Archive for the ‘Marketing and Communication’ Category

Benefits of the Top 4 Social Media Networks

May
2013
21

posted by Whitney Tyson | on Content Marketing, Facebook, Linkedin, Marketing and Communication, Social Media, Twitter, Uncategorized, YouTube | No comments

images

With limited resources, many small and mid-sized companies are asking themselves, “What should be the number one social media outlet to pursue?

 

 

Unfortunately, there is no easy way of answering this because each social site is so unique.  They each provide their own benefits, and each business would be able to use and benefit from each of them in different ways.  Here is a breakdown of how you can use each channel.

YouTube:

This requires low management maintenance.  Whenever you create a video, you should upload it and share it with your audience in different ways.  You can embed it into your website, email marketing blasts, share it on Twitter/Facebook, embed it into your LinkedIn profile and have QR Codes direct to them.  If you enjoy being creative with your marketing efforts and you tend to be more of a visual person, preferring to give a face to a name and show your audience how your business can help them, YouTube should definitely be a utilized channel.

Twitter:

Twitter requires the most management, but also has the most benefits.  First of all, its outreach and engagement opportunities are very extensive.  There are many tools out there that can help you search for leads and existing contacts.  You can also initiate relationships by following people, and if they know you or have heard of your business, they usually follow you back.  You can also embed your Twitter feed with your personal and company LinkedIn Status updates.  Some tools even let you update your Facebook through Twitter.  By syncing up social networks with each other, it can cover a lot more ground with just one post.  Another benefit with Twitter is its hashtag feature.  The best examples of hashtag usage would be during events.  If you go to an event, attendees and vendors are able to include the hashtag (such as #BestEvent) within their tweets, which will make their posts show up in the #BestEvent Twitter feed.  This is a great way of finding people at the show, engaging with them, and simply sharing your experience of the show with others.  The only cons of Twitter would be that there are a lot of tweets out there, so you must be consistent with your posts in order to position yourself as a thought leader who provides information but who also engages with their audience as well.

LinkedIn:

This network requires low management and has a more professional setting compared to others.  Everyone should belong to this network because LinkedIn members appear within or close to the top five Google searches when their name is searched for.  This helps encourage connections and relationships and it makes it easy for inquires and prospects to find you.  Personal profiles also give you the capability of sharing your website, social networks, more of your work portfolio and many other types of information.  If people want to learn more about you professionally, LinkedIn gives them the chance to do so, and then gives them the option to connect with you.

While you are on LinkedIn, if your work email has its own domain, build a company page.  This gives the opportunity for all of your coworkers/employees to be under one network.  LinkedIn Company Pages also give you the opportunity to promote products, services, connect prospects with sales reps and more!  You can also keep it updated by posting regular Company Page Statuses.  I would recommend sticking with 4-6 company status updates each week, and try to focus on company news/industry news that your target audience would be interested in.

Facebook:

This would require a medium level of management.  My recommended amount of posts for this site would be once a day, possibly a little more if there is an event happening that you are participating in.  Sharing industry-related information in different mediums, such as photos, YouTube videos, blog posts or articles, is a great way to engage with your Facebook audience.  Your audience in this channel usually consists of existing customers who like and trust your company, and prospects who are interested in your specials, features or knowledge.  Facebook fans usually join your page in order to stay in the loop with what is new.  Posting pictures and YouTube videos of what is happening around the office is also great content.  This social network is meant to focus on humanizing your business.  So if you have an existing dedicated fan base who is online and wants to stay in the loop, Facebook may be your top priority.

At the end of the day…

Every business has its own unique audience.  Think about where your audience is and how they enjoy learning about the type of products you have to offer. Once you discover these key components, determining which social media networks are the right ones for your business will become more apparent.  No matter which one you choose though, each network is great for enhancing your brand’s search optimization. The more you update them, the higher they will rise in search results, plus, the bigger your networks are, the more potential you have of sending leads and inquiries to your website.

Key Resource for You:

Don’t wait, get started on social media marketing today! If you’re in need of help, let’s talk about how Social Media Consulting or a Social Media Marketing Plan could help you and your business. Click here to learn more!

