Agency Sonar, You have a new lead image. Lead Generation. Creative Mind Consulting Group

21 Nov

4 Ways to Maximize B2B Lead Generation Success with Agency Sonar

By Todd Sayles In Lead Generation, Marketing Tips / No Comments

Agency Sonar Lead Generation Tool image, Creative Mind Consulting Group

When it comes to B2B sales, staying ahead of the competition means leveraging tools that streamline lead generation and engagement. Agency Sonar is a powerhouse solution that transforms how you connect with prospective clients, making lead generation feel almost effortless. Here’s how Agency Sonar elevates your B2B efforts:

1. Go Beyond Form Fills for Lead Generation

Forget waiting for potential customers to submit contact forms. Agency Sonar uses cutting-edge analytics to track anonymous website visitors and identify the companies showing interest in your offerings. This proactive approach allows your sales team to focus on engaged leads rather than waiting for inbound inquiries.

By pinpointing specific companies visiting your site and analyzing their behavior, the tool empowers your team with actionable data, enabling smarter, faster outreach.

2. Access to Specific Contact Information

Knowing a company visited your site is great, but Agency Sonar’s lead generation doesn’t stop there. It provides the contact details of decision-makers within those companies, giving your sales reps direct access to the people that matter. This not only saves valuable time but also enhances your ability to personalize communications. Reaching out to a prospect who already showed interest on your site increases your chance of converting them into customers.

3. Insightful Analytics & Heatmaps

Agency Sonar’s dashboard gives you unparalleled insight into your website traffic. View visitor behaviors by week, day, or month, and use the heatmaps to track where they spent the most time on your site. For example, you can see which product pages or CTAs drew the most attention.

At our company, we use this data to fine-tune our website strategy—optimizing content and navigation to guide visitors toward our offers. These ongoing improvements directly boost conversions and ensure we deliver value to potential clients.

4. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Lead Generation Integration

Agency Sonar’s seamless CRM lead generation integration ensures all captured data flows effortlessly into your existing workflows. From there, you can nurture leads more effectively, tracking interactions and automating follow-ups. By engaging prospects during key moments in their buying journey, you increase your odds of success.

A B2B Lead Generation Game-Changer

Incorporating Agency Sonar into your B2B strategy is a game-changer. By identifying anonymous website visitors, connecting you directly with decision-makers, providing insightful analytics, and seamlessly integrating with your CRM, Agency Sonar ensures your sales efforts are smarter and more efficient. These features enable you to focus on high-quality leads, personalize your outreach, and optimize your website lead generation strategy to drive conversions. If staying ahead of the competition and maximizing your sales potential is your goal, Agency Sonar is the tool to take your B2B success to the next level.

End-of-Year Offer You Can’t Miss

Don’t miss your chance to try Agency Sonar risk-free with a 15-day free trial—no credit card required. This offer ends on December 31, 2024, so act fast to transform your sales pipeline. Sign up here and discover the difference Agency Sonar lead generation can make for your business!

Todd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others. His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, design and marketing consulting, creative design, online website development, content and design creation for digital media and print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We partner with companies to ultimately create brilliant results which feature inspired design.

Marketing Scheduling, Business Marketing for 2025, Creative Mind Consulting Group

31 Oct

5 Steps to Scheduling Your Business Marketing

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Website Refresh /

As a business owner, you’ve got a lot on your plate. The best intentions to market consistently are often swept aside as daily demands take over, leaving marketing to be done “when there’s time.” But here’s the truth: time for marketing doesn’t just magically appear, and without a schedule, marketing often falls through the cracks.

1. The Power of Planning to Schedule Your Business Marketing

Scheduling your marketing isn’t just a “nice-to-have” habit—it’s a powerful strategy that sets your business up for consistent growth. By planning ahead, you ensure your brand remains visible, your messaging aligns with your goals, and your campaigns are primed for maximum impact. Here’s why scheduling your business marketing can be a game-changer:

Increases Brand Visibility: With scheduled posts and campaigns, your brand shows up regularly, keeping you top of mind with your audience and making it easier to build a loyal customer base.
Boosts Engagement & Conversions: Scheduled marketing enables you to reach your audience at optimal times, maximizing engagement and driving higher conversion rates for each campaign.
Supports Sustainable Growth: Planning marketing in advance allows for more consistent, strategic content that fuels growth without burnout, keeping your brand strong and vibrant in the long term.
Streamlines Workflow & Saves Time: Scheduling in advance helps you stay organized, making it easier to allocate resources effectively, meet deadlines, and reduce last-minute scrambling.

When marketing is thoughtfully scheduled, you’re not only creating structure; you’re setting your business up for steady growth, increased visibility, and improved engagement.

2. Why Scheduling Matters for Business Marketing

Consistency is Key

Marketing isn’t a “one-and-done” effort. It’s a continuous process of building connections, delivering value, and staying top-of-mind with your audience. When your business consistently shows up with valuable, engaging content, your audience learns to trust you. Over time, that trust becomes loyalty, and that loyalty turns into sales.

Imagine posting on social media every Wednesday, sending out an email newsletter once a month, and publishing a blog post every other week. Each scheduled touchpoint reinforces your brand and keeps you front and center for customers who might need your products or services.

Efficient Use of Resources

When you don’t have a marketing schedule, every campaign or content piece feels like starting from scratch. Scheduling allows you to batch your efforts, which is a massive time saver. For example, you can set aside one day each month to plan social media posts, another day to write content for your blog, and another to prepare your email campaigns.

