You’re probably wondering, Really? I have to start thinking about the New Year NOW, even during the holidays?

Every year, it seems that the holiday celebrations start earlier and earlier, so preparing for the New Year also happens in advance. For our team here at Hashtagitude, we used to start thinking about New Year’s goals between Christmas and New Year’s Day; however, we decided to get a head start on some things we’d like to see change for our business in 2018.

With that in mind (and our 2018 predictions from our #MarketingMonday segment), here are some tips for you to make sure your business’s online presence is in tip-top shape for the New Year:

[Read more…]

Technology continues to evolve and improve upon itself year over year: as digital marketers (and online business owners), it is important to stay as up-to-date on changes as possible. On our #MarketingMonday this week, we reviewed developments in the social media space from this year (including some pretty cool image search developments over on Pinterest).

Of course, social media wasn’t the only space to experience big developments in digital marketing. Let’s look at what else happened in other areas of the industry:

[Read more…]

If you have been sitting on the fence about starting a podcast for your business, the stats we mentioned on #MarketingMonday should alone be enough motivation to get going on your podcast planning. Podcasts are a unique way of reaching your target audience, especially if your audience is more susceptible to listening to podcasts than others.

Before you go and record your first episode, here are five best practices to incorporate into your podcasting strategy:

[Read more…]

The barriers to Video marketing are not as high in 2017: today, anyone with a smartphone can record and produce compelling video content if done correctly. Online videos make up 69% of internet traffic –by 2019 it will be 80%. If you aren’t already using video marketing, now would be a good time to start.

Previous generations struggled with bulky cameras, primitive editing software, and mass distribution. Those limitations no longer bind us. Technology, the internet, and social media have made it possible for the layman to acquire the same mass recognition as an established professional. In a world where anyone can be responsible for the next viral craze, what can your brand do to stand apart from the pack? To start off, focus on three simple, yet essential areas of quality video.

• Audio
• Intimidation
• Quality

[Read more…]

Crafting an effective email strategy is more important than most people think: in 2017, more than 269 billion emails are sent daily. The 10th Email Marketing Industry Census announced last year that email marketing has a better ROI than SEO and PPC!  Needless to say, email marketing is an important pillar in any marketing campaign.

Emails are an efficient means of contact between businesses and their customers. They help businesses share information, company news, and upcoming promotions. In a #MarketingMonday segment from earlier this year, we discussed the importance of generating an email list. This week’s #MarketingMonday segment highlighted two different types of emails: informative and sales. This post will expand upon developing an engaging and successful email campaign.

The Basics of Email Strategy

Personalize

When addressing an individual, personalizing the rhetoric makes the message sound genuine. For that reason, we use the recipient’s name in our greetings and subject lines in our email messages–we aren’t writing individual emails either! Many email platforms come with widgets and features that will generate a recipient’s name upon delivery. If applicable, include the recipient’s buyer/consumer behavior in the email. Segment the email list by buying behaviors to customize messages depending on the audience.

A good place to incorporate personalization techniques in email newsletters would be at the start. When people sign up to your mailing list, be sure to collect as much relevant information as possible, such as city, interest level, and so forth. This will help you understand the recipient better than a name and an email address.

#ProTip: Avoid coming off as a faceless corporation as much as possible.

[Read more…]