Earl Ebanks

The latest browser market share in Canada is 48% Chrome. A majority of the web is already cookieless. There is no time to waste. Advertisers need to push ahead even faster to futureproof digital strategies for a cookieless world. Push ahead as if the deadline hasn't changed and use this new window to test & learn different approaches. Refine and tweak your audience and measurement strategies as new learnings are uncovered. Waiting around for Privacy Sandbox to be perfect is a losing proposition.

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🚀 Attention Media Buyers across Canada and North America! 🚀 In a crowded digital landscape, finding the right advertising partner can make all the difference. At RMG Advertising, we’re helping media buyers drive better campaign outcomes with targeted location intelligence, in-app display, DOOH, and Connected TV advertising solutions designed to maximize engagement and boost conversions. 👉 Are you looking to optimize ad spend and target your audiences more precisely? 👉 Ready to unlock higher ROI with cutting-edge digital strategies? Let’s connect and discuss how RMG Advertising can help you reach—and exceed—your campaign goals. I’d love to hear about your current strategies and explore how our data-driven approach can support your success. 💬 Connect with me today to start the conversation! #MediaBuyers #DigitalAdvertising #DOOH #CTV #LocationIntelligence #ConnectedTV #CanadaMarketing #NorthAmericaMarketing

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In today’s fast-paced world, simplicity and speed are key to keeping your Shopify customers engaged and happy. We’ve all been there—trying to navigate a slow, complicated ecommerce site and feeling the frustration build up. Here’s a pro tip: prioritize a clean, user-friendly design for your Shopify store. Keep your layout simple, optimize images for faster load times, and make sure your navigation is intuitive. These small changes can make a big difference in user experience and boost your sales. A simple, clean design isn’t just nice to look at—it can significantly increase your conversions.

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If your brand is running SMS campaigns and you have not yet registered for RCS - now is the time! RCS is coming at scale this year in North America and it's important to have your brand registered. Why wouldn't you? 1) We have no intention of using rich messaging with our clients: RCS is about more than a rich messaging experience, it's more secure and better branded too! You should still register you brand. There is no cost to you and having a verified sender and your logo at the top of the messaging window will reassure your customers in their communication vs a short code. 2) We don't have the capabilities to manage rich messaging today/in house: You don't need to have that today - you can decide on it later, but if you need help, we have the expertise, platforms and tools to help 3) There is no market for RCS as it's Android only without all carriers. Not anymore. Apple have announced that they are adding RCS to iMessage and we it will be supported on all major carriers, so more than 95% of North American consumers will have the capability (and in some cases - the expectation) of RCS on their phone in 2024. Many brands have already started implementing and Sinch sent over 60 million RCS messages last month alone on behalf of our clients. We have a registration document we can help you with, so let me know and I can get you set up (no cost- no commitment).

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🚨You’re living in an uninformed bubble if you’re not benchmarking your marketing performance. TL;DR: 1. Growth is good, but context is key 2. Benchmark against industry standards 3. Understand what good performance looks like The Insights: 1. >>Growth Context<< When I worked at Aritzia, we saw a +20-25% growth in our department. But, we asked ourselves: “How much did the industry grow?” 2. >>Benchmarking<< If the industry is growing by +50% and we’re at +20%, we might be trailing behind. Benchmarking helps us understand our standing in the broader market. 3. >>Understanding Performance<< Clients often ask, “Are we doing well? How many views should we be getting?” It’s about understanding what good performance looks like in your industry. The Impact: 1. Growth is important, but context gives it meaning. 2. Benchmarking ensures you’re not just growing but growing at a competitive rate. 3. Knowing your industry standards helps set realistic goals and measure success accurately. How are you benchmarking your marketing performance? 👇 #MarketingInsight #DigitalMarketing #CompetitorAnalysis

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I've seen so many Shopify themed posts on LinkedIn recently. "Shopify or bust" posts need a bit more meat on the bones comparing product roadmaps between competing platforms. Oversimplification doesn't serve an audience well. Shopify has its place...as do Mach vendors and evolving monoliths like Adobe Commerce, et al. Imo...agnoticism re: platform evaluation is a prerequisite to making a well considered decision with major consequences for a merchant.

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The typical timeline for Shopify Ecommerce Replatforms & Redesigns at UN/COMMON is 4-6 months, depending on your requirements. Holiday shopping season has been creeping earlier and earlier before Black Friday, usually around the start of October (6 months away). If you are a merchant looking to have a new site up and running "for the holidays," the time is now to start talking about it.

