by Sonnhalter | Sep 26, 2017 | Tradespeople Insights, Uncategorized
Today we have a guest post from Russ Hill, Founder of Ultimate Lead Systems.
There is something “fishy” going on with my email and I’ll bet you are having the same problem. It’s call “phishing” and every day is phishing season. It spells BIG trouble for email marketers.
I receive nearly a hundred emails each day. Hundreds of other emails get flagged as “spam” going into my “Junk” mail folder. More and more I receive official looking emails (with corporate logos) claiming to be from Facebook, LinkedIn, the USPS, UPS, FedEx, my bank and even the IRS. The problem is they are all fakes and attempts to game access to my computer or obtain personal information from me and from you. (more…)
by Sonnhalter | Sep 7, 2017 | Marketing Tips, Tradespeople Insights
By Chris Ilcin, Account Superintendent, Sonnhalter
Last weekend was my high school reunion. Lots of fun and a great time (we even used it as an excuse to raise money for a local charity). And then I read this excellent article on what consumers want from email marketing.
And it occurred to me that the two are pretty similar. Here’s how:
Don’t Overdo It
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by Sonnhalter | Aug 29, 2017 | Tradespeople Insights
By John Sonnhalter, Rainmaker Journeyman, Sonnhalter
For some reason there’s always been a disconnect between sales and marketing, and for the life of me I can’t understand why they can’t play nice. After all isn’t the objective of both is to increase sales?
I recently read an article in Duct Tape Marketing, Counseling the Marriage Between Marketing and Sales to Generate Revenue that got me thinking of why they should work together towards the same goal.
Most of the journey your contractors take is already over by the time they speak with a salesperson. That’s a tremendous opportunity for marketing to influence the sales process and dovetail together in creating a seamless experience.
Here’s an interesting statistic: 57% of the buyer’s journey is completed before the buyer talks to sales, according to Gartner. Prospects know more about you than you know about them.
Mutual Expectations
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by Sonnhalter | Aug 23, 2017 | Tradespeople Insights
By Chris Ilcin, Account Superintendent, Sonnhalter
My grandfather always said the best way to learn is to put it into terms you already know. With that being the case, think of your Digital Marketing Assets as products. Now think about how you would warehouse them:
- Would you just throw products on any shelf, with no system of arranging them?
- Would you let whoever was in charge of the warehouse set up their own system, and not tell anyone how it was organized?
- Would you let them also install the lock, and have the only key?
- Could any employee or contractor take any product they wanted?
- Would you keep discontinued product on the shelves?
- Would you let people put the products together in any way they wanted?
- Would you leave your products outside in the rain and snow while you figured out the right type of warehouse to build?
I’m guessing the answer to every one of those questions is a giant NO. (more…)
by Sonnhalter | Aug 22, 2017 | Marketing Tips, Tradespeople Insights
By John Sonnhalter, Rainmaker Journeyman, Sonnhalter
Content marketing should be a vital part of your strategy to reach and engage contractors and professional tradesmen and move them through the sales funnel. Manufacturers are always focused on leads and will use things like traditional e-books and white papers. Not all activity will result in conversions. We should consider building brand awareness.
Here are five tactics to consider:
- Blog posts.You may already be doing a blog and if you’re not you should consider it. It helps set you up as an industry expert and helps move prospects through the know, like and trust phase of the journey. Include a strong call to action that will hopefully engage the reader to go somewhere or do something. (more…)
by Sonnhalter | Aug 16, 2017 | Tradespeople Insights, Uncategorized
Today we have a guest blog from Carl Babb of Relectric on the important topic of diversity.
Electrical engineering is at the core of industrial growth and energy sustainability in the USA. With the innovative products, designs and concepts, electrical engineers and contractors must keep pace with changes in the profession.
Diversity in disciplines like engineering is necessary to address the current and future needs of our nation’s economy. Engaging people from all segments of our society in the electrical engineering profession is essential to this fast-paced and growing field.
Access to opportunities must be enhanced to help meet industry needs and find solutions to society’s energy challenges.
While there has been an increase in the involvement of women, African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans in engineering in recent decades, there is still room for improvement.
There are several initiatives by engineering schools and universities, engineering groups and societies, and even many large industries, to increase the diversity in electrical engineering. Like most businesses and companies everywhere, organizations associated with electrical engineering are becoming directly involved in actions targeting bias against underrepresented groups. (more…)
