Marketing

  • How to Grow Your Business on Instagram

    Instagram has over five hundred million daily active users who use the platform to check in on friends, discover interesting and inspiring people and also many entrepreneurs grow their business on Instagram.

    As of October 2021, more than half of Instagram users, 52 percent, were male and 48.4 percent were female. As of July 2021, more than 30 percent of Instagram users in the United States were between 25 and 34 years old according to Statista.

    You can find anything on Instagram from product reviews, tutorials, and even cool recipes. That is why this platform is so popular.

    Here are the top reasons people choose Instagram for their business.

    Instagram is free and easy to use

    Instagram has a simple user interface that is intuitive and efficient. The social network requires little input from users; it’s only necessary to post pictures and videos every now and then, which is what makes it so convenient.

    However, if you are using it for business you may want to build an effective marketing strategy.

    It helps you to connect with your customers

    When your customers trust you, they are more likely to buy from you. Instagram is a visual platform that allows customers to see your products in detail.

    When potential customers can see what they are paying for, it builds that “know”, “like”, and “trust factor” with your customer. This simplifies communication when the customer has questions about your product.

    Building rapport will increase sales when done correctly. Be genuine when communicating with your customers on social media so they know there is a human connected to the sales process.

    Use hashtags on Instagram

    Using hashtags will help people find your page and see what you’re posting about. On Instagram, you can use up to thirty hashtags in one post and ten on Stories.

    When choosing what hashtag to use, make sure you use keywords that are relevant to your company.  It is also helpful to identify popular hashtags that are being used by other companies in your field.  

    This will help grow your follower base and increase the number of likes on posts.

    It helps to build brand awareness

    Instagram is critical in generating brand awareness. Nine out of ten Instagram users in the United States were aware of a specific brand in the last three months and seventy-five percent of millennials say that social media influences their buying decisions.

    Brands can take advantage of this by advertising their products and services to potential customers who are already engaged within the social network.

    The social network also has a mobile app available for iOS and Android, meaning you can use the platform on-the-go and access it from any location at any time.

    Use the platform to promote your business

    Instagram, for many companies, is the perfect photo-based social media platform. When it comes to photo editing, everything is available with just a touch of your finger – no need for any elaborate editing software package.

    Although platforms like Canva do have a really nice integration for Instagram and other social platforms.

    With features like “Shop Now” buttons and “Follow” banners that display when people scroll down their feed, Instagram offers businesses easy access to potential customers.

    Use of third-party apps

    Worried you won’t be able to keep up with your engagement? There are many third-party apps that will help you grow your following quickly without spending hours each day on the app.

    These tools are designed for businesses looking to increase their reach on social media in order to generate more sales leads or brand awareness.

    You can use a tool like Iconosquare to track how many followers you have gained over time, where they come from, and which posts get the most engagement.

    In conclusion, keep in mind when using Instagram that it doesn’t matter if some posts don’t work out – just keep going! The key is trying new things and giving your audience something, they want.

    Experiment with several types of posts, post at various times, use hashtags differently, etc. This way you can find what’s most appealing for them which will lead to more followers on the platform as well as increased sales from advertising or marketing campaigns.

    Need help with your social media marketing? Contact us, we’d be glad to help.

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  • The Fastest Way to Build a New Email List

    I know a lot of people worry that their email lists are small but small lists can be powerful if you have action takers and a devoted following. Don’t worry no one opens their brand-new email management system and sees thousands of prospects from day one unless they imported them from another list. We all start with a single subscriber, and we grow our list from there. I don’t know about you but I’m grateful for each and everyone that is on our list.

    What you do while your list is growing is critical to your future success. 

    It’s never too early to start promoting

    This is the number one mistake those with a small list make. They believe—wrongly—that there’s no point in promoting to a small list. 

    There are two reasons this is a huge mistake. First, when all you send your list is information, and you never make an offer, you’re training them that there will never be an offer. Then the first time you send out an email promoting a product, they’ll react with annoyance. How dare you try to sell them something?!? But seriously, why wait?

    The second issue with not promoting is that you’re creating a (bad) habit in yourself. Yes, it’s important that you provide value to your subscribers. It’s equally important that your mailing list not be an expensive time-suck. The only way your list will pay its way is if you’re presenting offers on a regular basis. 

    If you find yourself struggling to grow your list, reach out to us! We will work closely with you to develop a strategy to increase your reach. We can also help with email list monitoring and content development.

    Don’t promote too much

    Despite what we just said, it is possible to burn out your list with promotion after promotion. If all you ever send to your subscribers is offers to buy, your unsubscribe rate will skyrocket!

    Instead, set up a system of nurturing your list by providing great value. Teach them to open your emails by striving to always include information they want and need. Share your stories with them. Tell them what you’ve learned. Interact with them. Promotions are necessary, but they’re not the primary way to connect with your list. 

