Digital Branding

10 Tips to Overcome Email Rendering Challenges

on May 14, 2019

Sending an email can either make your brand or break it. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to design your emails for smooth user experience. A broken email layout is the biggest blasphemy for any marketer as well as the subscriber. The way your subscribers perceive your email determines the level of engagement garnered from the campaigns.

Email marketers face some rendering challenges because of two main reasons:

-Suppression of images

Certain email clients block images by default according to the security settings set by the subscriber. Outlook and Yahoo! automatically reset these settings and turn off the images. Consequently, the subscriber might not be able to understand the purpose of the email, which will hamper the performance of your email campaigns because of the improper rendering.

-Formatting changes

Text alignment, bullets, and font sizes can change according to the email client that the subscriber uses to view the email. Your recipient will not have the leniency to struggle through poorly rendering emails. Most often, such emails will land in the trash bin or even worse get marked as spam.

Here are 10 simple tips on how to overcome rendering challenges in emails.

1. Insert a preview text that aligns well with the subject line and purpose of the email

A preview text elaborates the subject line and lets the subscriber know more about the purpose of the email. Often, marketers face the challenge of limited characters allowed in the subject lines. Preview text helps to overcome this issue.

Here’s an example of how your email will be viewed in case you do not add the preheader text.

2. Add Alt text for all the visual elements

You cannot do away with visual elements in emails. However, it is important to consider the rendering of these elements across the diverse email clients. Many email clients have images turned off by default, owing to which the user might not be able to understand the purpose of the email.

Take a look at the screenshot below.

To make sure that your email does not look like this, always add Alt text to the imagery included in the email. This practice is also crucial when it comes to creating accessible emails.

Here’s an example showing the right usage of Alt text.

3. Avoid using JavaScript

Mostly every email client blocks JavaScript as it can conceal malware and lead to security issues. Consequently, you should not use it in your emails.

4. Choose your fonts wisely

Include the standard web-safe fonts in your emails so that there are no rendering issues.

If you plan to use custom fonts to grab the reader’s attention, it is a must to add fallback fonts with similar height and spacing. The safest bet is to use fonts like Arial, Comic Sans, Courier New, Georgia, Impact, Palatino, Tahoma, Trebuchet MS, Times New Roman, and Verdana.

Email clients supporting web fonts are enlisted below.

  • Native Android Email client
  • Outlook 2000
  • Outlook.com app
  • AOL Mail
  • Apple Mail
  • iOS Mail
  • Safari browser

5. Inline CSS and tables instead of using CSS Stylesheets

Emails render differently from websites. Many email clients do not support stylesheets which makes it incumbent upon the developer to use tables and inline styles rather than CSS.

6. Use tables rather than divs

While websites are designed using divs, most of the email clients do not support <div> tags. Therefore, emails should be coded using table tags. Moreover, it is easier to create responsive emails with tables.

7. Specify HTML text for CTAs

It is strongly recommended you do not use images for your calls to action. CTAs should be written in HTML text for better rendering. Also, do not have any CTAs in the background images.

8. Standard bullets are more preferable over custom-designed bullets

Use standard bullets instead of custom-designed bullets so that there are no rendering issues. Alternatively, you can make the bulleted list into an image with suitable alt text.

9. It is safe to use <br> instead of “float” and “clear”

Float and CSS properties of CSS can get mixed up in the emails. Therefore, it is better to use HTML code as <br> instead of CSS.

10. Mention the widths and heights in pixels instead of percentages

Some email clients do not look at percentage values as a valid property. If you have to manage large images within the email designs, it is advisable to use pixel sizes as opposed to percentage values.

Wrap up

The foundation of designing a flawless email that renders well across every device and email client is “responsiveness”. Design for “Images Off” so that it overcomes the problem of image suppression.

If you follow these two tips and test your emails before every send, you will surely conquer the obstacle of improper rendering.

Author Bio

Chintan is Head of Operations at InboxArmy LLC. He has been into email marketing domain from last 7 years. Chintan is connected to InboxArmy, a professional email marketing agency that specializes in providing advanced email marketing services from email production to deployment. Chintan’s track record of email marketing success covers building email programs from scratch and using data-driven strategies to turn around underperforming accounts.

Local Branding

An Active Businessperson’s Guide to Aging Parent Care

on May 12, 2019

You’ve worked hard to get where you are now and establish yourself within the career you have chosen. As an active businessperson who prioritizes work success, it can come as quite a shock when your aging parents need assistance from you. After all, you’ve managed to get this far in life and business thanks to your loving parents who have supported you from day one. But just like they were sometimes busy with work when you were a child, getting away from your business endeavors in order to spend time and care for your parents can become quite a big problem for everyone, and especially you. But, where there’s a will there’s a way.

Technology to the rescue

As it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to wiggle your way out of the business meetings you probably have scheduled a month in advance, it would be best to utilize the power of the digital age we live in and introduce your parents to the world of social media. Regardless of their age, managing social media accounts and browsing the Web shouldn’t be too difficult to master. Not only will you be able to check up on them and have a quick chat, but they’ll have something entertaining to do when they’re home alone.

Complete fall prevention

In case your aging parents live alone at their own home, you want to conduct a “fall audit” (similar to a business audit) to make sure that there are no trip hazards at their place considering that you won’t be able to run to them immediately if something happens. That said, inspect their home when you have the chance for problematic cords, poor lighting, unused furniture that simply creates clutter, slippery surfaces, lack of rails/grab bars around the stairs or in the bathroom, and so on. If you can’t deal with fixing the issues due to your business responsibilities, hire someone else to do it.

