In partnership with

Want to get the most out of ChatGPT?

Revolutionize your workday with the power of ChatGPT! Dive into HubSpot’s guide to discover how AI can elevate your productivity and creativity. Learn to automate tasks, enhance decision-making, and foster innovation, all through the capabilities of ChatGPT.

Download the offer for actionable insights and tips on harnessing AI for a more efficient, impactful professional life. 

Getting In Your Head.

The psychology of selling online revolves around tried-and-true techniques aimed at catching attention, building trust, and driving action quickly—all of which lead to a common formula that can make these ads sound alike, especially on platforms like YouTube. Here’s a breakdown of why online ads feel repetitive and how psychological principles play into it:

1. Grabbing Attention Immediately (Hook)

• Psychology: Online ads need to capture attention within seconds to prevent users from skipping. Most marketers use high-energy introductions, bold statements, or exaggerated claims to create an immediate “hook” that keeps viewers from moving on.

• Why It Sounds Alike: Everyone is fighting to be the loudest or the boldest, so they use similar phrasing: “What if I told you…?” or “Here’s the one thing you need…” This style quickly became a norm because it works to grab attention.

2. Social Proof and Authority

• Psychology: People trust products or services that appear popular and endorsed by others. This includes mentioning big achievements, testimonials, or backing from well-known people to establish credibility quickly.

• Why It Sounds Alike: To build this credibility fast, many ads reference followers, clients, or money earned. This repetition (“Join thousands of people who’ve achieved success with this method!”) becomes the shorthand of authority—making these messages sound similar.

3. Using the Scarcity Principle

• Psychology: The fear of missing out (FOMO) is one of the strongest motivators for decision-making. By suggesting that a product or offer is limited in time or quantity, ads trigger urgency in the viewer, nudging them to act now.

• Why It Sounds Alike: Nearly every ad says, “Offer ends soon!” or “Only available for a limited time!” because scarcity signals are a shortcut to creating urgency. Since this technique has proven effective, it’s used frequently across all platforms.

4. Highlighting Pain Points

• Psychology: Good sales psychology zeroes in on a viewer’s pain points and then presents a solution. By addressing common struggles (like lack of time, limited income, or lack of expertise), ads position the product as the “perfect” solution.

• Why It Sounds Alike: Many ads address similar issues—financial freedom, time management, personal growth—so they end up sounding the same. The approach often mirrors the language of self-help, making ads formulaic.

5. Making Big Promises with “Insider Knowledge”

• Psychology: Humans are naturally drawn to secrets or “exclusive” information that promises to transform their lives. This taps into the desire to gain an edge over others or achieve a personal breakthrough.

• Why It Sounds Alike: The phrases “little-known trick,” “insider secrets,” and “hidden strategy” are used widely because they trigger curiosity and make people feel like they’re about to discover something rare. It becomes repetitive when nearly every ad uses the “secret” angle.

6. Creating Relatable Characters and Stories

• Psychology: People connect with stories and are more likely to trust someone they see as relatable. Ads often use narrators who share personal stories of struggle followed by success, making viewers feel that transformation is possible for them too.

• Why It Sounds Alike: Story-based selling creates a predictable arc: a personal struggle, a chance discovery, and a big win. Since it’s effective and easy to follow, many ads rely on it, which leads to ads with similar stories and even similar phrasing.

Conclusion: Familiarity = Conversion

The techniques work well, which is why they’re commonly used across platforms. The formulaic approach, however, has made online selling sound monotonous. The challenge now is for brands to differentiate within this framework—adding unique personality or niche-specific language—to keep it fresh for audiences.

Analytics. How Important Is It To a Creator?

For creators, analytics are essential to understanding and optimizing the performance of content, especially in a competitive, keyword-driven landscape. Here’s why analytics matter for creators and how they directly contribute to growing and engaging an audience:

1. Content Performance Tracking

• Engagement Metrics (like open rate and click-through rate) show which keywords, topics, and formats attract the most interest. Creators can use these insights to focus on high-performing keywords and adjust low-performing ones.

• Scroll Depth reveals how much of your content readers actually consume, helping you understand where they might lose interest or where additional keywords could improve engagement.

