Tag Archive for: digital marketing

The Power of Storytelling in Real Estate Lead Generation

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In the competitive world of real estate, standing out from the crowd is essential. While traditional marketing tactics like listing photos and open houses are still important, real estate lead generation is increasingly driven by the power of storytelling. By crafting compelling narratives around your listings, testimonials, and brand, you can engage potential clients on a deeper emotional level, build trust, and ultimately drive more conversions.

Why Storytelling Matters in Real Estate

Storytelling is not just about selling a property; it’s about selling a lifestyle, a dream, and an emotional connection. When potential buyers or sellers can envision themselves in the story you’re telling, they’re more likely to take action. According to a study by Virtuance, listings that incorporate storytelling elements see a 20% increase in engagement compared to those that rely solely on facts and figures.

But storytelling isn’t just about engagement—it’s also about differentiation. In a market saturated with listings, a well-told story can make your property or brand memorable. Think about it: when a buyer is scrolling through dozens of listings, the one that tells a story about a family enjoying their first holiday in a new home is far more likely to stick in their mind than a listing that simply states “3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.”

Read more about: 5 Brand Storytelling Examples To Learn From

Crafting Compelling Narratives for Listings

When it comes to real estate lead generation, your listings are your first opportunity to tell a story. Instead of simply listing the features of a property, focus on how those features can enhance the buyer’s life. Here are some tips for crafting compelling narratives:

Highlight the Lifestyle

real-estate marketing

Instead of saying “3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home,” try “A cozy family home with a spacious backyard perfect for weekend barbecues and a bright, sunlit kitchen where you can enjoy your morning coffee.” Paint a picture of the life the buyer could lead in this home.

Use Real Estate Testimonials

Share stories from previous clients who found their dream home through your services. Testimonials add credibility and help potential clients see themselves in a similar success story. For example, “The Smith family was able to find their forever home in just three weeks thanks to our personalized approach.”

Focus on Emotions

Buyers often make decisions based on emotions rather than logic. Use descriptive language to evoke feelings of comfort, excitement, or nostalgia. For example, “Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping in your private backyard oasis.”

Leveraging Digital Platforms and Social Media

In today’s digital age, real estate lead generation is heavily influenced by online presence. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn offer unique opportunities to tell your brand’s story and engage with potential clients.

Real Estate Social Media Stories

Use Instagram Stories or Facebook Live to give virtual tours of properties, share behind-the-scenes content, or highlight client success stories. These platforms allow you to connect with your audience in real-time and create a sense of urgency. For example, a Facebook Live tour of a new listing can generate immediate interest and inquiries.

 

Read more about: Mastering the Art of Integrated Digital and Social Media Marketing

Content Creation

Regularly publish blog posts, videos, and infographics that provide value to your audience. For example, a blog post titled “5 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers” not only positions you as an expert but also keeps your audience engaged with your brand. You can also create video content, such as “A Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent,” to humanize your brand and build trust.

Engage with Your Audience

Don’t just post content—engage with your followers. Respond to comments, answer questions, and participate in conversations. This builds a sense of community and makes your audience feel valued.

Strategic Content Creation Tips

To maximize your real estate lead generation efforts, your content should be both informative and emotionally engaging. Here are some tips:

Use Visuals

Incorporate high-quality images and videos into your content. Visual storytelling is incredibly powerful and can help potential buyers visualize themselves in the property. For example, a video tour of a home with soft background music and a voiceover describing the lifestyle the home offers can be far more compelling than static images.

Incorporate Data

While storytelling is important, don’t forget to back up your narratives with data. For example, you could reference Resimpli’s blog on 80 Real Estate Lead Generation Statistics to add credibility to your content. Data can help reinforce the emotional appeal of your story with hard facts.

Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

Always include a clear CTA in your content. Whether it’s encouraging readers to schedule a consultation, download a guide, or follow you on social media, a strong CTA can help convert leads into clients. For example, at the end of a blog post, you could include a CTA like “Ready to find your dream home? Contact us today to schedule a consultation!”

The Role of Storytelling in Brands

Your brand is more than just your logo or tagline—it’s the story you tell about who you are and what you stand for. In real estate, your brand story can set you apart from the competition and attract the right clients.

Define Your Brand Story

What makes your real estate agency unique? Is it your personalized approach, your deep knowledge of the local market, or your commitment to client satisfaction? Define your brand story and weave it into all of your marketing materials.