    One of the ways J. Crew, Spotify, and SoulCycle cultivate customer loyalty is through valuable content. While there are many ways to do this, email marketing is one of the most powerful ways to reach your target audience — if done correctly. (blog.hubspot.com)

    Use segmentation

    Not everyone on your mailing list will benefit from the same information or promotions. Some subscribers may be at the beginning of their journey and just learning about the topics you cover. Others will be more advanced and in need of different advice. Some subscribers will be active buyers and jump on offers quickly. Others may not. 

    By creating segments in your mailing list software, you can provide your subscribers with exactly what they need when they need it. This targeted approach will result in more sales and a happier subscriber base. 

    Whether your list is 10 or 10,000, these strategies will help keep your list profitable, active, and responsive. And a responsive list is one of the most valuable assets businesses have. Take good care of it, and it will take care of you. 

    Want to know what’s more important than a great big mailing list? 

    The relationship you have with your subscribers

    It’s true. You can have 100,000 people on your list, but if they don’t know you, and worse, if they don’t trust you, then that great big list is worth next to nothing. 

    Stay in Touch

    This is likely the biggest mistake new email marketers and coaches make when it comes to their list. Sure, you have great intentions, but somehow sending emails just doesn’t feel so important when you only have a few hundred people on your list. So you procrastinate. 

    Days turn into weeks. Weeks become months. Pretty soon you realize it’s been 187 days since you last sent an email. Yikes! That’s no way to build a relationship. 

    Make it a point to mail your list at least once per month or weekly if you have the time. This way they don’t forget who you are (and why they subscribed in the first place). 

    Always keep their best interests in mind

    Making money is great. According to Adobe, email has an ROI of $40 for every $1 spent. (crazyegg.com) Ultimately, that’s everyone’s goal. But hammering your list with endless offers is not the best way to go about it as I mentioned before. Remember, you’re building a relationship, and that means always asking yourself, “Is this in the best interest of my subscriber?” When you email with a genuine desire to help your reader, it will always be well received. Be a giver and eventually people will trust in your intentions.

    Remember, they need you and your expertise

    Here’s another all-too-common mistake newer list owner’s make: assuming “someone else has already done it/said it/mailed about it.” 

    Which could not be further from the truth, and here’s why: Your subscribers count on you to give them the information they need. They’re looking to you for advice. They need your insight into the right training and coaching programs, which software to buy, what blogs to read. And it doesn’t matter if other businesses are talking about an offer or new product or have developed an eCourse that’s like yours. Because for some people, the message will only make a connection when they hear it from you. 

    The bottom line? As with most things, quality surpasses quantity when it comes to list building. Just because you don’t have thousands of subscribers is no reason to avoid mailing them, and it’s not an excuse for back-burning your products, programs, or training courses.

    Email marketing is a high-impact, low-cost way of delivering your marketing message to current customers and prospects if, that is, you have a great email list. If you don’t, this article is for you. Read on for the most effective and creative ways to build your email list. (verticalresponse.com) You can always reach out to us with any questions or advice on building your list. Remember, your subscribers are counting on you. 

    Book a Complimentary 15-Minute Strategy Session and let us help you create the list you always wanted.

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  • Consistent Marketing Builds Brand Trust

    Consistency is a key element in a business’ success. Of course, there are other important factors but consistency is what will create name recognition. Consistency is what will build your online community so you can develop a trusting relationship with your audience, and it will showcase your expertise to new followers.

    Here’s an example: You go out to dinner at your favorite restaurant and you fall in love with your entrée. A few weeks later you take a friend to the same restaurant, order the same meal, but it tastes different and you send it back to the kitchen. Their lack of consistency in how your meal was prepared will now leave doubt in your head about that particular dish and possibly about the whole restaurant in general. Can you relate?

    Doubt in a customer’s mind generally means you must rebuild that trust again to show that they should continue to do business with you. It’s not impossible to earn their trust again but you’re basically starting from square one. Working your business consistently and focusing on superb content and excellent customer service will help to keep your clients happy and trusting in you.

    Have you ever had this occur: You opt-in to an email list which resonates with you and your interest, you receive a few weekly emails and then nothing? Crickets. Then a month or two later you receive an email from that same person, making an offer to you to purchase their product. How does that lack of consistency make you feel? I’m guessing your first reaction would be, “Who the heck is this person?” Their lack of consistency will cause you to forget who they are and why you signed up for their list in the first place. Lack of name recognition generally leads to, “I don’t know who you are so why would I give you my money?” or “ I don’t remember you at all and you unsubscribe from their mailings.” Again, this business owner just made it much harder to win your trust, right? 

