Raven & Macaw

Email Marketing: Best Practices and Techniques

email marketing techniques

Email Marketing: Best Practices and Techniques   In a digital world filled with the buzz of social media, the instant ping of messaging apps, and an overwhelming array of marketing gadgets, there’s a quiet superhero that refuses to retire: email marketing. The timeless tool empowers businesses, big and small, to forge genuine connections with customers and propel their products or services to the spotlight.   Amidst the ever-evolving digital landscape, email marketing is the powerful force of online communication. Why? Because it boasts a fantastic ability to reach, connect, and convert. But here’s the twist: with inboxes bursting at the seams, the key to success is mastering the art of personalized, attention-grabbing emails.   Picture this: Your message cuts through the inbox clutter, landing in your recipient’s heart. How? By unleashing the secrets of email marketing’s prowess!   The Enduring Relevance of Email Marketing   Before we dive into the nuts and bolts, let’s address a critical question: why is email marketing still relevant in the age of social media dominance? The answer lies in its unique advantages:   Unmatched Reach: Email marketing stands out as the undisputed reach champion in an era where the digital landscape is crowded with various communication channels. With a staggering 4.3 billion email users worldwide, it possesses an expansive and unparalleled reach that no other digital channel can match. To put this number into perspective, it’s nearly half the world’s population. Email marketing’s universal reach connects diverse users worldwide, spanning ages, professions, and cultures.   Personalisation at Scale: Email allows for deep personalisation. You can segment your audience, tailor content, and deliver targeted messages, ensuring your emails resonate with each recipient.   Conversion Powerhouse: Research consistently shows that email marketing has one of the highest conversion rates among digital marketing channels. A well-crafted email can lead to action, whether purchasing, signing up for a webinar, or downloading an ebook.   Cost-Effective: Email marketing is cost-effective compared to many other forms of digital advertising. You can reach thousands of subscribers with a single, well-crafted email.   Email Marketing Best Practices   1- Build a permission-based email list To build a permission-based email list, you need to collect email addresses from people who have permitted you to contact them. You can do this in a number of ways: – Add a sign-up form on your website where people can enter their email addresses to subscribe to your list. Make sure to let them know what they can expect to receive in your emails, such as exclusive offers, discounts, or new product announcements. – Promote your email list on your social media pages and encourage your followers to subscribe. You can also run contests and giveaways where people can enter to win a prize by subscribing to your email list. –  If you own a physical retail store, you can collect email addresses from customers at the checkout counter or by offering them a discount on their next purchase in exchange for their email address.   Once you have collected email addresses, you must send a confirmation email to each subscriber to ensure they want to receive your emails. This email should contain a link the subscriber must click to confirm their subscription.   When a subscriber confirms their subscription, you can send them emails. Send them regular emails with valuable content, such as blog posts, articles, and special offers. You should also give them the option to unsubscribe from your list anytime.   2- Segment your email list This means dividing your email list into smaller groups based on shared characteristics like interests, demographics, or purchase history. This will allow you to send more targeted and relevant emails.   3-Personalise your emails People are likelier to open and read emails addressed to them by name and containing relevant content. You can use personalisation in your subject lines, email body copy, and images. Here is an example of a personalised email-   4-Write clear and concise subject lines Your subject line is the first thing people see, so making a good impression is necessary. Write subject lines that are clear, concise, and relevant to the content of your email. Here are some examples: Exclusive Offer Inside ???? Last Chance to Save 20%! Webinar Invite: Join Us Tomorrow Your Weekly Digest: Top Articles Breaking News: Exciting Updates! Your Invoice #123456 is Due Today Important Account Update Required Unlock Your Free Trial Now! Your Opinion Matters: Take Our Survey 5- Use mobile-friendly email templates More and more people are reading their emails on mobile devices, so using them is significant. Your email templates should be easy to read and navigate on all devices.   6-Include a clear call to action  In email marketing, your message is only as effective as the action it inspires. Whether you have a brick-and-mortar store or an online presence, guiding your subscribers toward a specific course of action is fundamental to success.   Tell your subscribers what you want them to do.   Make your call to action (CTA) crystal clear, concise, and clickable. Use action-oriented words that convey urgency and purpose. Phrases like ‘Shop Now,’ ‘Discover More,’ ‘Grab Your Deal,’ or ‘Register Today’ can nudge your subscribers in the right direction. Craft a compelling and concise CTA with action-oriented words like ‘Shop Now,’ ‘Discover More,’ ‘Grab Your Deal,’ or ‘Register Today.’ A compelling CTA is your bridge to engagement and conversion.   7-Test and track your results Testing and tracking your email marketing results is necessary to see what’s working and what’s not. You can test different subject lines, email body copy, and call to action to see what resonates best with your audience. Effective email marketing is a continuous process of improvement. Monitor key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Use A/B testing to experiment with different elements (subject lines, content, visuals) and refine your strategy based on data-driven insights.   8-Use email automation:  Email automation allows you to send emails to subscribers based on certain triggers, such

