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How to validate your blog post ideas

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Blog Post Ideas|How to validate your blog post ideasThe cold, hard truth in the world of writing is that no matter how well you research a topic, and no matter how much passion you pour into content creation, a piece can (and will) still fall flat if there was never enough interest in the topic to start off with.

There’s nothing quite as disheartening as spending hours upon hours writing a blog post (the average one takes roughly 3 and a half hours from start to finish), only to find that it was never going to drive traffic due to minimal search volume.

Fortunately, there are data-driven ways you can validate your blog ideas before you dive into the creation process.

Take stock of these simple steps and work them into your blogging process. You’ll soon find your content marketing is performing far better than you imagined possible thanks to spending these few extra moments on validation.

Use Google to Assess The Competition

One of the most powerful tools at your disposal for validating a blog post idea is actually one of the most common: Google.

By searching your proposed topic or title, Google can give you a strong indication on whether or not you have any chance or ranking with that title and therefore whether writing content on that topic will drive traffic to your site in the long term.

Before you write a post on a given title, put that title into Google and see what comes on the first page.

Google gives preference to bigger sites with more traffic and a stronger presence on the internet generally. Therefore if you see the first page of Google dominated by the websites of big companies and global news sites, you should narrow down the topic that you are writing about.

Ideally, when you search your proposed title in Google you want to see posts on the front page of companies your own size or smaller. Having social media and forum pages on the first page of Google also confirms that you have a good chance of ranking your post, even if your website is still small.

Ask your current audience what topics are of interest to them

Another way to gauge interest in a potential blog topic is to ask your existing customers whether they care about the topic in question.

After all, the whole point of a blog is to engage with your current audience and encourage new leads to interact with your brand; what better way to find out what your customers want to hear about than to simply ask them?

There are a couple of simple ways to do this: if you have an active social media following, you can create an easy Yes/No poll asking whether or not your audience would be interested in reading about a specific topic—Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are ideal venues for this sort of outreach.

If you’re lost in the ideation process and could use some direction, send out an email blast giving your audience the opportunity to call out the topics they’d most like to hear about. You’d be surprised by how many of your followers will respond with ideas they’ve been itching to learn more about.

Another effective, yet easily overlooked way to choose blog topics with the help of your customers is to simply jot down the most common questions you receive on a daily basis and use them as inspiration for future posts.

Use forums to find “low competition questions”

Forum sites like Quora and Reddit can help with validating a blog topic idea because the presence of conversations around your topic both indicate a level of interest in that topic, as well as a lack of answers on the internet on that topic.

This latter point is particularly important. People often ask questions on forums when they have Googled a question but not found a satisfactory answer. Therefore if you see a question being asked regularly on forum sites, it is well worth seeing what comes up when you Google it.

If you feel that you can answer the question better than what is currently on the first page of Google, and that question is being regularly asked in forums then you have an excellent chance of creating a post on that topic which will bring in traffic (and leads) for years to come.

Take Note of Fruitless Searches

It’s important for every content creator to always stay vigilant for topic opportunities; that way, you won’t be found wanting when it comes time to choose a topic to write about.

One of the best ways to validate a topic is through personal experience—if you’ve searched and searched for information on a specific subject to no avail, that’s a great indication that there are others just like you looking for the same thing. There therefore may be an opportunity to fill there.

Make it a habit to write down every time you research a topic but come up dissatisfied with your results; you’d be surprised how quickly you amass a list of blog topics just waiting to be created.

The best thing about this method of validating a topic is that all of the work is done for you prior to the actual creation process since your list is already on hand, and it takes the pain out of ideation since these are all topics you’re already interested in.

In the world of modern marketing content is king, but it’s worthless without proper validation; gather data through these simple processes, and you’ll soon find that your blog posts are earning you better engagement and higher traffic than ever before.

