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How to take your email marketing to the next level

Sreejesh
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How to take your email marketing to the next level

Although social media, content and video advertising have become far more popular in the past few years, email marketing remains one of the most effective tools when it comes to conversions. More companies are starting to look beyond the simplistic objectives of advertising, such as increased visibility, moving toward strategies that have the top goal of attaining the highest possible conversion rates.

email marketing

Email marketing is just as difficult to perfect as it is important to have within a corporate advertising strategy. The major risk of these pursuits if that the communications can be annoying, viewed as spam or generally degrade the brand image in current and prospective clientele’s eyes. However, with enough knowledge and a well-informed approach to email advertising, enterprises can enjoy a variety of benefits.

The power of email marketing

To understand the opportunities email-based advertising strategies present, one must first know some of the statistics associated with the technique. Merkle conducted a study that found nearly three-quarters of today’s consumers would rather receive advertising content and communications through emails than other channels, while more than 90 percent of the population checks their email accounts at least once a day.

However, while there is certainly opportunity in this pursuit, marketers must remember that Forrester Research estimated that 838 billion emails containing commercial information were sent in 2013 alone. This means that companies must take a more unique and tailored approach to ensure their messages stand out from the rest. Furthermore, the emails must be optimized for mobile, as few recipients will pay attention to the communication when the visual appeal is not on point.

Finally, one study revealed that email marketing has an average return on investment rate of 4,300 percent.

How to capitalize

Several trends have emerged in email marketing throughout the past several years, especially as digital advertising has diversified and picked up steam in a variety of regions. Here are several ways in which businesses can capitalize on the potential benefits of email marketing:

  • Personalization:  This process begins with knowing the customer, and ends with completing the proper packaging methods for the communication. More companies are starting to personalize marketing emails, making it closer to an industry standard than a novel technique. With adequate research and an attention to detail, personalization can drive email marketing success.

  • First impression:  As is the case with any marketing communication, the brand has only a short window of time to make a good impression with the recipient. Poor subject lines in the marketing emails will often lead to fewer customers reading further. Marketers should become skilled at crafting engaging, catchy and informative subject lines to ensure the overall message is read.

  • Integration: Stand-alone advertising strategies and investments are going extinct, as integration becomes a more common approach to brand management. Email marketing should be properly integrated with other practices, including social media and content, to ensure a consistent and preferable brand image in every communication sent.

With the right amount of foresight and planning, email marketing strategies can quickly improve a company’s returns on other advertising investments.

From Dream to Reality, Sketches to Retail Shelves

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From Dream to Reality, Sketches to Retail Shelves

You need a plan to turn a dream into reality. That includes a to-do list, actionable goals and a schedule. If you want to turn the dream of a product into a reality, you’ll need far more to get it from a rough sketch to retail shelves. Let’s learn about the process for turning an idea into a product. And we’ll provide a few tips for when you’re ready to get it out the door into the world. 

Have a Plan 

For most potential products, you have a design in mind. If you’re lucky, it is a variation of an existing item. It may be as simple as adding a handle or lip to an existing product. Or it may be a smaller version of the current item. It may be as complicated as a complex 3D diagram with a long parts list. Many innovators are somewhere in between. They have a rough outline of the potential product or the design, but they don’t have a parts list, much less a marketing plan. But you have to have a sketch, even if it is “a combination of A and B”. 

Work on Your Business Plan 

You need to work on your business plan as you work on the design. Will you be selling it to other businesses for use in their business? Will you try to sell the product to the public yourselves? Or do you want to tap into the wholesale market, selling it to retailers who will put it on their shelves? The intended buyer will influence various aspects of the design from price points to quality standards. This is also the point where many innovators struggle. How will you raise money to pay for prototyping and market research? It is easier to raise money with a basic prototype on hand than with a generic business plan, though prototyping itself costs time, money or both. A good proposal may generate money on a crowdfunding site or lure investors. 

Refine Your Idea 

If you have a fully fleshed out design, you should still discuss it with others. You might benefit from advice on how to make it easier to assemble and with off the shelf parts. That lowers the cost to produce it. That may allow you to lower the price point and sell more of them, or it will simply increase your profit margin. A rough outline requires several iterations to get to a good final design. You could work with a prototyping shop to come up with working electronics based on your basic circuit design. Have each generation of the design thoroughly tested. It should be tested for functional requirements and for approval by intended end users. Their feedback may tell you how to improve the product or give you ideas for new, niche products. 

