Meet The Host

At the heart of The Business Pioneer Podcast is Erika Montgomery, founder and CEO of Three Girls Media, an award-winning digital marketing agency based in the greater Seattle, Washington area. With a wealth of experience in brand storytelling and marketing strategy, Erika brings her passion for entrepreneurship to every episode. Her thoughtful questions and keen insights create a platform for innovative business leaders to share their journeys, lessons learned and actionable advice.

Learn Expert Insights From Seasoned Entrepreneurs

Each episode of The Business Pioneer Podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at how today’s business leaders drive growth and navigate industry challenges. From start-up success stories to scaling strategies and leadership lessons, the podcast provides practical guidance for business owners, founders and aspiring entrepreneurs.

What you’ll discover::

• Personal stories: Hear directly from entrepreneurs about their paths to success, the challenges they’ve overcome and the pivotal moments that shaped their businesses.
• Expert insights: Get valuable strategies for growth, leadership and market disruption from industry leaders.
• Real-world advice: Take away practical tips you can apply to your own business ventures.

Whether you’re an experienced business owner or just starting out, The Business Pioneer Podcast offers fresh perspectives and practical insights. Erika Montgomery’s warm, thoughtful hosting style creates an engaging environment where business leaders feel comfortable sharing candid advice. Each episode offers a fresh perspective on what it takes to build, grow and lead a successful business in today’s fast-paced world.

The Business Pioneer Podcast is available on multiple platforms, making it easy to tune in wherever you are. You can catch the latest episodes on YouTube and Spotify.

The post Discover The Stories Behind Success On “The Business Pioneer Podcast” appeared first on Three Girls Media.

1. Start Early

Begin planning your holiday campaigns well in advance. Consumers start shopping for the holidays earlier each year, so it’s important to be ready to capture their attention as early as September or October. Consider launching teaser campaigns or early-bird specials to build anticipation. For small businesses, early planning is a crucial element of effective Q4 marketing strategies that can help level the playing field against larger competitors.

2. Tailor Your Messaging

Align your messaging with the festive spirit, but make sure it resonates with your target audience. Personalization can go a long way in making your campaigns more impactful. Whether it’s through special offers, festive greetings, or tailored product recommendations, make your audience feel valued and special. Tailoring your messaging is particularly important in the context of year-end sales tips, where customer relationships are key.

3. Utilize Omnichannel Marketing

During the holidays, consumers interact with brands across multiple channels. Ensure your messaging is consistent and optimized for online and offline experiences. For small businesses, utilizing an omnichannel approach is one of the most effective Q4 marketing strategies, as it allows you to meet your customers wherever they are, enhancing their shopping experience.

4. Incorporate Video Content

Video content is engaging and easily digestible, making it an excellent medium for holiday campaigns. Create festive video ads, behind-the-scenes previews of your business, or tutorials on how to use your products during the holidays. For small businesses, incorporating video content into your holiday marketing can be a cost-effective way to reach and engage your audience, making it a cornerstone of effective Q4 marketing strategies.

Case Study: Successful Holiday Campaign

A local boutique specializing in handmade gifts decided to launch its holiday campaign early, starting with a teaser in mid-October. They used a mix of email marketing, social media promotions and in-store events to build anticipation. Their messaging focused on the uniqueness of their products and the importance of supporting local artisans. By the time Black Friday arrived, they had already secured 60% of their holiday sales target, proving the effectiveness of their early and personalized approach—an example of how well-executed Q4 marketing strategies can drive substantial results and set the stage for a successful holiday season.

Email Marketing: A Direct Line to Your Customers

Email marketing remains one of the most effective channels for driving sales, especially during the year-end. With the right strategy, you can boost engagement and conversions significantly, which is vital for small businesses implementing effective Q4 marketing strategies.

1. Segment Your Audience

Divide your email list into three segments 1. customer behavior, 2. purchase history and 3. preferences. This allows you to send highly targeted messages that are more likely to resonate with each segment. For small businesses, segmentation is a key aspect of effective Q4 marketing strategies, enabling personalized communication that drives results.

2. Craft Compelling Subject Lines

Your subject line is the first thing your audience sees, so make it count! Use urgency, personalization and clear value propositions to encourage opens. For example, “Last Chance to Save 30% on Holiday Gifts!” can drive immediate action, particularly when combined with the urgency of limited-time offers. This tactic is especially beneficial for small businesses as part of their effective Q4 marketing strategies.

