Archives for October 2015
The Benefits of using Push Notifications
As you develop your mobile marketing automation campaign, you should absolutely consider using push notifications in your apps. These notifications help you to stay connected with your customers in a non-intrusive way.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of using push notifications:
- They promote engagement. Most apps have a very large percentage of customers that have downloaded the app, but have never used it. Push notifications can be a gentle reminder to users that they have the app, and encourage them to check in. They are also great ways of getting users to engage in new promotions or features that you have just debuted.
Go beyond the simple SMS with MOBIT and experience the real power of the mobile channel.
- User control. You don’t run nearly as big of a risk of annoying your customers with push notifications as you do with other kinds of marketing methods, because users have the ability to turn off push notifications at any time. Therefore, the users that opt to keep push notifications on are going to be more likely to want to see your content.
- Tracking customer behavior. With push notifications, you can analyze times at which users interact with their phones and your app, see which messages are more likely to be opened, see the devices and situations that generate the most engagement and see where users are using your app.
- Easy to use. Push notifications have a simple interface, are significantly less intrusive and messy than emails and can be quickly managed and dealt with. The messages used in push notifications are highly directed, specific and only provide the most essential information.
- You can have push notifications sent out to your users for any number of reasons, including advertising new promotions or features, sending reminders about your app, interaction notifications and more.
Are you interested in adding push notifications to your mobile marketing automation campaign? If so, reach out to our team at Viral Solutions today. We are happy to work with you to develop a mobile strategy that makes sense with your brand and will improve the engagement that you have with your customers.
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer
Watch out elephants! This slayer of business challenges comes with 30 years of record breaking sales, marketing, operations, training and leadership experience . He has worked face-to-face with 100’s of small business owners as well as large firms. His love of creating, communicating, developing and executing results for clients shines with each project, publication and training event. His entrepreneurial spirit, passion, industry experience, education, problem-solving prowess, charismatic personality and been-there-done that attitude leads his client focused approach.
 We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
Are Ad Blockers Hurting the Content Marketing Industry?
It’s a universal online experience: you click on an article that piqued your interest, only to find out exactly how loud your speakers are when a video ad – mysteriously hidden somewhere on the page – starts to blare an ad.
Between pop-ups, auto-play videos and banner gifs, consumers have long been fed up with digital advertisements. With people reading less print media, advertisers needed a way to promote products where people would see them. It quickly got out of hand.
The effects of ad blockers are twofold. Websites that feature ads do not receive payment for ads that users don’t see. Some websites ask to please consider turning off the ad blocker, while others won’t load until it’s disabled.
Google AdWords is an online advertising service that enables advertisers to compete to display brief advertising copy to web users, based in part on keywords, predefined by the advertisers, that might link the copy to the content of web pages shown to users. Web pages from Google and from partner websites are designed to allow Google to select and display this advertising copy. Advertisers pay when users divert their browsing to seek more information about the copy displayed, and partner websites receive a portion of the income they generate.
The other problem is that companies are unable to reach their audience if the audience has tuned them out. This leaves companies spending money creating content and purchasing space for ads that ultimately won’t reach users. For companies that rely on digital marketing, this is especially frustrating.
While ad blockers are certainly making it harder to reach customers through traditional advertising, hope is not lost. Users dislike ads that take them out of the moment, disrupting the flow or format of the page they were hoping for. For content marketing to succeed, ads need to looks like other content on the page, and provide just as much relevant information.
It’s not a new strategy, just an old one. Think back to the days of The Dick Van Dyke Show (or, watch it on Netflix). Procter & Gamble advertised Joy dishwashing liquid with a short scene featuring the Petries joking about a bubble bath in the sink. Advertising that looks like content.
Businesses can adapt to the ongoing ad blocker revolution by prioritizing quality content. Rather than creating a banner that will be hidden on a webpage, create a blog post that would entice the website’s audience and pay to have it featured on the site. Instead of creating a conventional video ad, create a quick how-to video featuring your product or service so customers can learn something new before watching the video they clicked.
To get past the ad blockers, content needs to look like it fits naturally in the site. Whether that’s promoted Pins or sponsored blogs, create content your audience will be happy they stumbled upon, ultimately leading them back to your site.
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
Get an Early Start on Your Holiday Season Marketing
No, this post isn’t about “Christmas creep” – though the holiday season does seem to be getting longer.
Companies need to be prepared to push top content and products as soon as customers are ready. Here’s how to get an early start on the fast-approaching holiday season.