New Year, New Resolution

It is 2023, yet you don’t feel ready for the months ahead. If you think of all the obstacles you faced in previous years to Japa go dey hungry you. But you have decided to go hard this year. It is easy to come up with a list of things to do or achieve in the new year, yet the best of us keep recycling them from one year to the next; I say “us” because I have been guilty. A resolution is simply a promise to yourself to do something, ideally with a plan to follow through. The holidays have passed, and now you are focused on what the new year has to offer. It is time for you to aim for the forefront of limitless opportunities. People set new year’s resolutions for different reasons; you might need something to drive you in the new year, provide stability, or plan to become the best version of yourself.  Write and plan your goals in the right frame of mind. What do you want to achieve at the end of the year?  How do you hope to accomplish this?  How can you make this a reality?  All of these questions should be answered honestly, without disregarding the thoughts that come to your mind. It seems difficult to plan for a week in advance, not to talk of a whole year, but it is possible. We have done it.  Your goals don’t have to be complex; you are not writing a new constitution. It could be as simple as; Living within your financial capabilities Establishing a retirement savings strategy Learning a new job skill Working with a digital agency  Spending time more productively “You’ll give yourself your best shot at success if you set a goal that’s doable—and meaningful too.” Jen A. Miller Any day is a good day to make a personal/business resolution. What matters is that you set goals for yourself and stick to them to make long-term positive changes. More than half of all goals fail to be fulfilled; here are some tips to ensure yours don’t fail. Write it: You know what you want to change or achieve in the new year. Mentally noting them is not good enough. You have to take your time and write them down. Write down a time frame for each goal and keep them where you can see them. Be Specific: When writing your goals, it is important to be specific. Writing “I want to run 1000 kilometres in March” when you have never run before is not a concrete goal. Rather, start with an interval for running daily and increase your distance as you get more comfortable. If you run every day, then 1000 kilometres might not be a lot in the long run.  Make realistic goals: You should be able to track and measure your goals. If you want to lose weight, you should have a scale and write down your ideal weight. Keeping a record can help you attain your goals, no matter what they are. Make your goals achievable: This does not mean you shouldn’t dream big. We are here for you, even if you are Oliver Twist. If you have a business that makes less than ten million a year and your new goal is to make more than fifty million, yet you haven’t changed a thing in your organization.  We can’t even help you. You just need prayers. Get support: Make goals relevant to you and not because of someone else. You will be able to keep your goals if you tell other people who are close to you about them. You might be surprised to learn that you and your loved ones share similar goals. Reward yourself: This does not mean that after running 5 Kilometres for a 10 kilometres goal, you should not run for the next three months. Reward yourself with things you enjoy. However, you should not reward yourself with things that contradict your goals.  Give yourself time: Bigger goals will take more time; the timeline you give yourself should be realistic. Give yourself enough time to complete your goals. You can set smaller intermediate goals along the way.  Keep showing up: You mustn’t get discouraged after failing; refocus and go at it again and again till you get it. Just do it.  learn more Our new year resolution is to make all our partners ballers in 2023. You can not be working with us and be under stress. As you aim to reach the forefront of limitless opportunities we would be here to make sure you get there. Make the change your business needs. Get Started.

