Tag: internet marketing

Small Business Shuts Doors, Adds Free Joke Hotline

Curious, a whimsical gift and home store on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach, California, shut its doors temporarily due to the corona virus outbreak.

But to bright people’s days, show owners Andres and Bryce launched joke hotlines on their cellphones, recording one new joke each day.

Andrew Gawdun: 775-450-3723

Bryce Toney: 808-652-0600

They’ve even asked callers to share jokes of their own for the following days to come.

You probably don’t want to use your cell phone for this, but what about your website?

T-Mobile Debuts $15 Plan for Pandemic Relief

Now here’s a business idea for you – offer your products at a steep discount as “pandemic relief” to help those who are feeling the economic pinch. T-Mobile is offering $15 a month cell service. It’s a pretty good guess that once all of this economic turmoil is ending, the price will go up and they will have captured a good share of the market.

https://adage.com/article/digital/t-mobile-debuts-15-plan-carriers-offer-pandemic-relief/2245906

Yale’s “Happiness Class” is Available Online for Free

If you’re stuck at home and feeling blue, you might consider taking an online class. How about one on happiness?

https://fortune.com/2020/03/24/yale-science-of-well-being-free-most-popular-class/

Marketing in a Time of Crisis

Marketers talk frequently about how being agile and flexible helps them capitalize on shifting market dynamics, changing customer demands and competitive threats. But in reality, that’s not what we’re used to doing at all.

https://www.cmswire.com/digital-marketing/marketing-in-a-time-of-crisis/

Imagery of Human Contact Is Down 30% in Social Media Ads

Quarantine culture is already causing drastic shifts in the imagery and copy that brands use to advertise on social media.

https://www.adweek.com/creativity/imagery-of-human-contact-is-down-30-in-social-media-ads/

Using Comedy in Advertising: Who Should Use It, When to Use It, and Where to Use It

Comedy in your advertising can get you really far. We’re talking over 100 million views on YouTube far.

We’d be remiss not to mention the Harmon Brothers in an article on comedic ads. Their viral ads have garnered tens of millions of views, converting viewers to customers and creating brands that are hard to forget.

Have you ever heard of Squatty Potty, Poo-Pourri, or Purple mattresses?

https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/comedy-in-advertising-harmon-brothers/

Get to Yes: Three conversion lessons learned from an FBI hostage negotiation

Not too long ago, the aunt of a prominent Haitian political figure was kidnapped and held for a $150,000 ransom demand. Hostage negotiator Chris Voss managed to convince the hostage-takers to release her for just $4751 and a CD player. It’s a pretty incredible (true) story.

So how did he do it?

https://marketingexperiments.com/conversion-marketing/lessons-learned-from-hostage-negotiation

Podcast: 7 Free Ways to Get Original Data for Your Content

I knew creating content from original data was one of the best ways to attract links and exposure with little promotion. But I always thought it was expensive … until I had a chat with Andy Crestodina from Orbit Media.

https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2020/03/free-original-data-content/

Marketing in Times of Uncertainty: Tips From Top Marketing Pros

Are you unsure how to approach your marketing during a crisis? Looking for wisdom from well-known marketers?

To help you make wise decisions during trying times, we tapped the minds of top marketers.

https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/marketing-in-times-of-uncertainty-tips-from-top-marketing-pros/

What to do right now: How to navigate through a global crisis on social media

Social media has been driving a lot of conversations around our current global crisis, creating real connection among distant and sometimes disparate individuals. But what is the role of brands in facilitating this connection?

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/how-to-navigate-global-crisis-on-social-media/

Love and Brands in the Time of Corona

Now is not the time to hide and wait for things to blow over. It’s time to double-down, find a new voice and use our platforms as a force for the public good. Identify how your brand can be part of the solution.

https://www.adweek.com/partner-articles/love-and-brands-in-the-time-of-corona/

Overcome This Common Marketing Mistake that Makes You Want to Quit

I see a lot of businesses and brands struggling with the same common marketing mistake.

The problem usually shows up in statements like:

I’m not sure what to write anymore.

My content doesn’t seem to be connecting like it used to.

I’m tired of creating content because it feels like I’m saying the same thing over and over.

