Marketing Without the Marketing
201 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 19 ratingsMarketing does not have to be pushy, aggressive, and sales-y. Respectful, ethical marketing strategies are more in line with the expectations of consumers anyway.
Hosted by Michael Boezi of Control Mouse Media, LLC https://controlmousemedia.com
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Episodes
Intermediate Automation: Email Marketing 201 (Episode 160)
November 04, 2019 11:04 - 12 minutes - 20.5 MBAutomation is key to today's email marketing. Let's take a look some more advanced automation techniques for when you are ready to go beyond a basic email newsletter strategy: RSS-based sequences and nurture sequences. The post Intermediate Automation: Email Marketing 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Basic Automation: Email Marketing 201 (Episode 159)
October 28, 2019 10:11 - 13 minutes - 20.8 MBAdding a little bit of automation to your email marketing strategy can help nurture "cold" leads without a lot of extra hands-on effort. Let's look at two basic automations when you're just getting started: Welcome sequences and follow-up sequences. The post Basic Automation: Email Marketing 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
List Segmentation Strategies: Email Marketing 201 (Episode 158)
October 14, 2019 10:07 - 18 minutes - 27.9 MBGood list segmentation in email marketing lies at the intersection of what's meaningful to your audience vs. what's important to you. If it's one or the other, it won't work as effectively. In practice, there are 3 distinct ways to segment your email list. The post List Segmentation Strategies: Email Marketing 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Be a Part of the Community You Serve (Episode 157)
September 30, 2019 10:30 - 13 minutes - 21.9 MBParticipation is a signal. When you are a part of the community that you aim to serve, it shows that you're invested. That it's important to you. That you care. Not only is it a way to develop trust, but it can also help you see emerging trends in your sector. The post Be a Part of the Community You Serve appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Content Marketing Has Changed (Episode 156)
August 12, 2019 10:29 - 12 minutes - 19.6 MBHave you noticed that social media is not as effective anymore? That your website traffic is down? That people aren't opening your email newsletters as much? Content marketing has changed - a lot - over the past 5 years alone. The post Content Marketing Has Changed appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Repurposing Content: Blog Strategy 201 (Episode 155)
July 29, 2019 10:29 - 15 minutes - 24.6 MBRepurposing content is one of the best ways to get more out of your blog as a small business. With some careful planning up front, you can think a few steps ahead and save yourself time - while building a set of content as a valuable business asset. The post Repurposing Content: Blog Strategy 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Are You Famous? (Episode 154)
July 15, 2019 10:15 - 8 minutes - 14.6 MBAre you famous? Have I heard of you before? Most of us don't have the luxury of being able to answer "yes" to these questions. In a world where attention gets more and more scarce, what can we do to overcome this - without resorting to cheap stunts? The post Are You Famous? appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Building Anticipation: Blog Strategy 201 (Episode 153)
July 01, 2019 11:01 - 14 minutes - 22.9 MBBuilding anticipation is a terrific technique for getting readers back to your site. Producing a blog series is a great way to achieve this. It has the added benefit of an SEO boost around one of Google's strongest ranking factors as well. There are two strategies that I use. The post Building Anticipation: Blog Strategy 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
A Short Story About Ethical Business (Episode 152)
June 17, 2019 10:17 - 8 minutes - 14.5 MBIt's worth highlighting ethical business practices since they are often the exception to the rule. This week's episode breaks from the regular format of the show and presents a story from an experience I had last weekend. The post A Simple Example of Ethical Business Practices appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Optimizing for Search: Blog Strategy 201 (Episode 151)
June 03, 2019 10:03 - 16 minutes - 25.2 MBEach post you publish is an opportunity to get found by a future customer. Let Google help you. Optimizing for search is one of the best things you can do for your business blog, and it should only take an extra 5-10 minutes for each post. Episode 151 goes step-by-step through my SEO Treatment Plan. The post Optimizing for Search: Blog Strategy 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Ethical Marketing Is Not an Oxymoron (Episode 150)
