5 Tips on Marketing Your Business to Millennials

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Millennials|5 Tips on Marketing Your Business to MillennialsMillennials. It’s a generation that is coming of age and changing the way businesses market themselves. They make up nearly 25% of the US population and over 20% of consumer discretionary purchases. As Millennials become America’s largest generation and begin to play a greater role in the economy, you need to evolve your marketing strategy so that your business appeals to these 20-40-year-olds. Here are 5 tips to market your business to Millennials.

1. Use Social

Nearly 80% of Millennials use social media. While Facebook is the largest platform, they also spend their time on YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Having a presence on social media is important as it plays a massive role in developing your brand image and cultivating trust amongst Millennials. With attention being divided across platforms, it is important to diversify your social strategy and maintain a presence on each of the different platforms. However, in order for your social strategy to be effective, you need to regularly post and interact with your followers.

2. Have a Conversation

The Baby Boomer generation embraced the hard sell. Millennials, on the other hand, are cut from a different cloth. This growing generation wants to have a conversation with a brand. Having a genuine conversation and social interaction with your customers online helps foster a feeling of trust that can make them more likely to make a purchase with your brand and increases the chances of them becoming brand loyal.

3. Focus on Mobile

Let’s face it. You need to be where your customers are. When it comes to Millennials that means you need to be online (and on mobile). In 2018, Millennials made nearly 40% of their total purchases using their mobile devices, and this is only forecasted to grow in the coming years. If your online presence doesn’t work well on mobile devices, you are missing out on these potential sales.

4. Embrace Video

As a marketing tool, video is more engaging and more memorable. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is growing in popularity amongst Millennials and is being incorporated into social platforms at breakneck speed. Video marketing can increase brand awareness more than 50%, making video a key part of any marketing plan targeting Millennials. A business can embrace video in many ways including doing Live streams on Instagram or Facebook, creating and maintaining a YouTube channel, webinars, product videos on their website, tutorials on their social feeds and website on how to use a product, etc.

5. Encourage User-Generated Content

The holy grail of traditional marketing is word of mouth. When it comes to marketing towards Millennials the new word of mouth is user-generated content (UGC). This means that users are actually creating the content that markets your business. UGC puts your customers front and center and highlights the fact that your brand is open to having a conversation rather than just another sale. Another benefit of UGC is that is stands as social proof that your business offers quality products and services. Millennials are less trusting of ads generated directly by businesses than older generations. When this reassurance comes from the mouth of a peer, Millennials are more likely to develop trust in your brand. UGC can come from posts on your wall, using a #hashtag with your brand name, tagging your business in a post on their own feeds, etc.

Take Everything You Think You Know About Marketing & Re-evaluate

While the backbone of marketing is still relatively the same, the nuances that make a marketing plan successful need to be carefully re-evaluated to make sure that it appeals to Millennials. One of the great things about marketing to Millennials is that content can often be repurposed across platforms, targeting an even greater number of potential customers. One business that has been successful at this is the website Marble.com, who has created video content on some of the top topics homeowners have when deciding on a new countertop. This video content is posted on their YouTube channel, embedded on their own site, shared with their Facebook fans, and posted for their fans on Instagram. Allowing them to get more reach with their video content and meet their customers where they are. So when you are ready to revamp your marketing to target Millennials, keep these tips in mind so that you can have a greater return on your efforts.

What The History of Advertising Teaches Us About The Future of Advertising

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Advertising|What The History of Advertising Teaches Us About The Future of AdvertisingAdvertising has changed and we now have the technology at our fingertips to create ads that are not even true but still hugely persuasive. Creating modern advertising videos that include fake mock-ups of celebrities make it possible for companies to actively target us and then choose exactly what we see. Therefore, the future of advertising could be considered to be rather worrying.

Whether you own a blog such as the Ultimate Banners Blog to target an audience or you choose video advertising, there are many options out there but things are changing. The truth is, marketing campaigns and advertising strategies can now expose our vulnerable side and so, we can quite easily fall victim to fake news.

