Category Archives: SEO

5 Time-Saving Email Marketing Hacks for Busy Entrepreneurs (Without Sacrificing Results)

 Email Marketing Hacks

Five strategic email marketing hacks designed to help busy entrepreneurs streamline their email campaigns and boost engagement without compromising on results, emphasizing the importance of batching content, automating sequences, using templates, repurposing content, and leveraging data analytics.

Posted June 1st, 2024 by Jessica Granish


Are you tired of feeling like you're wrestling with your inbox instead of running your business? As entrepreneurs, time is our most precious asset, and yet, it often feels like we're drowning in a sea of emails. But fear not! Today, I'm here to share with you five game-changing email marketing hacks specifically designed to rescue you from the overwhelm and reclaim your time, all while boosting your business's bottom line.

 
Today, I'm here to offer a lifeline – five game-changing email marketing hacks that are tailor-made to rescue you from this overwhelm and help you take back control of your time. But first some statistics…


The Staggering Stats of Email's Power:


Before we dive into the juicy hacks, let's prime the pump with some stats that'll make your inner Marketer roar:

Email boasts a staggering ROI of 3200%. That's like turning every dollar you spend on email marketing into 32 bucks. Not too shabby, huh? (Source: DMA)
66% of consumers make a purchase after receiving an email. Boom! Email converts, baby. (Source: Epsilon)
Segmented email campaigns generate 58% more revenue per email. Niche down, personalize, and watch your profits soar. (Source: Mailchimp)

Hack #1: Batch Like a Boss:

Remember that feeling of dread when you face a blank email template, knowing you have to craft a masterpiece before the next client call? Ditch the panic and embrace the power of batching. 

Block out a dedicated chunk of time (think Monday morning coffee hour) and churn out a month's worth of email content in one go. It's like baking cookies: preheat the creativity oven, whip up a batch of engaging topics, and store them in your email platform's drafts for later deployment.

Here are some actional things you can do:

Schedule a sacred time: Block out a dedicated time slot for email content creation. Think "Monday Morning Creative Coffee Hour" or "Thursday Thunderstorm Content Brainstorm."
Pick your favorite productivity tools: Use apps like Trello, Asana, or even a simple Google Doc to organize your email ideas
Brain dump all those brilliant topics: Jot down every possible email topic that comes to mind, no filtering required.
Craft compelling calls to action: Write irresistible CTAs that drive clicks and conversions.
Schedule your emails in advance: Use your email platform's scheduling feature to send emails at optimal times.

Hack #2: Automate Your A.I. Assistant:

Email sequences are your secret weapon for nurturing leads and driving conversions on autopilot. Set up automated email series that welcome new subscribers, educate them about your products, and gently nudge them towards purchase. 

Your email platform will do the heavy lifting, freeing you to conquer other entrepreneurial mountains.

Here are some actional things you can do:

Welcome new subscribers with open arms: Create a warm welcome email series that introduces your brand, values, and offers.
Educate and nurture leads: Develop automated email sequences that provide valuable content, build trust, and guide subscribers towards purchase.
Trigger emails based on behavior: Set up automated emails that respond to specific actions, like abandoned carts, product views, or website visits.
Personalize for a touch of magic: Use dynamic content blocks to personalize emails with names, interests, or purchase history.

Hack #3: Template Transformation:

Stop reinventing the wheel with every email! Craft killer email templates for different campaign types (welcome series, product promotions, abandoned cart reminders) and customize them like you're dressing for a red carpet event. Add your unique brand voice, sprinkle in some witty copy, and voila! Instant email magic, minus the time suck.

Here are some actional things you can do:

Design visually appealing templates: Use design tools like Canva or your email platform's built-in templates to create eye-catching visuals.
Structure for clarity and conversion: Ensure clear navigation, prominent CTA buttons, and mobile responsiveness.
Incorporate your brand personality: Inject your unique voice, tone, and style into every template.
Test and refine: Send test emails to yourself and colleagues to ensure formatting and functionality are flawless.

Hack #4: Repurpose, Repurpose, Repurpose!

Content is king, but creating it from scratch can be a royal pain. Don't let that blog post you wrote gather dust in the digital attic! Repurpose snippets of your best content into bite-sized email nuggets

A paragraph from your latest article can become a catchy email intro, and a customer testimonial from your website can shine in a newsletter segment. Recycle, reuse, and reap the email marketing rewards.

Here are some actional things you can do:

Transform blog posts into email gold: Extract key points, quotes, or statistics from your blog posts and create engaging email snippets.
Share customer testimonials: Showcase glowing reviews and success stories in your emails to build trust and credibility.
Repurpose social media content: Repackage your best-performing social media posts into email format.
Link back to your original content: Drive traffic to your website or blog by including links in your emails.

Hack #5: Data-Driven Mastery:

Knowledge is power, especially in the realm of email marketing. Don't just send emails and hope for the best. Dive into your platform's analytics to uncover insights that can propel your campaigns forward. 

Whether it's improving open rates, refining subject lines, or enhancing CTAs, harness the power of data to optimize your strategies and witness your engagement soar.

Here are some actional things you can do:

Track open rates, click-throughs, and conversions: Analyze these metrics to identify what's working and what needs improvement.
Experiment with different subject lines: Test variations to see what resonates with your audience.
Optimize email send times: Analyze your audience's engagement patterns and adjust delivery times accordingly.
Segment your lists for targeted campaigns: Customize your emails based on subscriber interests, demographics, or purchase behavior.

In Conclusion

Remember, entrepreneurs, email marketing isn't a necessary evil, it's a potent weapon in your arsenal. These hacks are your secret sauce, ready to transform you from inbox gladiator to Zen master of automation. Embrace them, unleash your inner email alchemist, and watch your engagement soar. Your time is precious, your content priceless, and inbox domination awaits.

Sign up for your FREE 20-minute Email Marketing Audit today. We'll analyze your current strategy, pinpoint roadblocks, and map out a personalized roadmap to inbox domination. No strings attached, just pure marketing gold waiting to be mined. 

In just 20 minutes, you'll get:

Personalized feedback on your current email practices.
Expert insights to boost engagement and results.
Some actionable steps you can leave the call with to optimize and maximize your deliverability.

Book a Call Now and release the email marketing beast within your business! 

Comments

Jessica Granish

The Wizard Behind The Curtain, Tech And Marketing Integrator

Meet Jessica Granish, a heart-centered trailblazer in the dynamic intersection of tech, marketing, and systems integration.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit

After our Tech and Marketing 20-Min Rapid Audit, you'll walk away with immediate insights and actionable recommendations tailored to enhance your online visibility. Discover quick wins and discover the potential for rapid growth in just a brief session!

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7 Keys to Unlocking Email Marketing Visibility & Conversions

7 Keys to Unlocking Email Marketing Visibility & Conversions

Email marketing is not just about sending messages; it's decoding the language of engagement. In every open, click, or unsubscribe, there's a narrative—unlocking it is the key to transforming your inbox into a strategic powerhouse.

Posted January 26th, 2024 by Jessica Granish


Do your email marketing messages vanish into the void, devoured by the black hole of unread inboxes? Is your email marketing lacking the essentials it needs to succeed? According to McKinsey, a staggering 70% of emails sent by B2B businesses never even get opened. 😱 It's enough to make you want to rip your hair out. But what if your inbox isn't a curse, but a treasure trove waiting to be unlocked? 📧✨

The truth is, within every inbox lies a buried map to explosive growth. Every unsubscribe, every open, every click whispers a story about your audience, a hidden pathway to skyrocketing ROI. But it's locked away, guarded by robotic blasts and generic, one-size-fits-all campaigns.

 
Forget the doldrums of uninspired spam. Today's email marketing thrives on strategic agility and personalized experiences. It's about cracking the code of your audience, building meaningful relationships, and transforming your inbox into a launchpad for success.


Lets decode the these
7 crucial keys:


1. Foundation in Analytics and Monitoring:

Drowning in data? You're not alone. 59% of marketers struggle to navigate the inbox analytics flood. Ditch the guesswork! Continuously monitor three key metrics:

Authentication records: Are your emails reaching inboxes or languishing in spam folders? Check SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols to ensure your emails come from a trusted source.
Engagement metrics: Opens, clicks, and unsubscribes tell a story. Monitor these insights to understand what resonates with your audience and what falls flat. Use A/B testing to identify winning content and subject lines.
Deliverability performance: Are your emails bouncing back or hitting inboxes? Track bounce rates and delivery rates to assess your sender reputation and identify technical issues.

