Gail Bernardo, owner of Invisilace Hair Spa, emphasizes the value of patience and persistence in business growth, as well as the power of combining online marketing with personal, face-to-face interactions.    Gail emphasizes the power of consistent customer contact. In her experience, even if a potential client doesn't require her services immediately, maintaining contact through newsletters means that when they do need her services, her business is top of mind.    Gail recounts what she’s learned about marketing, “Sometimes it's not always instant. It may take time for your customer to come...and some people just think, oh, if I send out 500 brochures or I do this and do that, it's not working because in 30 days no one called me. So sometimes you have to be patient and you have to wait.”   She’s successfully leveraged local resources, online marketing, and personal interactions to grow her business of 13 years.    On this episode of Be a Marketer, Gail and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss the importance of marketing for small businesses. Gail shares her strategies for building relationships with customers, including collecting email addresses at events and following up with Constant Contact newsletters.   👉 Check out An Overview of Constant Contact’s Mobile App   Meet Today’s Guest: Gail Bernardo of Invisilace Hair Spa   ☕ What she does: Since 2010, Gail Bernardo has been helping people with hair loss or thinning due to life-changing health issues. For Gail, it’s more than just a business. It's part of her calling. And she doesn’t take it lightly. After personal struggles with hair loss due to cancer, she knows what it means to her clients to feel good about themselves.   💡 Key quote: "Do your homework before you decide that you're going to open up a business. Understand that it's going to take some time and it's not going to take a whole bunch of money."    👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn   👋 Where to find Invisilace Hair Spa: Website   If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... View more

Employee Spotlight is a new recurring monthly feature on the Community where we put a face to the hard-working and dedicated employees that make Constant Contact what it is!   Steven is a Personal Marketing Advisor who has been part of Constant Contact for five years. We want to highlight Steven for all the great work he does. His manager had this to say, "Steven goes above and beyond for the customers that he coaches, is always trying to find innovative ways to help them, and has an enthusiasm that makes our customers trust him and his guidance."    Can't argue with that. Let's meet Steve!   What do you do at Constant Contact? Marketing Advisor - from logging in for the first time to lead funnels, to five-year social media plans, and more, since small businesses do it all!   "When I'm not working, you can find me..." Being the most excited NERD anywhere.   What's something non-work-related that you're proud of accomplishing in the last year or so? Developing an 11,000 page series of D&D books that work in 148+ book series hosted entirely online with its own wiki, YouTube channel, Discord, etc. I've learned everything from video creation with fully narrated character cutscenes to how to manage the models, databases, etc. All online and hosting it privately!   What's your favorite small business? Haunted Game Cafe in Fort Collins - since I'm a colossal Magic the Gathering nerd I've got to support my local card shop!   What's your go-to GIF or meme?   If you could have one superpower, what would it be? My personal super power of choice is flying! I would woosh from coast to coast for cardio.   What's the best thing about being part of Team Constant Contact? The brilliant, witty, funny and delightful Marketing Advisors I get to learn from every day (and humble shoutout to the awesome swag).   What is your favorite Constant Contact product or feature? The email editor! I've seen it grow into the massive tool it is today and the ease that comes with it is a win every time I walk a client through it! The blocks you can use, the drag and drop, and the straightforward toolbar is what makes it great!   What is your favorite piece of advice to share with customers? Plan ahead using the Calendar view! You can set up an entire year's worth of marketing ideas then using the AI tools, fill those ideas with content to send out in a flash!   Do you have a favorite moment you can think of working with a customer? My favorite moment was having someone come into the program with amazing writing skills, but no idea what to do with it. After coaching and teaching them through the program, they now have their first book published! While on a call they got choked up about how it feels like "having a legacy now.!" I even got a signed copy sent to me in the mail! ... View more

   Every Tuesday we'll share tips, tricks, and insights on using Constant Contact and online marketing   The Community is a big place, but did you know we have an Ideas board where you can share fresh ideas on new and improved features you'd like to see in the product or chime in on ideas made by your peers?   The best part is the ideas are tracked and monitored by our internal review teams so the more users that upvote them, the more visible they become!     We also monitor the ideas and will sort them into different statuses depending on where they fall in the progress pipeline. Of course, there are a lot of great ideas coming in all the time and never enough time to implement them all, but we still want users to feel acknowledged!   Do you have a great idea you're ready to tell us about? Suggest an idea today! ... View more