May 20, 2019 09:20 - 11 minutes - 19 MBAggressive marketing tactics might have been effective in the past, but today's consumers are more savvy. They see right through the lies, deception, and whitewashing. Ethical marketing is the only way to set yourself apart - to treat your customers with respect. The post Ethical Marketing Is Not an Oxymoron appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Instagram for Blogging? (Episode 149)
May 06, 2019 09:06 - 13 minutes - 21.8 MBA recent article in the New York Times showcased some high-profile influencers and celebrities using Instagram for blogging. It begs the question: With people connecting on mega-platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter - is blogging still worth it? Could Instagram ever replace blogging? The post Using Instagram for Blogging appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Creating a Pathway to Purchase: Web Strategy 201 (Episode 148)
April 08, 2019 10:08 - 12 minutes - 19.9 MBWhat happens when a visitor arrives at your site? Do you have a pathway set up to guide them from that first visit through dozens of points of contact until they become a customer? If this isn't all set up in advance - Web, blog, social, email, and online store - there's little point in getting traffic to your site. The post Creating a Pathway to Purchase: Web Strategy 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Google+ Is Shutting Down: What You Need to Know (Episode 147)
April 01, 2019 08:01 - 11 minutes - 18.2 MBGoogle Plus is shutting down on April 2, 2019. Here's a quick overview of how (and why) to download all your data before it disappears forever. The post Google Plus Is Shutting Down: What You Need to Know appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Beyond Getting Traffic: Web Strategy 201 (Episode 146)
March 25, 2019 10:01 - 9 minutes - 15.3 MBWe are obsessed with getting traffic to our websites. I want to challenge that concept, because let's face it - random traffic doesn't do that much for you. Web Strategy 201 is getting beyond just "traffic" as a goal and making your site much more active in the sales process. The post Beyond Getting Traffic: Web Strategy 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
More Than Just a Showroom: Web Strategy 201 (Episode 145)
March 11, 2019 10:11 - 8 minutes - 14.7 MBCompetition on the Web is tough. You can't just hang your shingle and expect people to show up. A basic website isn't good enough anymore - it needs to function as a PATHWAY for prospective customers. Here's how to make your website carry more of the sales load for you. The post More Than Just a Showroom: Web Strategy 201 appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Content Marketing 201: Beyond the Basics (Episode 144)
February 25, 2019 10:25 - 6 minutes - 12.4 MBHave you noticed that some of the basic strategies behind your website, blog, social, and email marketing have started to lose some of their effect? That's because content marketing is now mainstream, with everyone relying on the same set of tactics. Time to level up with Content Marketing 201. The post Content Marketing 201: Beyond the Basics appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
The Internet Is One Big Rickroll (Episode 143)
February 11, 2019 11:11 - 8 minutes - 15.1 MBThe promise of the Internet has been ruined by advertising. There is no article you can read, video you can view, or social feed you can scroll through without being interrupted by some advertiser's desperate attempt to steal your attention. Every time I experience this, I feel like I've been Rickrolled. The post The Internet Is One Big Rickroll Now appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
The One Word That Diminishes Your Work (Episode 142)
January 28, 2019 11:01 - 10 minutes - 17.9 MBPeople don't mean to diminish your work, but that's exactly what they are doing when they use this one insidious little word. It undervalues your expertise and experience by making it sound simple - as a way to sell you on doing something, paying you less than you're worth, or not paying you at all. The post The One Word That Diminishes Your Work appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Build, Connect, Optimize: The Three Stages of Good Marketing (Episode 141)
December 17, 2018 11:17 - 12 minutes - 20 MBA solid marketing plan has three stages, depending on the growth cycle of the business. In the season finale of Marketing Without the Marketing, I take a look back at the past year and how this has influenced my most recent projects. The post Build, Connect, Optimize: The Three Stages of Good Marketing appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
SEO and the User Pathway (Episode 140)
