Growth Hacking

Reasons Why Content Creators Fail to Build a Loyal Audience

Published

2 months ago

February 13, 2019

Good content is important when you want to become an authority on a certain subject, connect with your customer base or when you want to sell something. Often times, content creators struggle to come up with interesting topics to retain audiences. However, there are other challenges that keep content creators form building a loyal audience. Here are some possible reasons.

Uninteresting Topic

Many people who read newsletters want updates or want to learn new things about the industry or product. Sometimes the developments for them are just not that interesting enough. They skim the title but don’t click on the link to read the rest of the article or blog.

Un-intriguing Subject Line

You can remedy this by enticing readers with a catchy subject line. An intriguing subject line could pique their interest so that they click the link and read your blog which is hopefully is just as interesting as the title. If you want to build loyal audiences, create content that is valuable to the reader.

No Social Media

Social media is not just useful for connecting with friends, it’s also a good platform to advertise your blog, get new readers and build a loyal audience. Whenever you have a new blog post, tell friends on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media accounts. Don’t be afraid to tell the world about your blog.

No Authority

One of the reasons why readers stay loyal is because they view the blogger as an authority figure. In order to do this, they have to trust what you write about. This means you have to give them the facts when you site statistics or studies in order for your blog to be legitimate.

Inconsistent Updates

Don’t you just hate it when your friend does not reply to your text message immediately? The same is true with your audience. They want consistent updates. If you’re in the habit of updating your blog every Wednesday evening, don’t fail to do this unless you want them to switch to other blogs.

Poor Engagement

Bloggers with loyal following have a great relationship with their readers. They respond to questions and comments and engage in discussions. Readers are curious people and that curiosity needs to be satisfied. Engaging audience helps to satisfy that curiosity and build relationships with them.

Does Not Teach Or Empower

Your content needs to teach something or empower somebody so that it has value to the reader. Sometimes readers need something to make them feel powerful, inspired or just something to brighten their day. They also want to feel like they learned something. If you have this kind of content you will have loyal readers who will share your content.

No Persistence

Loyalty cannot be built with a single post. You need to be consistent and persistent. You need to provide valuable content on a regular basis and continue to analyze your audience so that you know what they want which could sometimes take years.

Not Entertaining

Content does not only need to be educational, it also needs to be entertaining. Your audience needs to laugh, cry and feel emotion when reading your blog. Remember, you want them to come back for more and sometimes information alone won’t do it.

Robotic

Your audience needs to know that a human being is writing the blog. If you're too technical you end up sounding robotic. Use simple words that people use every day to make your content easy to understand.

Not Relatable

You also need content that the average audience can relate to. Think Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop. Her lifestyle suggestions and price range is so out of this world, only Gwyneth Paltrow can understand and afford it. As of last year, Gwen and Goop parted ways.

Not Shareable

In the age of sharing, you content might not be sharable enough to build a loyal audience. Everybody wants their friend to know about the latest in something and your content might not be making the cut. Write about something sharable and let your audience do the work for you.

No Graphics

Words, words and all words is boring. Spice up your blog with infographics and pictures. Many people appreciate inforgraphics because they can help present facts in a clear and easy to understand manner.

No Video

According to research, posts with videos get better engagement compared to those without. People love to watch videos about everything. It also makes content easier to understand and absorb.

Poor Grammar

Simply put, poor grammar is annoying. The use of "their","there","your","you're" is elementary and knowing when use them properly will be appreciated by your readers. Good grammar is also essential for good communication. How can you communicate your ideas properly if you don’t practice good grammar in your blogs?

Growth Hacking

Stop Paying For Traditional Advertising

Published

16 hours ago

April 23, 2019

OM Contributor

Everyday I come across companies that are spending tons of money on advertising that is yielding them subpar results. This then makes them believe that advertising does not work. What’s the problem with their strategy? They are using traditional advertising in places where their consumers’ attention is not.

