Your Digital Marketing Coach with Neal Schaffer

Search engine discoverability is as important today as it has always been. SEO requires you to have resourceful and helpful content as we all know from Google's recent updates, but assuming we already have lots of great content, how can we move up the search engine rankings?While there are lots of things you can do, generating relevant backlinks to your website might be the most powerful option.In this special interview with digital marketing expert Sam Dunning, we discuss 5 different ways for which you can begin to start getting free backlinks for your website TODAY!Key Highlights[03:19] Introduction of Podcast Guest, Sam Dunning[07:35] How Sam Started In SEO Industry[09:32] Google's Content Update[12:40] The Importance of Backlinks[14:32] 5 Ways to Get Free Backlinks[20:40] The Skyscraper Technique With Outreach[23:15] Recommended Tools for Outreach[29:07] Sam's Favorite Approach[29:31] Connect With SamNotable QuotesA big part of it is understanding what your customers care about, which is kind of marketing 101, talking to your target customers, talking to your ideal clients, understanding their problems, their pain points, their goals, their ambitions, and then working that into the copy. So as long as you're doing those basics, you should be fine. Make sure when you go on a show, you can literally give genuine, actionable helpful tips that you know are going to be useful rather than talking about yourself because no one wants to hear that.What Google wants businesses to do really, basically stick in your lane. And if you create great human content that is useful, you'll be rewarded.Sometimes great content can just rank doesn't always happen. But it can, well, people can find it, and then they can start linking to it. But what you can find is there might be a snowball effect. So you might produce this awesome page that does all those best practices we've talked about, then you might have to reach out to quite a few companies that are relevant, and then one or two of those might offer you a link. And you might have to give them a sweetener in return. But then from that little boost that you've got from those links, other companies might start seeing it, maybe you've got some unique data, stash some unique data and other people start linking to it. So it builds up like a snowball effect. Think of companies that complement your industry, but aren't direct competitors.Guest Links:Sam Dunning on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samdunning/Web Choice:  https://www.webdesignchoice.co.uk/Sam's Business Growth Show Podcast: Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

I was honored to be able to speak - and thus attend - Content Marketing World for the first time this year. There were a TON of golden nuggets dropped at this event that I wanted to share with you, so these are the 11 takeaways I got from all of the amazing sessions I saw that I think you should know about.Key Highlights[13:17] Developing Your Own Unique Brand Voice[15:32] The Upside Down Pyramid of Personality[22:18] Why Your Content Workflow Should Start With Live Video[25:13] 3 Recommended Tools for Live Streaming[27:20] Using Survey to Generate Multiple Content[30:51] Piloting AI for Content Marketers[38:20] Recommended Tools for AI Content[41:34] How to Drive Revenue With Podcast and Networking[43:00] Creating A Sales Strategy for YouTube That Doesn't Kill Your Channel[45:01] 3 Buckets of Content for YouTube Strategy[48:04] Designing Your Sales Funnel for the Visual Generation[51:03]  How to Reverse Engineer Your Competitors' Social Media Strategy[52:12] Effectively Work With Journalists to Gain Increased Visibility for Your Content[56:12] Tools for Your Press Release[56:56]  Google Analytics for Future Data[1:00:28] Content Repurposing[1:03:45] Create Content With Repurposing in MindNotable QuotesDon't compare yourself to your leading competitors. Compare yourself with yourself.I really put value in going deep with a number of people, the more people the better get to know them better. And that's, you know, equal to the sessions that I attend. That's what gives me a lot of value in going to these events, the in-person networking, that can happen.Each of us is capable of a memorable, relatable voice. So don't sound like everybody else on social media, do your own thing. But it's okay to be inspired. And it's okay to mimic.Look for questions from your other competitors.AI technology is not there to replace you, but to assist you. So the message is, to learn it early, be ahead of the curve, and reap the benefits. Content repurposing is finding creative ways to communicate your message in different formats, and in different locations so that you can reach and connect with more people. Different people have different appetites when it comes to content. Different people consume different content differently. And therefore we need to have everything in our buffet in order to satisfy as many people as possible.Links MentionedEpisode 271Episode 218Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

