November 2019

November 26, 2019

Why You Should Use WordPress For Your Website

There’s many good reasons to choose WordPress. First, WordPress powers approximately 33% of all websites which are currently active on the Internet. When you think about it, that is a staggering statistic. The single system is so popular and so prevalent online, that one-third of all sites are powered by it.

It’s not just a blogging platform, although that is what many people use it. It’s also a very powerful website builder and is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) on the market today. A primary factor for the popularity of WordPress is that it’s so flexible and easy to use. Although, web designers use different software to build a website however, WordPress stands on top. Some of the biggest corporations in the world have their websites powered by WordPress, which is one reason why you should too. If you’re looking for some other reasons to choose a CMS, consider these reasons to choose WordPress.

Easy to customize

The vast majority of people who use WordPress start with no real web design or programming skills. Simplicity is the ideal solution for people who were not tech-savvy and don’t have any specialized knowledge of web design or development. There are thousands of free website templates ready to start online. However, to have a fully optimized website, there are a variety of guidelines to follow.

No matter what kind of business you’re in, there are formats and templates available to get started right away! There are probably WordPress templates that you can use as your base template. One of the things that makes WordPress so easy to customize is the template’s customization options. These allow you to change the background, colors, upload your logo, and make changes to fit your needs. Kallen Media LLC, leading Tempe web design service, is happy to take the worry out by offering fully integrated WordPress services.

It’s also straightforward to add or change functionality on your website through plug-ins. Combining these plug-ins allows for intricate website design without spending hours coding.

Easy to manage

WordPress comes fully equipped with its update management system, and that allows you to do any updating you need of plug-ins or themes, right from your administrator dashboard. Whenever a new version is available, your account becomes notified about it, and you can apply the update by simply clicking on a button. Be sure to do a bit of research before. Updating your website before checking could lead to breaking your back end, rendering your site useless.

You can enhance your security by adding a WordPress backup plug-in. The plug-in automatically creates backups for you, safeguarding your data in a remote location. It’s even possible to manage your WordPress away from home or while you’re on the go.

SEO friendly

All WordPress software created through the use of high-quality computer code. This means Google and most of the other popular search engines favor WordPress. This is one of the big reasons why most WordPress websites tend to rank higher than others. Additionally, this is one of the most persuasive arguments for using WordPress if you’re trying to draw traffic to your site.

Right out of the box, WordPress is exceptionally SEO-friendly. Still, you can also make use of several plug-ins that will optimize your site even further if you want to improve your website ranking, making use of some of these as SEO plug-ins will do the trick. This is another one of the reasons to choose WordPress.

Flexibility

Although WordPress has gotten recognition as a terrific platform for bloggers, it is far from a text-only kind of software. It has its own built-in media uploader so that it’s very easy to manage all your audio and video files, as well as any images you want to transfer to your website. You can also embed all kinds of photos and videos just by pasting the URL in the post editor.

Site owners have used WordPress to build everything from the most straightforward website to a complex e-commerce marketplace. There are as many different types of WordPress websites as there are businesses. You can make your business website, you can start up an online store, you can sell online courses, and you can even establish your membership website. People have been very creative in their usage of WordPress to build websites, and you’d probably be amazed at some of the innovative ideas incorporated into today’s modern websites.

Making common mistakes while designing a business website is a fact, however, as compared to other CMS programs, WordPress is flexible enough to allow you to quickly restore and make fixes on your website immediately.

WordPress is free!

WordPress software is free, which means you can download it, install it, and use it any way you want. You can also use it to create any WordPress website design you can think up. All you need to get online is a domain name and a web host, so the website is online. The domain name is your website address on the Internet, while the web host will provide actual server space.

Undoubtedly, the fact that WordPress is free has contributed to its tremendous popularity. That’s yet another reason why developers all around the world have created a plethora of plug-ins WordPress compatible. Any specific function that you could dream up developers has probably created. Once developed, it can be made into a plug-in which anyone can make use of. All things considered, it’s not at all surprising that one-third of all Internet websites today are powered by WordPress.