2. Audience Insights for Personalization

• Analytics give creators detailed audience demographics, showing who their readers are, their interests, and their behavior patterns. These insights are invaluable for crafting content that feels personalized and relevant, boosting engagement.

• By understanding the keywords that attract different audience segments, creators can create targeted content tailored to those interests.

3. SEO and Keyword Optimization

• Keyword Rankings and search performance data help creators see how their content performs on search engines, showing which topics drive traffic and what readers are actively looking for.

• By tracking conversion metrics on keyword-optimized content, creators can identify which topics are most effective in driving desired actions, like newsletter sign-ups or shares, and tailor future content to emphasize those keywords.

4. A/B Testing for Data-Driven Content Strategies

• Analytics provide a feedback loop for A/B testing subject lines, content structures, and keyword usage, allowing creators to see what resonates best with readers.

• Performance comparisons between different keywords, formats, or topics let creators refine their strategies iteratively, enhancing the quality of each piece they publish.

5. Growth and Retention Insights

• Analytics show retention rates and churn metrics, so creators understand what keeps readers engaged over time. By monitoring patterns, creators can identify which keywords and themes consistently resonate, ensuring a loyal audience.

• Understanding which topics or keywords correlate with high retention and engagement rates allows creators to focus on content that sustains long-term interest, improving audience loyalty.

Bottom Line

For creators, analytics empower data-driven content decisions. They ensure every keyword, topic, and format aligns with audience interests, optimizes engagement, and drives growth. With the right analytics, creators can strategically evolve their content approach, increasing visibility and relevance.

Can You Avoid Being Scammed When It Comes To Buying A Online Business?

Buying an online business can be a great investment, but it’s also a space where scams are unfortunately common. Here’s how to approach an online business purchase with caution, focusing on due diligence, red flags, and best practices for verifying a legitimate business:

1. Conduct Thorough Due Diligence

• Verify Financials: Ask for access to bank statements, payment processor records (like PayPal or Stripe), and tax returns. Ensure the income and expenses match what’s claimed.

• Traffic and Sales Data: Review Google Analytics, AdSense, and other traffic sources to confirm the traffic is organic and sustainable rather than driven by paid or spammy sources. If possible, ask for access directly to these platforms rather than just a report or screenshot.

• Check for Reliable Revenue: A healthy business should have multiple revenue streams. Avoid businesses with sudden or recent spikes in revenue without a reasonable explanation, as these could be manipulated.

2. Evaluate the Business’s Reputation and Online Presence

• Research Customer Feedback: Look for customer reviews, ratings, and any history of disputes or complaints with sites like the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot. Verify whether the business has positive, genuine feedback from actual customers.

• Analyze Social Media and Email Lists: If the business claims to have a big social media following or an extensive email list, verify their engagement rates. Low engagement on large lists can indicate that followers or subscribers might be fake or bought.

3. Request a Business Operations Guide

• Operating Procedures: A legitimate online business should have documented standard operating procedures (SOPs). Request to see these SOPs, as they’ll provide insight into day-to-day operations and the effort required to keep the business running.

• Supplier and Vendor Contacts: Ask for information on the suppliers and vendors the business relies on, especially for e-commerce. Verify these relationships by contacting suppliers, ensuring they’re aware of and on board with the potential sale.

4. Verify Ownership and Legal Aspects

• Ownership and Intellectual Property: Request to see proof of ownership of all critical assets, such as domain names, trademarks, product licenses, and content copyrights.

• Legal Agreements and Liabilities: Ask to review any outstanding legal agreements or liabilities the business may have, such as debts, pending lawsuits, or intellectual property disputes. It’s best to work with an attorney on this if possible.

5. Look for Red Flags in the Seller’s Behavior

• Avoiding Detailed Questions: Be wary of sellers who avoid answering detailed questions, push for a quick sale, or are unwilling to provide certain documents or access.

• Overly Positive Projections Without Supporting Data: If the seller makes big promises or future projections without providing data to support them, be cautious. If claims seem too good to be true, they likely are.

