Author: admin

Dr. Seuss Knew “Thing 1” or “Thing 2” about Great Marketing

Posted on by admin

Dr Seuss, the beloved children’s writer, introduced the world to Green Eggs & Ham, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and, of course, the incorrigible Cat in the Hat.

Countless children (of all ages!) can recite the poetry they listened to and learned to read themselves thanks to some clever tricks Theodor Seuss Geisel shared with all of us in his 60-some books

On the occasion of his birthday, the world celebrated Dr Seuss Day on March 2. In the world of digital marketing, it’s a good time to reflect on writing that sells. Indeed, Dr Seuss’ rhyming and sing songwriting style captivated so many. It was very much a marketing ploy that kept people buying books.

First, Dr Seuss followed one of the most oft-repeated pieces of advice (Thank you, Strunk & White). He omitted needless words. In fact, he often set himself to a limit of only 50 words per book. He decided if he couldn’t get the message out clearly in 50 words, children wouldn’t be entertained.

Some pretty good advice.

Seuss used easy-to-remember simple words along with rhyme, repetition and alliteration. He created new words, too. One need not go further than The Lorax: Once-ler, snergelly, truffula and Bar-ba-loots. The genius writer did what all great writers do. He used words to paint a picture, even when the picture he was describing was one he invented himself!

So, what can we learn from Dr Seuss as it relates to communication? Plenty.

1. To be effective at marketing, you need to tap into the customer’s memory.

Seuss knew that rhyming does that in spades. For example, Nationwide is on your______. Do you even do business with Nationwide? But you do know what they sell, right? How about this one: “Takes a licking and keeps on______.”  The best part of waking up is ______ in your cup.”

2. Repetition is key. 

Time to make the donuts. Time to make the donuts.

We aren’t just talking about words here. Concepts draw a bigger picture, too. When it comes to branding, being repetitive, though not obnoxious, solidifies understanding of the entire story.  Add in a bit of alliteration (repeating the first consonant sound) goes a long way to creating lasting memories.

3. Bring your copy to life with exciting words!

Marketing copy can’t be boring or no one will read it. This isn’t a school. No one HAS to read your content and they can bounce from your website quicker than the Cat in the Hat can cause mischief.

The truth is, when Dr Seuss began writing his books, kids were reading Dick and Jane in school. Sure, those school books offered simple words and repetition. But they didn’t spark the attention and interest of young readers. When Dr Seuss introduced the Cat in the Hat, children were mesmerized. Reading became fun!

This is the bottom line when it comes to digital marketing copy. Have a message. Say it with flair. Then, say it again and again. Make your brand memorable so people will talk about it. Then they’ll tell two friends and they’ll tell two friends, and so on and so on…

Harmonia Media is different from the other digital marketing firms out there. We Care. (See what I did there?) I did it again, with not a moment to spare!

OK, OK. I’m done. However, we have plenty to talk about when it comes to your marketing strategy. Give Harmonia Media a call for a free consultation and website checkup. If you dare….

How to Make Your Website a Can’t-Miss Lead Magnet

Posted on by admin

Way before the Internet, when marketing was all about TV and radio commercials as well as print display advertising, we were told a consumer had to hear and/or see your message up to 10 times before they remembered it and digested it well enough to take action.

Thanks to the Internet, times have surely changed. Now there are so many more factors that go into clicking to buy.

First, we have to consider that the Internet is our main source of information. Not everyone, in fact, almost no one, visits any particular site with the initial intention of making a purchase. In fact, according to a study released by Episerver:

  • 92 per cent of people will land on a website simply searching for information about a product
  • 25 per cent of web searchers are simply kicking tires and doing price comparisons
  • One in 10 people is just trying to find out more about a particular store.

With those facts considered, it’s critical to create a “lead magnet” with your website so consumers remember you, think about asking for referrals to your brand, and actually come back to learn more and make a purchase.

What is a Lead Magnet?

A lead magnet is something that you offer to consumers in return for their contact information. The tangible could be a list of tips, a video, an e-book or a white paper — anything they can download (for free!)

Once you get their email address you can begin a conversation. You can send them nurturing emails, coupons, important, useful information and anything else that you can use to bring them back to your website and buy, buy, buy!!

Great, Accurate Website Content is Key

To figure out the best way to create a quality lead magnet, one that will drive traffic to your “contact us” page and convince people to fill it out looking for more information (or a download or some other goodie), we can look at the reasons why people fail to convert. (They either don’t click to add to cart or they abandon their cart before closing the deal.)