Consistency is Key

Your brand story should be consistent across all platforms, from your website to your social media profiles to your email newsletters. Consistency helps reinforce your brand identity and makes it easier for potential clients to recognize and remember you.

Showcase Your Values

Use storytelling to showcase your values and what you stand for. For example, if community involvement is important to you, share stories about how you’ve contributed to local charities or organized neighborhood events.

Conclusion

In the world of real estate lead generation, storytelling is a powerful tool that can set you apart from the competition. By crafting compelling narratives, leveraging digital platforms, and building trust through strategic content creation, you can engage potential clients on a deeper level and drive more conversions. Remember, it’s not just about selling properties—it’s about selling dreams, lifestyles, and emotional connections.

LeadingAge Michigan Annual Meeting & Expo 2025

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WHO: LeadingAge Michigan is a nonprofit organization and one of the largest and most respected associations of providers serving older adults in Michigan . LeadingAge strives to advocate for quality services, promote innovative practices, and foster collaboration. Additionally, LeadingAge aims to improve the lives of older citizens by maximizing the effectiveness of service providers. LeadingAge is a platform that enhances professional development and fosters community engagement. It’s an organization that constantly pushes the boundaries of health care.

WHERE: Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007

WHEN: May 19-21, 2025

DETAILS: The LeadingAge Michigan 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo offers everything attendees have come to expect over the years. Thousands of visitors will have opportunities to connect with hundreds of exhibitors, listen to presentations from industry and business development experts, and network with other professionals. The event provides an environment for senior living providers to come together and develop their businesses. It’s a can’t-miss event that pushes the entire industry forward.

Digital Marketing Strategies to Build Website Traffic and Increase Lead Conversion;  Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 4:15 PM – 6:00 PM

Internet Marketing Director, Nicole Wagner, will be presenting Digital Marketing Strategies to Build Traffic and Increase Lead Conversion. Nicole will discuss the importance of digital marketing alongside traditional methods. She will explore how to utilize digital methods to build a significant online presence. Moreover, the session emphasizes the importance of attracting the right audience and converting them into high quality leads. Attendees will have the opportunity to analyze and assess the strength of their current digital marketing programs. Nicole will also teach attendees how to create a digital content program and web presence. With these strategies, attendees will be able to reach the right audience with the right message.

Register for the event here.

Learn more about LeadingAge Michigan here.

Read about Nicole Wagner, or book her for speaking here.

Book a free consultation with Stevens & Tate here.

Website Redesign Process

Learning from the Best: 10 Examples of Great Website Design 

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Building a website is simple. But designing a website that meets all the modern web design requirements and works for your unique customers and business is challenging. Most companies create compelling websites but end up sacrificing performance or the user experience. Others prioritize simplicity and convenience but end up with poorly optimized sites. In the sections below, you’ll explore 10 examples of great website designs to inspire your creativity the next time you design a website.

10 Examples of Great Website Design

1. Dropbox

 

If there’s one website that has done a great job designing a super rsponsive website, it’s got to be Dropbox. This cloud storage and file hosting company has made sure that every site visitor, regardless of the device they use to access the site, enjoys the best navigation, graphics, and content.

Every aspect of the site design, from the font color to the navigation buttons, has been carefully customized for every device, ensuring compatibility and interactive experiences for the varying screen sizes.

For instance, on the desktop, a small arrow directs users to scroll down for more content, helping to minimize the bounce rate. However, this is absent on the mobile version, as users are more likely to scroll down easily.

2. Freshbooks

 

 

Freshbooks is an accounting website with one of the best homepage designs, thanks to the simple and minimalist copy, inspiring visuals, and the strategic use of white space in web design. The site also uses a perfect blend of colors with easy-to-spot CTA buttons. There’s also a well-organized navigation system that makes it easier for first-time site visitors to find solutions to their complex accounting problems.

3. Walmart

 

 

Walmart is one of the leading online marketplaces offering a one-stop shopping experience. The retail giant has prioritized convenience by streamlining the checkout process. Once you’ve selected the items you want to buy, you won’t be taken to a new checkout page. Instead, an on-page checkout sidebar allows you to complete your shopping without even signing up. A cart storage option saves your cart for up to three days if you forget to complete the checkout process or are distracted while on the site.

4. Nike

 

 

Nike is one of the leading sportswear companies whose success is rooted in simplicity and convenience. The same is reflected on its website, which prioritizes a minimalist design and easy navigation. Nike’s checkout process, for instance, is one of the simplest yet super interactive. If you enter the correct information during checkout, a green checkmark appears, allowing you to continue shopping.

