Adam and Sybil Strum started the Wine Enthusiast Companies in an attempt to connect wine lovers from around the world. They are taking that one step farther by using Customer Match, a services that uses digital marketing to increase the customer flow for businesses. This allows them to attract more customers through Google, Youtube, and Gmail. This service help the Wine Enthusiast Companies expand their customer base significantly.

Key Takeaways:

• Over the years, many wine connoisseurs across the world have registered their email addresses with Wine Enthusiast when making purchases on the website.
• Customer Match enables businesses to reach high-value customers on Google Search, YouTube, and Gmail.
• Knowing this group is more likely to convert as holiday-season demand ramps up, the company could bid higher on trending keywords.

"This means that the brand can tailor its strategy based on the long-term relationship it has with a customer while accounting for the shopper's short-term interests."

If you follow the right steps, you can do quite well using social media to drive leads. You have to listen to what your customers want. Come up with a good offer and drive targeted traffic to it. If you don't have much time you can learn how to automate it by going to the website.

Key Takeaways:

• Build an audience using your existing network and hyper-targeting advertising.
• Listen to what your customers and prospects want.
• Share engaging, relevant content on a consistent basis to the major social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn.

"Share engaging, relevant content on a consistent basis to the major social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn"

"#TweetHour: Small businesses share their Twitter tips" is a collection of tweets posted by a variety of small businesses, all focused on how they can use Twitter as a platform to showcase their business. In 150 characters or less, a wide range of businesses respond to a series of questions that tell you how they use Twitter to help them - and how it can help you, too.

Key Takeaways:

• From e-commerce brands to fashion bloggers; B2B companies to mobile app startups — small businesses are leveraging Twitter in creative ways.
• For our most recent #TweetHour, we went straight to the source to uncover expert Twitter tips from small businesses that are doing innovative things on Twitter.
• Throughout the chat, small businesses chimed in with their favorite tips and tricks.

"small businesses are leveraging Twitter in creative ways."

#TweetHour: Small businesses share their Twitter tips

Speaks about the music retail company, Guitar Center, and how the business uses Customer Match to optimize Guitar Center's ad campaign so it reaches their target audience and retains that audience. Gives percentage statistics to show how much improvement there has been since Guitar Center has started using Customer Match

Key Takeaways:

• Since its start as an electric organ shop in 1959, Guitar Center has continually advanced its business to offer nearly every instrument, tool, and technology that musicians need to pursue their passion.
• While making purchases in-store and online, customers can sign up for Guitar Center's email newsletter for exclusive access to special offers, sales, events, and new product launches.
• Because Customer Match has no expiration date on its customer email lists, Guitar Center used it to re-engage with dormant shoppers anytime they search for new products online.

"Because Customer Match has no expiration date on its customer email lists, Guitar Center used it to re-engage with dormant shoppers anytime they search for new products online."

Guitar Center Turns Up the Volume on Its Search Campaigns With Customer Match

Speaks about the dependence people have with their cell phones and how cell phone usage and dependence has changed society over the years. Describes what people use their phones for as well as how their phones influence their lives. Also, shares statistics on how cell phones influence product purchases from the user.

Key Takeaways:

• When a question or need arises, our phones are far and away our most trusted resource, with 96% of people using a smartphone to get things done.
• 70% of smartphone owners who bought something in a store first turned to their devices for information relevant to that purchase.
• 68% of people used search to help with things they want to address at some point in the future, the highest of any other online or offline source.

"People rely on their phones to help make the best decisions at the moment of purchase. In fact, 70% of smartphone owners who bought something in a store first turned to their devices for information relevant to that purchase."

https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/articles/mobile-search-consumer-behavior-data.html?utm_source=rss-reader&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-feed

Would you print "We're a rip-off company that doesn't care about our customers" on your business card? If your online reputation isn't properly maintained, that just might be the message your customers are receiving. With today's social media, there is more content from the "public" in public relations, and often it's the unhappy customer who posts a review. "The Definitive Guide to Online Reputation Management" provides practical strategies and advice when your reputation takes a hit.

Key Takeaways:

• No matter the size of your business, they (prospects, customers, clients…anyone and, potentially, everyone) are talking about you.
• One of the most recent business commandments is “Be transparent.” Opening up to criticism and feedback seems to be beneficial for companies that embrace this new communication mode with their audience.
• If you and your brand accept feedback, customer opinions, and so on, you also must be ready to face them promptly.

