Digital Marketing Blog

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How To Conduct A Social Media Audit Today

A social media audit is a win-win for everyone involved. When done correctly it provides a window into what your audience is actually looking for.

Can You Answer The 3 Questions Below?

  1. When was the last time you conducted a social media audit?
  2. Have you been grinding away on social media with little result?
  3. Is your social media ROI in the negative?

Let’s Dissect This Further:

For example you introduced a new product or campaign to crickets……or you have tons of followers with little engagement and barely any leads….If any of these scenarios are true you need to conduct a social media audit ASAP. If not, conduct a social media audit for maintenance and scale.

Why do you need to do this? What is the purpose?

  • A social media audit will tell you everything you need to know about what is working on your different social accounts and what is not working.
  • Most importantly it can tell you where you need to spend less time and to what platform(s) you should be focusing most of your efforts on.

Many people fall into this thinking that they need to have a presence on EVERY social platform and that is simply not true. You may learn that you have been spending way too much time on the wrong platforms. Go and stay where you are having the most engagement with your target audience.

Conducting a social media audit
Conduct A Social Media Audit To Find New Opportunities

The main goal of your social media efforts should always be on finding and connecting with your target audience.

An audit should be able to tell you:

  • Where your audience is online?
  • What time of day they are typically active?
  • What kind of content resonates with them?
  • What are they saying?

Consider who your buyers are (go back to your buyer personas Hubspot has an AMAZING tool just for this purpose!) how does your content stack up to that? Also is it aligned with your business goals? Have you veered off track?

Auditing your social accounts, will help to answer those questions. .

Factor in your typical sales cycle as an indicator of time from prospect –> lead –>sale.

If you have some time today or in the near future conduct a quick social media audit and learn to better position content to your target audience, WHERE they are online and AT THE RIGHT TIME. This will help with engagement and lead generation.

Here are a 5 ways you can perform a social media audit on your own today!

  1. Start tracking the channels that you own – Diagnose how they are performing against your business goals.
  2. Are you gaining new followers? Have you noticed a steep decline in followers? You may need to pump up engagement.
  3. Are you attracting your target audience? If not go back and see what could be updated with your content.
  4. Check content performance.
  5. What posts are getting the most engagement? What posts are not?

Conducting a social media audit maintains the health and more importantly GROWTH of your online presence.

Conducting a Social Media Audit
Make sure to track data from your audit, to stay on top of key changes

By taking a more focused and tactical approach to your digital presence you set yourself up to start attracting relevant connections from your target audience.

A social media audit is a win-win for everyone involved. When done correctly it provides a window into what your audience is actually looking for. It tells you what they are interested in but best of all when you can find and draw out your ideal audience, you can begin to engage with them.

Once you start engaging with your audience you begin to have more meaningful conversations and interactions with the people you basically started your business to attract.

You learn to communicate and connect with them with your content in a way that they can gain benefit and value from which is priceless.

Below are a few additional (more technical) benefits of a good social media audit:

  • You can develop new goals and KPI’s (Key performance indicators)
  • You begin to realize what content resonates with your audience
  • You discover what channels are most effective and the best time of day to post it
  • Budgeting becomes EASIER! With new benchmarks and REAL goals, you can calculate a more effective and attainable ROI
  • Finally you can get rid of what is not working internally or externally and reorganize for better results.

Conclusion

Once you have completed a social media audit and have gathered relevant data, chances are that over time you will begin to see positive ROI and feedback from your efforts.  

As buyers begin moving through your sales cycle you will notice the following changes:

  • More interest and sign-ups for your emails, webinars, YouTube channel and events
  • Higher rate of downloads for your marketing materials
  • Better bounce rates on pages where you are sending your traffic
  • Followed by better conversion rates

Remember like every part of your digital marketing efforts, social media plays a role in how you are connecting with new prospects, customers and leads.

It should fit into your business goals, with a real targeted focus and strategic plan. Use it to spark engagement and interest in you and your business.

Pay attention to what your social media audit is telling you, then make changes accordingly.

If you need assistance with performing a social media audit – pick one platform and schedule a FREE 15 minute call with me here I Need A Social Media Audit, I would be happy to help!

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5 Ways To Increase Your Email Open Rate

Not to be too cliché, but building a brand, email list, content and value to market your products and services is just not easy. It takes time and consistent effort to get to a point where people are looking forward to what you have to say and eager to purchase the new products and services you have developed, but it can be done.

The 5 ways to increase your e-mail open rate are:

  • Create an appealing subject line
  • Segment your list
  • Test e-mail frequency
  • Use first names
  • Keep your list updated

Breaking Down E-mail Open Rates

I think the best way to begin breaking down how to increase your e-mail open rate is to compare it to….dating. When you meet someone for the first time, you don’t expect to well **clears her throat**…jump to 3rd base right?

Instead you take the time and effort to get to know the person first, figure out who they are and appreciate the effort they are taking to get to know you first as well.

Essentially you expect that they take you out and buy you dinner first. A little wining and dining as the older folks like to say.

Do you expect anything less from the businesses which have you on their e-mail lists? You also expect that they continue to produce valuable content for you in exchange for your time and yes money, if they are trying to sell something.

If the following scenario resonates with you, then I urge you to keep reading.

At this point most of us are hip to the e-mail marketing game right? It starts with the lead magnet (or “freebie”) which gets your attention. You want it because there was something in it which drew your attention. You read through the post but as soon as the information starts getting juicy you see a message to either click a button which takes you to an opt-in form OR simply a place to enter your name and e-mail address.

Now you have to make a decision: you may decide to either bypass and go to Youtube or some other place where you can get the same information without having to exchange your e-mail address to get it or maybe you choose to enter your information download the freebie and unsubscribe another possibility would be that you enter your information, download the freebie but let the subsequent e-mails you receive go to your inbox or folder to die.

Decisions….Decisions….

Decide How To Approach Your E-mail Marketing

What Happens Next?

Typically the e-mail automation and sequence will begin and although the frequency of e-mails may vary there is usually something they are going to try and sell you at the end of this tunnel.

What makes the entire process trickier? If you are an Entrepreneur or Small Business owner then YOU also must include an e-mail marketing strategy into your OWN business as well.

So what’s a business owner to do?

Let me start with a few facts first for the e-mail marketing haters out there “You might be wondering if email is still a worthwhile marketing strategy. In fact, email generates $38 for every $1 spent, which is an astounding 3,800% ROI, making it one of the most effective options available.” (Forsey @Hubspot, 2019)

What Does The Data Tell Us?

  • There are definitely folks out there who are successfully using e-mail marketing
  • People are successfully going through the sales process via e-mail and making purchases
  • E-mail marketing is still an extremely lucrative form of marketing.