Actionable Steps:

Set up automated dashboards to track key metrics in real-time.
Invest in analytics tools that go beyond basic open rates and delve deeper into audience behavior.
Schedule regular reviews of your analytics data to identify areas for improvement.

2. Feedback Loops: Your Real-Time Radar:

Don't get lost in the inbox wilderness! Email service providers offer feedback loops, your real-time radar for spotting disengaged audiences and avoiding spam storms. These insights let you:

Tweak content: Ditch duds, amplify hits, and keep audiences hooked. Analyze unsubscribe reasons and negative feedback to identify content that turns people off. Refine your messaging and tailor it to different segments.
Dodge spam flags: Stay squeaky clean and land in coveted inboxes. Monitor spam complaint rates and implement best practices for email authentication and list hygiene.
Build sender cred: Deliver like a pro and watch your reputation soar. Respond promptly to unsubscribe requests and maintain a high engagement rate to improve your sender score.

Actionable Steps:

Enable feedback loops in your email service provider and review them regularly.
Create targeted segments based on feedback data to deliver more relevant content.
Implement double opt-in for email signups to ensure a clean and engaged list.

3. Adjusting the Sails: Metrics for Course Correction:

Like a ship adjusting its sails to navigate changing winds, your email strategy requires periodic adjustments. Analyzing key metrics such as bounce rates, open rates, and click-through rates guides your course correction. It ensures your emails not only reach the intended destination but also resonate with your audience.

 
Remember: Subject lines can make or break (64% open based solely on headline!). A/B test different subject lines and formats to find what grabs attention.

Actionable Steps:

Set benchmarks for your key metrics and track progress over time.
Identify areas where your performance is lagging and experiment with different strategies to improve.
Use heatmaps, and click tracking tools to, like Hotjar understand how recipients interact with your emails.

Hotjar is a freemium tool that is a web analytics and feedback tool that helps website owners understand user behavior through features like heatmaps, session recordings, surveys, and feedback forms. It provides valuable insights to optimize the user experience and improve website performance.


4. Adaptation in a Dynamic Landscape:

Email marketing is a living voyage, not a static map. Regularly rechart your course – authentication protocols, content formats, and engagement strategies – to navigate evolving currents. Embrace new technologies and adapt to changing audience preferences.

 
Remember: Security matters (85% of B2B buyers prioritize it!). Stay updated on the latest authentication protocols like DMARC and implement best practices for data security to build trust with your audience.

Actionable Steps:

Stay informed about emerging trends and technologies in email marketing.
Conduct competitor analysis to see what others are doing and identify opportunities for differentiation.
Regularly review your email strategy and adjust your approach based on new data and insights.

5. Looking Back to Move Forward: The Value of Hindsight:

Past campaigns hold buried treasure! Analyze them to identify winning strategies and avoid hidden reefs. This retrospective view steers your future emails towards profitable shores.

 
Remember: Personalized emails bring 6x the rewards! Analyze past campaigns to identify segments that responded well to personalization and replicate those successes in future campaigns.

Actionable Steps:

Conduct post-campaign reports to analyze performance and identify areas for improvement.
Look for patterns and correlations between specific content elements and engagement metrics.
Segment your audience based on past engagement data and tailor your messaging accordingly.

6. Beyond the Digital Sea: Tangible Impact Ahoy!

Robust email management extends beyond the digital realm; it has a tangible impact on your brand reputation, customer engagement, and regulatory compliance. Navigating the complexities of email regulations, ensuring data security, and maximizing deliverability fortify your business against potential pitfalls.

 
Remember: Customer churn costs! The average cost of losing a customer is 5 times the cost of acquiring a new one. Building strong customer relationships through effective email management reduces churn and boosts customer lifetime value.

Actionable Steps:

Align your email strategy with your overall brand story and voice to create a consistent experience across all channels. This fosters trust and brand recognition, leading to increased customer loyalty.
Nurture leads and customers through well-designed email sequences that educate, engage, and convert. Use automated workflows to trigger personalized emails based on specific actions or milestones, keeping your audience engaged and moving towards your desired outcomes.
Implement customer segmentation and personalization to deliver relevant content that resonates with individual preferences and needs. This can include welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, targeted product recommendations, and birthday greetings. Personalization not only increases engagement but also drives higher conversion rates and revenue.

7. Embracing a Holistic Approach:

In essence, email management is not merely a series of technical tasks; it's a holistic approach to fostering growth, building meaningful customer relationships, and ensuring a positive impact on your bottom line.

 
Remember: Omnichannel integration unlocks success! 72% of marketers report that integrating email with other marketing channels improves campaign performance. Aligning your email strategy with your overall marketing approach optimizes your reach and impact.

Actionable Steps:

Develop a unified marketing strategy that combines email with other channels like social media, content marketing, and paid advertising. Create consistent messaging and user experiences to maximize awareness and engagement.
Track and analyze the performance of your campaigns to identify areas for improvement and optimize your overall marketing strategy. By understanding how different channels work together, you can make data-driven decisions to increase ROI and achieve your marketing goals.
Invest in marketing automation tools that streamline your email marketing efforts and integrate with other channels.

In Conclusion

By embracing a holistic approach to email management and integrating it with your overall marketing strategy, you can unlock its true potential as a powerful tool for driving growth, building loyalty, and achieving lasting success.

As you navigate the evolving landscape of business communication, a strategic focus on effective email management stands as a key driver for your continued success. Embrace the future of your email marketing success by taking proactive steps today. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting, I'm committed to assisting you in seamlessly adapting to the evolving landscape of email standards.

Don't wait for email purgatory to strike! Take control of your deliverability TODAY with a FREE 20-minute no-strings consultation and email audit!

In just 20 minutes, you'll get:

Personalized feedback on your current email practices.
Expert insights to boost engagement and results.
Some actionable steps you can leave the call with to optimize and maximize your deliverability.

Book a Call Now and let us work with you towards a more robust and effective email marketing future.

Comments

Jessica Granish

The Wizard Behind The Curtain, Tech And Marketing Integrator

Meet Jessica Granish, a heart-centered trailblazer in the dynamic intersection of tech, marketing, and systems integration.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit

After our Tech and Marketing 20-Min Rapid Audit, you'll walk away with immediate insights and actionable recommendations tailored to enhance your online visibility. Discover quick wins and unlock the potential for rapid growth in just a brief session!

Keep Reading...

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© Copyright Alpine Small Business Solutions, LLC.  All Rights Reserved

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Complete The Form Below to get started...

To start the process of your Tech and Marketing 20-Min Rapid Audit

We process your personal data as stated in our Privacy Policy. You may withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our emails.

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Is Bad SEO Killing Your Website Traffic

Is Bad SEO Killing Your Website Traffic? Fix These 30 SEO Mistakes.

Is Bad SEO Killing Your Website Traffic

Discover the top 30 SEO mistakes killing your website traffic. Learn how to fix these errors with actionable tips to boost your rankings. Optimize your site and attract more leads today!

Posted July 15th, 2024 by Jessica Granish


Key Takeaways in this Article:

Understanding SEO Fundamentals: Recognize the importance of SEO in improving website visibility and attracting customers.
Avoiding Common SEO Mistakes: Be aware of detrimental SEO errors, such as neglecting mobile optimization, keyword stuffing, and ignoring user experience.
Optimizing Content: Prioritize high-quality, relevant content creation and regular maintenance to engage users and enhance search rankings.
Technical Optimization: Address technical issues like site speed, crawlability, and broken links to ensure optimal website performance.
Local and Social Integration: Optimize for local search and integrate social media to amplify content reach and improve search engine authority.
Continuous Improvement and Patience: Embrace a mindset of ongoing monitoring, adaptation, and patience to navigate the evolving landscape of SEO effectively.

Are you struggling to achieve the desired results from your SEO efforts? Do you feel like your website is not getting the attention it deserves? 