Batching also helps you manage resources more effectively. Instead of allocating budget or time piecemeal for last-minute campaigns, scheduling lets you allocate resources consistently, reducing stress and making better use of your time and team’s efforts.

Stay Ahead of Competitors

Imagine it’s November, and you’ve already planned your holiday promotions and content schedule. Meanwhile, your competitors are just starting to think about it. By scheduling in advance, you can roll out seasonal promotions and content right when your customers are starting to shop, ensuring that you’re capturing attention early and maximizing your reach.

Scheduling also allows your business to align with trends or industry events, giving you an edge over competitors who may not be as prepared. A little advanced planning goes a long way in creating a strong presence that’s ready to seize opportunities as they arise.

Room for Adaptability

Marketing schedules aren’t rigid rules—they’re guidelines that give you a foundation. Having a schedule in place lets you see what works, measure its impact, and make adjustments based on real results. Maybe your weekly email newsletter is getting higher engagement than anticipated. With a schedule, you can make a quick adjustment, putting more focus on these high-impact channels.

Likewise, scheduling allows you to monitor trends and add timely updates, ensuring that your marketing remains relevant without scrambling to create content at the last minute.

3. Key Elements to Schedule for Success

Create a Content Calendar

A content calendar is your best friend in creating a steady stream of content without overwhelming your audience. It lets you plan posts for various platforms, whether social media, blogs, or newsletters, ensuring there’s always fresh content ready to go. This helps build engagement and lets you measure what content types are resonating most with your audience.

Develop Campaign Phases

Every campaign has stages, like pre-launch excitement, the main launch, and post-campaign follow-up. Scheduling these phases ensures each part of the campaign gets the attention it deserves. Rather than a single launch post, a scheduled plan can stretch the message over time, reinforcing your brand’s presence and keeping your audience engaged throughout the campaign.

Follow-Up and Engage

Once you’ve caught your audience’s attention, it’s essential to keep the momentum going. Scheduled follow-ups to customer inquiries, gentle reminders for upcoming promotions, or scheduled check-ins ensure that your brand remains in contact with potential customers. It’s a way to nurture leads and build strong relationships that often lead to sales.

4. Real-World Impact

A well-scheduled marketing strategy has a measurable impact. Here are a couple of examples:

Example 1: A business sets up a quarterly customer appreciation campaign, highlighting customer stories and offering exclusive discounts. Scheduled regularly, these campaigns lead to a 20% increase in customer loyalty and new word-of-mouth referrals.
Example 2: A small company plans a monthly behind-the-scenes content post, giving their audience a glimpse into their processes and team culture. Over time, these scheduled posts drive a steady increase in followers who appreciate the transparency, contributing to steady audience growth.

5. Tools and Tips to Get Started

You don’t need an elaborate system to start scheduling; simple tools like Google Calendar, Trello, or Buffer for social media posts can help you stay organized and consistent. Start by identifying your highest-impact channels (like email or social media) and create a basic schedule. Start small—just a post a week or a monthly email—and expand as you get comfortable.

Invest in Structure to Grow

Scheduling isn’t about locking yourself into a rigid routine. It’s about creating a reliable structure that allows your business to grow and adapt smoothly. When marketing is scheduled, you free up valuable time, eliminate stress, and maintain a strong, steady presence that keeps your audience engaged.

So start today! Set up a simple schedule, start small, and watch as consistent, thoughtful marketing moves your business forward, one scheduled step at a time.

Sign up for a 15-minute Consultation to Kick off your 2025 Marketing Schedule

Ready to supercharge your marketing for 2025? Schedule a 15-mninute meeting with us to help us get a start to a plan for you. We’ll then use our specialized calendar to fill out the marketing activities for the first three months of 2025. We can take some time to discuss the bigger marketing picture too if you have time for that. You’ll also receive our easy to use annual marketing planner. The service is valued at over $350.

24 Oct

Unlocking Marketing Success Through Tracking

By Todd Sayles In Website Refresh /

In today’s marketplace, businesses need more than just good ideas to thrive—they need actionable insights. That’s where analytics come into play. By tracking data and understanding the performance of various marketing strategies, companies can optimize their efforts, make informed decisions, and drive faster growth. Whether your goal is to boost online presence or expand your client base, analytics provide the roadmap to success.

At Creative Mind Consulting Group, we’ve demonstrated the power of analytics with many businesses. Just last week, we helped GNEC, one of our clients, increase their website traffic by 79% in just one quarter. This led to a 31% increase in loan form fill completions. The difference? We leveraged data to determine the best approach to drive those form fills.

Why Analytics Are Essential for Growth

Every marketing strategy requires evaluation. Is it working? Could it work better? Analytics answer these questions by revealing what’s effective and what’s not. Without these insights, businesses are left to guess, often wasting valuable time and resources on campaigns that don’t deliver results.

Key metrics analytics can track include:

Website traffic and user behavior
Performance of email campaigns, TV or radio advertising, social media ads, and other digital marketing efforts
The effectiveness of strategies for specific target audiences
Conditions under which marketing efforts perform best

These insights don’t just improve the effectiveness of current campaigns—they lay the foundation for sustained future growth.

