A Sales Funnel to Build a Billion Dollar Business

Posted on May 13, 2023June 7, 2023 by Julia Genoves

Optimize Your Sales Funnel: From Awareness to Building Relationships

Are you wondering how to bring in new business without spending tons of money? Or how to engage your customer without giving all your company’s secrets away? Well, what if we tell you that you don’t lose anything by giving customers your information; in fact, you are more likely to receive qualified leads without having to spend high marketing prices. That is the magic of a sales funnel.

In this Midwest Mindset (The Omaha Podcast) episode, we talked with successful Real State Master and Lead Conversion expert: Jeff Cohn from Elite Real Estate Systems to learn how awareness and discovery can boost your business’s success.

content marketing and sales funnel awareness

What is a Sales Funnel?

Read the full transcript

The dynamic world of business is full of specific terms that might not mean anything for a small company starting out, like a “funnel” or a “lead.” But having a clear understanding of all terms and how they work is a step closer to success.

Having a strong sales funnel can make all the difference in whether your business makes it or not. But what exactly is a sales funnel, and how can I benefit from it?

Imagine a journey where potential customers move from being unaware of your business to becoming loyal advocates. That’s precisely what a sales funnel represents. It visualizes the path a prospect takes from initial awareness to purchasing.

To build an effective sales funnel, it’s crucial to start from the end goal and work backward. Consider what your business needs, analyze the buying process, and identify the key touchpoints where you can engage and influence potential customers.

Sales Funnel Awareness: Master the Lead Conversion Process

At the very beginning of your sales funnel lies awareness, the most essential part of customer engagement. This stage is all about grabbing your target audience’s attention and generating interest in your business.

To achieve this, it’s essential to craft compelling and eye-catching content; that is why having a content marketing strategy is key. This can be having a blog site, a professional podcast, or a YouTube channel.

Once you have successfully engaged with a potential customer, it’s time to move them through the funnel.

To make this happen, offer a valuable freebie that genuinely benefits your prospects, like an e-book, a toolkit, or an exclusive PDF resource that provides immense value. In exchange, ask for their contact information on your landing page, allowing you to build a direct line of communication.

This way, you’ll successfully win the awareness of your prospects. They know who you are because they’ll benefit from your content and expertise.

Content is Power: Don’t be Afraid to Reveal All Your Secrets

One thing in the business world is for sure: People crave valuable and free information.

We know it might be daunting to let all your work out in the air for everyone to see, but it’s important to recognize that the average individual won’t steal your ideas or attempt to replicate your work; on the contrary, they will appreciate the valuable information you provide and often prefer to pay experts like you to handle the job.

By freely offering insights and knowledge, you position yourself as an expert in your field. Remember, individuals seek help, services, and guidance from professionals and the reassurance that you have what it takes to deliver results.

Sharing secrets builds trust, establishing you as a reliable source of knowledge and solutions.

Commit to Your Audience

While contributing to your audience is a step in the right direction, commitment takes it a notch higher. It means wholeheartedly dedicating yourself to offering valuable information and resources for your customers to succeed.

Commitment involves deeply understanding your audience’s pain points, desires, and goals. By consistently delivering relevant and valuable content, you establish yourself as a trusted source and foster a loyal following.

Commitment to your audiences will make it smooth for you to optimize your sales Funnel in the awareness stage.

Build Relationships and Treat People with Kindness

Once you have mastered the awareness stage and with the contact information of your prospects, it’s time to nurture connections and unlock the true power of your sales funnel. This is where the magic happens!

Remember, people want to do business with those they know and trust. They want to feel like part of a family where their needs are understood, and their success is valued. So don’t be afraid to send that thank you note and call to say hay. Make your interactions personalized.

Remember, building lasting connections through your sales funnel is an investment that will yield returns for years to come. Embrace this approach, and watch your business flourish as you create a community of satisfied customers and ambassadors.

Content is Everything. We Make it Easy

Most business owners struggle to create a valuable content marketing strategy because they don’t have the time, budget, or expertise to manage it all themselves.

If you are struggling to find the time to create engaging content to optimize your sales Funnel, we are here for you! Get started for free with a marketing audit report that we will review with you.

From free weekly marketing resources on our podcast, Midwest Mindset for Marketing, to professional coaching and consulting, at Two Brothers, we believe every business deserves affordable and effective digital marketing.

Radio Advertising: The Best Tips for Saving Money

Posted on May 1, 2023February 5, 2024 by Julia Genoves

How to Save Money with Radio Advertising

Radio advertising can be an excellent way to reach a large audience, but for small business owners, spending money wisely and thinking before investing is essential, and since the radio industry has changed so much in recent years, entrepreneurs need to consider a few things before investing in radio ads.

In this Midwest Mindset (The Omaha Podcast) episode, Matt Tompkins takes us through all the essential tips to conquer your radio advertising strategy without losing money in the process and getting the best results possible.

Don’t Let Nostalgia Influence Your Decision

Read the Full Transcript

Nostalgia is a powerful thing and can often cloud our judgment. For small businesses working with a tight budget, radio advertising can seem like a nostalgic and cost-effective way to reach a broad audience.

However, we must acknowledge that radio has evolved significantly over the years and is not the powerful tool it once was. So let’s not get carried away by the “good old times”; instead, let’s focus on how radio advertising can fit in today’s digital world and improve our content marketing efforts.

