What Your Business Hides Is What Costs You the Most
I had not planned to bring up the Johari Window. It just came out. I was sitting across from Geneva […]
The Four Levels of Accountability That Decide Everything
A few years ago, I stopped being accountable to myself. I told myself I was too busy. There were clients,
Working Hard When No One’s Watching: The Lesson No School Teaches
Hunter Leatherman grew up right here in Round Rock. His parents were bankers. He attended Cedar Ridge High School, studied
The Words You Use Are Costing You More Than You Think
Years ago, our team changed four words on a Dell configurator page. We swapped out “learn more” and replaced it
They Want 6th Graders to Choose a Career. Trina Martin Has a Better Idea.
What were you going to be when you grew up? I was going to be a few things. So were
Round Rock Is Quietly Becoming a Startup Town: What Destin George Bell, a Million New Startups, and Vibe Coding Mean for Founders Right Now
When Destin George Bell moved from Kentucky to Austin, he slept in his car. He was making eight dollars an
What a $100M Bike Company Taught Me About Living To Be Like Amazon
Some conversations feel like finding a page you didn’t know was missing from your own book. That’s what happened when
She Built a Business Designed to Lose Customers. That’s Why She’s Winning.
I said it out loud in the middle of the interview, and I meant it as a joke. But it
I Was There To Build the Foundation. They’re Building the Future
You’ve never taken a ride in a time machine. Neither have I. But I sure felt like I had. This
How LLM Search Is Exposing Marketing’s Broken Stories
The smartest AI in the world cannot fix a broken story. And no algorithm on earth can fix a team
JumpStart Your Startup With Cam Houser
Some people polish their pitch decks. Others just get to work. That’s what the Jumpstart Program is all about. Launched
You’re Worth More Than You Think
How Mindset, Value, and the Words We Use Shape Everything At the beginning of a new year, we tend to
Why Stories, Not Features, Drive Growth
If your customers don’t feel the story, they won’t fund the solution. The most overlooked growth lever in your business
The Weight of Smart
The inventor was tired. Not the kind of tired a nap fixes. The kind that hums behind your eyes. The
The Stubborn Sticky Story Giveaway
How a Simple T-Shirt Turned Into a Movement in Round Rock Every town has its storytellers. Round Rock has its
Simplicity Is Mastery: Why Clear Messages Win Minds, Hearts, and Markets
There’s a moment, often too late, when people realize their message didn’t land. It didn’t inspire, convert, or persuade. And
Big Tech Wants You To Build a Funnel; Not a Brand
Now the Funnel Is Dying. Only Your Story Can Save You. They sold you the dream. Big Tech promised that
AI Can’t Fix a Broken Story (But True Leaders Can)
Even the most intelligent AI can’t fix a broken story. And it can’t replace a team that doesn’t believe the
The SEO Funnel Is Dead
A few years ago, if you wanted the best chicken soup recipe, you typed it into Google. You’d hit enter
The Hidden Structure Behind Every Story That Sells
What if I told you the difference between words that get ignored and words that change lives comes down to
What a Press Release Taught Me About the Future of Marketing
Frustrated at waiting for Google to update their index, I recently ran a simple experiment. I wrote a press release,
The Underdog Advantage: Why Playmaker Recruiting Won Startup Day
Five minutes. One stage. No second chances. That was the challenge at the Round Rock Chamber‘s Startup Day pitch competition.
Why Strong Brands Require Strong Character
We are drowning in content. AI churns out torrents of words in seconds. Social feeds refresh with a flick of
From Elephants to AQ: Why Sticky Phrases Create Unstoppable Brands
Most marketers underestimate just how physical persuasion really is. When you see someone smile, your mirror neurons smile. When you
The Raven and the Resilient Bison: A Fable on how to Escape Adversity
A young raven falls out of its nest in the dark of night. He sees several ravens and other birds
Mental Health Support Before Crisis: Bryan Eisenberg’s NAMI Central Texas Interview
There were days I could barely get off the couch. I struggled to shower, and if my dog Hero had
A Milkman’s Deal, a Thousand Volunteers, and the County That Doubled in Six Years
When former county judge William Gravell says his family landed in Williamson County because a milkman struck a bargain with
You Can’t Build a Business Without Building a Story First With K. LaFleur-Anders
There’s a moment in every entrepreneur’s life when the spreadsheet stops mattering. A moment when the funding pitch fades, the
The Stories We Sell: Why Every Click, Every Cause, and Every Conversion Begins with Connection
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never believed marketing was about metrics (even as the co-founder of the Digital
From Campfires to Catalysts: Why Entrepreneurs Thrive When Community Comes First
Not every conversation leaves an imprint. But some, like the one I recently had with Kevin Koym, stay with you.