Look for professional help

In case your parent or parents also suffer from some kind of illness, either physical or mental, and need special care in that regard as well, you most definitely need to get some professional help. The chances are that you won’t be able to leave work in order to take your folks to doctor’s appointments. This is where contemporary dementia care programs can help you. And even if your parents don’t like the idea, you can convince them by explaining to them that they’ll have all the freedom they want and that they can go back home every once in a while as well. Also, check for Medicaid benefits if you are seeking more options for protecting your parents in this situation.

Make sure they’re not lonely

It’s not uncommon for seniors to withdraw and stay away from social contact, especially when they spend their time away from their home. Add to that the fact that you won’t be able to give them your full attention due to the responsibilities you have and your business, and you get a grumpy and lonely elder. Making sure that their care program and/or facility organizes outings and get-togethers which they’ll be obliged to attend is likely to help them open up a bit again and enjoy social activities and encounters once more.

Even if you’re fully committed to your career and business at hand, you can do everything in your power to provide security and protection to your aging parents. You don’t have to be present all the time for them to know that you love and care for them. And as an active business person, you’ll probably be able to master the scheduling when it comes to squeezing your parents into your lifestyle, at least when regular checkups are concerned.

Email
Digital Branding

How Should Your Email Header and Footer Be?

on May 11, 2019

The world may have adopted newer styles of communication but, you simply cannot ignore email, as it is one of the primary and most often used mode of communication. Despite being the oldest form of digital communication, it is still relevant and effective in the current times.

99% of consumers check their emails on a daily basis.

59% of the people claimed that email marketing did influence their purchase decisions.

These statistics go on to prove the point made earlier on the effectiveness and relevancy of emails in the current time and age. However, it is not enough to just draft an email and send it through a mass email service; you need to think through the complete anatomy of the email and define the various parts in a way that will grab the audience’s attention and make them convert.

The two most crucial elements of email design are the header and the footer. Most marketers don’t really give importance to these two aspects when designing the email, but it is one of the reasons you gain success with your emails.

Designing the Header: Start with an Impact

The header is the first thing that connects with the audience when they open the email. Your header should not only grab the audience’s attention but also manage to set the tone and expectations for the email. It is the header that will decide whether the target will read your email contents or not.

Here’s what a good header does for your brand:

  • The branding is clearly defined with the header, and the recipient is well aware who the sender of the email was. Secondly, it resonates with the branding elements and ensures there is a quick connection between the email and the audience reading it.
  • The header is generally short and precise and mentions what the email is about in those few words. The reader can skim through the content with ease if the header is defined properly, and they will know whether their attention is required for the rest of the copy or not.
  • The same header can be used across the different email campaigns, thus calling for consistency of the emails sent out by the brand. The user would know who they are receiving the email from, and this consistency helps build the brand’s image and also the engagement rate.

Header Design Best Practices

  • Image Size: If you are adding an image to the header of the email that you are planning to send out, then you need to keep in mind that the header’s height is no more than 350px. Once the image size is fixed, your header should include the following three elements that make up for the branding and consistency of email headers.
    • The first part of the email header is the branding, which means you should identify your company’s name and logo in the header image itself. By identifying yourself to the audience, you are increasing the trust and recognition for your brand.
    • What is the email about? For instance, is your email transactional or event related? The email header should pronounce the kind of email you are sending to the readers. This will help your audience understand whether or not the email is relevant to them.
    • The CTA should be kept in the first fold itself so that the users are compelled to take the action, and you can accomplish your goals. However, designing the CTA and getting users to take action can be quite complicated if you have not conveyed the entire message in a single line. Make sure your header content talks about what to expect in an easy-to-understand manner.
  • Simplicity: When designing the header, you should keep it as easy and functional as possible. Navigating through the menu placed in the header should be intuitive. The images in your email should be segregated from the design so that neither overpowers the other, and the focus message remains clear. Keep the email header design minimal and use a simple structure to define it.
  • Colors: When designing the header image, make it a point to use contrasting colors along with calls-to-action that stand out to make the desired impression on the readers. The idea is to grab the eyes with effective and incredible designs.
  • Content: This is an important aspect of the header that you design. You need to include content that matches the overall design. Eye-catching font colors and modern design will help your content stand out amidst the competition.

Some interesting examples of header designs by top brands

The above image shows how National Geographic has included the CTA in the first fold and clearly enabled the different branding elements in the header image.

The above image shows how precise the content is for the header image. It sets the tone and pace for the remaining email for the readers.

Designing the Footer: The Perfect Ending

If the reader manages to skim through the entire email, the last thing they would read in the email would be the footer. The footer is your last chance to connect with the readers and offer them some valuable information, which has not been mentioned throughout the email.

Here’s what a good footer does for your brand:

  • It attempts to remove all the unrelated information and helps streamline the entire communication of the email with minimal words or phrases.
  • The terms and conditions are part of the footer content. Such things help the readers gain transparency and will allow them to understand what the promotion is all about.
  • There are a few steps mentioned in the footer, in case of promotions, which assures the user about the direction they need to take to complete the transaction of any kind.

