Category: marketing

Still?

bad marketing

I try to go to a number of networking events a year. It’s a great way to meet people. As a networker and connector, I enjoy meeting new people and seeing who in my “rolodex” would be a good business connection for them – not to mention getting myself some business!

After each event, I send out a quick thank you email, along with a PDF we produced called 10 Tips on Using Social Media for Lead Generation. I don’t want anything in return; it’s my way of saying Thanks and it’s good to meet you. I love the idea and of course, it’s not mine. BNI, the largest networking group in the world, calls it Giver’s Gain. Gary Vaynerchuk wrote an entire book on it called The Thank You Economy.

So, I’m still rather amazed when a brand new connection contacts me and asks “Hey, we met last week. Do you have a good lead for me?” without offering anything in return – or even asking me what a good lead for me is.

To quote the Amazon.com summary of Gary’s book:

The Thank You Economy offers compelling, data-driven evidence that we have entered into an entirely new business era, one in which the companies that see the biggest returns won’t be the ones that can throw the most money at an advertising campaign, but will be those that can prove they care about their customers more than anyone else.

EVERY networking group I’ve been to, or been a member of, thrive on the Giver’s Gain philosophy. It may be those words (BNI) or a similar thought-process, but the idea is the same. Reaching out to me and flat out asking for a lead (especially before we meet 1-on-1, before we have any in-depth conversations, etc.) simply turns me off.

Networking is a great tool – when used correctly. The “me me me” approach doesn’t work – at least not for me smile emoticon.

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F**K You????

bad marketing, rant

So I’m sitting here in the world-wide HQ of CellCon Consulting, when a call from Waxahachie, TX comes in (214-903-4410) so I answer. It’s obviously a telemarketer call setter telling me my Google results are low and the information is incorrect. Of course, this is bull, because results are based on what people are searching for. But let’s play on.

She transfers me to a “Google Specialist” who tells me my Google Trust Score is way too low and he’s going to fix it. Of course, we come to the question “Well, I see you’re listed as a ‘miscellanous business’ – what is it that you do?

OK – point one – if you’re going to pitch me your services, and especially if they’re web based, look up my damn site first.

Anyway I tell him we’re a marketing firm – and a Google Partner.

“Oh….” he says “OK… I’ve fixed it now” (as I hear him typing.) I say “Great! Please tell me where I can see my Google Trust Score” “It’s ok, I’ve fixed it.” “No, please show me” – he hangs  up.

Here’s the kicker. My web-form notification comes in. I have a new lead. From Mr “F88k you” and “f88k you” company (and yes, it was spelled out.)

Now here’s what Mr. Google Specialist doesn’t know. My system not only records the form information submitted, but also the IP address.

So, I’ve written and tweeted the company (it’s called egumball) and it’s CEO (John Bauer) to ask why his reps are so foul mouthed.  Let’s see if he responds.

 

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Drip Drip Drip (Campaign)

marketing, tips

What is a Drip Campaign?

Drip Campaign Marketing by CellCon Consulting

At its most basic, a drip campaign is a series of marketing related emails that are sent out on a schedule. Today you may be using one of the popular “email blaster” services, where you pay a few dollars (or a few hundred) and blast your newsletter out to your clients and prospects.

And, while email newsletters are a good way to send out your company’s latest news, they have a major flaw: new subscribers only see new emails, and never get the first emails you’d sent out to your list. All they’ll see is what you send after they sign up.

With a planned drip campaign you set the time, frequency and content of the message that goes to everyone, no matter when in the campaign they signed.

Perhaps one email will go out as soon as someone signs up, another will go out 4 days later, with one more going out the next week. In addition, the emails can be varied based on triggers, or actions the person has performed like opening the first email or clicking on a particular link.

Is your company ready to move up from the mass-blast of a common newsletter and begin targeting your database with a more customized, relevant message?

 

 

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Take Advantage of the Competition

marketing, tips

You want to get Take Advantage of the Competition with help from CellCon Consulting - Adam Wolfahead.

How do you take advantage of the competition?

 

About two years ago, I designed a website for a wholesale distributor in the wireless prepaid area. To this day they still rank among the top 3 in numerous Google searches and get phone calls every day from new clients.

This is due to primarily two factors:

SEO – Search Engine Optimization. Their website, from the beginning, was designed properly and is optimized for numerous search engines. Each landing page is optimized separately.

