Did you know that 60% of consumers eagerly await promotional emails from their favorite companies? And 44% of them actively check their inbox for potential discounts.
Unsurprisingly, 60% of those who receive promotional emails make a purchase. With these stats from OptinMonster proving its effectiveness, there’s no denying that email marketing is the way to go.
Connect with your customers, engage with them, and build your business through email. But where to start? Don’t worry because we have you covered with the best practices to make your email marketing a huge success.
Sending Welcome Emails
Did you know that a warm welcome can lead to 320% more revenue than any old promotional email? That’s why sending a fantastic welcome email within 24 hours of your new subscriber’s sign-up is crucial.
Go straight to the point; start with a quick intro and a link to your website for them to dive right into your business.
Here are the critical ingredients for a winning welcome email:
An attention-grabbing subject line.
A heartfelt introduction to making them feel like part of the family.
A sneak peek into your brand’s mission, values, products, and services.
A special treat or incentive to keep them engaged and excited about your brand.
But don’t stop there! Keep the spark alive by sending regular emails that add value to your subscribers’ lives. Keep it sweet and simple–you want your subscribers to recognize your name, not confuse it with spam.
Ask for their feedback, share exclusive information about sales and new product launches, and continuously offer valuable insights and tips. With these tips in hand, you’re ready to send out a welcome email that will have your subscribers eagerly anticipating your following message.
Focus on Personalisation
Who doesn’t want to feel loved and cared for, even in their inbox?
Personalisation is the magic ingredient that’ll turn your emails from “blah” to “ta-da!” Think of it like putting a cherry on top of an already delicious sundae.
Your recipient’s eyes will light up like a kid on Christmas morning when they see their name on the subject line, a nod to their hometown, or something that speaks directly to their wants.
And let’s not forget recognition is a basic human need that makes us feel like we belong and boosts our self-esteem.
That’s why marketers often see a 20% boost in sales revenue when they give their emails a personal touch.
So, let’s make your emails stand out and get those sales soaring with these few key points:
Keep the names and locations of recipients in your email list.
Study customer needs and create unique campaigns for different segments of your email list.
Use custom fields and the recipient’s name in the subject line to make the emails more personal.
Obtain a domain and hosting solution, choose a format, connect to your provider, and create an email address for your account.
Stick to Consistent Branding
Branding is important. Consistency is important. And both of these things are especially true regarding email marketing.
If you send out a newsletter or other promotional email, make sure it looks like all the other emails you’ve sent before and represents your brand well.
If people open an email from you expecting something funny and lighthearted but instead find themselves staring at a sales pitch for a new product, or worse yet, a generic “Happy Holidays!” message—they’re going to feel disappointed and annoyed by their experience.
These kinds of experiences can lead to loss of sales and damaged brand reputation, so you should always consider what your audience is receiving at the other end.
Consistency in branding techniques such as color scheme and logo usage matters: if one person sees one thing during their interaction with your company’s social media page or website while another person sees something else entirely when using those same platforms, confusion will result!
Choose a Responsive Template
When it comes to email marketing, choosing a responsive template is one of the best ways to practice your campaigns. Not only does it make your subscribers’ lives easier, but it also helps you to elevate your marketing game.
Selecting a mobile-friendly template ensures that your emails look great on any device, whether a desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Imagine sending automated emails, such as a welcome series, with just the click of a button or efficiently conducting A/B testing to see which subject lines or calls-to-action perform the best. With a responsive template, the possibilities are endless.
And there you have it! With these best practices for email marketing, you’re now equipped to take your campaigns to the next level.
Remember, the key to email marketing success is being strategic and sending the right messages at the right time. So go ahead, put these tips into action, and watch as your subscribers become loyal fans of your brand.
As we speed into 2023, the whole world continues to accelerate into a hyper-digitalized world where your business is only as strong as your digital marketing capabilities.
As an industry, digital marketing is no different from any other – it has trends, flavours of the months, and changes that revolutionise the whole landscape. As we ramp up into 2023, FOME have put together the biggest digital marketing trends of 2023 and how you can incorporate them into your business’s marketing efforts.