3. Offer Exclusive Deals

Reward your loyal subscribers with exclusive holiday discounts and early access to sales. This not only drives purchases but also strengthens customer loyalty. Offering exclusive deals is one of the most effective year-end sales tips as it can foster a sense of community and encourage repeat business.

4. Create a Sense of Urgency

The holiday season is inherently time-sensitive, so leverage this in your email campaigns. Limited time offers, countdown timers and reminders about shipping deadlines can create a sense of urgency that drives conversions. Small businesses can effectively utilize this tactic as part of their Q4 marketing strategies to prompt quicker purchasing decisions.

5. Optimize for Mobile

More than half of all emails are opened on mobile devices, so ensure your emails are mobile-friendly. Use responsive design, keep your content concise and include clear call-to-action buttons that are easy to tap and easy to find. For small businesses, optimizing emails for mobile is a critical component of effective Q4 marketing strategies, ensuring you capture sales from on-the-go customers.

Case Study: Boosting Conversions with Email Marketing

A mid-sized e-commerce retailer specializing in electronics saw a significant boost in their Q4 sales by revamping their email marketing strategy. They segmented their email list into categories such as first-time buyers, repeat customers and high-value customers. Each segment received tailored content, such as product recommendations based on past purchases or exclusive discounts for loyal customers. This personalized approach, combined with compelling subject lines and mobile-optimized emails, resulted in a 40% increase in open rates and a 25% increase in conversions compared to the previous year, showcasing the power of targeted and effective Q4 marketing strategies for driving engagement and sales.

Leveraging Data: Making Informed Decisions

Data is the backbone of any successful digital marketing strategy. By leveraging data, you can gain insights into consumer behavior, optimize your campaigns and ultimately, increase your Q4 sales. This is particularly important for small businesses looking to implement effective Q4 marketing strategies that deliver strong results.

1. Analyze Past Performance

Look at your previous year’s Q4 data to identify trends, successful strategies and areas for improvement. This historical data can inform your current year’s strategy, helping you avoid past mistakes and capitalize on what worked. For small businesses, analyzing past performance is a fundamental step in developing effective Q4 marketing strategies that are both data-driven and results-oriented.

2. Use Real-Time Data

Real-time data allows you to adjust your strategies on the fly. Whether it’s tweaking ad spend, optimizing email campaigns, or adjusting product offerings, real-time insights can make a significant difference in your Q4 results. Small businesses can greatly benefit from using real-time data as part of their effective Q4 marketing strategies, allowing them to remain alert and responsive to market changes.

3. Implement A/B Testing

Test different versions of your ads, emails and landing pages to see what resonates most with your audience. A/B testing can provide valuable insights that help you refine your approach for maximum impact. For small businesses, A/B testing is an essential tactic in effective Q4 marketing strategies, ensuring that every marketing effort is optimized for success.

4. Personalize the Customer Experience

Use data to personalize your customer interactions at every touchpoint. Whether it’s through personalized email recommendations, targeted ads, or tailored website experiences, personalization can increase engagement and drive more sales. For small businesses, personalization is a key component of effective Q4 marketing strategies, helping to build stronger relationships with customers.

5. Monitor Social Media Analytics

Keep a close eye on your social media metrics during Q4. Understanding which posts are performing well, what content is driving engagement and how your audience is interacting with your brand can help you adjust your strategy for better results. For small businesses, monitoring social media analytics is crucial to implementing effective Q4 marketing strategies that resonate with your audience and drive engagement.

Case Study: Data-Driven Success

A national retailer focused on outdoor gear used data analytics to refine their Q4 strategy. By analyzing past performance, they discovered that their customers were highly responsive to social media ads featuring real customer stories and product reviews. They doubled down on this approach, using real-time data to tweak their ad targeting and creative content throughout the holiday season. The result was a 30% increase in online sales and a significant boost in customer engagement on social media, demonstrating the effectiveness of data-driven Q4 marketing strategies for small businesses.