Which brings us to this fact: E-mail marketing is still the best way to market to your audience, create raving fans and loyal customers.

How To Get Better Open Rates

The Good news is, I will ALSO include 5 remedies.

 Let’s get to it:

  1. Create an appealing subject line.  

Low click through rates or CTR (for short) typically mean that the e-mail the person is receiving is not relevant to them. Which starts with the subject line of the e-mail, it is important that your subject line targets the content.

Remedy: Try to stay away from urgent subject lines which sound spammy, ie: (This Offer Will Be Gone With The Wind In 2 Hours!) Relevant subject lines will help you to achieve a better CTR then clickbait sounding subject lines which may or may not have anything to do with the content in the e-mail.

Get 15 Of The Best Email Subject Lines

Eye Catching Subject Lines Your Readers Won’t Be Able To Resist!

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    2. You are not segmenting your list.

    All lists are not equal, every e-mail marketing database has a tagging feature which will allow you to segment and categorize your subscribers based on the specific actions that they take.

    Remedy: By taking the time to narrow your focus and send messages to specific groups within your lists, your subscribers will find your campaigns more relevant—and relevant campaigns get better results. For example, you can segment your list by job title, interest, and location like city, state or zip code.

    How to segment subscribers: Include Drop downs in your opt-in form which will help to segment the audience by category.

    3. You haven’t got your frequency right.

    Make sure to test a few options when it comes to the frequency of your e-mails. I can tell you that typically an e-mail every single day is too much in most cases, where not sending enough – say once every other month could cause your subscribers to potentially forget that you even exist.

    Remedy: Instead go for every other week, make sure that the information you are sending to your list is valuable to them to increase the chances of your e-mail being opened.

    Nurture Your E-mail List
    Find Relevant Ways To connect With Subscribers

    4. Use first names.

    Emails that are personalized in subject typically have a better chance of being opened. Also The value in personalizing your e-mail within the body of your email is that the recipient feels as if the content was written specifically with them.

    Remedy: Remember your content should always be relevant to your audience, opening your subject line with the recipient’s name and also including them within the content of the email helps to achieve a high level of attention and familiarity with your content. You want them to eventually begin to look forward to reading your content.

    5. Keep your list clean and updated.

    OK, sure who doesn’t want to see that there are 2,000 or 3,000 people in their list? Even 200! But when it comes to numbers, engagement and CTR are what counts. It’s not enough to have a list where more than half are people who signed up for your freebie but then failed to ever interact with your content again.

    Remedy: The key is to have a nice clean solid list of people who open your email and read the content you provide to them. Remove email addresses which are, inactive, have a high bounce rate, low CTR or have obvious misspellings in the name or domain.

    The most important thing to remember is to schedule the content you are going to send to your audience in advance. Think about why you are sending this communication and what you hope you and your readers will get from it for best results.

    At Least Buy Me Dinner First

    “At least buy me dinner first” simply implies that, you need to work to show value and proof that you can assist with the needs of your audience instead of just cycling them into a generic sales funnel.

    Take time to think about your email subject lines, make sure that your emails are optimized for mobile devices, “Mobile opens accounted for 46 percent of all email opens” (Hubspot Email Marketing Stats, 2019)

    Not to be too cliché, but building a brand, email list, content and value to market your products and services is just not easy. It takes time and consistent effort to get to a point where people are looking forward to what you have to say and eager to purchase the new products and services you have developed, but it can be done.

    No matter what the guru’s say, stay true to yourself and the message you want your audience to receive, be relevant and timely, never forget that YOU GOT THIS!

    Learn along the way EVERY DAY, remember the REAL secret is to ALWAYS solve for X and start with a PLAN.

    If you have a question or would like for me discuss a particular topic in my next Blog – Contact me: support@isimplyassistu.com  

    Jonesing for more FREE resources or want to simply be the FIRST to know when a new blog is going to Drop? Great! You can sign up here (I pinky promise not to clutter your inbox, you will only ever get true valuable information from me !) Click Here: I Am SO Happy You Want To Join Us!

    About The Author: Jeanette Stevens is the proud owner of iSimplyAssist LLC Holds Certification in: Google Digital Garage – Fundamentals Of Digital Marketing, Human Resources Management and Digital Entrepreneurship, she is currently completing an MBA in Digital Entrepreneurship, LOVES pancakes, Jazz and fantasy novels.

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    Why Content Marketing Matters

    Content marketing is valuable to your business
    Great content is very valuable for your business

    The reason why content marketing matters is because of the value it brings to your customers and business.

    When it comes to the value of content, did you know that according to Hubspot, marketers who prioritize blogging efforts are 13x more likely to see positive ROI? (HubSpot, 2019) Which confirms that creating a strategy around valuable content like blogs are typically a much more successful approach to handling your marketing efforts.

    So many times in digital marketing we hear the same buzz words floating around: social media (in general), Linkedin, discussions around Ads whether they are Facebook, Instagram or Google, but what we hear less of is the word content and the impact it can have on your business. Many times even hearing the word content or content marketing what comes next is Blog. But even that is not the whole picture. What ties everything together is the value that the overall content you are producing and distributing is having on your audience on any channel. Because it is that value which will make them comeback for more.

    How To Create Valuable Content

    The best way to create valuable content is to talk about what you know. I like to say teach, yet another buzz word is “Thought Leadership” which is a similar concept. In both instances what you are doing is coming up with topics around your industry that relate to your business and the target market that it serves, creating informational content which will educate your audience. When your audience begins to see you as a resource and can go to your content to learn something new or figure out how to solve a pesky problem or issue, they will continue to consume your content.

    Remember though, this is not coming from an arbitrary place. The goal is to truly add value, you’re not just saying that you can sell them something, instead you are proving your authority within the industry you are doing business in and you are working to attract and convert customers who trust your authority and know the value of doing business with you.

    Content Marketing Strategy

    Your content marketing strategy should follow a system, one which is based on a few factors:

    ·        Knowledge of your industry

    ·        Knowledge of your target market and audience

    ·        Competitor Analysis and Research

    Learn How To Use Content To Attract Leads

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      Knowledge Of Your Industry

      You can only write or create content about what you know right? It is important that you have some knowledge and insight about your industry. If you are trying to establish yourself as a thought leader then getting educated on topics you plan to create content about or staying abreast of important industry changes and updates is of the utmost importance. Keeping your information fresh is not just good for SEO but it is also good and valuable for your audience. A trick that I use which has been very helpful for me is to create Google Alerts which are focused on my chosen keywords.

