Marketing School | Digital Marketing | Online Marketing

In episode #1199, we talk about a few books that can help you and your brand in 2020! We share some choices that deal with customers, coaching, ambition and more, while also considering the benefits of less reading and more action. Tune in to find the right content that help you grow in the best way in the new year! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Business Books That Will Help You Grow in 2020. [00:41] Why a book is a such a great value proposition. [01:05] The Mom Test and figuring out what to build for your customers. [01:39] The benefits of reading no books at all in 2020! [02:20] Taking action instead of stockpiling knowledge that leads to nothing. [03:40] Allowing time for perspective every day. [04:15] Trillion Dollar Coach, Play Bigger and Traction. [05:55] That’s it for today! [06:00] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Seth Godin The Mom Test Audibl

In episode #1198, we discuss the main thing that is preventing you from achieving SEO success. Your leads won’t convert to sales if you haven’t spent time on customer development. Tune in to hear what you can do to better understand your customers’ pain points!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The One Thing That Can Make or Break Your SEO.  [00:32] How customer development is related to SEO.  [01:06] Constantly trying new ways to get traffic in the early days of business.  [02:11] Why traffic and ranking for everything shouldn’t be your goal. [02:50] The importance of figuring out what your customers’ specific pain points are. [03:16] What happens when you focus too heavily on keywords and not the people.  [03:42] Two highly recommended books on learning to understand your customer.  [04:49] Examples of things you can do to promote customer development.   [05:30] Realizing that customer development is an ongoing process.  [06:03] Keeping in mind that search patterns change as peopl

In episode #1197, we share our top seven content marketing tips. One of the most effective and economical ways of keeping your content current is to update old material regularly rather than creating new content all the time.  Tune in to hear what you need to do to boost your content in 2020!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Seven Practical Content Marketing Tips.  [00:36] Avoid reusing the same information and relying only on the Skyscraper Technique.  [01:29] Be sure to sprout your content and make the most of the omnichannel strategy.   [02:12] How to leverage the land and expand strategy to optimize existing content.  [03:10] Testing the performance of titles and meta descriptions and tweaking when necessary.   [03:46] Translating and transcribing your content to increase your traffic.  [04:42] Don’t forget about emails – it’s the one channel you can control!  [05:18] Spend a lot of time revising old content rather than creating new material.  [06:44] That’s it for today! [06:4

In episode #1196, we share the quickest ways to get skilled at digital marketing. Keeping up to date with industry news, checking out what competitors are up to, and attending conferences are a few of the ways you can get a handle on marketing. Tune in to hear which app will help you work through articles much faster!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How You Can Learn Digital Marketing Faster.  [00:55] Why you must keep up with all the marketing sites and news in the industry.  [01:29] Using the examples that people post to learn from. [01:45] Saving marketing-related posts and articles in the Pocket app and its cool audio feature.  [02:37] Studying everything that your competitors are busy with.   [03:15] A good example of learning from the competition – listen to their podcasts.  [03:51] Listen to Nathan Latka’s podcast where you get all the numbers!  [04:28] Why attending events are the most effective way to learn.  [04:55] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mas

In episode #1195, we share several alternative (yet effective!) ways of funding your business. We give you all the details on crowdfunding, revenue-based financing, and the more traditional routes involving bank loans. Tune in to hear what you need to do to attract investors!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Alternative Ways to Fund Your Business.  [00:37] Why people should consider funding and the problem with bootstrapping. [01:02] The need for funding even if you are Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. [01:47] Thoughts on crowdfunding and the various platforms you can use.  [02:22] A list of the main crowdfunding platforms and how much you can raise per year.  [03:03] The importance of having traction before attempting to raise money.  [03:27] How you can raise money through revenue-based financing.  [04:15] The models that companies like Lighter Capital use.  [05:05] Getting a traditional bank or SBA loan in the US and their interest rates.  [05:22] What the credit card company Brex is of

In episode #1194, we discuss Eric’s biggest marketing blunder of the year. Rebuilding a website can be tricky and there is a range of factors to keep in mind before you can roll out the revised version. Tune in to hear what is on our checklist that will help you to avoid making the same mistake!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Biggest Marketing Blunder of 2019.  [00:34] Trusting the developer instead of following the checklist when doing a website rebuild.  [01:21] Don’t assume anything about what a new developer might/might not know. [01:35] Communication is key: establishing the tracking, lead flow, redirections, etc.  [02:36] Why Neil never does website redesigns and how he approaches changes. [03:39] The checklist for making sure that you rebuild correctly.  [04:23] Doing big changes to a website during a slow period, such as over the weekend.  [04:50] Benchmarking with your old data and ensuring that internal links are right. [05:17] An example of how you would keep intern

