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- 02 Mar
A Guide to Using Video in Your Sales Prospecting
- Mar 02, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Digital Marketing, Email Marketing, Video Marketing
Marketers have been facing a drastic decrease in email open and response rates over the past decade. This, according to MailerMailer and SilverPop. In today’s information glut, as consumers become better at filtering marketing messages. And now, email just can’t get the same results it once did.
Breaking Through All the Noise
So how can you make your messages stand out? We know that sales emails are often easily overlooked. But adding video to your emails can give your company the competitive edge.
In this article from MarketingProfs, Mikita Cherkasau explains how video can help with your sales prospecting. And, he also gives us an overview of the software options available on the market and tips on how you can craft your videos. So, read on at MarketingProfs,com
NOTE: A Free Registration pop-up will open on this site and registration may be required to read the full article.
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- 27 Feb
How to Build Interactive Content to Achieve Your Digital Marketing Goals
- Feb 27, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Engagement Strategies
by Chris Lewis
Because the online content landscape is so crowded, audiences value originality that interest and engages them. One way savvy content marketers are responding is to create compelling interactive content.
But, What Is Interactive Content?
For a piece of digital content to succeed, it needs to engage. That may sound trite, but engagement is a big challenge for content marketers today. And it’s nearly always the deciding factor between a hit campaign and a miss that “fell just short.”
Now, interactive content comes in many forms. But all interactive content shares one main trait. It’s built to have an audience actively engage with it in a way that isn’t solely reading written content. I is nearly always customizable. It allows user input. And, it is functional only when a user engages with it. But, where and how to start? To help you get started, the right way, here are 4 types of interactive content you can build at MarketingProfs.comNOTE: A Free Registration pop-up for MarketingProfs will open on this site and registration may be required to read the full article.
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- 26 Feb
Consumers Are Skeptical When Brands Take A Stand. How Can They Boost Credibility?
- Feb 26, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Affinity Marketing, Cause Marketing, Social Media Marketing
from Marketing Charts
Consumers respond favorably to businesses that are not only driven by growth, but that also focus on impacting societal issues in a positive manner. And this is backed up by a recent survey report from Sprout Social. They found that 7 in 10 of the more than 1,500 consumers surveyed say they think it’s important for brands to take a stand on social issues.
But Do They Really Trust the Motives of Brands That Do?
The survey found that consumers do want brands to take a stand. But, about two-fifths feel that brands are not credible when they do. That skepticism has increased since 2017. And, is reflected in consumers’ perception of why brands take a stand. More than half feel that brands do so for PR or marketing purposes.
What Gives a Brand’s Stance Credibility?
The report points out that customers are more likely to think a brand’s stance is credible if it has an impact on the brand’s customers. Or if it impacts the brand’s direct business operations. To see more on this study and to download the original report, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com.
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- 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.
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- 21 Feb
Power Up Your LinkedIn Presance
- Feb 21, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, LinkedIn, Social Media
When business people tend to talk about social media, they immediately default to one of the “big 4”. Most think about networks like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. But the true powerhouse network for business, LinkedIn, is rarely mentioned.
Don’t Miss The Obvious Low Hanging Digital Fruit
If you live in the B2B world and you’re not spending time on LinkedIn every week – you’re missing out on an incredible opportunity. For most LinkedIn users, it’s nothing more than a digital Rolodex. But that misses it’s actual power as an incredible brand building, SEO increasing and prospecting/business development tool. But only when used well.
In our feature article today, Drew McLellan brings us some great best practices and tips for really leveraging LinkedIn to your full advantage. Fair warning though. This is going to require an investment of time on your part. But the rewards will far outweigh the costs, so read the full article on the McLellan Marketing Group blog.
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- 20 Feb
A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make a Video
- Feb 20, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Video Marketing
In 2019, video marketing is being used more than ever. A whopping 87% of businesses say they use it as part of their overall inbound strategy. But even with its success, creating a video may seem daunting. And especially so if your company has never done it before.
Why Are We So Afraid of Doing Video?
Most of us get paralyzed by the “no time, too hard” fallacy. But creating a video doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming. If done right, videos can be made quickly and easily. And all while supercharging your engagement and click-through rates.
Ready to dive into your first video? If you, then read the full article at the HubSpot blog to learn the 5 Quick Tips for Producing Video.
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- 18 Feb
Pro Tip: How to Successfuly Embed Video in Email
- Feb 18, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Email Marketing, Video Marketing
If you’re an email marketer, you may be looking for ways to possibly spruce up your subscription and click-through rates. And video may just be the prescription you are looking for.
A Good Idea, But Beware . . .
Now in theory, it’s a good idea. After all, two-thirds of consumers preferring video over text when learning about new products or services. However, using video in your email can be a tricky proposition. Most major email clients including Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook don’t support embedded videos. So your subscribers may not be able to watch your video within the email. Or, even worse, they won’t see your email at all, because it’ll end up in their spam folders.
