Top 10 B2B Sales Automation Tools to Boost Revenue in 2025
Apr 25, 2025
10 min read
Table of contents
- What is a B2B Sales Automation Tool?
- Best B2B Sales Automation Tools
- HubSpot Sales Hub
- Salesforce Sales Cloud
- Outreach
- Pipedrive
- Zoho CRM
- Apollo.io
- SalesLoft
- Freshsales by Freshworks
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator
- Close
- How to Choose the Right Sales Automation Tool?
- Why Choose Saffron Edge for Sales and Marketing Automation Services?
- Conclusion
B2B sales are evolving rapidly, and automation is at the heart of this transformation. Businesses leverage sales automation tools to streamline processes, nurture leads, and close deals faster.
The global sales automation market is projected to reach $12.6 billion by 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.1%.
The right tools can significantly enhance efficiency and productivity, whether you want to improve CRM management, email outreach, or sales analytics.
What is a B2B Sales Automation Tool?
A B2B sales automation tool is software designed to automate repetitive, manual tasks involved in the business-to-business sales process.
These tools help sales teams manage leads, schedule follow-ups, track interactions and generate insights—all with minimal manual input.
By automating workflows like lead scoring, email follow-ups, CRM updates, and reporting, these tools free up your sales reps to focus on what matters: building relationships and closing deals.
The ultimate goal is to shorten sales cycles, improve conversion rates, and drive sustainable revenue growth through effective marketing automation services combined with sales automation.
We’ve researched and compiled the top B2B sales automation tools revolutionizing how businesses sell. Discover which platforms are best suited for your needs and how they can help you:
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Automate time-consuming tasks
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Personalize your outreach at scale
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Accelerate your sales pipeline
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Gain actionable insights through analytics
Stay ahead of the curve and invest smarter in tools that drive real results.
Best B2B Sales Automation Tools
In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 B2B sales automation tools that are helping businesses optimize their sales pipelines, reduce manual efforts, and drive revenue growth.
| Tool Name | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| HubSpot Sales Hub | Email tracking, AI-powered insights, meeting scheduling, pipeline management | All-in-one sales automation solution |
| Salesforce Sales Cloud | AI-driven insights, workflow automation, lead management, sales forecasting | Enterprises and large-scale sales teams |
| Outreach | Automated email sequences, AI-powered deal intelligence, call automation | Sales engagement and prospecting |
| Pipedrive | Visual sales pipeline, AI-powered assistance, workflow automation | SMBs looking for an intuitive CRM |
| Zoho CRM | AI-driven sales predictions, workflow automation, multi-channel communication | Growing businesses with affordability needs |
| Apollo.io | AI-powered lead scoring, automated outreach, contact enrichment | Outbound sales and lead data optimization |
| SalesLoft | AI-driven sales cadences, call and email automation, pipeline management | Personalized sales engagement |
| Freshsales by Freshworks | AI-based deal insights, email tracking, and workflow automation | Cost-effective CRM for businesses of all sizes |
| LinkedIn Sales Navigator | Advanced lead search, AI-powered recommendations, InMail messaging | LinkedIn-based lead generation and networking |
| Close | Email and SMS automation, predictive dialer, workflow automation | Inside sales teams needing automation-first outreach |
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HubSpot Sales Hub
HubSpot Sales Hub is a powerful sales automation tool that integrates seamlessly with the HubSpot CRM. It offers a suite of automation features that help sales teams close more deals efficiently.
Key Features:
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Email tracking and automation
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AI-powered sales insights
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Meeting scheduling
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Sales pipeline management
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Custom reporting and analytics
Why Choose HubSpot Sales Hub?
HubSpot’s user-friendly interface and deep integration with marketing automation make it an excellent choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one sales automation solution.
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce is one of the most popular CRM solutions, offering extensive automation capabilities for B2B sales teams.
Key Features:
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AI-driven insights with Einstein Analytics
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Lead and opportunity management
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Workflow automation
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Sales forecasting and analytics
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Integration with thousands of third-party apps
Why Choose Salesforce?
Its robust ecosystem and scalability make it an ideal choice for enterprises looking to automate complex sales processes.
Outreach
Outreach is a sales engagement platform that enhances prospecting and sales execution through automation.
Key Features:
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Automated email sequences
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AI-powered deal intelligence
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Call and meeting automation
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Sales coaching and analytics
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Seamless CRM integration
Why Choose Outreach?
