Category Archives: Business

Blink and You’ll Miss It: How a ‘Made You Look’ Banner Can Hijack Attention in 0.05 Seconds

Made You Look Banner / Cover / Masthead design

You have just 0.05 seconds to grab someone’s attention on social media* before they scroll past, making design your most powerful tool to stand out.

That’s why I created the “Made You Look” banner/cover/masthead, a bold and eye-catching header perfect for all my social media platforms. The design uses primary colors—blue, red, yellow, and a touch of green—alongside a stark black-and-white contrast to ensure it stands out in a crowded digital space.

Why Primary Colors?

Primary colors are the building blocks of the color spectrum, universally recognized and emotionally evocative. Blue conveys trust and reliability, red demands urgency and passion, yellow radiates optimism, and green adds a sense of balance and the urge to GO! Together, they create a visual harmony that’s impossible to ignore.

Color Wheel

In the “Made You Look” banner, these colors are arranged in a geometric layout inspired by modernist art**, giving the design a timeless yet contemporary feel. The black outlines and text provide a sharp contrast, ensuring the words pop against the vibrant background, while the gray section adds a subtle balance to avoid overwhelming the viewer.

The Importance of Grabbing Attention First

On social media, users scroll through endless content at lightning speed. If your header doesn’t stop them in their tracks, your message—no matter how insightful—will go unnoticed.

LinkedIn Page Cover Image for R. Michael Brown. Let’s connect!

The “Made You Look” banner is designed to do exactly that: halt the scroll.

See More [R. Michael Brown, Marketing Consultant]

Local Marketing – Shopping | Business Works

Did you know that a staggering 54% of viewers suspect brands of “pandering” when local ads feel inauthentic?

This surprising revelation from The Local Lift white paper, conducted by Locality and The Harris Poll in November 2024, highlights a critical pitfall most businesses overlook: authenticity is non-negotiable in marketing.

The study shows 71% of Americans expect localized messaging, with 81% of 18-34-year-olds prioritizing it.

Local video ads far outshine national ones in relevance (68% vs. 13%), trust (47% vs. 12%), and purchase intent (63% vs. 13%). Viewers are 6x more likely to see brands in local ads as community members (63% vs. 11%), forging stronger bonds.

The report underscores the power of combining local streaming, broadcast, and social media video with over 70% of viewers agreeing local ads enhance relevance (74%), trust (73%), and curiosity (73%).

Using local news and sports as part of your marketing campaigns – and regular social posts – are an even better way to localize your content. – R. Michael Brown

See More [R. Michael Brown Marketing Consulting]

STEP 1: CONTENT IDEAS & RESEARCH

An excerpt from “You Are the Media Now: 8-Step Content Marketing System to Boost Sales:”

Once you’ve developed your buyer personas, the next step is to brainstorm content ideas that will resonate with them. This is Step 1 of the Content System.

Content that speaks to your audience’s needs, challenges, and interests are what will set your brand apart and help you stand out in a crowded marketplace with lots of noise. The key to success is research.

Content research ensures that what you’re putting out is relevant, valuable, TRUE, and most importantly, meets the interests, emotional benefits, and demands of your target audience.

This is an area where many businesses fall short, but if done correctly, it becomes the foundation of a successful content marketing strategy.

An excerpt from “You Are the Media Now: 8-Step Content Marketing System to Boost Sales.”

Learn More [RMichaelBrown.com]

#contentmarketing
#contentcreator
#content
#contentmarketingtips

New eBook – You Are the Media Now: 8-Step Content Marketing System to Boost Sales

New eBook - You Are the Media Now: 8-Step Content Marketing System to Boost Sales

Run a Business? Be the Media!

This micro eBook doesn’t just teach marketing; it hands you the blueprint to out-news the press, out-market your competitors, and become an industry thought leader — no matter your size.

In 8-Steps you’ll get it. Only $3.

Learn More [RMichaelBrown.com]

Home-Based Businesses are Exploding!

Today, 50% of U.S. businesses are home-based businesses. That number increases to 60.1% when looking specifically at non-employer firms, or companies that don’t have any employees.

Add the number of employees that work from home and it changes the perception of a home. Buyers are now overwhelmingly looking at how their home can function as a business.

When selling a home, consider how that home will meet the buyer’s needs to operate a business there too.

We bought our property with that in mind and are getting ready to launch our home-based business in our new town Lake Placid, FL.

Our need was to have a property big enough, pretty enough to operate an art studio, hold occasional events, and have amenities already in place for our business.

We found it on Lake Huntley, a 1.2 acre lakefront home with 2 dozen oak trees, dock, and a shed we could convert.

See More [R. Michael Brown – Freelance Writer and Marketing & Communication Consultant]

Disrupt Your Market – See Mike’s Freelance Writing Fees

Hire R. Michael Brown, Freelance Writer

Are you drowning in vanilla content, where commonplace rules? Are your competitors soaking in the drivel too – or are they beating you?

Inject a dose of rebellion – or a fresh impression – into your brand’s narrative. Maverick freelance writer, R. Michael Brown, is ready to shake up your content strategy.

Why Mike? 5 Reasons

  1. Attention Rebel
  2. Edge that Cuts Through
  3. Fearless Voice
  4. Brand Personality Matching
  5. Priceless Impact at a Bargain

See More [Meet Mike, Freelance Writing Maverick]

Gen AI Powers Content Marketing Advantage for Early Adopters

Deloitte Digital’s new research on Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in marketing content production reveals that Gen AI is already reshaping content production giving brands an advantage.

See the research that should compel you to collaborate with a forward leaning Gen AI content marketer.

See More [R. Michael Brown Marketing & Communications Consulting]