However, unless you have a background in marketing, it can be hard to know where to start!

With that in mind, here are four ways to market your start-up! 

Capitalize on the Latest Trends

By now, you’re likely well aware of the fact that your business needs a presence on social media in order to succeed in the current climate. After all, 1 in 3 consumers use social media to seek out new brands and invest in products and services.

However, simply setting up a social media profile alone isn’t enough to guarantee success; you also need to ensure that your posts are gaining traction or being seen by your target audience. One way you can achieve this goal is by capitalizing on the latest trends, such as trending sounds on TikTok and Instagram reels, and using them when creating your content. This is because the algorithm is more likely to push your content, improving your overall visiblity.

Work With a Digital Marketing Agency

If you have next to no experience in the world of digital marketing, everything from setting up a website to running a social media profile that excels can prove to difficult. Fortunately, this is not necessarily something that you have to tackle in-house. For example, you could instead work with a digital marketing agency that can help you hit the ground running. After all, they can help with a wide range of tasks, such as by carrying out extensive research into your target audience and their online behaviors. 

Network!

While cultivating a strong online presence is crucial when it comes to growing and marketing your brand, this does not mean that more old-fashioned marketing methods are not beneficial. For example, it’s important that you do not underestimate the power of good, old-fashioned networking, especially if you’re looking to collaborate with other local businesses. 

As such, you should keep an eye out for local or industry events and be sure to introduce yourself to as many people as possible when doing so. Even if collaboration is off the table, they may be able to provide you with practical advice that you can use to grow your business moving forward.

Email Marketing

Developing a stellar email marketing strategy is another great way to promote your start-up and build a strong relationship with your customers. After all, your email marketing campaigns give you the chance to incentivize both repeat purchases and loyalty from your customers.

When curating your emails, be sure to keep them as brand-specific as possible. For example, you may want to opt for an informal, chatty tone in the body of the text, as opting for a more formal tone could place distance between yourself and the reader. You should also make the emails as personal as possible by using the customer’s name. 

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Throughout your journey of opening your store, there will be plenty of things for you to consider. You’ll have to make a decision on your branding, a decision on your store’s location, a decision on which retail POS systems you are going to use and the number of people you’re going to have to employ – most stores will need a few sales people as you can’t be there everyday. 

To help give you a head start, we have put together a quick guide on considerations when opening a store. From your payment systems to your location, we hope we can give you some inspiration and useful pointers. 

Choosing Your Shop’s Location 

The location of your store will have a big impact on your success. As you can imagine, a nicely placed store in a busy area is more likely to attract a greater footfall than a shop in a quiet, unappealing area. When choosing your location, look up the crime rate in the area, speak to anybody you know in that area and do some research on social media channels like X or Instagram. The only downside in being in a popular area, is that your monthly rent will most likely be higher. The area you work from is important, even if you aren’t running a physical business. 

Employing Staff for Your Shop 

You’ll need staff to help you run your shop, especially when you need to take time off – you can’t be there every day. Knowing how many staff members to employ can be tricky, which is why some companies will offer 0 hour contracts; this way, they aren’t committed. To find staff, you could run an advert on social media channels. Alternatively, you could try and use a job board like indeed.com or hire a recruitment firm to find people for you. 

Consider a Pop-Up Shop 

If you are thinking of opening a shop but aren’t 100% sure your idea is going to work, you could go down the route of a pop-up shop. A pop-up shop is a temporary shop that pop’s up in a certain location as and when required. It could be in your local market or at a festival. By doing a pop-up shop, you can gauge the public’s reaction and learn about your offering and whether it would be a good full-time shop or not. 

How Are You Going to Take Payment?

You can’t run a shop without having a way to take payment. You should dedicate some time to researching payment options and deciding which one is best for you. Some payment systems will charge you a small percentage on each transaction, such as 2% or 3.5%. Other companies may charge you a monthly fee, but do not charge you on each transaction. Which one is better is down to your preferences. The best thing to do is read the user reviews and contact each company to ask them any questions you have. Taking cash isn’t generally considered the best option anymore, but you can accept cash as well as other payment methods, in case a customer does come in with cash. 

