May 2015 - NextJSjointviews

10 Best E-Mail Subject Line Formulae to Rock Your E-Mail Marketing Campaigns

Posted on May 28, 2015 by NextJSjointviews

As a retailer, e-mail campaigns will be one of your most important tools in marketing. They are a great way to generate leads. But for this to happen, your e-mails should be read. For the e-mail to be read, it needs to be opened.

More often than not, people do not even bother to open or click-through your e-mails. There are even instances of unsubscribing and complaining as spam.

So, the very first step for your e-mail marketing campaigns to be a success would be to get people to open your e-mails. With everyone’s inbox flooded with tons of e-mails every day, there is so much to go through, let alone open. So, amid coupons, newsletters, daily deal sites, password resets, social media notifications and more such stuff, how do you make your e-mail stand out?

The key here is your subject line. Yes! Unless you have a rocking subject line, you cannot expect the reader to take that extra step and open your e-mail. Here is a list of best e-mail subject line tactics that will help you rock your e-mail campaign.

Simple Is The Word: Time is always an asset in online world. So, no-nonsense, simple subject lines that are easier to comprehend are always a better option than cheesy lures. Simple, direct subject line that makes the offer clear is bound to hit the right note. Every e-mail has a specific purpose, so should the subject line.
Subject Lines with Lists and Numbers: Readers love lists as shorter summaries are easier to process and understand. As our brains are naturally drawn to numbers, subject lines with numbers are sure to draw attention.
Personalized Subject Lines: Using personalization elements almost certainly grabs attention, and makes your e-mails more relevant. However, do not misunderstand personalization for incorporating the users’ name in the subject line. Most of them deem it as spam and it goes right into their junk box. Rather, try giving location specific offers or deals relevant to the customer.
Usage of Punctuation Marks & Other Symbols: One of the hottest trends is usage of punctuation and symbols. Fun symbols and loud punctuations are a quick way to catch the eye, but that is not sufficient. You subject line still needs to convey a message.
Mysterious Subject Lines: Mystery always intrigues. Give readers a chance to dig into a little mystery. For example, subject lines like “Time Is Running Out” or “It’s All Over..” is sure to give them a reason to open the e-mail.
Funny Subject Lines: It might sound funny, but being on the lighter side certainly has its advantages. It’s difficult to be funny in marketing. But such subject lines can really stick out among the otherwise dull and dry e-mails. The cleverness of the subject line might be lost on some users. So, don’t try this unless you know your target audience and their wavelength.
Urgency in Subject Lines: Creating urgency is a time tested method to build anxiety and hype. Users respond better to the threat of losing than to the prospect of gaining. It can work pretty well when it is used creatively. Example: “Last chance to save today” or “Hurry! Offer ends today” might get you the desired response.
Command: Some people just do not respond to indirect marketing. Subject line that has a command and tells the user what it is all about or what needs to be done, can strike the right note. Such commanding subject lines always start with a verb that demands action.
Teasers: A teaser subject line can be very intriguing. An engaging story like beginning with a teaser of an implied promise can get you an open rate you always wanted. Your subject line should instruct as well as entertain.
Statistical: Hard hitting, statistical number in your subject line is sure to get you higher open rates. Statistic in the subject line indicating client success stories or your sales numbers will certainly grab the attention.

How To Get The Best Results Out Of Keyword Research?

Posted on May 27, 2015 by NextJSjointviews

When it comes to online marketing strategy, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an integral part of the equation. SEO includes a diverse set of techniques that are used to not only increase the targeted traffic, but also create brand awareness. While there are several SEO techniques, one of the time tested method that has proven results is the usage of keywords. In fact a majority of SEO strategies are built around the keywords chosen.

Usually the results displayed on the top of the search engine page get the maximum impressions and clicks. This can actually result in significant increase of traffic to your website. Relevant keywords in title tags, meta tags and throughout the site help your pages to show up on top. Keyword optimized descriptions and tags are a must if you want to see a considerable rise in your click through rates.

Common Mistakes

Once marketers decide to concentrate on SEO marketing, they rush off and end up making more mistakes than they care to admit.

Keyword Stuffing: Most common mistake of all is keyword stuffing. Imagine reading a copy that is repeated over and over? This is a shady tactic and will do more harm than good. By stuffing your web page full of keywords, you won’t boost your ranking but will end up with Google kicking you down the result pages.

Misinterpreting Volume Estimates: Although Google adwords tool is very advantageous, many of the marketers often end up misinterpreting the results. When using this tool, it is very important to take all 3 match types into account, rather than relying solely on broad match.

Same Keyword Targeted Repeatedly: You have done your research and finalized on keywords that match criterion. And what do you do? You are on a spree to use these keywords in everything you create. And the end result, you compete against yourself and kill your own pages ability to draw new traffic.

