Ask An SEO: The Metrics That Matter For Content Strategies – Search Engine Journal

This guide gives you a clear framework to track, measure, and optimize every lead source so you can double down on what works and cut what doesn’t.
Join Kevin Rowe, Founder & Head of Digital PR Strategy at PureLinq, as he gives you his exact playbook on how to increase your citations and visibility in AIO, SEO, and GEO.
Join Kevin Rowe, Founder & Head of Digital PR Strategy at PureLinq, as he gives you his exact playbook on how to increase your citations and visibility in AIO, SEO, and GEO.
Learn how to craft better prompts, choose topics that rank, and infuse every AI-assisted piece with authority and trust.
Learn how to craft better prompts, choose topics that rank, and infuse every AI-assisted piece with authority and trust.
Join Kevin Rowe, Founder & Head of Digital PR Strategy at PureLinq, as he gives you his exact playbook on how to increase your citations and visibility in AIO, SEO, and GEO.
Which content metrics actually drive growth? Here’s how to align KPIs with business goals, from email opt-ins to branded search and conversions.
This week’s Ask an SEO question comes from Zahara:
“What metrics should small businesses actually care about when measuring content strategy success? Everyone talks about different KPIs, but I need to know which ones truly matter for growth.”
The metrics to measure for growth with a content strategy change by company and industry, and the type of business you run.
Publishers, for example, make their money by selling ad impressions and repeat content to consumers.
Ecommerce stores rely heavily on direct conversions and subscribers, while service-based and SaaS companies need leads and to scale remarketing groups.
There’s no shortage of ways to twist data, but there are certain key performance indicators (KPIs) and conversion items I measure based on what the goal of the client is, their current and future marketing capabilities as they grow or shrink, and things that I like to use as a measure of success when talking to the C-suite vs. day-to-day workers.
Here are some of the metrics or KPIs I measure from content marketing campaigns, and when I apply them to different clients.
These are the unsung heroes of the marketing world. They’re people with enough of an interest in your company that they want to get marketing messages from you.
They sign up from blog content, whitepapers, and all other channels. Yet, most companies segment them without considering where the opt-in originated from.
The metrics here are:
By tracking how many email and SMS opt-ins you get from content, and then the conversions and LTV metrics, you can tie revenue directly to the type of content on your site and how valuable each customer is based on the type of content you produce.
A comparison guide between two compatible electronic accessories for a camera may bring a photographer in; they liked the content, so they subscribed.
Six months later, they need to replace their computer. There’s a new version of editing software, so they get your message saying there is a sale, and this conversion happened because of your comparison content.
The email team would not have had the opt-in if you hadn’t created your guide.
The same can be said for companies that sell cookware.
The recipes you produce for their cooking blog or the recipe books you use as a lead gen get the SMS and email opt-in, so that when you’re having a sale or deal, the SMS and email teams have active lists to drive revenue.
Without your content, the customers would not be on your list, and the email or SMS team would not be able to do their jobs.
The next metric we track from content marketing is the total traffic increase year-over-year.
Showing an increase in non-branded and branded traffic displays:
One metric we use with some of our clients is when non-branded search rises and people come back to visit the site again for more content and to shop.
One of our current clients requires seven website visits before a conversion happens, and as we show up for high-volume “newbie” phrases, we notice an increase in branded search.
We then tracked the pathways for the users who came back for more research questions, and when they eventually converted.
The finance team was then able to calculate the value for the cold topics. On top of that, we learned where people are who have never heard of the company before, but were in a mid-funnel stage.
By creating copy at this touch point, we have been able to reduce the seven visits to four or five in some cases.
The biggest benefit here was the branded search building. As branded searches increased, the site started to appear for high-volume and topically relevant product and shopping queries.
Examples (not from this client) could be a funny t-shirt company that now shows up for “t-shirts” and “graphic t-shirts” vs. only specific ones like “vintage 90’s cartoon t-shirts,” which has a lower search volume and is less competitive.
One of the easiest content KPIs to measure is direct conversions.
These could be completed sales, completed form fills with or without identifiable and financial information (credit cards or social security numbers), and sign-ups for petitions, non-profits, and parties or events.
The reason this is the easiest content KPI is because you can track the conversion from a piece of content, and the system records it on the thank you or confirmation page.
Publishers need page views to make money, and analytics packages make it easy to monitor how many page views each topic and content type gets on average.
By using internal links, an educational series, and content that makes sense to read as a follow-up, you can measure how the content you’re creating increases the amount of pageviews per visit, so you can increase your company’s overall revenue.
This also helps you find opportunities to promote similar articles, adding better internal links, and creating more guides when you notice people leave to do another search, and then come back to finish the article when there weren’t enough examples on your current site.
These are people who come back for more content, whether it is a direct type-in, a new non-branded phrase from a different keyword in search results because they enjoyed your previous content, or from a different marketing team sharing content that is interesting to the audience.
By seeing which visitors come back from what efforts, you can better segment who gets what type of content and the types of content that move the needle.
There is no shortage of KPIs you can track from content marketing. It’s a matter of matching them to the people you report to.
HR may want more job applicants, while the sales team wants leads. Marketing and advertising want direct conversions and subscriber list growth, while the C-suite wants to know market share and reach.
As a content marketer, you can fine-tune your tracking and reporting to meet each stakeholder’s needs and become the star of the company by keeping everyone informed on how your efforts are growing their parts of the company, and that is how we decide which KPIs to monitor and report on, based on the client.
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Adam Riemer is an award winning digital marketing strategist, keynote speaker, affiliate manager, and growth consultant with more than 20+ …
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Marketing in the age of AI: Balancing precision with human connection – Businessday NG


