Diversifying Your Online Presence

Published March 10, 2025
A digital graphic with the headline "DIVERSIFYING YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE" in bold, colorful letters. Below, a subtext reads, "If you are already successful on one platform, you will at least have the basic knowledge of how to expand and grow on another!" To the right, a large blue megaphone emits colorful icons representing social media, including speech bubbles, hearts, stars, cameras, and video play buttons. The "True Fit Marketing" logo is displayed at the bottom.

If there is one thing everyone can learn from the TikTok shutdown of 2025, it is that we all need to diversify our online presence. Just like when financial people say to diversify your money, we all need to diversify where our income streams are. This means we need to flexible about where our content lives, what the content is (videos versus blogs for example) and how we share out information. There are many lessons we can all learn from this, which begins with obtaining your own space on the Internet.

Create Your Own Website

Many major companies and brands have websites that correlate with their social media, but if you are a social media influencer or a small business that uses just social media, you may not currently have a website. It would behoove you to build something sooner rather than later.

Sure, building and maintaining your own website might be an expense, and initially a major time sucker, but if all social media platforms were to shut down, at least you would still have all of your content posted to your website. 

A website can also help build your credibility, help with SEO when people are searching for you or something you have posted about, provide a space for you to sell, and give you the space to share what you want without the threat of the ever-changing algorithms or rules of social media. 

While you most certainly can try to build your own website, we suggest working with a team who can help to bring your vision to life and tie all of your current Internet spaces together.

Speaker with social media images coming out of it. If you are already successful on one platform, you will at least have the basic knowledge of how to expand and grow on another!

Start a Newsletter

An important part of your website should be a space for people to provide their information to you to stay connected. A great way to stay connected with your followers is to create a newsletter. Building your own email list will allow you to share anything you want with your followers, and it will go directly to them. Sure our inboxes are cluttered, but at least you know it is getting to them and they have the choice to open it!

A newsletter could also be monetized and allow you the opportunity to share exclusive content, updates, sales, promotions, or whatever else you’d like to have seen by your followers. Constant Contact, MailChimp, and Substack have great platforms and are very user-friendly.

Find Where Else Your Followers Go For Content

This goes along with the saying, “Don’t put all of your eggs into one basket.” There are plenty of social media platforms and user-generated content websites like Substack or Reddit, on which people can follow you. And new ones are popping up daily (hello Rednote). This is where diversifying your content helps. 

Make sure you let your followers know where else you are. That way, if a social media site gets shut down, your followers can still follow you elsewhere. And if you are starting from scratch on a new platform, try to collaborate with people who already have a large following in your same niche so you can grow your following faster. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Diversify and Try Something New

There are so many different ways to be found on the Internet. Beyond social media like TikTok, Facebook, X and Instagram, there are podcasting sites, YouTube platforms, sites like Etsy to sell your products on, and many other ways to get your name, brand and products out there.

The Bottom Line

If you are already successful on one platform, you will at least have the basic knowledge of how to expand and grow on another. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other influencers or small businesses to see how they are diversifying, what is working for them, and most certainly, what is not working. Building relationships offline can help you maintain those online relationships too!

A Look Ahead – How to Prepare Your Marketing Strategy for 2025

Published December 6, 2024

A new year is approaching fast! Marketing teams are gearing up for another year of innovation and adaptation. The rapid shifts in consumer behavior, technology, and data privacy regulations mean businesses must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive. To help you craft a winning marketing strategy for the new year, we’ve outlined key insights on emerging trends that will shape the industry in 2025. From leveraging AI to enhancing customer-centric approaches, here’s how to prepare your marketing efforts for the year ahead.

Embrace AI and Automation More Deeply

Artificial intelligence (AI) has already transformed many aspects of marketing, but 2025 will be the year AI truly becomes integral to marketing strategies. Trust us – AI is not going away, it is only going to grow. AI-powered tools can streamline everything from data analysis to content creation, making marketing teams more efficient and effective. The key is to use AI to complement human creativity rather than replace it.

AI-driven personalization will be one of the top trends in 2025. Consumers now expect hyper-targeted content and offers based on their preferences, behaviors, and past interactions. AI can help analyze this data and automate personalized messaging at scale, delivering the right content at the right time to boost engagement and conversions. Sure it can be creepy, but it can also be quite advantageous when you save 20% on something you have left in your cart for a couple of hours. Marketers should invest in AI tools that enhance personalization, automate routine tasks, and provide valuable insights into customer behaviors because it is all valuable yet insightful information.