At Viral Solutions, we understand the trials and tribulations that many new owners of small businesses face in the early going. The commitment of time and resources that is necessary at the outset can leave many business owners frustrated or exhausted. We’ve experienced this ourselves in our own business operations, so we know just how unpleasant it is and how it can come close to crushing the motivation you had that led you to start the business in the first place. We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again. We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again. We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again. We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Review analytics from last year
Analyze the data from previous holiday seasons to anticipate this year’s trends. Which pages saw the most traffic? When are your customers most likely to shop? How do they arrive at your site? These answers can help inform both your tech strategy and your content marketing plan. Look at your website analytics as well as any social media statistics.
If you have any site updates, launch them sooner than later
Black Friday is not the time to launch a website redesign. Web redesigns can take weeks, or months, to fix unforeseen errors. If you’re concerned about site usability, try to make small but meaningful changes now and save large overhauls for after the holidays.
Optimize mobile
That said, you do want your website to be optimized for mobile shopping. Mobile commerce or is expected to reach 22 percent of online commerce in 2015. Check that your website or mobile app is running smoothly, and address any bugs. If you don’t have mobile options, consider redesigning your website with a responsive design after the holidays.
Plan target and landing pages
Using your analytics, plan for which keywords you’ll prioritize and which types of pages or items you’d like to drive customers towards. Begin selecting your high-value target pages so you can plan content marketing and landing pages that drive customers towards those links. Build holiday landing pages now to post them quickly when the season hits.
Start preparing holiday content
Don’t let content slide during the holiday rush; in fact, you should consider pushing even more. Start brainstorming ideas for blog posts and social media campaigns that fit the holiday season and feature your products. Create a schedule for posts across platforms based on your analytics.
Budget for holiday marketing
Consider utilizing or increasing paid search traffic over the next three months. Employ sponsored ads and sponsored social media content to push your holiday marketing and drive customers to target pages. Consider working with a company that specializes in content marketing and eCommerce to help relieve some of the stress, allowing you to focus on a smooth holiday season.
It’s not too early to focus on the holidays! Get in touch with us at Viral Solutions to start preparing.
by Christine Kelly
CEO and Queen Bee | Viral Solutions LLC
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
Prior to joining Viral Solutions, Christine held executive leadership roles at some of the largest small business consulting firms in the USA. Her experience includes leading direct reports of over 130 remote sales agents who generated $38mm in annual revenue. She obtained her Marketing degree from British Columbia Institute of Technology. Bring her C-Suite experience to your small business. Although our company is virtual, and we can work with you wherever you are located, she is located in Denver, Colorado and owns a second home in Vancouver, BC Canada.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner and an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant.
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
The Most Common Reasons Startups Fail at Digital Marketing
The commitment of time and resources that is necessary at the outset can leave many business owners frustrated or exhausted.
Startups may foster great ideas powered by creative teams, but without digital marketing users won’t know about the next great product or service that can change the world. Learn from other startups by avoiding these common mistakes. You require and deserve the best tools available to achieve your goals and find success for your business.
At Viral Solutions, we work with and have the opportunity to examine 100's of startups, entrepreneurs and even seasoned small business marketing plans. Sadly, this topic is what truly separates the successful from those who struggle. We all have great ideas and some even have a plan to launch or accelerate an offer to the public. The key is in execution and a well thought out detailed strategic plan. Passion is no longer enough. Digital widgets and gadgets will not overcome the lack of a strategic plan and the ability to execute.
Too much emphasis on “digital,” not “marketing”
A digital marketing strategy requires a marketing expert to be successful. The tech team may know the most about creating and implementing digital tools, but marketing professionals know content and strategy. Don’t mistake “digital” with IT, and assign digital marketing to that department. Consider it part of marketing or communications. Additionally, when you find the tools to use, make sure you didn't choose them based upon how hot they are per the latest webinar or conference. This is critical – The tool needs to fit your business model and integrate with your systems and procedures.
Ignore a marketing plan
As with any other project, digital marketing needs a well-articulated plan with clear steps and goals. Which digital platforms will you engage? Which audiences are you trying to reach? Make sure you have defined, rigidly and systematically, your perfect prospective customer. This definition must include the obvious demographics but more importantly the psycho-graphics. What kinds of content will you create for each platform? Before investing more time and money on digital marketing, create a strategy.
No marketing budget
It’s true that social media platforms are free, and SEO can make your website more easily discoverable. Other companies are learning how to take advantage of these avenues, and it’s harder to stand out. A marketing budget should include salary for professionals, whether in-house or outsourced, plus promoted social media campaigns, website ads and graphic design. Otherwise, how will you draw attention to your offer? If you build it they will come? Not!
Outsourcing content with no collaboration
The only true expert on your company is you. Contracting with a digital marketing professional is a great way to add expertise to your marketing strategy, but content won’t resonate without input from the company. Don’t expect to hire a professional and never have to worry about digital marketing again. Instead, encourage a collaborative process to encourage relevant content. It’s so important to understand your why of what you do. It’s so important to understand what drives your passion. It’s so important to understand what your goals and objectives are. It’s so important to understand the depth and complexities of what makes you unique. Outsourcing your weaknesses is the sign of great leadership.
