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- 19 Oct
How to Create the Ultimate Facebook Business Page
by Allen Finn
Facebook can be a great place for a small business to build business. Yep. You read that right. Facebook business pages are a place where you can develop the relationship between your brand and the world at large.So, How Can That Work for Me?
Whether you’re responding to customer feedback, nurturing prospects, sharing content, or simply informing users what time your widget shop closes on Tuesday evenings, Pages are one of the most important online properties that you can plant your flag on. They’re a necessary tool for businesses operating in the 21st century. And they are critical for small, local businesses.
But, they have a boatload of moving parts
And that is a nice way of saying that creating a business page can be a major challenge. So to help you get started tackling the challenge of making a great Facebook page for your small business read the full article at WordStream.com
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- 18 Oct
The No. 1 Rule of Responding to Bad Online Reviews
by Kitty French
Every small business owner knows the horror of online reviews. Whether on Yelp, Angie’s List, Amazon, Facebook or Google, the sting of a bad review can stick with you for days. And if you ignore them or delete them, chances are they’ll only get worse.The No. 1 rule of responding to bad reviews: Be quick
Approach bad reviews as opportunities to demonstrate your customer service, and you’ll likely win over any frustrated customers. And what frustrates customers most? Being ignored or left waiting for proper service. Responding to negative online reviews validates the customer’s need to be heard. So let them know your small business is listening to their complaints.
To see some great advice on how to address – and fix – bad online reviews, read the full article at Manta.com
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- 17 Oct
Five Ways to Drive Engagement and Sales With Tradeshow Marketing
Thanks to the digital age, there are tons of marketing platforms and formats to choose from. In fact, B2B marketers use, on average, eight content marketing tactics to engage with their audiences.Don’t Forget Some “Old School” Marketing Options
But, with so many digital options, it’s easy to overlook the opportunities with face-to-face marketing. And it’s not as if those opportunities are no being used. Even with all of the digital options, tradeshows and in-person events remain powerful marketing tactics. It seems that 68% of marketers use in-person events as a content marketing tactic. And of those, 90% consider tradeshows to be a critical part of their marketing mix.
So now is the time to draw attention back to a tactic that can really drive engagement and sales for your business — tradeshow marketing. And to learn what to do before, during, and after a tradeshow to drive engagement and sales, 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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- 16 Oct
Create a Killer Email Call to Action
by Paul Ford
Creating great calls to action (CTA) is more than possible. And yet so many links in brands’ marketing emails remain unclicked. In fact, many of those emails are never even opened in the first place.The Bad News Is . . .
Over 100 billion business emails are sent and received every day. While is may seem that most end up in your inbox, most will go unopened and even unnoticed. This is according to The Radicati Group‘s Email Statistics Report for 2015 – 2019.
The Good News Is . . .
Marketers can cut through that clutter by focusing their efforts on strong CTAs. By doing so, they can drive customer engagement and boost revenue. To find out how you can do that, 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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- 14 Oct
How to Start a Competitive Analysis: 57 Questions You Need to Ask
Every brand can benefit from regular competitor analysis. By performing a competitor analysis, you’ll be able to identify gaps in the market, develop new products and services, uncover market trends and even market and sell more effectively.Know Thy Enemy
So, when was the last time you ran a competitive analysis for your brand? Or was the last “analysis” you ran a quick perusal of a competitor’s website. Or simply a “review” of their social media presence?
If you haven’t done a comprehensive analysis, you’re likely missing out on important intelligence that could help your brand grow. So, to help you get started with competitive analysis the right way, we’re breaking down everything you’ll want to look for at HubSpot.com. You can also download a full competitive analysis kit from HubSpot and Alexa.com.
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- 14 Oct
PR in 7 Easy Steps for Emerging-Technology Startups
You have a great new product. And it is time to think about your launch. Suddenly you realize that it’s time to create a public relations program for your startup. There’s a lot to do. And you don’t have enough time or budget to do it all.Where should you begin?
For startups, creating your PR, content marketing and social media programs can be challenging. It is even more challenging if you’re doing business in “emerging technologies” sectors. Add to that the challenge of the inability to hire expert PR counsel, and it may seem impossible.
However, there are ways you can still get it done, successfully. And to help you out, here are some basic steps at MarketingProfs.com
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- 13 Oct
What’s the Most Annoying Thing About Email Marketing?
from eMarketer.com
By now, anyone who uses email marketing should know that email marketing campaigns must be personalized. And to be truly affective, the message itself needs to be relevant to resonate with recipients.But personalization is only as effective as the data that powers it. And when that data is wrong, recipients find the missives downright irritating.
When Good Data Goes Bad
To look at the issue of B2B email marketing fail, Advanis conducted in July of this year. And what they found confirms what we have all suspected.
To see the data and some helpful insights, read the full article at eMarketer.com
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- 12 Oct
The 6-Step Brand Build to Grow Your Business on a Budget
In marketing, it seems like the word “brand” is used a lot. Everything is either the leading brand, the off-brand, or personal brand. But there’s often confusion around its meaning in business.What does it entail? Do I need to hire an expert? Branding is expensive, right?
Branding doesn’t have to be expensive. As it turns out, there are some pretty creative ways to brand your business without a ton of cash. And while it can require an investment of time, the ROI won’t go unnoticed. And in some cases, it can actually help you save money, while also growing your business.
So read on at HubSpot.com, and see how you can use the following our six steps as a guide for your brand build.
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- 11 Oct
17 Tips for How to Write Catchy Email Subject Lines
by Olivia Allen
Yes, it is true. The success or failure of your email campaigns can hang on that one little thing – the subject line. In fact, 47% of email recipients decide whether or not to open an email based on subject line alone. That’s why it’s so important to craft subject lines that are compelling enough to get people to click through.So Small And Yet So Big
While they may seem like a small part of your message, they’re one of the very first impressions you have on your email recipients. And they’re a marketer’s ticket for standing out in a crowded inbox.
Do you want your email content opened, read, and clicked? It all starts with the subject line. Here are 17 tips to help jazz them up and boost engagement at HubSpot.com
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- 10 Oct
How to Maximize Social Media Marketing as a B2B Company
by Sam Carr
If you think about the brands crushing it on social media, it’s usually B2C rather than B2B brands that immediately spring to mind. That may be why many B2B companies have not fully embraced the challenge of social media marketing. Instead sticking to more traditional marketing techniques, such as cold-calling or print advertising.Social Media is No Place For Business. Or is it?
Even considering that, around 79% of B2B marketers surveyed by Omobono agreed that social media marketing is a worthwhile investment and offers good results. Still, even if B2B marketers “do” social media, they often just stick to the platform of business, LinkedIn. They’ve fallen into the trap of thinking their industry is “too dull” to be a social media success. Which is a shame, because the opportunity is huge!
So how do you stand out from the crowd as a B2B social media marketer?
To lean what you need to ensure your company engages with potential customers and develops a social media following that converts into what you really want — sales, read the full article at MarketingProfs
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- 09 Oct
When and Where Consumers Use Search Engines to Find Local Businesses
by Ayaz Nanji
Now here is an interesting fact for any small, local business. Consumers searching online for local businesses typically plan to either visit or book an appointment within the next two days. So, that means that search, that grand, global monster you’ve been ignoring, is important to your small local shop.If All Politics Are Local, Why Not Business Too?
Recently Review Trackers released a report [download available] conducted in 2017 of 350 consumers. Respondents were asked about how they use search engines to find and research local businesses. They were asked about whether they used a web-based search tool or an app, such as Google Maps. And the results were stunning.
To see the charts, data and to download the original report, 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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- 07 Oct
How to Develop a Content Strategy: A Start-to-Finish Guide
Whether you’re just starting out with content marketing or you’ve been using the same approach for a while, it never hurts to revisit your content strategy plan. That is, IF you even have a plan. Most simply forget this critical point in the process. But, if you do have one, you need to make sure it’s up-to-date, innovative, and strong.As The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Create More Content
After all, you’ve got more competition than ever. According to the Content Marketing Institute, 70% of B2B marketers surveyed say they are creating more content this year than they did in 2016.
The first step to getting a leg up on the competition is to have a solid, smart content marketing plan in place. If you’re having trouble planning for the upcoming year or need some fresh ideas to include in your plan, we can help. And if you would like to dive into why your business needs a content marketing plan and the exact steps you will need to take to create one at, read on at HubSpot.com
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- 07 Oct
The Most Effective Email Marketing Tactics in 2017
by Ayaz Nanji
At some point you have probably considered using email in your marketing. You may even be using it now. And for all of us, the nagging question persists. What tactics work? And, which ones should I use?Questions, questions, questions everywhere, and . . .
With that in mind, the people from Ascend2 surveyed a group of top marketers. They polled both the B2B and B2C focused as well as hybrid firms to get some answers. They probed to find out exactly what works best.
And what they found confirms some of the “prevailing wisdom” we hear so much about today.
It appears that marketers rank message personalization and the creation of meaningful calls to action at the top. They consider these to be the two most effective email tactics. According to their research [download available], some 50% of respondents say message personalization is among the most effective. While 38% say creating meaningful calls-to-action is among the most effective tactics.
To see more of the data and 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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- 06 Oct
Social Media Marketing Simplified – An Introduction for Beginners
from DrumUp
Social media marketing can make or break your business today. The right campaign can catapult your company forward. However, the wrong approach can hurt you. A bad social media presence can leave you with disappointing results. Or worse, a tainted brand.Big. Bigger. Biggest. HUGE!
