Brands shouldn’t treat SEO as an afterthought – The Drum

Advertisement
The Drum Network article
This content is produced by The Drum Network, a paid-for membership club for CEOs and their agencies who want to share their expertise and grow their business.
March 14, 2025 | 9 min read
Listen to article 4 min
Most customer journeys begin with search, says Felina Tan of Kaizen. Which is why brands should put SEO at the center of their marketing strategy, rather than treating it as an add-on.
Invest in SEO to build brand equity, while paid search offers more short-term results, explains Tan / NisonCo PR and SEO via Unsplash
Every marketer knows SEO. It’s been a cornerstone of digital marketing since the ‘90s, helping brands stay visible and relevant. And yet, when budget season rolls around, SEO often gets shoved to the bottom of the priority list despite its undeniable impact on visibility, brand equity, and revenue.
Why does this keep happening? Is it a lack of understanding? A bias toward short-term wins? Or do marketing and procurement teams not fully grasp just how much SEO influences brand positioning and the bottom line?

The way people buy today is anything but linear. Customers don’t just see an advert and immediately purchase. Instead, they search, compare, validate, and then decide. In fact, 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine. That means if your brand isn’t showing up at key moments, you’re missing out. Big time.
Think about someone looking for a new skincare product. They might start with a broad Google search like ‘best moisturizers for dry skin’ and click on a top-ranking blog post. Then, they browse Instagram for user-generated content and influencer recommendations. Next, they might dive into Reddit or a beauty forum to read real user reviews before finally heading to Amazon, Space NK, or a brand’s website to make a purchase.
And it’s not just skincare. This journey plays out across every industry – tech, finance, homeware, B2B solutions, you name it. Search is the invisible thread connecting consumers to the brands they trust. If you’re not showing up at those decision-making moments, you’re handing business to your competitors.

SEO is often mischaracterized as a purely technical discipline, but in reality, it is just as creative as it is analytical. It’s not simply about stuffing keywords into content – it’s about crafting compelling, valuable, and strategically optimized material that speaks directly to both search engines and human audiences.
At its core, SEO is built on three pillars: technical SEO, onsite SEO, and offsite SEO. Understanding how these elements work together is key to maximizing search visibility and, ultimately, your marketing ROI.
1. A website built for performance
Technical SEO ensures that your website is built for both users and search engines. A slow site, broken links, or a clunky mobile experience can tank your rankings, no matter how great your content is.
Real-world impact: A leading fashion retailer revamped its website’s structure, improving site speed and reorganizing its product filters. Within months, their rankings improved, website traffic jumped 35%, and sales increased.
2. Content that sticks and converts
Onsite SEO encompasses all content on a brand’s website – product pages, blogs, FAQs, and everything in between. Google rewards content that’s relevant, well-structured, and aligned with what users actually want. But beyond search rankings, great content builds trust and keeps visitors engaged.
Real-world impact: A B2B SaaS company optimized its blog with targeted content that addressed common industry pain points. The result? A 50% increase in inbound leads, purely from organic search.
3. Earning authority
Offsite SEO involves link building, digital PR, influencer collaborations, and expert commentary – all of which establish credibility. When reputable sites link back to yours, search engines recognize you as a trusted source.
Real-world impact: A health and wellness brand launched a data-driven PR campaign on sleep habits, landing coverage in major publications. Not only did this drive referral traffic, but it also lifted their domain authority, pushing their rankings higher.
SEO doesn’t operate in a vacuum – it intersects with every aspect of marketing:
Paid Media? Performance improves when organic and paid strategies align.
Social Media? Trending topics often stem from search queries.
PR? Digital coverage strengthens offsite SEO, enhancing domain authority.
Yet, when budget discussions arise, SEO often gets overshadowed by short-term tactics like paid ads, despite its long-term value. Unlike paid search, where visibility disappears the moment ad spend stops, SEO builds lasting equity that continues to deliver results over time.

Brands that consistently invest in SEO don’t just rank more highly – they own their space, reduce reliance on paid media, and gain deeper insights into customer behavior. It’s time to rethink SEO’s role. Not as a side project, but as a core part of a well-rounded marketing strategy.
The search landscape is only getting more competitive. The question is: will your brand be found when customers are searching, or will it be overlooked at the moments that matter most?
At Kaizen, we believe in creating lasting impact for your brand and bottom line. Our promise to all brands we work with is simple: we get you noticed, considered, and chosen.
Kaizen
We’re experts in organic strategy, combining digital PR, technical SEO, content, and social media to put you in front of your customers. From Google to TikTok,…
Marketing can change the world.
© Carnyx Group Ltd 2025 | The Drum is a Registered Trademark and property of Carnyx Group Limited. All rights reserved.

source

Gemini Code Assist adds Gemini 2.5, personalization and context management – Google Blog

Jun 12, 2025
Discover the latest updates to Gemini Code Assist.

Gemini Code Assist has updates to improve your coding. The Gemini 2.5 model improves chat, code generation, and code transformation. Personalize your experience with custom commands and rules, plus manage context easier with enhanced chat features. Install the Visual Studio Code plug-in or JetBrains IDE extension to get started for free.
Gemini Code Assist, Google’s AI coding assistant available for both individuals and businesses, has received numerous updates in May. These updates include:
Individuals can get started for free by installing the Visual Studio Code plug-in or JetBrians IDE extension. Here’s a closer look at what’s new.
At the core of these updates is the integration of the Gemini 2.5 model, which is state-of-the-art on a wide range of benchmarks and tops the LMArena leaderboard by a significant margin. This represents a significant step forward in the model’s reasoning and coding capabilities, which we’re using to improve the core functions of Gemini Code Assist. With Gemini 2.5, Gemini Code Assist is now providing:
We know that every developer and team has a unique way of working, and this can change from project to project. To support this, we’re introducing two new personalization features:
A common challenge with any AI assistant is providing it with enough context, and then managing that context. To address this, we’ve made several practical improvements to the chat interface:
We see these updates as important steps on the path to building a truly helpful AI coding partner. We invite you to try these new features and share your feedback.
Try Gemini Code Assist for free, and learn more about our recent updates on our website.
Let’s stay in touch. Get the latest news from Google in your inbox.
Follow Us

