Archives for January 2016
Display Ad Spending Expected to Overcome Search Ad Spending This Year
2016 is the year for digital display advertising, according to the latest research from eMarketer. For the first time, display ad spending is expected to overtake search ad spending, as display spending will grow by 47.9% this year.
Social Media promotions, contests and engagement – Your marketing efforts must use a 360 degree approach. Everything must be integrated in a system for you to be effective, efficient and yet remain high-touch. We deliver with the best all-in-one social media service that helps you to connect with more leads and customers online and get them more engaged with your brand.
Display ads, according to this report, include the following types: banners, video, sponsorships, rich media, native and social. eMarketer’s report implies that this shift indicates where consumers focus most of their time — on mobile devices and engaging with video marketing. While users have not altogether abandoned search (search spending is still expected to see a 10% growth in 2016), they are simply utilizing resources other than search for their needs, making search ads slightly less effective. For example, someone looking for a specific product may first go to Amazon instead of searching Google.
Marketers will take note of this trend and begin to funnel their resources toward more specific targets in 2016. Video marketing will see an influx of spending as marketers capitalize on the popularity of in-feed video on sites like Twitter and Facebook. Spending is projected to increase from 12.8% in 2015 to 14.3% this year. According to eMarketer, this means one in five dollars of digital ad spending will be channeled toward banners and “other digital display ad types,” including video.
Users are going mobile, and the eMarketer report shows that. 77.5% of the more than $22.5 billion spent on digital display ads this year will go towards reaching consumers on mobile devices. Marketers are gearing resources toward more specific channels in response to this — video will see a spending growth of 28.5% in 2016.
In the same vein, the report predicts that digital ad spending for mobile will increase to $33.7 billion by 2019, while digital ad spending on desktop will reach $12.35 billion in the same year.
This overall bend toward increased digital ad spending is anticipated to persevere through 2019, with the expectation that marketers will be spending approximately $46.69 billion at that time. On the other hand, search spending is projected to be $40.6 billion by 2019.
What steps is your company taking this year to increase its digital presence?
Copyright 2016 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.
7 Great Attention-Grabbing Headline Formulas for Your Business’ Blog
“On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.” –David Ogilvy, author of Confessions of an Advertising Man, 1963
Translation? Your headline makes you money, so it pays to have a great one.
Here are 7 attention-grabbing headline formulas that you can use when crafting your own copy!
1) The “How To” Headline
Why? It taps into the need to gain knowledge fast!
With a “how to” headline, you’re instructing your audience on how to quickly solve a specific problem they’re experiencing. The key here is specificity. The more specific your headline (and the solution you’re offering), the greater the likelihood of your audience clicking on your post.
For example, rather than using “How to Shop for Condos,” try “How to Shop for Luxury Condos in Tallahassee.” By adding more detail in your headline, you can appeal to specific readers instead of a vague audience.
2) The “Useful Number” Headline
Why? It grabs the audience’s attention and is easy for the brain to process!
The “useful number” headline is a spin-off of the “how to” headline. The key to this type of headline is to create a concrete takeaway for your readership. By incorporating a large and/or odd number in your headline, you can make your post stand out.
“How to Organize Your Home: 8 Easy Steps to Declutter and Downsize” is a 2-part headline that highlights a problem, introduces a solution, and incorporates a useful (and memorable) number. Don’t forget to use numerals… don’t spell them out.
3) The “Question” Headline
Why? It shows your readership that you “get” them!
The “question” headline does exactly what you’d expect—it poses a question to your audience. But to apply this formula successfully, the key is to get inside your readers’ heads and ask a question that is already on their minds. Then you can provide the solution, which is you!
For example, “What Are the Benefits of Downsizing Your Home?” could appeal to those who are on the fence about whether they should move out of their house and into a smaller condo.
4) The “Emotional” Headline
Why? Emotions drive every decision we make!
Tapping into human emotions is extremely effective when it comes to writing persuasive copy. And if you’re trying to get more clicks on your post, utilizing an “emotional” headline is a great tactic. The key is to hit on feelings such as confidence, importance, comfort, etc.
