If you use the Facebook tracking pixel, you’ve probably seen this headline at least once already: Important Facebook Pixel Update. It starts like this: On October 24, Facebook will begin offering businesses a first-party cookie option with the Facebook pixel. This change is in line with updates made by other online platforms, as use of first-party cookies for ads and site analytics is becoming the preferred approach by some browsers. This update seems to be following me everywhere. I got a notification in Facebook, received emails in more than one account, and have been asked so many times what the…

Are you tired of hearing the words “data” and “Facebook” used together in the news almost daily? While it appears that the Facebook data saga won’t be ending anytime soon, one thing is clear: American auto dealers need to know how to properly target their Facebook campaigns without the third-party data that was previously available.   So what does that look like? Funny you should ask. We’re holding a webinar on Tuesday, October 23, to show you can you can target your Facebook ads without this data.  But first…

Fall means different things to different people: football, pumpkin spice, your favorite TV show coming back with a new season. For 9 Clouds, fall always means a return to Digital Dealer Conference & Expo! We’ll be in Las Vegas on Thursday, October 18, at 10:05 a.m. PT to talk about “Advanced Facebook Advertising: Strategies for New Privacy Regulations and Automation Platforms.”

The weather is cooling down in the Midwest, so we’re hitting the road for the DrivingSales Executive Summit in sunny Las Vegas. Join 9 Clouds founder Scott Meyer for a session all about dynamic Facebook ads at the three-day conference from October 21 to 23.

The dinner is done, the guests are gone, and your bed is beckoning. But first — Did you do the dishes? If not — hey, no judgment. I’ve been known to crash on the couch amid some post-party wreckage myself. But I have to admit, there’s nothing quite like waking up to a clean kitchen. After all, an organized house is a happy house, and who am I to defy psychology? Same goes for your digital space. By decluttering and organizing your technological life, you’ll become a happier, calmer, and more productive human. At least, I did. Here are my top…

Facebook data is in flux, but that doesn’t mean your targeting abilities are lost. Our neighbors to the north have been using Facebook without the third-party data American dealers enjoyed for years. In working with Canadian dealers, we’ve found several ways to work around the new Facebook data limitations. Join us on Tuesday, October 23, at 11 a.m. CDT to learn how to market like a Canadian on Facebook and get the most out of your Facebook spend!

So you want to blog. Awesome! There really isn’t a shortage of reasons why a blog is a great idea. It helps boost SEO, it builds your authority (since it’s your original content), and it lives on a platform that isn’t at the mercy of an always-changing algorithm, like Instagram or Facebook. Having quality content that lives on your own site is the starting point for implementing one of the secrets to successful inbound marketing: building an email list.  With an email list, you have folks who set aside time to interact with your content, which means they’re one step closer to…

They say if you want to write better, you should read more. So if you want to write better marketing newsletters, you should read more marketing newsletters. Good ones, that is. After all, our inboxes are dumped upon every day with dozens (or even hundreds) of emails. For us to subscribe to yet another newsletter, it’s got to be worth our time. Below are the top five marketing newsletters I love to read — the ones that inspire me, challenge me, bring a smile to my face. Whether it’s the facts, layout, or inspiration inside, these newsletters educate and motivate…

More than nine years ago, my brother John and I had the idea that we could teach people in our home state of South Dakota to use the Internet to grow their businesses and improve their communities. We created 9 Clouds to help. After almost a decade of work, I’ve decided to move on from 9 Clouds to pursue new opportunities and find new ways to support digital literacy.

Better services and better products are the result of better design. As Apple launched another round of iPhones this week, I was reminded of Steve Jobs and his obsession with detail.

If you’ve followed 9 Clouds content for even a short amount of time, you’ve probably noticed a theme: we’re passionate about professional development. Earlier this year, my coworker Sarah wrote about the value in attending a professional conference every year. This is something the leadership at 9 Clouds encourages for everyone on our team, and I just returned home from my own annual foray into career training. Although there was plenty to see and learn at the Digital PM Summit in Memphis, TN, one major theme stood out for me. 

To the left, to the left Everything you own in the box to the left In the closet, that’s my stuff, yes If I bought it, please don’t touch . . .  Queen Bey’s wisdom doesn’t only apply to romantic breakups. When you end a relationship with your digital marketing agency, you should get everything you bought handed back to you in that box. But that happens less often than you’d think. Today, I’ll walk you through how to break up with your automotive marketing agency and get your stuff back in the process.