123 eGuides

1 Minute Advice: Retro is Trending

Maybe consumers are looking for a return to the good old days... or maybe they are tiring of too much in-your-face media. According to Insider Intelligence from eMarketer, "consumers are turning to the past" for entertainment. A few examples:

• For the first time since 1986, sales of vinyl records exceeded $1 billion last year
• CDs and even cassettes have increased in sales; CDs grew 21 percent year-over-year, and cassette sales doubled between 2020 and 2021
• Vintage home decor is expected to be a major 2022 trend, according to 70 percent of home designers.

The above are just a few examples of the retro trend. Says Insider Intelligence, "As Gen Z consumers reach for comfort in nostalgia, they are breathing new life into lower-tech and vintage products, which made their shelf debut decades ago."

This post is brought to you by 123 eGuides, publisher of authoritative, affordable guides to help small businesses get the most from your marketing. Now available: The updated, revised Third Edition of the popular eGuide, Branding 123, that details a 3-part system for how small marketers can build a breakthrough brand. Included in the Third Edition are profiles of 5 small brands that grew up using techniques similar to those outlined in Branding 123. Read more about this eGuide here.

1 Minute Advice: Most Valuable Global Brands Keep Growing

The value of the top 100 global brands increased by 23 percent over the previous years, according to the latest annual study produced by Kantar BrandZ and reported by Marketing Charts. "Consumer Technology was the category that saw the fastest growth over the past year, with top-100 brands in this sector growing their value by 45%. Right on Consumer Tech’s heels was the Luxury category, with its brands enjoying 45% growth from last year," says Marketing Charts.

The most valuable brand was Apple, with a 55% increase year-over-year in brand value. Of the top ten brands, however, Google had the fastest growth rate (79% year-over-year). The top five most valuable brands in descending order were Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Tencent.

This post is brought to you by 123 eGuides, publisher of authoritative, affordable guides to help small businesses get the most from your marketing. Now available: The updated, revised Third Edition of the popular eGuide, Branding 123, that details a 3-part system for how small marketers can build a breakthrough brand. Included in the Third Edition are profiles of 5 small brands that grew up using techniques similar to those outlined in Branding 123. Read more about this eGuide here.

1 Minute Advice: Here's What Influences Online Purchases

A recent survey of consumer online buyers asked the question, "Which of the following marketing efforts influence your decision to make online purchases?" It may surprise you to learn that the old standbys -- namely email and postal mail -- topped the list. According to Marketing Charts, who reported on the survey results, general email and catalogs/other printed material via postal mail, received 44 percent and 43 percent, respectively consumers answering the question. "Advertising on content I visit online" came in third at 32 percent.

See full results of this survey here: https://www.marketingcharts.com/brand-related/brand-loyalty-226116?

This post is brought to you by 123 eGuides, publisher of authoritative, affordable guides to help small businesses get the most from your marketing. Now available: The updated, revised Third Edition of the popular eGuide, Branding 123, that details a 3-part system for how small marketers can build a breakthrough brand. Included in the Third Edition are profiles of 5 small brands that grew up using techniques similar to those outlined in Branding 123. Read more about this eGuide here.

All eGuides Half-Price During July 2022!

During the month of July, you can purchase any 123 eGuide at half price. This special promotion is only available at Smashwords.com, where you can select your choice of eBook format, including Kindle (mobi), EPUB and PDF.

To take advantage of this half-price sale, click on the eGuide titles below that interest you. When you check out, simply use the code SSW50 to get the eGuide of your choice at half price -- regularly $2.99, just $1.49 each. Offer good through July 31.

Branding 123
Building a Breakthrough Brand in 3 Proven Steps
Third Edition

Low Cost / No Cost Marketing 123
3 Steps to Effective Marketing with Little or No Money

B2B Marketing 123
A 3 Step Approach for Marketing to Businesses

Product Launch 123
Launch a Product or Service in 3 Proven Steps

Sales Leads 123
Generating, Qualifying, and Converting Sales Leads in 3 Proven Steps

On Your Own 123
Launch a 1-Person Business in 3 Proven Steps

Take advantage of this limited time offer today!

1 Minute Advice: Consumers Want Personalized Communications

A recent report from eMarketer indicates that 73 percent of respondents expect companies to understand their unique needs and expectations, and 62 percent think companies should anticipate their needs, according to Salesforce (May 2022).

Nearly 9 in 10 respondents are likely to enjoy receiving personalized offers based on their interests and browsing/purchase history; about the same number are willing to provide more information after a positive experience with a brand, per a February 2022 Merkle study. Consumers are especially willing to share personal information if they receive custom offers or products tailored to their interests, according to eMarketer.

Read more here (free subscription required): https://www.emarketer.com/content/most-consumers-want-brands-personalize-their-communications?

This post is brought to you by 123 eGuides, publisher of authoritative, affordable guides to help small businesses get the most from your marketing. Now available: The updated, revised Third Edition of the popular eGuide, Branding 123, that details a 3-part system for how small marketers can build a breakthrough brand. Included in the Third Edition are profiles of 5 small brands that grew up using techniques similar to those outlined in Branding 123. Read more about this eGuide here.