Marketing School | Digital Marketing | Online Marketing

In episode #1313, we share how to scale your branded search traffic and stay within your budget! From Instagram to free tools and calculators, there are a bunch of ways you can get more traffic without spending a lot of your money. Tune in to hear the ways you can boost your visibility today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Scale Your Branded Search Traffic Without Spending a Fortune. [00:43] Using Instagram as a great way to grow a brand on a budget! [01:09] How free tools can aid your growth from your website. [01:46] Other tools and calculators that can boost your ranking and traffic. [02:02] Using a catchy name to increase searches and add to your profile. [02:50] Fostering patience for the results of these tactics. [03:04] Multipurpose brand names that might catch other keyword searches.  [03:46] That is it for today! [03:53] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’

In episode #1312, we list five underrated marketing conferences that you should attend this year! Getting great marketing inspiration shouldn't be limited to strictly marketing conferences, so we look at five different places to be to get the most for your money and time. Tune in to hear about which five make our list! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: 5 Underrated Marketing Conferences That You Should Attend in 2020. [00:33] Why you should check out Traffic Think Tank Live in Miami in May! [01:08] Using TechCrunch's approach to disruption as a marketing strategy. [01:47] Baby Bathwater events and the array of personalities you will find there. [02:12] The amazing lessons in growth you can get from Affiliate World! [02:55] Paying the price and attending the TED conference for great perspectives. [03:58] That’s it for today! [04:06] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode

In episode #1311, Neil shares what he would do differently if he had to start all over again in 2020. From his years of experience, he learned that tools tend to generate far better traffic than personal brands do, so it is worth creating or buying a tool to get quick traction. Tune in to hear how you can save time and money by going straight for a good product! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What We Would Do if Neil Was Starting From Scratch in 2020. [00:41] Why tools are so much better than content.  [01:05] Don’t worry about building a personal brand – a product is better. [01:40] Start off with a tool because paid advertising and SEO is expensive. [01:55] How a free tool ends up generating more traffic without having to market it. [02:28] Free products market themselves and are easier to do. [02:39] Go to CodeCanyon and buy a semi-decent tool in B2B or B2C.  [03:13] How Neil is now spending far more time and energy on tools.  [03:50] ClickFlow is proof that tools get more atten

In episode #1310, we give you some insight into what we would do if Eric had to start his whole business from scratch. Doing consulting work is a quick way to make cash and starting a podcast the best means of rebuilding your network. Tune in to hear how creating a course can be your ticket to success!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What We Would Do if Eric Was Starting From Scratch in 2020.  [01:06] Do consulting work to get some cash coming in to cover living expenses.  [01:22] Start a podcast first before you think about blogging and build your network this way. [01:46] Build a team around the consulting work and find a partner who will help you scale.  [02:08] The goal would be to build an info or software product. [02:19] Create and sell a high-ticket course and run some ads to market it. [03:02] An example of how a course can help you generate income.  [03:35] You can also start by working for someone first while building your knowledge.  [03:59] Go watch a Simon Sinek video

In episode #1309, we share three ways to increase your traffic with international SEO. Even if you have high domain authority, it is still necessary to go out there and build localized links in these regions. Tune in to hear whether using a subfolder, a top-level domain (TLD), or a subdirectory is best! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Three Ways to Double Your Organic Traffic with International SEO.  [00:46] Why international SEO is important and what kind of results you can expect.  [01:06] A list of top five countries Neil gets SEO traffic from, including India and Brazil.  [01:44] Reaching Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, etc. by doing SEO in Spanish.  [02:10] Go out there and build links in these local regions and translate the content manually.  [02:30] Even if you have high domain authority, you still need localized links. [02:45] Why it is easy to build links in non-English-speaking markets.  [03:04] Choosing between using a subfolder, a top-level domain, or a subdir

In episode #1308, we discuss the different agency models that you can choose from. Whether you pitch you work at a high level or aim for smaller, local business, the way you choose to promote yourself and capture customers will have a huge effect on your results. Tune in to hear all about it! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Different Agency Models You Can Choose From. [00:33] The low-end model services small business and charging low amounts. [00:58] The affiliate or pay for performance model; rewards for good results. [01:59] A project and hourly basis model with less consistent income. [02:40] Increasing charges versus high churn rates and numbers of clients. [03:28] Going after big enterprise companies and where to find them. [04:20] An easy way to grow your agency today! [04:44] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Ubersuggest Agency Accelerator Leave Some

In episode #1307, we explain how to land big agency clients when you are just starting out! From over-delivery and over-communication to posting regularly and valuably on the right platforms, there are bunch of simple ways you can land some big fish when you are still a small fry! Tune in get the inside scoop. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Land Big Agency Clients When You are Just Starting Out. [00:42] Eric's first professional gig in Philadelphia and how he overdelivered. [01:45] Providing value in online spaces where your audience is present. [02:33] A simple model for landing clients; break down recently funded companies. [04:28] Sending specific emails to companies in order to get responses from CEO's. [06:00] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Quora Crunchbase Loom The Ultimate Sales Machine Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about

