You won’t believe how powerful scanning one of these malicious QR codes is. Plus, the app that turned into a marketing nightmare, three must-have downloads and OpenAI’s duet shows just how far language models are coming.
Smart ways to make more money and find new customers
Small business owners must build trust, set trends and share their customers’ values. Connecting with customers is one of the most important ways to make money.
Success starts close to home. Before connecting with customers, you must build strong bonds with your teammates. Tap or click here for five leadership secrets every small business owner should know.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, keep reading. Kim started her brand from the ground up and learned many tough lessons. Here is some of her best advice for any small business owner.
1. Choose a solid and memorable brand name
Pick a name that rolls off the tongue. You also want to pick one that inspires good feelings in whoever is talking about your business. There’s a lot of psychology at play.
A 2006 study scanned people’s brains to see how they responded to name brands. Researchers made a shocking discovery. Brand names trigger more of an emotional response than other words.
A more recent study found that favorite brands activate two brain regions. These aren’t just any brain regions: They’re the parts that are important for developing close interpersonal relationships. Scientific American shares all the details.
You can use this knowledge to your advantage
Here’s the main takeaway. When we talk about brands, we process the name through the more emotional parts of our brains.
As a small business owner, you can influence your customers’ emotions. You can use that power for good — and profit. Sadly, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for a good brand name. Here’s our advice:
- Do some soul-searching.
- Invest in research to find a good name.
- Be original without being esoteric.
If you’re stuck, flip through the dictionary. You may not find the business name you stick with, but it will get the gears turning.
Small biz tip: Ways to make 2023 your best year yet
Prepare your business for the new year with these five small business resolutions for 2023. We’ll help you cut costs, gain new skills and find ways to optimize your work life. It’s time to be more strategic with your marketing goals, develop your online presence and whip your finances into shape.
Lifetime subscriptions: It’s the newest marketing ploy. Pay once and get access forever, right? But “forever” means “as long as the company stays in business” (paywall link). If it shuts down or abandons the app, you’re out of luck. Ask yourself, “Will I use this five years from now?” Probably not.
Own a business? 3 places to run ads
© Thodonal | Dreamstime.com
Digital marketing makes advertising your business more accessible than ever. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, especially if you’re diving into online advertising for the first time.
Along with where to advertise, you have to put a ton of thought into who your primary audience is and what ad types you want to use. You’ll also have to consider analytic capabilities, targeting strategies and — of course — the dreaded budget. It’s time to dust off your spreadsheets and get ready to look over every number.
🦉 Gone but not forgotten: RIP to Duolingo’s green owl mascot. In a very strange marketing stunt, the language-learning app put up a video that shows the little guy getting run over by a Cybertruck, shooting through the sky, past space and straight into hell. Now there’s a reward for anyone who IDs the driver. Hey, it worked, because #RIPduo is trending.
🏴☠️ Yarr, the booty: Bitcoin millionaire Jon Collins-Black set up a real-life treasure hunt to promote his new book, “There’s Treasure Inside.” He buried five treasure chests worth over $2 million across the country. They’re filled with actual treasure, too — items owned by Pablo Picasso and George Washington, shipwreck bounty, gold, and rare Pokémon cards. Such a great marketing idea!
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Angry letters, threats, Bud Lite and Netflix
Netflix made a whole lot of people mad when it said no more password sharing. In 60 seconds, why there’s a lot to learn from the streaming company’s marketing.
Lazy girl job viral trend, Instacart price jacking & Space Force satellites
Plus, Reggie needs a marketing solution to get his small biz off the ground. I give him my advice. A woman’s wedding dress accidentally gets donated to Goodwill — here’s how internet sleuths got it back. The reason your phone can track your steps and how to know which side of the car your gas tank is on.