Why Michael Wolff is Wrong About Print vs Digital Advertising

January 31, 2013 by Leave a Comment

USA Today print ad contestIf you heard that Google won a contest with the prize of $1 million in print advertising, you’d probably have a good laugh.

For one thing, Google winning a million dollars for anything is kind of like you and me winning a free small fry in the McDonald’s Monopoly game.

But that’s exactly what happened in a contest held by USA Today.

Apparently, it was meant to encourage creativity in print advertising. However, if you read what the man behind the contest had to say about the results, you might think this contest was nothing more than a desperate attempt to jump-start ad spending in an industry that has been floundering – print media.

Keep Reading – Why Michael Wolff is Wrong About Print vs Digital Advertising

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Why You Should Stop Trying to Create Viral Videos

December 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Is your business putting together a new video and planning to create something that goes viral on the internet?

If so…you better keep your fingers crossed and turn to every superstition you can think of – because what you need for a viral video isn’t a solid strategy. It’s a whole lot of luck.

You can spend all the time you want researching the hottest trends, finding a rabid audience and bringing in the most talented video producers money can buy. The fact is – most videos go viral completely by accident.

But don’t give up on video marketing just yet. It’s still a very valuable form of content marketing. Plus – who knows – you just might get lucky.

Keep Reading – Why You Should Stop Trying to Create Viral Videos

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The Customer Revolution – Why You Need to Make Them Your Most Trusted Business Partners

November 26, 2012 by 4 Comments

There’s a revolution brewing…

Not long from now, your customers and clients will be taking over.

You can either choose to be on their side, or you can choose to let your business sink into the oblivion of irrelevance.

This is not an article about better customer service. This is an article about an exciting change that is taking place all over the world.

It’s about re-thinking your relationship with the people you serve.

We are quickly entering a time when the consumer will not only tell companies what it is they really want – they’ll actually make it too.

Keep Reading – Make Your Customers Your Most Trusted Partners

Filed Under: Creative Thinking, Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Black Hat SEO – Why Taking on Google is a Suicide Mission

November 2, 2012 by 2 Comments

blackhat seo is suicideWant to kill your website’s rankings in Google?

Black Hat SEO tactics are the best way to do it.

That’s because the shortcuts and spammy tricks used by black hats are like committing search engine suicide…even if it will be a slow, agonizingly painful death for your company.

Black Hat and White Hat are words used to describe different types of search engine optimization. Both have the same goal – Get to the top of organic results. But the Black Hat way and the White Hat way are very different.

Despite Google’s recent crackdowns on practices it calls unacceptable, people are still trying to manipulate and trick the search giant. If fallout from the so-called “Panda” and “Penguin” algorithm updates failed to turn you away from these techniques – perhaps a little perspective will.

Keep Reading – Blackhat SEO – Why Taking on Google is a Suicide Mission

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Copywriting That Can Make Customers and Clients Feel Terrible

October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

angry man pointing at youIt’s one of the very first thing we learn about writing effective sales copy.

The word You is powerful…perhaps the most powerful word in your copywriting arsenal.

It puts the reader inside your sales copy. They can envision themselves using the product or benefiting from your services. They can feel as if they’re having an intimate conversation instead of being tricked into spending money.

But use the word You in the wrong way and you could seriously tick off potential customers and clients, sending them running in the other direction.
Keep Reading – Copywriting That Can Make Customers and Clients Feel Terrible

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How to Sell More By Not Selling at All

October 29, 2012 by 2 Comments

Selling a Smelly FishHave you ever heard someone complain that their fish is too fishy?

Isn’t it ironic that people will order a plate of fish and hope that it doesn’t taste or smell fishy? Yet, can’t you relate? I understand the whole fishy fish thing and would prefer to eat fish that’s not fishy myself!

We find the same irony with sales. Because most people like to shop and buy things, but they don’t like to be sold to. In other words, they don’t want a salesperson to be too selly.

Too selly means too cheesy, corny, pushy, overbearing, fake, selfish, robotic or just plain annoying. Even people who work in sales don’t like to be put through that sort of baloney.

Keep Reading – How to Sell More By Not Selling at All

Filed Under: Content Marketing, Featured, Sales & Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Persuasive Punchline – How to Be Funny and Sell Stuff Too

October 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

What’s your favorite TV commercial?

I’d be willing to bet it’s an advertisement that makes you laugh.

However, some new research indicates “going for the funny” doesn’t mean you’ll boost sales any more than when you’re being serious.

In fact, perhaps you just thought about your favorite commercial, and the product or brand didn’t even come to mind.

Humor certainly can work in advertising and marketing – but all too often – being funny defeats the purpose. It’s hard enough to make people laugh in everyday life. So how can you be both hilarious and persuasive with small business marketing?

Keep Reading – The Persuasive Punchline – How to Be Funny and Sell Stuff Too

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Why Your Small Business Needs a Content Marketing Strategy

July 23, 2012 by 4 Comments

Maybe the term content marketing is brand new to you.

Or perhaps you have a vague idea of what it is, but consider it to be one of those  buzzwords that’s part of the latest trend in online marketing. You may also know exactly what it is, yet you have no idea how your small business can take advantage of it.

The truth is – content marketing is not new and it’s not a trend that’s going to fade away either. If you think your company is too insignificant to benefit from a content marketing strategy, you’re dead wrong.

Content marketing was a good idea 100 years ago. It’s currently one of the best ways to reach new customers and clients. And it’s the future of marketing in both the online and offline world.

Don’t have a content marketing strategy? You’re missing out!

But it’s not too late. You’re just in time to get on board. All you need is a few good ideas to get going…

Keep Reading – Why Your Small Business Needs a Content Marketing Strategy

Filed Under: Content Marketing, Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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