      To create your own Google Alerts click here: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/4815696?hl=en

      Know More About Your Target Audience

      Lately knowing about your target market is synonymous with buyer persona’s, a buzz word, overly used certainly, but is it still a relevant and important part of the content puzzle?

      1000% Yes!

      Here is why, until you put in the due diligence to get to know who your audience is, discover where they are online and what they need, you will always have a problem with getting your message to the right people at the right time.

      So how do you figure this out?

      You have to start by narrowing down who you’re targeting and yes, really complete that buyer persona to gain a clear understanding of who your audience is. According to Inc.’s article, How To Define Your Target Market it suggests, “Try searching online for research others have done on your target. Search for magazine articles and blogs that talk about or to your target market. Search for blogs and forums where people in your target market communicate their opinions. Look for survey results, or consider conducting a survey of your own. Ask your current customers for feedback.” (Source: https://www.inc.com/guides/2010/06/defining-your-target-market.html)

      Competitor Analysis and Research

      It is very important to incorporate competitor analysis and research into your content marketing strategy. You get valuable insight by looking at who the competition is targeting and asking yourself a few questions like: what platforms are they doing well in? What conversations are they having? Where are they weakest and how can you take that information to strengthen your own position? Determine what ways you can be different and possibly find a niche opportunity they could be potentially missing out on. Just be very careful, you have to make sure that you are taking an objective and strategic approach to your competitor analysis, to put it plainly, ensure that you have a plan and purpose for the research. It is very easy to get caught up in what you think they are doing better and if not careful, could end up just being a copycat instead of an innovator.

      Conclusion

      Content marketing matters at every point of your business. Your content should move your prospects and leads through the buyer’s journey. That journey begins when they first notice the existence of your business. It then moves them along as they evaluate what your business is all about, soaking up all of the valuable resources that you have provided to help them understand what you do, why you do it, what you know and why they should get on board. Never underestimate the power of good content. Focus always on the customer, speak to their need with solutions. Have questions about creating your own content marketing strategy? Let’s Chat!

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      How To Create An Effective Content Marketing Strategy

      As a Golden Rule: When it comes to content marketing, the goal of the marketer should always be the customer and the experience the customer will have with the content.

      Creating content with storytelling

      Content marketing
      Storytelling and content marketing mix

      As a Golden Rule: When it comes to content marketing, the goal of the marketer should always be the customer and the experience the customer will have with the content. There is of course the desire to use content as a medium to creatively push the products and services of the organization. This type of salesy content marketing tactic focuses on discovering ways to say without saying that you are selling or offering something of value to the audience by showcasing those products and services, although tempting, this should not be your main content marketing strategy.

      Building Awareness

      To truly attract your target market when they are in the awareness or decision phases of the buying process your content should consist of valuable resources which solves the problems they themselves are facing. When the content you produce becomes the answer they were looking for, your target market will respond by consuming it. The more you create valuable content, the more it will attract visitors who will begin to see your work as a resource, when that happens the decision process is enhanced by your authority on that particular subject, making you foremost in mind when they are ready to make a purchase.

      How To Incorporate Storytelling With Your Content Marketing Strategy

      “A great content marketer is a fantastic storyteller. People love to hear a great story, think about some of the best movies you saw, the best book you read or the blogger whose content you always seem to gravitate to. What ties everything together is the use of storytelling and being able to convey ideas and introduce solutions through storytelling. Remember to write for your audience, be transparent, and use relevant experiences and anecdotes in the content.

      For example, hold the attention of your audience by making it funny. Do you have any great anecdotes from childhood? A parent, grandparent or other family member who was famous for teaching you valuable lessons by telling you a story about someone who just so happened to be in the same situation you were in and how they overcame it or didn’t? Did you see the lesson in the story? 

      Create content which is meaningful
      The best content makes the connection with storytelling

      If you can recall it no matter how weird, strange, horrifying or funny – it was effective. The same is true for content, part of creating an effective content marketing strategy is understanding who your ideal customer is and figuring out the best way to connect with them with your content. Your content marketing strategy should help you to attract prospects and convert them into loyal customers by driving profitable customer action.

      Your content strategy is a road map which will lead your prospect through the buying process, from the starting point of awareness to the end goal of a purchase. Use your content as a guide, consistently sharing resourceful and valuable information which connects with the needs of your target market. To do that you have to establish and include the channels you plan to use to deliver information to your audience and inspire them to take the next step of an action which you have defined.” An excerpt from my upcoming eBook,“The Content Marketing Shero”  

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      Create Lead Magnets Which Attract Qualified Leads And Raving Fans!

      Plus 3 steps to better results today!

      Create Lead Magnets Which Attract Not Deter

      I read a post recently which exposed the obviousness of lead magnets, the lack of care which is put into most of them and the abysmal way that they are marketed. It even went so far as to imply that they are essentially useless and well pathetically generic.

      I have to admit for the most part – they are.

      Here’s the thing though, no matter how many people are talking about and exposing resource guides, checklists, planners etc for what they are. Simple lead magnets when done RIGHT are not only pretty valuable, but a great way to generate leads to your products and services.  

      What I will do is share with you things to avoid when creating your resource guides and explain the RIGHT way to do them instead.

      So hang on, buckle up, we are getting on this ride!

      #1. Don’t Be Generic 🙁

      Ok, YES like Duh! This seems kinda obvious right? Wrong! You would be surprised how many people get this wrong, maybe even YOU. Don’t believe me read the beginning of this blog again……

      See you did it again! You shook your head and laughed because not only could you relate but well…admittedly you may also be making some of the same mistakes. Generic lead magnets are typically resource guides, checklists, calendars, planners (list goes on….)

      They are usually copied from someone else’s cool and attractive Pinterest pin, or just a recycled Canva template. They do not hold much value and quite frankly do not get many results. Why is that?

      Because it’s the exact same thing that everyone around you is doing. It’s reusing the exact same information and “value” with different colors, shapes and logo.

      So how can you be unique?

      7 questions to ask yourself BEFORE creating that lead magnet

      Avoid missing qualified leads + improve your bottom line!

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        Align your resources with your mission and goals.

        Focus on your target market and really think about the problems they are facing. Do not make yourself feel rushed or like you HAVE to create something because you don’t. The only thing you need to do is focus on bringing value directly to your target market because these are the people who can truly use your resources. Pinpoint what makes your products and services different and consider the pain points your products and services will alleviate.

        Then and ONLY then do you get to work creating your resource guides, an e-book, a free consultation, or a checklist. When you begin to think along the lines of adding value to the people who need it you start thinking a lot more strategically and will begin to create resources that people need and will actually use.

        #2. It’s The EXACT Same Checklist!