Using Analytics to Stay Competitive

In a highly competitive marketplace, businesses need every advantage. Analytics provide that edge by enabling companies to:

Make real-time adjustments based on data
Identify emerging trends and respond to market shifts more quickly
Tailor marketing strategies to meet audience needs with greater precision

This ability to remain agile allows businesses to refine their efforts continuously. Without analytics, it’s easy to fall behind in an ever-changing marketplace.

What If You Don’t Have Data?

If you’re starting from scratch, don’t worry—everyone begins somewhere. Start by gathering key stakeholders in a meeting this month, in October, and plan for changes to be implemented by January 1. Reconnect with potential leads, set clear goals, and identify the data points you’ll need to track.

At first, the numbers might look small, and that’s okay. Focus on incremental improvements. Rather than obsessing over month-to-month changes, shift your focus to quarter-to-quarter analysis. Partner with a marketing expert who can advise you on when to adjust and when to stay the course, ensuring you’ll reach your goals in no time.

Conclusion: Data-Driven Decisions Lead to Growth

If you’re not yet using analytics or tracking key data points as part of your marketing strategy, now is the perfect time to start. Tracking data helps you understand what’s working, where to improve, and how to stay competitive. At Creative Mind Consulting Group, we’ve seen firsthand how data can transform businesses—whether it’s increasing website traffic or significantly growing a client base.

In today’s complex, fast-paced business landscape, intuition alone isn’t enough. You need data-driven decisions to fuel growth, and you need the right team to leverage that data for better results. Don’t leave your success to chance—let analytics guide you toward lasting success.

Call to Action

Ready to supercharge your marketing for 2025? Let us help you fill out the marketing activities for the first three months of 2025. We can take some time to discuss the bigger marketing picture too if you have time for that. You’ll also receive our easy to use annual marketing planner. The service is valued over $350.

online presence picture with man pointing to the words.

16 Oct

Why a Professional Online Presence Matters

By Todd Sayles In Website Refresh /

First Impressions Matter

In the digital age, the first impression often happens online. Before visiting a hospital or contacting a commercial real estate firm, potential patients or clients are likely to search for you online. What they find—or don’t find—can significantly influence their perception of your services. A polished, professional online presence helps ensure that first impression is positive.

Example:
Consider a local business owner looking for a commercial real estate company to help them lease a new retail space. They find two companies online: one with a comprehensive website showcasing their available properties, client testimonials, market reports, and successful case studies, and another with a minimal web presence. The business owner is more likely to trust and engage with the company that has a more professional and detailed online presence.

Builds Credibility and Trust

A professional online presence helps establish credibility and trust. When local hospitals or commercial real estate companies present themselves professionally online, it signals to potential patients and clients that they are legitimate, reliable, and committed to their field. This is particularly important for local hospitals aiming to assure potential patients of their quality of care or commercial real estate firms looking to establish their reputation in a competitive market.

Example:
Imagine a local hospital that has a robust online presence with a well-designed website featuring detailed information about their services, physician profiles, patient testimonials, and health resources. This kind of content not only showcases their expertise but also helps build trust with potential patients looking for reliable healthcare services. Similarly, a commercial real estate company that shares success stories, market insights, and professional achievements online can build credibility with businesses looking for a knowledgeable partner in their property search.

Increases Visibility and Reach

Having a professional online presence can dramatically increase your visibility and reach. Through search engines, social media platforms, and online directories, you can reach a broader audience than traditional marketing methods. A well-optimized website, active social media profiles, and positive online reviews all contribute to making you more discoverable to those searching for your services or expertise.

Example:
A commercial real estate company that regularly updates its website with new property listings, market trend reports, and blog posts on commercial real estate news will attract more potential clients searching for commercial spaces in their area. Meanwhile, a local hospital that actively uses social media to share health tips, community events, and patient stories can expand its reach and attract new patients seeking trustworthy healthcare providers.

Showcases Your Expertise and Skills

Your online presence is an opportunity to showcase your expertise and skills. Through content such as blog posts, videos, webinars, and case studies, you can demonstrate your knowledge and experience in your industry. This positions you as a thought leader and a valuable resource in your field, which can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.

Example:
A commercial real estate company could use its blog to share insights on market trends, tips for leasing commercial properties, and case studies of successful deals. By consistently providing valuable content, they position themselves as an expert resource in the commercial real estate industry, attracting more clients who value their expertise. Similarly, a hospital can share informative articles about new treatments, patient success stories, or preventive care tips to highlight their medical expertise and commitment to patient education.

Enhances Customer Engagement and Relationships

A professional online presence enables better customer engagement and relationship-building. Through social media platforms, blogs, and email newsletters, businesses and individuals can communicate directly with their audience, gather feedback, and build stronger connections. Engaging with your audience online shows that you value their input and are committed to providing excellent service.

Example:
A commercial real estate company can use LinkedIn and Twitter to share market updates, new property listings, and company achievements. By engaging with followers through comments and direct messages, they can build a network of potential clients and partners who appreciate the timely information and personal interaction. Likewise, a local hospital could use Facebook and Instagram to engage with the community by sharing health tips, answering patient questions, and promoting local health events, fostering a sense of community and trust.

Supports Career Growth and Opportunities

For professionals, having a professional online presence is crucial for career growth and opportunities. A strong presence on platforms like LinkedIn can help you connect with industry peers, recruiters, and potential clients. Regularly updating your profile with achievements, skills, and endorsements can enhance your professional image and open doors to new career opportunities.