Best Techniques:

When you get into SEO, you primary goal should be to use keyword research effectively. In fact, it should be one of the most essential skills of any digital marketer. It is just not enough to create a good list of SEO keywords for promotion. It is the job of the marketer to get the best results out of keyword research. So, how do you go about doing it?

Get Inside the Head of the Searcher: It is the most important step of keyword research. Put yourself in the shoes of your potential customers; try to think how they will. Understand their preferences, have a look at your blog posts, comments etc to get ideas. Create a seed list of keyword ideas that will cover all aspects of products and solutions that you offer to the customer. User interviews or surveys though length procedures, often give valuable information.

Brainstorm Keyword Ideas: Most overlooked method, but totally effective – manually brainstorming keyword ideas. Brainstorm and create a list as big as you can. And later in the process analyse your brainstorm list and refine it using some keyword research tool.

Proper Keyword Research: Keyword research is a vast area and should be tackled carefully to generate leads and get conversions. Take two different approaches to keyword research: content centric and keyword centric. Pick keywords based on the existing content on your website, at the same time identify potential search terms and build your keywords around them. Using Google’s Auto suggest is a great idea. Make use of the suggested keywords for the keyword phrase that you entered.

Keyword Research Tool: For your keywords to be most effective, you have to first find the right keyword research tool. This tool will not only give you the most efficient keywords, but will also be less time-consuming. Don’t rely on just one single tool. Take the help of different tools as each tool has a different medium to generate results from. Some of the popular keyword tools include SERP Checker, Keyword Spy and Google Keyword Planner.

Competitive Analysis: Analysing your competitors is a very important part of keyword research. Start by learning what the competitors in your circle are doing, what kind of keywords they are using. Scan your competitors’ site pages to get an idea of the targeted keywords they are using. You can also check the search results to see which websites already rank for your targeted keywords. This will give you an idea of how difficult it will be to rank for the particular keyword.

Twitter and Google are Back at it After 4 Years!

Posted on May 21, 2015 by NextJSjointviews

After about four years, Google and Twitter are joining hands again for a mutually benefitting relationship. In a bid to provide better real-time search to its users, Google announced they would be bringing tweets to their search on mobile devices.

Here is the excerpt from the official Google blog:

At the start, tweets would feature only in Google.com English version on Android as well as iOS. But Ardan Arac, Senior Product Manager has promised that they are working on bringing the same feature to other languages as well as to the desktop.

Twitter had given hint about this development earlier this year. Twitter had talked about reaching a deal with the search giant for allowing access to the Twitter firehose – at least half a billion tweets per day.

Google has been showing twitter results even before this week. But it was doing so by scraping Twitter, meaning the results were not really comprehensive. This deal will allow Google to show comprehensive results including trending tweets.

As for Twitter, this is expected to give a new lease of life as their growth has been stagnating in the recent past. The social network would hope that showing up more often in Google results would result in improved traffic and engagement.

Design 2015: Changing Trends In Web Design

Posted on May 20, 2015 by NextJSjointviews

No matter how well-planned your marketing efforts are, a well-designed website remains the core of any digital business. Not only from an aesthetic point of view, it is also vital for SEO, traffic generation, branding and of course conversions. So unless your website is up-to-date with the current trends in the market, you cannot expect to make a difference.

So, here a glimpse of the current trends in web design that will give you a competitive edge.

The Background:

Big background image with rich typography is the thing you should try in 2015. However, there are certain factors that you should take into consideration. Don’t let the background overpower, rather let it fall in line with your brand. The theme should be consistent throughout the website and also the backgrounds should not slow down the site. Make sure they download quickly without any glitch. Place of text is another important factor to be considered. Text should be placed in such a way that it’s easy to read.

Professional Quality Custom Photography:

If you had relied on stock imagery for your design purposes, then now is the time to switch to professional photography. Custom photography with the website and company theme in mind will give your website design a unique touch. Rest assured you will not have to worry about coming across the same images in other websites.

Long Scrolling Websites:

The trend that has become a hot favourite of many is long scrolling websites. Contrary to the popular belief that shorter the better, popular companies like Apple have tried and succeeded in long web pages concept. Earlier, long scrolling websites were frowned upon, but it will now work in your favour. The primary reason: users shifting from desktops to mobiles devices for web browsing. So, it becomes easier to scroll down sites, rather than clicking on different links to navigate from one page to another.

Responsive Web Design:

In the year 2015, a responsive design will be more of an essential element, rather than a trend. With more and more people using mobile devices for purchases and other transactions, designers will have to adopt a way to make your website fully customisable for different viewpoints. The most important point to remember is that every device has specific requirements and your site should be well equipped to reflect the same on all devices.