        It could be something like this: “Perfect Checklist For Busy Moms”……..ok…..and??? Let’s say I look at the image of the download. It’s got a cute picture of a mom with her little kiddos. The checklist is a laundry list of an entire day of boring tasks stuff like: don’t forget to dust. Do laundry, set aside time to play with the kids, (BONUS** Click here for my super simple busy mom shopping list) and so on…

        Do this instead: take inventory of your current lead magnets, seriously, I promise it’ll be quick.

        Now head over to your favorite sites (places where you normally see lead magnets, social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, your favorite Facebook Group) search for the same resource guides or checklists you are planning to create to generate leads for your own business.

        If you see a lot of the exact same thing, DO NOT be disheartened but DO begin the work of updating and here is why: people are looking for value, real value, not cute pictures, jargon, catch phrases and generic info traps.

        I know some of you will say that this has worked for you, but if you were to sit down and review the numbers….how many of those “leads” are ACTUALLY converting to paying customers?

        Make the updates. Now that you have seen how many other people are literally pushing the exact same resources, do the work to make yours unique and REALLY stand out.

        Say you feel your checklist will be a huge benefit to busy moms, but how?

        Of course she has a lot to do in a day to keep her house from falling apart around her and quite honestly she doesn’t need a checklist or a planner for that – unless she is having trouble staying organized. Or she is not getting enough sleep, is a single parent and has no idea what to make for dinner during the week (nor does she have time to), or where to find resources for making a little extra money at home….see where I am going here?

        Know who your audience is. Think about what would really benefit them.

        Really digest the needs of your target market. Think about your audience as real people, that sounds crazy right? But most of the time we think about our target market as a set of characteristics instead of real people with real issues. Think about the resources you have downloaded and what made you pull the trigger? It was most likely due to a connection that was made when you read the information on the landing page, ad or post and realized that it spoke directly to a pain point that you are experiencing and you believed that the resource item was going to help you in that area.

        Click to download a Buyer Persona and find your ideal customer

        As you stare at your lead magnets ask yourself:

        1. Does the information here really speak to the pain points of my target market and ideal customer?
        2. Am I shedding a light on what keeps them up at night and will this information bring them any value?

        #3. Don’t lose them, be careful who you market to!

        You could have the perfect resource guide, e-book or checklist but if it is not marketed to the right audience or created with the idea of resolving a specific pain point or need it will fall on deaf ears and get lost in the sea of unwanted, useless lead magnets and do you know where you will feel it most? In your bottom line.

        Let’s be frank, the more value you provide to the right audience, the more prospects you’ll have interested in your products and services. These people become leads when they download and consume your valuable content. Once you have these warm leads you can then take them through the last phase of the buying process and convert them to actual paying customers.

        When you are trying to establish yourself to a cold audience (also known as people who have never heard of you or your business), you really need to think about why they would need the content you are about to produce and how it is going to be relevant to them.

        For example instead of “Social Media Checklist To Jumpstart Your Business” Say instead, “17 of the best Social Media Hacks for Lifestyle Coaches to Generate More Qualified Leads” then market this to the appropriate segment.

         It pays to the take the additional steps to really provide valuable content that is actionable, your audience should be able to begin using these resources immediately to either see positive results or get instant answers to something that may have been a roadblock, until YOU came along.

         I hope you found this blog helpful, if you have any questions let me know. Want to keep in touch and join a community of other #goalgetters like yourself?

        Join The iSimply CAN community

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        How to TRULY Understand Digital Marketing And Apply It For A Successful Outcome.

        Plus The ONLY Digital Marketing Formula You Will Ever Need.- By: iSimplyAssist LLC

        Begin with understanding what Digital Marketing is.

        You have read ALL the E -Books…

        Have spent countless hours watching every guru you know of, plus everyone who you watched because of a recommendation to watch yet another guru, who made 6 figures in less than a year from some form of digital marketing…..Your e-mail inbox is bursting to capacity with the automated emails you signed up for from that freebie you wanted.

        Sound familiar?

        Yet, you still have no clue (or on the verge of giving up on), how to properly use digital marketing for brand awareness, prospects, leads nor what steps to take to turn those leads into loyal customers. Let me tell you, although you have heard it ALL before you are not alone!

        Although it seems as if the digital marketing space is crowded and everyone is now a guru and somehow making 6 figures, the reality is the complete opposite. In reality, it takes time and a consistent effort to focus on the goal of growing your business before you will begin to see the kind of success you want.

        I want to start by defining what digital marketing is, the word itself gets used a lot but I fear the meaning itself can get muddled. If you do not believe me ask someone right now what digital marketing is and see if you get a proper answer. Trust me it is totally OK if you get a weird half answer, but just know that the first step to understanding or even master anything is to first know what it is, so let’s define it.

        What is Digital Marketing? Digital marketing encompasses all marketing efforts that use an electronic device or the internet. Businesses leverage digital channels such as search engines, social media, email, and their websites to connect with current and prospective customers. (Hubspot, 2018)

        Shorter Conversational Version:

        Now that you know what digital marketing is, you can now begin to figure out what channels you will use to market to your customers and if offering digital marketing services you can now focus on which one of those services you will use.

        Need a Quick Review? Master Social Media Quick Reference Guide

        I have to tell you, there are several really thorough and successful learning tools out there on the great World Wide Web which are completely free. That’s right 100% free – no gimmick. There are a few that I have used and STILL use to this day and I would like to share those resources with you.

        In order to offer specific services to your clients with confidence, you need to have a complete understanding of certain disciplines and channels. The commitment you will have to make does not include money spent, all that is needed is for you to set aside time in your day for learning and skills development.

        Are you ready?

         My top 5 Free Learning Resources are:

        1. Hubspot –https://academy.hubspot.com/ – Is a wellspring of RELEVANT up to date information on Inbound Marketing and Content Marketing resources, with videos and certifications which are well respected in the industry.
        2. Hootsuite – https://hootsuite.com/resources– Click on the resources tab and find Blogs, White Papers and Case Studies to help you get ahead!
        3. Buffer – https://buffer.com/resources/– Click on Buffer’s VERY informative Blogs and stay up to date on industry news, updates and amazing resources.
        4. Facebook Blue Print –https://www.facebook.com/business/learn – Confused About Facebook & Instagram Marketing? Don’t be! Take FREE Lessons with Facebook to learn how to create the very BEST campaigns for yourself and clients.
        5. Google Digital Garage – https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage– Ahhh Google dontcha Love them?! I sure do! I learned about Google’s Digital Garage when they came to Richmond VA for “Grow With Google” after taking a few free courses which were OUTSTANDING and also having the opportunity to talk with a coach I went home and started the FREE Online courses to get certified in The Fundamentals Of Digital Marketing. I urge you to set aside some time and take this program you will not be disappointed.
        Set aside time in your day for education and skills development.