There’s also an auto-fill address feature that saves you time during checkout. By simplifying the time-consuming steps and focusing on web design principles that boost conversions, Nike has successfully attracted and even retained more converting prospects.

5. Uber

 

 

Uber falls into the category of companies that prioritize their homepage design, and it’s obvious why. Imagine landing on the Uber website and reading through needless copy, images, or videos before requesting your ride. Now think of a ride-sharing or service company that has made its home page simple, straightforward, and effective. You need to choose what you want, and you’re directed to the service almost instantly without going through the tedious sign-up process.

 

25 Website Must Haves For Driving Traffic, Leads & Sales

 

6. Wired

 

 

WIRED, a leading technology magazine and online publication, is among the many sites that have done a lot to improve the user experience. When you browse through the site using a PC or desktop, you’ll find multiple columns and a handy sidebar, but switching to your mobile transforms into a single column for smooth navigation.

The company also pays keen attention to details, such as adjusting image ratios to fit perfectly on each device. And for even more simplicity on mobile, they’ve combined search and newsfeed filter icons into one button.

7. Slack

 

 

Slack is a business messaging app that’s been in the market for nearly a decade. The brand is known for its focus on simplicity, and they have successfully made it one of their competitive advantages. Slack has ensured that its site is easy to access and navigate, no matter the screen size of your device.

You’ll see customer logos in a neat three-column layout on a computer. But they have switched it to a single-column design on mobile phones for better viewing. And their call-to-action buttons? They span the whole column on tablets and mobiles, so you won’t accidentally click something else.

8. Shopify

 

 

Shopify has built a reputation as one of the leading e-commerce website builders thanks to its robust features, comprehensive support, and intuitive user interface. The Shopify website is one of the few that has managed to strike a delicate balance between site consistency across devices and enhanced user experience.

If you access the official Shopify website from a desktop or phone, you’ll find that most things remain unchanged except for the CTA buttons and a few menus. Additionally, Shopify is among the few sites that enjoy impressive web page speeds despite using graphics-intensive image carousels.

Also Read: 3 Helpful Tips To Improve Your CTAs To Generate More Leads

9. IBM

 

 

As one of the leading technology companies, IBM has set an excellent example for companies looking to create a fully-immersive site experience. The company has gone the extra mile to make its site not only responsive but also interactive, unique, and modern.

When you land on IBM’s homepage, you’ll be greeted with a responsive background, interactive videos, and a bold CTA. And while the IBM website is far from simple, it has incorporated complex design tools, from AI features to game-like functions, to create an immersive site experience.

10. Airbnb

 

 

Airbnb uses some of the best design strategies, such as easy navigation, a consistent color scheme, and text minimization, to ensure user-centricity and enhance the customer experience. The homepage, for instance, displays lightweight graphics consisting of images and short, engaging videos.

All the media elements on the homepage have been carefully chosen to engage and convert without compromising site performance. The images of stunning rentals, from all across the globe, for example, create a sense of urgency and encourage site visitors to book their dream Airbnb.

Bottom Line

In today’s interconnected world, online presence significantly influences marketing, customer engagement, brand identity, and business growth. However, the discussed 10 examples of great website design emphasize that merely having an online presence for the sake of it is insufficient.

To truly make an impact, you must rethink every aspect of your online presence, considering not only how your website looks but also how customers can access, browse, and interact with it. Moreover, it is essential to incorporate these considerations into your digital strategy and plan regular updates to your website and its features.

 

 

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Email Marketing Customer Journey in the AI Era

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In the rapidly evolving world of digital marketing, email marketing remains a cornerstone of effective customer engagement. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), email marketing has transcended traditional practices, leveraging AI to revolutionize how businesses interact with customers throughout their journey. From initial awareness to loyal advocacy, AI-driven tools are transforming the email marketing customer journey by enhancing efficiency, personalization, and predictive capabilities.

The AI-Enhanced Email Marketing Customer Journey

Awareness: Capturing Attention with AI-Driven Campaigns

The first stage of the email marketing journey focuses on making an impression. AI excels by analyzing user data to determine optimal send times, predict resonant content for different segments, and craft personalized messages that boost open rates. Tools like Mailchimp and Salesforce leverage AI to help marketers send emails that are not only noticed but also welcomed. Additionally, advanced segmentation enables micro-targeting using demographic, behavioral, and psychographic data, ensuring each message is highly relevant to its recipient.

