Get your 2026 marketing plan in place with proven strategies for small business growth. Learn what to focus on now—from content and SEO to lead generation and goal setting.

Discover how to use AI in your content marketing without losing your brand voice. Learn how business owners can blend AI tools with expert strategy, AWS hosting, and pro oversight for smarter marketing in 2025.

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PPC advertising has changed—and if you’re still running campaigns the old way, you’re probably overspending and underperforming. With rising ad costs and smarter algorithms, now is the time to stop guessing and start optimizing. This blog breaks down what’s working in pay-per-click advertising today, how to avoid common money-wasting mistakes, and why every smart business owner should focus on precision, testing, and data-driven strategies. The Real Purpose of PPC (And Why It’s Evolving) Pay-per-click ads aren’t just about visibility anymore. They’re about conversion. Whether you’re running ads on Google, YouTube, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), or TikTok, your campaigns should be engineered to: Reach the right audience at the right time Test what messages actually convert Maximize your return on every dollar Smarter campaigns don’t just rely on intuition—they rely on data. A/B Testing Is No Longer Optional If you’re launching one version of an ad and hoping for the best, you’re leaving money on the table. A/B testing allows you to: Compare different headlines, visuals, and calls-to-action Discover which targeting options drive real conversions Lower your cost-per-click while boosting engagement Pro Tip: Even changing one word in your ad headline can result in a 10-20% difference in performance. (Source: Wordstream, 2024) Retargeting Is the Unsung Hero of Ad Strategy Most customers don’t convert the first time they see your ad—and that’s where retargeting shines. By serving ads to people who’ve visited your website, clicked your link, or watched your video, you: Stay top of mind Build trust through repeated exposure Increase conversions without increasing your budget Stat: Retargeted visitors are 70% more likely to convert than cold traffic. (Source: CXL, 2024) Get Granular With Targeting Gone are the days of broad campaigns. Platforms like Google Ads and Meta now offer incredibly detailed targeting tools. You can: Target by user behavior, location, device, and even search intent Use lookalike audiences based on your best customers Layer demographics, interests, and activity to zero in on high-intent leads Precision = less wasted spend and higher ROI. The Role of Landing Pages in PPC Success No matter how good your ad is, it’s only half the equation. If your landing page is cluttered, slow, or unclear, people will bounce. A high-converting landing page should: Load in under 3 seconds Match the message and design of your ad Have a clear CTA above the fold Be mobile optimized and distraction-free If you’re sending paid traffic to a generic homepage, you’re losing leads. Key Takeaways for Smarter PPC Always test your ads and learn from the data Use retargeting to close the loop on lost traffic Leverage advanced targeting tools to find high-quality leads Align your landing pages with your ad message When it comes to PPC, success isn’t about spending more—it’s about spending smarter. Want to attract more qualified leads and convert more customers? Book a free marketing strategy session where we’ll discuss your business goals, outline the strategy you need to achieve them, and show you how our proven methods can support your growth. At Mercier Marketing Group, we lead with expertise and data-driven strategies. You stay in control with full visibility and approval, while we handle the execution that drives results. Our process is designed to keep your marketing on track, efficient, and focused on business growth. Schedule here! Blog Snapshot Blog Theme: PPC & Digital Advertising Strategies Focus Topic: Smarter PPC Campaigns Key Services Promoted: Google Ads, Meta Ads, TikTok Ads, Landing Page Optimization Trending Strategy: A/B Testing and Retargeting Campaigns Sources Wordstream. (2024). Digital Advertising Trends & Benchmarks CXL. (2024). Retargeting Conversion Statistics HubSpot. (2024). The State of Paid Advertising Google. (2024). Performance Max Campaign Insights

