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Going viral – is it luck or is it planning?

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Going viral - is it luck or is it planning?

Back in 1975, viral videos weren’t a thing. Or perhaps they sort of were, but they didn’t have a name. Why 1975? This was the year that gave us the TV show that would become SNL (the show’s original title was NBC’s Saturday Night), and that is the show that gave us the world’s first official viral video.

Don’t get excited, the video itself is an of-the-time comedy rap song (and the comedy is based on rapping about mundane things – we were easily pleased back then). But when it came out in 2005, YouTube was brand new and what we had was a hand-in-glove situation. Shares went through the roof. The viral video was born. And later that year, Google bought YouTube. All because comedians Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell decided to rap about waking up late and watching a movie. Crazy.

It can be said, then, that the first-ever viral video was an unplanned happy mistake. Ever since replicating its success has been the aim of many and the achievement of few. Can you really plan to go viral? Or does it just happen if you’re lucky? Well, you can certainly help your chances, with deliberate content planned to go live at peak audience times (see social media calendar for more). But there’s more to it than that. Isn’t there?

People connect with emotional content

 Before you can convince your audience to share your post, you first need to understand the emotion you are trying to convey. And this is a nuanced subject. For example, let’s say you’re going for awe. ‘Jaw-dropping wide-eyed cannot-believe I’m seeing this’ style awe. Well, awe comes in different wrappers, and you need to know whether your aim is to amaze or instill fear.

Let’s say you choose amazement. Amazement is closely related to surprise and grief. If your content idea isn’t THAT surprising and you don’t think it actually relates that closely to amazement or fear either, you could be on the wrong path. Check out the wheel of emotions and begin to pinpoint your message – because if your message is off the mark, you’ll be less viral and more the one that got away.

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Build ‘sharing rewards’ into your message 

Content designed to draw the eye, get views, get clicks, and get shares is made all the more appealing to your audience when you build in a reward scheme that is predicated on sharing the post.

Heard of Dropbox? Of course, you have. It’s Dropbox. Who hasn’t heard of Dropbox? Well as a matter of fact, nowhere near as many had heard of the brand until its ‘extra storage space for introducing new customers’ scheme was launched. Learn from the best.

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5 Best URL Shortener Services in 2024 [Free & Paid]

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The 5 Best URL Shorteners 2020

A URL Shortener is a technique in which a URL may be made shorter and still redirect to the original long page.

Most URL Shorteners are free and easy to use but come with limitations.

Google shut down its Google URL Shortener in 2018 with continued support until March 30, 2019. However, all existing links will continue to redirect to the intended destination.

Top URL Shortener Services on the Internet

1. Bitly.com

Bitly offers a free and enterprise version of its URL shortening service. No signup necessary, but creating an account allows you to manage links quickly and change the short link characters if you wish.

According to this Quora answer, the enterprise version of Bitly costs around $995/month.

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Pro Tip: add + after the short link to access analytics of any bitly link. bitly.com/link+

2. TinyURL

A simple shortener that requires no sign-up and allows users to customize the keyword. The service is free to use, but there is no analytics.

3. Short.io

The best shorten link provider so far, it has so many useful features such as google analytics integration, bulk import, broken links detection, built-in analytics with so many details, link cloaking, and more.

Cost: affordable compared to similar solutions.

4. Rebrandly 

Rebrandly is one of the popular URL shortener services in the market. It’s the most complete and reliable link management platform. Their solution provides the easiest way to create, measure, and manage short URLs with a custom domain name.

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You can buy your domain name using Rebrandly, tag your URLs using UTM tagging, allow social media pixels to optimize for conversions, and more.

It’s expensive compared to other solutions.

5. eg.gd

eg.gd is a new URL shortener service that offers the same as rebrandly but for free. It was launched last year when bit.ly service was blocked in Egypt.

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How to include current URL in a Webflow form?

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How to include current URL in a Webflow form?

In the course of my professional endeavors, I consistently inquire about the origins of information, the methods by which our audience discovers us, and the roots of potential leads. These inquiries, among others, are integral to unraveling the complexities of the marketing funnel.

A commonplace challenge encountered by numerous marketers on a daily basis revolves around a pivotal question: which blog post proves most effective in generating leads and conversions?

If you have a blog on Webflow that includes a lead gen form or a newsletter form in all blog posts, when you receive an email from one of the forms – of course, you have to find out the URL of the respective page. This way, you can detect the top converting posts.

I’ve been searching for a solution here and there and finally found it. So, I thought to share it here.

How to automatically include the current URL in the webflow form?