The same Episerver report detailed, in fact, that the vast majority of customer website visits fail to result in a purchase. Why? Shoppers say they bounce because of poor content — there is either incomplete information listed or completely inaccurate information on the website.

This makes it clear. One of the most important ways to get people to click to buy, or at least click to ask questions, is to make sure your content is not only high-quality (Google will thank you) but factual, descriptive, compelling and accurate.

Ready, set? Fill out Harmonia Media’s convenient online contact form and we’ll take a look at your website and tell you how we can turn it into a lead magnet that will drive traffic and business to new heights! (Or, pick up the phone: (855) 535-4848 — there is no time like the present!)

So Don’t Buy a Greeting Card…

Posted on by admin

Valentine’s Day.

I get that some people think it’s a Hallmark Holiday. They take a stand, refusing to acknowledge a day set aside for love.

Even several of the people I hold most dear expressed those thoughts when I said “Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you!” this morning.

But I have news for you. We spend 365 days a year moaning and b*tching about politics and work and children. We discuss crap like “Who’s going to host the Oscars,” like it’s our job!

A day doesn’t go by where my Facebook feed is not filled with acrimonious posts about all kinds of things that make me consider unplugging. In fact, I hesitate daily to post or repost things for fear that it’s going to start an unwanted debate. (It’s not that I don’t like to debate. If you know me, you know that I do.) However. I don’t want to lose friends over politics, nor do I want to waste precious time arguing with people who can’t see past their own point of view.

I’m at a point in my life where my friends, my Valentines, are far more valuable than all of that.

So, I ask: why is it so important to some people that Valentine’s Day is labelled and cast aside as a  Hallmark Holiday?

Of all the things it’s worth taking a stand about, is Valentine’s Day really one of them?

Why is it so abhorrent to take one day to actually express the love and gratitude you have for people around you? That’s not to say that you shouldn’t express love and gratitude on the other 364 days. You should!

But really, do you?

Do you take the time on all of the other days of the year to recognize the people in your life who make your life what it is? The people you would really give your heart to and the people whose heart you hope you have a place in? Do you Express those feelings?

How about we give each other a break? Fight over a wall or something and back off of the one day a year we are actually — literally — surrounded by hearts.

How is it possible that you can’t get behind that?

If it makes you feel better,  don’t buy a greeting card. Don’t buy roses. Don’t buy candy. Don’t buy balloons. Leave those items for the romantics among us.

But don’t ignore the fact that this is, manufactured or not, one day to acknowledge the people in our lives who make life worth living.

Ask the people in Parkland or Columbine or Sandy Hook or Orlando or Pittsburgh or Charleston… they’ll tell you: life is too short not to say “I love you” as often as you possibly can.

Just as your love needs attention all the time, so does your digital marketing plan. You need to nurture your marketing strategy all year long. Show your website some love. Don’t have time? We care enough to make the time! Contact Harmonia Media to learn how we will care for your brand 365 days a year. No chocolate or flowers necessary.

Word of Mouth is Where It’s At

Posted on by admin

Remember the days when you weren‘t “connected” 24/7? Most people don’t. And with the hyper high-tech connectivity comes a resurgence of old school word of mouth marketing.

However, there’s one big difference these days. The old “tell two friends and they’ll tell two friends and so on and so on” mentality is now exponentially farther-reaching. One social media post can be read,  watched and heard around the world by countless friends and family in an instant.

What’s more, with the unlimited amount of competitors in a space, people aren’t buying anything without referrals to help them determine where and when to click to buy. In fact, if they had to choose one factor they rely on when making purchase decisions, half of Americans say they would get referrals before taking the plunge. This underscores the importance of word of mouth.

Further, it’s clearly important that when people talk about your company, customer support and products/services, they are should be singing your praises. Complaints travel just as fast, if not faster, than the good stuff!

It is also important to know that “second-person” referrals are just as vital as the first word of mouth mentions. In fact, a second-hand mention shows word of your company is, indeed, travelling. It means one person told another and they are now referring you, based on their friend’s word.

If people share those good words online, it becomes digital marketing gold!

If your reputation could use a bit of shine, talk to us about getting the word out by putting your best foot forward. We also can help with managing your online reputation.

Contact Harmonia Media for a free phone confirmation today.

