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Cinnabon, Breaking Bad and Pure Content Marketing Magic

Full disclosure: I’m only in season three of Breaking Bad.

There are a few times in a company’s existence – if any – where the stars align just so, inviting the pearly gates of content marketing heaven to thrust open and outpour a surge of selling genius upon those who lie in waiting. This doesn’t happen often; however, the rare – and extremely profitable – occurrence came to fruition for one very lucky Omaha, Neb.-based Cinnabon.

That’s right – the sickeningly sweet treat that all of us hate to admit we eat when we stop at the mall (don’t deny it) has hit the content marketing jackpot thanks to an offhand mention on AMC’s critically-acclaimed crime drama series, Breaking Bad.

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What are the Top Five Content Marketing Trends for 2014?

contentmarketing2013 has been a breakout year for content marketing.  The “star” marketing strategy has now become a staple in many companies’ inbound marketing efforts. In fact, the number of U.S. companies with a comprehensive content marketing strategy in place jumped from 28 percent in 2012 to 49 percent in 2013, according to IMN’s “2013 Content Marketing Survey Report.”

So, what can we expect from this marketing gem in the coming year? Recently, Forbes compiled its top 10 content marketing trends that will dominate in 2014. We chose our favorite four and weighed in on what we think is in store for the coming year. Continue reading “What are the Top Five Content Marketing Trends for 2014?”

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A Tale of Two Companies and How Each Captured My Heart

Hi, my name is Allison Boccamazzo and I’m a Kate Spade addict. I’m a LUSH addict, too. I tried good and hard to give them up, but I just can’t. And so here I am, writing (yet again) about how amazing these companies’ customer service – and content marketing strategies – are. I swear to you that there’s no paid advertising going on here. This is just the simplistic power of content marketing coupled with superior customer service.

My relationship with these two companies escalated quickly and blissfully, like going out to dinner with a complete stranger on a sporadic Saturday night to falling head over heels by the time you reach the front door. In an effort to explain to you how to capture your customers’ hearts, I have to explain how these two companies consistently knock it out of the park for me. And, in turn, why I’m always willing to open my wallet for them.

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Anthropologie: A Master in Fashion and Content Marketing

I have to give it up to fashion retailer Anthropologie. Not only does the fabulously quirky retailer offer today’s best fashion designs, but the company has mastered the art of content marketing. Blogs, videos, photo galleries, social media – you name it, Anthropologie has it. The fashion maven offers its customers custom creative content across a multitude of platforms, which has undoubtedly placed the brand ahead of the curve.

Let’s take a look at three ways Anthropologie has built its success using content marketing, as well as some helpful tips you can implement into your very own marketing strategy.

anthro 1All about the Customer

Knowing their customers’ wide-range of interests, Anthropolgie’s blog “Anthro” is the go-to spot for the latest trends in everything fashion and culture. From “The Perfect Sunday Dinner Outfit” to the “Ultimate Road Trip Playlist” to “Designer Spotlights” to “The Summer Sendoff Margarita,” Anthro has a diverse mix of content for every type of customer.

Let’s face it; your customers don’t want to read a blog filled with promotional content. They want a place to go to read about the topics they like without being bombarded by ads. Content marketing is all about finding a happy medium between promotional and informative content.   Continue reading “Anthropologie: A Master in Fashion and Content Marketing”

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Why the Hospitality Industry Needs Content Marketing

hotelYou’d think the hospitality industry is far from suffering a dip in revenue (there’s always someone out there who needs a place to stay, right?), But apparently, the global hospitality industry is amidst a flux. According to Ernst and Young’s new “Global Hospitality Insights: Top Thoughts for 2013” report, the demand growth outpaced the industry’s supply growth for 2010, 2011 and 2012, and it’s expected to do just the same for 2013. There are clearly some very wide holes in this industry that need to be filled – especially if those invested want to see steadier growth and a healthier revenue stream.

The answer is just as clear: content marketing.

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Facebook’s New Search Tools could be the Extra Layer Content Marketers Need

I don’t know about you, but I’m enjoying the cooler weather this year. As a lover of the summer, I’m all about the warmth, and so I was shocked when I happily threw on a couple of extra layers this morning before running out the door. As any New Englander knows, when the weather begins to change, so must our lifestyles; the clothes we wear, the things we do and when we do them.

This got me thinking; the same principle can be applied to content marketers. When something begins to change, evolve or sophisticate, a marketer’s approach must change as well. Take, for example, Facebook’s two new search tools being released today.

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Expert ITEXPO Panel Addresses Everything Content Marketing

Today may be the last day of ITEXPO Las Vegas 2013, but it’s undoubtedly the most exciting. Not only is Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak addressing one of the most anticipated keynote speeches in ITEXPO history, but right before that, Content Boost took to the stage for a compelling content marketing panel (and offered attendees a delicious breakfast!)

The panel – moderated by our very own Director of Content Marketing, Carrie Schmelkin – brought together an esteemed group of long-time players in the content marketing space, including: Richard Williams, President, Connect2Communications; Mostafa Razzak, Founding Partner, JMR Worldwide; Ilissa Miller, CEO, IMPR; and Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC.

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Top Tips for Becoming a Better Social Business

At the surface, business managers seem completely at ease with this question; however, while cool and confident on the outside, on the inside, they’re biting their nails and pacing the floor wondering what it takes to become a social business. Just to make things clear, being a social business does not necessarily mean having social media accounts. This may be a terrifying thought for the approximate 64 percent of B2B companies who currently use social media – no one likes to know that what they’re doing may not be enough.

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A Lesson on Composing the Perfect Tweet

twitter89By 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.

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Why Financial Advisors Need Content Marketing

financesIn a time of economic strife where financial security is being increasingly sought after, the financial advising market is a very alluring one. In fact, the broker ranks are positioned to increase by 30 percent through 2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – a figure that blows previous estimations out of the water. This, of course, has seen the rise of many new players in a gradually competitive space.

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