Footer Design Best Practices

  • Inclusions: When designing the footer, there are a few elements that you cannot ignore. Here are the footer inclusions that are a must
    • A backlink to your site is essential – either to a site page or to the blog, depending on where you want to take the user. The users should understand a bit more about your website and your brand, and the footer link is the only way for that.
    • The mailing address is important as readers should know where to contact you for more information. Also, include other contact information such as your email address and phone number.
    • The social media links should be placed along the footer. Use social media icons and link them to your social media pages so that the users can gain more insights about your brand.
    • You can also add a sign-up link, a menu and other such information in the footer if needed.
    • Don’t forget to add copyright information as well as a link to the privacy policy in the footer.
  • Simple & precise: The design of the should be simple and insightful. It should grab the user’s attention with the content placed in it. Don’t try to stuff too much information into the footer. Focus on the central message while designing the footer, and just include what you believe works for the readers.
  • Organize it: It is important to organize the content in the footer in a defined manner. You ought to make sure that the content has a hierarchy, which is based on the kind of actions you want the user to take. You should direct the users towards one action at a time.
  • Space it out: Take up the space to communicate every part of the email footer in a defined manner. Don’t cramp up the content just to reduce the space as that will have a negative impact on the readers.
  • Signoff: It is important that you have a signoff that you can use with the mass emails you send to customers. It could be playful or serious, depending on the image you are trying to carve for your brand.

Some interesting examples of header designs by top brands

You can see how well organized and hierarchy-based arrangement in the footer design looks like. It gives the reader clarity on what is expected of them first, and what are the various actions they can take.

The perfect signoff can be seen in the Google Home hub email in the form of “was this email helpful?”.

You also see add-on content like copyright and privacy policies in the footer in a defined manner. The social icons are well spaced out that makes it a perfect example of an email footer.

Wrap up

If email marketing is important to you, then you ought to look into every element of the email and ensure that they are properly designed and defined.

The header and footer play an important role in enhancing the overall appeal of the email and increasing email engagement.

Both the header and footer should be designed carefully and should be simple and intuitive. The content should specifically convey what you want to say throughout the email, for the header. In the case of the footer, the content should convey that you have ended the email and offer some more valuable information to the users. Links to the websites or other social sites can help the user know more about you as a brand, and bring higher conversions for you.

Author Bio

Chris Donald is the Director of InboxGroup, A professional email marketing agency that specializes in providing result-driven email marketing services. He has worked directly with Fortune 500 companies, retail giants, nonprofits, SMBs and government bodies in all facets of their email marketing services email audit and marketing automation programs for almost 2 decades. He enjoys sharing his distinctive thoughts and insights into email marketing best practices at his blog.

Digital Branding

4 Examples Of Great Brand Newsletters To Inspire You

on May 10, 2019

Your newsletter is an important part of your branding and marketing efforts. It’s where you showcase your brand personality, upsell products, and strengthen your customer communities.

But creating a great brand newsletter is easier said than done. So why not take inspiration from some brands that have got it right? Read on for 4 examples of stunnig  brand newsletters that you can learn from today.

Apple: reinforce your branding in every element

Your email newsletters are an important touchpoint, an opportunity for you to showcase your unique brand to your customers. Every newsletter to your customers is a chance for you to strengthen your brand and stand out against your competition.

The key to this is consistency across every channel: your website, social media, emails, and so on should all reflect the same branding elements. And for a masterclass in newsletter branding, one need look no further than tech giant Apple:

Image Really Good Emails

 

Every aspect of this email exudes the Apple branding, from the cool monochromatic color scheme to the iconic sans serif font. This is complemented by the large, high-quality image that takes center-stage in the email — unmistakably Apple in its style.

The language used in the newsletter also appeals to the brand’s exclusivity. Every new product launch is met with queues hundreds of people long, and the invitation to “be one of the first” to own the new iPhone echoes that sense of anticipation.

What you can learn from it

Apple’s branding is a success story that everyone can learn from. Consistency is crucial. use the same font across every channel, the same color scheme, the same language, and so on. Even the timing of your newsletter should be consistent to nurture trust with your audience.

Just as important are the words you use to write about your brand. Your brand personality should permeate your newsletters through your copy, continuing the conversation across each communication.

The Creative Independent: show your audience you care

A successful brand newsletter should a) get opened, and b) get read. An intriguing subject line can help with the former, but with the latter, you should appeal to your readers as individuals.

This is achieved by fostering a customer community, showing your audience that you value their input towards your brand.

Creative hub The Creative Independent (TCI) knows the value of their audience to their brand, as exemplified in the newsletter below:

Image Really Good Emails

 

The newsletter opens with an affectionate term for TCI’s readers, a term that compounds the sense of belonging to a community. But it’s the content itself that really shows the reader their importance to the brand.

Not only did TCI actively seek out its audience’s input in their Emotional Planning Worksheet survey, but it also acted on the responses to provide value to its readers too. This comes in the form of a color visualization of the audience responses. It’s engaging, relevant to TCI’s target audience of creatives, and strengthens the brand-reader relationship by acting on your audience input.

What you can learn from it

The Creative Independent’s newsletter above shows the importance of valuing your audience and nurturing a two-way relationship with them. Actively invite input from your audience in the form of surveys, questionnaires, UGC contests, and so on.

But don’t let this input sit idle. Collate the best responses and send them out in your next newsletter, tagging individual customers by name (with their consent). Alternatively, transform survey responses into an infographic for some quick and interesting newsletter content.