If you ask Brad Sundberg, storytelling is an effective marketing strategy that allows you to build trust. Brad shares his experience of using personal storytelling to promote events based on his time in the studio with Michael Jackson. He believes that sharing stories, especially about personal experiences, helps to establish connections with customers.    “When you are a business owner,” he says. “You either sit on the couch and eat popcorn and go broke, or you've got to get out and beat the drum.”    On this episode of Be a Marketer, Brad and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss the power of personal branding, storytelling, and building trust in marketing.    👉 Check out How to Create a Facebook and Instagram Ad in Constant Contact    Meet Today’s Guest: Brad Sundberg of In the Studio with MJ   ☕ What he does: Brad Sundberg joined Michael Jackson’s team during the production of Captain EO in 1985, and remained with Michael as one of his engineers and Technical Director for nearly 18 years. Now, Brad shares these unique experiences with the public through his In the Studio with MJ seminars.    💡 Key quote: “Marketing is essential now. In the age of social media, whether you love it or hate it, it's an amazing tool. ”    👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn   👋 Where to find In the Studio with MJ: Website | Facebook | Instagram   If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. 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.  ... View more

  Every Tuesday we'll share tips, tricks, and insights on using Constant Contact and online marketing Constant Contact provides a wide range of webinars that empower individuals and businesses to build marketing confidence and learn about the platform's features.   These webinars cover topics like email marketing, social media strategies, and content creation.   Constant Contact regularly updates the Upcoming Events page with new webinars, ensuring users have access to valuable educational resources. By participating in these webinars, users can enhance their marketing skills, stay up-to-date with industry trends, and make the most of Constant Contact's powerful tools.   Make sure to register for Crafting the Right Content Mix: Ideas to Inspire Your Digital Marketing. It's coming on 2/29!   Plus, our super great training team just launched the new Getting Started: Upload Your Contacts & Send Your First Email with Constant Contact regular onboarding webinar. It's great and you should check it out! ... View more

We've got some exciting news for you - the Constant Contact Community just got a major upgrade for mobile viewing! Our new responsive design automatically adjusts to fit your screen, giving you a seamless and enjoyable scrolling experience.   Everything you know and love about the community is accessible; ask support questions, seek marketing advice, and stay connected with your peers while on the go from your smartphone or tablet!   But wait, there's more! We've been making a lot of adjustments and improvements to the community to create a more intuitive and user-friendly space; and we're not done! Keep an eye out for more exciting changes, new spaces for learning, and more!   If you have any questions about the mobile experience, or want to let us know what you think, please let us know in the comments! ... View more

  ❗Important: This feature is only available with our newest email template picker. Hey there, community members! I’m excited to announce you can now save your email designs as reusable templates!   This awesome feature is here to save you time and effort. Imagine creating a killer email template once and using it for all your future campaigns. No more starting from scratch every time! So, here's how it works: When you're on the Email campaign dashboard, simply find the email you want to save (draft or sent), click "Save as template" from the drop-down, give it a name, and voila! You've got yourself a reusable template.   When you're ready to use your saved template, just head over to the Email dashboard again, click "Create an email", and choose your template from the Saved templates tab. Customize it to your heart's content, and you're good to go! This nifty feature not only saves you time but also helps you maintain consistent branding across your campaigns. It's a win-win! 🙋‍ Got any questions or want to share something you like about the feature? Let us know in the comments! ... View more

Wondering how to get faculty to attend your webinars? In this episode, Dave Charest provides detailed strategies on audience understanding, creating engaging content, effective promotion, and collecting feedback.    Listen in to hear how to:   Understand your audience's interests and challenges through pre-work and surveys. Create engaging content that provides practical solutions to educators' challenges. Promote the webinar effectively through various channels and supportive colleagues. Collect feedback after each session to improve future webinars and promotions. Leverage relationships with supportive colleagues ("friendlies") for promotion and feedback.   Resources:   How to create a survey page in Constant Contact   How to create and activate an event in ​​​​​​​​​​Constant Contact    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.  If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... View more

