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50+ Creative March Marketing Ideas (With Examples!)

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60+ Easy & Creative March Marketing Ideas (With Examples!)

March marketing is basically St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, and March Madness, right? Wrong. In fact, there’s a national day in March for your erroneous thinking…

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But what a good thing to be wrong about, right? Read on for:

  • A full list of March awareness causes, holidays, and national days.
  • Over 60 creative March marketing ideas for posts, promotions, events, and more.
  • Real examples from businesses across a range of verticals.

Table of contents

March awareness causes

There are many awareness causes that you can use for March blogging, promotions, and social media marketing. You can post on or write about these topics throughout the month of March so you’re not tied to a specific date. March is:

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  • Asset Management Month
  • Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
  • Bleeding Disorders
  • Brain Injury Awareness Month
  • Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
  • Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
  • Craft Month
  • National Reading Month
  • Endometriosis Awareness Month
  • Epilepsy Awareness Month
  • Kidney Month
  • Kidney Cancer Awareness Month
  • Myeloma Action Month
  • Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
  • Problem Gambling Awareness Month
  • Red Cross Month
  • Self-Injury Awareness Month
  • Social Work Month

march marketing ideas - national asset management awareness month tweet
Use our blog post ideas or even our SEO-optimized blog post templates to get the gears turning!

Diversity, equity & inclusion in March

There are tons of opportunities to demonstrate diversity, equity and inclusion this month. Here are the DEI-friendly awareness causes in March:

  • Bisexual Health Awareness Month
  • Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
  • Disability Awareness Month
  • Ethics Awareness
  • Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month
  • Greek American Heritage Month
  • Irish American Heritage Month
  • Women’s History Month

And here are some specific observance days:

  • International Women’s Day (March 8)
  • Equal Pay Day (varies—March 14, 2023)
  • World Down Syndrome Day (March 21)
  • First day of Ramadan (varies—March 22, 2023)

march marketing ideas - world down syndrome day

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March national days & holidays

There’s a full list of all days and dates at the bottom of this post, but here are some highlights:

Well-known observances:

  • Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday (changes every year—February 21, 2023)
  • Ash Wednesday (changes every year—February 22, 2023)
  • St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)
  • Daylight Savings (changes every year—March 12, 2023)
  • First day of spring (changes every year—March 20, 2023)
  • Pi Day (March 14)
  • MLB Opening Day (changes every year—March 30, 2023)

march marketing ideas - mlb opening day

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Meaningful days

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  • Medal of Honor Day (March 25)
  • Vietnam Veterans Day (March 29)
  • SBDC Day (varies—March 15, 2023)
  • Mom and Pop Business Owner Day (March 29)

Fun days

  • Dadgum That’s Good Day (March 1)
  • Everything You Think is Wrong Day (March 15)
  • Something on a Stick Day (March 28)
  • Virtual Vacation Day (March 30)
  • Awkward Moment Day (March 18)

march marketing ideas - national awkward moment day

Who knew?

  • Triglycerides Day
  • Common Courtesy Day
  • Near Miss Day

March marketing ideas for DEI

Okay, now let’s dive into some more specific ideas for the events and causes listed above.

Women’s History Month

Take some time in March to honor the women in your business or industry who have made an impact. For example:

  • Run an Instagram or Facebook giveaway where entrants share women of history and one line to describe their impact.
  • Feature famous females in your geographic and industrial niche.
  • Host a webinar or event run by women only or for women only, or both!

march marketing ideas - womens history month facebook post example

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day exists to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness against bias, and take action for equality. Each year has a different theme, which you can learn about at internationalwomensday.com.

  • Share a brief history lesson on a female or group of women in your field or niche.
  • Ask your followers to share stories of influential women in their lives.
  • Use the year’s designated hashtag in your posts,
  • Introduce your customers to the women behind the scenes at your business.

march marketing ideas - womens day email example

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Equal Pay Day

Equal Pay Day was launched on the 50th anniversary of the equal Pay Act and typically occurs the second Tuesday in March. It was created to address the gender wage gap, but in recent years has expanded to also include women of color, LGBTQIA workers, moms, part-time workers, seasonal workers, and more.  You could:

  • Support the Equal Pay Today campaign by donating a portion of your proceeds.
  • Post gender wage gap stats on social media.
  • Interview or conduct a poll among women in your community, whether that’s on social media, in your customer base, in your professional network, or even among your staff.

march marketing ideas - equal pay day

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Monthly awareness March marketing ideas

Whether your business is directly related to any of the themes of March doesn’t matter. With a little creativity, you can come up with a relevant and appealing post, campaign, or event for any audience. Let’s take a look at some ideas.

