How Often Do You Need to Update Your Content?

Yes, if you’re not updating your old content, you really need to start. Why? That blog post from seven years ago is likely not doing much for your site—but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Think of it like this: when you’re browsing Google, are you more likely to click on something from two weeks ago, two months ago, or six years ago? Exactly.

But updating your content is not as simple as just changing the publish date (though that certainly can help). In this blog, we’ll cover:

  • How often you should update existing content
  • How to choose what’s worth updating
  • How to do it the right way for SEO

How Often Should You Be Publishing New Blog Content?

The old playbook said to churn out blogs constantly. But that strategy doesn’t hold up anymore.

So, how many blogs should you be publishing? For most businesses, 2–4 new blogs per month, paired with regular content updates, is more effective than flooding your site with brand-new articles.

Why? Because your old content already has authority, search visibility, and backlinks—updating it gives it new life with far less effort than writing from scratch.

Why Should You Be Updating Your Old Blog Posts—and How Often?

Semrush notes that 53% of marketers saw their engagement rates increase after updating old content, while 49% saw an increase in traffic.

Here’s how we break it down:

  • Fast-moving industries (like tech, legal, finance, or marketing): refresh every 6–12 months.
  • Evergreen or slower-changing topics: update every 12–24 months.

Even one well-timed update can make a big impact—especially if your content is already ranking but not performing.

Choosing Which Blog Posts to Update

Use Google Search Console

Go to Performance > Search Results > Queries and sort by impressions. Look for pages with high impressions but low clicks—those are your low-hanging fruit.

This usually means your blog shows up in search results but doesn’t win the click. Maybe it’s outdated. Maybe the headline’s weak. Either way, it’s worth fixing.

Run a Content Audit

Here’s what to look for:

  • Outdated content (old stats, broken images, irrelevant examples)
  • Topics that have evolved (due to new laws, tech, or research)
  • Keywords that have lost volume or relevance
  • CTAs and meta descriptions that no longer drive conversions

And don’t forget to check performance using GA4, Ahrefs, or Surfer SEO to see how users are interacting with your content today.

Key Strategies for Updating Old Content

Updating content isn’t just about touching it up—it’s about re-earning your spot at the top of search results. Here’s how:

  1. Refresh the Publish Date

Only do this after making real edits. It signals freshness to both Google and your readers.

  1.  Improve Click-Through Rate (CTR)

Update your meta titles and descriptions with power words, numbers, or questions that align with search intent.

  1.  Ensure Quality and Readability

Fix grammar issues, reformat for readability, and add headers, bullets, or visuals to make it easier to scan.

  1.  Fix and Optimize Links

Replace broken links, update outdated sources, and add internal links to your newer (or better-performing) content.

  1.  Expand the Content

Go deeper. Add insights, examples, quotes, or stats to improve relevance and value.

  1. Add or Update Visuals

Infographics, updated screenshots, and video embeds can make a big difference—especially for engagement time.

  1. Use Fresh Data and Insights

Swap in current stats, trends, and tools. This not only improves credibility but also helps your content meet Google’s “Helpful Content” standards.

  1. Embrace AI Tools (Carefully)

Use AI-powered platforms like Clearscope or Surfer SEO to optimize your structure and keyword targeting—but always humanize the final version.

Why Refreshing Content Matters More in the AI Era

With AI-generated blogs flooding the internet, the shelf life of your content is shorter than ever. Keeping your content fresh, insightful, and aligned with user intent is critical if you want to stay competitive in search.

Search engines continue to prioritize expertise, relevance, and freshness. That means if your content is outdated, it’s not just invisible—it’s irrelevant.

Marketing: It’s What We Do Best

The goal of an outsourced digital marketing agency is to understand your business and your brand voice to then let the world know how awesome you are.

We start every engagement with a Brand Storytelling Session where we identify your unique brand voice. Then, our team uses bi-weekly client calls and content calendars to make sure you know what’s happening, always.

Of course, there’s always a team member available to you just a call, email, or even text away. Not to toot our own horn, but we’ve been told on multiple occasions that our bi-weekly calls are their favorite calls!

Happy with the direction we’re headed in? We’ll keep running that way. Want to tweak something? More than happy to adjust.

We’ll bring you fresh ideas from our kick*** creative team from a relationship built on trust. Because that’s the beauty of digital marketing.For those who are interested in learning more about the difference between outsourced marketing and in-house marketing, read on here.

/by
, ,

5 Signs You Need a Digital Marketing Agency

Digital Marketing Team optimizing marketing for business

How do you know if you need a digital marketing agency?
 The simple answer: if you’re ready to focus on your business and do what you do best, then let a marketing agency do what they do best—help you grow and get noticed.

But there are also some clear signs that your business is ready to partner with an outsourced marketing team. If you’re experiencing any of the five below, it’s time to stop running your marketing on autopilot and bring in experts.

1. You Have a Reactive, Not a Proactive Marketing Plan

There’s a time and place for reactive strategy, but your marketing isn’t one of them. Reactive marketing is a band-aid, not a long-term solution.

It usually sounds like:

  • “Oh no, we don’t have any holiday posts scheduled for tomorrow!”
  • “We need more leads—ASAP!”

Last-minute posts are rushed, off-brand, and more likely to contain errors.

At Digital Storyteller, we help clients build proactive marketing plans with a content calendar that maps out weeks (and often months) in advance. Campaigns, blog launches, employee spotlights—everything has a place.

Need a Thanksgiving post? Added to the calendar. Celebrating an employee’s milestone? On the calendar. This kind of planning keeps your marketing consistent and stress-free.

2. You’re Not Focused on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

A beautiful website and great blog posts mean little without SEO. If you’re not optimizing for search, you’re essentially invisible.

SEO is how you get found in the sea of Google results. When done consistently, SEO drives organic traffic, improves keyword rankings, and boosts your domain authority, a key measure of how likely your site is to rank.

At Digital Storyteller, we use tools like Semrush to analyze keywords, competitors, and performance data. With the right strategy, SEO compounds over time—delivering results long after content is published.

3. Your Content Isn’t Consistent

Be honest, how often are you posting? Consistency looks like:

  • Weekly blog posts
  • At least 3 social posts per week
  • Regular emails or newsletters

Posting “when you feel like it” won’t cut it in today’s market. Buyers look at how active and credible you are online. Consistency builds authority, trust, and keeps you top of mind.

Our audience knows they’ll see new blog articles weekly and regular social posts across our channels. That rhythm isn’t just for visibility; it builds credibility.

4. You’re Not Posting on the Right Social Media Platforms

Consistency is step one, but posting in the right places is step two.

As an organic digital marketing agency, we focus on platforms that align with B2B and professional services such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. But depending on your industry, you may need to consider TikTok or YouTube Shorts, which continue to gain traction even in B2B spaces.

The point: you need to meet your audience where they already spend time. And you need to show up with content that adds value, not just noise.

5. You’re Not Optimizing for Mobile

It’s 2025—if your content isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re losing business.

From emails to blogs to websites, everything should be easy to read and navigate on a phone. Why? Because that’s where your audience is.

According to Statista, over 60% of global web traffic now comes from mobile devices, and in the U.S., Google reports the majority of searches originate on mobile. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, visitors will bounce—fast.

A Final Note

If you find yourself nodding to one (or more) of these signs, it’s time to bring in help. Partnering with a digital marketing agency gives you access to a full team of strategists, writers, designers, and SEO specialists—all focused on building your brand, growing your visibility, and driving results.

Your expertise is running your business. Ours is making sure people find it.

→ Ready to see what outsourced marketing can do for you? Let’s talk.

/by
,

SEO Isn’t Dead. Your Strategy Is.

Let’s Get Something Straight

If someone told you SEO is dead, they’re either not doing it right or not doing it at all.

Search engine optimization has evolved, yes. But it’s far from dead. The real issue? Most B2B businesses are using outdated strategies that haven’t worked since 2015.

If you’re still relying on keyword stuffing, generic meta tags, and chasing vanity rankings, you’re not invisible because SEO failed. You’re invisible because you stopped adapting.

What Used to Work (And Doesn’t Anymore)

Keyword Stuffing

Google got smarter. Jam-packing a blog post with keywords makes you look like you’re trying too hard. It doesn’t help rankings anymore. If your sentences read like robots wrote them, you’re already losing.

Ranking for the Wrong Terms

“Best financial services firm in North America” sounds impressive. But is anyone actually searching for that? If your keyword list looks like a brag sheet instead of a solution to client problems, your traffic will stay flat.

Publishing for Volume, Not Value

Twenty low-quality blogs per month won’t move the needle. One well-optimized, highly targeted, genuinely useful piece will do more than a library of fluff ever could.

Ignoring User Intent

People don’t just search keywords. They ask questions, compare options, and look for proof. If your content doesn’t answer those questions, it doesn’t matter how optimized it is.

What Actually Works in 2025

Content That Solves Real Problems

You don’t need to sound smart. You need to be useful. Create content that answers questions your clients actually ask and say it plainly.

Topic Clusters

One-off blogs don’t build authority. Topic clusters do. Create a central “pillar” page with supporting blogs linked together. Google sees this structure as a signal you know your stuff.

On-Page Optimization Still Matters

This isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about helping Google help you. That means:

  • Strong H1s and H2s
  • Clear meta titles and descriptions
  • Internal linking
  • Image alt text
  • Fast load times

None of this is flashy. All of it is necessary.

E-E-A-T: The New SEO Standard

Google now evaluates content using Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. That means your site needs real authors, real value, and real proof that you’re credible.

