customer segmentation buckets
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Customer segmentation buckets: what are they and how do I use them?

Customer segmentation buckets: are you using them?

From my experience, customer “segments” are highly underused.

Here's why.

When I start working with a client, 9 times out of 10, prospects are grouped under one category.

Categories can be also called “buckets.”

You can also refer categories to “customer avatars.”

So I'll bet you a whole 5 bucks (yes, I've got that kind of money lying around) that YOU have 2-3 different “buckets” of people.

And you MUST be utilizing a customer segmentation strategy to have more impact on your marketing

A strategy like this is called “behaviour” marketing. Or even fancier…dynamic response marketing.

When you put people in the RIGHT bucket and “talk” to them differently, you're exponentially increasing the odds of them buying from you.

Here's an example of how customer segmentation buckets work

I work with many real estate agents – at the beginning, they think EVERYONE is their client.

When I ask them, “OK, WHO is your prospect?”

They'll say “anyone buying or selling”

That's a start. But as you can see, it's SO broad.

However, in the context of this post, that IS separating people into 2 different customer segmentation buckets…right?

But here's the deal.

THOSE REAL ESTATE AGENTS stick the SAME people into ONE “drip” campaign.

And here's how it starts out:

“If you're buying or selling your home, let's set up a time to talk”

Something like that.

The point is this:

Real Estate agents (in this example) are putting the BUYER in the same email sequence as a SELLER.

Crazy.

AT the VERY LEAST, separate those peeps!!

Now, we can go even further and segment the buyers. Let's say…FIRST TIME buyers.

All it takes is a simple checkbox on the opt-in page or in an email that “tags” them “first time home buyer”

Then, you can write a follow-up email that is totally about first-time buying.

Imagine, if you already own a home, and you're looking to buy a second home. Then you start getting the “buyers” emails that INCLUDE stuff you already know – because you've already BOUGHT a home.

Doesn't look good on me as a realtor does it?

So if we follow this example, my “buyers” list is segmented into TWO subcategories already: first-time buyers, and second-time buyers.

If that sounds like a lot of “work” – it is. At first.

Setting up your automation and customer segmentation buckets for follow-up should be A1 priority.

OVER and above marketing and advertising.

Here's why.

Because if you're marketing and advertising IS working, and you get hot prospects into your funnel…if the FUNNEL SUCKS, you've wasted time, energy, money, and reputation because you'll be labeled just like any “other” realtor.

People will disconnect from your message if you're sending a buyer something about “selling.”

Dynamic response marketing is where it's at today – and if you don't have the “time” to figure it out or put it in place, I would question why you're marketing in the first place.

Understanding your audience and then delivering a message that speaks to their specific needs is super important.

If you want to talk more about your specific business and how to implement a dynamic response system, let's set up a free blueprinting session here.

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sales copy
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How to Write Sales Copy That Converts

One of the best ways to write sales copy is to LEAD with the best.

In other words, don't wait to let people know about your awesome offer.

Let them know what your BEST BENEFIT is.

Too often, we wait until the last part of our sales page, email, whatever, to “reveal” our offer.

Because we're trying to build up the value, anticipation for whatever it is we have to offer in our sales copy.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with building the value. In fact, you MUST build it!!

But if you wait too long in your sales copy to reveal what you have, you could lose the prospect's attention very quickly.

Here's what I mean.

I'll use my business as an example.

Many people offer a “free” gift of some kind. It's to entice the prospect to

It's to entice the prospect to opt-in, call, whatever.

Even though “free” is a very powerful word, without anchoring the value of the gift, you're losing power.

So in my case, I offer a free consultation. Big whoop. Who cares? Everyone offers a free consultation.

So, to “compete” with that, I could say “you get a FREE 30-minute consultation with me, that's worth $650, and when we're done, you'll have a totally implementable blueprint plan to use immediately.”

It's not golden globe writing, but who cares? It tells the prospect WHY the free offer is a good value.

Now.

Back to my original point.

If my offer was good, then I wouldn't wait until the end of my copy to let you know about my FREE consultation.

I would start off like this…
———-
If you're an online marketer struggling with putting the pieces together to promote your product or service, then I'd like to give you a 30-minute consultation worth $650 for FREE. When we're done, you’ll have a workable blueprint and plan you can implement right away without any hard sales pitch.

Here's what else this consultation will do for you…
[BENEFIT]
[BENEFIT]
[BENEFIT]

Here's why you need to have this conversation now
[LOGICAL REASON]
[SCARCITY REASON]
[EMOTIONAL REASON]
———–
Can you see how I've highlighted the offer, and IMMEDIATELY went into the benefits of them?

Here's why sales copy like this works.

If the offer I mention right off the top sucks, they won't keep reading.

And that means they won't opt-in for my free consultation.

So, if I'm troubleshooting why I'm not getting any opt-ins, I would START with my offer.

THEN I would look at the benefits I'm promising.

Because those are the first things people would see/read/hear in my sales copy.

Making sense?

Alrighty.

If you have comments, questions, whatever, lemme know below 🙂

Here's a great post about Creating a Unique Value Proposition.

If you want to learn How to Write Copy That Converts, check out this post.

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writing copy
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Writing Copy That Converts

When writing copy to convert people…here's what you need to know:

  1. They only care about themselves. Your prospect doesn't care about how fancy your stuff is. They only care about what it will do for them. How it will make them feel.
  2. They only care about rule #1

Sure, you know this already.