Let’s be honest — running a business today without looking at your marketing data is a lot like driving blindfolded. Sure, you might be moving forward, but who knows if you’re heading in the right direction? That’s where analytics and reporting step in. They show you what’s really happening with your marketing so you can stop guessing and start making decisions that actually grow your business. Why the Numbers Matter A lot of business owners spend money on marketing, cross their fingers, and hope it works. The problem? Hope isn’t a strategy. Without analytics: You don’t know which ads or posts are working. You might be throwing money at things that never convert. You miss out on trends that could help you bring in more leads. And here’s the kicker: businesses that use data-driven strategies are 23x more likely to acquire customers and 19x more likely to be profitable than those that don’t (McKinsey). Companies that track and act on analytics see an average 20% boost in ROI (Google). That’s the difference between crossing your fingers and knowing your investment is working. What We Actually Do With Analytics Here’s the straight truth: we don’t review your website analytics — we provide reports so you can see that for yourself. Where we do dig in is with the things that matter most: Reviewing analytics when running ads Running A/B tests to see which version performs better Using reporting and research for SEO keyword searches Finding the right hashtags for your social posts This is the kind of work that saves you from wasting money on campaigns that don’t perform. Because let’s face it — nobody wants marketing that just eats up the budget without delivering results. From Data to Strategy Data by itself doesn’t grow your business. It’s what you do with it that counts. At Mercier Marketing Group, we cut through the noise and use analytics to build a marketing strategy that works for your business today and adapts as you grow. We figure out which numbers are worth paying attention to. We use data to guide everything from SEO to PPC to social media. We make sure your strategy grows with you, without ever blowing the budget. Because at the end of the day, marketing isn’t about throwing more money at the problem. It’s about being smarter with the money you’re already spending. The Free SEO Audit Report One of the easiest ways to get started is with our free SEO audit report . Think of it as a health check for your digital presence across the web. Every business looks different online, and so do the results of each audit. The important thing is that it shows you where you stand today and where the opportunities lie. And here’s something we do differently: we don’t rely on cookie-cutter lists of keywords. We perform keyword searches tailored to each client , and then we use those keywords across the board — in your social posts, blogs, SEO campaigns, even your PPC ads. That way, your entire digital presence works together to build momentum. If you decide to let us manage and grow your digital presence, you’ll have a partner making sure that momentum doesn’t stop. Year after year, as your business grows, so does your online visibility. The Truth About Data and AI Now, let’s be real — most business owners aren’t going to spend hours every week analyzing their data. And honestly, we don’t blame you. You’ve got a business to run, customers to serve, and a hundred other things on your plate. Some turn to apps or even AI tools like ChatGPT to “do the heavy lifting.” But here’s the problem: AI isn’t perfect. It makes mistakes, it can’t always interpret data correctly, and it definitely doesn’t understand the nuances of your business. In fact, 68% of marketers say AI tools still require significant human oversight (Salesforce, 2023). And more than half of businesses admit inaccurate AI outputs have already led to poor decisions (PwC). Trusting AI alone to grow your business is like trusting technology to never have bugs, glitches, or outages — one hiccup and your whole system could come crashing down. That’s why you need an expert team who understands the tools, knows how to read the data, and can actually turn it into a strategy that works. Or, to put it another way… as Chris Farley once joked in Tommy Boy, “you can stick your head up a bull’s ass to get a good look at a T-bone… or you can just trust the butcher.” Why wrestle with the bull when you could just trust the experts? Building Growth That Lasts Marketing isn’t a one-and-done project. It’s an ongoing process — test, learn, adjust, repeat. The businesses that win are the ones that treat data as a friend, not a burden. The payoff is huge: companies that use analytics to guide decisions see 126% higher profit improvement than those that don’t (MIT Sloan). Data-driven leaders are also 6x more likely to retain customers (Forbes). Analytics and reporting give you the roadmap. A smart strategy keeps you on track. Together, they create the kind of long-term growth every business owner dreams about. Final Thought You don’t need to become an expert in analytics overnight — that’s what we’re here for. Our job is to take the complexity off your plate and turn it into strategies that actually work. If you’re curious about where your business stands, start with a free SEO audit report . It’s an easy first step, and from there, we’ll help you turn the numbers into a plan for real growth. 👉 Visit www.MercierMarketingGroup.com/contact to get started. Blog Snapshot Theme: Analytics & Reporting Focus Topic: Analytics and Reporting Key Services Promoted: Marketing Strategy Free SEO Audit Report Trending Strategy: Data-driven marketing: Hire experts to interpret data, run A/B testing, perform keyword research, and apply findings across SEO, PPC, blogs, and social media. Grow steadily over time while staying within budget at every stage of business growth. Sources McKinsey & Company, The Age of Analytics Google Analytics Benchmarking Report Salesforce, State of Marketing 2023 PwC, AI Predictions 2023 MIT Sloan Management Review, Analytics as a Source of Business Value Forbes, Data-Driven Marketing Leaders Retain More Customers

