The Bolt: Digital Tools for Concrete Results
Inside this issue:
Hey ??
Welcome back to the Bolt!
This week we’re talking copywriting, TikTok’s new photo sharing app (potentially), Video editing do’s and don'ts, and Meta’s new Reels update.??
Let’s get to it .....
?? 7-Step Framework for Writing High-Converting Copy
People need to be persuaded into buying the things you sell.
Yes, sometimes you can do that with a video, but more often than not it’s the copy on your ad, an email or a landing page that gets people to click and convert.
And if you can’t create good copy, how can you expect people to buy into whatever it is you’re selling?
The truth is, you can’t.
So with that in mind, here’s a 7 step framework to help you build high-converting copy, as first outlined by Chase Diamond.?
1?? The Headline: Your Neon Sign ??
Imagine your headline as the neon sign that makes people say, “Whoa, I gotta see what's inside.” This is where you get to be a bit of a show-off. Use jaw-dropping data, make a bold-as-hell claim, or tease them with a promise so good they can’t resist. Like, “Slash your electric bill in half without lifting a finger!”
2?? The Lead: Keep ‘Em Hooked ??
You’ve got their attention; now it’s storytime. Whether it’s a personal tale of triumph or a secret strategy that’s about to be spilled, your goal is to glue your readers to the screen as if they’re binge-watching their favourite series. Think, “Let me tell you a secret that transformed my life…”
3?? Addressing Objections: The Jedi Mind Trick ????♂?
Here’s where you play mind reader and squash those pesky doubts like bugs. Show them that what they see as deal-breakers are actually why they should be rushing in. It’s about turning “But, what if…” into “Oh, that’s genius!”
4?? Proof: The Proof Is in the Pudding ??
Nothing screams “This is the real deal!” louder than showing off how others have gone from zero to hero with what you’re offering. Testimonials, case studies, social media love — this is your evidence that yes, dreams do come true.
5?? Guarantee: Your Safety Net ??
Offer a guarantee that’s as comforting as a warm blanket. It’s about removing risk from the equation, making it easier for your audience to take the leap with you. Whether it’s a money-back promise or a free trial, it’s your way of saying, “Trust us, you’re in good hands.”
6?? CTAs: The Magic Buttons ??
Your Call to Action is your “abracadabra” moment. It should be as clear and compelling as the finale of a fireworks show. This is where you tell them exactly what to do next in a way that makes clicking irresistible. Think, “Join the revolution!”
7?? P.S.: The Mic Drop ???
Ah, the P.S. — your final chance to leave a mark. It’s like the encore at a concert where you bring out the big guns: a reminder of the offer, a dash of urgency, or a last persuasive punch. Use it wisely to seal the deal.
There you have it, the blueprint to crafting copy that turns heads, wins hearts, and opens wallets.?
Each step of the way, you’re guiding your reader through a journey from curiosity to excitement, to trust, and finally, to action.?
Keep your copy light, engaging, and packed with value, and watch as your conversions start climbing.?
Now go out there and create copy that not only talks the talk but walks the walk!
?? Instagram is Facing Competition… TikTok Photos!
Imagine TikTok throwing a curveball and stepping into Instagram’s backyard with something called "TikTok Photos."?
Imagine…
And then imagine no more.
Rumour has it TikTok are diving deep into the photo-sharing pool with an app aimed to bring back the OG Instagram vibe – all about those picture-perfect moments. ????
So, what's in it for us, as marketers?
TikTok's already a hit with videos, and now they're (potentially) adding photos into the mix. It's a whole new world of opportunities to get creative, grab attention, and make our brands shine in ways we might not have thought about before.?
However, don’t get your hopes up too fast – amidst all the excitement, there's a bit of drama too.?
TikTok's making this bold move while there's talk in the air about bans and all sorts of other concerns. It’s like planning a huge party while not being sure if the venue might suddenly close down.?
In the end, whether "TikTok Photos" becomes the next big thing or just another app in the digital sea, it's all about staying flexible, learning new tricks, and being ready to adapt.?
After all, that’s the name of the game in the world of social media!
