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Actionable Marketing Podcast

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Now displaying: February, 2021
Feb 23, 2021

Data problems are probably lurking somewhere inside of your marketing stack. Don’t freak out, just yet. Most analytics packages and marketing software services that deal with data have some gaps or inaccuracies.

Today’s guest is Dan McGaw, CEO and founder of McGaw.io, a marketing technology and marketing analytics consulting company. Dan talks about how to make better marketing decisions—identify and fix deeper issues to avoid data disasters. He explains everything you need to know to keep your data clean and metrics moving.

 

Some of the highlights of the show include:

  • Why is data cleanliness important? Analytics + Bad Data = Bad Decisions
  • Directional: Data is not meant to be perfect, the goal is to grow and take action
  • Data Spectrums: Everybody has unreliable data—how bad is it?
  • Marketing Stacks: Different problems stem from data issues
  • Taxonomy: Common problem is not having consistent or connecting names
  • Be Intentional: Set up and configure marketing tech, or set yourself up for failure
  • Audit: You know there’s a problem, but you don’t know what it is, where to begin
  • Solution: Plan and be more proactive by understanding how data flows in
  • Best Practices: Urchin tracking parameters (UTM) are culprits of bad data
  • How to Build Cool Sh*t: Take it slow, take your time, don’t try to rush projects

 

Links:

 

Quotes from Dan McGaw:

“If you have analytics and your analytics have bad data that means your analytics are wrong, which means that you’re naturally going to be making bad decisions.”

“Companies that are typically growing the fastest, are the ones who are less focused on definitive and more focused on how do we get directional data that’s going to tell us which way is growth and let’s start moving and let’s make action.”

“If you take the quality time to do taxonomy right, you see really, really good outcomes. Trying to make sure that taxonomy works across the stack I think is where you get the best outcomes, as well.”

“The best way to audit is really to build good rigor around your analytics, understand how that data flows in, and use the auditing tools to be able to do that.”

Feb 16, 2021

How does design happen, and how do designers and marketers collaborate? As a common courtesy, provide details to get more work done better and faster. CoSchedule is consistently committed to quality design and creative output.

Today’s guest is Tim Walker, visual designer at CoSchedule. Tim talks about how he infuses brand with individual style that is distinctly CoSchedule. Discover how to replicate CoSchedule’s processes and philosophies.

 

Some of the highlights of the show include:

  • Onboarding: Intimidating, exciting, and challenging to integrate individual style
  • Standards and Guidelines: Set and define them to have fun within them
  • Design Playground: Time and place to test new ideas, styles, and color palettes
  • Collaboration Challenge: Communicate clearly about team/department needs
  • What Works, What Doesn’t: Specificity, purpose vs. vagueness, no direction
  • Intent: Good design doesn’t happen by accident, it takes thoughtful planning
  • Investment: Don’t cut corners—good aesthetics authenticate your brand
  • Inspiration: Collect designs from Pinterest, Dribble, Ehance, and Instagram

 

Links:

 

Quotes from Tim Walker:

“Every designer has their own style. A lot of designers can do a lot of things, but I think each designer kind of has their own unique kind of signature. Integrating that into the brand, that’s always a fun little challenge.”

“It’s really important to kind of have those standards set in place and well-defined, and then you can kind of have some fun within those. It was enjoyable to try to meld my own style with the existing guidelines.”

“Everyone’s really great at communicating exactly what they need from design and the purpose of the design, too, and what we’re trying to achieve with it.”

“If you have valuable content to share, why not give it some great clothes to wear?”

“Humans are visual creatures. When we see images, our brains store the details verbally and visually. If you want people to pay attention to your content, and recognize your brand, or buy your product, share your posts, you need to have strong design or you’ll be forgotten and ignored.”

Feb 9, 2021

In a single sentence, describe your ideal customer. Where do they hang out online? What are their biggest problems? How often do you talk to them? Don’t rely on assumptions. Consciously focus on your customers by creating content that serves their needs and beats the competition.

Today’s guest is Shondell Varcianna from Varci Media, a content writing company for financial institutions, about how to get to know your audience. She shares effective and easy-to-follow advice to improve audience research without extra time and resources.

 

Some of the highlights of the show include:

  • Reach Real Customers: You can’t offer something to someone you don’t know
  • Real Problems: Sell your product or service as a solution for your customers
  • Relationships: Are you the right person to serve your audience at highest level?
  • Recommendations: Know who to target, where they are, and what they want
  • Website Content: Match with searched keywords and make it resonate
  • Communities: Wherever your target audience is, is where you want to be
  • Ask Audience for Answers: What do you do for fun? Where do you hang out?
  • Social Media Connections: Meet strangers and don’t take ‘no’ personally
  • Know, Like, and Trust: Offer consistent content that informs, educates, inspires
  • Content Strategy: Videos, podcasts, posts—get creative when creating content
  • Authenticity: Where it all begins to get your audience what they (and you) want

 

Links:

 

Quotes from Shondell Varcianna:

“If I know of you, but I don’t know you, how can I offer you anything because I don’t really know what you want.”

“Wherever your target audience is, is where you want to be. You’ll have to find out where they are, and then you just need to show up where they are, consistently.”

“Everyone is accessible on social media. Everybody. I connect with strangers every single day on social media.”

“Content that speaks to everyone is content that speaks to no one.”

Feb 2, 2021

High-profile data breaches at big-name companies have become an all-too-common pitfall that creates negative press. Marketers need to protect their company and customers by knowing how to prevent a cybersecurity attack or security lapse.

Today’s guest is Gary S. Chan from Alfizo Security Solutions. Gary is a cybersecurity expert and helps organizations make sure software and systems are safe and secure. Avoid being the next victim and consider the cost of inaction.

 

Some of the highlights of the show include:

  • Why should marketers care about cybersecurity? To stay safe and do a better job
  • Best Practices: Proper messaging, deliverability, and documentation gets clients
  • Settings: Configure SPF and other security options for recipients to receive email
  • Security Defense: Stop bad things from happening to you and your customers
  • Remote Security: Technical services and tools to prevent serious problems
  • Privacy Policies: Read terms and conditions to understand intended use of data
  • Repeatable Software: Always use what others use, not something unfamiliar
  • Security Certifications: ISO/IEC 27001 and Soc 2; clarify certifications
  • Free Software: Money is being made somehow, so make sure it’s secure
  • Collaborative Communication: Increase understanding and measure success
  • Risks and Consequences: Takes only one event to close business, cause chaos
  • Security Benefits: Leverage good security hygiene for peace of mind
  • Google not only ranks content, but offers higher rating for better Website security
  • Advice for Marketers: Follow guidance, use strong passwords, report suspicious activity, and attend security training

 

Links:

 

Quotes from Gary S. Chan:

“I help businesses improve their sales, meet compliance, and stay safe.”

“Larger clients tend to care about buying from companies with good security.”

“If you don’t configure things properly, a lot of your emails will go to Spam boxes, which means that your recipients don’t read them.”

“You’re going to lose customer data, you’re going to lose intellectual property, you’re going to lose time, you’re going to lose money, and you’re going to lose some of your reputation.”

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