It’s a challenge all small businesses face: how do you find your audience? How do you grow your contact list to the massive number of supporters and subscribers other businesses seem to have? There are many ways to go about it, and the secret is that any one of those ways might be the best way for your unique business. Why a Bigger Contact List Means Better Business Of course you want to share your small business with the biggest audience possible– it’s the difference between getting your message out to a classroom of your loyal supporters and to an auditorium that includes not only your most loyal customers, but also your casual fans, and the people who haven’t become customers yet– but will. Whether you're sharing a special promotional email or updating your audience with a newsletter, with a larger contact list, each message reaches a wider, more diverse group. This expands your reach, resulting in more customers, more sales, and more support. So, how do you start growing your list of contacts? While we’ve provided a number of options below, you don’t have to tackle them all at once. Growing your list is an ongoing process– so pick one, give it a try, and see what works, adding and experimenting as you go!   Caution: It’s common for small businesses to get offers to buy lists. Learn more about why purchasing contact lists is a bad choice for your business and why you should avoid that route at all costs. Learn more   Navigation:       Grow your audience with a dedicated destination Sign-up Landing Pages & Website signup forms     No matter where you’re most likely to find your ideal audience, one thing is for certain: you need an easy, dedicated place to point them in order to capture their subscription information. When your next loyal customer is scanning their social feed or browsing the internet and you get their interest with a special offer or a compelling content, where do you lead them? A sign-up landing page is easy to create and gives you a link to include on social media, in advertisements, or anywhere you might find your customers. These landing pages often include something valuable for your audience in order to entice them to sign up, like:   Special offer or discounts: Promotions like a free appetizer or a percentage off coupon are a common perk for subscribers. Exclusive resources: Subscribers receive access to exclusive guides, whitepapers, or other helpful resources. Webinar registration: Sign-up landing pages can be used to offer visitors registration to an upcoming or on-demand webinar. Newsletter content: A preview and description of your newsletter can drive visitors to subscribe and set their expectations. Giveaway or contest eligibility: Holding a giveaway that customers can register to have a chance to win can help encourage signups.   In addition to creating a landing page to collect signups, putting a website sign-up form on your business website allows you to capture traffic that’s already interested– after all, they’re already on your site, so it’s important to find ways to continue the conversation and follow up with them later. Because the user experience on your site is unique, there are a number of different ways to display these forms for your audience. You can display it inline with text on the page, at the top or bottom of your site with an eye-catching banner, make it fly out to add motion, or have a small window pop up exactly when you need it. If you're using WordPress, there's also a WordPress plugin available to easily add it to your WordPress blog or site. These options give you the flexibility to engage with your audience in a way that suits your style and keeps your visitors informed and engaged. Encouraging visitors to sign up from your website can be very similar to how you use a landing page– just distributed throughout your site. Common things your site visitors might sign up for include:   Newsletter subscription Event registration Promotion redemption Membership sign-up Contests and giveaways Nonprofit donations Volunteer registration Appointment scheduling By using landing pages and sign-up forms, you can create a dedicated place for your audience to discover you and subscribe to your communications, building your list and growing your relationships. Learn more about landing pages: Video | KB Article | Blog Post Learn more about signup forms: Video | KB Article Create it now in Constant Contact: Sign-up Landing Page | Sign-up Form   Grow your audience in-person QR codes     Growing your contact list doesn’t have to happen behind a screen– if you’re commonly face-to-face with your customers and prospects, growing your list in-person is an excellent option, as well. By using in-person opportunities to point customers to your sign-up page or to use mobile capabilities to sign them up, you can seamlessly turn an interaction into an ongoing conversation. Here’s how:   Once you have your sign-up landing page set up, you can create a QR code that links to that page to capitalize on in-person interactions and encourage your audience to scan the code and join your list. Here are a just a few ways you can integrate QR codes into your customer interactions:   Receipts and invoices: Include a QR code on all receipts and invoices, inviting customers to subscribe for updates or exclusive offers. Product tags and packaging: Add QR codes to your products' tags or packaging, making it easy for customers to sign up and learn more about your products or services. Storefront display: Place a QR code in your store window or at the entrance. This way, even passersby can subscribe, expanding your reach beyond just the in-store customers. Tabletop placards: In dining or waiting areas, use placards with QR codes. (These work great with a free appetizer or discount!) Event signage: At events, use banners and posters with QR codes. These can attract the attention of attendees and facilitate easy sign-up. Business cards: Embed a QR code on your business cards. It's a great way to network and increase your subscriber list simultaneously. Point-of-sale signage: Utilize the space around your checkout area with signage that includes a QR code, prompting customers to sign up as they complete their purchase. Create your own QR codes: KB Article Grow your audience through social media Social media posting and advertising     Odds are, the people you want to reach are on social media. By utilizing your Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media pages, you can engage entirely new audiences and continually share your website and subscriber information with them to build your list. Plus, as you discover more and more about who you want to reach, advertising through social media sites like Facebook and Instagram can help you get very specific and targeted with your advertising dollars, resulting in better, more impactful leads.   