Reset the Way You See Radio Advertising

Radio has been a reliable source of entertainment and information for decades. However, it has become clear that we need to change the way we view radio when it comes to marketing and analytics.

For starters, ratings are a crucial part of radio, yet the way this business calculates ratings leaves much to be desired. Traditional radio ratings are determined based on the number of people who listen and the queue or volume of people. However, the accuracy of these ratings is not ideal because users are asked to fill out forms estimating how much time they spend listening to a particular channel.

The self-reported nature of radio makes it impossible for small business to track their progress. What your business need for success is hard data that accurately show what is working and what is not.

So don’t waste your time on traditional media advertising that plays over the air and doesn’t produce accurate analytics; instead, use media that give you solid results.

And let’s face it: everybody hates listening to commercials; that’s why streaming subscriptions are so popular; they take away the hazard of having to listen to ad after ad.

So if conventional radio advertising is so unclear, why should we invest in it? Is there a way to make it work?

Radio Streaming Stations: Affordable and Metric-based

Streaming Signals ads are cheaper than normal radio ads and produce data that you can actually use for your business growth, like knowing how many people listen to your ads, the demographics, time spent listening, and much more.

In Rdio streaming Signals, 70% of people listen to the ads (the same way as podcast listeners do) because ad blocks are shorter and users don’t log out of a streaming service every time an ad comes up, so it’s more likely people will actually listen to your commercial.

Pre-Roll Ads

Pre-roll ads have become a popular way for businesses to get discovered. These ads are the ones that appear before the primary content starts streaming, like the ones on Youtube or Spotify. As such, pre-roll ads are ideal for gaining attention.

Another significant advantage of pre-roll, compared to traditional radio ads, is that pre-roll can and does use hard data to segment the audience. Pre-roll ads are shown based on various criteria, such as geographic location, demographic characteristics, and user behavior data. For instance, you can target your ad toward a specific age group or interest.

Use Local Talent for Radio Advertising

Another way to have an effective Radio Marketing Strategy is to use local talent for your commercials. Local radio talent tends to be an affordable way to get your message out: the average cost for a 60-second read of a commercial in Nebraska by a local radio personality can be as little as $100 per day, All day!

Another key advantage of using local radio talent is that it creates a sense of authenticity; it basically brings life to your message. Listeners feel a deeper personal connection to the radio host than they do a pre-recorded ad.

Do Your Radio Advertising Research: Market, Message, Media

Before you spend any money on radio ads, you first need to research your listener persona and target market; this will ensure that your messaging resonates with your audience.

Additionally, find the media station with the highest listener loyalty and the audiences that can afford your product or services; this will make them most likely to trust your ad.

Finally, remember: if there is no way for a radio station to give you solid data, then don’t waste your money there! Use streaming services or platforms that can provide you with reliable results.

Content Is Everything. We Make It Easy

Most business owners struggle with marketing and radio because they don’t have the time, budget, or expertise to manage it all themselves. If you find yourself in this situation, we are here for you! Get started for free with a marketing audit report that we will review with you.

From free weekly marketing resources on our podcast, Midwest Mindset For Marketing, to professional coaching and consulting, at Two Brothers, we believe every business deserves affordable and effective digital marketing.

Video Podcasts: The Benefits for Businesses in Omaha

Posted on April 26, 2023April 27, 2023 by klarinc

The Benefits Of Video Podcasts For Businesses in Omaha

With inflation taking a swing at large and small businesses, many business owners are looking for new and creative ways to market their businesses. If your marketing mainly consisted of posting on social media up until now, you have more effective options.

If you already run a marketing strategy that takes a multipronged approach, your Omaha business can find itself without a lot of options. One area that most businesses haven’t taken advantage of yet is a video podcast.

If you’re not clear about what a video podcast is or its benefits, keep reading for a quick look at video podcasting and what it can do for you.

Matt and Ben from Two Brothers Creative recording an episode for video podcasts.

What Is a Video Podcast?

When most people hear the term podcast, they almost automatically think of the pure audio productions they hear through primary audio streaming services or dedicated podcast apps. These audio podcasts typically cover a specific topic or, in the case of narrative podcasts, tell a story through a series of episodes.

A video podcast takes the same basic approach; it simply makes use of a different medium.

Rather than strictly audio podcast production, video podcasts marry that audio with video.

There are a handful of approaches to this.

Static Image Recording

Static image recording is a bit of a misnomer, but it gets the basic idea across. You essentially take the audio from a traditional recording and import it into video production software.

Then, you use a single, static image as the visual for the video. The same image shows for the entire duration of the video.

In-Studio Recording

For those with the space or access to a professional recording studio, you set up a video camera in the recording space. You conduct and record the episode as you always would, but with the video camera running.

Then, you can splice together the higher-quality audio recording with the video from the camera.

Remote Recording

One of the more common approaches for capturing podcast videos is remote recording. Again, you conduct and record that audio as you usually would. For the video element, you can employ video conferencing software that includes a recording option.

Any or all of these approaches can work for your Omaha video podcast.

Starting a Video Podcast

Starting a video podcast isn’t substantially different from starting a traditional podcast. It begins by choosing a general topic. For businesses, it’s typically something closely related to either the specific company or industry.

For example, an accountant could start a personal taxes podcast or a business taxes podcast. Once you zero in on the topic you want to cover, you must decide on a format.

While there are a lot of different podcast formats out there, most business podcasts will take one of the following formats:

Interview
Solo
Co-host/Conversational

Remember that while you can stick with just one of these formats, you can mix things up by having someone on to interview with a typically solo podcast.

Video Podcasting Gear

If you choose to launch a video podcast, there is some essential gear that you’ll need. The most common equipment includes:

USB condenser microphone
Pop filter
Decent computer
Video recorder
Tripod

There is a lot of other gear that you may want at some point, but those are the bare minimum essentials. You’ll also need some audio and video editing software.

Gearing up and learning how to use that gear is often a steeper learning curve than many people want to deal with. In those cases, outsourcing your video podcast production is often best.

With those video podcasted essentials out of the way, let’s dig into the benefits that video podcasting can bring you.

Branding

Video podcasting is an excellent branding opportunity for you. For one, it lets you get the name of your business out there regularly. It also enables you to work on the logo of your company.

It’s also an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your core brand values. For example, let’s say that you’ve built your brand around friendliness. Your podcast should lean into that value by treating guests with much cordiality.

Returning to the accounting business example above, you might embrace professionalism as a core value if you focus on business taxes and accounting. In that case, you’d want to uphold professional standards on your podcast. For example, you’d probably avoid folksy sayings or foul language.

Expanded Reach

Another critical benefit of video podcasting is expanding your reach and building a bigger audience. While it might not be a significant consideration initially, developing a big enough audience on YouTube can turn the platform into a revenue stream for you.

Videos or just video clips are also very versatile. You can post them everywhere on social media, whether Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or even Twitter.

Your video podcast is often a source of ready-made content that can reduce the burden of creating all-new content for multiple social media profiles.

Let’s say that you had a fascinating interview on your podcast. The odds are good that you can pull anywhere from 10 to 30 clips from that video. That’s a lot of easy posts for your social media profiles.

SEO

Any business conducting marketing online these days, meaning just about 100 percent of them, must consider search engine marketing. In particular, you must think about SEO for Google, which controls over 90 percent of the search engine market share and effectively writes the rules of SEO.

While it’s probably an oversimplification to say that Google’s algorithms love video, it’s not much of one. Creating a multimedia podcasting strategy that includes video will generally net you better results regarding page rank results.

Of course, this works best when you create an overall marketing strategy. For example, when picking your particular podcast episode topics, you’ll want them to align or dovetail with other marketing content like blog post topics.

Videos often see higher levels of engagement on social media platforms as well. After all, how often do people you know to share a video over a link to something like a blog post? How often have you shared videos?

Build Trust

Building trust with your audience or customer base isn’t an overnight thing, but video can help with that—human beings like seeing other human beings’ faces. True or not, many believe they can evaluate someone else’s character by watching their faces.

How often have you heard people say, “I need to look them in the eye.” That’s just a variation on the theme of wanting to see someone’s face when they, for example, claim the kind of business they run.

Video podcasting also lets people see you interacting with other human beings. If you seem genuinely interested and empathetic toward someone else, it’ll make you seem like someone that most people want to do business with at some point.

If nothing else, you can tip the scale in your direction by letting people see you carrying out your podcasting.

Enhanced Nuance

If you took a speech class or communication class somewhere along the line, you probably heard that a lot of communication is nonverbal communication. Upwards of 80 percent of what we communicate may happen non-verbally.

While a very expressive voice can overcome some of that gap, it can’t overcome all of it. That means that your average, audio-only podcast loses the majority of meaning that the host and any guests might convey.

Let’s say you use many big hand gestures when you talk, even when you speak in the studio. Capturing all of that on video lets your audience interpret your meanings far more clearly and accurately than simply hearing you talk about something.

The video also lets your audience see the facial expressions of everyone involved. While practiced hosts and interviewers will often develop good control over their expressions, that’s generally less true about guests on a podcast.

An excellent facial expression can add layers of nuance to someone’s statements.

A Video Podcast for Your Business

The benefits of video podcasting are extensive, but you may not have the time or expertise to produce it all yourself, making this daunting and overwhelming.

We are ready to help you no matter how big or small your needs may be. From tips and techniques to equipment recommendations, editing, production, coaching and development, we are here to help – whether you hire us or not.

Most business owners struggle to become more visible because they don’t have the time or money to market themselves. Our turnkey video podcast marketing system will help you generate new leads and bring home new revenue.

Book a FREE strategy call today, and let’s talk!

Video Marketing: The Expert Secrets To Success

Posted on April 25, 2023May 19, 2023 by Julia Genoves

The Expert Secrets To Video Marketing Success

Video Marketing is changing how businesses approach their online presence and is why your business should too. The truth is that Facebook and Instagram are video platforms as much as TikTok and YouTube, which is why today, video-based marketing is the most effective tool to grow your business online.

In this Midwest Mindset (The Omaha Podcast) episode, we’re joined by Walt Sanders and Michael Murphy of Omaha’s WMK Media to show you how to use video for your business success.

Why Video Marketing?

Read the full transcript

Video is now the primary way people like to consume information and the most effective way to reach a wider audience. As Matt Tompkins said: “video-based marketing is the way of the future; in fact, it is happening now.”