source

Ahrefs Alternatives: Top 10 Tools For SEO Needs In 2025 – SitePoint

Share this article
7 Day Free Trial. Cancel Anytime.
Ahrefs is one of the mighty SEO tools for backlink analysis, keyword research, competitor tracking, and site audits. It has attained a reputation as a solution for digital marketers, agencies, and businesses looking to improve their search engine rankings.
But with all these powerful features, Ahrefs is not the best fit for everyone. For some, the price is too high, especially for small businesses and freelancers. Others may be looking for an SEO tool that offers a different interface, specialized features, or deeper integrations with their existing marketing stack.
If you’re seeking an Ahrefs alternative that will better suit your needs and not break your wallet, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we present the top Ahrefs competitors and analyze their features, prices, and strengths to help you choose the perfect SEO tool for your business.
If you’ve used Ahrefs and found that it doesn’t fully meet your needs, exploring the best Ahrefs alternatives is the next logical step. However, with so many SEO tools available, researching and comparing them can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve tested, compared, and rated the best alternatives to Ahrefs for you.
So, how did we evaluate those options? Well, here’s a glimpse of the key criterion we used to identify the best Ahrefs alternatives:
With these criteria, we’ve identified the best Ahrefs alternatives to suit agencies, freelancers, and businesses of all sizes. Keep reading to find the perfect alternative to Ahrefs for your SEO needs.
After carefully researching and comparing the available tools, we’ve hand-picked the top Ahrefs alternatives that deserve your attention. Here’s our top list for a quick look:
Every Ahrefs competitor on this list has demonstrated a good combination of features, usability, pricing, value, and other benefits to make them worthwhile. Now, let’s look at every option in detail to help you find the best match.
SE Ranking is an all-in-one SEO platform that provides a wide range of tools for website optimization, competitor analysis, and digital marketing. It includes features such as:
With these capabilities, SE Ranking is the best Ahrefs alternative, especially for businesses looking for an affordable yet comprehensive SEO toolkit.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
SE Ranking is the best option for:
SE Ranking has flexible pricing based on the number of keywords tracked, pages for site audits, etc.:
SE Ranking is a top Ahrefs alternative for those who need a cost-effective, flexible, and agency-friendly SEO platform. It excels in rank tracking, white-label reporting, and local SEO. For businesses and agencies looking for a well-rounded SEO tool without the premium price tag, SE Ranking is a compelling choice among the best Ahrefs alternatives.
SEMrush is one of the most comprehensive Ahrefs alternatives. It goes beyond SEO by offering PPC, content marketing, and social media management tools.
Key features include:
SEMrush is often seen as a full digital marketing suite, not just an SEO tool.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
SEMrush is ideal for:
SEMrush offers three main pricing tiers:
Unlike Ahrefs, SEMrush offers a 7-day free trial, allowing users to explore its features before committing.
SEMrush is a powerful digital marketing platform that outshines Ahrefs in PPC, content marketing, and site auditing. However, Ahrefs remains superior in backlink analysis and offers a simpler pricing structure.
Majestic SEO is a backlink-focused SEO tool designed for deep link analysis, competitor research, and domain trust evaluation. Key features include:
Unlike all-in-one SEO platforms like Ahrefs or SEMrush, Majestic specializes in analyzing backlink profiles. 
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Majestic is ideally suitable for:
Majestic offers three pricing tiers:
Majestic does not offer a free trial but provides limited free searches for new users.
Majestic SEO is a top-tier backlink analysis tool focusing on historical link data, Trust Flow metrics, and link context analysis. While it lacks Ahrefs’ all-in-one SEO capabilities, it’s a great alternative for users who prioritize backlink analysis over keyword tracking or site audits.
Moz Pro may not have the same breadth of data as Ahrefs, but it remains a strong Ahrefs competitor, particularly for domain authority tracking and on-page SEO optimization. Key features include:
Moz Pro is well-regarded for its user-friendly interface and clear SEO insights.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Moz Pro is the best option for:
Moz Pro offers four pricing plans:
Moz Pro offers a 30-day free trial, which is significantly more generous than Ahrefs or SEMrush.
Moz Pro excels in domain authority tracking and on-page optimization. While it lacks Ahrefs’ deep backlink data and daily rank tracking possibility, it provides strong keyword research, site audits, and a beginner-friendly interface.
Sitechecker is a top Ahrefs competitor designed primarily for website audits. Unlike Ahrefs, which offers a more comprehensive set of SEO tools, Sitechecker focuses on technical SEO health, keyword tracking, and backlink monitoring.
Key features include:
It provides an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that caters to both beginners and experienced marketers. 
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Sitechecker is the best pick for:
Sitechecker offers three pricing tiers:
Sitechecker offers a 14-day free trial, allowing users to test its features before committing.
Sitechecker is among the best Ahrefs competitors for beginners, small businesses, and marketers focused on technical SEO audits and rank tracking. While it lacks Ahrefs’ deep backlink analysis, keyword research, and competitive insights, it offers an affordable, user-friendly platform for monitoring SEO health.
Ubersuggest, developed by Neil Patel, is a beginner-friendly SEO tool that focuses on keyword research, site audits, backlink analysis, and content suggestions. 
Key features include:
While it does not offer the same depth of data as Ahrefs, it provides essential SEO insights at a much lower cost.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Ubersuggest is the most suitable for:
Ubersuggest offers three pricing plans, with both monthly and lifetime options:
Ubersuggest also has a 7-day free trial for new users.
Ubersuggest is among the cost-effective Ahrefs competitors. While it lacks Ahrefs’ deep backlink data, competitive analysis, and PPC insights, it is a great budget-friendly alternative.
Morningscore is a unique SEO tool that gamifies SEO performance tracking. Unlike Ahrefs, which is data-heavy and technical, Morningscore presents SEO tasks as missions, assigning XP scores and progress points to track improvements.
Key features include:
It’s designed for businesses and marketers who want an easy-to-use tool without complex SEO jargon.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Morningscore is ideal for:
Morningscore offers four pricing plans:
A 14-day free trial is available.
Morningscore is an innovative, gamified SEO tool that makes SEO tracking simple and engaging. It’s perfect for beginners, startups, and small businesses looking for an easy-to-use alternative to Ahrefs. However, for advanced SEO professionals needing deep backlink analysis, keyword research, and technical SEO insights, Ahrefs remains the better choice.
Raven Tools is an Ahrefs alternative mainly used for reporting, competitor analysis, and website audits. The focus of Raven Tools is on white-label reporting and integrations with various SEO and PPC platforms.
Key features include:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Raven Tools is ideal for:
Raven Tools offers five pricing plans, with all features included in each plan, only varying in usage limits:
A 7-day free trial is available.
Raven Tools is one of those Ahrefs competitors, fitting as a good choice for agencies, freelancers, and businesses with integrated SEO and PPC reporting needs. Still, it is not as advanced as Ahrefs in performing backlink analysis, keyword research, or higher-end SEO features.
Rank Tracker is one of those all-in-one Ahrefs competitors. While Ahrefs leads in the capacity for strong backlink database insights and deep competitive analysis, Ranktracker offers a more affordable, all-in-one solution.
Key features include:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Rank Tracker is ideal for:
Rank Tracker offers four pricing plans:
A 7-day free trial is available.
RankTracker has everything to position itself as the best Ahrefs alternative if keyword rank tracking, SERP analysis, and technical SEO are a priority for someone. Regarding the level of service offered, this tool is more oriented toward smaller-scale businesses, individual freelancers, and web agency projects.
Linkody is dedicated to backlink monitoring, with the ability to easily track, analyze, and manage backlinks.
Key features include:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Linkody is ideal for:
Linkody offers five pricing plans, depending on the number of monitored domains and backlinks:
30-day free trial available in all plans.
Linkody is among Ahrefs alternatives for those focused on pure backlink tracking and competitor analysis for link-building. It provides budget-friendly pricing with real-time monitoring. 
Ahrefs is a big name in the world of SEO but not the only player in town. Whether it be price, the focus of their features, or ease of use that you want from the best Ahrefs competitor, there is a pretty strong cast of Ahrefs competitors out there.
If backlink analysis is a priority, then the best options would be Majestic SEO and Linkody. For an overall SEO suite, SE Ranking and SEMrush provide comprehensive features. Meanwhile, Ubersuggest and Sitechecker offer budget-friendly and user-friendly options.
Ultimately, the best Ahrefs competitor for you depends on your specific SEO needs, budget, and workflow. Be sure to use free trials or demos before upgrading to any paid plan. By testing a few tools, you’ll find one that really fits your goals.

Sponsored posts are provided by our content partners. Thank you for supporting the partners who make SitePoint possible.
Share this article
Published in
July 23, 2018
Published in
July 15, 2013
Published in
May 5, 2016
Published in
April 27, 2016
Published in
March 31, 2023
Published in
January 9, 2024
Published in
November 2, 2023
Published in
February 19, 2024
7 Day Free Trial. Cancel Anytime.
Get the freshest news and resources for developers, designers and digital creators in your inbox each week

source

26 Need-to-Know Ecommerce Marketing Tactics for 2025 – Shopify

Start selling with Shopify today
Start your free trial with Shopify today—then use these resources to guide you through every step of the process.
How does Shopify work
Learn 26 effective ecommerce marketing tactics to boost your online business. Gain insights to enhance visibility, drive traffic, and increase sales.
Start your online business today.
For free.
Driving traffic and conversions is crucial to every online store’s success. But even with a basic strategy in place, choosing the right ecommerce marketing tactics can be challenging.
These powerful ecommerce marketing tactics and tools will help boost your online sales, attract new customers, and drive repeat purchases. Ready to take action? Implement one tactic daily for the next few weeks, then analyze your results to identify the most effective strategies for driving traffic and sales.
Ecommerce marketing is the practice of using promotional tactics to drive traffic to your online store, convert that traffic into paying customers, and retain those customers post-purchase. Tactical examples for driving ecommerce sales include search engine optimization (SEO) to improve visibility, email marketing to nurture leads, and social media engagement to maintain customer relationships.
A successful ecommerce marketing strategy leverages a mix of digital ecommerce marketing tools and offline tactics such as text messages to take advantage of all available marketing channels
Market your business with Shopify’s marketing automation tools
Shopify has everything you need to capture more leads, send email campaigns, automate key marketing moments, segment your customers, and analyze your results. Plus, it’s all free for your first 10,000 emails sent per month.
SEO marketing connects you to potential customers who are actively seeking your products. By optimizing your website, you increase your chances of appearing first in search engine results pages (SERPs). 
Key SEO tactics to cover in your ecommerce marketing strategy include:
Around 63% of the global population is active on social media. A social media marketing strategy defines the platforms and content your share of this audience likes and how you’ll leverage them to promote your products. Your plan should also include tactics for identifying relevant trending topics and the key performance indicators (KPIs) you’ll use to measure success. 

