Every Tuesday we'll share tips, tricks, and insights on using Constant Contact and online marketing   Click to downloadIt’s a short week for me as I’ll be attending a conference today, but I still wanted to get something up for Constant Tips!    Our beloved Content team just dropped a new guide that covers how you can maximize your content without doubling your workload.    Y’all are out there doing what you can with what you have, but sometimes it can never feel like enough–but maybe that’s not true! Consider whether you are really getting the most out of the content you’re creating for your marketing efforts and identify areas of opportunity where you can leverage your content you may have missed!   Have you repurposed your content before? Let us know in the comments!   ⬇️ Click on the attached document below to download. ... View more

Small business owners often juggle countless tasks, leaving marketing on the back burner. But what if there was a way to streamline marketing efforts and boost confidence?   Enter Constant Contact's latest innovation: the AI-powered Campaign Builder. This tool promises to revolutionize how small businesses approach marketing, addressing the challenges uncovered in the Spring 2024 Small Business Report.    "More than half of small businesses we polled — about 55% to 56% — told us that they have less than an hour a day to spend on marketing," reveals Michael Wood, Manager of North America External Communications at Constant Contact. This startling statistic underscores the need for efficient marketing solutions.   The episode dives into the research findings, exploring why small businesses struggle with marketing and how the new Campaign Builder can help. Kate Conway, Constant Contact’s Senior Product Marketing Manager, explains how the tool leverages AI and Constant Contact's decades of marketing expertise to create multi-channel campaigns tailored to specific business goals.   Tune in to gain insights into the current state of small business marketing and learn how AI-driven tools can save time, boost confidence, and improve overall marketing strategies.   Additional Resources: SBN Report Campaign Builder BrandKit Have you tried Campaign Builder? Let us know!   Meet Today’s Guests: Kate Conway and Michael Wood of Constant Contact   🚀 What Kate does: She is the Senior Product Marketing Manager at Constant Contact.   💡 Key quote: "Campaign Builder was built really to address this need. It’s a goal-based tool that does all the heavy lifting for you."   👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn   📊 What Michael does: He is the Manager of North America External Communications at Constant Contact.   💡 Key quote: "Less than 20% of the small businesses we polled told us that they felt confident that they were using the right channels. So it's not just more is more. The channels that you use matter."   👋 Where to find him: LinkedIn   👋 Where to find Constant Contact: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... View more