Fortunately, there’s a creative workaround to help you embed part of your video within your email, and incentivize subscribers to click-through to watch the rest. To see how, read all about how to Embed YouTube (or Any Other) Video in Email on the HubSpot Blog
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- 13 Feb
Should You Gate Your Best Blog Content?
- Feb 13, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Inbound Marketing
Gated blog content is a tried-and-true way to collect email addresses for your marketing campaigns. But gating all of your best content isn’t necessarily always the best move, either. You should decide on a case-by-case basis if a given piece of content should be gated.
There’s More Than One Way to Slice it
There are multiple factors that determine whether a piece of gated blog content will meet the goals you have for it. Or if it will just sit there, totally untouched.
Gating your content can lead your marketing strategy to either skyrocket or nosedive. And it almost entirely depends on choosing the right content to gate. And what information you require as the key to that gate. Here’s your guide to deciding whether or not you should gate your best blog content at Jeff Bullas’ Blog.
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- 12 Feb
What’s The Best Time to Send Email Campaigns?
- Feb 12, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Email Marketing
Timing isn’t everything in email campaigns. But it’s a huge thing. After all, there’s no use in spending hours on a perfect campaign your subscribers won’t open. So, it’s imperative to get timing as right as possible.
The Make Or Break Factor
Undeniably, having a high ROI is critical for proving the success of your email marketing campaign. But, while the quality of content and a myriad of other factors contribute to a good email campaign, there’s one factor that makes or breaks it. And that one factor is the time you send your email.
For instance, Wordstream found that sending email campaigns before 10:30 on Thursdays yields 25% CTR. However, when sent Tuesdays at the same time, it earns a 5% CTR. Surprised? Well, there’s more and to learn all of the best times to send email campaigns, read the full article at the HubSpot Blog.
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- 11 Feb
2019 Email Benchmarks Study: What Works Now
- Feb 11, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Email Marketing
rom Marketing Charts
Today there is a growing sentiment among marketers that email effectiveness is on a downward slope. But, nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that the channel remains a digital workhorse.
But that doesn’t mean that it is an easy space to win. More and more brands are battling for attention in the inbox. Most are doing this with an increasing focus on increasing engagement. And that makes its worth taking a look a new email benchmarks from 2019 offered in a new report from Campaign Monitor.
Open Rate
One glaring point of the study is that the average email open rate in the US, across all industries, was 17%. This comes from Campaign Monitor’s analysis of more than 30 billion emails sent globally by its customers. To see all of the data, some probing insights and to see the original report, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com.
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- 10 Feb
52 Gen Z Stats Marketers Need to Know in 2020
- Feb 10, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Generational Marketing, Marketing to Gen Z, Marketing to Millennials
When some business experts, bloggers, and journalists write about Gen Z entering adulthood, it sounds like they’re talking about an incoming natural disaster. And in many respects, it may be just that.
The First Digital Natives
By now, you probably know that Gen Z is the most hyper-connected generation. And this means that by the time they all reach purchasing age, digital, online, and mobile-first marketing will be vital to your strategy. However, Gen Z still has some striking similarities to the generations that came before it.
An as a marketer, business owner or manager, you need to be aware of what those differences are, what challenges they present and the opportunities they may open for you. So, to learn all 52 Gen Z stats that you really need to know, read the full article at the HubSpot Blog.
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- 07 Feb
B2B Video Content: Top Goals, Formats, Channels, and Challenges
- Feb 07, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Lead Generation, Video Marketing
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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- 06 Feb
10 Email Subject Line Formulas to Skyrocket Your Open Rate
- Feb 06, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Digital Media Trends, Email Marketing
You put a lot of effort and time into creating the perfect email content for your subscribers. But, no matter what or how well you write, people may not even see your email. That is, if the subject line doesn’t get them to click on your email.
Breaking Through The Noise and Distractions Ain’t Easy
Today our world is oversaturated with marketing messages, blog posts, and a deluge of content. And in this world full of distractions, it’s hard to get and hold the attention of your email subscribers. Your emails may be getting lost in all the inbox clutter.
And in this environment, the lowley subject line is becoming increasingly important. Especially to any marketing program that relies on email. So, in today’s feature from MarketingProfs, Brahim Belabbes gives us some great tips to help. In the article, he outlines 10 subject line formulas proven to get subscribers to open emails. Read the full article at MarketingProfs.com
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- 05 Feb
10 Great B2B Lead Generation Strategy Ideas
- Feb 05, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Content Marketing, Lead Generation
by Lisa Smith
According to research from the Content Marketing Institute, 85% of B2B marketers say lead generation is a top priority for their content marketing. But, by that same token, 44% rate their lead generation of their content marketing efforts as lacking effectiveness.
There’s More Than One Arrow in Your Quiver
That’s not to say content marketing isn’t a valuable tactic. It is. However, it’s certainly not the only one at B2B marketers’ disposal. There are a number of additional tactics that can be leveraged.