BusinessDay

August 24, 2025
Over the past two decades, digital media has not only evolved, but it has also completely reshaped the business landscape. For marketing professionals, the rules of the game have not just changed, they have been rewritten. Today, social media platforms go beyond amplifying brand messages; they serve as mission-critical tools for acquiring customers, driving revenue, and sustaining long-term profitability.
As a marketing professional who has been part of this digital shift, driving transformation for leading brands like United Bank for Africa (UBA), Interswitch, Coronation, and Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp), I’ve seen firsthand how social media has grown from a simple brand awareness tool into a true engine for business growth. From driving the launch campaign of the first chatbot in banking, Leo by UBA, to leading the digital launch of the singularity platform at Coronation, digital media has been instrumental to the success of these campaigns.
However, this evolution comes with its complexities. The same platforms that now offer unmatched reach and hyper-personalisation also introduce new challenges; challenges that have only intensified in today’s era of generative AI.

Let’s explore how digital media changed the game and take a cautionary look at the opportunities and pitfalls for marketing professionals in the age of AI.
The digital leap: From billboards to algorithms

Back in the early 2000s, marketing budgets leaned heavily on traditional channels (print, TV, and radio). These platforms delivered reach, but they were costly, broad-stroke, and offered little in the way of real-time feedback. Fast forward to today, and the focus has shifted. We now talk about customer journeys, micro-targeting, community engagement, and algorithm-powered storytelling.
What was once a one-way broadcast has transformed into a dynamic, multi-channel conversation. A single, well-crafted social campaign can drive product sign-ups overnight. A thoughtful reply to a customer’s tweet can restore trust faster than a full-page newspaper apology and, with data-driven social listening, brands can refine campaigns to not just meet but surpass KPIs.
That’s the true power of digital, not chasing fleeting viral moments, but creating content that is purposeful, measurable, and directly tied to business outcomes.
The digital media economy: By the numbers
According to Hootsuite’s 2024 Digital Trends Report, over 62% of the global population is active on social media, that is more than 5 billion people. For context, a simple Google search shows Africa, the second most populous continent after Asia, has an estimated population of 1.55 billion. The number of people using social media is three times the population of an entire continent. That’s a lot of people.