Example:
A commercial real estate professional could maintain an active LinkedIn profile featuring their latest transactions, market insights, and endorsements from satisfied clients. They could also participate in relevant online groups and discussions, increasing their visibility to potential clients and collaborators. Similarly, a hospital’s HR team could use LinkedIn to highlight job openings, company culture, and employee achievements, attracting top talent and fostering a positive employer brand.

Conclusion

A professional online presence is no longer optional; it’s essential for success in today’s digital world. Whether you are a local hospital looking to attract more patients or a commercial real estate company seeking new clients, a strong online presence can help you achieve your goals. By building a professional website, optimizing social media profiles, creating valuable content, engaging with your audience, and managing your online reputation, you can establish a credible and effective online presence that sets you apart from the competition.

Call to Action

Ready to enhance your online presence? Contact us today to learn how we can help you build and maintain a professional online presence that drives results.

social media image with phone, Creative Mind Consulting Group, Montclair, NJ

09 Oct

The Advantages of Adding Social Media into Your Marketing Strategy

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends, Social Media Marketing, Web Design, Website Refresh /

In today’s fast-paced digital world, adding social media to your marketing strategy is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Social media platforms give businesses the ability to connect with their audience, increase brand visibility, and boost sales in ways that traditional channels simply can’t match. By incorporating social media, you can expand your reach, engage directly with customers, and gather invaluable insights that will enhance your marketing efforts. In this post, we’ll explore the key benefits of integrating social media into your overall marketing plan.

1. Amplified Brand Awareness

Social media opens the door to reaching a massive audience. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok collectively have billions of active users, offering a stage to showcase your brand to people who may not be accessible through traditional marketing channels. For example, a local bakery could use Instagram to post enticing photos of its fresh goods, reaching far beyond its immediate neighborhood through the use of popular hashtags and engaging content. This increased visibility can significantly broaden its customer base.

2. Cost-Effective Social Media Marketing

Compared to traditional advertising, social media marketing is incredibly cost-efficient. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allow businesses to create targeted ads with flexible budgets, making it accessible to companies of all sizes. Take a small startup offering eco-friendly products, for instance: they could run a highly targeted Facebook ad campaign for as little as $10 a day, reaching environmentally-conscious consumers in their region. This targeted approach allows businesses to make the most of their marketing dollars and achieve a higher ROI than traditional campaigns.

3. Precise Targeting Capabilities

One of the standout benefits of social media marketing is the ability to target your audience with pinpoint accuracy. With advanced targeting tools available on platforms like Facebook, businesses can tailor their campaigns to specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. For example, a fitness apparel brand can create targeted ads directed at fitness enthusiasts aged 18-35 who have shown interest in wellness pages. This type of targeting ensures that your ads are reaching the most relevant audience, maximizing conversion potential.

4. Increased Customer Engagement and Loyalty

Social media fosters two-way communication between businesses and their audience, making it easier to build strong relationships with customers. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook enable businesses to respond to questions, provide real-time support, and engage with customers in a more personal way. For instance, a tech company can use Twitter to address customer concerns promptly, improving trust and loyalty. Regular engagement through comments, likes, and live sessions can create a sense of community, leading to greater customer retention.

5. Actionable Customer Insights and Feedback

Social media platforms offer a direct line to customer opinions, providing valuable insights into how your brand is perceived. Businesses can track conversations, monitor sentiment, and receive instant feedback on products and services. For example, a skincare brand could use Instagram polls to gather feedback on what features customers want in their next product line. These real-time insights allow businesses to make informed decisions and adjust their strategies to better meet customer preferences.

6. Boost in Website Traffic and SEO

Social media serves as a powerful driver for website traffic. By sharing engaging content—whether it’s blog posts, product updates, or special promotions—businesses can attract more visitors to their website, which can improve search engine rankings. For example, a tech company can share its latest product announcements on LinkedIn and Twitter, driving readers to their website for more detailed information. More traffic also means improved SEO, making it easier for potential customers to discover your brand online.

7. Increased Sales and Conversion Rates Through Social Media

Integrating social media into your sales strategy can lead to higher conversions and increased sales. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow for a streamlined shopping experience, where users can browse and purchase products directly through the app. For example, an online fashion retailer could use Instagram Shopping to tag products in posts and stories, making it easy for customers to purchase with just a few clicks. This simplified buying process leads to higher conversion rates, ultimately driving more revenue.

Conclusion

Adding social media to your marketing strategy is a smart, strategic move that offers a wealth of benefits. From increasing brand awareness and customer engagement to driving sales and providing actionable insights, social media is an essential tool for businesses looking to stay competitive and grow. By leveraging the power of social media, you can connect with your audience in meaningful ways and achieve your marketing goals.

Ready to take your marketing to the next level with social media? Contact us today to learn how we can help you seamlessly integrate social media into your marketing plan and achieve measurable results.

Todd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others. His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, creative design, online website development, print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Wordcamp US Header, Creative Mind Consulting Group, Montclair, NJ

20 Sep

Wordcamp Website Wow!

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends, Videos, Web Design, Website Refresh, WordPress /

Todd at WordCamp US in Portland, Oregon. This week, I had the chance to attend WordCamp US 2024 training in Portland, Oregon. As I write this, I think I’m still shaking off the jetlag and adjusting to the West Coast—being from New Jersey, the journey wasn’t exactly a quick hop. But all that aside, the value of the training on website development and management is absolutely priceless. Honestly, if it had been in India, I’d have tried to make it there too.

