-
- 24 Feb
Nine Types of Video to Help You Close Sales
- Feb 24, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Sales Enablement, Video Marketing
In just a short time, video marketing has evolved. It has now become one of the most important selling tools in your marketing tool-belt. And this is not only because it’s an effective way to deliver a message but also because it allows you to really connect with your audience. And all in just a few seconds.
How Can Video Help Your Sales?
It has been shown that videos help customers’ decision to purchase a product. In fact, 64% say they are more likely to buy a product online after watching a video. That’s why videos are the type of content with the best ROI. And that is why marketers are including videos in their digital strategies.
To get the most out of your video investment, here’s how to create the right types of video for each stage of the buyer’s journey at MarketingProfs.com
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up opens on this site. Registration is not required to read the article.
-
- 13 Jan
The 16 Best Marketing Strategies to Try in 2020
- Jan 13, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Marketing Strategies
by Lisa Smith
Well, 2020 is here. And, so far, it doesn’t look a whole lot different than it did in December 2019. That’s why Lisa Smith, over at WordStream set out to ask dozens of digital marketers for their best marketing strategies of last year.
And Boy, Did They Deliver
They unloaded and gave us a huge list. But here is what we think are the 16 best marketing strategies you can take into 2020. So, to see what they are, read the full article at WordStream.com – The best marketing strategies to try in 2020
-
- 18 Dec
2020 B2C Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends: New Research
- Dec 18, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2C Marketing, Content Marketing, Marketing Strategies
by Ann Handley
Content marketing has become a consistent tool for B2B marketing for a long time now. But, until recently it is a tool that has been largely missing in the B2C space. For most marketers in that space, they knew it could work. But they simply struggled to understand how to make it work in their markets.
“. . . and nair the twains shall meet . . . “
Well, now, it seems that business-to-consumer [B2C] marketers are making steady progress with content marketing. And it is quickly becoming a key element of marketing strategy. This, according to a just-published annual content marketing study [download available] from MarketingProfs and Content Marketing Institute.
To see what key actions and approaches you can take to improve your own content marketing program, read the full article at MarketingProfs
-
- 10 Dec
Online Video Consumption Continues to Rise Globally
- Dec 10, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Video Marketing
from Marketing Charts
What is the reason that video marketing has gained so much momentum? Here is your answer. Online video consumption growth is expanding at a terrific pace. And it shows no sign of slowing down in the next few years.
Marketers are Simply Following Their Market Momentum
The recent global forecast estimates from Zenith Media is that the average person will watch 84 minutes of online video this year. This is up from an estimated average of 67 minutes spent per day in 2018. This rate of growth is not unusual. Zenith reported that between 2013 and 2018 online video viewing grew at an average rate of 32% per year.
The insights from this study clearly support some of the more recent findings
- The growth of mobile video advertising is expected to be more than 3 times larger than non-mobile video advertising in 4 years time.
- On the B2B front, shorter videos are best. B2B online videos less than one minute in length had a completion rate of 68% last year, compared to the 25% completion rate of videos which were more than 20 minutes long.
- More than half (56%) of US consumers prefer video ads which are relevant to the videos they are watching as opposed to ads that are relevant to their browsing behavior or their mindset.
To see more of the data, insights and to access the full report, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
-
- 06 Dec
Seven Tips for Building a Video Marketing Campaign
- Dec 06, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Video Marketing
Video is getting hotter by the day. It can even be said that it is becoming the most popular of mediums for content marketing, and marketing in general.
But Why Is That?
For one reason, video is the one content medium that is effective at every stage of the buyer journey. That makes it one of the most power full forms of content you can have. And it has been a driver for the increasing use of video in both B2C and B2B marketing campaigns.
And with that popularity there are a multitude of ways you can start. And if you’re considering using video, there are seven tips to help you build a solid video marketing campaign at MarketingProfs.com
NOTE: A Free MarketingProfs Registration may be required to read the full article.
-
- 18 Nov
Good Storytelling Starts With Your Value Proposition
- Nov 18, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Brand Storytelling, Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends
As a consultant, I often see companies forgetting to tell the story about the value their products hold for the customer. In most cases, that is because companies are so close to their products. As a result, they assume the benefits are apparent to everyone.
This is Where Good Storytelling Comes In
And this is a good example of what good storytelling represents. With the markets changing at such a rapid pace, it can all be overwhelming. Understanding the shifting demands of buyers, and the market are hard.
