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No matter the industry your organization operates in and the products and services you provide, your business needs to be constantly improving to keep up with a competitive marketplace and evolving consumer needs. This process of change isn’t optional. It’s required if you want to succeed. The hard truth is that businesses that do not improve and evolve will eventually find themselves extinct. When change is required at your organization, how do you go about implementing it? Willy nilly action without planning can do more harm than good. Rather than approaching change blindly, you may want to borrow a concept from lean manufacturing philosophy — the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle. Read on to learn more. What is PDCA? PDCA, which stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act, is an iterative cycle for continuous improvement of people, products, services, and business processes. The foundation for this concept was developed by American statistician and physicist Walter Shewhart…
Adding GIFs to your emails is a great way to add some engaging, dynamic content that helps your campaigns stand out. It’s not always straightforward though. In the post, we’ll tell you exactly how it’s done. For a format created in 1987, GIFs can do a lot to make your email marketing efforts seem modern. They’re not just for fun and memes, either; sometimes, GIFs can communicate ideas or concepts much quicker than words or still images. However, GIFs only work if they, well, work. If a GIF shows up as a still image or take seconds to load, you’ve lost any advantage the format might bring. Whether you have a GIF ready to go or you’re trying to familiarize yourself with the format, knowing how to put a GIF in an email is only part of the picture. Make sure you not only add your GIF correctly but also…
Ecommerce platforms are enablers of growth for any small business. There has never been a better time to take your brick-and-mortar store online. An online shop lets you reach markets outside of your immediate geo location, serve your loyal customers from the comfort of their own homes, and boost your bottom line by driving more sales. What’s not to like? Except, building an ecommerce website can feel incredibly overwhelming. Luckily, there are a ton of dedicated, cheap ecommerce platforms out there that make it quick and easy. We’ve selected the best ecommerce platforms for small business to help you set up an online storefront and start selling products. If the fear of searching for an ecommerce solution is holding you back – don’t let it! This is the perfect time to create an ecommerce store to complement in-person shopping opportunities. The Best and Cheapest Ecommerce Platforms Let’s start the roundup…
Like many communications directors and marketing executives for nonprofits, I know how important it is to set aside time in your schedule at the end of the year to revisit your marketing plan and brainstorm for the future. But the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically uprooted the way many nonprofits operate. While the media reports quarantines and vaccine news and updates, you still have to keep your charity providing for the growing needs throughout your community. Though COVID-19 has made the nonprofit sector more important than ever, the pandemic brought new challenges to overcome. Your stakeholders and supporters adopted new behaviors that made your online presence that much more valuable — and effective for raising money — and it will be a while before the world returns to large, in-person events that once served as fundraisers. As in 2021, this year, the best nonprofit marketing ideas will take place online. The…
Heard of customer journey mapping? When understanding the digital customer journey, it’s super useful in getting to know your customers and the steps they take with your brand. As a marketer, you’re left with a challenge to ensure you’re delivering a consistent, pleasant customer experience across different stages of the customer journey. But how can you keep on top of all your digital touchpoints and channels? Visualizing these paths in a customer journey map helps you and your team identify key areas that need improvement to make informed optimizations that create a smooth customer experience. Not sure where to start? We’ve broken this down for you in our complete guide to customer journey mapping! Table of contents: What Is A Digital Customer Journey? Why Is A Customer Journey Map So Important? Digital Hugging and Immersive Experience How Do You Create A Customer Journey Map? Recap: Getting Your Digital Customer Map…
When a new social media app goes viral, you can almost guarantee that at least one of the social tech giants will test a similar, competitive feature. A couple of months after Clubhouse’s launch, Twitter announced Twitter Spaces, a feature limited to accounts with 600+ followers. Today, both platforms have greatly expanded. And, each time this happens, marketers wonder, “Which of these social media channels should I use in my strategy? And, is this trend even worth investing in?” The good news? Strong competition around a social media trend, like chat streaming, signals that it’s not going away anytime soon and might be worth investing in. So, the only thing you’ll need to figure out is where to experiment with the trend. Below, I’ll give you a breakdown of Clubhouse’s biggest competitors as well as some marketing takeaways to help you determine which platform is right for your brand. Need…
Recently, I took a leap of faith and bought leggings online. I was nervous because of the obvious: I couldn’t see the leggings in person or try them on in-store, and I wasn’t sure how the sizing worked. I didn’t want to pay for shipping and item tax without even knowing if I was going to love my purchase. Even though ecommerce is a booming industry, projected to earn $6 trillion in 2022, there’s still some anxiety for consumers when buying products through a screen. Fortunately, some brands have taken that into consideration, and have come up with a way to let consumers try products and services before purchasing them: Try before you buy. Let’s dive into what it is, how it works, and see examples of brands who use this strategy. According to the 2021 Virtual Shopping Habits Report by Pertfitly, shoppers name the inability to try clothes on…
In June 2021, over 440,000 businesses were launched, making it a record high since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Many are focusing on ecommerce businesses, as they offer an easier point of entry. There’s no physical space to scope out, rent to pay, or permits to obtain. However, that doesn’t mean starting an online business is a piece of cake. Learn what it takes to start an ecommerce business and the steps to start one today. Tips for Starting an Online Business 1. Design your website with intention. Your website is your storefront – you don’t want potential customers arriving, looking around, and walking right out. Think of your website title and meta description as your window display. You want the description to be enticing enough to beat out the competition and get users to click on your website. Your homepage is the first thing visitors see…
Looking for Valentine’s Day newsletter ideas, email subject lines, and templates? We’ve got everything you need to create a Valentine’s Day newsletter campaign that’s tailored to your target audience. Love it or hate it – Valentine’s Day is a huge revenue driver. In 2021, US consumers spent $21.8 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts. That comes out to about $165 per person! What will 2022 hold? Well, over three-quarters of consumers say it’s important to celebrate Valentine’s Day given the state of the pandemic. Whatever sector you’re in – B2B, B2C or nonprofit – don’t miss out on an opportunity to grow revenue with Valentine’s day email marketing. Maybe you’re sending a Valentine’s Day newsletter with themed content to drive donations for your nonprofit. Perhaps you’re planning a massive multichannel Valentine’s Day campaign to drive sales. Or you’re a B2B looking for opportunities to stay current with your audience. If any…
It always seems like, as soon as Christmas decorations come down in the stores, the aisles are magically flooded with red and pink hearts. Yep, it’s that time of year already: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so your email marketing campaigns better be ready! While you’re trying to decide if you really need that adorable giant teddy bear (it might be a bit too much?) your customers are figuring out what perfect Valentine’s Day gifts to buy and how to celebrate this love-filled holiday, especially in a year that will probably still be marked by the uncertainty and the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. For retailers, Valentine’s Day is a perfect occasion to use email to strengthen the relationship with customers and let them know you have what they’re looking for. So roll up your sleeves and start building your Valentine’s Day email campaigns now with these tips…