When you’re running a business, bringing in new customers is essential for growth. But attracting leads and guiding them through the buyer’s journey can be challenging. One strategy that helps is using targeted lead magnets – free valuable content offered in exchange for contact information. 

Matching your lead magnet to where prospects are in the buying process significantly improves conversion rates. In this post, we’ll look at the four main stages of the typical buyer’s journey and the most effective types of lead magnets for each phase. 

The four stages of the buyer’s journey 

Before determining ideal lead magnets, it’s important to understand the stages buyers go through when making a purchase decision: 

Awareness Stage: The buyer realises they have a problem or need but doesn’t know how to solve it yet.  

Interest Stage: The buyer begins exploring potential solutions and products. They’re educating themselves on the different options now available to them. 

Evaluation Stage: After researching solutions, the buyer narrows down the options to only a few contenders. They dive deeper into learning the pros and cons of those remaining choices. 

Purchase Stage: The buyer is ready to make a decision and chooses the solution that best aligns with their needs. They finalise the purchase, ready to implement the new solution. 

Lead magnets for the awareness stage 

When prospects are in the initial awareness phase, they know there’s an issue but don’t have enough information yet to pick a solution. 

Lead magnets that provide education around the problem they’re experiencing are most valuable here. This begins guiding them into the sales funnel by addressing their current pain points. 

Some great lead magnet types for this stage include: 

• Symptom identification guide: A checklist helping prospects self-diagnose if they are actually experiencing the specific problem. This establishes relevance. 
• “The Problem Explained” guide: An in-depth report describing the problem, common causes, symptoms and effects if left unresolved. Educates prospects on why action is required. 

• Warning signs checklist: A simple list of signs, signals, or indicators that someone may be dealing with the problem. Creates that critical “a-ha moment” of recognition. 
• Quiz: Interactive content that leads prospects through a series of relevant questions to determine if the issue applies to them. Quantifies the need for a solution. 

Lead magnets for the interest stage 

Once buyers recognise they have a need, they start researching their options. Content that supports this research process is valuable at this second stage. 

Helpful lead magnet types include: 

• Comparison guide: Outlines the differences between the various solutions or product categories on the market. Allows easy side-by-side comparisons. 
• “Ask These Questions” guide: A list of detailed questions buyers should ask when evaluating different solutions. Drives more informed decision making. 
• Vendor directory: A spreadsheet, list, or directory profiling all the potential companies, products, or services that could solve the prospect’s need. Expands their knowledge of what’s available. 
• Product tour videos: Short videos that walk through key features and functionality of the different solutions prospects are considering. Brings solutions to life. 

Lead magnets for the evaluation stage 

Once prospects have narrowed down their options to a few potential vendors, lead magnets that help differentiate your solution from competitors are effective. 

Valuable options include: 

• ROI calculator: Helps quantify the value of your solution. Demonstrates the potential profitability or cost savings of choosing you compared to other options. 
• Product demo video: Seeing your product in action can increase interest and consideration. Demo videos highlight your key differentiators. 
• Customer success stories: Case studies detailing how real customers overcame challenges using your solution. Builds trust through shared experiences, like our Mola Dental case study.  
• Free trial registration: Letting prospects test your product hands-on can powerfully showcase your value.  

Lead magnets for the purchase stage 

Finally, in the purchase stage prospects are ready to buy but may still need a final nudge. Lead magnets that provide reassurance are helpful here. 

• Pricing guide: Breaks down your various packages/plans and payment options. Transparency builds trust. 
• User tutorial videos: Walkthroughs on how to use key features can increase confidence in getting started. 
• Industry knowledge: Creating lead magnets that are useful for your customer can show them your expertise and value. Like our Ultimate Social Media Guide.  

• Customer testimonials: Video or written praise directly from current clients carries more weight than anything you state about your own product. 
• Satisfaction guarantees: Money-back guarantees, warranties, or free customisation reduces buyer anxiety. 

Strategically guide your prospects through the funnel 

Offering lead magnets matched to each stage of the buyer’s journey keeps prospects engaged, lowers barriers to conversion and ultimately results in higher sales. 

Determining which lead magnet format provides the most value at each phase boosts their path to becoming customers. Keep this guide in mind as you develop resources that educate and reassure your leads. 

With the right lead magnet, you can turn prospects into clients who rave about your products. 

Want the benefits of a killer lead magnet without doing the hard work? Get in touch with our founder, Talisa, for a chat: https://10x-marketing.co.uk/lets-talk/  

The post The Best Lead Magnets to Offer at Each Stage of the Buyer’s Journey first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post The Best Lead Magnets to Offer at Each Stage of the Buyer’s Journey appeared first on 10X Marketing.

Creating a powerful email campaign that captures attention and converts leads doesn’t have to be a time-consuming task.   

With the right strategy and tools at your disposal, you can create a compelling email campaign in just 60 minutes. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to make sure your message reaches your audience effectively, and you achieve your marketing goals.   

Why should you use an email campaign?   

If you’ve clicked on this blog, you’re probably already aware of the benefits of using an email campaign in your business, but just as a refresher:  

Direct communication: Emails provide a direct line of communication to your audience’s inbox, enabling personalised interactions that can have a greater impact than generic social media posts.  

High ROI: Email marketing consistently boasts one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) among digital marketing channels. With a well-crafted campaign, you can achieve significant results with minimal effort.  

Segmentation possibilities: Email allows you to segment your audience based on demographics, behaviours or preferences, tailoring your message to resonate with specific groups.  

Data-driven insights: Advanced email marketing platforms offer detailed analytics, giving you insights into open rates, click-through rates and conversion metrics. This data helps you refine future campaigns.  

Now, onto how to create one…   

 7 Steps to create a killer email campaign  

We’ve broken down the process into seven easy steps meaning you can streamline your creation time and get your email campaigns out ASAP!   

Let’s take a look at what you need to do:   

1. Define your objective and audience

Clearly define your campaign’s purpose – whether it’s promoting a new product, sharing valuable content or re-engaging dormant customers. A well-defined objective is the first step to creating an email campaign that creates results.    

Identify your audience and target them appropriately. The whole point in being in your audience’s inboxes is to make the marketing feel personalised and direct.    

2. Use online resources

Leverage pre-designed email templates online or from your chosen email marketing platform, such as MailerLite or MailChimp. Templates ensure a professional and cohesive design without spending precious time on the layout of your campaign.   

Remember, the message within your content is your key selling point. 

3. Craft a compelling subject line   

The subject line is your first chance to grab attention. Keep it concise, intriguing and relevant to the content within the email. Aim for 5-8 words to optimise for mobile devices.  

Here’s a handy subject line checker that we like to use at 10X marketing; it ranks your choices and gives some great tips on improvements.    

4. Create engaging content

Craft concise and compelling copy that resonates with your audience. Use a mix of text, visuals and whitespace to make the email visually appealing and easy to read.  

The trick in email campaigns is to address your audience’s pain points and make them aware of your services that can solve these issues but not bombard them with too much content, or they will just unsubscribe and delete the email!  

5. Incorporate a strong call-to-action (CTA)

Every email should have a clear and persuasive call to action (CTA). 

A well-crafted CTA is the compass that guides your audience towards the desired action, whether it’s making a purchase, subscribing or engaging with your content.   

A strategically placed and persuasive CTA can transform passive readers into active participants, driving conversions and achieving your marketing goals.   

Its concise yet impactful message holds the potential to ignite curiosity, evoke emotions and compel instant responses, making it an indispensable element in any successful marketing campaign!  

6. Test and Review

As with anything that you’re putting your company name or logo on, you need to carefully review and ensure that what you have created is free of errors.  

Before sending, test your email across different devices and email the campaign to yourself first to ensure it looks great. Proofread for any errors or broken links, as this looks unprofessional and won’t encourage your reader to engage in your business.  

7. Schedule and Send

So, you’ve got your email campaign ready to go! Now what?   

Choose an optimal send time based on your audience’s preferences and time zone. Most email platforms offer scheduling options, allowing you to automate the delivery, making this last step almost TOO easy.   

And you’re done!   

Crafting an email campaign in 60 minutes might seem ambitious, but it’s entirely possible with a streamlined process and a clear strategy.    

By defining your objectives, leveraging templates, creating engaging content and incorporating strong CTAs, you can create email campaigns that captivate your audience and drive results.  

Remember, time saved on campaign creation can be invested in refining your overall marketing strategy for even greater success. So, gear up to craft impactful emails in record time and watch your marketing efforts succeed!   

Email marketing at 10X   

Did you know we offer a killer email marketing service?   

 Here are some of our specific email marketing services (a professional take on the seven steps we just discussed):  

• Email content ideas   
• Email strategy   
• Email copy   
• Email design   
• Email management   
• Lead nurturing journeys/ automated workflows 

If you don’t fancy taking the time to make an email marketing campaign yourself, we’re happy to help! 

Got any questions? Get in touch with the 10X team. 

The post How to create an email campaign in 60 minutes first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post How to create an email campaign in 60 minutes appeared first on 10X Marketing.

In the fast-paced world of social media, timing can make all the difference when it comes to reaching your target audience and maximising engagement.  

With countless posts flooding users’ feeds every second, knowing the best times to post your content can significantly impact your social media marketing strategy’s effectiveness.  

In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of timing in social media marketing and provide insights into finding the optimal times to share your content for various platforms. 

Why timing matters 

Social media platforms use complex algorithms that determine the visibility of your content on users’ feeds.  

These algorithms consider various factors, including engagement, relevance and timeliness. Posting at the right times can help your content appear when your audience is most active, increasing the likelihood of likes, comments, shares and overall visibility. 

Who are you posting for?  

Before diving into specific posting times, it’s crucial to understand your target audience‘s behaviour. 

Consider factors such as: 

Demographics: Different age groups and professions have varying online habits. For instance, teenagers might be more active in the evening, while the older generation or professionals might check social media during lunch breaks. 

Geographical location: If your audience is spread across different time zones, you’ll need to schedule posts to accommodate their local times. 

Platform preferences: Different social media platforms have distinct peak usage times. For example, LinkedIn might see higher engagement during weekdays, while Instagram could be more active on weekends. 

How well do you know your product? 

Another key variable that impacts the best time to post on social media that is individual to each business or account is the product or content that you are posting. 

For example:  

Industry knowledge: Sharing industry knowledge generally performs better across social media during weekdays, and early morning posts such as 7-9 AM means that those early bird workers could be seeing your content while drinking their morning coffee, after their morning meeting or while sitting on the train going into work.  

Home fragrance: If you are a business selling a product such as home fragrance, your content will generally do better in the evening and during the weekend. These times are for relaxation and ‘me time’ out of work, so your target audience will interact with this content more during this timeframe.   

Work event promotion: The promotion of any event is key to the turnout! This type of content is a little different, as it’s a great practice to start promoting an event the month before to boost interest, so a range of posting times will be efficient. But mainly, you want to target the time your specific target audience (who you want to attend) is most active.   

