The past year has brought transformative shifts for digital marketing, and specifically in SEO — from algorithm updates that emphasise user experience, to the growing influence of AI-driven content strategies.

The continuing drive to find a competitive edge in the digital landscape means marketers have had to stay on top of the trends to ensure visibility, relevant leads, and conversions. 

Let’s dive into the major SEO trends and explore the impact they could have on SEO in 2025!

Where are we at?

There was a lot to get to grips with in the SEO space in 2024! With six Google algorithm updates in total, including two in the month of December, businesses have had to continuously adapt their strategies to navigate shifts in search rankings, user experience requirements, and content quality expectations. 

Google’s AI Overviews: A Game-Changer for Search

Google introduced its new AI Overviews feature in the UK, designed to give users quick, AI-generated answers to their search queries directly on the search results page. This update aims to improve the search experience for users by providing concise insights that align with their intent, eliminating the need to click through to multiple websites.

This was a major development and AI Overviews can now be widely found across search results. SEO teams will be working to position themselves as the authority referenced by these AI Overviews for relevant searches going forward.

The Rise of Zero-Click Searches

AI overviews are part of a wider theme of providing answers to users’ queries directly on the search engine results page (SERP) through zero-click searches. These aim to save time for users but can have an impact on traffic, with users able to get the information they need without visiting a website. Although this new feature brings challenges for SEO professionals, there are ways to pivot strategies and capitalise on zero-click SEO. 

The Google Leak: Insights Into Ranking Factors

A document was leaked from Google in 2024 which caused widespread discussion amongst digital marketers. People were able to see some of the data that Google collects from websites, and this led to assumptions about the importance of some aspects of SEO, such as site authority and user interactions. 

Voice Search Optimisation Takes Centre Stage

Another development that is likely to play a significant role in SEO in 2025 is voice search optimisation. This has grown in prominence in recent times, with natural language and conversational copy being seen as a huge focus, catering to the growing number of voice search users. 20.5% of internet users worldwide already rely on it, with more than 1 billion voice searches taking place every month.

Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trustworthiness

EEAT has been a continued focus for Google, standing for experience, expertise, authority and trustworthiness. These aspects have been a priority for Google and how it considers the value of your website’s content for users. EEAT should, therefore, be high on the list of priorities for maintaining visibility. 

Navigating Technical SEO: Page Speed, Interactivity, and Visual Stability

Continuing the theme of user experience, Google’s update to its core web vitals included metrics like Next Paint. This measures how quickly users see visual content, highlighting the importance of website responsiveness. This update made it clearer than ever that technical performance—like page speed, interactivity, and visual stability—plays a crucial role in search rankings. 

SEO In 2025: What to Look Forward to

Looking ahead at the landscape of SEO in 2025, there is much to look forward to. Performance tracking is set to improve, with the launch of the new ‘24 hours’ view in Google Search Console. 

Real-Time Insights with Google Search Console’s ’24 Hours’ View

This new feature provides near-real-time insights, showing clicks, impressions, average CTR, and position for the last 24 hours with only a short delay. You can quickly monitor how newly published content performs, identify top-performing queries, and see user engagement trends. 

This new update is displayed in your local time zone, making SEO monitoring very responsive and accessible for 2025. 

Boosting E-Commerce Conversion Rates with Shipping Data Schema

Another exciting feature for SEO in 2025 is for e-commerce sites. They have the opportunity to improve conversion rates on product pages with a proposed new shipping data schema. If this is approved, this schema will allow businesses to highlight key shipping details, such as delivery costs, estimated delivery speed, and any weight or size limitations. 

For brands offering faster or more competitive shipping options, implementing this schema could provide a significant edge over the competition by showcasing these advantages directly on the search engine results page (SERP). 

This update will be a valuable tool for clients with superior shipping policies to drive higher engagement and conversions, positioning them as the clear choice for customers seeking convenience and speed. 

Contact ROAR today so we can help you implement these strategy-changing SEO solutions and drive measurable results for your business.

What ROAR has celebrated with clients

In 2024, ROAR delivered exceptional results for its clients, driving significant growth across multiple sectors.

• Netherby Hall achieved a remarkable 496% increase in conversions, while 
• Spence and Partners saw a 211% increase in quality leads
• Our work with Theodo resulted in an impressive 900% increase in conversions over 12 months
• Duo Global Consulting gained a 100% understanding of user performance to enhance their strategy
• Working with The Essence Vault, we drove a 210% increase in revenue from organic search, showcasing our ability to deliver measurable and impactful results through strategic digital marketing and SEO.