This article was originally written by River Cartier for the Constant Contact Blog.   Just as fall is my favorite season, October is my favorite month.     I love October. Not just because I get to over-decorate the house, play dress-up as an adult, and buy way too much candy without judgment.   Nor do I love it because of National Pumpkin Spice Day (Oct. 1st) or National Cinnamon Roll Day (Oct. 4th) — although those are both good reasons to love October.   I love it because the first snows fall and then melt away, because of Indian Summer days and cold nights with breezes that nip at your nose, and because everyone is getting ready to hunker down for winter.   I love October because here in the Northern Hemisphere, it is nature’s last hurrah before winter sets in.   So, when you start working on your marketing for October, think about how this time of year makes you feel and how you can help your readers celebrate the end of the season while preparing for the coming winter.   If you’re not sure where to start, I’m here to help with a bushel of October holidays, newsletter ideas, and subject line starters. So slip into your favorite slippers, grab a cup of hot cocoa and let your mind warm up to some of these great ideas.   October holidays — 2024   October 1st — International Coffee Day. A great day to share a free cup of coffee with your readers, or to share recipes, memes, and tips about this morning staple. October 6th — National Mad Hatter Day. Ever wondered what the 10/6 on the Mad Hatter’s hat means? 10 shillings and 6 pence — the cost of the hat! October 7th-13th — The Children’s Trust Pyjama Week. This comfortable week is held annually in the UK to raise funds for children with brain injuries. October 7th — National Inner Beauty Day. Recognize the inner beauty of your customers and employees. October 10th — World Mental Health Day. Raise awareness with your readers about mental health and community resources. October 16th — Dictionary Day. Share fun, little-known words related to your business. Make a game of it in your shop or offer a discount if your customers know the “word of the day”. October 21st — Back to the Future Day. Celebrate the day Doc and Marty landed in the future by doing fun flashbacks or sneak peeks from your business. October 25th — International Artist Day. Support a local artist by showcasing their work in your shop, your newsletter, and on your social media. October 18th — Loud Shirt Day. From our friends in Australia, this day raises money for children with hearing loss. I love this… out loud! October 31st — Halloween, National Caramel Apple Day, and Magic Day. Pick a holiday, any holiday.   October newsletter ideas   With fall in full color, corn mazes, and kids in costumes, there’s no better time to embrace the season and your community.   October newsletter ideas for running contests   Seasonal activities are everywhere this time of year. So, tap into what’s happening in your community.   Bring the fun. Purchase a few tickets to a local corn maze, haunted house, or other season-themed event and then hold a contest for your readers to win the tickets.  Create something special. Partner with a local event or a related business to combine your products or resources to create something special for the season/month. Support your community. Partner with a local food bank, farm, grocery store, or charity to create a fundraiser that can start with paying to pick apples, to making apple deserts, all the way down to a bake sale. Better yet, partner with a school to teach children the process of farm-to-table.   October newsletter ideas for Halloween   Halloween dominates the month of October so join in the fun and celebrate all things Halloween-ish with your readers.    If your business isn’t directly tied to Halloween, then be a resource for your readers by:   Doing some research. Create a comprehensive list of activities and events happening in your area that you can share with your readers. Share the list on social media as well, and invite your readers to add activities that you might have missed. Creating a checklist. Help your readers out by creating a fun checklist of things they’ll need to “survive” Halloween. This can be anything from practical suggestions on how to trick-or-treat with little ones to funny suggestions like purchasing twice as much candy as you think you’ll need, so there’ll be some left for the trick-or-treaters. Curating content. Content curation isn’t just for social media. You can curate content from other sources and use it in your newsletters and on your website. Just make sure to follow content curation best practices and cite your sources properly.   TIP: Whatever holiday you highlight in your newsletter this month, whether you issue a challenge, offer advice, or ask your readers to share, include a branded hashtag and a custom hashtag — along with a corresponding post on social media — so you can easily find and like what they post!   October newsletter subject lines   “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” — National Mad Hatter Day (Oct. 6th). Do you know the answer? “Have I gone mad?” — National Mad Hatter Day (Oct. 6th). Great for announcing a sale. “It’s time to kick some butt!” — National Kick Butt Day (Oct. 9th). When you want to motivate your readers to take action. “It’s my party” Preheader: “and you’re invited” — It’s My Party Day (Oct. 11th). Great for anything you want to celebrate, an event, a sale, whatever! “I don’t believe it” — International Skeptics Day (Oct. 13th). Great for announcing a sale, something new, or even something controversial. “Go beyond bold” Preheader: “Be gaudy!” — Wear Something Gaudy Day (Oct. 17th). “Great Scott!” — Back To The Future Day (Oct. 21st). Great for sharing what’s new and exciting. “Knock knock” — National Knock Knock Joke Day (Oct. 31st). Hey! Why not?   For more October holidays and ideas on what you can do to share them with your customers, download the graphic below. And if you haven’t started already, it’s time. Start planning your 2024 holiday marketing now. ... View more

 Every Tuesday we'll share tips, tricks, and insights on using Constant Contact and online marketing     Who doesn't love to streamline productivity? @Abigail_S would argue that I navigate the most complicated route to figure out a simple solution, but that's a battle for another day. 😉   Today's tip is just a fresh reminder that you should check and see if any of the different platforms you use integrate with Constant Contact, because potentially, there's a lot of them!   If you're just getting started with integrations, you can check out our Integrations section of the New Customer Hub, or visit our Knowledge Base for more.   Integrations are great, because you can:   Expand your reach. Enhance your operations. Boost your content creation. Streamline social media management. Optimize E-commerce efforts.   It's important to note that not all integrations, like Zapier, are managed by Constant Contact. Thus, we can't provide support for them if an issue pops up. I recommend you check with the support channel of the respective platform to help with troubleshooting measures that don't pertain to the Constant Contact side of things. ... View more