Email marketing connects you to potential customers in the most sacred place of all: their inbox. Statistics show that 87% of marketers employ this tactic, and 14% say it has the strongest return on investment (ROI) of any ecommerce marketing strategy. 
The most popular types of email marketing include:
💡Tip: Shopify offers native email marketing tools to connect with your audience. From signup forms to segmentation and customizable templates, use Shopify Email to do it all. 
In the PPC advertising model, you only pay when someone clicks your ad. You can employ PPC advertising on platforms such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft.
This highly customizable tactic is even suitable for limited budgets. Define who you want to see your ads and pay for the campaign when you see results. Remember that you need a well-optimized website to convert leads after they click your ad. 
Social media has enabled creators to earn a living through influencer marketing. More than half of marketers partner with influencers because consumers consider creators reliable sources of product recommendations. 
Influencer marketing involves incentivizing creators with free products, commissions, or paid posts. Rates vary, but on average, nano-influencers with fewer than 10,000 followers charge $5 to $100 per post
Affiliate marketing is similar to influencer marketing but doesn’t require your partners to have large social media followings (although they help). Instead, you pay affiliates—bloggers, creators, loyal customers—commissions for promoting your products. 
Affiliate marketing tools like Shopify Collabs generate custom URLs for each affiliate, making it easy to track visitors sent and commissions owed.
Ecommerce SEO is search engine optimization for online stores. Its goal is to get your product pages to the top on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Doing this brings more organic (non-paid) traffic to your website since the first organic result is 10 times likelier to get clicked than the 10th. 
Invest in SEO by:
Follow these best practices to show up for popular search terms related to your products. The screenshot below shows Everyday Yoga and Beyond Yoga ranking on page one in Google for the term “women’s yoga pants,” which receives more than 2,400 monthly searches.
Google search results for “women’s yoga pants.”
Working with social media stars can help you reach new audiences, build brand awareness, and generate sales.
A recent report revealed that over 80% of marketers find influencer marketing highly effective. Instagram is the most popular channel, with 57% of brands using it. Other marketing channels include:
Influencer marketing is highly effective for identifying target customers. How often have you seen an influencer’s Instagram post, liked what they wore, and wanted to buy it? Promoting products via influencers shortens the sales cycle. With increasing social commerce features on Instagram and TikTok, shoppers can buy directly from platforms.
Marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, which reach millions worldwide, help people discover your brand. Some customers are die-hard marketplace shoppers, and there is a higher chance they’ll buy from you on a channel they know. 
However, with their hefty selling fees, most marketplaces are best considered supplementary sales channels to complement your branded store. Use marketplaces to showcase your brand and its bestsellers; add branded packaging inserts to marketplace orders that encourage buyers to shop directly from your website. 
📚 Read more: 20 Online Selling Sites and Marketplaces to Sell Your Stuff
Businesses thrive on TikTok by publishing genuine content since raw and authentic videos generate more exposure and engagement than highly edited ones.
These helpful aspects differentiate TikTok:
TikTok is great for niche advertising, offering live shopping and TikTok ads to promote products. 
Data-driven and easily scaled, Google estimates that its pay-per-click online advertising offers an ROI of $8 for every $1 spent. PPC ads target online ad space in search engines, social media platforms, or websites, letting ecommerce brands target ready-to-buy shoppers, which can generate higher sales than organic marketing. Facebook and Google are the most popular platforms for PPC ads.
For example, the Google search for “men’s boots” below generated detailed ads for relevant products. 
Google Shopping carousel ads for the search “men’s boots.”
When you run ads on Facebook (and Instagram), you can target specific personas and leverage a variety of ad formats.
Detailed targeting is the biggest advantage PPC ads deliver. You choose your audience and ad type—for instance, retargeting ads to people who viewed specific landing pages and encouraging them to shop with you again.
Say you run a shoe store and want to promote a new line of rain boots. You can create a group of ads targeting keywords like “best rain boots” to get your ads in front of people who want to buy what you’re advertising. 
Drive up to 2x more retargeting conversions with Shopify Audiences
Find more customers and increase your orders. Audiences uses commerce insights only available on Shopify to help you maximize your ad performance on top platforms.
Install Shopify Audiences
Most of us have heard some variation of the famous “Would you like to Super Size that?” It’s an example of upselling, selling a bigger or more premium product than the customer initially wanted.
For many ecommerce businesses, upselling and cross-selling are more effective than acquiring net new customers. Sometimes, customers don’t know a premium product is available or simply need evidence to understand how an upgrade fits their needs.
For example, is one of your product models made of slightly better leather than the others? Does one include a handmade component? Be sure to emphasize the differences and ask at checkout if the customer wants to upgrade.
💡 Use the ReConvert Shopify App to upsell and cross-sell products in your store.
If you take compelling photos, make engaging reels and videos, and have a strategy, you’re well on your way to building a large Instagram following. Your next job is to engage with those followers.
Try running contests or going behind the scenes to showcase your product development process. You can also pay to play on Instagram. For business marketing, adding products to Instagram posts, Stories, and Reels provides a direct path to purchase, which is key for increasing online sales.
💡Integrate your Instagram Shop with Shopifyto sync your product catalog and manage orders within your Shopify admin. 
You lose money every time a visitor abandons their cart without purchasing, which happens just over 70% of the time.
One simple and effective tactic to reduce cart abandonments is running an email recovery campaign to encourage visitors to return and complete their purchases. Craft an email enticing visitors to return to their carts by reminding them what they considered purchasing and why.
Clothing brand Alex Mill, for example, uses a 15%-off discount to encourage cart abandoners to return and finish the purchase.
Cart recovery email that offers subscribers 15% off the denim jacket left in their cart.
Sending promotional SMS messages to existing and prospective customers is called SMS marketing. Messages can inform shoppers about special offers, promotions, updates, alerts, and product information.
If you run an ecommerce store, you can use SMS marketing for:
Bushbalm, for example, relies on SMS marketing to build relationships with its audience. Its automated welcome series, which introduces new subscribers to the brand and its bestselling products, regularly sees click-through rates of more than 50%.
💡Start SMS marketing today with Shopify apps like Attentive and Klaviyo.
Dollar for dollar, email marketing is one of the most effective channels at your disposal.
To get started, actively promote your newsletter, blog, and any other email capture efforts to get as many subscribers as possible. Children’s clothing brand Mori makes email signups the central focus for site visitors. It also gathers first-party data on its subscribers by asking which persona they reflect. 
Email popup that gives subscribers 10% off in exchange for information about themselves.
It’s not enough to capture email addresses—you must send regular, valuable emails for an effective ecommerce marketing activity. 
There are many occasions suited to emails your subscribers will actually appreciate:
Well-designed sites attract more customers. To build customer trust, make it easy for visitors to understand your value proposition, read your (clear and legible) fonts, and navigate your site.
Are you properly segmenting your products, or are you putting too many on a single page? Have you figured out the balance between text and visuals? 
These are just a few of the many considerations. If your page isn’t converting well, consider some of the great themes available on Shopify.
See how Outdoor Voices’ beautiful ecommerce website facilitates easy shopping—customers can browse by product category or use the search function to find what they need.
Navigation menu for an activewear brand includes categories titlesShop By and Collections
Live chat is another opportunity to engage with shoppers on your site.
Many live chat tools let you target people who arrived through an email newsletter or spent a certain amount of time browsing particular pages. Live chat enables direct conversations so your team can answer questions and address concerns when customers are planning to buy.
If you can expand your product line, you should evaluate market demand to determine whether adding a new product is worth the cost. You can do that through various approaches, such as keyword research, geographic validation, social media trends research, etc. 
Another creative way to test your market is to pre-sell items to see how many people place orders. Suppose you’re deciding which of three potential products to sell. Create quality pages for all three, then list them as “out of stock.” See which page gets the most back-in-stock notification requests and sell that product.
💡Use the Back in Stock Shopify appto avoid losing sales on out-of-stock products.
Regular blogging can connect you to customers and improve your search engine results page rankings. If you’re already creating content, consider featuring your blog on your online store.
Some other content marketing tactics for improving reach and engagement include:
Using behavioral data lets you serve visitors personalized experiences based on their online actions and preferences.
Location is an aspect of personalization that lets you cater to customers’ current needs: Someone in southern California may be looking for bathing suits in October, while your Maine customers probably need coats, for example.
💡Tip: Shopify automatically creates a customer profile whenever someone shares their email address or phone number with your business. Use this data to segment your audience for further personalization—like rewarding loyal customers after their fifth purchase or incentivizing people to place another order if they haven’t shopped with you in more than 60 days. 
Put your customer data to work with Shopify’s customer segmentation
Shopify’s built-in segmentation tools help you discover insights about your customers, build segments as targeted as your marketing plans with filters based on your customers’ demographic and behavioral data, and drive sales with timely and personalized emails.
User-generated content (UGC) is excellent for generating social proof. When prospective customers see people like them buying your products, they’ll feel more confident doing the same.
Technically, even product reviews are UGC. Another effective UGC tactic is displaying pictures of customers using your products. Colourpop Cosmetics, for example, features TikTok tutorials of happy customers using its makeup.
Brick-and-mortar businesses aren’t the only local businesses. Online retailers can also take a regional approach to increase online sales.
Identify areas with large concentrations of customers and run promotions there. Review which products those customers buy and consider local events or seasons to time promotions appropriately.
If you have a warehouse or multiple warehouses, consider a promotion with free, discounted, or expedited shipping to customers nearby.
Conversion rate optimization (CRO) means optimizing your website for on-site conversions and increased sales. CRO helps you identify problem areas on your site.
Where are you losing sales? Who’s dropping off and why? What can you do to capture those missed opportunities? Qualitative and quantitative research come together for a holistic and unbiased view of how conversion-oriented your site is.
Once you’ve identified the challenges and opportunities, you can develop hypotheses and tests to see which approaches generate the most sales.
Customer loyalty programs generate multiple benefits: They incentivize customers to buy your products and refer their friends, and they keep your brand top-of-mind through automated reminders.
You choose how to reward customers, how often, and for what actions. For instance, you might have a point-based program with a point-based currency members can redeem for discounts, free shipping, or gifts.
Beauty brand Mirenesse has a robust customer loyalty program. Members can access secret sales, free shipping, and the “Love Rewards” boutique. Customers also earn points on purchases that they can convert to store credit and redeem on future orders.
Mirenesse’s loyalty program page showcases the benefits on offer.
You can use Shopify’s Smile app to easily implement a customer loyalty program.
Optimizing your store for mobile is more than having a responsive design. It means designing your site with mobile visitors in mind from start to finish.
Perhaps that requires a bigger Add to Cart button on all mobile product pages so visitors can add items to carts without zooming in. Or, you might present your images in a quick-loading format so mobile visitors can easily see and magnify product photos.
A product bundle is a set of two or more related products offered at a discount. You can sell bundles through your store or Shop channel to increase average order value, clear out old inventory, and create more product visibility.
Wild One, for example, sells a harness walk kit at discounted prices. Customers receive a leash, harness, and set of poop bags, which they can customize by color and size.
Product page for a dog harness kit with $115 struck out and a new price of $98.
💡Get the Bundler app on the Shopify App Store.
Interactive experiences like 360-degree views or zoom-in features help customers get a good look at products.
Take it a step further and go 3D like high-fashion brand Rebecca Minkoff. After adding 3D modeling and augmented reality to its product pages, the company found that customers were 65% more likely to purchase after viewing products interactively.
“At a time when the savvy fashion shopper wants to be able to connect with a brand’s persona, understand the texture and structure of every bag, and envision how they’d feel wearing each piece in a collection, we’re excited to host video and 3D within our Shopify ecommerce site to bring shoppers that much closer to Rebecca Minkoff designs,” says co-founder and CEO Uri Minkoff.
📚 Read: In going 3D, Rebecca Minkoff’s customers became nearly 30% more likely to buy.
A 2025 survey from Wyzowl found that 89% of businesses use video marketing, with 93% saying the tactic has given them a positive ROI. 
Ecommerce brands can post many different types of videos:
For example, Friday Pattern Company creates popular YouTube sewing videos. They publish “sew along” sessions that teach viewers how to sew, videos about sewing techniques and hacks, and even a vlog-style series. These videos drive organic traffic to the brand’s ecommerce store and keep it top of mind when followers need sewing patterns.
Friday Pattern Company’s YouTube channel with videos on how to sew a blazer.
Webinars and workshops are great for engaging customers and educating them about your products. You could run in-person product demonstrations to show how your products work. Or, host online webinars, inviting industry experts to speak on topics related to your brand. 
Affiliate programs are rewards-based systems where partners promote your products in exchange for commissions. A customer or creator may advertise your products on their profile, referring their followers to your store. Then, they receive a commission on any sales made through their unique link.
Affiliate marketing helps companies like ramen brand immi launch products, build brand awareness, and sell stuff. The company used Shopify Collabs to recruit over 400 ambassadors to its affiliate program, generating more than $200,000 in sales.
Affiliate registration page that gives creators up to 30% commission and a unique coupon.
💡 Learn more: The Pre-Launch Strategies of a Million-Dollar Brand
The right marketing strategy can introduce you to customers, improve average order value, and increase sales—all good things for your business! By following the ecommerce marketing tips above, you can build a successful store with a good customer experience for shoppers.
Ecommerce is a way to sell and deliver products and services. Digital marketing is how you reach potential and current customers to encourage purchases. When someone goes to your website to buy new shoes, the act of buying and receiving the shoes is ecommerce.
Some tactics for marketing an ecommerce business include:
You can use social media for ecommerce marketing in many ways:
How you measure success depends on your ecommerce marketing strategies—each will have different metrics. In general, look at conversion rates, website traffic by channel, and sales. Tools like Shopify Analytics can track user behavior and sales, giving insight into which of your ecommerce marketing strategies are most effective.
The 5 Cs of ecommerce marketing are company, collaborators, customers, context, and competition. Cover all five components in your marketing strategy.
Shopify is the best platform for starting an ecommerce business. It’s incredibly user-friendly and has a ton of out-of-the-box features—including prebuilt themes, checkout, social media integrations, and extended sales channels—so you can start selling quickly.
The newsletter for entrepreneurs
Join millions of self-starters in getting business resources, tips, and inspiring stories in your inbox.
Unsubscribe anytime. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify. By proceeding, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
popular posts
The point of sale for every sale.

