Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Ok CMOs the Time Has Come To Do This, Finally

Know the old expression "resistance is futile?" I don't know exactly where it came from or who said it first but I do know that in the case of CMOs —and frankly ALL marketers, resistance to this is indeed, futile. 

The "this" I am referring to is... well read it for yourself via Simon Yates, Managing Vice President on the Gartner for Marketing Leaders team:

Enough of the digital marketing label — its just marketing now. It’s happened in other domains — business and IT, for example — and now it’s Marketing’s turn to drop the “digital” moniker. Marketers no longer make a clear distinction between offline and online marketing disciplines as 98% of marketers say the disciplines are merging. As customers opt for digitally-led experiences, digital marketing stops being a discrete discipline. OK, fine but that doesn’t mean they’ve merged completely or for everyone yet. Only about a third told us that digital marketing techniques are fully incorporated into the overall marketing operation. While it may be time to drop the moniker, marketing teams still have a long way to go.

The above is an excerpt of a blog post from Simon who was writing about the findings of the recent Gartner 2015-2016 CMO Spend Survey.

And I could not agree with Simon more. Enough with the whole "digital" thing. This is not 2005 or even 2010 anymore. The time has come to stop differentiating and labeling something as "digital marketing" and start referring to it, quite simply, as marketing. 

I would be curious, however, to speak with the 2% of marketers who say offline and online marketing disciplines are not merging. I would also love to chat with the two-thirds of marketers who don't have digital marketing techniques fully incorporated into the overall marketing operation.

I'd like to know what color of the sky is in their world for sure. 

It Starts at the Top

Chief Marketing Officers, it's your job and responsibility quite frankly, to stop once and for all the incessant and unnecessary labeling of something as "digital marketing" amongst your teams and direct reports. If they hear you use that term they will follow suit. 

As Simon writes "As customers opt for digitally-led experiences, digital marketing stops being a discrete discipline." Guess what? The whole world, or a good portion of it, is opting for digitally-led experiences! Digital is uniformly inherent. 

So right now, and going forward, please cease and desist from referring to anything as "digital marketing" - deal? 

Now, as a means to help CMOs weave their way through the maze of - no not digital, but marketing platforms, we created The CMO Solution Guide to Leveraging New Technology and Marketing Platforms. Download the guide and see the results of a survey of over 100 marketing leaders plus the five key solutions we identified to help CMOs and marketing leaders tackle the challenge of providing a seamless customer experience across all marketing channels via the use of technology.



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Mark Shapiro: Making His Mark Today As Our One & Only Guest on the Heart of Business

Mark Shapiro is the founder of Make Your Mark Today, Host of The One & Only Podcast on iTunes, a heralded transformational trainer/coach, passionate speaker and social activist.Related Articles
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How to Write a Heroically Effective Email Autoresponder Series

build an autoresponder that champions your business

Autoresponders are the hardest-working, unsung heroes of content marketing. They’re a series of emails you write once and set up to send out at pre-set intervals to anyone who asks for them.

They keep working day and night, continuously reaching out to your audience with valuable content and relevant offers.

They work for you whether you’re writing, eating, sleeping, or playing with your pooch. They never get tired, and they never give up.

That’s pretty heroic.

When used correctly, autoresponders can add serious momentum to your business. But when you sit down to actually write your own autoresponder series, you may feel stuck or confused.

To clear up any bewilderment, here’s a clear list of email autoresponder recommendations, with practical advice about how to actually write the damn things.

A lazy approach to marketing that works

Sonia Simone, the reigning queen of email marketing, defined autoresponders this way in her flagship article, Meet the Lazy Marketer’s Best Friend: The Email Autoresponder:

An autoresponder is just a sequence of email marketing messages that gets sent to subscribers in the order and frequency that you decide.

An autoresponder could be:

  • The welcome message a prospect receives when she signs up for a free report on choosing the right dog walker for her pet.
  • A three-part series of recipes that feature chocolate as a main ingredient.
  • A 10-day email course that tells people how to declutter their homes quickly and easily.

If you’ve already started building your email list, many of you probably already have at least one autoresponder in place — and that’s a welcome message.

A welcome message is delivered automatically when someone signs up for your list; it most likely welcomes people, sends a free gift, and/or explains what to expect from your email content.

You’re missing a huge opportunity if you stop at a welcome message, though. There are many reasons creating a longer series of autoresponder messages is a smart move.

Autoresponders:

  • Let you continually showcase your best content, including content from your archives.
  • Deliver the same high-value experience to every new subscriber.
  • Are great places to mention relevant offers without sounding sleazy.
  • Allow you to build trust with your audience slowly and ensure your new subscribers don’t forget you.