The Real Power Behind the Curtain: Influence Isn’t What You Think
We live in a world of metrics, where follower counts pass for credibility and virality masquerades as value. It’s tempting
A Four-Year-Old Just Outsold You with Nicholle Walton Durban
Last Saturday in Round Rock a preschooler sold every glitter candle on her table in ninety minutes. No ad budget,
The Lie the Algorithm Wants You to Believe About Yourself
We are not drowning in information. We are all being fed stories designed to keep us compliant. Every swipe, scroll,
Feeling Burnt Out from Selling? Here’s Why
Yesterday at 1 Million Cups Round Rock, our Brews and Breakthroughs table kept circling the same drain. Why does selling
From Horses and Elephants to Empathy: The Power of Showing Up
“If you can lead a horse, you can learn to lead your life again.” – Karah Powell Some people show
Words Create Worlds: Why Two or Three Words Still Change Everything
Over 25 years ago, we wrote our first book called Persuasive Online Copywriting. It was the business card packaged as
The Elephant in the Room: What Midlife Women (and Men) Aren’t Talking About but Should
Last week on the Rock Solid podcast, I sat down with fitness and menopause coach Karen Cerezo. I expected a
How our Words Create Beliefs
What if your morning coffee had commitment issues? Hot and iced, both at once. Undecided, until you decide. That’s not
Why You’re So Overwhelmed (And Why You Keep Craving the Past)
I didn’t time-travel this morning. But my brain did. One second I’m scrolling news, inboxes, calendars, social media. The next,
How Monica McKitterick from Impact Family Wellness Helped Me Swallow An Elephant
Some stories start with inspiration. Others start with blood work. Mine started with both. In July 2024, I walked into
The Most Powerful Part of Your Story Is the One You Don’t Tell
Lately, I’ve been getting overwhelming feedback on my latest manuscript, I Think I Swallowed An Elephant (Kindle pre order is
How To Make Sure Your About Page Doesn’t Suck
Ever read an “About Us” page that made you want to work with the business, or just grab a coffee
Community, Startups, and Real Impact: A Conversation with YJ Lin of Dell for Startups
Back when I was a 20-something social worker in New York, I had a boss named Fred. Former priest, recovering
20 Reasons Round Rock is the Best Place to Build Your Dream
If you could build your business anywhere, somewhere affordable, buzzing with talent, rich with resources, and designed for your lifestyle,
Live Like You’re Dying: The Value of Authenticity, Mortality, and Viral Storytelling
You will die someday. Not a warm and fuzzy opener, I know. But stick with me. Because when you remember
From the Boardroom to the Ballroom: How Selicia Sanchez-Adame Is Redefining Leadership in Round Rock
What does real leadership look like in Round Rock? It looks like Selicia Sanchez-Adame. Entrepreneur. Community builder. Bold voice for
What Chronic Pain Taught One Doctor About Healing: A Conversation with Dr. Mark Malone
Most doctors learn about pain from textbooks. Dr. Mark Malone learned from the floor of his home, stuck there after
Most companies treat storytelling like seasoning.
Sprinkle a little on the website.Add a pinch to the pitch deck.Maybe toss it in the onboarding slideshow. But here’s
Building Community, Feeding Purpose: A Conversation with Diana Lindsey
When people ask me what makes Round Rock different, I don’t hesitate. It’s not just the growth. It’s not just
You Don’t Have to Be Right. You Just Have to Know How Fast You’re Wrong.
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from my conversation with Juan Damia on the Born2Unicorn podcast, it’s
Your Brand Might Be a One-Hit Wonder.