Industry-Specific Strategies

Each industry has its own unique challenges and opportunities during Q4. Here’s how small businesses in different sectors can apply these Q4 marketing strategies:

1. Retail:

Retailers can benefit greatly from omnichannel marketing and data-driven personalization. By creating seamless shopping experiences across both online and offline channels, retailers can capture more sales. Real-time data can help retailers manage inventory more effectively, ensuring that popular items are in stock during peak shopping days. These are some of the most effective year-end sales tips in retail.

2. E-commerce:

E-commerce businesses should focus on optimizing their websites for mobile shopping, as mobile commerce continues to grow. Implementing A/B testing on landing pages can help identify the most effective designs and messaging to drive conversions. Additionally, e-commerce brands can leverage social media advertising to target last-minute shoppers with compelling offers, making these key Q4 marketing strategies for small businesses in the e-commerce sector.

3. Service-Based Businesses:

For service-based businesses, Q4 is an ideal time to promote holiday-themed packages or gift cards. Email marketing can be particularly effective for staying top-of-mind with clients and encouraging bookings for the new year. Personalization is key—tailor your offers based on the specific needs and preferences of your clients, making this an invaluable year-end sales tip and an effective Q4 marketing strategy for small businesses in the service industry.

4. B2B Companies:

Q4 is often a slower period for B2B companies, making it the perfect time to nurture existing client relationships and plan for the year ahead. B2B businesses can use email marketing to share valuable content, such as industry insights or planning guides for the upcoming year. Leveraging data to understand client needs can help B2B companies offer relevant solutions and set the stage for a strong start in Q1, forming the backbone of effective Q4 marketing strategies in the B2B space.

Conclusion:

To conclude, Q4 is undeniably one of the most critical periods for businesses across various industries and implementing effective Q4 marketing strategies is particularly crucial for small businesses. The strategies you deploy during these final months can have a lasting impact on your annual performance and set the tone for the upcoming year. Whether you’re a retailer looking to capitalize on holiday sales, an e-commerce brand aiming to enhance mobile shopping experiences or a B2B company focused on nurturing client relationships, having a well-rounded digital marketing strategy is essential.

The holiday season presents both opportunities and challenges. Competition is fierce, consumer expectations are high and the stakes couldn’t be higher. However, by starting your campaigns early, tailoring your messaging to resonate with your audience, leveraging the power of data and ensuring a seamless omnichannel experience, you can position your business to not only meet but exceed your year-end sales goals. These are the core elements of successful and effective Q4 marketing strategies that can drive meaningful results and ensure a strong finish to the year.

Furthermore, as you navigate Q4, remember that adaptability is key. The market landscape can shift rapidly, influenced by factors such as economic changes, consumer behavior trends, or even unforeseen global events. Keeping a close eye on real-time data, being willing to adjust your strategies on the fly and continuously testing and optimizing your campaigns will allow you to stay ahead of the curve and maximize your returns.

As the year draws to a close, take the time to reflect on your successes and challenges. Use these insights to refine your strategies not only for the remainder of Q4 but also as you plan for the new year. By doing so, you’ll be better equipped to build on your achievements, address any gaps and set your business up for continued growth and success in the year ahead.

At Three Girls Media, we understand the unique pressures of Q4 and our services are committed to help your business thrive during this crucial time. Our team of seasoned digital marketing specialists can assist with every aspect of your Q4 strategy, from developing creative and compelling holiday campaigns to optimizing your email marketing efforts and leveraging data-driven insights to make informed decisions. We specialize in crafting personalized, omnichannel experiences that resonate with your target audience and drive meaningful results, all key components of a successful Q4 marketing strategies. Whether you’re looking to boost year-end sales, enhance customer engagement or refine your digital marketing efforts, we are here to provide the support and expertise your business needs to close the year on a high note.

Moreover, we can provide you with ongoing support to monitor the effectiveness of your campaigns in real-time and make necessary adjustments to ensure maximum impact. Whether you need help with social media management, content creation, or analytics and reporting, Three Girls Media offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to elevate your brand and boost your year-end sales.

Need Help with Your Q4 Digital Marketing Strategies? Contact Three Girls Media!

If you’re looking to optimize your Q4 digital marketing efforts, contact us to book your complimentary 30-minute consultation today to ensure your Q4 strategies are set for success with our CEO, Erika Taylor Montgomery! Our team of experienced marketers is ready to help you boost your year-end sales through tailored strategies, expert guidance and new services, ensuring that your effective Q4 marketing strategies lead to a successful and profitable year-end.