12 Ways to Incorporate Social Media into Events

May
2013
15

posted by John Foley, Jr. | on Business, Events, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Marketing and Communication, Social Media, Twitter, YouTube | No comments

CUPMAC 2012 Attendees with John Foley, Jr.'s Book

If you are attending or exhibiting at an upcoming event, be sure to prepare an online marketing strategy and plan for it.  Whether it is a trade show or conference, events are a great opportunity to build brand awareness and promote your company online.   There are many online channels you can use for event promotion, but we would advise you to begin with social media.  Social media is a key resource for promotion and engagement, and by executing the following steps, you will set your business up for marketing success.

Let’s first take a look at the promotional aspect…

Before the Event:

Create and/or engage in a hashtag. Create buzz by giving the event a special online presence with this way of categorizing tweets.

Does the event have its own social media presence? If so, make your presence known there as well. Post on the Facebook event page, tweet using the event’s account and set up a hashtag.

Make your schedule of events social-friendly. Allow users to “check-in” to venues. Make sure all blog posts related to the event can be easily shared on social networks and via e-mail. The schedule should either be on a dedicated mobile page or on a page that was designed in responsive.

Spread the word elsewhere online. Make sure your colleagues and peers blog about the event and be sure to have an email campaign focused on it, or maybe even a webinar. Press releases are great too.

Keep it conversational. Be sure to ask open-ended questions regarding the event that generate a response. Use social media as an opportunity to gauge interest in the event, take surveys regarding what should be featured, and use it as a forum to field questions. This also gives a chance for companies to retweet users’ responses in order to build a “word-of-mouth” hype.

Keep a countdown running. Don’t overwhelm your followers with information and messages only about the event, but be sure to have it mentioned and remind the users of it daily.

When the big day comes:

Take pictures of everything. Just when you think you’ve taken too many photos- take some more! People want to feel like they’re at the event, almost to the point where they feel like they didn’t miss out at all just by following you on social networks. Document everything as it will provide great blog content for your official site later on. Ask attendees to do the same and post on Twitter using the hashtag.

Take videos of all possible content. If anything, it’s great for your brand’s YouTube channel, but can also liven up a post-event blog entry. Also helps you sell future events.

Make your location known. If you’re attending a large scale event, make sure your followers know exactly where to find you. Tweet what room you’re in, what booth you’re at, and always use the hashtags so people know what you’re referring to. Even landmarks are helpful!

If people aren’t seeing you, MAKE them notice you. Engage with others at the event via social media so they feel compelled to come and find you.  Search the event’s hashtag and interact with those participating so you already have some background with people when you meet in person.

Did you just meet someone you want to remember? Make them remember you. Engaging with and commenting to people via social media is the new “collecting of business cards”. No need to try to remember who you hit it off with at the conference, as long as you stay engaged with them through social networks like Twitter and LinkedIn.

Tell everybody what happened. Write detailed and lively summary blogs for your company, and leave no detail out.

Once it’s all said and done, your company will have not only been an active participant on the conference room floor, but online as well. Promoting events via social media benefits you, your company, and the event.  There’s no better way to consistently engage and converse with others while spreading your brand’s name across multiple channels.

Be sure to incorporate as many of these steps as you can at your next event.  If you need a plan, or even people to help you, contact us for help. Good luck and enjoy!

Do Promotional Products Still Work?

May
2013
08

posted by guestcontributor | on Marketing and Communication, Social Media | 2 comments

SWAG

SWAG.  An acronym that means “Stuff We All Get.”  But do people want SWAG? Do they really want all the stuff they get?

While most people enjoy a bargain, and maybe some freebies on occasion, it’s debatable if customers want…well, to be honest, merely gimmicks and junk that will just add clutter to their homes or end up in the trash can.

SWAG – Yes or No?

The savvy small business owner needs to truly weigh the pros and cons of promotional products, and determine if they add or detract from the value of the business.

Promotional products that actually add value to a customer’s life in some way would likely be far more effective than annoying gimmicks customers ignore and cheap stuff they end up throwing out.

Best Ideas for Promotional Products

The challenge is to find those promotional products that really work, and the methods to use that will best present them.

Practical promotional products, or genuinely unique or intriguing ones, are generally much better received than poorly made products or mere gimmicks. The main idea of promotional products is to include at least the business name and contact info on them, as a way to increase brand awareness.

Ideas for promotional products that would truly be useful for customers, depending on the nature of the business and its target market, might include any of the following:

  • Calendars in various sizes, from wall and desk calendars, to pocket planners.
  • Fridge magnets with calendars or clips to hold notes.
  • Notepads, notebooks, and binders.
  • Pens and pencils.
  • Safe, non-toxic toys for babies, children, or pets.
  • Samples of household products or beauty products.
  • Keychains or items that fit on keychains, such as cylindrical safety whistles or cylinders that hold emergency cash.
  • Customized products representative of the town or state in which the business resides, such as notepads with imprinted images of lighthouses or lobsters for Maine businesses; or calendars with imprinted images of race cars and a NASCAR schedule for businesses located in or near Daytona Beach, Florida.

Social Media for Promotions

Small business owners should not ignore the popularity and effectiveness of social media for “promoting the promotions” for the business.

For instance, just a few satisfied customers who announce their opinions of a business and its products or services, with decent numbers of followers on Twitter or lots of friends on Facebook, can often unleash a flood of potential new customers.

Of course, the opposite is likewise true—dissatisfied customers will take to social media and blast businesses they’re not happy with, and that can lead to bad publicity and the need to improve reviews if the business is going to recover and flourish.

Strategically using Facebook business pages, connecting with customers on Twitter, networking on LinkedIn, and sharing images of products on Pinterest are merely a few of the ideas of how to make social media work for promotions.

Need more ideas? A Strategic Online Marketing Plan will help. Click to learn more…and don’t worry, you won’t lose your place here.

To Gimmick or Not to Gimmick

The goal of small business owners should be to attract and appeal to customers—NOT annoy them! While most people appreciate a good deal, they typically do NOT appreciate gimmicks.  The word itself conjures up the idea of being tricked or “bamboozled” and that’s not a good feeling to stir up in any customer.

While promotional products themselves, at least those that really have value and offer a genuine deal to customers, are often received well, wise business owners should steer clear of gimmicks and cheap “stuff” now so they don’t have to work to improve reviews for the business later.

About the Author: K’Lee Banks enjoys writing about small businesses, entrepreneurship, and using social media to market and to improve reviews of small businesses.

7 Tips You Need To Hear About Automated Marketing

May
2013
01

posted by Donna Vieira | on Marketing and Communication | No comments

Marketing Automation

You likely have many of your marketing processes automated in an effort to connect with your prospects and move them through that sales funnel to the desired close. Ideally, your audience will see your messages via social networks, direct mail, internet ads and other forms of advertising. But showing interest is far from the start of your sales relationship. There’s still work to be done. People don’t want the hard close. They don’t want to be pushed. They want to be persuaded and courted.

Here are 7 tips for automated marketing:

  1. Don’t rely on the software to create your content – you want to keep it focused, driven by your company brand/personality and have that personal touch. There is great software out there to help you in all aspects of your marketing needs. And you may even get some great ideas for content from it. But don’t ever use cookie cutter content. It will totally miss the mark and you will definitely lose the interest of your prospects.

    2.  

  2. You need a reason to contact your leads. In days past, too many marketers assumed that the more contact with their leads, the better. But too much useless contact and not enough relevancy can make your messages fall flat. Email messages will go unread. Other messages will be glossed over by your prospect. Your touches with the prospect need to be relevant and timely.

    3.  

  3. Today’s automated marketing means so much more than email. It means customer relationship management, social marketing and optimizing for mobile devices. The right program can integrate these things to make it easy to manage your automated marketing functions. The better organized you are on the back-end, the better chance your marketing has to make the impact you desire.

    4.  

