Event Marketing
We are thrilled to announce an exciting update to our Events platform: Ticketless Events are now live to all event users! You can now seamlessly create and manage free, RSVP-style events directly within Constant Contact—no ticketing or payment setup required. Zero Friction: Skip the complicated ticket configuration. Simplified Registration: Attendees can simply RSVP and register with ease. Full Toolkit: As an organizer, you still get everything you need to promote, manage, and follow up on your event from start to finish. Why This Matters Until now, our Events product required a ticket configuration step. We heard your feedback that this created unnecessary hurdles for the large segment of you who run free or informal events—think workshops, community meetups, networking nights, and nonprofit gatherings. Ticketless Events removes that barrier entirely, making it faster and easier to bring people together. Additionally, this streamlined, ticketless flow paves the way for our new standalone event product. We can't wait to see the events you create! Let us know how you plan to use this new feature in the comments below. 1121We know that getting interrupted by a "forced reauthentication" login screen can break your workflow. To help you stay in the zone and get more done, Constant Contact is significantly extending our idle timeout limits! What’s Changing? We are making it much easier to pick up right where you left off. Here is the breakdown of the new time limits: Previous Limit New Extended Limit 4-Hour Idle Time 168 Hours (7 Days) 24-Hour Idle Time 30 Days What this means for you: You won’t be asked to log back in nearly as often, keeping your account accessible and your momentum going. A Quick Note on Reauthentication While these new limits will drastically reduce the number of times you're logged out, please keep in mind that you might still be prompted to reauthenticate occasionally due to external factors, such as: Clearing your browser cache or cookies. Specific browser security restrictions or private browsing modes. Logging in from a new device or IP address. 62We’ve seen some great questions coming in about the Courses tab, so let’s clear things up and make sure you’re getting the most out of it. The Courses Tab is Your Gateway to the Academy The Courses tab is directly connected to our Academy. When you browse courses here, you are accessing the full Academy experience from within the community. Everything is designed to give you easy access to learning in one place. Why You See All Course Levels You may notice you now have access to beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses, even if you are already experienced. This is intentional so everyone has access to all levels, no matter where they are in their journey. You can revisit the fundamentals through beginner courses, use them to train new team members, fill in knowledge gaps, or explore strategies from a different perspective. Think of it as a full learning library rather than content limited to your current level. Sharing Courses with Your Team We’ve also heard that some of you would like to share these resources with customers or team members. The best part? You can do that. All courses live inside the Academy, which means you can share direct links to specific courses, recommend content to your team and use courses as onboarding resources. If you are ever looking for a specific link, you can go directly to the Academy or reach out and we can help. How to Get Started Go to the Courses tab OR the Academy Browse or search for a topic Click into a course and start learning We are excited to bring the Academy into your community experience, and we will continue adding more courses over time. If you have questions or feedback, leave a comment and let us know. 51As small business owners move into 2026, the prevailing strategy is one of forward momentum: confronting economic uncertainty with calculated action, not cautious retreat. While inflation remains a primary concern, recent data shows a dynamic group of entrepreneurs refusing widespread cutbacks. To learn more download our Small Business Now Report. Instead of scaling down, small business leaders are prioritizing a significant resource commitment, especially to marketing. The aim is a strategic shift towards "newer and more efficient" operational methods, seen not as optional but as essential for growth in a competitive market. 40We're excited to share that a major upgrade to our Canva integration that is live in all accounts! You are now able to view, create, and edit Canva designs directly inside Constant Contact—no more switching between tabs or re-importing files. 💡 Did You Know? Canva offers a free plan for everyone, and nonprofits can get Canva Pro for free! ✨ What’s New With this enhanced integration, you can: Instantly access all your Canva designs right from within Constant Contact. Edit any image with Canva—even those not originally created in Canva. Stay in sync automatically: Any updates you make in Canva will instantly reflect in Constant Contact. This update makes it faster and easier than ever to create beautiful, on-brand content without leaving your workspace. Add from Canva When inserting an image into your email or viewing your Constant Contact Library, you’ll be able to: Browse all your Canva designs instantly. Select and import your favorites directly into your email—no extra steps needed! Within the Email Editor Within the Email Editor ✏️ Edit with Canva Want to tweak a design? You’ll be able to: Edit any image (Canva or non-Canva) using Canva’s editor—right from your Constant Contact Library or email editor. Save your edits automatically to your Library for reuse. Within the email editor From your Library 🪄 Create in Canva Feeling inspired? Start a brand-new design in Canva directly from your Constant Contact Library. Your new creation will automatically appear in your Library, ready to use. 