Try to incorporate some of the following words in your headline to generate more interest in your post:
- Free
- Easily and Effortlessly
- Essential
- Ultimate
For example, “The Ultimate Guide to Luxury Condo Shopping” and “13 Tips to Easily and Effortlessly Find Your Dream Home” both tap into emotional pain points and desires.
5) The “Rational” Headline
Why? Logical thinkers want proof!
The “rational” headline works by making readers confident in their decision to click or otherwise engage with your post. The key to this formula is to appeal to the logical part of the brain—or simply logical readers.
Some words that have proven effective in this type of headline include the following:
- Facts
- Reasons
- Principles
- Strategies
- Proven
Instead of “Tips for Choosing a Condo,” consider “5 Proven Strategies for Choosing the Right Condo.”
6) The “Curiosity” Headline
Why? It piques your readers’ interest!
With the “curiosity” headline, the key is to pique your readers’ interest. However, you not only have to get them engaged but also keep them engaged. If you use a “curiosity” headline, you must deliver a great reveal to the mystery. Otherwise, they’re left hanging and unsatisfied.
The following phrases are great to incorporate in such headlines:
- Did you know…
- Don’t do this or you’ll regret it…
- What [Blank] won’t tell you…
For example, try “What Your Realtor May Not Be Telling You…”
7) The “Guru” Headline
Why? Trust is instantly built!
The “guru” headline is a modified version of the “curiosity” headline that incorporates the trust factor. The goal is also to pique your readers’ interest. The key in this case, however, is to link the product, service, or knowledge you have with a well-known person in your industry.
If you can’t identify a popular person in your industry, you can still utilize this formula as long as the information in your post relates to the icon you mention in some way.
An example could be “What Bill Gates Did Before Buying His House…” or “What Mark Cuban Did Before Settling on a Realtor…”
The team at Viral Solutions knows that writing high-quality copy takes time and effort you may not have. After all, the headline is just one piece of the puzzle! If you’re struggling to produce content that educates, inspires, and—most importantly—engages your audience, schedule a free consultation today to learn about how our team can provide the copywriting service you need.
Digital Marketing Tips | Purpose, Perfect Customer, Spark, & Kindling Strategies
Whether you are starting or starting over, branding your online business is paramount. Having an idea of a product or service is one thing, but having that idea with the branding that supports directing people to you and you to them is a whole other ballgame. Branding in the digital marketplace can be a challenge, however, with preparation it can be one of the soundest parts of your online presence. Therefore, getting the pulse of your business brand is critical. Identifying your purpose, perfect customer, spark and kindling strategies are approaches that can help to measure your digital brand presence or provide you with insight on branding opportunities that align with your firm.
Understanding with certainty your business purpose and perfect customers are essential elements of a sustainable branding strategy in the digital marketplace. Is your purpose clear? Do you know the demographics and psychographics of your perfect customers?
1. Purpose. What is your purpose? Take a moment to reflect on your business purpose. Throw out the cookie cutter Mission Statements that flow of your tongue and think about what it is that you do, why you do, and how it provides value to your market. For example, if your purpose is to provide specialized consulting services to your target market, what does that mean? Think about this until you are so clear on your purpose that you can sum it up a few words and that those words a person could get the gist of what you do and why it is important.
2. Perfect. Describe your perfect customer. Take a moment to reflect on the best version of a client that if connected with your “Purpose” would be a win-win for both your business and the customer. What is it about that client that works best with your product or service? How do you know? What is it about your company that this “perfect” customer would be drawn to do business with you? Think about your firm today, if the prospective client stumbled upon your website or social media page would he or she be able to see that connection and have a spark to use your services?
3. Spark. What content can you create to provide the Spark between your firm and a prospective client? The digital marketplace is saturated, what can you do to stand out? Does your website, social media, or marketing campaigns provide valuable information that ignites a desire to business with your company or does it leave a prospective client scratching his or her head trying to figure out what it is that you do and how you could be of service to them? The first impression physically is a couple of seconds; the same is true in the digital marketplace. What is your first impression?