Our Final Thoughts

• Adaptability is key: The continuous changes in Google’s algorithms, AI features, and user expectations highlight the importance of staying up-to-date and flexible with SEO strategies to remain competitive.
• Focus on user intent and experience: Whether through AI overviews, zero-click searches, or improved technical performance, delivering valuable and relevant content for the users will help a successful SEO strategy.
• Consider new tools: From Google Search Console’s real-time insights to shipping data schema for e-commerce, businesses that implement these tools early will have an opportunity to gain visibility, engagement and conversions quicker than others. 

Are you ready to get help with your SEO in 2025? Find out more about our SEO services today. 

Photo © by no_limit_pictures from Getty Images.

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In digital marketing or any industry, really—skills get you in the door. But how you treat people? That’s what keeps you in the game and moving forward.

1. People First, Every Time

It’s easy to get lost in the numbers and deliverables, but here’s a truth bomb: people and relationships come first. Behind every email, phone call, meeting, or project is a real person. And if you can’t treat them with a bit of respect, understanding and humility, it’ll come back to bite you (as it should). People remember how you make them feel, not how quickly you turned around a report.

Respect people. It’s not hard.

We’ve all had those difficult moments and conversations, and that comes with the territory of business. Recently, we had some objections to a video our wonderful partners at Wander Films were making for us. I had some objections, and Chloe Clover (legend) exemplified exactly how I would treat someone too, she called me, listened and empathised with my concerns, addressed them head-on and with understanding, and helped me see why certain decisions had been made, and why I was incorrect in my thoughts. We ended up with a mind-blowing video and a great relationship. Now look at what that was; it was just a 5-minute phone call with mutual respect and understanding. It’s not difficult!

2. Be Yourself—People Can Smell BS

Here’s the thing: people can tell when you’re faking it. Being authentic (I know the sickly term that everyone is tired of hearing from “LinkedIn Experts”) is your superpower. Just be yourself—drop the corporate mask. If you mess up, yes be professional but own it. If you don’t know something, admit it. People trust you more when you’re real.

This is something I had to learn to do and be comfortable doing, but it’s something I engrain into all of my team. We’re not perfect; we all make mistakes, and that’s how we learn and grow. But as a boss and team, I/we have your back as long as you have ROAR and our client’s best interests at heart in what you’re doing. Own your mistakes, let it hurt, because it’s important that it pisses you off, but learn from it, own it, and move on!

3. Integrity Isn’t Optional

Shortcuts are tempting, right? But don’t be that person who’s “dodgy” to get ahead – As people who’ve been in business see you coming a mile off. Integrity matters. Keep your word, don’t throw people under the bus, and do the right thing even when it’s tough. Over time, you’ll build a rep as someone who can be trusted.

I’ve built my business and hopefully a good reputation on this!

I have two great examples of this from some valued friends and partners:

My first example of this was with my now good friend James Higgins (top bloke) from our partners at 32West, when our PR campaign at the time in his eyes wasn’t quite right, he made the decision to pick up the phone and advise that he believed the timing was wrong, and to go again at a later date, and that it would have more impetus and impact then. Right away I feel considered, valued, and that the project is in safe, experienced hands that he and his team care about the person, business, and outcome, and not just them getting paid – Integirty!!!!!

Another great recent example of this was a call from Andrew Auton (top bloke), from one of our web partners at Team Valley Web, who called me personally to advise they’d had an inbound call from a firm we used to work with a few years ago, and to see what the situation was, and to see if they were ok to engage with them to avoid potentially stepping on toes etc… This simple 2-minute call tells me everything about how he and his firm operate (which i did already know but it reiterated that- with care for partners and integrity. And rather than chasing an easy extra few £ in the shadows, they’ve maintained a relationship, kept a client, won a new client, and will continue getting referrals from us.

4. Respect Builds Teams

If you’re in marketing, you know it’s all about collaboration. That only works when people feel respected and heard. You can be the smartest person in the room, but if you’re a nightmare to work with, no gives a shit and will switch off. Mutual respect makes everything run smoother. Plus, you’ll enjoy your work more and build better relationships when people aren’t walking on eggshells around you.

5. Deliverables Aren’t Everything

Here’s the kicker: no matter how good your work is, if you treat people like crap, make them feel stupid, or devalued it won’t matter. Your skills and performance will only get you so far. Long-term success comes from building real, human connections, and building a rapport with trust, and ease of communication.

People will forget the details of a campaign you worked on in time, but they won’t forget how you treated them.

6. Being A Good Person and Doing the Right Thing = Personal Growth

When you treat people right, you grow as a person. You build patience, empathy, and self-awareness—all traits that make you better at your job, no matter the sector or role.

Bottom Line: Don’t Be A Dickhead!

At the end of the day, success isn’t just about smashing out deliverables and hitting KPIs. It’s about relationships. Be respectful, be a real person, work with integrity and don’t be a dickhead. It’s that simple.