popular posts
2023-11-08
2023-09-01
2023-12-05
2023-11-09
2023-09-20
2023-11-23
2023-12-02
2023-11-06
Unsubscribe anytime. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify. By proceeding, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Learn on the go. Try Shopify for free, and explore all the tools you need to start, run, and grow your business.
Try Shopify for free, no credit card required.

source

Google Business Profiles Changes Add Updates To Posts – Search Engine Roundtable

Retailer Owners Writing Google Logo
Google seems to be flip-flopping between calling it Google Posts and Google Updates within Google Business Profiles. When a business owner wants to post an announcement of sorts on their Google local listing, they can click “Add update” or now “Posts” with a plus-sign.
I believe Google has changed between the two texts several times over the years, and I think mobile was different maybe in the Google Maps app? I forget over time.
But just a couple weeks ago, it was showing “add update”:
Google Business Profile Add Update
And now it is showing “Posts”:
Google Business Profile Posts
This was spotted by Syed M. Amir Hassan who posted about this on X – it is just a name change, I don’t see any functionality changes…

Just noticed the feature previously known as "Updates" in Google Business Profile has been renamed to "Posts".

cc: @JoyanneHawkins, @rustybrick @DarrenShaw_ @ColanNielsen pic.twitter.com/mBOzpJfuBx
Forum discussion at X.
The content at the Search Engine Roundtable are the sole opinion of the authors and in no way reflect views of RustyBrick ®, Inc
Copyright © 1994-2025 RustyBrick ®, Inc. Web Development All Rights Reserved.
This work by Search Engine Roundtable is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. Creative Commons License and YouTube videos under YouTube’s ToS.

source

Google Play Store not showing Android system app updates [U] – 9to5Google

In what could be a bug or behavior change, the Google Play Store is not showing available updates for system-level apps. 
Update 6/14/25: Here’s a list of common Google apps that don’t appear in the Pending downloads list, but will show an “Update” when you visit the Play Store listing directly:
Update 9/4/24: This issue continues and we’ve now seen it impact YouTube, which is a pre-installed app, on multiple devices. While we received a Play Store notification that a new update is available, going to the Pending downloads screen reveals that there is nothing to install. When you visit the app listing directly, it’s available to update.
Update 7/11: This is once again happening with Google Partner Setup:
Google Partner Setup is a required application for devices that run Google Mobile Services (https://www.android.com/gms/)
Update 7/1: If a Play Store notification today says you have one more update that’s not appearing in the Pending downloads screen, that missing app is Google’s Data Restore Tool:
This system app helps you to restore data from your old phone using a cable or a cloud backup. The app is already installed on your Android device.
It can only be accessed and updated by a direct Google Play link. The app also does not appear in the Installed list.
Original 2/6: This issue happens on the Pending downloads screen. System applications that have available updates simply do not show up here even as other apps appear normally. 
Yeah I noticed this at least a few weeks ago when I opted out of Google play services beta and uninstalled updates. Went back to check for updates and nothing showing, had to manually go to Google play services in play store and then it showed the available update.
We first noticed this problem a few weeks ago. It most recently occurred with Settings Services and Google Wi-Fi Provisioner, which saw updates in the past few days.
Curiously, a system app with a new version will show up in Google Play’s “new updates” notification, but does not appear once you actually visit the page to initiate. You might also notice this happening when an alert says you have — for example — three app updates but only two are new. 
This could be an intentional change and follows how Google Play Services is updated through the Play Store automatically, but never appears in the Pending downloads screen. Google might be expanding what system-level applications are treated in that manner.
However, if you have auto updates disabled, those systems applications never install the latest version. As such, you have to find out from somewhere else that there’s an available download and manually go to the listing to update.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:
Breaking news for Android. Get the latest on app…
Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com

