How to Adapt a Mentality of Helping Over Selling Posted on March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 by Jonathan Herrick Sales numbers and KPIs are on the minds of a lot of businesses right now. With everything going on, there’s a real concern over how revenue will be affected, and with that comes concerns for the overall livelihood and longevity of businesses. We are all feeling the negative effects of this outbreak, and are faced with the realization that our companies will probably suffer, some more than others. But that’s no reason to neglect your sales and marketing efforts. In fact, there’s no better time to ramp up your efforts and continue to push to achieve your goals. The simple reality is that selling seems silly right now. Also, your traditional approaches are probably not getting the results they used to. It’s time for a new approach. By focusing on helping instead of selling, you’ll find that you’ll not only put your customers first but see benefits for your own company as well. Let Selling Take a Backseat This approach may seem hard, especially since sales are no doubt on your mind right now. But we’re all in this together. We all have to look out for one another, and the best way to do that is to find ways to offer up suggestions, tips, and contributions. Below are some methods you can adopt that are aimed at helping over selling. Invest In a Content Marketing Strategy One of the most cost-effective ways to both market your company while you also help others is to invest in a content marketing strategy. If you haven’t already, you can create a team in-house, or simply add this strategy on to the other efforts your marketing team is implementing. But really, content should drive your small business marketing strategy. Content, by nature, is meant to educate, not sell. It’s not intended to be promotional. Instead, it shares helpful tips, strategies, processes, tools, etc. for people to access and learn from. Create blog posts, personalized email campaigns, social media content, and whitepapers that help your audiences be better at their jobs, and better navigate through these tough times. Adjust Packages or Service Offerings Consider what your clients and potential clients need right now. Maybe they need additional help with the language and approach of their email marketing. Or, perhaps they had to close their doors temporarily, so they need to find a way to focus on e-commerce strategies. Don’t lock your clients into a plan simply because it’s at a higher price point, and therefore it’s more beneficial for you. Adjust where needed and consider swapping in other services for ones they no longer currently need. Don’t Be Afraid to Upsell I know, the word “upsell” doesn’t exactly fit with the mentality of “help over sell,” but hear me out. If additional services are going to benefit your clients’ new strategy, do not be afraid to tell them about it. Again, as long as your core mission is to help them achieve their goals, then you aren’t prioritizing your company’s pocketbook. Plus, this is just another way to offer more value to your customers. With this unfamiliar climate comes new methods and strategies to prosper. This can include any additional benefits they could receive by buying another product in addition to what they already have or already plan to purchase. Offer Webinars Webinars are a great way to stay top of mind, provide real-time support and tips, and educate your audience on things that matter to them. Instead of focusing on webinars that are more closely related to your product, create topics around how to thrive during a crisis, or the basics around keeping your business alive with different approaches and methods. Anything at all that you think your audience could use right now is fair game. If you need additional help on what that may be, talk to your sales team, account team, and your customer service team. They’re at the frontlines of what your audience is currently going through, and they can be a great resource for inspiration. Be Honest Honesty is something businesses should always practice, but in times like these, it’s even more important. Be transparent about your offerings and products, what you think your prospects need, and how you think they can meet their goals. Having that kind of mindset will make them leave every sales conversation or touchpoint with a better understanding of your company, which is a win-win for both of you. It’s the best way to build trust and assure them that you’ve got their backs. Know Their Needs Before They Do Part of your job is to anticipate your customer’s needs. If you have a good understanding of what their issues and pain points are, as well as everything your product and expertise can provide, then you will know what will help them the most. Be genuine and suggest other things that will make their life easier in the future. Be Available You should never ghost a customer or prospect, especially when they’re distressed. This is a very scary time for them, so make sure you are available, even if it’s to listen to their concerns. You may not have a definitive answer for them, but listening to them voice their fears, successes, and uncertainties will help you better understand them and service them in the future. Sure, it’s a scary time. But don’t let that make you forget your humanity. Everything isn’t always about business. When we put a helpful mentality first, we all see the leaders that are looking out for all of us. Be one of the leaders and look out for your customers and prospects, too.