The shift towards digital consumption has significantly grown over the last few years, where most things can now be done on the Internet. Most of our social interactions and the way we consume content is largely taking place through mobile devices as a result of convenience and flexibility. The answer to many of our problems can now be resolved at the touch of a button. Catching up with friends, shopping, binge-watching a TV series, reading the news, or learning a new skill can all be done through mobile device and social apps. Companies that have not innovated themselves to a digital platform are being eliminated by those that have. Of course, not everyone has adopted these mediums as their go-to, some people still rather get their news from a newspaper, or catch up with an old friend at a coffee shop.However, it is evident that our attention is leaving traditional mediums and continues to shift to the new digital space. So my question to you: if we are spending so much of our time in this digital space, why are we still trying to build businesses and sell products in the old traditional world? Why are big corporations spending their large marketing budgets on expensive traditional advertising when they can be spending a fraction of the price to advertise where our attention is? Not only does the digital world have our attention, but it is cheaper to advertise on, you can directly target your audience, and we receive insightful data that cannot be obtained through traditional forms of advertising. I will really be focusing on Facebook Ads because that is where you can currently find good value right now.

ATTENTION

When it comes down to it, marketing and advertising is about communicating a message to your target audience in the most effective and efficient way possible. It's all about finding where your consumers are spending most of their time and figuring out how to position yourself in that space.Billboards are meant to grab the attention of the bored passenger who is staring aimlessly out of the car window and to get glances from the driver. However, this was created when our attention was in the traditional world and before this digital space existed. Today, we have mobile devices that connect us directly to the digital world whenever and wherever. We are no longer bored staring out of car windows, we are on our phones.Even TV commercials have become less effective than they used to be due to the digital world. We have the ability to stream shows and movies online with no commercial breaks, or we can record television programs that we are interested in seeing to watch at a later time. Much like the billboard, TV commercials were designed when this digital space was non-existent and the only way to ‘skip’ through advertising was by changing the channel. We are no longer consuming television in the traditional scheduled way. Instead of having to pay attention to that commercial we can skip through it (if it's recorded), we can change the channel, or we can turn to our devices to distract us.It has become so easy for individuals to be absorbed by their mobile devices whether at home or on-the-go. While this distracts many from traditional advertising, it opens up a whole other realm that holds strong potential when one’s attention is primarily shifted to the digital space. Not only does it allow for a sense of immediate connection, such as real-time conversations on social media during a live award show or sports game, but it is a space that holds opportunity for companies to target users at the right moment.

TARGETING

Digital takes targeting the right audience to an extreme. Unlike traditional methods of print and TV advertising, Facebook, for example, gives companies the upper hand in narrowing down where advertisements will be seen. You have the option to define your audience through key demographics like age and location, or through interests, likes, and/or groups they are part of. With Facebook Ads, you have the ability to showcase your ads to valuable consumers, target those who are interested in your competitors, and even those that work at Company X. This is killer for B2B! If you have a B2B company and know exactly which companies would benefit from your product/service, you have the option to run ads against the employees of that company. There is even the advantage of having creatives positioned differently for Company A and Company B, a strategy that can be worthwhile if done correctly.One trick that I like to do is that if I know I am going into a meeting with said company, I will run ads against them so that they will become aware of our company and what we provide for our clients. By doing this, I am attempting to sell my services before I step into that meeting and I hope they walk into it already knowing they want to work with me.

PRICING

If you are paying for traditional advertising, you are most likely OVERSPENDING. While these forms of advertising are losing consumer attention, the prices do not reflect that. Digital is a great place to advertise because there does not necessarily have to be an excessive amount of overhead costs like with print and billboards that will cost you material and labour.One number that I find absolutely insane and a great way to gauge ad value is through CPM (cost per thousand impressions). To advertise on TV you will find yourself paying approximately $25-$30 CPM, while a good chance of that can be saved with Facebook Ads ($5-$10 CPM).For about one-third of the price, the same audience size can be reached with a more targeted approach. It is important to take advantage of these low costs on Facebook while they last and have your advertising budget used to the best of its potential.