So, to dominate our marketing game, we should dominate video.

The Vertical Video

But how did we get here? When did video become so crucial? To answer this question, we must travel way back in time… to the rise of Snapchat. Snapchat team knew that only around 15% of users took the time to turn their phone horizontally to watch a video; that is why they went with vertical video format, as they take up more space on the user’s device, ensuring 100% of their attention.

Tiktoks, Youtube Shorts, and Reels are today’s most consumed forms of media thanks to this vertical nature. If you want your content marketing efforts to stand out, you must ALWAYS include vertical base videos to be discovered online.

Video Marketing Format

So, if vertical videos are THE way to go, can one forget all about horizontal videos? Well, the answer is no.

A good Video Marketing strategy includes both long horizontal videos and short vertical content.

Horizontal long-form videos with meaty content can educate your audience and build trust in your brand. These videos will position your business as a leader and expert in your field.

Meanwhile, short vertical videos will help spread the word about your brand far and wide, as they’re easier to share on social media platforms like YouTube, Tik Tok or Instagram. These are the type of videos that will get your audience hooked.

By combining long and short-form content, you can create a balanced approach that appeals to new potential audiences and your existing audience.

Remember: you are not making a sales pitch; you are positioning yourself as a leader in the industry with your knowledge: you are the expert.

How Often Should I Post?

The online and video marketing world is only growing with content daily, so you must post videos constantly and follow your field’s trends.

There is no point in posting once a week or three times a month. If you want your business to reach a wider audience, you need at least five video posts a week for your marketing strategy to succeed.

Make a habit of posting vertical videos once a day, Monday to Friday.

Think it is too much? The reality is that the algorithms get smarter each day, and it decides where and how many times to show your video without no one getting spammed, so don’t worry; let the algorithm do its thing and distribute your videos.

First Impression Matter In Video Content Marketing

They say love comes from the eyes, and in video content, this couldn’t be more true. First impressions matter in video content marketing, which is why the quality of your video needs to be top-notch.

Viewers are more likely to trust a professional-looking video that’s well-lit and has excellent sound and visuals, so try to invest in good-quality equipment or get help from someone that offers video service, like our friends at WMK Media

PRO TIP:
Having at least 3 distinct video styles can help people find and distinguish your brand. Trying out different styles lets you see which works best for your business, so you can focus on the ones that get the most engagement.

Tags And Thumbnails Matter

Whoever said that tag no longer matters was completely off! Tags are strategic keywords that help your content get categorized and found by online users.

So don’t forget to use tags; this way, you are telling the algorithm what your content is about so it can show it to relevant people.

Don’t tag your content with trending topics if they aren’t related to your video. This will tell your audience you are misleading and won’t help reach a wider audience.

Your title and meta description are essential, so make them match your content and include keywords.

Also, the way you title your video file matters, so use your keywords here, too; even though your viewers won’t see the file name, their algorithm will.

Thumbnail texts and images are as crucial as written-down text. Try to make your thumbnail picture illustrate your video content, use close-to-the-face shots, show emotions, and avoid using too much text.

How Long Should My Videos Be?

There is no specific answer to how long your videos should be; the length depends on the type of content you want to make. But these are WMK media and Matt’s golden rules:

The 5-second rule: you have 5 seconds to attract your viewer; in these first seconds, you need to have anchor quality content that will make your audience want to stay. Finish with a Call To Action (CTA), like subscribing to the channel, following on social media, or leaving a like.
The 5-minute rule: By creating a quick 5-minute talking-to-the-camera video with valuable insights, you’ll have enough material for a week of posts. Create short clips from your original 5-minute video to share on social media. This will engage your audience and show your expertise.

Video Marketing Strategy

When it comes to video content marketing, having a strategy is key. Taking the time to develop a 30-day plan that outlines your content will help you stay on track with your marketing goals, intent and measure your video results.

Having a strategy also gives you a constant path to follow, rather than randomly posting videos without any clear direction or purpose.

Wanting To Start A Video Marketing Strategy?

Are you looking to kickstart your content and video marketing strategy? Look no further than Two Brother Creative.

We know that running a business takes a lot of time and resources, so don’t worry about that; our team of experts has years of experience crafting engaging, visually stunning videos that will help your business grow.

Get your FREE strategy call today.

Podcast Strategy: The New Secret to Skyrocket Your Business

Posted on April 17, 2023October 4, 2023 by Julia Genoves

Podcasting Is The Secret Weapon For Marketing Your Small Business

We’ve all seen it: the podcasting industry is becoming incredibly lucrative for entrepreneurs and content creators alike. Having a podcast strategy is essential for any small business wanting to make it big.

Podcasting may not be new, but its popularity is at an all-time high. In this Midwest Mindset (The Omaha Podcast) episode, we delve into the magic of podcasts with Erik Johnson, The Podcast Talent Coach, to learn how this tool can be a lead generator and a revenue machine for your growing business.

Podcast Marketing strategy for small business

Podcasting: The New Tool for Success

Read the full transcript

To understand what a podcast strategy is, we first need to know what podcasting is. Put simply, it’s a type of audio content that can be shared on various platforms like Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or Spotify. In today’s digital age, podcasts are seen as a form of audio entertainment and a hobby to record.