💬 We’d love your feedback! What Canva feature are you most excited to use inside Constant Contact? Let us know in the comments below! 1824Shop small. Shop local. Support each other. We’re excited to announce a brand-new area of the Constant Contact Community — The Small Business Marketplace! 🎉 This special area was designed to help our amazing Constant Contact customers show off their small businesses and nonprofits. Whether you sell handmade goods, offer professional services, or run a local nonprofit, the Marketplace gives you a place to share your story and connect with others who want to support businesses just like yours. 🛍️ What You’ll Find Business Profiles: Explore real Constant Contact supported businesses doing incredible work — from retail shops to creative studios to nonprofits making a difference. Business Categories: Browse by industry or location to discover products and services from across the community. Inspiration & Networking: Learn from other entrepreneurs, find new favorite small businesses, and be inspired by the creativity within our community. 💬 Why We Built It We know that small businesses and nonprofits thrive when they’re supported by their peers. The Small Business Marketplace helps you: Gain visibility and share your story. Reach other Constant Contact users who value small and local businesses. Build meaningful connections within our community. Add Your Business Are you a Constant Contact customer with a business or nonprofit to share? Add your listing today and start connecting with others who want to shop, support, and celebrate small businesses: Add your business logo Website Social Media profiles About Us And much more 👉 Add Your Small Business or Nonprofit Let’s lift each other up — one small business at a time. 💙 50Morning, community! Our latest Small Business Holiday Outlook 2025 report is here, and it confirms what many of us already feel: the end-of-year season is still a make-or-break period for the financial health of our businesses. The stakes are high, with 60% of small businesses attributing anywhere from 10% to 50% of their annual sales to the holiday season. A significant number of owners across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand (ANZ) feel significant Q4 revenue pressure.Key Findings and Shifting Strategies: Confidence vs. Pressure: Despite the high pressure, there's a strong, resilient current of optimism! 77% of owners are confident or extremely confident they will meet their revenue targets this year, even with challenges. The Power Channels: Small businesses are doubling down on what works: Social media is considered the most impactful marketing channel for the holiday season by 40% of owners. Discounts and sales are the most effective promotional tactic for driving revenue, cited by 51% of owners who run promotions. Economic Headwinds: Our primary concerns are clear: inflation/rising costs (32%) and weak customer spending (22%). To tackle this, 42% of owners are focusing on improving efficiency. Consumer Loyalty is Your Superpower: This is the great news! Consumers are loyal: 72% of shoppers tend to return to the same small businesses each holiday season. A massive 88% of consumers are likely to become repeat customers after a holiday purchase. Let's Discuss: 💬 💬 💬 💬 💬 Given that discounts and sales are seen as the most effective tactic, but economic concerns are driven by rising costs/inflation, it leads to a critical trade-off. ❓ How are you balancing the need to offer deep discounts and promotions to attract price-conscious customers with the need to maintain a healthy profit margin in the face of rising operating costs? Share your strategies for managing this high-stakes balancing act below! Your insights are gold. 22Utilize QR codes on holiday signage, product displays, and packaging to link directly to email sign-up pages, facilitating easy access for potential subscribers. Incorporate calls to action in holiday ads, encouraging users to join the email list or complete surveys, leveraging the heightened seasonal interest. Capitalize on social media engagement by adding links to email sign-up forms in bios, swipe-up links, or post captions, inviting followers to stay connected. Enhance customer appreciation by directing them to a thank-you page featuring a Lead Magnet or survey, making it simple for them to subscribe. Integrate email sign-up opportunities during the checkout process, both online and in-store, to convert one-time transactions into ongoing relationships. 00Summer is right around the corner, but while spring lasts a few more days, we're excited to highlight recent product updates. These updates are designed to make managing your contacts, sending personalized messages, and perfecting your email campaigns easier than ever. Check out the fresh, new Contacts Reporting page, enhanced SMS personalization, and much more! Contacts Reporting The new Contacts Reporting page offers a simple and visual way to understand how your customer base is growing. By showing you where new contacts are coming from and why some might leave, it helps you learn what's working and what's not, so you can focus your efforts and make smarter decisions about reaching your audience. Explore reporting with this video SMS Dynamic Contact Variables Users can now personalize SMS messages far beyond just first names, with access to over 40 new data tags pulled directly from contact records. This enhancement allows for deeper, more relevant connections with SMS subscribers who value a personalized experience. Discover more about variable SMS tags Enhanced Contacts Management The new contact experience helps you stay organized and work faster by letting you customize how you see your contacts, edit their information instantly, and quickly preview