content strategy
Optimize your testimonials for better social proof and sales
Social proof is an undeniably powerful tool in any business owner’s or marketer’s toolkit. And of all forms of social proof, nothing converts more effectively than customer testimonials. Whether you’re selling services or product, and regardless of whether your audience is b2b or b2c, testimonials work. They work because people tend to take the word…
Read MoreRecession-Proof Your Business With Content Marketing
I’ve been putting off writing about making your business recession-proof because frankly, the economy is doing okay, despite the trade wars, tarriffs, and market indicators. But in the last month, what had been tentative whispers about a coming recession have become more like a rhaspier, louder smokers cough, barking out caution. From Fortune to Forbes,…
Read MoreDo you need to hire an expert, a generalist, or both to make marketing magic happen?
Which is better: specialization or generalization when you’re ready to make marketing magic? Depending on who you read, watch, listen, or talk to, you’ll get a different answer. When it comes to marketing staff, some hiring managers swear by specialization, others prefer a generalist. But what if the correct answer is both when it comes…
Read MoreDIY: Content Strategy Tips
Content marketing involves a lot of moving pieces, each as relevant and critical as the next. You need SEO value, good images (with ALT tags), and solid writing at a minimum. But more important than all the above, you need a plan. This means you need a content strategy. Many small business owners taking the…
Read MoreTactical strategy + strategic tactics = winning.
If I had a nickle for every time a client came to me and wanted content marketing but didn’t have an optimized website (or vice versa), I could have retired a number of years ago. Too often I see start-ups taking a do-it-yourself approach to both, then wondering why their sales are still low, or why…
Read MoreContent is (Still) King, but Data is Using the Force, Luke
So you’ve finally decided to take your small business or emerging brand to the next level. You’ve decided to overhaul your 10-year-old website and make it responsive. You’ve started to emailing newsletters to customers now and then. You’ve got a Facebook business page and you post something once a week. Maybe you’ve set up…
Read MoreMeet Your Customers Where They Are
Recently I had a conversation with a local small business owner who suggested social media marketing was on the decline. “People are burned out and tired of it,” he said. “I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.” This is not an unfamiliar refrain; I‘ve heard it many times, usually from a solopreneurs or start-ups and…
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