4 Common Small Business Problems and How to Solve Them Posted on March 19, 2020March 12, 2020 by Jonathan Herrick As a small business owner, there are a number of common issues that you’ll inevitably find yourself having to deal with, regardless of whether you’re a brand new startup, or on your way to rapid growth. To succeed, it’s crucial that you avoid the big mistakes and have a plan of action for the smaller, more common ones. We all know that knowledge is power. Having an idea of what these common problems are can help prevent them from stressing you out and negatively impacting your success. Below, I’ve rounded up four of the most frequently experienced challenges that come with owning a small business, along with some expert advice on how to get through them unscathed. Motivating Employees You may eat, sleep, and breathe your business, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your employees will share that same deep-seated passion. People are driven by different things, which can further complicate matters. What might ignite a spark within one individual may not work for another, and vice versa. The secret to keeping your team plugged in and chugging toward your goals is to figure out what motivates each of them and then customize your approach accordingly. Perhaps an incentive program is all you need to boost motivation. Don’t be afraid to ask them how they’re doing and if they’re feeling fulfilled and driven by their work. This can give you a good read of how to further engage and motivate them, or determine if they just may not be a fit for your company. Dealing with Disgruntled Customers No matter how hard you try, you simply cannot please everyone all of the time. If it hasn’t happened yet, know that there will come a time when you will find yourself trying to please a less-than-satisfied customer. And for small business owners, there’s a good chance that escalations up the ladder will ultimately end with you, so you’ll need to be prepared. The best piece of advice I can provide for dealing with complaints is to practice empathy. Ask. Listen. Then, do your best to fix the issue. If nothing else, at least show you care. Providing attention and showing a desire to right the wrong, while it may not totally solve the issue, can definitely help you retain those customers or avoid a negative review. Battling the Competition From time to time, most small business owners have had a prospective client choose another company over them – often because the competitor is more well-known. The fact is, there’s always going to be someone else to measure yourself against. If you’re feeling discouraged or disappointed because you think you’re not as good as some other company, stop. Take a breath, and focus your energy on the customers who will not only choose you but will remain fiercely loyal because your product or service is great. Struggles with competition can easily lead to burnout. To combat that, remember why you started your business in the first place. That passion will get you through the tough moments of rejection that you’re sure to experience while growing your business. Poor or Non-Existent Culture Search “company culture” online, and you’ll find pages upon pages of insight as to why it’s so important and how you can make yours the best. But who’s got the time and resources to pour over dozens of articles? You’ve got a business to run. So, to save you time, consider this critical piece of advice: lead by example. If you want your employees to be positive and supportive of one another, you need to demonstrate those qualities in everything you do. Oh, and one other tip: hire people who will fit with your desired culture right from the start. You can always train for skills, but you can’t train for character. It also doesn’t hurt to look at your office space to make sure it creates the environment you want it to. Do you offer in-office perks, like snacks and coffee, that your employees appreciate? Are the employee benefits right for your team? Culture isn’t just about the kinds of people you bring on board. It’s also about the value you place on your employees, which can be shown in the various things you provide them with. Running a successful business is not without its challenges. The four listed above may be among the most common, but they’re also completely overcome-able, provided you take a proactive, strategic approach. Do so, and you’ll position your brand for a healthier, more secure future.
