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Marketing Lessons From A Cereal Box…

Jan.21, 2010 in General, MiMeye, Online Money Making Strategies, Online Money Making Tools, Self Help Training Leave a Comment

This morning I took a few minutes to read the cereal box sitting on the table in front of me. Although I’m an eggs and toast kind of guy, a good bowl of cereal hits the spot now and again. After reading the promotional copy before me, I realized just how good it was from a marketing perspective – Concise, meaningful, and relevant!  It’s amazing what you can find on a cereal box!

Maybe it’s time you took a look at your web site or print copy

When I was in grad school, I spent a lot of time learning about direct marketing and what separates good copy from bad.  As an author, I often struggle with the written word as writing a book (SEO Made Simple) is different than writing a direct mail piece or even website copy.  I learned a lesson a long time ago that came back to me while I was reading my box of Rice Krispies.  When writing copy, ask yourself “who cares?” after each sentence you write.

That’s right, “who cares?”  After writing each line of copy, I was taught to ask the question who cares?  If you actually try this exercise you’ll find that a number of your sentences are without personalization, are too vague, or simply hold no value for the reader.  After writing each line of copy ask “who cares?”  If you can answer using the copy just written, you’re on your way to more effective copy writing.

WIFFM


The other aspect of marketing copy that makes a real difference is the old acronym of “What’s in it for me?”  Is your copy directed at your audience?  I was at a sales meeting this past week and presented to three similar groups. However, each group had their area of specialty and focus.  When asked to present to each group, I found myself asking, “Why should they care about the information I’m presenting?”.  When I realized that the presentation wasn’t ideal for groups 2 and 3, I found myself up late one night making changes to the presentation.

If what you have to say isn’t relevant, it will be ignored.  Your copy needs to reflect the mindset and focus of your target audience. It’s best to get feedback from those you’re targeting and continually work to improve your understanding of their needs, environment, and ultimately the messages they resonate with.

What You’ll Discover On Your Cereal Box 

The next time you read your cereal box, you’ll discover that with very limited space, and few words, good copywriters make you feel the value and benefit of what you have in your cereal bowl.  I’ve learned over the years that great copywriting is hard to find.  Bu then again, I never really stopped to read my cereal box.  I suppose great copywriting was there all along.  Enjoy your breakfast!
For more free marketing advice, visit the marketing experts at http://www.MarketingScoop.com.
Permanent link to this post (485 words, 2 images, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

Marketing In The Year 2010

Jan.21, 2010 in General, MiMeye, Online Money Making Strategies, Online Money Making Tools, Self Help Training Leave a Comment


This new year, I couldn’t help but ask myself the question, “How is marketing going to be different this year?” I mean, every year pretty much starts out the same but something is bound to happen to jazz things up. Do not call lists, do not fax lists, Twitter. The reality is that anything can happen!
Here are just a few of my predictions for the new year. I probably should consult with the Popcorn report or something that is based on legitimate research, but here’s what I think the new year will bring.
1. New social media. Marketers have been struggling to make social media work from a marketing perspective. Even if I have a thousand “Fans” or ten thousand “Followers”, what does it really mean? Not only will marketers do a better job of utilizing social media to market their products, but I believe we’ll see new innovation in this area as well.
2. Mobile marketing. The concept of mobile marketing has been around for a long time. But with last year’s introduction of cell phones that have full browser capabilities, everyone is connected all the time. This spells opportunity in the area of mobile marketing and real time promotions. I’m not sure what it will look like by year’s end but I do know that it will be a focus in 2010.
3. An emphasis on organic search. As Google becomes even more dominant (maybe the government will step in this year) and pay-per-click costs continue to escalate, companies will be spending more of their marketing dollars on organic search and proper web design. Having to depend on PPC marketing to generate revenue is still a key ingredient in everyone’s marketing budget but so will search engine optimization.
4. Analytics are king. This year, even marketers who have resisted adopting the latest and greatest analytics will succumb. As a mentor once told me, “In God we trust, all others bring data.” We have access to more information than ever before and with free analytic programs like Google Analytics, there’s no longer an excuse for being unable to identify your best lead sources.
5. More for less. Consumers are going to continue wanting more for less. As a result, marketers must focus on perceived value. Although the tendency may be to discount early and often, creating lasting value is what consumers want and will respond to.
2010 is going to be a great ride. Just like last year, marketers will continue to evolve their methods and effectiveness. We have more tools at our disposal than ever before and the prospects for a happy new year look very, very good!
For more free marketing advice, visit the marketing experts at http://www.MarketingScoop.com.
Permanent link to this post (454 words, 2 images, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