Read more about: 6 Email Marketing Tips (Expert’s Advice)

Consideration: Personalized Content at Scale

Email Marketing Customer Journey

Once you’ve captured attention, the next step is nurturing interest. AI-powered systems track user interactions and behaviors, tailoring content to meet each recipient’s specific needs. Previously unthinkable, this level of personalization at scale is now achievable through advanced machine-learning algorithms. These tools refine content recommendations and adapt messaging strategies, dynamically adjusting email content in real time based on user actions, like browsing a product or service.

Read more about: 6 Types of Behavioral Data That Can Be Used For Segmentation

Decision: Predictive Analytics for Timely Offers

When a customer is on the cusp of making a decision, timing and relevance are crucial. AI’s predictive analytics come into play, forecasting the right moment to send a persuasive email that converts. By analyzing past purchase behavior and engagement metrics, AI tools can trigger emails with offers that are hard to ignore, precisely when the customer is most likely to make a purchase. This can include special promotions, limited-time offers, or exclusive previews that are tailored to the individual’s previous interactions with the brand.

Retention: Keeping Them Engaged

After the sale, the focus shifts to retention. AI helps maintain interest and loyalty by automating follow-up emails, sending renewal reminders, or offering personalized discounts based on the customer’s purchase history. Predictive models identify at-risk customers, enabling proactive engagement to prevent churn. Automated re-engagement campaigns can reignite interest by recommending products similar to those previously purchased or by offering special incentives for feedback and reviews.

Read more about: Up Your Email Engagement: Consumer-Oriented Strategies

Advocacy: Encouraging Loyal Customers to Become Brand Advocates

Email Marketing

The final stage of the email marketing journey turns satisfied customers into advocates. AI tools analyze feedback and interaction patterns to identify potential advocates. Personalized campaigns thank customers for their loyalty and encourage them to share positive experiences online, which expands brand reach organically. These campaigns may include referral bonuses, prompts for user-generated content, or invitations to exclusive events—all aiming to build a stronger brand community.

Actionable Strategies for Leveraging AI in Email Marketing Customer Journey Optimization

To fully leverage AI in your email marketing strategy, consider the following:

  • Integrate AI tools that analyze data across customer touchpoints to gain a holistic view of the customer journey.
  • Employ AI-driven personalization to tailor messages based on user behavior, preferences, and predictive insights.
  • Use predictive analytics to optimize timing and content, ensuring that emails are sent when users are most receptive.
  • Automate routine tasks to focus on strategic decision-making and creative aspects of email marketing.
  • Continuously measure the effectiveness of AI implementations and adjust strategies based on real-time feedback and analytics.

Conclusion

AI is reshaping email marketing and setting new standards for customer interactions. By embracing AI-driven automation, personalization, and predictive analytics, marketers can create campaigns that are both efficient and deeply resonant at every stage of the customer journey. As we advance into the AI era, integrating these technologies into email marketing strategies isn’t just advantageous—it’s essential.

How to Leverage Influencer Marketing for Your Brand’s Success

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Starting a business is one challenge, and building it into a success story is another. Several startups fail due to factors ranging from poor planning and ineffective marketing strategies to economic downturns and operational inefficiencies. As far as marketing is concerned, there are several lessons to learn from some of the most successful companies.

In the below information, we’ll discuss influencer marketing and how influencer collaboration with the right influencers can be a beneficial for your brand success. You’ll also learn how to maximize influencer collaborations and make this marketing strategy work for your brand.

What is Influencer Marketing, and Why Does it Matter?

 

As the name suggests, influencer marketing is a technique where you partner up with a popular figure or celebrity to help promote your products or services. Influencers can be individuals or a group of people with a huge following, especially on popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Whether your business is a startup or an established entity, influencer marketing can help drive brand awareness, increasing traffic and conversions. It’s worth noting that every business is unique, and how effective influencer marketing will be for your business depends on factors such as:

  • Nature of the business: Beauty, lifestyle, and fashion businesses have a natural fit with influencers, while those in the B2B sector may find this marketing technique challenging.
  • Online presence: A robust online presence, characterized by a well-designed website and active social media profiles, will attract the best influencers and may translate to better conversions.
  • Target demographics: The influencer’s ready audience should be your preferred target market. Otherwise, a mismatch will see your marketing campaign struggle.
  • Choice of influencer: Consider the influencer’s values, reputation, and audience engagement before striking a partnership deal. More on this later.

