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Showing posts from August, 2017

Millennials Hate your Marketing -- Here's Why (and what you can do about it)

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You've done it! You researched the young adult market, identified their buying power, and now that "just for millennials" campaign has launched and you're waiting for the leads to roll in. But instead, nothing happens. What's behind the lack of attention and response from this coveted age group? Adults under the age of 30 make up about 1.4% of the U.S. population and pack about 1.3 trillion in buying power domestically. This massive market is made up of savvy consumers who are digital natives and who are very aware of marketing and advertising. So, why aren't they paying attention to your marketing? It could be one of these three reasons. You Treat Them as an Afterthought It's a common misconception that millennials, particularly young ones, don't have the money to buy things or that they waste their money on the wrong things, like avocado toast and pumpkin spice lattes. The problem with this approach is that brands who see these young

3 statistics that will change your marketing mix

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Original posted on  www.cuinsight.com   written by  Liz Garster At the very moment I write this, only 134 days remain until we’re all welcoming in 2018 with a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne” and clinking champagne glasses. …That’s right – we have about 19 Saturdays left until we’re in January. I say this not to ruin your last few weeks of summer, or to gloss over the gloriousness that is pumpkin-flavored-everything-season; consider this your friendly reminder that we’ve reached the exciting point in the credit union life cycle where we review how our marketing efforts resonated in 2017 and evaluate what changes we’ll make for next year. As you begin this process and research what fun initiatives may bring your credit union success in 2018,  here are three statistics to get you thinking critically about your marketing mix. Statistic #1:    By 2019, video will account for 80% of online traffic. That number jumps even higher  for the United States at 85%, and isn’t s

Boost Happiness Without Stress: How to Stop Multitasking

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Have you ever felt as though you're not as productive as you'd like to be, even when it seems as though you're working all the time? Perhaps the problem is not the number of hours that you're working, but instead, the focus that you're bringing to each particular task. Studies have shown that multitasking can be incredibly bad for our brains, and is truly a way of doing more things incompetently instead of getting more done! If you're always checking Facebook, waiting for your email inbox to ding like one of Pavlov's dogs, or getting interrupted by physical visitors at your desk, you're not going to be as effective and efficient as you'd like to be. The outcome? More stress -- and that's something we can all do without! Your Brain on Multitasking Did you know that your brain is incapable of multitasking? It's true, and what your brain is doing when you think you're ultra-productive is pinging back and forth between tasks at a high

How to Inspire Those Around You Like the True Leader You Were Meant to Be

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Even business professionals with the best of intentions often make the mistake of assuming that solid leadership is about one thing and one thing only: delegating responsibility. You've worked hard your whole life and you've ascended through the ranks - now is the time when people should start listening to what you have to say, right? Yes, but not in the way you think. You're the Inspiration In truth, employees shouldn't be doing what you say just because you're the one saying it. They should be following your guidance because they want to, they're inspired to, and if given the opportunity, they'd be steering that proverbial ship in the same direction that you've chosen. To get there, though, you're going to have to do more than just bark orders. You're going to have to inspire. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when trying to inspire others. Leaders Who Inspire Support Their Employees in More Ways Than One One of the

Why Patience is One of the Most Important Qualities a Leader Can Have

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The chasm between a leader and a great leader is a deep one. It is one that is often filled with qualities like clarity, decisiveness, courage, passion, and a healthy amount of humility given the circumstances. But one of the major qualities that is essential to leadership that people don't talk about nearly enough is patience. When patience is practiced wisely, it can have a dramatic effect on your entire organization from the top down. The Ripple Effect of Patience In general, patience is more important than just being willing to wait for results. Yes, all people are different and employees need to be given room to move at their own pace for the sake of quality. But, the true benefit of patience runs much deeper. First and foremost, patience shows respect in a way that also encourages productivity at the same time. If you're the type of leader who delegates responsibility but then spends hours each day telling people to "hurry up" or to "get th

Wish You Were More Productive? Try These 3 Tips!

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Being productive means making room for the things you really want and uncovering new and innovative ways to work smarter, not harder. Thankfully, it's a lot easier than you probably think it is. If you want to become more productive, here are a few key traits you should focus on. Take Frequent Breaks to Recharge Yourself Although this may seem a bit on the counterintuitive side, studies have shown that taking frequent breaks throughout the day help to recharge yourself. Our "biological clock" has two basic forms that are dictated by our natural twenty-four (circadian) rhythms and our shorter than a day, but longer than an hour (ultradian) rhythms. Our ultradian rhythms essentially function in 90-minute intervals. This is why it's so easy to go from "firing all cylinders" to "boy I need a nap" and back again throughout the course of your work day. Remember that managing your time and managing your energy are not mutually exclusive. Tak

Your Willingness to Accept Feedback Will Affect All Areas Of Your Business

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Many people make the mistake of assuming that feedback automatically equates to complaining. After all, people tend to not speak up about issues unless the topic reaches a boiling point, right? In reality, feedback doesn't have to be like this at all. When given properly, feedback is constructive and can help to both reinforce what you're doing right and pinpoint what you may be doing wrong. No one is immune from the concept of feedback because no one is perfect. When you learn to accept feedback (regardless of where it is coming from or how positive or negative it may be) it will have a dramatic effect on all areas of your business. Accepting Feedback Helps Employees Feel Engaged A willingness to accept feedback has a direct relationship with something all business leaders should be concerned about: employee engagement. Feedback goes beyond open and honest communication and enters into a realm where employees are free to speak their minds when they feel it is neces

The Rise and Fall of Nate Silver: A Lesson in Risk Communication

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Political prognosticator and analytics guru Nate Silver rose to national fame by correctly predicting elections. But in 2016, Silver joined almost every other analyst by projecting a victory for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Was Silver's good luck over? Cognitive Bias and the "Failure" of Data Actually, Silver's estimate for the 2016 election was closer to correct than almost anyone else's. He saw Clinton as a heavy favorite, but still gave Donald Trump a roughly one-in-three shot of winning. But the world didn't remember that part of the projection once the election results came in. They just remembered the part Silver got wrong. Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman has an explanation: cognitive bias. Kahneman studied how people make decisions and judgments, and he quickly discovered that they don't make any sense. People like to think of themselves as logical and rational, but they mostly use logic to justify believing whatever they want

The Art of Time-Blocking: A Simple Tip to Revolutionize Your Productivity

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Most people just aren't that good at multitasking. Trying to remain focused (and organized) is one of the most significant time wasters, especially in the life of a business professional. When you try to do too many things at the same time, you become a "Jack of all Trades, Master of None." Just when you're trying to get work done on that big project, another email comes in that you have to respond to. You hop over to your email client and suddenly the phone is ringing, or you realize that you have to proof a new design before it heads out the door. It's maddening. Thankfully, there is a better way. By adopting the fine art of time-blocking , you may have just found the simple, yet effective technique you've been looking for to unlock a bold new era of productivity in both your personal and professional life. What is Time-Blocking? At its core, time-blocking is the idea that you should segment your day into clearly defined (and strictly adhered to)

The Quarterly Audit: Why It's Always Good to Give Your Print Collateral a Once-Over a Few Times a Year

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An opportunity that far too many people don't take advantage of is the idea of a quarterly audit. Don't worry; it has nothing to do with your taxes. Instead, it's a process that you should go through a few times a year that provides you a chance to re-assess and re-evaluate. It's a time where you force yourself to stop and think "This print mailer was designed in January, and it worked great in January. It's April, now. What needs to change?" Stop and Smell the Roses When performing an audit of your print marketing materials, make a list of everything that has changed since the last time you had the chance to re-evaluate things. How have your business goals shifted in the last few months? Have you accomplished more or less than you thought you were going to at this point? What does your average customer look like today, as opposed to three months ago? How have your campaigns been performing? If you can provide business-specific answers to quest