calls, or texts—familiarity can quickly turn into fatigue. This oversaturation can lead to lower engagement rates as your messages blur together and lose their sense of urgency or value—or worse, total unsubscription.

6. Your social media presence has vanished into the void

The one time people actually want an active presence is when it comes to a business online. And if you’re not active on social media specifically, consumers may eventually forget about your brand and are much less likely to purchase from you. 

Whether it’s company announcements, UGC, or helpful tips, social media builds trust with consumers—in fact, 78% of consumers state that a brand’s social media presence has a large effect on whether or not they trust the brand. So, if you’re not showing signs of life online, your brand may as well be six feet under. 

7. Your website isn’t updated 

A lot changes from year to year. How can a prospect trust that your website’s information is accurate if it looks (and acts) like an ancient relic? 75% of users admit to judging a company’s credibility based on their website’s design. Not to mention that relevant and meaningful website updates are included in Google’s ranking factors. 

So by not updating your website, you’re not only losing trust from prospects… you’re losing trust from search engines, too.

8. You’ve ghosted your prospects and customers

Your customers shouldn’t need a Ouija board to get a response from you. Over half of customers will switch to a competitor if they feel neglected by a company. 

If a customer is reaching out to you, whether for a good or bad reason, a lack of response will give them (and others) a negative perception of your business.

9. Your approach is generic

People notice when they’re being spoken to directly. They also notice when they’re not. 

71% of consumers expect personalization… and 76% get frustrated when they don’t get it. Treating every visitor the same, sending one-size-fits-all messages, or neglecting behavior-based targeting makes your brand feel like background noise rather than a potential meaningful connection—personalization is key.

Tip: Try creating buyer personas to improve your targeting and messaging!

10. Your landing pages have too many options

Having too many choices can make your landing page feel like a labyrinth. When a page offers too many paths forward, visitors hesitate, question, and often leave without choosing a path at all. Eliminate distraction by giving your prospects one goal to complete on each landing page.

11. You fail to deliver a clear message

Your brand shouldn’t be a mystery. If a prospect visits your website and has no idea what your business is, what you do, and why you’re better than a competitor, they’re not going to look for clues. If the information prospects need is hidden, 61% of consumers will search for a competitor with a more direct message.

12. You’re stuck in the past

Clinging to outdated strategies can make your marketing feel stale, even if your brand isn’t. If your competitors are adapting while you’re repeating the same playbook, it doesn’t take long before your relevance—and effectiveness—begins to fade.

13. You have more bad reviews than good

Nothing chills a prospect faster than a page full of poor reviews. If the first thing they see is a trail of consistently unhappy customers, you’ll have to work twice as hard to earn their trust—and sometimes, no amount of charm can raise that from the dead.

Don’t let these mistakes haunt you 

If you find that you relate to more than a few of these, don’t worry. By focusing on building trust, improving customer experience, and fostering meaningful connections, you can clear out the cobwebs and build a brand experience that feels warm and welcoming—and maybe score yourself some glowing online reviews!

It’s well worth the time and money to really understand prospective and current customers. When you prioritize their overall experience, you can say bye-bye to fright, and hello to delight. 

So, take a moment to look at your current approach. 

Where can you build more trust, ease, and connection? When you prioritize that, the only horrors you’ll face will be from scary movies, not scary marketing. 

The post 13 Marketing Mishaps That Scare Your Prospects to Death  appeared first on Mainstreethost.

That’s why creating an excellent customer experience should be everyone’s No. 1 priority.

A survey by Hyken discovered that half of consumers find great customer service to be more important than price.

Customer service, customer care, customer support—these teams can go by many names and that’s because they essentially do it all to ensure customer satisfaction, retention, and success.

And they are taking on more now than ever before, with 88% of service professionals saying that customer expectations have become higher than they used to be.

It’s a demanding role, and one that everyone within the business needs to support.

What Makes a Customer Service Team Great?

There are many things that make a customer service team great, but these are the qualities that we think really stand out:

Knowledge: A crucial role that customer service must play is being the master of the products or services the business offers. One has to know details, processes and then some, in order to have effective, productive conversations with a customer.

Empathy: When you can fully see from your customer’s perspective and have understanding for their issue, situation, complaint, etc., then you can really meet them where they’re at to find the right solutions.

Patience: Whether happy or angry, a calm, patient presence is key to making any customer feel like they have the floor and their voice will be heard.

Follow-through: Customers are looking for support and answers, so creating a plan of action and following through on that plan is key.

Attentiveness: Active listening and attention to detail is what every customer service team must offer when speaking with a customer. They need to be met with thoughtfulness and consideration.

Customer Service Quotes to Live By

Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned business owner, it never hurts to remember the importance of your customers. After all, you wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for them.

For a little inspiration, here are 17 customer service quotes every business should live by:

“A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.”
– Mahatma Gandhi

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”
– Bill Gates

“We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.”
– Jeff Bezos

“Know what your customers want most and what your company does best. Focus on where those two meet.”
– Kevin Stirtz

“Make the customer the hero of your story.”
– Ann Handley

“Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers.”
– Seth Godin

“Be genuine. Be remarkable. Be worth connecting with.”
– Seth Godin

“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.”
– Walt Disney

“Stop selling. Start helping.”
– Zig Ziglar

“There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.”
– Roger Staubach

“Get closer than ever to your customers. So close, in fact, that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves.”
– Steve Jobs

“Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong.”
– Donald Porter

“The customer’s perception is your reality.”
– Kate Zabriskie

“Customer service is not a department, it’s everyone’s job.”
– Anonymous

“Every contact we have with a customer influences whether or not they’ll come back. We have to be great every time or we’ll lose them.”
– Kevin Stirtz

“If you make a sale, you can make a living. If you make an investment of time and good service, you can make a fortune.”
– Jim Rohn

“Make every interaction count, even the small ones. They are all relevant.”
– Shep Hyken

Looking Ahead

We deliver the best customer service when we are solely focused on the customer; it’s their experience, their perspective, and their needs that matter most.

With that, we’ll leave you with just one more (bonus) quote:

“The success of our clients is truly our success; we’d be nowhere without them.”
– Ross Marranca

The post 17 Customer Service Quotes Every Business Should Live By appeared first on Mainstreethost.

1. How long should a blog post be?
2. How many links are enough?
3. Am I including too many links?
4. Is this page too long?
5. Is this topic good?
6. Is anything that I’m writing good???

And there’s plenty to be said for making good content—Google themselves revealed that good content should be intellectual, sensorial, stimulating, and emotional.

But what makes content helpful?

That’s what we’re gonna find out. Here. Today. In this post.

But it’s best to start where it all began…

The Google Helpful Content System

The Google Helpful Content System has seen many iterations over the years, going from a simple update to actually becoming a part of Google’s core ranking systems.

Here’s a quick timeline of helpful content events:

August 2022 Google Helpful Content Update: A brand new update is released—the first of its kind—to prioritize original, helpful content in the search results.

December 2022 Helpful Content Update: Not long after the initial release, the helpful content update was brought to the global market and featured new signals that would help the search engine better identify content that was created strictly for ranking in search.

September 2023 Helpful Content Update: Google added new guidance around the helpful content system as a whole and rolled out an improved classifier. This update focused on improving how search results are ranked overall and helping the system better understand content that presents unique experiences and expertise.

March 2024 Core Update: The standalone updates end as the helpful content system is fully incorporated into the core update system. It seems like this core update fine-tuned the way Google understands a webpage. That includes not only assessing the helpfulness of the content on the page, but its overall user experience and whether it was created for people vs. search engines.

So now, there are multiple systems at work to help the search engine elevate and serve more genuine, helpful, authoritative results, and reduce lower-quality content in the search engine results page (SERPs).

Why We Write Helpful Content

So, with the helpful content initiative now baked directly into the core update system, Google is making it pretty clear that helpful content is a major focus in rankings. But don’t get it twisted—it’s still not technically a ranking factor.

But there are many reasons why we should be creating helpful content anyway.

• Nurture your community: Connect with your visitors, readers, and customers in a genuine way.
• Provide direction: Helpful content, when done correctly, can guide visitors (and potential customers) through the rest of your content or website. It can provide the exact right next step for them to learn more, find solutions, and even convert.
• Share personal experience: Personality and unique experiences in content are what bring people together and help to build trust. There is a reason why Google added a second “E” to their E-A-T criteria: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. First-hand experience is only becoming more and more crucial to include in the content you create.
• Build trust: Helping people answer their questions, discover solutions or even just find support in their community can build critical trust between your audience and your business.
• Improve SERP position: Obviously Google is going to love you for this.
• Grow your business: Genuine and helpful content across your site is one of the best ways to achieve sustainable growth.

What Can Helpful Content Be?

Blog posts, social media pages, digital resources, podcasts, videos, presentation decks, eBooks—the list goes on and on.

Anything you write, design, and speak can be considered helpful content if executed correctly.

Which is awesome because we all have the power to do so no matter our business size, industry or platform. But whatever channels you do decide to utilize, always make sure it aligns with your target audience and your community.

Helpful Content Checklist

Conversations with fellow digital marketing experts, a ton of research and my own personal experience of writing for a myriad of industries (including this marketing agency), have led me to compile what I think it takes to make content that is truly helpful.

Know Your Audience (Inside and Out)

When it comes down to it, helpful content can technically only be determined by the reader. Search engines will try to understand the best they can, but it’s the reader who is ultimately looking for answers.

So a vital key in creating helpful content is understanding who you are writing for: your audience.

Conduct Audience Research

You have everything you need to learn about your audience, you just have to know where to look. Take some time to dive into your own arsenal of data to review trends, interests and key aspects of your audience.

• Customer data and feedback: Review the current information you have on your customers throughout time. This gives you pain points and challenges your audience commonly faces and the solutions they find from your products or services.
• Social media and engagement: Do you notice certain content getting more impressions and engagement? This may help you understand your audience’s interests and priorities better.
• Content analysis: Take a look at your most popular pages—understanding where your audience is spending time on your website can give you direction for your content strategy.
• Competitor watch: The content that your top competitors are creating could help give you insight into your shared audience. How are people responding to it? Is there a lack of response?
• Create buyer personas: Establishing different buyer personas can be useful in gaining a deeper understanding of who you are trying to reach with your content and why.