Have you ever felt any of those?

https://copyblogger.com/common-marketing-mistake/

7 Brands Increasing Social Media Spend Right NOW

There will be fortunes made by fast moving marketers during this pandemic. As other companies cancel their ad spend for fear of alienating their customer base, these 7 companies are stepping into the limelight and letting their brands shine.

https://adage.com/article/digital/7-brands-have-increased-social-media-spend-during-corona virus-pandemic/2246106

YouTube Tries to NOT Break the Internet

In an effort to ease internet traffic during the corona virus outbreak, YouTube is reducing the quality of their videos around the world for a month.

https://adage.com/article/digital/youtube-will-limit-video-quality-around-world-month/2246031

Marketing in the Age of Corona virus

This is interesting to watch. It’s a regularly updated list tracking marketer’s response to corona virus. You might find some ideas here on how your own business can deal with any fallout.

https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/regularly-updated-list-tracking-marketers-response-corona virus/2244251

Great Example of Business Expanding During this Crisis

Lest you think that everything is shrinking right now, let’s remember that some of the best times to make money is when everyone else is hunkered down, waiting for the storm to pass.

Cat Person is launching now, despite of and even because of what’s happening. People are home, they’re spending more time with their cats, so why not launch?

https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/despite-covid-19-crisis-d-c-cat-brand-still-launching/2245771

Irving

You’ve created a dynamite report or lead magnet that is super helpful and meets your audience’s needs – Yah!!!

And you’ve even got a hot converting offer (or two) embedded inside the lead magnet so that you can start earning right away – Awesome!

Now all you need to do is get the lead magnet in front of people so you can build your list and start making sales.

This is where some (most?) marketers have trouble. The lead magnet alone is not enough – you’ve got to have an audience for that lead magnet, too.

The questions are simple:

How do you get your free report in front of your potential new subscribers to get them to join your list?

And how can you use your free report to make more sales?

Never fear, I’ve compiled 15.5 free methods to give your report away AND make sales. You don’t need to do them all, of course. Just pick out the ones that work for you, and then watch your list grow.

1: Website

This is basic, yet effective: Offer your report on your website. You can use it to get new leads and to segment your readers based on interest.

Offer your report on your landing page, in the header or footer of your website, in a pop-up window, in a slider or sidebar, and even directly embedded in your content.

2: Rebrandable Version

Create a rebrandable version of your report and let your affiliates give it away. This means affiliates can insert their affiliate links into your report. Every time they make a sale, both you and the affiliate get paid, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

Be sure to train your affiliates on how to make the most of your rebrandable report. Instruct them on how to distribute it to as many people as possible, including adding it to their autoresponder, giving it away on their website and social media, and using paid advertising to promote it.

3: Slide-share

Create a slide-share presentation with one main idea per slide that gives viewers an overview of what’s inside your report. Then link to the full report for those wanting more details.

Choose an attention getting title and upload to Slideshare.net.

Then create a video of the slide-share presentation and upload it to your website, YouTube and social media.

4: Create a Video

This could be a video of slides as we just mentioned, or any other format you choose, including filming yourself presenting the information.

You’ve got two options here:

Either share all your content in the video or make an overview video that only hits the high points.

In either case, at the end of the video you’ll want to invite them to download the report or go to the sales page of the product you are promoting within the original report.

5: Pop-up on a Sales Page

Let’s say you’ve got affiliates promoting your weight loss product. When someone tries to leave the page without buying, you have an exit pop-up that offers the free report, thereby building your list and giving yourself additional opportunities to make the sale.

6: Top of a Sales Page

Again, let’s say you’ve got affiliates promoting your product. At the top of the sales page, you offer the free report. Affiliates promote the free report (easier to do than promoting a paid product) and when people come to collect the report, they can also purchase the product. This can be highly effective if done correctly.

For example, let’s say you’ve got a 15-module course. You offer one module or report for free. Affiliates promote that free module, people come to collect it, and they see the offer for the entire course. Some will purchase the course on the spot. Others will read the free report first, and if they like it, then they will buy the course. Be sure to sell the course at the end of the report, complete with link back to the sales page. “You just read a single module from the “Blogging for Money” course. To get the entire course and discover how to make serious cash just for blogging your brains out, click here.”