Now, on my last day of WordCamp US 2024, there’s one word that perfectly sums up both Portland and the event itself: Wow! Here’s why:

1. Disney at WordCamp US 2024

Our first keynote was from Disney. Yes, Disney. We’re talking about one of the biggest names on the planet. They walked us through how they’ve streamlined and branded their Disney Connect websites using WordPress’s new block editor, which they’ve embraced for its efficiency and speed. By using fewer plugins and more native blocks, they’ve optimized performance—a practice I’ll definitely be applying to our own sites.

2. AI Integration: Friend, Not Foe

Of course, AI is everywhere, but how can developers and designers use it instead of fearing it will terminate our jobs? At WordCamp, they previewed an AI-driven plugin that can help with everything from creating plugins to fixing issues and even designing or restyling content. It’s a tool that speeds up development and adds value to client projects long after they’re finished. That’s the kind of tech that makes a real impact.

3. Optimizing for A Gazillion Views

One session focused on the secret sauce for boosting website traffic—basically, giving Google exactly what it wants. They showed us techniques that can make websites stand out in search results, using a case study of a recipe site that hit 45 million views in a month. Wouldn’t you want that kind of visibility? I know I would.

4. Keeping Companies Running Strong

Several trainers offered insights on keeping businesses afloat during tough times—without resorting to layoffs or panicking about job security. They emphasized knowing your numbers, not just in terms of sales but in overall activities. Retainers, hourly rates, and even mergers were discussed as strategies to strengthen businesses. It’s advice that any entrepreneur can apply, whether you’re in tech or not.

There’s so much more I could share but I think it may be best for some upcoming webinars where I can go deeper into solutions my clients need. Listen out for that.

5. And Then, There’s Portland…

I was hesitant about coming to Portland. During the pandemic, I almost made a trip here while riding my motorcycle on the West Coast, but this time around, I decided to fully immerse myself in the experience. Instead of booking a standard hotel, I stayed at the International Northwest Portland Hostel—and it’s been incredible.

Todd with his Trivia Team at the Northwest International Hostel in Portland Oregon The hostel experience has been unique. I’m in a dorm-style room, but the 5-house complex has a huge kitchen, a restaurant, two laundries, multiple hangout spots, and much more. On Wednesday night, I joined the trivia event and nearly won the prize with my team. One of my teammates, who’s traveled the country himself, gave me a roadmap to explore Seattle—my next stop. Last night, there was a live music session featuring a dozen string instrument players doing old Western songs. As a musician myself, I was hooked.

Through conversations with locals and fellow travelers, I’ve discovered great restaurants, parks, shopping centers, and the convenience of Portland’s Max trains and buses. Yesterday, I strolled along Broadway and checked out Pioneer Square, which hosts concerts and events like Oktoberfest. Portland’s mix of historic homes, modern multifamily housing, and local pubs has impressed me. For anyone doubting whether mixed-income housing works in upscale neighborhoods, Portland proves it can.

Todd at Broadway in Portland, Oregon Tomorrow, I’m heading to Washington Park to get a feel for rural Portland before catching a train to Seattle. Lookout for some webinars that will come out of this to help my clients and colleagues succeed and enjoy their business.

Can Anyone Make a Website?

Just last week, someone said to me, “My kid can make a website for $1,000—why should I pay you more?” I hear that from time to time. But today, my response would be: How many years of training has that kid had? How much real-world business experience does he bring? What network does he have to ensure the site is up to spec? Ongoing training, in any field, is invaluable. It beats the $5 website that someone’s mom’s ex-boyfriend’s kid says he can whip up. What do you think?

Ready to take your marketing to the next level ? Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your website lead generation plans.

Todd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others. His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, creative design, online website development, print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Hello Spring. Hello New Business Opportunity

27 Apr

It’s Spring. Have you Thought About Refreshing Your Business?

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends, Social Media Marketing, Web Design, Website Refresh /

April is coming to a close but it’s not too late to come up with new ideas. For me, April and Easter are synonymous with Spring, so when this time of year comes around, it makes me think of all things new. The skies are not so cloudy, the sun seems to be out more. Definitely the time to get out of the house and look around. For homeowners it’s time to seed the lawn to get some new grass or flowers growing. For others it’s time to shop for new clothes or something else new. How about making this season a time to think about what can bring new life to your business? Maybe it’s a change to your marketing or a new way to go about sales or even time to hire a new employee. What stops us from doing that new thing that can propel our businesses to a new level? Maybe you don’t have the right information, but with the internet and lots of informative newsletters out there, we really have no excuse! Here a few things I’ve seen that can rob us of the opportunity to put that “new thing” into effect!

Time

Are you like me working 9 to 5 (sometimes even 9 to 7!) in the business? And after a shift like that you are guaranteed to be tired! What time are you taking to look at the overall effectiveness of your business? Well, I’ve learned that my best days to do that are not at the beginning of the week when work is “jumping.” For me it’s the end of the week, like on Thursdays and most recently on Sundays, when I can really take a look at my business and notice some areas for change. To me it’s just quieter then and I’m able to focus better. Early mornings are good for some, but others like different times of day. Either way, we can all find 1 or 2 hours of quiet time during the week to look for some areas in need of change, right?

Budget

Let’s be serious. Is it the budget? Are you one of those business owners that thinks that your budget can make or break your business life? Well, I recently put some effort into identifying extra money to put towards marketing.

