<![CDATA[Simply Dynamic - Blog]]>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 08:08:56 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[A GUIDE TO GOOGLE’S JUNE 2019 BROAD CORE ALGORITHM UPDATE]]>Tue, 25 Jun 2019 17:58:08 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/a-guide-to-googles-june-2019-broad-core-algorithm-updatePosted at 07:00h in Digital Marketing, SEO by Colton Miller
According to Business Insider, Google and YouTube capture more than 90% of the internet search market. In fact, Google processes more than 3.5 billion search queries daily. Companies compete through SEO to make it as close to the top of the search results as possible. So, when a new Google algorithm update rolls out, it’s almost always a big deal. Here’s what you need to know about Google’s newest core update.


WHEN THE UPDATE OCCURREDGoogle first announced the June 2019 Core Update via a tweet on June 2nd of this year. The update went live a day later. In a series of related tweets, the tech giant shared that it updates its search engine on a daily basis. This helps to consistently improve the relevancy and quality of search results. However, a core update makes more profound changes to the algorithm. This can create positive or negative effects on website traffic overnight. So, what changed?


THE RESULTS OF THE UPDATEGoogle rarely provides concrete information on specific changes and how it will affect the way search results work. This can make change especially difficult for companies that are negatively impacted by the updates. So far, many companies have complained about a sharp decrease in organic search result ranking, which affects their profitability.
The Daily Mail reported losing up to half of their daily traffic from search results after the update went live. Other companies have also reported sharp declines in traffic, including The Sun and HuffPost. One big website even decided to shut down its operations.
Forbes reports that CCN.com, a cryptocurrency news website, is closing its doors and cited Google’s algorithm update as the specific reason for its decision. The founder claimed to lose 71% in traffic overnight, which translated into a 90% drop in profits. This spurred some rumors that Google specifically targeted the cryptocurrency community. However, there are other crypto sites that suffered only minor effects. Some experienced none at all.
WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

In spite of the negative effects experienced by some websites after the Google algorithm update, the recommended course of action is to do nothing. The company warns content creators not to make changes to their websites and the content they create. In doing so, they may begin to change things that were never the problem to begin with. Instead, Google recommends that websites focus on putting out the best possible content.

However, for the companies negatively affected by the update, this may not be enough. Was your website negatively affected by the recent changes? Here are some ways you can breathe some life back into your site:

1. Launch a Few New Experiments
Find other websites and blogs in your industry that have not suffered any changes to their website traffic. If possible, look for websites that claim to have experienced an increase in traffic. After all, Google must divert the lost traffic somewhere! Who is now ranking for your keywords? Evaluate their website, especially their content, and see what differentiates their SEO tactics from your own. Then, fill in the gaps on your own website.

2. Focus on Community-Building
Search engine results provide a great way to increase exposure and attract new visitors. Still, the real core of a website’s following are its subscribers, followers and fans. These are the people who turn to specific websites for their products and services, irrespective of any Google algorithm update. By prioritizing retention over growth, a company can remain afloat while waiting to discover the secrets of the new algorithm.

3. Increase Advertising
Prioritizing community-building doesn’t mean attracting new visitors should take a backseat. Instead, companies should consider using ads to attract new visitors and expand reach. Ad platforms to consider include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google AdWords. Make a note of the blog links and landing pages used for ads. These may act as controls for your experiments. Otherwise, it will be difficult to tell whether any new growth comes from ads or better SEO tactics.

Naturally, a lot of entrepreneurs feel upset about the Google algorithm update. However, when it comes to google search results, it is important to note that Google’s priority is consumers, not companies. To maintain its 90%-plus market share, Google must continue to provide results that are the most relevant and of the highest quality for users.

Thus, when improving your website’s page rankings, remember to tackle all improvements from the perspective of Google and the consumer. Need help contact us at 631.509.0076 today for a free consultation.
]]><![CDATA[GLOSSARY OF SOCIAL MEDIA TERMS]]>Wed, 22 May 2019 16:43:52 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/glossary-of-social-media-termsEven experienced social media users can get confused when it comes to specific jargon. Understanding important social media terms can help you learn how to harness these platforms for your business. This glossary explains several key terms anyone working in digital marketing should know.

AlgorithmThis is the set of rules social media platforms use in their software to determine how to focus content in users’ news feeds. Every platform has its own algorithm; most networks periodically install updates. Algorithms generally aim to promote popular content and reduce spam and bot content. For example, a major factor for Facebook posts is the level of meaningful interaction they trigger. Learning about your platform’s algorithm helps you ensure your content reaches its audience.