If you are not scaling your business toward digital marketing and an online presence, you could be at risk of being left behind. A study by Emarketer found that last year, $4.9 trillion was the estimated value of the e-commerce market, while the retail share of purchases is currently 21% online and only going up.
We have put together the top ten digital marketing trends below, allowing you to get ahead this year:
TikTok Will Break The Market
Just as we have seen Facebook and Instagram dominate digital marketing through social media, TikTok will be the next big addition this coming year.
It was no surprise that since 2021, TikTok had generated $4.6 billion in revenue, an increase of almost 150 percent each year. There are a reported 1.8 billion users per month and that is only going to grow. Data this year is showing that almost 20% of all online users over the age of 18+ can be reached through TikTok ads.
As a digital marketing tool, we expect to see a wider approach taken when it comes to influencer marketing through TikTok – Instagram and others will still do well. Companies with aggressive marketing strategies will find influencers that align with their product or service and create marketing campaigns.
On top of this, both SMEs and the multinational corporation will begin targeted ad campaigns on TikTok, which will hit new demographics that have traditionally been tough to break into.
The Year of User-Generated Content to Boost Sales
In the age of personalised marketing, it is safe to say consumers are more attentive and suspicious than ever. Getting around this leaves businesses clamouring to find ways of being authentic and engaging while keeping the audience focused on the “main thing”, the ultimate goal of selling a product or service.
In digital marketing, the aim is to persuade potential customers who are online to buy your offering. You can write all the amazing copy on your website and have graphics and creative assets with bells and whistles, but this will only get you so far in 2023.
Nielsen found that 92% of customers are actively seeking reviews, case studies, or recommendations before they make a purchase, showing that businesses will need to look in this direction.
This year will see businesses that utilise user-generated content flourish. User-generated content is content made by the people using the product or service and can be found in various mediums, like:
A live stream, like Twitch, where the streamer opens or uses your product and shows how good it is.
Review and advocacy platforms, like Google or YELP.
Video content made by customers raves about the product and service, which is used as a testimonial on the website.
Social media posts and videos of people enjoying your product. (Here’s a smart tip! If you have a customer that is a social media influencer, work a deal where they post your product on their channel.)
Getting user-generated content relies on a business being proactive about getting reviews. Whether this is prompts for reviews, promotions, and competitions around posting positive videos on social media or just simple hashtags, you can get people generating around your product in no time.
This digital marketing strategy has gone under the radar over the past couple of years but has quite literally given businesses a global platform, taking regional SMEs and giving them international customers.
It can be anything from creating engaging and trending content that is related to an industry or field you specialise in or creating short educational videos that provide value to the social media audience. The human attention span is growing shorter and shorter, fitting perfectly with social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Smart businesses have leapt on this, putting in time for their video content strategy and keeping them short and snappy. It’s something that can not only scale your brand and follower count but even level up the quantity of business you do.
AI Will Boost Content Marketing
You, like the rest of the marketing world, may have heard of a quirky little AI tool called ChatGPT. This has amazed people with the seemingly limitless marketing capabilities it can do.
Whether it is conducting SEO research, giving you blog ideas, or even building out a content calendar for you, it can be a content manager’s dream assistant.
People outside of marketing, mainly business owners, can be guilty of falling under the trap of thinking it can replace content writers and editors – do not make this fatal mistake. Studies have been conducted and found that Google can spot AI-generated content, and is punishing sites that are using this on their blogs.
So instead of trying to use a tool like ChatGPT to write your content, instead you can use it for research, planning, brainstorming, and speeding up the content creation process to enhance velocity and SEO functions.
Say Goodbye To The Cookie Jar
Something that slid under the radar in search news was that Google is withdrawing third-party cookies. This is going to be a meteor to the digital marketing world this year, causing tsunamis and impacts that will be reverberating throughout the year.
If you do not know, a third-party cookie is something that websites use to monitor what a visitor does. They are particularly useful in pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns because it allows a business to run an efficient online ad campaign for their target audience.
Marketing will now have to deviate towards more intimate and one-to-one marketing strategies to build their brand. GDPR and other regulations around data will be at the forefront, and a final big consequence is that Google is pivoting from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4.