If you’re still relying on outdated tactics to get leads—you're wasting time and money. Cold calling, generic email blasts, and hoping someone clicks your link aren’t enough anymore. Smart businesses are generating high-quality leads using strategic, data-backed marketing plans. Whether you're struggling to attract the right people or unsure how to turn interest into action, this blog will walk you through what’s working in lead generation now—and how to build a system that brings consistent results. The Real Meaning of “Leads” Today Let’s clear this up first: a lead isn’t just a name or an email. A quality lead is someone who: Fits your ideal customer profile Has shown interest or intent Can be nurtured into a sale with the right strategy It’s not about quantity—it’s about targeting the right audience with the right message at the right time. Where Most Businesses Go Wrong They launch campaigns without a clear strategy They target everyone instead of their best-fit customers They focus on short-term results rather than building a pipeline If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. But the solution isn’t “more leads”—it’s better systems . The Foundation: Start With Strategy Great lead generation starts with understanding your audience and building a plan that aligns with your goals. That means: Identifying what problems your target market is actively trying to solve Creating offers that address those needs Choosing marketing channels where your audience actually spends time A data-driven marketing strategy is the difference between “running ads” and building a predictable lead engine. How Long Does It Take to See Results? One of the biggest misconceptions in lead generation is the expectation of instant sales . While you may capture a few quick wins, most leads take time to convert. Research shows that while some leads can convert within weeks, others may take months—or even up to 3 years—before making a purchasing decision . According to HubSpot, the average B2B sales cycle length is 84 days , while consumer-focused campaigns typically require 4–6 weeks of nurturing before conversions start to climb. However, long-term lead nurturing is critical: studies indicate that as much as 20% of leads that don’t convert within the first year may still convert within 2–3 years when consistently nurtured. That’s why having the right systems in place matters: A professional website to make a strong first impression Consistent social media to build brand trust and thought leadership SEO and directory listings to help your business get found online Blogs and educational content to establish authority and nurture leads Paid campaigns designed to target your best audience When all these elements work together, businesses see stronger results over time—and avoid the frustration of expecting overnight success. Blogs & Social Media: The Trust Builders Leads don’t just convert because of ads—they convert because they trust your brand . Consistent blogs and social posts serve as touchpoints that: Keep your business visible and top-of-mind Educate your audience with helpful, relevant content Show thought leadership in your industry Support SEO, making it easier for leads to find you organically By publishing regular blogs and maintaining active, strategic social channels, you create a steady stream of value that nurtures leads through the decision-making process. These ongoing efforts build confidence in your business, shorten the sales cycle, and turn prospects into loyal customers. High-Converting Lead Generation Tactics 1. SEO-Optimized Landing Pages You can’t expect people to take action if your landing pages aren’t clear, fast, and tailored to what they’re looking for. 2. Value-Driven Lead Magnets Offer something helpful (like a checklist, short guide, or tool) in exchange for their contact info. It’s low-risk for them and helps you build a qualified list. 3. Precision Audience Targeting with Paid Ads Running ads on Meta, Google, or TikTok? Make sure you’re targeting based on behavior, intent, and demographics—not just interest. 