We all know how annoying chatbots and AI-powered customer service is, but it works and will continue to rise in importance, handling increasingly complex queries with minimal human intervention. By using AI to improve customer experience and streamline workflows, you can free up your team to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Prioritize Data Privacy and Ethical Marketing

Data privacy concerns will be more significant than ever in 2025, as consumers become increasingly aware of how their personal information is being used. We aren’t even to the end of 2024 yet and there have been billions of data breaches. With stricter regulations such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) already in place, and new privacy laws likely on the horizon, businesses must prioritize data security and ethical marketing practices.

Your 2025 marketing strategy should focus on building trust through transparency. Make it clear to consumers how their data is being collected and used, and ensure that you are complying with all relevant data privacy regulations. Offering users control over their data, such as clear opt-in/opt-out options, is essential for building long-term trust.

In addition, zero-party data (data that customers voluntarily share with a brand) will become increasingly valuable. Encourage customers to share their preferences and interests directly with your business through surveys, preference centers, and interactive content. This will not only enhance personalization but also align with privacy regulations that prioritize user consent.

Refocus on Customer-Centric Strategies

In 2025, businesses will need to double down on customer-centric approaches. Consumers now expect brands to understand their needs and offer relevant, timely, and personalized experiences. This means moving beyond traditional marketing tactics and putting the customer at the center of every strategy.

To prepare your marketing for 2025, start by improving your customer journey mapping. Similar to your sales funnel, take a closer look at how your customers interact with your brand across different touchpoints—from social media to email to in-store visits. Understanding the entire customer journey will allow you to create more cohesive, omnichannel experiences that feel seamless from start to finish.

Customer-centric marketing also involves listening to your audience. Use social listening tools, customer feedback, and analytics to gain insights into what your customers want and need. By staying in tune with their preferences and challenges, you can deliver solutions and content that resonate, creating stronger brand loyalty.

Invest in Omnichannel and Interactive Experiences

It is likely that you are already experiencing omnichannel and interactive experiences in business but don’t even realize it. 

When you shop from store to internet, back to store again, that is an example of an omnichannel experience. The lines between online and offline marketing will continue to blur in 2025, with consumers expecting seamless experiences across all channels. Your marketing strategy should focus on integrating every platform and interaction point, ensuring customers can move effortlessly between social media, email, websites, and physical locations.

Interactive experience examples include quizzes, polls, virtual try-ons, and seeing something in your home in real-time. Experiences like these will play a key role in omnichannel marketing. Whether it’s through Instagram posts, YouTube videos, or interactive ads, providing customers with a direct path to purchase through engaging content can streamline the buying process.

Focus on Sustainability and Purpose-Driven Marketing

Just last month we discussed sustainability being a huge trend. In 2025, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) will be key drivers of customer loyalty. Consumers, particularly younger generations, are increasingly choosing brands that align with their values, such as those prioritizing environmental sustainability, diversity, and ethical business practices.

To stay competitive, your marketing strategy should highlight your brand’s commitment to purpose. This could include showcasing eco-friendly practices, charitable initiatives, or efforts to reduce your carbon footprint. Authenticity is critical—customers are quick to spot “greenwashing,” so ensure your brand’s sustainability efforts are genuine and backed by action.

Purpose-driven marketing is more than just a trend; it’s an expectation. Brands that clearly communicate their mission and align with their customers’ values will build deeper emotional connections and long-term loyalty.

The Bottom Line

As 2025 approaches, marketers must be ready to adapt to an ever-evolving landscape. By embracing AI, prioritizing data privacy, focusing on customer-centric approaches, investing in omnichannel experiences, and committing to sustainability (yea just those few things – lol!) you can build a marketing strategy that thrives in the new year. Stay agile, keep an eye on emerging trends, and always put the customer at the heart of your efforts to succeed in 2025.

The Countdown is On: Preparing for the Biggest Shopping Time of the Year

Published November 7, 2024

With Black Friday and the Christmas shopping season just around the corner, brands and consumers alike are gearing up for what promises to be the most competitive retail period of 2024. While holiday shopping always brings a rush, this year’s trends show that financial concerns and early shopping are key factors in shaping consumer behavior. As we approach the holidays, it’s crucial for businesses to understand these shifts to make the most of the shopping frenzy.

3 Shopping Trends We Are Seeing in 2024

As we look at the forecast for the 2024 holiday season, several emerging trends stand out. These trends are driven by both economic pressures and changes in consumer expectations, offering brands an opportunity to tailor their strategies.

  1. Budget-Conscious Shopping
  2. Early Shoppers Are On the Rise
  3. Seamless Omnichannel Experiences

1. Brands Must Be Mindful of Pricing and Consumer Financial Difficulties

While it’s tempting to push for high-margin products during the holidays, brands need to be conscious of the financial strains many consumers are facing. Shoppers are more aware than ever of their spending habits, particularly when their budgets are stretched. Offering a range of price points is key. Brands that can provide affordable options alongside premium ones are more likely to retain customers.

Discounts and promotions are expected, but they shouldn’t sacrifice perceived value. Instead, focus on highlighting how your products are worth the investment—whether it’s through quality, durability, or added benefits such as extended warranties or sustainable features.

Additionally, offering flexible payment options like buy-now-pay-later can make your products more accessible to consumers facing financial challenges. This gives shoppers the confidence to make purchases without feeling the immediate financial strain, increasing the likelihood of completing the sale.

2. Shopping Early: The Best Move for Everyone

Encouraging early shopping is beneficial for both brands and consumers. For consumers, shopping early means having access to the best deals and avoiding the holiday rush, while brands benefit from smoother inventory management and reduced pressure on fulfillment systems.

We’ve all heard the stories of shoppers waiting anxiously for UPS deliveries on Christmas Eve, hoping their gifts arrive on time. Shopping early helps avoid the headaches of shipping delays, out-of-stock items, or settling for something less than perfect because your original gift idea wasn’t available. Brands that promote early shopping through reminders, countdowns, or early access deals will position themselves as helpful partners in reducing holiday stress.

From a brand perspective, early shopping allows for better logistical planning. Businesses can spread out orders, reducing the risk of bottlenecks and shipping delays that often plague the holiday season. Promoting early bird deals or exclusive pre-holiday offers also creates excitement and drives early conversions, reducing the reliance on steep last-minute discounts.

3. Seamless Omnichannel Experiences

Consumers are expecting a smooth transition between online and in-store shopping. Brands that can blend digital and physical shopping experiences, offering flexible pickup and return options, will capture the attention of customers seeking convenience. Personalized recommendations based on browsing and purchase history will also play a significant role in increasing sales.

Additionally, integrating mobile technology into the shopping experience is becoming essential for brands aiming to enhance omnichannel experiences. Mobile apps that offer features like in-store navigation, real-time inventory checks, and mobile payment options bridge the gap between digital and physical interactions. By enabling customers to easily switch between browsing on their devices and shopping in-store, brands can offer a seamless, consistent experience that keeps shoppers engaged and satisfied.

The Bottom Line

The 2024 holiday shopping season is set to be unique, shaped by emerging consumer trends and ongoing economic pressures. Brands that recognize the importance of budget-conscious shopping, sustainability, and omnichannel experiences will stand out from the crowd. By encouraging early shopping, businesses can ensure a smoother, more enjoyable shopping season for everyone involved. The countdown is on—are you ready for the biggest shopping time of the year?

The Rise of Bad Bots: A Growing Threat to Your Website

Published September 10, 2024
The Rise of Bad Bots: A Growing Threat to Your Website

As an expert in creating and managing websites for clients, we understand the challenges posed by the ever-evolving digital landscape of bad bots. One of the most pressing concerns we hear the most about is the constant threat of these bad bots, which have been dominating internet traffic this year. While bots can be beneficial, such as those used by search engines to index websites, bad bots are malicious and can cause significant harm to your website and business. This blog post aims to shed light on what bad bots are, how they affect your website, and what you can do to protect your website.

What Are Bots?

Bots, short for robots, are software applications programmed to perform automated tasks over the internet. Good bots, like those used by search engines and digital assistants, help improve user experience and website functionality. However, bad bots are designed with malicious intent, and their activities can range from data theft to website disruption.

The Surge of Bad Bots in 2024

In 2024, the internet landscape has seen a staggering increase in bad bot traffic. The everyday internet user has probably received a message or post from a bad bot on their social media accounts. According to recent reports, bad bots now account for a significant portion of overall internet traffic. While some bad bots are easy to spot, more are becoming eerily sophisticated and harder to detect, posing a serious threat to website owners and users.

How Do Bad Bots Affect Your Website?

  1. Data Theft and Scraping: Bad bots can steal sensitive data from your website, such as personal information, pricing details, and proprietary content. This information can be used for malicious purposes or sold on the dark web.
  2. Website Performance: Bad bots can overwhelm your website with excessive requests, leading to slower load times and a poor user experience. In severe cases, this can result in your website crashing, causing downtime and potential loss of revenue.
  3. Fraud and Account Takeovers: Bots can be used to carry out fraudulent activities, such as creating fake accounts, making unauthorized transactions, and hijacking legitimate user accounts. This not only harms your users but also damages your brand’s reputation.
  4. Search Engine Manipulation: Bad bots can skew your website’s analytics by generating fake traffic, leading to inaccurate data. They can also manipulate search engine rankings by engaging in practices like click fraud, negatively impacting your website’s SEO.