What Facebook Groups Can Do For Your Business (and How to Create Them) Posted on March 18, 2020March 12, 2020 by Natalie Slyman I remember when I first signed up for Facebook. It was 2005. Low-rise jeans were in style, and we were still trying to figure out a legit way to download and access music online. The excitement of creating my profile and connecting with my friends and classmates was palpable. I had no idea that in just a few years, everyone and their moms (literally) would be joining the platform, and Facebook as I knew it would totally change. What was once a mecca for college kids has now become a go-to platform for bragging about grandchildren, posting pictures of home-cooked meals, and sharing vacation expeditions. But in the transition, Facebook also opened up to businesses, creating ad options, functionalities, and analytics that could help those businesses using the platform thrive. The Power of Facebook While Facebook has gotten some heat somewhat recently, it’s still one of the top social media platforms out there. And while some businesses are leaving the platform, others are sticking it out and continuing to use it to tap into their audiences and share a part of their brand with them. Whether or not Facebook continues down a controversial path is uncertain. What is certain is that if your business needs more ways to benefit from Facebook groups, there are ways you can capitalize on and use it in a more meaningful way. While I’m sure there are still plenty of Facebook groups dedicated to celebrities, T.V. shows, and movies out there, businesses can hone in on the functionality so that they can create a direct line to some of their key audience members. By creating specific groups geared towards a particular industry, topic or category, businesses can create not only a space for their key audience members to engage, but also a channel in which to distribute and share their content, news, and product lines straight to their audiences’ feeds. Over the years, many companies large and small have enjoyed great success from establishing and growing their own groups, and given the fact that they don’t cost a penny, they’re well worth the effort. The Do’s and Don’ts of Facebook Groups There is, of course, a right and wrong way to go about creating a Facebook group. You may have the best intentions in mind, but the last thing you want to do is inadvertently create a forum that causes issues, isn’t serving you and your team in the way you had imagined, or find there’s little to no engagement. If you’re thinking of starting a Facebook group, make sure you follow these tips and maximize the outcome. Do: Set specific rules and expectations from the beginning. Define a set of clear and comprehensive guidelines around the kind of group you’re creating and make sure those guidelines are front, center, and easily accessible, not only to the admin team but to the group members as well. Introduce each new member to the rules right away and direct existing members back to them as needed. For example, make sure members understand that your Facebook group is a safe space for industry networking, dialogue, and content sharing. Also, make sure they understand what kinds of content abide by your group’s standards (i.e., no blatant personal or professional promotion, offensive language, or content that badmouths other members of the group, etc.) Provide your members with content that adds value. The group you’re creating should be laser-focused on serving its members. Only share high-quality content that helps educate them and offers helpful tips. If you use your group to extend offers or to promote a product, make sure they make sense for that audience. Otherwise, they won’t bite, and membership could begin to decline. Interact with your members on a consistently. The goal is to create constant engagement, both with yourself as the moderator, as well as amongst other members. Don’t only post in the group when you need to distribute content or get more people to register for your upcoming webinar. Instead, think of ways you can start conversations. Ask questions or poll attendees for their opinions on certain topics. Provide thoughtful responses and engage in conversation, so members see you’re invested in creating a community. Ask for help growing the group. As you monitor the group, look for members who are most active and engaged. Those are your brand ambassadors and group champions. Reach out to them and ask them to invite others and help you spread the word. Word of mouth and third-party credibility are the best ways to appeal to other potential people. Don’t: Post too frequently. Like anything else, Facebook groups require balance to be successful. It’s important to be active and consistent, but if you’re bombarding your audience with dozens of updates a day, you’ll risk annoying and driving them away from the group. Spam members with constant branded content. Yes, the ultimate goal is to generate new business for your brand, but if every post you publish is a discount code or something salesy, again, you’ll risk pushing your members away and losing them altogether. Remember – any content you publish should bring value to your audience, so focus on their needs, not your end goal. Allow rule-breakers to get out of hand. You’ve set guidelines. If someone is consistently breaking the rules, you’ll want to take swift action to prevent them from ruining the experience for everyone else. Overextend yourself by trying to handle the group by yourself. In the beginning, managing the group may not be that complicated, but as it grows, you’ll quickly find yourself overwhelmed trying to handle all the admin duties yourself. When you reach that point, consider asking a few key members if they’d be willing to serve as moderators. Sweeten the pot by offering them something in exchange for their help. Add people to the group who aren’t interested (or encourage others to do so). Adding new members just to get your numbers up is a pointless effort. At the end of the day, you want a group filled with happy, engaged members who either already are or could potentially become your customers. As such, focus on building an audience that’s relevant to your brand. It may take longer, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Facebook groups can be a powerful and highly effective tool for marketing to and engaging with your target audience – but only if it’s done right. By following the list of do’s and don’ts provided above, you’ll be able to create and grow a community that will flourish for many years to come.
Tools To Help Teams Work Remotely During the COVID-19 Outbreak Posted on March 18, 2020June 15, 2020 by Jonathan Herrick We know a lot of teams are working remotely or from the confines of their homes to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Whether you’re no stranger to the work from home lifestyle, or this was a sudden and unexpected mandate, you need to make sure you’re using the right tools, so that business can resume as normal (or as close to normal as possible). Head over to Benchmark Email’s blog for some tools to help teams work remotely during this tricky time.
Your Guide to Conversational Marketing Posted on March 17, 2020March 12, 2020 by Allie Wolff What’s the best way to connect with your prospects and customers? Start a conversation. Conversational marketing is one of the most effective marketing strategies for moving buyers through the sales funnel. As its name indicates, this technique focuses on using conversations to create authentic experiences and build relationships. Rather than making people fill out lead capture forms and wait for a response, conversational marketing utilizes tools like intelligent chatbots and targeted messaging to engage with people in real-time. The easier it is for people to interact with your business, the easier it will be to convert them. And they’ll appreciate the accessibility. Let’s take a closer look at what this type of marketing is all about and how you can use it to your advantage. Marketing is Evolving Let’s face it; the world is evolving. The traditional way businesses market and sell no longer aligns with how today’s consumers buy things. The customer experience is changing, in large part, to messaging apps and readily available content. When we’re not speaking to someone face to face, we’re communicating with them via other real-time methods, like text, email, or chatbots. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s the closest thing to a real conversation. Also, 88 percent of consumers are doing their own research before making purchasing decisions. With the amount of content and resources available online, it’s no wonder consumers are taking the reigns and educating themselves. These real-time, conversation-driven apps can capitalize on this trend and reach consumers while they’re researching. And businesses are taking notice. It’s said that by this year, 80 percent of businesses will have some kind of chatbot automation in place. And while that’s a great step towards adopting conversational marketing as part of your strategy, it’s still important to fully understand the benefits of it and a recommended way for getting started. Benefits of Conversational Marketing If you’re still not convinced that adopting this new type of marketing is worth the time and effort, here are five real benefits you’ll achieve by doing so. Humanize your brand and create a more pleasant buying experience Break down barriers so you can learn more about your customers Easily vet your leads to determine which are a better fit, which can also improve conversions Avoid unnecessary back-and-forth, establish and address pain points more quickly, and therefore shorten the buying process. With less time spent with each lead, you’ll create more time in your day to grow your sales pipeline Getting Started with Conversational Marketing The good news is, you don’t need to get rid of your entire approach and start from scratch to take advantage of conversational marketing. In fact, it’s something that is meant to be complementary to your existing strategy. Here are some suggestions for getting started: 1. Replace forms with messaging or chat to engage leads. Provide website visitors with an option to instantly start a conversation without making them fill out a form. You’ll end up with opportunities to deliver a more personal experience, which can lead to higher conversion rates. Realistically, you can’t have someone manning your website 24/7, so that’s where intelligent chatbots come into play. 2. Understand the wants and needs of your leads. Using conversational marketing can also help you qualify your leads faster, which will improve your chances of conversion. For instance, you can program your bots to ask fundamental qualifying questions similar to those you normally include in your forms. Artificial intelligence technology will enable the bot to understand the lead better, so you’ll end up with more pre-qualified prospects. 3. Recommend the next step to move leads through the sales funnel. Chatbots might be great at providing basic, 24/7 support, but when it comes to closing the sale, nothing beats human-on-human interaction. You can leverage conversational marketing to route hot leads to your sales team, where they can then be handled by a live agent. This enables reps to focus 100% on selling, which will inevitably boost your bottom line. If you’re looking for a newer, better, and more effective way to gather leads and convert them into paying customers, adding conversational marketing into the mix is the ideal solution.
