Our 5 Favorite Email Marketing Platforms
Send, convert, profit.
Whether you have a business in place or just the inkling of an idea, it’s never too early (or late) to beef up your communication with customers. Long gone are the days of spending money on print ads. With the creation of email, it has never been easier to find someone looking to buy what you’re selling.
These five email marketing sites are just waiting to help you and your business connect with that next dream client.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp was made for getting your feet wet. You can start using the site free of charge if you have 2000 subscribers or less. As your contacts list grows, you can upgrade your account at any time to either the Grow or Pro Plan without affecting your existing account. Mailchimp offers unique and easy-to-use design templates as well as Facebook and Instagram ads to match. If you’re still into physical mail, they also have a postcard option, so your customers’ mailboxes can get some love, too.
HubSpot
HubSpot believes in businesses building better relationships with their customers, which is why they offer a completely free option known as HubSpot CRM (customer relationship management). It offers the ability to email up to one million contacts, so you never have to worry about outgrowing it. While HubSpot CRM remains free forever, you can build upon it with any (or all) of the three extensions: Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, or Service Hub. HubSpot also offers Instagram and Facebook ads along with their emails.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact not only formats emails for desktop, they also have your phone in mind (because let’s be honest, we all check email on our phones). With templates for both desktop and phone, you can easily personalize your emails to look professional and enticing on all sorts of devices. While it only offers a 60-day free trial, the most basic plan on the site starts at $20 a month. Want to make your subscribers feel like family? There’s also the option of sending out specialized emails for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.
Drip
Drip sells itself as the first e-commerce customer relationship manager, and it focuses on how best to get a customer to buy your product. With multiple app integrations, Drip can be tailored to meet your needs. Individualized messages can be sent to customers to help build meaningful relationships, as well as specialized Facebook ads and postcards. Drip’s basic plan starts at $49 a month and can support up to 2,500 subscribers.
SendinBlue
SendinBlue will help you create the professional newsletter of your dreams. Simply drag and drop the sleek and clean design blocks to create your own template. The system uses an algorithm to help you send emails out at the best time for each of your customers, so you reach them when it’s most convenient for them (and effective for you). SendinBlue’s free plan allows you to send 300 emails a day and is GDRP compliant as of May 2018.
Do you have another favorite email marketing service? Share with us in the comments!
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The 10 Most Important Things You Need to Know About Gen Z
You can't just make stuff, you have to stand for something.
For the last decade Millennial has been the word on every marketer's tongue. The most studied generation in history, they have been prodded and dissected, widely discussed and harangued for navel gazing tendencies and pursuit of dreams.
But not anymore! The hot seat is ready and waiting for Gen Z, the group born 1995 to present, which currently outnumbers Millennials by about 1 million in the United States. Hardly a carbon copy of what came before, in many ways Gen-Zers are the opposites or extreme versions of Millennials. They grew up during Occupy Wall Street, the Recession, and have had tech at their fingertips since birth.
Here are some of the current most important #facts about the Gen Z.
THEY ARE FRUGAL
Raised during the Recession by parents who felt the pressure of a weak economy, Gen Z is on top of where and how they are spending money.
Currently they are spending less than Millennials and are less concerned with buying labels.
BUT THEY LIKE GOOD VALUE
They may not be spending as much, but they are spending smart. The average Gen-Zer gets a weekly allowance of about $16, so they have some buying power.
It's also why brands like Spirit Airlines are preparing for Gen Z to become the dominant group of travelers by rebranding itself as an ultra-low-cost carrier. The airline is offering bargain basement fares with zero frills. Gen Z is willing to accept less, but they want to know exactly what they are getting.
Especially if it means flying from NY to SF for less than 200 bucks.
THEY DON'T TRUST BRANDS
Gen Z has grown up in an age where all information is available. Blogs that take apart brands and online reviews that don't skimp of the dirty details of products.