Take Out the Correct Insurance 

One requirement when running a store is to have insurance to cover you in case something happens by mistake. You should have public liability insurance as well as employee insurance. You may also want to have business insurance which covers your assets, in case they get damaged such as your laptops or your stock, in case they get damaged in a fire. When doing your research, you’ll see many different types of insurance. It’s always worth speaking to any friends or family members who run a business, as they will be able to help you with choosing the right ones for you. I 

No matter the type of store you are opening, you are going to go on an exciting journey. As we said above, make sure you always believe in yourself and never give up, even if, at times, it gets hard. 

What type of store are you thinking of opening? What tips would you recommend to someone thinking of opening a store? Which of the above suggestions did you find most useful? Let us know in the comment box below, we look forward to hearing from you. 

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1. A Business Plan

First of all, you will want to think about getting a business plan in place. Even when you’re full of ideas, you won’t want to just wing it. If you do, you may find that you forget things or it feels a little bit scrappy. But when you take the time to pull together a proper business plan, you’ll be able to think about each area of the business and ensure you have a plan of how you’ll reach your goals.

2. Software

When it comes to your everyday activity, you’ll find that there’s software you need in place to do this. Here, it’s important for you to be thinking about what you need to do on a daily basis and what apps or programs can support that. From project management software to graphic design apps, you’ll want to put these in place early on.

3. Operational Setup

As a step on from that, you’ll also want to make sure that you have the right basic operational setup in place. In order to ensure the business runs smoothly, the backend of what you do needs to be seamless. Here, you’ll want to find the right credit card processing company to help you take payments for your sales. You’ll also need a tech team in place to design and implement your website. Finally, you may need staff to help you support the running of the business, such as an assistant, sales specialist, or HR executive.

4. Sales and Marketing!

Alongside operations, you also need to make sure that you have your own sales and marketing plan in place. This is where you can use your own experience and abilities to grow the agency. In order for the business to be successful, you need to make sure that you can sign new clients. But in order to do that, you absolutely need to make sure that you have a strong sales and marketing plan to get eyes on what you do and encourage clients to sign up!

5. Case Studies and Testimonials

Finally, you’re also going to want to make sure that you have evidence of your work in place too. You can certainly have a portfolio of work that you’ve done in order to attract new clients, but you may also want to show results too. New clients will want to know what you can do for them. So showing real life testimonials and putting case studies up on your site is a great way to do that. Then, potential clients can see the results you got for clients just like them, and they’ll be more incentivised to invest in you!

The post 5 Things You Need in Place for Your Marketing Agency appeared first on TabithaNaylor.com.

Targeting Capabilities That Actually Work

Your ads are only as good as the audience they reach. The best ad network will offer advanced targeting options to ensure your ads land in front of the right people. Behavioral targeting allows networks to analyze user behavior and show ads to those most likely to convert. Geotargeting ensures your ads reach users in specific locations, which is especially valuable for local businesses. Device and platform targeting means you can adjust campaigns based on whether your audience is on mobile, desktop, or a particular app. Retargeting is another must-have, helping you re-engage people who have already interacted with your brand but haven’t converted yet.

A Large, High-Quality Inventory

Where your ads appear matters just as much as who sees them. The best ad networks offer access to premium publishers, ensuring that your ads aren’t being placed on low-quality or irrelevant sites. They provide transparency about placements so you can see exactly where your ads are running. A quality network will also give you options to blacklist or whitelist specific sites, allowing you to refine where your budget is spent. If a network lacks control over placement, it could lead to wasted money on ineffective traffic sources.