Work like this, and I’d either love to work with you or employ you! 

Michael Knowles | Managing Director

Photo © by fizkes from Getty Images.

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Who are the North East Combined Authority? 

The North East Combined Authority (North East CA) is led by an Elected Mayor and Cabinet and covers a region of approximately 2 million people across the seven local authority areas of

County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, and Sunderland.

We were awarded the Standard Good Work Pledge based on three pillars: 

Valuing and Rewarding Your Workforce

Not only do we pay our employees a fair living wage, but we also promote job security and value within the team by investing in their growth and development through training opportunities and industry events. Our goal is to nurture our team’s talent and help them flourish in their career. 

Effective Communication and Representation 

Our employees, from junior to senior level, are always listened to and made to feel valued. We believe that giving everyone in the team a voice and allowing them to have a say in everything from the training they receive to how we run aspects of the business helps to grow confidence and, in turn, a happy working environment. 

Social Responsibility

Not only do we value our workforce, but we also believe that as a business, we have a responsibility to the environment and the local and wider community. We do this through charity work and our partnership with Ecologi, which has allowed us to plant over 1,000 trees, remove one tonne of CO2 from the air, and avoid a further eight tonnes while also restoring 10 metres squared of natural habitat. 

Not only this, we have also used our digital marketing expertise to help local charities grow. In recent times, we have supported the  Great North Air Ambulance Service in migrating to GA4 in order to help them carry on the life-saving work they do and also supported other local charities that we feel passionate about, such as North East Youth and Space to Think.

Charity work is extremely important to us, and we will continue prioritising it in the future to make our amazing community a better place to live. 

A Comment From our Director

Speaking on being awarded the Good Work Pledge, Michael, our director said:

“Building a business that has meaning, purpose, and, above all, values is important to me. Ensuring that I do the things I believe a good employer should do for my team and then being recognised for this is something I take great pride in. Working environment, pay, feeling valued, and development are so important for people both at the beginning of careers and beyond, so making sure I do this for my team has always been at the heart of ROAR.

Over time, getting involved with charities and supporting them in any way we can is a great feeling and something my team shares a passion for. This isn’t something we can do 24/7, but whenever the opportunity arises, we like to do our bit for great causes. I’m passionate about instilling this passion in my team by allowing them to suggest causes they’d love us to get behind now and in the future.”

Overall, being recognised for such an achievement has only confirmed our determination to make ROAR an amazing place to both work and collaborate with and to continue with our charity work to make the North East a better place to live.

The post We’ve Achieved the Good Work Pledge appeared first on ROAR Digital Marketing.

WE’VE all been there. Smiled, nodded, said yes – and immediately regretted it.

There were so many points during a conversation when we could have delivered a respectful no.

In fact, our minds were willing for us to do so. But somehow, some way, the word yes slipped out. And from that point, a period of pain, months and sometimes years long, ensued.

Damn!

I’ve been there, done it and have the well-worn, faded t-shirt to prove it – so a number of years ago I decided to make a fundamental change to my approach.

Saying yes is the easiest thing in the world. But all too often, it can be a yes for the wrong reasons, chief among them a fear of causing offence.

It can be a yes that leads to the wrong outcome for all concerned – all because we’re too afraid to say no. 

In the world of ROAR Digital Marketing, the word no is completely acceptable; in fact, its use is positively celebrated when it leads to the correct outcomes for the business, for the team, or for a prospective (or existing) client.

Saying no to an unrealistic demand, goal, or expectation has value well beyond saying yes in the vain hope of achieving the unachievable.

Saying no to a potential customer because they do not fit with our values, culture, or ethos will prove more beneficial in the long term rather than saying yes on 10 out of 10 occasions. This is something I’ve spoken about in detail previously – see here.

Saying no to a client whose expectations are unreasonable, unrealistic, or plucked from thin air is OK, especially when you can back up your reasoning with data-driven evidence.

Saying no to a team member, as talented and committed as they may be, is sometimes necessary.

Saying no to yourself is perhaps the most challenging no of all. It is an internal conversation with competing voices vying for the final call.

But doing so can be liberating. It sets boundaries, and boundaries are important in all walks of business life.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a ‘no’ machine. 

At ROAR, a no is more often than not rooted in data-driven insights. We use complex systems and industry-leading tech to help us project deliverables and align what is realistic in the context of what a client says they want or need.

These valuable insights help us to have conversations based on reality – and for strategic recommendations to be made about whether we should be the agency of choice for a potential client.

Of equal importance is whether the client is a fit for us. I spent time a few years ago working with a great guy called Gary Barnes. He’s an executive coach and growth leader and he taught me the importance of unqualifying a client.