    Consistency with Your Brand

    Have you noticed how many gurus there are, each proclaiming to have the answers to earning 6 or 7-figure incomes? Don’t get me wrong there are a lot of great coaches and programs out there but if you tried implementing all of their different strategies, you’d be exhausted from keeping up with it all and your audience would be very confused about your overall message. Your messaging is part of your branding. Don’t borrow someone else’s. Learn from others, embrace what works for you and your ideal audience and use your voice, personality, and idiosyncrasies.

    When it comes to branding, consistency and repetition will help develop name recognition. Make sure you are consistent with your branding across all channels online and your website. It confuses people when they go to one of your online profiles and it doesn’t look at all like your website or the email you sent them.  Be consistent with your brand image, colors, and message, both online and offline so you’re always recognized. 

    4 Places Your Brand Identity Should Be Consistent

    Your brand identity is the image your company portrays to the world at large, to your audience or clients. When people look at your online presence, they should know what you do and that you bring value to the market. Your brand identity should be appealing to your target market and should be consistent in every printed piece you produce and across every online platform.

    Consistency is important because it helps your brand standout. If people see your logo and/or your brand colors online, they will recognize your mailed brochure when it arrives, and vice versa. When people recognize your identity, your name is always top of mind, which is helpful when they receive your email or see your social media posts.

    Let’s examine the four most important places to perfect your brand identity:

    1. Your Website

    Very often your company website is the first element a potential client will see, and most people will make a 10-second decision (more or less) whether to explore further than the home page. Your identity should be strongly represented on that home page so your potential clients will explore further or contact you.

    On your website brand colors, fonts, and your logo are vitally important and should reflect your brand identity. If your message is sobering and you handle tough problems, using whimsical fonts and cutesy graphics doesn’t mesh with the serious issues your company handles. The opposite is also true; if your identity and mission are more light-hearted, using deep, dark colors and traditional fonts might turn people away after they visit your site.

    2. Your Social Media Platforms

    Not everyone in your target audience will use the same social media platform and those reasons vary widely, so it would be appropriate for you to post across multiple platforms to reach more of your audience (If of course, that makes sense for your marketing efforts). However, if your name, colors, and logo are different on all these platforms, when someone jumps from Facebook to LinkedIn, they may not think yours is the same company because the profiles look different. Or if they receive an email that looks different than the social media profile, they may also be confused. Consistency brings recognition and helps to build trust between you and your clients.

    3. All Company Communications

    Business cards, invoices, printed marketing pieces; these should all have the same colors, fonts, and logo as your website and your social media platforms. Just one more way to show your professionalism and attention to detail and your clients will certainly notice.

    4. Your Email Marketing Campaigns

    Contrary to popular belief, email marketing is still one of the best ways to keep in touch with clients and to keep your company name in their memory. The key is to be relevant with your messages and offer valuable and engaging content. On top of these, create a template that incorporates your brand colors, fonts, and logo. Don’t miss a chance to build that trust between you and your audience. 

    Well we have covered a lot in this post so let’s review some best practices. Building trust with your audience is easier if you have consistency with your logo, images, messaging, and your personal vibe. When we market, we are marketing to other humans who expect a certain experience. Let’s not disappoint them. Keep true to you and your brand. Don’t imitate others but instead find what works for you and your community of followers. Do this and you will gain new business.

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  • Use Your Marketing to Stay in Contact with Your Tribe

    Part of your marketing effort is sharing your philosophy and style with your followers in the hopes that they will get to know, like, and trust you enough to become a client or purchase your product or service (marketing in a nutshell). As with any comprehensive marketing plan, it needs to be in constant motion, continuously bringing prospects into your sales funnel with the hope of turning them into customers or clients.

    What do you suppose happens to those prospects when you go silent, either on social media, your blog, or your email list?

    • Do you think they will search you out to be sure you’re OK?
    • Do you think they will just patiently wait for your next email explaining why you were absent for so long? Will they even remember your name after a long absence?
    • Or will they find another expert who is more consistent with their communication and offers to help?

    Your marketing goal is to collect followers on social media, readers of your blog, and those interested in your emails. Sometimes those groups will overlap but essentially, you are gathering your ideal clients across numerous platforms. You’re growing your tribe and they deserve to be treated like gold, especially if they are giving up their email addresses and investing their time with you.

    Avoid Silence; Schedule Daily Interactions

    The only way to prevent your followers from forgetting your name is to consistently put your name in front of them. Don’t spam them with offers but post on social media daily; send regular emails; and write a blog post. The emails and blog posts can easily alternate, but the social media needs to be daily. Enlist the help of a social media manager or a virtual assistant if these tasks take too much time away from your paying clients.

    Outsourcing is a wonderful thing but your interactions with your tribe still need your personal touch. One way to do this is by answering questions and leaving comments on social media. This engagement with your tribe is always welcome, especially if a good discussion is happening. Cross promote your social media links to your email list and vice versa. Always have your social links on your blog so your readers can find you on other platforms. Promote your blog posts via email and on social media but mix those posts with fun, education, and be engaging so people will comment. Share snippets of your real life to show your tribe that you have the same issues they do or to just link a human face with your company name.