• Fake Scarcity or Pressure Tactics: Scammers often use urgency to get buyers to act without enough thought. Legitimate sellers generally understand that buyers need time to assess the business.

6. Use Secure Payment and Escrow Services

• Escrow Service: For the actual transaction, use an escrow service like Escrow.com. This protects you by holding funds until all agreed-upon terms are met.

• Sign a Purchase Agreement: Have a legally binding contract that outlines the sale terms, conditions, and contingencies. This is important for protecting both parties’ rights and ensuring a smooth transfer of assets.

7. Consult with Experts

• Business Brokers: A reputable online business broker can help vet the business and assist in negotiations. They typically have standards that sellers must meet before listing, which adds a layer of trust.

• Professional Advisors: Work with accountants and attorneys familiar with online business transactions. They can help identify inconsistencies in financials and potential liabilities.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

• Unrealistic revenue claims with no verifiable records.

• High seller urgency without a reasonable explanation.

• Lack of documented SOPs or legal agreements.

• Inconsistent traffic or revenue spikes that don’t align with the business’s claims.

By following these steps, you’ll be in a much stronger position to distinguish genuine opportunities from scams and make a smart, informed decision on your online business purchase.

How Expensive Can Social Media Paid Ads Get?

Paid ads on social media can range from budget-friendly to very costly, depending on several factors like platform choice, targeting specificity, ad type, and competition in your industry. Here’s a breakdown of typical costs and what influences them:

1. Typical Costs by Platform (Cost Per Click or CPC)

• Facebook and Instagram: $0.50 to $3 per click on average. Costs can vary significantly based on targeting (e.g., retargeting ads and interests) and the ad format (carousel, video, etc.). Facebook’s average CPM (cost per thousand impressions) is around $7 to $10.

• LinkedIn: $5 to $15 per click. LinkedIn ads are often more expensive because they target professionals and offer precise B2B targeting options. CPM on LinkedIn is usually higher, averaging around $20 to $30.

• Twitter: $0.50 to $3 per click. Twitter’s ads are generally cheaper, with a CPM of around $6. Twitter works well for engagement-focused campaigns but may not perform as well as other platforms for direct sales.

• YouTube: $0.10 to $0.30 per view (for TrueView ads, where you only pay if someone watches the ad). However, with high targeting, costs can range from $10 to $30 CPM, depending on the competition for certain keywords or audience demographics.

2. Factors That Affect Ad Costs

• Targeting Options: Narrower targeting (based on age, location, interests, or behaviors) generally increases costs because it reduces the pool of available viewers, creating competition.

• Industry: High-competition industries like finance, legal, and e-commerce usually face higher ad costs. CPC for insurance keywords on Google, for example, can reach as high as $50 or more.

• Ad Type and Format: Video ads are often more expensive than static image ads, but they can perform better. Story ads are typically cheaper but tend to yield higher CPMs.

• Time of Year: Ad prices can spike during peak shopping seasons like Black Friday, the holiday season, and other high-demand periods.

3. Ad Budget and Expected Reach

• Small Budget: $100 to $500 per month can work well for engagement-focused campaigns or testing ad creatives on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

• Mid-Range Budget: $500 to $2,000 per month can typically reach a broader audience, especially on Facebook or Instagram, with a mix of video and carousel ads for brand awareness or lead generation.

• High Budget: $2,000 to $10,000+ per month is generally required for high-reach campaigns, LinkedIn B2B ads, or specific e-commerce goals. This budget allows more aggressive A/B testing and better targeting, yielding higher-quality conversions.

4. Calculating Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

• Monitoring ROAS (Revenue from Ads / Ad Spend) helps measure ad effectiveness. A ROAS of 4:1, for example, means you’re earning $4 for every $1 spent, which is typically considered profitable.

• Consider Lifetime Value (LTV) if you’re acquiring customers through ads. For instance, if a customer’s LTV is $300, spending $50 to acquire them through ads could be highly profitable.

5. Managing Costs with Optimization

• A/B Testing: Test different ad copy, creatives, and targeting options to determine what’s most cost-effective.

• Retargeting Ads: Retargeting can have higher conversion rates at lower costs, as it targets people already familiar with your brand.