And follow up with a 7-day email sequence reminding them of all the great reasons to buy the course.

7: Free Appetizers

Entice people with a distillation of your report for free, and then when they want the full version, they hand over their email address.

This can be an incredibly powerful way to get people to pay attention.

For example, create an infographic based on your report. This works especially well if your report shares a lot of data. Be sure to include the link to the squeeze page for the full report.

Or distill the information into a cheat sheet or checklist where you strip out all the in-depth details and create a one-page sheet that lists the main steps, ideas or tips. To get the rest of the details, they need your report.

8: Author Byline

Why use your author byline to talk about yourself, when you could promote your free report?

Be sure to add the link and a call to action, like this: “Click here to discover the 5 steps to make any woman fall in love with you by the third date!”

Use your byline everywhere you go on the internet, from guest blogging and appearing on podcasts, to forums, social media and anyplace that is appropriate.

9: List Post

Create a “list” or resource post, such as “The top ten downhill skiing resources.” Add your report as one of the resources and publish the list on your blog.

Put your free report in either the #1 or #2 position of the list, along with a call to action such as, “Click here to download this free report right now.”

Each entry should have a resource and the benefits of that resource listed.

List posts tend to be popular and are often shared on social media. For even more exposure, notify each company or person on the list and let them know their resource was featured. Guaranteed, some of them will share your post with their readers.

10: Social Media

This method is self-explanatory – post your free report on social media. Post it wherever you have a social media presence with tweets, videos, posts and so forth.

Post multiple times for maximum exposure. Use a content scheduler like Hoot Suite to make this easy.

Get creative and change your profile or cover photo to the ecover graphic of the report. Be sure to include a link and call to action in the description of the photo.

Offer multiple reports over time to attract the widest audience. Pin your current free report to the top of your page.

11: Unadvertised Bonus

Give away your free report as an unadvertised bonus when someone buys a product from you. This accomplishes four things:

It surprises your customer and makes them more likely to do more business with you.

It makes you more memorable to your customer, and again they are more likely to buy from you again

If you deliver the report by email, it puts subscribers on notice that they should open your emails, because who knows what treasure you will send next?

It gives you another opportunity to make a sale, assuming your free report is promoting a product.

12: Advertised Bonus

Do you want to increase sales of your products? Offer your free report as a bonus.

Do you want to decrease refunds? Deliver the free report after the guarantee period has passed. If they refund, they’ll never get their hands on your report.

Do you want to retain more members in a fixed term membership? Give away a free report every so often.

13: Resource Pages

Create a resource page with your newest free report at the top, and then distribute this page.

You might have a “recommended resources” section in your reports, videos memberships and courses. Be sure to link to it throughout your content and include it in any navigation menus.

Publish a resource page on your blog that is filled with all of your resources, including your new free report.

14: Audience Swaps

Get some joint venture partners and then promote each other’s free reports.

For example, agree to promote each other’s free reports inside email newsletter.

Promote each other’s content on your thank you pages, download pages and subscriber confirmation pages.

Endorse each other through social media.

Cross promote within products by promoting each other’s stuff inside apps, videos, membership sites, courses and ebooks.

Swap blog ads, with your ad going on their blog and their ad going on yours.

15: Incentivize Everyone to Share

In #2 above we talked about creating a rebrandable report that affiliates can share with their audience.

But other than earning a commission from the product that’s being promoted within the report, how can you incentivize anyone and everyone to share it?

By offering something highly desirable and valuable, such as free products, coupons and so forth.

You might ask your entire audience – not just affiliates – to share the report on social media for a discount on another product, or to gain access to a special report, video or membership.

And you can use a tool such as PerkZilla.com to automate this process of handing out rewards in exchange for sharing your report.

15.5: Use Paid Advertising

This method isn’t free, but it is highly effective and does produce as much targeted traffic as you’re willing to pay for.

In fact, you can literally create an ad and be receiving traffic today.

You might use Facebook ads or Google ads, choosing highly targeted long-tail keywords. Be sure to test and track to get the best response.

