Fast Marketing Minute

Everybody knows it’s important to have social media for your business. But blind posting isn’t going to get you anywhere. It’s a waste of time. No ifs ands or buts.  Like it or not, social media is key to your branding, but are you working it or is it working you?

If we all had our way, social media would be a lead generating factory. One easy way to generate those leads is through direct messaging. And there’s a way of doing it without being over-the-top sales-y.

Here are 3 ways to be successful:

First, personalize each direct message. I’m not just talking about adding a person’s name at the beginning of your message. Take a minute to research the person you’re targeting and their company. Include a line or two at the beginning or end that’s specific to the topic and what you’re looking for.

Second, make sure you’re using the right voice for the platform. Be professional on LinkedIn, but more light-hearted and fun on Instagram. You don’t want your message to seem out of place or you risk looking like you’re clueless, and no one wants that.

Third, don’t sell anything in your messages. DM your follower’s customized promo codes. Let them know that you’re getting ready to go live from an event. Occasionally, just say “hi.” Loyal customers are built on authentic brand relationships. That means you should always be responsive to customers’ messages as well -- and connect, even when you don’t feel like it.

Ok, so there’s a fourth one, but this is a no-brainer. Check your spelling and grammar. A poorly crafted note will never get a response -- or a second look.

I’m Robin Samora, host of the Fast Marketing Minute. Are you having luck generating leads through DMs? I’d love to hear about your success. Email me at [email protected]. Talk tomorrow!

 

Podcasting has never been easier or more affordable. You can interview expert guests that your audience will want learn from or listen to, or if you write content as a thought leader you can repurpose material from your owned media channels (blogs and reports, for example) to put on your podcast

I started Fast Marketing Minute with a $50 snowball mic, which I’m using now - and Audacity, a free software program that I use to record these episodes.

Having a podcast is awesome, but you have to promote it too. That’s where social media comes in.

Here are 5 tips to promote your podcast:

* Be sure you have an email list before your podcast launches. Your audience already knows you and they probably like, know, and trust you. Look at your blog, social media or brand advocates to create a customized list.

* Next, decide on your podcast’s look and feel. You want to design graphics for your show cover, think about images, clips, and shareable quotes. This will help identify your brand and make it easy for people to share.

* When you launch, message your list and let them know what’s up. Ask them to listen to and review your podcast. Everyone won’t respond, but some will. And, be sure to thank them.

* Don’t be shy to mention brands or look for partners to promote you. They may mention you back!

* And lastly, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world – so amplify everywhere you can. Transcribe the audio (if it’s not written out) on sites like Rev.com or on Fiverr.com. Then, upload the audio and transcript for potential SEO and link back to your site and social media.

This is Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. If you like my podcast, would you review me? Here’s the URL. FastMarketingMinute.com/review. Thanks so much for listening and talk tomorrow.

You can’t afford to ignore influencer marketing anymore. It’s here, and it’s growing. So how do you find the perfect influencers to approach for your brand?

First you need to define your target audience and find someone who has a similar audience. Think about gender, age, lifestyle, culture and entertainment habits.

Then you need to decide what size of an influencer you’re looking for. Macro-influencers have over 1 million followers, and they will likely want payment and some kind of kickbacks. If you’re new at influencer marketing campaigns, I suggest starting with nano-influencers, people who have a following from 1,000 to 10,000. They’re usually well-known in their community or industry as a trusted person of influence.

You can find influencers by staying in tune with your industry’s social media. Whose posts are getting shared often? Where are people speaking or being featured? Are they winning any awards or recognition? Follow these kinds of trails to find your ideal influencer.

It’s also important to choose someone you feel comfortable with and that aligns with your brand. Make sure they have a decent reach and that they’re well respected. You want to see their personality shine through with authenticity. And their niche should be part of your target market. Not competing, compementing.

This is Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. Learn how to uplevel your expert status with influencer marketing and PR strategies that work. Connect with me at [email protected] for a quick Zoom call and let’s brainstorm. Talk tomorrow!

 

 

Are you struggling to grow your Instagram community? Do you want more engagement? Sometimes traditional methods don’t work, and you need to shake up your strategy and try something new.

Here are some ideas:

Create a scavenger hunt. Hide a small image or emoji in your posts each week. Make it a contest. Tell your audience to email you a screenshot with the emoji circled to be entered. Give away free services or a product. Or even a Starbucks gift card can go a long way. It’s a low-cost way to get engagement and collect new email addresses. Just choose something that works for your brand.