What Businesses Should Do About the COVID-19 Outbreak Posted on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 by Jonathan Herrick These are unprecedented circumstances for all of us, and our hearts go out to each and every one of you dealing with this virus, especially those on the front-lines sacrificing their lives to keep us all safe. However, as a business owner, the one thing you’re amazing at is staying on your toes and adapting to change. Need a few tips for addressing COVID-19 concerns with your audience? Head on over to the Benchmark Email blog. There you’ll find tips for businesses on how to deal with the virus and how to communicate with customers about it. In the meantime, here at Hatchbuck, we’ll be practicing social distancing by working from home. But we promise that you’ll continue to receive the same friendly support that you know and love. Thank you for being a part of our community, and stay safe out there! Your team at Hatchbuck
5 Marketing Attribution Tools that are Perfect for Small Businesses Posted on March 12, 2020September 22, 2022 by Jessica Lunk Digital marketing can be a dizzying world sometimes. There’s a lot of tasks, services, and changes to keep up with. Not to mention the constant need to refine your marketing strategies and adjust your advertising buys. When it’s all said and done, though, are your efforts actually working? Sometimes, even with the data presented from your advertising and marketing automation platforms, it’s a difficult question to answer. It’s often easy to see how someone enters your site or finds your product, what content they download, or how often they open an email. But there’s a deeper level to your data that needs to be uncovered. All of your paid sponsorships, blog posts, and display advertisements aren’t successful unless there’s a definite ROI. So, it’s critical that you take a deeper dive into your data to find the right touchpoints and understand how they can drive more sales. As a small business, budgets are always a concern. Marketing attribution tools aren’t exactly uncommon, but many are geared towards huge enterprises with price tags to follow. For these recommendations, we’re sticking to the small business budget and mindset. 1. Google Attribution It’s likely that you already use Google Analytics and possibly Google AdWords in your digital marketing plan. Google Analytics is extremely useful for websites to track their traffic and website trends. Within Analytics, Google released Google Attribution. Google Attribution is a completely free tool that helps you see your insights on a deeper level. Instead of simply viewing your website traffic, you can also evaluate the success of your content, marketing campaigns, and product sales. What is wonderful about Google Attribution is that it works seamlessly with Analytics and AdWords. If you already use these products, there’s no reason to not incorporate Google Attribution into your plan. Since Google products are so widely used, training is readily available for Google Attribution as well as other aspects of Analytics and AdWords online. Pricing: Free! 2. CallRail The simple reality is that while email follow-up is more common, sales and other professionals still use phone outreach and follow-up often. CallRail helps you not only measure and understand your online campaigns but your offline ones as well. Using their data, you can see a holistic picture of your efforts and how they tie into your inbound call, form submissions, and advertising buys. CallRail also offers phone call recording so you can improve your customer service abilities, review calls, and coach your staff. Pricing: $45 to $145/month, depending on the feature set and the number of phone numbers needed. 3. Statcounter Statcounter is a user-friendly analytics tool with built-in marketing attribution features. Statcounter manages all your analytics on a clean and simple dashboard with powerful filters to see the exact information you’re looking for. With this simple interface, identifying touchpoints in your sea of data is easier than ever. Pricing: They offer a free trial, but depending on your needs and how many page views you want to analyze, package options range from $9 – $399/month 4. LeadsRX LeadsRX is the perfect prescription for a growing business’ marketing attribution needs. This software lets you follow your customer’s path through cross-channel touchpoints, so that you can get the full-funnel picture. LeadsRX enables you to see exactly how you are spending your marketing dollars and how much of a return you’re getting on your investment. Their interface is clean and straightforward, with options easily laid out so you won’t have to guess what the touchpoints are. In fact, LeadsRX automatically marks credit to touchpoints for you. Pricing: The enterprise level is $800 per month, which is definitely on the pricier end of the spectrum. Fortunately, they offer a customized version for small businesses that is paired down to your needs with a custom, affordable price. 