Emerson Spartz, CEO of the digital media company Dose told Fast Company, "They have the strongest bullshit filter because they've grown up in an era where information was available at all times."
What they've seen, from the latest Wells Fargo scandal to the VW emissions issue is that big brands are not to be trusted and brands will have to work hard to earn Gen Z's affection and loyalty.
THEY DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH
No information is secret. If a brand thinks they can pull the wool over Gen Z, they should think again. This is the generation that grew up with technology. They know how to price compare, they know how to sniff out a deal, a rat, or a scam, and they are more comfortable in front of a computer than any previous generation.
That means if you're offering "the lowest fare" you better be able to back it up or Gen Z will take their business elsewhere.
THEY DO TRUST PEOPLE
While they are wary of brands, they are less wary of individuals. Gen-Zers are more likely to convert when they see one of their favorite social media influencers partnering with a brand.
Steven Lammertink, the founder and CEO of the Cirqle, told Fast Company, "Generation Z is more willing to hear a brand's story when it is part of a narrative their peer is already telling."
Loud, in-your-face marketing is a thing of the past too. They like more subtle messaging. It's why brands are banking on major social media influencer deals.
"Brands are banking on major social media influencer deals."
Tweet this.
Bloggers like Aimee Song who landed an unprecedented paycheck for being the face of Laura Mercier.
AUTHENTICITY IS KEY
Even though they understand that these are paid opportunities, they believe that social media influencers are making conscious decisions about who they partner with.
Influencers like Ingrid Nilsen who has said that "You have to know where you stand and what you feel comfortable with. Sometimes what I’m comfortable with is being uncomfortable," she says, "especially if it means that I’m moving in the direction of emotional bravery."
It's sentiments like this that make Gen Zers trust people over brands.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE WALKING ADVERTISEMENTS
Logo mania is over, for now.
It's why fashion brands like American Eagle Outfitters have seen sales and profits rise, where other major retailers are struggling. Gone are the eagle logos and they are promoting their new look on street-wear Instagram's like hypebeast.
That's not to say it doesn't come with pushback. Commenters were quick to point out that the pic was paid for. (See: they do they own research.)
SELFIES ASIDE, THEY AREN'T NAVEL GAZERS
They've heard the stats, the know the realities. 2015's graduating class was the most indebted in history and 2016's is primed to follow in its path. For Gen Z, college is less a time about self discovery and more the time to really hone in on their future. They don't have time to pussy foot around.
"For Gen Z, college is less a time about self discovery and more the time to really hone in on their future."
Tweet this.
That means, internships during college and working to make sure they land jobs after college. If Millennials were the generation to take a semester off, Gen-Zers might be the one to graduate a semester early.
They are highly competitive and know that the job market is still rough. They also have major concerns about higher education. Sixty-six percent of Gen-Zers say their number one concern is drowning in college debt, and 75% say there are ways of getting a good education besides going to college.
THEY AREN'T LURED BY "NEW" TECH
That line around the block for the new iPhone 7? Maybe don't except Gen Zers to be in it. For Gen Z, tech is more of a tool and less of an obsession. They aren't quite of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" squad, but they also don't JUMP on a new, very expensive new tech toy simply because it's new. They grew up with this stuff and aren't WOW'd by tech that works pretty much like old tech.
They're more savvy and they shop smarter.
YOU CAN'T JUST MAKE STUFF, YOU HAVE TO STAND FOR SOMETHING
They don't need brands to build communities, they can do that themselves. And they don't need brands to create their identify, they've got that on lock. But they do want brands that align with their modern values and ethics.
What research has shown is that Gen Z is the least judgmental and most open-minded of all generations. They were born into Obama's Presidency. Gay marriage will be the norm over their lifetime and they've seen more women in power than any previous generation. They are less concerned with putting people in boxes and diversity matters.
They want the freedom to be themselves and will support brands that get that.
What are some ways you're incorporating Gen Z into your business plans? Share in the comments below!