How about a weekly brain teaser? Post a puzzle for your following to solve. Obviously, make sure it’s related to your business. Add it to your story. People will comment with their guesses. Boom, instant engagement. People are scrolling and receptive to engaging. Take advantage of it!

You can also do a weekly challenge. Make a fun hashtag for it. If you’re a photographer, ask followers to post a photo of their favorite sunset this week. A chef could challenge people to post a meal they’ve made with a certain recipe. Encourage people to get creative and tag you. And don’t forget to interact with their posts. You know as well as I do that Instagram can be contagious!

This is Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. What are you doing to encourage engagement on social media? Share what’s working for your brand on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. I’m at RobinSamoraPR. Talk tomorrow!

 

 

 

We’re all out there doing our best at marketing our brands and businesses. But, with all the technology updates, and working IN our business more than ON our business, it’s hard to do it all -- and all well. What I’ve found is that there are a few pieces that are often missing in the marketing puzzle.

Let’s look at what could be missing from your marketing strategy.

A cohesive consumer experience. Your website, social media, emails and packaging should all have a cohesive branded look. The user’s experience should be streamlined too. The level of service through your website should be the same as on any of your social platforms.

Optimized content. Your keywords should be present in your static website content, blogs, articles and social media posts. Keep a list on your desktop (or tape it on your wall) and refer to it at least once or twice every time you write something new. When you look at your analytics, update your keywords accordingly.

Don’t forget about remarketing. You don’t need fancy software on your website. Simply emailing past customers can have excellent results. As a former speaker for Constant Contact, I can tell you that every dollar spent on email marketing drives about $44 in ROI. Sure, you can remarket like crazy with an ad budget, but you can also do it for less.

Do you understand your buyer persona? Your ideal customer? Do you research and make sure that all of your content speaks to them. Address their problems. How you’ll specifically help them. Design your brand -- so that it speaks to them -- loud and clear or run the risk of them leaving.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. If you need help growing your business, talk to me about a customized marketing and action plan -- that works. You can find me at RobinSamora.com. Talk tomorrow!

 

Are you getting the cold shoulder when you make a cold call? That’s probably because cold calls seem a bit out of place in today’s sales world. Buyer behavior has changed. Rarely do people pick up a call from a number they don’t recognize.  And if they need a service, they look it up online (after checking the reviews, of course).

Cold calls can be disruptive and annoying. Marketing with a one-size-fits-all approach hasn’t worked in years. Instead, look at attracting quality inbound leads.

How do you build sales with inbound marketing?

First, you have to know your target market and almost everything about them. That way you can create interesting content that your audience connects with. Personalize it to fit your niche and what you want to promote. Be sure to offer value to potential customers, but expect nothing in return, except maybe an email address.

Warm calling comes next. That’s when a prospect submits a lead form or follows you on social media. Send them an email. Get them on the phone. Invite them to coffee. Put them into what I call a 9 Step Drip Campaign. It’s a no-brainer that when someone shows interest in your company or products, they’ll be way more receptive to hearing from you directly.

I’m not saying that cold calling, as we traditionally know it, is dead. It’s an art for sure. But it may not be in your wheelhouse of expertise. Try a few new age “cold calling” tactics instead. Comment on social media. Congratulate people on LinkedIn. Send a helpful article or offer a solution to a problem, at no charge. Again, it’s all about the connection.

This is Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. If you’d like to get more warm leads that turn into customers, let’s talk. You can find me at RobinSamora.com. Talk tomorrow!

Hi, it’s Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. I’m your Marketing and PR expert here to grow your business and brand.

Are you dreading networking events, because you’re not getting much from them?  Stop going in blind. Be clear on what you’re looking for.

First, make a list of qualities and skills you admire most in other professionals. Keep that list in mind when you strike up a conversation. If your boxes are getting checked, keep talking. If they aren’t, politely exit the conversation. Learn the Art of the Exit, because you have to spend your time wisely.

On the same note, make a list of red flags you want to avoid -- like the plague. There are words or phrases you’ll hear that automatically make that person a definite NO. For example, when I hear “what’s in it for me” or “can you get me a job” in the first minute, I might lose interest and move on.

Let’s look at the time you spend time driving to and from meetings, and if you’re making the most of the event, preparing. Who’s going to be there, who can I meet? Figure out what you’re looking for and possible synergies. It’s always about the connection. With colleagues in your industry, aligning industries, and newcomers from completely different fields. It’s also interestsing to chat it up with competitors. Listen and you’ll learn alot.

