2016

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13 Must Read Sales Books to Become a Badass Sales Person [Updated]

A Sales Guy

A few years ago I created a list of the best books sales people should read to become a badass. You can see the list here. The list included some amazing books. What made that list so special was the surprising number of books that WEREN’T sales books. The original list of must read sales books for sales badasses included some books that address traits and skills that are critical to sales, but aren’t solely sales related.

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What it Takes to be an Elite (Top 7%) Salesperson

Understanding the Sales Force

Last week I received a call from a young, motivated salesperson - we'll call him Jim - who desperately wanted to be one of the elite 7% of all salespeople. Despite being just 26 years old, he believed that he was already in the top 7%. During our call, he asked me a great question. He asked, "How many of the top 7% have you actually met and where are they today?

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Trending Sources

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Podcast Interview: Millionaire Marketing on a Shoestring Budget with Debra Jason

Closing Bigger

Today’s podcast guest is Debra Jason author of Millionaire Marketing on a Shoestring Budget. I met Debra at the Guerrilla Marketing Global Summit last year and have been following her updates and insights ever since. In this interview we talk about low budget yet highly effective approaches to marketing you and your business. Some of the key areas we focus on in the interview with Debra are: Social media marketing.

Sell 106
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10 Questions to Challenge You Next Year

The Sales Hunter

What are you planning to do differently next year? When I say “differently,” I mean really different. Too many times we make only minor changes, and then we wonder why we achieve only minor improvements. If we’re going to make serious changes next year, we have to step back and ask ourselves tough questions. Below […].

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How to Improve Email Deliverability and Optimize Each Send

Learn how to optimize email deliverability and drive greater email ROI. What lands your email in the customer’s inbox? Understanding those factors, otherwise known as email deliverability, is critical to getting the most return on your campaign investments. But the “rules” around which factors land you in the spam folder aren’t always easy to keep up with.

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Blogging for SEO: How to Write Blogs that Rank on Page One

Hubspot

Did you know that the search result in #1 position on Google gets 33% of search traffic ? And that page 1 search engine results resulted in 92% of all traffic, dropping off by 95% for page 2? Numbers don’t lie. If you want to climb to the top of search engine results pages (SERPs), well-written, engaging content alone won’t cut it. You also need to focus on writing SEO-driven, keyword-focused content that attracts not only website traffic, but the right kind of traffic.

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Facebook Ads vs. AdWords: How to Decide and Start Optimizing for ROI

ConversionXL

With Google processing over 40,000 searches every second and Facebook being a hub for 1.13 billion daily active users , Google AdWords and Facebook ads are obvious choices for PPC campaigns. But is one better than the other? Are the optimization processes for both similar? What about A/B testing? These are the questions optimizers need answers to before they can really reap the benefits of two very powerful advertising platforms.

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10 Things Salespeople Should Be Thankful For

The Sales Hunter

I’ve been in sales now for more than 30 years, and during that time I’ve come to not just appreciate the profession, but also to become absolutely passionate about it. I see it as the ultimate profession, as it provides unlimited opportunities to help others. Below are the 10 things I believe all salespeople should […].

Sales 106
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10 Ways to Prospect with Integrity

The Sales Hunter

When you prospect with integrity, you will get customers who have integrity. Think about what the previous sentence means. Integrity is an asset that is undervalued and underappreciated in today’s business world, yet it means more than ever. Today there are too many people using stupid tactics to prospect that lack integrity. I certainly realize integrity […].

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11 Examples of Facebook Ads That Actually Work (And Why)

Hubspot

One average, Facebook is home to 1.18 billion daily active users -- from CEOs, to students, to companies. And while the community is clearly there, connecting with them from a marketing standpoint isn't always easy. For brands, posting on Facebook alone isn't enough anymore -- especially for ones just starting out. Sure, you can throw money at your efforts to drive people to your Facebook Page and send them to your website, but that only works if you're smart about it.

Promote 101
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How to Create an Annual Marketing Plan [Free Tool]

Hubspot

Do you take a good, hard look at your team’s marketing strategy every year? You should. An annual marketing plan helps you set your marketing on the right course to make your company’s business goals a reality. Think of it as a high-level plan that guides the direction of your team's campaigns, goals, and growth. Without one, things can get messy -- and it's nearly impossible to put a number on the budget you'll need to secure for the projects, hiring, and outsourcing you'll encounter over the c

Campaign 101
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Brick & Mortar Retail Relevance: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Speaker: Jay Black, Senior Account Executive

Let's set the record straight: in-store retail isn't dead - it's evolving! Faced with the digital age and the demands of omnichannel shopping, some retailers are thriving while others are struggling to adapt. Join Jay Black in this exclusive session as he explores the strategies that set successful stores apart, including: Crafting unique and unforgettable in-store experiences 🛍️ Mastering the art of retail demands 🛒 Navigating inventory challenges in today's climate 📦 an

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Why Your Company Might Need a Content Audit

Hubspot

Content is used as a valuable marketing tool across all industries. From social media content to long-form evergreen content, marketers constantly write to build awareness and nurture relationships. While the goal of content marketing is clear, many companies forget to track what type of content is actually working. Even powerhouse Microsoft fell into that habit.