The Rise of Bad Bots: A Growing Threat to Your Website

4 Ways to Protect Your Website from Bad Bots

Protecting your website from bad bots requires a multi-layered approach. Here are some effective strategies that we use:

  1. Implement Bot Management Solutions: Use specialized bot management tools that can identify and block malicious bots while allowing legitimate traffic to pass through. These tools use advanced algorithms and machine learning to distinguish between good and bad bots.
  2. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF): A WAF can help protect your website by filtering out malicious traffic and blocking bad bots before they reach your server. It acts as a shield, preventing harmful requests from affecting your website.
  3. Monitor Traffic Patterns: Regularly analyze your website’s traffic to identify unusual patterns that may indicate bot activity. Sudden spikes in traffic, an increase in failed login attempts, or high bounce rates can be signs of bad bot attacks.
  4. Use CAPTCHA and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing CAPTCHA challenges can help differentiate between human users and bots. Additionally, MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to access their accounts.

The Bottom Line

The rise of bad bots in 2024 is a clear indication of the growing threat they pose to website owners and internet users. By implementing robust security solutions, staying vigilant, and keeping abreast of the latest trends and developments in bot activity, you can help deter bad bots. Ask our team for help and more information on protecting your website and its important information.

How the Kelce Brothers Are Scoring Big Off the Field by Marketing Themselves

Published
How the Kelce Brothers Are Scoring Big Off the Field by Marketing Themselves

When it comes to life after the NFL, many players face uncertainty. But not the Kelce brothers. Jason and Travis Kelce are not just planning for life after football—they’re actively cashing in on themselves. For those outside the marketing world, their strategies offer a compelling case study in how to leverage personal branding for long-term success.

Building a Brand Beyond the Game

Both Jason and Travis Kelce have capitalized on their on-field success to create off-field opportunities that extend their brand far beyond football. The key to their success lies in their ability to connect with audiences in a way that feels authentic and relatable, something that marketers strive to achieve with any brand.

  1. New Heights Podcast: A Platform for Personal Branding

One of the most notable ventures is their podcast, New Heights, produced by Wondery. Launched in September 2022, the podcast became an instant hit, landing among the top sports podcasts on Apple and Spotify. The brothers’ banter, combined with their unique perspectives as NFL insiders, has attracted a loyal following. But this isn’t just about entertaining fans—it’s about establishing a platform where the Kelces control the narrative, engage directly with their audience, and build a brand that can outlast their football careers.

The success of New Heights shows how crucial it is to create content that resonates with your core audience. For the Kelces, this content extends their personalities and values beyond the field, positioning them as influencers in the sports world and beyond.

  1. Product Endorsements: Leveraging Popularity for Profit

The Kelces are also making smart moves in the world of product endorsements. Recently, they partnered with General Mills to launch a limited-edition cereal, “Kelce Krunch.” This collaboration not only ties into their football fame but also taps into their growing influence in the food industry. It’s a savvy move, turning their popularity into a tangible product that fans can literally buy into.

In another smart partnership, Jason Kelce joined forces with Buffalo Wild Wings for an NFL-themed advertising campaign. This partnership further cements his status as a marketable personality, leveraging his tough, relatable image to resonate with fans and consumers alike.

These endorsements show how the Kelces are monetizing their personas in ways that are directly tied to their brand identities. For marketers, it’s a reminder of the importance of aligning partnerships with the values and image of the brand (or individual) you’re promoting.

How the Kelce Brothers Are Scoring Big Off the Field by Marketing Themselves

The Long Game: Planning for Post-NFL Success

For Jason, life after football is happening since announcing his retirement from the NFL recently, and he’s setting himself up for continued success. Travis, though still in the prime of his career, is clearly laying the groundwork for his post-NFL life. By diversifying their interests and building a strong personal brand, the Kelce brothers are ensuring they’ll continue to thrive long after they hang up their cleats.

For those outside the industry, the takeaway is clear: successful personal branding is about more than just fame—it’s about strategic planning, authenticity, and connecting with your audience on a deeper level. The Kelces are doing this brilliantly, setting a blueprint for other athletes (and public figures) to follow.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re in marketing or not, there’s a lot to learn from the Kelce brothers. They’ve taken their on-field success and turned it into a multi-faceted brand that reaches far beyond football. By understanding their audience, staying true to their brand, and planning strategically, they’re ensuring their success well into the future.

For anyone looking to build a brand—personal or otherwise—the Kelces’ story is an inspiring example of how to do it right.