Its advanced AI-driven automation helps sales teams increase productivity while maintaining a personalized approach.
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a CRM and sales pipeline management tool that focuses on automation and ease of use.
Key Features:
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Visual sales pipeline management
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AI-powered sales assistance
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Email and call tracking
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Workflow automation
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Customizable reports
Why Choose Pipedrive?
Pipedrive is an excellent choice for small and medium businesses (SMBs) looking for an intuitive, cost-effective sales automation tool.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM provides a wide range of sales automation features at an affordable price, making it a popular choice among SMBs.
Key Features:
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AI-driven sales predictions
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Multi-channel communication
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Workflow automation
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Lead and contact management
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Integration with the Zoho ecosystem and third-party tools
Why Choose Zoho CRM?
Its affordability and extensive automation capabilities make it a great option for growing businesses.
Apollo.io
Apollo.io is a data-driven sales automation platform that helps businesses improve lead generation and prospecting.
Key Features:
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AI-powered lead scoring
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Automated outreach campaigns
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Contact enrichment and data cleansing
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Sales intelligence dashboard
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CRM integrations
Why Choose Apollo.io?
It’s an excellent tool for businesses that rely heavily on outbound sales and need high-quality lead data.
SalesLoft
SalesLoft is a leading sales engagement platform that automates emails, calls, and follow-ups.
Key Features:
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AI-driven sales cadences
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Email and call automation
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Conversation intelligence
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Pipeline management
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Analytics and Reporting
Why Choose Salesloft?
Its strong focus on personalized sales engagement makes it a great fit for sales teams looking to enhance their outreach strategies.
Freshsales by Freshworks
Freshsales is a CRM solution with AI-powered automation features tailored for sales teams.
Key Features:
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AI-based deal insights
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Email tracking and automation
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Workflow automation
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Contact and lead management
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Custom sales reports
Why Choose Freshsales?
It’s a cost-effective CRM with automation features designed for businesses of all sizes.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a sales intelligence tool that helps B2B sales professionals find and engage with prospects more effectively.
Key Features:
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Advanced lead search and filtering
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AI-powered recommendations
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InMail messaging automation
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CRM integration
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Sales insights and alerts
Why Choose LinkedIn Sales Navigator?
It’s a must-have for sales teams that rely on LinkedIn for lead generation and relationship-building.
Close
Close is a CRM designed specifically for sales teams that need automation-driven communication tools.
Key Features:
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Email and SMS automation
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Predictive dialer for calls
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Workflow automation
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Customizable reporting
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Multi-channel communication
Why Choose Close?
It’s perfect for inside sales teams that need an automation-first approach to outreach and follow-ups.
How to Choose the Right Sales Automation Tool?
With so many sales automation tools, selecting the right one for your business can be challenging. Here are some key factors to consider:
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Business Needs & Goals: Identify whether you need lead nurturing, pipeline management, email automation, or AI-powered insights.
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Ease of Use: A tool with an intuitive interface will help your sales team adapt quickly without steep learning curves.
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Integration Capabilities: Ensure the tool integrates seamlessly with your existing CRM, email marketing platform, and other essential software.
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Customization & Scalability: Look for tools that allow customization and can scale as your business grows.
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AI & Automation Features: AI-powered insights, predictive analytics, and workflow automation can enhance efficiency and decision-making.
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Pricing & ROI: Assess the tool's cost-effectiveness based on its value to your sales operations.
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Customer Support & Training – Strong customer support and training resources can improve adoption and maximize usage.
By evaluating these factors, businesses can choose the best sales automation tool that aligns with their requirements and growth strategy.
Why Choose Saffron Edge for Sales and Marketing Automation Services?
Saffron Edge is a leading digital marketing agency specializing in sales and marketing automation solutions. Our B2B marketing and automation expertise ensures businesses can leverage the latest tools and strategies to optimize their sales funnel.
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Customized Automation Solutions – Tailored strategies based on your business goals and sales processes.
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Integration with Leading Tools – We help integrate and optimize tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, and more.
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AI-Driven Sales Strategies – Implement AI-powered automation to improve lead scoring, email campaigns, and customer insights.
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Multi-Channel Approach – Enhance engagement across email, LinkedIn, and other channels with automated workflows.
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Ongoing Support & Optimization – Continuous monitoring and improvement to ensure maximum ROI from your sales automation strategy.