Now, I understand that sounds counterproductive to business and revenue growth.

Find me a business owner who wants to turn down new revenue streams. 

Or one who actively wants to say no to a client.

Very few exist.

In 2002, the behavioural psychologist Daniel Kahneman won a Nobel prize for his work on saying no to your impulses; in 2017, Richard Thaler, a pioneer of behavioural economics, won another.

We’re into the realms of the world’s best thinkers here, but the message, when it is stripped back to basics, is clear. No is not a dirty word.

In fact, for some people, it’s like a superpower – uplifting and liberating. For others, I do understand it can be daunting or uncomfortable. 

Not being yes men and women is something which sets us apart from other agencies and the client respects our opinion. After all, they have come to us with a challenge that requires our expertise to resolve, so the very least they expect from us is to advise and guide us as industry specialists. 

If a client approaches us with a set view on KPIs such as PPC ROAS, traffic, conversions or general SEO performance, we will analyse what they deem a successful outcome and assess how deliverable that is in reality. And from that research, we will reach a decision.

There are ways of saying no, of course, and I insist my team show manners, professional courtesy and respect to others at all times.

I also ask that before the verdict is delivered, they give real consideration to why they might be about to say no. I apply this rule to myself as well, of course.

Here’s why.

If we’ve established that our misplaced responses of ‘yes’ are likely a symptom of our desire not to offend or disappoint, we need to be sure that in saying no, we are not doing so for the wrong reasons.

No one should not be driven by a lack of confidence, a simple clash of personalities or a ‘because I don’t want to’ mentality. It needs to be rooted in a solid thought process.

So come back to the tools at your disposal and utilise them effectively to help you reach the right call.

If I ever have a conflict of views, I take time to mull them over. Reflecting on a request before making a decision on balance is perfectly acceptable. In fact, it’s the sensible approach to take.

What does this mean if you do business with me or ROAR, I hear you ask. It’s a fair question, and for the avoidance of doubt, we are a positive, solutions-focused team who absolutely love to say ‘yes we can’.

Just don’t be surprised or offended if we occasionally say no – and rest assured, it will always be for the right reasons.

Our team at ROAR specialise in Search Engine Marketing, helping businesses get found online and turn clicks into customers. Visit our services page for more, or book a free exploratory call with our team today.

The post Why No Isn’t a Dirty Word appeared first on ROAR Digital Marketing.

Google Core Updates typically intends to improve the search engine’s ability to understand and determine the usefulness and relevance of content and rank it for users’ search queries. This is a part of Google’s plan to make the search engine experience more relevant, informative, and satisfying.

Google has tanked some websites, deindexing hundreds as it targets low-quality content and AI-generated spam.

What is the March Google Core Update

On the 6th of March 2024, Google released its latest Google Core Update, which released new details of improved search engine signals that has led to many websites losing organic traffic and organic rankings and in some cases, being removed entirely from Google. It focuses particularly on improving its spam policies to eradicate content generated by artificial intelligence and attempts to make the search engine results pages a more informative and relevant place for users’ search queries. 

Elizabeth Tucker, Director of Product for Search at Google, said: “We’re making algorithmic enhancements to our core ranking systems to ensure we surface the most helpful information on the web and reduce unoriginal content in search results”.

In the early stages of the update, over 800 websites were deindexed entirely from Google’s search results.

How to Navigate the March Google Core Update

Backlinks

Google is cracking the whip on sketchy backlinks! If your website has an abundance of backlinks that are predominantly from dropped domains as an attempt to ‘recycle’ the previous website’s domain authority to boost your site, you may be in trouble.

To combat these detrimental backlinks, your immediate reaction should be to disavow any unwanted links from being associated with your website. This means removing the link between your site and the unwanted website, which tells search engines that you do not want these links to be associated with your website regarding indexing, crawling, and Google search rankings. 

After this, you should also re-focus your backlink strategy to source quality links from reputable domains.

Artificial Intelligence

The recent update from Google has AI at the forefront and sends a strong message to those filling their website with AI-generated content.

The debate around the legitimacy of AI-generated content has long stood within the marketing and SEO communities. This recent update has presented challenges that marketers and SEO specialists must navigate if they intend to utilise AI to support them in the future. 

Google is not trying to shut down the use of AI; in fact, its relationship with AI has come a long way in the last few years. Google previously described AI as “spam and breaks our guidelines”, which now has developed into “our focus is on the quality of content, rather than how content is produced.”

However, AI-generated content still lacks credibility, consciousness and emotions, significantly limiting its ability to understand human experiences and produce original creative work. 

Google’s crackdown on websites using AI to churn out spammy, unhelpful content reinforces the need for relevant, helpful content optimised appropriately. Remember to write for your audience, not the search engines. 