National Reading Month

If content is king (or queen), then reading is the key to the kingdom. You can:

  • Share your favorite books and ask your followers to share theirs.
  • Ask for book recommendations.
  • Post a quote about reading or from your favorite book.
  • Run a book drive.
march marketing ideas - national reading month post

Caffeine Awareness Month

Lots of opportunities to have fun with this one across all the popular social media marketing platforms!

  • Run an appropriately themed blog, social post, or video series (stats that will wake you up, tips to ramp up your savings, energize, activate, roast, ramp up, etc.)
  • Guide your audience through a month without coffee, including tips on how to achieve the effects of caffeine, without caffeine. Or do it yourself and document your journey.
  • Run a weekly coffee chat series over Facebook Live.
  • Don’t forget about other caffeine sources like tea, chocolate, soda, and energy drinks!
  • Explain something in your industry using a coffee analogy (dark, medium, light roasts, for example).
  • When in doubt, turn to the plethora of relatable coffee memes out there.

march marketing ideas - national caffeine awareness month meme

Credit Education Month

This is the perfect month for businesses in the finance category, but any business can take part:

  • Invite a guest speaker to run a webinar on improving your credit. This is relevant to anyone paying money to use your products or services.
  • Send out an email to your loyal customers playfully framed as, while you can’t give credit tips, you can give them a $X credit on their account (March email subject line ideas here!)
  • Kill two birds with one stone and celebrate credit education with women’s history.

march marketing ideas - womens history month and credit education

National Nutrition Month

This is a great time for restaurants, health food suppliers, and fitness centers to market their products and offerings. You can:

  • Provide nutrition tips and healthy recipes through blog posts or email newsletters.
  • Run a special deal on your healthiest products.
  • You can also be a bit tongue-in-cheek and describe your business as “food for the soul” or highlight true health benefits your services provide that nourish your body or mind.
  • Share the latest research and facts and use hashtag #eatright and #NNM to get your posts noticed and shared.
march marketing ideas - nutrition month facts

March Madness

The NCAA men’s college basketball tournament tips off in March. There are plenty of ways to get into the spirit:

And even if you have nothing to do with sports, you can still take part. If a bridal boutique, an event planning company, and a dog treat business can find a way to jump on the bandwagon, anyone can.

march marketing ideas - march madness facebook posts

National day March marketing ideas

Let’s move on to the specific days in March that make great opportunities for promotions and local marketing.

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First Day of Spring (March 20)

For those of us in seasonal climates, the first day of spring is always an exciting time, so take advantage of it with ideas like these:

  • Get people in the spirit with pastel-rich images on Instagram.
  • Run a sidewalk sale, regardless of the weather. If it’s chilly, you can offer hot tea and coffee. If it’s raining, get a tent. Make it a fun “determined to stay positive” event.
  • Start a spring series on YouTube or refresh your YouTube channel trailer with a spring theme.

march marketing ideas - youtube tutorial on spring grass

Employee Appreciation Day (first Friday)

A little recognition can go a long way in maintaining your employees’ morale and productivity. Plus, high-spirited and engaged employees make for happier customers. Here are some ways to celebrate:

  • Introduce your team members in an Instagram Story or carousel post, with a little something about what each one brings to the table.
  • Ask your employees some fun questions and put a write-up of their answers into a blog post.
  • For B2B marketing, remind your customers to express their appreciation for their employees.

Keep in mind also that these types of gestures make your business more appealing to potential customers because they humanize your brand.

National Day of Unplugging (March 4)

The first Friday of March is National Day of Unplugging and the perfect day for marketing your spa, yoga studio, or fitness center. Encourage people to visit your facility—offer a special deal for that day—and give people a chance to disconnect from the busy world of the internet and smartphones.

Pi Day (March 14)

Pi Day is March 14 (3.14), not to be confused with actual Pie Day on December first of every year. Ideas for this mathematically magnificent day:

  • Schools, daycares, and after school programs can teach children about math and host fun Pi Day events.
  • Bakeries and restaurants, why not add an “e” onto the end anyway and run specials on pies or pie baking classes.
  • Pi is used for measuring circles. Artists and designers can promote circular or geometric art.
  • Find different ways to use the numbers in pi. For example, run a sale of three days, 14 products, 15% off.
march marketing ideas - national pi day promotion on facebook

St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)

The luck of the Irish is here on March 17 for St. Patrick’s Day.