Brand AwarenessBrand awareness is a top goal for digital marketing campaigns. It means increasing the level of familiarity your brand has with the general public. Brand awareness can stem from a distinctive social media voice, aesthetics or a specific ad or campaign.

Conversion RateWhen you take your business to social media, you want people to see your content. But that is not all you want. You hope viewing your content will lead followers to buy something, call your office for an appointment or take some other action. Your conversion rate shows you how many of your viewers take this action. In turn, this helps you measure the effectiveness of specific tactics.

Evergreen ContentThis type of social media content can stay relevant over a long period of time. You can leave it up and periodically repost it without appearing out of date. Advice is more likely to be evergreen than news of current events.

Key Performance IndicatorA KPI is a metric that shows whether your social media campaign is meeting its goals. Perhaps your digital marketing goal is to promote a certain product. One KPI that measures its success would be conversion rates for this product.

Native AdvertisingNative advertising is promotional content that blends into its environment rather than standing out as an ad. Many online readers tend to ignore banner ads. They are more likely to view and interact with promotions that come in the form of content.

Shareable ContentOne key strategy in digital marketing is to post social media content viewers want to share. This expands the brand’s reach. Shareable content generates a strong reaction. This stimulates people to share it with their friends.

Posted at 07:00h in Social Media Marketing Questions by Boostability 

]]><![CDATA[SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT IN 4 EASY STEPS]]>Wed, 15 Aug 2018 18:11:08 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/social-media-management-in-4-easy-stepsPicture
​SMALL BUSINESS, TIPS & TRICKS   BY:BASIL HARRIS

​If you or your company does business on the Internet, you already know about social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the rest have become such a ubiquitous part of our online communication that even if you don’t use them, you likely know what they are and how they work.
What you may not know is how to wrangle all of your business social media channels together into a single, smooth-running, professional communications system. Effective scheduling, coordination, and targeting of your social media posts can mean the difference between occasional web traffic and legions of loyal fans.

Let’s take a look at some effective management strategies for your social media accounts.

1. Make the Time
With so many other tasks demanding your attention throughout the course of running your business, how are you supposed to even find time for Twitter? Sadly, social marketing is often the first bit of marketing to get lost in the shuffle.

But as the saying goes, anything worth doing is worth doing well. Thus, anything worth doing well deserves to be a part of your schedule.

Stop thinking of your social media plan as an afterthought or something you squeeze in between other tasks and carve out some consistent quality time to give it your devoted, focused time and attention. This article provides some great resources on how to craft effective time blocks for all important aspects of your life.

2. Make a Plan
Now that you’ve blocked out time, it’s time to make a plan. A simple but super-effective first step is to schedule your posts. This involves drafting several status updates which can be deployed at various times.

This planning stage also allows you the opportunity to break down your messaging and tailor it for your various channels. Who is your target audience? When are they most likely to be online? Are they 9-to-5-ers who skim their social channels at lunch? Or millennials who seem to be plugged in at all hours? Are they all centralized in one location or scattered throughout time zones?

Getting a handle on these questions will pay off later on—it may even provide you with some critical insight to your customers you never knew you needed.

And what if you could position your message to appear at a time when the most people are likely to see it in any section of the globe?

Believe it or not, there is a science to social. You can use social media management tools (see below) to deploy your updates at optimal times in any time zone, even when you’re not awake!  Check out the article on “The Science of Social Timing” with an infographic by KISSmetrics. It can help you determine the times of day and days of the week when your updates, likes, retweets, and shares across your networks will have the most impact.

Looking for a dedicated social media planner? This free template for social media scheduling can also help you lay out your deployment timeline so you can see it all at once.
Since you’ve given yourself the time to plan, scheduling posts allows you the luxury of making strategic, considered marketing decisions. You’ll find this beats posting random, last-minute, badly conceived updates that could diminish your reputation and brand.

3. Keep It Real
One thing to remember, however, is that scheduled updates should NOT be the only social content you provide. Too many “packaged” posts can make your social channels appear to your customers like nothing more than a big, impersonal marketing engine.

Don’t forget the “social” aspect of your social media. Your customers want to know there’s a human being behind the social handle. They want your real-time reactions to current events or trends. So remember to drop an occasional friendly, engaging, or even silly post in among your more targeted marketing material.

