Your Top SEO Questions Answered

A list of the top questions that always come up in a conversation about SEO … and of course the answers!Related Articles

1. Anchor Your Site in the SEOcean Intro & Kindle Fire HD Giveaway


2. Why Content Marketing Is Not About Building Links


3. 5 SEO Mistakes Most Entrepreneurs Are Making

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/your-top-seo-questions-answered

One week 'til Surf Expo!

Just one more week ‘til we’re in sunny Orlando for Surf Expo, the longest running and largest boardsports and beach/resort lifestyle trade show in the world!

The show runs from September 6 to 8, and you’ll find us at booth 2176. Stop by!

via Listrak Insights http://blog.listrak.com/post/59770577638

Keeping Your Site Ship-Shape

Keeping your site ship-shape and watertight is a great foundation - one from which you can launch more advanced campaigns.Related Articles

1. Anchor Your Site in the SEOcean Intro & Kindle Fire HD Giveaway


2. Why Content Marketing Is Not About Building Links


3. 5 SEO Mistakes Most Entrepreneurs Are Making

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/keeping-your-site-ship-shape

SEOcean: Keep Your Head Above Water

Considering that most people only look at the first few search result listings, it is critical to be strategic about the your approach when optimizing your site.Related Articles

1. Anchor Your Site in the SEOcean Intro & Kindle Fire HD Giveaway


2. Why Content Marketing Is Not About Building Links


3. 5 SEO Mistakes Most Entrepreneurs Are Making

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/seocean-keep-your-head-above-water

5 SEO Mistakes Most Entrepreneurs Are Making

5 of the most common SEO mistakes entrepreneurs are making in 2013 and the best way to remedy them in-house.Related Articles

1. Anchor Your Site in the SEOcean Intro & Kindle Fire HD Giveaway


2. Why Content Marketing Is Not About Building Links


3. Five SEO Blunders that Can Cause Your Rankings to Plummet

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/5 SEO Mistakes Most Entrepreneurs Are Making

Why Content Marketing Is Not About Building Links

The problem with manual link building is that Google does not look to favourably at it. While it is still a popular technique with the more old school SEO, they are running the risk of being penalised by the search engine.Related Articles

1. Anchor Your Site in the SEOcean Intro & Kindle Fire HD Giveaway


2. 8 Ways to Crush Your Website Rankings


3. Social SEO Strategies

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/why-content-marketing-is-not-about-building-links

Social SEO Strategies

We know the web places a heavy emphasis on SEO, but what about the social web? Social SEO strategies are the most overlooked of all online marketing strategies.Related Articles

1. How A Social Networking Face Person Can Boost Your Email Marketing Results


2. The Fallacy of Pursuing Social Media Friend Pyramids


3. How to Max Out Email's Social and Search Engine Worth

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/social-seo-strategies

Size and Specialization?

As channels become more integrated and email is more central to CRM programs as a whole, the pure specialists cannot provide the breadth of capability that is required.

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2291145/size-and-specialization

Five SEO Blunders that Can Cause Your Rankings to Plummet

In my 16 years as an SEO I have seen some pretty amazing success stories but sadly I have also seen some horrors that haunt me to this day.Related Articles

1. Anchor Your Site in the SEOcean Intro & Kindle Fire HD Giveaway


2. Three Steps to Effective Content Marketing


3. Online Marketing: The Wrong Ways to Approach SEO

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/five-seo-blunders-that-can-cause-your-rankings-to-plummet

Three Steps to Effective Content Marketing

How do you get started with content marketing? Let’s dig into it a bit deeper with these three actionable steps.Related Articles

1. The Significant Benefits of User Generated Content


2. Content Development for Small Business Websites


3. How to Generate Ideas for Your Content Development Strategy

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/three-steps-to-effective-content-marketing

AWeber: Helping Small Businesses Grow For 15 Years

Fifteen years ago, Tom Kulzer was selling wireless modems. He used email to follow up with his clients. It was time-consuming.