10 Ways To Find New Content Ideas That Never Fail

how to find content ideas

Have you ever run out of content ideas, or maybe you have some pictures that need to be revised? Unfortunately, this is probably the worst experience regarding your digital marketing. What if I tell you that there are many trusted ways to gear up your content ideas and shine even brighter? Content marketing has a medium through which so many businesses become successful. This alone is enough reason to find insightful ways to develop stunning ideas that never fail on your website and social media channels. Nowadays, there are lots of businesses that operate only online without any physical stores. Therefore, producing the wrong content for such or similar companies can take time to convince people your products are good, even if they are. After looking at why excellent content is essential, let us jump into nine ways to find new ideas that never fail. Peep Into Websites with Content Ideas There are websites you can get free content ideas from. A good example is Quora asks random questions across different industries and topics. Searching for a title or industry name would be best, and many questions and answers will pop up. Then, you can generate content ideas from these results. Create a Huddle of Topics One of the most significant ways that content fails is when made quickly. Although some may be successful, they can be stressful and have a higher probability of failing. The best way to do it is to create bunches of ideas before time. Pictures that will last for a month or two. Brainstorm through them and make the possible adjustments/corrections. This practice will help you reduce multitasking and give you enough time to find engaging strategies. Have a Tour Around Social Media Another excellent source for legit ideas is social media. There are almost limitless chances on social media. Millions of people spend hours online daily, many of whom may be your customers. Social media keeps developing. What works today might not work tomorrow. Also, what’s tending today may go dumb tomorrow. So an excellent way to start is by looking at your followers, what interests them and the people following them. Know who to tag and the hashtags that work. All this information can be vital in generating fail-proof content ideas. Keep an Eye on Competitors’ Websites You aren’t stealing, but yet, you are stealing. In the same way, you can extract ideas from social media, and you can also get ideas from competitors’ websites. Look into their blogs/news section, check for pictures you have yet to think of, check the comments and see what’s working for them. This is important because you are both targeting the same customers. However, it would be best if you did not do precisely what they do. You want to know what works for them and find a way to do it better. Use Suggestions by Google Have you noticed a variety of similar topics popping up when you type something on the Google search bar before clicking enter? These suggestions are based on top searches from the niche of what you ordered. An excellent idea for your next topic may be from Google; give it a try. Connect With Current Events Keep an eye out for events around your community. Find events that you can relate your brand with. This strategy works best on social media. Stick to events around your niche and avoid being controversial. This will help you spot new developments and ideas around your industry and turn them into a blog or news. Use Blog Idea Generator Have you ever tried any blog idea generator for your web content? If yes, check how the content is performing; I’m sure it’s smiles all around. Topic generator platforms help you with blog ideas that people are searching for. They can help you with blog topics for months and even up to a year. However, it may not provide a different issue than you want, but it’s a good starting point to come up with stunning content ideas. Try Interviews and Podcast An interview or Podcast session with enthusiasts in your niche is an excellent way to create content ideas. Short clips can go on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The entire session can be turned into content ideas for several weeks. Do Product Review This is another great way to generate excellent content. Reviewing products vis videos or tweeting praises goes a long way. The best tip for this type of idea is to think about what people use daily, which can be helpful for your audience. You can also ask your followers about products they can’t do without. A monthly product review can turn out to be your most valuable content.

5 Free Websites You Can Get Content Ideas

Content creation

Every content creator’s dream is to keep up with the trend and make unique content that everyone would love to click on. However, creating content ideas can be more work than creating or writing them. Sometimes, you can have a top-notch idea, but your audience may need help finding it. The most important thing to do is look for fantastic content ideas. There are several ways to get engaging content ideas, most of which are paid. What if we tell you there are websites where you can call/generate content ideas for absolutely free? Below are five free websites you can get content ideas: Answer The Public This website has answers to almost all your keyword ideas. It allows you to input up to three keywords, and the website will provide you with several topics and questions related to your search. In addition, it also provides you with some analysis of how many searches the keyword and all related topics have. This is important because it gives you an idea of the competition and your ability to rank. There is a tab on the website that displays a variety of trending topics on the web. This can be very useful if you want to stay updated with content and topic ideas that are making waves in your niche. As a content creator, Answerthepublic can help you develop blog topic ideas, generate topic ideas for social media posts, generate survey and quiz ideas and plan a marketing campaign. Canva Are you a visual designer? Whether video editing or graphics design, Canva is a dream come true for most designers. This online tool has thousands of video slides and graphics templates you can select from, over a thousand pictures you can add to your design, and edit it to your taste with so many colours, shapes and more. Canva has templates not only for visual designs but also include blogs and resumé templates. It is free to use canva. However, there is a premium version you can subscribe to for more features. Sometimes you may not need the exact template from canva, but by seeing it, you can have an idea of what you should create next. -6 Easy-to-use Graphic Design Tools- Quora You can’t talk about content ideas without mentioning the almighty Quora. This is a website where thousands of users ask questions and others provide answers. Quora is a good option for content ideas because you will know what many people are asking; some questions may not be answered, giving you a chance to provide answers through your content. Quora also has sections for specific, trending topics and questions that haven’t been answered. For example, to locate unanswered questions from “Homepage”, search for a keyword. Then, scroll down, and you should see a “Question tab” click on it, and all the unanswered questions will appear. Ubersuggest This is a tool that provides keyword trends. It can assist you in finding suitable keywords. After searching for a key, it displays how many searches (per month, the cost-per-click, and the competition level. Through this, you can decide whether to continue with content. Ubersuggest also identifies how well content is going on Facebook and Pinterest. It also gives you various content links, not only showing you how popular they are. Buzzsumo With Buzzsumo, you see the most popular topics/content on every SM platform. You can also see the topics working well for others in your niche. By that, you can know which content to create and its competition. Buzzsumo works with keywords that suit you. Any keyword you type provides details, including the website that shared it. Content is the bread and butter of every website. You won’t have a successful website if you don’t have great content. However, coming up with fresh, new ideas for content can be difficult and time-consuming. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 5 great websites you can use to get content ideas for free. To ensure you never miss an update or trend in digital marketing, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter

6 Easy-to-use Graphic Design Tools

Graphic design: what is it? The production of visual compositions for problem-solving and concept communication using text, imagery, colour, and shape is known as graphic design. There are various forms of graphic design, each with a specific area of competence because there is no single best approach to accomplish that. Graphic design is described as “the art and practice of designing and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual information” by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). In other words, the graphic design uses images to convey specific concepts or thoughts. These images might be as straightforward as a company logo or as intricate as website page designs. -The 8 Types of Graphic Designs You Need To Know- Therefore, graphic design tools are software programs that assist designers in realising their ideas. So, just get started if you’re sick of paying for graphic design. In this article, we’ll discuss six simple and easy-to-use graphic design tools whether you’re a student or a business owner.       CANVA A free online graphic design tool is Canva. Use it to make logos, presentations, posters, films, social media postings, and more. To enable everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere, Canva is an online design and publishing platform.  As a straightforward drag-and-drop user interface, Canva enables picture manipulation and project-based learning and is suitable even for younger students. It provides many virtual templates so users, including students, can edit designs and make additions. Canva has many features, but many of them are targeted at educators. Canva has more than 8,000 templates, compared to Snappa’s 5,000 in addition to stickers and badge graphics.          ADOBE SPARK Adobe Spark is an integrated narrative platform and online creative tool. Users can design and produce images to communicate knowledge interactively. The tool was developed in May 2016 and consists of three design programs: Post (graphic design), Page (web design), and Video. Adobe Spark helps you build innovative web pages and videos by striking the right balance between minimalism and robust design. Users never lose their progress because modifications made while designing any of the three apps are saved in an online cloud.       SNAPPA Snappa is a cloud-based graphic design tool created to assist small businesses in creating graphics for infographics, emails, blogs, social media, and other channels according to the channel’s specifications. Snappa is a straightforward tool that aids in producing minimalist designs. Snappa is entirely free to use for as long as you’d want. You can access thousands of images and graphics, three monthly downloads and professionally created social media templates for all the major social media networks. There are several critical distinctions between Snappa and Canva. Canva includes more sophisticated design features, whereas Snappa concentrates on straightforward, user-friendly tools.          DESYNER With established templates, Desygner, a visual design tool, organisations may create social media posts, presentations, advertising, posters, and other types of material. However, the most excellent and accessible graphic design software is called Desygner. This tool provides the sense of using photoshop because it allows you to switch between picture layers and customise your text and graphics settings.          AFFINITY DESIGNER Due to its user-friendly interface, Affinity Designer is a fantastic alternative for independent projects or beginning graphic artists. It is a solid rival to Adobe Illustrator, offering a comparable set of design tools and additional user-friendly features. People who desire a cost-effective option without sacrificing functionality should consider it.          PHOTOSCAPE   A minimal toolbox of sketching tools is included in the free picture editing program PhotoScape, which covers all the essentials. Due to its drag-and-drop user interface, it is easy to use. It will swiftly and pleasantly complete straightforward operations such as resizing or cropping. Additionally, it has some batch operations, including file renaming and minor editing to speed up your work. We hope this article helps you know about graphic design tools that are easy and free to use, even as a student or an amateur. If you liked this article, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, where we share the company updates and tips.