In episode #1306, we discuss Spotify’s acquisition of The Ringer. The podcasting industry is growing exponentially and Spotify wanted to make an aggressive move toward growing its market share. Tune in to hear why this was a super smart decision on their part! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How Spotify Acquired The Ringer.   [00:42] The solid financial results for Spotify in Q4 of 2019. [00:56] How Spotify recognized exponential growth in podcast hours streamed. [01:24] Realizing that they needed to acquire a big podcast to double down on opportunities.    [01:53] The impressive retention rates of the Marketing School podcast. [02:09] Why Spotify’s decision makes a lot of sense.  [02:39] Keep in mind that all good channels eventually become crowded.   [03:09] Spotify’s market share around podcasting and how they’re more aggressive than Apple.  [03:48] The number of downloads The Ringer podcast is getting.  [04:07] Start comparing your Apple Podcast and Spotify analytics for your p

In episode #1305, we share the secrets to selling high-ticket courses with paid advertising. Live webinars often lead to successful conversion and you can even leverage your recorded webinars to gain traction from your audience. Tune in to hear all the ways you can follow up with prospective customers after a webinar! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Seven Secrets to Selling a High-Ticket Course with Paid Advertising.  [00:41] Why you want to choose live webinars rather than evergreen ones.  [01:07] Up the traction to your recorded webinar by making it appear live. [01:31] Different ways you can follow up with prospective customers after a webinar.  [02:37] Offering a free trial when all the other hooks have failed to work on a customer.  [03:36] Drive your audience to a video which they can access immediately.  [04:24] Why you might strongly consider dropping the price of your info product.  [05:43] Learn how to scale a campaign from Alex Becker or others in your field. [06:36] Why

In episode #1304, we share the top e-commerce trends for 2020 that you also want to tap into. We tell you how to use up and down-sales in your funnel, allow users to buy through chat, employ push notifications, and much more! Tune in to hear how the landscape of paid ads in e-commerce is changing! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Seven E-Commerce Trends for 2020.  [00:31] Maximize your revenue by adding up-sales and down-sales throughout your funnel.  [01:08] Get users to buy through chat by using applications like ManyChat or MobileMonkey.  [01:36] How paid ads are changing in e-commerce, just look at Google and Olay’s partnership.  [02:58] Leverage the data that you have to personalize the customer experience. [03:31] Use push notifications to send people back to your e-commerce site. [04:21] Create seamless experiences in-store and offline. [05:04] Consider a re-marketing ad for those who don’t buy or abandon their carts.   [05:44] That’s it for today! [05:45] To stay updated wit

In episode #1303, we give you a list of the marketing conferences that are not to be missed! From content and inbound marketing to everything technological and digital – there is a conference for each of your needs as an online marketer. Tune in to hear about the exciting marketing events that will be hosted by Marketing School! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Seven Best Marketing Conferences to Attend in 2020.  [00:33] Hear where to learn from the best content marketers in the world.  [00:51] The different locations where the Traffic & Conversion Summit will be held.  [01:35] Why INBOUND is a not-to-be-missed event for inbound marketing strategies.  [01:55] Check out one of the many global Affiliate World conferences.  [02:39] Learn about new marketing technologies at the Gartner Marketing Symposium.  [02:54] The unique Marketing School event hosted by Eric and Neil! [03:51] Attend the Adobe SUMMIT for everything digital marketing and more.  [04:15] That’s it for today! [04:18

In episode #1302, we talk about the possible fine the US government can give your website! If your site is not accessible and user-friendly for individuals with disabilities, you may find yourself in a sticky situation! Tune in to hear some good ways, paid and free, to avoid incurring these costs.  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How To Avoid a $15,000 Fine from the US Government! [00:39] Section 508 of the Department of Justice and how this relates to you. [01:15] The common occurrence of these types of fines. [01:38] Free and paid tools for making your website more accessible. [03:12] That's all for today! [03:15] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Accessibe Accessibility for WordPress Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Co

In episode #1301, we discuss whether podcast ads actually work! Advertising placements on podcasts are typically hard to track and there are definitely scenarios in which you will struggle to see results. The main lesson here is to find a platform and audience that suits your offer. Tune in to hear about clever ways to get your name out there. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Do Podcast Ads Actually Work? [00:34] What podcast ads are and why most do not work. [01:23] The key to podcast ads: relevant content to the platform. [02:01] Some examples of top brands who advertise on podcasts.  [03:20] Consider creating your own podcast as a means of advertising! [03:42] Different spots to monetize and making these relatable.  [04:12] That's it! [04:15] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Top Brands Advertising on Podcasts Squarespace Rocket Mortgage ZipRecruiter Ca