Intent-Led SEO

Instead of thinking “what keywords should we rank for?” ask “what is the person searching this trying to accomplish?” Then tailor your content to meet that intent. Awareness content looks different from decision-stage content. Stop treating it all the same.

What CEOs Need to Know

SEO is not a checklist. It’s not a plug-and-play software tool. It’s a long-term strategy that requires alignment between your business goals, your marketing plan, and your website.

Your marketing team or agency should be doing more than sending traffic reports. They should be:

  • Identifying high-value opportunities based on search data
  • Optimizing old content to meet new standards
  • Building a content strategy that actually supports your pipeline
  • Reporting on real metrics like traffic quality, conversion, and lead attribution

If they’re not doing that, you’re not investing in SEO. You’re just buying buzzwords.

Metrics That Actually Matter

It’s not about traffic volume. It’s about relevance and ROI.

Here’s what you should actually be tracking:

  • Organic traffic to conversion pages
  • Time on page and bounce rate
  • Keyword rankings tied to intent-based searches
  • Backlink quality and domain authority
  • Blog traffic trends tied to publishing consistency
  • Lead generation from organic sources

If your SEO report doesn’t tell you how this is impacting revenue, it’s incomplete.

Final Word: Evolve or Get Buried

Search hasn’t gone anywhere. But your audience has changed, your competition has improved, and your old tactics aren’t cutting it.

This isn’t a call to abandon SEO. It’s a call to update it.

Because if your strategy is stuck in the past, your traffic and your leads will be too.

Let’s Fix Your SEO Strategy


Book a call to find out where your site stands, what your competitors are doing, and what actually works now.

/by
, ,

Analyzing Google Analytics Data: A How-To Guide

If you run a website, understanding how users interact with it is essential. Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest and most powerful tool for doing just that. Unlike its predecessor, Universal Analytics, GA4 tracks user interactions through an event-based model — giving you deeper insights across devices and platforms.

But let’s face it: GA4 can be overwhelming at first glance. This guide will help you understand the essential metrics and how to interpret them so you can make informed decisions to improve your site and achieve your business goals.

What Is GA4?

GA4 is Google’s new default analytics platform, replacing Universal Analytics as of July 1, 2023. It focuses on tracking events instead of sessions, allowing for more accurate and flexible data. GA4 works across both websites and mobile apps, and it provides enhanced user privacy controls and predictive metrics.

Key GA4 Metrics You Should Know

Here are the most important metrics in GA4, what they mean, and how to use them:

1. Users

  • Definition: GA4 reports both Total Users and Active Users. Active Users are those who had an engaged session.
  • Use it to: Track how many individuals are visiting and interacting with your site.
  • Watch for: Sudden drops or spikes that could indicate tracking issues or campaign performance changes.

2. Engaged Sessions

  • Definition: A session lasting longer than 10 seconds, with a conversion event or 2+ pageviews.
  • Use it to: Understand how many sessions include meaningful interaction.
  • Watch for: A low number may suggest users aren’t finding value or are bouncing quickly.

3. Engagement Rate

  • Definition: The percentage of engaged sessions out of total sessions.
  • Use it to: Gauge user interest and relevance of your content.
  • Watch for: Drops that may indicate poor targeting or content performance.

4. Average Engagement Time

  • Definition: The average time users actively engage with your content.
  • Use it to: Measure how long users are paying attention.
  • Watch for: Declines could mean users aren’t finding what they need.

5. Events

  • Definition: Any user interaction tracked in GA4 (e.g., clicks, video plays, form submissions).
  • Use it to: Track key actions throughout your site.
  • Watch for: Gaps in event tracking may mean setup needs adjustment.

6. Conversions

  • Definition: Events you’ve flagged as meaningful, like purchases or lead submissions.
  • Use it to: Measure success based on business goals.
  • Watch for: Low conversion numbers can indicate friction in your sales funnel.

7. Event Count Per User

  • Definition: Total events divided by total users.
  • Use it to: Understand how interactive users are with your site.
  • Watch for: Low interaction might signal poor content or unclear calls to action.

8. Traffic Sources

  • Definition: Tells you where your users are coming from (organic, direct, paid, referral, etc.).
  • Use it to: Evaluate marketing channels and refine targeting.
  • Watch for: Underperforming sources that may need new strategies.

Best Practices for Analyzing GA4 Data

Segment Your Data

Break down traffic by channel, device, location, or demographics to identify patterns.

Align Metrics with Business Goals

Focus on metrics that support your KPIs — such as lead form completions, purchases, or newsletter signups.

Track Conversions Thoughtfully

Set up and label conversions carefully so you’re measuring actions that matter.

Use Custom Events

GA4 lets you define custom events for precise tracking. Use them for specific actions like button clicks or downloads.

Leverage Explorations

Explore user paths and funnels through GA4’s Explorations tool to find drop-off points and optimize flow.

Integrate with Google Looker Studio

Use Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio) to create dashboards that visualize key metrics for your team.

Final Thoughts

GA4 is a major shift in how we measure and interpret digital behavior. With its event-based tracking and flexible reporting, it gives marketers and business owners more power than ever to understand and optimize the customer journey.

But like any tool, it’s only as useful as your understanding of it. By focusing on engagement metrics and aligning them with your goals, you can turn data into actionable insights.

Need Help?

At Digital Storyteller, we help B2B companies make sense of their data and use it to drive real results. If you’re unsure how to make GA4 work for your business, reach out to our team.

And if you’re ready to go deeper, don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing for Financial Services Companies.

/by
,

The Linkedin Algorithm Explained: How to Make it Work for You

If you want to improve your LinkedIn game and ensure that your posts get seen by the right people, you’re in the right place. And to sweeten the deal, we’ve got a free download at the end of this blog post (you’re welcome.)

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the LinkedIn algorithm in 2025. We’ll explain how LinkedIn categorizes posts, how to avoid being flagged as spam, how to achieve high-quality status, and which formats are preferred. We’ll also share tips on how to make the most of the golden hour, when to post, how to encourage meaningful engagement, and what not to do.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of how the LinkedIn algorithm works and be equipped with the knowledge to take your LinkedIn game to the next level. So, let’s get started!

How LinkedIn Categorizes Posts

When you post, LinkedIn puts it in one of three categories:

  • Spam
  • Low quality
  • High quality

How to Avoid Being Categorized as Spam

To stay out of the spam folder, follow these updated 2025 guidelines:

  • Use correct grammar and proper formatting
  • Limit external links (preferably none in the post body; place in comments instead)
  • Tag no more than five people, and only if they are likely to engage
  • Avoid posting more than once every 12 hours
  • Don’t use engagement bait (phrases like “Comment if you agree!” or “Like this post!”)
  • Avoid low-quality or overly AI-generated content

How to Achieve High-Quality Status

This part is key to expanding your reach. Here’s what to do:

  • Only tag people who are likely to respond
  • Use around three hashtags: one broad, one niche, one hyper-niche (e.g. “#socialmedia,” “#b2bsocialmedia”)
  • Use carousels (PDF posts) or short videos when appropriate
  • Focus on niche, high-value topics
  • Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions
  • Use keywords your audience is likely to search
  • Encourage saves and long-form comments (15+ words)
  • Avoid editing posts after publishing

Preferred Formats for 2025

LinkedIn is rewarding posts that encourage dwell time and engagement:

  • Carousels and PDFs: perform 1.6–1.9x better than static text
  • Short videos (30–60 seconds): still perform well but are slightly less favored than PDFs
  • Interactive content like polls: can drive strong engagement if relevant

The LinkedIn Golden Hour

The first hour after posting remains crucial. This is when LinkedIn evaluates whether your post deserves broader distribution. The algorithm now factors in:

  • Comments with substance (not one-word replies)
  • Saves/bookmarks
  • Time spent viewing (dwell time)

Make this hour count by engaging with other posts, replying quickly to comments, and posting when your audience is online (typically weekday mornings 8–10 AM or evenings 5–7 PM).

LinkedIn Golden Hour Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s:

  • Post during high-activity windows
  • Engage with other content around your post time
  • Ask thoughtful questions
  • Reply promptly to comments
  • Use a consistent posting schedule

Don’ts:

  • Post more than once every 12 hours
  • Tag people who won’t engage
  • Edit your post within the first hour
  • Rely on engagement bait

What Happens After the Golden Hour

Positive Engagement Keeps You in the Feed

Once your post passes the first engagement filter, positive interactions (comments, shares, saves) help extend its reach—as detailed in LinkedIn Help.

Negative Engagement Slows Your Reach

Negative signals, such as being hidden or marked as spam, reduce post visibility and performance.

3 Key Factors That Influence Your Feed

  1. Personal Connections: LinkedIn considers who you interact with regularly
  2. Interest Relevance: Based on your followed pages, hashtags, groups, and profile info
  3. Engagement Probability: Based on how likely you are to interact with a given post

Understanding B2B Buyers: Key to Growth

According to LinkedIn’s VP of Marketing, Minjae Ormes, the B2B sector has the potential to drive economic growth worldwide. B2B marketing success hinges on understanding buyer group dynamics.

Understanding Buyer Groups

B2B buying usually involves a team of 6–10 decision-makers. Familiarity and trust influence purchasing decisions more than aggressive tactics.

Target vs. Hidden Buyers

Target buyers are product experts. Hidden buyers are internal process experts (finance, legal, procurement) who control nearly half the decision-making process but don’t leave strong signals. They prioritize security over innovation.

To succeed, cater to both groups. Build familiarity and reduce perceived risk.