    Mix Things Up and Use Different Media to Communicate

    I’m a big believer in stick to what works but that doesn’t mean you can’t experiment in the hopes of attracting new people. Examine your media outlets on a regular basis and try mixing it up a little. Search for podcasts where you can be a guest (or even a guest host, if you’re bold!); hold a webinar, do Facebook Lives, or start recording videos for those who prefer the live video connection. You might just be surprised at how well-received these are from your audience. If one or all of these rocket your number of followers, consider adding them into your regular marketing plan.

    Another Way to Connect with Your Tribe

    A very profitable way to connect with your tribe is to create an online course or webinar. What better way to showcase your expertise and increase your credibility among this very savvy group of followers. Need help with creating your online course or webinar reach out to us. We’ve been creating online education since 2005.

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  • 3 Types of Email Subject Lines That Increase Your Open Rates

    Email open rates are a one metric we consistently watch and try to improve. There’s good reason for it, too.

    If your subscribers aren’t opening your email, then they can’t read about:


    • Your newest coaching program
    • Your latest must-have tool discovery
    • That epic blog post you just wrote

    The trouble is, you only have about two seconds to entice a reader to open your email. Even worse, you have to do it in ten words or less.

    Yikes! That’s a pretty tall order, even for seasoned copywriters. But there are some tricks you can use.

    Be Ambiguous

    If you’ve been on Facebook lately you’ve no doubt seen those “click bait” headlines that say things like, “She adds this to a box of Wheat Thins and I’m drooling!” The reason headlines like that work is because we can’t help but want to know what “this” is that she’s adding to her Wheat Thins. Is it sugar? Salt? Peanut butter? We imagine the possibilities, but in the end we have to find out, so we click.


    You can employ the same technique in your email subject lines. Just substitute the word “this” for the actual thing you’re writing about, and you’ve got instant enticement.

    Use Numbers

    Here’s another strategy for creating must-read content: numbers.


    “7 Hidden Benefits of Waking Up at 5am”
    “3 Unlikely Ways to Close the Sale”
    “5 Social Media Platforms You Shouldn’t Be Ignoring”


    The reason numbers work so well in subject lines is because we are ego-centric and curious. We simply must know if we already use those three ways to close the sale. We will either walk away feeling good for being a marketing maven, or we will have learned something. Both are compelling reasons to open an email.


    Use Power Words


    Just as with all writing, choosing power words is far more effective than settling for their weaker counterparts. Imagine these two subject lines appear in your inbox.

    Which are you more likely to open:


    “WordPress Makes Better Looking Websites for Non-Designers”
    or
    “Create a Gorgeous Website—Even if You’re Not a Designer”

    While both subjects offer the same information, the first is weak, while the second is far more compelling.


    When it comes to email subjects, there are a few more tips to keep in mind if you want to up your open rates:


    Keep it short – no more than 10 words at the very most, and fewer if you can.
    Test everything. Use your autoresponder’s split-testing functionality to see which subject line styles perform best in your market.
    Use personalization, but sparingly. Occasional use of your reader’s first name can be a powerful technique.


    Here’s the bottom line: If your subscribers aren’t opening your email, they’re not buying. Paying closer attention to your subject lines is the single most important thing you can do for your email marketing campaigns.

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  • Creating Shareable Content That Sells

    Ever wonder what makes some social media posts, videos, or blogs “go viral,” while yours are lucky to have 3 shares and two comments (if it’s a good day). While it might seem like some well-kept secret that only the gurus know. The truth is it’s easy enough to create shareable content, if you put some thought and creativity into your efforts. But keep in mind your marketing should always have purpose and circle back to what you offer in your business. It needs to match your business products and services. So, don’t get caught up in the bright shiny objects that seem cool but aren’t in alignment with your goals.

    Visual Content Is on the Rise

    Videos, images, graphs, charts, infographics, etc. are some of the ways that we can best reach our ideal audiences and are a must have in order to compete in tomorrow’s marketplace. According to this infographic on Social Media Today. From 2019 to 2020 46% of businesses will rely heavily on visuals as part of their marketing strategy.

    So what kind of visuals have been used most frequently in businesses recently?

    Stock Images 40%

    Original Graphics (E.g. Infographics) 37%

    Charts and Data Visualization 12%

    Videos and Presentations 7%

    Gifs and Memes 4%

    But there’s more…

    Even though the above were used more often we need to know what got the most engagement?

    Original Graphics 40%

    Videos and Presentations 23%

    Charts and Data Visualization 20%

    Stock Images 12%

    Gifs and Memes 5%

    So, as you can tell this data can help you with the question

    “What do I do next in my marketing”.