December 03, 2018 11:03 - 11 minutes - 18.6 MBSEO always starts with a simple query. But it doesn't end when the user finds your site. For SEO to be truly effective, we need to set up a pathway to serve the user more than once so we can build trust over time. And of course, this needs to be set up and ready to go before the first visit. The post SEO and the User Pathway appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
SEO Is Not Only About Keywords (Episode 139)
November 26, 2018 11:26 - 12 minutes - 19.6 MBYes, keywords are important to SEO. But when you boil it down, SEO is about providing relevant, useful content to your human users. Google is able to measure what happens once the user gets to your site. Is it a good experience, or are there things you could be doing better in serving your users? The post SEO Is More Than Keywords appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
SEO: Write for Humans First, Robots Second (Episode 138)
November 13, 2018 11:11 - 12 minutes - 20.7 MBGoogle's Web crawlers are assessing your website with every interaction. Are people getting what they need from your site? It turns out that when it comes to SEO, what's good for humans is good for robots. Let's look at some of the biggest factors that affect your ranking and how they are in tune with the human side of marketing. The post SEO: Write for Humans First, Robots Second appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
SEO: Understanding the Google Algorithm (Episode 137)
October 29, 2018 10:01 - 11 minutes - 178 BytesWhat is Google looking for in your content? While they are famously secretive about their search algorithms, Google reveals important clues with each major update. Let's take a look at the key search factors and how to apply them to your SEO strategy. The post SEO: Understanding the Google Algorithm appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
SEO Is About More Than Just Google (Episode 136)
October 22, 2018 10:09 - 10 minutes - 16.7 MBPeople are at the heart of your SEO efforts. So let's look past the keywords, page rank, and site traffic for a second and focus on the real point of SEO - connecting with your potential customers. SEO is about building the apparatus to find the people who are already out there asking for your help - and the pathway to deliver that help. The post SEO Is About Serving People (not Google) appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
SEO Is a Key Part of Any Marketing Strategy (Episode 135)
October 15, 2018 10:15 - 11 minutes - 178 BytesSEO helps you tackle one of the most difficult parts of any business - finding new potential customers. What's more is that Google will help you do this for free. Episode 135 is an overview of why it's worth the effort to learn even just a little bit of SEO so you can take advantage of its marketing power. The post SEO Is a Key Part of Any Marketing Strategy appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
What Is SEO and How to Unlock Its Power (Episode 134)
October 01, 2018 10:17 - 9 minutes - 15.7 MBTeaching is how we form a connection with a future customer. SEO is simply a signal that someone wants to learn - with a distinct data "signature" that offers clues about what they want to know. From there, it's up to us to use that data to put ourselves in the best position to answer that question. Episode 134 is an overview of how to do that. The post What Is SEO and How to Unlock Its Power appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
SEO: A Different Approach (Episode 133)
September 24, 2018 10:16 - 8 minutes - 15.1 MBSEO is one of the most important factors in any marketing strategy, so it's worth the effort to learn the basics. It doesn't have to be complicated, and anyone can learn it. Episode 133 is an introduction to my approach to SEO, and the start of a new series to teach you all the nuances of a good, sound SEO strategy. The post SEO: A Different Approach appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
The Power of Zero (Episode 132)
September 17, 2018 10:00 - 14 minutes - 178 BytesThe new season kicks off with a reset to zero! Let's look at how creativity and business go together, and how you can rethink your own approach to your current project, job, or business. The post The Power of Zero appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Charting Your Own Path (Episode 131)
July 30, 2018 10:01 - 10 minutes - 1 ByteThe challenges you face in starting a business are different than any other thing you'll do in your career. Episode 131 is a summary of my 10-part series about the early days of my small business - my strategies, successes, and mistakes - so that you have somewhat of a roadmap in your own journey. The post Charting Your Own Path appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Productizing Your Knowledge (Episode 130)