According to LinkedIn and Bain & Company, emphasize trust and safety, especially if your brand is not well known. Present a united narrative that aligns both target and hidden buyer interests.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, LinkedIn prioritizes authentic, high-value content that fosters real conversation. Posts that generate saves, meaningful comments, and dwell time perform best. Carousels, PDFs, and insightful videos outperform basic text. Stick to ethical posting practices, focus on delivering value, and use your golden hour wisely.

Want to optimize your business’s LinkedIn page but not sure where to start? Download our freebie, here.

Read on to learn how to leverage your business using LinkedIn. Then, get in touch with our team to schedule your FREE Brand Storytelling Session.

/by

Email Marketing: If You’re Not Nurturing, You’re Neglecting

Let’s Be Clear: A List Is Not a Strategy

You’ve got a CRM. Maybe even a few thousand contacts sitting inside it.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: if you’re not actively nurturing those contacts, you’re not building a pipeline. You’re just hoarding names.

A CRM without strategy is just a spreadsheet with better branding. And an email list without engagement? That’s digital dust.

If you want to stay top of mind, shorten sales cycles, and drive repeat revenue, it starts with how you treat the people already in your system.

What CEOs Need to Know About Email Marketing in B2B

Email Is Not Dead. But Lazy Emails Are.

The B2B inbox is a battlefield. People are filtering faster, deleting quicker, and ignoring anything that feels generic or irrelevant.

But email still converts when it’s done right.
What does that mean?

  • Segmentation based on audience type and behavior
  • Messaging aligned to the buyer journey
  • Valuable content delivered consistently
  • Clear calls to action with measurable intent

If you’re blasting the same newsletter to clients, prospects, referral partners, and past leads, you’re not nurturing. You’re annoying.

The Real Role of a CRM

Your CRM isn’t just a digital Rolodex. It should be a living, breathing system that supports outreach, retention, and upselling.

At a Minimum, It Should Be:

  • Tracking contact behavior
  • Tagging leads by stage, industry, and source
  • Powering automated workflows
  • Feeding data back to your marketing team

If none of that is happening, it’s time to stop blaming the tool and start fixing the system.

4 Core Email Workflows You Actually Need

You don’t need 37 drip campaigns. You need the right workflows built around the actual lifecycle of your audience.

1. Prospect Nurture

Target: Cold and warm leads
Purpose: Educate, build trust, and surface intent
What to include: Pain point-focused content, lead magnets, case studies, and CTAs that offer value before asking for time

2. Client Upsell

Target: Existing clients
Purpose: Expand engagement and services
What to include: Service spotlights, product updates, client success stories, and links to book a call

3. Referral Partner Touchpoints

Target: Current and potential referral sources
Purpose: Stay top of mind
What to include: New wins, helpful resources, event invites, and reminders about mutual client fits

4. Former Clients

Target: Past clients and churned accounts
Purpose: Keep the door open
What to include: Team updates, industry trends, helpful content, and occasional value-based check-ins

Don’t Just Automate. Align.

Marketing automation isn’t magic. It’s only as effective as the strategy behind it.

If you’re automating the wrong message to the wrong list at the wrong time, you’re not saving time. You’re wasting it faster.

Make sure your emails are aligned with:

  • Real business goals
  • Specific segments
  • Timely needs
  • Measurable outcomes

Set-it-and-forget-it might sound efficient, but real growth requires oversight and iteration.

Metrics That Actually Matter

Let’s talk about what CEOs should pay attention to. Hint: It’s not open rates.

What You Should Watch:

  • Click-through rates (CTR)
  • Conversion rates
  • Reply rates
  • Workflow completion data
  • List health and engagement decay

Good email marketing drives behavior. Track what matters and ignore the vanity numbers.

Email Marketing Is a Retention Tool Disguised as Outreach

Most CEOs think of email as a top-of-funnel tool. It is. But it’s also your best bet at keeping clients engaged, expanding contracts, and staying connected to the people who already trust you.

If your email strategy ends after a lead signs, you’re leaving revenue on the table.

Final Word: Stop Ignoring Your List

You already paid to acquire the lead. Why would you let it sit untouched?

Your CRM should be your most powerful sales enablement tool. Your emails should warm up leads, re-engage clients, and keep your brand top of mind without a single cold call.

So ask yourself: Are you nurturing? Or are you neglecting?

/by

The Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing for Financial Services Companies

Download our Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing for Financial Services Companies

Navigating the world of B2B marketing for financial service companies can be quite the challenge. Why? Because it takes more than just a hodgepodge of tools; it demands strategies that adapt to innovation and a cohesive system where all components work in sync to achieve success. In plain terms – everything from your website, social media posts, emails, and blogs must form a unified marketing strategy. 

But don’t worry – we’re breaking down the system, component by component, to help you create a cohesive strategy (and we’re even including a downloadable content calendar… you’re welcome).  Let’s dive in!

Website: The Core

Your website serves as the central hub where potential clients can learn about your financial services and the value you bring to the table. A user-friendly, informative website is essential for attracting and engaging your target audience. 

Website Tips:

Optimize User Experience (UX): Ensure easy navigation, appealing design, and responsiveness across devices for an engaging user experience.

Clear Value Proposition: Communicate unique benefits concisely using visuals to address client challenges.

High-Quality Content: Feature informative blogs, whitepapers, and case studies to establish credibility and address audience pain points.

Strategic CTAs: Guide visitors with well-placed CTAs for actions like subscribing, consulting, or resource downloading.

Lead Capture: Use forms for valuable resources in exchange for contact details to build your email list.

Testimonials and Case Studies: Display client stories for trust and showcasing successful outcomes.

SEO Optimization: Improve visibility with keyword-optimized content for organic traffic. (but more on this later!)

Fast Loading Speed: Ensure quick loading by compressing images, minimizing plugins, and optimizing code.

Security Measures: Prioritize SSL certificates and regular updates for visitor confidence.

Analytics and Tracking: Implement Google Analytics to refine your strategy based on data.

What is the Best Platform for Websites? We Vote WordPress

WordPress is the ultimate choice for websites, catering to diverse needs from simple blogs to complex e-commerce setups. With clean code, SEO enhancement, robust community support, and easy scalability, it empowers you to create a responsive, budget-friendly, and user-centric online presence.

Social Media 

Your social media presence is a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal. It serves a dual purpose: supporting your brand’s message and driving valuable traffic back to your website. 

Platforms for Brand Awareness

Your profile, posts, and visuals should reflect your brand’s essence, forming a recognizable and memorable digital footprint. 

Engaging Strategies

Your audience should not only pause to admire your posts but also feel compelled to interact, share, and engage. How do you achieve this? By tapping into their preferences, addressing their pain points, and crafting content that resonates on a personal level. Whether it’s a thought-provoking question that ignites discussions or a visually captivating infographic that simplifies complex concepts – your strategies should serve as a bridge that leads them from a casual scroll to a click that lands them on your website.

Effective Post Types

Let’s get practical. Here’s what works:

Informative Infographics: Decode financial jargon with visuals – you’re making complexity a breeze.

Expert Insights: Share nuggets of financial wisdom, from investing insights to tax tips.

Real Success Stories: Showcase your knack for turning financial challenges into triumphs.

Interactive Polls: Engage by asking their thoughts on financial trends – their opinions matter.

Quick Trivia: Sprinkle in interesting financial facts to keep things engaging.

Behind-the-Scenes: Offer a glimpse into your world – it humanizes your brand.

Remember, it’s a mix of entertainment and education. Make your social media a space where followers can learn, engage, and find value.

Emails: Campaigns, Engaging Subject Lines, and More

Referral Partner Campaigns:

Staying top of mind with the people who refer you business is probably the fastest way to see increased revenue. Your referral partners effectively walk you into deals with a 5star recommendation. Make sure you share updates, insights and new offerings with this demographic regularly. Share your one-pager, share your new-business wins and share team highlights to stay connected.  

Client Nurture & Upsell:

Client nurture & upsell emails are a powerful tool to strengthen your relationships with existing clients. These emails focus on providing existing clients with a deeper look into all the services you provide. You would be amazed that your clients don’t know that you can offer services beyond the scope of work they receive.  A strong client workflow ensures your existing clients do go elsewhere for a service you could provide them. 

Prospect Emails:

Prospect emails are a tough vertical to master.  These are the emails that get deleted, overlooked, and ignored in your own inbox.  Finding strategies to get in the door through email marketing is the holy grail for marketers.  Think about what your clients struggle with. What is the “inciting incident” in the drama of their lives that brought them to you?  What problem can you solve for them? Now, be very clear on your subject lines.  Let tehm know what value they’ll get by reading your email. Then be sure to add calls to action that will help you determine whether or not your message is resonating.  Give something before you ask for something. Download this free forecaster template/ checklist for tax season/ how to walkthrough.  Do not sell them something, give them something. 

Former Clients – Stay in Touch:

While former clients may not be actively using your services at the moment, keeping them engaged ensures that your brand remains fresh in their minds. This opens the door to potential future opportunities, referrals, or even repeat business. A simple “hello” or periodic updates can go a long way in maintaining a positive relationship with your former clients. We like to put them on a newsletter list. 

Newsletters:  Connect, Educate, Inspire:

Oh, the dreaded newsletter. What will we say? Will they read it? Who has time for this?  We like to say a newsletter should connect, inspire and educate.  Here’s how:

Connect: Highlight your team, a client, an event or a case study.  Connection is a human to human interaction.  Share something that’s either fun or meaningful, not just your LI CV. 

Inspire: Do you volunteer as a company? Sponsor a charity? Do you have a favorite quote or a book or podcast? Inspire people to see you as more than a vendor. 