  • Get involved in your community by participating in St. Patrick’s Day parades or Shamrock Shuffle fun runs that are going on. Make sure to use the event’s hashtag to get your posts found by new followers and promote your business.
  • Have a green clothing contest in your office and share it on social media.
  • Give customers wearing green a special discount or prize for taking a picture and tagging your business.
  • Get festive and invite your followers to drop in for limited-time offerings inspired by the luck of the Irish.
  • Run a contest and invite people to test their luck! To get more Instagram followers, have them tag someone else in a comment on your post.
  • Write a thought leadership piece about luck.

 

march marketing ideas - article on luck

International Puppy Day (March 23)

Marketing isn’t one-size-fits-all, except when it comes to puppies. Everyone.loves.puppies.

  • If you’ve got a dog-friendly business, snap photos of patrons and their pups and post them to Instagram, tagging your customers to cultivate those relationships.
  • Offer a one-day sale to new customers and show off the pups you currently walk or pet sit on social media. Make sure to hashtag your location to get your posts discovered by nearby potential customers.
  • You don’t have to necessarily be a dog walker, groomer, daycare, or sitter. Show off your employees’ pups or, take photos of your own and share with your followers and give people a more personal view of your life.
march marketing ideas - international puppy day facebook post

Earth Hour (March 26)

Participate in the movement to have an electricity-free hour this day. From 8:30-9:30pm, countries around the world will be lighting candles and going dark on electricity. Get your business involved in your local Earth Hour event in your city, or, if there isn’t one, start it! Participating in community activities is a great marketing strategy and a good way to get your business name out there (creative business name ideas here!).

Mom & Pop Business Day (March 29)

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How could we miss this one? Here are some ideas:

  • Remind your followers to shop local on this small business-friendly holiday.
  • Toot your own horn (ideally in conjunction with the above strategies).
  • Promote your favorite local partners or even just neighboring small businesses.
march marketing ideas - mom and pop business day video

Ready for more marketing ideas?

Check out LOCALiQ’s roundup of March social media holidays and ideas or take a look at the other months in our series:

Full list of March marketing national days

As promised, here are the days and dates, courtesy of National Day Calendar.

March 1

  • Dadgum That’s Good Day
  • Horse Protection Day
  • Minnesota Day
  • Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
  • Pig Day
  • Self-Injury Awareness Day
  • Pancake Day – IHOP – Changes Annually (March 1, 2022)
  • Fat Tuesday – Day Before Ash Wednesday
  • Paczki Day – Day Before Ash Wednesday
  • Fastnacht Day – Day Before Ash Wednesday

March 2

  • Old Stuff Day
  • World Teen Mental Wellness Day
  • Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss Day) – if on weekend, moves to closest school day
  • Ash Wednesday– Changes Annually

March 3

  • Anthem Day
  • I Want You to Be Happy Day
  • Mulled Wine Day
  • Soup It Forward Day
  • Hospitalist Day – first Thursday

March 4

  • Marching Music Day
  • Grammar Day
  • Hug a G.I. Day
  • Pound Cake Day
  • Sons Day
  • Tartar Sauce Day – Friday after Lent begins
  • Day of Unplugging – first Friday
  • Dress in Blue Day – first Friday
  • Speech and Debate Education Day – first Friday
  • Employee Appreciation Day – first Friday

March 5

  • Absinthe Day
  • Cheese Doodle Day
  • Multiple Personality Day

March 6

  • Dentist’s Day
  • Dress Day
  • Frozen Food Day
  • Oreo Cookie Day
  • White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
  • Finisher’s Medal Day – first Sunday

March 7

  • Be Heard Day
  • Cereal Day
  • Crown of Roast Pork Day
  • Flapjack Day

March 8

  • International Women’s Day
  • Oregon Day
  • Peanut Cluster Day
  • Proofreading Day

March 9

  • Barbie Day
  • Crabmeat Day
  • Get Over it Day
  • Meatball Day
  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day – second Wednesday

March 10

  • Blueberry Popover Day
  • Mario Day
  • Pack Your Lunch Day
  • Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
  • World Kidney Day – second Thursday