source

SEO PowerSuite vs Ahrefs: How to Choose the Best SEO Solution – Exploding Topics

Blog > SEO PowerSuite vs Ahrefs: How to Choose the Best SEO Solution
Contents:
Share:
If you want to improve your SEO, you need access to data that empowers you to make strategic decisions about your content.
SEO PowerSuite and Ahrefs offer insight into your site’s search performance and content opportunities. Choosing the right one will set you up for success, while the wrong tool can lead to workflow inefficiencies and misguided content plans.
I’ve had the chance to use several SEO platforms throughout my career, including Ahrefs. I’ve also tested out SEO PowerSuite to see how it compares.
If you’re torn between these two solutions, there are some major differences you should consider when deciding which one to use.
SEO PowerSuite is a comprehensive SEO platform. It provides keyword data, SERP rankings, competitor insights, backlink analysis, and more to help marketers refine their content strategies.
Unlike many other SEO toolkits, SEO PowerSuite is a desktop software. This means you install it on your PC, rather than using it online. All your data is stored on your computer, which has pros and cons that I’ll discuss in more detail below.
SEO PowerSuite markets itself as a beginner-friendly, cost-effective SEO solution. It’s primarily geared toward freelancers and small teams, especially because of the limitations of it being a desktop software.
Before I discuss SEO PowerSuite’s top features, I want to explain the difference between using a desktop software for your SEO toolkit, rather than an online platform.
The main benefit of installing your SEO software on your computer instead of running it in the cloud is security. You don’t have to worry as much about a data breach because all your information is stored locally.
The other advantage is that you can work offline—no internet connection required.
However, running SEO software locally also severely limits your collaboration capabilities. If you want multiple team members to be able to use SEO PowerSuite at the same time, they’ll each need their own license.
In addition to that, each team member will have to share their projects with one another using SEO PowerSuite Cloud, Dropbox, or Google Workspace.
Choosing SEO PowerSuite will have a significant impact on your SEO workflows, so this is a crucial aspect to consider when weighing your options.
With that out of the way, let’s look at the top features SEO PowerSuite has to offer. It includes all the staple tools you would expect to find in a full-featured SEO platform, including:
However, I want to focus on the features that truly set it apart, starting with its rank tracking tool.
Rank Tracking
Keeping an eye on how your site ranks for important keywords is standard practice for SEO professionals. SEO PowerSuite lets you track rankings for unlimited keywords.
This was the first feature I tried out when I installed SEO PowerSuite. All I had to do was enter a domain name and it pulled up some top keywords for me.
SEO PowerSuite Rank Tracking feature
Adding more keywords was super easy, too. I just had to click the plus button at the top of the screen and type in the term I wanted to track.
Here are the things that make this a standout feature in my opinion:
Ahrefs does let you increase your rank tracking update frequency from weekly to daily, but you have to purchase the Project Boost Max add-on. It comes at a steep price—$2,000 per year per project.
Local SEO
Above, I mentioned that you can use SEO PowerSuite’s rank tracking feature to monitor keyword rankings in multiple search engines. You can also use it to monitor rankings for specific locations.
You add a location using the same options you use to add a search engine.
Adding location specific rank tracking in SEO PowerSuite
What’s notable about SEO PowerSuite’s local rank tracking is that you can specify a street address. Most tools—including Ahrefs—let you narrow down your search by city, but in large metropolitan areas, that can cover a wide geographic area.
According to SEO PowerSuite, its geo-specific rankings provide more accurate data for local SEO.
SEO PowerSuite has an impressive 4.5 star rating on G2. Reading through some of them, I noticed that users are highly satisfied with the customer support team.
A five-star review for SEO PowerSuite from G2
Several people said they found the learning curve to be a bit steep, but the biggest complaint from customers is that the software slows their computers down.
This is definitely a risk that comes with choosing desktop software over an online tool, so be sure to review your computer’s specs before you download SEO PowerSuite.
I would say my experience with SEO PowerSuite lines up with what other users are saying. It’s not the most intuitive tool, and you have to keep manually updating all the data to see the latest stats. It took two minutes to load up rank tracking data. I think having to use it all the time would wear on me after a while.
The SEO PowerSuite Professional plan starts at just $29.10 per month. All plans are billed annually, so you have to pay upfront for at least 12 months.
That price sounds like a steal, but keep in mind you have to buy an additional license for each person on your team if you want everyone to be able to use SEO PowerSuite at the same time. It’s still less expensive than other platforms, but it will add up quickly if your team scales over time.
SEO PowerSuite also offers a Free Forever plan. It has strict limitations, so it’s not the best option for long-term use. It’s a great way to test out the software for yourself, though.
Ahrefs is one of the more well-known SEO tools available. It’s a popular solution for keyword research, competitor analysis, rank tracking, link building, site audits, and more.
Ahrefs is an online platform, so you don’t have to download software onto your computer to use it. You will, however, need an internet connection to be able to access your account and your data.
I highly recommend checking out this Ahrefs review for more details on everything it’s capable of.
Ahrefs is built for SEO professionals, especially agencies and in-house content teams. Its Starter plan also makes it a viable option for freelancers who may not have large budgets to cover the cost of the Lite plan.
Ahrefs has all the tools you need to create a solid SEO strategy, including:
Because Ahrefs is an online, cloud-based software, you can add multiple users to your account and collaborate without having to take extra steps to share projects. Each user will have their own login credentials, but can see the same data, reports, and dashboards as everyone else.
Like I did for SEO PowerSuite, I’m going to take a closer look at what I consider Ahrefs best features. However, it covers all your bases when it comes to SEO, so keep in mind that there’s a lot more to it than the features I’ve highlighted below.
Keyword Research
I’ve used Ahrefs’ keyword research tools more than anything else it has to offer. You can type in any keyword, and it pulls up all kinds of data, like the search volume, how difficult it is to rank for, SERP features, related keywords, and more.
Ahrefs keyword explorer
If you have a keyword in mind that you want to write about, this is a good starting point for gathering some background information.
The keyword ideas section can help you narrow down your focus and find the best term to optimize your content for.
Use trending keywords to create content your audience craves.
Brand Radar
Another feature worth mentioning is Ahrefs’ Brand Radar, which will show you other websites that are mentioning your brand (among other things).
Just type in your brand, select the Web Visibility option, and Ahrefs will return a list of websites that mention it.
Ahrefs Brand Radar tool
You can use the filters to narrow down the results. Where this becomes really helpful is if you purchase the add-on to access data from AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
AI has had a major impact on SEO. Understanding how your target audience is using answer engines to search for your brand is vital to increasing your visibility in AI-powered search.
SEO PowerSuite doesn’t have a comparable tool, so this is a significant plus for Ahrefs.
Ahrefs has stellar reviews on G2, matching SEO PowerSuite’s overall 4.5 star rating. Reviewers are very happy with the accuracy of the data it provides and its comprehensive toolset.
A five-star review for Ahrefs from G2
The most consistent complaints I found were about the pricing. Several users found the add-on system confusing.
Personally, I like only paying for the tools I need and customizing my platform for my needs. It does start to add up quickly, though, so I understand the frustration.
Most SEO professionals will probably want Ahrefs’ Lite plan, which costs $108 per month when billed annually. This plan allows you to have up to five projects, and gives you access to most of Ahrefs’ SEO tools.
As an alternative, you can sign up for the Starter plan for $29 per month. It has strict usage limits, so if you’re managing more than one small site, you’ll probably run out of credits quickly.
There’s no free trial for Ahrefs, so the Starter plan is your best option if you’re not entirely sure you want to commit. You can try out all the basic features and upgrade to the Lite plan if you decide it’s the best fit.
If you want to be able to try out your SEO tool for free before you hand over your credit card information, I recommend considering Semrush. It has a lot of similarities to Ahrefs, but you can try it at no cost.
Check out our Semrush vs Ahrefs comparison for a full rundown of how these two stack up against each other.
The number one thing I would consider when choosing between SEO PowerSuite and Ahrefs is whether you would prefer an online SEO platform or a desktop software that works locally on your computer.
This key difference between SEO PowerSuite and Ahrefs determines how you work with your team, as well as when and where you can access your SEO data. There’s a good chance that this aspect alone will determine which tool is the best choice for you.
In my opinion, if you’re working with a team (or think you might in the future), you’re better off choosing Ahrefs. Streamlined collaboration will save you time and frustration.
Want the collaboration options of Ahrefs, plus local SEO features and daily rank tracking data updates at no extra cost? Semrush is a great alternative to consider.
Try it for free and see for yourself!
Use real-time topic data to create content that resonates and brings results.
Exploding Topics is owned by Semrush. Our mission is to provide accurate data and expert insights on emerging trends. Unless otherwise noted, this page’s content was written by either an employee or a paid contractor of Semrush Inc.
Use real-time topic data to create content that resonates and brings results.
Share
Newsletter Signup
By clicking “Subscribe” you agree to Semrush Privacy Policy and consent to Semrush using your contact data for newsletter purposes
Written By
Molly Tyler
Writer
Molly is a technical content writer with a passion for making technology easy for anyone to understand. She specializes in content… Read more
Learn how to measure SEO performance with actionable metrics, tools, and tips. Track what truly matters and optimize your strategy with confidence.
Research shows that the value of LLM search traffic could overtake Google by 2028. Find out what this means, how to prepare, and more in this report.
Explore free SEO competitor analysis tools for marketers and uses cases. Includes ChatGPT for LLM-readability, Semrush and Exploding Topics for analysis.
Screaming Frog and Semrush are two widely recommended SEO tools—but which one is best? See how the two platforms stack up, and learn how to get an extended Semrush trial.
Use these proven strategies to improve your website SEO for higher visibility in traditional Google search and AI-driven results.

source

How To Make Money With AI: 18 Ideas (2025) – Shopify

Start selling with Shopify today
Start your free trial with Shopify today—then use these resources to guide you through every step of the process.
How does Shopify work
As AI transforms industries, learn more about the tools you can use to make money using AI, and the ways you can apply AI in your business.
Start your online business today.
For free.
Artificial intelligence has become an essential tool in many industries. Generative AI completes repetitive tasks like answering customer questions, while the latest AI tools perform complex processes like creating product schematics and writing software. These advancements make AI a great opportunity for making money online.
The best part: You don’t need access to expensive AI technology to generate income. You can launch an AI-powered business and make money online with a commercially available application like Google Gemini or ChatGPT.
Here’s an overview of AI business ideas and artificial intelligence tools, and tips on how to make money using AI.