Tom developed an email follow up system to help him and his peers follow up with clients. After he left the company, his peers kept asking if they could use the follow up system with their new companies.

And that’s how AWeber started: making marketing follow up easier for small businesses. Fifteen years later, we’re still dedicated to that same mission. That’s why we keep making AWesome tools for you.

Thank You To Our AWesome Customers!

We couldn’t have made it this far without you. You keep us innovating, developing better email products to build your business better and stronger.

Our goal is to see every small business around the world grow and succeed with killer email campaigns.

We wanted to say thank you to all of our 120,000+ customers for sticking with us and growing together.

Want to share how much you love AWeber? Head over to Twitter and use the #aweber15 hashtag to share your story!

via Email Marketing Tips http://www.aweber.com/blog/culture/aweber-turns-15.htm

3 Ways to Avoid a Holiday Scrooge-Fest

Marketers spend the majority of the year prepping their best and brightest campaigns for the holiday season, so it only makes sense to anticipate not only what could go wrong, but also the triggers that can cause a cross-team Scrooge-fest.

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2290920/3-ways-to-avoid-a-holiday-scroogefest

Playlist: SEO

SEO is constantly changing. Well ... the way Google treats SEO is, at least. When you get it right, and you you see your page right at the top of the search rankings, that’s music to your ears.Related Articles

1. A Retro Rock Playlist For When the Parents Are in Town


2. Playlist: Music for the Start of Summer


3. Playlist: Don't Be the Last to Know

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/playlist-seo

AWeber Gives Back: Stuffing The Bus For Kids In Need

One of AWeber’s core values is creating remarkable experiences – internally, externally and in our own community.

To kick off our 15th anniversary celebration, we wanted to give back to our community by helping school kids get supplies they need for the upcoming year.

We partnered with United Way of Bucks County to stuff backpacks full of school supplies for kids in need.

AWeber Stuffed Over 350 Backpacks!

Thanks to generous donations from businesses all over the community, plus tons of manpower from our own staff here, we put together 350 backpacks to help local students start the school year right.

We even had a special guest drop by – local celebrity and AWeber customer Justin Guarini helped stuff some backpacks before heading off to Broadway (break a leg, Justin!).

See the donations roll in and the backpacks get totally stuffed in our video here:

Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible. Thanks to the combined efforts of some AWesome local businesses, we were able to create a truly remarkable experience for 350 area school kids who need it.

Thanks again for helping AWeber give back!

via Email Marketing Tips http://www.aweber.com/blog/email-marketing/stuffing-the-bus.htm

The Top 10 Best Ways To Get Your Event Registration Forms Submitted

Use these top ten ways as well as common sense in facilitating your attendees in the entire online registration process and you’ll see the difference!Related Articles

1. Five Ways to Avoid Email Spam Filters


2. Boost Your Dentistry Subscription List with These Top 10 Tips


3. New Event Marketing Manual from Benchmark Email!

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/the-top-10-best-ways-to-get-your-event-registration-forms-submitted

Benchmark 5: Interview Tips

The Benchmark 5: Interview Tips.Related Articles

1. Getting Social with Benchmark Email


2. Social Networking Recap & Email Marketing Tips Video


3. Thanks for the Shout Out

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/benchmark-5-interview-tips

Facebook Makes Posts More Shareable With Embedding

Your Page’s Facebook posts are about to get more shareable.

Earlier this month, Facebook unveiled a plan to let people embed public Facebook posts from users and Pages onto their own websites. So far, only Mashable, CNN, People, Huffington Post and Bleacher Report have access to Facebook’s embed feature.

But Facebook promises access to all users in the coming weeks. Here’s the low-down on how it works and how your business can use it.

How It Works

Facebook’s Developer Blog says users can embed any public posts made by a user or a Page.

To embed a Facebook post, click the arrow on the right and select “Embed Post”:

That pulls up a dialog box with the post’s embed code. Copy this code and paste it on the page or blog post where you want it on your site:

Any images, videos or hashtags in an embedded post are clickable, so your readers can interact with the Facebook content on your site.