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🚀 One of my major focuses for clients is looking at the bigger picture, beyond just the ad platform. 🔍 For a current client, we’ve been hyper-focused on boosting profitability. After diving in, we suggested an AOV test that started in February. Since then, their overall AOV in Shopify has increased by an impressive +22%! 📈 🏆 Our goal was to raise their average from $60 to $75. This, along with other key strategies, has also scaled their total sales by +32%, averaging about $280k monthly (this brand struggled to break $100k out of holiday periods). We’ve even increased their ad spend 4x since we took over. 🎉 💡 This huge win showcases how adjusting tactics for ads and landing pages (CRO is a major factor for most clients) to drive a higher AOV can significantly boost overall revenue for a brand. 💪 Are you a brand looking for an agency that focuses on the bigger picture? DM me, let's talk! We're cooking up some amazing things here at Lunar Solar Group. #ecommerce #digitalmarketing #AOV #CRO #businessgrowth #successstory #facebook

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Google's New Surcharge . . . . A Canadian Advertiser's Headache? So, Google just threw a curveball with this new 2.5% surcharge for Canadian advertisers, and it's causing quite a stir. Ideally, your ad budget would look like this: Set Budget → Launch Campaign → See ROI But now? Google’s essentially saying, “Hold on—add a little extra for that surcharge.” Here’s how it’s really going down: 1️⃣ Budget Shock You’ve mapped out your budget to the last dollar for the quarter, ready to roll, and suddenly—bam—your costs just jumped 2.5%. No extra value to your campaign, just a bigger bill. 😳 2️⃣ ROI Headache “It’s just 2.5%,” they say, but if your ad spend is in the six figures, that small bump adds up fast. And now? Your carefully calculated ROI doesn’t look so great. 📉 3️⃣ Who Pays? Do you take the hit or pass it on to your clients? Either way, someone’s footing the bill here—and it’s not Google. 💸 4️⃣ Strategic Shuffle Now, you’re thinking, “Do I shift ad dollars somewhere else? Focus on organic traffic? Or just eat the cost and move on?” 🤔 5️⃣ Impact on Small Businesses For smaller advertisers, that 2.5% hike could be the tipping point between staying competitive or cutting back. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. 💡 At first glance, 2.5% might seem small, but over time? It could cause a real shakeup in your marketing strategy. So, if you were a Canadian marketer, how would you handle this extra cost? Would you adapt or look for new ways to stretch your budget? #GoogleAds #CanadianAdvertisers #MarketingStrategy #AdSurcharge #Budget https://lnkd.in/eJ2sZ3Uu

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Media industry leaders came together at the IAB Canada State of the Nation Toronto Summit yesterday, to share thoughts on future of Media👇 🚀 Advertising revenue is projected to reach $𝟏𝟖.𝟏𝐁 in 2024 (from $15.9B in 2023). This growth is fueled by direct channels, the rising traction of RM+, and the continued momentum towards Connected TV. 📊 We finally might have a 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐕. Can you believe that? 🔥(called the Ad Creative ID framework) 💡 During the economic downturn, making strategic reductions, rather than slashing budgets indiscriminately, by 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐅𝐎 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚.🎯 🤖 You are already behind if you aren't using AI to achieve greater efficiency thereby optimizing resources. 💪Its time to take control of the situation and do our bit Looking forward to embracing these strategies at Involved Media Canada #Media2024 #MarketingStrategy #Innovation #EconomicInsights #DigitalTransformation

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As we wrap up our series on SEO platypus archetypes from the Acadia Client Summit, it’s time to meet a character we hope none of you identify with: The Black Hatter. The Black Hatter is a sly character, always scheming to cheat the system with shady "Black Hat" SEO tricks. With a villainous mustache and a notorious black hat, they think they can outsmart the competition. But no matter how clever their tactics, they always get caught in the end—locked up behind bars for their unethical ways. The Black Hatter is a reminder that in SEO, playing fair is the only way to truly win. Let’s leave the shortcuts behind and focus on the sustainable strategies that drive long-term success! #SEO #BlackHatSEO #DigitalMarketing #AcadiaClientSummit #SEOArchetypes