After composing and sending an email to your contacts, you can expand its visibility by sharing it on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Of course, you might know not exactly what to say, but that's okay! We are excited to announce a new feature that allows you to effortlessly summarize your emails using AI when sharing them on social media.   This innovative tool is integrated into the social post tool within Constant Contact, making it easier than ever to engage your audience with concise and compelling content. Social Media Marketing      To utilize this feature, just click on 'Summarize email' after clicking on the 'Content generator' button when going through the social sharing steps.   Interested in what else marketing on social media has to offer? Check out our Social Media Marketing space! ... View more

Building a successful business takes grit, determination, and a commitment to your vision.    For Maria Miranda, founder and creative director of Miranda Creative, that journey began in 1988 with a simple yet powerful belief: work should be about respect, creativity, and client value.   In this episode of the Be a Marketer podcast, Maria and host Dave Charest pull back the curtain on 35 years of experience, sharing the lessons learned and strategies honed along the way. Maria discusses how she built a thriving agency by focusing on authentic connections, organic content, and the enduring power of email marketing. "Little effort, little impact, big effort, big impact," she shares, emphasizing the importance of meaningful engagement and a long-term perspective.   Tune in to hear how Maria empowers her team, embraces a community-driven approach, and navigates the dynamic world of marketing with intention and purpose.   Additional Resources: Help overview: The Email Details page in Constant Contact Create and manage contact lists in Constant Contact  Professional Services from Constant Contact  Constant Contact Partner Agency Directory   Meet Today’s Guest: Maria Miranda of Miranda Creative   ☕ What she does: Maria is the founder and creative director of Miranda Creative, a brand management firm based in Norwich, Connecticut. For over 35 years, she has provided comprehensive marketing services to businesses. Maria was named the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year: Connecticut by the Small Business Administration. She holds a B.F.A. in graphic design/marketing from the University of Connecticut.   💡 Key quote: "Your email list is the only audience you actually own."   👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn   👋 Where to find Miranda Creative: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube |  LinkedIn    If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... View more

Did you attend our recent webinar A Blueprint for Year-End Fundraising Success? If you did, we want to hear from you!   A lot was discussed, so if you need a refresher you can check out our Q&A post that includes a recording of the webinar, but what we’d like to hear is what takeaways you got from the webinar?   What topics resonated with you? What advice do you plan to implement in your own strategies? Is there anything that you wanted to see discussed that didn’t make it in?   This very Nonprofit Group was also highlighted on the webinar and we got some new members as a result! Please let us know what you thought: @MonicaM6961 @user530929 @FRAsAdmin @epswest @SarahM36 @user951 @FutureHeights @EstacadaChamber @MarghanM @AnnetteM71 @user141986 @YWCANB @Susan10 @JillB0 @KateL98 @KimB123 @NaseerR4 @ShatwannB @CBRT @NatalieEPCMSCEO @MarleneT51 @user66929 @DianeS5562 @user55465 @user65885 @user319642 @user889379 @PatriciaM344 @user0638927 @user971734 @FMMS123 @user67643    Look forward to hearing from you! ... View more

