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.

Marketing ideas for an artist

21 January, 2015/0 Comments/in B2C, Case Studies, Marketing ideas /by Rebecca Caroe

I’m a digital abstract New Zealand artist. I do paintings in digital form then get them printed onto canvas. I’m trying to look for an Art Manager or Art Agent to help me to promote and sell my art. Do you know of anyone that will be able to help me grow my business?

Message in a bottle it wished me well and has an email address (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thanks for getting in touch. You work in a specialist area and so I’ve consulting my contacts in the art world and have these recommendations

list yourself on The Big Idea website – put up your portfolio, price your works and link back to your website to tell people how to buy your work. http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/
if you want representation, you have to go and meet people and show them your work. There’s no substitute for face to face personal contact.
first work out where you’d like to sell – which places / websites / galleries would suit your work or represent similar art styles? Make a list of them. Phone them up or email and arrange to visit with your portfolio and start a conversation with the owners. Follow up, send them regular updates about your work
have a newsletter or blog where you can publish your latest works and email these out to your mailing list. If you don’t have one yet, start to collect the email addresses of everyone you meet who could either buy your work or may know someone who could buy it. Send them messages regularly.

Good luck and I hope you succeed.

The blue icons opposite are part of our 8-Step New Business Development Methodology.

Click each icon to find more blog articles on the topic – educate yourself in modern marketing

Email marketing subject line recommendations

8 January, 2015/0 Comments/in B2B, B2C, Case Studies, Direct Marketing, Email /by Rebecca Caroe

This week has been spent writing direct response emails for client campaigns.

And so it was delightful to receive one which has a really awesome subject line. You may want to emulate it.

Direct mail subject line text

What a timely question! This week I am doing the business planning for Creative Agency secrets during 2015. And so yes, the beginnings of my 2015 lead generation is now in place.

But it may not be for you!

Here are three more subject lines I’ve used this week

Subject: Ride the escalator to business success; don’t climb the stairs
Subject: You can run your business the way you always have….
Subject: Closing the loop

The last one is particularly effective for getting decisions from prospects and pushing them into buying.

Ask me about it….

Do you need help writing direct response emails?

Download our e-book on Writing direct response emails. It covers a range of scenarios from cold emails to driving sales and includes samples which you can use and adapt.

The blue icons opposite are part of our 8-Step New Business Development Methodology.

Click each icon to find more blog articles on the topic – educate yourself in modern marketing

Below you’ll find the full text of Mark’s email and the event he and David Baker are promoting.

Startup marketing for a juice bar

5 January, 2015/0 Comments/in B2C, Case Studies, Local Marketing /by Rebecca Caroe

Any start up info for a new business opening – a juice bar in a tourist area in Tenerife.

First suggestions:

Strong branding and excellent signage around your shop.
Have an A-frame board outside on the pavement. And try to change what you write on it daily. If you can be witty, all the better as people will photograph it and share online. ideas here
Create a website with a blog. Each day photograph your A-frame board and add that to the blog, set up automatic sharing to Facebook, Instagram and any other social media you want to use. Include the same hashtags #tenerife #juicebar #NameOfYourBar and if relevant the suburb / street / area. Other ideas for blog posts are recipes, seasonal special offer deals, quiz questions (what’s in a pina colada, how much ice should go in a smoothie) etc
Offer a discount to anyone who likes you on Facebook when you launch…. get them to show you their smartphone page like before they pay. This will get you a crowd to kick off as fans.
Do joint promotions with other complimentary local businesses – they send you their customers and you reciprocate. Which days of the week are quiet? Or which times of the day? Do a guy 2 get one free offer before 11 am or on Mondays.

All the things I’ve suggested fit into Step 4 Profile Raising of our New Business Development Methodology. Read other blog posts in that category for more ideas.

This season’s teen Xmas gift?

2 December, 2014/0 Comments/in B2C /by Rebecca Caroe

What is it about the ‘stocking filler’ category that brings out the zany product ideas? I know we’re all fed up with cartoons about dead cats, Princess Diana photos and printed diaries or calendars.