Strong Fraud Prevention Measures

Ad fraud is a major issue that can drain your budget without delivering real results. Click fraud, bot traffic, and fake impressions are all threats to your campaign’s success. The best ad networks invest heavily in fraud prevention, using AI-driven tools to detect suspicious activity, partnering with fraud detection firms, and manually reviewing traffic sources. Without these protections, you could be paying for fake clicks that never lead to genuine engagement.

Multiple Ad Formats for Maximum Flexibility

A strong ad network gives advertisers the flexibility to experiment with different types of ads. Display ads, such as banners and pop-ups, are the most common, but native ads often perform better because they blend seamlessly with surrounding content. Video ads drive engagement and work well for storytelling, particularly on social media and streaming platforms. Rich media ads, which include interactive elements like animations or slideshows, can boost user engagement. In-app ads are also valuable for reaching mobile users directly within the apps they already use. The more formats a network supports, the better your chances of finding what works best for your audience.

Competitive Pricing & Transparent Costs

Ad networks use different pricing models, so understanding costs is essential. Cost-Per-Click (CPC) means you only pay when someone clicks your ad, making it a great choice for performance-driven campaigns. Cost-Per-Mille (CPM) charges based on impressions, which is useful for brand awareness campaigns. Cost-Per-Acquisition (CPA) is a performance-based model where you only pay when a specific action, such as a sale or signup, is completed. The best networks provide full transparency about pricing, showing exactly where your budget is going and avoiding hidden fees. If a network is vague about costs, that’s a red flag.

User-Friendly Dashboard & Reporting

An ad network should make it easy for advertisers to track performance. A well-designed dashboard gives real-time data on impressions, clicks, and conversions, allowing you to monitor results at a glance. Networks that provide deep insights into audience behavior and ad performance help advertisers make smarter decisions. Having an intuitive interface means you can quickly adjust bids, targeting, or creatives without a steep learning curve. If a network makes reporting complicated or hard to access, it may not be the best choice.

Scalability & Global Reach

If you plan to grow your advertising efforts, your ad network should be able to scale with you. A strong network supports businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. It offers access to international traffic sources, allowing you to expand into global markets when the time is right. Networks that provide scalability also allow advertisers to easily adjust their ad spend up or down based on performance. The ability to support multiple ad formats and strategies is another sign of a scalable network. If a network feels too rigid, it may not be able to keep up with your growth.

Reliable Customer Support

Even the best ad networks can have issues, so customer support is crucial. The best networks offer 24/7 customer service with real human representatives, not just automated bots. Larger campaigns may benefit from dedicated account managers who provide hands-on assistance. Quick response times are essential, especially when an ad isn’t delivering as expected or when technical issues arise. If a network has slow or unhelpful support, it could cause unnecessary downtime and wasted budget.

Compliance with Data Privacy Regulations

With stricter data protection laws worldwide, ad networks must prioritize user privacy. The best networks comply with major regulations such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe and the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) in the U.S. They offer transparency about how they collect and use data, allowing advertisers to stay compliant. A network that ignores privacy regulations not only puts you at risk of legal trouble but also damages consumer trust.

How to Choose the Right Network for Your Goals

No single ad network is the perfect fit for every business, but the best ones share these essential qualities. If an ad network offers strong targeting, a variety of ad formats, fraud prevention, transparent pricing, and quality placements, you’re on the right track. Whether you’re looking to boost brand awareness, drive sales, or expand globally, choosing the right network will make all the difference. Instead of chasing the latest trend, focus on the fundamentals—because the best ad network is the one that delivers real, measurable results for your business.

The post What Makes an Ad Network “The Best”? Key Features to Look For appeared first on TabithaNaylor.com.

It’s also true that in the content marketing space, many businesses are choosing to rely on AI. That’s in no way a moral failing of course, business leaders get to choose which tools they use to maximize value, productivity, and their overall marketing approach.

Yet, at least as of the time of this writing, human copywriters are much more reliable, focused, and nuanced than their AI counterparts. While it’s true that general lower-to-mid-level copywriting may severely reduce in demand before the decade is out, for now, using these professional services as a first port of call is wise.