Besides having an engaged and loyal following willing to buy your products or services, influencers put a personality and face to your brand, making it more reputable and trustworthy. The right influencers will also push your product or services to a broader audience, thanks to the varied platforms they’ll use to promote your brand.

How Can You Leverage Influencer Collaborations to Drive Brand Success?

Most influencers have great ideas on how they can partner with you to market your brand. Even so, you may specify how you want them to promote your products or services. And while there’s no wrong or right way to promote your brand, some influencer marketing techniques are more effective than others. Here are a few ways to leverage influencer marketing for maximum impact:

Try Podcast Endorsements

According to PEW research, 49% of adults in the United States have listened to a podcast in the past 12 months. Therefore, it makes economic sense to partner with podcast hosts to promote your brand among their loyal following. To make this strategy work best, you want to sponsor specific episodes of several podcasts your target audience is already subscribed to.

Use Influencer Content as Paid Ads

Standard ads on social media platforms rarely convert since everyone sees them as a nuisance. However, this won’t be the case if you partner with an influencer and let them create a social ad with their face or voice on it.

Use Brand Ambassadors 

Over the years, businesses have used brand ambassador programs to build trust and win customers. With this technique, companies tap into loyal customers who already use their products or services and partner with them to recommend their brand to their following or audience. This program works well when the loyal customer you want to pick has a huge following that can convert easily.

Try Contests and Giveaways 

With this technique, you’ll provide your influencers with a product or service they can reward or give to their followers. You can modify this technique to have the influencer’s followers like your brand’s page or post. The giveaways may come in the form of contests or challenges meant to boost social media engagement, brand following, and awareness.

Gift Influencers and Obtain Honest Reviews 

Another way to leverage influencer marketing is to gift an influencer your product or provide them with your services for free and let them give their followers an honest review of what they think about your product/service. If the influencer thinks your product/service is excellent, they’ll recommend it to their followers. Otherwise, they won’t.

How to Identify the Right Influencers for Your Brand Target Audience?

Before comfortably trusting an influencer to promote your brand, you must follow due process throughout the sourcing and selection stages. The right influencer for your brand is someone you can trust and who believes in your business. Here are a few things to look out for when choosing an influencer to partner up with:

  • Relevant audience. Not all influencers have an audience that resonates with your business or target demographic. Do your research to ensure you partner with someone who will directly add value to your business.
  • Brand Values. The right influencer will have values that resonate with your brand and target audience. You can check the influencer on social media platforms to learn more about their values and belief systems.
  • Communication and professionalism. One of the pillars of the 4Cs marketing model is effective communication. Customers always want to know how buying your product will benefit them, meaning the influencer should do a great job selling your brand. Similarly, you want to work with a professional influencer who has strong communication skills.
  • Content Quality. As much as the influencer is authentic, trustworthy, and meets the brand alignment metrics, you also want to ensure the content they produce meets your expected quality standards.

Bottom Line

Whether turning your employees into influencers or picking celebrity figures to partner with, influencer marketing is generally a true and tested technique. The goal is to choose a trustworthy person with a reasonable social following committed to walking the marketing journey with you, one step at a time. Use the tips above to guide you throughout the influencer marketing campaign, and where necessary, seek professional help for brand strategy services from a reputable marketing strategy agency.

LeadingAge Illinois Annual Meeting & Expo 2025

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WHO: LeadingAge Illinois is a nonprofit organization and one of the largest and most respected associations of providers serving older adults in Illinois. LeadingAge strives to advocate for quality services, promote innovative practices, and foster collaboration. Additionally, LeadingAge aims to improve the lives of older citizens by maximizing the effectiveness of service providers. LeadingAge is a platform that enhances professional development and fosters community engagement. It’s an organization that constantly pushes the boundaries of health care.

WHERE: Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center

WHEN: July 21-23, 2025

DETAILS: The LeadingAge Illinois 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo offers everything attendees have come to expect over the years. Thousands of visitors will have opportunities to connect with hundreds of exhibitors, listen to presentations from industry and business development experts, and network with other professionals. The event provides an environment for senior living providers to come together and develop their businesses. It’s a can’t-miss event that pushes the entire industry forward.

 

Perfecting the Media Mix: Balancing Online and Traditional Media to Drive the Best ROIWhat is Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM)? - Marketscience

Dan Gartlan will also be presenting Perfecting the Media Mix: Balancing Online and Traditional Media to Drive the Best ROI. The session will teach attendees how to select and balance online and traditional media. This practice will help build trust within an organization’s target audience. Additionally, Dan will teach attendees how to focus and adjust marketing spending based on an organization’s needs. These strategies will help eliminate waste and create an effective balance that leads to high returns on spending. Lastly, attendees will learn how to create strategy documents that help organizations create properly managed and monitored media programs.