Anticipate Searcher Intent

It doesn’t stop there however. Another important step in understanding your audience is understanding searcher intent.

This means learning about how your customers are using search. Are they searching broad terms or specific long-tail key phrases? Are they looking to buy or are they looking to learn?

By anticipating searcher intent, you can more easily provide the experience and the content that your audience is most looking for.

Focus on Your Reader (Not the Search Engines)

So many people are focused on writing to please the search rankings.

And yes, SEO is a vital part of yours and your clients’ digital marketing strategies, but it should never jeopardize the usefulness of your content.

People first, search engines second.

In case you forgot, you are a human being! When did we start acting like we were writing to some other entity when truly our audience is filled with people just like us?

And your audience is your audience because of your brand, voice, and aligned values. The more you are able to speak to them on a human level, the more they will feel connected and trusting of your business and what you have to offer.

Now that’s not to say you should toss SEO to the side—because SEO helps to create great content and is 100% necessary. But it should not take away from the flow of information to your reader and their experience on your website.

Put Audience Needs Over Promotional Needs

Speaking of writing for your audience…

It’s important to prioritize your audience’s needs over your organization’s sales or promotional message.

The informational needs of your audience outrank everything else and 66% of B2B marketers agree.

Too often are great articles ruined by in-your-face promos, pop-ups, or callouts every other paragraph.

We get it. You have discounted services that will help them triple their bottom line or a product that will solve all their problems. And those things are great, and we’re happy for you.

However, your reader came here to read your article and those things can run the risk of ruining someone’s entire experience with your brand. If after reading they are able to find a solution with your product or service, then I’d say you made a great first impression!

But a lot of the time, helpful content is about building trust with your community, providing thoughtful resources, and creating a great experience for a potential customer at any stage of the buyer’s journey.

Write Content with Purpose

Helpful content will always have a purpose: to answer a question.

And I know what you’re going to say—this is content marketing basics. But the way we approach content has evolved. Writers are facing more and more pressure to rank for multiple keywords and magically have every piece of content go viral.

We arguably need to let that pressure go.

And as long as you are writing with a purpose to help your reader, then the content you create should inherently be helpful.

But it’s about making a genuine effort to educate, entertain and support them that takes your content to the next level.

Write to Educate

One of the main reasons we write is to educate our audience.

This can come in a few ways, like for example: the copy on your website. These words have the sole purpose of introducing your brand, values and products or services to a new visitor. Every page should be written with the intention of helping a potential customer solve their problem and make an educated buying decision.

Here’s a scenario: Oh god, my toilet backed up and there’s raw sewage everywhere (definitely not speaking from a personal experience…). Let me look for plumbers in my area, check their website for availability info, the services they offer, and what their process of helping customers looks like.

Oh wow, the website has just informed me that under no circumstances should I be trying to clean the sewage myself? Good to know!

Then there are the blogs, eBooks and additional resources that we create to educate our audience further.

We’re experts in our industry, right? Every resource should be crafted with the mindset of providing actionable advice to our community, giving them the answers they need in order to help themselves or make the decision to seek professional help (lol).

Write to Entertain

No one wants to read boring material. Why do you think I just wrote a paragraph about my toil—someone’s toilet backing up?

This is show biz baby—you have to provide the entertainment.

Not only is enjoyable content going to grab the attention of your audience, it’s going to keep them interested and locked in.

And in a crowded market where content is a plenty, writing to entertain can help your brand stand out, build genuine connections with your audience and effectively make your content more enjoyable to read.

Plus a personal anecdote can help make you, the author, more real. And from what we know, the Google Helpful Content System is technically on the lookout for those sharing unique experiences and real perspectives.

Write to Support

If your audience doesn’t feel supported, they’re going to go elsewhere. A reader should be able to feel your want to help them in every part of your writing.

Being able to convey that their problems and challenges are understood completely, and more importantly, are valid, is a huge green flag when creating helpful content.

Guides, how-to articles, and even a beautifully crafted informational page about tree stump removal* gives you the opportunity to support your reader, and point them in the right direction. Now hopefully that direction is to your products and services, but if not, the experience was still positive, and that above anything else should bring them back to you.

*This only works if you are an expert arborist.

Prove Your Credibility

Whether it’s your experience and expertise, studies, or statistics, your content is nothing without evidence to back up the points you’re trying to make.

So, what can prove your credibility? Linking to verified sources, including findings from your research, and providing your unique expertise can all help support your case.

And remember from earlier about why we write helpful content: people are looking for personal, first-hand experiences from content creators. That alone has the power to build trust and credibility with your readers.

I for one, as a digital marketer and long-time professional copywriter, who has created content for not only this marketing agency, but dozens of small businesses nationwide, approve this message.

Create a Positive User Experience

It’s wild… Sometimes the helpfulness of a piece of content can be completely wrecked by poor UX. When’s the last time you were thrilled with a pop up disrupting your reading every 30 seconds? Or what about staring down a huge paragraph with no breaks in sight?

Exactly.

Set Up a Solid Structure

Sometimes helpful content isn’t about the actual content at all. The structure of a post is crucial for user experience and overall accessibility.

Breaking things down into bullet points, lists, and even smaller paragraphs makes a daunting amount of content more friendly.

And if you use your headings wisely, you can help your reader find exactly what they’re looking for because we should all know by now—scannability is key.

According to HubSpot, only 27% of people fully read blog posts, while a whopping 73% admit to mainly skimming.

Prioritize Readability

Don’t write to hit a word count.

It’s just not necessary.

When I search “how long should a blog post be,” I’m served a million and one answers.

That to me seems like there’s no right answer, so why do we still get it in our heads that we need to write to a certain length?

Why is it that our word count haunts us in our sleep? No? Just me then…

Moral of the story is, the content you create should be long enough to answer the question you’ve asked. Nothing more, nothing less.

For example, a how-to guide on creating a content pillar strategy for your business—probably needs to be comprehensive and a bit lengthy.

However, a quick intro into Pinterest SEO is exactly that. A quick intro.

Follow Google’s Guidelines

It’s time to realize that Google is our friend and not our foe.

Though the resources, guidelines and updates they have created and continue to roll out can sometimes seem overwhelming, it’s actually Google themselves that are handing us all the right answers to succeed.

So where do you start? Well…

1. Read up on Google’s guidelines for helpful content: Here you can find how to successfully assess your own content and how SEO and helpful content can work together.
2. Stay up to date on Google core updates: Now that the helpful content system is a part of the core ranking system, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to update launches.
3. Take advantage of the search quality rater guidelines: Though extensive, these guidelines can shed some light on how actual raters (those that give feedback on Google’s algorithm changes) assess good content.
4. Familiarize yourself with E-E-A-T: As mentioned above, this stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. This is another concept, outlined in the search quality rater guidelines, that helps Google evaluate if they are serving helpful, relevant information in the SERPs. It could be very helpful to dig into this concept specifically in order to produce more helpful content.

What Helpful Content Will You Create?

Okay so here we are—I’ve done my best to educate, entertain and support you with some helpful content about helpful content. Now it’s your turn!

Just remember, when it comes down to it, helpful content is created when your only goal is to provide easily accessible information to your reader so that they can find a solution to their problem. It’s not fitting in keywords where you can, and it’s not pushing your product or service on them every step of the way.

Slow down, do your research and remember that you are speaking to people just like you or me. And if you need help creating helpful content for your business, you know where to find us.

The post A Practical Guide to Creating Helpful Content appeared first on Mainstreethost.

You could have the most perfectly crafted copy, ad, or sales pitch, but it means nothing if it isn’t resonating with your target audience.

So, how do you create effective messaging that will resonate?

By developing a deeper understanding of who it is you’re actually targeting.

But how can you do that?

Buyer personas, that’s how!

What Is a Buyer Persona?

A buyer persona is a semi-fictional personification of your ideal customer. 

They’re based on real information, research, and insight, but also contain thoughtfully crafted components such as a name, job, and background information. 

You can then take that information and create a resource—be it a premade template, spreadsheet, word document, or presentation slide—for future reference. These materials could have an image of your persona included too!

What Do Buyer Personas Do?

Buyer personas help you understand, attract, engage, convert, and retain your ideal customers. 

They accomplish this by providing clarity on things like who you’re tailoring your content to, what their needs are, and how you can position your product/answer as the solution to their problems.

When you don’t have buyer personas, you’re taking a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing—and that can have some major hurdles.

Think about the last time you saw an ad, email, or social media post that made you scroll away—even if it was for a product or service you like. If I had to guess, you likely scrolled away due to the messaging. 

Like I said, creating strong messaging and branding that connects is a lot easier when you fully understand who you’re trying to connect with. Without a clear audience in mind, you might feel like you’re grasping at straws trying to write content that stands out and resonates.

I’ll get into how to utilize your buyer personas soon, but just to get you excited, here are just some of the benefits:

• Impactful Marketing: Tailor your messaging, content, and campaigns to resonate with your ideal customers, making your marketing efforts more engaging and effective.
• Improved Customer Experience: Understand your audience’s needs, pain points, and preferences to create personalized experiences that build trust and satisfaction.
• Increased Loyalty: When customers feel understood and valued, they’re more likely to return, engage, and advocate for your brand.
• Save Time and Money: Focus your resources on strategies that actually work by eliminating guesswork and targeting the right people from the start.
• Reach New Audiences: Identify gaps and opportunities to expand your reach, connecting with potential customers who align with your brand’s offerings.

Buyer Persona Details

Buyer personas are useful in virtually every aspect and area of your business, so the more thoughtfully you develop them, the more impactful they can be.

What you include in your buyer personas can vary based on your needs, accessible information, and time. 