Here’s why that’s killing your growth…You know that song you can’t shake?The one that hijacks your brain on repeat —
Pong wasn’t just a game. It was the spark.
I was around six the first time I played it. Two paddles. One dot. No story, except the one you
When Ghosts, Ads, and Storytelling Collide: A Rock Solid Conversation with Monica Ballard
What happens when you blend 20 years of creative firepower, a haunted hotel, and a glass of red wine? You
Most brands don’t die with a bang. They die quietly. In inboxes.
In 2014, Derek Sivers did something wild. He rewrote a confirmation email. That’s it. Not a campaign. Not a product
Don’t Sell the Steak… Unless You’ve Got One.
In the middle of the Great Depression, when wallets were thin and hope was even thinner, a young copywriter named
Why Round Rock Is Quietly Building the Strongest Entrepreneurial Culture in Texas
You ever walk into a room and just know you’re in the right place? That’s what talking to Adriana Nunez
Storytelling is essential, but it’s not enough.
It’s the spark, not the system.The amplifier, not the engine.The bow, not the gift. A great story can capture attention.It
The Most Powerful Things We Buy Can’t Be Put in a Shopping Cart
We don’t buy shoes.We buy the feeling of stepping into something that matters. We don’t buy books.We buy belief in
The Product That Could Not Be Sold
It was a product nobody wanted. Then one man touched it, and it became a $200 million phenomenon. No new
Why Your Kid Should Run a Business Before They Get a Job
Have you ever seen a 10-year-old negotiate product margins, rethink branding strategy, and pivot to a new product based on
The Stories We Sell (Ourselves)
You know what’s underrated? Belief. Not “hope.” Not “manifestation.” Not even “confidence.” I’m talking about conviction. The kind that gets
Keith Goode on the Evolution of Search and Why Technical SEO Still Matters
Keith Goode landed in Round Rock over 20 years ago. He didn’t have a job. Just an invitation to crash
Deana Cavanaugh on Nonprofit Leadership and Raising Funds with Purpose
Have you ever met someone and thought, “How do they manage to do it all and still care so deeply?”
Pain Relief in Round Rock: The Moench Method With Ken Moench
Ken Moench doesn’t manage pain. He eliminates it. For 25 years, he has helped people find real, lasting pain relief
The Relentless Heart of Will Williams: A Rock Solid Conversation
Some people talk about making a difference. Will Williams lives it. When I sat down with Will for Rock Solid,
Nicole Thompson, Director of Membership – Round Rock Chamber
Why Business Success Starts with Showing Up There’s a secret to success that’s so simple, so obvious, that most people
Leasa Neaves, Leadership Coach for Women and Teams
Leasa Neaves spent 23 years at Dell, moving from an entry-level job to leadership roles in marketing, sales, and as
Darwin Tanksley, from Sales to Round Rock Entrepreneur of the Year
Darwin Tanksley didn’t just build a business. He built a machine. Fifteen acquisitions in a year. A workforce that believes
Jen Henderson, Owner at Civil Engineering firm HPE, on the Rock Solid Show
Jen Henderson knows her stuff. As a civil engineer and the owner of Henderson Professional Engineering, she’s spent nearly two
Stephanie Tyler, Supporting the Round Rock Community and Entrepreneurs of All Ages
In this episode of the “Rock Solid” podcast, I interview Stephanie Tyler, a prominent figure in Round Rock, Texas, known
Lee Linton of Office Evolution on Why Round Rock is Perfect for Business Growth
Lee Linton, owner of Office Evolution Round Rock and recently opened Office Evolution Georgetown has a clear message: Round Rock
Deep in the Leaky Bowels of Google Search
News of a Google algorithm leak has surfaced, unveiling a wealth of documents that shed light on Google Search “signals.”
An Apology, A New Year, A New Perspective
The last couple of years have been difficult for many people. People struggled with all kinds of issues. Some publicly
A Half Dozen Business Choices
Every company has to make choices when it comes to how it markets and sells and, in some cases, who
Does it Payless to pay less?