After a while I learned that I had to include money in my budget, for marketing. I had to save a certain percentage of all sales into a separate account for marketing. That way there would always be money set aside for growth. Let’s say though that after I pay myself there’s not much left for anything. Is it true that there’s nothing left? Do you know your budget? If not it’s time to talk with someone with budget expertise, who can help you go through it. Maybe it’s your spouse or friend or maybe even a bookkeeper or accountant. Either way it may be time to get more intimate with that budget than you have been in the past.

Let’s say you have a budget and there actually is no wiggle room. Then let’s think about using Paypal or some other lending situation. What I like about Paypal is that it has a 4 to 12-month no-interest payment term, so you can try a few things out and just make your payment the following month or over time. That’s pretty good for $500 to $10K purchases. Thinking strategically, if the money you receive is more than the possible interest in payment you’re ahead of the game. This would just be a temporary strategy until you have a cash budget. Beyond that, there are lots of way to obtain finances to increase business. If you’re in a special business zone there are incentives for hiring people. There are funds out there for free marketing on major sites. There are also organizations with funds that are solely there to help you grow. They have funds to pay for training and even some marketing. So on this topic let’s start by affirming “I can find the funds; budget or not”. Let’s at least start there.

Fear of Failure

This can really be the one that stops a lot of us. To be honest I’ve had great years in business and I’ve had a few bad years. The few bad years have at times made me overly cautious, when I should really be pushing forward. I think it’s because I worried that I could make a catastrophic mistake that would destroy my business. I have to say though that after 15 years in business I believe I’m smart enough to leave room for failure that can push me towards a possible win. If I tried a strategy that resulted in failure once in a while, I can now say that that avenue did not work and move on to my next idea! Better to try and fail and learn from my mistakes, than to risk nothing, learn nothing and gain nothing!

So I hope this helps you get to the “new” you deserve in your business. I hope it gets you off the sidelines at the very least. If you need help getting your marketing program going, schedule a call with us at 973-655-9396.

23 Feb

Lessons on Marketing from Tyler Perry

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Uncategorized, Web Design /

This morning I was reading about Tyler Perry after watching last night, part of an episode of The Oval, a miniseries created by Tyler Perry, which now airs on BET. The article written by Mark Olsen was entitled Tyler Perry puts his faith behind, and into, his work (Chicago Tribune, 2005). I am very happy about Tyler Perry’s success and the way he initially marketed his work. I remember hearing about his plays from fellow church members back in the day, when I lived in New York, and wanting to go and see one. On a cold Saturday night in 1999, I finally got the chance. I took the train from Far Rockaway, Queens, where I lived, to the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan and saw his play “I Can Do Bad all By Myself.” I laughed all night and totally enjoyed the play, especially its message. Realistically, at that time, Tyler Perry was known mostly by black people, and particularly by church going black people. He was not heavily publicized. The question is: how did all of us get to know about his plays? As black history month comes to a close, we would like to end on a high note, as we take a peek at how this legendary black entrepreneur used the basics of marketing to push-start his phenomenal success!

Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is a well-known American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. In 2011, Forbes listed him as the highest-paid man in entertainment, earning US $130 million between May 2010 and May 2011. Perry is famous for his performance of Madea, a tough, elderly female character, whom he created. Perry’s films vary in style from the usual filmmaking to filmed productions of live stage plays. Many of Perry’s stage-play films have been adapted as feature films.

The article I read said:

“Initially inspired to write down his own experiences by an offhanded comment Oprah Winfrey made on her TV show, Perry moved in 1992 from his native New Orleans to Atlanta, where his plays began to attract an audience. With minimal advertising, relying largely on word of mouth and a now-massive mailing list, Perry has mounted and toured numerous plays since 1998, also selling videos, and amassed a devoted fan base and a rather sizable fortune.”

Later on the article stated:

“Michael Paseornek, president of production at Lions Gate Films, said he had become aware of Perry after a package arrived containing a script and a video.”

“It isn’t like we were tracking Tyler’s activities. He did so much from a grass-roots level, through his Web site, through the church, through word of mouth, that he completely slipped under the radar of the film industry. I got this package with a cover memo from William Morris saying something like Tyler has done 57 gazillion dollars in sales, something outrageous for someone I’d never heard of.”

What this shows me is that anyone can become a success if you are good at the basics of marketing. Here are some of the main points I took from this information:

Inspiration

Tyler Perry was inspired to write not from being taught that, but by watching the movie “Precious” and hearing a comment from Oprah Winfrey on her show. Tyler Perry had no degree in marketing and actually only had a GED. Nonetheless, he had a very troubled childhood which he seemed to work into his plays. He found a love of writing and just went with it. Many of us are inspired to do what we do for various reasons. Find your inspiration; find your reason for living. Enjoy it, love it, and persist in it.

The Website

Tyler Perry, then and now, advertised what was happening in his entertainment world through his website. I remember seeing his plays advertised there and finding out where they were playing. He basically kept a newsletter of what he was doing. He kept his fans informed and updated on new plays (and now movies and TV shows) so they could plan to see his content. Back then, it was a gallery of pictures and text on his website. Today, it’s all video which is more appropriate for his market. A good website advertises what a person or business is doing, and keeps its viewers engaged. That’s what Tyler Perry did.