  4. Don’t approach automated marketing with a shotgun approach. One centralized system to handle data, track and measure results will help safeguard against this problem. If you have different working parts, then it’s easy for data to be misleading or results to be skewed. You want it all being tracked and measured by a single system to help guide you in your decisions.

    5.  

  5. Look for intuitive systems that take out the guesswork and base decisions on actual numbers. Imagine automatic campaign selection to increase conversions, better qualified leads with identification and correlation to anonymous high-level prospects.

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  6. Monitor behavior-driven communications, as this will help you narrow your target for your audience.

    7.  

  7. Think micro – highly individualized, highly targeted marketing. The challenge is that micromarketing requires some serious  background information. You need to know your target’s likes, dislikes, needs and wants. But the more targeted the communications, the better you will nurture that lead to the final close.

Customers are looking for information. You have that information. But you need to provide it in a way that they can find it. And then connect and build a relationship from there. Don’t ever forget that automated marketing will never fully replace (nor should it) human interaction. Use automation to your advantage, but don’t let it take away the human touch.

3 Things Brands Can Learn From Kmart

Apr
2013
26

posted by Kelly O'Halloran | on Marketing and Communication | 1 comment

Kelly

Kmart’s new ad might just make you want to ship your pants laughing.

If you haven’t watched it yet, you should. The video centers around the phrase “ship my pants.” When spoken out loud, “ship my pants” sounds a whole lot like something else—go ahead, say it!—and the repetition of the line throughout the video is unexpectedly hilarious.

The video, posted online on April 10th, already has garnered over 15 million views, 20,000 shares on Facebook, and nearly 40,000 comments.

The ad promotes Kmart’s Shop Your Way program, which allows customers to ship items they can’t find in store to their homes for free. The commercial starts off with a man being told about this new service, and his stunned reaction: “Ship my pants? Right here?”

An elderly shopper chimes in, “I just shipped my pants, and it’s very convenient.” Other customers mention that they have shipped their drawers, a nightgown, and even a bed.

It may be juvenile but, for me, the “potty-mouth” punch line just doesn’t get old. I literally have watched the 30 second video 5 times today.

But what can this video teach brands about marketing?

Sure, I love the ad because it makes me laugh like I’m 5-years-old again, but I also think it’s great from a marketing perspective. Let me break down a few of my takeaways:

Lesson 1: Give Them Something To Talk About

I’m going to throw it out there: Kmart is not cool.

I haven’t stepped foot in one in over a decade, so I don’t actually know anything about Kmart; I just assume it’s on the outs because I never hear people talk about it. This has been bad news for Kmart.

After watching this video though, I’m starting to wonder: What is Kmart like? I kind of want to go check it out this weekend and find out…

With retail giants like Walmart and Target taking over, Kmart seems to have dropped off the face of the earth. But I truly believe this ad could help put Kmart back on the map, because I know I’m not the only one loving it. So far this week, four of my friends have posted it on Facebook.

Sure, it was a risk on Kmart’s part—humor is difficult to achieve in advertising—but millions of people are laughing and sharing the video. And, more importantly, people are talking about Kmart again.

Lesson learned: Even the most irrelevant of brands can put themselves back on the radar with a hip campaign that gets people talking. Chances are a significant portion of these people will convert to customers.

Lesson 2: Haters Gonna Hate

Like I mentioned above, this ad was a risk for Kmart. Not just because humor isn’t easy in advertising, but also because…not everyone loves bathroom humor. In fact, One Millions Moms hates it.

Luckily for Kmart, One Million Moms is the name of the organization and not the actual number of moms in it. The group (which actually is only made up of a few thousand) wrote on their website last week that the ad is “disgusting” and “ridiculous” and “should be pulled off the air immediately.”

Can’t please everyone, right?

If you create a commercial with a risqué joke, some people will love it, some will be neutral, and others—like One Millions Moms—might be upset over it. But when you’re an increasingly unpopular brand, you’ve got to take a risk and do something different to get noticed.