 Every Tuesday we'll share tips, tricks, and insights on using Constant Contact and online marketing   I just dropped a new thread over in Campaign Feedback soliciting feedback for our new Campaign Builder tool, if you've had the chance to use it yet (and we really think you should).   It made me want to highlight the different ways our users can have their voices heard by Constant Contact, whether it's a feature request, support question, or seeking marketing advice. I mean, the Constant Contact Community you're reading this post on is a prime example because we're reading everything that comes in! However, to organize it a bit more succinctly:   Ideas   This area is specifically for you to give feedback and suggest new features for Constant Contact. We actively monitor submissions and tag them with appropriate tracking so anyone who chimes in adds to the tracking metrics for that request/idea. So hop over to Ideas and share with us what you're looking for!   Ask Dave   If you're not listening to the Be A Marketer podcast, I highly recommend it! Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, Brand Production Coordinator, explore what it really takes to market your business with regular guests from various small business and nonprofit industries. Dave also has regular Ask Dave interludes where he answers questions from listeners. You can submit questions in our dedicated Ask Dave thread!   Events & Webinars   Every webinar we run ends with a Q&A portion and throughout the webinar itself, the platform we use allows attendees to ask questions which often get answered in real-time by a group of dedicated product and marketing experts. Make sure to see which events are coming up! And if your question doesn't get an answer, we follow up every webinar with Q&A posts that highlights as many of the questions we received and includes a recording to the webinar itself!   Help Center   And even beyond the Community, we have our Help Center with a plethora of channels users can engage with Constant Contact. You can call our support line, chat with an agent, or join a "Ask a Trainer" session between 11AM and 4PM ET (the link is only live during that time) every weekday! ... View more

The new Campaign Builder tool by Constant Contact is designed to save time and build effective marketing campaigns with minimal effort. It automates content creation and channel selection, providing actionable recommendations for small and medium businesses (SMBs). Have you had a chance to try it out yet?     As we continue to innovate and enhance our services, your feedback is invaluable to us. The Campaign Builder leverages AI technology and industry best practices to help SMBs create effective marketing campaigns with ease. It automatically generates tailored recommendations for content, different marketing channels, and timing based on your specific goals, allowing you to reach a broader audience through email, social media, and SMS.   We would love to hear about your experiences with the Campaign Builder:   How has the Campaign Builder impacted your marketing strategies? What features do you find most useful? Are there any improvements or additional functionalities you would like to see?   Thank you for being a part of our community and helping us enhance the tools you use every day.   Looking forward to your feedback! ... View more

Community 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!   Campaign Feedback Designing for Impact: Email Template Structures for Real Estate  My First Email Campaign with Constant Contact - Request for Feedback on LBG Print Shop Relocation  Template Feedback: New Monthly Newsletter    Community Blog: Meet the Community Team: Nick_S  Customer Spotlight: Oakland Mediation Center  Discover How Constant Contact Empowers Your Business  Ways to improve email deliverability  Community Coach Spotlight: Melanie Diehl  Industry tips: Restaurants  Industry Tips: Retail  September Holidays and Newsletter Ideas — 2024  Data Driven: Your Guide to Digital Marketing Metrics [Download]    Community Coach Discussions: 3 Elements of a Professional Email Campaign    Constant Tips: Constant Tips: Schedule Your Email and Delivery Troubleshooting  Constant Tips: Review the functionalities of the Library  Constant Tips: Learn the different ways to style and format your email template  Constant Tips: Explore improved payment options for Events    News and Announcements Google Pay and Apple Pay Options Now Available for Stripe  Try Campaign Builder for Free Today!    Past Events & Upcoming Events: Q&A: A Blueprint for Year-End Fundraising Success       Questions & Discussions How can I automate my social media posts?  What are tips on how to get started with email marketing? Casual Conversations: What is your current favorite TV show?  How to write an effective fundraising email  How do I find email marketing templates that converts?  What are the best marketing strategies for an online business?  What elements should be included in an effective email marketing campaigns?  Effective subject lines for sales emails      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! ... View more

Want to grow your community and attract more subscribers on social media or LinkedIn?   In episode 68 of the Be a Marketer podcast, Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, and Kelsi Carter, the team’s brand production coordinator, share their insights on how storytelling can help you capture your audience's attention.    They also answer a question from the marketing and artist manager of the Gregangelo Museum, a Constant Contact customer since 2005, about key highlights and perks that can attract subscribers and grow their community.    Tune in wherever you get your podcasts to hear how storytelling and personal experiences can set your marketing apart in the age of AI.   👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.   Resources: Check out the New Customer Hub  Listen to #45 - Building Trust Through Stories with Brad Sundberg  If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... View more