"Today, websites are no longer static brochures. User-generated content is a must. And regular interactions on social networks are vital to any business success."

https://blog.kissmetrics.com/guide-to-reputation-management/

When you are trying to grow your business, getting your products and services out in front of potential customers is crucial. Word-of-mouth advertising is certainly less expensive than the alternatives, and with the availability of the internet, online reviews are a great way to expand upon that. But how do you get satisfied customers to leave reviews? Read on to find out.

Key Takeaways:

• Trying to scale reviews is going to produce detectable trends.
• Reviews will come with engagement.
• Mention your online communities and integrate the mentions into the whole lifestyle, and the reviews will roll in naturally.

"Reviews are only valuable when they are honest and unbiased"

https://moz.com/blog/getting-reviews-the-right-way-for-local-businesses

While many of us claim at times to be a bit of a perfectionist, there are people who take it a little too far. Whether it be becoming instantly defensive when receiving negative feedback or being afraid to take risks for fear of failing, here are 9 ways to know that your perfectionism is out of control.

Key Takeaways:

• Perfectionism is considered to be a virtue to be praised, but in fact it can be damaging to one's mental health.
• Perfectionists may not be able to see if they have a problem with perfection. They may see perfection as desirable and view non-perfectionists as inferior.
• Ultimately, perfectionists need to be able to see themselves as having worth even when they are not perfect. There is more to self-esteem than one's comparative successes.

"Shifting your approach from perfectionism to optimalism is bound to make you happier and more productive. To beat perfectionism, you need to be the most authentic version of yourself you can be. This means pursuing the things you love, trusting that hard work will pay off, learning from your mistakes, and deriving satisfaction from within."

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/278787?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entrepreneur%2Flatest+%28Entrepreneur%29

The blog post takes quite a long time to get to the pitch. It spends a lot of time trying to convince me I need something without telling me what they are offering to give me, which is kind of a waste of time and effort, especially when this is posted on hubspot, a known marketing website. I would love to see some stats or some more information other than a broad overview of what they have.

Key Takeaways:

• Having a compelling brand story is key.
• To stand out and rise in rank you must connect with your audience.
• Every business is different.

"Having a compelling brand story is key, but remember: your story is more complicated than just words."

http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/branding-social-pr-toolkit

This article provides 3 great ways to use Twitter to attract customers to your business. Technology is not only for online businesses anymore, now brick and mortar businesses can use the benefits of social media to attract customers. Social media is one of the top ways to spread the word about a new or even well-established business. Read this article to find out more ways on how social media can benefit your business.

Key Takeaways:

• Build relationships with nearby businesses that compliment your goods or services
• Running targeted Twitter Ads will promote your business to the right audience
• Monitor and respond to all Tweets about your business, it will you let you build your reputation of good customer service

""A happy customer is a returning customer—or even better, an advocate for your brand. And with more customers using social media to discuss their buying decisions, it’s imperative that you are listening for these conversations and responding. ""

https://blog.twitter.com/2016/3-ways-to-use-twitter-to-drive-foot-traffic-to-your-business

If you ever wanted google maps to be better then you will be happy to find out that it is going to be. The author describes how google is adding a more interactive and in depth options, for both the viewer and the business owner, in relation destinations and shop searches. Another step forward for google and another helping of tech improvement for the rest of us.

Key Takeaways:

• Google Maps ads are changing to help local businesses become more visible.
• The ads are designed to give local businesses additional opportunities to feature their brands with the goal of increasing traffic, particularly when consumers are searching on a mobile device.
• In a recent blog post, Google explained that the primary goal of its Maps changes is to help marketers bring together the digital and physical universes, particularly because location searches on mobile devices have grown an astounding 50 percent more quickly than all other types of mobile searches.

"According to Google, its new Maps ads will help businesses increase their visibility at times when consumers are specifically searching for somewhere to shop or eat."

http://searchengineland.com/excited-googles-new-map-ads-254629?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed-main

Five very good and seemingly basic, but easily overlooked keys for live tweeting any event. I was impressed by the amount of thought that was placed into steps two and three. It's so easy now to get confused on hashtags if you didn't read it right. If I ever find myself live tweeting any event these will be steps I follow to a "T".