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Why Digital Marketing? The Essential Guide to Marketing Your Brand Online [Free Ebook]

Hubspot

The way people interact with businesses has changed dramatically over the past few years with the rise of online media. In other words, your audience is spending a lot of time online, so you need to market to them there. Because of these shifts in consumer behavior, digital marketing is now a crucial part of any successful company’s overall strategy.

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10 Examples of Facebook Ads That Actually Work (And Why)

Hubspot

One average, Facebook is home to 1.18 billion daily active users -- from CEOs, to students, to companies. And while the community is clearly there, connecting with them from a marketing standpoint isn't always easy. For brands, posting on Facebook alone isn't enough anymore -- especially for ones just starting out. Sure, you can throw money at your efforts to drive people to your Facebook Page and send them to your website, but that only works if you're smart about it.

Promote 78
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How the Brain Processes Different Types of Content [Infographic]

Hubspot

Sometimes, the movie adaptation of a book is better than the book itself. Maybe it's the acting, maybe it's the special effects or the soundtrack, or maybe the story is simply better told on the big screen than in our imaginations. The reason? Different stories are better told in different formats depending on the message they're trying to convey. The folks at Main Path Marketing created an infographic to break down common types of content marketing formats and how they communicate information t

Process 78
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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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10 of the Best Infographic Examples of 2016

Hubspot

If you ask us, infographics aren't going anywhere. This year alone, we've covered how essential they are to SEO , and the numerous resources available to create beautiful infographics of your own. And yes -- when it comes to infographics, we do like to play favorites. That's why we went scoured the web for some of the best infographics of 2016. Their topics are vast and their formats are many, but this year, we truly saw some excellent examples of informative design.

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Google Is Shifting to a Mobile-First Index: What Marketers Need to Know to Prepare

Hubspot

We’re living in a mobile-first world. For most of us, that means from the moment you wake up in the morning, your phone becomes a part of your daily routine -- from silencing your alarm, to reviewing the daily news, to checking email, and so on. And search engines are seeing the result of this trend: search queries on mobile have now surpassed desktop-based queries.

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10 Creative Exercises That Are Better Than Brainstorming

Hubspot

We're all familiar with traditional brainstorming as a method for producing new ideas, but there are many alternative exercises for tackling problems and developing new ideas, both individually and in a group setting. Ranging from structured to silly, here's a selection of ten simple techniques and exercises to help you get your problem solving juices flowing: 10 Alternative Creative Exercises. 1) Storyboarding.

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What Is Whitespace and Why Does It Matter? 8 Websites to Inspire Your Web Design

Hubspot

Empty space is not always wasted space. In fact, when it comes to web design, it's a best practice to give your content a little breathing room. Today's website visitors are content-scanners. They scroll quickly, skim posts, and get distracted by busy layouts trying to accomplish too much. The key to getting your visitors' undivided attention is simplicity -- and that starts with an effective use of whitespace.

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1st, 2nd, and 3rd Party Intent Data: Which Is Right for You?

How do 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party intent data compare? 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party data each have specific advantages and disadvantages. It comes down to four factors: accuracy, cost, control and quantity. This infographic explains the pros and cons of each and helps you understand which one is best for meeting your business objectives. Intent data can be a great way to fill your pipeline and close more deals.

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Facebook Advertising Advice: 10 Tips From Experts at Trello, WeWork & More

Hubspot

Facebook started as a way for college classmates to communicate, and it’s since evolved into a hub for content creation, sharing, and advertising. Over one billion active users engage on Facebook every day, which represents a tremendous opportunity for advertisers to leverage their content in front of potential customers. The variety of targeting options available allow marketers to get the greatest value out of each ad dollar spent on this vast network, making it an ideal place to drive convers

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Topics Over Keywords: A Simple Framework for More Effective Content Creation

Hubspot

Content marketing has seen a lot of changes over the past few years, in particular around the way that marketers have went about actually developing their content. A lot of this has come down to the rapidly evolving search engine landscape, as well as a huge shift in the way that people are discovering content. All that said, I still hear the same pain points coming from content producers that I did over five years ago: "I struggle to measure the ROI of the content I create.".

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How to Brand Your Business on a Budget: A 6-Step Guide

Hubspot

In marketing, it seems like the word "brand" is used a lot -- the leading brand, off-brand, personal brand. you get the picture. But there's often confusion around its meaning in business. What does it entail? Do I need to hire an expert? Branding is expensive, right? To that very last point, it doesn't have to be. As it turns out, there are some pretty creative ways to brand your business without a ton of cash.