At minimum, your persona should have:

• Name
• Income 
• Pain points
• Motivations 
• Purchasing behavior

From there, you could add more details based on your specific business needs and industry. Below I’ve listed some categories with various attributes to help you build some more in-depth personas if you like:

Fundamental Details

• Name (you can use a regular name or a themed name, such as “Marketing Mary”)
• Photo 
• Age or generation
• Gender
• Location
• Wants
• Needs 
• Socioeconomic background

Lifestyle

• Housing status
• Relationship status
• Number of children
• Number of pets
• Number of roommates
• Primary mode of transportation 
• Hobbies 

Personality

• Personality traits (introvert, cautious, outgoing, etc.)
• Personality type
• Beliefs
• Passions
• Values
• Interests 

Education and Employment

• Education level
• Field of study
• Occupation
• Job title
• Industry 
• Income level 
• Responsibilities
• Experience
• Company size
• Pain points at work

Motivations

• Wants
• Needs 
• Goals
• Personal motivations
• Buying motivations

Media Consumption

• Preferred social media platforms
• Content consumed
• Influencers followed
• Frequently visited websites
• Accounts followed

Purchasing Behavior

• Shopping habits
• Amount of pre-purchase research
• Research methods
• Decision process
• Preferred payment methods
• Brands they trust/shop from 
• Use or avoid affiliate links
• Buying motivation

Pain Points/Challenges

• Common frustrations
• Obstacles to purchase
• Product/service gaps
• Problems they’re facing
• Buying concerns
• What is the problem your product/service is the solution to?

Brand and Customer Experience 

• Preferred communication channels
• Customer support expectations
• Loyalty factors
• What makes them walk away

Again, you don’t need to fill out all of these details—in fact, I recommend you don’t use all of them. Use the ones that make sense for your business and industry and take the time to really develop them.

For example, rather than simply listing “Reddit” for their preferred social media channel, take the time to figure out and list a few subreddits they’d frequent. Or, if your persona follows fashion accounts on Instagram, you could take a look at some of the more popular ones to see what they’re posting. 

Not only does it give you a better concept of the buyer, but you can then turn to those sources for further research and social listening. 

Tip: Don’t be afraid to have fun and be creative with your inclusions! For example, adding their zodiac sign or Myers-Briggs type can be a fun way to bring your persona to life!

Build Your Buyer Persona

Creating a buyer persona boils down to four steps:

1. Determine Inclusions 
2. Research and gather data
3. Fill in details
4. Compile and display information

1. Determine Inclusions

First, determine what it is you’re going to include. Having a general idea of the information you need can help you research more effectively. 

As always, your inclusions aren’t set in stone—if your research presents additional detail opportunities, include them!

2. Research and Gather Data

You’ll need to do some research to effectively fill out your buyer persona. This research will vary based on what you need, and what you have access to. 

• Industry Reports: Gain insights into market trends, consumer behavior, and emerging opportunities to better understand your target audience.
• Competitor Research: Analyze your competitors’ strategies, strengths, and gaps to identify ways to differentiate and appeal to shared audiences.
• Social Media Research: Observe discussions, comments, and engagement patterns to see what topics resonate most with your potential customers.
• Speaking with Current Customers: Direct conversations reveal firsthand insights about motivations, pain points, and decision-making processes.
• Social Listening: Monitor online conversations and brand mentions to uncover trends, preferences, and concerns that influence your audience.
• Analytics: Use website, email, and ad performance data to identify behavioral patterns and refine your targeting strategy.
• AI: Leverage AI-driven tools to analyze data, predict trends, and generate deeper insights into customer preferences and behaviors.

3. Fill in Details

Next, it’s time to fill in any gaps or remaining details. These might be things that are undeterminable from research, or what you know to be accurate based on your experience. 

These extra details are things that you’re going to have to get a little creative with and maybe make a few assumptions about in order to fill out this make-believe buyer. This could look like:

• Contextual Information: How to reach them, what content are they likely to engage with, what communication style will resonate with them, etc
• Personal Life: Hobbies, what makes them purchase vs. wait to purchase, red flags, what makes them recommend a product, etc.
• Effective Solutions: How-to guides, webinars, educational email newsletters, etc. 

Tip: If you find yourself at a loss for words, or often repeating the same few descriptors, check out an emotion or feelings wheel—they break down common emotional states, like “happy” into more specific emotions and terms. There are also a few other types, such as personality wheels, out there, too!

What If You’re Just Starting Out?

But what if you’re just starting out, and don’t have any information at all?

No worries, you can still create effective buyer personas, and continue to develop them as your business grows. Some ways to do so include:

• Looking at what your competitors are doing, and identifying who their content might be speaking to.
• Identifying industry trends to understand audience behaviors.
• Work backwards—what does your product/service solve? What makes you stand out from competitors?
• Think of your ideal customer, and create a buyer persona based on them. 

Tip: A great way to familiarize yourself is to build a buyer persona of yourself.

4. Compile and Display Information

As I said earlier, there are several ways you can compile and display your buyer persona. 

The option you go with will largely depend on your preferences and needs—ultimately, it all comes down to what works best for you and your business.

Persona Creator Tools

Many places have their own creator tools—typically an interactive module or sheet. 

For example, Mainstreethost has our Target Audience & Buyer Persona worksheet, HubSpot has their “Make My Persona” tool, and Semrush has their “Persona Wizard” creator.

These are a great place to start, and I’d consider them the classic way to create buyer personas. 

Documents and Templates

You can build your buyer personas in a Word document, spreadsheet, deck, or by using a graphic design tool like Canva or Adobe.

If you opt for a graphic design tool, there will likely be some great templates you can choose from, making it even easier.

AI Chatbot

Lastly, you can always plug your persona’s information into a conversational AI platform (such as ChatGPT or Gemini) and have it organize it into a persona—and even fill in the blanks—for you. 

But, if you’re looking to get a bit more creative…..

Creative Ways to Bring Your Buyer Persona to Life

There really are no shortage of creative conceptualizations and additions that can make the whole process fun!

Tabletop Role-Playing Game Resources

As someone who loves all things nerdy, TTRPG (Tabletop Role-Playing Game) resources are kind of perfect when it comes to buyer personas.

There’s a few ways these resources could work.

The first is using a character sheet—such as D&D’s 5E sheet—to display your buyer persona.

The other ways involve using a character or NPC creation guide—be it an official GM/DM handbook, or any number of free online resources—to either round out or fully build your buyer persona. 

These guides are great for digging deep and going beyond the usual descriptors, or helping you think of descriptors in a different way. For example, “high charisma” means more than “they are charismatic”—it could mean that they are a great leader or public speaker, are able to make people feel comfortable, or are generally someone others are drawn to. 

Each guide will be different, but they’ll all have (more or less) the same format—a series of tables for physical traits, background information, personality, and more! 

Then, it’s just a matter of rolling the listed dice for each table to get your different traits and characteristics. For example, this fantasy character generation table created by Alyssa Flynn has a section for “character archetype” that you roll a D12 (a twelve-sided die) for.

PS: If this interests you, but you don’t have dice, don’t worry—there are a ton of free dice rollers (like this one) online! 

Now, if you’re using these guides to completely build your persona, you might roll some areas that don’t perfectly fit, like getting “Rogue” for class. 

While you can always reroll, it can be worth it to take the time to think about how that could translate into something tangible and practical. 

If you’re curious to see what this might look like, you’re in luck. Imagining I owned a small soap shop, I built the following buyer persona using Alyssa Flynn’s character table: 

Age: 31–40 

Motivation: Betrayal —> Bad experiences with other shops or products

Class: Druid —> Close connection to nature

Lowest Stat: Dexterity —> Clumsy, prone to scrapes/bruises/cuts 

Race (Common): Elf —> Loves nature, expressive 

Hair Feature: Damaged —> Needs specific hair products

Hair Length/Style: Pulled up —> Avoids styling hair due to damage, profession, and lack of time.  

Visual Feature: Calluses—> Needs extra moisturizer, targeted healing 

Random Proficiencies:  Animal Handling —> Close with nature/animals. Prefers vegan or cruelty-free products 

Profession: Cook —> Likely has minor cuts, burns, etc. Works long or unusual hours. 

Traits: 

• Kind —> Willing to donate/buy products that donate proceeds to charitable causes 
• Diligent —> Aware of and actively reads ingredients on products
• Sarcastic —> Possibly dry/sarcastic ads would resonate
• Moody —> Moody colors, or gothic themed products/packing 

So, using this information, I might…

• Create social media posts showcasing our moisturizing hand soaps.
• Write website copy that highlights our commitment to sustainability and cruelty-free status. 
• Craft an ad for our extreme hand salve, focusing on its ability to repair cracked skin with a non-greasy and long-lasting formula.
• Write a blog post about how to develop—and keep—a skincare routine, even when you’re busy. 

…you get the idea. 

Tip: While all my buyer personas are human, I do roll for their race, and incorporate characteristics from the result.

Day in the Life

Another great way to bring your persona to life is to imagine them making a “day in the life” TikTok. 

How would their day start? What about their day would stand out? What issues might they run into throughout their day?

As you visualize this, jot down your thoughts and ideas. These will be great anchor points for building your persona.

Celebrities/Characters

We’d all love for one of our favorite celebrities or characters to work with our company (or, in the case of characters, exist to begin with!). 

For example, a makeup artist who specializes in bold, avant garde looks might have Chappell Roan as their buyer persona. Whereas a makeup artist who focuses on more minimal, classic, “clean girl aesthetic” looks might turn to a celebrity like Hailey Bieber. 

If you’re a coffee shop owner, you might include Lorelai Gilmore as one of your buyer personas. 

A dog training business might have Fallout 4’s Sole Survivor and Dogmeat as their ideal client-dog duo. 

As you build your celebrity or character persona, you can look up more information about them to add additional details. In doing so, you’ll likely find out a bit more about the public opinion about your persona—good and bad. These are also great to keep in mind.

Video Games

Consider making your buyer persona in a video game, or using metrics in the game to guide your creation.

Now, this works well with any games that have you assign ideals or traits to your character. Similar to the TTRPG example, you can either use the given options as guidance, use the options to build your persona, or create your persona in-game, essentially. Some examples include:

• Fallout’s SPECIAL system 
• Fallout’s Perks
• The Sims traits, likes/dislikes, and aspirations in Create a Sim
• Baldur’s Gate 3 character creator (though this is basically the same as a D&D one)
• Wasteland 2’s CLASSIC system
• Disco Elysium’s attributes, archetypes, and skills

How to Leverage Your Buyer Personas

Now that you have your buyer persona(s), you can use them to help make informed decisions that speak to your customers. 