Key Takeaways:

• Live-tweeting can help businesses raise brand awareness, increase engagement, or draw attention to an event or campaign as it happens.
• To ensure you can act quickly and stay as relevant as possible while live-tweeting, you need to be prepared.
• Be selective about the quotes or insights you choose to tweet and only post high-quality photos and videos that your followers will find interesting.

"From breaking news about natural disasters to the finale of an epic television show, we live-tweet things so that we don’t feel like we’re experiencing them alone."

https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-live-tweet/

Joe Wadlington discusses how small businesses can leverage Twitter to increase their followers and a positively impact their bottom line. He cites specific examples of companies using Twitter and includes specific metrics, graphics, and embeds of the relevant Tweets. He illustrates, using real, easy-to-understand numbers, how Twitter can be an effective global tool and includes direct insights and strategy from small business leaders and managers on how to intelligently build brand awareness with the popular social platform.

Key Takeaways:

• Onnit got more Twitter followers and discovered brand ambassadors
• Matias Tombolini established himself as an influencer on Twitter
• Teman Nabati promoted their product to a new target demographic

""Teman Nabati ran a followers campaign targeting Indonesian professionals ages 25-35. The campaign beat their goal by attracting 42% more followers than planned.""

https://blog.twitter.com/2016/smbsuccess-see-successful-followers-campaigns

Twitter trends, whether they be hashtags or events, are a perfect time to market your relevant brand. By creating content that tailors,relates and reflects what you and your product believe in,you can use trending topics to the fullest. Here are three tips to help you get the best out of trending twitter topics.

Key Takeaways:

• Try to fashion tweets to fit your audience, rather than create a generalization or jumping on a bandwagon hashtag. Relate to your audience, so your audience may connect with you.
• Create tweets that connect to the happenings in the current world. Bridge what's happening in the world around your audience with your product, such as with trends like Pokémon GO or the presidential election.
• Create a conversation on Twitter to stir a buzz in the Twittersphere. Make sure your values stay present when looking to interact directly with consumers, as it is how you create an image for your brand.

"Instead of crafting Tweets that respond to every trending topic to gain visibility, think about a more focused approach. Your Tweets can be the bridge between what the world is talking about and the products or services your business has to offer."

https://blog.twitter.com/2016/tweettip-3-ways-to-tap-into-trending-topics-on-twitter

If your main goal is increasing email subscribers, then one of the first things you might consider doing is optimizing your top blog posts for subscriptions. This isn't super time-consuming and can give you a large boost of subscriptions that'll compound over time. Why? Because your top blog posts might be garnering a lot more traffic (from organic search and other sources) than your average blog post, and you can reap the benefits of that traffic by adding subscription CTAs -- if that's your main goal. Back in 2012, we were able to boost our newsletter subscribers by 128% in just three months' time. How? We simply added a new checkbox field to all our landing page forms so people could subscribe to our blog with just one click. In other words, when people filled out a form on a HubSpot landing page to get one of our gated offers (like an ebook), they could also opt in to receive emails about new content on the HubSpot Blog.

Key Takeaways:

• If your main goal is increasing email subscribers, then one of the first things you might consider doing is optimizing your top blog posts for subscriptions.
• Adding opt-in check boxes on your landing pages is an easy way to capture more subscribers
• One way to encourage subscription is to provide something extra for people who sign up for your emails

"While ebooks, whitepapers, and other lead gen content can be really effective parts of your inbound marketing playbook, the truth is, certain types of lead gen content are perceived as more valuable than others."

http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/get-subscribers-blog-ideas

If you are new to blogging or just short on ideas on how to get more subscribers, Lindsay Kolowich has you covered in her article "How to Get Subscribers for Your Blog: 7 Fresh Ideas". Lindsay goes on to state that you can pour time and resources in to your blog and still not get significant business without the right ideas. You can read on to find out what ideas are suggested to get the most out of your blog post.

Key Takeaways:

• If your main goal is increasing email subscribers, then one of the first things you might consider doing is optimizing your top blog posts for subscriptions.
• Back in 2012, we were able to boost our newsletter subscribers by 128% in just three months' time. How? We simply added a new checkbox field to all our landing page forms so people could subscribe to our blog with just one click.
• One way to encourage subscription is to provide something extra for people who sign up for your emails -- something that's usually reserved for people who complete a much longer form.