According to Statista the average user now spends 2 hours and 23 minutes daily across platforms. In Nigeria, digital ad spending is projected to grow to ₦144 billion ($90 million) in 2025, with social media marketing being the fastest-growing component.
Brands that fail to integrate digital strategy into their core business goals are losing visibility, customers, and market share.
But here’s the kicker: digital is not just about impressions or engagement. It is about impact and, that means revenue and profitability. Marketing is now performance marketing. If your digital strategy is not ticking measurable boxes such as RoAS (Return on AdSpend), CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), LTV (Lifetime Value) amongst other indices, then clearly something is wrong.
Digital platforms have redefined how precisely we can reach our ideal customers. Today, it’s not just about demographics, we can target audiences based on interests, behaviors, job titles, and even life milestones. This level of precision ensures marketing budgets are spent efficiently, reaching those most likely to engage and convert.
Take social media advertising, for example: the ability to micro-target has proven effective in reducing Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC). While CAC has surged in recentyears, smart digital targeting strategies have helped brands significantly cushion that rise and drive better ROI.

Digital marketing has evolved into a powerful sales engine, with channels like email campaigns, search engine marketing (SEM), and social commerce driving measurable revenue. Using email marketing as a case in point, it continues to deliver one of the highest returns, averaging $36–$40 for every $1 spent. Research shows the global digital marketing industry, valued at $410.7 billion in 2024, is projected to soar to $1.18 trillion by 2033, growing at an impressive 11.22% CAGR.
This growth reinforces a clear truth: strong digital strategies are directly tied to business performance. In my line of work, as with many digital marketing professionals, the focus has been on harnessing these channels not just to attract new customers, but to deepen relationships with existing ones, boosting customer lifetime value (CLV) and driving repeat business.

The AI era: Opportunities and pitfalls
We are now at the brink of yet another transformative era the age of Artificial Intelligence. Far beyond being a mere buzzword, AI represents a powerful suite of technologies set to once again redefine the marketing ecosystem. From generating highly personalised ad copy and optimising video content, to enabling advanced chatbots and predictive analytics, AI is unlocking unprecedented levels of efficiency and personalisation.
Yet, as with all disruptive innovations, AI also presents unique challenges. Navigating its complexities will require marketing professionals to exercise both caution and foresight, ensuring that its adoption drives sustainable value while safeguarding trust and integrity. Some of these complexities include:

– Over-reliance, loss of human touch: AI automates well but lacks creativity, empathy, and nuance. Overuse risks generic messaging losing the ability to resonate authentically with audiences. Human storytelling and connection remain vital for brand loyalty.
– Data quality and bias: Poor, inaccurate or biased data leads to flawed AI outputs, skewing targeting and strategies. Strong data governance and bias checks are non-negotiable.
– Ethics and privacy: AI’s data power raises privacy and security concerns. Marketing professionals must comply with regulations (NDPR, GDPR, etc.) and adopt ethical practices to protect trust and reputation.
– Analytics misinterpretation: AI insights are powerful but not foolproof. Misinterpretation or “hallucinations” in generative AI, can mislead decisions. Human oversight cannot be overemphasized
– High implementation costs and ROI uncertainty: AI tools can be expensive. Without a clear strategy and understanding of how AI aligns with business goals, the return on investment can be elusive. Marketers must conduct thorough cost-benefit analyses and implement AI incrementally, demonstrating value at each stage.

If you are a marketing professional looking to stay ahead in this fast-changing digital era, consider these tips:
· Leverage AI as a co-pilot, not a substitute: Think of AI as a strategic partner that enhances not replaces human creativity. Use it to handle repetitive tasks like content drafts, data analysis, or A/B testing, so you can focus on big-picture strategy and authentic storytelling. Tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini can spark ideas and speed up execution, but it’s the marketing professional’s touch that brings brand voice, emotion, and meaning to life.
· Prioritise clean data and ethical AI use: Ensure your data is accurate, well-managed, and bias-free. Establish clear privacy policies and adopt ethical AI practices that emphasize transparency, accountability, and responsible use.
· Master personalisation, keep it human: Use AI to deliver hyper-personalised content based on real customer behavior and preferences—but don’t lose the human touch. Personalisation should feel genuine, not invasive. Let AI handle segmentation and targeting, while you craft messages with empathy and emotional nuance.
Stay curious, keep evolving: Digital and AI trends move fast, so should you. Commit to continuous learning by exploring emerging tools, following industry updates, and engaging in hands-on experimentation. Adaptability is your edge in a landscape that never stands still.