Sales

When it comes to sales, buyer personas can help with:

• Tailored Pitches: Use your personas to form your opening pitches. 
• Training: Train your sales team to use buyer persona insights to adjust their messaging.
• Effective Follow-Ups: Use preferred communication channels to follow up in a way that feels natural and engaging to clients aligned with certain personas.
• Objection Handling: Anticipate common objections based on persona concerns and prepare preemptive responses that address those concerns.
• Upselling & Cross-Selling: Suggest additional products or services based on the persona’s buying habits and needs.

Marketing

Your buyer personas can make creating effective marketing materials a breeze.

• Content Customization: Develop specific and tailored content, such as blog posts, guides, website content, and videos that address specific challenges, goals, and questions your personas have.
• Tone & Voice Alignment: Craft brand messaging that speaks directly to your personas. (Again: it’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.)
• Email Marketing Segmentation: Segment your email list based on personas for more personalized outreach. 
• Relatable Case Studies: Develop success stories featuring customers that align or resonate with each persona, helping potential buyers see themselves in the success of others.
• Advertising: Use persona insights to create more effective PPC and social media ads that resonate.
• Platform Selection: Focus on the social media platforms where each persona spends the most time to maximize reach and engagement.
• Social Listening: Monitor conversations related to your industry and persona interests to engage in real-time, build relationships, and improve offerings.
• Customer Service on Social: Ensure your support team is available on the platforms preferred by each persona to provide fast and convenient assistance.

Business Growth

Buyer personas can also help in your product development, and overall business approach, too!

• Customer Experience Enhancement: Optimize the buying journey, checkout process, and post-purchase experience based on persona behaviors and preferences.
• Market Expansion: Use persona insights to identify new audience segments and untapped markets.
• New Features: Use persona pain points to guide new feature development and updates.
• Pricing Strategy: Adjust pricing or create different packages to accommodate for the needs of your personas. 
• Localization: If expanding into new regions, tailor messaging, offers, and cultural references to match local buyer personas.

Customer Support

Customer support is crucial—being prepared with as much information as possible about your customer can help you provide effective solutions, and problem solve in a timely manner. 

• Preferred Support Channels: Offer support via the platforms personas prefer—some may prefer self-service FAQs, while others need live chat or phone support.
• Response Personalization: Train your support team to address issues in a way that aligns with persona expectations—some might want quick, efficient resolutions, while others appreciate more detailed guidance.
• Proactive Problem Solving: Use persona data to predict common issues and provide preemptive solutions via blog posts, guides, and knowledge bases.

What Will Your Buyer Persona Look Like?

At the end of the day, your business exists to serve people—and buyer personas can help you serve them better.

Just stick to what you know about your customers, your values, and your business and building your buyer personas will be a breeze.

And as your business grows and evolves, so too should your buyer personas! By continuously updating, refining, and creating more buyer personas, you can keep your strategies fresh, effective, and impactful.

Trust me, your future customers will thank you.

The post Creating Buyer Personas for Better Marketing appeared first on Mainstreethost.

When are your blog posts coming out? When do your promotions launch? Did I schedule those social media posts? 

You know content is extremely crucial for your business, but so is fulfilling orders, greeting your customers at the door, and balancing the books.

If only there were a tool that could help you keep track of all that content…

Well, that’s where content calendars come in.

A content calendar is a tool that helps you plan, organize, and schedule your content.

Content calendars are a must for any small business owner. Not only are they a great visual tool, but they help with:

• Organization 
• Consistency
• Engagement 
• Planning
• Scheduling
• Tracking 

And much, much more.

Simply put: a content calendar can make things easier for you and your social media team. They can help you spend less time stressing about what to post and when, giving you more time to focus on what matters most: growing your business.

So, in this blog, I’ll go over some of the top tools to help you create and maintain an efficient content calendar. I chose a wide range of options that vary in features, functions, and price points, and while I’ll touch on how to use each one, I won’t be giving in-depth tutorials—but if that’s something you’d like to see in a blog from us, leave a comment and let us know!

What Should a Content Calendar Have?

Before we get into the tools, it’s important to understand what goes into a content calendar so you can pick the best option for you.

Now, admittedly, what your content calendar has will largely depend on you, your business, and your needs. 

However, at the very least, I’d recommend that your content calendar includes:

• Post type (video, carousel, story etc.)
• Platform (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.)
• Post date/time
• Copy (captions, text for graphics, script, etc.)
• Assets (video file, photos, graphics, etc.)
• Links/tags
• Status (in progress, done, scheduled, etc.)

I recommend these content calendar elements because they cover your bases from brainstorming to posting. 

So, with that in mind, let’s get into the tools!

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet applications are typically the first step with content calendars. Why? Because spreadsheets are simple and accessible, while having the added benefit of built-in structure. 

As far as tools go, the “big three” tend to be Excel, Google Sheets, and Numbers. 

Excel, while incredibly popular, is a paid application. The pricing varies based on how you purchase it (standalone or a plan), plan tiers (family, personal, or business), and plan payment options (monthly or annually). 

Alternatively, both Google Sheets and Numbers are free—though Numbers is only available on Apple devices.

Key Features

Spreadsheets have a lot of features and functions, but some really stand out when it comes to content calendars:

• Customizable Templates: Spreadsheets have a lot of template options—both built in, and online. So whether you want to start with a basic one and customize it, or search and find one online that checks all your boxes, you’ll be able to jumpstart your calendar process easily.
• Organization: Spreadsheets allow you to organize and format nearly everything—whether it’s color-coding, adding drop-down menus, or labeling dates.
• Collaboration: You’ll be able to share spreadsheet links and open them to collaborators, helping to ensure the work is not only easily accessible, but evenly spread. Additionally, you’ll be able to view any changes made, which is helpful for task tracking and fixing any mistakes. 
• Conditional Formatting: Spreadsheets have options for conditional formatting, which will highlight cells based on certain conditions—for example, highlighting a cell red if it passes its due date, to visually show it’s overdue.

In addition to those key features, some additional features include:

• Accessible via web browser
• Free to download mobile and desktop applications 
• Tabs
• Option to leave notes/comments on specific cells
• Attach files in cells
• Add images to cells
• Cloud-based syncing 
• Cross-platform access
• Offline access
• Option to integrate company-specific AI (Apple Intelligence for Apple, Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft, and Gemini for Google)
• Part of a suite that includes other beneficial applications* 

*Not included with the standalone purchase version of Excel.

Using a Spreadsheet to Make a Content Calendar 

There are a few ways you can create your content calendar in a spreadsheet application.

The first one is the easiest—just pick a premade template! Most have options for calendars and project tracking that you can then customize to your liking.

The second option is starting from scratch. While this takes a bit longer, it does afford some more flexibility and freedom. If you’re using Google Sheets, you’ll have access to pre-built tables that you can insert.

If you want to get started with a robust calendar at the click of a button, companies like Hootsuite, Hubspot, Semrush, and Sprout Social offer free content calendar templates. Most have options for different spreadsheet platforms, so you shouldn’t have to worry about getting any specific software. 

Calendar Applications

Another accessible option is a calendar application such as Outlook, Google Calendar, or Apple’s Calendar. And while I mention these three specifically, pretty much any calendar application is likely to function the same. 

Key Features

Calendars have a lot to offer when it comes to content planning:

• Labeled Holidays: Having labeled holidays can help you plan around certain events—whether it’s ensuring you have a holiday hours post ready to go, or a Black Friday sale email scheduled to send.

• Time Zone Adjustments: If you’re posting across different time zones, changing your timezone or creating a calendar for a specific one can help ensure you post at the best time for your audience. 

• Reminders and Alerts: Calendars have the ability for reminders, notifications and alerts. These can help you stay on track, prepare, and ensure everything is ready when it comes time to post.

• Multiple Calendar Options: You are able to have multiple calendars, with the option to show all calendars on one main one. This means you can create different calendars for different content types, platforms, or social media holidays, then get a comprehensive view in one central location.

Other beneficial functions and features include:

• Accessible via web browser
• Free to download mobile and desktop applications 
• Cross-platform accessibility 
• Ability to sync with email
• Collaborative 
• Recurring events (great for themed content, such as “Fun Fact Friday”)
• Color coordination 
• Ability to have multiple calendars 
• Ability to attach files and leave notes
• Search functionality
• Offline access

Making a Content Calendar with a Calendar Application

To do so, you’ll essentially be creating an event for your content. Pretty simple, huh?

From there, you can add attachments and copy, schedule it for your intended post date, and set reminders.

Here’s a quick example of what that would look like in Google Calendar:

Project Management Tool 

Project management tools can definitely make content management and planning a lot easier. 

Here, I’ll be talking about three popular tools: Trello, Notion, and Asana. 

Key ~Free~ Features

Like the other tools I’ve talked about, a lot of project management platforms overlap in their basic functions and features, plus they each offer free, paid, and business/enterprise account options. 

So, before getting into the specifics of each platform, I thought it would be good to go over some of the standout free features they offer.

• Kanban Board View: Kanban boards allow you to visualize your content calendar in its entirety  with buckets, tags, and cards. They have drag and drop functionality, which can help you easily move tasks to the appropriate areas as you move through your content planning. 

• Customizable Workflows: When you customize your board, you’ll be able to set up buckets for different content stages (such as “idea” or “in progress”) to help you stay organized. 

• Task Delegation: After adding collaborators, you can directly assign tasks to specific members. 

• Labels and Tags: Additional labels and tags for things like platform, content type, or priority can help you stay organized, ensure your content is distributed evenly, and help you quickly filter through your tasks. 

• File Attachment: Directly attach files and leave notes, ensuring all necessary content and information is easily accessible. 

In addition to those, the free versions all share the following features: 

• Accessible via web browser
• Free to download mobile and desktop applications
• Ability to assign tasks
• Progress tracking 
• Built-in calendar
• Reminders for upcoming due dates
• Real-time collaboration 
• Third-party tool/app integration
• Pre-built templates 
• Due dates
• Cross-platform access 
• Task tracking 

Trello

The beauty of Trello lies in its simplicity—the board system is easy to set up, understand, and use, making it a great choice for teams.