However, advertising, in general, is an old technique that has evolved and so, history teaches us the much of this fake news phenomenon is going to evolve. It is currently impacting politics but the reality is that it could stretch beyond that. The good news is though is that its success if you can call it that, will be very much short-lived. Therefore, the danger will diminish as people become more aware. Ultimately, they will become less effective.

So, right now, the history of advertising has shown that this manipulation of fake news will spread. We can try and slow it down but our efforts will fall short but so far, the attention is mainly focused on that of the US elections and politics. Despite this, historically we know that more effort goes into trying to persuade people to purchase goods as opposed to choosing their political part.

Advertising can take on this shady appearance whereby it can evolve to the point where it the truth is hidden somewhat when targeting consumers.

A simple Google search for a product will return a number of results and many will be from that of review sites. These can be found in amongst paid ads but many of these review sites are nothing more than veiled attempts to get us to purchase from specific vendors via direct links. So, where we think that expert reviews and feedback can help us to make an informed decision, it is, in fact, the complete opposite. And so begins the rise of advertising that is anything but transparent.

Over the last decade, we have all become more aware. Scammers are out there but we are, in some ways, more alert to their ways but something is amiss when it comes to advertising. There are laws in place that protect us from fraudulent advertising. However, as the ads become finely-tuned to target specific audiences, they then become more difficult to monitor and that in itself can prove to be a nightmare to govern.

So, the trends that we are seeing might suggest that the future is not looking so rosy. Despite this, we must still hold onto hope. This is all down to the fact that the history of advertising has taught us more than we realise. When people get used to adverts, they begin to ignore them and the results get worse and the ads stop working.

This is known as advertising wearout. Adverts should be persuasive but the more we become exposed to it, the impact of the ad declines considerably. This was first identified with TV ads but has since been documented across other media. So, as technology evolves, it is likely that the deceptive ads that we are exposed to at the moment might disappear completely because ultimately, we will soon have enough of seeing them.

How to Turn a “No” into a “Yes”

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article | How to Turn a “No” into a “Yes”You’ve met with a great lead and pitched your product or service, but all that’s coming back is a resounding “Thanks, but no thanks!”  Ever heard that before? I have (many times), and if you are an active business developer, then you have heard this, too – and will continue to hear it probably more times than you would ever want.

A friend recently asked me how my approach to developing business can help with the “Thanks, but no thanks!” situation.  Here’s what I told him based on my experience:

The first thing to do when prospects say “no” is to acknowledge something, namely that your job as a rainmaker begins when they say “no!”  This is how most rainmakers think.  They are not devastated. They don’t blame themselves or their prospects, and they certainly do not give up.  If you can simply make the decision to think this way in the “Thanks, but no thanks” situation, then you will be on your way to truly becoming a rainmaker.

Your ability to reset your mind like this should be driven by your underlying passion for what you do, your commitment to the process of developing business and your confidence that you cannot only secure the prospect but can take care of that person far better than your competitor – all things that my approach to business development – Crux Rainmaking – espouses.

With your mind reset you can then move on to a practical approach to dealing with the “Thanks, but no thanks” situation:

1. Communicate your patience to the prospect immediately.  Great clients and customers are worth the wait. The prospect will respect your understanding of the current situation, and this will immediately take the pressure off that individual to do something for you right away if they simply cannot do so.

2. Request the ability to stay in touch with that individual.  It is rare that a person will say “No, never call me again, ever!”  Most people will welcome periodic communications. If the individual is open to this (most people will be), then proceed to No. 3 below.

3. Work to develop a Unique Business Relationship (UBR) with that individual.  A UBR is a relationship that is difficult, if not impossible, to replace.  To develop a UBR with your prospect, you need to understand who they really are as a person, what makes them tick, what moves them.  You can gain this understanding through your initial conversations with the individual, through independent research and through other people who may also know the prospect.  As your relationship with the prospect becomes more and more unique, that individual will be more willing to give you a chance with their business. The scales start to tip over time from the existing vendor to you.  But you must be patient. This does not happen overnight.