Social Media Guides

November 19, 2019

Importance of Social Media Management Services

Social media is how modern companies can communicate directly with their clients. There are a variety of different channels that are best suited to targeting different audiences. Using these platforms in a way that benefits your business is essential in the growing digital world. I want to focus on how small businesses and large corporations alike can utilize social media management services. Using these tools will create a company with strong brand recognition and customer loyalty. When we talk about social media, we are talking about platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, to name just a few.

1. Audience engagement

Your company should be active on social media is because it helps gets you recognized. Take a look at the biggest brands. Every one of them has extremely active social media accounts. These accounts are, especially for consumer-oriented products. Social media management services allow companies to personalize messages and make their clients feel important. Previously, companies would have to pay hundreds or thousands in advertising dollars to reach their audience. It is easier than ever to enter both your core audience and expand it.

Many of the social media companies like Facebook are pushing paid advertising on their platforms. Because of this, the number of natural attention posts is getting is lower than ever. This shift is a push from social media marketing giants to encourage advertising and discourage free promotion. To properly engage audiences going into 2020, I recommend entirely building out your pages with as much information as possible. This will allow potential clients to view all your store’s information at a glance. Having messaging features open is highly encouraged. Opening a dialogue may be what rights a miserable experience, or what gets you noticed!

2. Brand Loyalty

At the heart of most companies is their desire to create brand loyalty with their customers. This bond creates a lasting connection that will generate significant business for large and small businesses. Social media marketing services allow for more natural connection and exposure to previous clients. Diving deeper into this, the open channel of communication allows for more interactive programs. An example of this would be custom deals exclusively available to previous clients.

Offering promotional deals is also a great way to encourage clients to buy. Advertising channels allow you to get this offer in front of thousands of people without spending more than a few hundred dollars. Make sure you do your research before you start paid promotional campaigns on any social media outlet. By doing this, you may uncover a different channel may be more optimal.

3. Top-of-mind awareness

Clients are more likely to buy from companies that they are familiar with. Before social media, this meant buying signs or print ads for many to see. The technique was more of a “shotgun” method than a highly specialized one. With the revolution of in-depth advertising consoles, the limits now are endless. Utilizing tools like Google and Facebook advertising campaigns, you can have ads track both current and previous clients.

people in the world within a computer chip

These ads encourage similar products that the clients may be interested in. Alternatively, you can target keywords, groups, and demographics that you believe will be interested in your product or service. This focusing is another point where I would highly advise in using testing techniques or hiring a professional social media management services provider like us! Not only will this save you time and money, but it will also allow you to put more time into your actual business.

4. Fantastic Opportunity

Currently, there are no fees to join all the largest social media networks. This non-existent barrier to entry means that the time could not be better to start building your digital empire. Clients are never going to know your company exists unless you tell them. Seize the opportunity to start building your brand and telling your story.

One of the most critical aspects of social media you should remember is to stay active. People are much more likely to buy and interact with dynamic pages. If there has been no activity for months, it will signal that you are not active online. In a world where there is more commerce done online than in person, your business must take control of the aspects you can. If you feel that this is too much extra work, there are many affordable social media management services.

5. Affordable Social Media Management Services

There is an easy way to have your social media channels taken care of. That is hiring an agency like Kallen Media LLC to do your social media. The way we work is that we start by sitting down with our clients to talk about their company and brand. Once there is a clear picture, we map out the goals of social media.

In some cases, we then put together budgets for how much ad spend clients are looking to spend through various channels. Similarly, there are also many cases where we provide the content as well.
Our social media management services start as low as $200. This includes access to our social media dashboard designed to make scheduling easy. We also offer blogs alongside our content to help boost your website’s ranking. If you are interested in learning how you can get started, you can email [email protected] or call (773)524-1483.

Google Marketing Material

November 12, 2019

How To Setup Google Ad Grants in 7 Steps

Grants are one of the essential parts of any successful non-profit organization. Typically the process for applying can be a long and strenuous task that can be highly competitive. This situation is where the Google Ad Grant program comes in like a knight in shining armor.

Google’s Ad Grant program provides up to $10,000 in free search ad campaigns for qualifying non-profits. Getting new donors and volunteers is at the front of most organizations’ minds, which is where this program provides the most assistance. Through the paid search ad campaigns, website traffic will increase will traceable statistics that Google provides. The following is a guide to finding out if you qualify for the Google Ad Grant program, and how to get started!