Or you might do content syndication on sites like Outbrain, creating an overview article and linking to your free report. The article is then syndicated, and traffic is on its way.

Or you could advertise on niche sites. This could be banner advertising, solo ads or even contextual ads. You can contact sites directly and see what they’re willing to do.

Choose one of these methods to get your report in front of as many targeted readers as possible, and then add methods until you’re getting the kind of traffic you want.

Not every method will work in every case, so by all means track and test everything.

And consider creating multiple reports. This way you can cross-promote your current free report from inside all of your other free reports.

Irving

Would you like your videos to hit a million views?

Or maybe 10 million or more?

While there is no exact science to creating a video that will be viewed millions of times, there is a method that greatly increases your odds.

No doubt you’ve heard that if you want to do something, you should find someone else who has already done it, and then do what they did.

This method works a lot like that, except of course we’re never going to duplicate content.

But we will investigate to find out what videos have insanely high spikes in viewership, and why it’s happening so that we might be able to do the same thing ourselves.

Here’s how it works:

Let’s say you’re in the dog training niche. You have your own YouTube dog training channel where you pump out dog training videos and promote your own dog training products.

You’re creating a video a week and each of your videos typically gets 10K views in the first week.

But then you get a spike. A BIG spike. Your latest video gets 100K views in its first week, which is a 1,000% spike.

At the same time, you also monitor your competition, watching other dog training channels to see how their videos perform.

Every week or so you check these channels and look for spikes in viewership.

For example, dog training channel X gets an average view count of 5K or 7K views in the first week. But then you notice their latest video has 150K views, even though they only have 10K subscribers. Obviously, something notable is going on with that video.

Your job is to figure out the reason these videos (yours and your competitor’s) have spiked. When you discover this, you’re going to use this information on your future videos to increase the chances that they will spike as well.

What makes a video spike?

It could be any of the following, a combination of these, or even another variable:

• Primary keyword(s) or topic
• The secondary keyword(s) or topics
• The title itself
• The thumbnail image
• Piggybacking on a successful video (it’s acting like a sequel to a super successful video which may or may not be from the same channel)
• Something within the video, such as content, structure, a surprising element, etc.

In the case of a video viewing spike on a channel with low subscribers, the answer is usually that the topic is something YouTube wishes to promote, and this particular video is chosen by YouTube to be a good representation of that topic.

If the video has a good impression to view ratio, watch time, retention and so forth (viewing metrics) that can be enough to convince YouTube to send plenty of traffic to the video.

Take as much time as you need to really pour over the videos that spike and figure out what’s happening.

Is it the topic?

A tag?

The title, or a particular word in the title?

Did it get shared someplace with lots of traffic? (Such as Reddit)

Is it piggybacking a popular video? Which one?

Is this a micro-niche that needs to be filled?

How is the video structured?

What happens in the first few seconds?

What grabs the viewer?

What keeps them watching?

Do the comments provide a clue?

Your job is to learn why these videos spike and then try to replicate the spikes by emulating, not copying.

Because we don’t know exactly how YouTube makes decisions on what videos to feature, and because you never know exactly what people will want, this is not an exact science (not even close.)

But as you spend more and more time dissecting spiking videos, you’ll learn what elements to use in your own videos to increase (sometimes GREATLY increase) the odds that they, too, receive huge spikes of traffic.

One last thing for people who don’t use videos in their marketing (yet): It’s entirely possible to sell $10K – $50K of a product – such as a course – from a single video with a huge viewership spike.

Food for thought.

Irving

 

Ideas For Courses

Have you ever had trouble coming up with great ideas for profitable, hot selling online courses?

A good course can sell for as little as $10, and as much as thousands of dollars depending on several factors.

Generally, courses sell for $100 to $500.

So, let’s say your next course sells for $300, and you sell 100 copies a month. You pay affiliates 50% and take home $15,000. Or you sell all 100 copies yourself and take home $30,000.

That’s just hypothetical, of course, but it’s a good illustration of just how lucrative the RIGHT course can be for you.