details without interrupting your workflow. Plus, you can now easily update lists and tags for many contacts at once, making it simpler to group your audience for more personalized marketing. Explore with this video Link in Bio templates Four new, ready-to-use templates are specifically designed to be linked in your social media profiles. These “Link in Bio” templates make it simple for your social media followers to easily find more of your online content and join your email list. Watch this 1-min video walkthrough Improved inbox preview The updated Inbox Preview feature lets you see exactly how your emails will appear in many more apps, like Yahoo and Microsoft Office and across various mobile platforms. Plus, you can now do this check 25 times a month, up from just 5, helping ensure your emails look perfect for everyone. See how Inbox Preview works What new or improved feature are you most excited to try, if you haven't adopted it already? If you have, tell us what you think in the comments! 83We know running a small business these days can feel unpredictable. Between the ever-changing economic landscape, the ups and downs of customer trends, and the constant need to adapt, it’s a lot to juggle. But guess what? You’re not alone, and you're definitely not just surviving – you're figuring it out and thriving! We recently released our latest Small Business Now Report: Growth in Motion, and we wanted to share some key takeaways that could really help you as we move through 2025. This report dives into how recently founded businesses (those less than five-years-old) across Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US are navigating today's challenges and preparing for the future. We surveyed over 1,600 of these “new SMBs” and here’s what we found. Optimism with a Dose of Reality It's no surprise that entrepreneurs are a hopeful bunch! Most of you got into this to be your own boss, find better work-life balance, or pursue your financial dreams. And despite the bumps in the road, most of you said you'd do it all over again. That's amazing! But there’s also a strong sense of realism. Nearly half of you believe your business will grow this year, but over half are also feeling a bit uncertain due to external factors like economic and political shifts. It's a mix of “Let’s do this!” and “Let’s be smart about this.” For example, Canadian SMBs are particularly concerned about economic factors, while UK businesses felt starting up was tough. In Australia and New Zealand, there's a strong current of innovation and excitement about new tech. It’s a global picture with regional nuances, but the common thread is resilience. Beyond the Social Media Bubble We all know social media is a go-to starting point, right? It's where you build your initial buzz. And 63% of new SMBs are using it as their main marketing channel. But here’s the thing: relying solely on social media isn’t enough anymore. Algorithms change, ad costs fluctuate, and organic reach can be unpredictable. Many of you are realizing that diversifying your marketing is key. A whopping 33% of you see email marketing as underutilized, and only 15% are using SMS/text marketing, even though it has the highest engagement rates! The big takeaway here? Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Balance your social media with owned channels like email. This lets you speak directly to your customers and build lasting relationships. Tech and AI: Your Secret Weapon Technology is no longer a “nice-to-have” – it’s essential. A massive 91% of new business owners agree that technology has been crucial to their success. And with the rise of AI, things are getting even more exciting. 72% of you plan to use AI for marketing in 2025. How? Many of you are looking at AI for content creation, analyzing customer data, and personalizing marketing messages. Think of it as having a super-smart assistant that helps you make better decisions and save time. It’s not just a buzzword; it’s a game-changer. Those who leverage AI effectively are seeing a real competitive edge. Your 2025 Action Plan So, what does all this mean for you? Here’s a quick action plan: Focus on Relationships: It’s not just about getting new customers – it’s about keeping the ones you have. Create personalized experiences, offer loyalty programs, and make your customers feel valued. Mix Up Your Marketing: Social media is great, but explore email and SMS too. These channels help you stay connected and build a more well-rounded strategy. Visit the Marketing Strategies page for helpful, actionable information for different channels. Embrace Tech and AI: These tools can automate tasks, personalize your marketing, and analyze data, helping you work smarter, not harder. Use the AI Content Generator to write email, landing page, social, and SMS content for you or create a whole multi-channel marketing campaign with Campaign Builder. Running a small business is a journey, but you’re not alone. By staying flexible, being proactive, and making smart choices, you can navigate whatever 2025 throws your way. Want to dive deeper? Check out the full Small Business Now: Growth in Motion report for even more insights. Keep pushing forward, and let’s make 2025 amazing! 