Social media is also a great customer service tool, often quicker and more satisfying to customers than regular customer service channels. It can even serve as a support portal for your small business or eCommerce startup (and no need to worry about grumpy or critical comments—our blog has some great tips on handling unsatisfied customers).

4. Get the Tools
Now that you’ve made a strong plan and allowed yourself ample time to execute it, the last step is simply to line up your posts for launch. The good news is, as they say: there’s an app for that.

Below is a list of some of the most popular social media scheduling tools for desktop and mobile operating systems. Depending on your needs, they offer a range of features beyond simple post scheduling–from URL shortening to viewable analytics to automatic direct messaging.

Each program also has its own easy setup tutorial to get you started, but they all require you to link your social accounts, so be sure you’ve got your login credentials handy before you begin
.
The Tweet Spot
If the only (or main) social channel you use is Twitter, you need not look any further than TweetDeck for basic tweet scheduling. This free desktop platform handles multiple Twitter accounts and offers separate tracking for likes, retweets and DMs and more.

SocialOomph is another good free option, with Twitter keyword tracking and URL shortening. And, unlike TweetDeck, you can upgrade to add Pinterest, LinkedIn, and other accounts as well.

The All-In-One
Hootsuite, probably the most popular social management app for multiple accounts, supports integration for Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and more.

While it offers pro and enterprise options for the power user, the free version offers a ton of great functionality including scheduling, tracking and proving ROI, content curation, and monitoring.

Another multi-account-management choice (for desktop and mobile) is Buffer, with its simple dashboard and customizable content scheduling. Upgrading unlocks even more features as well.

The Big Picture
If your social media relies heavily on visual content, you should consider a platform such as EveryPost. This service allows you to share multimedia posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Pinterest. EveryPost offers analytic, team collaboration, and content customization in addition to scheduling updates. While the free version is somewhat limited, it offers a range of premium account selections to fit every budget.

If you’ve got a strong Pinterest or Instagram following, TailWind offers audience and content management, brand monitoring, even the ability to launch promotions and contests.

Note: while Instagram is relatively new to the social media marketing world, this Facebook-owned service is becoming a huge player in visually-based content marketing. Check out this article for a list of top tools for Instagram, as well as a few important Insta-specific details.
The Serious BusinessFor the serious social marketer, we have apps like SocialFlow, SpredFast, and Sprout Social. Geared toward larger businesses with robust marketing resources, they may not be the first choice for smaller or casual users. Most offer a free trial before prompting you to upgrade for full access, and, in the case of SpredFast, you need to request a demo just to get started. But if you’re driven by data, amped on analytics, or energized by engagement, these apps are built for performance, scalability, and of course, monetization.
With a dedicated schedule, a solid plan, and the best tools, it’s easier than you think to boost your social media management game. And the results will definitely be worth it.
​Good luck!


]]><![CDATA[What Your Customers Say vs. What They Mean]]>Tue, 25 Jul 2017 20:40:40 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/what-your-customers-say-vs-what-they-meanPosted on July 20, 2017 Written by Paula Brewers Picture
Have you ever talked to a customer who didn’t quite say what they mean? Talking to your customers can occasionally be as much like translating as it is like listening to their instructions. Here are eleven things your customers might be saying, and what they really mean.
​
Disclaimer: This is just for fun. We love our customers, and we know you appreciate your customers, too.