Lesson learned: In the end, haters are going to hate. I think it’s better for Kmart to attract the attention of millions even if they have to risk that they may anger a few thousand.  As they say, there’s no such thing as bad publicity…

(Side note: In some cases, I think some publicity really is bad publicity. Like this example. Or this.)

Lesson 3: Social Goes A Long Way

Not only did Kmart create the “Ship My Pants” video, but they also began Tweeting #ShipMyPants and the hashtag flew around Twitter. Conversations ensued:

I love that Kmart created a hashtag campaign around this too. Again, it’s getting people talking about their store…and it’s funny!

Kmart also impressed me with their social media etiquette. Upon seeing this video, I tweeted at Kmart this morning:

Almost immediately they replied:

You’d be surprised by how many brands are on Twitter and don’t reply when people mention them. Kmart did, and Kmart did it quickly. I know I’m probably biased because I work with social media, but I really do look at Kmart in a whole new way now because of this.

Lesson learned: Use Kmart as an example of social media marketing done right. Creating a clever hashtag around a marketing campaign can lead to positive conversations about your brand—and engaging with and thanking people online can boost your brand’s image.

What do you think? Do you think this campaign goes over the line? Or do you find the commercial just as funny as I do?

Your Guide to Marketing Gold

Apr
2013
17

posted by Whitney Tyson | on Email, Marketing and Communication, Social Media, Web Design | No comments

Need 5 quick tips on how you can enhance your marketing efforts? Look no more, we have 5 essentials you need to get started on your marketing path of success.

Want more tips?  Download our Marketing Pot of Gold Kit!

Related Resources:
10 Tips to Fuel Your Content Marketing Efforts
5 Tips for Great Website Navigation
10 Ways to Interact with Your Audience Online
5 Steps to Successful Content Marketing

Running The Marketing Marathon

Apr
2013
15

posted by Lou Cimaglia | on Marketing and Communication | No comments

marketing inspiration

Keep moving forward.

You’re so fatigued and disheartened that you can barely function. The thought of being so far away from the destination is devastating. Cruel even. The specter of poor financial reports and failed campaigns loom ahead, tempting the faint of heart to turn back – to yield.

Heartbreak Hill.

Marketing is a marathon. An interminable, winding, challenging course of action that tests the resolve and patience of those that attempt it. But, unlike a sprint, it doesn’t require exceptional skill or talent.

It takes perseverance. That’s why so many people want to prove that they can do it.

Anyone can run a marathon, and anyone can be a successful marketer. In the United States, the number of marathon finishers has increased steadily, including a total of over half a million at the release of the last Annual Marathon Report, the highest ever recorded total.

Parallelly, the most common college major today is business administration and management according to the Princeton Review, eating up nearly a quarter of all degrees. This, of course, includes marketing.

The marathon courses and marketing classes are more crowded than ever before. This makes it more imperative than ever before to put in the time necessary to set attainable, but lofty, goals. In a world where it is increasingly more difficult to differentiate oneself, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle.

For most people, signing up to run the Boston Marathon is not done with the intention of winning. But everyone crosses the same finish line.

In marketing, not everyone can have campaigns that go viral. There aren’t enough offices on Madison Avenue. But if the goal is achieved, if the finish line is crossed, then something more important than winning or losing happens.

Find your finish line. Define it. Whatever it is, be relentless in your pursuit of it. The day may come when the fatigue is too much. When the hill is too high to climb. But remember the marathon. We’re all in the business of getting the job done – marketers and runners.

Lace ‘em up and hit the road. Your finish line is waiting.

And after the big race, be sure to grab yourself a tall, cool mug of the good stuff.

Is My Business Reputation In Trouble?

Mar
2013
20

posted by Peter Walters | on Marketing and Communication | No comments

Flower

Guest Post: Peter Walters is a blogger who writes about a variety of topics, including reputation for business. He can be reached at peterbwalters@gmail.com

Your online reputation is like a delicate flower.

If you neglect it, it will wither and die quickly. This applies to you, too, if you fail to keep your business reputation in mind. Managing the reputation for your business starts and ends with the courtesy that you and your employees pay your customers, both on and offline.