Think like an athlete – self-motivate with goal-setting

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Self-motivate|Think like an athlete – self-motivate with goal-settingSteve Redgrave, CBE, DL is arguably the greatest British Olympian. As a rower, Redgrave won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. When asked to explain his success, Redgrave explained: “Self-belief is probably the most crucial factor in sporting success. The bodies are roughly equal, the training is similar, the techniques can be copied. What separates the achievers is… the iron in the mind.”

This principle is incredibly pertinent for sales. Those salespeople who continuously win and close are those who have learnt to stay motivated and connected to their goals. However, maintaining effective and consistent motivation at all times is hard. Many salespeople are stuck in a comfort zone or in a pattern of behaviour they find difficult to break. Equally, some people have goals and clearly defined actions, but procrastinate when the time comes to take action.

Change is critical to developing, growing, and attaining goals. Change means moving through one’s comfort zones. While comfort zones might have their own drawbacks and people might be bored and frustrated by them, when push comes to shove and action is required to move out of them, most people choose the easy option to remain – not changing at all.

Goals should be SMART, defined as specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time driven. They should also be written down. To set goals effectively, we always advise following a set process. The exercise can be done alone, but often it is productive to do it with other people—family, friends, or anyone who plays a supportive role in your life.

  • One: Gather eight pieces of paper and label each page with one of the eight life goal areas (social, physical, financial, mental, professional, family, personal, spiritual). On each page write a brief summary of where you currently are in relation to this life goal.
  • Two: Place a circle in the middle of each page and draw lines that point outwards from the circle. Then allow yourself to feel what you would like to accomplish in the future. Write these goals on the lines.
  • Three: For each piece of paper with a different life goal area, prioritise and pick the three most important goals.
  • Four: On a new piece of paper, create a master list of the top three goals in all of the eight areas.
  • Five: Check for any conflicts. If you can, try to make sure the goals are not too heavily weighted in one or two areas. The more holistic your goals are, the more likely you are to achieve them.
  • Six: Write a detailed description of how you are going to achieve these goals. This is your action plan. It’s important to decide what you are going to do now and what you are going to do in the future. Take care not to overload yourself with too many actions in the present. However, it is good to stretch yourself by having bold and audacious goals.
  • Seven: Breaking down the goals and actions into short-term goals and actions can be a very powerful way of building the goal-setting and attainment “muscle.” Three months (12 weeks) can be a very effective time frame for establishing a life-long pattern of generating and sustaining the fire of internal motivation.
  • Eight: Share your goals with others, especially those who will be impacted by the goals: friends, family, colleagues, or people you like and respect and who like and respect you. This creates a powerful statement of intent from yourself that you are deeply committed and connected to your goals.
  • Nine: Review your goals and try to fine-tune them on a weekly basis. Obtaining valued accountability from others provides support and encouragement, as well as objective sanity checks.
  • Ten: Be courageous, tenacious, and persistent. Goal setting can be challenging since it pushes you through your comfort zones. Remember that it is important to keep going, even when the going gets tough. The ROI of goal setting will reward the effort and courage of sticking to the process.

Sales success is often more about perspiration than inspiration. The gold medal salesperson understands that a high level of motivation is required to sustain consistently high performance. This person understands that optimum motivation is maintained by having a strong emotional connection to their goals.

About the Author

Anneli Thomson is a Managing Director of Sandler Training UK as well as a world champion triathlete. For more information, please visit https://www.sandler.com/resources/sandler-books/gold-medal-selling/

How Businesses Can Leverage Fulfillment Companies during an Economic Downturn

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Fulfillment Company|How Businesses Can Leverage Fulfillment Companies during an Economic DownturnThe pandemic has sent shockwaves all around the globe at a time when everyone was still reeling from the hangover of welcoming the New Year. People knew about the novel strand of Coronavirus that had been silently creeping into their lives and causing severe damages to their health. But no one ever fathomed in their wildest dreams that the whole world would come to a halt because of this virus. Industries started shutting down, and companies soon got out of business. This led to the economy to tank, and not just in one country but of the entire world. As a means to cut down on expenses and save the slump in the economy, industries started downsizing employees and resorting to alternative means to go about their business in as less money as possible. One of those means that we attempt to talk about in this article is a fulfillment company. Not many of you might be aware of what a fulfillment company is and what its functions are. And that is why we shall clear a bit on that part before discussing how companies have been using the 3PL strategy to manage the economic downturn.

