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- 31 May
GDPR Is Here: A Simple Marketing Guide for Compliance
by Kay Kienast
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) initiative has caused quite a bit of confusion, and turmoil. And, it has posed more questions than answers for US based companies.Just Another Bureaucratic Stumbling Block or a Timely Tool?
Designed to put customers back in the driver’s seat of their preferences and personal data, the legislation has drawn broad criticism. However, customers and prospects will now own their personal data and have control over the communications they receive.
And as marketers, we are supposed to represent the voice of the customer. And in a manner, the EU’s GDPR can help us do that by focusing on the “customer first.” So, here’s how to make sure you not only comply with GDPR’s regulatory requirements and provide customers what they need at MarketingProfs.com
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- 30 May
Social Media Marketing Update: Preferred Platforms and Content Types in 2018
from Marketing Charts
What’s trending in social media marketing? The latest annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report from Social Media Examiner set out to find out. And, they were able to offer some insights into marketers’ preferences surrounding social media platforms and content.Risk vs Benefits of Social Media Still Being Weighed
Even with the sustaining popularity of social media, there are some continuing concerns for marketers. It seems that just 44% agree that they’re able to measure social ROI. That is a figure that’s even higher than reported by CMOs in a recent CMO study. And slightly fewer than half agree that their Facebook marketing is effective.
But despite questions about Facebook effectiveness, respondents seem enthusiastic about the benefits of social media marketing. So, to see all of the data and insights, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com.
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- 29 May
Four Key Metrics for Evaluating Event Marketing Performance
by Dax Callner
ROI is a misleading metric for evaluating event-marketing performance. This is especially true, since most B2B events are way more than just selling opportunities.Attribution and Linking Events to Sales is Difficult
But, determining what an event costs can get really complicated, really fast. Do you include the hard costs of a venue or exhibit space? Event staff time? And how much revenue an event drives is no easier to decipher either. Unless your company is selling products at a B2B event (which does happen in some industries), it’s difficult, if not impossible, to attribute a converted sale to the event. And as is the case, in B2B sales, there are typically several touchpoints that contribute to a sale.
While events are important, remember that it’s just one touchpoint
So, how can you target in on the return of value of a show or conference? After all, events can contribute to pipeline. But they should also build brand affinity and strengthen customer loyalty, all important contributors to a business’s success and goals. And with that in mind, let’s look at four metrics that matter to event marketing at MarketingProfs.com
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up opens on this site. Registration is not required to read the article.
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- 25 May
Advanced Remarketing: How to Build an Intent Map (And Get More Conversions)
by Allen Finn
WordStream has devoted tens of thousands of words to remarketing. They’ve touted best practices, #hacks, and cross-platform strategies, shared superlative creative. And they have made note of just about anything that relates to getting your ads in front of your most valuable prospects (again).But What About Taking Your Remarketing Program to the Next Level?
It’s no secret that remarketing is integral to sustained success in online advertising. After all, it allows you to reach prospects already familiar with your brand. It can provide them ample opportunity to return to your site and complete some sacred, coveted [desired action]. In fact, WordStream’s Senior Data Scientist, Mark Irvine, has discovered that people are 2x more likely to convert after seeing your ad 6 times.
So, whether you’re a SaaS company looking to fill your funnel and push leads to trial and, eventually, purchase. Or if you’re an ecommerce shop looking to move units, read the full article at WordStream.com to learn Advanced Remarketing: How to Build an Intent Map and Get More Conversions.
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- 24 May
How to Create Awesome Facebook Carousel Ads That Convert
Back in the day, when Facebook first introduced ads on their platform, most marketers snickered. After all, who in their right mind, would place an ad alongside cat pictures and “. . . here’s me eating yogurt” posts?Well, as time has passed and the ad platform on Facebook has matured, it has become a good medium to reach audience. And now, with GIFs, videos, slideshows, and Canvas ads floating ubiquitously around Facebook one thing has become evident. Now users prefer interactive content over stagnant content. These users want multi-pronged brand stories. They want options. They want to go for a ride without getting up.