Finalize the Design 

Finalize the design before you start signing contracts. You can’t afford to deliver something that doesn’t meet retailer’s expectations. You can’t sell something that now costs several dollars more than you quoted because you made a few last minute changes. This is a good time to double check your business plan. How will you accept orders and verify they’ve been shipped? Test your billing and shipping processes. Determine how you’ll accept returns and resolve issues before you start shipping them out the door.

Deliver on Your Business Plan 

Whether you had initial orders through a crowdfunding site or wholesalers, this is the time to deliver on your business plan. It could be as simple as turning on the shopping cart and online ads for your website. Don’t forget that customer service continues after the sale. Monitor social media chatter regarding the product for problems from the design to order fulfillment.

Key Factors To Consider Before Choosing Your Online Whiteboard

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Key Factors To Consider Before Choosing Your Online Whiteboard

Communication is one of the top challenges for teams in the corporate world. Over the years, employees have overcome the hurdles of working with different time zones. They are also used to working with remote team members; however, for distributed teams, communication is still a matter of concern. Online whiteboarding can effectively eliminate these problems.

According to a report by INC, 65% of people are visual learners and most of us process information based on what we see. When working with internal teams and conveying a message effectively, you must be able to simplify and visualize ideas and present them to your team members. A practical solution for distributed teams, online whiteboards eliminate the requirement for the companies to purchase expensive hardware instead use existing infrastructure and find the best software.

Choosing The Right Online Whiteboard

Before you choose an online whiteboard, you must look for answers to some of the critical questions such as what are the features the whiteboard supports? How will the session results be saved? Can anyone else present the session in someone’s absence? Etc.

Ensure That The Whiteboard Is Easily Accessible

Accessibility is one of the most important factors to consider while choosing an online whiteboard. Different users will probably use different gadgets to access whiteboard. An ideal online interactive whiteboard is accessible by both Windows and Mac operating systems. Also, look for a mobile version of a whiteboard which can be accessed by lots of people as almost everyone today uses a smartphone.

A company does not restrict itself from using different operating systems on their devices. Hence, it is vital to search for a cross-platform solution that will work well irrespective of the operating systems in use.

Support For Media

We understand a concept more clearly if it is presented with a picture as compared to in the written form. Photographs and documents should be easily accessible while explaining something or working on a concept. A whiteboard must support media files such as pictures and documents for easy presentation.

Whether The Whiteboard Worth The Price

With all the other factors, the price of an online whiteboard is also a key factor you should consider. Your spend on an online whiteboard should be in accordance with the requirement and the features it has. You will find numerous paid and free online whiteboard on google and you should be able to decide the suitable one for you.

In Conclusion

To conclude, online whiteboards are instrumental in ensuring that the teams can interact easily with minimal interference. They are an excellent way to improve communication among the team members. While choosing one of them, you must consider these factors like easy accessibility, support for media files, the price and more.

Benefits Of GRE Prep Books To Succeed On The GRE

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Benefits Of GRE Prep Books To Succeed On The GRE

The GRE is a very important gauge of academic proficiency among students who are planning to take higher studies in the fields of law or business, or those who want to qualify for graduate school. It isn’t surprising then that GRE examinees spend much time preparing for it. So, if you are planning to take the GRE, you may need GRE prep books to succeed and get a very high score. ExamGenius is one great online resource to check out when looking for GRE prep books. They provide reviews and buying guides to help you choose only the right materials for the GRE Test

Here are some benefits that come with the use of the appropriate GRE prep books:

  • You Gain An Overview Of Each Section Of The GRE Exam – This benefits you because not everyone can ace all parts of the GRE exam just like that. You need exposure to the possible questions in each section to be able to do well. This is the main reason GRE test prep books are so popular.
  • You Are Able To Focus On Sections That You Are Weak In – Some people are Math wizards, but don’t do too well in English. This may mean needing more skills in reading, grammar, and vocabulary. Other students might be wordsmiths who can express themselves in English pretty well, but really struggle with Math. This indicates a need to work on Math problem-solving skills. GRE prep books will help you practice in these areas until you gain more confidence in yourself and your ability to pass the exam.
  • You Can Practice By Yourself And Gauge Your Own Abilities – In an ideal world, everyone who would want to improve on their GRE exam scores would have a patient and competent tutor to turn to for guidance. However, many students don’t have that option. A good GRE prep book will give you plenty of practice questions and an explanation of the answers. You can do the practice exercises (don’t forget to time your practice session) and understand why the answers are the way they are just by reading the GRE book.
  • You Can Pick GRE Prep Books That Focus On Just One Subject – If you are really at a loss when faced by certain subjects, it may mean you need a GRE book that will teach you skills only in one particular kind of knowledge. For example, people who need help with Math will need a GRE book that will only give practice exercises in Math, and nothing else. This is good because you will be able to see just where your skills have failed you and where you are making progress.
  • You Can Pace Yourself – The GRE exams have always been conducted under time pressure. So during the review period, take your time analyzing why the answers to the exam questions are the way they are. Aim for comprehension so that you can become more confident and relaxed prior to the actual exam, even if it is done under time pressure.
  • You Get An Idea Of How The Actual GRE Test Will Go – The good news is that you can get books that will give you questions from past GRE exams so that you can compare these with current questions in more up-to-date books. The bad news is that the questions in the present-day GRE exams might have been amended, so you may get some surprises during the actual test. Still, the academic principles behind the GRE test questions will remain the same, so you shouldn’t panic. As long as you keep your wits about you and don’t get overwhelmed, you should do just fine.
  • You Gain Friends Who Are Also Preparing To Take the GRE – The GRE might help you bond with fellow students who are like you and preparing for the same exam. Studying on your own is already hard, so, sometimes, you might want to conduct study sessions with others who have the same needs and goals as you. You get to share books, voice your frustration with parts of the review that you find difficult, and boost each other’s morale along the way. True, you might wind up in different professions eventually, but, at least, you had each other’s company while you were reviewing for the GRE. And, you never know when you might need your friend to help you out in the future.

Final Thoughts

The GRE was made to assess student skills and readiness for future studies in graduate school, or for careers in law or business. Don’t get the idea that passing the GRE is an impossible task; after all, many other students in the past have managed to review for and pass the GRE. It might take some more effort on your part and you might have to spend to buy your own GRE prep books, however these are all part of the reality faced by students prior to entering higher studies. So, don’t lose heart. Just keep preparing with the help of your GRE prep books, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the very high score you’re going to earn, thanks to your own efforts.

EaseUS Todo Backup offers Peace of Mind to Backup PC

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EaseUS Todo Backup offers Peace of Mind to Backup PC

To keep a backup of your files has become a common knowledge for nearly all the computer-users nowadays. But still there might be some people think that they do not need to keep backups for their data since their systems seem to work “fine”. However, this kind of bubble can be easily poked out whenever they have met a system shut-down and it is unrecoverable situation. With a consideration of the not well-protected internet environment nowadays and the flood of P2P software everywhere on the internet, this is actually very likely to happen. So it is very essential to have a data backup software which is specializing in protecting your computer data.

Easeus Todo backup

Some people may also say that they probably do not need a program to do the backup because they can just copy & paste their important files to another disk so their data will have a backup. As applausive as they already have the concept of keeping a backup for the files, and it is a simplified version of data backup but just not secured enough. Because the data still can be lost by any unpredicted virus attack or a system sudden crash-down causing by software’s confliction. In that case even the copied files could get infected and become inaccessible, or the other condition which is the files would be erased eternally because of the system corruption.

So by choosing a reliable and powerful backup software such as EaseUS backup, this kind of scenarios can be minimized to the lowest chance to happen. For example, EaseUS backup offers a wide range of backup options that varies from a certain type of file’s backup to a complete system backup. And all the user is asked to do are some one-click operations. The instructions are clear and easy-to-understand, even no computer-savvies can totally perform the operations by themselves in minutes. Also multi-OS support is enabled by this software, no matter you are comfortable with winXP, win7, or the newest win8, they are all enabled and working with no problem to this software.