 

Elevating Senior Brands: Video Strategies That Drive Engagement, Trust And Growth

Digital Media Director, Terry Becker, will be presenting Elevating Senior Brands: Video Strategies That Drive Engagement, Trust And Growth. Terry will discuss how to leverage video as a powerful driver of brand engagement, trust, and loyalty. He will explore platform-specific approaches to maximize ROI. Moreover, Terry will also teach attendees practical strategies to scale high-impact video across multiple communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain clarity on when to invest in professional video production versus leveraging in-house resources.

 

Register for the event here.

Learn more about LeadingAge Illinois here.

Read about Dan Gartlan and Terry Becker, or book them for speaking here.

Book a free consultation with Stevens & Tate here.

FABTECH North America 2024

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WHO: Since its inception in 1981, FABTECH has grown into the premier metal fabricating event and North America’s largest industry showcase. The annual event features world-class exhibits and expert-led sessions on the latest technologies and new products. FABTECH’s mission is to bring industry executives together to conduct business, make connections, and share ideas. The event aims to showcase advanced technologies and provide a complete platform to push the boundaries of metal fabrication. The FABTECH conference attracts over 65,000 visitors annually from various industries worldwide, rotating annually among U.S. cities, Mexico, and Canada.

WHERE: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL

WHEN: October 15-17, 2024

DETAILS: Making its first appearance in Orlando, FABTECH North America 2024 is set to host over 1,500 world-class suppliers, bringing together business and industry professionals in a comprehensive showcase of the latest innovations in metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing. The event offers attendees opportunities to network, attend live demonstrations, and learn how to advance their businesses. FABTECH 2024 is an essential gathering for executives to enhance their productivity and discover cutting-edge technology.

 

4 Strategies For Utilizing Marketing Automation To Achieve WOW Results;  Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Stevens & Tate Marketing President and CEO, Dan Gartlan, will be presenting 4 Strategies For Utilizing Marketing Automation To Achieve WOW Results. The session will explore how B2B companies face challenges in attracting prospects and staying engaged during long sales cycles. Dan emphasizes the importance of building an integrated online strategy through story branding, content creation, and lead nurturing. Furthermore, Dan will teach attendants a wide array of marketing practices to achieve success. By implementing and adjusting automated strategies, attendees will be able to leverage new practices for “WOW” results.

 

4 Strategies For Utilizing Marketing Automation To Achieve WOW Results will be presented on Tuesday, October 15th at 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Register for the event here.

Learn more about FABTECH here.

Read about Dan Gartlan, or book him for speaking here.

Book a free consultation with Stevens & Tate here.

LeadingAge Illinois Annual Meeting & Expo 2024

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WHO: LeadingAge Illinois is a nonprofit organization and one of the largest and most respected associations of providers serving older adults in Illinois. LeadingAge strives to advocate for quality services, promote innovative practices, and foster collaboration. Additionally, LeadingAge aims to improve the lives of older citizens by maximizing the effectiveness of service providers. LeadingAge is a platform that enhances professional development and fosters community engagement. It’s an organization that constantly pushes the boundaries of health care.

WHERE: Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center

WHEN: July 30-31, 2024

DETAILS: The LeadingAge Illinois 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo offers everything attendees have come to expect over the years. Thousands of visitors will have opportunities to connect with hundreds of exhibitors, listen to presentations from industry and business development experts, and network with other professionals. The event provides an environment for senior living providers to come together and develop their businesses. It’s a can’t-miss event that pushes the entire industry forward.

 

Tried and True Marketing Practices and Ways to Break Through the Noise;  Tuesday, July 30, 2024, 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

President of Stevens & Tate Marketing, Dan Gartlan, will be presenting Tried and True Marketing Practices and Ways to Break Through the Noise. By focusing on how to maximize results with any size marketing budget, scale campaigns, and understand how to effectively utilize a media mix, Dan will teach attendees how to structure marketing strategies around an organization’s objectives, audience, and industry. Dan will teach attendees how to navigate the complicated and fragmented modern media landscape, “breaking through the noise.” Dan’s insights will teach senior living executives how to streamline their marketing processes and engage audiences. It’s an opportunity to learn how to achieve marketing success without any wasted resources.