You're not alone. Many service-based businesses and online entrepreneurs face similar challenges when it comes to optimizing their websites for search engines, often falling into common SEO mistakes that can severely impact their website traffic. 

In this comprehensive guide, we'll unveil these pitfalls and equip you with the knowledge to sidestep them, propelling your website to the top of search results.

Understanding SEO:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the art and science of improving your website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). 

The higher you rank for relevant keywords, the more likely potential customers will discover your business. However, SEO mistakes can sabotage your efforts, making it harder to achieve your goals.

The Cost of Common SEO Mistakes:

SEO mistakes are costly. A recent survey by Moz revealed that 64% of marketers struggle to get their content to rank on the first page of search results. This translates to missed opportunities, stagnant growth, and ultimately, lost revenue.


Here are 30 SEO Mistakes and what you can do to avoid them:

1. Neglecting On-Page Optimization

Is your website suffering from neglect in the on-page optimization department? 

Don't fret; it's not too late to turn things around. Start by conducting a thorough audit of your website's on-page elements, including title tags, meta descriptions, and heading tags. 

Ensure that each page is optimized for relevant keywords and provides valuable content to users.

Actionable Tip: Utilize tools like Yoast SEO or SEMrush to analyze and optimize your on-page elements effectively to avoid common SEO mistakes.


2. Ignoring Mobile Optimization

Is your website mobile-friendly? In today's mobile-first world, ignoring mobile optimization can be one of the most detrimental SEO mistakes you can make. Take the time to ensure that your website is responsive and provides a seamless user experience across all devices.

Actionable Tip: Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check if your website meets mobile optimization standards and make necessary improvements.


3. Overlooking Quality Content

Are you prioritizing quantity over quality when it comes to content creation? This is a common SEO mistake. It's time to shift your focus. Invest in creating high-quality, relevant content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience.

Actionable Tip: Conduct keyword research using tools like Ahrefs or Moz to identify topics of interest to your audience, and create content that provides valuable insights and solutions.

Is Bad SEO Killing Your Website Traffic

4. Neglecting Technical SEO

Is your website plagued by technical SEO issues? Don’t let these SEO mistakes go unaddressed. Take the time to audit your website for technical issues such as site speed, crawlability, and broken links.

Actionable Tip: Use Google Search Console to identify and fix technical issues on your website, and regularly monitor your site's performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.


5. Neglecting Local SEO

Are you overlooking the power of local SEO? Don’t miss out on potential customers in your area by making this common SEO mistake. Optimize your website for local search by creating and optimizing Google My Business listings, obtaining local citations, and earning positive reviews from satisfied customers.

Actionable Tip: Use Moz Local or BrightLocal to manage and track your local SEO efforts effectively.


6. Failing to Monitor and Adapt

Are you failing to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of SEO? It’s time to make monitoring and adaptation a priority to avoid SEO mistakes that could hold your website back. Stay informed about industry trends and algorithm updates, and be prepared to adjust your SEO strategy accordingly.

 
Actionable Tip: Subscribe to industry-leading SEO blogs and publications, attend SEO conferences and workshops, and utilize SEO tracking tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to stay ahead of the curve.


7. Keyword Stuffing

Are you stuffing your content with keywords in an attempt to boost your search engine rankings? This outdated tactic is one of the most common SEO mistakes and can harm your website's credibility and user experience. Instead, focus on naturally incorporating keywords into your content in a way that enhances readability and provides value to your audience.

 
Actionable Tip: Use keyword variations and synonyms to create diverse and engaging content that resonates with both search engines and users.

8. Neglecting Image Optimization

Are you overlooking the potential of image optimization for SEO? Images play a crucial role in enhancing user experience and can also contribute to your website's search engine rankings. Ensure that your images are properly optimized to avoid SEO mistakes like neglecting descriptive file names, alt tags, and compressed file sizes.

 Actionable Tip: Use tools like Adobe Photoshop or online image compressors to reduce image file sizes without sacrificing quality, and incorporate relevant keywords into your image file names and alt tags.

9. Neglecting Image Optimization

Are you neglecting internal linking within your website? This SEO mistake can reduce your site's overall performance. Internal links not only help users navigate your site more easily but also distribute link equity throughout your website, improving the visibility of your content in search engine results.

 Actionable Tip: Incorporate relevant internal links within your content to guide users to related topics and pages on your website, and use descriptive anchor text that includes relevant keywords.

10. Neglecting User Experience (UX) and CRM Integration:

Is your website providing a seamless and intuitive user experience? 

Poorly designed websites with confusing navigation, slow load times, and lack of personalized customer interactions can lead to high bounce rates and lower search engine rankings.

A quality CRM can help you better understand customer behavior, manage interactions, and tailor content to meet their needs, which enhances the overall user experience. Prioritize user experience by optimizing site speed, improving navigation, integrating a CRM to personalize interactions, and ensuring mobile responsiveness.

Actionable Tip: Implement a CRM system like HighLevel to track user interactions, analyze customer data, and personalize your website's content and user experience based on this data.

11. Ignoring Social Media Signals

Are you disregarding the influence of social media on SEO? Social signals such as likes, shares, and comments can indirectly impact your website's search engine rankings by increasing brand visibility and driving traffic. Don’t make the SEO mistake of neglecting social media. Engage with your audience on social media platforms to amplify your content and improve your website's authority.

 Actionable Tip: Develop a comprehensive social media strategy that includes regular posting, engagement with followers, and sharing of high-quality content to boost social signals and enhance your website's SEO performance.

Is Bad SEO Killing Your Website Traffic

12. Neglecting Local Citations and Reviews

Are you neglecting the importance of local citations and reviews for local SEO? Consistent and accurate business information across online directories and review platforms can improve your website's visibility in local search results and build trust with potential customers.

 Actionable Tip: Claim and optimize your business listings on popular review platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, and TripAdvisor, and encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews to enhance your online reputation and local SEO efforts.

13. Neglecting Schema Markup

Are you overlooking the potential of schema markup to enhance your website's visibility in search results? This SEO mistake can result in missed opportunities for rich snippets, which can improve click-through rates and overall search visibility.

 Actionable Tip: Use Google's Structured Data Markup Helper to generate schema markup for your website's content, and incorporate relevant schema markup types such as articles, products, and events to provide search engines with valuable context about your content.

14. Overlooking Long-Tail Keywords

Are you focusing solely on broad, high-volume keywords in your SEO strategy? This common SEO mistake can lead to missed opportunities. Long-tail keywords, which are longer and more specific search queries, often have lower competition and higher conversion rates. By targeting long-tail keywords related to your niche, you can attract highly relevant traffic and improve your website's search rankings.

 
Actionable Tip: Use keyword research tools like SEMrush or Keyword Planner to identify long-tail keywords with moderate search volume and low competition, and create targeted content around these keywords to attract qualified traffic to your website.

15. Neglecting Content Updates and Maintenance

Are you publishing new content but neglecting to update and maintain existing content on your website? Content decay over time can negatively impact your website's search rankings and user experience. Avoid this SEO mistake by regularly auditing and updating your existing content to ensure it remains accurate, relevant, and valuable to your audience.

 
Actionable Tip: Create a content maintenance schedule to regularly review and update existing content on your website, and incorporate new information, statistics, and insights to keep it fresh and engaging for your audience.

16. Ignoring Link Quality

Are you solely focused on building a high volume of backlinks without considering their quality? Low-quality backlinks from spammy or irrelevant websites can harm your website's credibility and authority in the eyes of search engines. Prioritize building high-quality backlinks from reputable and relevant websites to avoid this SEO mistake.

 Actionable Tip: Use backlink analysis tools like Ahrefs or Moz to identify and disavow low-quality backlinks pointing to your website, and focus on building relationships with authoritative websites in your industry to earn high-quality backlinks naturally.

17. Forgetting About Localized Keywords

Are you neglecting the importance of localized keywords for businesses targeting specific geographic locations? This SEO mistake can prevent your site from ranking higher in local search results and attracting customers in your target area.

 Actionable Tip: Incorporate localized keywords strategically into your website's content, meta tags, and headings to optimize it for local search, and create location-specific landing pages to target customers in different geographic areas effectively.