When billed annually, standard accounts come out to be $5 per user per month, and premium accounts come out to $10/user per month. Enterprise accounts are dependent on user amount. 

While the free account has more than enough to get started, the paid account options do offer significantly more that could come in handy down the line.

You can view the full list of features here, but some standout paid features include:

• Unlimited boards, storage, and workspace collaborators 
• Advanced checklists
• Custom fields
• Advanced views (for premium and enterprise accounts) 

Here’s what a content calendar on Trello could look like. To get more information on how to use Trello, you can check out their guide here!

Notion

Next up is Notion, another easy-to-use project management tool. 

When billed annually, plus accounts are $10/user per month, and business accounts are $15/user per month. They do have an enterprise account option, but you’ll need to contact sales for pricing information. Additionally, all accounts (even free) have the option to add Notion AI for $8/month. 

Some standout paid features include:

• Unlimited blocks and file uploads
• Custom automations
• Charts and dashboards 
• Customizable theme
• Custom databases
• Google Analytics integration
• Advanced page analytics 

Check out their full list of features here.

And here’s what a content calendar on Notion might look like. To get more information on getting started with Notion, check out their guide here!

Asana

Asana has (in my opinion) possibly the most robust free account. They also have the most account options.

They have two paid personal account options: starter ($10.99/user per month) and advanced ($24.99/user per month).

They also have two business and enterprise options, Enterprise and Enterprise+, but you’ll have to contact sales for pricing. 

But, if you want more than what the free account offers, some paid features include:

• Timeline and Gantt views
• Asana AI
• Start dates/times
• Custom templates
• Project dashboards
• Custom fields
• Workflow builder

View and compare all their features here. 

And here’s what a content calendar on Asana might look like. To get more information on how to get started with Asana, you can visit their help center!

Graphic Design Tools

Lastly, we have graphic design tools.

Graphic design tools can be great for creating content calendars, and often come with the benefit of advanced features. Plus, it’s likely you’ll be creating your assets right in the app, making it a seamless process. 

The two main contenders here are Adobe Express and Canva. 

Key ~Free~ Features

Like project management tools, both Adobe Express and Canva have free, paid, and business/enterprise account options.

The main standout feature of these tools is the type of tool they are: graphic design platforms. By having your calendar live where you create your assets, you can:

• Directly input your assets into your calendar
• Quickly resize graphics for different social media platforms
• Ensure consistent font and color usage

Additionally, they share free features such as: 

• Pre-built templates 
• Accessible via web browser
• Free to download mobile applications for
• Stock photos
• Stock videos
• Stock audio
• Export formatting options
• Limited AI tools
• Real-time collaboration

*Canva also has a free-to-download desktop app

Adobe Express

Adobe Express is great if you’re already familiar with Adobe.

Adobe Express has a ton of account options that you can explore.

But, to keep things simple for this blog, their premium account is $9.99 per month. Their “Teams” account has a two-person minimum, and costs $4.99 per month for the first year, before increasing to $7.99 per month. You can request more information from their sales team on enterprise pricing.

Adobe Express also comes with access to their content scheduler, a tool that can plan, preview, schedule, and post up to 1,000 social media posts a month for you. 

Free accounts get one account per social network, and paid accounts get three accounts per social network.

The paid tiers of Adobe Express primarily expand on the free features—for example, a free account gives you access to 4,000 fonts, whereas the paid account gives you access to over 30,000 fonts.

Outside of the expansion, some paid features include enhanced brand management tools and access to non-watermarked content. 

Canva

Canva also has multiple account options—Canva Pro for $15 a month, Canva Teams for $10 per person (with a minimum of 3 people) per month, and Canva Enterprise, but you’ll need to contact their sales team for pricing. 

Canva has a great free tier, but admittedly, their paid tiers offer more when it comes to content calendars. But don’t get me wrong—a free account is still a great choice.

You can create a content calendar by selecting and customizing a calendar document. There is no shortage of free templates to choose from, ranging from classic to specific social media content calendars. 

You’ll also be able to link directly to your other Canva documents, making it even easier to have everything you need in one place.  

Plus, the free account does give you access to one Brand Kit, which is a convenient kit full of your branded assets, templates, fonts, and colors. 

Now, the paid account levels have a significant game-changer, which is Canva’s Content Planner. 

Similar to Adobe’s Content Scheduler, this tool lets you create, plan, preview, and schedule your social media posts across multiple platforms. You’ll also be able to track valuable metrics—like impressions, clicks, likes, and comments—right from the Content Planner. 

How to Pick the Best Option 

I just gave you a lot of information.

But, how do you pick the best content calendar tool for you and your small business? Well, lucky for you, there are a few factors that can help you decide. 

Your Preferences

Number one: what do you prefer?

A surefire way to get the most out of your content calendar is to ensure you use it—which means picking a method that works for you.

For example, if you’re someone who excels at making spreadsheets (see what I did there? ), then a spreadsheet will be a great, comfortable, foray into content calendar creation. 

Your Budget

Cost is a factor that impacts pretty much everything in our day-to-day lives. So, it makes sense that it’s a huge consideration in picking out the tool that works for you. 

Now, I do wholeheartedly believe that a content calendar can be done, and done well, with free accounts. However, it is true that some beneficial features are limited—or entirely inaccessible—with free accounts.

My suggestion is to start with something free—whether it’s an entirely free program, free tier, or free trial. Take some time to get used to the program, and if you like it and genuinely believe the paywalled features will benefit you, go for it. 

For example, I personally have a paid Canva account. I did have a free one for quite some time, but after seeing the paid features I could access during my free trial, I decided the upgrade was worth it. 

It’s all about finding what is in your budget that makes your life—and content planning—easier. 

If you’re taking advantage of a free trial, just remember to cancel before it auto-renews! 

What Features You Need (And Want)

You’ll want the platform to accommodate you, not the other way around.

For example, if you want to include graphics, copy, links, and also need approvals for each channel, you’d be better off working with Adobe or Trello, rather than trying to fit everything into a spreadsheet. 

Consider the functions and features you need and the ones you want. Sure, maybe a way to complete tasks isn’t a necessity—but clicking “done” is always a nice dopamine boost!

Some questions to ask yourself when considering a new content calendar tool could include:

• Is it just you or a team of people?
• Are you including processes/approvals?
• Do you want to be able to schedule your post within the calendar? 
• Do you have a budget set aside for social media? 
• Will the tool scale with your business?
• Are there built-in templates?
• Does it integrate with programs or applications you currently use?

Consider What You Currently Use

When you’re starting out, sticking with applications you’re already familiar with is a great, cost-effective way to begin your content calendar journey.

What you currently use—in terms of platforms and programs—is a major factor, especially when it comes to collaboration and syncing. 

For example, if you use Gmail, you could plan/track on Google Sheets, and have a link to a Google Doc that contains the copy for the posts. You could also set alerts on your Google Calendar to remind you when it’s time to post.

Or, if you have a Windows computer, I wouldn’t recommend buying an Apple product just to try out Numbers.

My Final Thoughts

If you’ve read this far, I’d wager that you probably trust what I’m saying (or, at the very least, enjoy how I’m saying it). 

So, while I definitely recommend you do what’s best for you, here’s what I personally would choose if I was picking for my own business.

I probably would go with… a mix! I’d use Google Docs to write, Asana to plan, and Canva Pro to design and schedule. 

Why? Well, I’m very familiar with Google Docs (in fact, this very blog post was written in it!). I love being able to visualize tasks and complete them, and I’m also very familiar with Canva’s features.

As I wrap this blog up, I want you to remember two things:

1. Things will come together. It might take some time to get it how you want it, but before long, your content calendar will run like a well-oiled machine.
2. Celebrate the small wins! Whether it’s creating your calendar, filling out your first week, or marking tasks complete, give yourself some much-deserved kudos—and/or a treat!

The post 7 Content Calendar Tools Every Business Should Know About appeared first on Mainstreethost.

Reddit is great for many things—finding information, staying up-to-date on the latest news, sharing memes, having conversations, etc. 

But it’s particularly great for businesses to learn more about—and connect with—their audience.

While there are several ways you can leverage Reddit for free, I wanted to focus now on the paid ways to leverage the platform: ads. 

Reddit ads are much like Reddit itself; similar to other platforms, while also being entirely unique with its own unspoken etiquette—excuse me, Reddiquette—that influences both the perception of and reaction to a post, comment, or ad.

At this point, you might be thinking: are Reddit ads even worth it?

The answer is yes.

Why Advertise On Reddit?

Reddit ads provide an opportunity to speak directly to your customers and connect with your audience in meaningful ways, right where they’re already engaged.

And, as it turns out, a lot of Redditors actually want to see businesses on Reddit sharing information about their products and services—79% of them, in fact!

Now, that alone is a good—dare I say great—reason to get started. But, if you’re not convinced, there are several other reasons why Reddit ads are particularly beneficial to any small business owner. 

High Trust in the Platform

Reddit is (basically) the first place people go to for research. 

Over 100 people add “Reddit” to their Google searches every second.   

Even further, 90% of users turn to—and trust—Reddit when researching a brand or product.

With this level of trust, it comes as no surprise that Reddit has a lot of influence on purchasing and decision-making. 

According to Reddit, Reddit users are 46% more likely to trust a brand because it’s advertised on Reddit instead of other sites—and nearly ⅔ of Redditors would purchase a product if they saw an ad about it on Reddit. 

Target Hyper-Focused Audiences

With over 100,000 active subreddits, Reddit genuinely has a community for everything. So, even if you’re a super specific, niche business, I’m willing to bet there’s a community out there for you.

Diverse (And Curious!) Users

Reddit has an impressive audience. I’m talking “over 379 million weekly active users (with 151 million of those being from the U.S. alone)” impressive.

And that audience is incredibly unique and varied! Reddit users come from all walks of life, and span across multiple generations: 

• 41% of users are between 18-34 years old
• 20% of users are between 34-44 years old 
• 34% of users are 45 and older

Given the nature of Reddit, it should come as no surprise that many Redditors are naturally curious and research-driven. 

