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- 07 Feb
B2B Video Content: Top Goals, Formats, Channels, and Challenges
by Ayaz Nanji
There are a lot of people and companies using video in their marketing now. For some it is because their competition is using it. Not wanting to be outdone, they use video in their marketing. However, the majority do so simply becasue it works.But What is Working? What Are the Goals for Video Marketing?
According to recent research from Vidyard, in partnership with Heinz Marketing they asked these very questions. It seems that B2B marketers and salespeople are using video content primarily to build brand awareness. But, they are leveraging it more than ever to drive lead generation and to educate customers.
But, exactly what types of videos work best? What format? And what are the best channels to get your video noticed and seen? For the answers, and to learn the top goals, formats, channels and challenges of B2B video content, read the full article at MarketingProfs Blog.
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up opens on this site. Registration may be required to read the article.
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- 05 Sep
The Complicated Relationship Between Social Media and SEO
by Kipp Bodnar
Inbound marketing is in the middle of an interesting evolution. While search has traditionally been a major source of traffic and leads for businesses leveraging online marketing, that is changing. Now, with the growth of social networks, social media marketing is becoming even more important.But, Which is More Important?
The answer? Both can be key to your strategy. They both can, and should, work together. But the key to understanding how and why they need to work together is to think about the problem both search and social solve. They both offer information discovery. And, leveraging both strategies will give you more chances for audiences to discover your brand.
As a marketer, how can you integrate your efforts across both platforms? To find out and to learn how to apply this to your unique business environment, read the full article at the HubSpot Blog
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- 21 Aug
B2B Social Media Strategies That Work For Any Industry
For so long, social media was considered the sole domain for B2C marketers. Well, that may no longer be the case. And that’s because there are now a number of brands that have seem to have broken the social media code.Caught in the Middle Again . . .
What they have found is that for a B2B company to be successful on social media, their content needs to find the middle ground. I needs to fit between being engaging and not disrupting their audiences’ experience on the platform. And ultimately, it needs to be what their audience wants to see to truly reap the benefits of social media.
So, what is it that B2B companies have done to transform the landscape of what it means to be a brand on social media? To find out, consider these 10 B2B Social Media Strategies for Any Industry on HubSpot.com that might lead your own social accounts to success.
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- 10 Jul
What It Really Takes to Earn Millennial Loyalty
For the past few years, it has seemed as if every conversation around loyalty, circles back to Millennials. And rightfully so. Millennials are now the largest generation living in the U.S. And collectively they possess an annual spending power of $600 billion.
What Millennials Want . . . ?
With this in mind, it’s no surprise that companies across all industries and verticals are catering to the needs of Millennials as a way to earn our loyalty. Thankfully for brands, 80 percent of Millennials already participate in loyalty and rewards programs.
However, above all else, millennials value their time, energy and hard-earned money. And while they enjoy incredible spending power, they prefer experience to ownership. If brands want to capture this demographic, they will have to abandon traditional, shopworn loyalty strategies. So, to learn how, read the full article at
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- 05 Jun
What is Earned Media? And Does it Really Work?
Remember ‘back in the day” how people used to learn about upcoming events, the latest trends, and cool new products. Well, it was probably almost exclusively from magazines, newspapers, and TV shows.The Times, They Are a Changing . . .
Back then, this was where brands used to get all their earned media. But earned media has expanded beyond print and TV. And marketers can harness it in several ways.
But because the places we get information have changed over the last 30 years, earned media changed as a result. So what is earned media, is it really effective? And how can you gain some? To find out, read the full article at HubSpot.com
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- 23 May
Six Naming Trends to Help Your Brand or Product Stand Out
It is a simple reality of the business world. Every new business wants to stand out to attract more attention. And, of course, they want to connect with, appeal to and engage an audience of potential customers.A Rose by Any Other Name is, . . . .
One way to do that is with a memorable business name. And that’s because one of the first things a potential customer learns about your business is its name. So, it’s vital that the name make an impact.
But hitting on that exactly perfect combination of word-smith imagery to define your brand in one name is hard. But, when someone comes up with an intriguing or interesting naming technique and convention, others follow suit, creating a name trend. Here are 6 trends that may be able to help your brand stand out, so read the full article at MarketingProfs.com
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- 08 May
The Basics of Branding in 2019: What You Need to Know
There is good news. Thanks to new technology, customers are receiving thousands of advertisements from different brands each day. But there is bad news too. And, thanks to that same technology, customers are receiving thousands of advertisements from different brands each day.Shocking! It’s Shocking, I Tell You
With this fast and continuous communication, many brands find it hard to keep their name at the top of the mind of the customer. And most struggle to even get noticed. As and example, studies show that most customers today would not even notice if approximately 70 percent of brands ceased to exist tomorrow.
After all that advacne in technology, this year, branding will be taking a turn to the human side. While technology will stay an essential part of the interaction with customers, companies will have to create a brand that is compassionate, based on values and builds an active community. But how? And what are the trends? Well, here are five trends that will define your branding strategy and what you need to know about the Basics of Branding today, on Jeff Bullas’ Blog.
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- 22 Feb
The Real Secret Behind Growing Brand Trust With Customers
Customer trust is the cornerstone of any successful business. Yet, many businesses simply assume that customers will trust them from the start. And very few put much effort into building confidence and trust in the market.
Customers Tend to be Skeptical About Businesses They Don’t Know
And according to the Edelman Trust Barometer, consumer trust in business has remained stagnant over the past few years. What is stunning is that almost half of buyers report they are generally distrustful towards branded messaging.
Building trust with your audience is even more essential for businesses today. But convincing a new customer to trust your brand enough to share their hard-earned money and sensitive financial information can be tricky. So, to see some of the best strategies and approaches to build meaningful trust with your customers that will lead to higher sales and greater loyalty, read the full article on Jeffbullas’s Blog.
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- 16 Feb
How People Want to Engage with Brands on Social Media
from MarketingCharts.com
Social media often gets a bad rap. Most notably, this comes for its contribution to the spread of false information and the misuse of user data. But despite this, even with all the negativity surrounding it, Sprout Social reports [download page] that the majority of consumers they interviewed still believe that social media has the ability to connect people.Social Media is Really All About the Conversation
And, it’s not just people connecting with each other that makes social media powerful. Social is also seen as a top channel for brands to connect with consumers. Consumers like when brands listen to them. And part of listening means interacting and exhibiting behaviors that facilitate and encourage connections.
To see all of the data and added insights, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 04 Jan
6 Promotional Marketing Trends to Watch in 2019
from With the new year here, it’s a good time to do a final review of your marketing budget. Now, for many marketers, this means a focus on digital channels.
Promotional Materials Still Maintain a Strong Impact
But interestingly, non-digital channels still hold a huge amount of influence in today’s internet driven world. And of these, promotional marketing could be seen as one of the most consistently successful at both driving sales and brand presence. But, it helps to know what your customers are looking for in the promotional space and to recognize the trends.
After all, what do customers value from promotional materials? To learn the latest trends that are emerging in promotional marketing and how they will shape this still powerful marketing strategy in 2019, read on at Jeffbullas’s Blog.
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- 10 Oct
10 Great Examples of Welcome Emails to Inspire Your Own Strategy
by Erik Devaney
We’ve all heard it before. How important it is for you to make a good first impression. And, as it turns out, the “make a good first impression” principle holds true not only in face-to-face encounters. But it holds in email interactions as well.Your Second Chance for a Good First Impression
A welcome email is the first impression a company makes with a new customer, blog subscriber, or newsletter subscriber via email. Welcome emails can deliver videos, special offers, a sign-up form, or just a friendly hello to establish a relationship with a new contact.
When you send a welcome email to a new blog or newsletter subscriber, or to a new customer, you’re making a first impression on behalf of your brand. So, to help ensure you’re making the best first impression possible, the people at HubSpot rounded up some examples of standout welcome emails from brands big and small at HubSpot.com
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- 19 Sep
The Ultimate Guide to Emotional Marketing
by Allie Decker
By now, we are all well aware that today’s consumers are better educated. And they are better equipped to research what they don’t already know. But they’re also flooded with advertisements on a daily basis.In such a busy marketing world, how can you make sure your company stands out?
Here’s how. By tapping into another major component of the consumer’s attention span and purchase decision. You can do it through emotions.
To learn what makes emotional marketing so powerful and how you can leverage it to connect with your audience and encourage them to act, read the full article at HubSpot.com.
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- 24 Aug
12 Creative Ways To Use YouTube For Branding
from the Forbes Communications Council
The number of YouTube viewers is steadily on the rise. Plus, the site’s recently engagement hit 1.47 billion viewers in 2017. And now, it is expected to increase to an estimated 1.86 billion by 2021. Now, this data shows the platform’s power to reach more of your consumers. And, to ultimately, benefit your business.Thats Great! But How Can I Use It?
YouTube offers a range of ways to interact with your customer base. From using influencers to hawk your products to creating viral videos that consumers gravitate towards. So, adding YouTube to your marketing arsenal can prove to be an effective way to reach more customers. And, it can make your brand more visible with more people.
In this article, 12 members of Forbes Communications Council share creative ways a business can leverage the YouTube platform in its branding efforts. Read the full article at Forbes.com
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- 22 Aug
What is a PR Strategy and Does Your Small Business Need It?
As a small business owner, it’s key that you do all you can to maintain a strong and credible reputation in the public eye. And a solid public relations strategy can help you do just that.But, What is a PR strategy, You Ask?
In a nutshell, a public relations strategy lets your customers and the wider world know that your business exists. According to the Chartered Institute of Public Relations “Public Relations is about reputation. I t is the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you”.