Now, the words you’re reading here have been, for better or worse, arduously typed by human fingers. As such, some implicit bias remains. For fun, you might copy and paste them into an AI utility like ChatGPT and ask for counterpoints to every argument raised. Is it likely an AI would tell you to do that unprovoked?

In this post, we’ll explore why human copywriters edge out AI, at least for now, and why they should remain an intrinsic element of your marketing approach.

Emotional Nuance & Perspective

AI text-generating tools can indeed offer the tone of voice you’re looking for, provided you utilize careful prompting and make revisions. Moreover, you can always re-edit that content to reframe its substance to your perspective.

Yet the stark truth is that no AI predictive text tool can offer the depth of experience and perspective that a human can. For example, the conciliatory understanding that yes, articles like this might be written with AI in the future, and the light fun we’re poking at ourselves for even admitting it, rings more true to the human mind.

When your marketing message is all about relatability, understanding modern lifestyles, and soothing the pain points of your target market, having that kind of raw connective appeal is priceless. In the future, marketing will be prized on how human and raw it is, compared to how smoothly it may be packaged.

SEO Implementation Is Key

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential element of any content marketing plan. As of the moment, AI content can certainly rank on Google provided it’s informative and carefully presented. 

Yet as we develop into the future, you can bet search engine utilities will focus more on human perspectives, offering a balance between immediate summaries offered by AI tools, to more in-depth perspectives offered and balanced by the human touch.

As such, industry-leading services like Joliet SEO will focus on curating and ranking human-led content at least for the time being, simply because it’s the most reliable, dependable, authentic, and value-rich. Moreover, it’s not just about the content that ranks, but how that content performs when it does rank. There’s no point proudly standing at the #1 return result of Google’s SERP if none of your leads convert to sales.

As such, considering the entire content pipeline and its function will remain essential going forward, even when AI is ubiquitous.

Compelling & Unique Problem-Solving Solutions

Have you ever encountered a difficult problem with tech? Perhaps your CMS wasn’t working as expected, or you had to learn a new feature. Perhaps you were experiencing a unique bug with a new software framework you’ve integrated into your firm.

You search and search, peruse the manual, and contact support. Then, before you look further, you notice a singular blog post or video published by someone who had the same issue and found a dependable workaround.

This is just a hypothetical example, but it shows a unique flaw with AI – current LLMs are designed to predict the most common answers, solutions, and responses. Sometimes, those won’t apply to your situation as that bespoke offering had. As you can see, if you’re hoping to provide that unique value to your clients through insight published on your blog, videos published to your channel, or social media posts carefully curated, often it’s the nuanced option that grants you insight over your competitor.

Ultimately, AI cannot provide one perfect, unique, and intelligent example to one user, and then another perfect non-replicable provision to another. In that respect, your marketing and content outreach will begin to blend into the same indistinguishable mush as those you’re competing against. If marketing is in the interest of standing out, it’s not hard to see the downsides of implementing that strategy.

Speaking with Authenticity

The text an AI utility generates isn’t necessarily inauthentic, as those tools use predictive tools to guess what the most likely word, in sequential order, will be for answering a full request. These predictive capabilities won’t present themselves from a vacuum, it’s based on the data sets trained on, ultimately authored by humans.

But there’s a real sense of authenticity that comes from the little mistakes, cultural reference points, unique vision and perspective, and even incomplete offerings a human can grant you. The Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once said “If a lion could speak, we could not understand him.” This is because even if said lion understood English, his cultural reference points would be so off-base that we’d have no framework to grasp them with.

AI is similar, except operating from the opposite side of the spectrum. AI almost always provides the most common and popular answers, so much so that all nuance and minor intricacy are lost. That’s good for simple truths, but the insight hidden beneath such perspectives will be constrained. 