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6 Quick and Dirty Tips for Marketing Yourself
Build trust, not walls.
photo credit: Bloguettes
Are you looking to grow your following in 2017? Here are 6 quick easy to follow tips.
1. BUILD TRUST
If you’re asking yourself what’s more important going viral or a steady band of dedicated users, think on this:
Exposure is great. It can make you feel like you’re doing something right and the world is catching on for good reason. But exposure can also leave you bare naked in the public eye with no plan to backup your following. Trust is the most important element to growing exposure and that doesn’t usually happen with a viral hit. You want to grow your influence steadily, giving your followers a reason to stick with you, not give you a 15-second-of-fame career.
2. MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY
If trust builds brand loyalty, than consistency builds brand recognition. According to Lauren Hooker, founder of Elle & Co, “recognition is key to branding. It's why we automatically think of Chipotle when we see a foil-wrapped burrito or Apple when we hear Siri's voice or an iPhone ringtone. These businesses don't switch things up regularly; they maintain consistency across all of the visual and invisible components of their brand.”
She advises, to “choose fonts, colors, and imagery and use them over and over again. Over time, people will begin to associate those design elements with your business and easily recognize your graphics.”
“Consistency,” adds Lauren, “also makes your brand appear professional.” Speaking of…
3. ALWAYS APPEAR PROFESSIONAL
We turn to Lauren again for this, who says, “First impressions are huge; they can make all the difference between someone taking you seriously or writing you off. If you're just starting your business, you don't have to look like you just started your business.”
4. DON’T EXPECT INSTAGRAM TO DO IT ALL FOR YOU
Instagram is an amazing tool that can broadcast your brand to millions of people. That’s the goal after all. But it’s not a magic app.
Instagram is the connector, it’s not the business. Use it wisely (and maintain consistency), but if you want to market yourself, you need to cast your net wider. There are a TON of fish in the Instagram sea and you need the social platform to funnel back into something else.
"Instagram is the connector, it’s not the business."
Tweet this.
Whether it is a website, a service, or a product there needs to be something. Especially if you want to build out your brand to do more than schlock products in paid posts.
5. PARTICIPATE IN OFFLINE EVENTS
A like will never replace a handshake. And in many ways, they are not even comparable. You can pay your rent with a like, but you can bank on an IRL relationship. That means, attending conferences, like the upcoming Create & Cultivate New York, where you meet with like-minded professionals. Or pitch yourself to companies to speak on panels.
6. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR COMPETITION
Marketing yourself isn't solely about you. You can't change the game if you're standing in one place. While an authentic brand is a successful brand, you also need to have a leg up on the competition. That means keeping in tune with what they're doing.
Fine tune your marketing efforts as you go. Pay attention to their audiences and see what they want and how you can provide a better service or product to them. Learn from their mistakes, and know that you can do much better.
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Tina Wells Started a Company in Her Teens, Today It's an Award-Winning Agency
How this marketing guru has survived twenty years, with aplomb.
When you start your company at 16, there’s a decent chance you won't be doing the same thing by the time you graduate high school, let alone two decades later. Yet Tina Wells, founder of Buzz Marketing Group, defied that decent chance and remains CEO, founder and captain of the marketing company she started in her teens.
It wasn’t her intention. She didn’t set out to run a company. Rather, the goal was to be a fashion writer, ideally at a Hearst publication. “Seventeen was the dream,” she says.
“Never in a million years did I think I’d run a company or that twenty years later I’d be doing the same thing.” Like the start of many companies, her foray into marketing came from a place a need. As a fashion and beauty loving teen with five younger siblings she knew her parents weren't going to be able to buy her the newest trends. "My parents," she says, "were working their butts off to get us into private school and I knew I needed to come up with a way to make money. That's all it was. I figured out that I could review product and then wear it."