Adobe: visual stuff is the hook that draws audiences in

The power of visuals is often shouted about in branding and marketing — and with good reason. A picture tells a thousand words, and we remember 80% of what we see and do (compared with 10% of what we hear and 20% of what we read).

And when it comes to your brand newsletters, strong visuals helps hook your readers and engage them with your actual content. Take the example from software brand Adobe, below:

Image Really Good Emails

 

What makes this newsletter stand out is its genuinely unique and eye-catching images.

Yes, its headers are bold and promising (what Adobe customer wouldn’t want to have the newest design features at their fingertips?) and its copy is concise and inspiring. But its the visual content that undeniably grabs the reader’s attention.

Intriguing mirror effects, high-res photos of gorgeous butterflies, splashes of color — all transfix the reader, keeping them locked into the newsletter, like moths to a flame. As a consequence, they are more susceptible to the other content in the email.

What you can learn from it

As a creative brand, Adobe has no shortage of stunning imagery to hand (not to mention a budget for it). Thankfully, you don’t need to have a big budget or a team of creatives to benefit from eye-catching visuals in your newsletter.

There are plenty of free photo sources that offer unique, creative content (like these crowdsourced photos for free use). Remember to only use photos that are relevant to your industry — a snap of a refreshing cold drink on a beach might look nice, but if you’re a tech company then it just won’t wash.

Unique, high-quality visuals that are a far cry from the generic stock photos you usually find in newsletters go a long way towards engaging readers with your message. Use visuals as the hook that leads your audience towards the cruz of your newsletter.

Google: concise and user-friendly wins the race

The average office worker receives 121 emails a day. As such, the time they spend sifting through them is limited, and their attention will only be focused on the most user-friendly and readable.

Dense reams of copy and unintuitive formatting repel readers. It’s visual noise that will put off even the most committed newsletter subscriber. For an example of user-friendly newsletters done right, take a look at this email from Think With Google, the search engine’s digital insights brand:

Image Really Good Emails

 

The newsletter itself provides a breakdown of different types of holiday customers, with an invitation to learn more with a bold call-to-action at the bottom.

But the information is broken up into small sections, no more than one or two sentences long, with clear, intuitive headings to delineate each one. Each section is also complemented by a small graphic representing each type of shopper, adding an engaging visual element to help the reader process the information.

The newsletter piques readers’ interest, and gives them a clear direction should they wish to find out more about the subject. It’s a fine example of a concise, user-friendly newsletter that puts the reader first.

What you can learn from it

If you want your newsletter to be read and engaged with, its user experience is of tantamount importance. Strive for a logical, intuitive direction for your newsletter and break each section down into distinct subheadings.

Avoid excessively long sentences too — no more than 25 words. While it might be tempting to be verbose and flamboyant with your language, it won’t appeal to every reader. Short and sweet with simple language makes it easy for subscribers to stay engaged with your newsletter.

 

Struggling with your brand newsletter? No problem! Learn from the best and follow the tips above to create a newsletter that engages customers, reinforces your branding, and satisfies your readers every time.

Digital Branding

How Can Set up a Google Ads Campaign Help Real Estate Investors?

on May 9, 2019

According to professionals, nothing is better than Google Ads because it is offering enormous benefits to us.  In order to attract a lot of customers then it would be better to make the use of Google Ads. Make sure that you are creating a genuine campaign that will increase the awareness of the business without any problem. In order to generate more revenue then Google ads would be beneficial for you. It is one of the most important things that will attract a lot of traffic on the website.  It isn’t a straightforward process because you need to analyze lots of things like finding a fantastic keyword that will improve visibility and will improve the revenue of a business. It has become one of the great advertising platforms. Let’s discuss the potential benefits of Google ads to real estate investors.

  • Fast promotion

Two types of things are out there that will surely improve the visibility of business like SEO and Google AdWords. If you don’t want to face any complicated problems, then it would be better to make the use of Google Adwords that will surely generate a lot of traffic and will improve the leads. It is a little bit faster than others. Like, if you are considering SEO, then it is mandatory for you to create a particular campaign that will attract a lot of traffic and will improve the revenue of a business.  Make contact with a professional who will surely create a genuine AdWords account that will improve the revenue and profit of the business. Ultimately, it is a particular technique where you will able to pay attention to the two keywords at a single time. It has become an effective strategy that will increase the visibility of the website.

  • Awareness of brand

Try to consider PPC management for real estate investors that will increase the wariness of the brand. It is a reliable option because it will attract a lot of traffic and will surely improve the conversion rate of the business. It is an efficient way to express ideas regarding your brand.  According to professionals, if you are working genuinely, then it will surely improve brand awareness by 6.6% without any problem. Overall, it is one of the great and reliable strategies that is improving the visibility and revenue of the website without any problem. Therefore, you should create a fantastic campaign for PPC management.

  • Connect with viewers

It is beneficial for those who want to attract a lot of new viewers on the official website. After creating a new website, you should create a particular campaign that would be beneficial. You should always create such a thing twice or thrice in a month that will improve the revenue of the business.

Moving further, while creating a particular campaign you have to pay close attention to the important things like budget, PPC, budget and other important things. You should analyze the ROI of the website carefully.

Legal Branding

Time Management Tactics for Busy Entrepreneurs

on May 8, 2019

It is widely believed that if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, then you have to work long hours and weekends to accomplish everything you set out to do. Investing countless hours in building your company to the detriment of your personal time and your health is often praised as the well-trodden path that every successful entrepreneur before you took to achieve their success. However, this really shouldn’t be the case.