You can easily say that social media is the most viable medium ever in the history of business and marketing. It is huge and getting bigger everyday. And the growth of the platform could be attributed to its global networking potential, affordability and ease of use.
Social Media Can Be The Great Equalizer
And, any small business can create a social media profile for free and compete for space and visibility with large businesses, at an affordable price. If you have created social media profiles, you should work on making the most of them. And if you haven’t created them yet, you need to do it now, or loose out on an opportunity to connect with new and existing customers.
Read the full article at DrumUp for some great information to help you understand more about the benefits of social media marketing and the platforms that you can choose from.
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- 05 Oct
Scaling Engagement: 5 Strategies to Connect With More Customers
by Shayla Price
This may sound trite, but customer engagement without a strategy is misguided action. Instead, your goal is to create a memorable customer experience and scale engagement.So, Where To Start?
To scale engagement, your business must focus on executing strategies that boost customer satisfaction while saving your team time. And to get to that point, let’s think differently about expanding engagement. Rather than thinking about building sales, think about how to build quality customer relationships.
Here are five ways you can scale up your efforts at HubSpot.com
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- 04 Oct
The Latest Social Media Image Size Cheat Sheet
by Dan Hoff
If you are a social media marketer, a graphic designer, or simply a business owner who is ‘in charge’ of your social media presence image, you really need this.
Just as you’re ready to publish your latest post to Facebook, you looked at the image. And, it is real bad. Why? What size do you need? Is it cut off at the top? Well, you’re not alone.
In the ever evolving world of social media platform there is only one constant – change.
It seems that the images sizes for social media platforms have been in constant motion. To help you out a bit, product review site WeAreTop10 compiled all the information you need. They brought together all of the image-posting rules, guidelines and size formats from the major social media platforms. This includes Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube. They are all right here, in one easy-to-reference infographic.
To see the guidelines, just check out the infographic [Click to See the Full Infographic]
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- 03 Oct
Analysis Suggests Baby Boomers Are More Engaged With YouTube Ads Than Younger Generations
from MarketingCharts.com
YouTube certainly is a favorite for teens. But ad campaigns on YouTube may get a significantly different response from Baby Boomers. This, according to a report from Strike Social [download available].Based upon YouTube campaigns managed by Strike Social during 2016
Surprisingly, the analysis found that view rates were higher among Baby Boomers than among younger generations. Even more, this was the case regardless of the device in question.
The traditional wisdom says that advertisers are most likely to target Millennials. However, Strike Social report argues that they might be ignoring the most lucrative audience. They may be inadvertantly missing out on Baby Boomers. (They, after all, are the ones with the money to spend)
Still need more? Like to know which industries perform best? Then, read the full article on MarketingCharts.com
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- 02 Oct
Personalization Still Considered the Most Effective Email Tactic
from MarketingCharts.com
Recently Ascend2 and its Research Partners conducted a survey. They asked 260 marketers around the world to identify the most effective email marketing tactics they’re using.So What Works? And, What Doesn’t?
According to the report, email marketers are more interested in increasing conversions. And that even outpaced boosting share or growing their lists for them. And when it comes to optimizing conversions, personalization is still be the belle of the ball.
Easily the most common response was message personalization, and perhaps with good reason. Now, to see more of the data, insights and to download the original report, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 30 Sep
2018 B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends
by Ann Handley
A new report produced by MarketingProfs and Content Marketing Institute (CMI) and sponsored by Brightcove is now available. And it show some surprising trends.To Summarize The Research Report: Content Marketing is Maturing . . .
According to this research, it all comes down to the fact that the content marketing space is maturing. Almost two-thirds of North American B2B marketers say that they’re much more or somewhat more successful with their content marketing now than they were a year ago. And that’s good news for both B2B organizations and for the discipline of content marketing itself.
To see more of the data, more insights and to download the report, read the full article at MarketingProfs.com
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- 30 Sep
5 Easy Ways to Write an Irresistible Introduction for Your #MarketingSuccess
by Dan Shewan
We hear a great deal of talk about the importance of headlines. But much less is said about the value of a great introduction. Sure, you need a tempting headline to catch your reader’s eye. However without a strong, compelling introduction, the best headline ever written won’t save you.So, What Does it Take to Make a Write a Great Intro . . . ?
So, lets explore five of the many different ways you can open a blog post, article, interview, white paper. In fact, how to introduce pretty much anything with words. This is by no means a comprehensive or definitive list. There are almost as many ways to introduce your writing as there are ways to write. There are, however, some general techniques that lend themselves well to marketing copy that can be extraordinarily effective.
To learn what they are, read the full article at WordStream.com
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