What is a Fulfillment Company?

A Fulfillment Company is also known as a 3PL (third-party logistics) company that tends to take care of certain vital business criteria. This kind of company forms an integral part of the demand-supply chain of any business and also helps a business in its cost-cutting endeavors. Therefore, roping in a 3PL company in distressing times can come in handy for several industries. Now that companies are having a hard time to stay afloat, more and more enterprises are turning towards a fulfillment company to fulfil their basic requirements. In other words, a 3PL company is a resort that businesses can outreach to and get some of their very important functions related to supply chain fulfilled. Now, if you have been wondering about how a 3PL company works, here is what you need to know. A fulfillment company receives inventories from manufacturers and then follows the specific instructions about shipping the products to the consumers.

The Need for a 3PL:

3PL companies have more than just one use, and their demand has skyrocketed now more than ever, in the times of pandemic. However, even under normal circumstances, the role of a 3 Pl company is indispensable. There are mainly three reasons why you mighty require the services of a 3PL company. The first reason why you might need a 3 PL company is if you have more than 20 orders to take care of in a day. It might not be possible for you to handle the bulk on your own, and therefore, the need for a 3PL company becomes imperative. You will also require the services of a 3PL company if you find yourself running out of storage space. Storage spaces can be extremely costly, and in these trying economic times, when you are looking for ways to cut down on costs, 3PL services might just be the way to go. Finally, you might also need a 3PL service if you are expecting a spike in the volumes of your order. You might not have enough resources to handle the volume yourself and therefore, might want some additional help.

Types of 3PLs:

Now that we are in the midst of a pandemic and companies are looking for ways to cut down the expenses to stay afloat, it is important to learn a bit about which 3PL services would come handy to save the situation. There are a number of 3PL services. Full service, Warehousing, Transportation, Distribution, and Shipping and Receiving are some of them. 3PL services are eclectic in their approach and have a myriad of solutions up their sleeves. For instance, a full service will meet your end-to-end requirements and come in as a package, whereas warehousing will only take care of the requirements of the warehouse, meaning, these services would seek to store, ship and return products. To trim down the expenses, you could opt for one of these services and manage the rest on your own. Companies are also laying off employees to opt for a full-service facility from a 3PL company.

Conclusion:

These are extraordinary times, and nothing like we have seen or experienced before. Difficult times, therefore, call for innovative measures. Life shall continue to thrive, and people shall learn to live alongside the virus. Businesses shall, therefore, require smart ways to function and with the discussion that followed in this article about a 3PL company, it seems like these services are wise options. Roping in a reliable 3PL company shall not only help a business stay afloat, but also make the supply chain seamless.

A Guide to Building a Long-Lasting Ecommerce Business

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Ecommerce Business|A Guide to Building a Long-Lasting Ecommerce BusinessLaunching an e-commerce business will allow you to take charge of your future and become your own boss. Consider that, in 2018, mobile ecommerce revenue accounted for 50% of total U.S. e-commerce revenue. However, with many online stores available, you will need to develop a site that will set you apart from your rivals and generate a large revenue.

To meet your demographic’s needs, attract many customers, and enjoy many years in your chosen industry, read this informative guide to building a long-lasting e-commerce business.

Find the Right Products

For your e-commerce business to be a success, you need to find the right products. As Amazon is one of the most popular e-commerce websites on the planet, many people will turn to the brand to find a product they are looking for.

