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- 14 Oct
Email Marketing vs. Social Media: Grudge Match or Dream Match?
Some may feel that email marketing and social media marketing are at opposing ends of the marketing spectrum. But, they can work together to benefit your next marketing campaign. Both have their relative strengths and weaknesses. But, in combination, they can make a powerful combination for your marketing.On The One Hand . . .
Social media marketing, on the one hand, is the act of promoting content on social media channels. While email marketing is the process of leading prospects down the sales funnel by sending marketing materials directly to those who’ve subscribed to that content.
And there are engaging, eye-catching methods you can use to integrate both marketing strategies in ways that will delight your customers. A holistic approach to digital marketing incorporates both social media and email marketing to reach your customers in a creative and memorable way. Believe it or not, the two rival methods work very well together. To see how, read the full article at HubSpot.com
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- 11 Oct
A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make a Video
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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- 10 Oct
Visual Language Can Spell Success for Your Next Marketing Campaign
by Erin McCoy
By now there should be no argument. Visual content is now an absolute necessity for marketing success. In fact, 94% of first impressions of your brand are based on visual design.And, so your marketing content must delight and your visuals need to engage your audience at very first glance. But, if not, they’re likely to move on to the next thing. And will do so in a matter of seconds.
You Still Might not be Reaching Your Full Marketing Potential
While your brand guidelines are critical for providing general direction, each campaign is different. So each campaign needs its own visual language. And to help you take your visual marketing content to the next level, in this article from the HubSpot blog, Erin McCoy explores what a visual language is, and how you can develop one for your next campaign. Read the full article now . . .
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- 07 Oct
New Research Reveals How to Accelerate the Buyer’s Journey with Content
by Josh Baez
It’s no secret today’s buyers are overwhelmed. And today, the average consumer experiences tremendous marketing fatigue. They are literally being bombarded from every angle with marketing messages. And, that experience isn’t always a positive one.
Are We Hindering or Helping?
70% of buying decisions are made before ever talking to a salesperson. And these days, for buyers, experience and information matters more than ever. So, now there is an even greater reliance upon content for marketing outcomes.
As marketers, Are We Enabling Those Decisions or Hindering Them?
But, what can be done? New research just released give us some great tips. The report gives us some intereting insights into how we can best use our content to accelerate our buyer’s journey. And not to hinder it. So to learn what they found, read the full article at Heinz Marketing’s Blog
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- 02 Oct
How Have B2B Buyers Purchase Processes Changed?
from Marketing Charts
Once again, there are indications of a shifting trends in the processes used for B2B purchases. Earlier research from Demand Gen Report and ON24 found that the majority of B2B buyers believe that content can be improved by adding more research and data.News You Can Actually Use . . .
This years study, Demand Gen’s 2019 B2B Buyers Survey Report [download page], did uncover a number of new trends. It seems that the vast majority of senior-level B2B executives report that business needs and priorities have changed this year. They report that these have shifted their purchase timelines. Most indicated that these changes resulted in them either accelerating or postponing purchase decisions.
Additionally, B2B buyers are showing more diligence and caution in their purchases, spending more time researching their purchases. And this is significant information for those on the marketing and sales side as it means there is a need to provide the relevant, authoritative content that aids buyers in making their purchasing decision. For more of the data and insights, read the full article at MarketingCharts.com
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- 26 Sep
How to Create Buyer-Focused Content That Gains Engagement & Gets Traction
by Adam Little
What makes the difference between a piece of content that gets no traction, and another that encourages a potential client to buy? Is there some magic formula that does this?
Great Questions, But How About a Great Answer
Frequently, market and sales content is written as if it’s either a sales brochure or a technical manual. It comes off as either too pushy or far too clinical. It seems that most content online and in emails today simply misses the point. It needs to reflect the wants, needs and interests of the reader. In style and substance, it needs to fit the buyer.
And the key is to ensure the content, in both substance and style, fits the buyer’s needs. And that is the crux of all well-performing content. The collateral you create must fulfill the needs of the buyer, at whatever stage of the buying journey.
To learn how you can accomplish this and to help pinpoint the why and how of creating excellent buyer-focused content, read the full article at MarketingProfs.com
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- 25 Sep
The 12 Types of Content Marketing in a Marketer’s Arsenal
When it comes to content marketing, it can be tough to know which ones to use and which ones will make a statement. There are a variety of content marketing types that marketers can choose from. For example, Southwest likes to mix it up by posting gifs, blog posts, commercials, and retweets on their Twitter page. Delta has recently been on a video and gif kick, posting strictly commercials, videos, and gifs about flight.It’s Not About Me. It’s All About You . . .