This shift is happening on July 1 this year, a date you should circle on your calendar.
Influencer Marketing Will Continue To Grow
Something that is slowly being adopted by all scales of businesses is influencer marketing – to the point where 1 in 4 marketers now use it.
It can expect to grow in 2023 by almost one quarter as more marketing departments will dip their toes in influencer marketing. It can be anything from getting someone with a big following in your niche to use your product, to having a mammoth-sized influencer use your product to broaden your audience horizons.
The reason we have this on our list for 2023 is that influencer marketing is going to go from something exclusive to ones with large followings to influencers who have micro-sized followings.
Even if an influencer has 2,000-10,000 followers, if they are specialised in a niche and have great engagement rates, they can open up more leads for a business and grow a brand.
Brands are Going to Slide in Your DMs
Big corporations opting for social media channels for customer support have been popular for the last couple of years but are going to see brands opt for marketing and sales through this method.
We are living in a world where the biggest consumers are Generation Z and Millenials, a group that wants hyper-personalised marketing while they go through their customer journey. As sites like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook boost their e-commerce platform, you can expect to soon engage in buying something through DMs instead of order forms and online consultations.
When it comes to using customer service on social media, studies have found that 1 in 5 Gen Zers have gone to a business’s social media page to contact them, instead of going in-store, calling up, or using emails.
Email Marketing for SMEs
Email marketing is a digital marketing method that often goes under the radar, boasting one of the best ROI figures as well as allowing higher customer retention and more lead generation.
People often associate email marketing with big corporations and multi-national businesses that are trying to sell you something, but it can be used for so much more.
By trying to provide value through your email marketing strategy, a small business can boost its email lists and find that through holistic content it will get more leads.
The most important aspect of this is not just boosted leads or increased brand leverage, it is also that the leads your business gets are even more qualified.
Once you have used email marketing to build credibility and give value back to old and new customers, you can use your email marketing for product launches and upsells, boosting more revenue for your business.
Utilisation of Digital Marketing Agencies and Freelancers Will Grow
Lots of SMEs, as well as big corporations, will feel the brunt of not having a strong digital presence. The world is rapidly shifting online, and the markets will get even more competitive in the impending economic downturn.
By simply being at the top of Google, you will allow your SME to battle against your competitors and win crucial business – therefore, we expect the use of digital marketing experts to boom this year.
Whether it is bringing on a top-tier digital marketing agency (hello!) to give a total package of web development, SEO, and content strategy, or bringing on a small freelancer to help out your SEO ranking, businesses are going to take this road in 2023.
Websites That Do Not Use Chatbots Will Fall Behind
If you pay attention, some of the best web experiences you have will be on websites that have a chatbot, especially when it comes to e-commerce. It is being reported that Chatbots will help account for $112 billion in retail sales by the end of the year alone!
Chatbots can help small businesses by being a 24/7 outlet on a website and helping customers in a way that a salesperson could! We think that 2023 will be the year when Chatbots will get integrated into social media, messaging, and other marketing channels that allow them to get involved in lead generation.
As well as being 24/7 and accurate with information, Chatbots will utilise data learning and translation to be more global and interactive in 2023.
Stay Ahead of the Digital Marketing Trends
Keeping ahead of digital marketing trends allows your business to remain steady in whichever competitive market you are in. Using data, analysing your campaigns, and tracking website conversions and customer engagement will give you the perfect insights to keep striving for better.
Doing all this will put you ahead of customer needs, allowing you to get more conversions and generate a larger amount of qualified leads. Stay ahead of the trends, win more business and grow your company through a strong digital marketing game!
Want to boost your digital marketing efforts today? Visit our contact page, reach out and we will look at how we can work together!
Entrepreneurs may need to catch up on millions of customers and dollars due to the divide between small businesses and the increasing number of customers who judge brick-and-mortar enterprises primarily on their online presence.
A strong website not only aids small businesses in marketing and selling their goods, but also enables them to stand out from the competition, particularly for clients who largely rely on the web to discover everything there is to know about a firm. As a result, a website is among the most crucial company resources for disseminating knowledge, establishing authority, and standing out in highly competitive environments.
