Less marketing noise.More clarity, strategy, and action. Blog
Marketing is an ongoing conversation! Here’s how to keep it going
Whether you’re posting on social media, writing a blog post, or any other type of content, there’s a tendency to lean towards information overload.
Even when it’s the first interaction, I often see people trying to include all the details of their product or service in their content, with the intention of telling their audience anything and everything they can think of to make a sale.
The problem is that this approach rarely creates the intended impact. In fact, more often than not it results in the opposite effect: overwhelm and disconnection.
Data-based decisions: The antidote to shiny object syndrome
It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new social media network (hello Tik Tok!) or a nifty email marketing tool for your business. New tools and networks often have a lot of hype around them and seem to make incredible promises about the growth, success, and ease they’ll bring to your business.
Shiny object syndrome describes this tendency -- the inclination we often have to chase the newest thing, rather than stay focused on what we’re doing.
Testimonials that sell: Are you overlooking word-of-mouth marketing?
Word-of-mouth marketing is so powerful. We interact with brands and businesses every day, but if the experience is anything short of extraordinary, it’s unlikely we’re going to go out of our way to talk about it or share that experience with others (and, further, if the experience is perceived as negative, you can almost guarantee it’s going to be shared).
What should you look for when hiring marketing expertise?
I work in a very well-saturated space. There are marketing consultants and agencies everywhere—and they all have different strengths. But not all marketing expertise is created equal.
Every marketing discipline should be strategic
Marketing is one of the most important strategic functions of any business. When it's treated as a check box exercise, it's ineffective and it reinforces the too-often low value that is put on the work.
No business is immune to this mindset—it happens in large and small businesses.
Strategy vs. plan: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?
I talk about the importance of planning a lot. But strategy and planning aren’t the same, and it’s essential to understand the difference. I haven’t talked nearly enough about the strategy that guides planning. Because if you don’t have a strategic foundation in place, even the best plans may not generate the results you want.
Target markets, audiences, and ideal clients: What they are and how to use them
Your target audience is a fundamental piece of your marketing strategy because you need a solid understanding of the audience you’re trying to reach (and who you don’t want to reach). That includes the problems they have (that you can help solve), where you can find them, and the language they use.
But how does your target audience compare to the ideal client you want and the clients you actually have? Turns out, each of these might look a little different (but hopefully not too different).
Alignment vs. agreement and why it’s okay to disagree
We don’t have to agree with a decision to be aligned with a common goal or purpose. Disagreeing with something often means you see a different side of a situation, but it doesn’t mean we have to dislike when that happens. Seeing another side to a situation is often a good thing. And it’s important to remember that different paths can take you to the same place.
7 DOs and DON’Ts of taking on controversial topics in your business content
If you're a business owner with an active social media presence, then more than likely you’ve found yourself in the position of wanting to post, share or comment on a controversial topic or opinion, but something holds you back. And for good reason! Wading into controversy isn't necessarily wrong for a business, but the response to your perspective can impact you as a person. But, with everything going on in the world right now, how a business handles controversial topics or opinions is coming up more and more.
Making plans for marketing productivity and results
If you’re like most young businesses, marketing is one of many items on your to do list. And every item on that list feels like a high priority. But when it comes to marketing, I promise you, it really is important.
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