CONVERSIONS + ANALYTICS

Traditional advertising is measured through audience measurement systems and is not as in-depth as digital advertising. Traditional efforts focus on brand awareness with a possible call-to-action, while digital ads have the ability to make better conversions due to convenience. With the click of a button you can send consumers to a product on your website or to sign up for an upcoming event. This allows consumers to remain connected with your company almost instantly.The insights provided by Facebook Ads allows for user interactions towards advertisements to be tracked (based on the specific CTA being measured, e.g. downloads, signups, purchases). While traditional methods provide you with statistics on average viewership of particular content, Facebook Ads only charge you for what you receive. If your ad is viewed 1,000,000 times, you pay for 1,000,000 impressions, whereas on traditional if a magazine on average sells 100,000 magazines, you pay for that even when this issue only sells 39,000 copies. The same goes with analytics retrieved from video ads. Video analytics provide you with concrete and valuable data that can show where your viewers drop off (such as in the first 3 seconds), giving you the opportunity to address the problem at hand. You have the ability to test your ads for relatively cheap and can identify what needs to be fixed. Don't blow your budget on something that may not produce quantifiable results.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Advertising campaigns done through social media connects the audience to a brand’s page. You not only get to capture attention from your target audience, but, if done properly, this will turn them into loyal followers. It’s harder for traditional methods to directly and easily convert consumers into followers and retain that same audience in the long run. By using digital, advertising to a target audience is more than getting your company’s name or product at the surface. The next step relies on the company’s responsibility to provide valuable and informational content on their socials to keep their followers interested and establish a meaningful connection.Having a strong social media presence alongside digital ads gives your company a more reputable presence. Customers or potential customers choose to follow you on your socials where it is not forced or expected. Instead, these customers see the value in your brand/company and make the decision to reach out to you (even if that reaching out is a simple like, share, or comment). This kind of engagement is crucial in building sentiment surrounding your brand in the digital world. Don’t get comfortable doing things simply because they worked in the past or because they are considered safe. I want you to be able to recognize overpricing and attention shifts so that you will be able to identify the next best place to advertise and not get stuck in the “old ways”. One day, our attention will start to shift away from digital and I’m sure there will still be people paying to advertise there. Always look to the future and play the long game.

Business

Succeed As A Veteran Owned Business

Published

23 hours ago

April 23, 2019

Sekinah Brodie

Starting and maintaining a business may be hard work, but can be made easier with the right network. Having the right support and connections may be the thin line between success and failure. If you’re a veteran entrepreneur with a business idea, you can receive funding to help bring those ideas to life. We will explain the steps to succeed as a veteran owned business.

Find Out If You Qualify

If you have previously served in the military and/or have an injury-related disability, you may be eligible for government contracting and additional funding. In order to receive this certification, the individual must own at least 51 percent of the company that they are applying for, and manage the day-to-day operations of the business. There is also a procedure that you’ll need to follow in order to prove your veteran and/or disabled status. In order to prove veteran status you will need to provide a Department of Defense Form (DD214). If you are applying as a service-disabled veteran, you will need to get a letter from the US Department of Veteran Affairs proving that you are actually disabled. In many cases, if you are not interested in securing government contracts for your veteran owned business, these steps are not necessary.

Register with The VA

Another crucial step in the qualification process is to register through the VA or Veterans Affairs. Registering will not only assist with the strategic marketing of your business but will also add a legitimacy factor in being known as a veteran owned business. People are generally supportive of service men and women and want to support your endeavors, so proudly promoting that you have a veteran owned business will add to growth. The VetBiz Registry, which acts as a business database is the first step in registering with the VA. You will need to have your DD214, letter of disability status, tax forms, bank statements, business license, any partner agreements, and some other additional documents may be requested at the discretion of the VA.