Ghost Buttons:

Buttons have not been given their due in the past, and the year 2015 will be the year to acknowledge their true potential. It will be their comeback year with new designs and new functionalities. Usage of Ghost Buttons is expected to top the list. Minimal and stylish, these buttons come with subtle hover animation.

Storytelling in Design:

The concept of storytelling in design is something everyone should experiment. This concept is a powerful tool that can convert visitors into potential customers. Putting together a story that explains your service makes customers relate to your company and also builds an emotional attachment.

Usage of Animation Elements:

Lot of web designers have started using subtle animations on buttons and off screen elements. This is one trend you can expect to see a rise in 2015. Animation will be a key pillar for any web, mobile or software app. Subtle, well-managed animation will not only delight users, but will also guide them and provide context. However, remember that too much of animation or jarring transitions can actually work against you. So, make sure you maintain the balance.

Hidden Menus:

Hidden menus are gaining popularity by the day. Menus have always been a staple in any web design and no one questioned the inclusion of menus on the home page. But, now designers are experimenting by hiding navigation off screen. Only when the user interacts with an element on the top right or left of the screen, does the menu show up. Hidden menus come in handy especially when viewing on a small screen. It will not interrupt the shopper when he is doing more than just navigation.

While, it is good to keep yourself updated with the latest trends, it certainly doesn’t make sense to just mimic what everyone else is doing. So, make sure you learn from the various techniques and strategies that other designers are adopting, but use the one that you think will make a difference.

Things to Know Before Stepping Into The World Of Mobile Marketing

Posted on May 8, 2015 by NextJSjointviews

Mobile marketing is touted as the next big thing in the field of online marketing. With the increase in popularity of smartphones, tablets and other wearable technology, mobile web is expected to become bigger than desktop usage.

Every marketer and advertiser would have understood by now that the future is in mobile marketing and would try every trick to utilize this increasingly burgeoning space. And in the rush to stay ahead in the business, many marketers are executing mobile campaigns that are poorly planned and bring out dismal results. So, before you venture into the world of mobile marketing, there are certain things you should know or else you might end up leaving an unfavourable impression with your customers.

Understand Customers Mobile Habits

First and foremost it is very important to know the mobile habits of customers. Did you know that these behaviour patterns if studied properly can have drastic impact on your business? For instance, it is found that 66% of mobile searchers usually visited the business, which is very beneficial if you have a local business with a physical location. And 48% of the mobile searchers visited the website, and 36% of them actually made a purchase from the website.

You should also be aware that the attention span of customers using mobiles is very limited. Most of the customers just wait 5 seconds for the page to load, before abandoning the site. And most of them are unlikely to visit your website again if it doesn’t work properly during their first visit. So, you have research such customer mobile habits and find ways to covert mobile searchers into potential customers.

Start with Mobile Website

If you are planning to establish your presence in the mobile world, then you will certainly be on the crossroad of whether to design a responsive website or a native mobile app. It is a difficult choice to make, but it ultimately depends on the goal of your business. A responsive website is a cost-effective solution when compared to developing a mobile app altogether. It is accessible from almost any device. If your main purpose is to increase your brand visibility in the market, then a responsive website will help you do just. On the other hand, if you want to provide a mobile centric experience to your existing and loyal customers, then just a responsive website may fail to do so.

A responsive website is certainly isn’t a cure all solution. For a start it is a good choice, but it falls short in various aspects. For instance, it doesn’t give a unique experience like a mobile app, neither does it improve the speed. It also fails to incorporate smartphone features like camera or GPS, like the mobile app. So, ultimately the choice lies on the purpose. If you can afford it, then investing in both a responsive website and a customer-friendly mobile app will be beneficial.

Invest in Mobile Ads

If you are new to the field of mobile marketing, then starting off with mobile ads will be good idea. They are a great means to make your business visible to people on-the-go who constantly use their smartphones or tablets. While they browse through websites, in apps and video, your ads will appear on their mobile devices on their Google search results. This will be your medium to reach your most valuable customers, generate leads and also earn conversions.

For creating effective mobile ads, make sure you optimize your ads so that they are suitable for the majority of smartphones. Also consider the OS while creating mobile ads. For best results the ad format should be suitable for the OS. Keep yourself updated with the latest digital traffic trends and consumptions to know how it will affect your ads on mobiles.

To sum it up – making yourself accessible through mobile devices is beneficial for your business. It will not boost your sales, but will also retain loyal customers as well as expand your reach. Having said that, there are a number of factors like intended purpose, available resources and target audience that need to be kept in mind before stepping into the world of mobile marketing.