That’s How It Works. Now How You Can Use It?

Create News-Worthy Posts

Did something big just happen in your industry? Other blogs may want to pick it up if you post it.

Share news-worthy events in your own company, too. Hosting a food drive for the holidays? Maybe a scholarship for local students? Post anything inspiring your company does that others will want to talk about. Think of your Facebook posts as mini press releases.

Curate Content

When something’s going on, you can make your blog the information hub. Curate important Facebook posts about an event or news story to keep people informed all in one place. Use your email campaign to direct readers to your blog.

Highlight Announcements Your Followers Missed

The average Facebook user has 229 friends. That’s a lot of content displaying in one feed. Some of your followers are bound to miss posts from your Page. By embedding your own Facebook posts on your blog, you can highlight important announcements from your Facebook Page that your followers might have missed.

Added bonus: All embedded posts include a “Like” button for people who aren’t following your Page yet. Wherever your post gets shared, you have the potential to garner more fans for your business.

What Will You Embed?

How will you use Embedded Posts when Facebook releases it to the public? Do you have any ideas we didn’t cover here? Share them with us in the comments!

via Email Marketing Tips http://www.aweber.com/blog/email-marketing/embedding-facebook-posts.htm

Does Your Personal Brand Tell a Story?

You need to feature who you are because clients ultimately want to know about you as well.Related Articles

1. Lucky Brand Jeans Email List Signup Is a Perfect Fit


2. Adapting Email Campaigns and Retaining the Brand: A Balancing Act


3. Fireworks and Fizzy Drinks - the Weekly Wrap

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/does-your-personal-brand-tell-a-story

Tips on Getting Into the Gmail Primary Inbox

Avoid complaints, address issues, but most importantly focus on the interaction.

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2290530/tips-on-getting-into-the-gmail-primary-inbox

The Psychological Hierarchy of the Email Campaign

How email marketers and subscribers can deliver a win-win message every time.

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2290353/the-psychological-hierarchy-of-the-email-campaign

Cat Wrangling 101: 3 Tips for Work-at-Home Warriors

If I had to take an estimate, there are dozens of ways to set up an invisible wall between you and your cats, without sacrificing your carefully-built, owner-pet relationship.Related Articles

1. 10 Things I Learned from Being a Work at Home Mom


2. What to do When You’re Not the King of Your Castle: Real Life Tips for Work From Home Types


3. Introduction to Remote Control

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/cat-wrangling-101-3-tips-for-work-at-home-warriors

Lean-In, Opt-Out: Who Should We Believe in the Workforce Wars?

Even in the face of an ongoing recession and dwindling employment opportunities, job seekers are asking employers tough questions. Among a curt list that includes questions about fair compensation, benefits, promotion, job seekers – and even current employees – are inquiring about flexible schedules.Related Articles

1. How to Get More Done as a Work at Home Mom


2. 8 Helpful Tips for the Multitasking Mom


3. 10 Things I Learned from Being a Work at Home Mom

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/who-should-we-believe-in-the-workforce-wars

Want to know your customers' preferences? Just ask!

Megan Ouellet

I ordered a couple of things from The Container Store a few days ago. And this morning I received this email with the subject line “We want to get to know you…”

I think the email is nicely done as it tells the customer what information The Container Store is looking for and offers a birthday reward for sharing the info. It also says it will only take a minute, so customers know up front they don’t have to invest too much time answering tons of questions.

And it’s true. The online preference center simply asks what product categories the customer wants to hear about, how the customer describes him- or herself, shopping preferences, birthday, and zip code. There is also an option to add a mobile phone number but it clearly states that it doesn’t currently have a mobile marketing program at this time.