In episode #1193, we discuss the best strategies for overcoming the traffic drop that often results from updates. Creating a product such as a simple game, tool, or widget is an effective means of getting your traffic numbers climbing again. Tune in to hear what percentage your visitor numbers might be reduced and some of the novel ways to combat the problem!   TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:28] Today’s topic: How to Survive a Google Core Update.  [00:34] Our recent experience with dropped visitor numbers. [01:05] An observation about the quality and the number of traffic for certain sites.  [01:14] How Core updates affect the traffic to a site and when it recovers. [02:00] Why it is not always possible to avoid hits when Google makes algorithm changes. [02:20] The trend that started in 2018 and not relying on search and social media.  [02:48] Thinking outside the box by generating your own traffic. [03:35] Gaining traffic by building your own unique product, such as a game or a tool! [04:27] Taking

In episode #1192, we share with you the best free SEO tools that we’ve come across. Whether you need to track snippets, check the vitality of your content, get rid of spam or create the most effective tags, there is the perfect tool for it. Tune in to hear how to master SEO with these free applications!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Best Free SEO Tools to Check Out!  [00:47] SEO Ninja and their unique way of tracking snippets.  [01:06] All the great things Animalz Revive can tell you about your content.  [01:28] Coming up with new content ideas using AnswerThePublic.  [01:39] The browser extension that gives you a list of keywords from any web page.  [02:08] What you can do with the Reddit keyword research tool called Keyworddit. [02:20] Why the Google Analytics Referrer Spam Killer is the best! [02:45] CanIRank allows you to see if you can show up as number one for a keyword search.  [02:58] The tools that can tell you if your own or another person’s URL is penalized.  [03:

In episode #1191, we share how Neil grew his Instagram to 60k followers! With social media status being what is and all the theories floating around for how to grow your following on Instagram and other platforms, we thought we would weigh in on how Neil has experienced such rapid growth in his follower-ship! Join us to hear about leveraging your audience, grinding it out, and why partnering up might be your best tool for growth! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How Neil Grew His Instagram to 60k Followers in No Time. [00:41] Posting content, videos and organic growth by leveraging brand equity. [01:42] Applying this lesson to other platforms aside from Instagram. [02:03] Looking at the example of Gary Vaynerchuk! [03:35] Using podcasting and collaboration as a means of brand marketing. [05:01] Leverage what you already have and make the most of your associations. [06:24] Go find someone to partner with! [08:50] There is a time for grinding and a time for leveraging. [09:47] Offering

In episode #1190, we discuss what you can do if your traffic is flat! Whichever platform you are wishing to promote, our number one piece of advice is to go find someone who is an expert at that field; there are so many resources and people out there to help you out! Tune in to hear our thoughts on boosting your traffic and knowledge about bringing people on board. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What to Do if Your Traffic is Flat. [00:35] Hire experts or coaches if you have hit a wall! [01:20] There is always more to learn and someone who can help you. [02:38] Recurring costs versus one-time expenses and weighing them up. [04:32] The challenges of finding quality, outsourced labor. [05:02] Ideas for screening possible candidates from UpWork. [06:01] Learning from others' experience and building more expertise. [06:56] That is it for today! [06:59] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentione

In episode #1189, we share how you can plan your 2020 marketing goals! From ways to think about goals, KPI’s, and the ability to pivot at the right time, we cover everything you need to know going into the new year. Tune in to get inspired and equipped to make 2020 your best year yet! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Plan Your 2020 Marketing Goals. [00:35] Thinking of goals as a realistic percentage and the laws of slowing growth rates. [01:18] The Entrepreneur's Operating System and weekly meetings around KPI's. [02:02] Shifting strategies when necessary to maintain goals and growth rates. [02:23] Keeping it simple; taking stock of the past and present and mapping out the future. [04:03] Ways to improve your overall approach and grow your marketing in 2020. [04:55] The power of simplifying and getting away from overwhelm. [05:46] Breaking down your goals by quarter, month, week and day.  [06:35] End of year reviews and how they tie into new year planning. [07:12] That’s it f

In episode #1188, we talk about how to plan for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year! We all know about the sales frenzy that happens every year over the weekend in question, but how can you make the most of it? Tune in to hear our strategies and ideas to get your shop in order to rake in some cash! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Plan for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this Year. [00:58] Getting set with retargeting pixels and consistency across platforms. [01:19] Making sure to leverage caching and CDM to avoid any stoppages. [02:14] Utilizing an omnichannel approach to capture the most sales. [02:48] Offering really good deals on a couple of your products to drive traffic. [03:38] The great boost that gift guides can give your sales. [04:21] The pros and cons of personalization for Black Friday. [05:42] That is it for today! [05:50] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in

In episode #1187, we talk about the conversation we had with Gary Vaynerchuk's social team! As one of the leading content marketing personalities in the world, Gary Vee and his large content team has wisdom from which we could all benefit! Tune in hear the tips and ideas they gave us for LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What We Learned from Talking with Gary Vaynerchuk's Social Team. [00:45] Some of the reasons Gary does so well on social media! [01:03] The conversation and audit that Gary's team offered us. [01:45] Why to use carousels and how to make multiple impressions on visitors. [02:00] Tips for LinkedIn and how things have changed recently. [02:34] How long to make your videos on the YouTube. [04:01] Posting natively on Facebook and adapting it to the audience. [04:35] Why Gary Vee handles his own Twitter account.  [04:47] The hours of Gary's content team and why they differ from his agency.  [06:06] That is it for today! [03:09]