March 11

  • 311 Day
  • Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day
  • Johnny Appleseed Day
  • Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day
  • Promposal Day
  • Worship of Tools Day

March 12

  • Baked Scallops Day
  • Girl Scout Day
  • Plant a Flower Day
  • Working Moms Day

March 13

  • Coconut Torte Day
  • Earmuff Day
  • Good Samaritan Day
  • Jewel Day
  • K9 Veterans Day
  • Open an Umbrella Indoors Day
  • Daylight Saving Time – second Sunday

March 14

  • Children’s Craft Day
  • Learn About Butterflies Day
  • Pi Day
  • Potato Chip Day
  • Write Down Your Story Day
  • Napping Day – Day after Return of Daylight Savings Day

March 15

  • Everything You Think is Wrong Day
  • Kansas Day
  • Pears Helene Day
  • Shoe the World Day
  • World Social Work Day – third Tuesday
  • Equal Pay Day – Changes Annually

March 16

  • Everything You Do Is Right Day
  • Artichoke Hearts Day
  • Curl Crush Day
  • Freedom of Information Day
  • Panda Day
  • SBDC Day – third Wednesday

March 17

  • Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
  • St. Patrick’s Day
  • Farm Rescuer Day – third Thursday
  • Absolutely Incredible Kid Day – third Thursday

March 18

  • Awkward Moments Day
  • Biodiesel Day
  • Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day
  • Sloppy Joe Day
  • Supreme Sacrifice Day

March 19

  • Backyard Day
  • Certified Nurses Day
  • Chocolate Caramel Day
  • Let’s Laugh Day
  • Poultry Day
  • Corn Dog Day – first Saturday of March Madness
  • Quilting Day – third Saturday

March 20

  • Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
  • Proposal Day
  • Ravioli Day
  • World Flour Day
  • Spring Begins

March 21

  • California Strawberry Day
  • Common Courtesy Day
  • Countdown Day
  • Fragrance Day
  • French Bread Day
  • Single Parent Day
  • World Down Syndrome Day

March 22

  • Bavarian Crepes Day
  • Goof Off Day
  • West Virginia Day
  • American Diabetes Association Alert Day – Fourth Tuesday
  • Ag Day – Changes Annually
  • 3-D Day – third day of the third Full Week

March 23

  • Chia Day
  • Chip and Dip Day
  • Near Miss Day
  • Melba Toast Day
  • Puppy Day
  • Tamale Day

March 24

  • Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
  • Cheesesteak Day
  • Cocktail Day

March 25

  • Lobster Newburg Day
  • Medal of Honor Day
  • Tolkien Reading Day

March 26

  • Epilepsy Awareness Day – Purple Day
  • Nougat Day
  • Spinach Day

March 27

  • International Medical Science Liaison Day
  • Joe Day
  • Scribble Day
  • Spanish Paella Day

March 28

  • Black Forest Cake Day
  • Something on a Stick Day
  • Triglycerides Day
  • Weed Appreciation Day

March 29

  • Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
  • Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
  • Nevada Day
  • Vietnam War Veterans Day

March 30

  • Doctors Day
  • I Am in Control Day
  • Pencil Day
  • Take a Walk in the Park Day
  • Turkey Neck Soup Day
  • Virtual Vacation Day
  • Little Red Wagon Day – Last Wednesday
  • Manatee Appreciation Day – Last Wednesday

March 31

  • Bunsen Burner Day
  • Clams on the Half Shell Day
  • Crayon Day
  • Prom Day
  • Tater Day



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PPC Advertisers Guide To Google Consent Mode V2

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PPC Advertisers Guide To Google Consent Mode V2

This update is not merely a technical enhancement but a robust response to the stringent privacy regulations and changing user preferences. With a compliance deadline set for March 2024, it’s crucial for websites utilizing Google services to understand and implement Google Consent Mode V2, ensuring alignment with global data privacy standards.

PPC Advertisers Guide To Google Consent Mode V2

Understanding Google Consent Mode V2

Google Consent Mode V2 enhances the initial version by introducing refined mechanisms for managing user consents related to cookies and data tracking. Key to this version are the new parameters: ad_user_data and ad_personalization, which join the pre-existing analytics_storage and ad_storage, providing users with greater control over their data. This tool communicates user cookie consent preferences to Google’s suite of services, ensuring data is handled in compliance with privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA.