As an entrepreneur if you can learn how to effectively delegate the work that you’re not skilled at or those tasks that you don’t have time to complete, and you learn how to work smarter and more efficiently, then there should be no reason why you can’t reduce your workload so that you can spend more time with your loved ones, while still putting in the effort to grow your company and be prosperous. When you can effectively manage your time, not only are you able to get more done in less time, but you can achieve the work-life balance that you need to avoid burnout.

To increase your daily productivity, you need to learn how to focus on one task at a time and avoid multitasking. It is entirely pointless for you to try to do everything all at once. Using some simple tactics and techniques, you can effectively manage your time to increase your productivity, so that you can accomplish more in the time that you have. Here is a practical 5-minute guide to help you transform your work habits so that you can get more done in less time and become a successful entrepreneur.

Working with To-Do Lists

To-do lists, when effectively used, can help you stay on track and accomplish more in less time. However, when it comes to creating your to-do list, you can’t merely place tasks to be completed on the list and call it good. To-do lists are most effective when you prioritize the tasks on the list. One method that you can use to prioritize your to-do lists is the Eisenhower, or Time Management, Matrix.

The Eisenhower Matrix is a productivity tool that can help you sort and prioritize your daily tasks. It is based on the principals of importance and urgency and enables you to prioritize your tasks based on their urgency and importance. The Eisenhower Matrix features four quadrants that all your tasks should fit into, as follows:

  • Tasks that are both important and urgent (Quadrant I)
  • Jobs that are important but not urgent (Quadrant II)
  • Tasks that are not important but that are urgent (Quadrant III)
  • Tasks that are neither important or urgent (Quadrant IV)

When it comes to prioritizing your to-do list, any task that falls in Quadrant I, you should complete immediately. Those that fall into Quadrant II are tasks that you should plan and place on your schedule to ensure they get completed. Any responsibility that falls in Quadrant III should be delegated, and those that fall into Quadrant IV can be deleted.

After you’ve prioritized the tasks on your to-do list, you can utilize apps like Clear Todos or Evernote to stay organized and on point. You can create an in-app list before you go to bed at night as a way to clear your head and plan your days so that you can jump into work first thing in the morning.

Avoid Multitasking

Too many people believe that multitasking can help them accomplish more throughout the day. However, multitasking has been proven to reduce productivity by 40 percent. While you may think that you’re really good at multitasking, unfortunately, you are more than likely getting less done, as well as producing sub-par work. The fact is, our brains just aren’t equipped to effectively multitask activities that require brainpower, because our short-term memories are only capable of storing five to nine things at once.

When you are trying to complete two different tasks where each task requires some level of attention and consideration, multitasking ends up falling apart. Your brain just can’t take in and process two simultaneous, separate streams of information and fully encode them into your short-term memory. When information isn’t encoded to your short-term memory, it doesn’t get transferred into your long-term memory for recall later, and if you can’t recall it, then you can’t use it.

If you want to learn how to get more done in less time, then you have to realize that multitasking is a myth. Your brain is merely incapable of simultaneously processing separate streams of information that comes from trying to work on multiple tasks. To start to accomplish more, you need to learn to focus on one task at a time, or what is known as single-tasking. Learn how to commit to your choices and complete a single task before moving onto the next.

You can begin to reform your work habits by utilizing a conditioning method known as the Pomodoro Method, which was developed by Francesco Cirillo. The technique teaches you to focus in short intervals and work with time, rather than against it.

Automate as Much as Possible

Every technological advancement over the last century has been made with the goal of trying to make everyday tasks easier to complete with less effort so that we can free up more space for deep thinking and focused work. For entrepreneurs, automating repetitive tasks can save you substantial time throughout your day and help you accomplish more. Automated tasks will let you skip many of the essential functions that require your attention. Automating a number of the smaller jobs that you work on every day can free up a significant amount of time that you can spend working on more critical tasks.

Most entrepreneurs spend their days crossing off tasks on their to-do list only to realize they haven’t really accomplished anything that will move them closer to their goals and objectives. What makes this worse is that when the essential tasks need to be done, they often feel too tired, drained, and unwilling to work on those tasks. One way to eliminate what is considered ‘busy work,’ is to automate those time-consuming and energy-draining tasks to make room for the high-priority tasks that will help you reach your goals.

Take a look at your daily tasks and consider how much of the daily work you can automate. You might have emails that you regularly receive that can receive an automated response. Or maybe you can automate your social media marketing with the help of tools like Meet Edgar. Utilize the technology that is available to you to help you automate the repetitive aspects of your business. If you don’t know where to start, you can look at tools like, Zapier, or If This Then That, IFTTT, to get some ideas on what you can automate to save you some time so that you can get more done throughout your day.

Delegate and Outsource Non-Essential Tasks

Many entrepreneurs are under the impression that in order for them to be successful, they need to be the ones to do everything in their business. Unfortunately, this only leads to them working too many hours and not seeing the results. To be a more productive entrepreneur and have the time to work on those activities that will help you grow your business and increase your profit, you need to know when to delegate and outsource those tasks that you either don’t have sufficient skills to complete or tasks that are necessary but that don’t help you improve your business. But, you can read about improving customer onboarding.