What’s Your Brand Personality?

Posted on by admin

Just like every individual has a personality (you don’t have to like them, but you have to accept that it’s who they are!) so do companies. In fact, it’s extremely important for a business owner to craft a unique brand personality to ensure the company stands out from the crowd of competitors in vision, appeal and conversation.

Conversation? YES! When you are doing business on the web, just like in person, you only get one opportunity to make a first impression. The difference between online and real life? Your digital marketing message is the first impression would-be customers get of your brand on the web.

At an in-person networking meeting, a guest may see your hair, your clothing and how you carry yourself. First impression. You have the ability to craft that message before you leave your office. And, you can alter it as you see fit.

Online, what they see is what they get and, unless you are tweaking your website and social media platforms again…and again…and again… all day long, you need to make sure that the essence off your brand personality comes off strong and clear.

What is your brand personality? It’s the experience people have when they do business with you.

And, it needs to truly represent your intentions. It can’t just be thrown up there for the sake of having a website or a Facebook page. Remember, you get one chance to tell the world who you are for the very first time each time a new prospect finds your webpage.

Before you can use your brand personality to the greatest advantage, you need to discover what it will be going forward. You need to be clear about it and able to communicate it the same way you would share an “elevator pitch” in person with someone you want to get to know.

  • Do you see your company as more fun or serious?
  • Is your business modern, traditional, tech-y?
  • Are you youthful or mature, friendly or more professional?
  • Is the business budget-friendly or high-end?

Once you have given thoughtful consideration to these traits and others, you can hone a brand personality that truly represents your offering. Then, you can convey that personality online so people who are looking to do business with companies like yours can find you!

Harmonia Media can help you determine your brand personality and even change one you have if you would prefer to come across differently. We will create a branding strategy that complements your style and use our expertise to make sure prospects find you online.

Let’s get started! Contact us today to schedule a free phone consultation at (855) 535-4848.

New Year, New Website Content!

Posted on by admin

If you are a business owner, you likely have one of three thoughts about your company’s website.

  • You LOVE it! You just spent a ton of dough to update it and it looks freakin’ awesome.
  • You HATE it! Maybe you never liked it or maybe it is old and worn out. It’s not working to drive new customers.
  • You don’t really care one way or another because you only have a website because someone told you that you need one. It doesn’t do anything anyway so why bother to care.

I have news for you. Regardless of how you feel about your website, if you aren’t paying attention to it — and I mean constant attention — it will never make you money. (Don’t have time to pay attention to your website? Skip to the end of this blog post NOW!)

It’s absolutely true that you need a properly optimized website that drives traffic to your brand. And, once they arrive on your digital doorstep, customers must be compelled to take action (calls to action.) The whole site needs to work properly and look appealing because if it doesn’t, you’ll quickly chase away any prospect who finds you in the first place. (You’ve got plenty of competition only a click or two away!)

So, that brings me to fresh content. Adding new content often to your site — new pages and an active blog — does several great things for your business.

  1. Google loves fresh content.

Every time you add new content or update what’s already there, Google takes notice. The search engine bots (or web crawlers) will stop by to check you out (on the back end, of course!) When you get attention from search engines, you have the chance to achieve higher rankings in organic search. This means that people can find you more quickly when they search for something you sell.

  1. Become (and remain!) an Authority Site

Google designates Authority Sites based on the quality of content offered and how often new content is added. If you are adding high-quality content that offers valuable information for people, your site has the potential to gain greater authority online. It stands to reason that the better the content is, posted often, the chances of becoming an authority site increase substantially.

  1. Engage Your Audience

This is the most simple of concepts to understand when it comes to why you need to keep your site fresh and exciting with new content (content, by the way, includes words, images, video, etc.)

Think about the last time you did a web search for a piece of information you needed or a product/service you were interested in purchasing. When you find a site that is out of date, do you stay and search for information or do you immediately think, “what else is out there?”

Admit it. You bounce — and quickly.

If the last blog post on a website is from months (or dare I say years ago), it’s a sure sign that the company is ignoring its customers online. They might as well hang up a “Closed for Business” sign and go home.

This is the year your company is going to SHINE! We want to help you do that by making sure that your website is everything you need to attract customers and compel them to make contact.

At Harmonia Media, we do things a bit differently than our competition. We are honest and straightforward. We have no interest in selling you something you don’t need. And, like you, we pride ourselves on customer service.