Educate: If you’re writing blogs that inform and solve problems, this part is easy! Pick a blog: highlight the major point it makes and add a link and teaser to the email.  

Your monthly social posts highlighting the team, your website case studies, and your blog posts combined will give you all the content you could possibly need for your newsletter, making it easy to put together! 

How to Write a Good Subject Line for Partners, Clients and Prospects

​​Crafting compelling email subject lines is essential for engaging partners, clients, and prospects. A well-crafted subject line can make the difference between your email being opened or ignored. Here are some tips for writing effective subject lines for each audience:

For Partners:

Personalize It: Use the partner’s name or company name to create a personalized touch.

Example: “Can you help us refer better clients to you, [Partner Name]?”

Highlight what YOU can do for THEM. You’re giving before asking and that’s important.

Example: “How would you like us to refer clients to you?”

Time-Sensitive Emails: Create urgency with time-bound opportunities.

Example: “Hi [Partner Name] did you get our invitation?” ← this strategy really only works if you are hosting an event. 

For Clients:

Acknowledge Their Needs: Address their pain points or challenges directly.

Example: “When interest rates rise, here are 3 steps you can take to address your rising debt costs”

Results-Oriented: Highlight the outcomes or results they can expect from your services.

Example: “Profitability hacks – 2 easy steps”

Personal Touch: Mention any recent interactions or previous discussions to add a personal touch.

Example: “Great Meeting Last Week, [Client Name]! Here’s an overview of what we discussed”

For Prospects:

Curiosity-Piquing: Spark curiosity to encourage them to open the email.

Example: “Discover the Key to Financial Success…”

Benefit-Driven: Clearly state the value they will gain from opening the email.

Example: “How [Your Service] Can Transform Your Financial Future”

Beyond Words: Why Blogs are Important and How to Use AI to Help You Write Them

Blogs play a pivotal role in the success of your B2B financial services marketing strategy. Their multifaceted benefits encompass more than just providing information. For example, blogs can help your company:

Showcase Industry Authority (You Get to Prove That You Know What You’re Talking About!): In the world of financial services, establishing yourself as a trusted authority is paramount. Blogs create a space for you to demonstrate your industry expertise. This not only fosters credibility but also positions you as a go-to resource for valuable information. 

Enhance Search Engine Visibility: Regular, high-quality blog posts with SEO-friendly keywords can significantly boost your website’s search engine ranking. As search engines recognize your website as a hub of relevant information, your online visibility improves, driving organic traffic and increasing the chances of lead generation. 

Nurture and Engage Leads: Blogs are a versatile tool for lead nurturing. You can utilize AI-generated analytics to gain insights into which topics resonate most with your audience. This data-driven approach enables you to refine your content strategy, focusing on subjects that hold the greatest appeal and relevance.

Stay Current and Relevant (We’ll be real: No one Wants Your Last Blog Post to be Two Years Ago): The financial sector is in a constant state of evolution. Blogs allow you to stay abreast of industry shifts, regulatory updates, and emerging trends. By consistently delivering timely and insightful content, you position your brand as a thought leader that clients can rely on for up-to-date information.

Humanize Your Brand:. Sharing anecdotes, real-life experiences, and unique insights humanizes your brand, making it relatable and fostering stronger connections with your audience.

How to Use AI for Advanced Blog Writing

Incorporating AI technology into your blog writing process can help you to be more efficient, creative and precise. The danger of course with AI is – it’s a machine – it sounds like a machine, it thinks like a machine… So you have to help it… a lot. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively utilize AI in your blog writing strategy:

Videos turned into blogs: 

Video is a powerful tool and, until the advent of ChatGPT, turning a transcript of a video into a well-written blog was a time-intensive task.  If you’re making videos you’ll have 4 – 6 ready to go at a time.  Once you’ve added subtitles and gotten a transcript that’s where AI can really help. ADd your transcript with very specific direction on tone, main ideas, and structure, and let the machine do the heavy listing for you.  THe result: A good first draft with structure and main ideas that is unique to YOUR company because YOU made the video. 

Topic Generation and Research:

AI-powered tools can assist in generating relevant and trending topics within the financial services industry. By analyzing data from various sources, these tools can identify popular subjects, emerging trends, and key keywords that resonate with your target audience.

Content Outline and Structure:

Begin by creating an outline for your blog using AI. These tools can help organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow of ideas. By structuring your content beforehand, you’ll have a solid foundation to build upon.

Draft Creation:

AI-generated drafts are a powerful starting point. These drafts are based on language patterns and can mimic your writing style.  Just remember to have a human edit and add content before you hit publish! 

Grammar and Style Enhancement:

AI-powered grammar and style checkers can help refine your content. These tools identify grammatical errors, suggest sentence improvements, and ensure your writing is consistent with your brand’s voice and tone.

Keyword Optimization for SEO:

AI can suggest relevant keywords, analyze keyword density, and provide recommendations to improve your blog’s search engine visibility and ranking.

Combining These Components: How to Create a Content Calendar

Set Clear Objectives

Begin by defining your content calendar’s objectives, aligning them with your broader marketing goals. Determine how your content contributes to brand awareness, lead generation, or other key outcomes.

Establish Consistency

Consistency is king. Set a predictable content schedule—whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly—to engage your audience and reinforce your brand presence.

Brainstorm and Plan

Gather your team for a focused brainstorming session. Generate content ideas that resonate with your target audience and are tailored to your company’s services.

Allocate Resources

Ensure your team is equipped to execute your plan. Assign tasks and responsibilities for each content piece.

Monitor, Analyze, and Adapt

Regularly review performance metrics, analyzing engagement rates and conversions. Use insights to refine your content strategy and focus on what works.

Free Template Download

To kick-start your content calendar, download our template:

Download Free Content Calendar Template

How Components Collaborate

Now that we’ve discussed each component, let’s break down how they all work together to create a successful strategy. 

Blogs Fuel Social Engagement:

Blogs are the cornerstone of your content strategy, offering rich insights into financial topics. Extracting key points, you craft compelling social media posts. This entices curiosity, drives traffic, and elevates your brand’s stature.

Emails Amplify Blogs:

Emails nurture relationships and deliver value. Capitalize on new blogs by sending newsletters to subscribers. This maintains engagement, drives website visits, and fosters lasting trust.

Blogs Click Together for Ultimate Guides:

Over time, your blogs coalesce into comprehensive guides. Expertly curated, these guides become trusted references, showcasing your financial expertise and attracting organic traffic.

Unlocking Synergy: How Sales and Marketing Drive Success in Financial Services

Sales and Marketing: a Match Made in Heaven

We can’t talk about marketing without talking about sales. Why? An effective sales process can significantly benefit marketing efforts in several ways. Here are some key ways in which sales and marketing can work together to enhance overall business success:

Better Targeting: An organized sales process provides valuable feedback to marketing teams. Salespeople can convey information about the characteristics and behaviors of the most profitable customers. This data helps marketers refine their target audience and create more precise, personalized marketing campaigns.

Content Creation: A well-defined sales process highlights the key stages that prospects go through before making a purchase. Marketing teams can use this information to create content that aligns with each stage of the buyer’s journey. This ensures that prospects receive relevant content that addresses their needs and concerns at every step.

Lead Nurturing: Marketing generates leads, but not all leads are immediately ready to buy. An effective sales process includes lead nurturing strategies that keep potential customers engaged until they are ready to make a purchase. Marketing teams can develop and deliver nurturing content (e.g., email campaigns, webinars) in alignment with the sales process.

Message Consistency: A well-structured sales process helps ensure that the messaging used by sales and marketing teams is consistent. When marketing and sales are aligned on the key value propositions, benefits, and messaging, it creates a seamless customer experience and reinforces the company’s brand image.

Data and Analytics: Sales processes generate valuable data on customer interactions, conversion rates, and sales pipeline progression. Marketing teams can use this data to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and strategies, allowing for data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

Feedback Loop: Regular communication between sales and marketing teams fosters a feedback loop. Sales teams can provide insights into which marketing materials and leads are most effective in converting prospects. This feedback informs marketing teams about what is working and what needs adjustments.

Customer Insights: Sales teams are on the front lines and gather firsthand insights into customer pain points, objections, and preferences. This information is invaluable for marketing teams to refine their messaging, product development, and overall strategy to better address customer needs.

Shortened Sales Cycles: An effective sales process can help identify and prioritize high-quality leads, reducing the time it takes to convert prospects into customers. This efficiency benefits marketing efforts by allowing them to focus on generating more leads and nurturing existing ones.

Improved ROI: By aligning sales and marketing efforts and optimizing the sales process, companies can ultimately improve their return on investment (ROI) for marketing initiatives. Marketing resources are better utilized, and sales efforts become more productive.

Scalability: When both sales and marketing teams are aligned and have a clear process in place, it becomes easier to scale operations. As the business grows, the synergy between sales and marketing allows for a smoother expansion into new markets or the introduction of new products and services.

Design: Why Brand Consistency Matters

Your brand is the ambassador for your company.  How consistent is your look and feel from conference setups to social posts.  Do you have old logos on PDFs? Does your sparkly new website match your business cards? 

Design consistency can seem like gilding the lily to those who are not thinking holistically about brand presence but, trust us, it’s very important.  Here are some rules to live by for your company’s branding from a visual perspective.  Adhere to these to ensure you are perceived as being just as professional and expert as you actually are:

Color Pallette:  

  • Make sure to check the brand colors so they match the original template (save correct hex #’s in your brand kit in Canva)
  • Don’t use more than 3 brand colors per page. (2 primary, 1 can be an accent color) This is not a circus.