        If you set aside at least 1-2 hours per day on learning or honing your current skills you are already giving yourself a leg up and if you focus on perfecting just one channel like Instagram or Pinterest advertising or content marketing for instance then you can position yourself as an expert. The key is to be able to truly understand each channel you are learning and how to use it effectively to get the desired results for your customers. Your customers are trusting that they can go to you for the assistance they need to improve their businesses digital footprint and with the free resources that you now have access to you can study these to gain a better understanding of how they work.

        Need More Help Click Here To Read Simple Secrets Of Top Notch Account Managers

        Remember the people that you follow on various social media and YouTube channels are Entrepreneurs, they are giving you valuable information but they are not telling you the entire story – in most cases you have to pay for this information and that is OK, just remember it takes time and effort to truly learn something. Find out what it is you would like to master and research the hell out of it.

        Here is an example: For some reason I could never get my pancake batter right. I had all of the ingredients in front of me, and the recipe propped up so that I can see it. Yet although I read the recipe instructions, I’ll be honest and admit that I did not take the TIME necessary to correctly add the ingredients together. Instead I added flour, baking soda, salt and sugar, eggs, milk and butter together at the same time. Mixed everything up stood back satisfied when I saw the bubbles in the batter begin to form and proceeded to make dense pancakes…(Flop!)

        They were not fluffy and were quite frankly lackluster. They were OK, but not GOOD. They did not have that fluffiness you look for in a really good pancake.

        You know how I know? Because a REALLY good pancake is just as scrumptious without the syrup or jam, as it is with it (Facts!).

        Read The Steps Carefully For Yummy Pancakes & Successful Digital Marketing Campaigns

        So what changed? What did I do differently NOW with my pancakes that I didn’t do THEN?

        Well first of all I read the directions thoroughly and do you know what I never fully got? I mean it never really registered (at least for me, there are some naturally great cooks out there!) that instead of needing 1 bowl to mix all of the fixings, I actually needed to start with 2.

        Dry ingredients in one bowl, then the wet ingredients in the other. After each were taken care of separately only THEN could I combine them together and VOILALAAAA! Suddenly I found myself making award winning VERY delicious pancakes and all because I took the time to fully read the instructions. I knew my goal was to improve upon my current mistakes so I took the time to read the recipe, read the instructions, set out ALL of my ingredients then slowly begin to put the components together and BOOM got this great result over and over again.

        But enough about pancakes! Because now I am getting hungry!

        Creating a digital marketing plan is actually quite similar and it is so much more than the Hodge Podge of tips and tricks you ingest on the subject daily. It is a skill which takes dedication, understanding and patience – TONS of patience. Please do not let anyone tell you that results happen overnight, trust me, they don’t.

        Learn More Here: How To: Social Selling In The Digital Age

        Now Try This! I have a handy formula for you to use designed for when either a client approaches you for help with some aspect of their digital marketing concerns or you decide to take the reins in your hands and begin working on your own plan for success, here it is:

        Study The Formula

        THE Formula:

        1. Determine Your Goal  
        2. Figure out your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) for instance what is your special skill or niche?
        3. Create a Buyer Persona to discover your ideal customer and Target audience > Here is a completed template, simply fill in your responses then ALWAYS use this as your reference: Buyer Persona Template           
        4. Write down how you will connect with your ideal customer and target audience. Ask yourself the following questions (then answer them) 1) what social channels are they using? 2) What are their pain points? 3) What problem can you solve for them?
        5. Create your plan based off of this information, all of your content: blogs, social media, e-mail and video should solely be based on you and your business being the answer.
        6. Educate your audience with VALUABLE advice, provide resources they can turn to and instruction they can trust based on your own real world experience.
        7. STAY CONSISTENT – Remember your business will not work if you don’t, stay the course!

        Navigating the digital waters can be tough, but they CAN be navigated. Remember to take deep breaths as you swim on through the channels. It is OK to make mistakes and it takes time to see results. Help IS available if you need it and it doesn’t have to cost you a dime, unless it does and then if you are going to spend a dime, spend it on someone who can pick up where you left off or handle what you know you cannot at the moment.

        Learn along the way EVERY DAY, remember the REAL secret is to ALWAYS solve for X and start with a PLAN.

        If you have a question or would like for me discuss a particular topic in my next Blog – Contact me: support@isimplyassistu.com  

        If you would like more FREE resources or want to simply be the FIRST to know when a new blog is going to Drop you can sign up here (I pinky promise not to clutter your inbox, you will only ever get true valuable information from me ) Click Here: I Am SO Happy You Want To Join Us!

        About The Author: Jeanette Stevens Holds Certification in: Google Digital Garage – Fundamentals Of Digital Marketing, Human Resources Management and Digital Entrepreneurship, she is currently completing an MBA in Digital Entrepreneurship – Cheddar Program at Strayer University. She LOVES pancakes and fantasy novels.

        Featured

        3 Proven Ways to Get More People To Read Your Blog

        You spend time pouring over the grammar, checking again and again for errors. You finally approve the content that you have produced then click to post.

        Learn why understanding your target audience is the secret sauce.

        By: Jeanette Stevens

        Consider who you are writing for before you begin

        Here is the scenario: you are churning out blog after blog, filling your site with thoughts and information which you think is valuable to your audience. You spend time pouring over the grammar, checking again and again for errors. You finally approve the content that you have produced then click to post.

        You wait….and wait…. then wait some more, before you realize that you are not really getting the kind of engagement you expected you would from your blog. Obviously, this is frustrating because you are expending the time and the energy to produce a blog with valuable information to you at least, Right?

        Wrong.

        Your blog needs to specifically address the needs and wants of your target audience – Period. That is the simple reality, what most successful blogs have in common is that the content they are producing directly speaks to their target audience, whether it is a working mom who is looking for quick family meal ideas, a person who loves RVing or a brand new business owner, will all consume the content that is relevant to them.

        So, what does that mean for your blog?

        To start you need to know who your audience is, include yourself if you are part of this audience. Think the way they think and start by creating an outline.

        Here is a simple 3 step process which you can use today to start outlining content for blogs which will get attention.

        Step 1: You Are Not Targeting Your Audiences Problem

        This Step is by far the most important. If you do not truly know who your target market is, where they come from, what keeps them up at night – then how will you connect with them? You must think about the current problems they are facing to determine what they need. Do some market research, meet them on platforms where they spend the most time, look at and join in on the conversations they are having. Also once complete, your buyer persona, will have information which you can use for content, not just for your blog, but for your social media platforms as well.