Marketing is a journey of continuous transformation. From harnessing the power of social media to mastering the intricacies of digital engagement, one truth remains constant: impactful marketing is rooted in genuine human connection. These principles continue to guide my work as I leverage digital and social platforms to grow and strengthen the Transcorp brand. When we embrace digital tools with a clear understanding of their potential and limitations, and keep people at the center of every interaction, we can drive meaningful outcomes across customer acquisition, revenue growth, and long-term brand value.
 
. Shittu is Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Transcorp Group

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Enjoy the evolution of image generation with Adobe Firefly AI – The Independent

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Discover how Adobe’s Firefly AI enhances how you create audio, video and images
Adobe Firefly uses the latest generative AI technology to help creatives come up with engaging content, wherever they may be.
Creators on the go can explore ideas and source inspiration to generate and edit images and videos from any location using AI. The new Firefly mobile app lets you work on anything from video backgrounds and website hero images to engaging memes, presentations, posters, social media content and much more.
Adobe Firefly just requires a prompt to begin. This can be as detailed or as simple as you like, then results can be iterated with tweaks and adjustments as Firefly produces different variations. You can continue to amend your results until you’ve created something that’s exactly what you initially imagined.
The app uses the same technology underlying many of the most powerful features found in Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Lightroom while it also offers the choice of utilising state-of-the-art AI models developed by Adobe’s partners, including OpenAI.
Anything developed using Firefly is also automatically synced with your Creative Cloud account, meaning it’s straightforward to move between your phone, web app and desktop app for enhanced creative flexibility.
With Adobe Firefly, content creators now have creative control to collaborate on concepts and produce them.
Creators can generate images and videos from anywhere using text prompts (including text to image and text to video), transform images into videos, add or remove unwanted objects from their work (known as Generative Fill) and extend the size of an image while filling in new areas with AI-generated content.
Creators can generate an image in the style of an uploaded reference image using the Style Reference and Structure Reference features, edit assets by expanding images and using a brush to remove objects or paint in new ones. Different variations can be made by mixing and matching models and transforming generated images into a video – all within the Firefly mobile app.
Alongside the flexibility to explore a range of aesthetics, style and media types, additional benefits include:
Adobe’s Firefly makes it easier to access a global market by offering creatives the ability to translate clips, then make any voice sound like a native speaker through maintaining the same tone and cadence for more than 20 languages. Not only does this save time when creating content but means recordings can also be dubbed for audiences in Germany, Italy, China and more.
Firefly Boards, available in public beta on the web, can transform how creative teams ideate and collaborate on concepts with the addition of video to its AI-first moodboarding surface.
This helps creative professionals collaboratively explore and iterate across media types with AI-powered video and image editing.
Whether you’re working for a large company, or starting a side hustle, you’ll want to avoid any copyright issues when commercially using images. You need to ensure that an image or video has the appropriate legal permission or is in the public domain. To ensure transparency and protect creators’ rights, Firefly automatically attaches Content Credentials to AI-generated content, clearly indicating whether Adobe Firefly models or partner models were used.
Learn more about Adobe’s code of ethics
Firefly mobile is available on iOS and Android today in the App Store and Google Play Store. Firefly Boards is available in beta on the Firefly web app. The Firefly web and mobile apps and all its latest features are available as a standalone app, or as part of the Creative Cloud Pro plan.
Start for free or buy a Firefly plan to create video, audio, images, and vector graphics today.
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Google’s Android 16 update promises to change your phone forever — here’s what’s new – The Economic Times

Android 16 features new features: Android 16 is now available for Pixel phones. The update includes features like Live Updates on the lock screen. Notifications are now smarter and better organized. The new APV codec improves video capture quality. Auracast enables audio sharing with multiple devices. Advanced Protection strengthens phone security.