In contrast, a human copywriter, especially if they’re penning content for a local audience, will be more precise, understandable, and coherent to your chosen market. As a brand hoping to use marketing to make your firm more exciting, relatable, and yes, unique, these professionals will remain the superior option.

While this post has been written with obvious bias, we hope it provides food for thought and helps you consider how to blend both AI and human content writing into your marketing strategy.

The post Why Human Copywriters Edge Out AI, At Least For Now appeared first on TabithaNaylor.com.

Let’s have a look at some more benefits below.

Great PR Opportunities

Exhibitions and trade fairs may be a big investment, however, you will see benefits in marketing, advertising, and promotions when you attend these. When you attend one of these events it gives you the opportunity to interact with other businesses too, which could save you a huge amount of time and money when it comes to contacting potential partners or B2B customers. This time of marketing often brings the highest turnover of customers. This is because the people attending the event are already there to see the services and products in the topic of the event.

Move Away From The Screen 

In the technical world nowadays, it’s very common for all your marketing efforts to stay behind a screen, however, this isn’t always the best way to do your marketing. Pretty much all your marketing such as market research, placing orders, and advertising can be done electronically, but face-to-face relationships go a long way. This is particularly important for new businesses that are trying to grow their customer base. Often trust is the hardest thing to build for a new business, so when you attend an exhibition you can show them how good your products or services are and show them that you are trustworthy. 

The Opportunity To Learn Too

If you think about exhibitions and trade fairs do you see them as just an option for selling and promoting? You are wrong. You should also see them as a way to learn. If you are a savvy business owner you will make the most of being able to learn about your competition and see what they are doing well. Is there any way you could make it better and come out ahead of them? There is also no harm in attending an exhibition as an attendee and not showcasing your business every time. This really allows you to blend in, ask questions, attend seminars, and talk to your competitors. Once you attend a few exhibitions you will get to know which ones are the best and the ones which you can miss. You may even end up regularly attending the same exhibition each year as it gives you the boost in sales that you need to hit targets. 

These are all great reasons for you to start using exhibitions as a marketing tool. Do you know of any other benefits? It would be great to hear them in the comments below.

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The Power of Creative Collaboration

At the heart of modern marketing success lies the concept of creative collaboration. When professionals from different disciplines come together, they can blend their unique perspectives and expertise to develop dynamic campaigns. Whether it’s a team of marketers, designers, or product developers, working together ensures that ideas are more refined, innovative, and customer-centric.

LINK Creative offers a great example of how businesses can leverage creative collaboration. By bringing together experts in various fields, they ensure that each marketing project benefits from a well-rounded approach. With everyone contributing their best ideas and insights, the results are not only visually stunning but also strategically sound.

Embracing Technology for Enhanced Collaboration

In the digital age, technology plays a pivotal role in making collaboration more accessible and efficient. Tools such as project management software, digital brainstorming platforms, and cloud-based asset storage have transformed how teams work together. No longer confined by geography, businesses can now connect talent from all corners of the globe, ensuring that creativity knows no boundaries.

Platforms like Glewee allow creators and brands to come together and produce content that resonates with audiences. By facilitating real-time collaboration and idea sharing, these platforms help brands stay agile and responsive to ever-changing market demands. This seamless integration of technology in the creative process makes it easier for businesses to adapt and produce top-tier campaigns that align with their goals.

Building a Collaborative Culture

For collaboration to truly thrive, it’s not enough to rely on technology alone. Businesses must actively cultivate a collaborative culture. This means creating an environment where team members feel empowered to share their ideas, take risks, and offer feedback. When individuals are encouraged to work together, creativity flourishes.

Open communication is key to fostering such a culture. Encouraging regular brainstorming sessions, cross-departmental meetings, and open forums for idea exchange ensures that everyone feels heard and valued. In turn, this collaborative spirit leads to marketing campaigns that are not only original but also reflective of a brand’s core values and objectives.

