SEO-Focused Web Content Writers
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Social Networks Are Fundamentally Changing How We Communicate
Oct 26th
Although I sometimes quote or cite research all the time here on my blog, I don’t often include direct links to external content. But I came across this on Twitter and thought I would share.
The title is 5 Ways Social Media is Changing Our Daily Lives, and I think that it speaks to both the things we are doing now at Hat Trick Associates, but also the way that individuals will be communicating for the next 20 years!
One of the things I really liked about this article is that it begins by asking you a question: How is the way you communicate with your social network, connect with business partners; get most of your news; find new employees, entertain yourself; etc. etc. different now as compared to just 5 years ago?
The differences are HUGE for myself personally, and I’m sure for most of you as well. There has been a shift in how we send and receive information. When selecting a company to do business with, I am FAR more interested in the customer service experiences or opinions of friends or colleagues that I see online than more generalized or “generic” ratings…and now I can get them from everyone, quite More >
Top 14 Reasons Email Will Still Be Here For Some Time
Oct 19th
So we have all been talking a lot about social networks, and how they are fundamentally changing the way that we communicate. But while it is certainly true that these networks are becoming more and more vital to reaching your customers, clients and members, that doesn’t mean that email marketing has lost its importance too.
In fact, the two communication strategies can co-exist nicely, and address different needs for reaching out to consumers. Here are the Top 14 reasons that email isn’t going away anytime soon:
1. People still send hand-written letters via snail mail, even though they could instead make a phone call, send an email, text message, or status update.
2. Nearly all sites on the web that require registration still require an email address. Some are starting to integrate social media into this process (through things like Facebook Connect), but that is still a small fraction, and they typically still allow for email information as well.
3. Email notifies you of updates from all social networks you are a part of (provided your settings are set up that way).
4. Email is universal, and social networks are not (at least not yet!). Nearly everybody on the web has an email address. Most More >
Getting Responses With Email Marketing - Part Four
Oct 12th
4) Images: Let Pictures Tell The Story
So we’ve all heard that a picture is worth a thousand words. What does that mean for your E-Newsletter?
Your graphics can be the difference between someone paying enough attention to your email marketing to click a link or read an opening paragraph, or moving on. Always make sure that whatever you use is directly or obviously connected to your feature, story or promotion. Don’t make people have to “work” or guess what they are viewing and how it relates to the content…unless of course this is part of a well-thought out marketing plan! And simpler is typically better.
Finding good photos or illustrations online certainly isn’t hard these days. (With almost 100% broadband coverage now, video and audio are now a component of some E-Newsletters too, but more on these topics another day.) One of the top and fairly inexpensive options is iStockPhoto.com, although many other libraries exist. And don’t forget the multitude of royalty-free images available on Google, Flickr or Yahoo Images. (But you should always be sure to double check that the images you are using aren’t copyright protected.)
Following our theme of trying different options until you find one that works best for More >