In episode #1186, we answer the question of whether or not you should be using Twitter in 2020. With a committed but stagnant user base, it can be hard to know if Twitter is even still worth your energy. Tune in to hear our thoughts on using Twitter for marketing and what strategies might still be useful to you and your business! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Should You Even Use Twitter in 2020? [00:31] Twitter user numbers, growth and our own usage of the platform. [01:10] Is Twitter still worth using from a marketing perspective? [01:41] Examples of successful strategies on Twitter. [02:25] The downsides of traffic rates from Twitter and your tweets. [03:50] How you can use Twitter effectively in 2020. [04:10] Why LinkedIn and YouTube are mostly better options to pursue. [04:56] Some of the benefits you can still accrue from Twitter.  [05:28] That’s it for today! [05:31] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more i

In episode #1185, we dive into the aspects of social media that we get wrong. Being lazy or in a hurry often causes us to simply broadcast information rather than being thoughtful about the content we put up on these platforms. Tune in to hear whether you are posting too little or too much!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Biggest Mistake We’re Making in Social Media.  [00:35] Neil’s thoughts on why social media isn’t working so well for Eric. [01:04] Why we reduced the number of YouTube videos and blogs we post per week. [01:28] Two problems with the way Eric uses social media.  [01:46] Writing natively on social media platforms versus broadcasting all the time.  [02:02] What it means to post natively: creating content that the platform seeks. [02:48] Common mistakes: Not posting enough and having old, disengaged followers.  [03:16] That’s it for today! [03:23] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information.

In episode #1184, we share with you our hit-list of 7 must-read books for leveling up in your business! The books we recommend will help anyone who is interested in learning more about startups, team management, simplicity, and making it happen in an engineering organization. Tune in to hear which outstanding authors and business moguls have made our ranking!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Seven Evergreen Books Guaranteed to Help You Grow.   [00:32] Suffering through startup world and the woes of being a founder in Ben Horowitz’s book. [01:16] More great advice about startups and how to win in Peter Thiel’s Zero to One.  [02:56] Why The Ideal Team Player should be required reading!  [03:22] Learn the value of being simplistic with Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think. [04:22] The Phoenix Project: a resource for effectively managing an engineering organization.  [05:05] How multibillionaire Ray Dalio’s book Principles will help you grow in business.  [06:35] Multipliers as a must-read

In episode #1183, we share everything you need to consider when it comes to hiring someone who is still learning versus someone who is experienced. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, so it’s all about looking at the specific role you want them to fulfill. Some positions lend themselves more to one or the other. Tune in to hear more about which candidates to hire for executive, marketing, and SEO functions!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: When to Hire for Experience.  [00:29] Hiring someone who is learning versus someone with experience. [00:54] Experience is invaluable when your business is in the rapid growth stage.  [01:19] Why, when it comes to executives, you should always prioritize experience. [02:07] Past mistakes: waiting for people who you think have potential to learn on the job. [02:52] Considering RIO and the employees you want to hire when you are new.  [03:21] The pros and cons of getting younger people on board. [04:05] Considerations for hiring someone f

In episode #1182, we talk about why marketers should not buy the latest gadgets! Just because there are a million amazing looking tools and pieces of technology out there, does not mean you should go and get all of them! Tune in to hear about how keeping it simple and functional can really work in your favor. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Why Marketers Should Not Buy the Latest Gadgets. [00:45] It is not realistic for everyone in the world to upgrade all their tech. [02:01] When should you think about getting the latest tools? [02:45] Avoiding ADD around the newest shiny objects. [03:15] Spending money when it really benefits your marketing and business. [03:40] That is it for today! [03:42] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marketing School Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy

In episode #1181, we share seven productivity hacks to help you make the most of your day! From sleep tools, to better to-do lists and useful literature to peruse, we cover a ton of stuff that will definitely help you! Tune in to learn how to optimize your workflow and minimize time wastage! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: 7 Productivity Hacks to Get More Out of the Day. [00:33] The foundational importance of sleep; tools to help you get it right. [01:58] Planning the day ahead, the night before. [02:45] Getting the most important task done during the morning! [03:18] Clearing out that email inbox every day! [03:41] Using the Getting Things Done framework. [04:15] Avoiding time wasting rereading and responding to emails. [04:54] The utility of Sanebox and scheduling reminders as emails.  [05:23] Bonus tip! How the iPad Pro has improved productivity for both of us! [06:36] That is it for today! [06:24] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Mark

In episode #1180, we are talking about the most important Google Analytics report, other than goal-tracking. Spoiler alert! It's cohort reports! We talk about how useful these can be to your business and the basics of starting to utilize the data they provide. Tune in to give your marketing the edge it deserves! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Most Important Google Analytics Report, Other than Goal-Tracking. [00:37] Apart from goal-tracking, the cohort analysis is so important! [00:51] What you can see in these reports by just changing the duration of the period. [02:02] The different ways that cohort analysis can be used. [02:15] Learning how to read a cohort chart; the two main ways to read them. [03:04] The flow of a cohort chart and the basic directions you want the numbers to go! [03:12] That’s it for today! [03:16] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: