Greg Van Horn

Google Ads are powerful for DTC because it is a post-intent channel in most cases. The prospects you’re chasing already know what they want. They just need to know that your product is: • Great quality • Great value for money • Has great customer experience, should anything go wrong Focus on these in your Google Ads copy

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Affiliate fraud is rampant in our industry and all of us that generate leads need to take extreme action to prevent these from getting into the ecosystem. Billy.com has figured out the solution and I'll gladly share it, with the hopes that you will implement these same steps. Let's first clarify what these advanced fraudsters are doing - they are obtaining large consumer lists and having real people physically go to websites and type in the information OR they are providing a script and having real people call into your advertised phone number and providing fake information and/or stalling in order to hit a duration. Almost all of this fraud comes from Pakistan and India, where they are using technology to make it appear they are in the USA. There is a ton of low-level fraud going on, such as bots, but that is easy to detect and this solution is not needed for that. You can screen your affiliates until your face turns blue, they will lie and do whatever it takes to make it into your affiliate program, still screen like crazy, just know it's not enough. For your web leads: -First line of defense is Anura - they are great at detecting fraud, but not everything they let pass is still a real lead -Next, your webform must require user verification (allow the user to choose to be texted or emailed a secret code) (this is KEY, as it is very hard to get around this step) (Yes, you will lose a percentage of good leads due to the extra friction) -Your lead management system must be able to do data validations to ensure the user didn't input incorrect information, they are not a known litigator and ect. I recommend Phonexa and can speak as to why offline if needed. For your inbound calls: -move to a webhook/pixel with your buyers if possible, this eliminates paying out on duration.  -hire someone to listen to all call recordings to find these issues, and be strict with removing the affiliate from the program. -use a service like pipedream to annotate all calls and look for keywords/phrases Direct Advertisers are hurting, business is down. We, as lead gen providers, have an obligation to help them make money, not the fraudsters. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!

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What are the top trends effecting Jacksonville businesses? Check it out:

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Today on #TheSharkpreneurPodcast with Seth Greene: Neil Twa is the CEO / Co-Founder of Voltage Holdings, a company specializing in launching, consulting, selling and acquiring brands with a focus on the e-commerce channels such as Amazon FBA and multi-channel. More than fifteen years of experience as a selling private label products on Amazon and his company. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Neil Twa about how e-commerce exits. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How tenacity, grit, and perseverance are vital for entrepreneurs to find success. - Why there are some products entrepreneurs shouldn’t sell on Amazon and what they are. - How entrepreneurs should focus on products that align with their personal interests or hobbies making the business more enjoyable and sustainable. - How having keyword relevance and optimization allows your products to be seen by the right audience. - How you should start with a market test to gauge organic traffic and conversion rates. Listen NOW: https://bit.ly/2XA9KF5 #kevinharrington #sethgreene #sharkpreneurs

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Petco Email Overhaul A counterintuitive approach. A few key changes: ➤  Key Header Change Yes, we didn’t lead with an offer here. We led with a statement that everyone in the target audience can agree with. → Makes them naturally want to read on → Open Loop → Highlight product quality While this email has a value-led approach, we still add a CTA above the fold for eager shoppers. ➤ Create An Angle An interesting angle that empowers dogs, setting context for the product spotlight section. → Compares dog DNA to wolf DNA → Creates intrigue in terms of ‘so, what does that mean?’ → Sets context for wild pacific stream smoked salmon ‘Wild Stream Smoked Salmon’ is contextualized more since modern science claims dogs share the same DNA as wolves. ➤ Product Spotlights With Reviews A clear product showcase with benefit-driven copy and review highlights. → Builds confidence through social approval → Makes product tangible → Builds on the context from previous section The value here is using the contextual story of dogs having wolf DNA, and showcasing products in light of this new perception. ➤ Conditional Product Spotlight Next, we highlight a product alternative. → Gives an alternative option → Based on customer research → Show clear customer understanding The main point here is to use your zero party data to decode what your audience considers highly relevant. ➤ Offer-Stack Reminder We put the offer at the end here. Criminal, right? Not when you’re taking a value-based approach. → Builds trust through reading first → Keeps the email relevant to profile → The goal is to offer value first Being a brand that gives value first is the ultimate differentiator. ------ I’m a big fan of value-led marketing. In a world where we see 10,000 ads in a day, leading with value in your marketing will help you stand out. It trains your audience to actually read your emails and receive some form of dopamine from new information. Providing value before an offer will add more longevity in your customer base. There’s definitely a time and place for leading with offers, but I do think the landscape is changing. Thoughts?