The email and preference center are nicely organized. But what else would I expect from The Container Store, which specializes in organization!

via Listrak Insights http://blog.listrak.com/post/58908768492

The Top 10 Advanced Tips For Boosting Your Email Conversion Rates

You might not be properly integrating these top ten advanced tips into your emails which will definitely help get your conversion rates to the next level.Related Articles

1. Free Email Marketing: What Converts a Free Trial User to a Member?


2. Boost Your Email Marketing Metrics by Crafting Great Preheaders


3. 5 Tips for Modern Email Subject Lines

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/the-top-10-advanced-tips-for-boosting-your-email-conversion-rates

Emails That Do Work - August Edition

Welcome to the August Edition of Emails That Do Work, the blog series where we dissect some of our favorite user emails, and talk tips on how to optimize our own.Related Articles

1. 5 Tips to Lower Your Unsubscribe Rates


2. Holiday Email Marketing Strategy Made Easy


3. Getting Social with Benchmark Email - the Weekly Recap

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/emails-that-do-work-august-edition

How to Create an Effective Small Business Advertisement

Ever dabbled in print advertising, or thought about it? I’ve done marketing for my family’s small business for the past 10+ years and I’ve learned a few things about making advertising look professional even on a tight budget. My family’s business, like a lot of small businesses, doesn’t have the time or resources to have ads professionally made. So what’s a small business to do?

Here are some tips, tactics and examples of small business advertising; what they’re doing well, plus, what can take their ads up a notch. But first, here’s what you should include in every advertisement:

1. Your logo or business name – If your business’s logo/name doesn’t contain what you do, make sure to clarify that in the ad. For example saying “Klimisch’s Inc Collision Repair” instead of just “Klimisch’s Inc.”


2. A CTA (call-to-action) with supporting contact information – Say exactly why people should contact your business and what you can do for them. For example “Call us at (415) 000-0000 to save money on home insurance today.”


3. Additional information about what your business does and how you intend to help your potential customer. Don’t go overboard with copy because you want to make sure they can read it quickly and easily.


4. Supporting visual elements like a photo or graphics. This can be your logo, a picture of your business, or a graphic related to your business.

Using these elements can make an effective ad, but here are a few additional guidelines to follow:

1. Hierarchy of information – Choose the information from the above list that’s most important and make it your main element of the ad. Every piece of information in your ad should be weighted according to its importance. It’s hard to read an ad in which everything is the same size.


2. Less is more – Don’t overwhelm people with information. Keep it as simple as possible while getting the useful information across to the viewer.


3. Use your space wisely – Don’t use every inch of white space because you can. Leave some “breathing room” so people can digest your message.


4. Use contrasting colors for fonts and backgrounds to make sure that your copy is readable. The best combo is dark type on a light background because it’s easier to read.


5. Fonts, fonts, and fonts – Use mostly sans-serif fonts, use different font sizes to differentiate the importance of the copy, however, don’t use too many font types or too many font colors (think one or two max). The biggest font offenders that tend to thoroughly annoy people include comic sans, curlz, and papyrus.


6. Have at least one other person who isn’t working on your ad read it over to make sure there aren’t spelling errors, incorrect information, or missing information.

Now, you might be asking yourself “what does this all really mean?” Here are some examples that I’ve scanned from small business print publications to illustrate my points. Keep in mind these ads are smaller then they were printed in the publications.

1. Stanley Steemer – A little color and a lot of white space goes a long way. Stanley Steemer has includes all of the information from my “must include” list plu, they added coupons. Their message is very clear and understandable.
   
   


2. Napa Valley Rug – This ad has all the info needed. Two things that could use some improvement, however: The ad is in black and white (when all the other ads on the page were color) and most of the fonts are the same size. By adding color and font size variation, they could have really spiced things up!
   
   


3. BusinessMixers.com – This is a prime example of how a simple ad can be effective. It’s straight and to the point and very understandable without using too many graphics, words, or fonts. Yes, it’s also in black and white like the above ad, but that’s how it was supposed to be printed. Make sure to check the specifications of each publication or website before creating your ads (see more info about this in the “pro tip” below)!
   