These are just a few examples, but it can be pretty simple to work out if you plan and think about your content and audience. If you’re struggling with social media planning, get in touch with the 10X team.   

Popular platforms and when to post 

Remember, these are only guidelines, and your own products and content will perform differently than others. It’s important to experiment to find your perfect timing! 

Facebook: 

• Best days: Wednesday, Thursday 
• Best times: 9 AM 
• Avoid: Weekends before 8 AM and after 8 PM 

Instagram: 

• Best days: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 
• Best times: 10 AM- 3 PM 
• Avoid: Monday 

Interested in finding out when your Instagram followers are most active? We’ve already made a step-by-step guide for this!  

Twitter: 

• Best days: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 
• Best times: 9 AM- 3 PM 
• Avoid: Evenings after 9 PM 

LinkedIn: 

• Best days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 
• Best times: 8 AM- 11 AM, 2 PM- 3 PM 
• Avoid: Weekends, Friday afternoons 

TikTok: 

• Best days: Saturday, Sunday 
• Best times: 11 AM – 12 PM, 4 PM – 7 PM 
• Avoid: 8 AM – 10 AM weekdays 

Post experimentation 

Regularly reviewing your social media analytics can reveal when your audience is most engaged with your content. Many social media management tools offer insights into engagement metrics, helping you identify trends and refine your posting schedule over time. 

So, finding the perfect times to post your content on social media requires a combination of understanding your audience, platform-specific behaviour and diligent monitoring of analytics (something that we’re great at here at 10X).  

Remember that trends can evolve over time, so regularly reassessing your strategy is essential to maintain engagement and reach your target audience effectively.  

By mastering the art of timing, you can take a significant step towards creating a successful social platform and killer marketing strategy!  

Want to skip all the hassle and get straight to the results? Check out our social media packages. 

The post Social media: The best times to post your content first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post Social media: The best times to post your content appeared first on 10X Marketing.

In today’s digital age, establishing a solid social media presence has become crucial for businesses seeking success. With the advent of powerful tools and platforms, companies can now reach a wider audience and maximise their potential.  

This is part of what we do at 10X, so we thought it was only fitting to share our strategies for creating a killer social media presence and using digital platforms to benefit your business.  

Yes, your business should be on social media, but that doesn’t specifically mean that you need to be on EVERY social media. For example, 10X doesn’t use Twitter’s platform. Why? One of the main reasons is that we reach our target audience best through other platforms such as Instagram and LinkedIn (follow us if you don’t already).  

Our content is valuable and, therefore, can be hard to condense into what, 280 characters? That’s crazy talk; we’ve just got so much to say.  

This introduction is 947 characters alone!  

1. Wider Reach and Increased Visibility  

Thanks to the billions of active users across various social media platforms, businesses can tap into a never-ending audience. Platforms that undoubtedly offer a diverse and expansive reach are found nowhere else in the business world.  

Social media breaks your business from the confines of geographical location and can connect you with potential clients and customers from all walks of life; you need to utilise it!  

Visibility is measured by how much your content is exposed to your audience, whether they are aware of your platform and how much of your content increases awareness and engagement. To put it plainly, social media is your way to do this.   

The power of social media visibility lies in its ability to attract individuals who align with your company’s values, interests, or needs and who may have yet to find your company through traditional marketing techniques.   

So, jump on your phone or laptop and start setting up business accounts and catch up on untapped potential!  

2. Enhanced Customer Engagement and Communication  

Another important reason for using social media to promote your business is its opportunity for enhanced customer engagement and communication.  

By engaging and pushing engagements through sharing stories, creating polls and including call-to-actions in your posts that spark a conversation in the comments, you can establish a direct communication channel with your target audience (and hopefully future customers!).   

Online accounts help put a face in front of your business and give your potential customers someone to talk to on the platform; that’s why we suggest using a personal business account that repurposes your content from your perspective.   

Download our FREE Ultimate Social Media Guide for more 10X tips! 

3. Cost-Effective Social Media Marketing and Advertising 

Are you a small business, don’t have a huge budget, or maybe even just don’t want to splash the cash on marketing your products and content? Posting online is the way forward!  

Traditional methods can be expensive, but with social media marketing, you can use a low-cost, low-risk strategy that, IF done right, can produce crazy results. Signing up on platforms is the only thing stopping you from maximising your investments.   

What side are you on? Traditional Marketing vs. Digital Marketing.  

4. Brand Building and Reputation Management  

The online sphere has emerged as a powerful tool for shaping a brand’s image and managing its reputation. By showcasing valuable content across different social media platforms, you can position yourself as a valuable asset in the industry and make your business a trusted name in your niche.  

But it’s about more than building your brand; managing how you and your business are seen is also crucial to your success. You can control your reputation by…  

• Promptly addressing feedback, concerns, and inquiries can demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction.  
• Be proactive and responsive with engagement.  

The wide web is a public place, so you must be careful about the content you post, as it will all influence how your brand is perceived. 10X are experts in personalising digital marketing strategies to fit specific business needs; why not let us take the reins?  

5. Competitive Advantage and Business Growth on Social Media

In today’s highly competitive marketplace, having a presence on social media is no longer a choice but a necessity for your business.   

Failing to establish an online presence can leave you lagging behind your competitors. Basically, you’ll get left behind if you don’t adapt to the new ways of business; that’s just the hard truth.  

Instead of being left behind, use social profiles to do the following:  

• Stay updated on industry trends  
• Boost your business
• Monitor competitor activities  
• Respond quickly to market changes.  

Or let us do it for you…  

Social media has changed the way businesses connect with audiences.  