The List

The next important thing Tyler Perry did is that he developed a list. So many times, I speak to entrepreneurs, business owners, so forth, and find out that they do not maintain their lists. Your list is your life source. Whether you are making B2B connections or retail customer connections, one of your main goals is to keep them informed, even when they are not in front of you. The general rule is that “6 touches lead to a sale”. In general, the more ways you can connect with a customer or potential customer, the better. Those “touches” may mean some calls, some postcards, advertising or even some emails. What can you provide them that would be helpful in their current situation? Is it offers, new services, games, etc.? Going to one of Tyler Perry’s plays made you want to go to another one…and bring some friends with you. To take it to the next level, see if you can get the “troopers” on your list to do some social media organic advertising for you, to increase the size of the list. The more “troopers” who do this the better. Tyler Perry developed a list of interested and devoted fans that made him a millionaire before he made all those relatable movies many of us, brothers and sisters love.

The Location

Tyler Perry had to adjust locations. He knew that Atlanta was a hot market for his type of shows. There are a lot of affluent black people living there. They were his target market so he went where his target market was. Sometimes you have to move your shop to a different place, or focus on a different target market, where you’ll be more successful. Some would say why didn’t he go to NY?; perhaps, he wanted to test his plays in Atlanta, before hitting the big stage in Manhattan. Tyler Perry was smart about this, not holding onto New Orleans, where he could not be as successful as he wanted to be.

Tyler Perry is great at making content that speaks to his core black and Latino viewers and even moving to more mainstream viewers occasionally. To people like me, he will forever be known as one of the most successful black entertainment entrepreneurs. In 1999, many of us had very few places to see shows that spoke to the experiences we had growing up, especially in a light-hearted way. Anyone with the courage to try can achieve a similar level of success. You just have to start with the basics and not give up. More opportunity will come over time as it did for Tyler Perry.

If you need help getting your basic marketing program going, schedule a call with us to help you work it out at 973-655-9396.

Marriage Retreat, Creative Mind Consulting Group

07 Feb

Can a “Marketing Retreat” Benefit Your Marketing Future?

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends, Web Design, Website Refresh, WordPress /

Nowadays marketing in this post pandemic world is different than it used to be. What do B2Bs do when they are on endless zoom calls and have little face to face time with leads, clients and even staff? They change their marketing or else become obsolete. Marketing in this new post pandemic world is pivoting. Saying that you get all your business from referrals can’t cut it anymore. Putting that marketing plan on the “back burner” is coming back to hurt some. Maybe it’s time for some to call for an SOS?

More and more people I’ve connected with have said they don’t know where they are with their marketing. As a marketing professional, it’s hard to even get these people ready for something as simple as marketing goals. I’ve learned that in these situations, it can be best to get my clients together as a group and just do an effective “Marketing Retreat”.

What is a Marketing Retreat?

To start, a Marketing Retreat can be many things. A few things include:

Stepping away from the norm to strategize improvements
Brainstorming a few hours together with key staff
A review of your marketing and sales numbers
Time to focus on better marketing effectiveness

It’s basically some time to regroup on what’s important for your clients and your company. With all the ways you can market your company, it can be mind boggling as to what’s your best route. Many times each person has different ideas on what can be done. At times when a decision maker has to decide on a path, hearing multiple ideas ends up sounding like lots of disjointed plans. That’s not usually the case though. When we get all the major stakeholders together (marketing VPs, researchers, salespersons, etc.) and fully review the ideas in a loose, but fun, structured setting, it’s an opportunity to bring out the best ideas, to brainstorm, and comprise a strategic plan.

Here are some obstacles that may come up when you bring up a “Marketing Retreat” to your staff.

Isn’t a Marketing Retreat a Time Waster?

Some may say “with all I have to do, and all the proposals I have to fill out, do I really have time to sit and think about my marketing.” Yes, I’m sorry but you have to take some time to do something you don’t normally do. You may learn that some of the time you currently take on sales and marketing may be going in the wrong direction. What if you’re working on sales that are not pulling in the best paying jobs for the company? Having a good marketing retreat takes time to looks at sales and recognizes what’s a good use of time, and time wasters. I’ve worked with clients that have made shifts away from what they thought were good sales on their websites to marketing other items that were better for their clients and paid better as well. A Marketing Retreat at the least is not wasted time.

Marketing Retreats Can’t be Fun?

For those who are more action-orientated and not number-crunchers does it all have to be work, to be work though? Many times, you can add intentional fun. You can add games that answer marketing questions. At one retreat I was at, we actually climbed a small mountain. Mind you, none of us were dressed to do this, but for some reason we all agreed. At one point, we were actually scaling a small wall. I’ll never forget the stories we came back with. The thing was, we all did something that bonded us together better, and it lasted way after the retreat.

Marketing is not as effective as on-the-street sales. Why focus on that?

Sales is integral to keeping a company growing. Every salesperson needs leads. Some leads may come from cold calls and friends but others can come from online sources. Still others can come from inbound calls off of sales materials out there. Any salesperson knows that the better the leads, the better they are able to make sales. You can try and make cold calls all day long, but you know if they don’t have interest in your specific products, there can be lots of time lost in those calls. Why not have leads that come from marketing strategies that are tailored to a prospect’s needs that “clever” marketing has discovered. I know a real estate salesman who just relied on his referrals. Over the years, he knew he needed to be more strategic with his marketing but he never made the time or budget the cost to get the marketing moving forward. We tried to lead him several times. Instead he did very little. The thing is, he continued to make money but his partners did not do as well. Because they could not come together to decide on a marketing plan, it affected the growth of their leads and eventually the partnership fell apart.