For this reason, you must aim to sell unique items that your target market can’t find elsewhere. Identify a gap in the market by considering the products your loved ones or colleagues would like to buy online.

Choose a Product Source

There are different ways you can source a product, as you could:

  • Sell homemade products
  • Manufacture items
  • Buy products in bulk from a wholesaler
  • Invest in dropshipping services

The option you choose can determine your profit margin, warehousing, and branding. For instance, homemade products will help you to create an authentic brand, while dropshipping can reduce your warehousing and shipping overheads.

Build an Impressive Website

Encourage trust in your business by building an impressive website. For example, you must aim to provide easy navigation, an attractive layout, fast page speed, and strong calls-to-action. By doing so, you can wow visitors, decrease your bounce rate, and increase your company’s revenue.

To build a credible e-commerce site with a superb user experience, invest in forward-thinking web design services. It will allow you to work alongside e-commerce specialists who have extensive experience in developing robust sites.

Research Your Rivals

Research your rivals to learn more about their products, services, and pricing. You can identify where you fit in the market, the products your customers are looking for, and the best marketing tactics to grow your brand. Understanding your competitors’ weaknesses and strengths could also help you to discover your business’s USP.

Don’t Lose Customers

Many visitors might fail to place an order when visiting your site. Rather than allowing a customer to slip through your fingers, you must find ways to lock-in a sale. For instance, you could promote limited time offers, launch a remarketing campaign, or send cart abandonment emails straight into your subscribers’ inbox.

Conclusion

According to a 2019 poll, 76% of adults in the United States choose to shop online, with 25% doing so at least once per month. An e-commerce business can, therefore, be an ideal avenue to venture down.

To secure many customers and generate a healthy revenue, you must look for ways to build a long-lasting business. For instance, you’ll need to find the right products, design an aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-use website, and you must thoroughly know your rivals to find a gap in the market.

Five Low-Budget Marketing Channels for Startups

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Low-Budgeting Marketing Channels|Five Low-Budget Marketing Channels for StartupsStartups face several challenges, especially during the first 5 years of the launch and none of the challenges is as precarious as struggling to remain cash positive. Operating under tight budgets makes it almost impossible for startup owners to set aside a marketing budget.

Often, the marketing gets the axe because startups are caught in a dire financial balancing act. Within the tight operating budget, they have to pay rent and employees, purchase raw materials and take care of the huge overhead costs. But, the absence of proper advertising and marketing strategy in place results in about 42% of startup businesses failing within the first 4 years.

In this post, you will learn that there’s no need to spend a fortune to effectively market your startup. You just have to choose the right marketing channels for your startup to get maximum output. Below are 5 affordable marketing strategies that will bring unbelievable consistency and visibility to your startup.

1. SMS Marketing

Initially, startups avoid SMS marketing thinking that it would annoy customers. But, studies suggest that SMS messages have an open rate of 98% and an average of 30% act on the massage. This high response rate should take care of any concern that you had regarding ROI.

Moreover, you can send messages to 1,000 people at the same time and at a fraction of the cost that other marketing channels would cost you like, TV, radio or even print.

Best practices to achieve success with SMS marketing:

  • Stick to 160 characters – In the world of SMS marketing, 160 is an important number. If your message goes over 160 characters, mobile networks will slice your message right down to the middle. Some networks even refuse to deliver messages that go over the character limit.
  • Timing is everything – Choosing the right time to send an SMS can make all the difference. For instance, restaurants send messages regarding offers two or three times a day at a time when people would be thinking about what to eat. So, you have to time your messages to reach your audience when they are making a buying decision.
  • Place a call-to-action (CTA) – CTA is a part of all marketing strategy and SMS marketing is no different. Here, your CTA should be in the form of phone number or a web address (URL).

2. Social Media Marketing

Statistics show that over 2.4 billion people use social media. So, it is important that this channel is incorporated into your startup’s marketing plan. As the presence of your business grows on social networking sites, more people will come to know of it and recognize your brand name. Moreover, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media networks, allow businesses to pay for exposure and traffic.

