I once followed a blog religiously, checking it every day for fresh content. At first it was great; every afternoon I would check the blog for my daily dose of content, but then something awful happened. It was a typical day around noon when I normally checked by beloved blog, but this time there wasn’t a new post. I chocked it up to a one-time thing, but when I checked the next day and the next day—nothing new. I suddenly felt abandoned. Did this person forget about me, why weren’t they posting? Continue reading “Do Your Customers Have Abandonment Issues?”
A Picture Says a Thousand Words
I myself am a visual learner, who would rather look at pretty pictures than read a 1,000-plus word article—and I’m not alone. In fact, 65 percent of the population is comprised of visual learners and 40 percent of people respond better to visual information than plain text. For content marketers, this means marrying compelling content with eye-catching visuals.
Visual content garners big results as it not only helps catch the reader’s attention, but it also increases engagement and drives website traffic. Put yourself in your readers’ shoes and consider the following: would you rather read a press release full of text or a post with one or two eye-popping images?
When it Comes to Posting, Timing is Everything
You’ve spent all afternoon hunched over your laptop creating “the greatest blog ever written,” but suddenly you realize that it’s 5 pm. Your eager to post your blog, but you’re not sure whether or not it’s the right time. Will it get lost in the cyber shuffle overnight? Can it wait till morning?
Maintaining an accurate posting schedule and learning when your audience is tuned in is the key to engagement success. After all, what good does it do if your audience never reads your emails, tweets, posts, or blogs?
With 347 new blogs posts, 684,478 Facebook shares, 100,000 tweets, 204,166,667 emails and 3,600 Instagram photos posted every minute, it’s not easy to get noticed. However, research shows that there is a right time and a wrong time to post.
Continue reading “When it Comes to Posting, Timing is Everything”
A Lesson on Composing the Perfect Tweet
By now you probably know the dos and don’ts of Twitter when it comes to your business account. Don’t tweet about politics, do make it fun, don’t abandon your followers and tweet often. But now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to take your tweets to the next level and really engage with your audience. After all, 36 percent of all marketers have found a customer via Twitter in 2013.
Today, the job of a social media marketer is no cake walk. There’s hashtags, penguins, hangouts, handles… you name it. Not only do you have to compile a compelling, out of this world campaign, but you have to do so in 140 characters or less.
All too often, marketers fall into the habit of firing random, uninspiring “me, me, me” tweets just for the sake of tweeting, which will undoubtedly get you labeled as a spammer, which let’s face it no one wants. Stop thinking like a salesman and think like a marketer.
To get you back on track—and thinking like the stellar marketer you are—here’s a lesson (or reminder) on how to compose the perfect tweet.
Follow Me Friday: Are You Following Your Industry’s Top Players?
Not only has Twitter become a powerful tool for lead generation and brand awareness, but it’s also become a hub for valuable information. Where else could you read about the latest Anthony Weiner scandal, a cat video gone viral and the turmoil in Syria all in one place?
As content marketers we are always looking for fresh, new ideas and a lot of our inspiration comes from Twitter. But this tactic isn’t just for us content explorers; it’s also a great tool for businesses.
Following the right accounts on Twitter is almost as important as composing the perfect tweet. For businesses, connecting with other industry players, trendsetters and dare we say it, competitors, is a great way stay ahead of the game, keep an eye on your competitors and see what customers are saying about your brand. Not only does this establish your company as a thought leader, but it also helps promote your brand awareness.
However, with 150 million worldwide active users and over 400 million tweets per day, this “tweet-tastic” platform can be overwhelming, especially for newbie’s. Let us walk you through some helpful strategies…
Continue reading “Follow Me Friday: Are You Following Your Industry’s Top Players?”
How Healthy is Your Marketing Strategy?
It’s something we all dreaded as a child, the back-to-school physical. Not only did the annual checkup mean summer was coming to an end, but it also marked the beginning of a new school year. This year, thousands of children across the country will visit their pediatrician in hopes of getting an A in health.
For parents, finding the right pediatrician with an all-star reputation, extensive experience and deep knowledge base is like striking gold. In fact, 94 percent of prospective patients said reputation is important in hospital selection. While in the past, parents found their pediatrician through referrals from friends and family, today’s tech-savvy parents are turning to the Internet to find the best doctor in town. This begs the question; does your practice have a healthy online presence?
Don’t Dig a Grave for Your Email Marketing Strategies Just Yet
How many times have you provided a clerk or a kiosk with a false email account to avoid being bombarded with messages about newly released products or surveys? Hey, we are all guilty of it and I don’t blame you; the last thing anyone wants is an inbox full of spam.
To avoid seeming “old school”—or irritating for that matter—many companies have abandoned email marketing all together, instead turning to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to reach customers and promote their products. While taking to social media is a must, it certainly begs the question. Is email marketing dead? Actually, no.
Continue reading “Don’t Dig a Grave for Your Email Marketing Strategies Just Yet”
Friends or Enemies? Bad Social Media Strategies Could Turn Customers Against You
“NO I would not like to speak to another representative and NO I will not stay on HOLD!” Sounds familiar? Hey, we’ve all been there and we have all encountered the famous runaround from customer service representatives who seem to love making our day miserable. Most of us have even taken to social media to share our grievances about a horrible customer experience. And don’t worry you’re not the only one who’s fed up with bad customer service. In fact, 60 percent of customers believe that companies have not taken steps to improve their customer service. Whatever happened to the customer is always right?
Continue reading “Friends or Enemies? Bad Social Media Strategies Could Turn Customers Against You”
Bringing High Fashion into Reality with Content Marketing
There’s something to be said about a great storyteller—someone who draws you in from the very first word and keeps you on your toes until the last moment, leaving you begging for more. Believe it or not, marketing and storytelling go hand in hand. Similar to how a storyteller connects with his or her audience through interesting characters and unpredictable twists and turns, brands today are creating creative, engaging content that speaks to their customers. The art of telling a great story is no easy task, but no one does it better than the fashion industry. Continue reading “Bringing High Fashion into Reality with Content Marketing”
Fashion Brands and Instagram: A Match Made in Marketing Heaven
Before there was Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, fashion fanatics had to score a ticket to Fashion Week and sneak behind the forbidden curtains in hopes of getting a glimpse of their favorite designers. Today, however, is a different story. From Burberry to Micheal Kors to Bergdorfs, retail companies are giving customers an all-access pass into the world of design. And let me tell you, it’s even more fabulous than you imagined!
Continue reading “Fashion Brands and Instagram: A Match Made in Marketing Heaven”