4. Nurture Campaigns That Convert Leads aren’t always ready to buy. Email automations and retargeting campaigns help move them through the funnel until they are. Let the Data Be Your Guide Data helps you: Track what messages are working Understand which channels convert best Refine your offer based on behavior, not assumptions Businesses that implement data-driven lead gen strategies consistently see higher ROI and faster growth. Why Strategy + Expertise Matters Digital marketing success doesn’t come from piecemeal tactics or “just running ads.” It comes from a carefully built ecosystem that includes strategy, execution, testing, and refinement. Your niece who’s always on her phone may be able to capture great behind-the-scenes content as your company’s “photographer”—and that’s valuable for authenticity. But running ad campaigns, optimizing SEO, designing websites, building funnels, and managing a digital storefront requires proven expertise . Trusting your brand to an inexperienced marketer risks wasted spend, lost leads, and missed opportunities. At Mercier Marketing Group, we specialize in setting businesses up for long-term success by: Implementing SEO and directory listing services to help your business get found online Creating professional websites designed to convert Publishing blogs that build authority and leadership in your industry Delivering consistent social media posts that nurture leads and improve SEO Running PPC campaigns that target and convert your best-fit customers With years of proven results and strategies that adapt to new technologies, we help you grow smarter—not harder. Want a Smarter Way to Attract Leads? If you're ready to stop chasing leads and start attracting the right ones, let’s talk. Our team builds marketing strategies focused on your goals, your audience, and your growth. Book your free marketing strategy session: https://calendly.com/merciergroup/mercier-marketing-group-strategy-session Blog Snapshot: Blog Theme: Lead Generation Focus Topic: Lead Generation Key Services: Marketing Strategy Trending Strategy: Data-Driven Strategy Sources HubSpot. "State of Lead Generation Benchmarks" Moz. "Landing Page Optimization & SEO" Google Ads. "Smart Bidding and Conversion Data Trends" Campaign Monitor. "Nurturing Email Strategy Benchmarks" MarketingSherpa. "Long-Term Lead Nurturing Research"

Is Your Online Store Stuck? Here's Why It Happens Many e-commerce businesses hit a wall—and fast. After investing time in uploading products, tweaking ads, and creating content, the sales often stay flat. The issue isn’t your effort or your product—it’s the lack of a clear, data-driven strategy that can guide your growth. The Real Problem Behind Stalled Growth If you’re relying on guesswork, you’re setting yourself up for burnout. Running ads without tracking performance, posting content without a plan, or ignoring where your traffic actually comes from are common mistakes that cost time and money. Here’s the reality: 98% of website visitors don’t convert on their first visit. (Source: Episerver) Businesses that use data-driven strategies are 6X more likely to be profitable year-over-year. (Source: Forbes) Without a solid plan, you’ll keep spinning your wheels while your competitors take the lead. What Is a Data-Driven Strategy Session? A data-driven strategy session is your custom roadmap for growth. At Mercier Marketing Group, we use real metrics to guide you—not theories. We dive into: What marketing platforms are driving (or draining) your traffic Where leads are dropping off in your funnel What changes can boost your conversion rate We simplify your business data and translate it into clear next steps. No technical speak. Just smart strategy. How We Help E-Commerce Brands Grow Smarter You don’t need more tools—you need the right plan. Our team specializes in helping e-commerce businesses of all sizes create a strategy that saves time and boosts results. We combine your strategy session with: Paid ad campaigns on Google, Instagram, and TikTok Automated retargeting to bring visitors back SEO and directory listings to improve long-term visibility Everything we do is tailored to your business goals—and explained in plain English. But even the best marketing strategy can’t make up for a poorly built website. Platforms like GoDaddy, Wix, and WordPress use mass-produced templates with repetitive code used by millions—Google sees this and ranks those sites lower. They often load slowly, lack original structure, and hurt your SEO. Adding SEO to a bad site is like putting a racecar engine in a rusted-out frame. It won’t go far. Every business needs SEO eventually, but the website must be built right first. Our sites are built differently. We use clean-coded templates developed in-house—never shared with thousands of competitors. They’re SEO-friendly, fast, and only used by our clients across the U.S. You also get a drag-and-drop builder that’s as simple to use as the big-name platforms—without the plugins, slowdowns, or expensive contracts. No $10k–$20k setup fees. No $500–$600/month maintenance costs. Just an affordable setup and monthly plan you can manage yourself. It’s so easy, even a 7-year-old can use it (we’ve tested it). We also host our sites on Amazon Web Services (AWS), trusted by brands like Netflix, LinkedIn, Spotify, Airbnb, and more. That means faster speeds, stronger performance, and better rankings. When your site is built right, everything else—ads, SEO, social media—works better too. Why This Matters Now Online competition is growing daily. Waiting to take action gives your competitors more room to win. If your sales are unpredictable, your website traffic is low, or your ads just aren’t performing—it’s time for a smarter plan. Let’s Make Your Growth Intentional Stop guessing. Start growing. Book a free, personalized strategy session today and let’s map out a plan that works. Schedule now Phone: (321) 345-9366 Website: www.MercierMarketingGroup.com Sources: Episerver, 2024: "Reimagining Commerce" Report Forbes, 2024: "Why Data-Driven Businesses Win" Mercier Marketing Group | Helping E-Commerce Brands Grow with Smarter Marketing