Before diving into money-making opportunities, let’s clarify what we mean by AI. Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. Like the human brain, an AI tool typically can learn from experience (also known as its “training”), adapt to changes, and improve over time.
Today’s AI landscape includes:
The speed at which artificial intelligence has developed has allowed it to permeate countless industries, from writing to data analytics. Market trends have produced a surge in AI applications throughout the economy, making it easier than ever to find ways to make money using AI. In fact, Statista predicts that the AI market size will reach $826 billion by 2030.
Here are a few ideas to explore if you’re looking to monetize AI.
AI is revolutionizing online selling, making it easier than ever to launch and scale an ecommerce business. Gone are the days when you needed technical expertise or a big budget to create a professional online store. Today’s AI-powered ecommerce platforms handle everything from store design to product descriptions, letting you focus on what matters: building a brand that connects with customers.
Some entrepreneurs are making thousands of dollars monthly by combining AI with smart product selection and targeted marketing. According to SellersCommerce, AI is expected to add $8.65 billion to the ecommerce industry in 2025, meaning more opportunities for savvy business owners. The key is using AI to handle the heavy lifting while you bring your unique vision and customer knowledge to the table.
For example, you can use Shopify’s AI store builder to create a free store design in minutes. Enter a quick description of your business or products to generate custom themes with a unique look tailored for your industry. Try any theme and customize them further to suit your needs.
Build an online store with AI
Create a website in minutes with the AI store builder. Describe your brand or products to generate a free custom theme that fits your idea.
AI tools can write the code that powers many types of software applications. This saves time and human power, cutting out the tedious task of drafting lines of code. You could work as a freelance coder and software developer, using AI coding tools to create programs for clients.
The software you create with AI can also incorporate AI models. For instance, you could use AI to create automated bookkeeping software that uses machine learning algorithms to process ledger entries and generate financial reports.
Embracing AI data analytics services includes the use of deep learning, natural language processing (NLP,) and sometimes computer vision (depending on the nature of the data and the insights sought). You can leverage AI technologies to gain insights, optimize processes, produce data visualization, and create new industry opportunities.
Many businesses pay for actionable information that can drive decision-making. Some of the leading AI data analytics products include RapidMiner, DataRobot, and Domino.
Recommended reading: Top AI Statistics and Artificial Intelligence Trends
There is ample market demand for customer service AI chatbots. Unlike human representatives, powerful AI chatbots can generate thousands of replies per minute, letting you serve customers online with great efficiency.
Create and provide AI chatbots or virtual assistants to businesses looking to enhance their customer service operations. You can make money with AI by personalizing your chatbots to automate responses and improve customer satisfaction on clients’ websites or platforms.
Thanks to NLP, AI writing tools can specialize in content creation that mimics human syntax with impressive precision. For example, freelance writers can use AI writing tools to generate ideas and write faster than they could unassisted. With AI-powered content generation, it streamlines the creative process, which opens up their bandwidth to offer writing services to more freelance clients, leading to higher pay without much additional effort.
In today’s business landscape, where AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, contribute to content creation, the role of an editor becomes crucial to ensure content quality, coherence, and alignment with brand values. That means, even if you don’t use AI applications for content creation, you could make money with AI by becoming an editor of AI content—offering a human touch to the high-volume output of AI tools.
Many AI-powered tools can produce AI-generated art for a variety of purposes. For example, you can use AI image generators for digital artwork like corporate logos, web design, t-shirt graphics, and more. Use a powerful tool like Midjourney or DALL-E to speed up the process of creating digital art for your clients. Once they sign off on a concept, you can use your editing skills to customize and perfect the AI-generated artwork.
Typically, you only need to prompt the AI art generator with a text description of your design idea, and the tool can create images based on your words. You can also use an AI-assisted design tool like Adobe Sensei or Canva to develop your visual concepts.
AI tools can design and build websites with remarkable speed. Utilizing AI tools, you can create a custom website that aligns with your objectives, like an ecommerce site or photography portfolio. This might mean building sites for clients or designing your own website to represent your business.
AI tools can now cut and edit videos based on a series of written inputs. AI video editing software like PictoryAI and Animoto works on everything from low-budget YouTube videos to professional films, TV shows, and commercials.
If you have foundational skills in video editing, incorporating AI tools can enhance your efficiency, helping you expedite the editing process. This increase in productivity can help you accommodate more clients. While a human editor’s oversight remains valuable, machine learning advancements have enabled software to generate AI video content with reduced need for manual intervention.
There are AI tools to handle nearly every aspect of digital marketing and even help you manage social media brands. You can integrate AI solutions that aid in content creation, schedule paid advertising content (through a combination of data analysis, predictive analytics, and automation), write blog posts, optimize sites for search engines, draft sponsored social media posts, and help with conversion rate optimization.
Many AI-powered marketing campaigns start with a set of human-crafted digital marketing materials. From there, AI tools can create and disseminate more content to help promote your clients or sell products and services thanks to AI content creation.
Recommended reading: How To Use AI for Sales, Plus 8 Effective AI Sales Tools
Make money with AI tools by getting into the affiliate marketing game. As an AI-powered affiliate marketer, you can generate income by promoting other companies’ products or services and earning commission. AI tools can help you set up an affiliate marketing website in part by observing search trends to figure out what products are worth featuring. Once it’s up and running, an affiliate marketing website can be a great side hustle, bringing in passive income while you focus on other projects.
Recommended reading: AI Affiliate Marketing: How To Earn with Artificial Intelligence
Large language models (LLMs) have a deep understanding of many languages, making them useful as translation tools. If you’re multilingual, you can offer AI translation and localization services. 
When you start an AI-assisted translation service, the AI translation tools produce a basic translation. Then you review the machine’s output, checking for accuracy and syntax before delivering to clients.
Financial analysts now use AI for predictive modeling. This could involve building AI algorithms for stock market predictions, risk assessment, or fraud detection in financial transactions. Learn more about these data analysis applications by checking out the existing AI finance software in this space, including Kensho, H2O Driverless AI, and Palantir Foundry.
Using AI, you can create online courses, training programs, and workshops. Use AI to create an outline for a course and flesh it out with unique content, relying on your expertise to finesse the AI’s output and tailor it to your target audience. On a business-to-consumer (B2C) basis, these courses can cater to individuals looking to upskill; on a business-to-business (B2B) basis, they could serve businesses looking to educate employees about their industry or buyer personas.
Develop custom AI solutions for automating the hiring process, including résumé screening, candidate matching, and interviews. This can save HR departments time and resources. Many of the nation’s leading job recruitment platforms already use AI-powered software to sort through applicants. Consider building specialized AI tools for niche businesses looking to hire rare skill sets.
AI-powered cybersecurity solutions help businesses detect threats and anomalies and monitor for these in real time. With cyberattacks on the rise, businesses are willing to invest in advanced security measures.
If you enter this field, your target audience likely will be companies storing large troves of customer data. For example, you would work to protect sensitive financial data that would have significant consequences if compromised.
Inventory management is a complex process that AI tools can simplify and be used for to help you save time. With AI-powered software, you can track the movement of products through a supply chain, predict stocking needs based on customer behavior, and update inventory records as products are sold and restocked.
As a digital entrepreneur, you can use an AI-powered all-in-one inventory management solution. Or, you can make more money by concentrating on a specific niche like warehousing or shipping logistics.
AI applications can now help with precision agriculture, crop monitoring, and yield prediction. These solutions can help farmers optimize their operations and improve crop yields. If you work in agriculture, you can join the farmers, seed producers, and resource managers who already make money with AI tools while improving food production.
According to a 2024 McKinsey & Company survey, 53% of respondents saw more than a 5% increase in revenue when leveraging AI tools for supply chain and inventory management. Use AI to perform tasks like optimizing inventory management systems, organizing routes and suppliers, performing quality control, predicting and managing risks, and forecasting demand.
With hundreds of AI tools available, choosing the right ones for your business is key. Here are some of the most popular AI applications, and their main use cases:

When selecting AI tools, consider these factors:
Remember that the most expensive tool isn’t always the best fit. Start with a free trial when available, and focus on tools that solve your specific business challenges rather than those with the most features.