As such, many Redditors are incredibly engaged and discerning, especially when it comes to discovering new brands, products, or services that align with their interests. 

So, when your ad reaches the right user, your brand isn’t just seen—it’s kickstarting an entire process of learning, reading, and making decisions about your business. 

96% of user actions on Reddit—like checking out brand sites, browsing product pages, adding items to their cart, and even making purchases—actually happen after someone sees an ad but doesn’t click. 

So, even the presence of your ads on Reddit can influence perception, build awareness, and make a real impact for your business!

Plus Redditors can be anyone—CEOs, managers, entrepreneurs, and everyday consumers alike use the platform. So your ideal audience is not out of reach.

According to a survey, 78% of decision-makers on Reddit agree that Reddit helps them make faster purchasing decisions when buying business products or solutions. 

So, whether your target audience is early-20’s men who work in finance, or mid-30s women into gaming, you’ll likely find an eager audience on Reddit. 

Reach Audiences Not Found Elsewhere

There’s no shortage of social media ad options. So, why Reddit?

Well, to start, Reddit reports that advertisers can see up to 3x ROAS and +3.1% total sales lift when advertising on Reddit (as opposed to other social media platforms).

And as it turns out, a lot of Reddit users aren’t even found on other social media platforms.

• 30% of Redditors are not on Facebook 
• 45% of Redditors are not on Instagram
• 58% of Redditors are not on TikTok
• 59% of Redditors are not on Twitter/X
• 63% of Redditors are not on Pinterest
• 68% of Redditors are not on LinkedIn
• 74% of Redditors are not on Snapchat
• 81% of Redditors are not on Twitch

With numbers like that, it’s hard to argue.

Plus, when it comes to viewing ads on Reddit vs. other social media platforms, Redditors make 2x more purchases, and have 2.5x higher order value. 

Authenticity and Connection

Reddit values authenticity and connection.

Sharing advice, swapping stories, providing insight—these are all key tenets of the Reddit ecosystem.

But what makes it different from other platforms? The difference is that these conversations and interactions happen openly—and honestly.

Reddit isn’t an echo chamber of “yes men.” So, when someone asks for advice on where to buy reliable work boots, the answers are incredibly real and genuine.

The conversations that happen on Reddit do more than just build community—they can directly influence purchasing. In fact, roughly 75% of shoppers on Reddit say they make faster purchases based on these conversations about other Redditors’ experiences.

So for a business that is trying to connect with their audience, share the value of their products and services, and stay authentic to themselves and their brand? Reddit Ads can help.

Because in short: people go to Reddit for answers, and you want to be there when they do.

Reddit Ad Formats

Reddit’s ad formats are highly native, aligning closely with organic content on the platform. This means they’re usually non-disruptive in nature and seamlessly integrated within the content stream.

If I’m being honest, there’s been more than a few times I’ve mistaken an ad for just another bizarre, ironic meme on a subreddit.

But that’s not a bad thing! Non-intrusive ads actually offer an overall more pleasant experience, helping you cut through the influx of loud, disruptive ads that many consumers are growing tired of seeing on a daily basis.

There are two Reddit ad formats: Promoted Posts and High Impact.

Promoted Post Ad Formats

Promoted Posts are the most common type of Reddit ads. They appear in a user’s feed, look like organic posts, and generally don’t disrupt the scrolling experience. There are several types of promoted posts you can choose as your ad format, each with its own benefit and approach.

Tip: Reddit also allows you to combine different ad formats to reach more users.

Image

Image ads are exactly as they sound—ads that contain static images. The image can be of a product, a meme, a graphic…whatever will grab attention and convey your message best! Then, Redditors can click either the image or the caption to go to your page. 

Video

Video ads consist of any type of relevant video and a caption. Videos can be anywhere from 2 seconds up to 15 minutes long, and will autoplay in a Redditor’s feed.

Carousel

Carousel ads allow you to show multiple images or videos together in one convenient ad. Carousel ads can contain up to 6 images, giving you ample space to take potential customers on a journey, or showcase multiple products. 

Free-form 

Free-form ads are wholly unique to Reddit. Designed to replicate and integrate with the Reddit experience, these ads are essentially posts. In them, you can combine text with any form of media (such as GIFS, videos, images, etc.) 

Conversation

Similar to free-form ads, conversation ads are also unique to Reddit. They can appear either below a post but before the comments, or between comments in the conversation thread, helping your brand break beyond the feed and meet Redditors where they have authentic conversations.

Shopping and Product Ads [Beta]

While currently in beta, product ads offer a unique way to provide Redditors with their perfect shopping experience. There are currently two types: Dynamic and traditional.

Dynamic ads allow brands to create ads directly from their product catalog. From there, Reddit will, in their own words: “…dynamically serve the right product, to the right person, at the right time, in the right Reddit context from your product catalog.”

Traditional product ads are a bit more straightforward, and require brands to manually select specific products to be shown in their ad. 

AMA

Promoted AMAs (Ask Me Anything) are done live, making them a great way to foster genuine connections, answer questions, and engage with your community. AMA ads allow you to promote your AMA across Reddit, while also allowing users to enable reminders for the AMA. After the AMA is done, users can still find and read the AMA.

High Impact Ad Formats

The other ad option is High Impact ads. High Impact ads have a bit more, well… impact. They allow you to combine multiple formats into one, and display them in prioritized spots. Currently, there are three High Impact offerings. 

Note: High Impact ads are only available by talking with a sales representative. 

24 Hour Reddit Takeover

A Reddit Takeover allows your brand to hold the first ad slot across a user’s home feed and the popular feed for 24 hours.

Category Takeover

Category Takeover ads allow you to be the first seen in communities that fall under your selected category. For example, if you choose “gaming” your ad will be seen across the feed, banners, and in conversations, of subreddits that fall under the “gaming” category. 

First View 

First View ads allow your brand to be seen first by Redditors by being the first in-feed ad. Your ad will also be shown first on Reddit’s Home and Popular feeds, making them even more impactful. You can also upgrade to First View Plus, which will also place your ad in the trending section of the popular feed!

Now that you know the ad types, let’s talk a bit about ad creation. 

Creating Your Campaign

Creating a Reddit Ad campaign is a straightforward process—if you’ve done other paid ad campaigns, this process will likely be similar.

Campaign Setup

To get started, you’ll want to cover the basic steps:

1. Create your Reddit Ads account
2. Add payment method
3. Name your campaign 

Set Your Objective

Next, you’ll want to set your objective.

Reddit has several objectives, most of which can be used for any ad type. They include:

• Brand awareness and reach: Increase awareness about your product or brand.
• Traffic: Drive traffic to your website or specific location. 
• Conversions: Encourage Redditors to perform specific conversion actions. Learn more about specific conversion goals here. 
• Video views: Increase views on your video.
• App installs: Drive Redditors to install your iOS or Android mobile application. 
• Catalog sales (beta): Increase retail sales.
• Lead generation (beta): Capture leads with forms. 

Depending on your objective, you might have to connect or set up accounts to measure performance. For example, if your objective is traffic, you’ll have to set up Reddit Pixel—a portion of code that allows you to track actions visitors take after seeing or clicking your ad on Reddit. 

Define and Select Ad Group

With your objective set, it’s time to move on to forming your ad group and display information. 

First, name your ad group, before moving on to the next step: targeting.

Audience and Targeting

Reddit ads offer robust targeting abilities that help your brand get seen by your audience. You can also combine targeting options, allowing for a more focused approach. After all, what good is advertising if the right people aren’t seeing it? 

There are several targeting options for Reddit audiences ads:

• Community Targeting: Ads will be shown to Redditors who have interacted with your specific communities.
• Interest Targeting: Target Redditors based on their hobbies, passions, or areas of expertise.
• Keyword Targeting: Target Redditors based on specific keywords, phrases, or searches relevant to your product or services. 
• Custom Targeting: Allows you to have an entirely customized approach, such as website retargeting, lookalike audiences, and more. 
• Location Targeting: Target specific countries, regions, cities, and postal codes.
• Device Targeting: Target desktop-only, mobile-only, or both desktop and mobile users. 
• Gender Targeting: Target based on gender identity. 
• Time of Day Targeting: Target users on specific days of the week and time of day.

When targeting keywords, communities, and interests, you can enable automatic targeting, which will expand your ads’ reach to users beyond your specific Reddit audience when it’s likely to improve the ad’s performance. 

Ad Placement and Delivery

After choosing your audience and targeting, you’ll select your ad placement. Ads can go in feed, conversations (right above the comment section), or both. 

Then you’ll choose your delivery, which includes:

• Budget: How much you want to spend, at what speed (daily or lifetime).
• Bidding: How much money you’re bidding, and bidding strategy.
• Schedule: Choose to run continuously starting the day you create your ad, or set up specific start and end dates.

Learn more about bidding, budgeting, and Reddit’s recommendations here.

Create Your Ad

Now it’s time for the fun part!

After naming your new ad, you’ll want to create it. Since it’s new, this will involve selecting an ad format (that I reviewed above), uploading your assets, and adding necessary information such as:

• Headline
• Destination URL
• Display URL
• Call to Action 

Be sure to check out Reddit’s creative best practices and double-check your ad specifications before creating anything. There are key components—like captions for videos, or optimizing for mobile display—that can directly impact the effectiveness of your campaign. They even have a helpful checklist to make sure your ads are good to go!

After uploading, filling out, and selecting the necessary information, you’ll have to add your preferred tracker. 

At this point, you’ll be able to toggle comments on or off. I’ll talk a bit more about that below though, so just hang tight.

Tip: Reddit has their official library of past ads that allows you to view ads based on type, industry, budget, and more. For some more inspiration, Reddit User ElectroPigeon made their own Reddit Ad library full of unique and interesting ads. 

Preview and Submit for Review

After moving on from ad creation, you’ll be able to review everything you just did, from campaign type all the way to your creatives. After you’ve double-checked everything, you’ll submit your ad for review.

Reddit reviews all ads before they go live, and typically you’ll get approved or rejected within 24 hours. 

And that’s it!

Yay!