• Use of Lookalike Audiences: Lookalike audiences, available on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, help you reach new, high-potential users based on existing customer data.

Conclusion: Costs Can Vary Widely

Social media ad costs range significantly based on platform, audience, and goals. While entry-level campaigns can start with a few hundred dollars a month, more serious campaigns in competitive niches often require budgets in the thousands to generate meaningful results.

Best Place To Find Your Targeted Audience.

The best places to find your targeted audience depend on where they spend time online and what type of content they engage with. Here’s a guide on how to locate and engage with your ideal audience:

1. Social Media Platforms (Based on Audience Demographics)

• Facebook: Great for reaching a broad demographic, especially for B2C. Facebook groups, pages, and ads allow you to target based on detailed interests, demographics, and behaviors.

• Instagram: Ideal for visually-driven industries like fashion, travel, and lifestyle, with a younger demographic (18-34). Reels, Stories, and hashtag searches can help you find highly specific audiences.

• LinkedIn: The go-to platform for B2B targeting, particularly for professionals, industry decision-makers, and those interested in networking and professional content.

• TikTok: Growing rapidly with a young audience, TikTok works well for products and content that thrive on trends, humor, and a casual, engaging format.

• Twitter: Useful for news-driven industries, tech, and professionals, Twitter’s community engagement options are great for thought leadership and brand awareness.

2. Niche Online Communities and Forums

• Reddit: With thousands of niche subreddits, Reddit allows you to target specific interests, hobbies, and issues. It’s especially effective for tech, gaming, and niche hobby audiences. Engaging through comments and posts helps you establish trust without hard selling.

• Quora: A Q&A platform where users ask questions on various topics, Quora is excellent for establishing authority. By answering questions related to your niche, you can reach individuals interested in your area of expertise.

• Specialized Forums: Many industries have specific forums (e.g., Stack Overflow for developers, Houzz for home design) where you can engage with a highly relevant audience.

3. Google Search and Display Networks

• Google Ads: Search ads let you target people actively searching for products or solutions related to your niche. Display ads help you target potential customers based on their browsing habits, interests, and demographics.

• YouTube Ads: For tutorial-driven industries, YouTube is an ideal place to target users who search for how-to videos or industry-specific content. Pre-roll ads and promoted videos help reach a very specific audience.

4. Email Newsletters and Lead Magnets

• Collaborate with Niche Newsletters: Many successful newsletters have highly engaged audiences. Partnering with or advertising in these newsletters can introduce you to targeted, interested subscribers.

• Offer Value-Driven Lead Magnets: Create guides, templates, or checklists that align with your audience’s needs and interests. Promote these on social media or through paid ads to build a segmented email list over time.

5. Online Events and Webinars

• Industry Webinars and Virtual Events: Hosting or sponsoring webinars allows you to gather highly interested leads who are actively looking to learn. Webinars can help segment leads by interest, making follow-ups more relevant and effective.

• Social Media Lives: Going live on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook can generate immediate engagement and interest. Platforms prioritize live content, which expands reach and attracts users already interested in your niche.

6. Content and Influencer Collaborations

• Content Partnerships: Collaborating with well-aligned brands or influencers is effective for cross-promoting to an established, engaged audience. Consider writing guest posts, conducting interviews, or creating joint guides.

• Influencer Marketing: By working with influencers who match your target demographics, you can leverage their following. Micro-influencers, in particular, often have high engagement with niche audiences.

7. SEO for Organic Targeting

• Create Targeted Blog Content: Focus on long-tail keywords specific to your niche to attract organic traffic from search engines. Content like product reviews, how-to guides, and industry insights helps you reach users already interested in your niche.

• Optimize Product Pages: If you’re selling online, optimizing product pages for relevant keywords increases the chance of your pages showing up when users search for specific products or solutions.

Final Thoughts

Finding your targeted audience often means a combination of tactics across platforms. Social media offers broad reach with advanced targeting options, while niche forums, Google, and SEO can bring highly specific traffic. Start by identifying where your audience spends time and what kind of content they engage with, then strategically use these platforms to connect and build relationships