With years of experience in marketing automation, Saffron Edge helps businesses automate their sales processes, improve lead conversions, and scale revenue growth. Contact us today to learn how we can transform your B2B sales strategy.
Conclusion
B2B Sales Automation isn’t about replacing human connection but amplifying it. When done right, automation removes friction, not relationships. It frees up your sales teams to focus on what truly moves the needle: building trust, solving problems, and closing deals.
In a world where buyers are more informed, independent, and impatient than ever, automation helps you stay timely, relevant, and consistent across every touchpoint.
The future of B2B sales will not be driven by brute force or bigger pipelines. It will be powered by systems that scale empathy, insight, and action.
Automation isn’t the end of personalization — it’s the foundation for it.
Invest wisely. Execute thoughtfully. And always put the buyer experience first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sales automation tool?
A sales automation tool is software that helps businesses automate repetitive sales tasks such as email outreach, lead scoring, follow-ups, and pipeline management. It increases efficiency, reduces manual effort, and improves sales productivity.
Why should businesses use sales automation tools?
Sales automation tools help businesses save time, streamline workflows, and improve customer engagement. By automating tasks like data entry and follow-ups, sales teams can focus more on closing deals and building relationships.
Can sales automation tools integrate with existing CRM systems?
Yes, most sales automation tools integrate seamlessly with CRM systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM. These integrations ensure data flows smoothly between platforms, enabling better lead management and sales tracking.
Are sales automation tools suitable for small businesses?
Absolutely! Many sales automation tools, like Pipedrive and Freshsales, offer affordable plans tailored for small businesses. These tools help SMBs enhance their sales processes without requiring a large team or budget.
How do AI-powered sales automation tools improve sales performance?
AI-powered tools analyze customer data, predict buying behaviors, and automate personalized outreach. They help sales teams prioritize leads, optimize follow-ups, and make data-driven decisions, boosting conversion rates and revenue.
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10 Best CRM and Automation Tools: Streamline Your Business in 2024
In today's quick-moving business environment, handling marketing and customer relations smartly is essential. Customer relationship management software is an essential asset in tracking and closing deals. These tools help companies organize their tasks better, make customer interactions smoother, and get more done. This guide will cover the best CRM and marketing automation software options in 2024. We'll discuss why these all-in-one systems are beneficial, what to look out for when choosing one, and take a closer look at nine top choices. Plus, we'll share some advice on picking the right CRM automation tool for your business needs. What are the benefits of a CRM with automation? An automated CRM can help you by handling tasks so your teams can avoid doing repetitive work. For example, regular email synchronization ensures that your business's most recent email communications are archived in your CRM and categorized under the appropriate contact profiles. Furthermore, you can configure automation to send follow-up reminders to team members when their assigned deals are in danger of being lost. With your automated CRM taking care of the majority of the workload, your business can experience the following benefits: Reducing the sales cycle allows your marketing and sales teams to dedicate more time and effort to high-value tasks, such as negotiating mutually beneficial deals, instead of being tied up with repetitive clicking tasks. Improve customer satisfaction by enabling your teams to address customers' needs promptly. Generating higher revenue by securing more deals (including higher-value ones). In conclusion, an automated CRM with marketing automation services streamlines tasks, enhances lead management, and personalizes marketing efforts. This results in higher conversion rates and better customer retention. Leveraging CRM and marketing automation optimizes campaigns and tracks interactions, providing a competitive edge. What features should I look for in a CRM with automation? To effectively manage your sales pipelines and increase deal closures, the best CRM and marketing automation software for your small business should have these features: Recording Customer Interactions A good CRM should consolidate all customer interactions in one place, whether via email, SMS, video call, or other channels. This organization helps keep track of communications, especially when multiple team members are involved or conversations span an extended period. Contact Segmentation Your CRM should offer flexible contact segmentation to tailor your sales efforts to different groups. For instance, creating a segment for high lead score contacts can help prioritize closing those deals. Lead Scoring Scoring leads according to their engagement with your business facilitates identifying high-potential deals. Ensure your CRM allows you to define events that impact lead scores and adjust these scores automatically using machine learning, as seen in tools like Hubspot. Incorporating