 Every Tuesday we'll share tips, tricks, and insights on using Constant Contact and online marketing   We announced the other day that Apple Pay and Google Pay are now available when using Stripe to collect transactions for your events. I thought it would be helpful to just quickly break down the different payment options available for the Events tool.   It's essentially broken down to two options: Stripe and PayPal. However, within both those options are more options. I like saying the word "options" if you haven't noticed.   Stripe Credit/Debit Card Google Pay Apple Pay Stripe Link   PayPal: PayPal Balance Credit Card Venmo Pay Later   This provides a lot of variety for event organizers and prospective registrants. It's important to note both payment processors charge transaction fees. Stripe charges a fee of 2.9% + $0.30 and PayPal charges a fee of 3.49% + $0.49. Constant Contact collects an additional fee of 2.9% in both cases.   If your event is free, these rules do not apply, regardless of whether you have a payment processor linked to your account. ... View more

This article was revised and shortened from the original version by Sarah Bricker Hunt, published on the Constant Contact Blog.   Do you want to connect with clients more effectively? You can when a real estate newsletter is part of your online marketing strategy. Email newsletters offer a unique platform for connecting with potential leads, as well as current and former clients.     Adding a compelling real estate newsletter as part of a real estate marketing plan will help you nurture leads, make more sales, and create repeat clients. Constant Contact’s real-estate specific email templates can make it fast and easy to create and send a newsletter your recipients will look forward to reading.   What to include in a real estate email newsletter   Your real estate newsletter should include five basic elements:   Strong, compelling content - Your newsletter should extend beyond mere sales pitches. Include skimmable headers and diverse content such as community news or trends in real estate that provide value and help build a personal connection with your clients. An eye-catching subject line - The subject line is your first impression. Keep it short, unique, and clear about what the reader will gain by opening the email. Techniques such as incorporating deadlines can significantly increase engagement.  An uncluttered, visually-appealing appearance - Ensure your email newsletter mirrors a printed one, with a clear, logical layout that's easy to navigate and concise. Avoid overloading it with content and large text blocks, as online reading habits differ. Maintain consistency by using the same template, occasionally updated for seasons, and align the design elements—like logos and color schemes—with your real estate brand's other platforms. Contact information and relevant links - Make sure your newsletter includes accurate contact information, website, and social media links. You can embed an engaging social media post or add a clickable icon. Regularly post quality content to be seen as an active, dedicated agent. A call-to-action - End your newsletter with a clear call to action (CTA) that aligns with your goals, such as generating referrals. Avoid overwhelming your readers with multiple CTAs, as this can come off as pushy. Instead, keep it straightforward, for example: "Have you heard about our client referral program? Refer a new client who closes on a property within six months, and receive a cash reward! Learn more here."   📣 12 Tips to Create a Good Email Subject Line   Using a real estate newsletter template   Constant Contact offers a variety of real estate-specific templates that make the process fast and simple.   Using a Constant Contact real estate newsletter template is easy.   Choose a design. Customize with a drag, drop, and click interface — choose colors and fonts to match your brand’s look and feel. Plug in your content. Add stock images or your own photos. Send!   Constant Contact’s real estate newsletter templates make it easy to create scannable, compelling content.   Constant Contact email templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring your message reaches today’s smartphone users. After sending your newsletter, you can track opens, link clicks, and bounced emails, providing insights to refine your future marketing strategies.   When to send your real estate newsletter   Ultimately, it’s up to you. The main goal here is consistency. Instead of sending one-off emails from time to time, create a schedule and stick to it. Typical schedules are weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, but you could also consider seasonal newsletters or another schedule that fits your niche. ... View more