   


4. The Book Worm – This charming ad wonderfully illustrates hierarchy of information. The logo with supporting visual element is attention-grabbing, while the description and CTA (in a smaller font) tell me exactly who they are and what action they want me to take, (i.e., “Visit us online!”). The font they used is clear and they varied the font size to show the importance of the information. The Book Worm must have studied up on its advertising techniques!
   
   

These are all print ads but the same elements apply to online ads. The most important part of advertising is to show who you are as a company, so have a little fun with it!

*Bonus Pro Tip : Ask for the “specs” or specifications for each ad. This will tell you what ad size is needed, the resolution, bleed/no bleed, acceptable formats (i.e., jpg, tiff, pdf), unacceptable formats (i.e., Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher) and weather it’s full color or black and white.

What tips would you ad to our list for creating effective print advertisements? Share away in the comments!

© 2013, VR Marketing Blog. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

The post How to Create an Effective Small Business Advertisement appeared first on VR Marketing Blog.

4 Easy Questions: Understanding Engagement to Survive and Thrive in Email and Beyond

Mastering engagement will determine whether your email program ultimately succeeds or fails.

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2290095/4-easy-questions-understanding-engagement-to-survive-and-thrive-in-email-and-beyond

Heart of Business: Stirring It Up with Chip Mosher of comiXology

Chip Mosher has been on the forefront, helping to usher comics into the digital age.Related Articles

1. Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Comic-Con’s Explosive Growth


2. Introducing the Heart of Business


3. Weekly Wrap: Heart of Business Has Arrived!

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/heart-of-business-stirring-it-up-with-chip-mosher-of-comixology

Nice example of an email series

Travis Buck

Recently I received a series of seven emails from J. Crew. The series started on Monday and I received one email a day for seven days. The promotion was fittingly called “7 Days of Summer”. There were a few things I really liked about this campaign. Each day the sale was different. The design of the email was also a little different each day yet had a nice consistent feel. Below the navigation there was a progress bar where the day of the week was highlighted with a hand drawn circle. The use of hand drawn text in the design was a nice touch as well.

Email series can be applied to almost any holiday or event throughout the year. With the holiday season quickly approaching it may be something worth thinking about. “12 Days of Christmas” or “Countdown to the New Year” are just a few examples that could make a nice email series.

via Listrak Insights http://blog.listrak.com/post/58725833556

Recommended products in order confirmation emails

Megan Ouellet

I spent the weekend crossing items off my to-do list around the house. I cleaned out and painted my garage. I repainted the lamp posts and the trim around the garage doors. I organized my laundry room and went shopping to buy items to help me keep it organized, only I couldn’t find what I was looking for at Bed, Bath, and Beyond so I ordered a couple of things from The Container Store’s website. And I received this email confirmation:

I love the fact that it includes recommended products, but I’m surprised that it didn’t include any of the items that I actually added to my cart, but then removed before checking out. I spent a good amount of time on thecontainerstore.com and at one point I had seven items in my cart. I would add things, remove them, add something new, remove it and go back and re-add an item I had previously deleted. It took me a while to decide exactly what I wanted.

Thecontainerstore.com easily could have talked me into ordering some of the items I had removed from my cart simply by including them in the email confirmation. I didn’t look at shoe racks, garbage cans, cabinets or shower caddies, but I did look at other laundry room and closet organization items. Not just look, but I added them to my cart, which shows purchase intent.

I’m guessing that the recommended items in this email are hard-coded and that the same products are recommended to every shopper. They might be best sellers, or they might be items that they just want to move. But they aren’t items recommended for me based on my purchase intent or purchase history.

via Listrak Insights http://blog.listrak.com/post/58700511358

Playlist: Sweet Home Chicago

Not everyone stays where they grew up. Sometimes work takes us to far away lands. If that's the case, it's always good to get a reminder of home once in a while.Related Articles

1. Benchmark Hammers out Email Marketing Manual for Home Improvement


2. Maximize Home Improvement Marketing through Email Segmentation


3. Big Email Marketing Practices for Small Home Improvement Businesses

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/playlist-sweet-home-chicago

Is Your Start-up Location a Predictor for Your Business Success?