  1. Add an embed code before the submit button of your lead generation form or any other form type – make it hidden, and insert the following code into it then save.
  2. The javascript code you need to make this work:
<script type="text/javascript"> window.onload=function() 
{document.getElementById('pageurl').value = window.location.href;} </script> 
<input type="hidden" id="pageurl" name="pageurl" value="pageurl" />

3. Once published, any new form submission will have a new column called “pageurl” so you can detect the source page of this submission.

Follow us for more Webflow hacks.

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Google’s E-E-A-T Principle Explained for SEO Success

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Demystifying Google's E-A-T Principle for SEO Success

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. One essential factor that often flies under the radar is Google’s E-A-T principle, which stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. This principle, now upgraded to E-E-A-T to include Experience, plays a pivotal role in enhancing website credibility and user experience.

In this article, we’ll delve into how understanding and implementing E-E-A-T can significantly influence your search engine rankings.

Unearthing the Essence of Google E-E-A-T

E-E-A-T is an acronym that encapsulates the qualities Google values when assessing the quality of online content. While it might not be explicitly mentioned in Google’s 200 known ranking factors, it holds undeniable significance in the eyes of quality raters and SEO professionals alike.

Expertise: Mastering Your Domain

Expertise is the cornerstone of E-E-A-T. It revolves around showcasing your in-depth knowledge and proficiency in your niche. To demonstrate your expertise effectively, consider these strategies:

1. Comprehensive Subject Mastery: Your content should reflect a deep understanding of your subject matter, leaving no room for ambiguity.

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2. Credentials and Qualifications: Display relevant qualifications and credentials to bolster your credibility.

3. Proven Track Record: Highlight your past accomplishments and successes, as they can instill trust in your audience.

4. Research and Data: Stay updated with the latest research and trends in your field and back your content with accurate data.

5. Niche Specialization: Focus on a specific niche to establish yourself as an expert in that area.

6. Active Contribution: Contribute to your field by publishing content, and research papers, speaking at relevant events, or joining professional organizations.

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Experience: Real-World Application Matters

Experience complements expertise by emphasizing practical, real-world application. To convey your experience effectively, consider these tactics:

1. Practical Application: Apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios and showcase your problem-solving skills.

2. Case Studies: Present real-world examples and results to illustrate your expertise in action.

3. Success Stories: Share stories of achievements or satisfied clients to instill confidence in your abilities.

4. Portfolio Display: For creative fields, such as design, art, or writing, showcase your previous work to demonstrate your experience.

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5. Knowledge Demonstration: Stay updated with industry best practices, trends, and new developments, and share your insights through blog posts, articles, or speaking engagements.

6. Customer Testimonials: Positive testimonials from satisfied customers provide social proof of your expertise.

Authoritativeness: Building a Trustworthy Reputation

Authoritativeness centers on establishing your website as a reliable source of information within your niche. To enhance your authoritativeness, consider the following strategies:

1. Backlinks and Citations: Earn backlinks from authoritative websites in your industry, a strong signal of your website’s trustworthiness.

2. Awards and Recognition: Credible recognition, such as awards and certifications, contributes to your reputation.

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3. Thought Leadership: Demonstrate authority through original research or innovative ideas, and engage in industry discussions.

4. Collaboration with Experts: Collaborate with recognized experts in your field through co-authored articles or speaking engagements.

5. Strong Social Media Presence: Engage with your audience on social media platforms to establish yourself as an authoritative figure.

6. Consistent, Relevant Content: Create high-quality content consistently to build credibility with users and search engines.

Trustworthiness: The Bedrock of Credibility

Trustworthiness is the final piece of the E-E-A-T puzzle, focusing on the credibility of your website’s information. To foster trustworthiness, adhere to these guidelines:

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1. Transparency: Be transparent about your brand, contact details, business operations, and the purpose of your content.

2. Provide Accurate Information: Ensure your content is factually correct and up-to-date, and avoid misleading practices.

3. Ethical Practices: Follow ethical guidelines, respect user privacy, handle sensitive data responsibly, and comply with relevant laws.

4. User Experience and Security: Create a positive user experience and prioritize website security with HTTPS connections.

5. Customer Testimonials and Reviews: Genuine testimonials from satisfied customers bolster your website’s trustworthiness.

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6. Customer Support: Offer prompt and helpful customer support to engage with your audience effectively.

7. Disclosure of Affiliations: Clearly disclose any affiliations or sponsorships that might impact your content.

While Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines may not explicitly mention E-E-A-T, adhering to these principles can significantly improve your website’s credibility and user experience. Remember, achieving higher SERP rankings requires a holistic approach, and understanding and implementing E-E-A-T is a valuable piece of the puzzle.

If you need expert guidance, consider enlisting the support of professional SEO services to help you navigate this ever-changing landscape.

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