Tip: Reddit also has Simple Create, which helps streamline the ad process! 

How to Have a Successful Reddit Ad Campaign

If I’ve done my job well, you should have one final question: How can I be successful with Reddit ads?

While nobody can absolutely guarantee success, I do have a few tips—and no shortage of examples—to help you get started on the right foot.

#1: Spend Time on Reddit

Like I’ve said, Redditors value the authenticity and connection Reddit can provide… and it’s kind of hard to make an authentic ad for a platform if you’ve never used it yourself.

So, spend a little time familiarizing yourself with the platform!

Check out different subreddits and take the time to understand and seek out niche communities that would benefit from your product or service. Don’t forget to pop into the comment sections, too, as getting insight into how conversations on Reddit can go is incredibly beneficial. 

I’ve been an avid Reddit user for years. My account is in the double digits, and I was a lurker before that.

Suffice it to say, I spend a lot of time on Reddit. More importantly, I know a lot about Reddit. 

Again, Reddit is unlike any other social platform. It comes with its own set of unspoken rules, inside jokes shared by millions of users, and an altogether different experience—marketing or otherwise.

For example, hashtags serve no purpose (except for markdown formatting) on Reddit. So if I see a post with hashtags in the titles, I (and others) instantly know it’s someone’s first time here.

And it certainly isn’t a place where a generic ad with inauthentic copy will thrive. 

By joining the Reddit community yourself, you’ll be able to better understand its intricacies and even start to pick up on common jokes, phrases, and references, which can ultimately help you create a more effective ad.

In fact, brands that incorporate Reddit lingo experience a 201% higher advertiser median revenue.

For example, take this ad promoting Caliber. 

By starting with his knowledge of Reddit, he was able to anticipate possible points of contention and align himself with the audience. For what it’s worth, this creator also did an absolutely stellar job fostering a community in the comment section.

#2: Start With Your End Goal 

Before you get into ad creation, think about what your end goal is for your ad campaign. 

Do you want to establish your brand on Reddit? Make sales? Get leads?  Drive traffic to your website?

By starting with your end goal in mind, you can check that every step of your strategy aligns to make it happen, whether it’s the ad format itself or the content of the creatives for the ad. 

It can also inform how you engage with the ad once it’s live. For example, if you want to establish your brand on Reddit, you might want to leave ad comments on, and ensure you dedicate time to actively engaging with users. 

#3 Design With Your Audience in Mind

As I mentioned above, Reddit does have a ton of information regarding creative best practices. But beyond that, it’s important to keep your audience in mind when designing your ad.

To start, Reddit itself reports that 75% of users access Reddit on their mobile devices. So, unless you are specifically targeting desktop users, I suggest creating an ad that’s optimized for mobile. This ensures that your audience on their phones can clearly see your ad.

If you’re creating a video ad, you should consider adding closed captions. For one, a lot of Redditors scroll silently during the day, so captions can grab their attention and convey the necessary information. This extra consideration can go a long way, with Reddit reporting that brands who use closed captioning in their ads see a 2.1x positive life in brand favorability. 

Lastly, be authentic and transparent in your ad copy.

While nobody likes sneaky selling, Redditors especially hate it. So, whether you call it out in a self-deprecating way like Oreida does below, or you keep it straightforward, make your ad copy—and your branding—clear…especially if your ad mimics the look of an organic post.  

#4 Get Creative with Your Creatives

If your ad involves a visual component, you’ll want to ensure you nail it.

Much like you’ll want to design with your audience in mind, you should also consider what you’re advertising, and how you’re advertising it.

Beyond choosing effective photos, now’s also the time to get a bit creative. 

Reddit is a great place for fun, creative, and humor-based ads. So, this is a great opportunity to branch out and create a more lighthearted ad—if it makes sense for your brand, of course.

I’ve seen ads of all types—some embrace absurdity, some sprinkle in some jokes or puns, and some play off of Reddit tropes.

But memes are arguably the most popular design choice on Reddit. 

I, personally, love a good meme. But when it comes to Reddit ads, my suggestion would be to make extra sure it’s relevant to your audience and message. 

And as silly as it may sound, it’s important to make sure you understand the meme—both how it’s used, and the context. Some reaction images/memes can stem from more serious subjects, so it’s essential to double check a meme’s meaning and the context surrounding it beforehand.

Tip: Keep an open mind when it comes to choosing creative elements for ads. As seen in the example below, watercolor brand Iuile Watercolors had static images for their ad. In the comments, they received some constructive feedback from real people. This not only gave the brand a chance to adjust their strategy to better align with what their audience wants, but also gave them the chance to directly engage with that potential customer. 

#5 Consider Comments on Ads

Alright, let’s talk comments. 

When you create your ad, you’ll have the option to toggle comments on. 

There are definitely pros and cons to leaving comments off or turning them on.

As I’ve mentioned before, Redditors are nothing if not opinionated. So, you can rest assured that, good or bad, they will tell you their thoughts. 

That’s kind of the point of the platform, after all.

Can brands miss the mark and deal with some comments trolling them? Yes.

But don’t be scared. 

It’s just how Reddit is. I’ve seen comments ranging from pushback/upset with the ad, positive comments, questions, concerns, props, and no shortage of NSFW (not safe for work) ASCII art. 

I genuinely mean it when I say that a lot of Redditors are very vocal about the brands they love and are loyal to. As such, a lot of businesses choose to keep comments on and use the comment section as a chance to educate and connect.

This also shows a willingness to engage, which helps audiences connect with a brand faster. 

You can have fun and engage in playful ways, or even poke fun at yourself like this Oatly example, but of course, be mindful, practice good Reddiquette, and don’t feed the trolls.

So, while it’s completely understandable why brands turn comments off, a lot of Redditors—myself included—have an immense amount of respect for a business that keeps them on. 

To show you a bit more, let’s look at an example from the brand Oats Overnight.

Oats Overnight

Now, full disclosure: I don’t even like eating overnight oats. 

At all. 

Store-bought or homemade. 

So, I’m really not the target demographic for Oats Overnight. 

But, solely due to their ads and presence on Reddit, I kind of love Oats Overnight. And if I did like overnight oats, they’d be the first brand I’d buy from. Who knows, I might just buy some next time I go to the store!

And I’m not alone.

Oats Overnight consistently does a fantastic job of engaging in their comment section—particularly on this post. (Fair warning—that comment section is NSFW.) 

I highly recommend you take some time to look through the comments on that ad. They’re always responsive and their responses have garnered them some more praise from fellow Redditors.

And while they’re quick-witted and often match the comment’s energies, they also provide genuine answers and responses, as seen below.

So… Should You Leave Comments On?

Ultimately, it’s up to you and your capacity—and willingness—to engage. 

I completely understand why brands turn comments off. It makes sense, especially if you don’t have the time or energy to be monitoring your ad 24/7.

But, the sense of community a comment section can bring is such a unique benefit to Reddit. Plus, Reddit gives you a lot of control over the comment section, such as the ability to delete them. 

Additionally, you can always toggle off comments on your ads. So, even if your ad already has comments on it, you can turn the ability off and delete said comments. 

So, my advice? If you are at all interested—even a little bit—I encourage you to get in the comments. 

Finishing up

Reddit is a tremendous tool for any business, and Reddit ads have tremendous potential to help your business.

Just stay authentic. Find your communities. Try to make real connections. All that good stuff.

Once you understand the platform, the rest will fall into place.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Reddit Ads appeared first on Mainstreethost.

But what is that? Well, user-generated content, or “UGC,” is exactly as it sounds—organic, user (aka customer)-created content that’s specific to your brand and posted on social media (or a public platform).

Have you taken a photo at a local coffee shop and tagged them? Or posted a piece of art you bought and tagged the Etsy shop? Congratulations! You’ve created UGC.  

What Makes UGC So Important?

While influencer advertisements and branded content (#sponcon, anyone?) are on the rise, the same can’t be said for their effectiveness. In fact, consumers find UGC almost 10 times more impactful than influencer content. 

UGC is created by real people sharing their real experiences, opinions, and feelings.

A video of someone receiving their online order, a photo of friends in a shop, a post celebrating the success of finally finding a product that works…these are all authentic experiences that can’t be replicated—and all UGC.

UGC provides small businesses with an unmatched opportunity to create authentic connections, foster trust, and engage with customers on a personal level, making it an important part of any digital marketing strategy. 

The authenticity that comes with UGC is, without a doubt, one of its main benefits. But it doesn’t stop there:

• Social Proof: Search—and shopping—has changed, and more people turn to social media for information and product reviews to help them make a purchasing decision. UGC acts as evidence that real people already trust and enjoy your brand, helping to convert potential customers.

• Connection and Community: UGC is mutually beneficial for both your business and your customers—they’ll feel happy to be noticed and/or featured on your page, and you’ll get great content to share! 

• Visibility: Remember, when someone tags you in a piece of content, not only are you seeing it, but their followers are, too. That means your brand is getting seen by more potential customers, without you having to lift a finger.

• Improved Engagement: When featured on social media, UGC can boost engagement by encouraging authentic interactions between your brand and your customers. As a result, social media posts featuring UGC can experience up to a 28% higher engagement rate. 

• Content Curation: Whether it’s a repost on your story or a post on your main feed, UGC makes for incredibly effective—and effortless—content for your social media pages.

• Increased Conversions and Sales: Due to the authentic, often experience-driven nature of UGC, it’s a powerful tool to encourage sales and increase conversions. In fact, a study found that users who engaged with UGC saw a 102.4% increase in conversions! 

• Trustworthiness: One of the first places consumers look to when determining the trustworthiness and legitimacy of a brand is their social media—and a staggering 86% of consumers are more likely to trust a brand that shares UGC. Knowing that real people—even if they are strangers online—not only trust a brand enough to shop with them, but love them enough to sing their praises on social media, is worth its weight in gold. 

Types of UGC

UGC can be as simple as taking a photo in your favorite coffee shop (and tagging the shop) or as involved as posting an unboxing video of a recent order you placed. The main types of UGC to leverage include:

• Direct reviews like Google or Yelp
• Reviews in comments (even a comment on a TikTok saying, “This literally changed my life.”)
• Photos/videos of your product
• Photos/videos of (or in!) your store
• Photos/videos using your product or service 
• Unboxing videos
• Mentions in comments

UGC in these forms is easy to share, engage with, and utilize—but more on that later!