? The Do’s & Dont's When Editing Your Videos
When editing your videos, it’s important not to fall for some of the common mistakes that leave your videos unappealing to your audience. After all, no one wants to watch a video that feels dull or uninteresting. ?But luckily we’re here to help! So, let's dive right in and uncover the first crucial step in perfecting your editing game:
1.DO Focus on storytelling ?
When editing, always keep your end goal in mind. Whether it's telling a story or conveying a message, staying focused ensures purposeful editing and a cohesive video.
2. DON’T Go overboard with Jump Cuts and Sound Effects ??
Resist the urge to overwhelm viewers with excessive cuts or sound effects. Balance is key; remember, less can often be more effective.
3. DO Check Your Analytics ?
Analyse viewer behaviour through insights. Identify patterns such as early drop-offs or skipped sections to inform your edits. Adjust video length to maintain engagement.
4. DON’T Use Inappropriate Music ??
Select music that complements the video's tone and atmosphere. Misaligned music choices can detract from the intended message and may lead to copyright issues.
5. DO Review the Next Day ?
Complete edits ahead of time to allow for a fresh review the next day. Gain perspective and ensure clarity for a viewer's perspective.
6. DON’T Forget to Save and Backup ??
Ensure your hard work is protected by enabling automatic saving and backing up your video files regularly. Don't risk losing valuable edits due to insufficient backup measures.
Follow these simple do’s and dont's and you’re guaranteed to create more engaging content for your viewers.
With these guidelines, you'll effortlessly elevate your content and keep your audience glued to the screen, hungry for more.
?? Level Up Your Video Editing Game: Best Mobile Video Editing Apps in 2024
?? Have you ever scrolled through TikTok or other social media platforms, impressed by video edits that look incredibly professional?
It's not just luck or innate talent at play here.
The secret lies in the choice of editing tools ??
While many creators rely on the internal editing features of these platforms, others opt for external editing apps, and for good reason.
Why the preference for external apps?
Firstly, they provide freedom to express your creative ideas. Unlike platform-native editors, external apps don't create limitations on what you can achieve. Take Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut, or DaVinci Resolve, for example. While undeniably powerful, these editing suites can be daunting for beginners, requiring substantial time and effort to learn.
So, if you're wondering how to elevate your video edits to professional standards without breaking the bank or investing countless hours in learning complex software, fear not!
There's plenty of fantastic editing apps available right at your fingertips - literally, on your phone ??
Let's explore a few of them:
CapCut (formerly known as Viamaker):
Developed by Bytedance, the company behind TikTok, CapCut offers a variety of editing features tailored for social media content creation, including trendy effects, filters, and music options, ideal for creating captivating short-form videos.
While it's user-friendly interface caters to beginners, its feature set also appeals to more experienced editors looking to enhance their social media content with professional flair.
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FilmoraGo:
Aimed at simplicity and ease of use, FilmoraGo is ideal for beginners and casual editors. It provides a range of editing tools including themes, transitions, and overlays, along with basic color correction and audio editing options.
Its straightforward interface makes it easy to create polished videos for social media sharing without the steep learning curve.
InShot:
Widely popular among social media enthusiasts, InShot offers an intuitive interface and a comprehensive suite of editing tools.
From video trimming and filters to text overlays and music integration, it caters to quick edits and sharing on the go. Its versatility and ease of use make it a go-to choice for both beginners and seasoned editors looking for a convenient mobile editing solution.
iMovie:
Exclusive to iOS users, iMovie provides essential editing tools in a user-friendly package.
With features like trimming, transitions, and filters, it's perfect for beginners and casual editors seeking to create polished videos on their iPhones or iPads. Its seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem makes it a convenient choice for users already immersed in the iOS environment.
Kinemaster:
Known for its robust editing capabilities, Kinemaster stands out with advanced features like multiple layers of video, blending modes, chroma key (green screen), and precise audio control. These features cater to mobile content creators looking to elevate their videos with professional-grade editing techniques.
While its learning curve may be steeper compared to other apps, it offers unparalleled flexibility and control over the editing process.
Adobe Premiere Rush:
This app offers a streamlined editing experience with powerful features like multi-track editing, customizable motion graphics, and access to Adobe Creative Cloud integration.
It's designed to appeal to both beginners and experienced editors seeking a comprehensive mobile editing solution with access to professional-grade tools.