Statistics show that the number of businesses that have websites has been on a steady incline since 2007 and shows more than ever, how small businesses need a website to survive among their competitors and stay ahead in the market.
The most successful small businesses often have intriguing and in-depth websites that help customers solve any issues they might have connected with the business. Consumers have been actively encouraged to “buy local” and support small companies during the past few years, and the internet significantly facilitates this.
Many entrepreneurs view online presence and marketing to consumers outside of their immediate area as a tremendous chance to expand their enterprises. Every small business should have a website for all of these factors. Surprisingly, only 71% of businesses in the US have a website, despite 25% of purchasing and business being conducted online. Every business should have a website, an online brand, and a presence.
The big question for a lot of businesses is which platform they should use to make a website. Some website creators look easy and simple to use but can have so many drawbacks. The great debate usually results in one of two options: WordPress vs Wix. In this article, we will lay out the argument and find the winner of the great website debate.
The Pros And Cons Of Wix
Wix has a free site option and is fairly inexpensive. But Wix’s branding will be present on the free website and this can be a huge eye-sore. You will need to subscribe to any of Wix’s premium packages if you want to get rid of it and have your domain.
When designing your Wix site, you have two options to choose from, and both produce good visual outcomes. Wix’s AI will create a professional-looking website for anyone that you may change within certain parameters if you decide to provide the platform with some information about your site’s requirements, brand, logo, colors, etc.
The Wix dashboard includes some fundamental data and traffic monitoring, but it doesn’t go deep or become too specific. You would be better off utilizing a different platform if you truly wanted to get serious with data. This drawback is significant and can hinder your website’s scalability.
The Pros And Cons Of WordPress
WordPress’ roots in blogging make it a powerful content management system. An administrator can easily change pages and add new content by navigating the WordPress site’s backend.
Without requiring extensive website management, WordPress makes it easy to arrange the information. This maneuverability allows a WordPress website to detail as much information as needed.
Users of WordPress have access to more than 54,000 plugins, the majority of which are free. You may enhance and personalize any WordPress site using these plugins. There probably is a plugin available to perform exactly what you need to do if you want to make particular adjustments to the features on your site, making it increasingly more versatile than any other CMS or web development tool.
The sustainability of your WordPress website depends on installing updates, but if done carelessly, it may be annoying. Premium WordPress themes are frequently updated and enhanced. To keep WordPress websites properly secure, these updates are crucial. A website may experience a few minor issues after an update, so you may need to switch back to an earlier version of WordPress.
The ability to scale up WordPress and develop it for SEO is huge for a business. WordPress allows you to align keywords to your company’s content, whilst also keeping the design SEO-friendly too. Without a doubt, WordPress is the best CMS for SEO and for building your business website.
One of the few downsides is that WordPress can be appealing to potential hackers since it is an open-source platform. Again, being aware when selecting themes and plugins for your WordPress website is always a smart idea to reduce this risk.
Many unused generic lines of code can be found in certain themes. This may slow down the website’s performance and increase load times. It can be challenging to grasp what code you’re using without any prior WordPress expertise, but this can be solved with learning WordPress.
WordPress Is The Winner
WordPress takes our number one spot, although you should look to grow your skills on the CMS to use it to its full potential. WordPress gives developers the ability to create themes and plugins that users may use to enhance the functionality and visibility of their websites.
WordPress is particularly perfect for web developers and businesses looking to set up and maintain complicated websites, establish user databases, login dashboards, and more. WordPress is a potent platform and a vibrant community, offering more creativity and support – if there is any help you need or something that might be a bit ahead of what you understand, you can find forum posts on WordPress dedicated to solving it.
The choice between the two is relatively easy – in the end, self-hosted WordPress is unquestionably a more capable, adaptable, and reliable platform than Wix.
Do you need help with your business’s web design? Get in touch with us here and let’s work together!
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Just as we have seen Facebook and Instagram dominate digital marketing through social media, TikTok will be the next big addition this coming year.