5. Kochava Kochava specializes in mobile attribution. This software analyzes and optimizes ad campaigns meant for the mobile market and can give you an inside look at user behaviors, allow you to reach out to them on related devices, and target users who are more likely to engage with your services. Their marketing attribution platform is entirely customizable, which makes it extremely powerful for a digital marketer. Different data points, like clicks, installs, or impressions, mean different things to different marketers. Kochava gives you a holistic look at your user actions, which lets you assign a customized value to their touchpoints. Pricing: Kochava offers a free, light version of its software for small businesses as well as a 30-day free trial. Finding the right marketing tools for a small business can be tough. Expertise and budgetary constraints can lead the small business marketer frustrated and lacking in the software power of their bigger competitors. Fortunately, there are companies out there that want to put power back in the small business’s pocket and offer packages that make sense for them. So, take power into your hands. Try out some of these marketing attribution software options and turn your ad buys into finely-tuned sales machines.
8 Ways to Reuse Old Blog Posts Posted on March 11, 2020March 5, 2020 by Natalie Slyman When you browse your blog posts, I’m sure you see a lot of amazing topics. Perhaps you’re even thinking to yourself that it would be great if you could reuse those same topics to create new, original content to engage your readers further. Well, the truth is that you can. The trick is to figure out how to reuse old blog posts without simply self-plagiarizing and republishing the same content. Doing so not only has distrust ramifications for you and your audience, but you’re also not being that educational resource your audience needs. Not to mention, Google dislikes duplicate information immensely. If it seems that you are in the habit of just repeating the same information over and over again, your blog’s search rankings will be negatively affected. But don’t let all that worthwhile information go to waste. Start repurposing and reusing your valuable blog content in a way that further serves your audience and doesn’t get your content flagged for self-plagiarism. Here’s how. 1. Turn One Blog Post Into Multiple Posts I know, I know. This sounds tedious. But I promise it’s not. Take one of your valuable blog posts and read through it, searching for points that could easily be their own article. Use the base information you have and fill it out, so your content is still of a similar vein, yet maintains its uniqueness and originality. Take, for example, our blog post on “10 Blog Metrics You Should be Using to Track Success.” One of the metrics to track success within this blog post is “Overall Blog Visits.” A full blog post can be written on why overall blog visits is an important metric to measure for success and the various methods you can use to increase the visits to your blog. Increase your guest-contributed content and include links back to your blog within those articles. Create a social campaign that incorporates more posts about certain blog posts to help drive more traffic. Search for relevant content online published by other brands and reach out to them to see if they’d include a link to one of your applicable blog posts, which will also help drive more traffic to your blog. You can then take another point within the original blog post and apply the same method. You will be surprised how many ideas can spring forth from one blog post alone. 2. Change Up The Format Blogging has become a mainstream of marketing, and once you have been doing it for quite a while, it is very easy to amass a collection. But keep in mind that not every member of your audience base likes to consume content the same way. While some prefer to read content, others enjoy videos or infographics and find that those formats are more engaging. So, take a piece of content and consider turning it into a marketing webinar where you can do a deep dive into the topic and offer real-time tips and resources. Or, take a blog article that describes one of your offers, software, or processes and create a visual infographic. 3. Breathe Some Fresh Life Into It The older your blog posts get, the more traffic they eventually accumulate. And while it’s great when a certain, older blog posts continue to get eyes on it, it should be noted that that’s all the more reason to ensure it’s still relevant. Start by first reviewing your older blog posts that are still driving traffic. Do they include any statistics that need to be updated, or is the information dated? Maybe it talks about a part of your software or services that you no longer have or provide. These are simple fixes that will go along way with your audience and show them that you have lots of evergreen content that will always be valuable. Also, try uploading colorful images, reformatting, and adding better or more examples. Don’t forget to add a line that informs readers when the post was updated, so they know how fresh it is. 4. Create an eBook Writing a book from scratch is time-consuming and requires a lot of resources, time, and money. A lot of brands just don’t have the bandwidth for it. But, the good news is that you can easily use your blog posts and turn them into an eBook. Just pull all your blog posts that cover a similar theme, like social media tips or ways to grow your agency. Bundle them into an offer that you either gate on your website or sell, which can create some passive income. Make sure to add an introduction, table of contents, and conclusion to round it out a little and make it easy to read and helpful as possible. Note your website and other relevant information in the book so your readers know where to find you to learn more about you. 5. Republish Your Blog Posts This fact may surprise you, but did you know that you can republish your blog posts on other websites without getting penalized? Sites like Medium, Reddit, LinkedIn, and Social Media Today, just to name a few, will help you get your words in front of a broader audience without punishing you for the privilege. Some sites will republish your content for you, but make sure you also have an outreach strategy in place so you can pitch your published content for syndication. Content syndication sites are a fantastic way to introduce yourself to a new audience that may not be familiar with your work. 6. Use Tidbits for Social Media Your words of wisdom are just waiting to be recycled into posts on social media. As the hard work is already done, you just have to rework it to suit your current social media plans. All you need to do is select the choice information and post it to your Facebook or Twitter page. Don’t forget to add an image to ensure your text is eye-catching and memorable. Take your time to choose some suitable hashtags to accompany it. Something that we do is take one of our blog posts, pull out a compelling tidbit or piece of data from it, and create an image highlighting that information. Once the image is created, we share it on social along with a link to the blog post for more information. This helps drive more traffic to that blog post, and it also creates a new way for our audience to consume that content. 7. Create Newsworthy Newsletters Every competitive brand out there should be sending monthly newsletters to their prospects and clients. They help you stay top of mind with them and offer applicable, educational content. Also, they’re a great way to use your blog content. Repurpose your blog content to breathe new life into your newsletters. Doing so also keeps your newsletters informative and engaging, and will give your audience a wonderful reason to stick around. Not all of your followers will have read all of your blog posts, so don’t be too concerned about overexposing them to similar content. In fact, you can even link to the relevant blog post in the newsletter, which will encourage them to read on for more information. A win-win for both you and them! 8. Create a List Post Over time you will start to notice a pattern in the subject of your posts. And it probably won’t take you more than a couple of hours to group your best blog posts into relevant themes and use that information as the basis for a list post. Internal links have many advantages, and link posts, in particular, can be particularly informative for your readers. By directing your readers to your past work, you are catering to their interests and offering a relevant blogging experience. Much like creating an eBook, you’re accumulating similar content and putting it all in one place. This helps drive specific needs and does so in a way that shows your audience you have a ton of relevant content on a specific subject. Get the most out of your blog content, and don’t be afraid to reuse the valuable pieces when needed. The eight ways mentioned above are all great ways to get more longevity and use as much of your existing, valuable content as possible.