00Kick off 2025 with some serious marketing muscle! Our latest product updates are designed to make your life easier and your audience bigger. From streamlined tools to a personalized experience, we’ve got you covered. Check out the latest updates! Engage your social audience with video Boost your social posts with short videos Easily upload your videos to social media using Constant Contact and watch the likes, comments, and shares roll in! Share it across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn all at once. No more juggling multiple logins, just pure engagement magic! Gauge your audience sentiments Let your audience speak up and show how they feel With our new visual rating scales, you can easily ask customers how they feel about your product, service, or statement. It’s now part of the feedback block in the email editor, alongside surveys and polls. Get the insights you need in a fun, interactive way. Grow your list Turn social followers into marketable contacts Now in beta and accessible to all users, our latest list growth tool — Lead Magnet — lets you design a fun, interactive survey that draws attention. With the help of AI, you can create a lead magnet in under two minutes and turn casual followers into marketable contacts. You’ll receive a notification the moment a new contact joins your list. Find the tools you need to grow your audience Head over to the new Audience Growth Center to explore new ways to expand your reach, capture new contacts and nurture your new subscribers. Everything you need to know to take your first steps is presented in one place. Manage your contacts with more flexibility No email, no problem Instantly connect with your audience through text messaging with our SMS marketing feature, available for US users. No email? No problem With our latest update, just a contact name and phone number is all you need to create a contact record! Effortless contact management with unlimited fields Quickly add and organize multiple contacts with an intuitive, modern layout. Enjoy unlimited fields, including one for managing SMS marketing subscribers. Save time, reduce errors, and enhance targeting for better results. Quickly review contact activity Enjoy a cleaner, more organized Contact Activity Page with a modernized layout for easier navigation. While functionality stays the same, the new status column lets you quickly spot recent activity. Keep those MS Dynamics leads in sync Customers using Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Sales teams can now integrate to schedule a one-way sync of contacts and leads. Customers can confidently market to their pipeline using Constant Contact knowing that their lead lists are up-to-date. More personalized user experience New dashboard for smarter, easier marketing! Jumpstart your marketing with a sleek, redesigned dashboard tailored to your goals. Get clear next steps with personalized content and enjoy effortless navigation with the new left-side menu. Campaign Builder: Easier, Faster, Done! Campaign Builder just got smarter! Enjoy better prompts to get started, a smoother workflow, and a live preview — all in one place. Need help? Mobile app users can now schedule a call Pick a time that works for you and connect with a Constant Contact rep — right from the app, thanks to our new Calendly integration. Support made easy! Do more with automations Seamlessly import html emails for new automations Easily import HTML email templates from other platforms when creating new automations. With a more compatible workflow, you can keep your branding consistent and simplify onboarding with less hassle! Missing out on automations? Try them free for 30 days! If your plan doesn’t include automations, now you can test them free for 30 days. Build powerful workflows with advanced triggers, custom paths, SMS sends (in US), and more. Love it? Upgrade to Premium within 30 days to keep it going. Manage your accounts more effectively Automation sharing: Build once, use everywhere No more manually recreating automation flows. With Automation Sharing, you can create automation paths once and easily share them across your sub-accounts. Save time, reduce errors, and streamline your workflows! Dynamic images for central send: Personalized at scale Send large-scale communications with local flare. Now, dynamic images and logos let you tailor messages to each sub-account’s unique audience or brand—effortlessly. Solving unique event needs New flexibilities when setting up event registration forms Not every field in your registration form needs to be required. As an event host, you can now choose which fields are mandatory based on ticket type. This allows you to collect the right information—whether from the person completing the form or the actual ticket holder. Simplifying the ticket selection process Ensure registrants select only one ticket type from multiple options. You can also mark a ticket as required to prevent registrants from skipping out on your primary entry ticket. Re-use an existing email as an invitation Need to follow up with those who haven’t responded to your invitation? Now you can copy any previously sent emails within your account, saving time and effort—no need to start from scratch! 52Community Roundup is a monthly roundup of some of the notable articles and user activity in the last month. Welcome to our monthly "What You May Have Missed" roundup! In this post, I’ll highlight some of the top articles and posts that you might have missed on the Constant Contact Community in the last month. Whether you're a small business owner, nonprofit professional, or marketing enthusiast, we've got valuable insights and discussions to share. So, let's dive in and catch up on the latest happenings! Community Blog: Hit the Ground Running with Automation Templates Automate Your Customer Messaging with Automation Path Builder Strategies for Small Businesses to Diversify and Thrive Constant Tips: Constant Tips: How to recover a deleted campaign Constant Tips: Restore a list on a landing page that was deleted On-Demand Webinars: Chart Your Course to Capture Leads and Own Your Contacts Questions & Discussions (Marked Solved) Delete a contact from your account Fully justify (edge to edge) last line of a paragraph I hope you found these articles and posts informative and valuable! Check back next month for more great shenanigans on the Community! Stay tuned for exciting updates, discussions, and valuable insights. Happy reading and happy marketing! 00