Ask Brandon, Vol. 2: That Content

Whats up? I’m Brandon Butler, CEO of ButterATL.

People ask me for advice all the time. Not just any advice — real stuff. How do I get my career started? How should I make a budget? How do you start a creative business? Pretty much all the stuff they should’ve taught you in school… but didn’t. 

Since I get so many questions, I decided to help spread these keys. Send your Qs to AskBrandon@ButterATL.com and I’ll keep answering.

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Q: When launching an ecommerce platform, what is the best way to create and target larger audiences to bring traffic to your site (and ultimately increase volume and revenue)?

B: Here’s the big secret… ready? There is no best way. There’s only the way that works best for you. 

Full stop. 

A big secret of the internet is the best way to make money is actually just telling people how to make money. Crazy huh?

There are tons of gurus online that will try to sell you on this way or that method but in reality there’s no silver bullet. 

The best way to figure out what works is to try as much stuff as possible, from Facebook ads to email newsletter sponsorships (wink, wink) and even getting influencers to post. Consider all the places where the people you want to reach hangout and think of ways to get your offer in front of there. That’s really it. 

Ok, that’s mostly it. I know y’all want a shortcut, so here’s the second-best tip if you really don’t know where to start. Ready?

Facebook ads. 

Yep. See here’s the thing over 2 billion people still use Facebook (including folks who claim they don’t). Running Facebook ads is a great — albeit potentially expensive — way to reach an audience quickly.

However I strongly recommend you really work on your offer and landing page before you start running ads and helping pay for Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht. 

The best way to create a larger audience is through content. 

Think of your content like a magnet. The more valuable content you put out around your brand, the more you’ll pull people in.

I stress the word “value,” because it’s not about spam or really even SEO that much anymore. It’s about context. 

Think about it. When people go to Google, or even YouTube, they’re usually trying to find the answer to a problem. 

Is someone really going to search for 10 tips to help me do XYZ, or are they going to search using specific questions around their problem?

Think about it like that and you’ll have an endless supply of valuable content that will attract more and more customers over time. 

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As CEO of Butter.ATL, Atlanta’s culture channel, Brandon Butler leads the creative vision and day-to-day operations, producing culturally relevant content. You already know. But you may not know Brandon has a Bachelor’s in Information Technology from Georgia Southern University, an MBA from Georgia Tech, certifications from Beijing University and The Connecticut School of Broadcasting (#certified), and a wealth of experiences in business. He’s also a sought-after public speaker and no stranger to award-winning accomplishments, from Webbys to Ad Age and beyond. Ask Brandon is how he shares what he’s picked up. Send questions to AskBrandon@ButterATL.com.