The rise of the Internet, social media and rating websites like Yelp, Angie’s List, and of course Google, have made online reputation essential. Before hiring contractors, visiting a new doctor or even going to a new restaurant, people are always searching for reviews and ratings. Just one big slip up with a customer can have serious implications for the future reputation for your business.

Here are some common questions that founders ask everyday about their online business reputations:

How can I as a small business owner avoid these problems with reputation?

The cliche “the customer is always right,” may or may not be true. However, you should treat it as though it were. A bad interaction with a customer could have serious consequences for your business.

Here are a few tips to help:

  • Take customer support very seriously.

Without your customers you have nothing but a warehouse full of products no one will buy, or a service no one trusts. Your customers are the only reason you’re still in business today. Be professional, kind and courteous with all of them– even if they are rude.

  • Do not respond to a frustrated customer publically.

The last thing you want to start is a “yelling” match with a customer. Nothing says unprofessional like a desperate CEO writing long comments to someone on a blog, or Yelp review. Keep it private. E-mail the customer privately, make things better at all costs, and then politely ask them to remove or update their comment.

How do I know if people are saying negative things about my business or myself online?

Conversations are happening 24/7 on the web. Here are some simple (and free) ways for staying on top of the issues that are relevant to you and your business.

  • Setup Google Alerts for your business name.

Keep your eyes peeled for articles, blog posts and comments about your company, or other keywords surrounding it. Every time someone mentions your business Google will send you an email alert. Feel free to set up alerts about your competitors also! *Keep in mind that Google Alerts does not work well to search social media platforms.

  • Real time Conversation search.

TweetDeck is a great way to keep tabs on various keywords on Twitter. It’s great because it lets you search for any keyword you’d like, and save those searches for future use. There’s always conversations happening around brands and products on social media. Be sure to get involved here. Always keep things positive, and solve customer problems promptly as much as possible. The best part about TweetDeck? You can track as many keywords as you’d like simultaneously!

How can I combat negative comments about my business online?

There are lots of things you could do here. Ignore them, delete them, respond in kind, or simply apologize. Unfortunately, all of these options are limited. The best thing you can do?

  • Apologize and solve the problem.

You’re trying to say “we hear your complaint, it’s totally understandable, and here’s what we’re doing to solve/correct the issue”. How you deal with just one frustrated customer could end in one of two ways: they either write scathing reviews all over the web about you and your company, or you convert them into a very happy, satisfied customer who may even share the good story with their friends!

In the end, there is no easy way to manage your business reputation.

Be vigilant and keep your eyes open. Social media, review sites and blogs are all likely places for comments– both good and bad, to show up.

Respond and fix all issues as soon as possible and you’ll be just fine.

Learn more about Grow Socially with this free White Paper > > >

About the Author: Peter Walters is a blogger who writes about a variety of topics, including reputation for business. He can be reached at peterbwalters@gmail.com

 

The Pyramid Of Marketing Success

Mar
2013
12

posted by Lou Cimaglia | on Business, Marketing and Communication | No comments

One of the greatest tools ever created for anyone in business is the Pyramid Of Success, perfected by John Wooden, the legendary UCLA men’s basketball coach.

Coach Wooden, who won 10 national championships, including seven in a row, is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches, teachers and mentors of our time.

His pyramid was the crux of his philosophy, and highly adaptable. And it got me to thinking. What if the pyramid was created strictly for marketing? After careful deliberation and thoughtful placement, the Pyramid Of Marketing Success was born.

We will begin at the foundation.

Diligence

There were a wide array of words that could have fit here: hard work, industriousness, consistent, etc.

However, “diligence” implies more than simply working hard. Diligence extends beyond the office. Diligence applies to the tasks at hand during business hours, and the quality they should be executed with.

Additionally, one should be diligent regarding industry updates and new trends. A successful marketer cannot exist in a vacuum. One must be constantly learning, working hard to grow and refine skills.

Enthusiasm

One step above diligence is enthusiasm. Enthusiasm comes second because not everyone is eager to go to work, but still work hard. But their final product will always lack in some, potentially impossible to quantify manner.