For more, see our recent blog, ‘The Future of SEO: Can AI Content Rank on Google?’.

Expired Domain Abuse

Some may have interpreted the late core update as intending to crack down on expired domains – however, this is only partially accurate. 

Initially, Google’s updated spam policies will target websites that have purchased expired domains to boost their search engine rankings. This tactic can lead online users to believe the new content is a part of the previous website and is used to manipulate audiences and search engines.

Instead, Google has introduced new signals that relate to how domains are used and can scan for changes in how a domain was previously used and its new purpose. Google’s expired domain signal examines how a new site built on an expired domain differs from its previous purpose. 

It doesn’t necessarily mean that similar content on an older domain can cause Google to penalise it completely, as the signal looks at the purpose of a website and its content. 

Spam Content

This particular Google Core Update has reinforced Google’s commitment to the relevance and quality of content they want to provide their users. Websites should create and share informed, quality content that is engaging and provides readers with content that satisfies their search queries and increases the quality of search results. It is worth noting that mass-producing, low-quality content can dramatically affect how search engines now assess your web pages, thanks to this recent core update.

In terms of avoiding spam content on your website, it is worth focusing on preventing keyword stuffing your website page copy and other content and avoiding churning out low-quality content. You should publish accurate content with a purpose directly related to what your audience would expect from your business – instead of what you think a search engine wants to hear.

UX (User Experience)

Your website should offer a hassle-free experience for your users. This includes a website that is easy to navigate, loads fast, and optimised for mobile device use.  If your website offers a poor user experience, is full of bugs, takes ages to load, or doesn’t offer a smooth, easy-to-navigate user experience, you may have seen your Google search rankings plummet.

Statistics show that sites with excellent UX design and optimisation see a 60% increase in user retention and a 50% improvement in conversion rates. 

Simple steps can be taken to improve the speed of your site, including reducing the size of visual aids. In terms of making your website easy to navigate and optimal for mobile use, the focus should shift to the functionality of your website, creating a responsive and consistent design accessible to visitors. 

E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness):

This core update reinforces Google’s commitment to providing its users with experienced, expert, authoritative, and trustworthy online content. This particular type of content will be a priority regarding Google search rankings. 

You should continue to write helpful content that has a purpose, shows your experience and expertise and responds directly to search queries from your audience or customers.

Local SEO and Personalisation

With Google increasing its focus on delivering personalised search results to users, it is becoming increasingly crucial for businesses to optimise their online presence to appear for local searches.

Businesses should target location-based keywords, create a Google Business Profile, add Schema to webpages and utilise local citations.

Our Final Thoughts

When navigating a Google Core Update and its challenges, businesses and marketers must remember that this significant update emphasises Google’s commitment to prioritising helpful, relevant, high-quality content. At ROAR, our unique, data-led 12-week content strategy, the SEO Bomb®, can help you create cutting-edge, innovative content that adheres to Google Core Updates and enhances your online visibility.

Whilst the Google search engine cracks down on sketchy backlinks, AI-generated spam, domain abuse and spam content, the update reinforces the importance of quality content creation. Marketers, business owners and content creators should focus on Google E-E-A-T principles as a bare minimum. 

As the search engine landscape evolves, harnessing an adaptable, user-centric approach is critical to ensuring you do not lose and continue to improve your online visibility.

Stay ahead of the curve with our expert guidance on navigating the latest and future Google Core Updates. Discover our SEO Management Services today!

Photo © by Kaboompics.com from Pexels.

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Companies are investing more heavily in SEO and PPC campaigns as part of their Search Engine Marketing (SEM) strategies, influencers are being paid high amounts of money to market their products, and the likes of Ryanair and Lidl have become the kings and Queens of social media by building more personable brands.

But hold onto your hats, as things will only intensify in 2024.

Content is still king

There’s long been a debate about whether written content still has a place in business’ SEO strategies and wider SEM plans following the advancement of image-led and video content.

Producing helpful and expert content is more relevant and important than ever, and web content in the form of blogs, for example, helps boost your search engine rankings significantly and gets your business seen by more people.

As highlighted in the Google Helpful Content Update, one of the most important things to realise is that text should be written more for their audience and not aimed at generating search engine traffic – content, where visitors feel they’ve had a satisfying experience will be better rewarded than content littered with keywords trying to please search engines.

More is sometimes More

There’s no denying that short-form content is very much in vogue these days as people’s attention spans have shortened dramatically. Research from Wyzowl revealed that 73% of consumers prefer to watch a short-form video to learn about a product or service – and the same can be said for written content, as audiences prefer to digest more bite-size information. 