What just might be the ultimate lead magnet? An online course.  And it doesn't have to be complex to create either.Join me for this interview with Alyssa Marshall, co-founder of Owwlish. After 10 years of studying to become and becoming a dentist, Alyssa created her own online course for dentists and then used that custom technology in co-founding Owwlish as a way to help other course creators win at courses.But her technology is not only for course creators. It's for any business.As Alyssa explains in this interview, you're missing out if you don't have an online course freebie for your business. We discuss the why of this, but also:Why online courses will increase your opt-in rate - as a freebie on your website or you can run ads directly to themHow to make your online course quicklyHow to use the course to fuel the rest of your businessAfter listening to this interview you'll never think of online courses as being just for content creators again!Key Highlights[03:16] Introduction of Podcast Guest, Alyssa Marshall[05:53] How Alyssa Got Into Online Course Platform Industry[11:42] How Did Alyssa Go About Launching Her First Courses[13:53] Online Courses In A Lead Magnet Perspective[22:59] The Easiest and Fastest Way to Get An Opt-in Gift for Free[25:21] How to Use Course to Fuel Your Business[28:19] How Alyssa Structured Her Platform[35:49] Learning More About Owwlish[38:37] How to Get Started in Owwlish[39:59] Final Advice[41:21] Connect with AlyssaNotable QuotesThe advantage of a video course is that you get all of that, in one, it doesn't even have to be that complicated.But the value you get as a business owner by having an online course opt in, like over like, after a week versus after three months, because you're complicated it your business is going to be at a at a much, much better place. Show up and do your thing.It's super helpful to just gain that likability factor and trust and you have a captive audience that is not distracted with all these other videos on the site or pops up at the end of the video thing. This audience is with you and gaining a quick win while they're with you. And you can lead them to the next logical step, which is to join your coaching program or to purchase your course or whatever it is.Make sure that you lead into selling, your course is not just going to be about teaching, but the last part should at least introduce selling.The idea of owlish is that you should be able to have a beautiful looking course, even if you can't code on any page of your website that you say it should live on. So really good easy rule of thumb to think about in terms of that is the what is free, the how is paid. So tell them what to do.So don't complicate thisLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

As we market our brands on social media, we might get asked by some of our colleagues if somehow we can promote their job openings on our channels.With the continued tight labor market, social media actually gives marketers a golden opportunity to implement inbound marketing not just for your own brand, but for your employer brand as well.Learn all about this concept of employer branding and why it is critical for marketers to understand.Key Highlights[02:47] Looking At Employer Branding[04:46] Four Types of Media[05:47] The Idea of Employee Advocacy[07:33] Case Studies[11:19] My Thoughts On Branding[13:02] How Much Can Brands Control Their Branding?[13:28] The Heart of Employer Branding[16:20] Employer Branding Statistics[18:36] The Value of Employer Branding[20:42] How Social Media Can Help in Strengthening Employer Branding[22:15] Ways to Leverage Employees As Influences for Your Employer Brand Notable QuotesEvery time we engage with a customer, every employee is in essence advocating for us, right? They're a brand ambassador. A brand is a name, term designed symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's goods or service, as distinct from those of other sellers.The goal with branding is to make sure that perception is the one, you want people to have a view.It's up to you to shape how you want people to feel you always have to be proactive about your branding, to always be sculpting in a way that you want people to consider your brand.At the end of the day, when people share experiences about your product on social media, that is often going to define our perception of your brand.Your company also has a second brand related to its primary brand about how you're viewed as an employer. This is your employer brand and it lives and breathes in the minds and hearts of your former current and future employees.Without an employer brand, and many of you may not even have one, if you've never invested in it, it becomes difficult and costly, to hire and retain the best employees and you need, you need the best employees to advance your company.So the employer brand, which is it really should talk about your reputation as well, is a living and breathing entity that you need to continually invest in both hire and retain.But the same with marketing your product, it's all about how you want to be perceived in the marketplace, and using targeted messages to attract the customers you want.Links Mentioned:Episode 215: The Unique Relationship between Employer Branding, Employee Advocacy, Personal BrandingLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Now that we are slowly coming out of the pandemic, it's time to get back to doing more things in person. Networking is one of them, and while there are still a plethora of opportunities to engage online, the same can be said for in-person events. Learn all about how to grow your business through networking from master networker and communicator Dave Delaney.Key Highlights[01:22] Introduction of Podcast Guest, Dave Delaney[05:35] How Dave Got Into Networking[08:15] What Prompted Dave to Write A Book[10:46] Three Ups of Networking Nicely[12:08] How to Find Networking Events[14:48] How Events Can Help Grow Businesses[18:00] Start By Setting A Goal[20:44] How to Connect Your Business to the Event Without Being Salesly[25:27] Get Out of Your Comfort Zone[31:36] The Nice Method [38:53] Celebrating Life Outside Walls[44:13] Connect With Dave and How to Get A Copy of His BookNotable QuotesNetworking is a critical thing, not always easy to do. But there's this, there's this idea that if we do it and we do it, well, it's going to lead the business. Find an association or a group. So do a Google search or whatever for the association related to your industry specifically, and then attend their event.When you're there, you need to speak to people, so you need to meet people. And a good way to do that is just simply to ask people, you know, what brings them to that event. As you're speaking to someone, the goal is to be as quiet as possible, so that you can get to know them, and ask them follow up questions.Just showing genuine interest in other people is always going to be a positive thing.It all comes down to people don't do business with businesses, typically, they do business with humans, right? It's about building relationships first.With networking, I do believe that it really is a matter of planting seeds. So hearing your team is a big part of providing feedback, but also recognition and recognizing your team members, a lot of people quit their jobs because they don't get any recognition.It's about the reputation of your organization. And if your team members, especially leadership, are doing a poor job leading and upsetting their your team members, they quit.Guest Links:Dave Delaney (Website): https://www.davedelaney.me/Dave Delaney (LinkedIn):  https://www.linkedin.com/in/davedelaney/Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Hi! My name is Neal Schaffer and I am Your Digital Marketing Coach! If you haven't subscribed yet, please listen to my trailer to find out more about what this podcast is about! You can also learn more about me here by clicking any of these links:WebsitePodcast WebsiteAmazonLinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubePinterestLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