Enthusiasm is a necessity for truly successful marketing. If the marketer does not believe in the product being promoted, why should the consumer? Consider your own occupational past. Certainly you have had jobs that you didn’t enjoy, but still showed up, punched the clock and worked at it.

While some believe work and personal life should be separate, there are benefits to sharing passions in both spaces. Working on what you love will only enhance the final product.

Humility

Humility lies squarely in the middle of the pyramid. This is because, as a marketer, failure is inevitable. There will be email campaigns with poor response rates. There will be product launches that fall flat. Tweets will go unnoticed.

Occupational hazards of the marketer.

However, there is no shame in going back to the drawing board, admitting defeat, and beginning the uphill climb of understanding the consumer just a little better. Customers are always changing as a result of emerging technologies and shifting priorities. The marketer can never be abreast of all of them.

Being humble will soften the sting of and lead to future creativity. Being diligent and enthusiastic can become tiresome if one is not willing to relinquish infallibility.

Talent

Look around you. Marketing and advertising are everywhere. From the labels of your favorite soda to the sponsored posts on your Facebook news feed, there is someone trying to get your attention.

Managers and C-level executives have a responsibility to hire the most skilled employees they can. John Wooden once said, “I’d rather have a lot of talent and little experience than a lot of experience and little talent.”

Have faith in your organizational structure to achieve desired outcomes as a result of talented people doing what they do best. There is an insurmountable wall of marketing out there, hire the best and brightest to break through that clutter – championing your brand as a result.

Courage

There is no substitute for originality. There is no formula for successful marketing. But a page of static, black and white text has never gone viral.

Be bold enough to take calculated risks as a marketer. Make a decision, execute it with conviction, and follow through. Dare to differentiate.

Success

Notice there is no point at the top of the pyramid. A point would signify an end, an apex, a finish. In marketing, there is no finish line.

Success is a never ending pursuit of progress, not perfection. As you continually refine your processes, be fastidious in your note taking.

Whatever your venture, work to the best of your ability. You cannot control the market, your competitors, or your clientele. You can control your product, your office, and your culture.

Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable. – John Wooden

Let your work speak for itself.

4 Marketing Channels You Must Invest In

Mar
2013
06

posted by Whitney Tyson | on Email, Marketing and Communication, Mobile, Social Media, Web Design | No comments

Whitney

No matter how large or small a business is, the following 4 marketing channels are must-haves for increasing brand awareness, growing product interest, and enhancing your online presence.

Learn more about these must-have marketing channels during Grow Socially’s “Find Your Marketing Pot of Gold” webinar, hosted by Tom Barry and myself, next Wednesday at 3PM EST!

1. Your Website

A corporate website should be your business’s first priority for establishing a strong marketing effort.  Strong websites have the ability to promote all of your products and services, collect data from inquiries and leads, and help enhance your search engine optimization.  Online searches are the primary way for people to find any type of business these days, make sure their first impression of your business online is a positive one!

2. Email

Whether your business is B2B or B2C, this channel is a must-have because people use their email every day, for both personal and work reasons.  Use it to premiere new products, cross-promote services, and for follow-up campaigns from previous events.  Email is a great way to stay in front of your audience, increase product awareness, and drive traffic to your website.

3. Mobile

In case you didn’t notice, mobile devices are kind of a big deal right now and they aren’t going away.  Businesses of all kinds need to review their website from mobile phones, tablets, laptops- you name it!  If the user experience of your website is not mobile-optimized, you are losing your mobile audience!  Take a look at our 3 must-have’s for mobile websites!

4. Social Media

There are many benefits of social media marketing for businesses.  These channels are great for staying in front of your audience’s eyes on a daily basis, driving traffic to your website, and finding new audiences.  Social media channels also tend to rank higher in search engine results because they are updated so frequently.

Each one of these marketing channels are essential for broadcasting your business’s capabilities to your audience.  If you have questions or would like to learn more, register for our “Find Your Marketing Pot of Gold” webinar next Wednesday at 3PM EST.  Spots are limited, reserve your seat today!

Register Now

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