B2B Archives - Page 15 of 20 - Creative Agency Secrets

Are you the CEO of your business website?

20 March, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, B2C, Blogging, Conferences / Exhibitions, Content Marketing, Digital media, Lead Generation, Marketing, Marketing ideas /by Rebecca Caroe

Yes I’m asking you if you drive business success from your website?

Is someone in charge of making your firm’s website successful? Making the websitedeliver business goals? It doesn’t matter if you’re self-employed or work for a giant corporation, if you have a website we will teach you how to drive proactive success with Blogging Concentrated education.

Announcing the Blogging Concentrated New Zealand Tour

Running to five dates, we are bringing the US founders of Blogging Concentrated, Dan Morris and Rachel Martin, to NZ so we can get ahead learning how to become the CEO of our websites and drive business success.

Five dates, Four Cities, Two Leaders and One YOU.

Join us in Auckland on May 1, May 3; Wellington on May 6th; Nelson on May 7th and Christchurch on May 9th for the best, practical website marketing execution training available.

What will I learn?

Websites are the modern marketer’s best tool to build new revenue streams and grow audience engagement. This training comes from the leading edge of best practice with two international practitioners sharing their up to date knowledge.

Learn specific techniques that will deliver outcomes including:

Audience engagement with clusters marketing
Persuasion and action techniques
How to tell a story
Using data dashboards to improve conversions
The copywriting words that create engagement
How to use custom sidebars to optimise your adverts
A YouTube strategy to keep viewers on your videos
And more….

Watch the 4 minute video Dan and Rachel recorded about the NZ sessions

Everything taught in the sessions is based on real-world learning and used daily in Dan and Rachel’s own business websites. They know these techniques work.

You will be learning practical solutions from knowledgeable technicians.

Blogging Concentrated Testimonials

“I think you are going to revolutionize the way I write posts – the Adsense lecture was phenomenal. We will be contacting you with more specific questions e.g. How on earth do we get the CPM per post spreadsheet – and everything else, once we decompress what we’ve learned.” R Miller

“You know when you go to a conference and you sit through sessions that simply regurgitate stuff you already know? Yeah, I hate that, which is why I’m so excited about being at Blogging Concentrated Atlanta, Dan R Morris and Rachel Martin have put together a ton of original content that is not just informative but actionable. When they come to your town you should definitely sign up and go.” Simon Salt

“Stay in front of your audience was worth the price of the conference ticket! Wow!” Penny Woodin Rogers

“@DanRMorris 16 minutes in and mind exploding with actions already!” Amie Flowerday

“Hi Dan, Just wanted to say thank you so much for all the valuable information you and Rachel gave us this weekend. You can not put any price on what we learned, and I am forever in debt to you both!” Emily Luscombe

Want to pay less for the event?

The Blogging Concentrated business has 2 parts – training events and BC Prime, a subscriber community who buy training and advice by monthly subscription. If you’re curious about the depth of knowledge these guys bring to training events – read the BC Prime page – note the huge quantity of 2014 Release Archives – impressive, eh? 6 – 10 new pieces of educational content per month…

Choose BC Prime when you book your ticket and pay less – but GET MORE.

Ready to become the CEO of your website?
Join us by booking your ticket

Auckland – May 1st – Sequoia Curriculum
Auckland – May 3rd – Circles Curriculum
Wellington – May 6th – Sequoia Curriculum
Christchurch – May 9th – Sequoia Curriculum

There are two prices, one for BC Prime members and one for the public.

Avoid limp education, buzz phrases and marketing hype. Concentrate on workable, practical solutions that you can implement immediately on your website.

You know where to come!

Entrepreneurs digital marketing extra content

19 March, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, B2C, Digital media, Marketing, Marketing ideas, Metrics /by Rebecca Caroe

Huge thanks to Amaka Gessler for inviting me to the Entrepreneur Networking with a Twist Meetup last night. I promised to share my slides and have also pulled together a listof all the other material I shared. Here’s Amaka’s notes from the talk.