    Are your creative juices going crazy right now with these stats or are you already freaking out because you see video and presentations are at 23% (some sources have this even higher) and you hate seeing yourself on camera? Trust me you are not alone. The “Fear of Public Speaking” is real and it has a name Glossophobia and is said to affect over 75% of the population.

    Even though it’s a scary step it can be overcome with practice, patience and the power of positive thinking that you can do it. I know for some that’s easier said than done so it might take some professional training to help you get more comfortable. I get that.

    But keep in mind, we are trying to grow your business and if you are a small business or entrepreneur than more than likely you are your brand. So, if growth and profits are tied to our bottom line then we must think more like this quote.

    “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.”

    It’s about growing and stepping into a bigger version of yourself. What do you need to do that you haven’t already tried?

    So maybe you’d prefer to go the other route for now and do something more like Original Graphics?

    Everyone Loves Infographics

    Whether you want to know more about how coffee is grown, or you’re looking for ways to boost your blog traffic, you’ll find a variety of infographics to fill you in.

    These colorful, easy-to-read graphics share vast amounts of data while still entertaining an audience. By condensing numbers and stats down to easily digestible bite-sized pieces, you can make valuable information highly understandable for any audience. Even better, your market will be happy to share (and share and share).

    If you’re not artistic, or don’t have the skills required to create your own, you can hire designers or use a tool such as Piktochart to quickly make infographics your audience will love.

    **Pro tip: create an embeddable link for your infographic and encourage other blog owners to share it on their sites. You’ll automatically drive traffic from every site that posts your content.

    Create Some Eye Candy

    So, let’s look at what are the biggest trends for 2019 for your other graphic options.

    Futuristic patterns, vivid color palette’s and bold fonts are what’s happening today! Bold fonts that make them easy to read on mobile and stand out. Mobile marketing is super important, and we need to make sure that whatever we do looks good on those smartphones that are attached to everyone’s body these days.

    Bold typefaces and fonts are all the rage for brands. Deep your toes into it and experiment. Check out companies that we use to help us create graphics. I recommend Stencil and PicMonkey because they have templates that you can use and make your own without starting from scratch.

    Color, color and more color make a brand pop and grab attention. So be intense, colorful and bright in your marketing. Don’t be afraid to be BOLD. You can still minimalism but use color verses the old muted tones. That’s so old school.

    Next let’s talk shapes. It’s like fashion we need to look at using geometric shapes and abstract patterns. Have fun and get creative. Even if you use stock images look for the ones that look more natural and place some fun elements into them.

    Need more ideas look at the big brands out there and see what they are using in their marketing to fuel your ideas.

    Here’s an example of a graphic that pops with color and utilizes shapes.

    Don’t Forget About Blogging It’s Still Relevant

    Writing a blog post? Well it’s got to be longer these days. Don’t just skim the surface of a topic. Dig deep. Provide as much information as you can on the topic and bring along these amazing visual elements we have been looking at. Keep in mind, we all still go to Google to find stuff to feed our minds. Why not be one of those resources?

    Bigger is better and gets more attention because it’s hopefully offering the good stuff people are looking for. Google still loves fresh content! Today’s blogs however need more words. According to Hook Agency posts of at least 1,000 words are more likely to be shared than their shorter cousins and favored by Google. 1705 is the sweet spot for SEO. So, don’t worry about attention spans. Readers have proven they want good info and they don’t mind digging into a long post to find it.

    Let Your Personality Shine

    No one wants to read or share another “me too” post. Not you and not your audience.

    What they do want—and what they’ll happily share with their friends and fans—is personality-driven pieces that aren’t afraid to take a stand.

    Be a giver and educate your audience. Don’t hide the good stuff behind a pay gate. People want solutions and if you provide them with some, they will become your followers. I give FREE information all the time and I’ve grown a few successful businesses because of it. Don’t get me wrong we need to make money to survive but if you have a great sales funnel, strategy and plan that will all come.

    It’s easy to form a connection with someone when you feel like you know them personally. And what do you do with your friend’s content? You share it, of course!

    It doesn’t take much to be shareable. Just be yourself, be transparent, and be valuable. In short, just do what you’re already doing, only with a little bit more creativity, generousity and planning. Remember if it was easy everyone would be doing it.

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  • Using Quizzes as Part of Your Online Marketing Mix

    As a marketer I am always on the lookout for new and creative ways to get opt-ins for my clients and my own business. Quizzes are one way to get to people to answer questions about themselves because it shows that we are interested in their opinions and needs. And we as humans, are all genuinely curious, too. That is another reason I think that platforms like BuzzFeed are so popular.

    It’s Interactive!

    So why does that matter? Well let’s look at some of the stats and information around this.