Using your own social media page to grow your contact list from your organic audience can seem like a tall order. The trick is to share the right content that will help lead your social media audience to your sign-up landing page. This brings your social audience to a page you own and control, converting them from social media scrollers to subscribers. Here are some social media content ideas that can help you turn followers into contacts:   Contests and sweepstakes - Common social media, contests and sweepstakes encourage participation and can drive to your sign-up landing page. Events - Using your social media to promote and count down to your events provides an excellent opportunity to share your registration page. Newsletters - With Constant Contact, you can easily share your newsletter or other emails with your social audience. Free resources - Whether it’s a guide, a recipe, a worksheet or other resources, offering your social audience a valuable resource can convince them to give you their information.   Share your Sign-up Landing Page on social media: KB Article Add a Sign-up Landing Page to your social media profile: KB Article Integrate your social media with your Constant Contact account: Do it now   So what about the people on social media who aren’t already part of your network and seeing your content as part of their feeds? This is where Facebook and Instagram advertising come in. Through Constant Contact, you can set your budget and invest in advertising that is specifically targeted to the Facebook and/or Instagram users that are the most similar to your best, most loyal customers, making them more likely to engage with your advertisement and become part of your contact list.   Sharing your signup landing page through targeted ads works best when you use the very best offer you have in order to attract and engage prospects who are entirely new to you. You can advertise your events and webinars, your exclusive resources, or even your newsletter signup landing page, but you want to ensure that what you advertise is as enticing as possible.   Learn more about social media advertising: KB Article Create a lead ad for Facebook and Instagram: KB Article   Grow your audience while they're browsing the web Google ads     Your potential customers are actively searching on Google for products or services like yours, and more than ever, Google’s layout and algorithm prioritizes paid, targeted results. By creating and placing an ad that perfectly aligns with your ideal customer’s needs, you can drive them to your website, a dedicated landing page, or a sign-up page where they can discover more. Constant Contact has partnered with Kliken to streamline the Google Ads experience and help you manage your ad budget. Once you've created your Kliken account, you can access it through your Constant Contact account and manage your marketing efforts all from one place! Here are ten examples of businesses or organizations that use Constant Contact and could benefit from connecting with more customers through Google Ads:   Local bakery: A neighborhood bakery can use Google Ads to attract nearby customers searching for "fresh pastries" or "artisan bread" in their area. Online retailer: An e-commerce store selling clothing can target Google Ads to appear when users search for "summer dresses" or "men's suits." Nonprofit organization: A charity organization can use Google Ads to raise awareness and donations by showing ads when users search for "donate to [cause]" or "volunteer opportunities near me." Fitness center: A gym can promote its services with Google Ads to reach potential customers looking for "fitness classes" or "personal trainers." Real estate agency: A real estate agency can use Google Ads to showcase property listings when users search for "homes for sale" or "apartments for rent" in specific neighborhoods. Restaurant: A restaurant can attract diners by displaying Google Ads when people search for "best Italian restaurants" or "Mexican food delivery." Event planner: An event planning company can target ads to individuals searching for "wedding planners" or "event coordinators" for special occasions. Home service: A plumbing or electrical service can reach local customers in need of urgent repairs by showing ads for "emergency plumber" or "electrician near me." Educational institution: A language school can use Google Ads to attract students interested in language courses, targeting keywords like "Spanish classes" or "English language schools”. Software developer: A software developer offering a new app can use Google Ads to increase app downloads by appearing in searches for "best productivity apps" or "health tracking apps." Learn More: Video | KB Article | Blog Post |  On-Demand Course   By choosing one or more of these ideas to implement into your marketing mix, you’ll be on your way to growing your contact list– and your business.   💪 Feeling inspired and ready to get started? Log into Constant Contact and get growing   🤔 Need more help or have additional questions? Ask your question in the Constant Contact Community   ... View more