It’s ultimately about what type of content marketing promotes your business effectively. But, it is mostly about what your prospects and customers want to see and engage with. And there is a range of different content marketing types to choose from when you want to make a splash in your campaigns.
To learn what they are and how they can impact your brand, read the full article at HubSpot.com
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- 18 Sep
How B2B Marketers Are Using Webinars and What’s Working Best
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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- 14 Sep
Banish The Boring: Use B2B Video to Entertain, Educate & Engage
by Aljaz Fajmut
When we think of some of the B2B videos we have seen, we probably think to ourselves – BORING. Well, B2B videos don’t have to be boring anymore. No longer is it necessary for our customers to suffer thought a monologue of charts, facts and figures.For B2B video marketing success today, those videos need to follow the Rule of the 3-E’s. They now need to entertain, educate and engage.
That Means It’s Time to Get Creative
We can no longer escape the fact that video is not a trend. It’s not a fad. In fact, it’s everywhere. And it has proven, time and again, to be a great way of connecting with clients, building leads and clinching sales. But, how relevant is it to the B2B sphere? Well, 73% of B2B marketers have already said that video positively affects their marketing ROI.
Today, there’s no reason why your next B2B video marketing campaign can’t hit a home run. And according to Aljaz Fajmut,as long as you use video to be entertaining, educational and informative, there is no reason to be boring. And to learn 7 of the best B2B video marketing techniques so that your own ROI grows and grows this year he shars, read the full article on Jeff Bullas’s Blog.
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- 09 Sep
How to Create an Email Newsletter People Actually Read
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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- 06 Sep
Good Storytelling Starts With Your Value Proposition
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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- 27 Aug
The 5 Essential Strategies for Marketing to Generation Z
For the past few years, we have all been focused on what makes millennials tick and how to market to them. But now, that is so old news. While we still need to market to millenials for years to come, it’s time to start focusing on Generation Z.Who are Generation Z?
Before we can even begin to think about creating a digital marketing strategy, we first need to define Generation Z. Also referred to as the iGeneration, Generation Z covers anyone who was born between 1995 to the mid 2000s. And what makes this demographic so important is that it makes up 32% of the global population.
They are extremely digitally savvy, they grew up with mobiles and iPads. And they don’t remember a time before the internet. And that is totally unlike millennials. Plus, the characteristics of this demographic make them a totally different audience to market to successfully. So, if your target market is Generation Z, then try these five strategies to increase brand awareness, leads, and sales. Read the full article at WordStream.com
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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
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
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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- 16 Aug
5 Great Ideas for Innovative B2B Video Marketing
by Tom Shapiro
Video an incredibly powerful tool for B2B businesses. YouTube alone has approximately billion monthly active users. And aberdeen Group reports that video marketers generate 66% more qualified leads than marketers who don’t use video. Add to that the fact that Wyzowl found that 83% of marketers say that video gives them a significant ROI.
There’s No Law Against Making it Fun
Video is also a highly effective way to turn something mundane into something truly magical. Not only does it have the capability to highlight your brand’s creativity, but it can show off the brand in a way that is entertaining, informative and fun. And, tt shows that the company can take even the most mundane things and turn them into something magical.
But it isn’t enough to simply create videos. You need to create videos that will make your brand stand out from the crowd. So if your interested in learning some ways to make this happen for you, here’s five ways to make that happen on ChiefMarketer.com
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- 14 Aug
7 Actionable Steps to Convert Social Media Followers to Buyers
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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- 10 Aug
Is Hybrid Content Strategy the Future of B2B Content?
by Tim Morral
A majority of B2B marketers plan to reshuffle their strategies and prioritize the development of short-form content in 2019. A move largely motivated by buyers’ changing content preferences. But aligning content with buyer preferences isn’t as simple as tweaking the marketing budget. Nor is it simply a matter of creating a few more social posts.
Today’s B2B marketers find themselves struggling to maximize business value. Now, they are challenged to use social, video, multimedia and gated content assets to engage audiences. And to do so on a meaningful level.
We know from the experience over the past few years that short-form content works. But as marketers, we have seen that long-form content has it’s place as well. The solution? Integration. By integrating short-form and long-form content in a hybrid content strategy, B2B marketers can increase the business impact of their content investments and engage buyers in more creative ways. To learn how, read the full article at TargetMarketing.com
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- 08 Aug
2018 B2B Video Completion Rates and Success Benchmarks
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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