18. Lack of HTTPS Encryption

Are you neglecting website security by not using HTTPS encryption? Websites without HTTPS may be penalized in search rankings, and users may be wary of sharing personal information on insecure sites. Migrate your website to HTTPS to ensure data security and avoid this SEO mistake.

 Actionable Tip: Obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority and install it on your web server to enable HTTPS encryption for your website.

19. Overlooking Video Optimization

Are you ignoring the power of video content for SEO? Video content is increasingly popular among users and can improve engagement metrics on your website. Avoid this SEO mistake by optimizing your videos with relevant titles, descriptions, and tags to enhance their visibility in search results.

 Actionable Tip: Host your videos on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo and optimize them with descriptive titles, detailed descriptions, and relevant tags to improve their search visibility.

20. Neglecting User Engagement Signals

Are you disregarding user engagement signals as part of your SEO strategy? Metrics like bounce rate, time on site, and click-through rate provide valuable insights into how users interact with your website. Avoid this SEO mistake by improving user engagement through creating high-quality content and optimizing your website for a positive user experience.

 Actionable Tip: Monitor user engagement metrics in Google Analytics and identify areas for improvement on your website, such as optimizing page load times, improving navigation, and creating compelling calls-to-action.

21. Ignoring Social Media Integration

Are you overlooking the impact of social media on your SEO efforts? Social media signals, such as likes, shares, and comments, can indirectly influence your website's search engine rankings. Avoid this SEO mistake by integrating social media into your overall digital marketing strategy to amplify your content and increase its reach.

 Actionable Tip: Promote your content on social media platforms and encourage social sharing by adding social sharing buttons to your website and blog posts.

Is Bad SEO Killing Your Website Traffic

22. Failing to Optimize for Voice Search

Are you ignoring the rise of voice search as a popular way for users to find information online? Voice search queries are often longer and more conversational than traditional text-based searches. Avoid this SEO mistake by optimizing your website's content for voice search by creating FAQ pages, using natural language, and targeting long-tail keywords.

 Actionable Tip: Research common voice search queries related to your industry and incorporate natural language phrases and long-tail keywords into your website's content.

23. Skipping Local Business Directories

Are you missing out on opportunities to improve your local SEO by neglecting local business directories? Listings in local directories like Yelp, Google My Business, and Bing Places can improve your website's visibility in local search results and attract customers in your area.

 Actionable Tip: Claim and optimize your business listings on popular local directories and ensure that your business information is accurate and up-to-date.

24. Neglecting Website Accessibility

Are you overlooking the importance of website accessibility for SEO? Websites that are accessible to users with disabilities not only provide a better user experience but may also receive a ranking boost in search results. Avoid this SEO mistake by improving website accessibility by following WCAG guidelines and ensuring that your website is navigable and usable for all users.

 Actionable Tip: Use accessibility tools and plugins to evaluate and improve your website's accessibility, and prioritize features like alt text for images, descriptive headings, and keyboard navigation.

25. Not Utilizing Structured Data

Are you missing out on opportunities to enhance your website's appearance in search results with structured data markup? Structured data markup provides search engines with additional context about your content, enabling rich snippets and enhanced search results. Implement structured data markup for your website to avoid this SEO mistake and improve visibility and click-through rates.

 Actionable Tip: Use Schema.org markup to add structured data to your website's content, such as product reviews, recipes, events, and FAQs, and test the markup with Google's Structured Data Testing Tool to ensure accuracy and validity.

26. Lack of Localized Content

Are you neglecting to create content tailored to specific geographic locations? Localized content can help you target audiences in different regions and improve your website's visibility in local search results. Avoid this SEO mistake by creating location-specific landing pages, blog posts, and resources to attract local customers.

Actionable Tip: Conduct keyword research for local terms and create content that addresses the unique needs and interests of audiences in different geographic areas.

28. Lack of Content Promotion and Email Marketing:

Are you failing to promote your content effectively after publishing it? Simply creating great content isn't enough; you need to actively promote it to reach your target audience and attract backlinks. Email marketing is a powerful tool that can help distribute your content directly to your subscribers, driving traffic back to your website and boosting engagement. Additionally, share your content on social media, reach out to influencers and industry experts, and participate in online communities and forums to increase visibility and engagement.


Actionable Tip: Use email marketing platforms like  HighLevel or ActiveCampaign to create targeted email campaigns that promote your latest content, offers, and updates. Ensure your emails include clear calls-to-action that drive readers back to your website.

29. Ignoring Website Analytics

Are you neglecting to monitor and analyze your website's performance using analytics tools? Website analytics provide valuable insights into user behavior, traffic sources, and conversion rates, enabling you to make data-driven decisions and optimize your website for better results. Regularly review key metrics like traffic, bounce rate, conversion rate, and user engagement to identify areas for improvement.

 Actionable Tip: Set up Google Analytics or another analytics tool for your website and regularly review reports to track performance and identify opportunities for optimization.

30. Lack of Patience and Persistence

Are you expecting instant results from your SEO efforts? This is one of the most critical SEO mistakes you can make. SEO is a long-term strategy that requires patience, persistence, and continuous effort. It takes time to see significant improvements in search rankings, traffic, and conversions. Stay committed to your SEO efforts, continue implementing best practices, and monitor results over time to achieve long-term success.

 Actionable Tip: Set realistic goals and expectations for your SEO efforts, track progress regularly, and celebrate small victories along the way to maintain motivation and momentum.

In Conclusion

By avoiding these common SEO mistakes and implementing the strategies outlined above, you'll be well on your way to boosting your website's visibility and attracting a steady stream of qualified leads.

SEO can be a complex and ever-changing landscape. If you're feeling overwhelmed by these SEO mistakes, don't hesitate to schedule a call with our SEO experts. We can help you craft a personalized SEO strategy tailored to your specific business goals and ensure your website conquers the search engine battlefield.

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Jessica Granish

The Wizard Behind The Curtain, Tech And Marketing Integrator

Meet Jessica Granish, a heart-centered trailblazer in the dynamic intersection of tech, marketing, and systems integration.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit.

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How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit

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Summer Solstice with These 7 Business Growth Tips

Celebrate Summer Solstice with These 7 Business Growth Tips 🌞

Summer Solstice with These 7 Business Growth Tips

Explore 7 actionable strategies to harness the energy of the summer solstice for business growth, inspired by personal reflections and expert insights.

Posted June 20th, 2024 by Jessica Granish


As an online entrepreneur, have you ever felt the pull of the summer solstice? Is it something that you align with at all? Is it part of your Q2 and Q3 business growth goals? 

For me, the summer solstice is more than just the longest day of the year—it's a time of renewal and reflection. As a typical Colorado girl, I enjoy the chance to garden, go to concerts, and escape to the mountains.

 
The summer solstice also holds a special place in my heart because my parents' wedding anniversary always fell right around that time. Even though my mom passed away in 2013, we continue to honor everything they built together, which contributed to the magic of the summer solstice.

 
This blend of personal significance and my passion for business inspires me to infuse the same energy and renewal into my business. While all these strategies are impactful, #6 is my personal favorite


Here’s how you can leverage the energy of Summer Solstice for growth in your business:


1. Revitalize Your Business Vision

The summer solstice marks an ideal time to revamp your business direction. Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post and a prominent advocate for work-life balance, famously stated, "People think in terms of stories. It's so much easier to remember a story than a set of facts.

Take this opportunity to deeply reflect on your brand’s narrative and strategic positioning. Engage your team in insightful discussions to craft a compelling brand story and refine your strategic approach for enhancing visibility and growth.

Here are some actionable items: you can do:

Schedule a half-day retreat with your key team members to revisit and revise your business vision.
Conduct a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to identify areas of improvement and opportunity.
Develop a  content strategy that aligns with your brand story, leveraging storytelling techniques to connect with your audience and enhance brand visibility.
People think in terms of stories. It's so much easier to remember a story than a set of facts.

2. Embrace Innovation and Creativity

The heightened energy of the solstice can lead to innovative breakthroughs. Encourage brainstorming sessions and out-of-the-box thinking to solve challenges and explore new opportunities. 

Studies have shown that companies fostering a culture of creativity are significantly more likely to outperform their peers in revenue growth. Embracing innovation will propel your business forward with fresh ideas and solutions.