Don’t miss out on the opportunity that it can provide your business. Join the ranks on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok and a new contender in the mix, ‘Threads’ and embrace that online lifestyle!  

Understand the value but don’t know how to manage social media? We do! Check out our 10X Monthly Social Media Subscriptions and watch your business grow across the platforms. 

The post Why Your Business Must Be on Social Media   first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post Why Your Business Must Be on Social Media   appeared first on 10X Marketing.

In today’s society, digital marketing has gained immense popularity among companies that aim to stay ahead of the game. In some aspects, it has become a viral phenomenon, appearing on the screens of the latest smartphones, popular social media platforms and across the web.  

This new marketing approach has proven effective and is here to stay. 

Digital marketing stands out for many reasons, one of these being that it has the ability to deliver real-time, measurable results without having the financial strings that other high-risk marketing forms have.  

But the biggest reason behind its recent boom across the marketing sector lies in its capacity to provide companies with a chance to personalise their posts and advertising to target their audience’s preference directly.   

4 Key Elements of Digital Marketing 

Digital marketing is the key to success in the tech-centric world that we live in, and whether small or large, your company can engage and create leads across all your social media platforms with the help of a high-quality digital marketing plan.   

Here are four components that you need to consider when customising your digital marketing approach: 

Social media  

This is just one of the aspects of digital marketing that we THRIVE in at 10X Marketing Consultancy. We understand the extent of what social media can do for a business, and tapping into this digital world of unlimited potential customers is a must.   

Take advantage of our FREE 6-Week Social Media Content Calendar.  

We’ll let you in on a few of our golden rules of social media:   

Instagram: Links don’t work on Instagram; instead, try pointing the audience to a link in your bio, or using LinkTree for more than one link. 

Facebook: Setting up a dedicated business page helps to create a professional presence on Facebook, but don’t forget to engage with company posts on your personal account to increase your reach.   

Twitter: Twitter is a platform that LOVES short and sweet content, keep it snappy and add a #Hashtag.  

LinkedIn: This is the place to build your professional brand, connect with people and get networking! 

Search engine optimisation 

Also known as SEO, search engine optimisation is something that you should be applying to all areas of your digital marketing strategy. After all, if your website or content doesn’t rank high or appear on consumers’ screens, how will you get leads?  

Here are our SEO tips:  

Keyword research: Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant and high-traffic keywords related to your industry, such as WordStream. 

Mobile-friendly websites: Most people browse on their phones these days; adapt your website to ensure that it is optimised for mobile devices to improve user experience.  

Link Building: Build a strong backlink profile by networking with your content. This could include content partnerships, guest blogging or influencer collaborations.  

Monitor performance: Keeping tabs on how well your site or copy ranks in terms of SEO and Google search is the best way to keep great content from slipping through the net. Tools like Google Analytics can help you do this (so can we). 

Email marketing 

Around 80% of marketers use automated email campaigns to nurture leads. (HubSpot)  

Email marketing is a powerful digital marketing strategy that is often forgotten about. But when you find yourself bored without any notifications, what do you do?  

I know I find myself scrolling through my emails and checking out what people have to say, sell and advertise.  

This element of digital marketing is excellent for communicating directly with customers in a personalised manner while also building credibility, brand awareness and customer loyalty.  

Check out more on email marketing and open rates here. 

Analytics and trends 

We won’t bore you with the figures, but digital marketing requires analysis and trend tracking that crunches the numbers and creates data-driven decisions that set you above the competition.  

Developing a competitive strategy is something we are passionate about at 10X since our job is to make you stand out from the crowd in the world on content marketing. 

This means researching your industry, identifying who your competitors are and analysing their digital presence. Our findings, combined with our marketing knowledge, then put us in a position to make your digital footprint flawless.   

Now you know the basics, how should you personalise it? 

How to personalise your digital marketing 

91% of consumers prefer visual content to written content (Forbes), so we’ll make it easy for you… 

How to personalise your digital marketing approach graphic

If you need help to make your content killer, contact the 10X Marketing team. 

https://10x-marketing.co.uk/lets-talk/  

The post Personalising Your Digital Marketing Approach first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post Personalising Your Digital Marketing Approach appeared first on 10X Marketing.

Every great writer comes across challenges during their career; no path you choose is plain sailing. So, whether you’re writing articles, blogs, novels or social posts, you’ve probably encountered the dreaded writer’s block.   

Writer’s block can stop you in your tracks and render your words useless, but focusing your energy on overcoming the hindrance with tools and tricks can boost your productivity sky-high!  

We understand how frustrating it can be to lose your train of thought or get distracted by notifications; instances like this can result in writing nothing of substance during your valuable time. That’s why we have devised a list of five ways to beat writer’s block and get back on that content grind!  

Why am I getting writer’s block?   

To overcome your writer’s block, you must first understand why your brain is working against you.   

Staring at a new document or page can be daunting, and putting pen to paper in that big empty space stimulates the feeling of fear in a writer. Fear and self-doubt about filling the blank page in front of you can become overwhelming, and the truth is that this psychological factor can prevent us from making any progress.   

But maybe you’re more than confident in your skill – as you should be! So why aren’t those creative juices flowing? It could be a lack of inspiration or energy. Neglecting to care for yourself and avoid burnout is vital in preventing writer’s block from striking.  

Many writers can be stumped due to digital and notification overload, too many real-life distractions, and maybe even personal events causing their thought process to wander.  

As much as we wish we could, we can’t fix all your problems. What we can do is show you some great techniques that are efficient in combatting writer’s block so that we can get you back to typing at high speeds!  