And it all starts with getting a good idea… or better still, a GREAT idea, using any one of these 11.5 methods:

1: Specific Keyword Searches – insert your niche keywords into a keyword tool such as Jaxxy.com. It will show you plenty of topic ideas, and each one is a potential course. Dig deeper with the keyword tool and you’ll find ideas for individual lessons as well. Try it out here.

2: Broad Keyword Searches – don’t know where to start? Enter broad search terms such as, “how to” and discover ideas in a variety of niches. This method will show you niches you’ve never thought of.

 

3: Ask Google – Start typing a search into Google and see what auto fill suggestions come up. Just like the keyword tools, these are terms people are searching for.

4: Marketplaces – Go to info product and ebook marketplaces such as ClickBank, JVZoo and Amazon. Search for your broad niche keywords and see which topics are bestsellers with multiple competitors.

5: Facebook Groups – Search for your niche keywords, and look for large, active Groups. See what topics are popular, and then run a search for the topic within the group to see how long it’s been popular. Avoid topics that won’t last and look for ones that will be popular for a while.

6: Forums – Search Google using your niche keyword(s) along with any of these words: Forum, Discussion or Community. Make sure the forums you find are active before looking at the topics under discussion.

7: YouTube – Search for your niche keywords and see which videos get a lot of views and positive comments. Take note of the questions people ask – these are often topics you can add to your own course.

8: Quora – Look for popular topics in your niche to see what people are asking. Compile the most popular topics within your niche, along with the questions being asked and even some better answers they receive to give you ideas.

9: Your Blog – Go to your blog archives and traffic logs to see which posts were the most popular. Look for posts with a lot of comments, social media shares, back links and traffic.

10: Other People’s Blogs – Want to know what’s happening in your niche? Check competitor’s blogs and see what’s getting the most traction. To find these blogs, do a Google search for your niche keywords along with the word ‘blog.’

11: Udemy – Browse Udemy and see what’s selling, both in your niche and outside your niche. Look for what’s missing, what can be improved, and what can be combined into something brand new and exciting.

11.5: Your Own Products – Sometimes your best product and course research is right under your nose.

Take a look at your existing products and ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have any popular older products you can update into a fresh new course?
• Can you take a chapter out of a product and expand it into a course?
• Can you take an existing product and turn it into a course format?
• Do you have bonuses that could be turned into courses?

11.75 Carry a small notebook – Jot down ideas as they come without judgment and evaluate them later.

Jotting down everything that comes to mind without judging if it is good or bad will encourage your subconscious to find even more ideas. And writing them down with pen and paper stimulates creativity in your brain.

Bottom line, you’re only one great idea away from adding 5 or 6 figures to your income.

Irving

You Will Live Forever

The other day I get this piece of advice from a YouTuber.

He says to subtract your age from 90.

Multiply that number by 365.

That’s approximately how many days you have left before you die forever.

Yes, forever.

Even if you come back in some form (Reincarnation? Heaven?) the current you here on earth will still be lost forever.

Mark Twain said he wasn’t afraid of dying because before he was born, he was dead for millions of years.

Good point.

But if you want to get stuff done, you better get busy, because every day you have one less day to put stuff off.

His advice: Time is short, so get busy.

But what if you flop this advice on its head? What happens then?

Today I received a different piece of advice in my inbox that did just that.

It’s from James Altucher, and he says to, “Live life as if you are NEVER going to die. Ever.”

Which sounded really stupid until I thought about it.

If you think you’re going to live forever, then you better get busy making some money because it costs money to live. So, stop watching TV because you DO have all the time in the world.

Thinking this way still provides motivation, but I notice there is less stress involved, which makes me more productive.

When you’re with someone, be as patient as if you will live forever. You’re immortal. They’re not. So be interested in them and LISTEN to them.

Imagine how much more people will like you if they feel that you are really, truly listening to them. I mean everybody – your family, your friends, your affiliates, your customers and your plumber.

You’re going to live forever, so listen to people tell you their stories so that you can LEARN.

Imagine how much more patience, empathy and kindness you will have for everyone – especially yourself – when you know you’re immortal.

And whatever you want to do, get better at it each day.

Just a little bit.

And one day you will be the best.

You’ve got time.

So much time, that you better get busy and make your immortal future as bright as possible.