        Want more valuable information like this at your fingertips?! Sign up and instantly download: The Perfect Buyer Persona to identify your target market!

        Take the information you have learned from your readers and create content which has an emphasis on the problems or concerns they are facing. Even if the topic is more of an interest piece than informational you still need to have a level of understanding of why your audience would even be interested in the topic. Support your findings with facts, and really dig into the problem, outline it and then promise that by the end of the blog you will have delineated a solution.

        Step 2: There Is No Value Or Benefit

        Even if you explain a problem, give words of encouragement or write about interesting topics, if you cannot provide value or benefit you will find people will lose interest and drop off your content without engaging with it. Taking this idea into context, you must therefore list the problems your audience is facing in order to properly dissect and resolve

        For Example:

        1. Maybe they are having trouble driving traffic to their website, regardless of the money they have spent, groups they belong to or hours spent on social media.
        2. The issue could be with increasing engagement and interest to a blog
        3. Or possibly the stress of juggling being a solopreneur and mom

        Once you have listed the pain points of your audience begin to explain WHY they are experiencing these problems. Start with outlining the steps they can take NOW to solve the problems that they are having.

        Borrow instances from your own life or the life of someone that you know who has had the same trouble. Go into detail explaining why they are having this problem, promise to solve the issue with valuable insight, trust me your readers will continue to read to get whatever solution you are promising. Make sure to explain to your readers why it will benefit them to get the steps you have outlined right. Then explain further that the value is in the benefit they will receive from the information you have given them.

        Whoa Wait a Minute! “the value is in the benefit they will receive from the information you have given them”?

        Want more valuable information like this at your fingertips?! Sign up and instantly download the Infographic “How To Write A Blog People Want To Read!”.

        Yes! And here is why: You have fully addressed the problems and took it step further by really driving home WHY your audience is running into these obstacles.

        Take it a step further and include a free checklist or step by step reference guide your readers can instantly download for further benefit and value.

        Explain that the checklist or reference guide which you have created for them will provide even more ammunition which they can be used to solve the problems and issues they are having.

        Provide Solutions your readers can get value from immediately

        Step 3. You Need To Solve For X

        After you have spent time going over the problems that your readers are experiencing you can then wrap up by solving for X which symbolizes the roadblock. You have pulled out all the stops to dissect why your readers issues are cropping up and now in this step you can spend the rest of time on solutions and success stories.

        Talk about how you your friend (or any person you chose to discuss) was able to resolve the issues that they had, really go into what the light bulb moment was, what they read or did to begin to turn the tides in their favor.

        People will want to know how your product, service, course etc. will solve for x.

        TIP: When you are just starting out or trying to build an e-mail list my suggestion would be to ALWAYS include a checklist, e-book, or reference guide which will serve as a free and immediate solution for your readers.

        Ask for their e-mail and first name if you like in exchange for this information. What this will do for you besides helping you to build a robust list is earn the trust and loyalty of your readers and audience who will eagerly consume your very valuable and insightful content.

        Featured

        Master Social Media – Quick Guide Reference

        Social Media is one of the most important forms of digital marketing.

        Quick Social Media Reference By: Jeanette Stevens

        “Social media is computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and communities.” https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-media.asp

        Listed below is a general overview of the most common social media platforms:  

        • LinkedIn
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • Pinterest
        • Twitter
        • Google+

        A brief description of each platform is listed below and will be a great blueprint for the management of each. My suggestion would be to spend some time and create an editorial calendar for the organization and distribution of your content.

                                              Free Download Editorial Calendar Social Media  

        The content you post on each site should always be relevant to your business and tailored to the audiences of each site and with the guide below that should not be too difficult a task.

        *Remember: Make sure that the content you are posting is relevant to your audience and to the platform you will be posting on.

        My personal Tip: For creating content some of the tools that I use and have found very helpful are:

        • Meme Generator – You can find and download the app to your phone
        • GIPHY – Download app to the phone
        • Quotes Creator – Another downloadable app
        • Ripl – Is great for rich media marketing messages, will post to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
        • Ripl can be used as a free tool but will ultimately cost 14.99 per month to use the pro tools
        • Pixabay – Greatest free picture database ever!
        • Pexel – Another great free picture database
        • HubSpot – Chock FULL of excellent and very useful FREE resources and information
        • iSimplyAssist – Download Free guides and resources to help you on your journey
        • Twitter – Use Twitter for offering business tips and establishing yourself as an expert. Since Twitter limits posts to 140 characters, it’s perfect for cycling (and recycling) brief news updates throughout the day. But you’re not limited to text – try tweeting images to grab attention and encourage retweets. Aim for several tweets per day, and afternoon work breaks or early evening commute times may reach more Twitter users.
        • Facebook – Keep your Facebook posts brief and entertaining to encourage sharing and audience engagement. Use images and videos to capture attention and give personality to your online presence. Facebook is great for reaching a wide audience, but the focus tends to be more community oriented and less about business insights. It’s generally recommended to post on Facebook once per day, a few days per week.
        What to Post On Social Media Infographic

        • LinkedIn – Use LinkedIn to share industry news and build professional relationships. Sharing articles that are helpful and not just promotional matters here, but it’s still important to include images and videos in your content. Since LinkedIn is geared toward professionals, posting on weekday mornings or evenings may garner better results.
        • Pinterest – Visuals are key on Pinterest. Most Pinterest users are women, and content is often DIY oriented. If this isn’t your audience, or your business messaging doesn’t translate well into strong visual content, Pinterest may not be the best choice. Top posting times will typically be on weekends.
        • Google+ – In your public circle on Google+ you can share business info like what you would share on LinkedIn- think instructional videos and informative blog posts. Aim to post once per day, a few days per week, mid-morning to early afternoon on weekdays.
        • Instagram – Another network for sharing visual content, Instagram is primarily used as a mobile app, so users may be accessing it many different times throughout the day, but early mornings may be best for reaching a wide audience. Consider ways to maximize your visual marketing, such as offering a giveaway that encourages followers to repost your content. Utilize hashtags, research and add relevant tags to your posts, follow tags that are within your relevant target market, competitors as well. Do remember to contribute to other profiles, contribute meaningful comments and always, respond to those who comment on your posts.

        Make sure to watch insights on the different social platforms you post content on. Check to see when your audience is most active and likely to engage with your content and post during those times, in my opinion it is better to post based on the actual data provided by the platform you are using.

        If you have more questions concerning social media platforms and relevant content creation contact: support@isimplyassistu.com for immediate assistance!