Fonts: 

  • Double check fonts from original templates to make sure you’re using the correct fonts
  • Don’t use more than two fonts per page. See #circus above

Photography Style:  

  • Align photography with the website for the overall brand look/ feel (lighter, darker, overlaid, bright, landscape, people, etc. in images)
  • Use iStock for image consistency, create a “board” of photos.
  • Choose photos that have blank space or areas where text can live – don’t pick super busy images, clutter is hard on the end viewer.

Design Elements:

  • Pay attention to what branding elements are used ( circles, squares etc) and be consistent – not raised beveled buttons on a clean square post or design asset.
  • Don’t pick random icons, pay attention to line weight, style and color usage.

Typesetting – 

  • Widows and orphans – Never leave a single word at the bottom of a paragraph if possible. (adjust font size/ box width to fix this).
  • Line Spacing – The gaps between sentences can be adjusted. 1.4 is the most comfortable space but can be shrunk to 1.2 or expanded to 1.8 to better fill space. (this can be adjusted depending on how much type there is)
  • Character Spacing – The space between letters can also be adjusted. (all caps should be spread out (tracking))

Layout / Spacing –

  • Negative Space – Leave room between elements so the page doesn’t look cluttered. Use boxes to measure distances between items to keep the spacing evenly distributed.
  • Padding – Make sure the padding / spacing is the same on all sides of the text box. 30PX is a good standard.
  • Hierarchy– The most important piece of information needs to be larger / bolded /  higher up, to simplify the concept. These should be set online and referenced on all assets by H1, H2, H3 classes. 

Logo Placement / Usage

  • Make sure the logo is always on the top most layer.
  • If using a dark overlay / use the white version of the logo for best contrast.
  • Pay attention to padding around the logo, there is designated safe space (usually one Capital letter’s width) around the logo to keep it readable.
  • Do not overlay the logo over a busy image, over a line or intersected with a text box. 

Other B2B Marketing Tips for the Financial Services Industry:

Address Clients’ Challenges:

Focus on clients’ needs by adopting an educational approach. Listen, understand pain points, and offer valuable insights to aid informed decisions.

Ensure Communication Accuracy:

Prioritize accuracy. Research thoroughly, fact-check, and cite reputable sources. Build trust through credible and data-driven communication.

Utilize SEO Research:

Conduct SEO research for deeper client understanding. Identify keywords, explore common queries, and tailor content accordingly.

Consistency is Vital:

Maintain consistent content schedules across blogs, videos, and social media to foster client engagement and loyalty.

Harness Video Content:

Videos connect powerfully. Explain complex concepts, showcase services, and personalize messages for effective client resonance.

Smart Search Ad Strategy:

Prioritize organic ranking through SEO before heavy investments in search ads. Establish authority for sustainable results.

Consider YouTube Ads:

Cost-effective YouTube ads can broaden your audience reach, particularly for video-friendly content.

Equip for Quality Videos:

Invest in top-notch equipment for higher video production quality, enhancing brand perception.

Incorporate Captions:

Boost engagement by adding captions to videos, catering to diverse audiences including those without sound.

Track Calls with Precision:

Use call tracking software like CallRail to analyze campaign effectiveness and understand client preferences.

Share Expertise Freely:

Transparency pays off. Offer insights and tips openly to establish trust and position your brand as a credible authority.

Any Questions?

Download our Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing for Financial Services Companies here (yes, you’ll want to check this out).

The goal of an outsourced digital marketing agency is to understand your business and your brand voice to then let the world know how awesome you are.

We start every engagement with a Brand Storytelling Session where we identify your unique brand voice. Then, our team uses bi-weekly client calls, and shared content calendars to make sure you know what’s happening.

We’ll bring you fresh ideas from our kick-a** creative team from a relationship built on trust. Because that’s the beauty of digital marketing.

For those who are interested in learning more about the difference between outsourced marketing and in-house marketing, read on here.

/by
,

15 Tips for Writing An Email People Will Actually Read And Reply To

Let’s cut to the chase: most emails suck. They get sent, forgotten, or—worse—ignored. 

But there’s good news: writing emails that grab attention and spark responses is possible (it just takes a little more effort.) If you’re tired of seeing your emails collect dust in inboxes, these tips will help you write messages that not only get opened but also get a reply.

Let’s dive in.

Email Benchmarks: What Should You Aim For?

So, you’re sending emails. Great start. But what’s next? Are people actually opening them, or are they disappearing into the void of unread inboxes? Let’s check the stats.

According to Campaign Monitor, here’s what “average” looks like for all industries:

  • Average open rate: 17.92% (not bad, but let’s aim higher).
  • Average click-through rate: 2.69% (yes, this is normal).
  • Average unsubscribe rate: 0.17% (we’ll call that a win).
  • Average click-to-open rate: 14.10% (a solid “opened and mildly interested”).

These benchmarks are a helpful starting point, but they’re just that—a starting point.

Want to take it even further? Learn how to craft emails that don’t just sit in inboxes but actually get opened, read, re-read, and even replied to.

Keep reading to find out how.

1. Do Your Research

We get it—automation is tempting. But sending the same email to everyone on your list? That’s a missed opportunity. Take the time to learn about your audience and personalize your message. It works—Campaign Monitor reports that personalization boosts open rates by 26%.

So, how do you make it personal?

  • Start small by adding the recipient’s name.
  • Go a step further by offering helpful, relevant information. This might mean building buyer personas and crafting thoughtful, targeted content.

Want to take it even further? Dive into audience demographics and use that data to create dynamic, customized emails that truly resonate.

2. Work on Your Subject Line

The quickest way to boost your email open rate? Improve your subject lines. It’s a balancing act—make them interesting, but not over-the-top.

Here’s how to craft better subject lines:

  • Keep it clear and concise. Aim for about eight words, according to Retention Science.
  • Describe what’s inside. Give readers a reason to open your email in just a few words.
  • Use action words. Swap out excessive exclamation points and caps for verbs like “visit,” “get,” or “follow.”
  • Personalize it. Adding the recipient’s name can grab attention and make your email feel personal.

In short, keep it simple. The goal is to hook readers into opening, reading, and clicking through—without trying too hard.

3. Don’t Overlook the Preview Test

Most email clients show a preview of your email’s body text, giving you up to 60 characters to hook readers before they even open the email.

This is prime real estate, so make the most of it! Use it to give a quick, enticing glimpse of what’s inside. A strong preview can spark curiosity and increase your chances of getting the open. Think of it as the “teaser” for the content that follows – short, sweet, and attention-grabbing.

4. Make Your First Sentence Engaging

Once your email is opened, you’ve got just a couple of seconds to grab your reader’s attention. The first sentence is critical – it sets the tone and determines whether they’ll keep reading or move on.

Start with something that hooks them immediately. For example, “90% of marketers say this tool is a game-changer” or “Here’s how you can boost your ROI by 50%.” Offering stats or compelling statements can pique curiosity and make them want to know more.

Remember, your goal is to spark interest right from the start, so make that first sentence count!

5. Be Specific with What You’re Asking

No one likes uncertainty, especially when it comes to emails. With only a few seconds of your recipient’s attention, clarity is key. If your email’s purpose isn’t obvious right from the start, they’re less likely to engage.

So, if you need something – whether it’s feedback, a click, or a reply – be direct about it. Don’t beat around the bush. For example, instead of “Let us know your thoughts,” try “Click here to share your feedback.”

On the flip side, if your email is purely educational, avoid making any promises or giving the impression that there’s an immediate action required. Keeping things clear and to the point ensures your message hits home.

6. Keep Your Email as Short as Possible

It might be tempting to share everything, but remember: less is more. Your recipients likely don’t need every single detail. The goal is to get to the point quickly and keep the email concise.

If you need to convey important information, make sure it’s clear and direct. Skip the fluff and focus on what truly matters. A clean, straightforward email increases your chances of engagement without overwhelming your audience.

7. Skip the Small Talk

Small talk is a time-sucker. If it doesn’t add value or align with the message of your email, cut it. Your readers are scanning your email with one goal: to find the relevant content. If you bog them down with unnecessary words, they’ll tune out.

The purpose of your email is simple: engage, encourage action, and (hopefully) convert. Extra filler doesn’t help. Keep it sharp to keep your audience hooked.

8. Highlight the Most Important Parts

Formatting your email for easy reading is essential. Use headings to break up the content and draw attention to key points or calls to action (CTAs). Adding white space between sections helps the reader subconsciously identify what matters most. By visually guiding them, you make it easier for your recipients to digest the information and remember what’s important.

9. Make Your Links Friendly

Links in your email should be easy to find and compelling to click. Avoid vague text like “click here.” Instead, use anchor text that gives readers a reason to click—such as offering interesting facts or details followed by a link. 

Pro-tip: CTA buttons are often more effective than hyperlinks at encouraging clicks.

10. Use Bullets to Make Your Email Easy to Scan

Bullet points are your friend. They make it easy for readers to scan and highlight essential information. They also add more white space to your email, making it more digestible. Use bullets for lists, such as software features or key points, to keep your content organized and readable.

11. Use the Word “You”

Speak directly to your audience by using “you.” This makes the email feel personal and relatable, positioning you as someone guiding them through important next steps. Using “you” creates a sense of connection, making your message feel more authentic—like it’s coming from a trusted friend or colleague.

12. Add Facts

Stop guessing—use facts and data. Give your subscribers something of value by backing up your claims with stats, research, or case studies. People like solid, interesting information. Just make sure to link to your sources so your credibility doesn’t come into question.