But for us, business owners and entrepreneurs, they are much more than that. Stop thinking of podcasts as entertainment shows and start thinking of them as what they are: a marketing tool, and not just any tool. Podcasting is the most affordable and effective marketing tool for small businesses today.

The power of podcasting in marketing comes from its audio format. Audio leaves the door open for the imagination to create a perfect image. This makes it easier for potential customers to relate to your idea and eventually reach out to your business.

But like any marketing tool or project, we can’t just dive in without a plan. To optimize our results, we need a podcast strategy, basically, a structure for our podcasting content to reach more people and produce more revenue.

Your Podcast Strategy

Before hitting the record button, there are a few things you need to know. To create an excellent podcast marketing strategy, you’ll need to identify the following aspects.

Understand Your Target Market and Ideal Customer

Take the time to really delve into who your customers are, what they want, and how they interact with your brand. Understanding what motivates them can help you develop ideas and topics your customers will find valuable in a podcast.

Define the Message You Want to Convey

Whether your goal is to inform, entertain, or inspire your listeners, your message sets the tone for the entire show. Also, make it clear and concise and follow a style for each episode.

Remember to keep things authentic to your brand and ideals; Having authentic content marketing that sets you apart from other podcasts will make it more likely to be shared.

Decide on a Call to Action

Always have a clear call to action for your listeners. Whether it’s subscribing, leaving a review, or joining your email list, make sure to communicate to your audience your call to action clearly and have the proper resources in your platform for them to do so.

Podcast Strategy Pro Tip: Create New Content From Your Podcast

One of the greatest podcast benefits is re-purposing your content, allowing you to reach more people by bringing valuable content to the different online platforms.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different formats to find the ones that give you the best results; your podcast content can be used for blog posts for Facebook, video reels for Instagram, email newsletters, etc.

SEO Friendly

SEO is often overlooked when it comes to podcasting, but it is actually an easy tool to optimize for search engines.

You can quickly boost your visibility and attract new listeners by researching and identifying the right keywords and including them in the titles, descriptions, and show notes.

Connect With More People

A podcast isn’t just a space to connect with your audience; it’s also great for connecting with influential people and significant leads. Let’s be honest; we all want to be featured in someone’s podcast; when you invite a special guest to your show, this creates a win-win relationship between you and the guest that can lead to future business opportunities.

Want To Start Your Podcast Strategy?

Ready to start your own podcast journey? Look no further; Two Brother Creative is here to help you make your business dreams come true. Our team of professionals is equipped with the best audio and video technology to make your content marketing the best in the Midwest.

We’ll help you create a personalized podcast marketing strategy. Start seeing the results you want for your business TODAY.

Book a FREE strategy call with us.

The Sales Secret Behind the World’s Most Successful Salesperson

Posted on April 4, 2023May 19, 2023 by Matt Tompkins

The Secret Behind the World’s Most Successful Salesperson

Referral marketing and business networking are the sales secret behind the world’s greatest salesperson: Joe Gerard. Have you ever heard of him?

Joe Gerard is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “The World’s Greatest Salesman.”He has sold more cars than 95% of car dealerships in North America, more than 13,001 in total and kept most of his clients through the years. How did he do it?

Today we find out what his sales secret is!

Two Brothers Creative Content Marketing Company

The Sales Secret for Small Businesses

In today’s Midwest Mindset (The Omaha Podcast) episode, we learn from Joe´s business story that there IS a secret to his success. The best part is that this secret is something you can easily apply, like marketing and networking for your small businesses.

Read The Full Transcript

Marketing or Sales?

It might seem confusing as we talk about the greatest salesperson and focus the discussion on marketing; what does one thing have to do with the other?

First, you must understand that marketing is your overall strategy and that includes sales. Yes, sales is a part of your marketing and you need both to effectively grow your business. Like Marketing, sales is understanding human psychology to know what people want and need.

What drives your ideal customer? If you don’t know, how can you make their life better? Businesses struggle to generate leads without an effective understanding of their customers and marketing strategy.

The False Stereotype For Sales

Many people have a negative outlook on sales, such as the stereotypical ‘used car salesman’ trying to manipulate you into buying something you don’t need. That is not what real sales is about.

Sales is not about convincing someone to buy a product or service they don’t want or need. Good salespeople focus on identifying a prospect’s problem and offering the right solution. It’s about being empathetic and understanding their needs.

Business Networking

So how do we achieve what Joe Gerald did? How do we make and maintain revenue in the long run?

Of course, he mentions that hard work and being likable is a plus, but let’s be honest: millions of hardworking and likable people still need help with their sales and marketing.

The secret of Joe’s success was simple: build relationships with your customers.

As business owners, we are always focused on the next job, the next customer, the next sale, but maybe we should follow Joe’s lead and focus on our current customers. How are we building those relationships? As Joe discovered, cultivating those relationships is the secret to being the best version of your business self.

Nurture Relationships With Your Current Clients

Focus on the customers you already have; instead of just putting efforts into getting new ones, prioritize keeping your existing clients happy. Take the time to listen to their feedback and understand their needs. Improve their experience and keep up with them to ensure they become loyal customers.

Personalize Your Message

A key aspect of networking is personalized communication and embracing the power of the little things. A perfect example of this is what Joe did with his more than a 13,000 handwritten personalized thank you cards he would sent out monthly.