Overcoming writer’s block  

While some question whether writer’s block is just a figment of the imagination, we have experienced it first-hand and know that sometimes it’s not always as easy as ‘just writing’.  

Here are our top five tips, tricks and tools for combatting writer’s block.  

1. Change your surroundings  

Changing your scenery or switching which task you’re working on can help to kick-start your creative flow. We’ve discussed this and other tools that can help you increase your productivity while working from home in previous blogs. But if you don’t work from home, a great way to step away from your desk could be grabbing a cup of tea or taking a short walk to clear your head. 

Did you know that moderate levels of ambient noise, such as background chatter or low-volume music without lyrics, have been found to stimulate creativity? They are suggested to provide an escape from overthinking and promote a relaxed focus!  

Something as little as playing concentration sounds can help you to zone in on the task at hand; try searching ‘concentration music for working’ on YouTube.  

2. Check out other writer’s podcasts 

 As we’ve already established, every writer has been in your position! So, there’s a high possibility that they have something to say on the matter.   

Podcasts are a great way to blow the writing cobwebs away and teach you a lot of interesting information that can spark ideas. Even if the speaker doesn’t directly talk about writer’s block, taking a moment to listen to someone else’s voice can give you a well-needed break from hearing the one inside your head.   

Check out Mur Lafferty’s podcast: ‘I Should Be Writing’, created to help writers get past anything in their way.  

3. Use the people around you!  

  The people that you are surrounded by can often become a forgotten resource when it comes to generating ideas and getting past writer’s block. But tapping into the brains of your family members, those in your team at work and friends online can be a great way to bring some new ideas to the table!  

Everyone thinks differently; take advantage of this.   

Here at 10X, we support each other and work together to break through any barriers we come across while writing. Make sure you have this support system whilst working, and you’ll have no problem creating aesthetic visuals, brilliant ideas and perfect content (like us).  

4. Read everything you can get your hands on  

Reading is proven to be beneficial in many ways, but to a writer, reading can be one of their most useful resources (without them even knowing it!).   

Increasing the amount that you read will improve your skills and vocabulary, but it’s also perfect for content ideation when you’re stuck staring at a blank page. So next time you’re struggling to make progress on a project, take a break for some meaningful reading.  

Whether reading (or rereading) your favourite book, interesting online articles on digital marketing, or even LinkedIn posts, ideas are everywhere – you just have to look.  

5. AI tools that you can use (with caution)  

The new trend to sweep across the content creation world is Artificial Intelligence (AI) which can produce a crazy amount of copy in record times, but should it be used for this?   

AI, such as ChatGPT or other systems, such as BingAI and Google’s new AI technologies, can be great for coming up with ideas fast and can quickly provide inspiration. Still, the danger of immoral marketing can be a big issue.   

Rather than using AI to produce copy, use it to explore potential questions, themes and pathways your content could go down. But always remember to improve AI suggestions; your brain is better than its programming!  

Still don’t feel like writing? Let us do it for you! Contact us and work with our team of content experts at 10X Marketing Consultancy. 

The post 5 Effective Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post 5 Effective Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block appeared first on 10X Marketing.

Content marketing can be a highly effective strategy for gaining brand awareness and building business opportunities. Recent reports show that almost 50% of content marketing professionals expect their budgets to increase over the next year.  

But, to ensure key points are being met and your budget is spent wisely, don’t fall into the content mistakes we’ll discuss today.   

What are the biggest content marketing challenges?  

Let’s take a look at the common challenges faced by content marketers in 2023:  

• High-quality content: Creating high-quality, engaging content can be time-consuming, especially if this is also taking up a lot of your resources. To overcome this issue, marketers need to produce content that speaks to their target audience, provides value and keeps the brand’s tone of voice as its focus. This will keep your target audience coming back for more.  
• Using the right content to connect with your audience: We know how tempting it can be to see a trending platform with videos that are going viral, and you want to do the same with your brand, but not every platform is right for every brand. Let’s take TikTok for example; this platform can work great for some businesses, especially those that are B2C or have a product to offer. If you are offering a service and your target audience is males ages 40-65, they’re less likely to be on TikTok, and instead, you would find better success with Facebook or Twitter.   

It’s about having the right content, not all of the content!  

• Keeping up with the algorithm: Marketing is constantly evolving, and each social platform and search engine continuously has updates to keep up with the amount of information online and how we take in that information. As content marketers, we need to be keeping up with the changes to ensure the content we’re creating remains relevant to our target audience.  

Content marketing myths  

Let’s explore some of the content marketing myths we’ve heard lately and why they might not necessarily be true:  

Myth 1:  

 Myth: When I’ve hit publish, my job is done.  

Truth: You need to repurpose your content across multiple platforms and then revisit.   

You’ve spent hours researching and writing a killer blog post that resonates with your audience; you click publish and breathe a sigh of relief that you’re finished…don’t stop there! 

The first step you want to take is promoting that blog. It’s best to create a social media post that tells your followers that you have a new blog on your website and then another piece a few weeks later that takes key points from the blog and explains them to your followers. This way, you’re sending your audience back to the website, and the blog isn’t just sitting and being forgotten.   

Then you need a refresh and revisit!   

Just because you have a blog post published a year ago doesn’t mean you can’t go in and edit the content to make it relevant for today. You can add new links, update the keywords and take key points for a new social media post, gaining traction to the older blog on the website.   

Myth 2:  

Myth: I need to be on every platform.  

Truth: Be where your ideal customer is.  

This is a myth we touched on at the beginning of the blog, but don’t think that you need to be on every trending platform. It is best to create quality, consistent content across a handful of platforms that work for your brand and target audience, then try and be on every platform with content that isn’t valuable to your readers.   