Here are some actionable items: you can do:

Organize a weekly brainstorming session where team members can share new ideas without judgment.
Use tools like mind maps, like a Miro board to visualize and develop these ideas further.
Implement a "creative hour" each week where employees work on passion projects related to your business.

3. Set Some Stretch Goals

Just as the summer solstice brings the longest day of the year, it's the perfect time to bask in the glow and set your sights on stretch goals. Research indicates that dreaming big can lead to greater happiness and productivity. Encourage your team to harness this energy by setting goals that inspire and excite.

 
Setting what is called stretch goals are ambitious objectives that challenge individuals or teams to achieve significant accomplishments beyond regular targets. Yes, you try to reach them, but they offer bigger vision energy and even if not fully achieved, they are something to work towards.

For instance

Normal Goal: Increase monthly sales by 10% over the next quarter— be steady like a turtle.

 
Stretch Goal: Launch a product so irresistible that it doubles our website traffic and attracts a significant buzz, like a surge of eager customers flocking to a new ice cream truck in summer.

Here are some actionable items: you can do:

Host a "Dream Board" party where team members create vision boards filled with their personal and professional aspirations.
Facilitate a brainstorming session with a twist—encourage everyone to share their wildest ideas without limitations.
Break down these ambitious goals into smaller, actionable steps using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) criteria to ensure clarity and progress.

4. Strengthen Team Connections and Celebrate Success

The long summer days provide an ideal backdrop for celebrating achievements and encouraging team spirit. Plan engaging activities that bring your team together, creating bonds and boosting morale. 

Recognizing milestones during this vibrant season enhances team cohesion and motivation. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, wisely notes, “Fun is one of the most important—and underrated—ingredients in any successful venture.”

Here are some actionable items: you can do:

Organize a team-building event such as a company picnic, outdoor adventure, or team sports activity to build camaraderie.
Celebrate milestones with small office gatherings or virtual parties for remote teams, ensuring inclusivity.
Establish a "wall of fame" or digital recognition board to showcase team accomplishments, nurturing a sense of pride and motivation.
Fun is one of the most important and underrated ingredients in any successful venture.

5. Enhance Transparency and Clear Communication

Just as the summer solstice brings clarity and brightness, prioritize transparency within your business. Open communication channels ensure everyone understands and aligns with the company’s vision and goals. Honest and clear communication builds trust and collaboration among team members, essential for success.

Here are some actionable items: you can do:

Implement regular all-hands meetings where updates and progress are shared openly....and make it fun. Nothing worse than a dingy ol' meeting just to have a meeting. Have a theme, dress up, play a game. Have fun with it. 
Create a virtual suggestion box or platform for anonymous feedback to encourage participation from all team members.
Celebrate milestones in transparency, such as successful project launches or achieving team goals, to reinforce the importance of open communication.

6. Take Time Off to Recharge

Taking time to unplug and enjoy the summer with friends and family is crucial for long-term success. While work is important, recharging allows you to reconnect with your business with renewed energy and perspective. As Lily Tomlin, an American actress and comedian, once said, "For fast-acting relief, try slowing down." 

This advice highlights the importance of stepping back, disconnecting from work, and embracing moments of relaxation. By incorporating regular downtime into your schedule, you not only boost your well-being but also enhance your ability to make sound decisions and open your mind and heart to a lot more creativity and creative opportunities.

Here are some actionable items: you can do:

Schedule regular breaks and vacations throughout the summer for yourself and encourage your team to do the same.
Create a company policy that promotes a healthy work-life balance, such as flexible work hours or mental health days.
Plan team outings or retreats that allow everyone to unwind and bond outside of the work environment.

7. Recognize and Reward Success

The summer solstice is a time of celebration and abundance. Recognize and reward the hard work and achievements of your team. Regular acknowledgment of accomplishments fosters a positive and motivated work environment. 

A study by Deloitte revealed that companies with recognition programs have 31% lower voluntary turnover.

Here are some actionable items: you can do:

Create a recognition program that regularly celebrates employee achievements, such as monthly awards.
Give shout-outs during meetings to highlight individual and team successes.
Offer tangible rewards like gift cards, bonuses, or extra time off to recognize outstanding performance.

In Conclusion

As summer unfolds, let the spirit of the solstice guide your business to new heights. Embrace the metaphor of peak energy and light as a guiding principle for growth and innovation. The solstice reminds us that at the height of light and potential, endless opportunities for success arise. 

Align your business strategies with this vibrant energy, and watch as your business flourishes in this season of abundance.

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? 

Book a free, no-strings-attached strategy call with us today. 

Limited spots are available, so seize this opportunity to start your journey towards a brighter, more successful business future.

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Jessica Granish

The Wizard Behind The Curtain, Tech And Marketing Integrator

Meet Jessica Granish, a heart-centered trailblazer in the dynamic intersection of tech, marketing, and systems integration.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit

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Keep Reading...

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10 Steps to Align with Google and Yahoo’s Email Requirements

While the new email requirements primarily target large bulk senders, it's essential for all email senders to take note. What applies to high-volume senders today may become a requirement for all in the future.

Posted January 12th, 2024 by Jessica Granish


In the ever-evolving realm of email marketing, 2024 promises to be a pivotal year as Google and Yahoo roll out mandatory email requirements that could impact the delivery of your emails. In this blog post, we'll explore why these changes are happening, why they matter to every email sender, and provide a comprehensive checklist of five crucial steps to ensure compliance.

Why Google and Yahoo are Changing the Rules for Bulk Email Senders

Authentication has always been a best practice in email marketing, but not all senders have embraced the necessary tools to safeguard their emails. Failure to authenticate emails leaves room for bad actors to impersonate domains and engage in phishing, which can significantly harm a sender's reputation.

Google and Yahoo are taking a proactive stance to protect their users from spam and unwanted emails. Recognizing the critical role of proper email authentication, they have elevated it from a best practice to a non-negotiable requirement. To ensure your emails continue reaching the inbox, compliance with key authentication and spam prevention practices is paramount.

This includes:

Authenticating emails using DKIM, SPF, and DMARC.
Providing a one-click unsubscribe option and honoring unsubscribes within two days.
Reducing spam and maintaining a spam complaint rate under 0.3%

Why These Changes Matter for Every Email Sender

While the new requirements primarily target large bulk senders, it's essential for all email senders to take note. What applies to high-volume senders today may become a requirement for all in the future. Operating in the "barely compliant" zone is not a thoughtful or growth oriented strategy, even for smaller senders or those dealing primarily with transactional emails.

Whether you send a handful or millions of emails, prioritizing domain protection, spam prevention, and adherence to deliverability best practices is crucial for maintaining a healthy email program and keeping subscribers safe.

Avoiding the Spam Folder:
The infamous spam folder, a virtual purgatory for emails deemed unworthy by filters. Landing in this digital abyss means your message might never see the light of a recipient's inbox. It's the nemesis of email marketers, a place where even well-intentioned emails can find themselves, lost and unseen.

Navigating spam filters is crucial for ensuring your messages reach their destination. Understanding the factors of the dreaded spam folder is the first step in the battle for inbox visibility.


Checklist: 10 Steps to Ensure Compliance


Step 1: Understand Your Sending Domains

Before sending emails through Postmark, ensure your domains are authenticated. Validate individual email addresses or authenticate entire domains by making necessary DNS tweaks. Head to the Sender Signatures tab to review the status of each domain.

Step 2: Authenticate with Custom DKIM

Implement custom DKIM signatures to confirm your legitimacy as a sender and verify message integrity. Add a TXT record to your domain's DNS following Postmark's guidance.

Step 3: Authenticate with Custom SPF

Replace Postmark's default Return-Path domain with your own to enhance SPF authentication. Set up a custom Return-Path by adding a CNAME record to your DNS.

Step 4: Set Up DMARC

Implement DMARC to monitor email senders using your domain and instruct receivers on handling unauthenticated emails. Even if you're not a high-volume sender, setting up DMARC is recommended.

Step 5: Register with Google Postmaster Tools

Register your domain with Google Postmaster Tools to monitor spam complaint rates. Keep your spam complaint rate below 0.3% to maintain a positive sender reputation.

Step 6: Segment Your Email List Strategically

Divide your email list based on user demographics, preferences, and behavior. Implementing targeted segmentation allows for personalized content delivery, increasing the relevance and impact of your messages.