PowerDirector:
With a focus on desktop-like editing capabilities on mobile devices, PowerDirector stands out with advanced features like chroma key, video stabilisation, and speed adjustment. It caters to users seeking professional-grade editing tools on their smartphones or tablets.
While its feature set may be more robust than other apps, its intuitive interface ensures that users can efficiently create high-quality videos for social media platforms.
??Exploring these video editing apps unlocks endless creative opportunities.
With some patience and a desire to learn, you can easily improve your videos and stand out in the vast ocean of content on social media platforms.
?? 6 Step Social Media Guide For Your Small Business
?? Looking for ways to boost your social media marketing performance?
The team from SEMRush recently put together a 6-step guide to social media strategy, which provides some practical, actionable notes that you can implement in your approach.
The main points focus on research, and understanding who your competitors are, what they’re doing, and how you can use that insight in your plan. There are also pointers on AI tools, social management platforms, how to use things like Facebook’s Ad Library, and more ..
1?? Find What Strategies Are Working For Your Competitors
Investigate where your competitors are active and what is working for them, use a tool like Social Tracker to understand which social media platform you should focus on too.
Analyse their ads and adjust your content strategy by going through their Facebook Ad Library.??
2?? Create a Content Strategy
Set up measurable goals to stay on target.? Ex. grow social engagement by 10% in the first year or gain 200 followers by Q2.
Get content ideas from your competitors and look at what’s trending and where you can insert yourself. Create a content calendar on google sheets/excel spreadsheet to stay organised and have a consistent flow of content going out on all relevant platforms.??
3?? Create Social Media Content?
Map out key messages that you want to communicate to your audience and create content around it.
Consider non-traditional forms of content like employee-generated content, customer testimonials, and influencer collaborations.??
4?? Distribute Your Content?
Post regularly and consistently by scheduling everything in advance (Think SEMRush social, Hootsuite, Loomly, Sprout Social etc).
Post at peak times to maximise reach and remember to include relevant and branded hashtags to increase engagement.
5?? Engage With Your Audience?
Practise social listening and share posts that mention your brand. Proactive commenting is a great strategy on instagram and LinkedIn.
Set up quick message templates for replies, and respond to both positive and negative mentions and comments if you don’t have an online reputation management strategy, consider creating one.
6?? Track Your Efforts
Add custom tags like “memes,” “holidays,” “discounts” to filter content into categories.?
Benchmark yourself against competitors and make adjustments where necessary.
Run regular reports on the number of new followers, post reach, post engagement, and engagement rates.
For more in-depth insight from SEMRush click here.
Incorporate these 6 steps into your social media strategy and watch your business grow on and offline ??
?? Meta’s Got a New Reels Update
What does this mean for you and what should you look out for?
Reels on Meta are going to feel a lot more TikTok-like.
What we mean by that is when you tap on a video anywhere in the Meta app you’ll now consistently see a vertically oriented video.
There is now a consistent TikTok-like vertical feed for videos, you’ll also be able to flip your phone horizontal to watch most videos in landscape view.?
Meta has also improved the UI to allow for simplified reactions and an improved slider along the bottom to easily scan through clips.??
Another big update arrived for recommended videos to keep you watching ??
Meta noted that: “High-quality and engaging videos, regardless of type and length, perform well on Facebook. While we’ll recommend videos to people regardless of length or type, creators will notice that our updated recommendations will show even more Reels to match increased viewer demand.”
Also of note: “While we know creators post their content across multiple platforms, simply uploading unedited, longer content from other platforms is unlikely to perform well in the future.”
This means while you’ll want to upload repurposed content from other platforms you may want to rethink your strategy moving forward.?
With TikTok facing an uncertain future in places like the US, Facebook and other platforms are quickly adapting to potentially fill the sizeable gap Tiktok would leave in its absence. ?
?? Rounding off The Bolt
As usual, here’s some stories from marketing from around the world…
?? Catch you next time on 29th April?
Thanks for taking time to read edition #25 of the Bolt!
We’ll be back again on the 29th April for edition #26.
Hit subscribe and if there’s anybody in your network that you would like to see this, then tag them in the comments or forward it on.
Sara and the team at Expert Trades
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Excited to dive into these valuable insights. ??