1. Meet Google Ad Grant Requirements

Your group must hold a non-profit status and register as a valid charity. US-based charities must have 501(c)(3) status. This means the organization is tax-exempt. For more information, you can learn how to gain 501(c)(3) status. For organizations outside of the US, you will need to follow your country’s specific guidelines for charity status that Google outlines. There are a few exceptions to the rules which are the following types of organizations:

Government Organizations or Entities
Hospital or Healthcare Organization
Universities, Schools, or Academic Organizations

If your organization is a school, you can check out Google For Education. This website is Google’s specific program for various academic organizations. Healthcare organizations may be able to qualify if they are Awareness or Research-based.

Once your organization follows these guidelines, it is time to make sure you have a compelling website. Google requires that Ad Grant recipients have an active website since that is where all the web traffic is going to. Once this is done and your organization acknowledges non-discrimination and donation receipt it is time to register as a Google Non-Profit.

2. Register Nonprofit with TechSoup

Now that you know your organization is eligible, it is time to get started. You will need to create an account with TechSoup, a technology non-profit who delivers technology tools to other non-profits at discounted rates.

This application is a simple process consisting of filling out a form on the TechSoup Registration page. Once you fill out your country and organization information, you will need to accept the terms and conditions. After this is done and your application is submitted, it can take up to 30 days for your organization to be confirmed. In the case of missing information, someone from TechSoup will get in contact with your organization for additional information.

Once your validation is confirmed, you will have a TechSoup verification token. These tokens typically are represented as [email protected]. This will be needed during the signup of Google Ad Grants.

3. Create A Google for Non-Profit Account

To begin your signup, you can start your Google Ad Grant application here. To begin, you will need to verify that you meet all the requirements. If you have already gained your TechSoup verification token, you will satisfy the requirements. You will also need to have your organization’s Tax ID number to proceed with the application.

Next, you will need to fill out your organization’s information. This information will include mission statements, contact information, and your website URL. Once this is complete, you will fill out your communication preferences (phone, email, etc.) and submit your application.

Along with Google Ad Grants, Google non-profits gain access to a variety of other features:

Listing on One Today, exclusive site for Google’s mobile fundraising options.
Free access to Google applications like Drive and Gmail accounts.
Special features on Youtube, including a donate button.

Once your application is submitted, Google should approve your request within a few days. The success rate is exceptionally high, taking the stress off your shoulders. This segment is going to be the last step before being able to apply for the Google Ad Grant.

4. Verify G-Suites

Now it is finally time to start applying to individual programs. I recommend signing up for the Google Suite. This feature will link your website domain to a personalized G Suite account. This Google non-profit account eliminates the need to pay for email services from here on out. One final step will be to put a small piece of code within your website to verify it; instructions from Google can be found here.

5. Enroll in Google Ad Grants

Turning money into gifts that can be used

The first recommendation that we have when starting the enrollment process is to never enter in your billing information. Doing so will disqualify you from attaining Google Ad Grants. Follow the following steps to assure your account is set up correctly:

Choose the appropriate billing country and timezone for your organization.
Choose USD as currency, regardless of what your country uses
Save your campaign. You may need to log out and then back in after doing this. Make sure you record your customer ID, which will be in the top right-hand corner formatted like XXX-XXX-XXXX.
Submit the pre-qualification survey to Google
Watch the Google training video and complete the quiz

Once you have finished these tasks, it is time to submit your pre-qualification review. For this, you will need to sign back into your Google for Nonprofits account. When in, you will be able to “Activate” the Google Ad Grants using your customer ID. Finish telling Google how you heard about them, and then you can finish by enrolling. Once this is complete, you should hear back within five business days.

6. Create Your First Campaign

Now that you have approval through pre-qualification, it is time to set up your first campaign. Even seasoned Ad Word veterans will need to take their time setting up the campaign if this is their first Ad Grant campaign. Google allows spending of up to $329 per day in free ad spends. The following are some additional settings you will want to set up to ensure a great introductory campaign.