The idea of the start-up was central to the Silicon Valley, then San Francisco, and even New York. Today, we’re seeing start-up in all corners of the map. Yet, how much of an indicator is location to ultimate start-up success?Related Articles

1. Playlist: Favorite Bands & Artists on Twitter


2. Introducing Social Success Stories & iPad Mini Giveaway


3. Living Your Dream: The Soul of a Startup

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/is-your-start-up-location-a-predictor-for-your-business-success

Foursquare Ads: Worth It For Your Business?

Foursquare, the popular check-in app for smartphones, recently started rolling out ad placements for small local establishments. The new ads display in the app’s “Explore” tab and in the results when users search for similar local venues.

The good news is, you don’t pay unless someone visits your business’s Foursquare page through the ad or actually checks into your business – visiting in person.

But is it worth for your business spending money on?

The Good

Foursquare’s ads power up location-based mobile marketing, which can be tough for a small business to execute on its own. Foursquare’s ads make it super simple to target people where they are and when they’re looking for you.

According to Foursquare’s research, 78% of all people who search locally make purchases based on their search.

That’s awesome some marketing power.

The Bad

Foursquare claims 30 billion users worldwide, but there’s debate about how active those users really are – especially since Foursquare won’t release the number of truly active users. And don’t forget about Yelp, which also has a mobile app and local ad placements when users search for establishments.

Plus, Yelp has the power of reviews behind them. As a consumer looking for a new restaurant to try out, would you rather know where a handful of your friends hang out all the time? Or which restaurant gave 100 locals an awesome dining experience?

With Foursquare’s ad service, it’s possible you’ll be budgeting for advertising that not a lot of people see.

On the flip side, your ads may not be highly viewed, but those who view them are likely to be active respondents. So, are Foursquare ads worth it for your business?

If You Decide In Favor Of Foursquare Ads…

You can make the most of them by tying your Foursquare presence with your email campaign.

Create a segment of your local email subscribers and send them emails when you change your check-in special. That should increase their visits to your business.

Since Foursquare ads are targeted based on venues the app thinks a user will like, if your subscribers are checking into your venue, that will increase the chances of your ad showing to their friends who aren’t your customers yet.

What do you think? Will you try Foursquare ads for your business?

via Email Marketing Tips http://www.aweber.com/blog/email-marketing/foursquare-ads-worth-it-for-your-business.htm

Conversion Rates and Cost-per-Conversion: Email Marketing Metrics That Matter

Whether you're looking at house or third-party lists, conversion rates and cost-per-conversion are more important than opens and clicks.

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2289578/conversion-rates-and-costperconversion-email-marketing-metrics-that-matter

Benchmark Easy List App for Android Beta

Easy List by Benchmark is now in beta for Android tablets.Related Articles

1. April 22 Webinar on List Segmentation: Listen to Your Subscribers


2. Support Update: Accidentally Unsubscribing Your Subscribers


3. New Easy List App Collects Email Addresses Right from Your Laptop

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/benchmark-easy-list-app-for-android-beta

Weekly Wrap: In Case You've Been Too Busy With Summer

So, we'll excuse you this one time if you've missed out on the great content on the Benchmark Blog this week. Catch up with this edition of the Weekly Wrap.Related Articles

1. Weekly Wrap: Chock-Full of Undercover Fun


2. Weekly Wrap: Are There Cat Videos On (Bruno) Mars?


3. Back to Business After St. Patty’s Day

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/weekly-wrap-in-case-youve-been-too-busy-with-summer

Congratulations To Our 2013 AWeber Scholarship Winner!

For the third year in a row, AWeber is very proud to award a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving student.

We’re excited to announce this year’s winner:

Arjun Watane!

We posed the following question to high school seniors and college undergraduates:

“What tools did your parents use to communicate? What tools do you use to communicate? What tools do you think the generation after you will use to communicate?”

