Tag: Marketing

No One Likes Being The Fool

Today is April Fool’s Day
and I usually spend
most of today
disconnected from the world.

Why?

Because like most people,
I don’t like being played
for a fool.
I don’t like being tricked.
I don’t like being lied to.

It decimates my trust
of the other person or business.

So why does April Fool’s Day
continue
to exist?

Because some people LIKE
tricking other people
or making people look
like fools.

And even more people
like watching
that sh*t.

If you’re planning events today,
remember no one actually likes
BEING the fool.

Show Your Brand Name

I scrolled through social media,
looking at author promo posts.

Half of the graphics
didn’t display the author’s name.

This happens
quite often.

We watch a commercial
and wonder what the commercial
was selling.

We see a print ad
and have no idea
who placed it.

That’s a waste of resources.
People are busy.
They are unlikely
to search for this information.

SHOW your brand name
on graphics
and other marketing materials.

Display your brand name prominently.
Make it easier
for prospects to buy from you.

Your Social Media Posts Could Be Reposted ANYWHERE

I posted a reply
on the bird site.

When I logged onto
the elephant site,
I saw someone
had reposted
my reply there.

This happens.
Often.

(And, unfortunately,
it is rarely
one of my book posts
that gets reposted.)

Assume that when you post something
anywhere,
it could be reposted
EVERYWHERE,
including sites
you would never visit.

Ensure your posts
represent
the branding or the person
you want others
to see.

Don’t Pay For Twitter Verification

A year ago,
Twitter Verification,
the blue checkmark
on profiles,
told the world
your business was legit.
It was important.

People battled
to get that blue checkmark.

Now, post EM,
the blue checkmark
tells the world
your account
is a scam account.

Blue checkmarks
are purchased
for a monthly fee.

No one important
will pay
for social media.
They feel
the social media platforms
should pay THEM
but they were willing
to use it for free.

Don’t pay
for a blue checkmark.
Not at this point
in time.

Ask Why

A marketing expert
mocked a florist
for having a “No Photos” sign.

He believed the issue
was other florists
stealing her designs.

I suspect the issue
was every teenager in the neighborhood
filming TikTok videos
in the florist shop,
prohibiting anyone
from shopping there.

We all make assumptions
regarding other people’s motivations.
That’s human.

But, before we make
business decisions
based on these assumptions,
we should ask the person
what their TRUE reason
for doing something was.

Assumptions are often wrong.
Verify them
before you act.

Not Everyone Is Online

I’m online every day.
I prefer to handle
everything
online
and not see
anyone face-to-face
or talk to them on the phone.

It is easy for me
to think
EVERYONE is like me
because so many of the people
I deal with
are also heavily online.

But that’s a tiny percentage
of the world’s population.
Heck, it is a tiny percentage
of America’s population.

Print book sales,
for example,
consist of 66.69%
of total book sales
in the US.

The majority
of readers,
some of the most educated,
wealthiest people
in America,
read offline.
They don’t read on their phones
or other devices.

Remember this
when
setting up systems,
crafting marketing campaigns,
deciding where
your products or services
are sold.

Only a small fraction
of people
are consistently online.

When NOT To Ask For Feedback

When I release a book
in November or December,
I assume that book
will receive very few reviews.

They might receive ratings
because giving a rating
often takes one click.

But they won’t receive
reviews.
People are super busy
in November and December.
They don’t have the time
or the brain bandwidth
to communicate in words
what they liked
or didn’t like.

Don’t waste
your time or money
sending customer satisfaction surveys
or other types of feedback mechanisms
this month.

People are too busy
to complete them
and
they will merely irritate
your customers.

Promote Your Newsletter

As another social media platform
changes leadership,
this is a good time
to market the sh*t
out of your newsletter.

EVERY business should have
a newsletter.
That is direct contact
with customers and prospects
WE control.

I download my list
of subscribers every month
so I can switch newsletter providers
at any time.

Post links to
newsletter sign up pages
on every social media platform.
Add that information
at the bottom of every invoice/receipt,
every message.

Then offer unique content
with your newsletter,
something people can only receive
if they subscribe.
This could be tips or advice
or coupons or anything else
your customers would value.

Build your newsletter.
MARKET your newsletter.
It is your most powerful promotional tool
and it is all yours.

The Importance Of Events

Experts often post
about how everything is always available
and how this lack of scarcity
makes it more difficult
to stand out.

In the Romance Novel Industry,
one of the solutions
to this challenge
is
to hold events.

10 writers promote
a themed Facebook party, for example.

Before and during that party,
their books are in the spotlight.

There is curation
for that event.

Readers who are interested
in the theme gather.
They share an experience.
They then buy the same books
and share that experience also.

TV shows have watch parties.
Viewers post while watching
the episode
at the same time.

Video games have release parties.
Everyone goes online
and plays the game
at the same time.

Events are one solution
to cut through the noise.

And the good news is…
anyone can organize
and host one.