 

Perfecting the Media Mix: Balancing Online and Traditional Media to Drive the Best ROI;  Tuesday, July 30, 2024, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Dan Gartlan will also be presenting Perfecting the Media Mix: Balancing Online and Traditional Media to Drive the Best ROI. The session will teach attendees how to select and balance online and traditional media. This practice will help build trust within an organization’s target audience. Additionally, Dan will teach attendees how to focus and adjust marketing spending based on an organization’s needs. These strategies will help eliminate waste and create an effective balance that leads to high returns on spending. Lastly, attendees will learn how to create strategy documents that help organizations create properly managed and monitored media programs.

 

Digital Marketing Strategies to Build Traffic and Increase Lead Conversion; Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Internet Marketing Director, Nicole Wagner, will be presenting Digital Marketing Strategies to Build Traffic and Increase Lead Conversion. Nicole will discuss the importance of digital marketing alongside traditional methods. She will explore how to utilize digital methods to build a significant online presence. Moreover, the session emphasizes the importance of attracting the right audience and converting them into high quality leads. Attendees will have the opportunity to analyze and assess the strength of their current digital marketing programs. Nicole will also teach attendees how to create a digital content program and web presence. With these strategies, attendees will be able to reach the right audience with the right message.

 

Tried and True Marketing Practices and Ways to Break Through the Noise will be presented on Tuesday, July 30th at 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM.

Perfecting the Media Mix: Balancing Online and Traditional Media to Drive the Best ROI will be presented on Tuesday, July 30th at 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.

Digital Marketing Strategies to Build Traffic and Increase Lead Conversion will be presented on Wednesday, July 31st at 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM.

Register for the event here.

Learn more about LeadingAge Illinois here.

Read about Dan Gartlan and Nicole Wagner, or book them for speaking here.

Book a free consultation with Stevens & Tate here.

74th Annual IHCA Convention & Expo

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WHO: The Illinois Health Care Association (IHCA) was founded in 1950 and is governed by a 13-member board of directors. The nonprofit organization comprises more than 500 long-term care institutions for the developmentally disabled throughout the state. IHCA supports nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care services, providing members with resources, education, and training. Additionally, IHCA seeks to enhance the quality of care for long-term care residents by working with state and federal legislators. IHCA helps shape regulations, promote healthy practices, and maintain a high standard of care for older and disabled people.

WHERE: Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL

WHEN: September 9-12, 2024

DETAILS: IHCA hosts the state’s largest convention and exhibition for long-term health care professionals. The annual four-day event will feature hundreds of seminars and exhibitors on the latest tech and services available to care providers. It’s a chance for industry executives to network, attend professional workshops, and listen to presentations from experts. In addition, the event aims to equip healthcare providers with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance the quality of care for long-term care residents and navigate the industry’s evolving landscape. This year’s theme is “Playbook for Success,” and the event will incorporate as much football and tailgating theme as possible.

 

Maximize Your Digital Brand Through Strategic Marketing;  Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Internet Marketing Director, Nicole Wagner, will be presenting Maximize Your Digital Brand Through Strategic Marketing. The session will dive into how a digital brand must refine its content, understand marketing automation, and draw more website visitors. Collectively, these strategies will help drive engagement and conversion. The interactive component of the session will focus on strategic marketing and assessing current digital marketing strategies. Nicole will teach attendants how to craft tailored content programs for their audiences and objectives. Moreover, Nicole will equip attendees with critical tools to evaluate and enhance marketing programs, and offer a comprehensive roadmap to navigate the digital realm. It’s an opportunity to fine-tune your digital brand, connect with your audience on a deeper level, and thrive in the competitive senior marketplace.

 

Maximize Your Digital Brand Through Strategic Marketing will be presented on Wednesday, September 11th at 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Register for the event here.

Learn more about IHCA here.

Read about Nicole Wagner, or book her for speaking here.

Book a free consultation with Stevens & Tate here.

customer relationship

Customer Engagement Strategy

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Building lasting customer relationships is one of the key challenges affecting most companies in today’s business landscape. Many are now investing more into their customer touchpoints by visualizing the customer journey, boosting customer satisfaction, and providing a seamless experience before and after purchase.

What is Customer Engagement Strategy?

A customer engagement strategy is a one kind of plan designed to encourage customers to repeatedly choose your product or service.

The ideal approach to customer engagement depends on several factors but should typically involve providing value, support, and resources. It also needs to make it easy for customers to do business with you by solving their problems quickly and efficiently.