        We are a HubSpot affiliate and receive a commission when you purchase

        Featured

        3 Ways To Increase Traffic And Engagement By Blogging

        Blogging helps to deliver your content strategy, position yourself as a thought leader while also showcasing your knowledge and expertise.

        Simple Steps To Increasing Site Traffic With Blogging

        Companies that published 16+ blog posts per month got almost 3.5 times more traffic than companies that published zero to four monthly posts. HubSpot, 2015

        * Share your knowledge:

        Blogging helps to deliver your content strategy, position yourself as a thought leader while also showcasing your knowledge and expertise.

        You have the knowledge, now share it

        Speak up, Create a Voice

        * Develop Your Voice & Presence:

        Establish a voice on digital platforms, like LinkedIn and Twitter, which speak directly to your target audience. Create a schedule and develop a cadence which will grow your audience and bring them back for more of your content.

        If Blogging is not your thing then hire an experienced company like iSimplyAssist LLC, who will create attention-grabbing blogs that align with your vision.

        You have the knowledge, now share it!

        * Compounding Posts:

        Create a compounding post jammed packed with important information geared directly towards the pain points felt by your target audience. Get it right and you will always have a steady stream of traffic. “The most successful compounding blog posts not only directly answer a question, but they also provide a clear solution.” Next Collision, 2018 In most cases you will only need to create just one blog like this.

        The best way to get started is to begin by jotting down topics to write about, then start creating outlines. The rest is just filling in with the content you’d like to discuss.

        And Remember: Don’t Just talk about it, Blog about it!

        Not sure where to begin? Contact: iSimplyAssist LLC to get your voice heard and drive convertible traffic to your content.

        Featured

        Start And Market Your Business With No Money

        I know we have all heard that you need to have money to make money. While this is true it is not the WHOLE truth — you CAN start a business with no money, and I am going to tell you how

        When consistency and ingenuity meet — knowledge becomes the currency

        By: iSimplyAssist LLC

        Do you want to start a business but are currently lacking the funds? If you answered yes to this question, then please READ ON!

        I know we have all heard that you need to have money to make money. While this is true it is not the WHOLE truth — you CAN start a business with no money, and I am going to tell you how.

        BUT FIRST

        I must warn you, this method will force you to ACT. You will need to roll up your sleeves and get busy IMPLEMENTING.

        Create a plan to use as a guide

        The very first step to starting a business with no money is to sit down right now and begin to write down your plan. All you need for this step is a pen and paper, or an open word document on your computer.

        Fill in the blank:

        What product or service will I sell?

        What is my USP or Unique Selling Proposition — Basically, what makes you different?

        Who will I sell it to? (find your ideal customer and target audience)

        What problem will I solve for my target market?

        How will I market my product or services?

        How will I price my services?

        A Buyer persona will help you figure out the target market

        Free Download: How To Market With No Money Checklist

        These are basic questions you can ask yourself in order to begin your business journey. The next step is to write down all of your marketable skills. Think about your resume or GET YOUR RESUME as a resource. The reason I am suggesting this is because your resume is a visual representation of all your marketable skills and achievements. It is a portable marketing tool for job seekers looking for employment and is a fantastic resource for gathering information on the skills you have which would transition well on your entrepreneurial journey.

        Now I am a HUGE fan of learning and let me tell you, pretty much EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LEARN (as a start) you can find for free on the internet! The ONLY thing this kind of education will cost you is TIME. Instead of watching television, Netflix, or trolling social media, spend the time learning new skills and honing the ones you already have.

        HERE ARE MY FAVORITE FREE LEARNING RESOURCES:

        HubSpot — Free Training Inbound Marketing

        YouTube — Honestly simply type in what you are looking for, start with “How To” (fill in the blank) grab a pen and paper and start learning!

        Facebook Groups — Join relevant groups, ABIDE BY THE RULES, ask questions, participate in conversations, these are also really great places to network, within the limitations of the group rules.

        Forums — Like Quora, ask a question or join a conversation

        NOW THIS: Figure out who your ideal customer is. What do they look like, demographics, what issue are they facing and how can you solve it?

        You can also think this way in a business sense. Are there any businesses in your local area that could use your product or service? Before approaching any new prospect, do your research. Ask yourself: Do they have any presence on social media? Check out their social profiles, figure out how your products and services could be of use to them and create a proposal which solves any holes or issues you may have found.

        Free Download: How To Market With No Money Checklist

        NOW THE ACTION HAPPENS!

        You must start marketing for marketing is the lifeblood of your business, why? because this is how you will find prospects who become leads, then customers. If you are starting a business without money, then you are not putting anything into marketing tools which do a lot of the leg work for you automatically, like email marketing and lead generation, via cool landing pages and email templates. Which means that until you have the cash on hand to put into these resources you are the captain of this ship, navigating the marketing seas, by hand, without the point and click feature.

        These are ways you can get started absolutely FREE.

        Network (I know, I know I keep saying it, but heck it’s so important!)— there are many ways to market your business for free and networking has got to be the easiest, albeit does mean you have to get out there and make connections with people. Look for local organizations that sponsor free networking events in your area. PERFECT YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH! Tell everyone you meet about your business in 30 seconds or less! Collect those business cards, ask if you can add each individual to your mailing list — take names and email addresses, save in a Google Doc file. Services like MailChimp will allow you to start building a list for free! Convertkit is also a top-notch email list building tool, that I actually use myself. You can start with them for 30 days totally free!

        You should be able to describe your business in 30 seconds or less

        Approach local businesses in your area — Get out there and hit the pavement. Talk to businesses that fit within your target market. Make sure you know what you are going to say to them, this is where your elevator pitch will really come in handy. But do your research first!

        Social Media — Update your Linkedin profile make sure that it highlights your skills and services. If you are selling a product, include that in your profile. Add a business profile to your Instagram account and ensure that the content is relevant to your products and services. Do the same thing for Facebook and Twitter. Make sure that you are posting relevant content to all of your social platforms on regular basis. DM profiles that fall within your target market, research them first! Figure out how you would be useful to them and include that in your message. You will need to do this every day, here is a GREAT article: How To Network On Instagram DM — @Garyvee

        WASH, RINSE, REPEAT — Every single day! This is NOT a quick formula and you may not make money immediately; however, it IS a foolproof formula to getting started without any money and if done strategically and consistently this method WILL begin to bring you results. When you do begin to make money or receive any extra funds — INVEST it in yourself and your business. Do not spend it on anything that does not help your business get ahead. Let me retract a little, you OBVIOUSLY want to make sure that your bills are paid, food, rent, utilities, childcare etc. — just make sure that anything extra even if its 5 bucks goes back to your business. Every little bit helps and the only way to get this thing off the ground is with hard work and action.