The Benefits of a Collaborative Approach

Collaboration brings with it a multitude of benefits. First and foremost, it allows businesses to tackle complex problems from various angles. When different skill sets and perspectives are involved, the likelihood of finding creative solutions increases exponentially. Additionally, collaboration can improve team morale and cohesion, leading to stronger working relationships and more enjoyable projects.

Moreover, collaborative marketing efforts tend to be more aligned with the audience’s needs. When teams work together, they can better understand customer pain points and preferences, resulting in campaigns that truly resonate. This leads to higher engagement rates, brand loyalty, and ultimately, a better return on investment.

Successful Campaigns through Creative Collaboration

Brands that prioritise creative collaboration have seen remarkable results. For instance, companies that have integrated user-generated content into their campaigns have experienced significant boosts in audience engagement. By inviting customers to participate in the creative process, brands build stronger relationships and create a sense of community around their products or services.

Similarly, collaborative efforts that combine marketing with innovative technology and design elements tend to stand out in competitive markets. When multiple teams come together, they create campaigns that are both visually compelling and strategically effective, leaving a lasting impression on their target audience.

Conclusion

As the marketing landscape continues to evolve, the need for creative collaboration becomes even more essential. By embracing a collaborative mindset, leveraging the right tools, and cultivating a culture of openness, businesses can ensure they remain at the forefront of innovation. The future of marketing lies in the power of collective creativity.

The post Linking Creative Minds for Marketing Success appeared first on TabithaNaylor.com.

So let’s explore some of the old digital marketing advice that you may have heard of or even followed in the past, then explain why it’s not as important in today’s marketing world.

“Posting frequently is all that matters”

There was a time when digital marketers all believed that constantly posting was the key to online success. They thought that the idea of visibility was all that mattered, and the only way to achieve that was to post more and make yourself easier to see. You’d gain more followers, you’d stay in the minds of consumers, and you’d be more successful.

Sadly, this just isn’t the case anymore. In fact, posting too much content on a regular basis can actually dilute the quality of your content, leading to spammy low-effort posts that actually turn people away from your brand or website. With so much content online these days, it’s inevitable that customers get fatigued from reading the same or similar things over and over again. There’s just so much to sift through if you want to find quality content that’s actually helpful or meaningful, so any business that contributes to that glut is often seen in a negative light.

This is why it’s become important to share high-quality content but on a less frequent basis. Let’s face it, there aren’t many (or perhaps any) businesses that can churn out content every single day and make it meaningful or interesting. We know it, marketers know it, and most importantly, your audience knows it. So if you want to get noticed and stay on your customer’s good side, you’ll want to focus on creating quality content.

“Buying followers can boost your credibility”

Buying followers was often seen as a shortcut to marketing success due to how quickly it could boost your credibility. After all, people like to work with or follow companies that have a lot of followers. They see that you have lots of likes and a large audience, and they’ll immediately believe that you’re credible.

However, people are smarter these days and they can almost sniff out when something is fake or bought. Not even engagement numbers and statistics are a sign of credibility these days due to all of the bots and fake posts out there. It’s really become difficult to stand out based on these metrics alone, and they can even be seen as negatives depending on the context.

So what’s the solution here? Honestly–there really isn’t one. It’s created a wide spectrum of online consumers. Some people will almost believe anything they see, following the same idea that big follower numbers means big credibility. On the other side, you have cynical consumers who don’t believe anything brands say, and they have this idea that all brands buy their followers and thus buy their credibility.

The only thing a business can do in the face of such uncertain times is to focus on being honest and transparent. Trying to project an image of success or grandeur can work for some people, but the fake-it-till-you-make-it mentality has largely shifted to influencer marketing. Instead, businesses should focus on their core fundamentals, and that means making a great product, offering fantastic service, and keeping their marketing feet on the ground.

“Email marketing is old news”

In an ironic twist, the advice that email doesn’t work for digital marketing anymore is just plain false. Email marketing has always been relevant because people always use emails. Sure, the landscape has changed a bit given the prevalence of spam filters and other features that protect consumers, but the effectiveness of email has never really fallen off.