Enter Facebook Carousel Ads
So, if selling products online is your game, don’t hesitate. Facebook Carousel ads are an ideal medium to showcase multiple products to multiple segments of your prospect pool. A compelling visual storytelling, in some form or another, has become nearly a prerequisite for Facebook users making their way through purchase funnels. And in that regard, Facebook Carousel ads have become an effective tool for a diverse array of campaign types.
To learn How to Create Awesome Facebook Carousel Ads That Convert, read the full article at WordStream.com
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- 23 May
Your Organization’s Mark On The World
The importance of your organization’s unique trade mark can never be overemphasized. Your trade mark needs to be protected both legally and by using it wisely.Your Trade Mark – One of the Most Valuable and Important Assets Your Company Has
In marketing terms, your trade name, and trade market are important. But the mark that can mean the most to your business may be the one that your organization is leaving on your community. So, whether you are a solopreneur, have fewer than 20 employees or maybe have a few hundred people who work in your organization – you can leave your mark. And being an organization that changes the course of your community is good for business.
Here are some of the ways it translates to your bottom line at McLellanMarketing.com
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- 22 May
The Impact of Saying Thanks in Email Subject Lines
by Ayaz Nanji
Well now, this should not be any surprise. But, email subject lines that express gratitude tend to outperform email subject lines that do not. This is according to recent research from Cheetah Digital.Always Remember to Say “Please” and “Thank You”
The report [download available] was based on 2017 data from email campaigns sent by Cheetah Digital clients in a wide range of verticals. But what the researchers found was fairly stunning. And what they discovered was that mail subject lines that included terms such as “with heartfelt thanks” and “thank you!” had higher average unique open and unique click rates. And not just marginally higher. They were 69% and 38% higher, respectively, than subject lines which did not express gratitude.
So, to see more of the data, the charts and additional insights, read the full article at MarketingProfs.com
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up opens on this site. Registration is not required to read the article.
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- 21 May
Five Subtle Mistakes That Are Limiting Your Marketing Response Rate
by Tim Carr
Every company struggles to target the right audience. And, just as importantly, they struggle to grab the audience’s attention long enough to drive real action. After all, consumer attention spans have now waned to a mere eight seconds. That’s down from a whopping 12 seconds not even two decades ago.
No Gain to be Made by Blaming the Audience
But blaming consumers for a lack of interest in your digital marketing efforts isn’t going to solve the problem. Nor will all those tools that keep you abreast of every click, like, and share. They serve only to confirm that something isn’t working, but they do nothing to tell you how to actually improve performance.
And even the most subtle of mistakes can keep consumers from doing what you want them to do. So, if your response rate is falling short of expectations, don’t rush to overhaul your marketing strategy or media spend. Instead, check for some of the following less-obvious mistakes in this article at MarketingProfs.com
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up opens on this site. Registration is not required to read the article.
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- 18 May
Five Ways to Use Social for SEO and Vice Versa
Sure, your tweets may show up in certain Google searches. But we know that social media links don’t figure in SEO link-building (or we’d all rank for everything). Plus, unless someone is searching specifically for your Twitter profile or Facebook page, those social SERP results typically don’t convert leads into customers. We also know that SEO efforts don’t have the same effect on social algorithms as they do on search engines.
Social media and SEO are often viewed as mutually exclusive marketing practices.
There are inherent issues in treating social like SEO and SEO like social. So what’s the point in SEO marketers working with social media and community managers and vice versa? Though it seems they’re on two ends of the marketing spectrum, there is quite a bit of overlap that can benefit both sides.
Here are five ways that SEO marketers and social media/community managers can work together to improve their respective practices at MarketingProfs.com
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- 17 May
How to Accurately Measure Your Current Social Media Marketing ROI
by Disha Dinesh
A good social media marketing strategy transforms your business. And, above all else, it yields a measurable ROI. Social media is an effective way to promote products. It connects you with customers and can establish yourself as an authority. But to know when your strategy is actually good, you need to be able to measure its impact. You must answer the question: are my efforts succeeding in helping me achieve my business objectives?“It Aint’ Easy Being Green,” . . . Or Measuring Your Social Media ROI
However, measuring the effects of your social media strategy is much easier said than done. It’s hard to align expectations with what’s possible. And it’s equally challenging to distinguish social media’s impact as compared to your other digital marketing efforts.