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Just got back from #MozCon, and Crystal Carter from Wix shared valuable insights on how online forums like Reddit are impacting SERPs. If you manage forums on your site, now's the time to connect with users. Guide them through your funnel and raise awareness about your products and services. This approach can really enhance your SEO strategy!

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B2B Budget Bliss: Resources Are Being Poured Into Acquisition https://lnkd.in/eFPWnTEY MediaPost with Stirista & Ascend2 research. #b2bmarketing

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Billions of searches happen daily on Google Google search puts your business in front of your ideal customers searching for your product/service. Targeted visibility at its best! Unlock the power of Google Ads 🧵 What is PPC? PPC stands for Pay-Per-Click, a model where you pay only when someone clicks on your ad. It’s like a digital handshake – you only pay when a potential customer shows interest. Why Google Ads? Google processes billions of searches daily. Using Google Ads puts you in front of customers precisely when they’re searching for what you offer. It’s targeted visibility at its best. Setting Up Your First Campaign 🛠️ - Define your goals - Set a budget - Choose keywords - Create compelling ads - Monitor and adjust Crafting Your Ad ✍️ Your ad is your first impression. Make it count with: A clear call to action, Benefits over features, Engaging visuals Remember, you’re not just selling a product; you’re solving a problem. Keywords 📖 Keywords connect you to your audience. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find terms your customers are searching for. Think like a customer, and you’ll find the right words. Measuring Success 📈 Track your results with the following metrics: Click-through rates, Conversion rates, Quality Score These metrics will help you refine your strategy and boost ROI. Continuous Learning 🧠 PPC is an ever-evolving field. Stay updated with the latest trends and best practices. Follow thought leaders, attend webinars, and never stop testing your campaigns.

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As you scale DTC - customer acquisition costs will increase...AND you'll make more $. Revenue growth doesn't come from acquisition growth - it comes from retention. Stacking customers is how we help build multiple 8 figure brands. So focus on increasing order value - it won't be impacted the next time Instagram goes down... #dtc #customeracquisition #shopify #digitalmarketing #facebookads #googleads #tiktokads Everything Bagel

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B2B Budget Bliss: Resources Are Being Poured Into Acquisition https://lnkd.in/eFPWnTEY MediaPost with Stirista & Ascend2 research.

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Here are ten golden commandments to guide you in composing riveting emails that compel investors both to read and engage Read the full article: Craft a Riveting Email Pitch: 10 Rules to Woo Investors ▸ https://lttr.ai/AR8WR #InvestorOutreach #CraftCompelling #FocusedEmails #GarnerResponses #Crowdfunding #Startengine #Equitycrowdfunding #Wefunder #EntrepreneurSWarChest #TenGoldenCommandments #crowdfunding #startengine #equitycrowdfunding #wefunder

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🌟 Excited to unveil the top 13 highest paying affiliate programs for 2024! 🚀 Whether you're diving into affiliate marketing or looking to boost your earnings, these programs are game-changers. 💼 Check out our latest YouTube video where we break down each program and how you can get started earning today! 📈 🔗 #AffiliateMarketing #AffiliatePrograms #HighTicketAffiliate #OnlineIncome #PassiveIncome #DigitalMarketing #Entrepreneurship #FinancialFreedom #AffiliateTips #MakeMoneyOnline #WorkFromHome Don't miss out on this opportunity to maximize your affiliate earnings in 2024. Let's grow together

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🌟 Excited to unveil the top 13 highest paying affiliate programs for 2024! 🚀 Whether you're diving into affiliate marketing or looking to boost your earnings, these programs are game-changers. 💼 Check out our latest YouTube video where I break down each program and how you can get started earning today! 📈 https://lnkd.in/gVuV6pSp #AffiliateMarketing #AffiliatePrograms #HighTicketAffiliate #OnlineIncome #PassiveIncome #DigitalMarketing #Entrepreneurship #FinancialFreedom #AffiliateTips #MakeMoneyOnline #WorkFromHome Don't miss out on this opportunity to maximize your affiliate earnings in 2024. Let's grow together

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Not so great agencies blame the client when they get fired. Great agencies understand that almost 100% of the time, they are at fault too. Everyone loses clients for one reason or another. Yes, even great agencies. Great agencies seek to learn, to understand, to see how they can avoid whatever it was, in the future. Bad agencies point fingers, blame everyone but themselves, and can't find fault within. They make off boarding a pain in the ass. Losing clients sucks, but it's part of the game. You just hope it doesn't happen often. You should lose and off board clients as gracefully as you win and onboard them. As we know, the day you start working with a client, is the day you start losing them.

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Incredible event at CX Connect by Gorgias and meeting so many awesome people. Awesome job, Anni Kim for putting everything together! One of the most talked about topics is incorporating AI within Customer Service and how to leverage that to save money and time. For context, Digital AgenZ LLC doesn’t really do anything Customer Service related… We know it’s a nightmare! But it did get us thinking about how the Customer Service journey will really look like if we’re able to incorporate AI within a brand’s customer service stack. I can definitely see some gaps filled when it comes to things like order tracking and FAQs. But I think the underlying thing about what Gorgias is doing isn’t just about good-ol’ fashioned “Customer Service”... It’s a lot bigger than this. I think we’ll see how the new features play out on how to expand your business by leveraging the power of a good CX system for growth. It’s weird ideas that really help move the needle as this is a space that hasn’t really been tapped yet. An example that stood out to me is what Ronak Shah from Obvi said about how they were able to hire really awesome people for CX through their own customers… It seems like something that would be a no brainer but yet… I haven’t really heard a lot of brands leveraging this until now. Perhaps that’s where the landscape is shifting as I’ve seen this work really well when it comes to finding Creators through your own customers. Nonetheless, super excited on how things will play out. What are your thoughts? ==================== 6 Days Left Until VidCon!! I’m planning a series of events to help bring more brands and creators together… Are you a Brand and want to meet more Creators and other founders in the DTC world? Or vice versa? Introducing the Creators and Conversions: Vidcon Series… Our mission is to bridge the gap between the Creator Economy and the DTC space–fostering an environment for long term partnerships and collaborations. June 27th - Private Dinner Event June 28th - Creators x Brands Speed Dating Party Anaheim, California If you’re a BRAND or CREATOR and are interested in coming, shoot me a DM for more info. :) NOTE: I don’t run a talent agency–I’m NOT here to sell you anything.

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We've cracked the code. Our last five clients ranging from Mom and Pop Dispensaries to Premier MSO's averaged these results in the first 90 days: Marketplace Sales | Up 343.7% Marketplace ROAS | Up 222.7% Website & Direction Clicks | Up 65.6% Average Order Value | Up 16.6% Units Per Transaction | Up 5.6% Visitor to Order Conversion | Up 111.1% How do we do it? Step 1. Integrate data and measure KPI's from marketplaces including Weedmaps, Leafly, Yelp, Dutchie, IHJ, anywhere you're selling weed. Step 2. Activate Sparks best practices and daily management for each platform. Step 3. Strategize and update positions, promotions, products, and creatives. Step 4. Measure effectiveness of changes. Step 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 every month. That's it. Partner with us before July 1st and we'll pay you $1,000 for ads on any platform you want if we don't improve your ROI within 30 days.

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Turn TikTok into your dealership's sales booster! This guide, inspired by a real Ford case study, offers actionable strategies for a killer TikTok presence. Captivate your audience with a standout profile & viral content ideas. Showcase your brand through behind-the-scenes glimpses & customer stories. Reach more viewers with paid ads & influencer collaborations. Grow engagement with Q&As, contests, and more. This blueprint adapts to ANY dealership – learn to create content that connects & converts! #tiktok #tiktokforbusiness #socialmediamarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy #blueprint #tiktokcontentideas #automotive #dealership #ford #cardealerships

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📈 Data is key in the eCommerce world! 🤓 Learn about the power of data-driven marketing at our imminent eCommerce CRO Webinar on May 30th at 1:00 PM EST! Explore how to leverage data insights to create targeted campaigns & captivate your audience for increased sales! Get practical tips from our expert panel - John Kuefler, Director of Web Strategy & Project Management & Partner at LimeLight Marketing LLC, David Abraham, Chief Executive Officer at Bluesoft Design, and Martina Prencipe, Buy with Prime Representative. Register now and elevate your marketing game 👉https://lnkd.in/dfYptQXc  #datadrivenmarketing #webinar #eCommercemarketing #conversionrateoptimization

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