July 16, 2018 11:07 - 15 minutes - 1 ByteIf your business involves teaching or training, then you are in a good position to create "knowledge products" out of your expertise. Whether you sell these "outputs" or use them for customer acquisition, a little planning up front can help you work towards something bigger in your content strategy. The post Productizing Your Knowledge appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Building Your Email List (Episode 129)
July 02, 2018 10:07 - 13 minutes - 178 BytesEmail is your conversion instrument. It's 40 times more effective than social media in this regard, so building your email list is one of the most important things you can do for your business. It pays to get started early, with a plan for segmentation and some simple automation as well. The post Building Your Email List appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Producing a Podcast: Pros and Cons (Episode 128)
June 18, 2018 10:18 - 17 minutes - 27.5 MBHave you ever thought about starting a podcast? It's a great marketing tool, which is why I'm a big proponent of podcasting. Let's take a look at the criteria for deciding whether or not it could be a good strategy for your business in particular. The post Producing a Podcast: Pros and Cons appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Creating Effective Cornerstone Content (Episode 127)
June 04, 2018 10:44 - 17 minutes - 26.3 MBCornerstone content supercharges your efficiency. It not only carries some the sales load, but it's good for SEO too. With a little investment of time up front, it can pay dividends for years to come. Let's look at why cornerstone content is so important, what it can do for your business, and a simple guide for how to get started. The post Creating Effective Cornerstone Content appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
GDPR and Email Marketing: A Simple Set-Up Guide (Episode 126)
May 21, 2018 09:25 - 18 minutes - 28.8 MBWhat is GDPR and how does it affect email marketing lists? Here's an overview, with a practical way to be GDPR-compliant but not have to lose all of your subscribers. If you haven't done this already, it's not too late - but it's time to take action so that you avoid a potential claim (and hefty fines). The post GDPR and Email Marketing: A Simple Set-Up Guide appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Making the Fear Disappear (Episode 125)
May 14, 2018 10:10 - 13 minutes - 21.1 MBWe all start out scared. But in order to be successful, you have to learn how to quiet the voice of fear in your head. It takes time, but making the fear disappear puts you in a position of power. You make better decisions, attract better customers, and produce better outcomes. The post Making the Fear Disappear appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Surviving the First Few Months of a New Business (Episode 124)
April 30, 2018 10:09 - 12 minutes - 20.3 MBIn the early days of a new business, structure is critical. Otherwise, how can you be sure that you are spending time on the right things - and that you are building something that your customers want? Episode 124 is about testing your initial assumptions to make sure you're on the right track. The post Surviving the First Few Months of a New Business appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Why Pinterest Is on the Rise (Episode 123)
April 16, 2018 11:07 - 12 minutes - 19.5 MBPinterest is often overlooked for business purposes. That's a shame. Because Pinterest functions more like a "personal utility," there's potentially more alignment between a consumer's goals and your business solution. Wouldn't it be nice to have your message welcomed instead of avoided? The post Why Pinterest Is on the Rise appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Finding Mentors and Models (Episode 122)
April 02, 2018 10:09 - 13 minutes - 21.7 MBWhat makes a great mentor, and more importantly, how do you know who will be the best mentor for you in particular? Here's a rundown of the key things to look for - and key things to avoid. The post Finding Mentors and Models appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Day 1 of Your New Business (Episode 121)
March 19, 2018 10:09 - 9 minutes - 16 MBThe sooner you start interacting with and learning about your audience, the better. This starts on Day 1 of your new business - it's too important to let it wait. A side benefit is that it gives you a system and structure for creating worthwhile content to serve your audience. Let's take a look at exactly how to do that. The post Day 1 of Your New Business appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
So You Want to Start a Business? (Episode 120)