However, long-form content has made a rapid resurgence, and there is a returning desire for more words in terms of news and information articles. In fact, readers spend more than twice as much time on articles over 1,000 words in length than they do with short articles, and there will always be the appetite for lengthier pieces of content which go into more detail or provide more points of view.

Google’s featured snippets are evolving

You may have noticed when you ask a question or search for something on Google, a short snippet of text answering your query can sometimes appear at the top of the results.  These are called featured snippets and appear in what is known as ‘Position 0’ – priority over all other links.

The purpose of these featured snippets is to provide web users with quick, highly relevant answers to search queries so they don’t have to scroll through the long list of search results below. 

They are evolving rapidly and ensuring that more content relevant to people’s search queries is ranking higher on search engine results pages.

To optimise your content for a featured snippet, consider the following:

• Add a ‘What is’, ‘How is’, ‘How to’, etc. heading;
• Use an ‘is’ sentence structure;
• Target question-based queries;
• Fully define the topic;
• Match the featured snippet format;
• Prioritise this strategy on content for which you rank in the top five.

Beware of rising Cost Per Clicks (CPC)

Businesses, rightly in my view, have been investing a lot more in Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising campaigns as this is a surefire way of guaranteeing your brand is being seen by ideal, highly targetted and the golden ‘in market’ audiences. However, we have noticed that CPCs have risen over the past year, and this has caught a lot of unsuspecting businesses out.

Google recently confirmed it had inflated its CPCs to 10% to meet its own financial targets, but hadn’t made the public aware of it. This means businesses no longer return the same conversion rates from their initial investments. This is where employing a clued-up, on-the-ball digital marketing agency comes in handy. We are on hand to analyse the rates and potential return on investment (ROI) from such ad campaigns.

Despite this rise by Google, PPC remains a key channel to your business’ SEM campaign to get you noticed, raise brand and product awareness, generate leads and grow sales in the most competitive of marketplaces.

User Generated Content (UGC) taking over

We’ve seen the rise of TikTokers and influencers promoting products on behalf of businesses and, although it’s not a new method of marketing, it is now flooding the digital stratosphere. When people are browsing products to consume, seeing either a famous person speaking favourably about the product is aspirational for the ‘ordinary’ member of the public.

However, one of the most effective marketing tools is UGC as watching a video of a like-minded individual explaining how good a product is instantly hits home with the consumer about how that item will similarly benefit their lives.

The effectiveness of this method is confirmed by both Tik Tok and Instagram which have in feed and in post shopping options, allowing consumers to quickly and easily buy the products being used and discussed by the influencer. We predict that ‘consumer reviews’ will become the dominant form of marketing because seeing products and services in actual use from ‘real sources’ sells.

Personality behind the brand

Budget airline Ryanair has become famed on X for its trolling of customers complaining about their service. Some slam the company for its ‘unprofessional’ responses to consumers, but they have taken off (sorry for the pun) with many more who view their interactions as hilariously funny and refreshingly honest, giving the impression to the public that they are fully aware of what they are – a low cost alternative to other airlines where the levels of service will not be of the same quality as rivals.

But will this honest approach lose them custom? It would appear not when you consider they are set to make a record £1.8bn this year – and that is despite the criticism they receive on X! We can only see more businesses following suit and displaying more personality.

Increased personalisation of AI

The ever-developing AI will continue to be personalised to the point where it recommends suggestions – think Netflix or Amazon – for users before they even formulate that thought in their own heads.

By analysing the wealth of personal data they have on you, AI will dramatically impact personalisation in ways we haven’t seen before, allowing it to create more segmented, specific audiences, resulting in a more personalised online experience.

Our team at ROAR specialise in Search Engine Marketing, helping businesses get found online and turn clicks into customers. Visit our services page for more, or book a free exploratory call with our team today.

The post Digital Marketing trends for Business Exposure in 2024 appeared first on ROAR Digital Marketing.

When I first walked through the doors of ROAR, what struck me most was the culture and sense of belonging in such a fantastic team of people. It’s not just a job; it’s a career I am immensely proud of! Throughout the past year at ROAR, we have not only grown as a company but also grown together and learnt from each other while listening to some questionable office tunes! “Okay Google, play The Lonely Island.”

However, It hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows. In digital marketing, you never know what the online world will throw at you, but I don’t get bogged down here at ROAR. Instead, myself and the team problem-solve together, adapt to the latest trends, and embrace any change thrown our way!

This approach to our line of work has quickly become second nature and is a huge factor in how we can deliver jaw-dropping client results.*cough* 4100:1 ROAS in 12 months *cough* 

It’s been great to play my part in delivering results like those above, but when I first joined ROAR, my skillset was far from the levels I’ve reached today. But through completing various training courses, I developed my knowledge quickly and got into the nitty gritty of Google Ads (the fun part).