Do you want to get paid less for any value you bring to your customer? Obviously not! Do you prefer
Every Action is an Expression of Belief
Our companies are nothing but the collection of action every one of our employees take. What beliefs do your employees
How Do You Handle Revenue Blind Spots?
Companies routinely have Revenue Blind Spots that cost them 20-60% of their revenue. It is like revenue that disappears without
eCommerce Moneyball: How AI is Behind the Next Generation of Retail Success
On Demand Webinar: Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game is about how Oakland A’s manager, Billy Beane, used
Want Instragrammable Conversions? Leverage Context
Error 403! Probably not what you want to see when you “actually” engaged with an ad , reviewed the landing
Reviewing Amazon’s customer experience for their Treasure Truck offer of the day.
A look at the mobile experience, landing page, call to action, etc. for the #NES release offer. Watch this video
Can I Send You an Audible Code?
Jeffrey and I have a handful of Audible codes left for free audio book copies of Be Like Amazon: Even
Budgeting for Word of Mouth through the Customer Experience
This week I take a look at some simple things Magnolia Market in Waco, TX does to purchase Word of
Run a Business Like Jeff Bezos an interview with Digital Marketer
Watch this video on YouTube I hope I get to see some of you at Digital Marketer’s Content and Commerce
How the Washington Post applies the 4 Pillars of Success to the Newsroom
This week we look at a recent NPR analysis of how the Washington Post became profitable after Jeff Bezos acquired
Goodreads: Be Like Amazon Giveaway
We have teamed up with Goodreads to giveaway 10 copies of the hardcover edition of Be Like Amazon: Even a
What Might We Do For You Now?
After writing Be Like Amazon: Even A Lemonade Stand Can Do It, several people have asked Jeffrey Eisenberg and me: What
Want a free book that will make you laugh?
My friend Geraldine DeRuiter (@everywhereist) is about to release her first book. The book will be released May 2nd. The
Would you like to Brand Like Amazon? Even a Lemonade Stand Can Do It
Some of you might have seen through our social media channels that Jeffrey and I have been working on a
What should you be known for?
My friend Mark Schaefer is releasing a new book on February 13th. I decided that because I love the book
When Retailers Wreck Relationships Because Of Pricing Errors
CyberMonday is becoming one of the most critical days for retailers today. According to IBM, Cyber Monday retailers saw online
Conversion 101: Creating an SEM Legend for Improved PPC Campaigns
In part one of this post, we took a look at the challenges a home remodeler or contractor might have
Conversion 101: How to Create an SEM Legend Exercise
Don’s Contracting is in steady demand. The local market is tight, supply is low and demand is high. Don will
Why CEOs Don’t Care About Conversion Rate Optimization #CRO
I recently presented (slides below) at Conversion World. Sam Hurley; Digital Marketing influencer and Founder of OPTIM-EYEZ, asked me the following
Even Your Shopping Cart isn’t Sacred
Birth of the Shopping Cart The first rolling shopping cart was created by a Piggly Wiggly owner in Oklahoma City.
11 Social Media Tools & How to Use Them to Boost Conversions
Social Media has become a key component to the success of many businesses. Contextual Advertising, real-time word-of-mouth sharing and positive
Omni-channel pricing with the connected customer
Sixteen painful minutes standing there while those behind us whispered obscenities under their breath. It wasn’t our fault. Standing on
While I Have Been Gone…
First, I would like to apologize for not blogging here and sharing with you. It isn’t because I have stopped
Digital Marketers they think you suck!
In this presentation below, Professor Mark Ritson (@markritson) takes on our growing obsession with social media. He explores how social media data
Are You Optimistic About SEO?
Since 2012, Searchmetrics has developed a report that looks at the ranking factors that Google uses which can help content
Mobile Is Not The Next Big Thing – It’s Already the Big Thing
In mid 2013, mobile Internet access surpassed fixed Internet access, and according to comScore the gap is only widening. Many
Increase the Persuasive Momentum of Your Conversion Funnels
Companies that plan and optimize persuasive momentum usually convert two to four times better than their industry’s average conversion rate.