Utilize the SDVOSBC

The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act was created in 1999. The goal of this act is to generate over $15 billion of contracting dollars for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. Being that some veterans return from duty with disabilities stemming from conflict, this program sets aside a certain amount of contracts to service them first. As long as you are considered disabled from service no matter your rating, you are eligible to securing a contract. However, if you do have a 100 percent disability rating the government has contingencies in place to allow a spouse or caregiver to run the business in place of the veteran. It’s very convenient and an amazing opportunity for vets who have served to be able to get their ideas out no matter their status.

Marketing Your Veteran Owned Business

Veterans are normally praised and promoted for their service in the armed forces, but the magnitude of entrepreneurship in this demographic is overlooked. According to Forbes, there are over 3 million Veteran owned businesses run in the United States, 5.7 million people are employed by Veterans, and Veterans are twice as likely to own a business than non-vets. These statistics show that there is a strong thread between the personalities of veterans and the interest in entrepreneurship. Strength, discipline, and leadership are all valuable traits to possess in business. Registering your business with BuyVeteran.com can also be a great resource to use for promotional items. When you register you will receive badges to display throughout your business/store, along with apparel (T-Shirts, Hats), Magnets, and other marketing items. Using the local media in your community, as well as social media, can help with promotion. Using your veteran status to appeal to an audience who already has admiration and respect for you will surely render growth.

Know Everything About Your Industry

If your chosen business field is completely out of your realm of knowledge be sure to research as much as possible before requesting support/investors. You should be an expert on your business idea as well as having a solid business plan ready to execute. Doing research includes finding out who your target audience is, how to price your products/services, who your competitors are, and what laws are in place in that industry. Will you need a license to provide certain services? How does paying taxes change for a business owner as opposed to an employee? These are just a few of the questions that need to be answered before you move forward with the business. Once you have completed all these steps you are ready to take on the world as a Vetrepreneur! Good luck!

Growth Hacking

The Future Of Internet Video

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2019

Kaytie Cayton

Cisco is predicting that by the year 2020, 82% of internet traffic will be video. Even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has given the signal to market the social media giant through video. Marketing experts are taking advantage by providing potential customers with more information than before. Here are some things to think about the future of video so that you too can have an equal opportunity.

Video Makes Marketing Email Interesting Again

Video is popular because it is visual, so people take in information easily and retains it better. Just by using the word "video" on your marketing email could increase open rates by 19%, click through by 65%, and reduces unsubscribe by 36%.

Video Access Through Mobile Seen To Increase

Video has been slow to take off in mobile because it eats up data. However, by 2020, experts are projecting an 11% increase in video traffic for mobile users. This is because smartphone users say that video offers consumers a quick way to grasp product.

Digital TV is the new TV

Have you noticed that more shows are internet based? This is because TV shows are taking over the internet. People who spend time watching 40-minute videos on YouTube are now shifting to websites like Netflix that provide videos that follow TV formatting. The shows have episodes, seasons, and noteworthy casts that made people turn their PCs into TVs.

Improve Social Media Engagement

Video is not only improving email engagement, but Twitter and other social media sites too. Posts with videos are getting more shares, especially on Facebook. According to a study conducted by Twitter, tweets with videos suggest that engagement has improved 28%.

Increases User Engagement Too

Video is going to be king in the future, not because it is popular, but because it is engaging. Did you know that more people can recall a video they watched a month ago compared to an article they read over the same period of time? Aside from this, video also encourages people to take action.

Very Popular

Video is very popular. Youtube reaches more people aged 18-43 than any cable network in the US. This growth in video use is contributing to the rise in video advertising, which is why we see those pesky ads on YouTube.It seems that video will be taking over the internet soon. It is quickly becoming popular, because it is more engaging than reading and has better memory recall. Video is also becoming easier to access, especially with the increase of smartphone usage.