Doing email right isn’t easy, but it’s possible. The trick is to focus on personalized emails that drive value, offering subscribers and loyal customers real benefits instead of just updating them with some news every week. Targeted campaigns allow companies to send tailored messages to the right people at the right time, and it helps to maintain strong customer relationships that lead to success.

So if you’ve been neglecting the power of email marketing, give it another try. Focus on creating value with emails and you’ll notice a world of difference.

The post Old Digital Marketing Advice That Just Doesn’t Work Anymore appeared first on TabithaNaylor.com.

1.  Create Anticipation

Creating anticipation around your event will lead to a powerful force called FOMO – the Fear of Missing Out. You’ve probably felt it at some point. It’s like when you think you might be missing out on something super awesome and are eager to jump in. You can use this trick to amp up the excitement for your event. Show people why they absolutely can’t miss it. Start by sharing high-quality pictures and engaging videos from your past events with captions like “You’ve got to be there!” To turn up the FOMO factor even more, you can give them a little taste of what’s coming up, like a sneak peek of the event or quick chats with your awesome speakers. Share some juicy highlights so people can see how exciting and insightful the event will be. That is how you get them buzzing.  

2.  Score Big Savings with Early Bird Registration 

Everybody’s getting savvy these days and always looking for the best deal. Let people know they are in for significant savings when they sign up for your event early. Offer a special discount code for every early signee and spread the word everywhere – in your videos, on social media, through email, you name it. However, this deal should not last forever. Make it a limited-time offer. This way, people will be motivated to get their tickets knowing they’ve missed their chance once the expiration date arrives or you run out of tickets,  

3.  Join Forces with Other Brands and Sponsors 

Sometimes, joining forces with others is the best way to get the word out about your event. First, consider having event sponsors who are excited to help spread the word about your event. But that’s not all; collaborate with influencers and cool companies for brand collaboration and partnerships. They’ll give your event a shout-out to their own audience, and that’s a win-win. 

The people you partner with will largely depend on your industry or line of business. For instance, if you run a travel agency and decide to host a tourism event in Vermilion, engaging organizations like Discover West Tourism to assist you with your event promotion will prove helpful. They can help boost your reach and amplify your upcoming event. It’s all about reaching people who may not have heard about your event yet. 

4.  Create a Unique Brand for Your Event

Giving your event its distinct brand is a nifty trick to make it stand out. You can take a page from Hubspot’s book with their INBOUND event. INBOUND, for instance, is more than just a gathering for their customers. It’s a place for any marketing, sales, or service pro looking to up their game. The key here is to separate your event brand from your company brand. That means a new website, fresh colors, and a different messaging style. It’s all about drawing people who might know your company but are all in for your event.

The post 4 Creative Ways to Market Your Next Event appeared first on TabithaNaylor.com.

In fact, most people now start their searches online. And oftentimes, this includes scouring through reviews that others have publicly posted.

No billboard, online ad, or marketing strategy has as much credibility as the word-of-mouth of someone who has purchased a product or service.

For brands, customers posting positive reviews are real-life celebrities and influencers with the power to make – or break – their businesses.  They offer authentic insight that no marketing campaign could even come close to.

At the end of the day, however, asking customers to spread the word is one thing… leveraging them is a different ball game altogether.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to successfully cull reviews and use them to improve your brand presence, as well as what to do when the unthinkable happens and someone leaves you a less-than-stellar review.

How to Collect More Customer Reviews

Jay Baer notes, “It‘s good business to ask your customers to provide reviews, as long as it isn‘t too aggressive or a quid-pro-quo.”

That means finding ways to encourage people to post reviews voluntarily.