  1. What Customers Say: “Make it look more luxurious…”
    What Customers Mean: “I want this to be shinier.”​
  2. What Customers Say: “I just have a small adjustment.”What Customers Mean: “I just checked that proof you sent me, and finally noticed a typo that needs to get fixed. It’s entirely possible that you’ve already sent the order to press.” What Customers Might Also Mean: “I’m totally changing this print order. I might also need to get a quote for a special ordered stock.”
  1. What Customers Say: “I’m on a tight budget.”
    What Customers Mean: “My wish list is much bigger than my budget; can you adjust that pricing a little bit for me?”
  1. What Customers Say: “I’m looking to update my print collateral.”
    What Customers Mean: “I want to look at everything you offer, just in case, but I’ll probably end up ordering the exact same design on a slightly different stock.”
  1. What Customers Say: “It’s such a shame that you have to work on holidays.”
    What Customers Mean: “I’m so glad you’re open, because this is the only day off I have this week and I’ve got an order that really needs to get placed.”
  1. What Customers Say: “Can you make the logo a little bigger?”</strong >What Customers Mean: “Can you make the logo a lot bigger?”
  1. What Customers Say: “I like that idea, but…”
    What Customers Mean: “I don’t actually like that idea all that much; please show me something totally different.”
  1. What Customers Say: “What’s the turnaround time on that?”
    What Customers Mean: “I meant to place this order weeks ago and now I’m in a time crunch. I’m going to need you to call your printer to see if you can get this printed ASAP.”
  1. What Customers Say: “I definitely need [product].”
    What Customers Mean: “I know I have a problem, and [product] is the best solution I could think of.”
  1. What Customers Say: “What time do you close?”
    What Customers Mean: “I’m going to call 5 minutes before you need to close with a complicated question.”
  1. What Customers Say: “I’ll know what I want when I see it.”
    What Customers Mean: “I have no idea what I’m looking for, but I’ve got strong opinions about everything else.”
Do your customers ever have requests that you need to translate? We’d love to hear more about it in the comments below.
]]><![CDATA[8 Ways to Get More Out of Your Direct Mailings]]>Tue, 18 Apr 2017 16:05:38 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/8-ways-to-get-more-out-of-your-direct-mailingsWhether you are creating a direct mailing to boost your own business or working with a customer to create a printed piece for their campaign, it’s important to make every printed piece as effective as possible. That’s why we’ve collected eight ways that you can get more out of your mailings.
1. Start With A Purpose
Build your campaign around one central message, a big idea to grab your audience’s attention. Whether they need to know that you are now offering a new product, that you’ve got a seasonal sale coming up, or just that you’re thinking about them over the holidays, having one focus for your direct mail piece can help you from getting too much information on your mailing.
2. Fill it with a Photo
Postcards should be eye-catching, so be sure to include high-quality photos or other striking images, graphics and colors.
3. Keep Your Message Simple
Postcards can say a lot – especially the over-sized variety — but try to keep your message simple. It’s still a postcard, after all, not a novel. Pretend that every word you write is costing you an extra $100.
4. Keep Your Headline Short
Direct mail is more inspirational than informational—after all, it’s for generating leads and not closing sales. Don’t try to explain everything about the product or sale you’re promoting, but make sure that the recipients of your direct mail efforts have multiple ways to contact you.
5. Think Multi-Use
If you want your mailing to have additional impact, consider letting it have a secondary purpose. One example would be using a postcard as a coupon for a discount on a new product or an invitation to the grand opening of a storefront. This secondary purpose encourages customers to keep your mailing around.
6. Remember That There Are Two Sides to This Story—And the Page!
When you’re creating a direct mail piece, don’t forget that there are two sides to your document. Using both sides gives you double the real estate, and can give you the chance to emphasize a specific image or headline. For example, if you’re creating a postcard the non-address side should feature eye-catching images or a splashy headline, while the other side should include a special offer, your contact information and other details.
7. Make it Timely
Direct mail pieces are ideal for timely messages, so it’s important to think in those terms. Are you offering a special offer for the season or trying to build enthusiasm for a new product? Direct mail is a great way to get that message out there. And, while you’re making it timely…
8. Encourage Quick Action
Give customers a good reason to act now, like a deadline or a limited time offer. This will make your message stick because your customers have a deadline to follow.
How do you make your direct mail efforts effective? We’d love to hear your tips in the comments below.
Written by Emily Roycraft]]><![CDATA[Take a Better Break]]>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/take-a-better-breakWritten by Emily Roycraft
​
I think we can all agree that taking breaks every so often is important. Whether your break is taking a nap to recharge or getting a snack, you probably set some time aside away from work. However, how often does this actually provide you with a real break? Do you actually take that time to disconnect from work?

Disconnecting from work can be a challenge, but it has its benefits, and there are even scientific studies to back that up! Taking a better break from work can help you come back with more focus and energy than before, and that’s why we’ve collected some great ways to boost the power of your break.
​
Unplug
This one’s a challenge, and I struggle with it, too. However, actually taking a break where you’re not thinking about work can help you focus when you get back to work afterward. Because it can be a challenge to get your mind off work, even if you’ve left the office, here are a few ways you can give your brain a break.
Get Creative
Taking a break for a little bit of creativity can be a great way to recharge. Not only does it give you something to focus on so that you can actually unplug for a moment, creativity gives you a few added benefits. Doodling is a classic way to get creative on your break, and it’s a great way to improve your focus and memory. Doodling while listening has been shown to improve memory, and it also makes a great creative break to help you recharge.