this into your marketing automation strategy enhances efficiency and effectiveness. Sales Pipeline Management A robust CRM should offer a dashboard to track sales across various pipeline stages and automate sales processes, such as assigning deals, sending follow-up emails, and marking deals as closed. Customer Service Integration Integrating customer service with your CRM is essential. Look for features like a shared inbox for managing support conversations and automation tools such as chatbots and intelligent ticket assignments based on team members' expertise. Analytics and Reporting A CRM should provide various reports to measure marketing and sales effectiveness and allow for the creation of custom reports to meet your business's unique needs. Data Sync Ensure your CRM integrates seamlessly with other apps you use, consolidating data within one platform. This integration might include pulling emails into contact profiles or connecting with your eCommerce store. Email Marketing Combining CRM with email marketing automation is beneficial. Your CRM should include or support email marketing features and marketing automation to: Send welcome emails to new leads Deliver drip campaigns to nurture leads Send automated emails for onboarding or referrals Add tags to contacts for segmentation and personalization CRM and marketing automation are different, but they also have similarities. If you are considering using an automated CRM for email marketing, look at all the marketing automation features it offers. Want to reduce your CAC to half? Book a strategy call Let’s break through your revenue hurdles We find your primary growth blockers, build expert-led strategies, and provide custom data-driven solutions to help you hit your revenue goals. Set up a 1:1 strategy call Top 10 CRM with automation tools 1. Salesforce Salesforce is a CRM powerhouse offering diverse tools for businesses of all sizes. Its extensive automation capabilities include lead assignment, task creation, and complex workflow rules. Salesforce's AppExchange marketplace provides numerous integrations and add-ons to extend functionality. Key features: Einstein AI for predictive analytics and intelligent automation Customizable dashboards and reports Robust mobile app Extensive third-party integrations Industry-specific solutions Pricing: Salesforce offers various pricing tiers, starting from $25/user/month for the Essentials plan. Higher-priced plans provide more advanced features. 2. HubSpot HubSpot offers a user-friendly all-in-one platform that combines CRM, marketing, sales, and service hubs. Its intuitive and powerful automation features make it a great option for small to medium-sized businesses seeking to expand their operations. Key features: Free CRM with basic automation Visual workflow builder Landing page and form builders Built-in SEO tools Content management system (CMS) Pricing: HubSpot provides a no-cost option with essential features, and its premium plans begin at $45 per month for the Starter plan. 3. ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign excels in marketing automation, offering advanced features like predictive sending and deal win probability. Its strong CRM capabilities suit businesses focused on email marketing and customer engagement. Key features: Machine learning-powered automation Site tracking and event tracking Robust segmentation options Split testing for automation Conversation intelligence Pricing: ActiveCampaign's pricing starts at $29/month for up to 1,000 contacts, with higher tiers offering more advanced features. 4. Zoho CRM Zoho CRM , is a part of a larger suite of business tools, offering seamless integration across various functions. Its automation features are comprehensive, including workflow rules, macros, and assignment rules. Key features: AI-powered sales assistant (Zia) Canvas design studio for customizing the interface Gamification features to motivate sales teams Social media integration Advanced analytics and forecasting Pricing: Zoho CRM provides a free plan for up to 3 users and paid plans beginning at $14 per user per month. 5. EngageBay EngageBay is a comprehensive, user-friendly platform integrating CRM, marketing, sales, and service modules. Its robust automation capabilities and affordability make it ideal for small—to medium-sized businesses aiming to enhance their growth and efficiency. Key features: Provides essential CRM functions with built-in automation. Visual Workflow Builder to create and manage workflows. Anyone can create landing pages and form builders It has Built-in SEO Tools Craft and automate email campaigns to engage your audience Offer excellent customer support with helpdesk and live chat features Pricing: EngageBay offers a free plan with essential features, and its premium plans start at $12.99 per month for the Basic plan. 6. Pipedrive Pipedrive is known for its intuitive, visually driven interface, which focuses on moving deals through the sales pipeline. While not as feature-rich as some competitors, its automation tools are well-designed and easy to use. Key features: Visual pipeline management AI sales assistant Two-way email sync Custom fields and activities Web forms for lead capture Pricing: Pipedrive starts at $14.90/user/month for the primary/essential plan, with more advanced features available in higher tiers. 