Irving

Naming Your Product

This tactic isn’t for everyone.

And I’m not sure I even recommend it but it can be effective.

But you’ve got to hand it to Sweet Jesus Ice Cream – they are getting TONS of free publicity, courtesy of Christians who take offense at the name.

Sweet Jesus is a Canadian ice cream chain. When they announced they were entering the US market, American Christians became upset and started petitions to keep them out, which generated a flood of publicity for the company.

It could easily have gone the other way, with Christians being happy that someone remembered their #1 guy and thought enough of him to name a company after him.

Well, okay, maybe not.

But the real lesson here might be that certain names will generate buzz – good or bad – and it’s important to take that into account when naming your product or service.

If your product is ordinary (ice cream) then you need an extraordinary name or story that people can buy into.

In the case of these Sweet Jesus Ice Cream shops, some people will go there just because of the name. Others won’t go, again just because of the name. The chain of stores is attracting their tribe of people with just two words: Sweet Jesus.

Why does a perfume named after a celebrity radically outsell the same perfume with a generic name?

Why are nail polishes named Topless, Vamp and Barefoot, instead of pink, red and maroon?

Because people are buying (or not buying) the idea more than the product.

Apple positioned itself as cool, while positioning its competitor as nerdy and outdated. It didn’t matter if it was a marketing strategy designed to manipulate, it only mattered if people bought into the idea, which many did.

People buy the idea you present to them, along with how that idea makes them feel.

What idea is your product or business presenting?

And are people buying it?

Irving

First there were taxis.

Then there was Uber and Lyft.

The market is maxed, right?

There’s nothing left to invent.

But wait…

Next came Kiddie Cabbie, to safely take the kids to and from school. Because hey, we don’t trust the strangers at Uber and Lyft to take them for us.

Okay, now there’s nothing left in rideshare to invent, right?

Wrong again.

If you’re a man, you may be don’t realize this (or maybe you do). But the fact is, some women do not like getting into a strange car with a strange man, even if it is Uber or Lyft. And most women traveling alone would prefer a female driver.

Guys, if you want to better understand women, remember this:

Men are afraid women will make fun of them.

Women are afraid men will kill them.

Enter “DriveHER, The Ride sharing Community Designed with HER in Mind.” https://driveher.ca/

From their website: DriveHER is a ride sharing App and community designed to empower and provide a safe space for women and people who identify as women through transportation, technology and lifestyle.

Uber drivers accounted for more than 2,500 of the nearly 6,000 reports of assaults in 2017 and 2018. Meanwhile, of the 19 homicides reported over the two years, 7 of the victims were drivers.

Women driving women. It makes so much sense for both drivers and passengers. And yet, no one was doing it, until now.

You might think you’ve figured out every angle on your business, but trust me, you haven’t.

There is another variation, sub-niche or market just waiting to make you money.

You just have to find it.

Irving

This is the headline I clicked on, expecting to be taken to an article.

Maybe someone had found some cheese in a cave or a forgotten refrigerator, and it was dated 1893. Or maybe a family or business had been saving a precious cheese for over 125 years, and now they were ready to taste it.

Nope.

The headline took me to an ad, and it pulled me right in.

It seems there is a cheese named Oka.

And here’s what they had to say:

“Is it okay to eat cheese from 1893? It’s OK if it’s OKA. While we still use the same recipe from 125 years ago, the cheese you’re about to enjoy isn’t quite so old.”

Clever. Intriguing.

Is it click bait? Maybe, but I liked it so much, I really didn’t care.

Because when you get to the site, you find a lot more interesting questions, such as,

“Is it OK if my cheese smells? It’s OK if it’s OKA. When it comes to this cheese, the smellier the better.”

Or this one…

“Is it OK to eat cheese made by monks? It’s OK if it’s OKA. You can trust the Trappist monks of Oka, who spent years perfecting the recipe we still enjoy today.”

Do you see what they’re doing?

They’re telling you about their cheese by asking questions.

Clever.

You know what’s coming next – a question for you:

What question(s) can you ask that will capture attention, showcase your product, and lead your prospect down the path to becoming your next customer?

Irving