Creating a marketing spark is paramount to digital branding. What is your spark? How do kindle that spark to develop a strong customer relationship?
4. Kindle. How do you kindle the spark with your clients? The ability to sustain a customer relationship takes work, purpose, and commitment to providing value that meets the changing needs of your clients. The ability to maintain that relationship takes effort in crafting, implementing, and planning specific campaigns to nurture those relationships. Think about your “perfect” customer again. What experiences or educational interests might the customer have once he or she has used the first service or product? Think about strategies that you could implement and the timing of those resources that could support an ongoing active and valuable customer relationship.
Developing an effective brand takes strategy, initiative, and ongoing commitment. There is no one right way to branding. Strong brands have a definite purpose, have a complete understanding of customer needs, and have actions to deliver service and value long after the initial sale. If you can clearly identify your purpose, perfect customer, spark, and kindling strategies you are on the right track to maximizing your opportunities in the online marketplace. If any of these areas are a struggle for you, know that there are resources and teams out there to assist you, Viral Solutions, is here.
by Katie Doseck, PhD MBA
Chief Visionary and Strategic Ace Up Your Sleeve | Viral Solutions LLC
Copyright 2016 by Viral Solutions LLC
Katie Doseck, PhD MBA | Chief Visionary & Strategic Ace Up Your Sleeve. I catapulted my experience with extensive education, training, and personal coaching; earning a PhD in Organizational Management with a specialization in Human Resource Management, MBA in Organizational Leadership, and BA in Law & Liberal Arts. Subject Matter Expert (SME) areas: Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Organizational Change, Change Management, Resource Planning, Strategic Planning, Talent Management, Selling & Sales Management, Training & Development, Decision Making Models, Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Motivation. Dr. Doseck is based out of Logan, Utah.
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.
Digital Marketing Tips | Purpose, Perfect Customer, Spark, & Kindling Strategies
Whether you are starting or starting over, branding your online business is paramount. Having an idea of a product or service is one thing, but having that idea with the branding that supports directing people to you and you to them is a whole other ballgame. Branding in the digital marketplace can be a challenge, however, with preparation it can be one of the soundest parts of your online presence. Therefore, getting the pulse of your business brand is critical. Identifying your purpose, perfect customer, spark and kindling strategies are approaches that can help to measure your digital brand presence or provide you with insight on branding opportunities that align with your firm.
Understanding with certainty your business purpose and perfect customers are essential elements of a sustainable branding strategy in the digital marketplace. Is your purpose clear? Do you know the demographics and psychographics of your perfect customers?
1. Purpose. What is your purpose? Take a moment to reflect on your business purpose. Throw out the cookie cutter Mission Statements that flow of your tongue and think about what it is that you do, why you do, and how it provides value to your market. For example, if your purpose is to provide specialized consulting services to your target market, what does that mean? Think about this until you are so clear on your purpose that you can sum it up a few words and that those words a person could get the gist of what you do and why it is important.
2. Perfect. Describe your perfect customer. Take a moment to reflect on the best version of a client that if connected with your “Purpose” would be a win-win for both your business and the customer. What is it about that client that works best with your product or service? How do you know? What is it about your company that this “perfect” customer would be drawn to do business with you? Think about your firm today, if the prospective client stumbled upon your website or social media page would he or she be able to see that connection and have a spark to use your services?
3. Spark. What content can you create to provide the Spark between your firm and a prospective client? The digital marketplace is saturated, what can you do to stand out? Does your website, social media, or marketing campaigns provide valuable information that ignites a desire to business with your company or does it leave a prospective client scratching his or her head trying to figure out what it is that you do and how you could be of service to them? The first impression physically is a couple of seconds; the same is true in the digital marketplace. What is your first impression?
Creating a marketing spark is paramount to digital branding. What is your spark? How do kindle that spark to develop a strong customer relationship?