Step 7: Implement List Hygiene Practices

Regularly clean your email list by removing inactive or disengaged subscribers. A clean and focused list improves deliverability and reduces the risk of spam complaints.

Step 8: Monitor Email Deliverability Metrics

Regularly track key deliverability metrics, such as bounce rates, open rates, and click-through rates. Analyzing these metrics provides insights into the performance of your email campaigns and helps identify areas for improvement.

Step 9: Conduct A/B Testing

Implement A/B testing for different elements of your emails, such as subject lines, content, and call-to-action buttons. Analyzing the results allows you to refine your email strategy for improved engagement and effectiveness.

Step 9: Conduct A/B Testing

Review and optimize your unsubscribe process to make it as straightforward as possible for users. This not only ensures compliance with regulations but also contributes to a positive user experience.


Understanding DKIM, SPF, and DMARC

Email authentication methods—DKIM, SPF, and DMARC—are the foundation of securing your email communications.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): This cryptographic authentication method adds a digital signature to your emails, verifying that they come from a legitimate source and have not been tampered with during transit.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): SPF specifies which servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. It helps prevent spammers from forging your domain in the "From" address of their messages.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC builds upon DKIM and SPF by providing a policy framework for email authentication. It allows domain owners to specify how their emails should be handled if they fail authentication checks and provides reporting on these actions.

Impact on Email Deliverability and Engagement

Adhering to these email authentication standards directly impacts your email deliverability and engagement metrics.

Deliverability: Proper authentication signals to email service providers that your emails are legitimate, reducing the likelihood of your messages being marked as spam or ending up in recipients' junk folders.
Engagement: By following best practices, you enhance the overall user experience. Subscribers are more likely to engage positively with authenticated emails, leading to improved open rates and click-through rates.

In short, email authentication is not just about compliance; it's a fundamental strategy for ensuring your emails are delivered and well-received.


Email Marketing Software Compatibility

Ensure your email marketing software supports and facilitates the implementation of DKIM, SPF, and DMARC.

User-Friendly Interfaces: Look for platforms with user-friendly interfaces that simplify the process of setting up and managing authentication protocols.
Automated Configuration: Some platforms offer automated configuration options, streamlining the setup of DKIM and SPF records in your DNS.

Understanding how your chosen email marketing software integrates with these authentication methods can save time and make the implementation process smoother.


Continuous Monitoring and Adjustments

Implementing email authentication is not a one-time task; it requires continuous monitoring and adjustments.

Regular Audits: Periodically audit your authentication records and configurations to ensure they remain up-to-date and aligned with best practices.
Feedback Loops: Leverage feedback loops provided by email service providers to monitor recipient feedback, especially regarding spam complaints. Use this data to refine your email practices.

Regularly revisiting and adjusting your approach to email authentication ensures ongoing compliance and optimal performance.


Tips for Maintaining a Low Spam Complaint Rate

Maintaining a low spam complaint rate is crucial for sustaining a positive sender reputation.

Engaging Content: Craft engaging and relevant content to reduce the likelihood of recipients marking your emails as spam.
Segmentation: Segment your email list based on user preferences and behavior to send more targeted and personalized content.
List Cleaning: Regularly clean your email list by removing inactive or disengaged subscribers to minimize the risk of spam complaints.

By implementing these tips, you not only improve your spam complaint rate but also foster a healthier relationship with your subscribers.


Upcoming Industry Trends and Predictions

Looking ahead to the future of email marketing, several trends and predictions are on the horizon:

Enhanced Personalization: Expect a continued emphasis on personalized and targeted email content to meet evolving customer expectations.
AI and Automation Integration: The integration of artificial intelligence and automation tools will become more prevalent, allowing for smarter and more efficient email campaigns.
Stricter Security Measures: Anticipate additional security measures and standards being introduced to combat evolving threats and protect user data.
Interactive Email Experiences: Email content will become more interactive, with the integration of quizzes, polls, and other engaging elements to enhance user interactivity.

Keeping an eye on these trends allows you to stay ahead of the curve, ensuring your email marketing strategies remain effective and innovative in the ever-changing digital landscape.


In Conclusion

Adapting to these changes is not just a necessity for compliance but a strategic move to safeguard your sender reputation and ensure the continued success of your email campaigns in 2024 and beyond.

In the dynamic landscape of email marketing, adapting to industry changes is not just a necessity but a strategic move to safeguard your sender reputation and ensure the continued success of your campaigns. As you embark on the journey to meet Google and Yahoo's new requirements, remember that the process of upgrading your email authentication practices can be complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone.

I'm here to help you seamlessly transition to the enhanced standards set by Gmail and Yahoo. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting, making these upgrades is a proactive step towards safeguarding your email program's health and ensuring your messages reach the right audience.

Don't wait until issues arise; take charge of your email deliverability now. If you have questions, need assistance, or want to ensure your email marketing practices are in top shape, I invite you to book a call with me. Let's collaborate to elevate your email marketing strategy and propel your business forward. Your success is just a call away.

Book a Call Now and let us work with you towards a more robust and effective email marketing future.

Comments

Jessica Granish

The Wizard Behind The Curtain, Tech And Marketing Integrator

Meet Jessica Granish, a heart-centered trailblazer in the dynamic intersection of tech, marketing, and systems integration.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit.

Free Tech and Marketing Audit Session

How to Maximize Your Online Visibility with our Tech and Marketing 20 Min Rapid Audit

After our Tech and Marketing 20-Min Rapid Audit, you'll walk away with immediate insights and actionable recommendations tailored to enhance your online visibility. Discover quick wins and unlock the potential for rapid growth in just a brief session!

Keep Reading...

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Business to Business Facebook Likes Don’t Count

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Top 12 Benefits of Hosting Webinars & Teleseminars and How It can Boost Your Online Business

Webinars and Teleseminars are fantastic business building tools that many marketers unnecessarily hesitate to take advantage of. They aren’t as daunting as they seem, and even the shyest of us can become confident in hosting them.

Webinars vs Teleseminars: What’s the Difference?

team-1480072__180Teleseminars came first as a way to share information between parties that are not in the same physical location. Teleseminars are fully audio based learning, with the audience listening in through a telephone or computer. Webinars, on the other hand, use audio and visual learning with the listening in through a computer. Each medium offers its own advantages and disadvantages.

The Benefits of Webinars and Teleseminars

  1. You’re immediately seen as the expert. You are in the position of a teacher, which comes with a certain amount of credibility at the start. As you speak and share great content, your credibility will grow. When you’re seen as an expert, consumers turn to your website, follow your social media pages and blogs, and purchase your products and services.
  2. Increase brand awareness. Some attendees of your presentation might’ve joined because of their interest in the topic without knowing about your organization. In your presentation, you can educate them on what your company does and how it can provide value to them.
  3. Gain reusable content. No need to reinvent the wheel! The information you gathered for your presentation can be reworked into blog posts, newsletters, e-books, social media posts, audio files, etc.
  4. system-1527680__180A large potential audience. Traditional seminars can cost more money to attend, plus require travel hassles and costs. This can keep individuals from attending. A webinar or teleseminar can be attended from the comfort of a home, making your potential consumer base significantly larger.
  5. Discover new contacts. Individuals who sign up for your presentation can be fellow industry experts to network with or potential customers to connect with.
  6. Distinguish yourself from your competition. Webinars and teleseminars are especially valuable if your competitors are not offering them. You’ll be set apart as an expert who offers more value to customers than your competitors.
  7. Direct more individuals to your site and social media profiles. In your presentation, draw attention to your website and social media profiles as a way for the audience to get more information after the presentation. If your presentation is received well, many people will want to check out your other pieces of content.
  8. Another avenue for sales. In your presentation, you can briefly mention different products or services offered by your organization. Even if only a few people make a purchase, it’s still revenue gained in addition to the other benefits.

Is a webinar or a teleseminar better for you?

It all depends on your audience. Asking yourself some key questions will help you decide which option is the best fit.

