The DreamPix Studio

Are you an Email Spammer?

by

Six Do’s & Don’ts to Email Marketing

By definition, a spammer is someone who sends a large number of unsolicited emails to multiple recipients. When one is on the receiving end of spam it is easy to develop a distaste for email marketing. Email, however, is a wonderful marketing tool when used correctly for both businesses and subscribers alike.

Email provides the potential to build valuable, long-lasting relationships. Through email marketing businesses can educate, share, gather information & encourage discussion with their customers. Good email marketing should bring value to the reader which, after all, is why they signed up to receive the emails in the first place.

Who Qualifies as a Subscriber

Often times the subscriber did not make the conscious decision to receive emails. Just because a customer shared or revealed an email address with you does not mean they agreed to be bombarded with junk mail. Business owners need to be protective and respectful of their clients. Abusing this privilege will only burn bridges.

Notification Abuse

Harassment via notifications is on the rise and has alienated more people than it has captured. The service is marketed under the guise of keeping you informed when in reality it has little to do with giving and more to do with receiving. Do not automatically sign new subscribers up for notifications.

Offer the Opportunity to Unsubscribe

Email subscribers should be able to readily unsubscribe if they wish – omitting this option or obscuring it only worsens the problem and will prompt some users to have your email address permanently banned.

Provide What you Promised

If the reader signed on to receive occasional informative newsletters please offer the same. If instead, the subscriber is spammed with weekly promotions they will opt out, and rightfully so. Email marketing is about more than promoting your own services – it should add interest and value.

Personalize the Message

Be sure that your database is accurate and that your clients are properly addressed. Email recipients want to be treated as people not as click-through statistics.

Proof Read

While HTML based emails are graphically appealing and have a higher rate of effectiveness they are often sabotaged with broken links and blocked images. Test your email before sending it out to be sure that it looks and functions as you intended.

Here’s a great article from Vertical Response on the Anatomy of a Great Email. Enjoy!

Six Ways to add Sex Appeal to Your Website

by

Does your website have that certain je ne sais quoi that attracts both people and robots alike?

Expectations of your website are steeper today as visitors are demanding a higher level of interactivity in order to keep them coming back for more. Here are SIX ways to add  magnetic attraction to your website that will help it to perform as a viable marketing tool:

  • NEW CONTENT: Regularly spice up the content on your website with fresh information especially on the home page. Visitors will return to see what you have to say tomorrow or next week, as the case may be.
  • ENTER TO WIN: Depending on the nature of your business, feature an ‘Enter to Win’ form on your homepage. This is an opportunity for you to build your email database as well as an indication that you are willing to put something into the relationship. For example, if you own a Yoga Studio you might want to offer the opportunity to enter a drawing for a free week of yoga by collecting a name and email address. It’s a simple lure but effective.
  • VIDEO: Stimulate your audience with great images and videos. People love to click on an informative video link – video has the potential to go viral and ranks high in terms of SEO.
  • E-NEWSLETTER: Be sure to utilize that growing email list by sharing information with your contacts that go beyond self-promotion. Share tips and tricks of the trade as well as industry updates in an effort to build a long-lasting relationship with your client base.
  • BLOGGING: A blog will have a tremendous impact on your website ranking. This is your opportunity to woo your audience as an authority in your field. It’s all about giving and sharing valuable information.
  • FOLLOW ME: Invite customers to follow you on social media – sites like Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest open the doors you to build a more intimate relationship with your clients.

The trick is to somehow feature all of these components on the home page of your website which functions much like a magazine cover beckoning passersby to take a peek inside.

What Makes a Great Logo?

by

The cornerstone of a brand begins with a logo. There are four characteristics that define a great logo.

nike target bpmcdonalds

Unique

A logo must be memorable. The graphic alone does not necessarily have to project what the company does but it can evoke a feeling which is just as powerful. The Nike logo is one of the most powerful and recognizable logos in the world.

Adaptable

A great logo must carry the same meaning across all mediums – whether it is on a business card, a billboard, or a baseball cap. Target makes great use of its bull’s eye logo using it all by itself.

Appropriate

The designer must consider the nature of the business, the customer, and the culture. The newly designed BP logo brings in energy with the sun as well as the colors of the “Helio’s” suggesting heat, light, and nature.

Timeless

The neutrality in a design makes it timeless. McDonald’s golden arches are an iconic symbol that has defined the company for years.

Marketing with Infographics

by

What is an infographic?

An infographic is a fun way to share material about a topic without using a ton of content. Infographics creatively transform information in a way that helps people learn and inspires them to share. Here’s an example of an infographic on why WordPress should be the website platform of choice for your business.

wp_infographic

Social Media Faux Pas

by

I’ve often used the analogy that the rules of etiquette governing how a brand should engage in social media are similar to the rules associated with being invited to someone’s home for dinner.

But what happens if you make that dreaded social faux pas?

A small business located North of Boston is feeling the wrath of its 6,000+ FB friends after making an incentive post in the wake of the marathon bombing. Although it wasn’t intentional they have offended their “hosts” or in this case their customers.