I had an awesome time at the world's largest event dedicated to podcasters and podcasting for business: Podcast Movement 2022 in Dallas, Texas.Since you are listening to this podcast, you already know how compelling a medium podcasting can be. But what are the newest trends and technology you should be aware of if you are a content creator or looking into tapping into podcasting for your business?Look no further - just listen to my report and you'll feel as if you attended the event yourself!Key Highlights[02:23] Upcoming Marketing Conferences[04:07] What I Learned At Podcast Movement 2022[06:07] Success Is About Consistency[06:51] Podcast Statistics[08:38] 2 Best Ways to Promote Podcast[14:11] It's All About Video[16:14] Tiktok Takeaway[18:15] What Do Successful Podcasters Do?[19:21] Use Email With Your Podcast[21:35] An Interesting Shift in Podcasting[23:32] What Is Patreon?[25:32] Another Trend in Podcasting[28:29] Podcasting Is Special[30:18] How to Contact Me For Podcasting AdviceNotable QuotesIn podcasting, success is really about consistency.There's always this aspect that we need to be consistent for a period of time until we see the results. And podcasting is no different. But what I think it means for all of you if you've been thinking about a podcast, there's always never a better time. But you're never too late because most people just quit. So if you have ideas, and I urge you to map out your ideas for 10, 20, 30 episodes, and if you're going to interview people, who are those people are going to be map it out and implement. And I think going forward, you're going to hear a lot more of these ads on podcasts as more micro and nano influencer podcasters like myself, get into the action for whatever reason, but it was a reminder that advertising is really alive and well in podcasting.It might be a great way if you're thinking of doing podcasting, but also want to increase the benefits of doing so is to think video from the start not as an afterthought. And I think that'll help you actually create better videos.Leveraging your community as well, which might be the third different way to help get reviews shared on social media, whatever that specific call to action is. And whatever way you can creatively bring it up. So that it will really encourage, if not incentivize people to do that. Do you need to be everywhere? No. If you're able to be in multiple places, you can leverage that especially if you are a content creator.I started podcasting as a content marketing initiative. But it has led me to develop a really, really personal relationship with you. Even though we've never met in person. Podcasting is a unique, human-centric, medium, unparalleled with any other medium out there in teLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

