I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get tired of reading about marketing fails. It seems like I see daily posts about the latest social media snafu, tone-deaf remarks or campaign flops. The victories seem fewer and farther between.
I know a lot of this is just how the news business works. If I had a dollar for every time someone called the newspaper asking why we never wrote “positive” stories, I’d have a fully funded 401K. Of course, the feel-good community stories we did cover usually yielded just a fraction of the views and shares the more scandalous stuff earned.
So believe me, I get it. It’s just that, well, part of the reason I moved into marketing was to get away from some of the anxiety and discontent that came from reading one sad story after another.
In the world of B2B marketing, there are moments when we all need to be reminded of why we do what we do. It’s not glamorous, and it doesn’t usually give us warm, fuzzy feelings. It makes for strange dinner conversations sometimes. (My parents and many of my friends still don’t really know what I do at work all day, and for the most part, they’ve just stopped asking.)
And let’s face it—there are moments when it can be incredibly frustrating. Moments when you find yourself on the tenth version of copy for a website that should have been launched three months ago or wondering if anyone is reading your blog.
It’s time we started celebrating small victories. Here are nine marketing victories to remember the next time you need some encouragement.
There's a time to hunker down and a time to leave the bunker. Sometimes the hardest part is getting started. Don't overthink it! If you're stumped, revisit some of your most popular content and consider repurposing it into a larger piece. When in doubt, check out these seven tips for overcoming writer's block.
When you've dealt with corporate approvals, legal review and groups of executives all weighing in with different ways to say the same thing, it's rare for your copy to be returned without bleeding red marks. Sometimes managing approvals can feel like the most difficult part of the job. You can make it less painful by meeting with key stakeholders early on to get buy-in, assigning a project manager and mapping out key deadlines. For more tips, check out this post on speeding up creative content approval.
Do you feel like you constantly have to prove yourself as a marketer? You're not alone. It's not easy to show your boss that your marketing efforts directly contributed to new leads (or even customers), but these days, it's essential. Fortunately it's much easier if you use marketing automation software that allows you to keep track of the buyer's journey. With HubSpot, you can even create attribution reports that show which content contributed to attracting, converting and closing new customers.
You've been trying to explain inbound marketing to your CEO for months, and he still doesn't get it. Then one day, he points to a lead-nurturing email that brought in new business—thanks to inbound marketing, he says. Yup, that's pretty normal. Inbound marketing can be a tough sell since it's more of a marathon than a sprint. You have to start by building up a solid base, and it takes time to see results. Need help convincing someone? Keep in mind these six things your boss wants to know about content marketing, and make sure you're showing him or her the most relevant inbound marketing KPIs.
It's getting harder and harder to make your content visible, so Facebook advertising has become a necessary evil. However, it takes some skill and diligence to make the most of it—so pat yourself on the back, you stud!
Congratulations, you're officially a spy! Though retargeting ads feel creepy at times, there is plenty of data that shows they work. If you want to take your spy credentials to the next level without making people feel like they're being stalked, try implementing these five retargeting best practices.
What a feeling! Not every webinar works out this way, so all the more reason to celebrate. Want to experience this moment more often? Check out these 18 tips to guarantee nobody misses your next webinar.
This is a magic moment, especially in the B2B marketing world. First, celebrate your victory. Then, figure out what you did well so you can repeat it. Hint: It's all about the email subject lines. Don't make this an afterthought; take your time coming up with the perfect one. And test everything!
Think inbound marketing and guerilla tactics don't mix? Think again. You don't have to round up elaborate costumes or stage a flash mob to do it (though if you do, please share that video!) Using guerilla marketing can be as simple as creating an engaging quiz or microsite that really takes off. Here are some tips from Kuno Content Director Brianne Rush on how to think like a guerilla marketer.
Inbound marketers may not always get the adrenaline rush of a first responder or the satisfaction a teacher feels from helping a struggling student make it to college, but there are definitely moments worth celebrating. Embrace your small victories and share them!
(Images via GIPHY)
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