The biggest struggle for unproductive entrepreneurs is learning which tasks they can outsource and how to outsource them. The best way to determine this is by looking at your daily tasks and figuring out how much money the repetitive, tedious tasks are costing you. If you’ve previously considered outsourcing some of your workloads, but don’t think that there is anyone that is competent enough to do it, you should at least consider testing a virtual assistant before coming to a conclusion. These days it isn’t challenging to find a great virtual assistant if you can over-communicate what exactly you need, as well as being able to define clear expectations and outcomes.

If you have partners or a team, utilize them. Don’t be afraid to delegate some of your work and responsibilities to your team members when you need to. You have to realize that you don’t have to be the superhero of your business. You need to learn how to prioritize what’s essential for growing your business and delegate the rest. It’s all about figuring out how to appoint the right task to the right people. This involves being able to match the requirements of the task you’re delegating to the abilities of the person who wants to complete the task.

Use the 2-Minute Rule

The 2-minute rule is a time management method that can help you get more done in less time. It has it roots in David Allen’s bestselling book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. In essence, the 2-minute rule is a method for moving through your day-to-day activities more efficiently. When it comes to the daily tasks that you need to complete daily to make your business successful, the two-minute rule states that if you have a task that you can complete in two minutes or less, don’t wait, complete it immediately. There are so many simple and easy tasks that are put off, that can be completed in two minutes or less, like setting appointments or sending out an email. To help you get more things done during the day, go through your to-do list and tackle any tasks that will take two minutes or less to complete, then move on to your more important, and time-consuming tasks.

The 2-minute rule isn’t just for knocking simple items off your to-do list but can be used to help you beat procrastination and move closer toward your goals. The idea is that if you have a task that you don’t want to work on, spend just two minutes working on it. The idea is that once you start working on the task, you’ll be more likely to continue working on it until it is complete. The 2-minute rule works because of the inertia of life. As Sir Isaac Newton taught us, objects at rest tend to stay at rest and objects in motion tend to stay in motion.

Local Branding

Best Present Ideas for Business Ladies

on May 7, 2019

If you are on the lookout for a gift idea that is as incredible as the hardworking and brilliant business lady in your life, then take a page out of her book and don’t settle for anything less than the best. Her amazing taste and rising career prove why she’s a total boss, and you can nail the perfect present if you just take a look at these incredible gift ideas. There’s no denying that the working woman in your life will absolutely love these handy tools that will help her tackle her to-do list, office supplies that speak her language and accessories that will show everyone who’s the boss.

Business bag or tote

It is a well-known fact that going to a meeting or a networking event looking polished and professional is essential if you want to be taken seriously as a businesswoman. So, instead of a traditional laptop bag, give your working lady a sleek leather tote that is as practical as it is stylish. Opt for a tote bag specifically designed with businesswomen in mind, with separate compartments that hold her laptop, papers, and anything else she might need during the working day.

Stylish leather wallet

Just as she needs an elegant bag, the business lady in your life also needs to own a durable and fashionable leather wallet. And if you opt for one that is engraved with her initials, there’s no denying she will leave a good impression on her business partners when she takes them out for lunch. So, get your businesswoman her own personalized leather wallet and give her the opportunity to dazzle everyone with her impeccable style.

Productive planner

Another practical and extremely helpful gift idea for female entrepreneurs is to offer them a new planner with an incredible cover design or an inspirational message that will motivate her to stay productive. From productivity planners to gratitude journals, and everything else in between, there’s no better gift to give a woman with great plans and big goals.

Modern e-reader

Whether you opt for the Kindle, the Nook, the iPad, or any other e-reader available on the market, they all have one thing in common – they are lightweight enough to be carried around in a business bag at all times and easy enough to use practically anywhere. The ability to store hundreds of digital books and periodicals make these handy e-readers the perfect present for businesswomen on the go.

Books and magazines

While ebooks are great, nothing quite beats the feeling of holding a magazine or a paperback book in your hands, and there are plenty of publications out there ready to change the lives of those who are constantly striving for more. If your business lady needs a little inspiration in her life, you simply can’t go wrong with a motivational book or a subscription to a well-established magazine, such as the Forbes, that will help support her personal and professional growth.

The external data storage device

If you’ve ever lost valuable data during a power outage or when your computer has crashed, then you know just how important it is to have the ability to back up all of your business files quickly and securely. So, if you want the entrepreneur in your life to be safe and sound, an external hard drive or a USB flash drive make for the ideal gift that you can easily find in any electronic or office supply store.

A gift basket filled with office supplies

There’s no business owner out there that wouldn’t enjoy receiving a thoughtful gift basket overflowing with basic office supplies they’ll undoubtedly have a lot of use for. From pens, papers, notebooks and desk calendars to mouse pads and printer cartridges, you can fill these amazing gift baskets with everything a busy working woman might need in the office.

Other office essentials

Last, but not least, if you’re really stuck for ideas, the best option would be to buy some office essentials that every entrepreneur working from home will appreciate, such home office desks, portable laptop desks, adjustable office chairs and practical desk organizers.

No matter the personality or the style of the business lady in your life, there’s no denying she will enjoy each and every one of these stylish, functional and incredibly fun gift ideas.

Local Branding

The Basics of a Successful City Branding in 2021

on May 7, 2019

Branding is more than just a fancy logo. Branding is your pathway to recognition and memorability. It’s there to create trust, to draw customers in, to make your product something that inspires wonder and starts conversations. 