  1. Am I worried about audience attention span? If so, do a webinar. Webinars allow the use of visuals, which can not only improve audience learning but can help keep the audience engaged throughout your presentation.
  2. stress-540820_640Would I benefit from audience engagement/feedback in the presentation? Webinars offer tools, such as polls and chat rooms, to gain instant audience insight and encourage audience engagement. Not all presentations need this interaction though, and you can get feedback through post-presentation surveys.
  3. How much time do I have to prepare? Webinars require more time to create given the need to create engaging visuals that correlate to what you are saying without detracting from it. If you’re more limited on time, a teleseminar is the way to go.
  4. What technology does my target audience have? To access a webinar, audience members need a computer with a reliable connection. To access a teleseminar, audience members simply need a telephone or computer. Keep in mind technical difficulties are much more prevalent on webinars than teleseminars.

Worlds tend to collide. Webinars frequently offer a call in feature that will allow your audience to simply call in and listen as well. So you can experiment with what is best for your audience.

Keep in mind that sometimes when getting starting doing a webinar, it can be distracting trying to present with people chatting or trying to engage with the technology features. It might be best to have someone monitor the room while your focus on your presentation. Your monitor can interrupt at appropriate times for questions, or help read questions to give you a break in speaking.

You can try out both and see which better fits your teaching style. Remember that the different methods work better for different audiences, so by learning both you open yourself up to reaching more audiences. You’ll be most effective if you can do webinars for certain topics or audiences and teleseminars for others.

Want help crafting a webinar or teleseminar? Alpine Small Business Solutions is here for you to help with any aspect of small business building. Just give us a call or shoot us an email today!

Why A Tripwire Is Just What Your Marketing Plan Needs

Ready to turn more leads into customers (and really, who isn’t?) Then you need to implement a tripwire into your marketing plan.

A tripwire is simply an enticing low-risk offer that provides low cost entry into your sales funnel. Leads and prospects are immediately turned into customers. These customers can then be turned into repeat customers through strategic upselling. And the best part? Customers who buy once are more likely to buy again…you just have to get that first sale.

The Psychology Behind Tripwire’s Effectiveness

sales1Tripwires utilize the persuasion principle of consistency. People have a need to rationalize their behavior as consistent, whether they are aware of its impact on their decisions or not. After they agree to a small request, they become more likely to agree to a similar but larger request. They start to feel safe with your company and products. It’s why you may find yourself picking your friend up from the airport a few weeks after you agreed to pick him up for a social outing. As long as the second larger request is similar in nature to the first smaller request, it’s likely individuals will comply.

So let’s apply this to sales. Buyer Bob buys a low priced guide to optimizing blog posts for SEO from a marketing business. A week later, they receive information on a thorough content marketing course. Because Buyer Bob already purchased the tripwire (the smaller request), he is more likely to purchase the service (the larger request).

The Components of a Tripwire

A tripwire needs to be enticing. Your buyer has a problem and is looking for a solution. You need to offer value to help ease her pain point. Leads should look at your tripwire offer and see how it’s perfectly tailored to meet their need, and how they can’t pass up this great resource.

sales2A tripwire also needs to be low risk. It’s great if a costly service meets the need of your leads, but if you can break that service in to something more low-risk for the buyer, they can dip their toes in the water before dunking their heads. The cost needs to be low to kickstart the lead-turning-into-a-customer process. A tripwire sale ideally is $20 or less (more if your services and products are on the high end of pricing). Rarely does a sale of a tripwire result in a profit (and can even show as a loss), but the value in a tripwire sale isn’t in the immediate financial gain, but it’s ability to form a foundation for an upsell. Many marketers think of this more as paying for a lead.

A small upfront cost usually works better than a free offer. This shows your leads are good and serious about what they need. People often question the quality of a free offer, while they view a lower priced product as a quality item on sale.

Making a Tripwire Sale

Begin by creating the tripwire, which meets the needs of Buyer Bob related to the larger product/service you’re wanting to sell. Find their pain point and how you can solve it. The tripwire can be physical or digital. You can sell a product/service that stands alone (a health food store selling a cookbook hoping to upsell high-end kitchen appliances) or use a fragment of your product/service (a yoga teacher selling a lesson from her course hoping to upsell the entire course).

Once you’ve got your tripwire, pitch the sale to leads. After the leads purchase the tripwire, you can either make the upsell pitch immediately or wait a set amount of time. salesWhichever way you choose the important piece is to follow up. You have a hot buyer…check in when him. Certain tripwires are set up well for an immediate pitch (while you’re buying this dog teeth cleaning, get your dog groomed and covered with flea and tick prevention at the same visit). Others work better as a follow-up (now that you’ve completed our first course, sign-up for the entire program). Find what meets your sale best.

Not all tripwire sales will result in repeating customers, just like not all lead pitches result in sales. The key is focusing on leads with the best possibility of converting from a tripwire sale to an upsale. You’ll be surprised, though, at how effective tripwires can be in creating new and lasting customers. This is where you are starting to build that bond with customers. Make them love you from the start and create a brand evangelist.

If you’re ready to implement tripwire sales into your marketing plan, but could use some guidance, we’re here for you! We can assist with any aspect of business building and strategy, including creating and marketing effective tripwire sales. Simply shoot us an email or give us a call today.

 

What Is a Sales Funnel and Why You Need to Apply It to Your Business Today

For businesses, sales are the foundation on which everything is based. Without a product or service to sell, your organization wouldn’t exist! An effective sales strategy is crucial to the survival (and hopefully thriving) of your organization, and guess what; a great tool to help is a sales funnel.

The Idea Behind the Sales Funnel

1397585A sales funnel is an analogy used to explain how the sales process works. It serves as a visual representation of how an individual moves from knowing nothing about your organization to becoming a loyal customer and hopefully brand evangelist for you. The mindset of a sales funnel views sales as a proactive process of making customers (as opposed to the more passive process of finding customers). The underlying goal of the sales funnel is to convert those who are unaware of your organization to happy customers by finding as many quality leads as possible and getting the percentage of people who go through the funnel as high as possible.

The Stages of the Sales Funnel

Many different takes on the sales funnel exist, but this is the simplest and (I think) most effective way of viewing it.

  1. The lead: The sales funnel begins with individuals who are in your target audience. They may be interested in what you offer, but have no contact yet with your organization and are unaware of what your organization offers. This part of the funnel is the largest, so it’s important to utilize a variety of effective lead-gathering strategies. You just have to show them how you can solve a problem for them…maybe one they didn’t even know they had!
  2. The prospect: At this stage, you’ve made contact with the individuals. They are aware of your organization and how you can meet their needs. They’ve expressed some interest in your organization that merits you pursuing these potential customers. Often times, prospects are simultaneously evaluating their other options, so it’s important to clearly showcase what sets your organization apart from your competitors.
  3. The committed: After all your hard work and negotiations, these individuals are now persuaded. They possess the means and desire to purchase your product/service, and all that’s left is working out the logistical details, such as a contract. Individuals at this stage can still back out though, so proactive effort into quality customer service is needed to prevent them leaving.
  4. The customer: Finally! These individuals happily buy your product/service and become a customer. In situations where contracts need to be renewed or purchases made again, the customer will enter a re-evaluation phase. In some respects, they become a prospect again since they can now evaluate their other options. Effective customer service will minimize the amount of time and effort they spend weighing alternatives, and ideally they will be such a satisfied customer that they renew the contract or buy more of your product right away. Remember, it is much easier to have a repeat customer than generate a whole new lead. Keep those customers happy. If you have a good customer base, they will become your cheerleaders. You know what that means…FREE MARKETING!

Reasons to Utilize the Sales Funnel

  1. It’s an effective measurement tool. Sales funnels allow you to measure the number of individuals at each stage, the percent of customers made from leads, and the average time it takes to move a customer down the funnel. Gathering these metrics provides you with a more holistic method of comparison to gauge successful sales efforts than just sales completed. After enough time using the sales funnel, you’ll be able to see a baseline of what you can expect from your sales team. Deviations from this baseline will show you what works well or what needs to be improved in your sales strategy.
  2. It’s a tool to measure the company’s health. A well-flowing sales funnel (accounting for external influences like the economy or the off-season of selling, of course) reflects an effective sales team and strategy. A sales funnel functioning well shows your company is doing well. A sales funnel functioning poorly can be an indicator that changes need to be made to improve the health of the organization.
  3. It showcases what areas need to be targeted to get adequate numbers. Ideally, the numbers will always be high at every phase. The reality, however, is that the numbers fluctuate often. Using a sales funnel highlights areas that should be targeted to get the numbers to where they need to be for effective customer recruitment. If you see you’re lacking leads, you can put more resources into lead generation. If you see you have enough leads but not enough are becoming prospects or committed, you can put more resources into bettering your pitch. If you see enough customers aren’t returning when contracts need to be renewed, you can put more resources into customer service.