If you've already familiarized yourself with Email Design Best Practices but still need guidance on actually creating a template to share, we've got you covered. Our curated resources include step-by-step tutorials, informative videos, and visually appealing PDFs to help you every step of the way. Email Marketing    Also, if you haven't visited our New Customer Hub yet, it's worth a trip because it's filled to the brim with helpful resources that cover every aspect of Constant Contact in multiple formats! However, we're here for email creation, so feel free to jump right to Creating Your First Email if you want to read through our recommended journey.      Let's get started on designing your template! ... View more

In today's digital world, nailing your marketing game is essential for businesses of all sizes and not everyone knows where to start or if they're on the right track. That's where Constant Contact's Professional Services team comes in. They offer a range of services to help businesses connect with their audience, boost engagement, and reach their marketing goals. Email Templates Email Marketing    From do-it-for-me marketing advisors and managers to premium template designs, our Professional Services team has your back.   ... View more

Hello! 👋 If you haven’t stumbled around the Constant Contact Blog then you’re missing out on a cornucopia of content! But have no fear, I did some heavy lifting for you and assembled a what’s what of helpful articles to boost your email template design know-how!   It's no small feat designing a compelling template, but I think y'all have what it takes. If you're just getting started or need a refresher on marketing and design principles, check out all the good stuff below. I'll continue to update this page as more or new content comes to light. Email Templates Email Marketing    Click to download PDF Before you start:   Exploring Different Types of Email: A Comprehensive Guide   What Is Dynamic Email? Revolutionizing Email Marketing for Businesses   Email Marketing Best Practices   22 Real-World Email Design Examples to Inspire You   Understanding the Anatomy of an Email   Headers & Footers:   Email Preheaders: Best Practices to Boost Your Campaign’s Impact   Email Footers That Work: Design Tips and Best Practices   Email Design:   [Checklist] 7 Essential Elements of Email Design   Email Design Best Practices   How to Design Emails That Always WOW Readers   7 Email Newsletter Design Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making   How to Design Emails for Small Screens and Short Attention Spans   How to Use the Right Images in Your Email Design   Best Email Fonts to Elevate Your Brand Messaging   Industry-Specific:   Connect with Your Supporters Using the 7 Elements of Nonprofit Email Design   How to Make an Effective Sales Email Template: Best Practices   ... View more