Think of ways that you can personalize your relationship with your customers. What will give them a special experience that they will never forget? Pay attention to your customer’s interests and use that to create a personalized massage that resonates deeply with your clients.

This can be as simple as an email, or a text message, and as elaborate as a gift basket or business dinner date.

Keep in contact

Focus on keeping and nurturing your relationships with your clients alive. Make time to contact them regularly, not just when there’s a new offering, but to keep them updated on important information. These regular check-ins keep your business on their minds and show that you actually care.

Referral Marketing

Referral marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow a small business. It involves getting your existing customers to spread the word about your business to their friends, family, or colleagues. Referral marketing can help build trust and credibility, as people are likelier to trust referrals from people they know than from business ads.

Referral is achieved with excellent service. Just as Joe did with his clients, he reached more and more people by being present and having that connection with his customers. You can do it as well, it just takes time to put effort into your customer’s relationships and focus on the little things.

Get Your Business Growing Today!

As small business owners, we know the struggles of trying to do everything by ourselves.

Business owners need to connect with their customers, network, and start referrals going. Having a great marketing strategy on top of all that can seem impossible. and let’s be honest: it´s a lot of work.

Leave that to us so that you can focus on what your business needs from you: the time and effort to connect with customers. We offer the proper tools and resources and are ready to take over and help your business get the visibility it deserves. At Two Brothers Creative, we have a team of experts on marketing, podcast, and production ready to make your business grow. Get your FREE strategy call today.

How to Use Emotional Marketing: Why People Buy

Posted on March 23, 2023May 19, 2023 by Matt Tompkins

Emotional Marketing: Facts vs Feelings

Today we will learn how to use emotional marketing because feelings are what consumers base decisions on – not facts. The Midwest Mindset will help you understands why people buy and ensure that your product and services are the ones that customers purchase.

The answer to these questions might be much more straightforward than you think: human emotions.

Midwest Mindset podcast episode featuring Matt Tompkins and Chad Dodd in Omaha, NE

Emotional Marketing: Why Do Your Customers Buy From You?

Read The Full Transcript

If you learn to use human emotion to your advantage, you’ve already won because this is the fuel that drives our decision making

In this episode of Midwest Mindset (The Omaha Podcast), we delve into the intricate world of consumer psychology to help you understand why people buy and how to craft the perfect marketing message that appeals to human emotions.

But first things first: We’ll explore the three main problems and pillars you should tackle when marketing your product or services: the external, internal, and philosophical problems that customers face when deciding on a purchase and how you can connect with their feelings.

The External Problem

First comes the external problem: the facts. This problem refers to the need or issues a customer faces that your product or service will solve.

For example, your ideal customer needs a car as a necessary form of transportation to get from place to place. His external need is transportation. If you are a car dealership, you need to solve this external problem, but you must appeal to more than just the external problem to influence his purchasing decision.

Even if you have the perfect car for this client and the facts are right before him, you must understand that the external problem is what the customer needs to be solved, but it is not what they base their purchasing decisions on. To understand why people buy, you must solve the external problem but focus your marketing efforts on the internal problem.

The Internal Problem

This problem concerns how something makes a person feel or what they desire. In our car dealership example, the customer knows that the car will fix the problem, but he may want to feel more comfortable, more luxurious, or have some extra space when needed.

In the end, he won’t make the purchase that satisfies his needs, but the one that will meet his desires and his internal problems will ultimately make him feel better.

It is only when a product, service, or brand truly understands and connects with the customer’s emotions that it can create a strong, lasting emotional connection with its target audience. This connection will propel buyers toward making a purchase.

Emotional Marketing: Facts V.S. Feelings

Before jumping into the last problem, we want to focus on the difference between external and internal problems and why both are necessary to do great marketing.

Ever wonder why we often buy things we don’t need or why certain brands resonate with us even though their products might not be the best on the market? The answer lies in the delicate balance between facts and feelings

There are psychological aspects that drive consumer behavior; this is known as emotional marketing. Customers will buy what they need, but also what connects with their emotions and makes them feel something. That is why we need to understand our customer’s wants and desires to craft a compelling marketing message.

The Philosophical Problem

This is the idea of being part of something bigger than oneself and how a purchase contributes to the greater good.

In this day and age, consumers are leaning more toward socially responsible and ethical companies. Think of the Starbucks Foundation and how they invested in programs that strengthen coffee communities or how Toms gave an extra pair for each of your purchases to people in need.

Customers will make choices that reflect their values. By showing how your product or service contributes to the greater good, such as being environmentally friendly or supporting a social cause, you position your brand as an extension of your customer’s values, making it easy for your product to be purchased.

By mastering these three problems and giving each a solution, you have the perfect marketing foundation to start selling your product or service. Use this solution to tailor to your customer’s desires, emotions, and needs.

By doing this, you will make them feel like they are part of something better, that they are building a community. And that will not only generate revenue but will ensure loyal customers in the long run.

Do You Feel Like Your Marketing Isn’t Working?

You have the basics of your marketing strategy, you have mastered the answer of the 3 basic questions, what’s the next step? How do you resonate deeply and connect with your customers?

Podcasts are the new way to reach your marketing goals. With the one on one shows, people feel more connected and closer to the brands. This is the perfect space for business owners to create a bond with potential leads.