So how about pictures on your teeth?

Introducing mBraceables

Clip on images that go on your front four teeth over the dental brace mount.

There are 8 mBraceable designs which you can clip on and off. Made from food-safe plastic and classed as ‘jewellery’ these could be your best fun on Christmas Day.

Imagine what Prince Harry would have looked like with some cute pictures on his teeth?

Prince Harry with braces – mBraceables

[Disclosure: mBraceables are a client of Creative Agency Secrets]

FREE eBook: Cold Emails – Doing it right and netting yourself leads

12 November, 2014/0 Comments/in B2B, B2C, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Email, Marketing, Sales /by Creative Agency Secrets Team

Email is a vital tool to growing your business. It’s non-invasive, interactive, and most of all – integral to business communications, so often get noticed.

One way to use email is through cold emailing, which is emailing to people you don’t know. It can come across as underhanded, but when done correctly it’s a marketing practice that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Find out about cold emails and how to write them in our free eBook…

Cold Emails – Doing it right and netting yourself leads

In this eBook, we’ll go through how to:

Write cold emails that encourage a response.
Tailor your cold emails to the right clients.
Personalise cold emails.

Looking for more insight on how to build great email campaigns, and sell directly to your audience? Contact Us!

Marketing a tree care surgery business

11 October, 2014/0 Comments/in Advertising, B2B, B2C, Case Studies, Marketing ideas /by Rebecca Caroe

I am looking to launch a tree care (trimming, removal) business and was looking for ideas on creative

Tree Surgery, Omagh All the smaller bits get mulched. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

advertising etc that can be done cheap.

You’ve come to the right place! You don’t say which town you are in but here are our best suggestions:

Join a BNI group. Business Networking International meetings are weekly and members refer new business to each other.
Get a business card and fridge magnet printed (use something like vistaprint.com) Hand these out to people you meet, clients. Give them 2 each and ask them to pass one to a friend.
Approach the local schools and ask them if they’d like to do a fund raiser. They promote your services to parents and you give back 10% of all revenues to the school for their own use. You will have to give them a poster or flier with all the details designed on it (the person who designs your business cards can do this at the same time).
Use Yellow pages to find all the property rental agencies in the town. Make an appointment to visit each one and ask to talk to the Property Managers. Tell them about your service and ask how you can get onto their approved suppliers list. These people regularly use services like yours for managed rental houses and apartments.

How do these sound? I picked them because you can do them all yourself as the business owner without specialist marketing skill – you just need to be able to explain your service and your prices.

If we can help you with other marketing things e.g. writing a website, running a newsletter, creating a customer database, online advertising, blogging, using social media – please ask.

Skincare brand launch gift ideas

22 September, 2014/0 Comments/in B2C, Case Studies, Marketing ideas /by Rebecca Caroe

We got a question from a reader

Skincare launch [image credit beautynewsla.com]

Hi, will you please give me an idea about launching and what gifts we can give to our guests. I want something related to skin care products.

Product launch gifts

What the gift is – should relate to your brand. Ideally can you create small samples in tiny bottles, blister packs or boxes so people can try out several products?
For your launch gift, I suggest three options based on the commitment people make to giving you their time and attention for your launch event.

people who come in person – give them a bag with samples of your product. They get the best gift because they came in person.
people who say they will come in person but do not show on the day. Ask for their phone number and offer to give them the bag if they meet you in person afterwards.
people who cannot come in person – give them a discount code to buy their first order and send them some extra small samples as a gift ‘surprise’ when they order.

The key here is to give the greatest value to the people who come on the day.

Product launch marketing campaign

When planning your launch marketing you will need to have thought through the following as well

contact details for invitees
follow up email or messaging after the event
quotes from attendees to use as Press Releases and customer testimonials
web shop able to use discount codes / vouchers
ways to recognise these early customers when they return to shop a second time (will they become loyal?)

Of course, this is just a list of ideas and needs to be linked together into a fully rounded campaign and tied into your website, CRM database, metrics and other publicity to make a proper campaign.