Talk to Harmonia about your digital marketing strategy and you’ll never have to worry about your website again. We are offering free initial phone consultations for new prospects. Contact us now to schedule your free consultation.

Crazy Facts About Digital Marketing

Posted on by admin

The world is spinning faster than the speed of light and facts and figures are coming at us so rapidly, it’s hard to know what to even pay attention to these days.

But, sometimes, you read about something and it can stop you in your tracks. For example, how can it be possible that:

80% of small businesses in the United States are not fully using the Internet to grow their companies?

I KNOW, right? But it’s true. According to Google/Deloitte & Touche research, “80 per cent of  U.S. small businesses that are not taking full advantage of digital tools” that would otherwise help them expand their reach, drive traffic to their websites and encourage more sales!

That being said, an interesting article in Newsday, revealed an eMarketer prediction about market spends in 2019: US companies are forecasted to spend $327 billion on digital advertising spend in the coming year.

That’s a whole lotta dough. The idea of that kind of money being spent without a proper marketing strategy that makes use of the countless digital tools out there seems just crazy dumb.

It’s a no-brainer. Every business looking to make money in 2019 must spend money on digital marketing. You don’t have a choice. You can’t compete in 2019 unless you are competing online. Period.

But there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. You don’t need to blow your budget on unnecessary strategies. You do, however, need a winning strategy if you expect to, well… win in 2019.

So, unless you have a marketing guru on board who is exceeding your expectations for bringing in new business, you should be partnering with a digital marketing company who will craft a strategy to help you spend your marketing dollars creatively and intelligently.

There are countless companies out here in the digital marketing world who would love to work with your business. Make sure you choose the one that’s right for you.

If you are a hands-on person, you want to be in-the-know all the time, find a company that is willing to work that way.

Perhaps you want to take a hands-off approach? Select a company that is ready to hit the ground running and do the work while you are focused on your everyday core business.

Regardless, we at Harmonia Media would love to find out if we are the right choice for you. Give us a call (855) 535-4848 at and let’s set up a free phone consultation. You won’t know until you know.

3 Ways to Increase Traffic (and Where to Get the BEST DANG BBQ)

Posted on by admin

In the summer of 2017, I drove down to Roanoke, Va., from New Jersey (a very long and boring ride, I might add) to attend a family wedding. It’s hard to keep me amused for short periods of time, nevermind HOURS on highways with nothing to see for miles and miles.

All of a sudden, on the drive, I noticed one lonely billboard. It read: “The Best Dang BBQ in Virginia: 20 Miles Ahead.”

I have to admit the use of the word “dang” entertained me for a bit but then I forgot about it. Until I saw another lonely billboard. “Seriously, you’ve never had BBQ like this. The BEST DANG BBQ.”

Hmmm… now I was interested but not only because I was getting hungry. This place actually had engaged me in a conversation of sorts. I was looking for the next billboard. Sure enough… I saw it. “NEXT EXIT: You’ll hate yourself if you miss the BEST DANG BBQ!”

OK, I was convinced. I needed to get there. So, we stopped for lunch and, damn, if it wasn’t a delicious BBQ brisket with spicy, awesome beans and a piece of buttery cornbread that I still think about to this day. (Smileys, by the way, is located in Raphine, Va. Take Exit 205 off of Interstate 81.)

The point of this story is rather simple if you aren’t being creative in driving customers to your website they won’t know you exist and will never have the chance to check you out.

3 Ways to Improve Web Traffic

1. Improve your content. 

It’s no secret that Google (and other search engines) are seeking out high-quality content and rewarding websites that have it. If you have poor, uninteresting content, your websites won’t rank well in search engine results. Bottom line: minimal traffic.

When it comes to keywords, narrow your focus to avoid the obvious and competitive keywords. When you try to rank for the most popular keywords, you are competing with every other company that sells what you sell. If you get a bit creative and think like someone who is searching for what you sell, you can get to the first page of search engine results faster.

Consider that the BEST DANG BBQ joint could compete with other places and possibly lose out if it used BBQ as a keyword. But, if it used a long-tail keyword, it would stand out in a crowd. Who else is using “best dang” as a keyword?

The key is to outsmart the competition and get ahead. Keeping up with others is not going to win the day. Seriously though, when everyone else is using “BBQ” as a keyword, selecting “tastiest meat in town” may get some attention.