So, to help you out, here is some information on how to accurately measure your social media marketing R.O.I. at DrumUp
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- 16 May
App Benchmarks Show Improving Engagement, Power of Push
ffrom Marketing Charts
Recently, Localytics released a study covering the usage of 37,000 mobile and web apps from May 2017 through February 2018. What they uncovered is quite revealing. And, in fact, good news for mobile app developers.Good News Is . . .
It seems that there are indications that app loyalty has remained relatively steady over the past couple of years. But has risen over the longer-term. This is best characterized but the fact that close to 4 in 10 app users (38%) launch an app at least 11 times. This is considered the benchmark of app retention, according to this study.
Whoa! Even More Good News?
Additionally, there’s been more positive movement in abandonment rates than in retention rates over the past couple of years. In this latest analysis 21% of users abandoned an app after just a single use, down from a range of 23-25% from 2015 through 2017. And to see more of the data and for access to the original report, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 15 May
The Disconnect Between B2B Tech Buyers and Vendors
by Ayaz Nanji
It seems that today, B2B technology vendors tend to focus on a number of marketing and sales tactics. And it also seems that their buyers don’t find those tactics especially useful or trustworthy. This is according to recent research from TrustRadius.Are Buyers from Venus and Vendors from Mars?
The report indicates that buyers use five different sources of information, on average, to evaluate B2B technology vendors. And that the most influential information sources in evaluating vendors are their prior experiences with the product. After that, they found free trials/accounts, product demos, and referrals from friends/colleagues/peers to be most helpful. And the buyers also rank these four sources as the most trustworthy.
But vendors don’t seem to be recognizing these facts. And, in that, are missing opportunities they otherwise might gain. To see more of the data and some added insights, read the full article at MarketingProfs
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up opens on this site. Registration is not required to read the article.
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- 14 May
4 Easy Ways to Get Your Customers To Provide Case Studies
According to the Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs 2016 B2B content marketing report, 65% of B2B companies say case studies are the most effective form of content they use. In fact, it is even more effective than blog posts, videos, infographics or any other forms of content.
Case studies are a goldmine for businesses when it comes to sales
For buyers, they represent the most believable marketing material out there. What can be more convincing than another customer vouching for a product or service they’re about to buy. It has far more power than the company singing its own praises for buyers and is seen as a form of “social proof” they need in their buyer journey.
Yet, as effective as these customer stories – case studies – are, there’s one common nagging challenge in trying to create them. Convincing customers to share their stories can be the single biggest stumbling block for case study success. So, here are 4 simple tips to significantly boost your success rate in getting customers to agree to share their stories on Jeffbullas’s Blog.
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- 12 May
Multi-Step Welcome Emails Prove Popular With Email Marketers
from Marketing Charts
Marketers have plenty of room for improvement when it comes to marketing automation. According to a survey of GetResponse customers and Smart Insights members [pdf] just 1 in 5 say they use most or all marketing automation features available to them. But even with that, email automation still remains the most popular type of automation technique used.Email is Still King Though
And, most commonly, marketers are generating leads through landing pages. Mostly, by including a newsletter signup form and by offering e-books, whitepapers, infographics, and other downloads. And email still remains as marketers’ largest source of traffic to landing pages. Surprisingly, followed by organic social media and organic search.
For more of the data, insights and to download the original report, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 11 May
B2B Marketers Need to Get Ready for GDPR
Many B2B marketers don’t think GDPR is something that they need to be concerned about. And that could be a huge mistake.
Beware! The Ides of . . . MAY?
The May 25 deadline for compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) is rapidly approaching. Now, the regulations don’t get really specific about exactly what B2B marketers need to do to be compliant. But, GDPR has a lot of implications for B2B.