The integration of these parameters signifies Google’s commitment to bolstering user privacy, offering a consent-based approach to data insights. For businesses, this means navigating a landscape where user consent directly influences data collection strategies.

The Significance of Compliance

The mandatory implementation of Google Consent Mode V2 underscores the importance of adhering to digital advertising and data privacy regulations. Its significance is twofold: it aligns website operations with legal requirements, particularly in the European Economic Area (EEA), and preserves the integrity of user privacy. For website operators, the practical aspect of compliance involves the strategic implementation of consent mechanisms that do not undermine the data’s value for insights and analytics.

Implementation Strategies

To leverage Google Consent Mode V2 effectively, website owners can opt for Basic or Advanced implementation options. The Basic approach ensures full data collection upon user consent and halts it otherwise. Advanced implementation, however, allows for the transmission of anonymous, cookieless data for modeling purposes even without consent. This method hinges on employing a Consent Management Platform (CMP), adjusting website configurations to respect consent choices, and enabling cookieless data collection for analytics and advertising purposes.

The Impact on Data Tracking and Privacy

Implementing Google Consent Mode V2 has profound implications for data tracking and user privacy. It allows websites to maintain a balance between collecting valuable user insights and respecting privacy preferences. The mode’s design ensures that user consent directly influences how data is collected and used, facilitating a privacy-compliant approach to digital marketing and analytics.

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The Role of AI in Consent Mode V2

AI and machine learning play a critical role in bridging the data gap when users opt-out of cookie tracking. By analyzing patterns from consenting users, Google can model the behavior of those who decline, enabling advertisers to gain insights while adhering to privacy standards. This AI-driven approach underscores the potential of Consent Mode V2 to revolutionize data analysis in an increasingly privacy-focused world.

Beyond the Cookie Banner

A key aspect of utilizing Google Consent Mode V2 is the requirement for a compliant cookie banner. This necessitates the implementation of a CMP that aligns with both Google’s standards and privacy regulations. The consent banner acts as the intermediary, signaling user preferences to Google services and adjusting data collection accordingly.

Preparing for the Future

As the deadline for Google Consent Mode V2 implementation approaches, website owners and advertisers must take proactive steps to ensure compliance. This involves understanding the intricacies of Consent Mode V2, integrating a compliant CMP, and reevaluating data collection strategies in light of user consent.

In essence, Google Consent Mode V2 represents a pivotal development in the realm of digital privacy and data management. By embracing this new standard, businesses can not only ensure compliance with global privacy laws but also foster trust with their audience, building a foundation for sustainable digital practices in the years to come.



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11 Actionable Ways to Build Client Relationships That Last

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11 Actionable Ways to Build Client Relationships That Last

Some agencies manage to build a steady client base that strengthens over the years, while others ride roller coasters and eventually close up shop. What’s the difference? Client relationships. Strong client relations make for greater success with projects and campaigns, loyal clients who stay with you longer and refer new clients, and a better reputation for your brand. Even better, they make everyday work more enjoyable for all.

So what makes for a strong client relationship? The same traits that define any good relationship: awareness, communication, empathy, dependability, accountability, honesty, and the list goes on.

In this post, I’ve compiled 11 ways your agency can demonstrate the above and more to achieve the best possible outcomes for you and your clients. I’d say happy endings, but good relationships don’t really end.

Table of contents

Why are client relationships important?

It’s easy to skim over the importance of creating a strong relationship with your clients—you know you have to do it. But when you dig into how it helps your agency grow, you can be more strategic about it.

Reduces churn

It can be 25 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one. You also have a much higher probability of selling a new agreement to a current client than closing a deal with a new one.

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A strong client relationship helps you weather rough patches and identify clients who are at risk of leaving. Both will help you reduce customer churn.

Increases referrals

Customer referrals are an extremely important source of new clients for your agency. That’s because referred customers are more likely to buy, are more loyal, and spend more on average than non-referred customers.

When you have a strong relationship with your clients, you can ask them to give reviews and refer other businesses. That’s especially helpful if your agency serves a niche industry where everyone knows everyone else.

Provides opportunities to learn

Have you ever wanted to know how a new regulation would affect your clients? Or how to best sell a service like PPC? When you have a rock-solid relationship with your clients, you can ask them.

It takes time to build that sort of comfort, but when you do, your best clients become your agency’s de facto advisers.