10 Elements of the Perfect Office Space Posted on March 10, 2020March 5, 2020 by Jonathan Herrick If you work in an office, chances are you spend a lot of time there. Some of us even spend more time in the office than we do at home. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial, but in today’s workforce, it isn’t always a reality. So, it makes sense that you would want certain office perks and a relaxing and comfortable environment. But where do you start? And how do you ensure that the office space you create is enjoyable for everyone? There’s no set manual for turning a lackluster space into something more enticing for your employees. While you don’t have to aspire to Google or The Wing office spaces with slides, mini-golf courses, and beautifully curated furniture and decor, there are some specific things you can focus on that will ensure you have the perfect office space to get the job done. 1. Open Space A cramped workspace is not fun for anyone. While it doesn’t have to be overly spacious, gone are the days of little cubicles and compartments that make employees feel stressed, restricted, and like they’re in a confining cage. Open up the area so you and your staff can enjoy the space freely and move around without the constant fear of bumping into desks and filing cabinets. Also, an open office space makes for more open and easy communication. 2. Lighting Lighting is one of the most critical aspects of any office environment. Lack of lighting can affect your productivity and energy levels, so it makes sense that there should be plenty of light surrounding the work area. Natural lighting is best, but if you don’t have that, then make sure there is ample overhead lighting in the office to avoid any dull or poorly lit corner spaces. Opt for blinds over curtains, so your staff has more control over the amount of light and shade. And if the natural light in your office is really great, build a vibrant indoor plant garden. Having live, indoor plants add to the overall aesthetic and provide a calming element to any space. 3. Color The paint on your office walls doesn’t have to be all eggshell, white dove, pearl, cream, or cotton. A pop of color on an odd wall or two can enhance a work environment and make it more conducive to productivity. Consider accent walls to brighten up the area. Clever use of color can also open up the room and make it seem larger than what it really is. And color isn’t only applicable to your walls. Try using colorful office furniture, chairs, or tables to add some life. 4. Heating/Cooling Ensuring you have a comfortable climate in the workspace is essential for happiness and productiveness. A lot of offices are either too hot or too cold, and it can upset the comfort balance and disrupt healthy workflow. Double-check that you can turn the temperature up or down, or at the very least, can add space heaters and fans, to warm up and cool down as necessary. 5. Connectivity This is an absolute given, but every modern office requires an internet connection. Having areas where your team struggles to get online will not help anyone and will eventually prove to be incredibly frustrating. If your team can’t get on client calls or set up remote meetings, how will you function properly? Confirm that you have an adequate internet connection throughout the entire office space, so employees don’t have to be wandering around the building in search of a corner just to send an email. 6. Décor While décor may be low on your priority list, and dependent on your budget, even the simplest of objects can have a considerable effect. Consider well-placed artwork or prints on your walls to break up large expanses of wall space, an interesting sculpture or statue to act as a talking piece, and a plant or two to add some variety to an otherwise lifeless area. 7. Kitchen/Dining Space A kitchen furnished with the basic commodities can come in handy. Make sure that you equip the kitchen with a toaster, microwave, kettle, and coffee maker. Also, take care to have a never-ending supply of tea, coffee, water, and snacks (if they’re in your budget) to keep your employees hydrated and nourished. You also need to ensure that there is a clean space to eat, so your employees don’t feel like they have to stay at the desk the entire time they are at work. 8. Amenities You might want to consider a lounge area with a couch or two to encourage socialization; this way, your employees will feel like they can take a break at their leisure or chat about a particular project away from the confines of the desk environment. Also, don’t underestimate the versatility of a large-sized meeting or conference room with plenty of whiteboard space for brainstorming. 9. Ergonomic Furniture While you may wish to keep a tight rein on your purse strings, ergonomic furniture is essential for your staff. All desks and chairs need to be fully adjustable, without exception, so that they are comfortable and well-suited to each staff member. This will help minimize injuries such as RSI, sore backs, and stiffness. A quality functional office chair that can support their lower back and maintain perfect posture will make your staff happier too. 10. Electrical Outlets One area which is often overlooked in the office is a plentiful supply of electrical outlets. Verify there are ample outlets to avoid draping extension cords from one end of the room to another. Not only can this hinder your workplace activities, but it can also pose serious health and safety risks. When in doubt, more electrical outlets are certainly better than less. Creating a space that your employees will enjoy working in doesn’t have to be difficult. Just focus on what is important and when in doubt, ask them personally how they believe you can improve the area, so it is more beneficial for them. At the end of the day, you want an environment that will inspire them to be motivated and creative, and your decorating and layout ideas can play a huge part in making that happen.