Now that you’re familiar with how to use AI across a variety of industries, here are a few quick tips to consider as you get started.
Recommended reading: Best Artificial Intelligence Apps for a Range of Uses
One of the most common questions about AI-powered businesses is: How much can I actually earn? While earnings will vary widely based on your skills, time investment, and business model, here’s a realistic breakdown.
For specialized AI roles, Glassdoor’s salary data shows that AI/ML engineers earn an average of $170,768 per year in the United States, with a base salary of $125,436 plus additional compensation. Similarly, Machine learning engineers earn an average of $154,676 annually.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, AI data scientists earn a median annual wage of $112,590 as of May 2024. Employment in this field is projected to grow 36% from 2023 to 2033—much faster than average.
These figures represent full-time employment, but they provide a benchmark for what clients might expect to pay for specialized AI expertise.
According to a 2024 Upwork report, data science and analytics is one of the fastest-growing work categories, with AI modeling and machine learning skills in particularly high demand.
The Robert Half 2025 Technology Salary Guide confirms AI and machine learning skills are among the most sought-after technical capabilities, with 38% of employers actively seeking these skills—creating significant opportunities for freelancers and consultants in this space.
Beyond freelancing, entrepreneurs are building scalable AI-powered businesses. The key factors that influence your earning potential include:
Remember, building a successful AI business takes time. Many entrepreneurs start with side projects while maintaining other income sources, gradually scaling as they gain expertise and clients.
If you’re new to AI and excited about its potential, here’s a practical roadmap to help you get started without feeling overwhelmed:
Start by understanding AI fundamentals and capabilities. You don’t need to become a technical expert, but you should understand:
Resources like DataCamp’s AI learning guide can help you build this foundation quickly.
Begin experimenting with user-friendly AI tools that don’t require technical expertise, like:
Focus on understanding what these tools can and can’t do well, and how they might fit into your workflow or business model.
Based on your skills, interests, and market research, choose a specific direction:
The best opportunities often lie at the intersection of your unique skills and emerging AI capabilities.
Start small with a focused offering that delivers clear value:
The final step is to get your offering in front of real customers:
Remember that successful AI entrepreneurs rarely get everything right on the first try. The key is to start small, learn quickly, and adapt based on real-world feedback.
While many articles promise easy money with AI, the reality is more nuanced. As discussions on entrepreneurship forums reveal, successful AI entrepreneurs don’t typically ask “how to make money” questions—they’re focused on building and scaling their products and services.
So what separates successful AI entrepreneurs from the dreamers? It’s not technical expertise, but strategic application and problem-solving. Research from Precedence Research shows that businesses finding success are applying AI to specific commerce challenges. 
Successful approaches typically include:
Here’s how some real companies are leveraging AI to drive measurable results.
Sephora, the global beauty retailer, has implemented an AI-driven personalization strategy that transformed its customer experience.
According to a case study by RedressCompliance, Sephora’s AI system analyzes customer data, including purchase history, browsing behavior, and quiz responses to generate tailored product recommendations. 
The store also includes consumer AI features, such as:
Sephora’s approach demonstrates how AI can enhance rather than replace the personal elements of shopping.
Wayfair, the online home goods retailer, faced a significant challenge with its massive catalog of more than 40 million products. Manual tagging was slow and inconsistent, making it difficult for customers to find relevant items.
According to Snorkel AI’s customer story, Wayfair implemented a machine learning solution to automate and improve their product tagging process. 
The results:
The system works by analyzing product images and descriptions to automatically tag items with attributes like color, style, material, and function. This enables more precise search results and better product recommendations.
H&M, the global fashion retailer, was struggling with excess inventory and inefficient stock distribution across its stores worldwide. According to a case study by DigitalDefynd, H&M implemented an AI-driven demand forecasting system analyzing multiple data points, including:
The implementation helped H&M reduce excess inventory, decrease markdowns, and optimize its supply chain—getting the right products in the right stores at the right time.
These case studies highlight a crucial insight: successful AI implementation isn’t about replacing human decision-making but enhancing it with data-driven intelligence. The companies seeing the greatest ROI are those that use AI to solve specific business problems while maintaining their unique brand.

While AI offers exciting opportunities, there are several common mistakes that can derail your success. Being aware of these pitfalls can save you time, money, and frustration.
Many entrepreneurs fail because they have unrealistic expectations about what AI can do. According to the Project Management Institute, 70% to 80% of AI projects fail due to misaligned expectations and technical limitations.
Current AI excels at pattern recognition, content generation, and data analysis. It still struggles with common sense reasoning and creative problem-solving that requires human judgment. Before building a business around AI, thoroughly test the technology’s capabilities for your specific use case rather than relying on general claims about AI performance.
AI raises complex questions about copyright, data privacy, transparency, and bias. TechTarget highlights how businesses using AI may face ethical and legal challenges related to data privacy, security, and intellectual property.
Before launching an AI business:
The most common mistake is developing an AI solution and then searching for a problem it might solve. Successful entrepreneurs do the opposite—they identify customer problems first, then determine if and how AI can help solve them.
Start by understanding your target audience’s pain points through market research, surveys, and direct conversations. Only then should you consider which AI tools might help address those needs most effectively.
With AI tools becoming increasingly accessible, offering “AI-powered services” alone isn’t enough. 
To avoid becoming a commodity:
While AI can automate many tasks, the human touch remains essential for building trust and delivering exceptional customer experiences. 
The most successful AI businesses:
Remember that AI should serve your customers and your business goals—not the other way around. The technology is a means to an end, not the end itself.
As AI technology evolves rapidly, building a sustainable business requires thinking ahead. Here are strategies to ensure your AI-powered venture remains relevant and competitive:
Rather than betting everything on a single AI technology or platform, develop a hybrid approach combining multiple tools and methodologies. According to MIT Sloan Management Review, the most resilient AI implementations combine automated systems with human expertise.
This might mean:
Businesses built around specific AI technologies may become obsolete as those technologies evolve. Instead, focus your business on solving specific customer problems that will persist regardless of technological changes.
For example, rather than marketing yourself as a “GPT specialist,” position your business as helping clients “increase conversion rates through personalized customer experiences.” This need will remain even as the underlying technology changes.
The half-life of AI skills is shorter than in many other fields, with Harvard Business Review research finding technical skills in some fields can become outdated in as little as two and a half years. 
Set aside dedicated time each week to:
While AI tools themselves may become commoditized, you can build lasting value through:
By anticipating these changes, you can position your business to adapt quickly rather than being caught off guard.
Considering how far artificial intelligence tools have come in recent years, you have access to a lot of AI solutions to help turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Commerce-driven AI makes it easier than ever for you to start and grow an online store that can compete in your industry.
Whether you’re writing product descriptions or need help turning live chats into checkouts, Shopify Magic supports you 24/7 with the powerful AI tools to help your ecommerce business thrive.
Build an online store with AI
Create a website in minutes with the AI store builder. Describe your brand or products to generate a free custom theme that fits your idea.
You can use AI tools to create optimized websites that bring in ad revenue, offer services like AI-powered accounting and bookkeeping that you advertise on freelance sites, or focus on content creation by using AI-powered tools to generate text and graphics for your clients.
Earning potential with AI can vary widely depending on how you leverage the technology, as well as your skills, time, industry, niche, and product demand. Generally, you can expect to earn monthly income from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, but that also depends on factors like your marketing efforts and profit margins.
Among the AI tools you can use to make money with AI are ChatGPT, Jasper AI, Copy.ai, Writesonic, Rytr, Pictory, Animoto, RapidMiner, DataRobot, and Domino.
Yes, as with any new technology, there are risks associated with making money with AI. You should do your own due diligence when it comes to assessing the risk of using AI-powered platforms for your business, but here are a few considerations: AI algorithms can make mistakes (known as AI hallucinations), cite outdated data, and often lack the ability to cite the sources where it found information. There also could be potential legal risks associated with using AI tools in certain situations, so always consult with your attorney before embarking on a new business venture that utilizes AI technologies.
Yes, you can make money with AI by incorporating ChatGPT into your products or services. For example, you could offer AI chatbot services or automated customer support, or use the AI tool for freelance coding or content creation.
The newsletter for entrepreneurs
Join millions of self-starters in getting business resources, tips, and inspiring stories in your inbox.
Unsubscribe anytime. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify. By proceeding, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
popular posts
popular posts
2023-11-08
2023-09-01
2023-12-05
2023-11-09
2023-09-20
2023-11-23
2023-12-02
2023-11-06
Unsubscribe anytime. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify. By proceeding, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Learn on the go. Try Shopify for free, and explore all the tools you need to start, run, and grow your business.
Try Shopify for free, no credit card required.