So, research and write high-quality content you can repurpose onto the relevant platforms, and your audience will follow.  

Myth 3:  

Myth: The more content, the better.  

Truth: High-quality content for the win!  

Do you think posting multiple times a day is worthwhile? Research shows that social media platforms like Instagram will penalise you and mark your account as spam if you’re posting too much.   

It’s much better for your audience (and your post engagement) to post less frequently but with engaging, educational content that your audience will find interesting.   

Content marketing is valuable   

Now, we’ve discussed the myths that come with content marketing, but it is one of the most valuable things you can do for your brand. Here are several reasons why you should focus on your content marketing…  

• Build brand awareness: Creating engaging, educational content can help businesses establish themselves in the market and increase awareness amongst their target audience. By establishing yourself with high-quality content, you can build trust.  
• Engagement with your audience: Content marketing allows you as a business to engage with your audience via the content itself and through comments and direct messages. This will enable you to build relationships, gain trust and nurture them throughout their journey.  
• Long-term loyalty: Now that you’ve engaged with your audience and built up trust, you can keep your relationship for the long term, and hopefully, this will lead to repeat business, referrals and word-of-mouth marketing.  

Do you need help with your content marketing, whether that is blogs, newsletters, social media or anything in between? Contact the 10X Marketing team today and find out how we can help your business thrive. 

The post The Problems with Content Marketing first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post The Problems with Content Marketing appeared first on 10X Marketing.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionised so many industries, and It’s no surprise that marketing is one of the first to see the significant changes AI has brought. The new technology has equipped marketers with powerful tools to effectively engage with their target audience, like personalised recommendations and targeted ads. However, the ethical implications of using AI in marketing cannot be ignored.   

The benefits of AI are undeniable as it enables us to reduce timely tasks, conduct research without spending hours scrolling through Google and can help you as a virtual assistant. Yet, concerns regarding privacy, data security and the possibility of AI giving out misinformation and plagiarised text remain at the forefront of people’s minds. As AI becomes more commonly used in marketing, it is essential to consider how to use it ethically and responsibly.   

Misinformation 

 Marketing is used in most businesses as a way to spread your brand’s unique message through personalised content. The information we use as marketers to give our campaigns the best results includes: 

• Researching specific demographics 
• Using a tone of voice that resonates with your ideal customer. 
• Using a mixture of emotive, engaging and educational content. 

AI technologies are used to gather information on a variety of subjects and can be used for good, as well as bad. However, this technology also makes false information easy to gather, causing your brand’s message to become lost and untrustworthy to your audience.    

AI can create fake content that appears to be real by manipulating text, images, audio and video. By combining AI algorithms, new data can be created from existing datasets, making the results more and more realistic as the technology gets better. If you’re going to use AI to produce content, you must ensure you are then using a search engine such as Google to check the facts, as currently, AI such as ChatGPT’s data cuts off in 2021, meaning it is completely unaware of current events, trends or important news stories.  

Here are a few ways we would suggest you use AI:  

• To ask for ideas when you have a creativity block  

Take the ideas from the AI, and develop these into captions, blog posts or newsletters. Only use the ideas as a general base to spark inspiration, as they are generic and can be used by other consumers using the AI platform.  

• Ask it is a question

We asked ChatGPT,” What does Gen-Z want to see on a website homepage?”. This then gave us an explanation about ensuring the webpage is visually appealing, authentic, inclusive, optimised for mobile devices and offers personalised experiences with relevant and useful content. From this result, we can go to Google and dig deeper into the talking points that the AI has suggested, cutting down research time.   

Transparency and Accountability   

Transparency and accountability are essential in moral marketing, especially using artificial intelligence (AI). Consumers may need help understanding how their data is used and how judgements are made as AI systems become more complicated and commonly used. As marketers, we should explain how AI is used in marketing and be transparent about data gathering and how this data is used to ensure consumer transparency.    

Are you interested in working with the 10X Marketing team? Contact us for more information. 

The post AI and Its Impact on Digital Marketing first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post AI and Its Impact on Digital Marketing appeared first on 10X Marketing.

Whether you’re a small business owner or a marketing professional, creating copy can be tricky; luckily, you can use several free copywriting tools to make content ideation and creation easier.

If you’ve ever spent hours staring at a blank page for a blog, you’re not alone. The first battle of creating copy starts with ideas. These ideas must educate your reader and feed into your overall content strategy.

And the second battle is writing engaging copy that resonates with your audience and makes them want to act.

Many tools, tips and tricks can help you streamline your writing process, but here are our ten favourite free copywriting tools.

10 free copywriting tools to try…

1. Answer the public 

Copy and content that doesn’t offer value to your customers is worthless to you. To avoid creating content nobody reads or cares about, you need to find out what your customers want. 

Answer the public is a keyword tool that can help you develop copy ideas. This easy-to-use writing tool is handy if you don’t know what content your audience wants.

All you need to do is type in your keywords and you’ll find questions (presented in visually appealing maps) that are asked on search engines. You can transform this list of questions into blog posts, website FAQ pages or even social media posts.

Pros 

• Inspiration for your content strategy  
• Easy to use 
• Quick way to conduct basic keyword research

Cons 

• Free users only get three searches per day 
• Limited keyword metrics  

2. Quora

Struggling to find the right questions on Answer the Public? Don’t worry; there are other places to find inspiration for your copy, such as Quora. 

Quora is an online community Q&A website. Here you’ll find your audience and customers asking questions that need answers. 

Websites like Quora offer valuable insight into what your customers want to know and read. Search for keywords in your industry to find out what your customers are asking and then create evergreen content to answer these questions. 