It is a resourcefulness that followed her through high school graduation, into college, and helped her grow BuzzMG's buzzSpotters-- a network of trendspotters that was cast to be a research network. It's a group of those in-the-know "and now and always looking around the next corner." In the beginning the buzzSpotters consisted of Tina and her ten friends. “I remember when we got to 200 people I thought it was too much," she says. There are now 37,000 people worldwide. "Consumers know what they want and want to be part of the process," she says. “That’s something I recognized as a 16 year old. I knew that if my friends and I wanted to be a part of the process of a company making something for us, then other people had to want it too."
"Consumers know what they want and want to be part of the process."
Tweet this.
It's a thought that has paid off. It was during Tina's freshman year at Hood University when someone said to her, “I just paid someone $25,000 to do market research and what you’ve done is ten times better.”
It was perfect timing. When this conversation occurred Tina was taking an Intro to Business class with the head of the Business Department. She went to visit that professor during office hours and told her what she’d been up to the last two years. That professor told Tina to take independent study with her to figure out how to make it a viable business. She did. “That was the launch pad,” she says. “It wasn’t me saying, ‘I have a great idea for a business,’ rather I was being told I was doing something really interesting that could be a business.”
Today, Buzz Marketing Group is an award-winning media communications agency that focuses on Millennials, moms, and multicultural consumers. They deliver data and strategies that drive the marketing approach for clients. “I’ve been doing this so long,” Tina says, “that back when I started it was youth marketing. There weren’t Millennials and there certainly wasn’t the idea of Millennial marketing.”
"So long," gives Tina and her team a certain edge-- even though the technologic landscape around her has moved seismically. “I still reference the business plan I developed with my professor 18 years ago,” she explains. In addition to running her company Tina is the current Academic Director of Wharton's Leadership in the Business World program and is teaching a summer program based on the principles set forth in that business plan. "The basics of building a business are still the same." she says. Adding, "You still need to answer those ten questions every business owner has to answer." (Check back, we'll be sharing those next week!)
What has changed are the tools. She jokes that if she had launched her business now she would have scaled in three months “Technology tools empower us to be better at our jobs every day.” It's technology that allows Buzz to survey people in their network better and provide better results for clients.
“Technology has the ability to do the unbelievable, but my business is built in a very brick-and-mortar way," a foundation she insists has the ability to withstand any tech wave or crunch. "I realized early on build a great business and let the tools empower you. But don’t be so focussed on creating a business for a particular tool."
"Build a great business and let the tools empower you."
Tweet this.
BuzzMG is built in a way that's evergreen-- they are, says Tina, "research first, not creative first, and we're very honest with our clients about that." They develop marketing strategies based on data from consumers of all ages and internally develop original research for the client. "We’ll go to our network of buzzSpotters, conduct an internal survey, and go back to the client with an audit of where their brand is, where it need to be, and what we will do to get to achieve that goal.”
"Because we’re research driven we never go into any situation assuming how a conversation is going to go." It also helps Buzz create campaigns that are likewise evergreen. One of the things Buzz is known for are their lists. They help build the inspiring Levo100 List, which was first released in 2015 and is still being shared today. They worked with American Eagle Outfitters on the aerie beauty and body line, leveraging their proprietary database of influencers to create and educate a curated in-market ambassador program of over 150 ambassadors in every state with an aerie store. Upon re-launch, aerie performed 500% better than projected, generating over $250 million in sales for AE.
It’s an approach Tina believes (and has the results to prove it) gives her a great advantage because her team is always looking at what the consumer will tell them. "We make decisions by looking at all sides. Culture is changing, it’s moving so quickly-- how we’ve survived for twenty years is by sticking to the solid principles of marketing."
“I never want to get caught in hype.” she says. “There are people who say 'this is dead,' 'that is dead,' 'blogging is dead', 'influencer is dead.' 'No.' I’ve said to clients, 'Print is not dead, bad print is dead.' And it should be."
"Print is not dead, bad print is dead. And it should be."
“A great brand is always a great brand," she says. "It’s just the tools that change.”
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