This Is Getting Personal…

Jan.21, 2010 in General, MiMeye, Online Money Making Strategies, Online Money Making Tools, Self Help Training Leave a Comment

I just read a great comment from someone about personalized messaging. As you know, I’m a big proponent of GETTING PERSONAL. When communicating to your prospects, how personal are you getting?

Now you might say that you deliver very personalized communication. This could be in the form of emails or direct marketing pieces that address your customers or prospects by name. But in today’s marketing environment, you need to do better. Addressing someone by name is simply a starting point. If you want to be effective, go deeper.

A great example is a recent communication I received from the college I graduated from. I could tell from the envelope and wasn’t at all disappointed when I ripped it open. “Dear former student” it read. Come on! They didn’t even have the decency to call me by my name. So of course, it went immediately into the trash. But it got me thinking…

Here is an establishment that knows a lot about me: my name, birthday, the courses I took in school, my fraternity, how many on campus parking tickets I got, etc. Yet they have failed to leverage that information from the perspective of getting my attention or giving me a reason to support their cause – very disappointing.
As a marketing person, I pride myself on not only gathering information about prospects and customers, but using that information to create a meaningful experience for them. If the letter addressed me by name and referenced personal information, it would dramatically improve my interest. “Dear Michael, we know it’s been X amount of years since you graduated, but a lot has changed. The marketing program here has been expanded…” OK. Now you’ve got my attention.

Personalization is your friend. Even if you’re sending thousands of emails or direct marketing pieces out to your audience, make it personal. Not only should you be using the information you’ve collected, but focusing on messaging that addresses the fundamental needs of your prospects. We’ll discuss more advanced messaging strategies in later posts, but for now, remember to get personal!
For more free marketing advice, visit the marketing experts at http://www.MarketingScoop.com.
Permanent link to this post (356 words, 3 images, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

Today’s Marketing Topic: PR

Jan.21, 2010 in General, MiMeye, Online Money Making Strategies, Online Money Making Tools, Self Help Training Leave a Comment

That’s right, today we’re talking about public relations. It’s amazing to me how little marketing professionals and small business owners know about PR. In fact, PR is largely becoming one of the most ignored marketing disciplines. When speaking about PR to one of my marketing buddies he said, “no one reads anymore.. so PR is basically dead!”
Honestly, I pretty much laughed in his face. “Dead! PR? You’ve got to be kidding!” I said. The reality is that today’s news, social media, and email are all a forms of PR. Sure, I agree that the traditional practice of “getting ink” is old school, but the concept of pushing out a message or creating interest in what you have to offer is just GOOD MARKETING.

Using PR Today

I recently listened to a talk from Tim Ferris, the author of the popular book “The 4-Hour Work Week”. Tim went from being unknown to one of today’s most recognized authors in a very short time. How did he do it? You guessed it, PR. However, Tim’s public relations approach was slightly different than the norm.

He contacted influencers within his area of expertise and let them know about his book. Even a slight mention from market leaders like, “.. taking a trip. Picked up a copy of ‘The 4-hour Work Week’..” had a ripple effect that has grown into a phenomenon. In about a week, Tim’s book went form nowhere to the New York Times best seller list.

If You Think PR Is Dead, Think Again

So if you’re not Tim Ferris and you’re not well connected, can PR still work for you? My answer is still yes, you just need to think about it differently. Whether your are targeting bloggers, Tweeters with a huge Twitter list, or other social media, public relations is about distributing your message for others to hear.