The challenge is, are you really taking advantage of the 8 human drivers of emotional decision when you’re writing copy?

If you don't know what they are – here's a list:

  1. Enjoyment of life/survival
  2. The Enjoyment of food
  3. Freedom of fear pain and danger
  4. Sexual companionship
  5. Comfortable living conditions
  6. To keep up with the Joneses
  7. Care and protect loved ones
  8. Social approval.

I'm betting your stuff fits into one of those categories.

In fact, it probably satisfies a few of them.

So when you’re writing copy, EXPLOIT THE HECK out of it.

Let's say if you'reselling weight loss.  Don't talk about your diet.

Talk about how they'll feel…

You can talk about how they'll enjoy life…perhaps EXTEND life!!!

Here's What's MOST IMPORTANT About Writing Copy

We both know words are powerful.

So why not take writing copy to another level?

You do that by using VISUAL language.

For example, when you're describing how great someone will feel losing 50 pounds, it's not just losing the weight that makes them feel awesome….

There's so much more going on beneath the surface that you can use to persuade them:

Such as walking into the store to buy a new pair of jeans, putting them on and not being embarrassed to walk out in front of the mirror.

Perhaps it's about the feeling they get when walking down the street and having the opposite sex take a second look!

The more you can help people visualize, and FEEL emotion when you’re writing copy … the easier it is to convert them to buy from you.

Here's a great post on How to Write Sales Copy you might be interested in.

What do you think?  Let's start a conversation below !

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finding new customers
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How are you finding new customers?

When it comes to finding new customers, I can summarize the strategy into one sentence for you:

“Chasing too many customers can escalate marketing and selling costs”

It never fails.

Clients are always trying to rationalize why they need to serve MORE customer channels when they're out finding new customers.

In other words, they're being everything to everyone.

The best example is from a realtor who says “anyone buying or selling” when asked the question “who's your customer?”

If you think that's a great strategy for finding new customers, loop back to the top quote 🙂

If you're marketing and selling to EVERYONE, HOW do you get your message through?

Let's use that realtor example again.

If you're marketing to “sellers”, WHO are those sellers?

“Anyone.”

Hmm.

So if you're marketing message says “I'll sell your home for more, in less time, for top dollar” (a classic cliched real estate marketing message) do you think THAT cuts through the 1000 other ads (and realtor dudes) that promise the same dang thing?

Good luck finding new customers.

So the “way” to improve that marketing is – >> see the first quote of this article.

Are you getting this?

The point I'm making is not to say you WON'T make money if you advertise to everyone and try to capitalize on all these moving pieces.

Perhaps you will.

But gawd is that ever a lot of work.

Simplicity trumps everything when you're finding new customers.

In this case of the realtor example, positioning as an expert, (and I'm not saying use the cheesy “hey, I'm an expert and can sell your house” thingy…)

But a REAL marketing position as an expert in ONE thing…

…selling homes to first-time home buyers who are having trouble financing as an example… (and yes, that's a niche. “first-time buyers” is NOT a niche.)

If you don't why hit me up for a pow-wow so you get this stuff.

You'll make tons more money spending LESS on marketing and promotion WHILE you work LESS !

Boom!

This post about creating your marketing message effectively is pretty cool too…check it out.

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linkedin lead generation
Spark Entrepreneurship

FAIL: LinkedIN Lead Generation

OK – this is HUGE pet peeve of mine when it comes to selling and “linkedin lead generation”

I stumbled on a post inside LinkedIN…it's not mine, but I totally commented on it, which I'll share in a minute.

Here's the deal. (again, this is how I feel and operate/teach my clients – and, I’m NOT a LinkedIn expert.)

So, now that you know I’m not an “expert linkedin lead generation dude”, we can move on with my total opinionated post here.

DO NOT add someone to your friend list and then immediately pitch them with your shit.

WORST thing you can do.

Heres the original LinkedIn lead generation post (from someone else) to which I’m referring:

[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“If I accept your contact request, it does not mean that you should pitch me minutes after…accepting to be connected does not mean I am interested in your product or services. I must be getting older and more impatient but if you wonder why you are no longer connected now you know.” [/thrive_text_block]

READ THAT before moving on.

And here's one “reason” from some other dude on his linkedin lead generation strategy:

[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Perhaps you forgot what it's like NOT being CEO. You are also long since disconnected from your sales force. How exactly do you think they open doors? Miss opportunities by not having an open mind and secondly setting a terrible tone for your employees by posting this…closed door policy is a world where everything is changing by the month, week, day, minute…” [/thrive_text_block]

Really?

Do you think this comes from a total SALES mindset?

Um…yea.

Listen, I’m NOT suggesting you NEVER sell or pitch your stuff.

I’m suggesting this: (which is what I totally wrote back to this dude)

[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“You open the door by communication of value and GENUINE interest without a sales pitch attached – in other words, give a shit about helping someone EVEN if they don’t buy from you. Novel concept, right? Get’s you more authentic and loyal customers.” [/thrive_text_block]

Anyhoo…

I wanted to share this with you because I’ve NEVER been a sales dude.

I actually HATE selling.

I LOVE helping.

And, that means I SELL my stuff.

If that sounds like I’m going around in circles…reread my reply to the linkedin lead generation “strategy” some “marketers” are using.

The FIRST way I enter your world is to demonstrate I can HELP you.

If you want to buy my stuff after that, great.

But you WON’T get a hard sales pitch from me – ever.

If I go back on that, feel free to call me out!

Cheers!

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