7. Freshsales Freshsales is a part of the Freshworks suite and offers a clean, modern interface with powerful automation capabilities. Its AI-powered assistant, Freddy, helps with lead scoring and deal insights. Key features: Built-in phone and email Behavioral segmentation Auto-profile enrichment Territory managemen Predictive contact scoring Pricing: Freshsales offers a free plan with basic features, with paid plans starting at $15/user/month. 8. Keap Keap is designed specifically for small businesses. It offers a blend of CRM and marketing automation features. Its campaign builder is particularly strong, allowing for complex, multi-step automation. Key features: E-commerce integration Automated follow-up sequences Appointment scheduling Invoicing and payments Lead scoring and segmentation Pricing: Keap's pricing starts at $79/month for 500 contacts, with higher tiers offering more advanced features and contact limits. 9. Ontraport Ontraport provides a powerful and smart platform for managing the entire customer lifecycle. Its automation features are particularly robust, allowing for complex, branching workflows. Key features: Visual campaign builder Membership site management Affiliate program management Detailed performance reporting Automated split testing Pricing: Ontraport starts at $79/month for up to 1,000 contacts, with higher tiers available for growing businesses. 10. Drip While primarily focused on e-commerce businesses, Drip offers powerful CRM and marketing automation features that can benefit various industries. Its personalization capabilities are powerful. Key features: Visual workflow builder Advanced segmentation Revenue attribution Multi-channel campaigns (email, SMS, social) Personalized product recommendation Pricing: Drip's pricing is based on the number of contacts, starting at $39/month for up to 2,500 contacts. Want to reduce your CAC to half? Book a strategy call Turn website into high paying customers We drive business growth by optimizing every inbound channel to attract and convert high-quality clients for you Set up a 1:1 strategy call How do you choose the best CRM automation tool? Choosing the right CRM and marketing automation software for your business is crucial. Here are key factors to consider during your evaluation process: Time to Value Look for a solution that offers quick implementation and a user-friendly interface. The faster your team can adopt and use the system effectively, the sooner you'll see a return on investment. Consider factors like: Intuitive navigation Availability of training resources Quality of customer support Ease of data migration Time to Value Look for a solution that offers quick implementation and a user-friendly interface. The faster your team can adopt and use the system effectively, the sooner you'll see a return on investment. Consider factors like: Intuitive navigation Availability of training resources Quality of customer support Ease of data migration Reporting Features Advanced analytics and reporting capabilities are essential for making data-driven decisions. Evaluate the tool's ability to provide: Customizable dashboards Real-time data updates Advanced filtering options Export capabilities for further analysis Simple Setup A complex setup process can delay implementation and frustrate users. Prioritize solutions that offer: Consider factors like: Guided setup wizards Pre-built templates for common use cases Clear documentation Responsive technical support Team Productivity Features Look for tools that improve your team's efficiency and collaboration. Key features might include: Task management and reminders Internal chat or commenting systems Document sharing and version control Calendar integration Customer Experience Features Ultimately, your CRM should help you provide better service to your customers. Consider tools that offer: 360-degree customer views Personalization capabilities Omnichannel support options Customer feedback collection Total Cost of Ownership While the initial price is important, consider the total cost of ownership over time. Factor in: Subscription fees Implementation costs Training expenses Potential need for additional integrations or add-ons Integrates with Your Tech Stack The best CRM and marketing automation software should work seamlessly with your existing tools. Evaluate: Native integrations with popular business software API availability for custom integrations Compatibility with your current data storage solutions Ease of data syncing across platforms Mobile Sales Management Look for a solution that offers quick implementation and a user-friendly interface. The faster your team can adopt and use the system effectively, the sooner you'll see a return on investment. Full-featured mobile apps (not just mobile-responsive web interfaces) Offline access to key data Mobile-specific features like click-to-call or GPS check-ins Free Trial Always take advantage of free trials to get hands-on experience with the tool. During the trial: Test key features relevant to your workflow Evaluate the user interface and assess its ease of use. Assess the quality of customer support Ask for feedback from team members who will be using the system Conclusion Choosing the appropriate CRM and marketing automation software is essential for improving your business operations, customer connections, and insights to drive growth and productivity. Before making a decision, test out these CRM automation tools for yourself! Signing up for their free plans or trials is simple, so take advantage of this opportunity to experience the platforms' capabilities and see if they align with your sales processes. Contact us today to learn how Saffron Edge can modernize your customer relationships and marketing efficiency approach. ...