This is true for small companies, medium-sized businesses, large enterprises, and yes, cities of the world. While city branding can be tricky and needs to be done carefully, it’s no less useful and important. If you know all the right tips and trust the right professionals to handle things for you, the city you’re trying to advertise is bound to thrive and become a famous tourist destination. 

We’re here to help. If you want your city to become a success that keeps generating revenue through tourism, here’s what you need to do. 

Shape people’s perception

You need to be aware of what you’re doing here. Branding a city isn’t about marketing alone, and you won’t be able to promote your city the way you would a business or a product. There’s a lot more to it. 

What you really want is to shape people’s perception about what your city is and what it can do for them. Everything from activities available to the locals to the policies that are in place can give people a picture about the atmosphere and the mood of a place, and this will influence the way you market it.   

Figure out what makes you different

Don’t try to recreate the New York City feel or be the new Paris. Those places already exist and you’ll never do what they became famous for better than them. What makes your city special? Are there any signature dishes that everyone loves? Maybe there’s a very successful industry that you’re known for? Maybe it’s a beautiful local forest, or a fun festival that happens every year. 

Take stock of everything that happens around the place, everything that the locals love, and turn it into the identity that you can show off to tourists.  

Invest in both functionality and decorations

It won’t matter that your city is beautiful if public transport is considered to be the stuff of nightmares. An important part of branding is simple city maintenance and investment in functionality. 

One of the most important parts of this is good lighting. A well-lit city not only looks more beautiful, it’s also easier to navigate and enhances the flow of traffic. Invest in good professional tunnel lighting solutions to bring some brightness to those dark corners of a city’s structure, and light up large public places so the city can maintain its liveliness well into the night.

Preserve local history

While every city should be modernized and use smart city technology, this should never sacrifice cultural heritage and history of the place. Preserve old parts of the town that hold meaning to the locals, and maintain museums, statues, and buildings of cultural significance for your people. 

Encourage citizen pride 

The best way to advertise your city is through the locals. If they are happy to be living where they are, they’ll act as the best possible brand ambassadors that you can find. It’s important to have a progressive vision and to involve your community into the process of city planning. 

Bear in mind that while tourism is certainly useful, your own people are the ones who live in the town and need to be happy and comfortable there. Contact influential leaders and members of the community and see if you can involve them in the branding. They could act as stakeholders and offer you more resources if you simply sit down and listen to their suggestions. 

Influential people are usually local celebrities, successful small business owners, politicians, or any other popular locals with the means and the clout to make things happen. 

Monitor progress

Branding a city is a process that takes a lot of time. It will happen over a course of a few years at the very least, and the length of the process itself makes it tricky to always stay on top of the situation. 

That’s why it’s important to determine key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor everything closely. Gather data and analyze it periodically to see where you stand, and then use this data to show investors that their money is being well used. 

This will also make it possible to notice any flaws in your plan or change things up in case things are happening too slowly for your liking. 

This is a gargantuan task that needs to be approached with caution and care. Make a budget then allocate it accordingly and develop a clear vision of what you want your city to look like. After that, it’s all about working towards your vision and continuously investing in making the brand look good.

Local Branding

8 Best Summer Outfits for Women Over 50

on May 7, 2019

Fashion is not something that is limited to a particular age group and women from all age groups like to look good and be fashionable. Women should in general wear age- appropriate clothing. Fashions for young women tend to be slightly different in comparison to fashions for women that are older than 50. Every season people need to change the type of clothing that they wear as climate changes and fashions change accordingly. The following are some of the best summer outfit ideas for women over 50:

Best Summer Outfits for Women Over 50

Loose Trousers & Tops

Palazzo pants have become really popular in the last few years with women all over the world. These types of trousers are very loose and comfortable for women over 50 and work well in the summer of 2019. These palazzo pants are plain with bright tops or vice versa and bright with different types of prints including floral prints and animal prints.  These types of loose pants can be paired with different types of tops and blouses either fitted or loose depending on the type of occasion and comfort.

Bohemian Maxi and Midi Dresses

Bohemian style is a slight hippie and slightly more free and flowing style of clothing which is defined with multiple colors, bold prints and a loose fitting style of fashion perfect as summer wear for women over 50. Floral dresses, maxi style multicolored dresses, shirt style multicolored printed midi dresses are all very trendy in this age group for the summer. In this style of clothing colors like fuchsia, orange, electric blue, brown, purple, green, and all the colors of the rainbow are perfect for these types of dresses.

White Pants or Shorts with Loose Tops & Shirts

White and shades of white are often only worn in spring and summer as these colors are not always appropriate in the fall/winter months. White pants, beige pants or even grey pants are perfect for the summer. Jeans, trousers, loose pants and even shorts in shades of white are perfect for older women in the summer months. These types of bottoms look age appropriate, dignified and very fashionable for women over 50. These types of pants can be paired with colorful tops and shirts which are perfect for the summer.

Cropped Pants or Culottes

Cropped pants or three-fourths style loose culottes are all very much in fashion and perfect for the summer for older women. These types of plain pants can be worn with colorful summery tops which will be perfect for the season. These types of clothes can be worn for both casual and semi-formal occasions as they are very versatile as a summer choice. Summer is a great season for women over 50 as they do not have to wear layers and they can wear summery light clothes.