However another factor just as important

The lack of quality SEO done by their competition.

And, they’re using that. They’re taking advantage of the competition.

While you can’t control what your competition does, you can take advantage of opportunities they’ve left behind. Look at your competitors websites,  look at their print, look at their entire efforts – and capitalize on what they are not doing. I’m willing to bet that you can take advantage of something they’re missing.

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Peoples Don’t Learn…

bad marketing

Bell Canada has been handed down a $1.25 million (CAD) fine after its employees posted fake reviews of Bell apps. The carrier “encouraged” staff members to post glowing testimonials of the MyBell Mobile and Virgin My Account apps on the App Store and Google Play. Unfortunately, these overenthusiastic write-ups neglected to mention that they were written by people on Bell’s dollar.

 

Read the full article on Engadget by clicking HERE

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Gee, How Can This Possibly Go Wrong?

bad marketing

The New York Post has a story that the Union Street Guest House in Hudson, NY, fines couples $500 for every negative review posted online (on any website) by one of their guests. And, it will also fine you $500 if you’re staying there to attend a wedding at another venue in the area, but leave a negative review about your stay.

The hotel has supposedly had this policy on its website:

Please know that despite the fact that wedding couples love Hudson and our inn, your friends and families may not.

If you have booked the Inn for a wedding or other type of event anywhere in the region and given us a deposit of any kind for guests to stay at USGH there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review of USGH placed on any internet site by anyone in your party and/or attending your wedding or event. If you stay here to attend a wedding anywhere in the area and leave us a negative review on any internet site you agree to a $500 fine for each negative review.

Gee, this couldn’t possibly backfire – could it???? (Current Yelp reviews HERE)

Read the entire article HERE

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Use WordPress to improve search results

marketing

Nice article on Manta.com today about how great WordPress works for SEO. It’s a bit long, or perhaps I should say “thorough” but it touches on such topics as:

  • What Does WordPress Automatically Do For You?
  • Canonical URLs
  • Plug-Ins you’ll need
  • Permalinks
  • XML Sitemap
  • Redirects
  • Meta Tags and Descriptions

And other good topics. You can read the entire article here. And, if you’re still confused about what you’ve read, remember – that’s our job – to make it even easier for you! Simply call or email us today!

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Shhhh…

marketing, social media, tips

We try just about everything before we recommend it or implement it with a client. So, we’re trying something new and this time YOU get to benefit!

Did you know you can offer deals and coupons through YELP? Nope, neither did we – until recently.

So, we’ve added one to give it a whirl. Find us on Yelp.com (no, we’re not giving you the URL – try to find us, it’s not hard) and you’ll see a 24% coupon on our services!

It’s a limited time offer, so as they say on the telly “Don’t Delay!”

 

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Restaurants Must Get Social

marketing, social media

I found a great article about “Fast Casual Restaurants” using Social Media on their website Social Media Today – I’ve posted about it below, but I think it translates well to all restaurants! Way too many eating establishments are not only  not using any social media, but far too many have sub-standard websites.

To be a “good” website for a restaurant (IMHO) all you need are a few images, an up to date menu, location/contact info and a link to a reservation system (on-line or phone) if you take reservations. Like good food, it should be clean, concise and “tasty.” (Shameless plug: If you know a restaurant NOT doing this, please recommend our services!)

Anyway, here’s what Social Media Today says:

Social Media Today InfographicThe fast casual restaurant industry is very competitive, and restaurants should do all they can to gain competitive advantages, including tapping into the marketing and branding power of social media. The burrito and taco chain Chipotle dominates in terms of followers on Google+ (95,512), Instagram (18,214), Pinterest (34,567), Twitter (286,124) and YouTube (22,067).

With a whopping 3,234,049 “likes,” it’s American Chinese styled cuisine Panda Express that dominates Facebook. With 2,147,816 likes, Chipotle is over a million likes behind.

…As measured by number of followers, the top performing fast casual restaurants on Instagram include Chipotle, Raising Cane’s, Baja Fresh, Tijuana Flats…

With one billion users, YouTube is extremely valuable to fast casual restaurants as well. After Chipotle, Panera Bread, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Firehouse Subs, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Noodle’s Company, Panda Express, Taco Cabana, El Pollo Loco and Zaxby’s all round out to the top 10. 

Read the entire article HERE.

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