4. Kindle. How do you kindle the spark with your clients? The ability to sustain a customer relationship takes work, purpose, and commitment to providing value that meets the changing needs of your clients. The ability to maintain that relationship takes effort in crafting, implementing, and planning specific campaigns to nurture those relationships. Think about your “perfect” customer again. What experiences or educational interests might the customer have once he or she has used the first service or product? Think about strategies that you could implement and the timing of those resources that could support an ongoing active and valuable customer relationship.
Developing an effective brand takes strategy, initiative, and ongoing commitment. There is no one right way to branding. Strong brands have a definite purpose, have a complete understanding of customer needs, and have actions to deliver service and value long after the initial sale. If you can clearly identify your purpose, perfect customer, spark, and kindling strategies you are on the right track to maximizing your opportunities in the online marketplace. If any of these areas are a struggle for you, know that there are resources and teams out there to assist you, Viral Solutions, is here.
by Katie Doseck, PhD MBA
Chief Visionary and Strategic Ace Up Your Sleeve | Viral Solutions LLC
Copyright 2016 by Viral Solutions LLC
Katie Doseck, PhD MBA | Chief Visionary & Strategic Ace Up Your Sleeve. I catapulted my experience with extensive education, training, and personal coaching; earning a PhD in Organizational Management with a specialization in Human Resource Management, MBA in Organizational Leadership, and BA in Law & Liberal Arts. Subject Matter Expert (SME) areas: Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Organizational Change, Change Management, Resource Planning, Strategic Planning, Talent Management, Selling & Sales Management, Training & Development, Decision Making Models, Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Motivation. Dr. Doseck is based out of Logan, Utah.
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.
Digital Marketing Tips | Getting the Attention of Your Customer
Customers are overloaded with messages vying for their attention, making their focus an increasingly valuable thing. In the crowded sea of marketing, what are the most effective ways to capture your customer’s attention?
One of our core values here at Viral Solutions is to “Give Back.” Part of Viral Solutions giving back is through the hosting and sponsoring of local Infusionsoft User Groups. Although we host, and facilitate these groups, they are for YOU. We cover topics that you suggest or request. We cover all things Infusionsoft, and even some things that are outside of Infusionsoft. We encourage your feedback, thoughts, and opinions in the meeting as well as in the private Facebook group that’s free to join: Infusionsoft User Group on Facebook. Currently, we host Infusionsoft User Group Meetings in Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; and Detroit, Michigan. Bring your questions, requests, or problems and we will help you answer them. If you would like to share a success story, we welcome that as well!
Meet with small business owners and Infusionsoft users like you to discuss marketing tips, sales advice and discover new ways you can use Infusionsoft.
1. Understand your audience. Customers are more likely to remain focused when they are engaged in something they enjoy. This makes it invaluable to know your customer and speak their language. What are they saying about your product? Who is your customer? What do you know about them? With this education, how can you best engage that customer?
2. Know where they are. Physical demographic information can be useful, but in this instance, we’re talking about your customer’s media presence. Are they big on Facebook, but not on Twitter? Are they most responsive to email newsletters? Do they prefer print or digital? Are they looking at web advertisements? Are they on YouTube? Gathering the answers to these questions allows you to create a specific target that is more likely to capture your audience’s attention.
3. Make it worth their while. If a customer feels understood and connected with you, they are likely to give you more focus. Are you only marketing your product, or are you also marketing useful content that is relevant to their interests and needs? Showing an inclination to the interest of your customer indicates that your company is self-aware and understanding of your buyer’s perspective.
4. Use technology to your advantage. Video marketing is having its moment right now. Customers are busy and multi-focused, so they are hungry for easily accessible and digestible information. Video is the perfect medium to serve this — it shows and tells in a vibrant, engaging medium that is easy to access and understand. Now that Twitter and Facebook auto-play videos in their feed, the time is ripe to explore video marketing.
5. Hone your unique selling proposition (USP). Simply stated, a USP is that “thing” your company does that makes you different from your competitors. What sets you apart? Customer service? Price? Product placement? Identify your USP and then begin to market with that in mind. Test it in online ads, and see what works. Don’t be afraid to refine your tactic if the first try isn’t successful — your USP should consistently be evaluated.
For more digital marketing tips, get in touch with the Viral Solutions team today.
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.
