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- 07 Jan
How to Create the Right Amount of the Right Type of Content
- Jan 07, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends
There is such a thing as too much content. And if you’re creating content for the sake of it (without a clear business need, strategy or to simply create something new), you’ve taken a wrong turn.
The Content Paradox: Not Enough or Too Much?
In today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, there is a glut of content available. And it’s a fine line between not having enough content and having too much content. On the one hand, you need enough content to satisfy various use cases. As an example, consider Forrester’s finding that a person on average consumes 11.4 pieces of content before buying.
On the other hand, having too much content creates challenges. When you have too much content, it becomes difficult to manage and volume can degrade the value of that content with both customers and your sales team. So where is the line between not enough and too much content? And how do you find the “just right” amount of content? Start with these six steps at MarketingProfs.com
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up opens on this site. Registration may be required to read the article.
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- 16 Dec
Why Social Media is Integral to Your Content Marketing Strategy
- Dec 16, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Lead Generation, Social Media Marketing
from DrumUp
Face it, if you’re in business, social media is important to your success. In today’s climate, your business can’t afford to be without social media. However, social media isn’t the only answer. It is one tool and shouldn’t be your only avenue of marketing.
You need to have a multi-pronged approach to reach your target market. And that means that you also need content marketing to be part of your overall strategy. But, since social media has such an overwhelming prevalence in today’s society, content marketing is completely ineffective without it.
Content + Social Media = Success
Combining your content with your social media means that you’ll be able to grab the market’s attention with your social media marketing. And then that will drive audience to take a deeper dive into your broader content. To see how this can work for you, read the full article at DrumUp
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- 05 Dec
8 B2B Video Marketing Myths Debunked with Cold Hard Facts
- Dec 05, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Video Marketing
Video has exploded in the B2B landscape over the past few years. And, today, it has becoming a staple in today’s modern marketing and sales toolkit. However, there are some common misconceptions and video marketing myths. And those myths seem to be keeping some businesses from reaching their full video potential.
But, That Need Not be the Case
Video is here to stay. According to a study conducted by Heinz Marketing, 68% of organizations plan to increase their level of investment in video in the next six to eight months. Now, more marketing and sales professionals are realizing that video plays an important role throughout the entire buying journey. And this includes their sales cycle as well. And they are experiencing first-hand the true impact it can have on their business.
There’s still a lot to be said about video and its use in your marketing and sales mix. But to help you out, here are eight of the most common video marketing myths. To find out what they are, read the full article on the Heinz Marketing Blog.
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- 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.
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- 04 Nov
2018 B2B Video Completion Rates and Success Benchmarks
- Nov 04, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Video Marketing
from Marketing Charts
We know that in the B2C space, marketing videos have grown in popularity. But, this year B2B marketers have also named video as their top lead generation tactic.
But keeping B2B buyers engaged can sometimes be a struggle. Marketers are constantly challenged with the cold, hard reality of engagement. So, the question remains if they work and how they can work harder for our marketing. And, can video really help with that?
One measure of video marketing success is video completion rate. That means, people watching the complete video from start to finish. And a new video benchmarks from Vidyard [download page] offers insights into that very benchmark. And what they found for completion rates for business-related videos, and the results are encouraging.
But beyond just completion rates, the study offers other benchmarks for business-related videos on Vidyard’s platform in 2018. To see what those are and to learn just how effective B2B marketing videos can be, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 18 Sep
How B2B Marketers Are Using Webinars and What’s Working Best
- Sep 18, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Digital Media Trends, Lead Generation, Webinar Marketing
from MarketingCharts.com
Marketers have found that webinars, as a form of event marketing, are one of the most successful top of the funnel demand generation tactics. And consequently, more than three-quarters of B2B marketers are using webinars as part of their marketing mix. This, according to new research [download page] from Demand Gen Report and GoToWebinar.
So, Webinars Are Still A Top Performer at Top-of-Funnel
The survey of B2B marketing practitioners reveals some significant trends. As example, they found that close to 4 in 10 of B2B marketers say that the quality of leads from webinars are higher than from other channels. And nearly half say that webinars provide better quality leads based on engagement.
The benefits do not stop with lead generation. Marketers also say that webinars provide them with the ability to obtain customer insights. And even more importantly, a large percentage of respondents also indicated that they’ve experienced a better conversion of leads to opportunities from webinars.
To see more of the data and insights, and to download the original study, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 11 Sep
10 How-To Videos That Really Work And Why They Do
- Sep 11, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Marketing, Video Marketing
On the internet today, video is everywhere. And for marketing, it is at every stage of the buyer funnel.
Hearing is One Thing. Seeing is A Whole Different Level
As an example, have you ever learned how to do something with the help of an internet search? The answer is most likely a resounding “yes.” In fact, videos are an especially compelling way to learn how to do something online. That’s because, well, the video shows you exactly how to do it. I’m not alone here, either — most customers would prefer to watch a marketing video rather than seeing an ad.
So if you’re among the 45% of marketers who are adding video content to your strategy this year, there could be a lot of value in making videos specifically for those in your audience who are trying to learn how to do something, too. And in this post, you will see exactly how popular these searches are on YouTube and other platforms, and what you can learn from eight how-to videos about how to make great teaching videos of your own, all at HubSpot.com
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- 09 Sep
How to Create an Email Newsletter People Actually Read
- Sep 09, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Newsletter Marketing
by Ginny Mineo
Even though e-newsletters are one of the most common types of emails to send, they are actually some of the hardest to do right. And to get them right, you need to be aware of a number of potential problems and pitfalls.
First Things First . . .
First, and most importantly, you need to ask yourself one simple question. “Do we really need a newsletter?” Now, while that may seem to be a rather odd question to come up with, it is one of the most important issues to review at the outset of you considerations. But, surprisingly, it is one of the questions very few seem to ask themselves.
So, do you want to ace your new email newsletter project, or rejuvenate an old one? Or, if you’re looking for some inspiration, here are some awesome email newsletter examples you can check out at HubSpot’s Blog
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- 05 Sep
The Complicated Relationship Between Social Media and SEO
- Sep 05, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Lead Generation, Social Media
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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- 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
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- 23 Aug
45 Essential Social Media Marketing Statistics You Need to Know
- Aug 23, 2019
- admin
- 0
- Digital Media Trends, Social Media, Social Media Marketing
by Emily Coates
It seems that social media is everywhere. And for many, it is the daily, go-to place for entertainment, socialization and it is even their primary news source.
‘Sigh’ . . . Sad, I know . . .
But as a result, social media has risen to become one of the primary marketing channels. With over 40% of the world’s population reportedly on social media, it is now a critical customer touch-point for your business. What was once considered a fad, is now a business imperative.
And that means that today you must have an effective social media strategy to reach your intended audience. To help you out, Emily Coates brings us a list of 45 essential social media stats to ensure you know where to focus your marketing efforts now to get the highest ROI. So read the full article at HubSpot.com
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 07 Aug
A Handy Guide to Press Release Distribution Success
- Aug 07, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Digital Marketing, Marketing for Small Business, PR. Public Relations
by Sam Allcock
To thrive as a small business, you need people to know that you exist and that you can help them. One way to do that is to get press coverage. But, unfortunately, coverage doesn’t just come naturally. It is something that you need to work to get.
Enter: The press release.
Press releases are important for increasing your brand awareness and helping your public relations (PR). But if nobody sees your release, you won’t get very far. You need to distribute it effectively to get your story picked up by national newspapers, magazines, or blogs.
But you may not know exactly how to do that. So, to help, Sam Allcock from HubSpot has put together a Handy Guide to help you learn how to properly create, pitch, and distribute a press release for optimal brand awareness. To see the full guide, read the full article at HubSpot.com.
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- 07 Aug
6 Great Tips to a Better B2B Video
- Aug 07, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Content Marketing, Video Marketing
Video has increasingly become an the choice medium for many businesses. And that is because so many have found it extremely effective to drive engagement with digital audiences. In fact, video snippets have become one of the top three content types used by B2B marketers in 2018.
Short . . . Medium . . . Long. It All Works
But short-form is not the only digital media tool they use. There is mounting evidence of the impact of long-form video content and social media video stories. The reason? Well, video content appeals to viewers at every stage of their buying journey. Whether they are just being introduced to your business, or are deeper in the sales funnel and looking for more information about your products or services. Video works for them.
