HubSpot has a wealth of inbound marketing knowledge that they share in their blogs, but some of my favorite blogs are those that include flowcharts. I am a visual learner, and infographics, diagrams and flowcharts can be some of the best ways to simplify content and data and get straight to the point.
But aside from a well-designed, well-researched infographic full of informative data, the charm of a flowchart can come from the inclusion of humor and humanization. People often enjoy reading blogs that are written by real people with real opinions. People Do Not Follow Blogs; They Follow Other People.
And just because the format may be a little different, flowcharts don’t have to be any less relatable or captivating.
Here are a few of my favorites. Some of these may seem a little silly, but they all – for the most part – provide beneficial advice on certain marketing do’s and dont’s.
1. Do You Really Need That Exclamation Point?
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Does that exclamation mark really deserve a place in your marketing?
While many flowcharts posing a “should I…” question tend to direct the reader to an end-all-be-all of “NO!” or “Yes, of course!”, this flowchart actually allows for many outcomes, though it does heavily lean towards “Never!” – or, in this chart’s case, “USE WORDS.”
Why I love this chart:
In short, it’s sassy and successful in it’s purpose.
It really gets you thinking about the way you are presenting yourself as a professional, and – in regards to using exclamation marks in your business’ marketing – how you want others to view your company.
2. Social Personas: Which Social Network Are You?
Which social network is your patronus? Okay maybe you aren’t a Harry Potter fan… Your spirit animal?
Better question: Which social network does your audience gravitate toward? What drives them to those specific networks, and how does one suit their needs over another?
Why I love this chart:
It’s pretty sassy (borderline judgmental), but it gives you an idea what these social sites are often used for. Or, at the very least, you get a better idea of the types of personas that may be browsing these particular networks.
It’s so important to know who your audience is, where you can find them on the web, and how to best approach them.
3. Should You Use the Word “Bae” In Your Marketing?
Slang has a place, but it’s probably not in your marketing. Are you using it in there anyway?
Why I love this chart:
It’s straight to the point. And sassy – yes, I know I keep saying that, but it’s true.
It shows that unless you have a very, very specific demographic, you really need to leave the slang out of your marketing. Slang can make your audience feel left out, like they haven’t been included in a hilarious inside joke.
The last thing you want to do is confuse and exclude your target audience and your key personas.
4. Should I Gate This Content?
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Does your content need to be gated? Should your audience have to fill out a form to receive it – or should your offer be no-strings-attached?
Why I love this chart:
To start, this flowchart cuts to the heart of things – is your content any good?
If you don’t like your content this early in the flowchart, you are already headed down a rough road. However, no one is giving up on you or your content just yet, so step back and see how you can improve it to become something you are proud of – a great piece of premium content worthy of being gated.
Next, the flowchart asks you to think about how much your content focuses on you. Is your content too self-centered (whether on you or your company)? Will your audience be able to gain something from this content that isn’t only beneficial to you and your needs?
Ultimately, it all comes down to this. Is your offer a fair trade, or are you asking way too much of your audience?
As I mentioned in a recent blog on premium content, your content offer needs to be worth the time and effort of your personas. If they have to fill out a form and supply you with their personal information, make sure you are giving them something of equal – better yet, greater – value in return.
5. Should You Buy An Apple Watch?
Really though, this is the most important question of them all.
Okay maybe not, especially as far as marketing in concerned, but this flowchart can still teach some great marketing lessons.
Why I love this chart:
Every company and brand has their own audience and their own way to reach out to them, but overall one of the best ways to get on your audience’s level is to relate to them – and better yet, make them laugh.
Silly flowcharts like this one show that there are real people with great personalities behind the walls and computer screens at your company.
As marketers, we can sometimes get a little too caught up in analytics and numbers. Yes, they are important, so important! But clients, customers, visitors, etc. are not numbers!
We are real people reaching out to real people. Remember to have fun and show off your (and your company’s) personality.