In episode #1300, we talk about why Warren Buffett sold all of his newspaper businesses! It is quite commonly understood that newspaper media is not a growing space and we see this with the amount of journalism graduates who struggle to find work. Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway have been making some shrewd moves in order to set themselves up for the future. Tune in to hear how! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Why Warren Buffett Sold All of His Newspaper Businesses for $140 Million. [00:58] The news media landscape currently and what online platforms have done. [02:01] How Berkshire Hathaway lent money to Lee Enterprises. [02:46] The potential or lack thereof for newspapers and Lee's extreme measures. [03:11] New media and making use of out of journalists for your empire. [04:01] Other options that Berkshire Hathaway might have in mind. [04:43] That's it for today! [04:46] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more inform

In episode #1299, we discuss how Donald Trump spent over $19 million on Facebook advertising in 2019! This huge amount of money, that dwarfs the democratic budget, is symptomatic of the current media and marketing landscape. Join us to hear about the lessons that can be learned from this example. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How Donald Trump Spent $19.4 Million on Facebook Ads in 2019. [00:44] The Guardian article that sparked today’s episode. [01:45] Long-term implications of these kinds of tactics with the growth of AI. [02:27] How data is being used to change people's perceptions. [03:48] Manipulation is ever-present in media and marketing; what can you learn? [05:04] Awareness and positivity in the advertising space. [05:23] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Donald Trump The Guardian 'One Year Inside Trump's Monumental Campaign' Bloomberg Leave Some

In episode #1298, we share seven trends in the software as a service space! From free tools and customer experience improvement to thought leadership and the move towards platforms, following these trends can help you and your SaaS business today! Tune in to hear the most important things you should be keeping up with. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: 7 SaaS Trends for 2020. [00:35] Product-led growth, free tools and indoctrinating users into your ecosystem. [01:07] Allowing a computer to do the work for you with the rise of AI and ML. [01:47] Improving customer experience and going above and beyond for retention. [02:45] The move towards platforms with multiple features and tools. [03:35] Branding and becoming a thought leader in your space. [04:41] Ways to make up for advertising costs! [05:40] Using an API for partnerships and more.  [06:21] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in

In episode #1297, we ask what works better for affiliates, niche content or general news? There are a number of different routes you can take with your affiliate marketing, from very general to very niche. We recommend erring more on the side of niche, for SEO and customer retention. Tune in hear the benefits of specialization and becoming an authority! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What Works Better for Affiliates? Niche or General News. [00:35] Some examples of affiliate sites and what they do. [01:34] The conversion impact of niche websites and becoming an authority. [02:52] People like specialists; do not try to be everything to everyone. [04:02] Broader is not better, specific sites do better on search engines. [04:29] Building a brand in order to generate revenue. [05:02] That is it for today! [05:04] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Wirecutter BuzzF

In episode #1296, we talk about how to drive more paid sign-ups in your sale funnel. Funnels are the all-important part of your sales system and you need to optimize yours in order to get maximum customers and sales! Tune in to hear about using video, on-boarding and pricing to up your game! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Drive More Paid Sign-ups in Your Funnel. [00:33] Explaining the role of a funnel in sales. [01:11] Driving traffic to your homepage through your blog and a re-marketing pixel. [01:43] Simplifying on-boarding and focussing on the customer experience. [03:22] Using a re-marketing video with emotion and logic to capture customers. [04:44] Introductory pricing and creative ways to open the door for users. [05:58] That is it for today! [06:00] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Hotjar OptinMonster Ahrefs Netflix Hulu Leave Some Feedba

In episode #1295, we run through our list of highly recommended tools to help you get your brand and message out there. From email service providers to the best text message tools on the market, we share it all. Tune in to hear which of these tools are also great for integrating with your existing tool stack! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Seven Course Tools to Help Spread Your Message.  [00:58] Make landing pages quickly by using Leadpages and Unbounce. [01:24] Kajabi: an all-in-one course tool to help create and market courses.  [02:08] The benefits of doing webinars and EverWebinar’s evergreen offering.   [02:36] PicSnippets connects with email tools and allows personalization.  [03:12] Choose ManyChat as your chat, SMS, and email service provider.  [03:45] Use PlusThis that connects with your webinar automation and email tools.  [04:28] How you can use text messages and create a shared inbox for your team.  [05:13] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind

In episode #1294, we give you the inside scoop on Neil’s course funnel so that you can apply it to your business. Using an email to drive your audience to a webinar and following up with a week-long email sequence with an expiry date is a sure way to capture a large portion of your target market. Tune in to hear how to round off the funnel with text messages and all the tools Neil uses in his stack. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How You Can Swipe Neil’s Course Funnel that Generates 380k/Month. [00:46] Selling info products that teach you how to do marketing. [00:56] Driving the audience from emails to webinars and then making a pitch.  [01:09] Following up with a week-long email sequence with a countdown timer at the end. [01:27] Sending text messages to everyone who watched the webinar but didn’t end up buying. [01:58] Offering a free trial to those you didn’t capture before. [02:50] The percentages that bought from each of the funnel points. [03:21] The majority of sales came fro