        Nothing is impossible, consistency is key

        BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO THIS….!

        Turn off the television, HULU, Netflix and anything else that will sap precious time out of a day which could be devoted to your business. Do not troll through social media (unless it is to find businesses you plan to reach out to). Try to do everything you can to minimize distraction. Not to be the cheesiest person on the planet — but “If you build it they WILL come” ~ Field Of Dreams

        If you have more questions or would like to discuss creating a plan, set up a 30 minute chat and let’s get you started!

        Featured

        Social Selling In The Digital Age

        There is no longer a need to hear about why something is worth the purchase. Most modern consumers are not willing to listen to a long phone presentation describing the product. In the modern age, people want VISUALS, simply put, we respond better to social media with carefully curated content to explain exactly what we need, before imparting with our hard-earned cash.

        Improve Your Marketing & Social Selling Efforts in 3 Simple Steps

        By: iSimplyAssist LLC

        Carefully Curate Content With Visuals

        Do you find yourself skimming over marketing copy that is filled with jargon and buzzwords?

        I certainly do and here is why: as modern consumers how we buy has drastically changed.

        There is no longer a need to hear about why something is worth the purchase. Most modern consumers are not willing to listen to a long phone presentation describing the product. In the modern age, people want VISUALS, simply put, we respond better to social media with carefully curated content to explain exactly what we need, before imparting with our hard-earned cash. So how do savvy modern marketing or sales professionals overcome the challenges that have been imposed by the digital age to fill the pipeline and close more business?

        1. Research

        This part of the sales process has never changed. When it comes to selling and marketing a product or service understanding the customers’ wants and needs should be at the top of your list. A great way to truly understand the customer is by creating a buyer persona: “for each buyer persona profile, we want to know as much as we can about a group of people. What are their goals and aspirations? What are their problems? What media do they rely on for answers to problems? How can we reach them? We want to know, in detail, the things that are important for each buyer persona. What words and phrases do the buyers use? What sorts of images and multimedia appeal to each?” THE NEW RULES OF MARKETING AND PR, by David Meerman Scott.

        Listen to what the customer is saying and utilize the proper channels to constantly analyze and reorganize the customer profile based on their activities and the conversations that you have had, this is where a great CRM system could be your best friend. People who find the most success will spend time researching the market digitally AND socially to target the best product fit for the customer while updating the customer profile regularly to move with the current trend and need within a given industry. Remember that the key here is to take everything you have learned about your buyer and sell a solution, not a product.

        2. Relevant Content Creation

        “Content creation is an integral tool in engaging your target audience. When it comes to delivering content and securing audience engagement, LinkedIn is the most effective social media platform”. (LinkedIn, 2017) (Source: HubSpot)

        There are several platforms that can be used to attract and engage your target audience, whether it is Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, an intelligent sales professional who has done their research, will choose which social platform is the best for engaging with their target audience. You want to ensure that the content which you are producing for your target audience stays relevant and valuable to them. The research that you have conducted should have provided a decent window into the type of content they are interested in and what needs they may have.

        The Best Content Is Educational

        I personally find that the best content is educational it speaks directly to the needs of the audience and over time will position you as an authority instead of a pesky salesperson.

        In the book THE 1-PAGE MARKETING PLAN, chapter 4 Capturing Leads, Dib states:

        “A sample campaign might offer a free report or video series promising to educate your prospect about things they need to be aware of, how to avoid being ripped off and what they should look for. Once your prospect receives the value-packed information, you’ve delivered on all promises made in your advertisement. Your trustworthiness skyrockets. You’re positioned as the expert and set apart from your competition.”

        3. Resolution Skills

        “65% of salespeople who use social selling fill their pipeline, compared to 47% of reps who do not.” (HubSpot, 2018)

        What is the best way to solve a customer’s problem? Give up? Empathy. The best way to discover where the customer is experiencing issues that you can resolve is to simply put yourself in their shoes. Listen to everything they say, ask the right questions and employ good research and data collection skills to put together a solution that works.

        Onboarding and follow-up are a fantastic way to get an idea of what customers’ needs are, follow-up regularly and record everything in a database to ensure that you always have an account of key information the customer or prospect could have given you. With this information, you can set out to create an e-book, infographic, checklist or cheat sheet that they can use to assist with current issues they are having with their business. Everything you do should be to help your audience fix the problems that they have.

        Find Solutions. Solve Problems. Give Value.

        People are no longer interested in general statements which fire off long streams of data and facts, although this is important, what will get their attention is how the product or service which you are trying to market or sell to them is going to improve the problems and issues they are facing today or at least map out a clear actionable plan which will simply explain the value to them. Customers are always looking for solutions and those that use the digital and social tools within their arsenal will prevail.

        Start Using Social Selling Today With This 10 Step Infographic!

          We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

          Selling and marketing in the digital age will only prove challenging to marketers and sellers that do not take the time to find the right resources and tools to use in their modern-day arsenal. Not listening to the needs of the prospect will also cause lost opportunities. The best sellers will take everything they have learned from the prospect and create a solution which serves as the answer. Spending too much time researching is also a sure way to lose time which could be spent getting to know the prospect, pinpointing issues and providing solutions.

          What are your views on social selling? What are some of the tactics you employ which you have found successful?

          Comment below!

          Let’s Get Real About Content Marketing

          Expectation: Posting lots of content across all social platforms will attract the target audience and convert to sales.

          Content Marketing: Expectation vs. Reality

          By: Jeanette Stevens

          In today’s world of digital marketing and social selling, now more than ever having a focused strategy is imperative to B2B selling goals. 47% of buyers viewed 3–5 pieces of content before engaging with a sales rep. (Demand Gen Report, 2016) Source: Hubspot — Marketing Statistics, 2018; with so many buyers using content as a driver to making purchasing decisions, a seller cannot overlook its importance.

          Expectation: Posting lots of content across all social platforms will attract the target audience and convert to sales.

          Reality: Content must be crafted to speak directly to the target audience on the social platform that they have chosen to utilize. Content should have a relevant focus which correlates with current problems and needs.

          Created by: Jeanette Stevens, 2018

          The main goal of having a targeted content strategy is to establish yourself and company as the answer to the current issues or needs that the buyer is facing. “A thorough understanding of the buying audience is the fundamental backbone of the techniques and tactics many B2Bs want to use today, such as account-based marketing, programmatic advertising, personalization, targeted emails, and outbound sales. But without a marketing data management strategy in place, B2Bs fail to understand the audience and have trouble executing more sophisticated programs”. Source: emarketer — The Right Data Management Strategy