30 Awesome Marketing Quotes That Can Inspire You

Posted on May 6, 2015 by NextJSjointviews

Inspiration is the door to possibilities. It can make a lot of difference. According to a recent research, inspiration can result in positive effect on people.

We all need some sort of inspiration from time to time. Great quotes by great people can change our attitude. There is always hope in quotes. Inspiration inspires for better.

Marketing is one such field that requires combination of strength, confidence and enthusiasm. Once you set out, there is no looking back. Quotes by great people can inspire you to do more.

Check out the 30 awesome quotes that restores hope:

“You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.” – Steve Jobs
“You can’t sell anything if you can’t tell anything.” – Beth Comstock
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” –Vince Lombardi
“Give them quality. That’s the best kind of advertising” – Milton Hershey
“Before you create any more “great content,” figure out how you are going to market it first” – Joe Pulizzi and New Barrett
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing”- Benjamin Franklin
“You want to invent new ideas, not new rules” – Dan Heath
“Build it, and they will come” only works in the movies. Social Media is a “build it, nurture it, engage them and they may come and stay.” – Seth Godin
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
“Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with your marketing.” – Mike Volpe
“We’re all learning here; the best listeners will end up the smartest.” – Josh Bernoff
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
“Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.” – Tim Ferriss
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Bring the best of your authentic self to every opportunity.” – John Jantsch
“Do or do not; there is no try.” – Yoda
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
“By listening, marketing will re-learn how to talk” – DOC Searls and David Weinberger
“Be passionate about the culture and the business, and remain positive, because it inspires others.” – Barry Libert
“Good is the enemy of great… The vast majority of good companies remain just that good, but not great”- Jim Coll
“There is no black magic to successfully attracting customers via the web”- Rand Fishkin
“The future of business is social”- Barry Libert
“Marketing isn’t magic. There is a science to it”- Dan Zarrella
“Think like a customer”- Paul Gillin
“You want to invent new ideas, not rules”–Dan Heath
“If you do build a great experience, customers will tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful”- Jeff Bezos
“Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes”- Zig Ziglar
“The best vision is insight”- Malcom S Forbes
“An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises” – Mae West

Why Images should be a part of digital marketing strategy

Posted on May 5, 2015 by NextJSjointviews

I read once that social media is much about sociology and psychology than technology. The more you are able to attract people, the more returns you get.

As Steve Jobs stated-"A lot of times People don't know what they want until you show it to them." This is the effect that an image creates in the mind.

Digital Marketing requires more than just a nice laid out text to create impact. Images help in grabbing that attention. A strategically placed image creates just the right effect. Research shows that content with image gets 94% more views than the one which has none. The reason is simple; the attention gets diverted to the image much easily than plain text.

As said, 'Marketing is a contest for people's attention' and Images help you get more of it. So here are few reasons why they should be an important part of your digital marketing strategy.

Increases engagement– The more the images, the more the connection. Photos posted on social media can boost up your digital marketing strategy. It is often seen that pictures get more likes, retweets and shares than plain text. A user is more likely to get engaged with your product if he sees an image associated.
The age of Visual graphics– In this era, with affordable cameras and video cameras available, people are getting more connected to images. Pinterest, Instagram are few of those examples which self-explain how important are images in today's world and for the success of business.

For instance, Pinterest is the third most popular social network which works entirely on images.

Help in decision making– With the presence of more number of high quality images users can easily compare different products .It helps in making fast decisions. A customer always feels satisfied if he sees more relevant images with the product he intends to buy or use. It helps in gaining confidence.
Image based information– Infographics can act like batteries for your e-business. If valuable statistics, information is presented in an engaging way it is the best method to enhance your business. The superlative part is that no added written content is required with the image. It helps user to visualize the content and grasp the points more easily.
Image shows in google search– An optimized image shows up in google search results. It means more surfing and more viewership.
Images are infectious– Yes, Images are easy to spread. They are easy to share on any social media platform. Sharing the picture with a link to the main article is the trick to gain views, likes and shares.
Better Branding– The more aesthetic the site looks the better is the brand value. The customers feel more confident in a site which has more images tactically placed.

Let me tell you what kind of image should actually be included-

Interesting and Relevant- The most important point is the relevance. The image should be talking about the content. It should be able to create a view about the article in the mind of reader. The key lies in making the image interesting with relevance. This can be done by adding some caption or title.
Clarity- The quality of the image is another important criterion. The image should be bright and high definition. There is no point using a blurred or dull image as it makes the user loose interest.
Number of Images- In e-marketing services, specifically this is one of the significant factors. With more number of HD images the visibility of a product increases.
Placement of Image- While all the above factors are considered important, image placement is most crucial. The image should be strategically placed so that it appears in search engine, auto populates when shared, or create the right impact at the right time.