    • Merryl Goffin, suggests that Consumers are looking for three things from content: Education, entertainment and/or social currency. Quizzes, games, polls and calculators are shareable and give you user information based on responses. Also, Interactive content can be the first point of conversation with users. – Forbes
    • The average quiz is shared nearly 2,000 times – Buzzsumo
    • 88% of marketers said that interactive content is effective in differentiating their brand from their competitors – Ion Interactive
    • Interactive content converts 2x more than passive content – Kapost
    • Online quizzes are, in a way, still considered a hidden gem of lead generation. Due to their ever-increasing popularity on social media, however, we believe quizzes are destined to be the next big thing in the modern marketer’s mission of capturing leads and increasing revenue. – Lead Quizzes
    • Interactive quizzes can be a powerful tool in the hands of digital marketers looking to collect information and convert online visitors into leads. By delivering entertaining, interactive, relevant content instead of simply asking website visitors to fill out a form, brands forge stronger relationships with their prospects and customers and deliver something of value before asking for information in return. – Qualtrics

    With all these facts we know it’s a powerful way to interact.

    So how do you get started?

    Recently, I found a platform that takes the heavy lifting away and makes it simple to get started on creating quizzes. It’s called Interact Quiz Maker. I tried this myself and I will tell you it was very interesting to see how it all works. Before using this app, I had never created one before.

    Let me share my experience.

    First, I signed up for a FREE account.

    Once I did that I was able to go in and pick what type of quiz I wanted to create. I could pick from doing one from scratch or using a template. I chose the template route since I was new to the platform.

    scratch or template

    The great thing about choosing the templates is that there are categories that are industry specific and all the hard work is done for you. I chose to go with one that was under the marketing category, but you can choose to look at all of them if you like. Once you have selected your categories you can then go to selecting your quiz type.

    Here you can select quiz types from assessment, personality or scored. You can even select all of them. That is the option I chose.

    That took me to all the different quiz templates available under Marketing. One of the features I really liked is that when I chose the “select all” feature of quiz types it brought up all the quizzes for my category and all the different types which show up below the description.

    You can also preview the quiz before selecting it and take it yourself to see if you like the questions and results. Keep in mind you can change pretty much anything on these quizzes which is also pretty cool.

    I selected Find Your Social Media “Secret Sauce” because I liked the catchy title and I thought it would pique people’s curiosity.

    The next step takes you to the cover page. You will have choices on where you want to go from here.

    You can select to go to the Quick Menu section where you will find Branding and Styling, Questions and Results. Integration and Share & Embed.

    I started with Integration to set up my lead capture and data collection opt in. I also connected the opt-in form to my Constant Contact account.

    In this section you will also choose what information you want people to provide on your opt in form and you can select whether you want to use GDPR and your own privacy policy.

    I chose to go with using GDPR since I have international followers and I included a link to my privacy policy. That is where I ran into a little snag. Everything worked fine once I published except for one thing. My hyperlink to my privacy policy wouldn’t publish. I tried it several times.

    After contacting the awesome people at Interact I found out that when copying and pasting my policy that I need to go to the front of that box and make sure to backspace in front of the URL so there are no spaces. Once that happens you will see a green checkmark letting you know it worked.

    Once my Integration was set up I moved on to Branding and Styling. I selected button colors that matched my business and initially I chose the feature to add my logo. After running my first test I decided to take it off. Why? I felt the logo was too small and it resides on all the quiz pages. I felt that it was more of a distraction to the quiz takers.

    One of the great features is that you can change the images on your quiz by uploading your own, an image URL or you can use the ones that are provided on the platform thru Pixabay. These are royalty free images with CO0 licensing, so they can be used in commercial projects.

    Note though if you upload your own you will need to make sure the image is sized to fit and that you have the licensing for the image. As you can see from the screen shot this one says 250 x 150 (it depends on which image on the sizing) and it should be formatted as a: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF image with a maximum image size of 2 megabytes.

    You can also edit the content to add your personality to the questions and results. And best of all on the results pages you may add a call-to-action button to take your quiz takers to more information via an offer, product or a blog post.  I didn’t do it on my first one, but I will be taking advantage of this on another quiz I’m currently working on.

    Honestly, my initial testing only ran for two days so my results aren’t anything to write home about right now but I’m excited about the possibilities. I promoted it on a few of my social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and I got some traction. The best part is even if people don’t finish the quiz you can still see where their pain points are because you can see how they responded. This can help you craft your future quizzes and products.

    This is a great app that does require a little testing to see what works best for you and your individual business. It’s also a great marketing tool to add to your marketing mix that you can use on your site and social media. It’s certainly a change of pace from the traditional eBook giveaway. Give it a go and try the FREE account.

    Visit Interact and check out these resource pages:

    How to Make a Buzzfeed-Style Quiz

    How to Make a Personality Quiz

    Other resource credits:

    Interact Quiz

    Forbes

    LeadQuizzes

    Qualtrics

    *I am a Partner of Interact Quizz platform however I only refer followers to products or services that I have tried myself and love.