If you’ve done a Google search lately you’ll notice the press releases are gaining exposure in search results. This is one of the ways that a well distributed message can appear before prospects and buyers. The next time you do a search check out your results list. You’ll notice quite a few listing from PR and other media outlets.

Don’t Lose Sight Of Public Relations

Whether you have a robust PR program or are just starting out, learn what you can about public relations. Anytime you want others talking about your product, services, or brand, think PR. Begin with media releases, talking to bloggers, and even reaching out to traditional media outlets.

Think new media too. Video and image are integrated into more and more PR efforts than ever before. Use everything at your disposal to communicate effectively with your audience. PR is far from dead!!!
For more free marketing advice, visit the marketing experts at http://www.MarketingScoop.com.
Permanent link to this post (469 words, 2 images, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)

Add Integrated Marketing To Your Marketing Mix

Jan.21, 2010 in General, MiMeye, Online Money Making Strategies, Online Money Making Tools, Self Help Training Leave a Comment

The combination of online marketing and offline marketing can give you a real bang for your buck. It’s pretty common today to find companies running well integrated marketing campaigns that include online advertising like PPC with offline campaigns. This combination is ideal for anyone who is building their brand and driving leads for a particular product or service.

Getting Started With Integrated Marketing
Perhaps you’re running marketing campaigns across multiple media. Even if you’re using something as simple as the Yellow Pages from a print perspective, there’s usually a corresponding form of online marketing that can enhance results.
One of the easiest ways to take advantage of an integrated campaign is use direct mail with a corresponding landing page. For example, I recently worked with a local retailer who was trying to bring more people into their store during the holiday season. My recommendation was to mail out post cards to past customers and nearby prospects that contained an offer.
The post card contained a special offer on select merchandise available in the store. To get a full list of applicable products that could be purchased during the promotional period, users were given a URL to a specially designed landing page. They could print a special coupon by visiting the URL included on the postcard. The web page included additional merchandise, specific information about the promotion, and an opportunity to sign up for special offers. This resulted in a number of outcomes including increased foot traffic and a list of emails that could be used for promotional purposes.
Start Small and Build From There
Creating an integrated marketing program is not an easy thing. All aspects of your campaign need to be well planned and tracked. Often times I see companies working towards integrated marketing only to give it an effort that is partially thought through. When asking consumers to go from an off line piece of marketing (an ad, a post card, a brochure) to an online information or offer, marketers are wise for focus on their audience and product or service benefits.
The best thing you can do is to start with a small campaign. Perhaps your campaign is similar to the retail example above. Or, perhaps you start with a special offer that is communicated via a flyer or newspaper ad. Your landing page needs to be designed with the specific offer in mind. Driving individuals to your home page is a waste of money.
Integrated marketing is only successful is you are relevant. Your messaging must be consistent both online and off. In addition, the look and feel of your offer and landing page should be as consistent as possible. This improves the user experience and enhances conversion rates. When beginning with a small campaign, it’s easier to get the details right and see success.
Split Test and Tracking
Whether you’re running a traditional print campaign or an online marketing program, it’s best to be in a mode of continual testing. Start with a split test. Change your headline, experiment with a different offer, or change your copy. Regardless of which element you choose, split testing sets you up for future winning campaigns.
Track your results using basic web tracking like Google Analytics. To make the most of your integrated campaign, you’ll need a way to track whether your web visitors arrived directly from your promotion. By driving users to a specific URL identified in your direct marketing piece or ad, you’ll be able to measure web traffic. Additionally, require a special promotional code to be entered on your order form. In combination, you’ll have a number of data points that provide valuable information about your promotion.
Integrated marketing can work extremely well if your concept is simple and well executed. Start with a well thought through plan that is easily implemented. The effectiveness of any direct campaign is largely based on the offer and you’re list. Creative has less impact on the overall success of your campaign. So get started and be sure to test your campaign, comparing it to the effectiveness of your other marketing initiatives. You may find that integrated marketing has a better result than other forms of marketing on their own.
For more free marketing advice, visit the marketing experts at http://www.MarketingScoop.com.
Permanent link to this post (713 words, 3 images, estimated 2:51 mins reading time)

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