📣 Learn how 300 marketing agencies manage services, pricing, and challenges in our State of the Digital Marketing Agency report.

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How do you build client relationships that last?

In the following list, you’ll find actionable ways to improve client satisfaction and build mutually beneficial partnerships, with input from PPC agency experts like Mark Irvine, Francine Rodriguez, Akvile DeFazio, and Susie Marino.

1. Gather “hard” and “soft” information

A strong agency-client relationship starts before the client even becomes one. You know that you need as much information as possible about your client to come up with a winning proposal. But the solution you come up with isn’t going to establish a meaningful connection between you and your potential client. It’s how you present that solution with respect to both the business’s goals and the personalities and values of the team you’ll be working with.

This means collecting “hard” information like:

  • Products and services they offer
  • Target audience and the end-users of their product or service
  • Top three competitors
  • Prioritized list of goals and challenges
  • Strategies that have worked and not worked in the past
  • Software are they currently using
  • Budget

But also “soft” information like:

  • What they define as success
  • Their future hopes or anticipations, like scaling, adding on new offerings, etc.
  • The company’s mission, beliefs, and values, and unique selling proposition
  • What makes them different from their competitors
  • Hobbies, interests, and preferences of the individuals you’ll be working with

strengthen client relationships emotional vs logical intelligence

Think with both sides of your brain when gathering information about your client.

Building emotional intelligence about the team you’ll be working with will help you to make communication more personalized as you move through these initial phases of your journey together.

Side note: Be prepared to answer their questions too! Even their non-PPC questions.

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2. Internalize that information

This is the information you’ll be not only including in your proposal, but applying throughout your actual execution and ongoing communication with your client. Take the time to really internalize it so that it shines through organically in everything you do.

  • Gather the information in person (or video): Body language and facial expressions tell a lot. Take note of what gets them excited (and not so excited). Also, be sure to send out a list of the questions you’ll be asking far in advance so the client can have time to think about answers and produce follow-up questions.
  • Iterate back: As you listen, iterate back to your client what you have interpreted so you can make sure you’re crystal clear on the information you’re receiving. Remember, incorporating the tiniest details into your proposal and execution is what will give your clients confidence that you truly understand their needs.
  • Templatize: Have an internal templated document where you can collect all of the information you’ve gathered in one place. This gives every team member something to continually refer back to, and the uniformity makes it easier to internalize.

3. Go above and beyond with your proposal

    From a project standpoint, your proposal shows what you’re going to do to achieve your client’s goals. From a relationship standpoint, it’s your opportunity to reinforce, once again, that you have a deep understanding of your client—both the business and its team members. Speak to both the client’s business goals as well as the more personal pain points and desires of its employees.

    To do this, think in terms of “what,” “why,” and “so that.”

    • The what refers to what you’ll be doing from a process standpoint.
    • The why ties the process to one of the business’s specific goals.
    • The “so that” speaks to the pain point it will address for the business’s team members.

    For example, we’d like to ramp up ad spending in the latter half of the month to drive more signups so that your sales team isn’t scrounging for leads. Just be sure to use the language that your clients used in the initial information-gathering process.

    This strengthens that partnership feel. You’re not just looking to achieve goals, you care about the individuals impacted by them.

    how to strengthen marketing agency client relationship with a winning proposalhow to strengthen marketing agency client relationship with a winning proposal

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    4. Have an onboarding process

    This is one of our customer retention strategies as well. Once you get started, there will be more points of contact added to the roster for both sides. A streamlined onboarding process will set the stage for the clear communication and seamless execution needed for a strong and long-lasting client relationship to form. During this process, you may want to:

    • Mail them a welcome kit: Send along some giveaways like branded swag, a greeting card, and additional goodies based on the more personal information you’ve collected.
    • Take care of housekeeping: Make sure each of you has the access needed for tools, accounts, and dashboards.
    • Have a kickoff meeting: This is to ensure everything is lined up for perfect execution. You’ve also become pretty familiar with one another at this point. This is a good time to have a more informal atmosphere.

    🛑 Free guide >>> The 6 Absolute Best Strategies to Grow Your Digital Marketing Agency

    5. Treat clients like partners

    Treating your client like a business will make your relationship purely transactional (i.e., no relationship at all). Treating them like family leaves too much room for miscommunications and unmet expectations.