13. Add an Email Signature

Make your emails feel personal, and that includes a custom email signature. Let your readers know who’s behind the message. A good email signature should include:

  • Your name and contact details (keep it neat)
  • Your photo or company logo to build trust
  • Social media icons that link to your profiles for engagement
  • CTAs or promo banners with links to your latest content or offers

Use email signature generators like MySignature.io or Newoldstamp to build a signature that fits your brand. If you’re managing a team, these tools make it easy to standardize signatures across employees for brand consistency.

14. Consider Using Images

Images are fine—just keep them under 50 kB. People expect links, so make sure images are hyperlinked, and add alt text in case the image doesn’t load. A good image strategy can make your email pop.

15. Double-check Attachment Names

Be specific with file names—“document.pdf” is a no-go. Try something like “winter-sales-report.pdf” for clarity. And don’t forget to mention any attachments in the email body so your recipient knows exactly what they’re getting.

Wrapping Up

To create an email that grabs attention and sparks a response, think about what emails you’d personally want to read and engage with. Here’s a quick reminder of key tips:

  • Understand who your recipients are.
  • Craft a subject line that’s clear and under 10 words.
  • Hook your readers from the very first sentence.
  • Be specific—avoid ambiguity.
  • Skip small talk and stick to useful, relevant information.
  • Use headings, CTA links, or buttons to highlight key points.
  • Bullet points make content scannable and digestible.
  • Speak directly to your readers using “you.”
  • Match your tone and language to your audience.
  • Use a professional email signature to personalize your emails and promote your content.
  • Keep images small to avoid slow loading times.
  • Ensure attachment names are clear and relevant.

For more tips, check out our guide to email marketing that works.

Follow these tips, and you’ll see better engagement with your emails.

With that being said, however, we know cold emailing isn’t easy—which is why we’re here to help. Interested in learning more about how we help our clients? Read on to see how we shorten sales cycles for our clients (using email marketing and more!)

Interested in learning more? Check out our guide: Your Email Marketing Sucks… Here’s How to Fix It.

/by
, , ,

How to Leverage Your Business Using LinkedIn

person holding their phone at desk using linkedin application

LinkedIn is more than just a place for inspirational quotes and flexing your job experience… This platform—primarily used for professional networking and career development—is also a great place to leverage your business.

The best part? You don’t have to rely solely on paid advertising when it comes to LinkedIn! (That’s a win in our book). While organic marketing on LinkedIn takes more time and effort, the results are well worth the investment.

Interested in learning more? Here are our best tips on how to leverage your business using LinkedIn.

What is Organic LinkedIn Marketing?

First, what is organic LinkedIn marketing? Simply put, organic LinkedIn marketing is your ability to reach a desired target audience without using paid ads or marketing (i.e. no pay-per-click, also known as PPC).

Now, let’s dive into how to do it.

Connect with Individuals in Your Industry

When it comes to organic marketing, it’s absolutely essential that you have a social element driving your marketing efforts.

This means making connections with individuals who are in similar industries and/or positions (aka individuals who will actually care about the information you put out!)

Why? Your content will resonate even deeper with these connections.

So, how do you start building your network? The search bar on LinkedIn is a great tool that can help build connections. Using the search bar, you can search for:

  • People
  • Companies
  • Groups
  • Posts
  • And more!

Don’t Shy Away from Thought Leadership

LinkedIn is known for rewarding those who engage in thought leadership. But what is thought leadership? Thought leadership is defined as “the expression of ideas that demonstrate you have expertise in a particular field, area, or topic.”

Use your industry knowledge to your advantage; become a thought leader! This effort can have an even bigger impact if you’ve grown your social network intentionally as mentioned above (this means all the right people will see your awesome insights!)

Use Video Content to Your Advantage

We’ve said it a million times over… Video content is GOLDEN—especially in today’s day and age! Why? Video is a great attention grabber. Plus, it keeps things authentic and personable!

Think: Would you rather read 300 words on a page or watch a real person speak for one minute on camera? We’d choose the latter. So, use video content you have to your advantage on LinkedIn.

Interested in learning more? Read on in our article “Want to connect with your prospects? Use video.”

Don’t Be Afraid to Engage

You want people to engage with your content, right? So, don’t be afraid to do the same… Practice what you preach!

Next time you’re scrolling through LinkedIn, consider: Is there a piece of content that you think your audience would like? If so, share it and add some of your insights or thoughts in the caption. Have you enjoyed something that someone posted? Let them know in their comments!

Comments and reshares are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your own expertise while also getting your business’s name out there.

Use Hashtags

Just like any other form of social media, hashtags are a great tool you should be taking advantage of on LinkedIn. Using hashtags can increase your chances of showing up on someone’s feed as well as the ability to be found by search.

For example, in a piece on the importance of SEO and content marketing, hashtags might include #SEO #ContentMarketing #DigitalMarketing #Marketing and so on.

Let People Know You’re on LinkedIn

Shout it from the rooftops! People should know what social media platforms your business is on. Let people know that you’re on LinkedIn by cross-promoting it on your other profiles (i.e. Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc).

Define and Maintain Your Brand Voice

Every brand has its own unique voice. At Digital Storyteller, we believe that each of our clients has a primary and secondary brand voice, split 90% to 10%. The 12 brand archetypes are as old as Greek tragedy (sadly, we can’t take credit for making them up…) and include:

  • The Innocent
  • Everyman
  • Hero
  • Outlaw
  • Explorer
  • Creator
  • Ruler
  • Magician
  • Lover
  • Caregiver
  • Jester
  • Sage

Want an example or two? Harley Davidson is a great example of an outlaw brand voice, whereas Disney is the magician archetype. An example of a ruler is Rolex; Chanel would be a lover.

Make sense? Not quite? Read on to learn more about our unique Brand Storytelling Sessions that we conduct to define brand voice.

Post Consistently

No one wants to follow an account that posts for Thanksgiving and then not again until Christmas. Make sure that you’re posting consistently to LinkedIn (and all of your social media platforms, for that matter!)

To reap the rewards of organic content marketing, you have to be consistent. At Digital Storyteller, we estimate that it takes between six to 12 months to see the results of organic marketing. This is why so many people today decide to go the paid route instead… They are impatient and in search of a quick fix.

Our best advice? Whether you’re posting once a day or once a week, create a content calendar and stick to it.

Don’t worry – We’ve made it easy for you. Click the link below to download our full content calendar template!

Download our FREE Content Calendar Template

Still feeling overwhelmed? Reach out to our team today! When you partner with Digital Storyteller, you gain access to an entire team of marketing experts at a fraction of the cost. Think content specialists, a client success manager, graphic design team, social media team, SEO specialists, and more!

Want to learn more about what a partnership looks like? Read on to learn what to expect when working with an outsourced digital marketing agency (including how much it costs!)

/by
, , , , ,

Top Seven Categories of Digital Marketing

How They Work Together

The world of digital marketing is constantly evolving. (We know you know this because we remind you of this in nearly every piece of content we push out!) There are, however, a handful of tried and true marketing efforts under the larger umbrella term of ‘digital marketing.’

Because let’s be honest, not all marketing efforts are created equal. Here we will discuss the top seven categories of digital marketing and how they work together. These seven categories of digital marketing are fundamental to the success of your business’s content marketing strategy.

So, let’s get started.

Content Marketing

First, what is content marketing? Content marketing is the bread and butter of what we do at Digital Storyteller.

Content marketing is “a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience—and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action,” as put by the Content Marketing Institute.

Today, the traditional sales pitch style of marketing is decreasing in value every day. Instead, content marketing approaches prospective clients by providing useful, relevant content to help solve problems or answer questions. Furthermore, content marketing aims to build trust with your prospective clients rather than simply complete a sale. 

Effective content marketing utilizes the “creating and sharing [of] relevant articles, videos, podcasts, and other media.”

This type of marketing helps to establish expertise and increase brand awareness. The goal is to make sure your business is at the top of your prospect’s mind when the time to purchase a product or service comes.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is another crucial pillar in terms of your digital marketing strategy. SEO, in simple terms, is what allows your content to be found.

For our friends who love definitions, SEO, according to Moz, is “the practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results.” SEO is how marketers tailor their content to appeal to search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.

For example, you might search ‘affordable chardonnay near me’ on Google. The way that Google then provides results based on your search is determined by SEO. SEO is the tool that tells Google, “Hey! This is what information my website has, this is what I’m talking about, and these are the types of people that would find my website interesting!”

One of our favorite SEO tools to use at Digital Storyteller is Semrush. Semrush is an online tool that collects research on your business’s SEO, pay-per-click (PPC), content, and social media efforts. It can also help you identify keywords you are currently ranking for or targeting.

If you didn’t know, information about ranking keywords is critical to making your way up the Google Search Engine Results Page (SERP).

For more on all things SEO, check out this article for 10 tips to maximize your SEO efforts, this article we wrote on why SEO is important, or one of our more recent articles on how to effectively combine SEO and content marketing!

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Parallel to SEO, we have SEM. You guessed it, another crucial piece of digital marketing.

SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing, which is, according to Optimizely, “a digital marketing strategy used to increase the visibility of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs).”

In the past, SEM typically encompassed both organic and paid search. Today, however, it almost exclusively refers to paid search advertising.

SEM is “the act of using paid strategies to increase search visibility.” Every day, businesses pay big money for their ads to rank first on search engine results pages. Hint: You can tell when businesses are using SEM by the bold “Ad” text that accompanies a search result.

SEO, SEM, why so many acronyms?! While these two may seem like the same thing, they are actually quite different. Learn more about the difference between the two in this article.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is not dead. It has, however, become increasingly difficult to grab the attention of clients and prospects through their inboxes.