So, fast forward a year, and I’ve gone from doing simple tasks such as keyword research to managing the complete build of client accounts and building different campaigns designed to target users at different stages of the funnel. 

To reach where I am today, I thank my colleagues who have supported and guided me throughout this past year. Thank you for imparting your knowledge and helping me to become a better employee and marketer.

Lastly, thank you to Michael Knowles (the legend) for taking a chance on me and equipping me with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to achieve the feats I have reached so far. 

So, here’s a big virtual toast to another year at ROAR – more challenges, wins, laughs, and probably more Google reps telling me to use Broad Match for every client campaign. Thank you to everyone for being a crucial part of this incredible journey I’ve been on. Bring on the future!

Are you seeking a new career at a company encouraging professional development and progression? See our careers page or careers talent pool for our latest vacancies.

The post My First Year at ROAR – Oliver Eagle appeared first on ROAR Digital Marketing.

ROAR Digital Marketing experienced unprecedented demand for its specialist Search Engine Marketing (SEM) services in December 2023, with inbound leads and subsequent onboarding of clients quadrupling on average months.

ROAR helps businesses get found online and converts website clicks into customers through strategic SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising; recently been appointed by seven new clients across a wide range of business sectors to get their 2024 off to an incredibly busy start.

To cater for the sharp increase in demand for its services, ROAR will double its number of employees to 10 by creating job roles specialising in PPC, SEO, content writing, project management, and business support.

Our founder and Managing Director of ROAR, Michael Knowles, said: “We have been blown away by the recent interest shown in our specialist SEM services, and our team was certainly kept busy in the lead-up to Christmas with unprecedented inbound leads and the onboarding of new clients.

“Typically, November through to January are extremely quiet months for most businesses so the spike in interest over the festive period was a pleasant surprise. It’s testament to the excellent team we have here who strive to ensure clients see a healthy return on investment.

“A client even signed a contract with us on Christmas Eve so there was definitely no Christmas lull, and the signs point to things only speeding up as positive conversations about working with new clients continue in the new year.

“In the week before Christmas alone, we had discussions with 12 prospective clients which far surpasses our weekly average. My team and I are really excited about what 2024 holds and how we can help businesses grow by improving their visibility to wider online audiences and helping them convert more leads.

“It’s rewarding as a business owner to see my current team members flourish, and to be in a position where we can create new job roles to help ROAR develop as a business.”

Michael attributes the growth in success in part to empowering team members to take ownership of their respective channels and allowing them to implement strategies that would improve the effectiveness of the business’ operations as a whole.

He said that staff responded extremely positively to being entrusted to stamp their own authority on business operations, and allowing individuals to lead in their specialist field has reaped rewards for the wider business.

“One thing I’m extremely passionate about is the professional development of my team members, and I have full faith in their capabilities, so we held a strategy session where I encouraged them to assume responsibility within their specialism,” said Michael.

“Encouraging all staff, including the youngest and most inexperienced members of the team, to contribute to business discussions has boosted their confidence and made them all feel valued in the decision-making process. 

“While some of my team may be young in age and be relatively new to the business world, they are extremely knowledgeable and keen to develop their learning within their field. Add their high levels of enthusiasm to the mix and it is a great combination to fuel business growth. 

“Having a fresh pair of eyes on matters can have a huge impact on business matters and harness positive change as it is something new to the ways you have always conducted your business, and the input from the wider team has really brought about refreshing new ways of thinking.

“They all responded in a positive manner and took the bulls by the horns, and the excellent results we are seeing is down to their efforts and passion to do the best for ROAR, and all businesses we work with.”

Joshua Lee, a Senior SEO Executive at ROAR, was shortlisted for two awards in 2023 as he was identified as one of the most promising marketers in the North East.

He said: “Having the full trust and confidence of your boss really inspires the team at ROAR and having that right mix of independent working and ongoing training within the company has allowed myself and other team members to develop rapidly.

“This is what spurs us on to deliver the best possible results for all our clients, and why there is a happy team doing all it can to grow ROAR and help more businesses improve their online visibility and ultimately win more clients.”

To ensure businesses are receiving the highest quality of service, ROAR has successfully attained Cyber Essentials Certification, a Government-backed programme awarded to companies which can evidence their IT systems are protected against cyber attacks.

Find out how ROAR Digital Marketing can boost your business’ online visibility and help convert website clicks into new customers through strategic search marketing campaigns by booking a free exploratory call here. 

The post Interest in ROAR has Surged by 300% Kickstarting Recruitment Drive appeared first on ROAR Digital Marketing.