Rebecca Caroe Speech Slides

As promised, here are my slides and links to additional material we discussed on the night.

How to migrate your marketing online – Slides on Slideshare

Digital tools for marketers

Machine reading testers for your keywords

Open Calais Viewer
Alchemi API – Language viewer test

Facebook comment integration – Facebook Developers comments plugin

NextScripts SNAP WordPress Plugin allows automation for sharing and distribution

FeedBlitz.com is the RSS to email service I use to automate the blog posts into newsletters. Get in touch if you want a FeedBlitz Discount Code

Unroll me is the email app that allows you to see all your subscribed newsletters and RSS feeds in one place and also mass unsubscribe.

Expert Digital Marketing Bloggers who will upskill you

Expert media analysis and commentary from Thomas Baekdal – there are free and paid for articles – it’s worth the annual fee to subscribe. E.g. Why print rarely translates to digit.

Avinask Kaushik’s blog Occams Razor is all about Google analytics I recommend you subscribe to get it by email – and his book Web Analytics 2.0 – buy a copy.

You must learn how to use Google Analytics skilfully.

We discussed how to track website visitors’ flow through your site and also how to find out the click stream that led them to your site. Here’s how to uncover more insight.

Google Analytics visitor flow

sidebar menu: Behavior: Behavior Flow

Also look at Multi Channel Funnels (MCF) and the different steps people take before they convert on your website.

sidebar menu: Conversions: Multi-Channel Funnels: Top Conversion Paths – see attached

Behavior Flow in Google Analytics

Top Conversion Paths in Google Analytics

Writing a price change email for Event Marketing

10 March, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, B2C, Conferences / Exhibitions, Copywriting /by Rebecca Caroe

Occasionally I receive the PERFECT message – well-written, timely and full of lessons to copy and adapt. Copyblogger Media is running an event and…. well you work out why you think they needed to write this message.

Use the same paragraph topics if you need to use a similar tactic to fill your event with paying punters.

Subject line: Authority Rainmaker price drop!

We’ve dropped the price of Authority Rainmaker registration from $1,295 to $795 for a limited time. Head over now and grab your spot:http://authorityrainmaker.com

Still here?

Then perhaps you want to know why …Last year we sold out the event months in advance because we were limited to 400 people. We also had to make the ticket price somewhat expensive, because we didn’t want to skimp on anything – food, parties, the audio/visual experience, and so on.

This year things are different in two key ways.

And this is allowing us to lower our ticket prices and get this party truly rocking.

First of all, this year we sold sponsorships. Thanks to the generosity of cool companies like Moz, AWeber, Feedblitz, TopRank Online Marketing, and our Legend Sponsor, Spears Marketing, expenses have been drastically reduced. We had no idea that we would get such an enthusiastic response from our friends in the digital marketing community!

Secondly, we’re in a much larger venue that is turning out to cost us less than the 400-seat venue we had last year. Working with the team at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House has been amazing, and it’s a real treat to have such a magnificent venue without being charged an arm and a leg.

In short, if we would have known earlier how well things would go on the expenses front, we would have sold tickets at a much lower rate so no one was excluded by the high ticket price. We don’t produce this event to maximize profit … we do it to enhance the strength of our community.But it’s not too late to adjust. So we’ve lowered the registration rate to $795. We even issued partial refunds to anyone who paid more than $795!

Cool, right? The event is shaping up to be even better than our high expectations. And now it costs you less to experience it. Check out the details, but remember, the price won’t stay this low forever:http://authorityrainmaker.com

See you soon …

Brian Clark

Founder and CEO

Copyblogger Media

Business Websites should not use a slider carousel

6 March, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, B2C, Lead Generation, Marketing ideas /by Rebecca Caroe

We’ve been researching sliders on website home pages for a client. His designer has come up with two website layouts and one includes a slider.