The post Preparing For Q4: Digital Marketing Strategies to Boost Year-End Sales appeared first on Three Girls Media.

(Rainier, WA) – August 1, 2024 – Three Girls Media, Inc., an award-winning marketing agency based in Rainier, is excited to announce the expansion of its service offerings with the addition of four new solutions:

• Search Engine Optimization
• Reputation Management
• Sales Lead Generation
• SMS (Text) Marketing

Search Engine Optimization services range from $1,150 to $1,850 per month and include keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, content creation, local SEO, and detailed analytics and reporting.

Reputation Management services range from $120 to $200 per month and are designed to enhance customers’ reputations with their clients by providing thoughtful, caring management and responses to online reviews and increasing credibility with search engines.

Sales Lead Generation services sync to a LinkedIn profile and connect with up to 400 targeted new prospects per month, automatically sending them personalized messages and follow-up notes, including links to valuable resources, links and posts, profile endorsements, videos, and more. Pricing is $200 per month.

SMS Marketing allows customers to send text messages with a wide range of advanced features, including emojis, coupons, personalization, automation, and many more outstanding elements. No other platform offers the same number of unique characteristics. Services range from $130-$180 per month.

“I’m thrilled that as we approach our 20th year in business, we continue to innovate and offer the latest marketing services to our clients,” said Erika Montgomery, Three Girls’ CEO. “Marketing is an ever-evolving industry and we help our clients stay ahead of the curve.”

Three Girls Media offers a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with Erika Montgomery, who is happy to provide further details about these new services.

About Three Girls Media, Inc.

Three Girls Media, Inc. is an award-winning marketing agency dedicated to provide world-class digital marketing services for small and mid-size businesses. Our mission is to brand awareness through both traditional and digital tactics. Learn more at www.ThreeGirlsMedia.com.

Media Contact

Erika Montgomery

408-218-2391

Erika@ThreeGirlsMedia.com

The post Three Girls Media, Inc. Expands Services with Four New Offerings appeared first on Three Girls Media.

New SERP Feature: Discussions And Forums On Google Search Results

Public Forums Showing On Page 1 Of Search Results

Is there really someone out there adding ‘Reddit’ at the end of their search queries? 

The post How To Strengthen Content Framework Using User Insights From Reddit Search Snippets appeared first on Three Girls Media.

After years of dedicated service as our office greeter and Erika’s four-footed best friend, our beloved Effy passed away on March 26th at the age of 17.  While we are heartbroken to say our final goodbyes, her memory will live on with everyone who has had the opportunity to interact with her, near and far.

If you have a special memory or favorite Effy-ism, you’re invited to share it with us below.

Rest in peace, Effy. We hope you chase all the chickens and continue to spread your wisdom from beyond.

The post Effy Says … Goodbyes Are Never Easy appeared first on Three Girls Media.

Altering how you write blog posts based on changing expectations and technological advancements as they arise can seem nerve-wracking. However, each new parameter provides multiple opportunities for your company’s bloggers, including the chance to master new skills as a writer. 

In the coming year, quality, relevance and consistency are set to be more essential for a successful strategy than ever, which means that it’s a good time to brush up your core writing and editing skills while re-evaluating your audience’s preferences. By embracing a return to fundamentals, from search engine optimization to consumer trends, you can continue pushing the success of your blogging strategy forward as we enter 2020.

Why Change Up Your Blogging Strategy for 2020?

Blogging for business is a well-studied art form in terms of content and strategy. Through trial and error, content creators have discovered that the formula for a successful blog combines strong content, consistent posting and search engine optimization (SEO). But the specifics of what draws an audience to particular content continues to evolve as society and technology become more intertwined. 

Between changes in content trends and search engine algorithms, 2020 may mark the start of a new era in digital publication. High-quality, long-form content designed with a skimmable layout and interactive media components is predicted to outperform the formats that dominated the 2010s, like short blurbs and photo-based listicles. 