    Treating your clients like partners, on the other hand, sets the stage for a healthy mix of personal, purposeful, and transactional encounters where both your and your client’s identities are preserved, and each of you supplies the essential ingredients for success.

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    • Embrace the truth: Remember that at the end of the day, both of you are businesses that want to make money. There’s no need to skirt around that. They need your service to generate revenue, and you need their continued business to generate yours.
    • Maintain structure with some fluidity: Keep deliverables clear and stick to the intended plan as much as possible, but always leave the door open for input and feedback.
    • Let them in: While some of your tools and processes may be proprietary, give them access to dashboards and data when possible. Let them in on (non-confidential) tidbits about your agency that “outsiders” wouldn’t know. Their earning your trust is just as important as you earning theirs.
    • Stay honest: This means giving pushback on your client’s desires or requests that may not be best for long-term success (wants vs needs). A good partnership is not one where both parties constantly agree; it’s one where the two parties come together with different perspectives to bring to the table, resulting in better output than either one could have achieved on their own.

    6. Be proactive rather than reactive

      Akvile DeFazio, President of AKvertise, makes this a priority with clients.

      Her team makes sure to proactively:

      • Share ideas and propose new campaign strategies.
      • Forewarn about upcoming platform changes and any action required.
      • Educate the client to empower them further.

      “This shows care and builds trust, and our clients share that they appreciate our diligent proactivity,” she says. “When we work with clients, we aim to be a seamless extension of their team and genuinely embed ourselves as so. When they win, we win, and proactive communication is the key to success for all.”

      7. Be empathetic rather than defensive

      This recommendation from Mark Irvine, Director of PPC at Search Labs Digital, ties back to the partnership mentality in tip #5. The scenario here is that your agency is doing great work. Performance metrics continue to climb. But the client is upset. They aren’t seeing new business come in.

      “A wrong response here is to dig your heels in,” Mark says. “Telling them that their business is doing fine is at best tone-deaf. Instead, let them talk it out and listen to them. This may even lead them to discover the problem is in their other marketing or sales teams.”

      If this ends up being the case, Irvine recommends that you take yourself out of the problem to prevent it from becoming an “us versus them” situation. Take the approach of teaming up together to come up with a solution. Use language like:

      • “I see what you’re talking about.”
      • “This is a valid concern.”
      • “That really is frustrating, we’re glad you brought this up with us.”
      • “Let’s make a plan to review this and report back with some solutions to remedy this.”

      Position yourself as a partner in their campaigns. Value their feedback. Even if you’re an expert, allowing them to work with you will help build a long, trusting relationship.

      “And remember,” Mark adds, “if you dismiss or fight their concerns, there’s an agency sales rep somewhere else who will be happy to listen to them vent about you all day.”

      8. Establish structure around communication

      Brett McHale, founder of Empiric Marketing, LLC, provides some great tips around communication and setting boundaries:

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      Stay away from being “always available

      Being always available, whether through Slack or other forms of direct communication, blurs the ever-important work-life balance. It can also distract you away from other clients.

      Hold regular meetings with actionable takeaways

      Instead, establish weekly or bi-weekly meetings to check in, review performance, and answer questions. “I always have some takeaway or action item from those meetings,” Brett says. “This keeps me accountable, and when I deliver on things that I say I’m going to do, it helps build trust with the client.”

      Use email and instant messaging

      Brett says, “Email can be very robotic, and I try not to be too professional or polished all the time. Communicating with clients directly via a messenger helps to build rapport and have a more laid back ‘human-to-human’ relationship.”

      He suggests designating instant messaging for urgent matters and email otherwise. This cuts out the back-and-forth emailing and also reassures your clients that while you may not always be available, you will never leave them hanging.

      how to strengthen relationships with clients the seven c's of effective communicationhow to strengthen relationships with clients the seven c's of effective communication

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      9. Share your concerns early

      This suggestion from Mark Irvine is particularly relevant to the many changes happening in the advertising realm lately. The scenario here is that your client has big plans and aspirations, and you want to say yes to everything they want. But in the back of your mind, you’re not sure if they can create that audience in Google or build that campaign on Bing. You’re unsure of how the new iOS updates will impact their Facebook targeting.

      “Don’t nod, say yes, and then stress,” Mark says. “You lose trust with your client if you say you can do something and then can’t, even if that’s not your fault.”

