Are you asking for a response?
If you don’t tell (or ask) people what to do, how will they know? You know what they say about assuming. The same can be said for your marketing efforts. Never assume people know how you would like them to respond.
What have you used to the best success? Brag in the Genius Reactions below!
1. Indentify the ideal outcome of your effort
At a high level, it probably falls into one of the following categories:
Build your database
Start a conversation
Once you know your goal, make certain your call to action supports it.
2. Know the desired outcome
Every effort you make should result in an action, which hopefully will lead to business. Different efforts (email, direct mail, blogs, ads, etc.) inspire different actions. Based on the effort, design the call to action to deliver the best value-add for the audience. Repeat: for the audience!
For direct mail to build your database, direct recipients to your website to get a report specific to them/their home/neighborhood. To start a conversation, direct them to your blog where they can leave a comment on a compelling local issue – be it political
If you are using email, you want to make sure your email stands out from the pack! Keep it short and deliver immediate value – like a download of an ebook you’ve written (i.e. 7 Pitfalls Sellers Should Avoid, The 5 Questions Buyers Should Always Ask).
Tip: The subject line is vital. Here are some great tips.
3. One at a time!
Have 1 Call to Action! For example, for a post on your blog, if you ask people to leave comments AND subscribe AND vote in a poll AND sign up for your newsletter, they are likely to do none of the above. Same rule applies if you are sending an email campaign – ask them to reply OR visit your web site OR download a report OR register for an event.
4. Be clear
If you want them to click a link, tell them exactly that. Don’t be clever or too verbose. Make sure the call to action is easy to find and use.
5. Make it quantifiable
Everything needs to be measurable. How many ebook downloads? How many comments, site visitors, newsletter subscriptions, referrals, etc. You must have data to measure your efforts so you can repeat what works and scuttle efforts that bear no fruit.
Paula Henry
May 7, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Brandie – All very good tips for maximizing our marketing. When I first started any type of marketing, I find, if all the components are not in place first, I end up grappling last minute and losing momentum.It’s much easier to measure, as well!
Louise Scoggins
May 8, 2009 at 10:02 am
Hi Brandie! I am to AG and enjoyed your post. Good tips that can be applied in many fields. Sometimes when marketing feels overwhelming it helps to have a guide to reference back to. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Brandie Young
May 8, 2009 at 11:34 am
Hi Paula – great to hear from you. LOVED your post on Google scraping web sites and appreciate you chiming in here! Sounds like you have a firm grip on your efforts! Kudos!
Louise – welcome to AG! I’m sure you will find loads of great info here! AG has fantastic contributors. Thanks for the comment!
Esko Kiuru
May 9, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Brandie,
Using these ideas can go a long way. One to pay special attention to is, at least for me, to keep Call to Action to one at a time. The tendency is to get a lot done in one shot and it can actually hurt more than help. Good point.
real estate broker tips
July 9, 2010 at 8:30 am
this site is very useful in business.. sending through email is a formal.. it could be the receiver may call a response regarding the report to make an action.. or even commenting on blog, readers may take an attention to the title or a headlines. thanks for this blog you post…very informative