Browse these autoresponder ideas

  • Share your story. Sharing who you are, why you started your business, and who you serve is a great way to teach people about you and your business.
  • Offer a quick tip. Give your subscribers a tip they can implement in five minutes or less that lets them move forward in a noticeable way. A “quick win” makes your new fans associate your emails with getting a rewarding experience.
  • Ask a stimulating question. Ask your subscribers a question and invite them to reply to your email to answer. You could ask what they’re struggling with (related to your topic), how they found your site, or what challenges they’re facing right now. This information is also marketing gold for you — it gives you ideas for more autoresponders, blog posts, podcast episodes, and other content.
  • Provide a resource list. Present a short list of resources (sites, blogs, books, gadgets, online tools, etc.) that will help your subscribers move toward their goals. People love to know about the tools you use every day and the books you read.
  • Deliver a case study or success story. If you’ve got a compelling story about the success of a client or student who has gotten clear, measurable results from your products or services, write the story in a short case study. The case study should include advice subscribers can implement, whether or not they buy from you.

16 Autoresponder do’s and don’ts

Sonia said:

The autoresponder’s most important function is to take people who are curious about what you do and turn them into raving fans.

When you write your email series, do:

  1. Give subscribers what you promised. If you say you’ll give new subscribers a free report, case study, or video, provide an easy-to-use download link so they can instantly get their free gift.
  2. Add some personality to your messages. Autoresponders don’t need to be boring. Spice them up by using your own voice and personality in your message. Be funny, quirky, and interesting — as long as it fits your brand.
  3. Help your audience get to know and trust you. With each message, reveal a little glimpse into who you are and what you stand for.
  4. Become a fantastic teacher. Your emails don’t have to be lengthy or fancy, but they do need to be useful to your subscriber. If possible, teach your subscriber something in every autoresponder message you send.
  5. Open a two-way conversation. Invite your subscribers to respond to your emails or join the discussion on your website. Ongoing discussion can help turn your subscribers into your biggest advocates.
  6. Share other ways to connect with you. If someone joins your email list, it’s likely he or she will want to connect with you on his or her favorite social media platform, too.
  7. Keep adding to it over time. Your autoresponder series should be a living “document,” so review, edit, and add to it over time. Confirm that your messages are still relevant and useful.
  8. Plan out the entire sequence before you start writing. Write a quick outline of how many messages you want to include and how far apart those messages will be delivered. Your outline will keep you on track as you write the whole sequence.

Here are the actions you’ll want to avoid. Don’t:

  1. Stop at a welcome message. Many people write a welcome message only and never continue their autoresponder series. You will stand out from your competitors by sending at least three-to-five messages in your email series.
  2. Send multiple autoresponder messages in one day. You only need one message a day (at the most) to make a big impression, so unless you have a really good reason, don’t pummel your subscribers with multiple autoresponder messages in a single day.
  3. Overshare. Yes, you should add your personality to your messages, but don’t use your email series as a therapy session or a chance to unload on your subscribers. Oversharing doesn’t build relationships; it just scares people away.
  4. Clutter your autoresponder messages with other emails from you. Set up your series so people don’t get your newsletter or content notifications on the same day as your autoresponder emails.
  5. Stress about people who unsubscribe. People who opt out of your autoresponder series aren’t a good fit for you and your business, so don’t worry if people drop off your list.
  6. Oversell in every email. It’s fine to add some relevant offers to your series, but if you turn every note into a big sales pitch, you’re not going to earn the trust of your subscribers.
  7. Try to please everyone. If you try to write an email that fits every member of your list perfectly, you’re going to have a hard time. Instead, picture yourself writing to your one perfect client, and go from there.
  8. Be afraid of the technical part. Autoresponders are relatively easy to set up. If you have trouble, simply get in touch with your email service provider and ask for assistance.

How to plan and create heroic autoresponders

Here’s a quick, five-step guide to getting your autoresponder series done:

  1. Plan how many autoresponder emails you want in your series (starting with three-to-five emails is a good guideline).
  2. Decide how far apart each email will be sent.
  3. Dedicate time to writing the whole series.
  4. Queue them up in your email service provider.
  5. Test the series to make sure everything works properly.

Once you’ve finished those steps, you can drive visitors toward your opt-in form and start getting sign-ups.

Then you can breathe easy, knowing your opt-in form is automatically handling an important part of your marketing for you.

And little by little, subscriber by subscriber, you’ll be on your way to building a strong and long-lasting relationship with the members of your list.

And that truly is content marketing heroism.

Read other posts in our current email marketing series

About the Author: Beth Hayden is a content marketing expert, author, and speaker who specializes in working with women business owners. Want Beth’s best blogging tip? Download her free case study, How This Smart Writer Got 600 New Subscribers by Taking One Brave Step.

The post How to Write a Heroically Effective Email Autoresponder Series appeared first on Copyblogger.



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The Podcaster’s High Quality Microphone Shootout

Monday, 2 November 2015

25 Holiday Email Subject Lines That Shine

The day after Halloween officially marks the start of holiday shopping season. It also means you can expect your inbox to start filling up with holiday-themed emails.

Why does it seem that holiday emails are sent earlier and earlier every year? One of the main reasons is that Christmas-themed and holiday season emails typically have higher open rates when sent weeks (or even months!) earlier than their intended target holiday time period.