Image credit graphicsfuel.com

My instincts say “don’t do it” but I need justification. My search shows up four great articles – note most of them recommend alternatives and all of them say that sliders are OK in some circumstances. Many of the alternatives still have motion and some incorporate sliders in different positions on the page.

Make your own mind up.

Homepage sliders are bad for SEO usability Searchengineland
Alternatives to using a slider for better home page conversions Manage WP blog
Sliders suck Brian Krogsgard
Why your website shouldn’t have sliders and alternatives OptimWise
Our Themes don’t have sliders…because sliders suck Yoast
Are sliders bad for SEO? Haden Interactive

Call us if you’d like a chat and how to make your website work harder to achieve your business marketing goals.

Email text for freelancer pitching a brand

3 February, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, Copywriting, Email /by Rebecca Caroe

I am working with a newly freelance graphic designer and am introducing her to possible clients.

This is the email she sent to follow up on one introduction and I just had to edit the text.

An introduction is the MOST favourable way of getting a new business face to face meeting. These folks won’t turn you down, generally. So what was wrong with this message?

Hi

I hope this finds you well and the new year has got off to a good start for you!

I wanted to get in touch with you following Rebecca’s introduction in December last year, as I am now in a position where I am able to provide brand packaging design on a freelance/contract basis.

I’ve attached my CV and portfolio of work with this email. If it suits you, I’d love the opportunity to come in and introduce myself and have a chat. There would be no commitment required, just an opportunity to see if there is a fit between my skills and experience and your company.

Kind regards,

Elements of email to improve

So what was wrong with that message? The first paragraph is fine. The second leads off with the right information in the right order but it uses too many words to make the point. Making it two sentences is punchier.

The mention of the portfolio being very short is deliberate – don’t show everything until you have a commitment to meet. You are more impressive face to face than showing finished work. So just send a taster. Select products that align with the recipient’s likely needs.

Then move onto a focus on them – talk masculine words like ‘investment’ and ‘role of design’ – philosophise a bit – you learn a lot about their attitude to good design if you can find these things out in a meeting. And that will inform your likely future work more than just showing a portfolio – discuss how design can help them achieve their business objectives.

Email introductions that get meetings

Here’s my suggestion of a re-draft of the email which may get better result outcomes.

I hope this finds you well and the new year has got off to a good start for you!

We were introduced by Rebecca in December last year, and you said I should “get in touch in the new year”.

I am now providing brand packaging design on a freelance/contract basis.

I’ve attached my CV and a very short portfolio of work with this email

Understanding XYZ’s business is very important if you are to consider working with me. And so I would like to invest my time learning more about your products, markets and the role of design.

Can we meet during the week of 15th February?

I will call you on (name date) to discuss fixing a date and time to suit you.

Kind regards,

So, can you see what I’ve done with the text? I removed all the “maybe” and “if it suits you” and “no obligation” words. These are very cautious.

You are good at your job, you will not be wasting their time meeting you. Sound and communicate your confidence that you are the best thing that’s happened to them and that you will help them achieve their business objectives.

Let me know if you try both which comes out best!

Financial advisors – give me your contact details

28 January, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, Sales /by Rebecca Caroe

Here in New Zealand giving a personal referral introduction for new clients is common. And recently I

Not a mug

asked for help with some financial advice. I was given three names.

Then I hit a wall.

None of the firms had the personal contact details of their team on the website.

Two people had Linked In profiles I could connect with – but of course, until they connect back to you it’s not possible to see their contact details.

I was left with the website telephone number as the only way to get in touch.

Make it easy for me

Please would you all make it plain and easy for me to get in touch with the named person?

Why is this hard?

Surely each person wants to get in direct contact so they can start a discussion with minimal delay?

Cluetrain has New Clues – time for newbies to read the original!