Tip: Keep notifications on so you don’t miss any mentions, tags, or comments!

How to Incentivize and Encourage UGC

While you can—and should—encourage UGC, it actually isn’t all that uncommon for it to just…happen. 

And I know what you’re thinking—how often do people just post about a company?

Honestly? It happens more than you think! 

• A photo of a latte with the coffee shop tagged. 
• A comment on a brand’s post sharing how you use their product.
• A boomerang of clinking drinks with the restaurant tagged.
• A makeup tutorial with the brand tagged in the caption.
• A comment mentioning a shop in a thread about favorite local businesses.

A great example is the iconic longboarding TikTok with Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice—which captured not only the attention of viewers around the globe, but Ocean Spray themselves. “…We were more like, ‘Well, this is some nice user-generated content and we’d love to repost it,” said Trace Rutland, Digital Hub Director at Ocean Spray.

All different levels of involvement, all without prompt, and all UGC.

But like I said—it doesn’t hurt to set yourself up for success by encouraging it!

Ask Your Customers

The first way you can encourage UGC is to just ask! 

Asking is not only simple, but it’s also effective—72% of users are willing to share their content when asked by a brand. 

Of course, how you ask is important. Essentially, don’t make it about content; make it about sharing excitement. 

The request itself can lean more generic or be more specific to what you sell—whatever works best for you. Some examples include:

• Share your look with us! Tag @YourBusiness on Instagram!
• You’ve got great taste! We’d love to see how you style your new piece. Share your outfit and tag us! @YourBusiness
• Don’t forget to tag us in your photos! @YourBusiness
• Thank you for supporting handmade art! I’d love to see my work in your space—take a photo and tag me on socials! @YourBusiness 

You can ask by hanging up a fun sign near any eye-catching displays in your store, print it on cards to include in bags or online orders, have it on your website and in your social media bio, or even have them as vinyl stickers on fitting room mirrors. Wherever it makes the most sense for your business and is most likely to be seen.

I actually found a great example that combines all of these while looking at a sourdough starter recipe.

I really like this example—it’s simple and straightforward while remaining warm, and the request itself is in a good spot within the post. I mean, it was eye-catching enough for me to take notice and think, “Huh. That’s a great way to ask for UGC…” while double-checking my measurements. 

Tip: You could also create a hashtag just for your UGC that you encourage users to use. Just make sure it isn’t something generic, like #outfit! A better option might be something like #ShopNameOutfit.

Create an Experience

Sometimes, something as simple as an inviting atmosphere will be enough to encourage UGC. 

I mean, I myself have lost track of how many times I’ve posted a photo of a unique store, perfectly-done latte, or tongue-in-cheek sign on my Instagram Story.

While it may seem more straightforward to accomplish in-store, don’t worry—you can absolutely curate an experience even if your business is entirely online. Some ways to do so include:

• Statement walls (such as a gallery wall, or flower wall)
• Tailored packaging 
• Different lighting (unique lamps, LEDs, etc.)
• Conversation-starting or engaging tip jars
• Large mirrors (perfect for selfies!)
• Handwritten notes in packages/bags
• Cozy seating areas
• Branded freebies such as stickers, postcards, or buttons 
• Product demos (like Lush)
• Gift wrapping 
• Insta-worthy displays
• Curated samples or free products to include in packages (such as Sweetwater adding candy to each package)
• Chalkboard
• Artwork and decor
• Branded photo signs/opportunities 
• Signage 

However you decide to curate an experience, just make sure it aligns with your brand. 

For what it’s worth, some of my favorite shops lean into their aesthetic across all touch points—whether it’s moody lighting in-store or branded packing with an online order.

Need some inspiration? Pinterest is your best friend. 

We even made a UGC inspo board that you can check out! 

Offer Rewards for UGC

While UGC is unpaid, rewards are a great way to encourage it! Offer rewards such as discounts, free products, or even extra points for membership programs in exchange for posting, tagging, or even leaving a review. 

A great example of utilizing rewards for UGC is Heatonist, a hot sauce company best known for its partnership with the interview series Hot Ones. Their rewards program, “Sauciety,” offers extra points for engaging with their social media, referring friends, and leaving more thorough reviews. Members can then use points for things like free shipping, money off, or even extra bottles of hot sauces! 

Note: If you’re asking for reviews, you can’t ask for only good reviews. 

Run a Contest to Increase Participation

Contests are a great way to get both current and potential customers excited. 

Some common contest structures are:

• Comment: Have followers comment a specific word or phrase, or comment on a specific item  (such as their favorite product you sell) on the contest post to be entered to win. 
• Share: Have users share the contest post on their story or main feed and tag your company.
• Tag a friend: Have users tag a friend (or a few!) to enter.
• Content Creation: Have users create their own content (such as a short video or photo).

Once you have everything decided, make a post announcing the contest on social media, and make sure to clearly lay out any rules, guidelines, and, of course, the reward in the caption. The caption also provides an opportunity to encourage further amplification, such as adding an extra entry if they tag a friend, or share the post and tag you.

How you pick a winner will depend on your parameters. If it’s random, some brands use automated tools to pick winners. However, if it’s based on specific criteria (such as the amount of likes or shares a user gets) you’ll have to keep tabs on each post.

What the reward is will be entirely up to you, but it should be appropriately level with the effort needed for the contest. That is to say, if people are creating videos talking about their favorite product you sell, you should be rewarding the winner with more than just some free samples. 

Tip: Collaborating on a contest with another local small business benefits both of you, while also spreading brand awareness to a new audience (and vice-versa).  

Take the First Step 

There’s a tip that I often see in online baking communities: if you’re bringing a cake to a potluck either pre-cut it or take the first slice.

Why?

It encourages others to follow suit. By eliminating someone having to “ruin” it by cutting it, or making the first move to eat it, more people will gravitate toward it.

I find that this advice can be applied in many facets of life, and UGC is no different. 

So, take that first step! 

Create UGC for your brand that you want others to create. If you just bought a unique mirror to encourage in-store photos, take some photos in it and post them with a caption encouraging others to use it! For example, “Isn’t this mirror perfect for selfies? Come snap a pic next time you’re in!” 

You can also encourage your employees to participate as well!

Be Responsive to Your Customers

Customers are genuinely excited to engage with brands and want to be noticed. 

If you’re known as the brand that ignores when people tag them, it might influence some followers to stop (or not even start in the first place) posting about you. 

So, to avoid this, make sure you’re responsive! Keep your social media notifications on so you can catch when people tag or mention you in stories, comments, and posts.

Then, it’s as simple as dropping a like and a quick comment! Use your brand voice, and aim for a balance of personal and professional.

Tip: Don’t forget to set aside time to go through any custom hashtags you have.

Maximizing the Impact of UGC

To get the most out of your UGC, you’ll want to ensure you’re posting it across relevant platforms where potential and current customers alike will engage with it.

Repost and Reshare

When it comes to reposting onto your main feed, you’ll want to ask permission—even if they tagged you.

So, either send the user a direct message, or comment on the post. It can be something as simple as “We love the way you styled our dress! Mind if we repost this on our page (and tag you, of course!)?” 

Once you get permission, make sure you give proper credit by tagging them. 

When it comes to Instagram and Facebook stories, if a user has a public account and tags you, you’ll have the option to reshare that to your own story. And don’t be afraid to add some personal flair with an emoji, a sticker, an interactive item (such as a poll or slide bar), or text.

If you’re using Instagram, consider making a story highlight where you can keep all of your UGC stories. This way, you’ll have a central hub of UGC for new customers to check out. 

Tip: You can have multiple Instagram story highlights, so you could even create highlights for different products or UGC types (such as “Reviews” and “Uses”). 

Create Additional Content from UGC

UGC doesn’t stop at hitting “share.”  You can continue to create brand new content by featuring things like customer comments and reviews!

For example, if someone leaves you a 5-star Google review, you could expand its reach by posting a screenshot or creating a graphic of the review to share on your social media. This is a great chance to show some love to positive reviews or share praise from the comment section!

Additionally, platforms like TikTok and YouTube (shorts) allow you to duet a video or directly reply to a comment with a video, which are both effective ways to create your own content from UGC.

And It’s not uncommon for customers to drop their own tips, tricks, or experiences in a brand’s comment section. Listen to your audience and use this to your advantage!

Like in this example, where indie makeup brand Sunset Makeup replied to a comment following their suggestion for a lip combination. 

Similarly, customers often show how they use, style, or work with a product in their own video. For example, someone making a video styling an outfit that features a shirt from a small boutique. 

Or, if you’re Gordon Ramsay, duetting videos of people making food and providing encouragement (or disappointment!) with additional insight.

By replying to comments or duetting a video, you get the opportunity to show you care and further connect with your audience. 

Tip: Comment sections are often full of questions, complaints, and suggestions. Keep an open mind when reading—you can use these comments as an opportunity to provide clarity, offer insight, address issues, or even make changes based on feedback.

Feature it on Your Website

Another great place to feature UGC is on your website.

Again, UGC builds trust—and what better place to drive the point home that your brand is beloved than right where people are about to make a purchase? 

By having UGC featured on your website, you can show customers how their peers style, use, or appreciate your products in their day-to-day, making a purchase all the more compelling. 

You could include a section that features your latest social media posts or reviews like Proactiv has on their homepage. 

Feature key reviews or photos on individual product pages like Revel Nail.

Or, have a dedicated page/inspiration gallery, like the furniture store, Article.

Tip: Another great place to feature UGC is in-store! You can print out reviews or comments with tips/tricks and put them in a sign near specific products. 

Embracing UGC

Now, more than ever, consumers not only appreciate, but actively seek out, authenticity and community. 

By encouraging and utilizing user-generated content, small business owners can build a loyal customer base while amplifying their brand message through genuine voices.

In the end, that authentic, relatable, and real UGC is what will set your brand apart and drive lasting success.

The post How to Get Started With User-Generated Content appeared first on Mainstreethost.