Ryan Barton's Blog
March 27, 2015
Innovation, Reinvention, and Business Success
There's something to be said for consistency.
A consistent business is stable, trusted, consumers know what to expect.
But there's also something special about innovation and how it works to refresh and sometimes reinvent a business.
Uber stays relevant by continuing to reinvent its ridesharing options. It started with the black car and then introdu...
A consistent business is stable, trusted, consumers know what to expect.
But there's also something special about innovation and how it works to refresh and sometimes reinvent a business.
Uber stays relevant by continuing to reinvent its ridesharing options. It started with the black car and then introdu...
March 13, 2015
How to Stay Out of the Business "Friend Zone"
Nobody likes the "friend zone" -- especially when it's a business relationship.
Unfortunately, for many small businesses the "friend zone" is a pitfall of close customer relationships. And more so when the number of customers is limited.
The business sees its regular customer as a friend, and the regular customer sees a friend in the business it frequents.
There's a deceiving familiarity, appreciation, and a comfort level.
But when the business takes that frequent customer for granted, both part...
Unfortunately, for many small businesses the "friend zone" is a pitfall of close customer relationships. And more so when the number of customers is limited.
The business sees its regular customer as a friend, and the regular customer sees a friend in the business it frequents.
There's a deceiving familiarity, appreciation, and a comfort level.
But when the business takes that frequent customer for granted, both part...
January 9, 2015
SEO Guidelines for Writing Blog Posts
You're a small business.
You're told you need to blog.
You're told content is king.
But for what purpose, you ask.
Here's your guide to crafting blog posts in a manner that yields positive results toward enhancing your web site's organic search rankings.
HEADLINES AND BLOG TITLESConsider how people use search engines — they search in phrases in a natural mannerYour blog posts should emulate that type of search engine activityYour headlines and blog titles (H1s) should reflect natural speaking and...
You're told you need to blog.
You're told content is king.
But for what purpose, you ask.
Here's your guide to crafting blog posts in a manner that yields positive results toward enhancing your web site's organic search rankings.
HEADLINES AND BLOG TITLESConsider how people use search engines — they search in phrases in a natural mannerYour blog posts should emulate that type of search engine activityYour headlines and blog titles (H1s) should reflect natural speaking and...
December 21, 2014
How to Get Noticed in a Crowded Email Marketplace
This is a screenshot of my email inbox.
Numerically, the number of promotional emails isn't significant.
But when you realize that's the number of promotional emails I received in just six hours, it makes you consider your own email campaigns.
If you're like me -- or any other consumer -- you likely don't have the time to open each email to see what each company is trying to sell you, with an offer they believe is provocative.
Businesses expect you to anxiously await their emails. And they exp...
Numerically, the number of promotional emails isn't significant.
But when you realize that's the number of promotional emails I received in just six hours, it makes you consider your own email campaigns.
If you're like me -- or any other consumer -- you likely don't have the time to open each email to see what each company is trying to sell you, with an offer they believe is provocative.
Businesses expect you to anxiously await their emails. And they exp...
December 19, 2014
1:1 Targeted Marketing Lessons from a Business Card
In Japan, exchanging business cards is nearly a ceremony itself.
According to rank, introduce yourself, bow, remove your card from a formal cardholder, offer your card with both hands to demonstrate respect, take time to read the card,
Meanwhile, in America, small...
According to rank, introduce yourself, bow, remove your card from a formal cardholder, offer your card with both hands to demonstrate respect, take time to read the card,
Meanwhile, in America, small...
September 18, 2014
Is SEO Dead?
Nope.
SEO definitely isn't dead, but it most certainly has changed.
But instead of looking at content creation as an alternative method of stuffing your domain with keywords, but doing so in individual articles, consider SEO differently.
Consider SEO for what it actually is -- optimizing your site for search engines and how they're used.
While keyword planning tools are instrumental to...
SEO definitely isn't dead, but it most certainly has changed.
But instead of looking at content creation as an alternative method of stuffing your domain with keywords, but doing so in individual articles, consider SEO differently.
Consider SEO for what it actually is -- optimizing your site for search engines and how they're used.
While keyword planning tools are instrumental to...
April 16, 2014
How to Decide Where to Spend Your Advertising Money
Where are you spending your ad money?
Are you promoting your most popular items that likely already sell themselves?
Or are you spending ad money trying to help out a struggling product?
My recommendation?
Stop looking at available inventory and popularity, and start looking at yield and ROI.
Are you promoting your most popular items that likely already sell themselves?
Or are you spending ad money trying to help out a struggling product?
My recommendation?
Stop looking at available inventory and popularity, and start looking at yield and ROI.
Do you spend ad money promoting a product that gives you $300 yield or support a product that gives you $1,000 yield?
Assuming the investment to promote each product is the same, you could make a case that y...
March 19, 2014
Panic-Inducing Advertising & Peace and Serenity
In my most basic of marketing classes at university we explored the 'what is marketing' conversation.
Like most intro classes, the answer was broad and short.
Like most intro classes, the answer was broad and short.
Marketing is delivering a product that solves a customer's problem.
In short, advertising is panic-inducing.
Advertising is fear.
Fear of missing out, fear of be...
February 26, 2014
Advertising: How to Be Smarter, Targeted, Smaller, Efficient
I've been spending a lot of time lately being smarter.
Smarter advertising. More targeted advertising. Smaller scales. Higher efficiences.
And in doing so, I'm forced to consider what advertising has become, or really should have been.
The best advertising finds its place in context.
Advertising is best when it's a gentle, helpful tap on the shoulder.
Smarter advertising. More targeted advertising. Smaller scales. Higher efficiences.
And in doing so, I'm forced to consider what advertising has become, or really should have been.
The best advertising finds its place in context.
Advertising is best when it's a gentle, helpful tap on the shoulder.
Hey, remember when you looked at running shoes the other day on that shoe site, don't forget about them, they're still on sale (remarketing)
Oh, yo...
October 4, 2013
The Pitfalls of Market Opportunity
In 2013, 83 percent of adults in the United States drank a combined total of 587 million cups of coffee.
That represents the entire coffee market.
The K-Cups, the tin coffee, the big ugly coffee chains, and the 3rd wave too-snobby-for-you artisan roasters.
The budding entrepreneur looks at that market size and sees dollar signs.
If I can get just 1% of the market to know about my brand.
If I can get just 1% of the market to know about my brand and buy my $9 product.
If I can get just 1% of the m...
That represents the entire coffee market.
The K-Cups, the tin coffee, the big ugly coffee chains, and the 3rd wave too-snobby-for-you artisan roasters.
The budding entrepreneur looks at that market size and sees dollar signs.
If I can get just 1% of the market to know about my brand.
If I can get just 1% of the market to know about my brand and buy my $9 product.
If I can get just 1% of the m...