Neglecting content quality
Collaboration with the digital marketing team provides the content that helps make stories resonate. Customer testimonies, upcoming events or releases and news from the company can all personalize the content. Combining marketing information with helpful content your audience would appreciate helps you to advertise without it feeling like a sales pitch, making readers more engaged.
Not tracking analytics
A digital marketing strategy probably won’t be an overnight success – if it’s a success at all. Give your strategy time to work, and track metrics to see if your reach has increased and if sales, downloads or other metrics have subsequently increased. No success after a few months? That’s helpful too. Adjust your strategy to try new techniques, or do more of what works. With good analytics, you will learn to ask questions such as: What is your perfect customer? Where in your life-cycle do you gain or lose customers? These questions and others will help you to gain more insight into your business and how you can continue to grow.
While building our business, we used many tools available from the software industry. Tools such as SalesForce, ACT!, Jeffrey Gitomer’s Ace of Sales, Excel spreadsheets and enough other items I could name – that right now are making me ill thinking about. We are business minds first. We found Infusionsoft as our solution to our problem. We have become Infusionsoft experts, by building our business with this amazing tool, our certifications only reinforce it.
Avoid making these mistakes at all costs! Work with Viral Solutions to achieve marketing success early on with your company.
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
4 Quick Tips to Boost Your Mobile Marketing
Mobile devices have fast become the leaders for marketing. Information from MarketingLand indicates that more than 60 percent of traffic during the holiday season made for purchases came from mobile devices, and the total amount of business being conducted via mobile is increasing every single year. Simply put, people are constantly connected to their devices and are using them for more tasks than ever before.
So what are some ways that your brand can boost the effectiveness of its mobile marketing campaign to take advantage of this constantly increasing trend? Here are some tips:
- Use the right keywords. Many people don’t associate keywords with mobile marketing, but considering people use their devices for local searches morethan anything else, having local keywords in your mobile search optimization can make a huge difference. Use city names, region names and more. How does keyword submission work in an actual application? MOBIT's keyword manager makes it so easy for you to select and assign keywords for your SMS campaigns. Using ‘keywords' for text marketing is a very easy way for your audience to ‘opt in' to your text marketing campaigns. By simply typing in your advertised keyword and short-code to their smartphone, your audience receives an auto reply text message with their special mbit.ly MOBIT link which takes them instantly to the mobile web page you have created in your MOBIT account. Your lead capture form can then capture their details for followup at a later date if that is required.
Discover Mobile Marketing …Well Beyond the Simple Text ! Discover how MOBIT will help you build your lists, capture leads and grow sales using our powerful mobile marketing automation platform. [CLICK IMAGE TO LEARN MORE]
- Put a focus on special offers. Whether you’re creating mobile-optimized emails, targeted text messages or any other kind of mobile content, you should put an emphasis on sales and special offers. You have a much smaller window of opportunity to grab the attention of prospects who are using mobile devices, so getting their attention with an easily located special offer and giving them the ability to opt in to your text messaging services increases the chances that they’ll pay attention to your messages. Tired of using email for an opt-in offer? No need to muck around with API coding or web form fields for capturing new opt in contacts for your mobile marketing. Add our unique campaign opt in forms to your web pages and automatically capture your visitors details for followup marketing with your MOBIT SMS and email marketing campaigns. Our mobile opt in forms are fully compliant with mobile anti-spam legislative rules in the USA, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand.
- Help customers find you. Create a local business listing that includes your address and a map to help your customers find your location. Again, with customers using mobile devices in huge numbers to find local businesses, this can only increase your exposure. What about spam rules for mobile marketing? Tough new anti-spam legislation in most countries make it imperative to have written permission (digital / online or hard copy) from your list in order to be able to market and communicate with them via text message. MOBIT make this very easy for you to manage with our automatic ‘contact status control'Â to ensure that you are only marketing to those in your list that you have express permission.
- Be compatible. Customers use a huge range of mobile devices, from smart phones to tablets and more, which means you need to make sure that all the messages you send are compatible with devices of all different sizes and resolutions. Whenever a new device or operating system is released, make sure that your mobile content is optimized for it. How can you personalize your delivery too? Personalize your mobile text message marketing and mobile web pages with our custom merge fields. Over 100 custom merge fields are available and over 25 different data types including. Add dynamics data to your text marketing campaigns and really stand out from your competitors.
For more tips and assistance with your mobile marketing automation, reach out to us today at Viral Solutions.
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer