Insights — dansalva

Headline writing that overpromises: the super critical facts you absolutely must know or risk abject failure

It takes more over-hyped headline writing. Your audience knows what you're up to and they will treat you according to the route you take.

Content MarketingDan SalvaJanuary 6, 2015content marketing, Headline

Understanding customer behavior to power your marketing

Behavioral study can unlock some valuable strategic direction. There are some simple ways to get started. See what it can do for your efforts

Strategic innovationDan SalvaDecember 31, 2014customer behavior, Strategic innovation

Add a little joy to your storytelling

It’s nice to step back and think about how our storytelling could have a positive effect on our readers’ lives.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaDecember 24, 2014brand storytelling

Want better customers? Start with better storytelling.

Cultivating better customers starts with storytelling. Because it allows us to tap into our most powerful marketing tool – our prospects' imagination.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaDecember 17, 2014brand storytelling, storytelling

Taking the mystery out of easily generating quality leads

Generating quality leads takes focus and strategy. Here are four steps that can help add that to your efforts to connect with those quality leads.

Strategic innovationDan SalvaDecember 10, 2014Lead generation, Strategic marketing

Want better storytelling? Go old school.

Going old school means thinking about your storytelling as a campaign. It's an old term from the world of advertising. But it's worth rediscovering.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaDecember 3, 2014brand storytelling, campaign

How do you improve your brand storytelling? Be thankful.

You can’t be thankful without first having a sense of humility. And humility is the quality that is at the very core of great brand storytelling.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaNovember 24, 2014brand storytelling, Empathy

3 tips for communicating visually

Too often, companies settle for a generic image with their communication. Yes, it can add visual appeal, but it doesn't have near the power of illustrating the point you are making.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaNovember 19, 2014visualization, visualize storytelling

When in doubt, be useful

It could be a blog post, an ebook, a worksheet, an interview with an expert, and more. Whatever it is, just make sure it’s useful. If you do that, it will be worth your and your prospect’s time.

Content MarketingDan SalvaNovember 12, 2014content marketing, Strategic marketing

The only thing marketing automation can't automate

We can (and should ) automate the delivery of information. But that should not overshadow the most important part of what we offer. Information is valuable. Inspiration is invaluable.

Content MarketingDan SalvaNovember 5, 2014content marketing, Strategic marketing

Is your writing short circuiting your reputation?

Here are three things we can do to protect our reputation and improve the chances of winning readers’ attention .

Content MarketingDan SalvaOctober 29, 2014reputation, writing

Improve your clarity with these 7 writing tips

There’s room for us to improve how we communicate. Here are 7 tips to help improve the clarity of our writing.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaOctober 22, 2014brand storytelling, content marketing

The 3 "Be's" for Better Brand Storytelling

The 3 “Be’s” help us build an effort with depth and meaning. It’s not one-and-done. It’s an approach the builds reputation, making it stronger with each authentic and helpful story we tell.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaOctober 14, 2014brand storytelling

Is your branding doing double duty?

It’s powerful when your branding can work inside and outside. That’s double duty.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaOctober 8, 2014Brand Expression, Branding

Are you unintentionally chasing off readers?

Your readers won’t tell you they have lost confidence. They’ll just stop clicking. Even when you have something valuable to share with them.

Content MarketingDan SalvaOctober 1, 2014brand storytelling, content marketing

Why strategy is not enough

We need more creative people to be great strategists. To understand research. To have a grasp on analytics. And most importantly, to understand the customer journey.

Strategic innovationDan SalvaSeptember 24, 2014Strategic innovation, strategy

Don't let cleverness cloud clarity

As brand storytellers, our initial job is to grab attention and maintain interest. Sometimes we’re so focused on creating a memorable idea, we inadvertently sacrifice clarity.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaSeptember 17, 2014brand storytelling

Stop selling and start helping me buy.

If there is one axiom that captures the monumental shift in marketing it’s this: It’s no longer about selling to your prospects, it’s about helping them buy.

Strategic innovationDan SalvaSeptember 10, 2014Strategic innovation, Strategic marketing

If you don't give them a story, they'll evaluate you on price.

Help your prospects make an emotional connection with your offering and you will make it easier for them to do business with you.

Brand storytellingDan SalvaSeptember 2, 2014brand storytelling

A business argument for more creative executions

Being 'creative' is not a luxury to a business. It's an economic necessity.

Strategic innovationDan SalvaAugust 27, 2014creative, Strategic innovation