The law is often ambiguous. And the degree to which it will be enforced is yet to be seen. But the cost of non-compliance is severe and B2B marketers must be aware and prepare. So, to see some tips on how to do that, read the full article at ChiefMarketer.com
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- 09 May
Get Readers to Instantly Trust You Even if They Have No Clue Who You Are
You want to get readers to trust you. You don’t want them to discredit your advice. And you definitely don’t want them to ignore what you have to say. Without your audience’s trust, your blog, your website, your collateral and even your email messages are worthless.But why should they listen to anything you have to say?
After all, you’re just an up-and-comer. Nobody knows who you are. Why should they listen to some stranger on the internet? And, we all know that first impressions matter. And that is not just the case in face-to-face interactions. It is crucial in your digital interactions.
In fact, numerous usability studies have discovered that a new visitor to your website will decide whether to leave or stay within 7 seconds. But, you’ll go a long way by using the following seven tactics on Jeffbullas’s Blog.
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- 08 May
So Informative Content Helps Buyers. But What Kind of Information?
from Marketing Charts
There’s been plenty of research of late indicating that people value informative brand content. And a new report from Meyocks backs that notion up. According to that report [download page], 9 in 10 consumers surveyed agree that brands should provide value-added information to their customers.Great! But What Kind of Information Do They Want?
Among those feeling that brands should offer value-added information, a strong majority felt that brands should provide details on how to get the most out of the product. And they wanted information on different ways to use the product. In other words, more than two-thirds of consumers overall feel that brands should be providing that information.
To see more of the date and learn more insights, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 07 May
Email’s Still the Most Common Channel for Personalization, but Efforts Remain Fairly Basic
from Marketing Charts
Given personalization’s strong role in email marketing, it’s extremely instructive to see how marketers are putting these efforts to use. An as it turns out, personalization initiatives remain relatively basic, even yet.Dear <<FIRSTNAME>> <<LASTNAME>> ,
It seems that more than three-quarters (77%) of marketers are personalizing their email marketing. That’s according to the 2018 Trends in Personalization report [pdf] from Evergage and Researchscape International. And, one prominent point that the report found was that the most common form of email campaign personalization has been around since the dawn of email. The use of first name and/or company name in the message or subject line (76%) is the most used technique. While this is the most basic use of email personalization, surprisingly it is still the most effective in generating above-average response rates.
To see more of the data and insights, and to download the original reports, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 05 May
A Comprehensive Guide to Local SEO in 2018
by Kelsey Smith
Local search is powerful for small businesses. Why? Because today, four out of five consumers use search to find local information. And that means if your business isn’t optimized for local search, you could be missing out on 80% of your potential customers.In Short, Local SEO is Critical if You Want Your Business to Stay Relevant
Local SEO helps businesses promote their products and services to local prospects and customers. And to thrive in local search, you need to do three things: optimize your Google My Business account, improve your on-page SEO by updating your website, and excel on the Wild Wild Web.
While it might sound overwhelming, it’s entirely feasible to succeed in all three with some patience and perseverance. So read the full article at HubSpot.com and we’ll explore each one in-depth.
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- 04 May
How to Turn a Boring Presentation Into One That Inspires People to Take Action
by Paul Coelho
You’ve probably been there. You’ve taken time, and probably a lot of money to give a presentation. But as you sit in the audience and look around, the people in the front row are on their iPhone. The people who have turned up are distracted. They are gazing into the distance, chatting amongst themselves, and generally disinterested in what you have to say. Why?
This is Definitely a Sign Your Presentation isn’t Hitting a Chord with the Audience.
Now, it’s easy to deflect and believe that the audience is the problem, not you. After all, you’ve done hours of preparation and have a slide deck full of well-researched stats and information. And, after all, these people have turned up to see your presentation for a reason. So, you need to ask yourself, is it possible that your ability to prepare and deliver an engaging presentation is lacking?
If you want to turn your next presentation from a boring lecture into an inspirational TED talk, then you need to dedicate time to fine-tuning your approach. So, to really understand the key areas to focus on so you can take your presentation skills up a notch and WOW your audience, read the full article on JeffBullas’s Blog.
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