In this article from WordStream.com, Lisa Smith takes a look at 10 B2B lead generation strategies. She takes a look at the realitive value of content marketing, LinkedIn, Google Ads, Facebook Ads and more. Then she goes on to explains how you can add these to your marketing plan and make sure your hard work and effort is effective.
Read the full article at WordStream.com
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- 04 Feb
Five Steps to Building Trust With Thought Leadership
- Feb 04, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- Content Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Thought Leadership
According to current data, about 50% of B2B marketers believe thought leadership builds trust in their organization. However, among actual buyers, that number is much higher. That is around a whopping 83%.
Thought Leadership = Trusted Resource
And that represents a huge disconnect. This disconnect is preventing B2B marketers from using thought-leadership content to it’s fullest value – in their quest to become a trusted resource for their customers. And marketers and business leaders alike need to understand that establishing a thought-leadership program drives value and builds trust. And not doing so risks falling behind or damaging their brand’s credibility in the industry.
Are you in the same boat? Here are five easy-to-follow steps for kicking off (or elevating) your brand’s thought-leadership program at MarketingProfs.com
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- 03 Feb
What Do B2B Buyers Want From Sellers, and Why Do They Go Elsewhere?
- Feb 03, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, E-Commerce Strategies, Sales Enablement
from Marketing Charts
The B2B e-commerce market is set to account for at least one-eighth of global B2B sales next year. That will make it a huge business opportunity.
Risk VS Reward
But on the flip side, an Accenture Interactive survey [pdf] of more than 700 global buyers illustrates a significant risk. It seems that some 44% of B2B buyers say they have switched sellers in the past 12 months.
So, what are the reasons behind this and what can sellers do differently? To find out, what some key reasons are, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com.
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- 30 Jan
The Top 7 Video Advertising Trends of Last Year
by Mike Clum
Video marketing is big. Plus, it is getting bigger by the day. In fact, video marketing dominated last year. And there is no reason to think that will change in 2019.
We know that roughly 86% of marketers are currently using video content to advertise, educate, and entertain. And new formats and a rise in consumption continue to bolster video as an increasingly effective, engaging medium.
This is a train your business can’t afford to miss. And to help you out, here are the top seven video advertising trends you can expect to see more of in the new year at WordStream.com
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- 29 Jan
Using Thought Leadership to Get Your Business Voice Heard Online
by KL Daly
The old adage that ‘Content is King’ still rings true. But many B2C and B2B marketers and buyers are disappointed with the quality of thought leadership articles being published online today. Indeed, only 30 percent of B2B marketers are satisfied with how their organizations are pushing content marketing. And this is a figure which can easily be improved with the right know-how.
If it’s Broke . . . Fix it
Customers read, watch and listen to things that pique their interest. So, in order to make your content really stand out you need to understand and stimulate your audience. It helps if you can find a compelling way to discuss well known topics. Or you can take an unexpected spin on something in the news. This way writers can take thought leadership from bland to captivating in just a few simple steps.
Now, if you want to begin to build your position as a thought leader, here are six key steps to keep content fresh and engaging at ChiefMarketer.com
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- 28 Jan
How to Become a LinkedIn Thought Leader in 9 Easy Steps
- Jan 28, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, LinkedIn, Thought Leadership
by Pamela Bump
Did you know that 40% of LinkedIn’s 500 million members visit the platform daily? And that means something, especially if you’re a professional who wants to branch out as a thought leader in your industry.
But Why Would You Want to be a LinkedIn Thought Leader?
LinkedIn has proven itself to be an excellent place to gain visibility, demonstrate credibility or expertise. Plus, it is a great place to create valuable, business-focused discussions within your industry’s community. And even if you aren’t a CEO, thought leadership and developing connections on LinkedIn can make companies you work for look great.
It might seem daunting. But building your social presence on LinkedIn is more accessible than you think. In this blog post from HubSpot, Pamela Bump shows us a few effective ways to build your presence on LinkedIn as a thought leader. Read the full article now.
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- 27 Jan
3 Ways to Make B2B Content Marketing More Engaging
- Jan 27, 2020
- Dan Hoff
- 0
- B2B Marketing, Content Marketing, Inbound Marketing
by Leah Wynalek
When it comes content, even with complex topics, your content is most effective when it’s simple to understand. Whether a website, a blog post, white papers, your content must deliver a clear, valuable message. And it must do so in an engaging way for potential buyers to pay attention.
“Momma Always Said, Simple is as Simple Does”
Recently at Content Marketing World 2019, a number of B2B marketers led sessions about how to craft more compelling brand stories and thought leadership content. And all of the speakers at that event stressed the need to simplify your message. Storytelling need not be complex. The simpler, the better was their mantra.
The Bottom line: Buyers are people. They don’t want to be bored, and they shouldn’t have to analyze your content to grasp its business value. To learn 3 ways to accomplish this, read the full article on the Publishing Executive blog