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Omnichannel campaigns that are easy to plan, execute & measure coming soon. 👆 All part of the latest updates from Canada's largest retail media network with 4 million weekly digitally active members. I had the pleasure of attending Advance powered by Loblaw Upfront yesterday. My key takeaways: Hard discount is their largest growth potential and they are both converting stores but more importantly opening more smaller footprint locations. These are for both urban and rural areas where they can offer a wide assortment of products (although limited number of brands/options) at an everyday low price. Pet, HABA and games/arts - all areas expected to see growth AND will have their areas in-store see updates coming soon. Another growth market are New Canadians and LCL is paying attention, such as including global holidays in their seasonal programs and recognizing this market over indexes on using digital. Everything they do is OMNICHANNEL. Their example was the Lunchables Launch (Kraft Heinz) who used online video/social, e-comm banner & sponsored search, digital flyer, in-store screens and in-store aisle blades & bunkers. 53% of Loblaw Companies Limited shoppers start their journey online, many of whom buy a product in-store within a week of seeing it on an LCL digital platform. This requires targeting.... Advance is adding to their 200+ audiences with 12 new automotive audience segments via Esso. Also teamed up with Corus Entertainment to allow brands to align shopper profiles and viewer profiles through MediaAisle. Advance is also improving several existing programs: 1) Sampling: Coming in 2025, it features an improved consumer and brand experience. 2) Product price in creative: the ability to have prices in programmatic display & in-store screen media coming in beta soon 3) Digital aisle: SDM now has sponsored search while biddable shoppable display is coming to PC Express 4) Personalized members only pricing coming in 2025 If it seems like there's a lot to manage - it's because there is! And they've got a solution: LOOP: Loblaw Omnichannel Optimization Platform Coming in Q4, it's designed to make omnichannel campaigns easy with objective based campaigns using AI to optimize budget allocation and provide suggestions based on performance. It also provides omnichannel measurement with shopper and cart analytic reports coming soon. All very impressive! Couple areas I thought I'd see more development: 1) Digital shelf LCL still using printed pages for at-shelf signage while Walmart has announced digital tags and video shelf edges over the last few weeks. 2) Reviews Lots of discussion about discovery online but no mention of reviews. Other retailers, like Home Hardware Stores Limited, are actively adding these to elevate the consumer experience. Excited to see the features as they are released through the year! #retailmedianetworks #grocery #retailmarketing #CPG #shoppermarketing

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Clever Affiliate Program Managers are combining affiliate marketing with influencer marketing. 💡 Copying this powerful strategy could more than double your ROI. https://lnkd.in/gSdJjVP8 #AffiliateProgram #AffiliateMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #OnlineMarketing

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Retail media ad spending in Canada is projected to grow 26% in 2024 to surpass the C$3 billion mark — nearly double the total of three years ago, according to EMARKETER. As this space continues to emerge, the partnership between brands, agencies, and retailers will be key to unlocking its full potential. 📣 Excited to announce the second edition of our Canadian Retail Media Report Card to help you navigate this rapid growth! Featured in this edition are: 👉 Coverage of 6️⃣ important retail platforms, including the addition of 2️⃣ networks. 👉 90 evaluated capabilities across five key performance areas. 👉 An expanded review of media opportunities to reflect the trend toward offsite and on-location options. Grab your copy here: https://lnkd.in/e6ySRunA #retailmedia #RetailMediaReportCard #retailmedianetworks #insights

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🌟 Retail Media in Canada: A Rapidly Growing Opportunity! 🇨🇦 Did you know that retail media is set to experience significant growth in Canada? "Insider intelligence expects global ad spending to grow 22% this year and 18.5% in 2025 to reach $165.9 billion - and command 22% of all digital ad outlays worldwide. Spending in Canada is projected to jump 52% to 3.8 billion in the same period to account for 23% of all digital ad dollars." -eMarketer As brands increasingly recognize the value of reaching shoppers closer to the point of purchase, retail media networks (RMNs) are quickly becoming a key part of marketing strategies. 📈 The Shift in Spending: This shift is driven by the increasing demand for targeted advertising, greater control over ad spend, and the ability to reach shoppers when they’re most ready to buy. 💡 Why it Matters: For Canadian retailers, this growth represents a huge opportunity to enhance shopper engagement, drive incremental revenue, and create more personalized shopping experiences. Whether you're a retailer or brand, now is the time to start thinking about how retail media can fit into your strategy. 🚀 The Future: As the landscape evolves, the lines between e-commerce and traditional retail will continue to blur. Retail media will play a pivotal role in shaping how brands connect with their audiences and deliver measurable results. Don't miss out on getting ahead of the curve and adding value to your business with your own Retail Media Network. Let's connect and chat about your thoughts on where this space will go! 💭 👇 Have questions? Feel free to DM me, or book a consultation with Zitcha here: https://lnkd.in/gQtn5Dr4 #Zitcha #RetailMedia #RetailMediaNetwork #DigitalMarketing #CanadaMarketing #Ecommerce

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Marketers looking to build person-first marketing across owned and paid channels should look for a #CDP that does more than just organize data. Here's what you need to know: https://bit.ly/3zLZGj3

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Klaviyo's CDP is taking off 🚀🎉🚀🎉 -- A huge win for brands that want to manage & leverage their data to drive more targeted (and effective) customer interactions. Check out our first case study with Klaviyo CDP + Ruffwear to learn more! https://lnkd.in/g42ZE7bM #klaviyo #cdp #customerdataplatform #marketing #martech #customerretention #CustomerRetentionStrategies #DataDrivenRetention

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Brands must consistently optimize as many business aspects as possible to generate sales growth and become dominant players on the Amazon platform. Check out my agency's case study to see this multifaceted business approach in action. Through our strategies, we accomplished the following for a distributor client: 📈 +27% increase in shipped revenue year over year 🌱 10th fastest-growing Amazon Canada account 💸 Within the top 15 in sales volume in their category #amazon #casestudy #salesgrowth #brandgrowth

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