Well, that sounds simple enough. Right? But, why does your small business really need a PR strategy? To find out and to learn how to make it work for your small business, read the full article at Manta.com
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- 15 Aug
4 Ways to Use Social Listening for Brand Awareness, Lead Gen & Beyond
Sometimes it feels like social listening is sacred knowledge. Something that is reserved for only a few chosen brands. And that shows just how little we hear of companies using it. Of course, in reality, social listening is quite the opposite of a secret. Social listening is actually used by many. But, here’s the deal: it’s not used to its full potential.Let’s start from the beginning in case you know absolutely nothing of this social listening business. Despite being a product of all the fancy techy concepts out there (big data, machine learning, etc.), it does not require a ridiculous budget or programming skills. Really, just an understanding, a tool, and some creativity.
So, what is social listening? And, how can you use it to drive your brand awareness and generate leads? Read the full article at WordStream.com to find out.
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- 06 Aug
Why Facebook Story Ads Could Mean Big Changes for Advertisers
Recently, Facebook announced that Facebook Stories ads are coming. They’re going to mark a huge shift in the way advertisers think about placement. Now this is no new announcement. It was more a reminder of sorts from the original announcement in May of this year.Facebook has high expectations and business goals for Stories
As an indication of the importance Facebook is placing on this move, Mark Zuckerberg noted recently that, “one of the interesting opportunities and challenges over the coming years will be making sure that ads are as good in Stories as they are in feeds. If we don’t do this well, then as more sharing shifts to Stories, that could hurt our business.”
Clearly, not only is there a definitive shift to Stories occurring. But Facebook is obviously aligning the future success of the platform with their ability to monetize them, enhance advertiser opportunities and user experience. But what does this mean to your social media marketing efforts? To find out, here is a full rundown of Facebook Stories ads – including what they are, what they mean for Facebook, and what advertisers can expect when they finally drop for real.
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- 20 Jul
How to Write Compelling Copy: 7 Tips for Writing Content That Converts
The art of creating compelling copy is crucial to any content marketing program. After all, copy is writing that sells. So by definition, it has to be compelling.Does your copy also have to be clear and concise? Absolutely. Brevity and clarity will ensure that your message is digestible. That is important if you want your words to be read and understood with ease. That said, the clearest, most concise copy ever written is still a bust if it doesn’t compel its readers to act.
If your goal is to write clear, concise copy, then you can train yourself to do that. Just follow a few guidelines and, of course, practice. But if you want to write compelling copy, then you have to do a lot of research and even more critical thinking. So, let’s break it down at HubSpot.com
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- 12 Jul
Do People Share Good and Bad Customer Experiences?
from Marketing Charts
People around the world say that customer experience is a competitive differentiator for brands. But do good or bad experiences reverberate beyond the customers themselves? As it stands, most people will tell someone about a very good or very bad experience. This according to new research from the Temkin Group.Are Consumers More Likely to Complain or Brag?
In fact, only around one-quarter (27%) of US consumers surveyed in Q1 reported being silent about a recent very bad experience with a company. It turns out that respondents were more likely to have not shared a very good experience. Of that, one-third indicated they didn’t tell anyone about the experience. As such, the results suggest that people are slightly more likely to share a very bad than a very good experience.
To see more insights into how people are sharing their brand experiences, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 28 Jun
How to Launch a New Brand: Five Tips for an Unforgettable Debut
As a startup, you need to be marketing. And you need to be building your brand in the market. That’s because building a brand for your company is one of the most important things you can do as a marketer.
But, What is “brand” And Why Should I Care?
A brand – your brand – can allow you to differentiate yourself from industry competitors with a unique image, a memorable voice, and an identity that resonates with your target customers. But establishing and launching your own brand from scratch can be difficult.
This is particularly true when you’re a startup with limited resources
It can be tempting to rush through the process of market entry and start selling products as quickly as possible. But the way you introduce your company to your customers could have a huge impact on your potential for future sales. After all, you really do have only one chance to make a first impression.
And to see some simple suggestions to help you create a memorable and effective brand that will help your company stand out from the competition, read the full article at MarketingProfs.com
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- 21 Apr
A Bird in the Hand can be Your Golden Goose
It’s only natural. When it comes to sales and hitting your sales goals you focus on the people who have already demonstrated that they’re willing to give you money. But, it turns out they’re the most likely ones to give you even more.Consider these facts from both a Forrester Research study and a Harvard Business Review research project:
- Acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than satisfying and retaining current customers
- A 2 percent increase in customer retention has the same effect as cutting costs by 10 percent
- A 5 percent reduction in client defection can increase profits by 25-125 percent (industry specific but seriously – 25% is the low end!)
- On average, loyal customers are worth up to 10 times as much as their initial purchase
- The cost of bringing a new customer to the same level of profitability as a lost one is up to 16 times more
With that, why not put more of your focus on your existing customers? Why not make those customers and clients feel valued? To find out, read the full article at the McLellan Marketing Group Blog.
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