Type: Choose Search Network Only
Networks: Uncheck the box for “include search partners.”
Locations: Decide if you want a local campaign or a national one.
Languages: Choose relevant languages you wish to display your ads.
Bid Strategy: Start with automated if you are not familiar with your industry.
Default bid: Google recommends choosing a default bid of $2.00 or less. (This may change depending on the cost-per-click in your sector)
Budget: Choose $329 or less per day across all of your campaigns.

What Do Your Ads Include?

Now it is time to create your first ad. This digital ad will be the text that will display for your ads. For your first time, you can choose what you think will be most relevant. You can also get in touch with us for great information and assistance in Google Ad Grants. We have experience working with several non-profits in setting up and maintaining their Google Ad Grants profile.

Next, you will need to start setting up your keywords. Keywords are essential for targeting relevant individuals searching for your products or services. It is crucial to choose the appropriate keywords. Choosing poor performing keywords can lead to having Google pause your Ad Grant Account. All keywords must maintain a quality score above 2/10 to be used in your campaigns.

Finally, you will need to make sure that you set up at least 1 form of conversion tracking within your website. This is how Google will keep track of visitors to your site. The conversion tracking code will need to be put into the back end of your website. You can contact your web admin to include this, or contact Kallen Media LLC for assistance setting up conversion tracking.

7. Maintain Your Campaign

Google Ad Grants are not something that you can set up and let run. They require constant interaction to gain the most from them. Because Google is giving up to $10,000 a month, we highly recommend keeping an eye on your campaigns or hiring someone to do this for you.

Changes will need to be made to your accounts every two months. We recommend checking your account weekly to look at any changes. Within the early stages of setting up your campaigns, this will be the most essential to creating successful Google Ad Grant campaigns. Third-party organizations like Ahrefs and Moz are great tools to research competition and keywords. I highly recommend using these programs when creating your campaigns. This strategy will save both time and money, which are crucial resources to non-profits.

Your ads require a 5% click-through rate for all active ads. This click-through rate is account-wide, allowing for more and less successful campaigns to balance each other out. Google also sends out a year-end survey that will need to be filled out based on the impact they have had over the past year. To ensure you are following Google Ad Grant standards, check out the Google Ad Grant Compliance Guide. Through following this guide, you will be able to set up a successful Google Ad Grant campaign to begin delivering your non-profit’s message around the world!

Let us Help!

For assistance setting up Google Ad Grants, contact [email protected] or call (773)524-1483. We look forward to helping your organization gain more exposure through the Google Ad Grant program!

Client SpotlightGoogle Marketing Material

November 5, 2019

Kallen Media Charities We Work With

Who We Help

The holidays are almost here, which means it is time to look back at 2019 and revisit some of the good we have accomplished. Kallen Media LLC is a local company in Tempe, Arizona. Founded in Tempe this past year, we have been creating websites and digital marketing plans for all sorts of companies and people. I want to shed a spotlight on the different non-profit companies that I have been able to help. The three most significant projects include the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation, Operation Blankets of Love, and The Wayne Foundation. Within this article, I will highlight these wonderful non-profits and tell you how you can get in touch with the charities we work with to help their causes.

Kallen Media is proud to be able to do pro-bono web design and social media work for charities that are doing great work. I am continually looking for charities and organizations to lend a hand. If you know a local charity in the Tempe metropolitan area who are looking for web work or assistance, let me know so Kallen Media can help them out! Currently, we have found our non-profit clients through a service called “CatchAFire.” This organization connects service providers with non-profit clients. We highly recommend checking them out if you are with a company, or a professional looking to give back.

What We Provide

Google Ad Grants For Charities We Work With

At Kallen Media, I have created a service geared towards non-profits. I Create and maintain Google Ad Grant accounts. If a company is a registered non-profit, Google offers them a unique program to reach potential volunteers and donors. This service is Google Ad Grants, which gives up to $10,000 a month in free ad spend. For small non-profits, this can be a major. We recommend that non-profits reading this take a look at the Google Ad Grant Program. Similarly, send us a message if you need any help setting up a Google Ad Grant account, we would be happy to help!