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7 Ways to Ace Your SEO in 2019
The way search engines like Google rank websites changes everyday. Yes, you heard that right! Apart from the big algorithm changes that Google announces once in a while, certain little tweaks and optimizations are made to their algorithms everyday to provide better results to searchers which you don’t even know about. And 2019 is going to be no different! With a few new algorithms introduced this year, Google will give more importance to those websites that adhere to those algorithms for sure in some time to come. Also, Google is focusing more on providing the best search experience to their searchers and if your website doesn’t, you will lose a few rankings on the SERPs for sure in the year to come. So, what should you do exactly to stay in the good books of Google and ace your Search Engine Optimization in 2019? This post is all about that and a lot more. So, let’s dive right in - Rankbrain is going to be more prominent than ever Rankbrain is one of the most prominent algorithms Google has released in recent years. But what exactly is it? It is a Google indexing algorithm backed up with AI which promotes/demotes websites on SERPs based on a certain set of factors. It is designed in a way to make sure that the best results come first for searchers searching for a specific query. Since it’s a machine learning algorithm, it automatically adjusts websites on the SERPs and doesn’t require human intervention at all and can make changes to SERP almost instantly. But what’s it based on? The algorithm was implemented to make sure users get the best search engine experience and the websites that they click on do that as well. So, websites that focused more on providing the best UX to visitors were rewarded by gaining Google’s top real estate, which gets the most clicks. Doing all of that is handled by Rankbrain now. So, you’ll have to keep Rankbrain in mind and optimize the UX of your entire website to provide a better experience to the people who stumble on your website after searching on Google. Doing this is going to be extremely important in 2019! But to ace Rankbrain, you need to know the exact factors on the basis of which it grades websites on the SERPs, which are - 1. Dwell Time Dwell time is the time a visitor spends on your website. Obviously, a visitor won’t stay on your web page or blog if the content is irrelevant to them or is of bad quality. So, providing quality content that aligns with searchers intent is of utmost importance to excel in the Rankbrain era. 2. Click-Through-Rate Rankbrain is designed to look closely at the CTR of each and every web page on the internet to give an appropriate ranking to them. For example, if a search engine result on the 6th position is getting a higher number of clicks than a result on the 3rd position for the same query, Rankbrain would notice and bump up the rankings of the result on the 6th position. But since dwell time is a factor as well, just getting a higher number of clicks on your web pages will not be enough, you will have to provide the kind of content that makes users stay as well to improve your search engine rankings. Take care of these two factors for all your webpages & blogs and Rankbrain would do the rest. Go Mobile or go obsolete Google cares about their searchers. And apparently, a majority of them search for queries from their mobile devices. Mobile searchers have long surpassed desktop searchers and Google wants to provide them with the best user experience. For the same, Google rolled out the Mobile-first indexing algorithm in March this year which changed how the algorithm accessed websites forever. Under this new algorithm, Google crawlers would prefer a mobile website first for indexation and ranking to primarily provide better results to their mobile searchers. So, having a mobile website that properly supports your desktop website is not something you can procrastinate anymore, it has become an absolute necessity under this new algorithm. Google prefers having a mobile responsive website over other methods of going mobile because of its ease. But having a mobile website is not enough, you’ll have to provide a great user experience on your mobile website as well (remember, Rankbrain) to make an impact in 2019. Focus on working on the speed of your website According to a study performed by Google themselves, a website’s speed is the greatest factor that determines if a website’s UX is satisfactory or not. And since, Google has been lately focusing so much on providing a great user experience to all their users, they rolled out an update that ranked websites based on this sole factor. They called it the ‘Speed Update’. While the factor is not the heaviest, focusing on optimizing the speed of your website will certainly give you a advantage and it would greatly improve the UX of your website, which is always a nice thing to do under the watch of Rankbrain. To make your site load faster, you can get rid of heavy elements on your website or minify or combine scripts. Or else, you can use Google’s own tool to check and optimize the speed on your desktop and mobile website - PageSpeed Insights. This tool will tell you everything there is you can do to make your website load faster and perform better in SERPs. The increasing relevance of unlinked Brand mentions Google has long been solely dependant on backlinks for determining the authority of websites over the web. The general idea is, the more backlinks a website has, higher will be it’s authority in the eyes of Google, and higher it will be placed in SERPs. And it has been like this since the inception of Google. But all of this is going to change. The way your brand is mentioned over the web on social media conversations, blog posts, forums and any other medium is closely looked over by Google. It takes into account