The event held at Pop Recs restaurant in Sunderland will feature an appearance from Sunderland-born Chris Oliver, a former Special Forces Operator and Royal Marine Mountain Leader with 16 years of combat experience, Chris Oliver (SAAS Who Dares Wins).

Space North East is a Sunderland-based organisation aiming to support northeast men suffering from depression, loneliness and isolation.

Events like these are crucial within the North East, across the UK and globally to encourage people, men especially, to open up regarding their mental health.

James Filde, Managing Director at Space to Think, told us more about the event.

He said: “Space To Think is exactly what it says on the tin. We’ve created engaging events to bring people in the Northeast together and share a space to think about life, challenges, hardships and hopefully, how we overcome them. 

“The events are delivered by inspirational individuals who are professionals in their fields, such as astronomers, ex-special forces, journalists, scientists and more.

“These events ultimately help us support men in the northeast with their mental health by generating revenue so we can provide our services for free and hopefully inspire men to make positive changes in their lives.”

Sponsoring the event was a total no-brainer for ROAR and Managing Director Michael Knowles, who expressed his thoughts on the importance of providing men with the support to open up emotionally. 

He said: “An event like Space to Think is critical today, as things globally become tougher, encouraging men to speak up and care for themselves mentally is so important. 

“I think men’s mental health is sort of an afterthought, and men in this day and age are simply lost, confused and have no idea how to portray themselves emotionally.”

Nearly 1 in 10 men in the UK experience depression or anxiety, but less than half will receive treatment. Events like Space to Think encourage men to get the help they need.

“I’ve seen first-hand how deeply mental health can affect young men in the UK, and I think societal pressures like toxic masculinity have left many men completely baffled about how they’re supposed to act.

“As far as the event goes, I’m excited. It will be a valuable experience to hear from others about the importance of mental health and what that means to them.

“In some scenarios, I hope to offer support or answers to other young men in the room from my experiences growing up. 

“As a 38-year-old male, I have often found it hard to express my emotions and open up regarding my mental health, and attending events like these show you the value and benefit of speaking up.

“I wanted ROAR to be involved in this event not only to share awareness of the event amongst our wider community but also to increase my awareness regarding handling my mental health and others around me.”

You can purchase tickets to the event here. 

The post ROAR Sponsors Space to Think in Aid of Men’s Mental Health appeared first on ROAR Digital Marketing.

This is not our way of being antagonistic, rude or abrupt. Instead, it is our way of letting people know from the very outset that there are particular things we as a business will not tolerate when working with clients.

There are multiple reasons for adopting what some may view as a controversial policy.

The thing I’m most passionate about is what ultimately drives this approach; protecting my team.

When I founded ROAR in 2016, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to achieve in business and, as well as achieving financial success and growing our client base, I placed just as much importance on the values we uphold.

One of the core values of the business is acting with integrity by adopting an honest and ethical approach to all tasks. Surely it is not too much to ask for this as a minimum in return?

As ROAR has gained more clients over the years, the team has grown accordingly and I feel privileged to be working every day with such a tight knit group of super talented, intelligent, friendly people, who all bring something different to the team dynamic.

The team is incredibly talented, and each member is constantly looking to develop their search engine marketing knowledge. It’s been so rewarding to see each of them improve their knowledge and become confident in working directly with clients on SEO strategy, analytics and setting up paid advertising campaigns. This development has occurred much faster than I could ever imagine which, from a business point of view, has contributed to the bills getting paid.

What is equally as important is that they are all brilliant people who strive to do their best for their clients, their colleagues and themselves, and this has created a fun, welcoming and respectful workplace.

Nobody wants to come into work anxious, or uneasy about their workday. This is why we ensure we avoid working with aggressive or rude clients, partners or other team members. At ROAR, I do my utmost to create a positive team culture that my staff can enjoy and thrive in.

As a business owner, I take the responsibility to ensure that all members of the team feel valued, heard and seen incredibly seriously.

This is not just some sort of bravado to make it appear we’re doing things the right way.

We actively turn down business with people, suppliers, clients and staff who don’t match our values. 

What I have learned since starting the company is that there are lots of great people out there who have been able to build hugely successful businesses and brands who disprove the saying that ‘nice guys finish last.’

Working with like-minded people who are a pleasure to communicate with, and who won’t cause unnecessary strife or stress is one of the most rewarding elements of being in business, and has created the platform which has allowed ROAR to grow to where it is today.

That is not to say we are above honest feedback. In fact, we encourage client input to help us improve our services and company culture in general.

Constructive criticism that provides value, and comes from a genuine place is incredibly useful. Opting for an open approach when it comes to these conversations, has helped sculpt our business and continues to shape our working practices. 

The key is just to avoid being a d******d!

The post I’ve grown my business on a No D******d Policy appeared first on ROAR Digital Marketing.