Email marketing, as defined by MailChimp, is “a form of direct marketing as well as digital marketing, that uses email to promote your business’s products or services.”

Email marketing can be used to promote your latest items and offers, or it can assist with lead generation, brand awareness, relationship building, and customer engagement. 

The biggest challenge with email marketing is breaking through the noise. The best email marketing experts:

  • Craft compelling campaigns
  • Understand optimal audience outreach
  • And analyze customer interactions and data

Email marketing software companies, including HubSpot, Campaign Monitor, Constant Contact, and more, help perfect your email marketing campaigns by providing automated email workflow options as well as in-depth email marketing data (i.e. open rates and click-through rates).

Data Analytics

Marketing without data is merely speculation—a guessing game of what you hope will land with your prospects and clients.

At Digital Storyteller, we recognize that data is a crucial part of your digital marketing strategy. When it comes to our analyses, we use Google Analytics (primarily for website data), Semrush (for keyword analytics), and additionally Metricool (to look at social media performance).

Design and Website

As far as design goes, making sure your brand is consistent across all digital and print platforms helps clients and prospects recognize your brand immediately. 

Contrary to popular belief, design—whether for marketing collateral, social media, or a website—is more than just pictures and drawings. Venture and Grow state, “Graphic design is the art of communication that requires creativity and a systematic plan to solve a problem or achieve specific objectives.”

So, what makes effective design in digital marketing?

Effective graphic design “highlight plans to discover what makes [content] genuinely stand out and get shared.”

Additionally, top-notch design helps:

  • Build trust
  • Increase brand awareness
  • Influence the customer decision-making process

Don’t underestimate this component’s power in your digital marketing strategy. After all, you could have amazing content that gets swept under the rug because of poor presentation.

Speaking of design, let’s take a moment to chat about your website. Your business’s site isn’t just an opportunity to showcase your branding and design. Whether or not your site is easy to navigate and structured properly has a huge influence on how (and IF) clients and prospects will interact with your brand.

So, take a minute to ask yourself these questions: Is my website easy to navigate? Is it nice to look at? Does it lead people on a journey to find out more about my business?

Social Media Marketing

Of course, social media is a huge pillar in your digital marketing strategy. The platforms that you use (and that are essential to your digital marketing strategy) depend heavily on your target audience. Ask yourself where your prospects spend the most time, and where they are most likely to be influenced to trust a brand.

To learn which social platforms your business should be on, read our article “Financial Services Companies: Which Social Media Platforms Should You Be On?”

Social media marketing includes any content that is released via a business’s social media channels. When it comes to a business, however, it’s not all fun and games. Crafting the perfect social media marketing strategy to fit into your larger digital marketing strategy is more complicated than posting on your own Instagram or LinkedIn.

Social media marketing is integrated and strategic. It takes hard work. Everything that pushes to social media must mirror the messages that are used throughout your business.

Social Media Analytics

Analytics are also crucial to your social media marketing.

This data can help you discover what types of posts do or don’t do well and why. With this data, social media marketers can better tailor their strategies for their business’s benefit.

Digital Storyteller is Here to Help

We know, there is a lot that goes into a successful digital marketing strategy. At Digital Storyteller, we like to think of your digital marketing strategy as a giant system of gears working together. Content is at the heart of this system and drives all of the marketing components like SEO, SEM, social media marketing, and so on.

The system would fail without each gear in place. So, how does your digital marketing strategy measure up? Read on to learn how to measure the success of your digital marketing strategy. You might be surprised by how your business is really doing.

/by
,

Why Sales Coaching is the Missing Piece in Your Growth Strategy

For many companies, marketing and sales exist in silos—marketing generates leads, and sales works to close them. But what happens in between? If your sales team isn’t consistently converting at the level you expect, the problem might not be lead quality—it could be the lack of structure, accountability, and ongoing coaching within your sales process.

At Digital Storyteller, we’ve seen firsthand how sales coaching transforms businesses. Our CEO and co-founder, Andrew Marr, has spent years working fractionally with companies, refining sales systems, and building accountability structures that fuel growth. His track record speaks for itself—he’s helped businesses scale from $3 million to $30 million in revenue and successfully navigate acquisitions without losing sales momentum.

The Role of Sales Coaching in Your Organization

Sales is more than just a numbers game—it’s a discipline. Even the most skilled salespeople perform better when they have:

✅ A Defined Sales Process – Without a structured approach, every rep is left to figure it out on their own, leading to inconsistency. A documented sales process keeps your team aligned and moving in the right direction.

✅ Accountability in Weekly Sales Meetings – Tracking performance isn’t just about hitting quotas. Regular check-ins ensure follow-through on leads, foster team collaboration, and create opportunities for ongoing improvement.

✅ Coaching & Skill Development – The best salespeople don’t just rely on natural talent; they refine their craft. Effective coaching provides strategies for overcoming objections, improving closing rates, and maximizing opportunities within the pipeline.

✅ Scalability & Acquisition Readiness – When companies grow, sales often becomes the bottleneck. Structured sales coaching ensures your team is prepared for growth, whether you’re scaling organically or preparing for acquisition by private equity.

Who Needs Sales Coaching?

If you have a sales team of three or more people, structured coaching can improve efficiency, increase conversions, and drive revenue growth. Many small and mid-sized businesses operate without a Chief Revenue Officer or dedicated sales leadership. This often results in:

🔹 Unstructured sales meetings with no clear action items
🔹 Inconsistent follow-up, leading to lost deals
🔹 A lack of forecasting and pipeline visibility
🔹 Over-reliance on marketing to ‘fix’ sales problems

A fractional sales leader like Andrew Marr provides the strategy, structure, and accountability your sales team needs—without the cost of a full-time executive.

Sales & Marketing: A Powerful Partnership

At Digital Storyteller, we bridge the gap between sales and marketing to ensure your leads aren’t just flowing in—they’re converting. By integrating sales coaching into our marketing strategy, we help businesses in San Diego and beyond create a sustainable, scalable revenue engine.

If you’re ready to elevate your sales process, improve accountability, and drive real revenue growth, let’s talk.

🚀 Connect with us today to learn more about fractional sales coaching for your business.

/by
, , ,

What is the ROI for Organic Marketing

ROI of organic marketing

ROi for organic content marketing

Read more
/by
,

Top 10 B2B Marketing Trends to Watch in 2025

B2B marketing is changing fast, and companies are finding all kinds of new ways to reach clients and stand out. 

The focus? Making marketing feel more personal and less like a hard sell. These shifts are all about connecting with people in smarter, more genuine ways—and they’re set to make a big impact in the next few years.

If you’re looking to keep your business ahead, here are ten trends worth watching.

1. Podcasts Are Booming in B2B

Podcasts are no longer just for entertainment—they’re now a big deal in B2B marketing too. With businesses like HubSpot seeing millions of downloads for their podcasts, it’s clear that companies are tuning in. 

In fact, Edison Research reports that podcast listening has more than doubled since 2014. How can you use podcasts to get in front of B2B customers?

You have two options: create your own podcast or you can advertise on podcasts that your target customers listen to. 

2. LinkedIn is Making a Comeback

People are doubling down on LinkedIn. Searches for “LinkedIn followers” have jumped 143%, and businesses are seeing its value for B2B marketing more than ever.

LinkedIn might not be the next TikTok or a one-size-fits-all platform like YouTube, but for B2B, it’s tough to beat. It’s the only major social network purely focused on work and business—meaning that your clients aren’t just “on” LinkedIn, they’re in the right mindset for professional content when they’re there.

Why the resurgence? First, LinkedIn has added new features to keep things fresh. Video posts, for example, give users a way to connect in a more dynamic, engaging format.

Another reason: LinkedIn’s organic reach is still strong. Posts here tend to get more visibility compared to platforms like Facebook or X (formerly Twitter), meaning content goes further with less effort.

3. Video Is Still on the Rise

A study found that 92% of marketers see video as essential for their marketing efforts—and it’s not hard to see why. Video is versatile and can reach B2B audiences in all kinds of ways, including:

  • YouTube videos
  • Facebook Live streams
  • Webinars (live and recorded)
  • LinkedIn videos
  • Explainer videos

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for B2B video marketing. It really comes down to what your business offers and where your customers spend their time online.

Successful B2B companies often use video in multiple ways. For instance, Business Insider has built a strong presence on YouTube, reaching their audience with a steady stream of valuable content. The key takeaway? Try different formats to see what connects best with your audience.

4. Content Marketing Is Getting Competitive

Content marketing has been a staple of B2B marketing for years, but over the last few years, its popularity has really skyrocketed. That’s made the space more crowded and expensive.

According to the Content Marketing Institute, 56% of B2B marketing teams are investing more money into content creation. A big part of this budget is aimed at scaling up production, but a significant portion (36%, to be exact) is being spent on making sure their content stands out in a crowded market.

So, how can businesses create B2B content that actually drives traffic?

BuzzSumo recently analyzed 50,000 B2B articles and uncovered some important insights about what makes content successful. Their findings?

  • Evergreen topics tend to get more shares and keep performing better over time compared to trendy news items.
  • Content with specific headline phrases, like “The future of…” performed the best.
  • Long-form content (more than 1,000 words) got more backlinks, shares, and engagement than shorter pieces.

In short, the more relevant and detailed your content, the better it will perform.

5. AI Tools Are Boosting Ad Campaigns

Artificial intelligence is starting to change how B2B businesses run their PPC ad campaigns. Take Google’s “Smart Bidding” feature, for example. Over the past decade, search interest in Smart Bidding has surged by 3,700%.