4th Post – Recipes For Practical Customer Experience Design & Optimization # CRO #UX #CX
Please read the just published Personas: The Key Ingredient In Design For Conversion. It is the fourth in a series of
#CRODAY Webinar 4/9/15 – Buyer Legends for CRO with Bryan Eisenberg
Empower your team with 10 key ingredients for generating powerful customer stories that boost conversion. Reminder: Don’t forget to register for #CRODAY on
Interview With Bryan Eisenberg – Two Episode Podcast – Buyer Legends & IdealSpot.com
Bryan was recently interviewed by Rod Worley the host of “Inside the Jewelry Trade Radio Show” to let us know
50+ Digital Marketing Tools To Grow Your Startup
The one constant of Austin’s SXSW conference is the gaggle of startups trying to pitching for attention. Some deserve it,
Is Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) a Dead End?
April 9, 2015 will be the first annual International Conversion Rate Optimization Day. April 9 is also my 45th birthday.
Recipes For Practical Customer Experience Design & Optimization – Buyer Legends
This is an important post that Anthony Garcia wrote on the Buyer Legends blog If I gave you a recipe
Get Buy-In From Skeptics – A Conversion Rate Optimization Case Study
Gerald’s grandpa is a 71 year old luddite who doesn’t use email or a smartphone. So how did Gerald get
Where do companies and entire industries go to die?
Listen to Bryan explain how businesses that can’t seem to get into the mindset of their customers are failing and what
What A Used Car Salesman Can Teach You About Empathy
He pushy pushed his way up towards the stage. I had just finished presenting the keynote at Driving Sales, an
Can Your Company Deliver What Marketing Promises?
As marketers are given better tools for storytelling, it may become harder for companies to deliver on the promises they
How to Get Traction for your Startup Business
Most business owners (who aren’t in stealth mode) want to get the word out about their new ventures in order
Where’s Bryan? 12 Provocative Posts You May Have Missed
Things have been crazy the last couple of months since publishing our new book so I’ve been neglecting this blog
The Stepford Personas: What Lies Beneath?
Conferences are fun. The drinks afterward are better. Confidences get shared. Let me give you a peek into Chad’s world.
Get Your Free Copy of Buyer Legends: The Executive Storyteller’s Guide
I hope you got your copy already, if not grab it for free over the next couple of days. Please
You are Legend!
Your marketing deserves to be legendary! Your brand and it’s story crave sharing from one customer to the next. That
Jerry’s Branding Punch Line
Do you know the one about Jerry and Jeff walking into a coffee shop? “I love advertising because I love
Is that a Gap in Your Brand Story?
In days long gone a company’s brand story typically emanated from a single place, from the company itself. Today, technologies
Show Us Your Briefs
When I talk to marketers about their creative briefs the responses I get are about as diverse as the undie
A 217% Lift Every Content Marketer Should Be Getting, But Will You?
Over the course of almost two decades, Jeffrey and I have worked directly with hundreds of content writers. Many of
How to Manage a Legendary Brand
There are bad companies, good ones, great ones, and then there are legendary companies. Legendary companies that disrupt, innovate, revolutionize
How to Convert More Blog Visitors
Jeffrey and I built our business on content. When we first started our agency in 1998, we had zero capital
The Lonely Brand Story Meets Social Media
Brands must make sure their stories are being told properly across all channels and that they can measure alignment and
Developing a High Converting Landing Page {Slideshare}
This presentation should help you improve your current desktop and mobile landing pages as well as how to develop new
How to Design High-Converting Mobile Landing Pages {includes video}
To create effective landing pages, you should understand the anatomy of a landing page and it should be part of
Amazon’s Performance Secrets
It was a great honor to present at the inaugural ClickZ Live in New York this week. I was asked
How to Get More Leads with Persuasive Scenario Planning
Take 30 minutes during your lunch break today and catch Jeffrey’s webinar with Marketo on “More Effective Lead Generation Using
SXSW, Not All That Keeps CMOs Up at Night
It sounds like IT, not marketing! Data breach, identity protection, customer security – these are terms that never concerned marketers
Conversion Optimization 101: Opt-In Overlays
Last night, at a get together hosted by Noah Kagan of AppSumo, I was with my friend Peep Laja and
Can I Help Inspire Your Organization to Change in 2 Links?