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  • Fear of Losing Your Business Can Lead to Bad Decisions

    It’s not unusual for a business to go thru ebbs and peaks. I think if most business owners are honest we’ve all had this happen to us. Sometimes the economy takes a turn that effects our market, maybe the rules change in our industry or our market becomes too saturated. All these circumstances can make obtaining or retaining clients harder. Profits fall, and you wonder if you should go and get a J-O-B.

    I’m sure that even the titans of industry have experienced that sinking feeling of a business that’s trending downwards at one point but how it’s handled can mean the difference between success and becoming another statistic.

    Worrying about money eventually leads to poor decisions. Those decisions have a negative impact on our business finances and our personal attitude towards the business.

    This eventually leaks out to our daily touches that we make while networking and trying to obtain new clients. People will smell the fear and your desperation if you are not careful.  So, what can you do and what should you be careful not to do?

    Don’t Take on Clients that Aren’t a Good Fit

    When business is down, it can be tough to keep your ideal client in mind. Instead, you jump at the chance to work with anyone who comes along with a credit card. The trouble with this scenario is you can find yourself with a roster full of clients who:

    • Aren’t willing or able to do the work required
    • Spend all their time telling you why your ideas and advice won’t work
    • Drain your energy and make you dread your office
    • Make you chase them around to get paid

    Yikes! That’s no way to operate a business, but that’s just what a fear-based mindset can do to you. Better (much better) to hold out for that perfect client. And while you’re waiting, let’s look at some ideas to get you back on track.

    Don’t Stop Creating

    Create

    When profits are low you feel the need to pull back and who can blame you? You feel that you can’t afford to spend money creating new programs, buying new tools and getting coaching, right?

    Ok, I get it. You are nervous. This is your baby that you created from the ground up. But keep this in mind. A fearful brain can’t create. So, let’s turn that mindset around and take it one step at a time.

    If business is slow then take advantage of that extra time and get creative. What can you do in your business that can create some profit? Can you create packaged goods of your top selling services or products? Can you re-invent an old service or product to be new again? But please don’t just put old content into the market without changing it up.

    But you might be thinking that sounds too easy. I say why start from scratch especially if you have some evergreen products to offer? Think like a resale shop. Sometimes it’s all in the packaging. Have an eBook that people liked in the past? Can you put a new spin on it and make it into a 15-day challenge? Take that idea and rename, repackage and repurpose but do it with a positive intent and have fun!

    Don’t let that fearful brain take control. Instead connect with that creative brain that made you a business owner in the first place.

    Is Your Website Doing You Justice?

    While you have that creative hat on look at your site. What can you do that might help it get a facelift? Even though your skill set might not be in website development what can you do to create traffic to your site? Can you blog, add video or podcasts? How about changing out images that look a little dated? You get where I’m coming from.

    If you can’t be objective, ask someone who can be (no not your Mom she loves everything you do!) but make sure they have the right background to offer credible feedback. Don’t have someone like that? Reach out to me. For a very reasonable investment I’ve helped people just like you.

    Network till the Cows Come Home

    Till the cows come home

    When you are feeling overwhelmed, negative and fearful it’s time to get out of the office and meet with people you know. Think about the business people in your lives that you’ve networked with that are great strategic partners and can refer your business. Call them up and get together. One-on-ones have created many opportunities for me that added to my profits and created even more opportunities.

    In my town, I could network almost everyday of the week and night because there are so many meetups, networking mixers and luncheons going on. Obviously, you must choose carefully and educate yourself on good networking practices. Your time has value so make the best of it. Select options that provide the best return.

    I hope that you found some of these ideas useful. Remember creating a positive mindset even during the rough patches is important in any business.

    Here’s to your business success!

    Wanda

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  • 6 Ways You’re Using Copywriting and You Might Not Realize It

    When you hear the word “copywriting” what comes to mind for you?

    Wikipedia describes it as “the act of writing text for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing. The product, called copy, is written content that aims to increase brand awareness and ultimately persuade a person or group to take a particular action.

    So, the fact is, copywriting is more than just sales messages. In fact, as an online business owner and marketer, most of the content you produce could be called copywriting at least in some sense. After all, if you’re creating content with the ultimate goal of selling something, that is by definition copywriting.

    Facebook

    Sure, we all like to hang out on Facebook and chat with friends and family, catch up on the latest funny videos, and enjoy a mindless “quiz” or two. But for businesses, Facebook is much more than that. It’s a place to connect with potential clients, and that means that when you’re sharing your latest blog post or program with your business friends, you have to keep good copywriting in mind.

    LinkedIn Profile

    What makes you stand out from the other businesses online or in your niche? Your LinkedIn profile is where you share what makes you the best person to solve your ideal client’s problems. It’s where you shout about your credentials and let your ego run the show. Think of your LinkedIn profile like a resume, and be sure to list your most impressive qualifications, achievements and personal quality.