Trust 78
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4 Helpful Tools for Organizing Your Social Media Calendar

Hubspot

What do cross-country road trips, wedding speeches, and social media marketing have in common? You could wing all three, but it's probably better to have a plan for what direction you’re heading -- especially when it comes to your social media content strategy. By now, most marketers recognize that social media plays an integral role in an effective inbound marketing strategy.

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The Battle of the Authoring Tools: A 10-Point Comparison for Picking the Right One

Speaker: Chris Paxton McMillin, President of D3 Training Solutions

There are plenty of great authoring tools for developing eLearning, but the one you select could directly impact your course's outcomes. Depending upon your learners’ needs and your organization’s performance goals, you could be overlooking considerations that impact the both effectiveness of your courses and how long it takes to finish them. From general capabilities to specific workflow structures, some aspects are critical when it comes to learning objectives and deadlines.

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11 Examples of Instagram Ads We Love

Hubspot

What makes you click on ads? Is it the cute picture of a puppy, the funny caption, or are you only motivated by a great deal? While there are plenty of studies and articles that allude to what makes social media advertising successful , ad performance depends largely on your ability to create ad content that feels natural or organic (aka native advertising ).

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20 Creative Agencies You Should Follow on Instagram

Hubspot

Instagram has evolved into a perfect visual platform for agencies, filled with photos of office parties, company outings, and creatives hard at work behind their Macs. And while there were more than a few pictures of agency pups and craft beers, Instagram has also become a place where agencies can share behind-the-scenes shots of their latest work and highlight their accomplishments.

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How to Detect, Repair & Profit From Underperforming Content

Hubspot

As a marketer, you’re used to leveraging a variety of channels to promote your business, up to and including content marketing. According to HubSpot's annual State of Inbound report , 60% of marketers reported "blog content creation" as one of their top priorities -- with interactive content creation (41%), long-form content creation (33%), and visual content creation (33%) not far behind.

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20 Examples of Social Proof in Action

Hubspot

I recently came across the greatest dog bed in the history of dog beds -- seriously, it felt like it was made of clouds. And after asking the dog owner about it, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the same company also made regular beds. (Score.). Needless to say, I'm now the proud owner of the human-version of said dog bed. You see, when a friend or family member recommends a product, you’re more likely to take their endorsement seriously.

Trust 78
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How to Leverage Intent Data for Better Outcomes

Speaker: Susan Spencer, Principal of Spencer Communications

Intent signal data can go a long way toward shortening sales cycles and closing more deals. The challenge is deciding which is the best type of intent data to help your company meet its sales and marketing goals. In this webinar, Susan Spencer, fractional CMO and principal of Spencer Communications, will unpack the differences between contact-level and company-level intent signals.

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How to Use Digital Marketing to Transform Your Business

Hubspot

Is your company fully embracing the digital age? Is your team engaging digital transformation beyond updating your website every 6 months? For many companies, failure to adapt to new technology means getting left behind and losing business. Your prospects and customers are researching and buying online, so why aren’t you focusing on marketing to them via digital channels?

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Why Infographics Should Be Part of Your SEO Strategy [Infographic]

Hubspot

How the heck can you use an image for search optimization? It might be simpler than you think. You see, there's something about the way an infographic conveys content -- from its customization to its digestible format -- that both grabs and holds people's attention, and makes them highly sharable. But how does it work? And how can you use infographics for your own SEO strategy?

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What Not To Do at Your Company Holiday Party

Hubspot

Ah, December: a month filled with festive decorations, hot chocolate, and the long-awaited company holiday party. Company holiday parties are a fun occasion to celebrate the season with your friends, family, and colleagues. However, even if the party has all of the trappings of an event you would throw at your home, such as food, alcohol, and party games, it’s still a work function.

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How to Establish an Instagram Aesthetic: 10 Brands Doing It Right

Hubspot

Since 2010, Instagram has garnered more than 500 million users , 4.2 billion daily likes, and more than 95 million photos and videos posted per day. Brands who take advantage of this unique social media platform often find that the level of exposure that Instagram gives them is unprecedented. But creating a successful, branded Instagram account requires more than just pretty images.

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The Next Level of Sales Enablement: Sales Content Management

Speaker: Deniz Olcay, Senior Director of Product Marketing, and Jake Miller, Senior Product Marketing Manager

Modern Sales Content Management (SCM) platforms have become table stakes in the world of sales enablement. Sellers need one-stop access where all of their sales content is stored, organized, deployed, and measured. Today’s modern SCM platforms achieve just that. However, these various platforms also have key differences. In this value-packed webinar, Deniz Olcay and Jake Miller will unravel and debunk the top three SCM myths and explain how to get the most from your SCM solution.