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      Instead, show your expertise by sharing your concerns. Practice saying:

      • “That’s a really good idea. I know that some ad policies might come into play as we explore it, so let me double-check those first.”
      • “This new change could pose some challenges to us. I’ll keep an eye on it as it changes over the coming days.”
      • “It’s tough to say what this means for us yet, but I wanted to make sure we all knew about it in advance.”

      If you really have to put your foot down, try something like:

      “We agree that this is a great idea, but we can’t in good conscience proceed with it until we know that it won’t cost you in the long run.”

      Be transparent and ask them for their trust. Most of the time, you’ll come out as the person who helped them navigate through uncertainty, and they won’t forget that.

      10. Embrace small talk

      Small talk often gets a bad rap, but Susie Marino, WordStream’s Senior Content Marketing Specialist and former Customer Success Specialist, has found that it actually helps with building strong client relationships.

      “I know it can feel cringey or uncomfortable at first, but just go for it,” she says. “You’d be surprised at how receptive clients are. Next thing you know, you’ve got a great rapport going, and the banter at the beginning of meetings becomes more meaningful.”

      “People love to talk about themselves, and clients are no different,” Susie adds. “When you ask them about how that home garden is coming along, they’ll be pleasantly surprised. These conversations reveal how much you truly care.“

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      Clients are people who like to work with real people who also have personalities and personal lives. If you don’t show a touch of personality with small talk, it will be harder to stay connected and to demonstrate your genuine care, outside of campaigns and metrics.

      11. Establish quarterly business reviews

      Francine Rodriguez, former Senior Manager of Customer Success at WordStream, believes that quarterly business reviews are essential for client retention.

      “I think all agencies get into a cycle of monthly reporting and proving that deliverables were completed,” she says. “It is important to take that step back once a quarter and have a focused conversation on high-level strategy.”

      The QBR allows the agency and the customer to reflect on new goals, the efficiency of strategies taken in the past, and what needs to pivot for the future.

      It is also a time to allow your customer to provide insight into how their business goals are changing and perhaps what strategies outside of the agency’s scope they are also planning in the near future. Having that dedicated time to talk without existing action items on the table is a great way to strengthen the relationship, create trust, and become better partners.

      It may also lead to surprising discoveries, where an agency could find opportunities to upsell its customers into new services. If your agency is doing QBRs now and your conversations don’t look any different from your regular monthly check-ins, it is time to change the format!”

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      Start cultivating strong relationships with your clients today

      Strong agency-client relationships are built on virtues like trust, reliability, transparency, and personability, and they result in greater outcomes for everyone involved. If you find that you’re lacking in productivity, loyalty, or the overall feel of harmony with your clients, see if you can adopt or improve any of these strategies for your agency:

      1. Gather “hard” and “soft” information about your client
      2. Internalize that information
      3. Go above and beyond with your proposal
      4. Have an onboarding process
      5. Treat clients like partners
      6. Be proactive rather than reactive
      7. Be empathetic rather than defensive
      8. Establish structure around communication
      9. Share your concerns early
      10. Embrace the small talk
      11. Have quarterly business reviews

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PPC

Google change the meaning of “Top Ads”

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Google change the meaning of “Top Ads”

What is Top Ads in world of Google? well it’s changed. Today Ginny Martin, Ads Product Liaison at Google shared a subtle but potential significant change of definition of Top Ads. If your deep in the detail of paid search campaigns on Google this is the kind of tweak that’s easy to miss.

Now Google’s documentation reads;

Google change the meaning of Top Ads

Top ads are adjacent to the top organic search results. Top ads are generally above the top organic results, although top ads may show below the top organic results on certain queries. Placement of top ads is dynamic and may change based on the user’s search.

Google’s official documentation

Ginny clarified on LinkedIn that this is a definitional change (as ads can appear above the organic result or below for certain queries) and doesn’t affect how performance metrics are calculated. And that the definition update clarifies that top ads may show below the organic results for certain queries. Although, for most queries, ads will continue to appear at the top of search results.

Why make the change? Anthony Higman suggested it might be due to the change in how some ads are being presented like in the screenshot below and the general shift towards more SGE on the SERPs and the consequences that change in user experience might have on ad placement. And does seem part of increased amount of experimentation on where ads appear on search engine results pages.

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1711605382 993 Google change the meaning of Top Ads1711605382 993 Google change the meaning of Top Ads



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