by Marketing Manager | Analytics, Content Marketing, Customers, How To's & Info you can use, Internet Marketing, Lead Generation, Marketing Tips
Whether you’re a Star Wars fan or not, you’ve probably heard the term Jedi Mind Trick. Maybe you’ve wished it were a real thing that you could harness – for good, of course – and use in your marketing. I’ve got great news for you. While the Jedi aren’t real, it is possible to use mind tricks – also known as cognitive biases – to get people to engage with your content and buy your products. All you need is an understanding of how the human brain works. What Are Cognitive Biases? A cognitive bias is an innate flaw in reasoning. What’s useful about cognitive biases is that they are something we all share. We are all susceptible to them and that’s what makes them effective for marketing. What’s especially interesting about cognitive biases is that they can work on us even if we understand what they are and are on guard against them. It is possible to avoid them, but it takes work and a real commitment to seeking out alternate points of view to do so. There’s a field of marketing known as neuromarketing that is designed to use psychology to “hack” buyers’ brains. Keep reading to learn about some of the cognitive biases that can be useful in marketing and tips on how to use them to grow your audience. The Bandwagon Effect The Bandwagon Effect has historical roots. Originally, the bandwagon was a parade float where a band played, and spectators would be encouraged to jump on the bandwagon. The implication was that the people on the bandwagon were having more fun than those...
by Marketing Manager | E-Mail Marketing, How To's & Info you can use, Internet Marketing, Lead Generation, Marketing Tips
There’s no denying that email marketing is effective, but it only works if you have a list of qualified and engaged subscribers who are eager to read your content. Sounds easy, right? A lot of businesses have email lists that have stagnated because they’re not doing anything to attract new subscribers. They’re not sure where to start and as a result, the people who visit their website aren’t taking the extra step to opt in for emails. What can you do about it? The answer is right in front of you. All you need is to make it easy for people to sign up and then give them a reason to fork over their email address. Here are 9 things to try. #1: The Pop-up Opt-In I know… I know. Pop-ups have a bad rep and if you use them improperly, they can be a real nuisance. A lot of people use pop-up blockers, and you might worry that a pop-up won’t be effective as a means of attracting new subscribers. The key to using a pop-up effectively is to time its appearance to the moment when the person reading your content is most likely to opt in. You can run A/B tests to figure that out. #2: The Slide-In If you don’t like a true pop-up but like the idea of having your opt-in form appear at an opportune moment, you may want to consider a slide-in instead. They provide many of the same benefits of a pop-up without the stigma. Your slide-in can be timed to appear at the moment when a site visitor has read...
by Marketing Manager | Content Marketing, Lead Generation, Marketing, Marketing Tips
If you’re working on growing your email list, you probably have a lead magnet to encourage sign-ups. This piece of free content entices leads to give you their email addresses, in return for a guide, video training, case study, or whatever “goody” you’ve chosen to give away. Lead magnets are still useful, but they’re not the only way to build your email list. There’s a similar strategy that may provide a better conversion rate and more sign-ups. It’s called the Content Upgrade. Why Aren’t Lead Magnets Enough? Readers have grown accustomed to the inevitable “sign up for my email list and get this free PDF” pop-up. While they will get some conversions, there’s such an overabundance of free content out there that most lead magnets just don’t attract the attention they used to. Plus, a “one size fits all” lead magnet doesn’t necessarily speak to each person’s specific need. For example, let’s say I’m searching for a piece of blog content to improve my Facebook ads, and I end up on the blog of a prominent digital marketer. I find the content I’m looking for — great! But if their lead magnet is an eBook called The Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, I’m probably not going to sign up for that. It’s just not why I came to that website. It’s not solving my immediate problem. This is where the content upgrade comes in. What is a Content Upgrade? “Content Upgrade” is a term coined by Brian Dean over at Backlinko. The idea is to create a piece of content specifically designed to enhance a...
by Marketing Manager | Facebook, Lead Generation, Marketing, Marketing Tips
You’re probably already marketing your business on Facebook. If you’re not, you should be – but it’s not just a question of having a Facebook page and using it. You’ve got to use it wisely if you want to get great results. It’s not uncommon for small business owners to dive into Facebook marketing without really knowing what they’re doing at first. I mean come on, at some point you just have to dive in, right? You may even have some decent results but I’m willing to bet they’re not as good as they could be. So… let’s get back to basics. What do you need to know to earn a big return on your Facebook investment? Let me break it down for you. Create Your Page. If you don’t already have a Facebook page for your business, the first step is creating one. To do it, click the plus sign at the top right-hand side of your page once you’re logged in. (Note: this used to be on the Pages sidebar, which has been removed with the latest Facebook update.) You’ll be prompted to enter information about your business including what type of business it is (eCommerce, local, B2B). Use Consistent Branding When you create your Facebook business page, make sure to keep your branding consistent. That means using the same photo across all social media sites. I suggest using your company logo as your profile picture. You should also keep your language consistent with your brand’s tone and personality. It’s a must to create a seamless cross-channel experience for customers when they interact with your company...
by Stefanie Blackburn | Lead Generation
Never Be Afraid to buy Leads There are those who look down on lead purchasing, but if you are just getting started or business has slowed down, it can be invaluable. While these databases are cost-effective, make sure not to go too cheap. You need to purchase quality leads, and this only comes from providers that have a demonstrated track record of success. Search For Referrals You have already got a powerful lead generation tool available in your existing buyers. A recent study found nearly two-thirds of advertising executives think word-of-mouth marketing is the best form of advertising available. If you’re able to get your customers to tell their friends about you, even by offering a discount, you will be successful. Utilize Webinars or Instructional Videos Producing a live webinar can go quite a distance in generating new leads. You just need to get the smartest person on the payroll to lead the webinar and advertise it well beforehand. Obviously, this sort of lead generation does not work so well for all corporations. All things considered, how many fishermen will want to watch a live webinar on anything a bait-and-tackle shop is putting out there? Luckily, businesses like this could just make training videos that people organically come across online. This type of content is an excellent option for getting new eyes on your business, but ensure there is always a sign-up form or call to action listed. This content-based method is very effective considering content marketing cuts down the cost-per-lead by 13%. Superior marketing methods do not really need to be expensive. By making use of these lead generation...