I want to share two links I reviewed last week that will hopefully change the way you look at digital
Super Bowl 2014 Advertisers: Did They Win the Search Game?
There were many aspects of Sunday’s game that left people quite disappointed. Forget the game. I don’t even want to
Why Everything You Thought About Mobile Might be Wrong
Today marks my 13th anniversary writing for ClickZ. I have seen change happen more slowly than I believed possible and
Social Logins: Maximizing Conversions & Engagement
Do you publish content or have a blog? It seems everyone has one today. In the last year or so,
Great Metrics Lie About Social Media
A Bain survey recently shared that 80 percent of company executives believed they delivered a “superior experience” to their customers.
Please Don’t Stereotype Your Personas
In my last column, I promised to show you how to take these lists of personality mapping attributes and turn them from your
Personas: The Magic behind the Mirror
Did you know most persona efforts fail as soon as the personas are completed? Teams create their personas, design slick
90% of Content Marketers Suffer From ‘The Curse’ & How to Remedy It
When it comes to stuff in which you have a huge personal investment (your kids, your homes, your businesses), you
Michelle Smith & Persuading Your Potential Customers
In order to plan the click-through-experience models, or persuasion scenarios, on a web site, we develop archetypical fictional characters composed
10x Conversions, Complex Sales & Flipping the Funnel
Last week, Jeffrey and I were in the Bay Area of California to do some client training and work. On
Complex Sales and the Persona Creation Process
How do you define a complex sale? Is it a B2B purchase? Is it planning a family vacation for 2
What People Do on Your Site and Why
Ever since Google Analytics was introduced in 2006 people began an obsession with “what” happened on their website. They could
What Makes a Good Online Copywriter?
Good Copywriters Are … “What makes for good online copywriting?” Both marketers and copywriters have their reasons for asking this
Hidden Secrets of the Amazon Shopping Cart 2.0
You may be in a test cell right this moment. Go to Amazon.com, search for a book and look at
Google’s Search Magic Revealed
The closer you look, the less you see… Caught up in the day-to-day rhythm of business we rarely take the
The Shake Weight Challenge of Social Media
The social and mobile revolution is about data. It is the enormous volume, real-time velocity and variety of data from
The Smarter Data Manifesto
“An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.” – Jack Welch
The Next Generation of Data Analysis
In the near future you will use voice commands to ask for actionable stories to be related to you from
Choose Not to Confuse
Every company has to make choices when it comes to how it markets and sells, and, in some cases, who
A 7-Point Spring Cleaning Checklist
People do spend some time tidying up their websites and marketing efforts. Yet, there always seems to be a few
Jeff Bezos’ Secret to High Conversion Rates
If you do business, online or traditional business, I hope you took the time to read Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos’
Adopting a Culture of Experimentation
“Almost any question can be answered cheaply, quickly and finally, by a test campaign. And that’s the way to answer
Leadership in the Age of Agility & Experimentation
Here’s the punchline; The role of today’s leadership is to “remove the speed bumps in the experimenters’ way!” ~ Scott
Technology should support your goals, NOT slow you down!
While the one constant in business is change, the one variable that has greatly accelerated—due to mobile and social—is the
How Can You Evaluate This Kind of Performance?
I just finished reading this article about an EBay study that questions the value of Google’s main Adwords service. I’ve been
Comparing the Anatomy of B2B Landing Pages
Last week, my partner and brother, Jeffrey and I were doing an in-house training for a large B2B marketing team.
Facebook Offers Desperation
With news that Facebook gift sales and revenue are off to a rough start, they are starting to show how
Use the Data
When I studied the data and made an intuitive prediction that 80 percent of PPC professionals would be replaced by an
How to Optimize Your Mobile Landing Page for Conversions: Hulu.com Example
A couple of weeks ago, I asked readers how they would optimize the following Hulu.com mobile landing page that I saw
Marketing Analyst, You Better Up Your Game
Last week, I explained how 80% of PPC professionals will be replaced by an algorithm. However, deeper in to my article
PPC Pro – You’re Being Replaced
You’re fired, laid-off, downsized, terminated, made redundant, rightsized, pursuing other opportunities, discharged, dismissed, pink-slipped. Search Engine Marketing professionals are becoming
Can You Optimize This? A Mobile Landing Page
My cable contract just ended, so I have been thinking about how little actual cable TV my family watches. I
Why You Won’t Crush It This Year!