Out of almost 400 essays, Arjun’s stood out as the best. We loved his humorous insights into how technology impacts social behavior:

“[Since my parents' generation,] communication has changed more than its methods; it has also revolutionized society’s habits. Have you ever done any of the following?

1. While at the movies, you checked your favorite social media site.


2. In a work meeting, you sent texts.


3. You sent texts to someone while talking to someone else.


4. You Facebook messaged, tweeted or texted someone to tell them you emailed them.


5. You texted your spouse, kids or parents while in the same room or house.


6. You blabbered on the phone or texted while driving (STOP THAT!).

I see the above behavior every day. [...]Yet society’s desire to be in never-ending interaction makes me question: why as processing speeds and signal strengths increase, do we seem more… disconnected?”

As for where technology is heading in the future, he makes this prediction:

“I see the Communication Revolution as an S-curve. Twenty years ago, the curve rode a small incline. In the past decade, the curve increased exponentially and will continue this way for another ten years.

I predict the next twenty years to have a gradual flattening in communication inventions. From my parents’ pen pal romance to today’s social media craze, communication has virtually brought together people who are continents apart while distancing those next door. Hopefully, the future sees a reversal of the latter.”

Arjun is excited to attend University of Central Florida in the fall, where he’ll study Computer Science with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. He has aspirations to enter the field of robotic surgery after college.

Congratulations, Arjun, and best of luck in the future!

Stay tuned for when we announce next year’s scholarship opportunity.

via Email Marketing Tips http://www.aweber.com/blog/email-marketing/2013-scholarship-winner.htm

21 Email Metrics You Should Start Measuring Today!

Setting up a framework for measurement will allow you have a holistic view of the performance of your campaign while remaining focused on your objectives.

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2289267/21-email-metrics-you-should-start-measuring-today

Benchmark 5: Sites I Turn to for Writing Inspiration

This week I wrote the Benchmark 5: Sites I Turn to for Writing Inspiration.Related Articles

1. Denise Keller on Blog Talk Radio This Wednesday the 22nd!


2. Podcast Embed for Denise Keller on Inspiration at Work


3. Benchmark 5: Things Kitchen Nightmares Teaches Us About Business

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/benchmark-5-sites-i-turn-to-for-writing-inspiration

5 Warning Signs That Your Email Copy Needs Work

If your emails can avoid these five warning signs, you’re on the right track!Related Articles

1. Email Marketing Tip: Banking Evergreen Copy


2. The Marketing Strategy that Makes People Hungry for More


3. Email Marketing Content: Trawling the Customer Service Files

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/5-warning-signs-that-your-email-copy-needs-work

Set the Right Expectation for Your Campaign Results

Managing our expectations in marketing is very important aside from knowledge, technique, and practice. Here's why.

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2288127/set-the-right-expectation-for-your-campaign-results

An Obituary: Goliath Swallowed David

Can small businesses still compete with the Goliaths of the world for consumers' loyalty?

via Email - ClickZ http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2284675/an-obituary-goliath-swallowed-david

The Top 7 Mistakes Event Organizers Make

If you find yourself committing any of these top mistakes, cancel your event and run away!Related Articles

1. New Event Marketing Manual from Benchmark Email!


2. How SMS Can Work with Email Marketing


3. Email Newsletter Awards: Best Post-Event Email

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Remote Control: For Your Soul

What I do remember is the tremendous amount of relief I felt in being given the opportunity to transition from the standard 9 to 5 office environment to working remotely.Related Articles

1. Introduction to Remote Control


2. 10 Things I Learned from Being a Work at Home Mom


3. What to do When You’re Not the King of Your Castle: Real Life Tips for Work From Home Types

via Benchmarkemail Blog http://www.benchmarkemail.com/blogs/detail/remote-control-for-your-soul

What's an Email Hash, Anyway?

By next year everyone professionally engaged in interactive marketing is going to know about email hashes and why they're important.

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