    Your Website About Page

    Here’s your chance to have some fun while blowing your own horn. It’s important to know that the about page is often the most visited page on a website, so it’s a critical piece of your overall brand and message. The purpose of your about page is to entice people to want to learn more about your services, so be sure to include a call to action on the page.

    Blog Posts

    All blog posts have a job to do. Maybe they’re meant to lead your reader to a sales page. Perhaps you’re asking for readers to subscribe to your mailing list. Maybe your blog post is designed to start a conversation. Or maybe it’s just sharing great content and inviting readers to learn more by clicking on related posts. Whatever the job, it’s copywriting that entices your reader to take that next action.

    Twitter

    Two hundred and eighty characters is precious little space for creating compelling content (but at least it’s not 140 anymore), yet that’s exactly what you must do if you hope to use Twitter as part of your overall marketing strategy. Think of tweets like email subject lines, and craft them to convey as much information as possible while still enticing readers to take action.

    Email

    Whether you’re sending an email about a new product or service or simply letting readers know you have a new blog post up, your email definitely qualifies as copywriting. In fact, even the personal emails you send to prospective clients contain what we would call copywriting.

    The fact is, copywriting is everywhere in your business, from your sales pages to your invoices. Whenever you ask a reader to take some action, you’re writing copy, and the more comfortable with the idea of it, the better (and more natural) you’ll become.

    Copy writing after all is going to be the best way for you to persuasively make the most impact on your business by drawing the attention and interest of your ideal client and get them to take a desired action.

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  • Creating Landing Pages that Convert

     

    Are you busy? Of course, you are and that is another reason that you need landing pages that convert because your readers have short attention spans because they are busy, too.

     

    I’m sure that’s no big surprise to you. In fact, you probably browse the Internet at light speed, too, scanning titles and subheads, skipping to the bottoms of sales pages, and fast-forwarding through videos just so you can get to the next thing. You’re probably doing it on this blog post (caught you). We all do it.

     

    The same is true for your readers, and if you want to capture their attention long enough to entice them to opt-in to your mailing list, then you must keep that in mind.

     

    Newspaper Publishing Tip

     

    Have you ever noticed that everything you need to know about a news story is in the first paragraph? Journalists are trained to answer all the questions—who, what, where, when, why and how—in the first few sentences. Why is that?  They do it just in case the story gets cut off when the paper goes to print.

     

    In today’s online world, where column inches no longer matter, this type of story formatting isn’t quite so critical any more, but it’s still a useful tip to use when you’re writing an opt-in page.

     

    Think about it: If your readers are skimmers (as most of us are) then making sure you include the most important information right at the top of the page is going to greatly improve your conversion rates, right?

     

    For opt-in pages, that means putting the biggest benefits in your subject line, and following it up with two or three sentences that build on your headline. That’s it. Keep it short, sweet, and benefit driven, and you’ll have greater success than you would with longer content.

     

    Graphics Matter

     

    Whether your opt-in incentive is an eBook, a video, or even a simple checklist, having a graphic representation of your offer is an important component of your landing page.

     

    Typically, you’ll create (or have created) a digital book or CD cover. You can easily outsource this, but be sure you follow these strategies:

     

    • Bold fonts and short titles make your cover more readable.
    • Use high-contrast colors for more visibility.
    • Be true to your brand. Stick with colors and fonts your readers expect.

     

    Crafting a Compelling Call to Action

     

    While it seems as if you can expect readers to know what to do when they land on your opt-in page, it’s just not true. You must invite them to take the next step. Give them specific instructions and you’ll have higher conversion rates than if you just leave it to chance.

     

    Your call to action should tell a reader exactly what to do, like this:

     

    • Click here to download
    • Enter your name and email for instant access

     

    Watch the text on your form buttons, too. After all, “Subscribe” or “Sign Up” doesn’t exactly make you feel excited, does it? Consider using a phrase that matches your call to action instead, such as:

     

    • Get the Checklist!
    • Send the Video!

     

    call to action on landing page

    Be Sure to Offer Value

     
     
    If you are offering a free gift on your landing page make sure it has value, provides a solution to a problem and highlights your expertise.

     

    I’m not saying give away all your techniques and special formulas for success but perhaps you can offer a solution to a pain point that you see in the market and provide a step-by-step way to approach it. Show examples, do an over-the-shoulder training and/or provide resources to some of your favorite apps.

     

    Take a look at your opt-in pages. Do they follow these strategies? If not, consider making some changes to your copy, your images, and your calls to action, and the value you offer. Then watch your results. You’ll more than likely see a boost in conversion rates if you do.

     

    Need some help with this? Let me share a wonderful resource. Check out our friends over at LeadPages. They offer templates that can be customized to create beautiful landing pages (and other pages, too) and save you time and designer costs if creating landing pages is not for you. I use them myself and have since they started. Check them out.

     

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