Online Marketing for Local Business
Posts tagged E-news
Your Content is Only a Brochure Away
15 years
by admin
in Uncategorized
You have already heard us talk about how important your web content is. Great content can convert sales or inquiries from the current visitors to your site, and can also influence how many future visitors that you will have. And this website is filled with ways that you can create content. But for those on a tight budget, or for those that simply have enough time and desire to write content themselves, what are some ways you can use what you ALREADY have within your website?
Start by observing the content around you already. Take a look around your office, your branch or retail location. See any brochures? Sales flyers or media kits? Have you sent any press releases out recently (or even not so recently)? Do you publish an annual report? These are all great sources. This information can often be reworked or “repurposed” into web contributions. Create a simple blog within your website, and use what you have as a database of info to get started. Take this information and break it down into manageable bits. Blogs don’t need to be long to be effective!
Content can sometimes even be as simple as your product offerings. Some websites from well-known brands have very little visible copy on their home pages, yet still have great SEO scores – because their brands generate lots of “natural links” to their website.
Another great tactic is to simply publish your own E-Newsletter. Not only do you receive the direct benefit of delivering valuable information directly to your customers or prospects, but you can then take your E-news content and post it on your website or as part your blog. Now your content is working double duty for you!
It's Magic?
15 years
by admin
in Uncategorized
Thinking about a topic for this week’s blog, once again I came across one quite by accident. Joking about my logo, and the *magic* element of my company name and logo, I was suddenly struck by the fact that what I do for clients is really NOT magic. Creating content as a path to online success that is.
That statement is not mean to diminish its importance. As you have read here and elsewhere, content – for your website, your blog, your E-Newsletter, your social media accounts – is more important than ever. And this is not to say that researching and writing and editing and revising and getting approval is an easy process! But I mean to say, if you make the commitment to share
As mentioned in a recent post, it has become increasingly difficult to differentiate yourself on the Internet with technology. There can only be so many Yahoos or Googles online. You’re either one of the huge fish, or one of the countless minnows. But providing great, insightful content and commentary on your category, whatever it is, can still provide you with a space you can stake out as your own online. You may never be the next eBay, but you CAN be the best St. Louis-based provider of exposition services.
And there really is a blueprint that you can follow to grow your business online, a step-by-step set of instructions to follow for success. That doesn’t mean that the path is exactly the same for every business, or for every category or field. You may have lots of competitors with a head start. You may be in a field with a few entrenched brands, or with many smaller ones. You may be in a niche market, with few natural customers, or an industry that is a little “behind the curve” in a technological sense.
But if you consistently share good information, and spend some time and resources on SEO work and social networking and just plain old word of mouth (how old fashioned of you!) to promote your content, you will find that more and more potential customers will begin to find you.
Now the fact that you need to provide a quality product or service, at a competitive price and with good customer support or client service, to be successful online or anywhere else hopefully goes without saying!
But whatever your business, one thing I can assure you is this: If you make a commitment to create, share and promote great content – you will eventually build the web presence that you are looking for. I’ve seen it happen. Big time, and multiple times.
And sadly (for the rabbit in my hat, at least), it wasn’t *magic*…
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Great Email Marketing Subject Lines
15 years
by admin
in Uncategorized
At Hat Trick Associates, we’re always being asked things like, “What is the best day to send email?”, “What are the real email marketing secrets?” and “What are great subject lines?”. I decided to focus this post on that last one, and offer some really great and proven-to-work subject lines that you can test out for your email marketing campaigns.
First of all, I’m assuming at this point that your recipients will recognize you from your “From Label”. I’ve written why your From Label is very important in your email marketing campaigns. If they are familiar with who the email is coming from, you’ll have better luck getting your email opened with a catchy subject line.
As a retailer your email marketing campaigns are probably all about selling. If you sell your own products or products from other manufacturers, you’ll be trying to announce new products, new seasons or discounts and sales. You’ll want your recipients to act fast, so you may want to try expiration dates in your subject line. We even see businesses using hours in the day in their expiration time periods.
You’ll see that some of these subject lines are a bit vague like “An Exclusive Offer for You”, however sometimes that might get more opens than if you talk about a specific product. That’s something that we often test for clients to determine what specific subject lines have the most impact.
Here are some sample offers:
Enjoy this Special Offer at Our New Location
25-40% off – Email-Only Offer – Today Only
Invitation-Only 2 Hour Event Starts 11:30 AM CT
Ends Today! 20% Off Friends & Family
Top 10 under $10
Free shipping – offer ends in 3 days
Free product with purchase of [product name]
[New Product] has arrived. Order now before we run out.
Earn double points for [insert product or action].
Last Chance: Get up to $25 now
Save 10% on your next order
Service Notice: Exciting new changes at [your company]
An Exclusive Offer for You
[Your company] October Specials
Last minute deals, special offers, and new [product name]
Act Now to renew your [subscription name]
Online only: 25% off friends and family
[Product name] Promotion week. Save 25%
Extended for a day! Get Free shipping through Friday
Limited Supply: Limit 2 [product name] per customer
Ho-ho-ho: The [your company] holiday catalog is here!
Ends Today: Take 20% off your entire order
Your choice of amazing items $50 + under
Great gifts for [Dad, Mom, etc]
Best Sellers for every [girl, boy, man, woman, dog, etc.]
Everything you need when the temperatures [rise, fall]
Free Shipping–Limited Time Offer
Catchy & Creative
We’ve got you covered from head to toe (clothing retailer)
Celebrity Favorites (selling accessories that Hollywood is wearing)
Did you remember to get a gift? It’s ok, we did. (retailer wanting to get people to register for gift reminders)
10 Gift Ideas for your little ones (retailer listing top 10 suggestions for kids)
Take your pick: Our 9 Favorite Dresses (retailer suggesting by popularity)
Coolest modern desk on the job…for $149 (retailer including price in the subject line)
Score Great Savings on Game-Time Gear: HDTVs, Furniture & More (retailer selling TV’s with a sports slant)
Party Like it’s 1999 Aged Cabernet Special (wine retailer)
In our store: Last minute Mother’s Day combo ready to go (retailer getting the last minute shoppers with a catch “combo to go”.)
Adorn Your Home Now & Through the Holidays (Home decor retailer)
Mind-Blowing Grenache (wine retailer)
Bring this email to a Gap store and win! (retailer trying to get store traffic)