the tone, intent and context of each brand mention over the web to ascertain if it’s positive or negative and the way people talk about you over the web will certainly affect your ranking in 2019. ‘Unlinked brand mentions’ over the web are gaining relevance each day and it calls for social listening. You’ll have to jump on each and every conversation happening about your brand over the web and make sure it’s in positive light to maintain your brand reputation in the eyes of Google. Google’s Gary Illyes mentioned it himself. So, if you’re not actively monitoring your brand mentions over the web and making sure they add to the overall reputation of your brand, you will struggle to increase your search engine rankings is some time to come. To monitor your brand mentions over the web, you can make use of tools like ‘Awario’ and ‘Brand Mentions’ that would help you do just that with ease! Searchers are consuming more video content than ever People preferring to consume video content over any other type of content is nothing new and has long been a trend that’s still going strong. If you are looking to gain a lot of engagement from your audience on your website, social media or blogs, then video is certainly your best bet because people simply prefer video over anything else. Obviously, quickly watching a video about something is always easier than reading a ton of content and that’s why video is still so popular. In this world, where every brand is throwing up a lot of content on the web and is seeking attention from their audience, people have found a better way to consume content on a daily basis that quickly gives them the facts and is engaging to consume. So, if you’re not making use of Video, you're definitely missing out on a lot of engagement and additional SEO benefits. I would suggest you quickly start creating some video content for your brand and publish it on Youtube. Since, Youtube is owned by Google, you can also enjoy some obvious search engine benefits in the time to come. Target people searching for answers on Google Assistant Optimizing your content for voice searchers is currently a hot topic. And it has all the reasons to be. Voice searches globally are on a tremendous rise and you’ll be missing out if you don’t write content that targets those users head-on. But how do you target them? Here are 3 ways that would help Google Assistant pick your content over others when it comes to answering voice search queries put up by searchers - You need to be on the top 3 results for Google Assistant to even consider picking up your content. If your content appears in the featured snippet, your chances to get picked up by the Google Assistant increases by folds. Here’s how you can get featured in the featured snippet. Answer your own questions in your content. Usually, most of the voice queries start with a question and to answer that question, Google Assistant usually picks up the content that revolves around that exact question. So, try answering the most basic questions people might have around your focused keyword. To know more about what else you can do to target those voice searchers, Forbes compiled a list of best advices from 15 members of the Forbes Communications Council… do have a look at it. Quality content and backlinks are still important While the above suggested ways are vital to ace your SEO in 2019, don’t forget that content and backlinks are still the top ranking factors that matter the most to Google. With Google placing more importance on the user experience that each search engine result provides to users (Rankbrain), I think creating quality content should be your top priority for acing SEO In 2019. If your content provides real value to your target audience, they will be inclined more to read it all. And when they dwell more on your content, Google will notice via Rankbrain that you have a knack of providing quality content to all your users. Which I think is the point of SEO in general. Link building and providing quality content goes hand-in-hand as only when people love your content, they’ll want to share that content on their own blogs and within their own social circles, expanding the reach of your content and building some valuable backlinks along the way. If you continue to provide awesome content to your audience, the biggies in your industry will notice and would want to link to you too. That’s the essence of natural link building right there, and it’s not going to lose value in 2019 and beyond! If you are looking to approach your SEO in 2019 with a bang, the above mentioned ways are the perfect way to do it. But before you start implementing them, keep this in mind, Rankbrain ranks website keeping in mind the response of your audience to your content. If they bounce even before your site loads completely, Rankbrain would not even let you reach the first page of Google, let alone acing it. It’s a machine learning algorithm that does it all for Google and looks at the UX signals of your website really closely to award rankings. And it’s not easy to game Rankbrain because of it’s self-learning mechanism. You’ll have to provide quality content to your audience to get your SEO ball rolling in 2019 and there’s no escaping it now! Having said that, I hope the above mentioned ways will help you greatly in improving your website’s overall SEO potential! Being a SEO agency ourselves, we’ll rely greatly on these tactics as well to provide the best services to all our clients. If you think there are other ways (I know there are) that have helped you greatly in achieving SEO success lately and you're confident that they’ll be of equal importance in 2019 when it comes to increasing a website’s search engine rankings, do let us know about them in the comments. ...
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How to maintain your brand reputation across multiple digital platforms?