Denim Jeans with Loose Tops

To look a little stylish it is important to have a few denim jeans in the closet even for women over 50. Fitted denim jeans look really good on women over 50 and they should avoid baggy “mom jeans” at any age. These jeans are usually paired with loose tops and button-up shirts which work well with jeans. Such an outfit can be worn for casual events, brunches and can be worn even for some types of formal events.

White&Pastel Colored Dresses

Summer is a very nice season to wear midi style and maxi style white or pastel dresses. Formal pastel dresses with jackets and A-line designs are popular formal wear options for women in the summer season. Color like white, off white and shades of white, light pink, mauve, periwinkle, lilac, lavender, and other such shades are all popular with pastel colors. Plain colors, as well as light prints, are common in these types of pastel-colored dresses for the summer.

Pencil Skirts and Tops

Another great option for formal or celebratory events in the summer is pencil skirts and stylish blouses. Pencil skirts are a fitted type of mid-length skirt that has a straight and narrow cut. This type of skirt can be worn in formal suits for work or for just a regular casual event as well. These types of skirts work well with different types of tops and can be a great option even as party wears for women over 50.

Jumpsuits

Jumpsuits are a style that is becoming popular not just with women over 50 but with women in all age groups. This style is popular with older women in the summer months as it is a great choice for women of all shapes and sizes and is a comfortable single piece of clothing that can be worn for different types of occasions.

As mentioned above, there are different clothing styles and outfits that are popular with women over the age of 50 as fashion can be followed in all age groups.

Legal BrandingLocal Branding

Most Efficient B2B Lead Generation Strategies for 2019

on May 7, 2019

The biggest problem with B2B outreach lies in the fact that a lot of people don’t really understand how it works. On the one hand, there are those who believe it to be completely opposite to B2C, seeing as how “B2C purchases are based on emotions and B2B purchases are based on rational decision-making”. This is, of course, oversimplified, due to the fact that businesses are run by people who are just as susceptible to emotions and impulses. Due to the fact that processes are a tad slower and purchases are a tad more valuable, B2B decisions have a more rational and analytical approach. With that in mind, here are several of the most effective B2B lead generation strategies that you should definitely consider.

1. Start with your social media presence

When it comes to boosting one’s social media presence, a lot of people believe this to be an exclusively B2C strategy. The truth is that they couldn’t be more wrong. Just because your audience is more likely to go to your website straight away rather than do their research on your Instagram profile or Facebook page, doesn’t mean that you can neglect social media presence. As for platforms like LinkedIn, they’re suddenly becoming a priority of your social media activity. While this is not talked about that much, LinkedIn is a platform with a rapidly growing user base. In just six years (between 2011 and 2017) the number of users on this network grew from 140 million to 500 million.

2. A/B testing

You also need to keep in mind that the expectations of people in charge of outreach in other enterprises are somewhat higher than those of individual users. They’re less often unrealistic but are not likely to tolerate bugs, glitches, and malfunctions. This is why it’s best if you were to test any change before implementing it. Also, when it comes to appealing to the emotional side of your audience, you need to understand that it’s still incredibly important. While the very term B2B may make the outreach seem quite impersonal or inanimate, you’re not reaching out to the entity, that is this other business, but to the people who are in charge of it. This means that finding patterns and methods that are to their liking still seems to be quite important.

3. Get your finances in order

Previously, we’ve mentioned the fact that B2B leads are based on numbers and are not that affected by appearances. This is why the first thing they might look at is your credit history, your company’s financial status, and your ability to meet all the legal obligations. Even a hint of failing to pay your taxes may be interpreted as a serious misstep by your potential partners, which is something you want to avoid at all costs. Now, there are some taxes that are applicable to the entire country, yet, there are those that depend on the state that your company is in. A perfect example of this is payroll taxes, which vary from state to state. This means that your NSW enterprise needs to find tax consultants from Sydney in order to ensure that everything on this front is in perfect order.

4. Prepare for voice searches

The next thing you need to prepare yourself for is the concept of voice search. More and more people are using this feature on a daily basis due to the fact that the technology itself has become quite sophisticated. In the past, the engine behind the feature was crude and unable to understand anything but the simplest words uttered in perfect English (in some of the most standard dialects such as the UK, US, or Australia). Nowadays, the technology consults your previous search history, tracks your location, and does an excellent job of recognizing the language you’re using. This, on the other hand, means that you have to optimize for voice searches, and especially dedicate your efforts to voice search SEO.

5. Identify and fix broken pages

Having a broken page on your blog or, worse yet, multiple of them, may result in a scenario where your rank drops and your reputation in the digital world suffers. They may cause you to lose audience, and customers and drastically hurt your conversion rates. It’s even worse if a broken link is on your own domain. Imagine a scenario where a person clicks on a link that should lead to a product they want to purchase only to find it malfunctioning. Fortunately, tending to this doesn’t take that much effort. All you have to do is figure out an adequate tool and start using it on a regular basis.

6. Mobile should be paramount

The last thing you need to consider is the importance of making mobile-friendly pages. First of all, in this day and age, where the majority of people online are browsing the internet on their phones, Google is strict to penalize anyone who doesn’t focus on mobile web design. Nonetheless, just because so many people are using their phones to browse the internet, it doesn’t mean that they’re doing it via a browser. Therefore, it might be for the best if you were to develop an app. Any investment in this area is bound to give you an outstanding ROI.

The very last thing worth keeping in mind is the fact that all of these trends also benefit your B2C lead generation, which makes this a win-win scenario. However, those who want a rapid and reliable expansion need to focus on both.

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