Jay Schwedelson has had an interest in direct marketing since he was a five-year-old watching his parents’ direct mail business. Today, he’s one of the internet’s top email marketing experts, but the thing he loves most about email is that you don’t need to be an expert to do it well.    “Just get it out there,” he says. “Iterate and keep going. Consistency will win out—you will beat out 95% of everybody else you’re competing with just by being there and doing it.”    For nearly 30 years, Jay has run Outcome Media, an agency that today offers demand generation services and email and direct mail marketing. In 2021, he launched GURU Conference to offer affordable, accessible marketing education to business owners and marketers.    On this episode of Be a Marketer, Jay and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss what’s most important for email marketing in 2024. Jay also offers his top tips and resources for business owners looking to tap into the power of email.    👉 Check out the email marketing conference mentioned in this episode: GURU 2024   Meet Today’s Guest: Jay Schwedelson of Outcome Media and GURU Events ☕ What he does: Jay is a lifelong entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Outcome Media and GURU Events. He is an expert in email marketing who also started SubjectLine.com, the free subject line testing service for email marketers.    💡 Key quote: “Email is the most important thing on the planet. Your email list is the most important asset in your company — no questions asked.”    👋 Where to find him: Website | LinkedIn | Podcast   👋 Where to find GURU Events: Website | LinkedIn   👋 Where to find Outcome Media: Website | LinkedIn 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.  If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... 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!   Latest Articles:   February Holidays and Newsletter Ideas - 2024: It’s not too late to get inspired by February holidays! Customer Spotlight: Gindo’s Spice of Life: Learn how integrating their account with Shopify helped them achieve 12x return on investment! Community Ask Me Anything: Email Deliverability with Tara Natanson: Google and Yahoo are implementing new guidelines for bulk email senders and if this is the first you’re hearing about it, check this out! Be a Marketer, Ep. 41 - Taking a Leap of Kindness with Todd Shimkus and Maggie Fronk: One extra day in the year means one extra day to do some good in the world. On that note… Leap of Kindness Day: Inspiring Positive Change and Community Engagement: You can learn more about the event and how you might be able to participate.   Recently accepted solutions:   Getting Started: KimberlyJ416 was feeling a bit overwhelmed, but William_A got them on the right track! Why Click Rate 0% with proof of click: This is a good, little tip to know -  ‘mailto:’ links can’t be tracked like regular URLs. Improving the export report on the new events tool: LauraB763 thought they were given some (totally understandable) feedback, but it turns out William_A shined a light on just the exact feature they needed! I love a happy ending.   Constant Tips:   Shape the Future of Community Content!: This tip got the most views for the month. We would love to hear from you about what content you want to see on Community! Have you joined our Retail and Nonprofit Groups?: We created spaces so your industry peers and you can mingle, share advice, and find resources. Help us make them grow! Have you listened to the Be a Marketer podcast?: It’s mentioned twice in this roundup because it’s just that good. If you haven’t listened to it, every episode is packed with valuable insights from your marketing peers! Valentine’s Day is coming up and we have new templates to celebrate!: Our crack team of template designers did it again with a new selection of Valentine’s themed templates. Check ‘em out!   New Ideas:   Allow Recovery of Previous Saved Versions of Emails: @MarisaH36 has some great ideas to add more functionality to the email editor’s save feature. [Events 2.0] Ability to Decline Someone on the Event Dashboard: @PeterT4965 would like to see a ‘Decline’ button added to the Event Dashboard. Ability to end Automation on a “yes” path for condition split: @EmuTherapy offers some additional suggestions for enhancing automation workflow with the Automation Path Builder. If you like what you see, add to the choir!   I hope you found these articles and posts informative and valuable! Check back next month for more great Community shenanigans! Stay tuned for exciting updates, discussions, and valuable insights. Happy reading and happy marketing! ... View more

Every Tuesday we'll share tips, tricks, and insights on using Constant Contact and online marketing   I think this one is pretty cool. Valentine's Day is one of the biggest holidays of the year (note to self: don't forget to get a gift for my amazing wife); it’s a time when a lot of businesses and nonprofits jump on the love bandwagon. They seize this wonderful occasion to offer special deals and shine a spotlight on meaningful initiatives. Believe it or not, it’s just around the corner! So, if you want to hop on the love train, make sure to check out our newly updated Valentine's Day templates. They're designed to help you spread the love and make this day extra special for your loved ones audience (and also, uh, loved ones)!   ... View more

In this episode of the "Be a Marketer" podcast, Dave Charest discusses the benefits of using sign-up landing pages and provides tips on how to effectively promote them in person, in print, and online. Sign-up landing pages are standalone web pages that offer a simple way to collect contact information and grow an email list. List Growth  Sign-up landing pages can be customized with branding and tailored to collect specific information. QR codes can be used in-person and in print to drive traffic to sign-up landing pages. Promoting sign-up landing pages on social media and through email signatures can convert followers into subscribers. Focusing on the value offered to subscribers, such as discounts or free gifts, can increase signups. Want to learn more about sign-up landing pages?  Create a Sign-up Landing Page to collect new email and SMS contacts online  Tutorial: Sign-up Landing Pages for Lead Generation 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.  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   If you've visited the Community homepage (or many other pages) lately, you might have noticed a poll in the sidebar asking you about your 2024 marketing goals. We want to hear from you!   The more responses we get, the better we can evaluate what is important to our customers and tailor content and strategies. It's quick and easy!   Just make sure you're logged in to be able to vote!   And heck, we won't stop you if you want to drop a comment below expanding on why you selected that goal and why it is important to you. ... View more