Here are a few strategic ways to start culling more reviews for your business:

• Provide outstanding customer service, as well as a superb product or service.  This in and of itself gives people a good reason to post a positive review.
• Don’t be afraid to ask people for their feedback.  If you provide them with a forum where they feel valued and that their voices will be heard, you will be amazed at how helpful many people will be.
• Offer incentives on future purchases. Try things like a chance to win a prize or exclusive access to a can’t miss offer. Just keep in mind that whatever you do should motivate customers without going against the review platform’s guidelines.
• Make it easy for people to leave feedback. Streamline the testimonial-sharing process with a user-friendly feedback form on your website. You might also consider sending a follow-up email with a link to a review platform. Think of a way that enables customers to share their thoughts effortlessly.
• Encourage people to leave reviews in multiple places. Think beyond Google reviews because people also check places like Yelp, Facebook, and Instagram too. Educate people about the options and provide them with routes to reach them (through emails and platform links). 
  • OF NOTE: Keep in mind that review sites aren’t designed to be one-size-fits all.  For example, sites like Yelp won’t be very helpful for an e-commerce seller. It’s important to identify which platforms make sense for your unique business.

How to Use Your Newfound Reviews to Maximize Your Digital Footprint Online

Collecting customer reviews is only one step in the reputation management process, however. The real results come when potential new customers actually see these reviews.

Here are some of the most popular ways to ensure that your business’s reviews are visible at the right place and the right time:

• Display customer reviews prominently on your website. Try banners, pop ups, sliders and widgets. You may even want to consider creating a dedicated section to showcase them.
• Create social media posts and videos that feature glowing reviews and post them frequently to maximize your reach across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
• Create paid targeted social media ads from your reviews, and then showcase them to people who are already interested in what your business has to offer. 
• If you publish newsletters or push out email promos, also consider featuring a testimonial or 2 there as well. 

How to Deal with Negative Reviews

Unfortunately you can’t please everyone, and you are likely going to get some bad reviews here and there.

First and foremost, when this happens, do NOT panic!

Businesses that have all 5-star reviews aren’t seen as genuine or authentic, since it’s impossible to be everything to everyone all the time.

Instead of getting upset and stressed out, welcome the criticism. Oftentimes, these types of situations can serve as learning opportunities for how to improve some specific aspect of your business.

When a not-so-stellar review comes in, it’s imperative to do the following as quickly as possible:

• Step 1: take the time to respond to negative feedback by trying to see the issue from the customer’s perspective. This is truly a situation where cool heads prevail.  Resist the urge to respond with something that could escalate things and make them exponentially worse.
• Step 2: ask for a second chance and go the extra mile to address the issue that led to a poor review the first time around.

Here are a few examples of how to respond to negative reviews that will hopefully get the creative juices flowing:

1. “We’re sorry that our product fell short of your expectations. We would be happy to either replace it or give you a refund. Please contact us directly and let us know what works the best for you.”
2. “We regret the inconvenience. Our team will do everything to address the issue. In the interim, please contact us directly to discuss how we can try to make things right.”
3. “Hey there, thanks for the honest feedback. Please accept our apologies and give us another chance to improve your experience. We truly WANT to make things right.”
4. “We’re sorry to hear about your recent negative experience. Our goal is to deliver the best service possible to each customer we serve. Every. Single. Time. Please contact us directly to discuss how we can try to make it up to you.”

At the end of the day, most people want to feel valued and appreciated.  Doing something as simple as calmly responding to a negative review can make a world of difference. 

Leveraging the Potential of Customer Reviews

Customer reviews – both good and bad – are valuable for your business. The good ones will help you earn customer trust, and the bad ones will (hopefully) inspire you and your team to do better.

The best part is that they cost nothing, yet their dividends can be huge. In fact, most of your loyal customers will spread the word for free.

So, the next time you have a happy customer singing your praises, ask them if they would be willing to write a review about their experience.  And if there’s a little hesitation, try to “sweeten the pot” a little by offering some sort of incentive. 

You’ll be amazed at the end result.

The post From Feedback to Fame: The Ultimate Guide to Harnessing Customer Reviews for Small Business Success appeared first on TabithaNaylor.com.