Smart Bidding automates much of the work involved in managing a Google Ads campaign. By analyzing numerous variables simultaneously, it can often optimize ad spending more effectively than humans.

That said, human input remains essential. AI isn’t yet capable of crafting compelling ad copy or designing eye-catching creatives from scratch. However, as ad platforms continue to integrate AI into their offerings, more B2B businesses are likely to leverage this technology to enhance their PPC campaigns.

6. Chatbots Are Becoming Essential

Chatbots might’ve seemed like a trend when they first appeared, but they’ve clearly become a key tool in B2B marketing, especially for turning website visitors into leads and sales.

They’re now a common feature on many B2B websites.

Why? Because chatbots help with “the last mile” of marketing. Here’s how it works:

You’ve already brought someone to your website through a piece of content or an ad. They’re checking out your plans and pricing pages. But a lot of visitors still need that little “nudge” to take the next step.

Sure, you could hire a 24/7 support team to handle live chat, but that can get expensive.

This is where chatbots come in. While they may not act exactly like a human, they’re infinitely scalable. And thanks to AI, they learn and improve over time as they interact with site visitors.

For example, chatbots helped the B2B company SalesRabbit boost leads from their website by 50%.

But chatbots aren’t just for lead generation—they’re also great for supporting existing customers. Available 24/7, they enhance the customer experience, answering questions, handling account upgrades, and even assisting with retention marketing.

7. Marketing Automation Is Getting Simpler

Marketing automation has been a major trend in digital marketing over the past five years. Google searches for “marketing automation” have more than tripled in the last decade. 

 When implemented correctly, it can lead to higher email open rates, more clicks, and increased leads.

However, setting up marketing automation can be complex. In fact, 41% of B2B businesses report they’re not fully leveraging their marketing automation tools, and half are seeking more affordable alternatives. 

This has led many B2B companies to turn to simpler, cost-effective funnel tools. These tools offer a streamlined approach to marketing automation. One notable example is ClickFunnels, which reported an annual recurring revenue of $160 million.

8. Repurposing Content Is Key

Creating new content constantly can be exhausting and expensive, so many B2B brands are finding ways to repurpose what they already have. Got a great blog post? Turn it into a LinkedIn article or a quick video. Repurposing helps you get more mileage from the content you create without reinventing the wheel every time.

9. Customer Personas Help You Target the Right People

Customer personas are crucial for any company’s marketing, but they’re especially important in B2B. They help you visualize the exact decision-maker you want to reach. This could be a CEO, a C-level executive, or the head of IT.

Creating a persona allows you to pinpoint the right person to target, choose the appropriate marketing platforms, craft messages that resonate, and write copy that appeals to that specific individual.

For instance, ShipBob tailors its messaging to appeal directly to its target customers—direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce brands.

10. Storytelling Makes Brands Memorable

Storytelling marketing has become a big focus for B2B companies, with a 69% increase in interest over the last five years.

Traditionally, most B2B marketing focuses on product features and positioning your company as the best option. On paper, this makes sense—after all, the goal is to convince decision-makers that your product is the best choice.

But in reality, it’s not always that simple. Just like in B2C, B2B decisions aren’t made purely with logic. There’s a lot of emotion behind the choices, too. That’s why more and more B2B businesses are turning to storytelling to make their products stand out, be memorable, and ultimately close deals.

Take Salesforce, for example. They use storytelling to show how their CRM truly benefits customers, making the product feel human and relatable rather than just a set of features.

Another good example is Storybrand, a company that’s seen impressive growth by helping other businesses weave storytelling into their B2B marketing strategies.

Storytelling isn’t just a trend—it’s a proven way to connect with potential clients on a deeper level, creating lasting impressions that help businesses grow.

We are not new to storytelling—if you didn’t catch that from the name of our company. In fact, it’s what we do.

We start every engagement with a Brand Storytelling Session where we identify your unique brand voice. Then, our team uses bi-weekly client calls, and shared content calendars to make sure you know what’s happening.

Looking for Help Navigating These Trends?

At Digital Storyteller, we specialize in helping businesses like yours implement cutting-edge digital marketing strategies. The goal of an outsourced digital marketing agency is to understand your business and brand voice, then share your story with the world.

Our creative team is here to bring fresh ideas to the table, building a relationship based on trust and collaboration. That’s the beauty of digital marketing—your success is our success.

For those who are interested in learning more about the difference between outsourced marketing and in-house marketing, read on here.

/by
,

Why the Best Marketing Doesn’t Feel Like Marketing

Think about the last time you bought something without feeling “sold to.” Maybe it was a software subscription that felt like the obvious solution rather than a forced sale. Or a business consultant whose insights were so valuable that hiring them was a no-brainer.

That’s great marketing. Not the kind that floods your inbox with “last chance” emails or cold calls you during lunch. The best marketing blends into your decision-making process by offering real value—educating, informing, and guiding rather than pushing.

In B2B, this is even more critical. Your audience is busy, skeptical, and bombarded with sales pitches. They don’t want to be sold—they want to be helped.

The Problem with Traditional, Pushy Marketing

If you’ve ever received a LinkedIn message that reads like a sales script, you know the struggle.

B2B buyers today are overloaded with marketing messages—most of which they ignore. Traditional marketing methods, like hard-sell emails or generic ads, often do more harm than good. Why?

You know the drill:

  • Endless cold emails → Deleted without opening.
  • Annoying pop-up ads → Blocked.
  • Webinars that are secretly 45-minute sales pitches → No, thank you.

People—especially B2B decision-makers—are way too smart for that. They can smell a sales pitch from a mile away, and if your strategy is all about the hard sell, guess what? They’re out.

Today’s buyers don’t want to be sold to—they want to be helped. They want insights, answers, and a brand they actually trust before they even consider working with you.

This is why marketing that doesn’t feel like marketing works so well.

But what exactly does this type of marketing look like? Let’s discuss.

What ‘Marketing That Doesn’t Feel Like Marketing’ Actually Looks Like

The best marketing doesn’t interrupt—it integrates. It doesn’t yell—it pulls you in.

Here’s what that looks like:

1. Content That Helps and Provides Value (Instead of Annoys)

People turn to Google long before they reach out to a salesperson. If your brand is providing helpful blogs, guides, or reports that solve real issues, you become the go-to expert.

Bad marketing: “Our software is the best! Schedule a demo now!”
Good marketing: “Here’s a free guide on streamlining your workflow—oh, and if you want a tool that does this for you, we have one.”

2. Storytelling That Makes People Care

B2B isn’t just business—it’s people making decisions for their companies. And people connect with stories, not sales jargon.

Tell real stories about real customers. Show how you helped them succeed. Make your brand feel human.

Bad marketing: “We help companies grow revenue by 37%.”
Good marketing: “Meet Sarah. She was drowning in spreadsheets. Now she spends Fridays on actual strategy instead of fixing errors. Here’s how.”

3. Thought Leadership That’s Actually Valuable

Want to sell without selling? Become the expert people trust.

Write LinkedIn posts people actually read. Run a webinar that delivers real value instead of being a disguised sales pitch. Share insights that help rather than just promote.

Bad marketing: “Join our webinar to learn why our product is the best.”
Good marketing: “Join our webinar where we break down real industry trends and strategies—no sales fluff.”

4. Word-of-Mouth That Feels Natural

People trust other people more than they trust ads. The best marketing happens when happy customers talk about you.

Encourage referrals. Feature real success stories. Make it easy for clients to recommend you.

Bad marketing: “We’re the top-rated solution in the industry!”
Good marketing: “Here’s how a real company used our product to solve a real problem.”

Brands That Get It Right

Some companies understand how to market without making it feel like marketing. They don’t push their products. They make people want to buy.

  • HubSpot: Their entire business runs on free, valuable content. By the time you need a CRM, you already trust them.
  • Slack: They never begged people to sign up. They made an easy-to-use product, and word-of-mouth did the rest.
  • Salesforce: Instead of just selling, they educate their audience with research, insights, and industry reports.
  • LinkedIn: People go there to learn, connect, and engage—along the way, they start using premium features without even thinking twice.

These brands don’t push. They create so much value that buying from them feels like the obvious next step.

How to Make Your Marketing Feel Less Like Marketing (But Still Drive Conversions)

If you want to sell without being just another sales-y brand, here’s how:

1. Stop Selling, Start Storytelling

Turn case studies into stories. Make testimonials worth reading. Show how customers win by working with you.

2. Educate First, Pitch Later

Offer valuable insights for free. Help solve problems before asking for anything in return. When people are ready to buy, they’ll remember you.

3. Focus on Conversations, Not Conversions

Talk with your audience, not at them. Engage on LinkedIn. Respond to comments. Ask questions. Build trust first—sales will follow.

4. Make It Easy for People to Talk About You

Encourage happy customers to share their experiences. Feature them in case studies. Make referrals easy and rewarding.

Final Notes

B2B buyers aren’t looking for more sales noise. They’re looking for real solutions from brands they trust.

The best marketing? It’s the kind that doesn’t feel like marketing at all. It’s the blog post that answers a burning question. The LinkedIn post that makes someone think, “That’s smart.” The case study that tells a real story instead of just listing stats.

Need help creating marketing that connects without the hard sell? Let’s talk.

/by

RESOURCES

Blog
Privacy Policy

GET IN TOUCH

2710 Lone Jack Rd
Encinitas, CA 92024
858.945.1069
info@digitalstoryteller.io

Follow a manual added link

© Digital Storyteller 2026

Get The Secret Sauce

Delivered right to your inbox (napkins optional)



© Digital Storyteller 2026