March 05, 2018 11:09 - 11 minutes - 18.4 MBThere's so much to learn when you are starting a business, and the challenges that you will face are as unique as your own fingerprints. It will be up to you to chart your own path, but it helps to have a map. That's why I created this 10-part series, taking you through my process as I built my own business. The post So You Want to Start a Business? appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Fixing Facebook: Why the New Plan Will Fail (Episode 119)
February 20, 2018 11:03 - 16 minutes - 25.4 MBMark Zuckerberg has vowed to fix the ills that have plagued Facebook over the past 18 months. There are 5 reasons why his plan won't work. The post Fixing Facebook: Why the Current Plan Will Fail appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Facebook Zero: What It Means for Small Businesses (Episode 118)
February 05, 2018 11:07 - 15 minutes - 24.3 MBIn the season premiere of Marketing Without the Marketing, we jump right into how the upcoming Facebook algorithm change is going to affect YOU as a small business owner. There are 3 big ramifications, and 3 things you can do to prepare yourself. The post Facebook Zero: What It Means for Small Businesses appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Creativity Is a Business Imperative (Episode 117)
December 04, 2017 11:17 - 9 minutes - 16 MBYou can draw people in with your creativity. Or you can repel them with annoying ads. We have a choice, and my strong belief is that the storytellers and artists will win, while the aggressors and interruptors will lose. Let's commit to making every interaction with your audience either educate, inspire, enlighten, or entertain. The post Creativity Is a Business Imperative appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Advertising Offset Credits: Calculating the Cost of Ad Pollution (Episode 116)
November 27, 2017 11:01 - 9 minutes - 16 MBIf we look at advertising like pollution, could we make the worst offenders pay a price for making us suffer bad ads? In this week's episode, I explore the concept of Advertising Offset Credits and the cost of aggressive, self-serving advertising. The post Advertising Offset Credits: Calculating the Cost of Ad Pollution appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
More Speculation About Facebook's Future (Episode 115)
November 20, 2017 11:01 - 14 minutes - 22.6 MBThere are some big changes coming to Facebook. Continuing the thread from last week's episode, here is some speculation on how this might affect the Facebook Ad platform and a major change to the News Feed that Facebook is currently testing outside of the U.S. The post More Speculation About Facebook’s Future appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
Facebook Is Headed for Trouble: The Coming Storm (Episode 114)
November 13, 2017 11:13 - 19 minutes - 29 MBAs the harsh spotlight illuminates dark posts, Russian ads and who-know-what-else, expect a backlash against Facebook. It may come in the form of regulations or user revolt, but it's going to change Facebook a lot. It's not a matter of if, but when. So if you use Facebook to promote your business or connect with customers, what can you do to prepare yourself? The post Facebook Is Headed for Trouble: The Coming Storm appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
From Adversity to Acceleration: Business Growth Strategies from Kelly Roach (Episode 113)
November 06, 2017 11:07 - 29 minutes - 43.8 MBAcceleration is something that most entrepreneurs seek, but often find to be out of reach. My guest this week is Kelly Roach, a former Fortune 500 executive who has an amazing story of career acceleration - both in her corporate career and in running her own agency. Kelly shares her story, along with strategies that you can apply to your own business. The post From Adversity to Acceleration: Business Growth Strategies from Kelly Roach appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
How to Make Sure You Actually Own the Rights to Your Content (Episode 112)
October 30, 2017 10:21 - 10 minutes - 17.4 MBDo you have someone creating content for you? A writer, designer, video producer, or developer? If so, you want to make sure that you have clear ownership of the rights to that content. Episode 112 is about the risks of not having an IP clause in your vendor contracts. The post How to Make Sure You Actually Own the Rights to Your Content appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.
The Customer Is Always Free to Go (Episode 111)
October 23, 2017 10:37 - 17 minutes - 27.6 MBYou can't force me to be loyal - that's something you have to earn. Yet you see companies use a variety of methods to lock us in or make it difficult to leave. These cheap, short-term tactics may guarantee today's revenue, but they will never add up to tomorrow's loyalty. The post The Customer Is Always Free to Go appeared first on Control Mouse Media, LLC.