According to content marketer Charlene Boutin, 2020 will place long-form blog posts in the spotlight. Bloggers who pay special attention to formal elements like editing, fact-checking, composition and eye movement should see an uptick in website traffic and audience retention. There are two main reasons for this prediction:

• A recent update to Google’s algorithm, called BERT, which prioritizes originality and accuracy
• An ongoing shift in consumer preferences toward thoughtful, in-depth content

As a result, best practices for a successful blogging strategy are returning to the basics of media design, with a new emphasis on thoroughness, accessibility and professionalism. The biggest content trends predicted for 2020, according to ContentFly, are: 

• Long-form posts
• Reliable facts and references
• Thoughtful, developed content
• Frequent, consistent posting
• High-quality snippets to draw in traffic (from social media)
• Video and interactive media
• Professional-level copywriting

In the New Year, SEO and user experience (UI) practices in blogging will require one all-purpose toolkit of considerations rather than two overlapping skill sets. To prepare for 2020, take advantage of the opportunity to streamline your blogging strategy, and adopt changes that make your posts more appealing to search engines and readers alike.

SEO Considerations for Your 2020 Blogging Strategy

The two hottest topics in SEO for blogging anticipated next year are the integration of BERT into Google’s search algorithm and the ongoing optimization of web pages for mobile users. 

According to Search Engine Roundtable, BERT will impact roughly 10 percent of search queries, although the sum of its global effects on search results and ranking may be greater than that. BERT was rolled out on December 9, 2019, while Google introduced Mobile-first Indexing, which prioritizes mobile-friendly pages, in 2016. Over half of website traffic was from users on mobile devices in the third quarter of 2019, according to Statista.

Understanding How Google’s BERT Update Affects Blogging in 2020

According to the Search Engine Journal, “The BERT algorithm (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) is a deep learning algorithm related to natural language processing. It helps a machine to understand what words in a sentence mean, but with all the nuances of context.” The “bidirectional” part of its name means that BERT looks at the individual words in a sentence for the parts of a search query, rather than for strands of words in perfect sequence. This frees writers up to use the components of a long-tail keyword phrase throughout a headline or sentence. 

In 2020, bloggers will be able to focus on naturalistic word flow rather than the precise repetition of a high-ranking phrase without losing out on SEO value. BERT is moving SEO for Google into a more user experience-focused territory, where audience-based considerations also boost search engine rankings. By understanding language more like a human, BERT alters Google results to boost written resources with logical language flow, robust supporting context and thorough editing. 

Continue To Make Mobile Optimization Part of Your Strategy

Aside from designing your website for mobile viewing and navigation, as recommended by Leaving Work Behind, it’s important to account for mobile visitors when formatting blog posts. Small images wrapped into text rather than large ones that interrupt text can make lengthy posts more convenient to scroll through on mobile. Using bulleted lists and other formatting decisions that accommodate skimming can also make blog posts more hospitable to mobile users. 

Increasing visitor access to your blog posts, through improved SEO and mobile-friendly formatting, will increase potential traffic to your entire website. This makes it more likely for your website and associated brand to get both backlinks and linkless mentions on other websites, which in turn boosts its SEO even more!

Reframing Your Blogging Strategy for the New Year

Although blogging is in a state of flux, some best practices never change. Reviewing and improving a marketing strategy at the end of each fiscal year is a long-standing tradition in the business and advertising worlds. Many periodical publications, like newspapers and magazines, review their past progress and future goals once a year as well. Looking at current blogging trends merely tells us what’s succeeding on a large scale. However, examining the response to your posts published throughout 2019 can outfit you with a custom set of clues about how to proceed into 2020.