Most business owners are constantly trying new things with their marketing, hoping something finally works. But if you’re running campaigns without clear direction or results, you’re likely wasting more time and money than you realize. Here’s what every business owner needs to know to stop throwing money at guesswork and start growing with purpose—with help from a trusted digital marketing agency like Mercier Marketing Group. The Hidden Cost of Guesswork When you don’t use real data to drive your marketing decisions, you end up: Spending on ads that never convert Creating content that doesn’t connect Targeting the wrong audience Missing leads without realizing it You might be doing everything right—except that you're not basing decisions on the information that actually matters. What the Stats Say Businesses that use data to guide their marketing see up to 35% higher ROI compared to those that don’t. (Source: McKinsey, 2024) Why? Because they focus their time, energy, and budget on what’s proven to work—not what feels like it might. How to Use a Data-Driven Strategy to Grow Your Business It doesn’t have to be complicated. At its core, it means: Tracking how your marketing is performing Learning what your audience actually responds to Making smart tweaks based on results Prioritizing channels that drive real leads and sales It’s not about fancy dashboards—it’s about clarity and results that actually grow your business. Tips for Business Owners Who Want to Handle Marketing Themselves If you’re set on doing your own marketing for now, here are a few simple, practical ways to improve your efforts: Review your data weekly. Set aside time every week to look at which ads, posts, or emails are getting the most engagement or conversions. Use free tools like Google Analytics and Meta Ads Manager. These tools can help you understand where your traffic is coming from and what’s converting. Stick to one or two platforms. Don’t try to be everywhere—just be consistent where your audience is most active. Test and tweak. Try different headlines, images, and offers. Track what works. Ditch what doesn’t. Have a clear goal. Every campaign should have one objective—get more leads, sell a product, grow your email list, etc. These tips can absolutely help, but keep in mind: consistent growth takes more than tools and effort. It takes strategy, time, and experience. Why Doing It All Yourself Can Hurt Your Growth We get it—business owners wear a lot of hats. You’ve probably tried to manage your own ads, write your own content, build your own website, and post to social media. But just because you can do it all doesn’t mean you should. Here’s why going it alone often backfires: You don’t have time to study trends and metrics weekly SEO and ad success require consistent optimization Guesswork leads to burnout and inconsistent results Most DIY campaigns lack the strategy needed to scale Even if you’re tech-savvy or creative, marketing isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things, in the right order, with the right expertise behind it. You should absolutely understand what’s happening in your business—but you don’t need to carry the full weight of execution and strategy. That’s what a team of pros is for. How Mercier Marketing Group Helps You Grow Your Business As a full-service marketing agency, we help you eliminate the guesswork. Instead of just running ads or posting blindly, we: Help you build a strategy tailored to your business goals Focus on results over vanity metrics Recommend a clear plan that fits your budget You don’t need to be a marketing expert—but you do need to hire experts. At Mercier Marketing Group, our team handles the strategy, research, and execution for you. We manage the behind-the-scenes work so you can focus on running your business while we focus on getting results. From SEO to PPC and custom marketing strategy development, we implement what works—so you don’t have to figure it out alone. Ready to Grow Your Business with a Smarter Plan? Our free marketing strategy sessions are designed to: Learn about your business and current approach Understand your goals, audience, and budget Recommend a step-by-step plan that makes sense for you No overwhelm. No pressure. We’ll give you expert recommendations, tools, and strategies—it’s up to you how you move forward. Let us take marketing off your plate, so you can focus on what you do best—running your business. 👉 Schedule your free marketing strategy session today: Book Here! Sources: McKinsey & Company. (2024). The State of Marketing Analytics 2024. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com HubSpot. (2024). Marketing Statistics and Trends. Retrieved from https://www.hubspot.com Statista. (2023). Global ROI Benchmarks by Channel. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com