With video marketing being one of the top digital marketing trends, now is the time for B2B marketers to focus on creating engaging and valuable videos for branding, lead generation and thought leadership. And if you are ready to start making your own marketing videos, consider these five great tips from Christa Tuttle on Business2Community.com
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- 27 Jul
10 Effective Tactics for Promoting Your Content
- Jul 27, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Marketing, Promotional Strategies
by Mario Medina
You want to make your content marketing program work. And to do that, you need to devote a huge amount of energy, time and resources. An add to that the fact that the creative process is not easy either. It simply takes a lot to create great content.
If a Whitepaper Falls in the Forest, . . .
But, even when you create great content, it might never be seen. That is, if it’s not promoted and shared. Content promotion is critical to the success of every piece of content. And that means that promotion is crucial to the success of your content strategy in general.
After all, the more views your content has, the more likely you are to engage a customer and ultimately make a sale. So, to make sure content gets seen and has a chance at generating leads, take a look at these 10 unpaid, organic content promotion tactics that Mario Medina brings us on MarketingProfs.
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- 26 Jul
Captioned Video Ads Show A Lift in Brand Linkage
- Jul 26, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Digital Marketing, Lead Generation, Video Marketing
from Marketing Charts
We know that advertisers are increasing their video budgets this year. But are they missing out on one key element that could make a difference to audience engagement? A new survey from Verizon Media has found that and astounding 7 in 10 US consumers watch videos without sound in public spaces. This makes captioning not only important but expected by viewers and crucial for your business.
The vast majority of people who use captions are not hearing impaired. Half of the more than 5,600 US consumers surveyed report that captions are important because they usually watch videos with the sound off. Perhaps, more importantly, the majority of respondents said they are more likely to watch an entire video when captions are available.
What Does This Mean to Advertisers? Read the full article at Marketing Charts to learn more.
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- 28 Jun
5 Strategies to Target Your B2B Audience Online
- Jun 28, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Conversion Strategies, Digital Marketing
B2B audiences aren’t always extremely easy to find, but they’re out there just as often as B2C audiences are. We marketers just have to look a bit harder for them. And that means that B2B advertising has a unique challenge in digital marketing.
If you sell a product like socks or toilet paper, you know nearly everyone on the planet uses them, or we all hope they do. So your audience is everywhere. That’s the case for many B2C offerings. The target audience feels like they’re all over the place.
For B2B, That Feeling – and the reality – Isn’t Even Close to the Same
So what gives? Do we just take our ball and go home? Of course not! And that’s because your users are also all over the web, just like B2C audiences. The only difference: We have to work harder to find the proper targeting options. So what can we do? To find out, read the full article at WordStream.com
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- 27 Jun
How to Make a Video: a Step-by-Step Guide
- Jun 27, 2019
- admin
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Marketing, Video Marketing
By now, creating a video to help market your product or service should be a no-brainer. It’s an easy, shareable way to communicate your company’s core message. It can also lead to a strong ROI. And we know that video has business impact. As example, product videos increase the chance of a purchase by 144%.
But, like many companies, you might not have the in-house resources to create a clip. Or you simply don’t have that much time to waste on learning video editing software yourself. And if you don’t have a ton of experience in video, it may seem like your only options are to pay for someone else to do it, or hack together a bad video on your own.
There is Some Good News Though
However, there’s a third option. Even with limited resources, companies launch with great video campaigns all the time. And to help you build solid, but affordable, content, here are six tips to create a great video at HubSpot.com
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- 26 Jun
4 Keyword Research Strategies to Find Your Product-Market Fit
- Jun 26, 2019
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Keyword Strategies, Search Engine Marketing, SEO
All too often, keyword research is seen as only useful for SEO. And, therefore, is considerd to only be useful when driving growth for an existing business. It seems that a lot of people see keyword research as something that comes into play only once your business has already created its products. But what if we have it all backwards? After all, there’s little-to-no ROI in getting eyeballs on a product people don’t want.
Why Use Keyword Research for Product-Market Fit?
Product-market fit is one of the first things to think about when you start a business. And ideally, you never really stop thinking about it. As your audience grows, their demands change. And their needs evolve. So, you’ll need to constantly adjust your strategy so it serves them best.
This may all sound complicated, and it can be. But not if you stay in tune with what your market wants and needs. And keyword research lets you do that at every stage of business growth. And, to learn how to put this all together for your business, read the full article at WordStream.com