I began writing this column on marketing optimization in 2001; yet this morning, 12 years later, I find myself in LA to
Fanning the Flames of Big Data
Last week, an article in TechCrunch offered an opinion on “Why We Need to Kill Big Data.” Perhaps it was
Google Plus Needs to Become Content Marketing Friendly
Google+ may be growing, but anyone who spends time on it wishes it had more engagement with their connections and
The CMO’s Marketing Analytics Optimization Framework
In my last column, I shared recent research about how CEOs have lost trust in CMOs’ ability to be focused
When Conversions Come Easily
When you consistently deliver a great customer experience, build a great product and develop a brand people trust you don’t
Conversion Optimization 101: Planning Social Media Landing Pages
In the last Conversion Optimization challenge I asked readers to review a series of promoted Tweets and the corresponding landing
Facebook’s Desperate Attempt to Prove Its Value (Test it Yourself)
Last week Adobe and IBM both came out with studies about how little impact Facebook had on referrals to sales on
Your CEO Doesn’t Trust That You’re Doing Your Job!
Did you see the startling statistic shared last week that 70 percent of CEOs have lost trust in marketers? If you’re
Conversion Optimization 101: Social Media Landing Pages
This week’s conversion optimization challenge is to offer recommendations on a socially promoted whitepaper campaign. Bloomreach recently launched a Twitter
Conversion Optimization 101: Copywriting Perspectives in Email Marketing
Last week’s conversion optimization challenge was to take a look at the webinar invite sent out by WriterAccess.com with the
70% of CEOs have lost Trust in Marketers
According to the recent Fournaise 2012 Global Marketing Effectiveness Program, which has interviewed more than 1,200 CEOs across North America, Europe,
The Wizards of Social Media
The more remarkable the customer experience (or piece of content), the stronger the desire to share it through word of
The About Us Page in a Social World
Since my column about the Power of the About Us page (remember 2006 when MySpace was really popular) was written,
Conversion Optimization 101: Email Marketing – Webinar Invites
This week’s Conversion Optimization challenge is to take a look at the following email I received from WritersAccess.com with an
Conversion Optimization 101: Perfectly Persuasive PPC Landing Pages
Last week, in our Conversion Optimization challenge we looked at the following PPC ad: and the corresponding landing page (image capture below):
It’s Not My Job: Why Marketing is Broken
I was in Moscow last week with Jeffrey, waiting in the lobby for a taxi. I passed the time taking
Companies spend $92 on Driving Traffic Compared to $1 on Customer Experience
by Column Five Media. What are you doing to optimize that spend ratio in 2013? Are you planning on investing
Conversion Optimization 101: PPC Landing Pages
This week’s Conversion Optimization challenge is to look at a PPC ad I found on Google for the search term
Conversion Optimization 101: Selling with Video
Last week in our Conversion Optimization challenge I asked, how would you improve this Quick Tour demo video found on
The Grok’s Not to Miss Links for the Week of November 6th, 2012
Retailers, Black Friday is right around the corner. Super Storm Sandy has already impacted businesses this past week in many
Social Media is not Media
What are you doing to increase the value of the relationship with your customers today?