"When it comes to growing and scaling your blog, there are three critical things you need to think about: how you're going to get new visitors to discover your blog, how you're going to convert those visitors into quality subscribers, and how you're going to leverage your most dedicated subscribers to share your content and attract new audiences."

http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/get-subscribers-blog-ideas

Twitter is the ultimate way to share an experience with a large audience in real time. It seems so easy to quickly come up with a message, maybe a photo, create a hashtag, and then tweet it out to the whole world, or as many followers as your company has. So it should be easy to live tweet an event, right? Well it can be if you know what to do to successfully tweet that live event.

Key Takeaways:

• Prepare as much as possible before going into a live tweeting session.
• Use the right hashtags. Have them known going in so you dont screw up while live.
• Make each tweet count. Don't waste any on bad posts.

"Whether it’s a conference you’re attending on behalf of your company or the halftime show of a major sporting event, live-tweeting requires just as much strategy and expertise as your long-term social media plans do."

https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-live-tweet/

Yelp, the app that customers use to review and explore businesses, can be very controversial. Many reviews on Yelp are negative towards businesses, however, this article will help business owners use Yelp to their advantage. Tactics such as using the filter system, asking customers for reviews, and networking with the Yelp sales representatives for their assistance are among the five top ways to use the app to your advantage.

Key Takeaways:

• Every Yelp review is automatically evaluated by Yelp’s recommendation software based on quality, reliability, and user activity on Yelp.
• When you know a customer is happy, you absolutely should ask them for a Yelp review.
• If there is a violation and you’ve done a good job of highlighting it, you’ll be rewarded with an email several days later.

"The fact is that Google’s hand has been forced (literally, by Congress) to show Yelp in the search results, so they aren’t going anywhere. You should be working on a Yelp strategy if you don’t have one already."

http://marketingland.com/5-yelp-facts-business-owners-should-know-163054

Six Conversion rate optimization initiatives to help your conversion rates. 1. Use heat mapping software to learn how visitors are using your site. 2. Use a different color on your call-to-action button. 3. Use good landing page headlines and test them out. 4. Figure out what your most visited landing page is and split test it. 5. Give consumers a chance to choose their email subject lines. 6. Try a really different lead nurturing sentence.

Key Takeaways:

• the best and only true source of data is the experience of visitors themselves while they use your site.
• No matter how user-focused you might think your site design is, visitors sometimes have a way of telling you what’s really important
• Sometimes your heatmap test will reveal that an area of page that you put a lot of focus on is actually being ignored by site visitors.

"Conversion rate optimization (CRO) and inbound marketing go together like peanut butter and jelly."

http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/6-conversion-optimization-initiatives-to-implement-today

Many have come to view the term “thought leadership” as a meaningless marketing buzzword, but for those in the corporate world tasked with this objective, it can and should mean more than that in order for efforts to be successful. A CEO’s aim should not merely be to promote a given product or set of ideas but to offer solutions to prospective customers.

Key Takeaways:

• The more effort you put into getting your ideas out there, and the more they catch on, the greater the likelihood that people will share your content more and more widely.
• Put out your thoughts—not bland, group-workshopped ideas—and respond meaningfully to others when they need help.
• Make tweaks as you go—in fact, you'll need to. But with a little diligence, "thought leadership" doesn't need to be another craven, overdone marketing gambit

"Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes recently pointed out for Fast Company, drawing on a CEO.com survey, that over 60% of CEOs didn't even have a social media presence."

http://www.fastcompany.com/3062112/what-most-ceos-get-wrong-about-becoming-thought-leaders?partner=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fastcompany%2Fheadlines+%28Fast+Company%29

Billions of people use Google Maps daily, and providing businesses with a new way to capture the attention of people in their local areas. Businesses can target consumers with branded ads on their map location, responsive display ads created by Google, and individual bids for different types of mobile devices. Now more than ever, businesses need to take advantage of these advertising opportunities if they want to reach a maximum audience.

Key Takeaways:

• Google is a necessary component for local businesses
• The ability to be mobile-centric for local businesses is key
• Google maps is an important resource for marketing your local business

"New local search ads across Google.com and Google Maps make it easier for business owners to highlight their store locations and offices with branded pins."

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279923?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entrepreneur%2Flatest+%28Entrepreneur%29

Yext for Healthcare is designed to solve a major problem in the healthcare industry. With the internet and mobile devices like smartphones becoming central to our lives, we often seek out information about healthcare options online. However, much of the information we would find online is terribly flawed. Patients cannot easily find physicians, make appointments, or research conditions. This leads to frustration and a block on services. Yext seeks to remedy this problem, which would help both patients and healthcare providers. It can consolidate and provide accurate information and streamline the process of getting patients to their providers.

Key Takeaways:

• Yext, announced Yext For Healthcare, industry-specific enhancements to the Yext Location Management Platform that will help health systems of all sizes solve their office, facility, and physician location data challenges.
• “Yext For Healthcare does just that, providing the ability to manage location and physician data across our PowerListings® network of maps, apps, social networks and search engines—including Google and Apple Maps—that patients use to find providers in critical moments of need.”
• “We’re proud that Yext For Healthcare not only helps healthcare providers navigate the changing informational landscape but also allows them to focus on what they do best: serving patients in times of need.”

"“Yext For Healthcare does just that, providing the ability to manage location and physician data across our PowerListings® network of maps, apps, social networks and search engines—including Google and Apple Maps—that patients use to find providers in critical moments of need.”"

http://www.yext.com/blog/2016/04/introducing-yext-healthcare/

Learn how to use #twitter to engage and gain more customers in the marketplace. See examples of using proper #hashtags to gain a stronger position on the internet. Places like @Onnit use a successful Twitter Ads Campaign to gain more customers for 40% less than they expected. @matiastambolini gained a position 7x stronger than the average company in his market. A good place for learning how to gain more followers. Read more to learn what methods these companies used to gain more engaged followers.

Key Takeaways:

• To attract this audience, Teman Nabati ran a followers campaign targeting Indonesian professionals ages 25-35. The campaign beat their goal by attracting 42% more followers than planned
• Tweeted short updates, announcing exactly what people would get from following him. By including the word “follow” and not avoiding links or hashtags, the message was direct and effective.
• They ran a followers campaign targeting health-conscious 18 to 34-year-olds in numerous international markets. During the campaign, Onnit’s cost-per-acquisition was 40% lower than expected.

""To attract this audience, Teman Nabati ran a followers campaign targeting Indonesian professionals ages 25-35. The campaign beat their goal by attracting 42% more followers than planned.""

https://blog.twitter.com/2016/smbsuccess-see-successful-followers-campaigns

Fold up maps are great, but are quickly becoming a thing of the past. What's the replacement? Google maps!!!! This article reminds us of how necessary Google maps are. The article gives tips on how to grow your business and make it thrive! Don't settle for a fold up Map. Read this article and jump into technology. Get educated on this phenomenon that is sweeping the nation!

Key Takeaways:

• Take advantage of the new Google localized display ads
• Make sure your site is mobile responsive
• Take advantage of all that Google is offering, and latch onto the mobile/local trends.

"Google must remain an integral part of your digital strategy. Whether it’s pay-per click, local SEO, citation building for Google Maps or any combination thereof, Google remains vital."

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279923

With hundreds of thousands of tweets and more hashtags than you can count coming out every single day, finding the material that you want can be quite the harrowing task. Instead of wasting your precious time scrolling through a huge heap of tweets, learn how to filter and search with precision with these great tips!

Key Takeaways:

• Twitter has a vast amount and a wide array of information.
• To find specific information, you need to use the advanced search and filters.
• Depending on what info you want, start the advanced search start with "words" or "people" filter.

"With hundreds of millions of Tweets a day, Twitter offers a massive amount of exciting content. This also means you may need some extra filtering to find something specific.Advanced search offers filtering options that can help you find very specific content"

https://blog.twitter.com/2016/how-to-advanced-search-on-twitter

Smaller personally owned businesses are noticing that their social media followers, in this example on Twitter, and a bond with the company that wouldn't be there without Twitter. They are becoming more passionate with the items or wording you're posting and makes them feel like they are apart of it too.

Key Takeaways:

• Because people are often in a discovery mindset when they're on Twitter, they're open to new businesses that they can follow and interact with.
• To help us better understand how people are discovering and engaging with businesses on Twitter, we partnered with the research firm Research Now to survey over 5,450 people from around the world that follow a small or medium-sized business on Twitter.
• In our new whitepaper, we explore the valuable relationships between businesses and their Twitter followers.

"One major theme that emerged from our research was that respondents developed meaningful relationships with the businesses that they follow, often resulting in tangible value for the business."

https://blog.twitter.com/2016/whitepaper-how-valuable-are-your-followers