Also if you are not a business client which just a home user who feel comfortable with windows 7 operating system, you can try out with their free windows 7 clone software. It charges nothing and still as powerful as the entrepreneurial version, all you need to do is to fill up a sign-up form and download it to your pc.

 

Keeping it Simple: Quick Steps to Making Effective QR Codes for Ad Marketing

Sreejesh
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Keeping it Simple: Quick Steps to Making Effective QR Codes for Ad Marketing

You have more than likely seen them all over the place. They are on billboards, posters, brochures, flyers, postcards, bumper stickers and so many other marketing materials that are used by brands and companies to effectively maximize their exposure. Quick response codes, also referred to as QR codes, have been around now for quite some time.

qr code advertising marketing

However, with the increasing popularity of the Internet and online shopping with mobile devices, it seems as if more and more people are starting to scan these codes in order to remain actively engaged with their favorite brands and companies. In order to reap the same benefits by creating and printing QR codes of your own, there are several steps that need to be taken.

Getting the Proper Tool

If you are serious about learning how to make QR code images, then the very first step is to invest in a QR code generator. Even though there are quite a few high-quality generators that will cost you a substantial amount of money, there are also a wide variety of generators that can be downloaded and used for free. Once you have found the generator that fulfills your specific needs, stick with it.

Develop a Creative Design

The next step required to make QR code images for your marketing campaign is to develop a creative design that is going to capture the attention of your target audience and compel customers to scan it. The standard QR code image is a black and white box with pixilated lines that closely resembles a standard bar code, so you need to think outside of the box to come up with a creative way to grab the attention of your prospective and existing consumers. Add colors or your company logo, or even change the pattern of the code into an appealing shape or figure.

Do Not Forget to Link It Accordingly

After you have gone through the detailed process of creating your QR code image, the very next step is to link it to the content that you want to reveal to your customers as an incentive for scanning the image. It can be a direct link to your company website so that customers do not have to deal with the hassles of typing your URL into their web browsers. It could also be a link to a catchy video that you want to go viral or even a promotional code that will allow customers to save money on their next purchase, according to HubSpot. Regardless of what is being linked, it is important to make QR code incentives valuable and appealing to your customers. Otherwise, they are not going to take the bait and will simply swim to your competitors instead.

Test the Code Thoroughly

Once the QR code image has been designed, developed and linked to its desired destination, the final step of this process is to test it. The objective is to make sure that your image can be easily identified and read through a single scan. It is highly recommended for you to use a variety of smartphones and scanning applications to complete these tests just to make sure that there are no errors across the board. Keep in mind that not all consumers are going to be using the same devices to scan your QR code image.  Therefore, you may need to make QR code images repeatedly until you get the design and format just right. Otherwise, all of your hard work and effort would be in vain because the code would be a worthless dud.

 

How to Turn A Used iPhone Into Cash

Sreejesh
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How to Turn A Used iPhone Into Cash

Technology becomes obsolete quickly. Therefore, it is important that you know how to get the most out of your phone, computer or any other piece of technology that you have to replace on a regular basis. Fortunately, the Internet provides you with many options that allow you to get money for your old phone or device.

sell old iphone for cash

How Do You Get Rid Of Your Old Phone?

The first step is to find a buyer that you feel comfortable working with. The buyer will appraise your old phone and make an offer to purchase it. If you like the offer, you can sell your phone to that buyer. If you don’t like the offer, you can keep looking until you find a buyer offering what you think the phone is worth.

How Long Does It Take To Get Your Money?

The most important issue to consider is how fast you get paid after you send your phone in. The good news is that you can get your money within a few days. This means that you don’t have to wait around for weeks or months waiting for a check. In some cases, it may be possible to have your money deposited into a PayPal or checking accounting. However, the typical process is to send you a check after you send your phone in.

How Much Can You Get?

How much money can you get for your phone? Depending on how old the phone is, you could get as much as $100 or more. The condition of your phone is also going to be taken into consideration when an offer is made. If your phone is cracked or otherwise broken, you can still get money for it.

Going online makes it possible to sell your iPhone easily for cash. If you are looking to get the most for your phone, there are a variety of buyers looking to give you top dollar for your old iPhone or any other device that has value. The best part about going online to sell your phone is that the services are typically free and you are not obligated to do anything until you accept an

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