Whether you work for a business or nonprofit, you might have considered incorporating social media into your marketing plan . And why not? It's a great way to help grow your business and make new followers aware of what you do. Social media is everywhere and there's never been a better time to start. That's why we're so excited to introduce our new Facebook and Instagram Ad feature, now available in your Constant Contact account.   Before we jump in to the introductions, let's take a step back. There are so many different social media platforms available out there. They're all great in different ways and have lots of features but it's important to invest your time and energy into those platforms that make the most sense for what you are trying to accomplish as well as your industry. Check out the Social Media Platform Cheat Sheet infographic from our Blog to decide which one works best for you. Is Facebook or Instagram looking good to you? Read on!   Our Knowledge Base team has worked really hard to make sure that you know all you can about creating Facebook and Instagram ads through your Constant Contact account. Here are a few standout articles to bookmark as you begin your social media advertising journey:   Getting Started with Advertising on Social Media Through Constant Contact Create a Social Ad Campaign on Facebook and Instagram Best Practices for Using Facebook and Instagram Ads to Promote Your Organization Create a Facebook Lead Ad to Target New Contacts on Facebook and Instagram Based on Their Interests or Location Best Practices for Using Facebook Lead Ads to Collect New Sign-Ups from Facebook and Instagram   We also have a video for those of you that prefer a visual format     Social media is really important to the future of small business so we want to make sure you have access to all the resources you need. Check out our Social Media Resources board  for quick access to our Knowledge Base and Blog pages for additional information. ... View more

You've heard the phrase "there's no second chance to make a first impression" right? Well, that phrase should be echoed through your email marketing, especially in your Welcome Email. Your new contact is already thinking about your business or organization when they sign up for your newsletters so it makes sense to introduce who you are while you are on their mind.    Every Constant Contact account includes a default, mobile-responsive Welcome Email that is sent out when a contact joins your mailing list using one of our sign-up forms. But no two small businesses are the same and their Welcome Emails shouldn't look the same either! What steps can you take to create a standout Welcome Email and start an engaging relationship with your new contacts?   1. Say "Hello"!   Greet your new subscriber just like you would as if you walked up to them at your store or a meeting. A simple "Hello" or "Hi" should suffice. If your sign-up form asked for their first name, you can include that extra dose of personalization in the subject line or in the greeting.    2. Provide Information   This is your place to really let new contacts know who you are and how excited you are to have them be part of your community. Briefly explain your mission or the history of your business/organization. Describe what types of emails they will receive (such as sale notifications or newsletters) and how often they will be hearing from you (Hint: check out our Knowledge Base article on the best time to send your email out based on your industry).   3. Include a Call-to-Action   Let the welcome email do the work and encourage your new contact to further engage with you by inserting a clear call-to-action! Depending on your industry, this could be a prompt to download a document that you have uploaded into your library or inserting a button with a link to schedule their next appointment. This is your last shot to direct them to take an action now rather than later.      By using the suggestions above and customizing your default Welcome Email to match your branding, you will be ready to make yourself known to your new contacts. Have questions? Let us know! We will be happy to help.   ... View more