Book a FREE Strategy Call With Two Brothers Creative today!

Don’t Make These Website Mistakes

Posted on March 23, 2023May 19, 2023 by Matt Tompkins

Don’t Make These Website Mistakes

Are you making website mistakes that are hurting your business? Many businesses make common website mistakes that can adversely impact their growth. How do we make a website if we don’t know what to do or how to do it?

In this Midwest Mindset Podcast (The Omaha Podcast) episode, we are joined by web design expert and marketer Chad Dodd of Klar, Inc.

Are Website Mistakes Hurting Your Business?

Read The Full Transcript

Unfortunately, for many small businesses, the answer is yes. Today, we’ll learn what makes a good website vs. a bad website and the simple things that you can do with your website to become more visible and gain more revenue.

Website Mistakes: What Type of Website Do You Need?

Before creating or changing your website, you need to define its purpose. Choosing which type of website your business actually needs is what will help you define the design, functionality, and features of your website.

Many businesses jump in without having a clear version of their website goals which is a costly mistake. We recommend choosing from these three types of websites to define what will become your digital storefront.

A Sales Website

A sales website is designed to sell your products or services online. This type of website usually has a catalog of all products, their costs, benefits, complements, and an “add to cart” button. This type of website is the most straightforward type of website to generate income from.

A Brochure Website

A brochure site is like an online business card that only showcases your products or services. If your page doesn’t have or needs online sales and is to share basic information or frequently ask questions, this might be the website for you.

A Validation Website

A validation website is, simply put, to validate that you are a legitimate business. These websites will tell customers that you are open, that your business is real, and showcase working hours, dates, and how to contact you to do business together

If you’re unsure which type of website you need, talking to a professional web designer is a great place to start to gain more insight.

Website Mistakes: Do You Have An SEO Strategy?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a critical component of your website’s success since it will increase your visibility, traffic, and potential sales by making your audience find you on Google. One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is to have a website without an SEO strategy.

The key to mastering SEO is to write valuable and innovative content that is relevant to your audience. You can do it by yourself or hire services from expert strategists or SEO companies.

SEO algorithms change frequently, so you need to keep up with the latest trends and best practices to maintain your website’s game going.

Website Design is More Than ‘Looking Good’

Your website’s design is the first impression online users get from you, so make it memorable and EASY. Many businesses have had the same outdated and unappealing design for years.

A well-designed website is effortless to navigate, visually appealing, and mobile-friendly. Your website’s design should be consistent with your business brand, colors, and concept, but more than anything, it should have Users Experience (UX) as the #1 priority.

By avoiding too many graphics, confusing navigation, or outdated design elements, you can create a functional site that your customer feels comfortable with and that makes it smooth for them to get to know your business.

Website Security

How to make a secure website? Page security is an essential aspect of website maintenance. Your website should have proper security measures, such as firewalls, SSL certificates, and user authentication, to protect your website and your users’ data from cyber attacks. Without it, your website becomes vulnerable, which can lower your credibility score and impact your SEO Marketing.

Need Help With Your Website Marketing?

By ensuring your website is functional, secure, and user-friendly, you will see results in your sales and visibility.

If you are not doing web optimization already, trust the experts! By getting help from web developers, marketing agencies, podcast producers, and other specialized professionals, you will give your online presence the boost that it needs.

Book a FREE strategy call with Two Brothers today to learn how to take your business’s website to the next level.

Marketing Mistakes: Why Isn’t My Marketing Working?

Posted on March 16, 2023May 19, 2023 by Matt Tompkins

Why Isn’t My Marketing Working?

Owners of businesses big and small make marketing mistakes every day that have a very real and damaging effect on the success of their companies.

Today we will cover the three most common mistakes business owners make with their marketing, which are the three fundamental pillars of any successful marketing campaign.

Stressed employee making mistake at office startup job, using sales statistics to do data research. Disappointed woman feeling displeased with business company failure, working on laptop.

Why Isn’t My Digital Marketing Working?

As a small business owner, it’s common to make marketing mistakes while trying to grow your business; trust us, we know how it goes: you’ve invested countless hours into building and growing your brand, and you’ve poured your passion and resources into your marketing efforts, yet the results aren’t what you expected.

If you do not see the returns you anticipated, it’s likely due to one of these three common marketing mistakes. In this Midwest Mindset Episode (The Omaha Podcast), we’ll dive into the common mistakes small businesses make and help you steer your marketing in the right direction.

Get The Full Transcript

Marketing Mistake #1: Your Target Market is Too Broad

One of the most common marketing mistakes is not being specific enough in targeting your ideal customer base. Many small businesses want to appeal to everyone, thinking this will bring in more customers.

The reality is that by trying to appeal to everyone or fix everyone’s needs with your services, your marketing becomes diluted and unclear, which decreases its effectiveness.

To make your marketing efforts more impactful, find a specific audience that would benefit the most from your product or service.

Questions You Should Ask to Define Your Ideal Customer and Target Market:

What are three things that the majority of your customers have in common?
What are their needs?
What drives them?
What are their fears?
What are their pain points, and how does your business help them?

