Three Crowns Mixtape: May 6, 2022
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Important financial industry news + marketing insights + good music.
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Between May the 4th, Cinco de Mayo, and Mother’s Day, we really hope you’ve got a weekend full of celebrating and a tummy full of tacos. And in between all the Star Wars rewatch parties, you can catch up on all the latest in fintech and marketing news right here. 👇
Also, we did a thing that we’re kind of proud of. 🎉
Must-Read Financial Industry & Marketing Articles
Snappy Kraken Snaps Up Advisor Websites
The Kraken has been released into the M&A waters.
This week, just before launching its Jolt! Conference on May 4 in Las Vegas, Snappy Kraken announced the acquisition of Advisor Websites.
The move builds out Snappy’s marketing platform with a more well-rounded set of services, as it will now offer websites alongside the email campaigns, text conversations and other communication-centered solutions that have been part of its arsenal up until now.
This acquisition also sets up Snappy on more even footing with FMG (who have their own news below) as the two are set to go toe-to-toe for greater market share in the advisor marketing arena.
FMG Drops the Suite
We have a rebrand!
Popular marketing automation platform provider FMG Suite is now known simply as FMG – new name, new colors and a new logo.
In addition to the new brand, FMG announced a new mobile app, inline website editing and video blog functionality.
While most rebranding efforts take things up a notch and push brands into bolder, bigger directions, it’s notable that FMG’s is taking a somewhat more subtle approach. In an email, the company said “Our colors are now neutral – black, white, and grey – to signify that it’s your colors and your brand that we care about. Our expertise is showing off yours!”
Interesting tactic, and it makes for a stark contrast with the flashy brand of Snappy Kraken. Which one will attract more advisors? The game is on.
The Debate Continues: Is Social Media Marketing Worth It?
Around our office, we regularly go back and forth about the value of social media. How can you use it correctly? Is it really that effective? How can you know for sure?
In this piece from Inc., two agency founders argue that businesses should consider skipping social altogether, and they present a few other options they say are more valuable. The most intriguing takeaway for us was that customers earned from social media tend to be overall less loyal than customers found elsewhere.
Combine this with Kitces’ latest advisor marketing report, where they conclude that “strategies like social media are so time-intensive relative to the few and less affluent prospects they tend to generate that the marketing efficiency ratio is so poor it rounds to zero!”
We’re not saying it’s time to give up on social, but with how much time it can take, it’s worth looking into where you can be most effective. Don’t get us wrong – there is no shortage of advisors on Twitter who claim that all (or many) of their clients came from social. If it’s working, then more power to you.
Linkedin Really is the Worst
I’m thinking of leaving Linkedin.
Because of posts that look like this.
Enough with the unnecessary line breaks.
Enough with the overdramatic retellings of corporate life.
Enough with “engagement.”
I, for one, am ready for a change.
This subreddit for “insufferable Linkedin content” is enough to push anyone over the edge.
(But also, if you’re looking to pay $700 an hour for ghost-written Linkedin content, we take it all back, Linkedin is the best – give us a call.)
Something to Be Aware Of: DMCA Requests Could Remove Your Site from Google Results
This week, Search Engine Land pointed the spotlight at how the Digital Millennium Copyright Act can easily be abused to remove any site from Google search results. Apparently someone submitted SEO giant Moz as part of a DMCA complaint and Google automatically removed them, despite there being no actual copyright violation.
Moz has been returned to the results page for branded searches (i.e., “moz”), but Search Engine Land’s conclusion is a little scary: As far as they can tell, there’s no way to prevent this happening to any site. Moz is a big name that caught Google’s eye quickly – smaller brands may not be so lucky. Luckily, there is an appeal form if it does happen to you, but as with all things Google (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), who knows how long they will take to respond.
Will the Real Slim Mozzy Please Stand Up?
Here’s what we’ve been listening to this week.
Zach McDonald, President & CMO
“This song always makes my days a little better.”
Johnny Sandquist, Founder & CEO
“I’m in Vegas this week, so you’re getting a Vegas song.”
Connor Brandt, Graphic Designer
“Been obsessed with this band lately.”
Justine Young, Content Writer
“flu season hitting anyone else like a ton of bricks? you have my sympathies.”
Amber Froendt, Project Manager
“Listen to this song with good posture and walking to feel like a powerful person.”
Keep up with all of our picks of the week over time with the Three Crowns Mixtape on Spotify.
Click here to check it out and favorite it to add it to your collection.