For example, Facebook Ads lets business owners create ads that appear in the news feeds of users or in the Facebook website’s right column.

Best practices to achieve success with social media marketing:

  • Create an account – Sign up on your preferred social media platform/s by creating an account, and complete your social media pages and profiles with company information, images and logo.
  • Attention-grabbing posts – Regularly post useful and engaging content to keep your audience hooked. The posts can be related to your products/services or it can be about the latest happenings around the world. A healthy mix is desired since nobody in the world of social media likes a bragger.
  • Join groups – Join niche-related groups to organically reach more people and choose the right target audience.
  • Stay connected – Be responsive and make sure to reply to every comment and message.

3. Email Marketing

Statistics show that 99% of consumers check emails every day and 73% of millennials prefer business communications, via emails. This makes email marketing one of the most low-budget and effective marketing strategies that claim a high ROI. As long as you have an organically curated email list and a steady, yet non-invasive stream of email blasts, you will see a significant return.

Best practices to achieve success with email marketing:

  • Attractive subject lines – The email open rates increase significantly when catchy, engaging and personalized subject lines are used.
  • Readable, well-formatted email body – The email should be written in simple, easy-to-read language and the content must be broken into small paragraphs with bullets and subheads. You need to focus the content on the benefits of your products/services and how it helps consumers.
  • Keep email subscribers engaged – Share 2 or 3 useful and valuable emails per week to keep your email subscribers engaged. But, avoid sending too many emails.

4. Content Marketing

Content marketing requires little investment, but gives incredible returns. This form of marketing has myriad approaches and you shouldn’t limit yourself. For a start, you can create a blog section in your company website to share with the world whatever your startup company is up to. You can share product/service details, information about new launches and so on. Use the blog section as to both entertain and educate your audience. Then, graduate to other forms of content like, videos, images, infographics and more.

Best practices to achieve success with content marketing:

  • Craft original blogs or articles – Do not resort to plagiarism or your website will be penalized by Google. Invest in the creation of interesting, informative and unique articles and blogs.
  • Create engaging videos – You can substitute your blogs or articles with images and even videos. Alternatively, you can just create videos to share company news. The videos can be posted on your website, social media accounts, YouTube and so on.
  • Include shareable links – Regardless of what content you are posting, make sure that they all have shareable links. You would want your audience to share the content so that your brand awareness spreads far and wide.

5. Search Engine Marketing

Search engine marketing or SEM is known to fetch instant results. Advertise your startup business on search engines and get more exposure, as well as, sales. Paid search allows businesses to get laser-targeted traffic from Google and other popular search engines. Bing Ads and Google Ads are two of the most popular paid search networks, and they both feature keyword targeting with a CPC (cost-per-click) model. You can create custom ads using either of these platforms and your ads will appear above the organic search results in the SERPs.

This is how ads appear on Google:

Best practices to achieve success with SEM:

  • Keyword research – Paid search is a highly-targeted form of marketing. This is why you need to invest in keyword research. Only the right keywords will make your ad visible to the right audience.
  • Enticing landing page – When a user clicks on your ad, he/she will be directed toward a landing page. If this page isn’t interesting enough or doesn’t offer much information, the user will bounce right off the landing page and go to a competitor website. So, create an alluring landing page and have clear-cut calls-to-action.
  • Set a bid cap – You do not want Google or Bing overcharging you. Since running ads are based on the CPC model, you need to set a budget limit and a bid cap. Once this limit is reached, the search engine will notify you.

The takeaway here?

When you find yourself struggling with your startup’s budget, do not resort to cutting marketing out of the equation. Find innovative ways to build brand recognition that don’t need a lot of upfront investment. Once your brand name is established and you have a steady stream of revenue, you will have the freedom to invest in more expensive strategies.