According to a 2014 survey published by Marketing Profs, holiday email open rates begin to spike in October as major retailers and agencies kick off their campaigns and peak in the middle of December.

To get you in the holiday swing of things, here are 25 of our favorite holiday email subject lines that have stood out in our inboxes over the years – use them for inspiration as you plan your campaigns:

1. Warby Parker: Cozy up

2. VerticalResponse: Are Your Holiday Cards in the Mail Yet? Get 60% Off!

3. WillCall: Hey, we made you something for the holidays!

4. Chasing Fireflies: Our magical Holiday Gift Shop is open + Save up to 80% in our Halloween Blowout Sale!

5. Shutterfly: We’re feeling very merry. Get 50% off your order.

6. Omaha Steaks: Wanna get the REALLY good holiday deals this year?

7. Uncommon Goods: The Time Has Come

8. Real Simple: 10 DIY Fall Wreaths That Are Way Better Than a Welcome Mat

9. BevMo!: NEW for November! Delicious Wines for the Fall Season.

10. Workshop: FALL STEAM AHEAD: Over 80 classes up & posted, Oktoberfest weekend workshops & CAMP DIY

11. Kabuki Springs & Spa: 3 Tips to Boost Your Immune System this Fall

12. Alternative: First look | Alternative Gift Guide

13. Finish Line: The Holiday Gift Guide is here. Game on for gift giving.

14. Kayak: Waiting for lower Thanksgiving flight prices? Stop and book.

15. Premier Dermatology: Day of Beauty: Winter 2014

16. Paper Culture: Need Holiday Photo Card Ideas?

17. Tory Burch: Presenting: Tory’s Gift Guide

18. Zazzle Inc: Early Birds Save 50% On All Ornaments & Mugs + 20% Off Everything Else

19. Circus Center: PERFORM in our 2014 Holiday Student Gala!

20. Turntable Kitchen: get ready for holiday entertaining: recipes, cocktails, music recommendations

21. Groupon: Get a Head Start on Your Holiday Checklist

22. Travel Channel: Travel’s Best Holiday Attractions 2014

23. JetBlue Airways: A sale to escape the winter weather!

24. Bing Webmaster Team: It’s not too late: Reach more holiday shoppers with your $100 coupon

25. Harry & David: Kim, get a jump on holiday shopping with your Gift History and enjoy free shipping.

Create endless email subject lines for any occasion with our Holiday Subject Generator!

Successful holiday email subject lines 

As you can see, many of the email subject lines target early bird shoppers looking for gift ideas (gift guides) and getting prepped for the holidays. Focus your holiday email subject lines not only on offering deals and promotions like free shipping and discounts, but also on solving your customers’ problems through gift guides, tips, ideas, extended or special shopping hours, etc.

To give you an idea of the most effective subject line words from holiday emails, we created this holiday email subject line infographic:

16 Holiday Email Subject Lines That Shine

For more holiday marketing resources, visit our Everything Holiday site, and grab our free Complete Guide to Holiday Email Marketing.

You can create and send all your holiday emails for free using VerticalResponse. Get started today!

 

This post has been updated but was originally published on November 10th, 2014.

© 2015, Vertical Response Blog. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

The post 25 Holiday Email Subject Lines That Shine appeared first on Vertical Response Blog.



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Benchmark Email's Preferred SMS Partner: 3Seventy

We know email and SMS go hand in hand and we've made it easier for you to do both now that we've introduced 3Seventy as the preferred SMS partner of Benchmark Email.Related Articles
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How to Avoid Entrepreneurial Burnout, without Losing Business, or Your Health

yp-burnout

Entrepreneurial burnout is something that can creep up on you without you realizing it.

On Youpreneur.FM, host Chris Ducker shares his own experience with it and discusses the quick steps to avoid it.

One of the subjects Chris is most vocal about is entrepreneurial burnout. Why? Because he experienced it firsthand and wants to save you from doing the same.

By December of 2009, Chris was working like a mad man — 15-16-hour days, 7 days a week. Business was very good, but working so much was taking its toll on his health and impacting his family.

Chris ended up in the hospital from exhaustion and knew something had to change. He and his wife took some time away, during which they decided Chris would become the virtual CEO of their business.

By 2010, they had done it; now Chris has 3-day weekends every week, and works 6-7 hours a day Monday through Thursday.

On today’s episode of Youpreneur.FM, Chris shares his personal recommendations for avoiding burnout and setting yourself up for the long-game of entrepreneurship.

Listen in and take notes so you never have to go through what Chris did.

In this 14-minute episode of Youpreneur.FM, host Chris Ducker discusses:

  • How to pace yourself with your business
  • Why minor wins will help you achieve major victories
  • How many people did Chris have to hire to replace himself in 2010?
  • Why turning off your phone notifications is a small but important action
  • The necessity of a holiday: when and why you should plan your next one
  • Much, much more!
Click Here to Listen to
Youpreneur.FM with Chris Ducker on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post How to Avoid Entrepreneurial Burnout, without Losing Business, or Your Health appeared first on Copyblogger.



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