-
- 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
-
- 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.
-
- 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.
-
- 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
-
- 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.
-
- 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.
-
- 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
-
- 26 Sep
6 Incredibly Simple Social Media Marketing Tips for Small Businesses
If you’re a small business owner, it is important to recognize that social media can be a great business tool. But, even with the high usage of social media these days, there are still a lot of questions. The most common one is probably about the whole purpose of it. They want to know, “why should I invest in social media? Where’s the value for my business?”The Real Question: How to Achieve and Use Social Media for Success
Of course, there are a number of strategies and tips you can use for your social media marketing activities. And, a whole lot of those have been around for quite a while. But that doesn’t mean they are to be avoided. It may mean that they really work and can be worked for your business.
So, if you’re a small business looking to get your piece of a pie in a relatively small time frame, read the full article at DrumUp.io to learn 6 Incredibly Simple Social Media Marketing Tips for Small Businesses
-
- 05 Sep
15 Twitter Marketing Tactics to Get More Views, Shares & Audience Engagement
by Disha Dinesh
Think Twitter is ineffective? Think again. Although plagued by fatigue, Twitter continues to be the most popular micro-blogging site. Plus, it has become an important customer service destination. And it is now one of the easiest ways to initiate meaningful, real-time discussions with real customers.
An There is Even Proof it Still Works
According to a HubSpot study, link-clicks account for 92% of all interactions users have with tweets. That is a lot of potential traffic. And it is traffic that you can drive to your website and blog via Twitter.
Twitter is not only essential. It also holds tremendous potential. It can be used for branding and audience research. You can use it for lead generation, marketing and sales outreach. But all of that begins with exceptional content and organic engagement. With the right Twitter marketing tactics, you can get more views, shares and achieve your goals on the platform.
Read the full article at DrumUp
-
- 31 Aug
SEO for Small Business: 21 Ways to Win More Customers With Search
By Kitty French
Search engine optimization isn’t fast and it isn’t easy. But it is totally worth the effort to win more customers for your small business.No matter what business you’re in, there are potential customers searching for your products or services on their smartphones right now. And it’s no secret that search engine optimization (SEO) is important. After all, it draws customers one step closer to making a purchase from your company.
Still not convinced you should make SEO a priority?
Here is everything you need to know about how SEO works, why it generates leads, and how to make search engine optimization pay off for your small business at Manta.com
-
- 22 Aug
Getting Started with Automated Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of those pivotal, game-changing facets of online marketing. It is one that nearly every serious marketer needs to not only know how to do — but do successfully. As you’ve learned to grow your business, you no doubt have come across email marketing jargon such as segments and drip feeds and even automated email marketing.But What Is Automated Email Marketing?
Just as the name implies, automated email marketing is sending out emails to your customers and prospects automatically. It may be based on a schedule, or triggers – actions – you define. It sounds simple, right? And for the most part, it is. But just like with any other online marketing skill, the more time you spend learning and testing and improving your email marketing campaigns, the more you learn.
So, what does it all mean, and how does it all come together to deliver the kind of results that matter to your bottom line? Better yet, how can you automate it so that every email practically sells itself? Let’s take a closer look at KISSmetrics.com
-
- 21 Aug
Three Keys to Best-in-Class Marketing Budgets
Budgets aren’t sexy. But they are one of the major prerequisites of high-performing marketing organizations. Heck, they’re a prerequisite of survival. But, have you ever wondered what percentage of my revenues should I budget to marketing expense?But, Where to Start?
The trick to developing a best-in-class marketing budget is, first, to form a new conceptualization of what marketing is. Then you need to know the correct budget type for your growth stage. And, then finally, you need to understand the power of stretch budgets.
If you can master those three keys, you’ll create a best-in-class marketing budget—and be well on your way to marketing success. So read on to find out how to do at MarketingProfs.com
NOTE: A Free Registration pop up opens on this site. Registration is not required to read the article.
-
- 08 Aug
The Top 10 Pay-Per-Click Advertising Mistakes To Avoid
by Paul Granger
It’s no secret that pay-per-click advertising can offer marketers a powerful way to reach out to their target audience. One reason for this is that PPC ads aren’t just shown on the side of search engine results pages (or SERPs). They are also displayed on blogs and other websites that publish relevant ad content to their viewers. And importantly, they are also displayed in free mobile apps that make revenue by displaying relevant content.However, there are some downsides to PPC advertising
However, when you start setting up ads, you will soon hit a wall of confusion. You will notice that there are a plethora of options that you must use or disable before you can get going. The platforms used for PPC campaigns are intentionally in-depth, detailed and can get very, very target-specific.
And with such a dizzying array of features and functionality mistakes can be made. It can take a long time to navigate your way through them all to determine which ones apply to your campaign requirements. So to help you avoid failure, here are the Top 10 Pay-Per-Click Advertising Mistakes to Avoid at JeffBullas.com
-
- 02 Aug
Eight Steps to Leave Blast Emails Behind and Launch Intelligent Communications Instead
by Pini Yakuel
Even today, many businesses still rely heavily on daily blast emails in their marketing campaigns. And that is a big mistake.Sometimes Less is More
According to some recent research, daily email blasts are notorious for chasing away customers. No matter how beloved your brand might be, no one wants to be on the receiving end of continual, impersonal communications. Customers will soon start ignoring your campaigns or opt out completely. And even if your customers are accustomed to receiving daily emails, they are also less attentive to your offers. If every day brings a new one, there is no sense of urgency to act. Because there is no fear of missing out, your customers will wait for a better offer.