2024 is one of those special years that gives us an extra day—and this Leap Day, Todd Shimkus and Maggie Fronk want you to do something kind for someone else.    Todd, the president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, started Leap of Kindness Day in 2016 to support local impact-sector organizations. The premise is simple: Use February 29 to do something kind for someone else.    That simple idea has catalyzed a worldwide movement, with communities around the United States and beyond running their own Leap of Kindness Day efforts. Maggie has seen the power of this simple call to action firsthand as CEO of Wellspring, the domestic violence and sexual assault services resource for Saratoga County.    On the first episode of Be a Marketer for 2024, Todd and Maggie join host Dave Charest, director of small business success at Constant Contact, to share how Leap of Kindness Day works and how others can take part.    Tune in to learn how their organizations use Constant Contact to support businesses and nonprofits in Saratoga County and champion important causes through Leap of Kindness Day—and every day.    👉 Learn more about Leap of Kindness Day and how you or your organization can get involved.   Meet Today’s Guests: Todd Shimkus of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Maggie Fronk of Wellspring   ☕ What Todd does: Todd is the president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, overseeing an organization that supports more than 2,700 businesses in the region.    💡 Key quote: “Think about somebody that’s done something special for you in your life. And on February 29, as part of Leap of Kindness Day, do something kind for them.”    👋 Where to find him:  LinkedIn | Instagram | X, formerly known as Twitter   👋 Where to find the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube   ☕ What Maggie does: Maggie is the CEO of Wellspring, a Saratoga County nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and engages the community to end relationship and sexual abuse.    💡 Key quote: “The more we are given opportunities to help others, to see the good, to do the good, to be recipients of somebody else’s kindness we never expected, the more we make a great community, and the more we feel better about this life.”    👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn   👋 Where to find Wellspring: Website | Instagram | Facebook Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured on an upcoming episode.  If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/bam and follow the simple instructions. ... View more