Quora also lets you answer questions your potential customers ask. You could even answer their questions by attaching relevant blog posts so they can read about specific topics on your website. (Alternatively, you can look on Google at the ‘People also ask’ section to get ideas and inspiration for your content.)

Pros 

• Inspiration for your content strategy  
• You can interact with your audience on the website

Cons 

• It merges questions (which might not be relevant to what you initially searched)

3. Feedly

To be an industry expert and offer your customers the best content, you must be up to date with the latest trends. However, keeping up with trending news takes time and effort. 

Take the guesswork and time out of keeping up to date by using Feedly. Feedly shows you the latest industry trends and relevant news to your business, all in one handy place.

All you need to do is set the relevant keyword alerts for your business to access a feed of blogs, websites and videos that can help inform your content. (Another alternative is Google Alerts, which works similarly to Feedly.)

Pros 

• Keep up to date with the latest industry news 
• The ‘Save’ feature allows you to save posts and read them later
• Can share to social media

Cons 

• You can only follow 100 feeds 
• No search function for free users

4. Thesaurus.com

Feel like all you’re doing is writing the same words over and over again? Clear and concise language is always best for communicating with your customers, but it’s important to mix up your word choices. 

We all get stuck for words at some point, so it never hurts to have a thesaurus too far away from you. Luckily, you don’t even need a physical thesaurus, as there are online options, such as Thesaurus.

Simply type in the word you’re currently using and Thesaurus will create a list of synonyms for you. (You can also find antonyms on this website.)

Pros 

• Easy to use 
• Prevents repetition
• Helps your copy flow better

Cons 

• Not all synonyms will work in your copy

5. Hemingway App

As we’ve mentioned, your copy needs to be clear and concise; your readers don’t want to read large chunks of text. If you struggle to write concisely, the Hemingway App can help.

Once you’ve written your content, paste it into the app, which gives you a readability score and word count. (The readability score refers to the level of education a person needs to read your copy, so it’s best to keep this below Grade 9.)

Hemingway App also shows you how many adverbs you use, how many times you use passive voice, phrases with simpler alternatives and the number of sentences that are hard and very hard to read.

Pros 

• Highlights sentence problems in copy 
• Helps make your content easier to read

Cons 

• Doesn’t pick up on spelling or grammar errors  
• It’s not always right (sometimes you need to write a longer sentence or use adverbs) 

6. Grammarly

Before you publish a piece of copy, you need to make sure you proofread it. Proofreading will ensure you correct any spelling or grammatical mistakes. But if you are short on time, it can be easy to miss errors in your writing.

Enter Grammarly; this tool will quickly become your best friend because it not only corrects grammar and spelling but also offers suggestions for clarity, engagement and delivery. The free version also provides a tone detector, which allows you to create copy in your brand’s tone of voice.

You can use this tool on the Grammarly website or add it as a Chrome extension.

Pros 

• Corrects grammar and spelling 
• Easy to use 
• Tone detector 

Cons 

• Free version only offers basic spelling and grammar guidance 
• Not always accurate (make sure you read the correction before accepting it)

7. CoSchedule Headline Analyzer 

Did you know that eight out of ten people read a headline, but only two out of ten people read the rest of the article?

That’s why it’s essential to ask yourself, ‘does my headline scream “read me”?’ If it doesn’t, then don’t worry. You don’t need to scrap the whole article, but you do need to improve your headline.

The headline of your article or blog post is the first thing your reader will see, so it needs to grab their attention immediately.

CoSchedule have a handy Headline Analyser that gives you a headline score and offers tips for improving it based on word balance, length, reading grade, sentiment and more. You can use the headline analyser as often as you like, so you can keep refining that title until it is perfect.

Pros 

• Easy to use 
• Offers insight into how you can improve your headlines

Cons 

• Limited free options (SEO score, word banks and smart suggestions aren’t available)

8.Wordcounter

WordCounter is another useful free copywriting tool. As the name indicates, it tells you how long your content is, which is helpful if you need to stick to a word count. All you need to do is copy and paste your content into the box. 

It also provides valuable information such as the reading time, the speaking time and the reading level. 

On top of that, this application also offers insight into your keyword density which helps with SEO and allows you to determine if you’re repeating words or phrases too much.

Pros 

• Good for word counts 
• Offers insight such as reading and speaking time 

Cons 

• Quite a basic tool

9. Yoast SEO

Whatever content you’re writing, you need to spare a thought for your SEO. Optimising your content for search engines ensures it gets in front of the right people (without paying money to get it there).

Luckily, WordPress website owners can take full advantage of Yoast SEO. This free-to-use plugin offers valuable insight into your content’s SEO and provides suggestions for improving it.

Yoast SEO also does the same for your content’s readability and helps you make your content more engaging. 

Pros 

• Enhances your content’s readability 
• Helps you create web pages and posts that are optimised for search 
• Enables page or post preview on search engines

Cons 

• Only available for WordPress 
• Need the premium version for more advanced SEO

10. Google Search Console

There are many free alternatives to Yoast SEO, but Google Search Console is definitely one to consider. If you want to optimise your website or blog posts, this tool can help (however, the content needs to be already published).

This comprehensive tool allows you to optimise your content for search, analyse keyword and URL performance, track indexation issues and much more.

It also has training videos to teach you how to use the tool, optimise your search appearance on Google and effectively increase your organic traffic.

