What Do Editors Look for in Contributed Content?

Contributed content refers to any content submitted to a publication or platform by an individual who is not a journalist. This is typically in the form of articles and blogs to trade publications, industry journals, magazines and blog platforms. Contributed content can also be video content, interviews or infographics. Research shows that 92 percent of editors prefer contributed content from industry experts over journalists because these thought leaders can address audience problems with real-world experience from the trenches.

Continue Reading

Successful Marketing: 7 Critical Email Marketing Principles

With the fast pace of technology, it’s easy to keep our eyes on the horizon for the next digital communication trend. That said, at more than 50 years old, email remains one of our most valuable means of communication, especially in business. Thanks to its familiarity, flexibility and cost-effectiveness, email continues to thrive as a formidable marketing channel.

Continue Reading

Sponsored Marketing Content: Is It Worth It?

Today, it’s common to find articles, videos and blog or social media posts marked as promoted, sponsored or paid for. This is especially true in digital outlets. Sponsored content refers to any content that businesses or individuals pay a publisher, platform or influencer to create and distribute. The practice has been around for decades and has its foundations in print publications. Since digital content has almost replaced traditional print forms entirely, sponsored marketing content is even more prevalent.

Continue Reading

How to Drive Business Growth through B2B Event Marketing

B2B event marketing has experienced waves of change in recent years, but its value hasn’t waned. During the pandemic, virtual events boomed and accelerated innovation. Hybrid options created new opportunities for audiences across the globe to interact in real-time, whether they were physically present or tuning in via live streaming. While these new event formats enabled people to connect in different ways, nothing can replicate face-to-face interaction. In business, that connection is central to building trust and earning customers’ business.

Continue Reading

7 Tips for Successful Marketing in a Recession

Talk of a U.S. recession is getting louder amongst economists, business leaders and individuals. In fact, most Americans think the country has already entered a recession or will do so within the next 12 months. The ebbs and flows of the economy can be predictable but also can be quickly rocked by events like a pandemic or geopolitical unrest. Because recessions can cause high unemployment rates, business failures and bankruptcies, knowing how to survive an economic downturn is a requirement for business success. That’s where strategic marketing decisions come into play.

Continue Reading

3 Best Practices for Becoming a Thought Leader

One of the best ways to boost credibility, visibility and name recognition is through thought leadership. A thought leader is an expert who shares valuable insights and strong points of view in ways that influence others. To answer the most burning questions of their target audiences, thought leaders tap into their talent, passion and experience.

Continue Reading

5 Opportunities for Content Marketing Automation

According to the State of Content Marketing 2022 Global Report by Semrush, 97 percent of respondents agree content marketing is an important part of their overall marketing strategy. But creating consistent and compelling content that connects meaningfully with target audiences is no easy task. It takes specific expertise, a clear vision, ongoing commitment and, most importantly, time. When integrated successfully, content marketing automation technology helps marketers streamline repetitive tasks and generate more and better leads.

Continue Reading

How to Turn Influencer Marketing into a B2B Asset

Typically, the term, “influencer” brings to mind celebrities and social media stars using their platforms to showcase and endorse consumer products to large audiences. These influencers have a dedicated social following and are considered authorities in their fields. In the B2C world, this form of social proof can yield incredible results for brands.

Continue Reading

How to Boost Employee Engagement with Marketing Communications

Employee engagement is one of the most crucial drivers of organizational success. For the first time in a decade, employee engagement saw a decline in 2020. It hasn’t stopped dropping since, according to a survey by Gallup. The survey measured employee engagement by asking about specific workplace elements as they link to organizational outcomes. These elements included profitability, productivity, customer service, retention, safety and overall wellbeing.

Continue Reading

9 Common Subject Line Mistakes that Kill Your Email Open Rates

Email marketing is a channel of choice for many marketers, especially in B2B organizations. According to the Litmus 2020 State of Email Report, which surveyed more than 2,000 marketers, four out of five respondents said they’d give up social media initiatives before giving up email marketing. Mastering the channel includes many skills, not least of which is the subject line.