source

[SEO, PPC & Attribution] Unlocking The Power Of Offline Marketing In A Digital World – Search Engine Journal

Download your cheat sheet and checklist to start building content that works harder.
Large AI Overviews on SERPs are affecting visibility and causing a dramatic decrease in traffic.
In this actionable session, Nick Gallagher, SEO Lead at Conductor, as he gives you actionable SEO guidance in this new era of search engine results page (SERPs).
Large AI Overviews on SERPs are affecting visibility and causing a dramatic decrease in traffic.
This template is your no-nonsense roadmap to a flexible, agile social media strategy.
Large AI Overviews on SERPs are affecting visibility and causing a dramatic decrease in traffic.
Find out how to enhance your conversion tracking by integrating phone call data into your digital marketing strategies today.
 This post was sponsored by CallTrackingMetrics. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.
Did you know 92% of all customer interactions are from phone calls?
And very few know how to track conversions from phone calls.
Brands meticulously track clicks, impressions, and online interactions through SEO, pay-per-click (PPC) ads, and data-driven strategies.
Yet, one critical piece is often missing: offline conversions.
Many high-intent customer interactions, especially in industries like healthcare, legal, home services, and B2B, happen over the phone.
If you’re in an industry that receives any number of calls, you may be struggling to connect these calls to your digital marketing efforts, leading to:
How do you fix this? Call tracking.
By leveraging AI-powered tools and advanced attribution technology, marketers can bridge the online-offline gap, ensuring no lead goes unnoticed.
TL;DR: Historically, you could not attribute conversions to phone calls; now, you can.
Yes, offline conversions can be tracked.
And despite the high percentage of customer interactions happening over the phone, many brands fail to track which ad or campaign led to those calls.
This could stem from knowledge gaps, tight budgets, or reluctance to integrate more technology into their stack.
Without call attribution, businesses are left guessing about what’s driving revenue.
Offline conversion attribution is the process of linking your online marketing efforts to offline sales or actions.
It helps you understand which digital marketing channels and campaigns contribute to offline conversions, such as in-store purchases, phone call inquiries, or signed contracts.
By paying attention to phone call conversion data, you can:
1. Connect Online Interactions To A Phone Call: A user clicks on a digital ad, visits a website, fills out a form, or calls a business after seeing an online campaign.
2. Store User Data In One Place: Data from these interactions (such as email, phone number, or a unique tracking ID) is captured and stored.
3. Match Callers With Offline Events: When a purchase or conversion happens in-store, over the phone, or through a sales team, businesses match it back to the initial online touchpoint.
4. Analyze & Optimize Webpages With Content That Converts: You can analyze which digital campaigns, keywords, or ads drive the most offline conversions, optimizing their marketing strategy accordingly.
When you introduce a tool that acts as Google Analytics for phones, you’ll be able to:
Without call tracking, the PPC ad might receive full credit, even though SEO and social played key roles. Choosing the right attribution model ensures data-driven marketing decisions.
Gain Keyword Attribution Beyond Clicks
Rankings, traffic, and forms typically measure SEO success fills. But what about phone calls? Call tracking technology with dynamic number insertion (DNI) allows businesses to:
For example, if multiple callers reference a specific product-related question, that insight can inform new blog topics or FAQ pages to improve SEO efforts, driving even more right-fit traffic into your sales funnel and conversion metrics.
Optimize For True Local SEO
Local search is a major driver of inbound calls. When combined with call tracking, businesses can finally understand:
Phone calls aren’t just conversions—they’re valuable sources of customer insights that your teams can use to refine ad strategies, train teams on sales pitches, and identify areas for growth in your content strategy. Each conversation has the potential to reveal the common questions, pain points, and content gaps that businesses can address to improve their marketing performance.
1. Identify FAQs for Stronger Content
Often, customers call a company’s support phone number when they can’t find information online, either about a product or service they’re considering buying or one they’ve already purchased. By analyzing call transcripts, businesses can spot recurring questions and proactively address them in blog posts, FAQs, or product pages.
For example, if a home services company frequently gets calls asking, “Do you offer emergency repairs on weekends?”, this signals a need to make that information more visible on their website. A dedicated service page or blog post could reduce unnecessary calls while improving customer experience.
2. Refine Your Website Messaging
If callers repeatedly ask about pricing, product differences, or service details, your website messaging probably isn’t clear enough.
For instance, an e-commerce brand selling fitness equipment might notice that callers often ask, “What’s the difference between your basic and premium treadmill?” Adding a simple comparison chart or explainer video can help lessen confusion and improve conversions.
3. Fill Content Gaps To Reduce Sales Friction
Repeated calls about the same topic are a good indicator of missing or unclear content. A B2B SaaS company, for example, might receive frequent inquiries about integrating with a particular CRM or social platform. Instead of solely relying on customer support, the marketing team could identify this pain point and create a step-by-step guide or video tutorial to address it, which would reduce friction and improve self-service for prospects.
Tracking clicks alone doesn’t reveal the full ROI of PPC campaigns. Many conversions, especially phone calls, happen offline and go untracked. Without attribution, businesses may waste ad spend and overlook high-intent leads. This section explores how call tracking connects PPC efforts to real conversions, improving marketing efficiency.
A high cost-per-click (CPC) doesn’t guarantee strong ROI if businesses aren’t tracking offline conversions. Without call tracking, marketers risk:
When a business fails to account for ROI in the form of phone calls, they’re losing an opportunity to accurately account for their real CPC and allocate resources accordingly.
PPC campaigns are only as effective as the data behind them. Without tracking phone calls, businesses risk misallocating budgets to keywords that drive clicks but not conversions. Integrating call tracking with Google Ads provides a clearer picture by linking calls to the specific campaigns, ad groups, and keywords that drive valuable conversions.
With AI-powered call scoring, marketers can identify high-intent leads and adjust bidding strategies based on actual conversion data—not just clicks. This ensures ad spend is focused on quality leads rather than wasted traffic.
Not every caller converts immediately. Call tracking allows businesses to retarget high-intent leads with personalized follow-ups. By analyzing call topics, marketers can tailor ads or email sequences to address specific customer concerns, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Additionally, integrating call data with CRM platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce ensures sales teams can nurture prospects effectively, preventing lost opportunities. By combining PPC insights with offline conversions, businesses gain a clearer understanding of customer behavior, leading to smarter ad spend and more targeted outreach.
As marketing shifts to a mix of online and offline tactics, attribution models must evolve. By integrating call tracking with Google Analytics, CRM systems, and automation tools, businesses can gain a complete view of the customer journey.
A company that integrates CallTrackingMetrics with Google Analytics and its CRM can:
Call tracking is no longer just about recordings or basic attribution. AI-driven call analysis provides deep insights, such as:
By leveraging AI, businesses can better understand customer needs, improve sales strategies, and ensure marketing efforts are driving meaningful engagement. Implementing AI-driven call tracking empowers teams to make data-backed decisions that enhance both customer experience and conversion rates.
Marketers are often challenged to prove ROI beyond what we might call “vanity metrics”, like impressions and clicks. Though these have a place in any strategy, these metrics don’t necessarily move the needle toward sales goals.
Call tracking, on the other hand, delivers revenue-focused attribution, showing exactly how digital marketing contributes to bottom-line growth. This kind of revenue-focused attribution can help an entire company analyze past efforts and accurately forecast revenue based on real campaigns, real calls, and real results
Case Study: This study from CallTrackingMetrics demonstrated how AI-driven call tracking optimized PPC ROAS and improved lead quality​.
Want to see how conversation intelligence can improve your marketing performance? Check out our guide to building an effective omnichannel communications strategy.
Ready to get to work? Book a demo with our team and see how CallTrackingMetrics’ products can help you.
Image Credits
Featured Image: Image by CallTrackingMetrics. Used with permission.
CallTrackingMetrics is an award-winning, global conversation analytics company founded and led by a husband-wife team that enables marketers to make …
Join 75,000+ Digital Leaders.
Learn how to connect search, AI, and PPC into one unstoppable strategy.
Join 75,000+ Digital Leaders.
Learn how to connect search, AI, and PPC into one unstoppable strategy.
Join 75,000+ Digital Leaders.
Learn how to connect search, AI, and PPC into one unstoppable strategy.
Join 75,000+ Digital Leaders.
Learn how to connect search, AI, and PPC into one unstoppable strategy.
In a world ruled by algorithms, SEJ brings timely, relevant information for SEOs, marketers, and entrepreneurs to optimize and grow their businesses — and careers.
Copyright © 2025 Search Engine Journal. All rights reserved. Published by Alpha Brand Media.

source