What You Need to Do
So, it’s time to shed bad habits and graduate from the daily blast email. But how do you make the shift? Here’s how to get started at MarketingProfs.com
NOTE: A Free Registration pop up opens on this site. Registration is not required to read the article.
-
- 01 Aug
The Modern Press Release: Two Don’ts and Three Do’s
by Jay Hickman
The potential power of the press release is sometimes misunderstood. This is true for those who aren’t studied PR practitioners. But many self-marketing entrepreneurs or others serving in some marketing function fall victim to common misunderstandings.Build it and They [He] Will Come . . .
They often believe, falsely, that writing and distributing a press release means guaranteed free company publicity and a third-party media endorsement. Others wrongly believe there’s no such thing as “too much of a good thing”. And so they document every move made by the company and send it along to the media.
Acting on those beliefs can be fraught with problems, so I would urge that companies consider a more strategic approach. There are some best-practices regarding press releases as marketing tools. To see what they are and to learn the Two Dont’s and Three Do’s of the Modern Press Release, 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.
-
- 31 Jul
How to Craft Localized Digital Marketing Strategies That Work
Small, local businesses are typically amongst the slowest to adapt to digital technologies and digital marketing strategies. Why is that? Well, by definition they are small. The local owners have to wear many hats. And with so many responsibilities, staying on top of the most up-to-date marketing trends is not always a top priority.
After All, A Small Business is Small, Ya’ Know . . .
It takes time, resources and money to adapt to new technologies. And small, local businesses usually cant afford the luxury of a dedicated, in-house digital expertise necessary to make it happen. But, truth be told, there is a lot of power in using digital marketing to get results for local businesses.
To see 5 great examples of local marketing tactics that have worked and to learn how they can be used for your business, read the full article at Forbes.com
-
- 29 Jul
Facebook Messenger for Small Business: 7 Easy Steps to Connect with Customers
By Carie Ferg
Facebook’s popular messaging service is a powerful way to connect with customers on social media. But the question for a small business without a dedicated social media staff is how can you get value from your efforts on the platform.Plan to Succeed. Don’t Fail to Plan
First and foremost, you need to develop a plan. Not just any plan but one that aligns with your overall marketing plan. It should directly support your business goals. And it needs to be accountable to your sales efforts and not simply be a waste of time, effort and money.
Learn how to make it work for your business at Manta.com
-
- 28 Jul
How Email Is Accessed in 2017: Top Devices, Platforms, and Clients
by Ayaz Nanji
More emails are now opened on mobile devices than via webmail clients or desktop software. This was according to recent research from Return Path.And Just When You Thought Mobile Wasn’t Important to Your Marketing . . .
The report was based on 27 billion emails opened worldwide between May 2016 and April 2017. And what they found was that some 55% of the email opens examined occurred on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, or e-readers). While 28% occurred via webmail clients (a Web browser visit to a site such as Gmail.com or Yahoo.com). And 16% occurred via desktop software (a client such as Outlook or Apple Mail).
To see all of the data, and to download the original report, read the full article at MarketingProfs
NOTE: A Free Registration pop up opens on this site. Registration is not required to read the article.
-
- 27 Jul
13 of Our Best Local Marketing Tips…Ever!
by Dan Shewan
Much to the relief of pretty much everyone, SoLoMo as a catch-phrase for Social Local Mobile, failed to catch on and become part of digital marketing’s lexicon. However, that doesn’t mean that local search also fell by the wayside. If anything, it’s become even more crucial than it was a couple of years ago. This is especially true for brick-and-mortar businesses hoping to drive more foot traffic to their store.Used to Be That “all politics are local.” Well Now All Search is Local. Or it Should be.
To help you maximize your local visibility, we’ll be looking back at the 13 best local marketing tips we’ve ever published. Some are highly specific. While others serve as more of a generalized guide. But if you’re trying to reach new customers in your area, grab a coffee and read on at WordStream.com
-
- 26 Jul
How to Use Facebook as Your PR Engine
Publicity – the golden chalice of any small business. The challenge is to get your story in front of the eyeballs that can make a difference for your business. A PR agency may be the answer for you. It’s their job is to get your story in front of the press and potential customers. However, that might set you back $5,000 per month or more.But what if you could get the same, if not better, results yourself, by using Facebook ads?
Facebook ads are one of your biggest business opportunities. The targeting capabilities, the tracking functionality and the low cost of getting started means they beat any other form of advertising hands down. And, it has a neat little feature called workplace targeting that many people don’t even know about. And from a PR perspective, it could save you thousands of dollars every month.
So, if you’re not using Facebook ads as part of your overall marketing and PR strategy, you may be missing a trick. Let’s see how to Target the Media on Facebook at KISSmetrics.com
- 1+360 303 1585
- info@DanLHoff.com