Continue Reading

Why Every B2B Brand Needs Earned Media

Of the various types of media available to marketers, earned media might seem the most difficult to predict and control. It’s one thing when an organization creates its own content, pays for media coverage and shares it across multiple marketing channels. It’s far more powerful when authentic, authoritative and third-party sources mention your brand and share your thought leadership.

Continue Reading

How to Build an Effective Keyword List for Your Marketing Content

A keyword list is a critical element of a successful content marketing strategy. In addition to driving organic traffic to company websites and enhancing SEO, keywords provide a roadmap for content creation by identifying and communicating the topics that connect prospects and customers with an organization. When keywords are used correctly in website content, digital ads and other online marketing materials, marketers can increase brand visibility, boost website authority and showcase thought leadership.

Continue Reading

12 Online Tools to Step Up Your Content Creation Game

Content marketing delivers substantial value to an organization. Benefits include increased search visibility, enhanced brand awareness and improved conversion rates. With advantages like those, it’s no surprise that  46 percent of businesses report they want to increase their content creation spending in 2022. As one of the most cost-effective marketing tactics available, content development doesn’t have to break the bank.

Continue Reading

Drive LinkedIn Engagement with These 8 Powerful (and Free) Features

LinkedIn is the leading hub for business professionals and organizations with approximately 810 million members worldwide. In nearly 20 years of growth, LinkedIn has transformed from an employment-based platform into a business-focused social media network where users engage with each other and brands on a regular basis.

Continue Reading

Mobile Optimization: 5 Reasons to Create a Mobile-First Experience

According to a recent survey, the average American mobile phone user spends approximately three hours on their device every day. As technology evolves, we become increasingly dependent on our mobile devices for communication, information, entertainment and transactions. In fact, 42 percent of users consider their mobile devices the most important resource in their purchasing process.

Continue Reading

Corporate Social Responsibility: What Do Your Audiences Want?

Now more than ever, it is essential for companies to focus on corporate social responsibility, or their effort to improve their communities, environment and societies in which they operate. Customers, employees, vendors and other stakeholders have a growing expectation that their values align with the businesses they work with. In fact, 70 percent of consumers are interested in hearing about the social, health, environmental and safety impacts of the products they buy and the company that makes them.

Continue Reading

How to Create a Video Marketing Strategy: Checklist for Success

The average person spends an estimated 100 minutes per day watching videos online. Video production and accessibility have boomed as streaming capabilities have grown across a wide variety of devices and mediums. People respond to video for good reason: it is eye-catching, attention-getting and proven to help viewers gather and retain information.

Continue Reading

Social Media Terms: 36 Definitions Every Marketer Needs to Know

Just over half of the global population, 4.62 billion people, currently use social media. It’s no surprise that 93 percent of marketers worldwide are using social media for marketing, business development, customer service and growth-oriented projects. Social media encompasses well-known platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. It also spans various mediums such as YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Google+, Discord, Reddit and Pinterest. With so many ever-changing platforms, the terminology can become overwhelming. Here are 36 social media terms that every marketer needs to know.

Continue Reading

3 Customer Expectations Every Marketer Needs to Understand to Drive Business Growth

Every business wants to meet the expectations of its customers. From product offerings to customer service to marketing, the clients’ needs and expectations come first. With ongoing advancements in technology and an ever-changing business and societal landscape, understanding and maintaining that standard is no simple task.

Continue Reading

What Best-in-Class Marketers Do Differently: How to Cultivate Value Creation

As the pace of Marketing transformation accelerates, marketers are tackling the hardest task of all: creating value that improves organizational results. Business author Eric Jorgenson says value creation is the foundation for business. In fact, Marketing’s fundamental mission is to create customer-centric profitable growth. A high-performing Marketing function adds tremendous value toward achieving business goals and informing

Continue Reading

Don’t Fall Prey to These 5 Content Marketing Misconceptions

content marketing

With 92% of marketers reporting that their companies view marketing content as a business asset, getting content right is not always easy, but it is essential. Sometimes marketers become overwhelmed by passing trends, conflicting industry advice and widespread misinformation. Also, they get stuck in old ways if they’re not continually reviewing and applying best practices in an ever-changing industry. To keep your content marketing efforts on track, it’s important to avoid today’s common content marketing misconceptions.

Continue Reading