“You should describe your ideal customer with the same specific details as you would describe yourself. You wouldn’t tell someone that you are “24-60 years old, male and female, married and single, between 0 and 4 children,” would you? Give them a name, age, interests, hobbies, and any other specific detail you can include. This will narrow your focus but, ironically, this is how you reach the largest customer base.”
-Matt Tompkins, Two Brothers Creative

Marketing Mistake #2: Your Message Isn’t Clear

This goes hand in hand with the previous point. Once you have defined your target audience and know you can solve a problem for them, you need a massage that resonates deeply with them.

When your marketing message isn’t working, it’s essential to take a step back and reevaluate your approach. Businesses need to niche down their target market to their specific ideal customer. It is equally essential for you to niche down to a specific and clear message to reach them.

Let’s take a store that sells products to moms. “Moms,” in general, is still a very broad audience to connect with. So, after you’ve niched down to a specific ideal customer, i.e., ‘pregnant mothers expecting their first child,” then you can craft a message just for them.

A message about a product that would benefit first-time-pregnant moms-to-be will not resonate in the same way for moms whose children are grown and raised. They are both moms, but a different message needs to be focused on for each of them in different marketing campaigns.

Use these insights and focus your marketing message around your unique selling proposition.

Marketing Mistake #3: Choosing The Wrong Media

Now that you have your target market specified and you’ve crafted a unique message specifically for them to resonate deeply with, you must be sure to use the right form of media too get your message too them effectively.

Social Media is not a marketing strategy – Social Media is a form of media (heck, it has it in the name, right?). There are many different forms of media to choose from, so it is very important to use a medium your specific audience is actually on. Remember that social media can be deceiving. Just because a platform is popular doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for your business.

Not choosing the right channel or platform to reach your potential customers can waste time, resources, and budget.

The first step should be to research where your target audience spends time, both online and offline. Are they active on social media? Is it tik tok or IG? Do they read blogs or listen to podcasts? Knowing your audience’s habits will help you select the right platforms to communicate with them effectively.

Your Business Can’t Go Without An Affordable And Effective Marketing Strategy

The most significant mistake small businesses make is having all this information and knowing where the problems are but not creating a marketing strategy to produce actual results.

A marketing strategy or plan will help set and achieve goals, giving you a clear understanding and measuring of your marketing results.

We know many small businesses struggle with this because business owners don’t have the time, budget, or expertise to do it themselves. Our Measure My Marketing tool is free and will show you where your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities are with your marketing.

Measure YOUR Marketing now by contacting US today! YES! Measure My Marketing!

How To Get Government Contracts

Posted on March 6, 2023May 19, 2023 by klarinc

How To Get Government Contracts

Are you a small business owner interested in landing government contracts? In this episode of The Midwest Mindset Podcast, formerly The Omaha Podcast, we feature the Nebraska Business Development Center.

The government contract process can be daunting, but the rewards can be great. In this episode, we are joined by Veronica Doga and Harold Sargus from the Nebraska Business Development Center.

They specialize in helping small businesses with government contracting and they’re here to share their expertise.

City Hall, place to scout for government contracts

Why You Want Government Contracts

Read the full transcript

Small businesses have many opportunities to land big government contracts. To help secure one of these contracts, they provide three simple steps. These steps can help you start your business on the path to success.

But first, let’s talk about why landing a government contract is a good idea.

Government contracts can be extremely lucrative for small businesses. Not only do they provide a consistent stream of income, but they also offer the potential for long-term growth. Moreover, government contracts often come with built-in protections against things like price fluctuations and late payments.

So, if you’re looking for a way to stabilize your business’s finances, landing a government contract is worth considering.

Step One Of Government Contracts: Register Your Business

The System for Award Management (SAM) is the Official U.S. Government system. It has combined the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. SAM registration is FREE, takes less than an hour to complete, and requires that you have a DUNS number.

Step Two Of Government Contracts: Research Opportunities and Set Up Alerts

Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) is the single entry point for Federal Government procurement opportunities over $25,000. Search for keywords related to your product or service.

Set up email alerts to receive notifications when new opportunities are posted that match your criteria. You can also research upcoming contracting opportunities on USASpending.gov.

Step Three Of Government Contracts: Attend a Free Webinar or Training Event

The Nebraska Business Development Center offers free webinars and training events year-round on topics related to government contracting. Attendees will learn about the resources available to them through NBDC.

They will also learn how to use these resources to their advantage when pursuing government contracts. Upcoming events can be found on their website.

Get Help From an NBDC Consultant

The NPDC’s team of consultants has experience working with businesses of all sizes in all industries across Nebraska and beyond. “As they shared in the podcast,” “We offer individual consulting services at no cost.” “This is to help you navigate the complexities of government contracting.”

Visit our friends at the NPDC online today to learn more about their services and to schedule a consultation. Get started now!

Securing Government Contracts

Securing a contract with a governmental agency can be a beneficial source of regular income for your company. However, it can be intimidating to go through the process alone.

Luckily, resources are available to help you navigate the complexities of government contracting. So you can focus on what you do best – running your business!

Start Marketing Your Business Today

The benefits of video podcasting are extensive, but you may not have the time or expertise to produce it all yourself, making this process daunting and overwhelming.

At Two Brothers Creative, we are ready to help you and your business grow. In every episode of the Midwest Mindset for Marketing podcast, we provide tips and techniques to market your business like a pro.

Book a FREE strategy call with Two Brothers today, and let’s talk! (Link to Book a Strategy Call to be added later)