2. Speed up your website

This isn’t rocket science. If your website loads slowly, no one has time for that. In fact, you want it to load in no more than five seconds. If it’s slower than that, the visitor is likely to bounce.

If you speed up your website’s loading time, rankings will improve and the result will be increased traffic.

3. Hire a better SEO firm

You chose them because of the price. Or because you knew the guy. Or because you needed a new website and you found a company that promised the world…but didn’t deliver. You aren’t alone. Too many companies, just like you, fall into this trap.

Companies that make promises such as “you’ll be on the first page of Google” are just trying to get you to sign a contract. No one can promise anything when it comes to Google. SEO is a process that must be managed constantly. There are best practices, for sure. But ultimately top page rankings are the result of a lot of hard work and trial and error.

Any company that promises you more than their very best efforts (and has a history of making clients happy) isn’t worth your time.

So, select a company that is honest and dedicated to your brand. Find a group that is willing to listen to your mission wholeheartedly and work to make your website a must-visit destination.

Give us a try! Harmonia Media would love the opportunity to discuss what’s been going wrong so we can do better. Call (855) 535-4848  today for a FREE phone consultation.

Want to Sell More? Connect with Customers Online

Posted on by admin

Want to Sell More? Connect with Customers Online

Connecting with your audience is the key to increasing sales.

Who are your audience? Customers! Anyone who wants to buys your product.

Where can you connect with them? Online.

A great digital marketing plan is a roadmap to making sure your customers and prospects can find you easily and quickly on the web.

I realize I’ve just simplified an entire business down to a few words. It’s not as easy as it sounds but it certainly isn’t brain surgery either.

3 Steps to Connecting with Your Customers

  • Have a clear understanding of how your product or service meets a need in the marketplace.
  • Create messaging that is interesting, funny, insightful, thought-provoking — anything that will attract attention and engage people and get them to click.
  • Use all tools at your disposal and load them with fantastic content that conveys your message (See No. 2) and uses strong CTAs (Calls to Action) to get them to ask for more information or, even better, buy!

Social Media is a great place to start. I know, I know. I’m not telling you something you don’t know. However, if FB and LI and IG and sound like alphabet soup to you, we invite you to find out how to have your soup online and eat it, too.

Harmonia Media’s expert content writers will make sure you are “open for business” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn — everywhere you need to be to get involved in the conversation your customers are having. We will post regularly, monitor chatter and do everything to create brand awareness and engage people in conversation. Learn more about bumping up your social media engagement is so important.

We can make sure your company is a shining star on social media while you are tending to your business. At Harmonia Media, we like to say that our clients get to focus on what they do best while we do what we do best: digital marketing!

Contact Harmonia Media today for a free phone consultation about your digital marketing strategy, SEO, content, social media and more. We’ve got you covered and we’re ready to start today.

 

Having Trouble Feeling Gratitude? Practice Makes Perfect

Posted on by admin

If being told you have to feel thankful on Thanksgiving feels a bit like when you were told as a child “to go hug Aunt Mary,” it’s completely understandable. Some people are going through struggles that cloud their view of what’s hopeful and what is worth their gratitude.

However, the first step is to try to think more positively every day. Thanksgiving, much like New Year’s Day, is a great first day of the rest of your life for this. Wake up on Thanksgiving with a smile. Think about all that’s worth being thankful for…even if it’s simply that you woke up! One of the easiest ways to feel gratitude is to think of someone you care about the most, you felt that right? It’s as easy as that.

Matt O’Grady, the founder of Harmonia Media, is also a fantastic coach who guides his clients by teaching them how to live in the present moment, release stress and feel thankful. It’s all about baby steps that lead to feeling great, happier and more successful.

You can learn more about finding gratitude through meditation, click to listen to Matt’s podcast: Deep Dive Meditation.

“Unfortunately, positive thinking can be extremely difficult to implement without a bit of help. By working the following tips into your everyday lives to open your mind to the whole world, you’ll be able to appreciate what already exists in your own life,” he said, noting “clearing the clutter, both physically and emotionally” is a great place to start.

In fact, he wrote a whole book on the subject, Living Gratitude: A Simple Path to Happiness, you can see more about it by clicking here.

From our family at Harmonia Media to yours, we thank all of our clients and we wish you a wonderful holiday and many things to be thankful for with family and friends each and every day.

Want More Business ?

Get in Touch NOW!