Content Marketing: Superheroes Teach the Art of Storytelling
Last week, I visited ComicCon Austin with my 7 year old son. The people in costumes, the famous actors and
Conversion Rate 101: Demo or Explainer Videos – Presenting Effectively
Since we just finished looking at how to optimize ecommerce product or hero images, I thought we should look at
Halloween Special: Frightening Landing Pages
Trick not treat! Most visitors clicking your promotions hope that you’ll offer them with some tasty treat. If instead you
Conversion Optimization 101: Optimize Your Product Image to Sell
Last week’s Conversion Optimization 101 challenge, asked you to look at the eBags TLS Workstation Laptop Backpack and the product image(s) they use. I
Kids on Retail: Thoughts from the Next Generation of Shoppers
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzMUPqOEoHk[/youtube] What are you doing today to be ready for them when they are your customers in the next 5
Confessions of an Online Marketing Tool Junkie
It’s fun to play with the latest shiny new object and marketing tools, but remember marketing success rarely happens because
Grab Your Free Kindle Copy of a Great Business Book This Weekend Only
My friend Tim Miles has his birthday this weekend. So he decided that this weekend he will be giving away
Google Adwords Conversion Rates by Industry
My friend, Larry Kim just published some research his company Wordstream just released. Wordstream used the data collected by the AdWords Performance
TheGrok’s Not to Miss Links for the Week of October 25th, 2012
I know not everyone can keep up with everything Jeffrey and I read or share during the week. Here are
Conversion Optimization 101: Make Your Product Image Sell
Social media and ecommerce are becoming even more visual. With apps like Pinterest, Instagram, etc., the use of the correct
Average Conversion Rate by Industry 2012
For MarketingSherpa’s 2012 Website Optimization Benchmark Report they surveyed participants and asked them to write in what their average conversion rate
Conversion Optimization 101: Optimizing Complex Web Forms (w/ 10 Point Checklist)
Last week, I asked you to review and comment on how you would optimize this beautifully designed, but non-optimized form:
Your Customer Is In Control. Are You Ready?
What have you seen as the biggest change in the last 6 years since the book was published?
Just One Thing
Do you remember the movie where an ad executive played by Billy Crystal takes time off to go on a
Conversion Optimization 101: Form Folly
There were some excellent responses last week’s CRO challenge post on a NetFlix ad and landing page mismatch. Thank you
Conversion Optimization 101: When Ads and Landing Page Don’t Stink!
Last week I asked how you would improve scent from this NetFlix ad and landing page combination, I found while looking
Last Minute Secrets to Boost Holiday 2012 Sales
We asked a bunch of our industry expert friends: if a small to mid-sized retailer asked you for a couple
Conversion Optimization 101: Ad Continuity/Scent
It was Dr Ed Chi, a Xerox Palo Alto Researcher, as early as 2001, who indicated that humans track information
Conversion Rate 101: Effective Pricing Tables
Last week, I asked you to look at the pricing tables from the Dell.com website and to offer suggestions on
Mastering Conversion Rate Optimization?
We (Jeffrey Eisenberg and I) were naïve and full of ourselves; in 2005, when “Call To Action: Secret Formulas To
TheGrok’s Not to Miss Links for the Week of October 4th, 2012
It’s been almost 3 years since I published one of these. However, I know not everyone can keep up with
Conversion Optimization 101: Pricing Tables – Ecommerce
On Twitter, I shared a link to this article from Smashing Magazine, Pricing Tables: Examples And Best Practices. When I shared
What Keeps Retailers Awake at Night in 2012 [Videos]
I just came back from Shop.org’s Annual Summit in Denver, where over 4,000 retailers and industry supporters came to learn more about
Just Released: The Website Testing & Optimization – Buyer’s Guide for the Enterprise: Second Edition
There are several things that prompted me to update the Buyer’s Guide to Testing & Optmization: 1. Since Google replaced
Conversion Optimization 101: Culture Trumps Strategy and Tactics
Last week, I published my first Conversion Optimization 101 post and asked you if you could look at a particular
Content Marketing Personas
It seems like only yesterday that I typed the following words into my computer: Conversion rate is a measure of your ability
The Hiring Advantage Most Entrepreneurs Ignore
A few months after becoming co-owner of a home care franchise, I was on a call with one of our
You Don’t Have a Marketing Problem. You Have an Alignment Problem.
Most companies think they’re misfiring because of marketing. They’re not. They’re misaligned. The dangerous part is they don’t feel it
Why Smart Founders Are Choosing Round Rock Over Austin
The city you choose quietly decides whether your startup lives or dies. Founders obsess over product, funding, hiring, and traction.
About “TheGrok”
I didn’t ask to be called The Grok. The name found me. It started in the late ’90s, when my