Pros 

• Offers insightful analytics for your copy 
• Helps you track the performance of your website/blog
• Supports multiple sites/domains

Cons 

• Difficult to understand if you have basic SEO knowledge 
• Doesn’t always provide specific examples of errors 

How to choose free copywriting tools for your business

Copywriting tools can help you conduct research, find inspiration for content ideas, craft engaging, error-free copy and provide your customers or clients with genuinely helpful information (which helps to build brand awareness and trust).

Choosing the right copywriting tools for your business will depend on what help you need. If you often get stuck for ideas, then using tools such as Answer the Public and Quora are great resources. Or, if you want tools to help you boost your organic search, Yoast SEO and Google Search Console can help.

And these free copywriting tools are just a few of our favourites; there’s certainly no shortage of helpful online tools that can help transform your content. However, many in-depth copywriting tools come at a cost.

Want help creating copy that increases your brand’s awareness, attracts new leads or boosts your conversion rates? We can help.

Here at 10X Marketing, our team of content marketing experts can help you achieve your business goals through carefully planned and executed content strategies. Get in touch with us today to discuss your content marketing needs. 

The post 10 Best Free Copywriting Tools in 2023 first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post 10 Best Free Copywriting Tools in 2023 appeared first on 10X Marketing.

With the rise of remote work, more and more people are finding themselves working from home. While working from home can have advantages, such as greater flexibility and a better work-life balance, it can also present a unique set of challenges, the biggest being maintaining productivity.  

In this blog post, we’ll be exploring some of the best tools to help you increase your productivity when working from home, including tools for time tracking, project management and focus.  

Let’s take a look at our top picks…  

Project management tools 

Project management and organisation are critical when working from home, especially when you are juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities. Fortunately, there are numerous tools to help you stay on top of your work and give you a motivation boost. 

Trello 

This app and website allow you to create virtual boards with cards that contain information about your tasks, deadlines and priorities. Trello is user-friendly and offers a range of customisation options to help you manage your projects effectively. It’s great for teamwork and using it as a to-do list for your day ahead.  

Built-in notes app  

Another helpful productivity tool is a notes app on your phone that allows you to make lists, jot down random ideas, and create checklists. This can help you capture and organise your thoughts, ensuring you don’t forget anything important. There are numerous note apps available, but the one you have built into your phone works perfectly.  

ClickUp  

Looking for a comprehensive project management tool that offers a range of features? ClickUp includes task management, time tracking, and team collaboration. It offers customisable templates, integrations with other productivity tools, and a user-friendly interface, making it a great choice for teams and independent work.  

Time tracking tools 

Time tracking is an important aspect of working from home as it lets you know how much time you spend on specific tasks and improves your productivity when used correctly. Why not try some of the apps mentioned below and see how they help your day flow.   

Clockify  

If you want to track your work hours, Clockify is a popular and free time-tracking app that can help you monitor how much time you spend on specific tasks and analyse the data into a spreadsheet, so you can see where you may need to improve your time management skills.  

Forest  

This app is a timer that encourages you to stay focused by adding fun to your work hours. You plant a virtual tree that grows as long as you stay on task, but if you leave the app to browse social media, the tree dies (and we don’t want that!)  

Pomofocus  

Another time-tracking tool worth checking out is Pomofocus, a minimalist Pomodoro timer that allows you to customise your work intervals and break times. This is great for those that tend to work through lunch and have a hard time separating their day. 

Playlists to focus  

Creating a productive environment when working from home can be challenging, and distractions can quickly derail your work. A popular way to combat distractions and increase focus is to use playlists designed for productivity. Listening to music while working is not a new concept, but creating or listening to a playlist that is specifically designed to help you focus can be a great tool to add to your workday.  

Spotify/YouTube playlists  

Various productivity playlists are available on popular platforms such as Spotify and YouTube. These playlists include different types of music, such as chill music, lo-fi beats and classical music. These playlists can help you concentrate and block out unwanted noise. One example is “Music for Work — Limitless Productivity Playlist,” which features upbeat, instrumental music.  

Gaming music  

A TikTok trend from last year is using video game soundtracks, such as The Sims music, or ambient noise playlists, such as rain sounds. These playlists are perfect for those who struggle to concentrate in a quiet environment.  

White noise  

Research has shown that certain types of sounds, such as white noise, can help mask background noise and increase productivity. You can download white noise apps or simply type them into YouTube. 

Here are some other ideas to help you stay productive:  

• Put your phone on do not disturb or use apps that only allow certain notifications to come through. This way you don’t get distracted by social media or other apps on your phone. If you have an iPhone, you can set up work mode by following these easy steps. 
• Change up your workspace to avoid getting stuck in a rut. If you have a dedicated home office, try moving to a different room or even working outside. Changing your surroundings can help stimulate creativity and improve your focus.  
• Stop multitasking and focus on one task at a time. This can help you be more productive and reduce the risk of making mistakes. Use time blocking to help you stay focused on one task at a time.  
• Use the Pomodoro Technique to manage your time. The Pomodoro Technique involves breaking your workday into 25-minute intervals, followed by a five-minute break.  

• If you’re feeling stuck or uninspired, try going outside and getting some fresh air. Taking a quick walk around the block or sitting outside for a few minutes can help clear your head and improve your focus.  

Ultimately working from home is here to stay, but you may need to incorporate some of these tools and tips into your day to increase productivity. By finding strategies that work best for you and your unique work style, you can get the most out of your workday.  

To help you save time, why not check out our list of FREE resources? With our range of content calendars and helpful guides, it’s sure to save you time! 

The post Tools to Increase Productivity Whilst Working from Home first appeared on 10X Marketing.

The post Tools to Increase Productivity Whilst Working from Home appeared first on 10X Marketing.