I have the privilege to work with the directors of these organizations personally, and I am thrilled with the results that we were able to produce. Creating meaningful content and plans is essential for non-profits. Because, like small business owners, non-profits have minimal budgets that they need to be able to direct appropriately. Offering services pro-bono is my way of sharing Kallen Media’s passion for making the world a better place. The following are a few of the charities that I have had the pleasure of working with over the past year:

Charities We Work With

The Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation (TASF) dedicates its scholarships to providing technology scholarships to minority groups in need. TASF started from the first African American airmen group to fly during World War 2. Now they are sponsoring STEM scholarships to students who want to follow in their footsteps.

OBOL is a leader in animal rescue dedicated to providing food and critical pet supplies at No Cost for over 12,000 homeless animals a year in California to shelters, rescue groups, and pets of the homeless. OBOL has donated food, crates, pet beds, blankets, toys, bowls, and critical pet supplies to those forced to evacuate with their pets. We’ve assisted more than just dogs and cats — rabbits and tortoises were also in need of our supplies.

Finally is The Wayne Foundation (TWF), which dedicates itself to helping individuals find their lost money. This organization has found millions over the past two decades in lost assets and funds from the government. The first two charities are both located in California, while TWF is in Mesa, Arizona, at the Falcon Field Corporate Center. We are excited to present the charities we work with, and the causes they fight for so passionately.

Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation

The Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation required a social media plan. I dove into their content and message right away. We were able to get the TASF setup with a Hootsuite account that would allow them to create and manage all their content from one place. Once our content calendar was complete, it was time to lay out the plan for the scholarship winners. The social media accounts we focused on included Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with interest in branching out more in the future.

The most important part of the foundation is the students that they give scholarships. This behavior led to creating posts highlighting the future graduate who would be receiving the award. Once the plan was complete, I assisted in helping TASF applying with the Google Ad Grant foundation. Currently, TASF is posting the recipients of their scholarship for the upcoming year. We couldn’t be more excited to see how they can grow in the forthcoming years as one of the first charities we worked with pro-bono.

If you are interested in learning more about the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation, you can find their website here. We are proud to get behind this cause, and I would strongly urge our readers to check out their foundation and donate before the end of the year.

Operation Blankets of Love

Operation Blankets of Love was a non-profit looking for assistance in both setting up and maintaining their Google Ad Grant account and campaign. I am a certified Google Ad specialist. Previously I have worked with maintaining Google Ad Grant standards, so we were the perfect match. OBOL focuses on building campaigns to target their specific volunteering events or donation drives. Through working together, we created a set plan with target keywords. This way, we were able to create a Google Ad Grant campaign that is both compliant and generating clicks back to the website.

Over recent months, the fires in California have left more animals stranded without care or supplies. OBOL is asking for any support through donations on its website to help these animals survive and find homes. You can find out more information if you go to OBOL’s website, found here.

We are proud to have an on-going partnership with OBOL, where we assist in managing their Google Ad Grant. This management includes updating keywords and adjusting campaigns to try and keep the calls as relevant as possible. Learn more about Operation Blankets of Love and how you can make a difference visit their donation page.

The Wayne Foundation

The final organization that we have had the pleasure of working with this year is The Wayne Foundation. Due to these changes, there was significant restructuring occurring within the organization. This restructuring resulted in a need for extra help in their web development team. Kallen Media redesigned content for The Wayne Foundation and its sister company LostMoney. LostMoney helps individuals lost property and assets that the government has claimed over the years.

With oversight from upper management, we were able to design fully customized websites. LostMoney remade their entire website with the help of Kallen Media! We were extremely excited with the results and being able to help a non-profit that was dedicated donating to other non-profits. Several on-going projects are occurring, and I could not be more excited to help design websites for companies that are helping others.

The best part about LostMoney is that they are not looking to take your money. Because LostMoney is free, the organization urges individuals who find money to donate a portion to charities in LostMoney’s name. We believe these types of acts of selflessness are what genuinely make the world a great place.

Through the remainder of the year, we are hoping to serve more non-profits than ever. If you have a non-profit and need some help with your website or internet marketing, please get in touch. For those looking for more information, we have the “2019 Digital Marketing Recap” article. This article goes more in-depth on charities we work with during 2019.