YouTube can be a powerful force in digital marketing when leveraged correctly. Many businesses just use YouTube as a place to upload their videos, but when used strategically, YouTube can generate video views in the thousands (if not millions) that can lead to massive business for those that get it.Joining me today is the person that I can honestly call the world's expert on YouTube marketing, author of The YouTube Formula, Derral Eves. Listening to this very special episode will give you all you need to start leveraging YouTube as a strategic marketing channel.Key Highlights[02:17] Introduction of Podcast Guest, Derral Eves[05:41] How Derral Got Into YouTube[08:09] Derral's Love and Passion for Marketing[14:06] An Example of Brand That Leveraged User Generated Content[18:10] Doing Preparatory Things[24:03] Paying Attention to YouTube Analytics Data[32:46] Getting to the Tipping Point of YouTube?[38:01] Darrel's Advice on Making Sure People Stay in Your VideosNotable QuotesThat's how I've been able to generate over 86 billion video views on YouTube and have some of the biggest successes because we focus on the viewer and that viewers journey through the video.I think that's what brands need to do I think we get so fixated on our product or service, that we miss how the product or service could be demonstrated to a wide general more of audience and really refined, and I've worked with so many businesses, that, that they have a great product, but they don't know how to explain it, they don't know how to get it out for the world, instead of saying, Look, you know, we have a great product, but how are we going to explain it in a way that brings value to people.And so a lot of this stuff comes back through creativity, but I think it goes back down to that advice is just lock yourself in a room for a couple of days and really focus on how you bring value to the general audience and how do you narrow it down to your target audience? And then how do you get the target audience to engage enough that they become your army promoting your products. We need to do more preparatory things at the beginning instead of reactionary.The more that you can resonate with your vision, mission purpose, around anything, that's where some magic can happen down the road.But I found that it takes a good solid year of consistently posting to start seeing some momentum. If you're looking at the right type of data, if you're not looking at the right type of data, or you're not bringing value to a specific viewer, and you're all over the place, it could take a millennia before you even see any progress.You can get very tactical with YouTube ads, and you can do it for very cheap to get into all the people that just watch the videos that you don't even have to serve as anyone else. Guest Links:Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Regardless of whether we personally like Facebook or not, it is still one of the biggest players in social media and its presence cannot be ignored.While this episode gives you some organic Facebook marketing advice as well, most businesses use Facebook as a pay-to-play platform and reap the benefits of doing so.You're probably already running campaigns on Facebook, but I am hoping that you can find a few things to focus on from this episode.Key Highlights[02:30] Facebook Statistics[04:12] Don't Give Up On Facebook[04:55] Ways Savvy Businesses Are Using Facebook[07:30] Why Facebook Is Still the Preferred Place for Marketers to Run Paid Ads[10:44] 3 Main Campaigns Most My Clients Use for Different Purposes[12:22] Different Ways of Leveraging Audiences[16:22] Narrowing Target Audience[17:31] Leveraging Custom Audiences[18:49] Facebook Ad Library[20:59] Think Mobile First[21:59]  Speak to Pain Points and Emotions[23:11] Consider Coupons[24:44] Leverage User-Generated & Influencer-Generated Content[26:04] Test Different Ad Formats[27:44] Create Ad Funnels[29:28] Always Perform AB TestingNotable QuotesYou don't know until you have the data. And the algorithm is always changing. So I would definitely not give up on Facebook and really, going into next year really do a reset on your content strategy there. But Facebook groups are a great way to develop deeper relationships with all these people that count to your business. And that's something I just wanted to make sure that you're considering as well, if you haven't done that already, for one or multiple types of these categories of people that are important to your business.Facebook ads are there's nothing social about Facebook ads, and they don't incite word of mouth. But when done right, they obviously can bring people back to your website, you can retarget them, you can generate leads, and ultimately you can generate business from them.So lean into big data, lean into Facebook data, lead into their algorithm and start targeting purchasers are including it as another filter in the audience targeting that you're doing.Be aware of that in your ad copy and make it look like the targeting is as natural as possible. Otherwise, that campaign may just backfire against you.You create attachment through emotion. You know, when you speak to pain points, you're also trying to get people to remember that they have a need for your product as well.But we need to think of customer lifetime value. We're not thinking about the single purchase. But when we have new customers, how many times they end up purchasing from us. Optimize ad campaigns for people wherever they are in your funnel with the intention of bringing them to the next step. And alLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

We have been hearing more and more a out Web3 and the so-called Ownership Economy, but what does it mean and how can it concretely be applied to marketing our product?Enter Ovi Negrean, Co-Founder of the social media management tool SocialBee, who has recently launched a new product, ACE Meetings, which has integrated Web3 as a core component of its product. Learn all about this fascinating case study and see how you can put the power of Web3 to use for marketing your business!Key Highlights[02:19] Introduction to Podcast Guest, Ovi Negrean[05:40] How Ovi Got Into Software and Entrepreneurship[10:12] Launching New Product[13:02] What is Web3 Space?[17:54] The Process and Tools of Integrating A Product Into Web3[20:39] The Value of Getting Into NFT Space[24:38] Group Ownership With Ovi's Product[28:44] Co-founding Decision[30:05] Group Decision Influence[35:06] Managing The Community[37:58] What is Discord[41:06] Connect With oviNotable QuotesSocial media is just like one part of the whole marketing toolkit. And it's actually maybe depending on your profile, not even the most important part. We want to take the same approach that we did with with social be where we are offering our own flavor of something which maybe is existing, but nevertheless, we try to make it a bit better, have good customer support and good price. And try to innovate around the edges.At the end of the day as any tools, some people will use it for good and some some for bad, but I think is a tool that will definitely change the world in the upcoming years.But offering some sort of ownership to a startup will really incentivize the early adopters.I think for the community, and for that ownership and getting people more active and passionate about your product. That's really the key thing.I think the community part is, even though it's now it's web three, it's still the same type of community building. Sure, maybe the tools have changed a bit, maybe it's not Facebook groups anymore, but it's discord or telegram channels and so on. But it's still interacting with other human beings and trying to, to see what are the shared values and the shared visions that you have, why you bought or all of you came together in this, this specific community, and how you can support each other. Guest Links:SocialBee: https://nealschaffer.com/socialbee (affiliate link)Ace Meetings: https://useace.com/meetings/Ovi Negrean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovidiunegrean/Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com