(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
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(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
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NZ Marketing Announces Nationwide Expansion of AI-Driven Advertising Solutions for Small Businesses – The Manila Times

Agency strengthens reputation as a top partner for local growth with advanced SEO and customer engagement tools
Los Angeles, California, Aug. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NZ Marketing, a Los Angeles-based digital marketing agency founded by industry specialist Titto Manova, today announced the expansion of its AI-powered advertising and SEO solutions for small businesses across the United States. The agency, recognized as a Platinum Yelp Partner, is rolling out advanced tools and strategies designed to help local companies capture leads, engage customers, and achieve measurable growth in today’s competitive digital landscape. 

As a Platinum Yelp Partner, NZ Marketing provides businesses with access to powerful tools that enhance visibility and streamline customer interactions. Central to its success is NZLeads.com, the company’s proprietary platform designed to connect businesses with potential customers instantly. Meet the AI-powered startup behind the platform that instantly responds to Thumbtack leads and executes intelligent follow-ups 24/7, helping service businesses win more customers around the clock. By combining automation with artificial intelligence, the system ensures that leads are captured, engaged, and nurtured in real time, giving clients a competitive edge in their industries.
“Businesses today need more than just exposure. They need smart strategies that convert attention into lasting growth,” said Titto Manova, founder of NZ Marketing. “Our mission is to give small and local companies the same level of digital advantage that larger corporations enjoy.”
Since its founding, NZ Marketing has built a reputation for delivering results across industries ranging from retail and hospitality to professional services. The agency’s data-driven approach integrates targeted advertising, advanced SEO campaigns, and streamlined lead management, ensuring clients can reach the right audiences while maximizing their return on investment.
With the rise of AI in digital marketing, NZ Marketing continues to adapt quickly, offering solutions that balance automation with human insight. The agency emphasizes transparent reporting and personalized strategies, which have helped solidify its standing as one of the most reliable partners for businesses across the United States.
For entrepreneurs and local business owners seeking to scale smarter, NZ Marketing offers a proven path forward. By focusing on measurable growth and long-term visibility, the agency is helping companies not only compete but thrive in today’s digital economy.
About NZ Marketing
NZ Marketing is a Los Angeles-based digital marketing agency serving clients across the United States. Founded by Titto Manova, the agency is recognized as a Platinum Yelp Partner and the creator of NZLeads.com, a proprietary platform and the first fully integrated auto-responder for Thumbtack that automates and accelerates lead generation.

CONTACT: Titto Manova
NZ Marketing
www.nz-marketing.com
[email protected]

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Google makes progress on Chicago headquarters with windows update – Chicago Sun-Times

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7 Tips To Improve Your Healthcare Marketing Strategy in 2025 – DesignRush

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AI Mode in Search gets new agentic features and expands globally

AI is making Google Search radically more helpful, so you can ask any question on your mind and get things done. Starting today, we’re bringing more advanced agentic and personalized capabilities to AI Mode so you can make progress on your tasks and get more tailored information based on your interests. We’re also bringing AI Mode to even more people around the world. Read on for more.

Get things done with agentic capabilities in AI Mode

New agentic capabilities in AI Mode can help you get things done more easily. We’re starting to roll out today with finding restaurant reservations, and expanding soon to local service appointments and event tickets.

For example, you can now ask about getting a dinner reservation with friends that includes multiple constraints and preferences — like party size, date, time, location and preferred cuisine — and AI Mode will streamline this process. Searching across multiple reservation platforms and websites, it will find real-time availability for restaurants that meet your specific needs — and then present you with a curated list of restaurants with available reservation slots to choose from. AI Mode does the legwork and links you directly to the booking page, so you can easily take the last step and finalize your reservation.

Under the hood, AI Mode uses the live web browsing capabilities of Project Mariner, direct partner integrations on Search, and the power of our Knowledge Graph and Google Maps to help users take action on the web. We’re working with partners like OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, Booksy and many more to make this experience possible.

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