But, one thing is constant. A good story always works and a good story always starts with the value your products brings to your customers. And that means that all of your content needs to demonstrate as well as explain your products values to the customer. But not as a focal point of your product, rather from a customer-view perspective.
To understand this all more clearly and learn how this can be applied to your business, read the full article on Heinz Marketing’s Blog.
-
- 02 Sep
Facebook How to for Business: 25 Facebook Marketing Tips and Tricks
- Sep 02, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Facebook, Social Media Marketing
Some of the younger demographics are passing up Facebook in favor of tools like Instagram and Snapchat. Even with that, Facebook still dominates the market. With 1.09 billion people logging in daily, it still commands the position as the most popular social network. And that doesn’t even include the fact that Facebook owns 77% of all social logins.
If You Build It,
HeThey Will Come . . .If you want your business’ content to reach consumers, and even business leaders, having a presence on Facebook is a given. But to make the most of your Facebook Page you need to optimize your Facebook presence. However, learning all the nuances of various social networks can be a tricky. And it can be a time-consuming feat, especially considering how frequently they add, remove, and modify features.
To help you stay ahead of the curve, Lidsay Kolowich from HubSpot has put together a handy cheat sheet that businesses can use to make the most of Facebook marketing. To see the entire list and to learn how to apply them to your business’ goals for using Facebook, read the full article at HubSpot.com
-
- 30 Aug
How to Use Social Media Research as a Tool for Sales Success
- Aug 30, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Conversion Strategies, Social Media
by Mike Schultz
If you’re in business, you market and sell something. And one of the challenges you face is finding prospects that want to buy. But, that takes a couple of things. First, you have to know who they are and they need to know who you are. Then, you need to know something about them. You need information about the buyer.
But Where to Start? Without Being Creepy
Quite frankly, you are absolutely crazy if they don’t take advantage of the vast amounts of information about your buyers that’s available on social media. Whether you’re researching new prospective B2B buyers before reaching out, a buyer before a sales conversation, or a target industry, social media should be one of the first places you look.
And yet, most of us don’t do that. But those who do have a great advantage. Here are ways to research buyers on social platforms at MarketingProfs
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up opens on this site. A Free MarkeitngProfs Registration may be required to read the full article.
-
- 26 Aug
Conversion Rate Benchmarks Report: How Do YOUR Conversion Rate Compare?
by Connor Bond
Here’s a bit of wisdom for you. Impressions and clicks don’t keep the lights on. If that were the case, everyone would be running a successful small business.
You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure
Whether you’re in lead gen, or managing your business’s online accounts, it means keeping tracking of a bunch of different metrics. You may already try to keep track of your progress. You may even go so far as to use search impression share to judge how well you’re performing. But, measuring your click-through and conversion rates are about the only way to really determine how compelling your ad copy, content or offer really is.
And one way to measure your success is to compare with industry standards and peer performance. It is the one measuer that allows you to benchmark how your conversion rates compare. And each year, WordStream creates a guide with the goal to provide the essential conversion rate benchmarks you need. And this year is no exception. To see the report and to measure how your results compare, read the full article at WordStream.com
-
- 20 Aug
How to Create Compelling Brand Stories in a Noisy World
- Aug 20, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Brand Storytelling, Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends
from Jeff Bullas’ Blog
Storytelling has long been considered an art form. But now, it has become a business imperative as well.
Emotions are the Sherpa in the Buyer Journey
Market studies tell us that brands with interesting, original and engaging stories can sell more than their blander competitors. And the reason? Well, stories touch upon emotions. And this is not simply conjecture. In fact, neuroscience shows that human beings make decisions based mostly on emotions. And not on logic. And surprisingly, that is the case even in the B2B space that has assumed only logic prevails.
The human brain is hardwired to be fascinated by good storytelling. And your business can benefit from that wiring. To learn how, read the full article on Jeff Bullas’s Blog.
-
- 14 Aug
7 Actionable Steps to Convert Social Media Followers to Buyers
- Aug 14, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Digital Media Trends, Social Media, Social Media Marketing
by Moss Clement
Social media can be a fantastic digital marketing asset. Whether for B2C or B2B, it can quickly skyrocket your business if you use it correctly. And it is considered to be a top marketing assets in our digital-first world. In fact, it is the one, single place you can add to your digital presence.