1. Be responsive in your blogging strategy: Responsive strategies incorporate specific insights from how your audience interacts with published content. At the end of 2019, you likely have a whole year of engagement data at your fingertips. Consult your website’s Google Analytics as well as any social media insights from updates with links to your blog. Ask yourself the following questions:
   1. What posts received the most traffic?
   2. What received the least traffic?
   3. What internal links embedded in posts performed the best?
   4. Which posts were most widely shared?
   5. Overall, what subjects, keywords, length and accompanying media did your audience seem to get the most out of?
   6. How can you replicate the success of your most popular posts with fresh, original content?
2. Plan to spend more time on your writing process: According to ContentFly, more businesses will outsource blogging to ensure professional quality. Additionally, BERT is built to rank carefully-edited, original content with well-supported information on query topics. Combined with a move toward long-form content, these factors mean that bloggers who dedicate time and attention to brainstorming, researching, drafting and editing in-depth blog posts are more likely to grow their audience in 2020. Aside from conforming to shifts in best practices, keep in mind that it may take time to incorporate specific insights gained from reviewing your blog’s 2019 analytics. In order to keep up with new demands in blogging, consider your own writing speed and technical flexibility when writing blog calendars and setting internal deadlines.
3. Identify the trends that work best for your audience: Not every blogging trend is worth chasing, just like not every social media platform is right for every business. Review the goals for your blogging strategy with new analytic information and general trends in mind. What trends are most likely to benefit your relationship with your audience? For blogs that receive a large chunk of traffic from social media, creating shareable short-form posts (“snippets”) with interactive content and well-labeled links to long-form content may be the smartest approach. However, for blogs that receive a high volume of organic traffic from search engines, meticulously crafted long-form content should take priority.
4. Promote audience interaction within posts: As digital media becomes an accepted part of our lives, consumers are more eager to participate rather than merely observe. Quizzes, maps, games/activities and clickable infographics all invite readers to delve deeper into the subject matter of a blog post while internalizing its information. Embedding or hyperlinking interactive resources in a post encourages readers to explore your website more thoroughly, with the added bonus of making your site a richer resource for future visitors.

Go Beyond Blogging Tips – Get an Expert Strategy Review

Are you excited to grow your audience in the New Year, but unsure of what direction to take your strategy? At Three Girls Media, we keep a keen eye on the latest developments in content creation and marketing best practices. Let us help you increase your blog’s visibility in 2020. Contact us for a free consultation today!

To learn more about SEO, blogging and digital marketing developments, check out more content from our blog:

• How To Rank On Google Maps
• Video: Blogging Tips To Make Sure Your Article Is Found
• How to Create a Successful PR & Marketing Strategy for 2020
• Does Your Successful Business Need To Start Blogging?

The post How to Update Your Blogging Strategy for 2020 appeared first on Three Girls Media.

These days, it’s a different story. Thanks to social media and the internet, it’s just as easy for a company or PR agency to create their own buzz through blogs, viral marketing campaigns and carefully curated posts as it is to secure media placements.

The power has dynamic has shifted and marketers are no longer beholden to the media, but there are still a number of reasons media relations should be considered a valuable strategy in your marketing and public relations toolkit.

Just Who Is the ‘Media’ in 2019?

Colloquially, ‘the media’ is often thought of as a broad term for people and companies that produce news-related content for print, radio, TV and digital platforms. Most people will picture a smartly dressed reporter speaking into a microphone on location or sitting in a brightly lit studio and reading off a teleprompter.

But in 2019, that stereotype is no longer accurate.

Think about your own life: who do you receive the most information from? For some of us, that may still be news presenters on ABC, CNN, Fox News or any of the other big news stations. For others, it could be the Wall Street Journal, New York Times or their local newspaper. And for still others, they may find they receive information from less traditional outlets, like YouTubers, Instagram influencers or grassroots citizen journalists who take matters into their own hands.

It’s important to keep this in mind while considering how media relations can best serve your marketing and PR strategies.

Why Is Media Relations Still Important?

1. Trust

As said by Forbes, potential consumers are still far more influenced by people they trust, which includes journalists, bloggers and influencers. While a public relations agency or brand can pump out blog after blog and design a beautiful Instagram aesthetic, when it comes to making purchasing decisions, the public will still trust a third-party opinion over content coming from the brand itself.

Utilizing media relations to secure placements through pitching to news outlets, collaborating with social influencers or releasing press releases, will ensure that the buzz around your client or brand isn’t coming just from you.

It’s also important to note that as public relations agencies and brands have taken charge of the dissemination of their content, they are no longer constricted by old definitions of what is ‘newsworthy.’ As said by Fast Company, a press release is no longer reserved for product announcements or executive changes. A release can be used to promote anything from blog posts to webinars.

2. Audience

The number one reason media relations has been a standard public relations and marketing practice for decades is because it puts your brand in front of more eyes than it would have been otherwise. That has not changed in 2019. The fact of the matter is, while there are more avenues to expand your customer base today than ever, media relations is still one of the most reliable methods.

Beyond just increasing brand awareness, media relations can also boost lead generation. As said by Channel Futures, making sure that content is media-friendly can deliver significant boost to your lead generation campaigns.