As always, networking relationships should be give and take. How can you help other people without them asking? What value can you provide as an expert others look up to? It goes without saying to stay up-to-date so you can offer fresh, inspiring advice.

This is Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. Networking is important online as well as offline. Connect with me on LinkedIn @RobinSamora . Just let me know you’re from the Fast Marketing Minute so I know who you are. Talk tomorrow!

 

As a business owner, you know how important networking is to grow your business. But, how many events do you have to go each week? 1? 5? How many is too many? What’s the right number?

First of all, think quality over quantity. You can go to 10 events in a week, but if you aren’t making connections that matter, none of them are worth your time. Vary them up and shop around, but stick with professional groups that will widen your circle of influence, build your referral network, and potentially bring in new opportunities.

Start with finding 3 or 4 of networking groups that meet your criteria. But don’t kill yourself going to every event. You’re busy. If a group meets weekly, try to hit a meeting once or twice per month, unless you’re in BNI. Theyhave their own criteria.

Personally, I’ve found the best networking happens at non-networking events. I’ve met new contacts at conferences, trainings, fundraisers, at Staples copy shop, and just recently at an Art Show. Realistically, any event you go to is a chance to meet new people who could turn into clients, serve as a mentor one day, or be an amazing addition to your team. Don’t limit yourself to events that have “networking” in the title.

One point I’d like to make is that networking isn’t just about making new contacts. It gives you a chance to refine your message and change it up according to what’s new and important. Plus, it forces you to get out of your office and your routine, and socialize with other people. To get you out of the silo.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. If you want to know more about networking, download a copy of my report How to Work a Room Without Being There. It’s at RobinSamora.com/WorkaRoom. Talk tomorrow!

 

Do you ever feel a little lost about what to wear at a speaking gig, when all eyes are on you?  While it varies by industry, here are some basic rules to follow.

This is a guestestimate, but I’d say dress three steps above your audience, but do it with style. If your audience will be wearing jeans and t-shirts, wear jeans and a fabulous jacket. You want to fit in, but stand out.

Remember, in most cases, your audience is there to see you and hear what you have to say. They also want to be like you, an expert on stage. So they’ll be paying attenion. Your energy will be noticed first, next your clothes, and ladies lastly your shoes, especially if you’re on a stage. Men, too. So take those stickers or price tags off the bottom of your shoes if you’re on a panel and crossing your legs -- really!

Dress in something that makes you feel good, something you love, that makes you feel confident. And don’t be afraid of getting the help of a personal stylist or image consultant who understands what looks good on your body type -- and is appropriate for your industry. That’s their expertise, just like you have yours, and it’s worth every penny! With so many photos or videos uploaded to social media, you want to look your best. Take my word on this one.

Me? I like wearing dresses and have a closet full. Mostly colorful, flattering, easy to clean, and I buy them when I see them, especially on sale, but not always. I have a stylist who trained me on what to buy, and I’ve made the decision to go back to her every year, because I like what she picks out and it makes a difference -- in how I look and feel.

This is Robin Samora with he Fast Marketing Minute. What do you wear as a presenter? I’d be happy to help you choose your next speaking outfit. Send me a picture on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at RobinSamoraPR. Or better yet, email me at [email protected] I’d love to help you (and it’s fun). Talk tomorrow!

 

We all know being thankful is important, but did you know that it can actually grow your audience? Here’s a simple strategy that people use all the time on social media. You thank influential people or nano-influencers in groups. I’m not talking about individually thanking each person who follows you, although that’s great too. I’m talking about publicly thanking people and brands who have a big following to pull some attention your way.

Have you recently spoken at an event or had your blog featured on a website? Thank people publicly on social media. Tag them, obviously, but be sure to take the time to research important hashtags for their industry. And don’t forget to share the link to your content. This attitude of gratitude will attract their followers --  to follow you.

If this situation doesn’t apply to you, do it another way. Thank a speaker for their insight on a recent TED Talk you loved. Thank a blogger for advice that got your website to convert better. If you have someone you love following you on Instagram, thank them just for being awesome.

The power of tagging a major influencer or a micro-influencer who is well respected in your industry is huge. It gets you, your brand and your business in front of a whole new audience and in a sincerely positive way.

It may also open the doors to network with the influencers who you’re tagging. Being on an influencer’s radar can boost your like, know, trust and believability through the roof. As long as it’s done with good intention and mindfully,.

I’m Robin Samora host of Fast Marketing Minute. Thanks for listening. If you’d like to learn more about marketing and growing your business week by week for a year, download 52 Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business. It’s at RobinSamora.com/52tips Talk tomorrow!