So really, what is a marketing retreat?

The real answer is that a marketing retreat can be whatever you need it to be. When you work with a good marketing expert and a creative event coordinator, you can hold it for a day at a close by outdoor resort, or a half day on your campus grounds or board room. It can become memorable, and cause a transformation for your organization. A good marketing retreat will usually have these components:

Food/snacks
Activities
Prizes
Stats of current sales and marketing campaigns
Strategy and target discussions
Goals discussions
Budgets
Campaign options
Next steps

Our organization has done marketing retreats for a variety of organizations. If you need help finding focus in your marketing, schedule a call with us to help you create it at 973-655-9396.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We come alongside companies to ultimately create inspired design alongside brilliant results.

22 Jul

Is Creativity in Marketing essential for Your Business?

By Todd Sayles In Branding, Healthcare, Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends /

Is creativity a marketing essential?

Marketers believe in love at first sight. Consumers are likely to fall for whatever catches their attention first and consequently, give the businesses what they want — sales. In other words, the eyes were always the first to decide. So can we prove that creativity in marketing is vital to every business especially now during the pandemic when most consumers’ decisions are heavily inspired by what they see in social media? We’ll see!

Think about this situation. Suppose there are two businesses, both wellness centers – WC X and WC Z, situated near each other.

Both businesses offer the same services including personal care, functional medicine, fitness, nutrition, and more. WC X has been in the business for 10 years now and they have established relationships with long-term clients, leaving them with consistent profit. WC Z came into the picture two years ago and was more costly. People started to visit them but it wasn’t doing well at first because customers already trusted the services of WC X. They started marketing their business through social media and later, people started to flock to their center and some of the long-term clients of WC X even started to visit them more often. That’s when they started to earn good profit.C X realized that social media was a more cost-efficient way to market their business than traditional media. They created their own page and promoted their products. However, they only posted photos of their center and soft copies of their posters. They thought, “why are we not getting more responses than them?”

WC Z Instagram page used an aesthetically impressive color scheme and flow of content. They posted close-up photos of females and their glowing skin, videos of someone getting a good sweat from the sauna experience, recipes that one could try for dinner, and even motivational posts which gained a lot of engagement. It showed what people could need, get, and at the same time, it captured the market’s interest.

So is creativity essential in marketing?

Usually, we would think that an established brand offering a proven quality experience is enough to keep the business running. It still is true. But fact check, new consumers are mostly captivated by how you present your brand.

This is where creativity rings as an essential part of marketing any business — wellness, real estate, service, retail, and more. You see, consumers want to be intrigued. They need to see the experience in a manner that makes them want to use your service.

So to answer your question, yes. Creativity in marketing is vital to every business and especially now with this pandemic since most people are already a click reach in social media.

Why Should Businesses Invest for Creativity in Marketing?

A Forrester study projected that shifting from technology to creativity in six years increases the return on investment (ROI) by almost 18%.

This is upon a comparison of adopting marketing technologies and investing in a more creative strategy.

Creativity in marketing is a true driver of success for every business. And now with this pandemic, business owners should really consider it.

You see, a crisis can be both good and bad for business owners. According to John F. Kennedy, whenever there is a crisis, you should learn to be aware of the danger but at the same time, recognize the opportunity.

While several businesses suffered greatly during the pandemic, others saw an opportunity to reboot, reassess and revamp their businesses. This is how you plan out an efficient comeback for your business.

Reassuring customers is a given. To do so, you have to work on improving your marketing tactics. Competition gets strong, especially in social media, since most business owners know where the audience is easily targeted. But how do you stand out from the competition?

Get really creative!

Creativity in marketing means having to think outside the box, taking risks, and exploring new ways to capture your audience’s attention. Think about how you can level up while dealing with this virus?

Healthcare centers may now start to welcome virtual consultations more frequently. Some entrepreneurs are now doing a lot of webinar sessions. Commercial real estate starts opening up space where one can work safely and conveniently without having to travel a lot. Wellness Centers start sending out care packages to their clients.

There are many ways to get creative. Sadly, not all business owners are willing to invest in creative marketing. They would think that these are additional costs. If you are one of these business owners, I encourage you now to think about all the things you have to take care of in your business. From human resources to building costs to inventories, marketing, analyzing business sales and dynamics, and overall, ensuring that all is well, it is definitely a full plate!

If you invest in marketing such as hiring a creative consulting agency to take care of your business, one task is taken off your list. It may be an additional cost but the value that you get from quality branding and convincing marketing initiatives could easily double the returns.

To unlock your brand’s full potential and leave your mark, here are some good reasons to invest in creativity for your business:

Creativity in marketing differentiates your business.
Creativity appeals to the mind.
Your creativity can allow you to create alongside your consumers.

Investing in creativity for your marketing initiatives brings an enormous amount of value to your business. To add, this can really be exciting for your business too. There are many ways you can get creative but consulting with the experts may be a good start. Call us today at 973-655-9396 and let’s see how we can get creative with your business!

To help you with your COVID comeback, let’s get you on a Marketing Retreat! This will offer you a half-day marketing research segment, marketing creative strategy document that comes from the retreat, marketing advice, and free food!

Todd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital, and wellness clients among others. His team’s expertise includes problem-solving/market strategy, design, and marketing consulting, creative design, online website development, content, and design creation for digital media and print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization, and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We come alongside companies to ultimately create inspired design alongside brilliant results.

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Author: Todd Sayles