Bottom line: Acknowledge that your job begins when they say “no!”  By properly resetting your mind to think consistent with the rainmaker’s brain, you can then proceed to building a UBR with an initially-reluctant prospect.  Over time, you will gain a valuable advantage over your competitors.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Joe BrocatoJoe Brocato is a business development thought leader, prominent attorney, CEO of Intense Coaching & Consulting Worldwide, and author of the forthcoming book CRUX RAINMAKING: 3 Steps To Exponential Business Development.

5 Functional Ways to Market and Grow your Business without Breaking the Bank

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, 5 Functional Ways to Market and Grow your Business without Breaking the Bank It takes a lot of time and commitment to start a business. Probably that’s the hardest part that most aspiring entrepreneurs have.

Growing a small business comes with numerous challenges. You might be trying to think of the best marketing strategies you can embrace.

You may be on a budget, yet you want to market and grow your business. In this post, we are going to explore five affordable marketing strategies that you could use.

Here we go.

1. Have social media presence

Social media is getting more popular day by day. Most people use it to connect with friends, colleagues and family members.

Of late, there has been an increase in the use of various social media platforms for business purposes and building careers.

For example, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn are among the most popular social media platforms. As a business, you could make use of social media to market your business.

Facebook and Instagram are also the cheapest platforms you can use to grow your business. These platforms are simple to use.

All you need is to create a Facebook page or group relating to your niche. A Facebook page is more effective if you are starting out. You can invite your friends and close contacts to follow you.

You could as well create informative posts that aim to solve people’s problems in your niche. Boost the post by paying a small fee, and that will help you reach out to many people.

The goodness about Facebook ads is that you can target people from various geographical regions. Doing this will make people want to know more about your business and will like your page to follow your posts.

You, therefore, need first to have an active account with informative posts. Within a short time, your audience will grow, and you won’t have to boost posts regularly to reach many people.

Create social media profiles with Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram as well. Having a social media presence is one of the inexpensive ways of marketing and growing your business.

2. Create a website

Having a business without a site is like trying to get noticed in the dark. Did you know that people can know about your business through organic search from search engines?

That’s another cheap way of selling your business out there. However, you need to find ways of getting traffic to your site. You need to learn SEO basics.

For example, you should create content that aims to solve people’s problems in your niche. One of the solutions to those problems could be your products or services.

Use relevant keywords so that you can rank high on Google. Remember, you have other competitors, and you should aim to give the best.

You can include your website URL on your Facebook page about info. Make sure that you are promoting your blog posts using your social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

3. Make use of email marketing

If you are looking for another affordable method of making your business known, email marketing works like magic. While it takes a lot of time, it won’t need a lot of money.

But before starting email marketing campaigns, you need to make sure that you are marketing to the right audience. You might want to create a lead magnet first.

This could be a freebie like an eBook in your niche that solves some problems your audience faces. Create a landing page on your website where you offer the freebie in exchange for their email addresses.

This will help you get people who will be glad to receive emails from you in future. You should find out about lead generation strategies that can boost your business.

Try to avoid marketing emails throughout. Let three-quarters of your emails be educational content, while a quarter of your emails are promotional emails.

Doing this consistently will help you get many subscribers who will turn out to be your customers.

4. Organize a trade show

Would you like to showcase your product one on one to your customers? A trade show is the best place you can use to get instant feedback about it. It doesn’t have to be a big show.

You can plan and start with a small trade show and a few products to test. Later, you can organize a big trade show.

However, you need to prepare well. First of all, you should have a great product that no one will resist buying. Create something that someone would love to use again and gain.

When you showcase the product and give them for testing, they will be glad to use it again.