The customer-centric aspect of your business should be felt all the way from marketing and sales to customer service. Your goal is to drive true engagement and encourage long-term loyalty that will eventually grow your customer base. Below are three customer engagement strategies that you can use to boost customer engagement.

Customer Engagement Strategies

1. Use Customer Feedback to Drive Improvements

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The secret to being relevant in today’s customer-centric world is to give your customers what they want. But how can you give them what they want if you don’t understand their needs? First, you should know who your customers are and the problems you want to help them solve. That’s why you should prioritize their feedback throughout the customer touchpoints.

Some popular ways to engage with customers include conducting online surveys, engaging in social listening, making random but regular phone calls, participating in events and meet-ups, etc.. Regardless of where or how you seek customer feedback, ensure that the customers feel safe enough to be open and honest with you. That said, some feedback is just there to be observed, and you don’t need customers telling you what they want.

For instance, a high abandoned cart or bounce rate on the business website is one piece of feedback you can observe and then use your judgment to respond appropriately. In this case, for instance, the shipping cost may be high and needs to be lowered. Or your customers are forced to register before buying products, which complicates their overall site experience. A high bounce rate could also indicate a poorly designed website, unclear offers, or a poorly responsive/interactive site layout/theme.

By paying keen attention to your customers and their behaviors, you can learn a lot and find ways to boost their experiences. You can also request customer feedback to help you establish and develop your brand identity and to target your ideal market demographics.

2. Leverage Modern Technologies

Another way to enhance your customer experience strategy this New Year is to use modern technologies. These technologies don’t have to be complicated, they just have to make your business processes more efficient. For instance, adopting B2C/B2B marketing automation, such as chatbots, can guide site visitors and enrich their experience on your website.

The other technologies you might consider integrating into your overall business strategy to boost customer engagement include:

  • Virtual and Augmented Reality. AR and VR are no longer the dreaded technologies they once were. Today, businesses embrace these technologies to enable visual and more refined customer journeys. If your products are compatible with most AR/VR apps, such as Google Lens, you’ll have appealed to a larger audience.
  • Cloud. If migrating part or all of your customer-facing operations to the cloud sounds revolutionary, it’s because it actually is. The cloud offers several opportunities, from increased flexibility to rapid scaling capabilities. This will see you communicate and address customer issues across different channels from one central location.
  • Data analytics. Data is one critical element that can greatly improve your business operations if used properly. You can use data analytics software to gauge customer behaviors and make high-level decisions that positively impact customer experience.

Also Read: Core Difference Between Buyer Journey vs. Customer Journey

3. Create a More Customer-Centric Culture 

Most modern businesses emphasize customer-centricity and great company culture, but very few practice what they preach. In fact, only a few have fully integrated a customer-centric culture into their business operations. And it’s easy to see why this is the case.

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According to a recent CMO Council report, only 14% of marketers say customer centricity is a crucial aspect of their businesses, and only 11% believe their customers would agree with that statement.

Changing the key aspects of your company culture to make it more customer-centric can be challenging. There would likely be a lot of resistance, even from the customers themselves, but it’s a crucial step to building a culture that truly puts the customer first. Some key steps you can take to create a customer-centric culture include:

  • Sensitize everyone in your organization to understand and empathize with customers.
  • Hire for customer orientation and customer experiences.
  • Ensure employees have access to customer feedback and insights.
  • Link employee culture to customer outcomes.
  • Reward employees who focus on customers and provide great customer experiences.

Besides implementing the tips above, you should also make the customer experience everyone’s responsibility. You can further enhance your efforts by embracing the 4C marketing model focusing on the consumer, cost, communication, and convenience.

The goal is to facilitate direct interaction with customers and encourage employees to intervene directly and build long-lasting relationships with your customers.

Final Thoughts 

Your customers deserve exceptional experiences when interacting with your products and services. One critical step to enhancing their experience is to understand their needs and commit to their growth journeys in ways your competitors can’t.

The goal is to amaze your customers and keep them coming back for repeat business. While there are many ways to accomplish this, some techniques are more sustainable and effective than others.

For example, it’s easy to use customer discounts to keep customers, but it may not be a sustainable strategy. On the other hand, implementing a customer-centric culture may take a longer time to yield results, but it is an ideal long-term customer engagement strategy..

As a business owner, you may need to combine various customer engagement strategies to build your unique ideal approach to customer engagement. The three customer engagement strategies we have highlighted above aren’t exhaustive, but they can guide you in developing a solid customer-focused business.