3. Authority

By becoming an authority within your industry, you can increase your credibility while your brand awareness skyrockets at the same time. As mentioned in this article by Entrepreneur, becoming an authority incentivizes potential clients and can lead to increased profitability.

So how does media relations lead to increased authority? When you prove yourself to be a valuable contributor and a reliable brand to work with, reporters will be more likely to come to you when they need commentary on an issue or news topic. Potential customers can be first exposed to your brand as a voice of authority and expert within your field.

As far as introductions go, it’s a pretty powerful first impression.

4. Sustainability

A comprehensive marketing and public relations strategy is a massive undertaking. It consumes hours upon hours of time for planning, content creation and scheduling. Once you have your plan in hand, the next arduous task is implementation, which can be just as much of a time suck as the planning phases.

Now try to keep that up constantly for an indefinite period of time. It’s not easy. There will be times when your content calendars don’t line up or there are delays. Maybe your strategy just didn’t work out this time. Regardless of the reason, there will be moments when you find yourself between strategies and in need of a stopgap the keep the buzz going in the meantime.

During these times, having established relationships with reporters, influencers or other industry outlets from your media relations strategy can help you fill any content holes with media placements.

As said in this article by Speakerbox, reaching out to your contacts to ask what they have coming up and if there is anything that might be a good fit for you and your brand can be an effective way to get involved in upcoming stories. More than likely, they will be happy to include you as a source or let you know of upcoming stories where your brand would be a valuable contributor. 

Beyond following up with any established relationships, actively pitching your content to media outlets within your industry, even during your regular marketing campaigns, can bolster or supplement your marketing strategy.   

5. Growth

For a new company, getting the ball rolling and beginning to build your audience online can be a frustratingly slow process. Getting featured in any sort of publication, digital or otherwise, is often the first big push that can send follower counts, subscriptions and blog analytics soaring.

If you’re a small business or new startup, chances are your first media placement will be in a small publication – but a small publication can still have a following in the thousands to tens of thousands.

It’s important not to sell yourself short, however. Business News Daily makes the point that small businesses often don’t have a narrative attached to their brand, which gives media outlets and influencers more room to work and be creative. 

How To Get Your Media Relations Strategy Started

Now that the importance of media relations has been made clear, it’s time to start thinking about how best implement it into your marketing and public relations strategy.

A good first resource is this Bplans article that lists 6 tips for getting media coverage for your business:

1. Know “why.” What’s are you trying to get across to the audience with this pitch?
2. Know the story. Be sure you know all angles of the story.
3. Create, refine, and refine your media list again. A smaller targeted media list will be far more effective than a larger list full of media outlets unrelated to your industry.
4. Write the pitch. Make sure there are no typos, it hits all the relevant points and is short.
5. Practice the pitch. Have your colleagues review your pitch before you begin sending it out.
6. Make the call (or send the email!) Send the pitch! It’s also important to be responsive when you get inquires back.

Let Three Girls Media Handle Your Media Relations Needs

For assistance with media relations or a variety of other marketing and PR related services, please contact us at Three Girls Media for a free consultation. We have a full staff of seasoned public relations and marketing professionals and are eager to help you reach your marketing goals.

[getCallout slug=”default-callout”]

The post 5 Reasons Why Media Relations Still Matter In 2019 appeared first on Three Girls Media.

In the infographic below are some numbers that will explain content marketing’s current impact. The numbers presented are the result of extensive research conducted by the Content Marketing Institute (CMI) on business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) marketers. This new data can help you get the ‘bigger picture’ of what marketers in these two fields have planned for 2019 and how they allocate their budget to execute these strategies.

The number of marketers investing in content marketing is growing. According to the CMI’s studies, 70% of B2B and 74% of B2C marketers claim that they had a more successful marketing campaign this year compared to 2018. But what is the reason for this uptick in success?

It can be found in the increase in marketers’ commitment to content marketing strategy this year. An estimated 93% of B2B marketers answered that they are extremely or very committed to content marketing, and 64% of B2C marketers agreed.

The internet is overflowing with content, so marketers have to be aware of the risk of content fatigue. To avoid content fatigue and keep their audiences engaged, content marketing teams have to make themselves stand out. Marketers frequently conduct research to learn how to stand out in a sea of content.

The most frequently-used market research strategy is sales team feedback. Studies showed that 74% of B2B marketers and 47% of B2C marketers used sales team feedback. Marketers in the B2C category demonstrated a preference for social media listening, with 70% of study participants claiming they used it. While only 50% of B2B marketers said they used social media listening, this still makes the approach the second most popular among marketers.

All of this information and much more is illustrated in the infographic below!

[getCallout slug=”default-callout”]

The post Infographic: New Research on Content Marketing Strategies appeared first on Three Girls Media.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

An important part of writing a great press release is having a catchy headline. Headlines are vital because they draw your readers in and let them know what your press release or article is all about.  Here are 4 key elements to writing a great headline.

4 Key Elements to Writing a Great Headline

1. Excitement or Surprise

Writing a great headline is all about drawing your readers in and making them wonder, “What happened next?” If you include a surprise fact, a perplexing question or an announcement people were waiting for, you are sure to catch your reader’s attention and get them to read your story.

2. Keep it Short and to the Point

A great headline is long enough to tell a whole story in a single sentence, but short enough to make people want more. It is helpful to write your headline after you’ve written your story, and then choose catchy or newsworthy elements of the article to use in your headline.

3. Use Good Keywords

Remember, you want your story to be found amongst thousands of others in the vast content of search engines, so remember to use good keywords near the front and, if possible, in the first 50 words of the article. Your headline should incorporate your keywords so search engines pick it up quickly.

4. Use Data and Numbers

A lot of the time, the most interesting pieces of information are the facts. Use percentages and statistics in the headline to give your readers the information they need to know right off the bat. Are you presenting a list of information? Sometimes the key to writing a great headline is to use a numbered list. Most people will click on a short list because it is easier for them to prepare to receive the information.

Many people don’t know how to write a great headline and sadly, their content may never even reach an audience. By maximizing your keywords and adding these essential elements to a great headline, you are sure to capture your reader’s attention and remain top-of-mind.

[getCallout slug=”default-callout”]

The post How to Write a Great Headline appeared first on Three Girls Media.

As every company is different, the road to compliance will also vary from one business to the next and having expert guidance is the best way to ensure you don’t fall foul of the regulations, especially in regards to your online content.

Initial Audit

The first step to ensuring your business is fully GDPR compliant is to carry out an audit against the legal framework. Regardless of the size of your company, by knowing how the regulations apply to your business you’re lessening your risk of being fined if you do not know how to abide by the new rules; as Sage demonstrates in their GDPR infographic, a fine of up to €20 million or 4% global turnover (whichever is greater) is the penalty for not meeting the new requirements. Therefore, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

While GDPR might not have a direct effect on the content that is published on a website itself, the new regulations will potentially alter the way in which that content can be used. For example, if you currently send out a newsletter or e-book to every customer that makes a purchase from your online store, you will only be able to do so in future if they opt-in to receive such communications.

User-Generated Content

The situation is different when it comes to user-generated content, which includes blogs and comments as well as photographs and videos. Many websites, especially e-commerce stores, rely on user-generated content to encourage potential customers to complete sales as studies show that buyers have a far higher level of trust for user reviews of a product than they do for information provided by the manufacturers themselves.

GDPR grants individuals a number of fundamental rights. These include the right to be forgotten, which allows subjects to ask for their data to be erased, the right to access and rectification, which means individuals can access and modify their personal data. Companies also need to be able to provide all the personal data they hold on an individual when requested, in a portable format.

In theory, this means that if someone writes a review or a blog post and then decides their views are no longer relevant, they have the right to remove their content. Companies must have measures in place to enable them to fulfill these new obligations or face substantial fines.

In-House Content

Depending on the nature of a particular business, in-house comments may contain personal information about individuals that requires additional consent as a result of GDPR. One example of this could be testimonials from customers that contain some of their personal details. Although permission might already have been sought to use such material, it may be necessary to re-obtain this consent.

One of the key concerns about GDPR is the cost of implementation. At present, the data that is mined from online users forms the backbone of the financial system on which much of the free web content available online rests. So once again, while the content that companies put out online may not be affected by the regulations, the ability of some companies to continue providing the same level content in the future may be less certain.

[getCallout slug=”default-callout”]

The post 3 Ways to Keep Your Online Content Compliant appeared first on Three Girls Media.