Before the trade show, ensure that you also have some essential printed marketing materials. You don’t want your customers to lose your contacts after the event.

Since most of them can’t memorize them, you could create attractive business cards for your business.

You could as well create booklets which should have detailed information about your business. Ensure that you mention your products and services and how your clients can benefit from them.

Towards the end of the booklet, include your social media profiles so that people can connect with you. Don’t forget to add your website links and contact details.

Don’t worry about the cost of printing. You can opt for cheap booklet printing and sort out the issue. Just ensure that the booklet has an attractive colour and all the details about your business.

5. Have a loyalty program

Have you started rewarding loyal customers yet? If not, you are missing a lot.

Create exclusive offers only for customers who come back to buy from you. This will help you retain new and old customers.

Every time a former customer comes back, reward them something small. You should also tell your new customers about your loyalty program so that they can come back.

You have taken a crucial step to start your business. That is what you needed because starting has never been easy.

To grow the business, you should make people know about it through marketing. The above marketing tips are affordable and should help you start your marketing journey.

Have you ever marketed your business before? What are some of the budget-friendly marketing techniques you used?

What Do You Need to Get a Payday Loan: A List of the Requirements

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article | What Do You Need to Get a Payday Loan: A List of the RequirementsIf you’re in a financial bind and need a little cash before your next paycheck, a payday loan may be just what you need.

Payday loans, also known as a cash advance, are gaining in popularity as a fast way to get quick cash for an emergency situation. Even so, many people don’t understand how this type of loan works and what you need to get a payday loan.

So if you are thinking about getting a payday loan and are unsure of what you need to get one, keep reading to learn about what do you need to get a payday loan and how much money you can borrow now.

What Are Payday Loans?

Let’s start by explaining what payday loans are and how to utilize them best.

Simply put, a payday loan is a short-term loan that is intended to be repaid in full with your next paycheck. These loans are usually for a small amount between $300 and $1,000. They are a popular loan option for those with no credit or a bad credit score.

Note that the cost of a payday loan can be very high, which is why it is so important to pay them off with your next paycheck. The costs can rise exponentially with each pay period that passes without paying the balance in full.

It’s good to know all the benefits and risks of payday loans so you can make an educated choice that’s in your best interest.

What Do You Need to Get a Payday Loan

Many states regulate payday loans differently resulting in different qualification requirements depending on where you live. But typically, you only need to meet a handful of criteria.

You must be at least 18 years old and you will need a valid government identification, your Social Security number, proof of income (pay stub) and an active checking account. If you are applying in a payday loan store, you will need a personal check. If you are filling out an application online, you must enter your email address.

When you get a payday loan, you must submit a personal check for the entire balance to be paid on the date of your next payday.

Even if you meet the above requirements, you can be denied a loan for a number of reasons. For example, you may not earn enough to borrow money. Most lenders want you to earn at least $500 per month.

The lender also considers are the length of time you have been at your job and how recently you opened your checking account.

They may also reject your applications if you have a recent bankruptcy or bounced checks. And most companies will not issue you a loan if you already have an outstanding loan.

How Much Money Can I Borrow?

The amount of money you can borrow also varies state by state and in how each state regulates loans. Most states limit how much can be borrowed, which usually falls between $300 and $1,000.

Lenders determine the amount you can borrow the same as other lending institutions assess risk for other loan products. Payday lenders take into account your income and expenses along with your lending history to determine an amount they know you can reasonably expect to pay back.

The Bottom Line

So what do you need to get a payday loan? Not much, really. You must be at least 18 and meet the handful of requirements listed above.

Before you get a payday loan, make sure you will make enough on your next check to repay the full balance while also meeting your other obligations. If you are unable to repay the loan for a few more pay periods, the resulting interest gains could result in a debt trap for you.

Payday loans are best used when you need emergency funds, and you have more than enough to repay the loan with your next paycheck.

Keep browsing our site for more valuable and helpful articles.