Social Media is More Than Cat Memes Now
It can help increase your visibility, boost brand awareness and create an online presence. And if you have a growing following on social media, it means you have a group of potential customers waiting to be engaged with.
But, are you making the most of your followers to increase your return on investment (ROI)? Not sure how or where to start? In this article from Jeff Bullas’ Blog, Moss Clement gives us his seven action steps that will help you convert your social media followers into paying customers. So let’s get started on Jeff Bullas’ Blog.
-
- 15 Jul
Three Tips for Connecting with B2B Buyers
- Jul 15, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Buyer Journey, Marketing Strategies
It seems that B2B buyers are waiting longer and longer to connect with vendors. Today, rather than immediately connecting with a sales rep, both B2B and B2C buyers prefer to do their own research online, or ask their peers for input. And this makes becoming part of the purchase conversation as early as possible in their consideration process crucial. But a lot more challenging.
Why Are They Waiting So Long Then?
Part of this is due to a lack of trust in vendors. In a recent report on B2B buyer disconnect, TrustRadius found that only 11 percent of buyers describe vendor reps as very trustworthy. And only 19 percent say reps have significant influence over their buying decisions. In contrast, 53 percent of vendors say they think their reps are very effective at moving the needle towards conversion.
How can you connect with prospects and get them talking? Here’s three ideas for driving engagement throughout the B2B buying cycle on ChiefMarketer.com
-
- 22 Jun
The 5 Types of Social Media: Which is Best for Your Business?
- Jun 22, 2019
- admin
- 0
- Marketing for Small Business, Social Media, Social Media Marketing
by Pamela Bump
Research tells us that over 97% of marketers are now using social media to engage with their audiences. But if you’re trying to start a social media strategy for your company, you have questions. You might be wondering which type of platforms you should be on. And you may not know which one is best for your business.
Big and Getting Bigger
The list of social media platforms is growing. And well-known platforms like Facebook are always evolving and adding new features. With a greater and greater need for a social presence and an overwhelming amount of platform choices, it can be hard to pick which social channels to use. You might not want to spread yourself too thin by managing a channel on every imaginable platform. But you also don’t want to miss great brand-awareness opportunities.
To help you make informed decisions about which platforms to use, Pamela Bump, staff writer from HubSpot brings us some great guidance on some of the core-types of social media. And, in this article, she also provides some specific examples of platforms within each category, and the pros and cons that each type might present. To lean in all, read the full article at HubSpot.com
-
- 14 Jun
The Ultimate Guide to Using Twitter for Business in 2019
- Jun 14, 2019
- admin
- 0
- Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Twitter
Twitter is an undeniably powerful platform. And it can be used to increase your business’s online reach. Statisitcs show is that the average Twitter user follows five businesses. And 80% of all Twitter users have mentioned a brand in a Tweet.
Impressive, But . . .
However, succeed as a business on Twitter in 2019, it’s critical you’re able to stand out. But that can mean many different things for the millions of businesses across every industry on Twitter.
So what steps can you take to add to your audience’s experience online, instead of simply being a disruption? How can you promote your product or service in a way that encourages people to purchase? How can you make your brand more human on a platform made for connection? To help you create a successful strategy and leverage Twitter’s power for your business, keep reading to learn how you can use Twitter for your business in 2019 and How to Market Effectively on Twitter at HubSpot.com.
-
- 30 May
New Research: How Are Email Response Rates Trending?
- May 30, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, B2C Marketing, Email Marketing
from Marketing Charts
We know that for businesses, email remains one of the central tools of the trade. That fact was brought out by some research by Ascend2 earlier this year. In that they found that while email marketers not only name increasing engagement as their top priority, they also say it is their greatest challenge.
But in new research from Epsilon, there are some even more worrisom trends. It seems that email click-through rates have declined for business-as-usual emails. And, this decline is beeing seen across a broad range of industry segments and both B2B and B2C markets. This is according to their latest email and benchmark trends report [download page].
To see the highlights of the report and for an opportunity to see the origical report, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com.
-
- 06 May
How to Integrate Purpose Into Your B2B Content Strategy
- May 06, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, B2C Marketing, Content Marketing
by Heather O
The notion that content is king has never been more valid than it is today. And that idea, that started early on as the exclusive domain of B2B companies, has even spread to the B2C mareting domain.
This doesnt mean that you do the same types of content and structure it for the same reasons as you would for a B2B market. For B2C companies to reach their buyers and provide superior customer experiences every time, they need to deliver content that’s streamlined, simple, personal and purposeful.
What the Heck is Purposeful Content?
That means that they need to understand what’s important to their buyers. Why? Because a growing number of those buyers cite shared-purpose as a reason to buy from a company. And, as a result, companies need to be clear on their corporate purpose if they are going have a strong, evolving content strategy.
But, that purpose needs to be authentic and relatable. It also needs to inspire. Social purpose can be a powerful tool for your business. But how do you find that purpose? And, how can you wield that power? To find out, read the full article at MarketingProfs.com
-
- 09 Apr
How User Intent Affects Your SEO Performance: Intent-Based Keyword Research
- Apr 09, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Search Engine Marketing, SEO, Website Conversion Strategies
by Inna Yatsyna
Early in the ‘era of search’ keyword research was quite a simple thing. All that was needed was to collect a wide range of all the words somehow connected with your content. And then, it would rank high. At the time, search engines’ algorithms were mechanical and robotic. So, looking for the pages relevant to queries, they relied on the number of similar keywords.
Times, They are a Ch, Ch, Ch, Changing . . .
Some of the newer technologies of machine learning now allow search engines to provide users with high-quality and relevant results based on their intent, not just on the words they use. That’s why building your SEO strategy around high-volume keywords doesn’t work anymore. Today there are loads of factors which matter for your website ranking and for traffic it drives. And user intent is one that matters significantly.
Well, what actually is user intent? And how can you use it? In this article, Inna Yatsyna takes a look at what user intent is, and how it should affect your keyword research. So to better understand it, and equip you to be able to develop your SEO and improve your content strategy, read the full article at Jeff Bullas’s Blog.
-
- 08 Apr
What Is Twitter and How Does It Work?
- Apr 08, 2019
- admin
- 0
- Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Twitter
Now you may be thinking that it is a bit late in the game to be asking “what is Twitter and how does it work?” After all, Twitter, as a social networking site was launched way back in 2006. Today, it is undoubtedly one of the most popular social media platforms available. It boast 100 million daily active users and 500 million tweets sent daily.
But,Really, What is Twitter?
Twitter is a lot of things to a lot of people. It can be used to receive news, follow high-profile celebrities, or stay in-touch with old high school friends. And, it can be used for personal, business, religious and especially for political purposes. In fact, it can be used for a lot of good and even bad things.
But its popularity can be intimidating. And if you don’t know how to use Twitter by now, should you even bother trying to join the masses who’ve acquired years of experience on the site? Fortunately, Twitter is incredibly easy to use. And in this article at HubSpot.com, explores what Twitter is, who uses it, and how you can get started on the site, today.
-
- 28 Mar
7 Creative Hyperlocal Marketing Strategies for Growth
- Mar 28, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Hyper-Local Marketing, Lead Generation, Marketing for Small Business
by Irina Weber
The world is becoming more and more mobile. In fact, according to Google, searches on mobile devices have grown. Currently they are up by 150 percent. So, with that, it makes sense for businesses to tap into this trend. It may be time for you to begin hyperlocal marketing.
Great! What the Heck is Hyperlocal Marketing?
Hyperlocal marketing is an entirely new marketing approach. Designed for small, local business, it focuses on a smaller number of shoppers. And in a very defined and smaller area. So, it specifically targets people in highly localized and address-specific regions. Plus, it emphasizes people with a tendency to purchase locally.
And that means that hyperlocal marketing is a super targeted form of niche marketing. And you don’t need to spend money to generate inbound traffic to your local business. So, to get started, read the full article at Jeff Bullas’s Blog.
-
- 21 Mar
How to Keep Your Email Marketing Strategy Relevant to Millennials
- Mar 21, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Marketing to Millennials
It is important to reach your customers through more than one channel. That is an undisputed fact. But, if you market to Millennials, you probably think they are more likely to engage with an Instagram post or a Facebook ad than email.
If That’s What You Think, You’re Missing Out
Don’t be fooled. Email marketing, when it’s done correctly, still holds sway for brands. And of you want to maintain customer relationships, engage audiences, or make sales, email works. This holds even in an era of the rise of social media and search engine marketing. Email is still a highly effective and popular marketing tool, even with Millennials.
In fact, according to studies, 61% of consumers overall enjoy receiving promotional emails weekly. But how can businesses use emails effectively to market to the most tech-savvy group out there. How can it reach Millennials? To find out, read the full article at MarketingProfs.com