Google are currently testing a beta offering that would allow a PPC ad in the top position to contain a contact lead form. This looks like a cool idea. There is a downfall that I don’t like.  According to PPC Hero Google will keep the contact data. I can see this stopping a few companies from wanting to do this.

I would definitely like to test it on my clients.

Are you currently using this? Would you feel comfortable with Google keeping some of the data?

I don’t know to be honest with you, I am not a social scientist, I do however, know that this ad, as can be seen on the side of a London Double Decker bus, is going to get a reaction. Which is exactly what the UK’s Outdoor Advertising Association is trying to get.

This ad is one of several involved as part of a national advertising campaign designed to show that Outdoor Advertising does work and can elicit a response. I think that this is a bold move by the aforementioned association, first of all, they are spending over a million Great British Pounds on this campaign, which may just generate bad feeling. Part of me thinks this is cool, but then I also think it is a bit sad that in order to prove something works, they have to resort to using this type of phrase. I would much prefer a creative ad, that is clever or unexpected rather than one that is merely controversial in order to provoke an angered response.

What do you think? Is this a good idea? A waste of money? Does outdoor advertising work?

I am shocked how long it has been since I have last written something for Strategicality.com. I really need to start looking after my own blogs for a little bit. But don’t worry; while I have been gone, I have been writing content for other blogs. Most notably I wrote a guest post for Jason Baer’s Convince and Convert Blog. In addition to this, I was writing prolifically for Sitewire (www.sitewire.net/blog).

Personally, I have also been doing a lot of research for a few other items, which I don’t want to go into quite yet. But I thought it would be good if I said hello again and gave you a list of links to the blog posts that I have written while I have been gone. Please enjoy the links below and come back in 2010 for an updated blog design and lots more content.

Happy New Years everyone.

Convince and Convert

Is Social Media Now Anti-Social? (I didn’t choose the accompanying image)

http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-marketing/is-social-media-now-anti-social/

Sitewire

Yahoo! Combines Display Advertising and PPC Search.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/11/18/yahoo-combines-display-advertising-and-ppc-search/

Google Launches Local Extensions.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/08/19/google-launches-local-extensions/

Click the Vid: YouTube PPC Overlay Ads.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/08/07/click-the-vid-youtube-ppc-overlay-ads/

Google’s Search Suggestion Tool.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/23/google’s-search-suggestion-tool/

Since When Are Dinosaurs Relevant?

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/22/since-when-are-dinosaurs-relevant/

The Paradox of Choice and How to Make a Better Landing Page.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/17/the-paradox-of-choice-and-how-to-make-a-better-landing-page/

Google Blog Search Adds Hot Queries.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/13/google-blog-search-adds-hot-queries/

Retargeting, Databases & Washing Machines.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/07/retargeting-databases-washing-machines/

Using Phone Numbers to Stand Out From The Crowd.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/02/using-phone-numbers-to-stand-out-from-the-crowd/

Tweetboard: Creating a Twitter Conversation & Forum On Your Blog or Web Site.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/06/30/tweetboard-creating-a-twitter-conversation-forum-on-your-blog-or-web-site/

Twitter Trends : Do Hashtag Contests Work?

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/06/24/twitter-trends-do-hashtag-contests-work/

Want Free Google Adwords Money?

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/06/23/want-free-google-adwords-money/

Reclaiming the Abandoned Virtual Shopping Cart.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/06/22/reclaiming-abandoned-virtual-shopping-cart/

Dear Digital Media Sales People,

I am writing this open letter to each and every one of you out of sheer frustration. This has been boiling over for some time, and I am sure that I am not the only one to feel this way. But within the last week, I have contacted numerous Web sites in order to get simple pricing information. Believe it or not, I actually need this information before I decide if I am going to place any media with you. Not only does your Web site generally not have this information readily available, but when I contact you to ask for it, I don’t seem to get a response.

Believe it or not, there has been one particular Web site that my colleagues and I have been trying to contact for several months, we have tried emailing, calling, faxing, all to no avail. I eventually received an email from their Business Development Manager stating that they are sorry for the problems I have been having and should I have any questions, then I can email them. First of all, I have questions, they are the things I emailed, called you about and faxed to you, and secondly, when I responded to your email, it didn’t work.

So, I am going to give all of the Digital Media Sales personnel free training lessons, I will teach you how to increase your sales exponentially. It will take time, practice and unfortunately, it will take effort. Are you ready for this?

Here are my top 5 tips to make sure you increase sales this year:

1. Respond
2. Respond in a timely manner
3. Respond with good information
4. Respond with politeness
5. Make sure your inbound marketing processes work and then Respond.

Believe it or not, this is a very simple formula that should result in more sales and let’s face it, who wouldn’t want that?

Before you ask, yes I am available for consulting gigs, however, I may or may not respond and if I do, it will probably be in a few weeks, when you have already found someone else,

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at emailmayormaynotwork@strategicality.com

Thanks Have a Good Day

Andrew Freeman

In the last two blog posts I have discussed how you should change your marketing copy to appeal to different colors or temperaments. This week, you will have the opportunity to find out what color you are. I attempted to find a Real Colors test that you could do, however these tests are not available online.

However, in flew Anita Graham to the rescue. Anita told me that Real Colors, whose material we used for the test that I took at work; do not allow their system to be used online. I think that is a big mistake, but it is their business, not mine. So Anita, gave me the link to a competitors web site. While the system is set up differently, a number of people have tried it and it gave the same result that was given, by Real Colors. I have also been asked by Anita to refer to it as marketing to temperaments rather than just colors. This is technically the correct way in which to refer to what I am doing. So I apologize now if I slip back into my old ways of talking about marketing to colors

I was surprised by the high number of people who expressed an interest to me either by email, in the comments or via twitter about finding out what their temperament or color is. Aside from knowing what communication styles you react to in a marketing situation, it is also a good test to perform in a company setting. This can help you understand how to communicate internally.

In fact, if I was an agency, I would send this test out to my clients and ask them to take it. Then you would be in a powerful position when writing your reports and even trying to upsell.

So here it is, the long awaited test:

http://www.insightlearning.com/Home.asp

Click on the testing center link and then the top test which is free. It should take roughly 10 mins to complete.

What did you think of this test? Come back and let me know.

Next week I am going to review the results of my blog readers, and compare them to the national average. Until next week, have a good time and thank you for reading.

Welcome back to my Marketing to Colors series of blog posts.

Last week I discussed how you should talk to colors in your marketing pieces and how each color reacts differently to what you say. So this week, I have decided to look at a fictional product “Widget x” and write some copy that would appeal to a Blue, an Orange, a Green and a Gold.

So lets get started:

Blue:

How do you feel on Valentines day, when your wife looks at your gifts and says “It’s ok dear. Its the thought that counts.”? Well no longer, Widget X will make her feel like the Queen she is. Not only will it be a present she loves, buying Widget X, will make her life so much easier because ………

Orange:

Are you looking for the next opportunity to become your own boss?

Can you imagine a product that will make you rich?

Widget X is the product for you; not only is it made of the finest materials and commands the best resale value of any waterless cookware, as a Widget Seller representative, you get it at wholesale value.

People spend tens of millions of dollars on such products each week, get your share today!!

Green:

How much money do you spend a month on groceries? $300? $500?

What if I could show you a way to save up to 50% of your grocery bill each month, would that be worth an investment?

Well, Widget X can do more than that. Due to its waterless cooking system, you get less shrinkage in your food and you retain more nutrients. Both of these excellent benefits of Widget X can save you up to 50% of your grocery bill and also help save on your utilities.

According to research done by the “Independent Research Company” cooking your food any other way can cost you more money and give you less health benefits. Widget X helps you retain your money and your health.

Insert a Pie Chart of graph illustrating how much better Widget X is than its competitors.

Gold:

Widget X can help you save money in four ways:

• Reduce the amount of groceries you need to buy
• Retain all of the nutrients in your food, so you eat less
• Use less energy to cook your food
• With a lifetime warranty, you will NEVER have to buy another set of cookware

So order your widget X today!

As you can see, there are four different approaches to sell the same product. last week we had a comment from Shannon. Asking how you can know whether your customer is a Blue, Orange, Green or Gold. Without giving each individual customer a psychological evaluation, it is hard to know. My advice is to combine all four approaches into one letter or marketing piece. Each of us can be a different color at any given time. In fact, it can even change as you get older.So, trying to analyze and determine what would work for individual colors would be a long and arduous process that may not be fruitful.

Are you wondering what color you are? Well check back next week for a marketing colors test.

Do you have any comments? Let me know in the comments section  below. Until next time, enjoy yourself and thank you for reading.

Not so long ago, I and everyone else at Sitewire underwent a rigorous psychological evaluation. (In reality, we answered a few questions about ourselves) The evaluation was for the Myers-Briggs Real Colors test. The premise behind this test is that based on our personalities and tendencies, we can all be categorized into one of four colors: Blue, Orange, Gold and Green. Each of these colors communicates differently from the rest and therefore, if we understand how each other communicates, then we can have more harmonious and successful working relationships with our peers.

I was proved to be an orange, thinking back, this is no surprise. I love the sound of my own voice, I love change and I also love “The Big idea”. My colleague Katie Van Domelan was classified as a Gold. To hear her speak about how she likes to receive information and tasks opened my eyes to the mistakes I have made previous. Being an orange, I can handle vague tasks as long as I get given a challenge, whereas Katie being a Gold, likes a set of structured points detailing exactly what needs to be done and how. I must drive her crazy with my random big idea orange vague as anything job tasks. I’m sorry Katie and to anyone else that hates this.

So… How does this fit in to Marketing?

Well, if each of us has a different style and a different communication preference, surely this would reflect itself in how we should be marketed too?

So In this post, I intend to Give you the colors and how you should talk to them. Then my next post will be an example of this in practice. How you write a piece of copy to inspire the colors to part with their hard earned cash (or sign up for something).

How should I talk to a Blue?

• Relate what you are saying to feelings
• Avoid open criticism
• Reference how your product/service will help others
• Don’t use facts to make your point
• Ask the person how they feel
• Remind them how important what they are doing is to others

How should I talk to an Orange?

• Cut straight to the heart of the problem that you will solve
• Talk about how to do things
• talk about getting things done and results
• Talk about the “Big Idea”

How should I talk to a Gold?

• Use clear and precise language
• Give straightforward direction on what to do next
• Get right to the point
• Follow an agenda or plan
• Talk about actual accomplishments
• Focus on their responsibilities
• Keep things ordered
• Keep things symmetrical

How should I talk to a Green?

• Use clear and precise language
• Use logic to support your position
• Use testimonials
• Ask meaningful questions
• Focus on how they can use their intelligence
• Talk about possibilities
• Talk about how they can keep improving things by using your product
• They LOVE pie charts, graphs and data

Do you have any pieces of copy you would like me to adapt for the colors?

Do you have any comments, if so, please leave them in the comment box below and I will try and address them in my next post, Marketing to Colors pt 2……….

Thank you for Reading.