A sales funnel is a great way to improve the effectiveness of your organization’s sales strategy as well as improve your system. Want help in implementing the sales funnel into your sales strategy? Alpine Small Business Solutions is here for you! We would love to help with this (or any aspect of business building). Simply email or call us today.

The Dirty Truths Nobody Told You About Hosting a Virtual Summit

All this talk about hosting a virtual summit has you excited. What you don’t know are the dirty truths most people fail to mention. If you dive into a virtual summit without being prepared, you will end up in over your head. Virtual Summits take months of planning and organizing to successfully execute. I can’t stress enough that you won’t be able to complete a virtual summit by yourself. You will drive yourself crazy without some additional support!

Here are a few areas that we know from experience it is great to bring in another set of eyes on.

#1 Test Equipment in Advance

This seems like a no-brainer but as a small business owner, it’s easy to put the equipment aside, forget about it and worry about all the other things on your to-do list. Then when push comes to shove, you set up last minute only to find out– %$#@! Technical difficulties! Please get your video, microphone, and programs all set-up well in advance and practice using them with friends and coworkers! That way if you come across any issues you can call over your techie friends to help you set it up and you’ll know how everything works before the big day comes. It is best to make sure you are super confident in the technology. You don’t want technology to be a stressor when you are trying to rock it!

#2 Customer Support

Summits aren’t an evening task. They take time. You will be out of office for a good period of time so who is going to hold down the fort and answer to those emails while you’re away? What all the offers or details you are selling? The people trying to connect but are having trouble? Someone needs to be on call for customer support. Your people want answers! Have help with your customer service, and make sure that person is in the loop of the product/service so they can best help your audience. Your customer support team is the first touch to the business. Make it great! Be sure to plan for this well in advance so you can relax during your summit and not worry whether your business will still be there when you get back!

#3 Design/Marketing Campaign & Promotion

Let’s face it, you’re not a jack of all trades, and you are definitely not a designer! Designing and digital marketing are really in-depth processes, and when they are done right, it is very successful! Leave this to the pros to help promote your virtual summit. This will be the face of your summit and you want to look professional and have eye-catching branding and design.

#4 Website & eCommerce

You will be busy planning content for your upcoming interviews and you’re not about to dive into all that code jumble! It is important that your summit/membership website and ecommerce for both are all set up and running correctly well in advance. Find a developer who can support you and execute this correctly. The last thing you need is frustrated customers who can’t buy your All-Access Pass which means lost revenue for you!

#5 Schedule Planning and Organizer

Different States, Countries, and Time zones – Oh my! The number of guests you will be interviewing during your summit may be shocking. Four to Five speakers will not suffice. Expect to be interviewing around 25-30 people in your industry. Trying to schedule and plan interviews with this number of people from all around the world is no task for you! Let someone else take this lead and set up these meetings for you.

#6 The Aftermath

Congrats you successfully made it through your summit, which means you get to jump right back into your normal routine. WRONG! You still need to consider sending out thank you notes to all the speakers and make sure your all-access pass members have sufficient customer support. Did they get their log-in information? Can they log-in? Can they access the content? This is where a customer support specialist will aid you otherwise you will lose your mind trying to answer all the tickets. Not to mention the thank-you letters…that’s 30 letters you need to write! Maybe that is best handed off to an assistant who can help execute those letters.

Whew! Exhausted yet? This is what I am saying, you need to enlist help to make sure the overall summit is outstanding and you look amazing. Make sure you have the right team in place to manage that-you can always contact us at Alpine Small Business Solutions.

5 Reasons Why You Should be on the Google+ Social media Platform to Grow Your Online Business

Yes, I know…it is the next big thing…AGAIN! We have heard it several times that Google+ is going to be huge, yet you don’t use it or really even know what it is. So why do you want to be on it now?

Usually, you want to use social media outlets your target audience is active on. Not always. Insert Google+, the failed social media platform created by Google to compete with Facebook and Twitter. It comes and it goes without you ever really noticing. So why would I push you to be active on a failed platform? Sure, Google+ lacks the prevalence into popular culture that Facebook and Twitter can rightly brag about. But it offers unique benefits to marketers for growing your business, enough to justify the minimal time it takes to grow a thriving Google+ presence.

But first, what really is Google+?

g-1460601__180While Google+ is a unique social media platform, it can be helpful to think of it in terms of other more familiar platforms. It offers an easy way to curate and organization information (like Pinterest), the option to follow anyone without needing them to follow you back (like Twitter), and the ability to create a personal profile and a business page (like Facebook). Unlike other social media platforms that are relationship driven (connect with people you know), Google+ is more interest driven (connect with people who share similar ideas/interests). What really sets Google+ apart, though, is that it’s created by Google. And Google rewards users who consume their social media platform, resulting in the biggest benefit of Google+ being its SEO benefits.

Google+ SEO benefits

Google+ improves your SEO through a few ways. First, posts that are high in shares and +1 (the Google+ version of “likes” and “favorites”) rank higher in search results. So when you publish content high in shares and +1, that content is seen more by individuals and increases the chances they check out your website, become a customer, etc.

google-plus-1007069__180Second, through the use of Google+ Circles (similar to friending someone or liking a page on Facebook). If an individual is logged into Google and they added you to their Google+ Circle, your content is more likely to show up in their search results.

Third, your Google+ posts are immediately indexed into search results, translating into SEO benefits quicker than if you were to post the same content on another platform.

When your content shows up higher in search results, more people can discover your content. More eyes on your content means more visits to your website, more conversions into customers, etc. SEO is a crucial aspect of business building, and Google+ is a great way to strengthen your SEO.

While SEO is the biggest benefit to Google+, it is definitely not the only benefit.

Audience Segmentation

Google+ offers a feature called “Google+ Circles” which allows you to organize contacts into specialized groups. Each time you publish content, you get the option to only share with relevant group(s). This allows you to provide solid content specialized for individual users, providing them high benefit without oversaturating their feeds.

Target Audience Finding

google-plus-1183714__180Another great Google+ feature is “communities.” These are similar to Facebook groups. They are created by individuals and members within communities share and engage with content. Communities are categorized into different topics, such as football or photography. Posts are organized into sub-topics (for example, in a freelance writers’ group there are topics of marketing, writing tips, and writing tools) to help users sort through the high quantity of information.

Say you are a healthy food blogger. You can join communities such as healthy recipes or vegetarian eating. Individuals in these groups are targeted audiences who may want to consume your content and use your services. You can post regularly quality content (such as recipes) in hopes of directing members of the community to your blog. It’s applying the content marketing strategy (provide quality free content to be seen as an expert in your industry and increase the likelihood consumers will use your business when they need to buy a product/service) to a highly targeted audience. As a result, your content marketing efforts are more efficient.

Improving Your Knowledge

Communities aren’t just for you to share information-you can use them to gain knowledge too! First, you can improve the relevance and quality your content. See what types of content other similar businesses post to gain new ideas for blog posts. Find out what topics individuals respond to, and tailor your content to fit that. Second, you can join communities related to content marketing, social media, and the like to stay up-to-date with the latest marketing trends and tools.

Using Google+

Google+ offers many rich benefits to marketers who take advantage of it. If you’re really strapped for time, you can connect your Google+ account to Hootsuite and share every Facebook post to Google+ as well. If you’ve got more time, however, the recommended strategy is to treat Google+ as its own social media platform. The style of posts that resonate most with your audience on Google+ will be different than the posts that resonate with your audience on Facebook, Twitter, etc. You can take content you’ve already made (such as blog posts or newsletter copy) and share on Google+.

Ready to take advantage of Google+ but aren’t sure where to start? Alpine Small Business Solutions is here for you! We’d love to help you with Google+, or any aspect of small business building. Simply give us a call or shoot us an email today!