Ahh, February. The month of love.     There’s no escaping it. No matter how many wonderful days there are to celebrate this month, Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14th) permeates everything.   It’s time for restaurants to break out their best “couples dinner” specials, florists to stock up on roses, and for everyone to invest in chocolate and card companies. And while Valentine’s Day may have a leading role, there’s more to this month than romantic love to celebrate.   And while you can’t really avoid the romanticism of Valentine’s Day — believe me, there have been times when I’ve tried — you can go beyond the obvious and celebrate other types of love with your readers.   By celebrating holidays like North American Inclusion Month (NAIM), Black History Month, Youth Leadership Month, International Friendship Month, and American Heart Month, you can help your readers to celebrate and show love for the community, family, friends, pets, and even strangers. But especially for one’s self.   February holidays — 2024   February 1st — Spunky Old Broads Day, Optimist Day, and Decorating With Candy Day. February 1st-7th — Women’s Heart Week. February 2nd — Groundhog Day and Self Renewal Day. Depending on the first, you might need the latter. February 2nd-10th — National Secondhand Wardrobe Week. Perfect for pairing down and sprucing up your wardrobe. February 4th — International Day of Human Fraternity. February 5th — National Chocolate Fondue Day. February 6th — Optimist Day. February 8th — Giving Hearts Day. The day to show your affection for charities located in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. February 10th — National Flannel Day. Personally, I think this is really a season… or maybe a state of mind. February 13th — Galentine’s Day and Self-Love Day. Love of friends and self. What’s not to like? February 14th — Valentine’s Day and League of Women Voter’s Day.  February 16th — Do a Grouch a Favor Day. Not every grouch lives in a trash can. But if you know one that does, clean it out for them. February 17th — President’s Day. February 20th — Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. We’ll all be better off. February 21st — National Sticky Bun Day. February 23rd — World Understanding and Peace Day. We need more of this. February 26th — Carpe Diem Day. Do it now. February 28th — National Science Day. While this holiday is primarily celebrated in India, there’s no reason not to celebrate it, no matter where you are. February newsletter ideas There’s a lot going on this month. And in one way or another, much of it circles back around to love.   And part of expressing love is to take care of what we love. Whether that be ourselves, our family, friends, pets, or our community. Love isn’t just something we feel but something we express. So, this month, help your readers celebrate — and express — all the varieties of love they have in their hearts.   February newsletter ideas for showing — and taking — care Whether you want to celebrate National Library Lover’s Month or American Heart Month, it’s important to lead the way. Show you care by . . .   Educating: Create a branded whitepaper, infographic, or downloadable guide. It can be about self-care, getting involved with the community, caring for others, or even caring for a pet. House it on your website and share the link with your readers as well as your social media followers. Remember that if it’s attractive, easy to read, and easy to share, you’ll increase the chances of it spreading beyond your immediate contacts — driving increased brand awareness and traffic to your website. Being proactive: Partner with a local charity, after-school program, trade organization, or even a local gym to raise money and awareness for whatever your community needs — from mental, physical, and emotional health programs to additional STEAM education and even training in traditional trades. Providing something special: While everyone loves a discount, don’t underestimate the power of providing something “special.” Think about creating a bundle of products or services that you can provide your loyal readers and followers. Whether it’s a combination of your own products put together in a nice gift basket, services that are discounted for a limited time when purchased as a bundle, or an exclusive event that doubles as a romantic evening and a fundraiser. If your business doesn’t have products or services that fit the bill, don’t give up on the idea. Instead, scout other local shops and businesses and seek out partnership opportunities that can benefit you both. Or think about outright purchasing items for a gift basket or two and think about giving them away in a random drawing — or better yet, raffle them off and raise some money for a local organization that could use some help.   Month-long occasions for expressing care:   Worldwide Renaissance of the Heart Month Human Relations Month International Boost Self-Esteem Month National Self-Check Month Dog Training Education Month Ethnic Equality Month National Heart Health Month National Therapeutic Recreation Month   Month-long occasions for raising awareness:   Financial Aid Awareness Month International Month of Black Women in the Arts Black History Month National Arts Month Declutter for a Cause Month International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month National Cancer Prevention Month National Cat Health Month   Month-long occasions to celebrate romantic love:   An Affair to Remember Month Creative Romance Month National Weddings Month Relationship Wellness Month   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!   February newsletter subject lines “Do you play like a girl?” (interchange “play” with “hit,” “run,” “swim,” “box,” “jump,” etc. — National Girls and Women in Sports Day (Feb. 1st) — Perfect for announcing tryouts for girls’ sports, a sales on girls’ sporting equipment, sponsorship of a local girls’ team, or a fundraiser that supports girls’ sports, teams, or programs. “Psst. Don’t tell our boss” — Preheader: “We’re working naked” — Working Naked Day (Feb. 2nd) — This one is sure to pique your readers’ interest. And while I don’t suggest you actually go to work naked, you can use this when presenting a self-care regimen that includes going without makeup for a day, having a sale on hair removal services, or even tanning sessions. Or you can just go with the original meaning and let your readers know that you’ll be working from home. “Elmo loves . . .” — Elmo’s Birthday (Feb. 3rd) — Great for anything you want to highlight for your business. “Let’s talk” — Time to Talk Day (Feb. 6th ) — This is the perfect subject line when asking your readers to complete a survey. “When the moon hits your eye” — Preheader: “Like a big pizza pie” — Pizza Pie Day (Feb. 9th) — Not just for pizza parlors, this line can be used for any business that can play on words like “moon,” “pizza,” or even “amore.” “You light up our lives” — Electrific Day (Feb. 11th). “Let there be light!” — Electrific Day (Feb. 11th). “Tommy’s got nothing on us” — Electrific Day (Feb. 11th). “Bring us out of the dark” or “Don’t keep us in the dark” — Electrific Day (Feb. 11th) — Perfect for conducting a survey. “We’re not just talking weird science here” — Electrific Day (Feb. 11th). “It’s electric!” — Electrific Day (Feb. 11th). “We’re having a white t-shirt contest” — White T-Shirt Day (Feb. 11th) — Best if this type of subject line is out of the ordinary for your brand and used for a fundraiser. Just use your imagination. “We’re not lying” — Pinocchio Day (Feb. 23rd) — For sharing factual information or a flash sale. “Pie’s not only in the sky” — Great American Pie Month — This one leans more towards bakeries and cafes, but if you change it to “Pie’s not the only thing in the sky,” it could work for just about anything. “Mending broken hearts” — National Mend a Broken Heart Month — Great for introducing a special Valentine’s Day drink for those without Valentines, unveiling an exclusive self-care or Galentine package or bundle, and even hosting a fundraiser for a local charity. Click on the image to download a copy of this month's infographic   ... View more