27 January, 2015/0 Comments/in Advertising, B2B, B2C, Blogging, Branding, Content Marketing, Digital media, Direct Marketing, Email, Marketing ideas, Metrics, Sales, Social Media, Strategy /by Rebecca Caroe

I listened to the FIR podcast #790 and found that Cluetrain has been updated!

Cluetrain Original

New Clues published in January and numbers 52-67 apply to our marketing communications world in particular. [see below]

Oh, and also pay attention to number 100

You want to know what to buy? The business that makes an object of desire is now the worst source of information about it. The best source is all of us.

It will be hard to adhere to them – because marketers are busy fouling their own nest, much as we did with banner adverts, SEO and oh-so-many other internet tools which we over-exploited so the makers ended up changing the rules to exclude our actions.

Seems to me ever more of a message about the quality of content, ease of discovery and honesty of presentation.

Your marketing strategy for 2015

If your marketing strategy for this year even remotely resembles what you did for the past 5 years tear it up. Forget it. The businesses who will thrive understand Cluetrain, they present their wares at least in part in a Cluetrain-format and will reap the $$ rewards accordingly.

Just call us if you think you want to change and don’t know how.

Rant over.

Now, what do you think?

I’m going to get my whole team to read Cluetrain original next week as their homework!

New Clues for Marketers

The New Clues that directly relate to the practice of marketing. Numbered from the original. Read more

Writing a cold email that gets response

23 January, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, B2C, Copywriting, Marketing /by Rebecca Caroe

It’s difficult – I know what I want from you when I send a cold email, but it is very hard to get you to respond.

Here’s a great tip – don’t ask for what you want.

Yes, seriously, don’t. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me, I’m going to show you an insider’s trick.

So what do I ask for in a cold email?

Start with offering something for the recipient.

Take a read of this example from Chris Hines.

Cold Email text example

Do you see how Chris leaves you in no doubt about what he wants (it’s in the P.S.) but because he starts by offering me something I would value, when I get to reading the last lines my frame of mind is set to take up his offer.

The Principle of Reciprocity is a fundamental human value found in most societies, Chris uses this because he offers me a service (introducing me to his contacts) first knowing that when I get to reading the PS I will interpret it as a reciprocal requirement to complement his offer of service.

Cleverly written.

Now, can you use this in your business?

Buy a Workshop on how to use email for your business marketing.

How to market handcrafts from Myanmar

9 January, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, Case Studies, Marketing ideas /by Rebecca Caroe

A new startup business in Myanmar (Burma) contacted us asking

Myanmar Handicrafts

How to promote small business for women who live in villages doing sewing

They sell to both tourists and local Burmese customers.

Marketing to the sales channel

The main challenge here for the women is that they are a disparate group and so clubbing together to make a single selling organisation who can take on the marketing and promotion to a range of distribution channels (web and retail shops mainly) is probably the best use of their time.

I did a search result for the words “Myanmar Handicrafts” and it’s clear there are plenty of existing online shops selling in this category as well as Facebook pages – which is good for international sales in the English language.

Steps to introduce their work to the channel

Get samples of their sewing work. Take photographs of each lady who made the product.
Contact each of these websites and send them two photos of the women and their sewing. Ask if they would like to sell your products in their shop.
After 1 week if they do not reply by email, telephone them.
If you can, ask to visit each shop owner with a bigger selection of sewing for them to look at and then face to face discuss if they will buy from you.

The basic method is to bring awareness of your product set to people who already have an audience of customers – this B2B route to market is faster than trying to build up your own audience of prospects.

Key issues will be

Quality control
Having sufficient stock to deliver in volume
Getting good payment terms
Scaling for growth – Kiva.org may be a good way to raise money

But by getting face to face with retailers I think this group of village women will stand a good chance of finding outlets for their work.

Downstream it may be worthwhile finding charities like Oxfam, Unicef and Save the Children to see if they’ll buy product for their online and catalogue business.