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So, you've heard of Inbound Marketing and want to start creating content. But you don't know where to start. You've thought about hiring a consultant to help you get more traffic and more leads, but you have allocated your resources elsewhere. What can you do?more
I remember the day I found out... I was hunched over my typewriter drinking an Ethiopean blend in my favorite ripped flannel, non-prescription, wide-framed glasses askew on my face. My favorite Queen vinal was playing in the background making perfect time with the tapping of my fingers on keys. I began mouthing the lyrics to "Don't Stop Me Now," I was in my element. That is....until my father walked in. "Seriously??" he laughed. "You freakin' hipster Millenials! Get a job and get out of my basement!" I took the news hard...I could handle the hipster part (chicks dig the scrawny, sensative poet type), but a Millennial..? Me? I knew I would have to confront the fact eventually...I mean I was born in the 90's so I guess I always knew...I just never thought I would have to face the truth so soon. I. Am. A Millennial.more
I hate small talk. I really, really do. I just don't see the point in it. Two people locked in a conversational script littered with generic questions and answers that leave the participants equally uninterested and uninformed. Why bother?more
I read a lot of fantasy novels. A LOT. Lord of the Rings, Name of the Wind, Furies of Calderon. You name it, I've read it (and probably have an overly impassioned opinion on it).more
Fresh out of college, a skip in my step and a twinkle in my eye, I walked into my first job interview with MINDSCAPE. My shirt was freshly pressed (thanks, mom) and my hair was freshly greased (thanks Old Spice).more
Over the last year and a half we have seen the rise of live video streaming. Apps like Periscope and Meerkat have gained popularity quickly, and appear to be formidable ways to engage audiences. But I will be honest with you... I am not a believer in this "live streaming craze" or rather...I wasn't.more
If you read our post "4 Reasons Gamification is the future of Digital Marketing" you probably have some insight into what gamification can do for your business. However, we left out one very important benefit of Gamification (on purpose). Gamification Can Be Used Internally In the past we have mostly discussed the use of Gamification as a form of customer interaction, but this is only one way you can use it to help your business thrive. Beyond being used to improve customer interaction, Gamification can be used to motivate and engage your employees. How? Well it is simpler than you might imagine. Gamification plays off of our basic desires and instincts. Our instinct to win, our desire to prove ourselves; the basic tenacity and determination that comes with good old fun and competition. Gamification engages us in all of these ways and more. Let's take a look at the 3 ways you can use Gamification to increase your bottom line.more
If you read our previous post "Who Has Time for Social Media Marketing", you should have some working knowledge of social media marketing and the benefits it provides. But even with the use of social media forums such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, you may be looking to add a little flavor to your brand. Here are three methods sure to help you show your brand’s true personality.more
Do you have plenty of people going to your website, but leaving before doing anything? Has this led to you believe that your website is a useless marketing tool for your business? Before you tell your IT team to hit the “DELETE” button on your website file server, let’s walk through a couple things to determine if a there may be a simple fix for getting your website heading in the right direction.more
Are you struggling to gain traction with your digital efforts because you’re not receiving enough traffic? Do you receive constant complaints from your sales team about the lack of (or quality of) the leads you receive with the anemic level of traffic you are receiving? If these challenges sound familiar, you’re not alone and will definitely want to read on. Follow these 5 steps and I'm confident that your website will start to generate more quality leads.more
Sometimes the proof isn't in the pudding at all -- it's in the numbers. If you understand the powerful data behind Inbound Marketing, you might realize it's worth a second glance. While it's not as familiar as some of the traditional outbound marketing tactics, it's actually much more effective. By the numbers, Inbound Marketing has Outbound beat. 1. Inbound Leads are 61% Cheaper than Outbound Leads Maybe you enjoy watching your ROI plummet and your bank account balance dwindle as you throw more money at television advertisements or outbound calls. But we're guessing you don't. When you spend money on marketing, you want it to come back to you -- with interest. That's exactly what Inbound Marketing provides. According to a Business2Community infographic, Inbound leads are 61% cheaper than Outbound leads. In other words, you spend less money to gain each lead, which means you can divert that cash to other (money-making) pursuits. 2. 44% of Shoppers Start with a Search When was the last time you considered a potential purchase? If you think back to the moment the idea first occurred to you, you'll probably recall pulling up your browser and Googling it. Your customers act the same way. They don't want to buy a product off the shelf or purchase a serivce unless they know how much it costs, what its features are, and whether it has gotten good reviews. All this focus on search makes Inbound Marketing king, especially since 44% of shoppers begin the buying journey with a simple search. 3. 80% of Business Buyers Prefer Content to Ads If you think inbound marketing only works for B2C companies, check the stats. According to Impact, 80% of B2B buyers want to get their information from detailed, engaging content instead of through advertisements. In other words, they want to be educated instead of pitched. You probably hold a similar view. Ads are intrusive, noisy, and distracting. Content offers real value, which makes it indispensable if you want to gain market share. Since Inbound Marketing is based on content, it's the perfect place to start. 4. 60% of Your Competitors Have Already Started If you're still not sold, look to your left and right. The companies that you compete with for customers and brand awareness have already launched their own Inbound Marketing campaigns. Unfortunately, that means they're skipping ahead down the customer-acquisition path while you lag behind. But don't worry, since the number of marketers using inbound hovers at around 60 percent, you can launch your own inbound campaign and start making up the difference. Creating blog content, connecting with your prospects via email, and engaging with your audience on social media can all have a tremendous impact on your market reach. Now that you're equipped with the facts, it's time to give Inbound Marketing a shot. We're here to answer all your questions and help you navigate through these waters, so request a consultation today.more
We've all seen them -- the infamous "Self Promoters." These are people and companies who use social media as a platform to pound their own chest, and talk about how great they are. In fact, you may be one of them! (Don't worry -- we're not here to judge, we're here to help!). It's very tempting to use such an open platform to try to get your own message across to as many people as possible. We get it.more