Here are a few rules of thumb on how to reply to posts from irate customers:

1. Accept the blame, refrain from making excuses, and if possible offer a remedy.
2. Never delete comments unless they are offensive to others or contain profanity as it will only incense your customers and quite possibly provoke a heightened attack. If you must delete the comments wait several months until the discussion dies down and no one will notice that the comments have disappeared. On the bright side, the shelf life of this public spat is fairly short!

Can a BLOG help your business?

by

The term BLOG comes from the two words Web and Log. It is a discussion or an informational web page compiled of multiple entries or posts that are usually displayed in reverse chronological order. Most BLOGS are interactive in the sense that they allow readers to post comments.

Many of my clients visibly cringe when I suggest that they include a blog on their website. The idea of writing a weekly article seems a daunting task to many business owners. However, the rewards that can be reaped by sharing valuable information are priceless.

Put the image of a lengthy dissertation to rest and instead, think about a BLOG as the opportunity to share blurbs of information about a topic on which you are an authority. Certainly, anyone in business can up with an informative paragraph or two about a product that they sell. It is a matter of disciplining yourself to regularly embrace the platform.

Here is how I have worked blogging into my hectic schedule. I belong to a local BNI chapter where each member must present a 60-second commercial to the group about their business on a weekly basis. I use this opportunity to simultaneously develop a weekly blog post on the same topic.

How successful is my BLOG? After taking a close look at my website analytics I learned that the day of the week when my website has the highest number of hits is on the day of my blog post. I decided to look at the analytics data for my website after speaking to a friend. She built her website using SharePoint and therefore uses SharePoint analytics to view the number of people who have visited her site, how many times these people have visited her site, and a list of files that have received the most views.

Above all, data analytics is a fantastic tool for businesses to gain insights into their websites. While it may be difficult to specifically measure the benefits of sharing information, I embrace the philosophy of givers gain. If I am providing readers with information about a product that they want to know more about then my BLOG is a success.

Why Use WordPress?

by

Many business owners struggle to choose the website platform that is best suited for their company.

Whether an existing website requires updating or a new site is being launched, I often recommend using WordPress as a platform and here’s why:

  1. WordPress is an open-source PHP based platform that is free, but essentially priceless. You will never be at a loss to find someone who can work on your website and, with the vast number of developing contributors, the program itself has been perfected.
  2. WordPress is a CMS platform (Content Management System) which means that it is designed so that a layperson can easily make content changes and upload photos, videos, and documents.
  3. More and more people are using mobile devices and tablets to find information on the internet. Most of the newer WP themes are mobile-friendly if not responsive so that they look good and function well on any device.
  4. Lastly, WordPress websites can easily be upgraded to accommodate your expanding business needs. It is easy to install plug-ins that offer additional functionality such as payment processing, password-protected areas, or landing pages.

There is a number of free WordPress website themes that perform as well as custom themes. I happen to love the Genesis Framework and Child Themes offered by StudioPress.

Givers Gain in Social Media

by

During a social media discussion with a client who builds custom cabinetry, they mentioned the outpouring of annoying emails they had received regarding a photo from their website that had been pinned on Pinterest and had gone viral. The photo depicted a backsplash on a kitchen bar that was created using corks. All of the referrals she said, were ‘do-it-yourselfers’ who wanted the how-to information and didn’t want to hire their company.

I launched into my spiel that compares social media to being invited to someone’s home for dinner.

In short, an invited guest one would:

    • Never show up empty-handed
    • Would to be a good conversationalist
    • Would never monopolize the situation … all in hopes of being invited back again and again.

The attention generated on Pinterest was in fact a GREAT thing. Rather than being annoyed, I suggested that they offer solutions to those interested in duplicating the design.

There’s no harm in sharing a few secrets of the trade in order to build trust and become an authority in your field. There’s no doubt that givers gain on social media platforms.

Choosing a Domain Name

by

Your domain name can hugely impact the way people and robots perceive your website. Likewise, not owning a domain name and not having online visibility will also affect how potential customers perceive you.

What makes a good Domain name?

  1. It should be memorable. Short & easy to spell. Keywords and search terms are ideal. Generic words are invaluable but don’t be afraid to add a twist.
  2. .com continues to be the extension of choice.
  3. Some sites, like Yahoo, list websites in alphabetical order therefore domain names that begin with ABC as opposed to XYZ are preferred.
  4. Avoid using dashes or clever numbers to replace words it is confusing and inhibits search-ability.
  5. Register your domain quickly as the competition is stiff and the domain seems to disappear overnight.

Where is the best place to purchase a domain name? While there are many options my go-to source is Go Daddy.  They have inexpensive package deals, lots of promo codes, and good customer service comparatively.

FB ‘Shares’ are better than ‘Likes’

by

The big headline on ADWEEK this week is that brands prefer Social Shares to Likes. It has become a common practice to ask consumers to like them on Facebook. Whether it was on a billboard, in an ad, on a website, or on a piece of marketing material, consumers have been asked for years for their nod of approval by liking a brand. Marketing pros now say that the chatter created by sharing a promo is more valuable. Shares require consumers to put a little skin the game when endorsing a product. If someone is willing to put their reputation on the line by posting an ad or blurb that is a word of mouth referral that keeps on giving.