This article was revised and shortened from the original version by Amanda Dvorak, published on the Constant Contact Blog.   For realtors, email newsletters are a valuable tool for gaining new customers and selling more properties. But when 306 billion emails are sent every day, how can you make your email stand out?     The subject line, often overlooked, is arguably the most important part of your email. When competing in crowded inboxes, a compelling subject line can distinguish you from the rest.   Crafting a compelling subject line is crucial after perfecting your email, as it can attract new leads, maintain connections with past clients, and expand your business.   What makes the best email subject lines for real estate   Effective real estate email subject lines should be relevant, enticing, and intriguing, offering a preview without revealing too much.   Keep these tips in mind when crafting your subject lines:   Less is more Keep your subject line under 40 characters or 5-7 words to ensure visibility, especially on mobile devices. Add a sense of urgency To boost email open rates, use subject lines that create urgency, making subscribers feel they might miss out on important information. Highlight time-sensitive matters like expiring listings or a single open house event. However, avoid phrases like "act now" or "call now" to prevent your emails from being marked as spam. More tips on avoiding spam filters will follow. Include personal touches Personalized subject lines boost engagement by making recipients feel directly addressed, especially in significant decisions like real estate transactions. Adding personal touches to your subject lines can show empathy towards the challenges of buying or selling a home, reinforcing to clients that they are valued beyond just a commission. Keep your subject lines relevant Avoid using misleading subject lines to increase email opens, as this can frustrate subscribers and lead to unsubscribes. Ensure your subject lines truthfully represent the email content to maintain authenticity and build trust with your recipients. Ask questions Effective real estate email subject lines often pose questions, naturally prompting readers to seek answers and engage with the content. For example, asking "Is your home ready to sell?" encourages recipients to open the email and consider their readiness to sell their home, fostering interaction and reflection.   Preventing your emails from being marked as spam   Spam filters can be quite sensitive, and some email clients have stricter spam policies than others.     To decrease the chances of your emails being flagged as spam, avoid these common spam triggers in your subject lines:   Too many punctuation marks in a row, like !!! or ??? Spammy words and phrases such as “free,” “guarantee,” and “click here” Excessive use of symbols such as #, @, and % Writing in all caps   Using emojis in your email subject lines   Using emojis in emails should be done carefully. Overusing them can seem unprofessional and clutter the subject line. Also, not all email clients display emojis correctly, which could affect how your message is received. If you choose to use an emoji, select one that best relates to your message content.   Sample real estate subject lines   The best real estate subject lines utilize a combination of all of the strategies mentioned above. They should be clear, concise, and offer value to the email recipient.   Here are a few real estate email subject line examples:   How does your home compare? [Client Name], is your home priced to sell? Don’t Miss Out on [XYZ Property] Your Dream Home is Waiting 10 Secrets Other Realtors Won’t Tell You 5 Ways to Boost Your Property Value by 30%   While compelling email subject lines are crucial in real estate marketing, they are just one piece of the puzzle. To truly captivate your audience and keep them engaged, ensure that your email designs are sleek and your content is easily digestible. Without these elements, even the most enticing subject lines may fail to keep readers interested until the final sign-off. ... View more

Hi everyone! Welcome to the our Real Estate Group!   This group is for you and your peers to share, support, and commiserate with each other. In that spirit, let’s get started by introducing yourself.   What’s your name? Tell us a little bit about your real estate endeavors! What’s your favorite part of working in real estate?   I'm excited to meet and learn more about each of you! ... View more

We are thrilled to announce an update to our payment processing capabilities for Events.    Customers who use Stripe as their payment processor can now offer a more streamlined and convenient checkout experience to their registrants. With the integration of Google Pay and Apple Pay, attendees can easily complete their transactions on eligible devices and browsers. This includes Apple Pay on iOS and Mac OS devices, as well as Google Pay on Android devices and Chrome browsers.   This update is designed to make the payment process smoother and faster, reducing the hassle for both organizers and attendees. By enabling these popular payment methods, we are ensuring that more people can access and participate in events with ease. Related: Payment methods for an event ... View more