Why Online “Buzz” Influences Purchases Decisions? Online Reputation management has become essential for modern-day businesses. As much as customers care about the quality of your product and services, they equally care about your online activities, reviews, and brand presence. What is your brand posting on Instagram? What are you tweeting? Did you reply to their online queries? Actions like these matter a lot! You never know; your existing customers might be posting pictures of your product or sharing their experiences with your brand, and you simply can't afford to lose out on this engagement. As per Statista's survey of 2020, 36% of Instagram users follow brands that they use on the social media platform. Apart from Instagram, 35% of the respondents said that they follow their favorite brands on Twitter. Another study says that almost 90% of the users purchase from online brands they follow on social media networks. Hence, for the years to come, we can say that investing in online brand reputation can help businesses drive ROIs like never before! Myth: Your Online Reputation Is Not In Your Control! There exists a psychological factor behind consumer reviews, comments, or ratings. For a new customer, they act as a testimony. Hence, it is a huge misconception that online presence or reputation is something that doesn't influence purchase decisions. Here, we are talking about the control or "management" of your brand's online reputation. You can always gain a competitive edge as a brand by eliminating fake or negative reviews, establishing your presence over influential platforms, etc. If you want to garner great reviews that speak positively about your work, you must adopt a reputation management strategy. You can learn how we ran a well-structured referral and review campaign on Amazon that lifted the sales of a Coffee Brand by 230%! Check out our case study to know more. A well-designed online reputation management strategy shall portray your brand in a positive light. By investing your efforts in nurturing your online reputation, you can witness skyrocketing growth in sales. If you can maintain a positive brand reputation, you will attract potential customers by gaining their trust! For instance, we generated + 279% Organic Traffic for a doctor booking platform based out of Philadelphia via fifteen Social media campaigns which brought tons of users to their website. It helped them to boost their customer acquisition. Check out our case study to learn more. So How Can You Maintain Your Online Reputation Across Multiple Digital Platforms? You can follow these four steps for your brand’s online reputation management. These are some simple steps through which you can improve the online presence that’ll benefit you in the following ways: ORM can expand your customer base and help you maintain a consistent outreach. Online reviews can help customers to engage with your brand. When you stay in touch with your audiences, you improve internal practices. You have a better chance of boosting your customer retention. Better online reviews and presence can help you in SEO. The elements of ORM include responsiveness to online reviews, reputation monitoring, search protection, constant outreach to encourage customers to share their reviews online, social media branding, damage control, and review audit. These elements are usually implemented via paid, earned, owned, and shared media channels. Let’s begin! #1 Perform Sentiment Analysis! As a business leader, you need to analyze how your customers feel about your brand. Are they happy with your services? Are they satisfied with the results? You must dig deep into the data to understand your brand’s current reputation standard. Check your social media posts, comments, mentions, take a glance at your competitor’s social handles, look at how their customers talk to them, and then define a path for yourself. You must also evaluate your online reviews on platforms like Yelp, Yahoo, and Google. There are various online tools or experts who can quantify this data into comparable metrics so that you can analyze how things are going for your brand. #2. Track Social Media Tags Mentions. Brand reputation management is a continuous process; you have to stay proactive! Once you recognize your online reputation status, you need to set up your social media channels to respond to customer queries or complaints. Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, etc., are popular platforms where brands reply to their customers. Social media channels make it very convenient for a user to ask a question or appreciate your work. Pro Tip: Ensure you respond to your customers as fast as possible! #3. Make Your Business Appear Positive. As discussed in the previous section, negative reviews can hamper your client acquisition efforts. The best way to deal with them is by resolving them and encouraging positive reviews. Of course, you can’t force your customers to post positive reviews about your brand, but you can always share testimonials of happy clients. You can highlight the kind of positive experience they had on your social media platforms. You should never hold yourself from reposting your clients’ tweets or feedback. In this way, you can leverage user-generated content that can enhance your online marketing. Apart from customer reviews or comments, you must encourage your employees to post positive sentiments about their work culture. #4 Work With Reviews, Comments, And Analytics. Your customers should feel or recognize that your brand is putting additional efforts into fixing certain shortcomings that they comment about. They should feel that they are being listened to. For instance, they might complain about the delivery process or the recent rise in the price. Listen to them and make changes accordingly. Your brand’s reputation matters! Yes! Your online brand reputation is within your control. But first, you must realize the key areas where you can improve upon. You must listen, process, and react to online conversations that are related to your brand. If you are looking for more effective ORM solutions and efficient tactics, we at Saffron Edge can help you develop a robust strategy! ...
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