Look at Pictures
Have you ever taken a break to check out pictures of your pet or your kids? It might seem odd, but a 2012 study indicates that looking at cute pictures can actually improve your focus. Pick something that you find cute, whether it’s young relatives or cute animals, and take a moment to look at a picture when you take a break.

Go for a Walk
Getting a little exercise can help in a lot of different aspects of your life. One study found that exercising during the work day has a positive effect on both mood and job satisfaction. Another study showed that it can help with even more aspects of your life: reaction time, creative thinking, task switching, and more. That’s a lot of benefits for just a little bit of exercise, and getting exercise could be as simple as walking to pick up lunch.

Take a Nap
Feeling drowsy? Especially if you woke up early so that you could get a lot of work done, your energy might be flagging mid-morning. Stepping away to take a nap, if you are able, could be a great solution. Studies have shown that a 10-minute nap is a great way to decrease fatigue and increases cognitive performance.

And, if you’re having trouble separating yourself from work—which can be a challenge—remember that you’re taking a break so that you’ll be able to come back to your work refreshed, with more energy and more focus.
What do you do to take a better break at work? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Get Creative
Taking a break for a little bit of creativity can be a great way to recharge. Not only does it give you something to focus on so that you can actually unplug for a moment, creativity gives you a few added benefits. Doodling is a classic way to get creative on your break, and it’s a great way to improve your focus and memory. Doodling while listening has been shown to improve memory, and it also makes a great creative break to help you recharge.

Look at Pictures
Have you ever taken a break to check out pictures of your pet or your kids? It might seem odd, but a 2012 study indicates that looking at cute pictures can actually improve your focus. Pick something that you find cute, whether it’s young relatives or cute animals, and take a moment to look at a picture when you take a break.

Go for a Walk
Getting a little exercise can help in a lot of different aspects of your life. One study found that exercising during the work day has a positive effect on both mood and job satisfaction. Another study showed that it can help with even more aspects of your life: reaction time, creative thinking, task switching, and more. That’s a lot of benefits for just a little bit of exercise, and getting exercise could be as simple as walking to pick up lunch.

Take a Nap
Feeling drowsy? Especially if you woke up early so that you could get a lot of work done, your energy might be flagging mid-morning. Stepping away to take a nap, if you are able, could be a great solution. Studies have shown that a 10-minute nap is a great way to decrease fatigue and increases cognitive performance.
​
And, if you’re having trouble separating yourself from work—which can be a challenge—remember that you’re taking a break so that you’ll be able to come back to your work refreshed, with more energy and more focus.
​
What do you do to take a better break at work? 
]]><![CDATA[Shorter Meetings, Better Meetings]]>Fri, 11 Nov 2016 14:50:01 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/shorter-meetings-better-meetings
​Written by Emily Roycraft
​While meetings are important, it can be a challenge to keep everyone on task and keep those meetings from eating into valuable work time. Short meetings sometimes feel like they might not be enough space to cover the issues you need covered, but making meetings efficient can help you have shorter and more focused meetings. Here is a five-step model that will help you get there.

Start With the Most Important Issue
You’ve got something important to say—that’s why you called the meeting! If you start by stating that important issue, you’ll be on topic right out of the gate. You might get off topic from there, but it’s easier to stay on topic if you start in a focused way.

Tell Everybody How This Became an Issue
Give a short overview of the background of the issue you’re there to discuss to keep everyone on the same page. Whether the pertinent details include information about a customer order, what has been done on similar projects, or a challenge that has arisen, this overview will ensure that everyone knows the factors at play.
Give Your Suggested Solution
You probably already know what you think should be done for this, so this step should be easy. Describe what you think the solution looks like, and, while you’re at it…

Lay Out the Steps
How are you going to make your solution a reality? Explain how to get to that solution, including who should be involved and what they’ll be doing. Whether that plan involves one of your coworkers doing some research or getting some important information from your customer by a specific date, let the other people in the meeting know the who, what, when, and where that will help make your solution a reality.
And, don’t forget to give them “why” as well…

What’s the Benefit?
End your suggested solution with the potential benefits. After all, every potential solution has its strong points. Does your idea speak to an audience you’re trying to bring in to your business? Make sure to mention that. Does your budget plan give more money for the things that are most important to the business? Highlight that information. Mention the things that might make your solution the best one.

After you’ve gone through these steps, give the other people in the meeting the chance to ask questions or offer their own suggestions. Keeping your meeting on track could really be that simple, and having these steps planned out in advance can help you get off to a great start.
​
How do you keep your meetings focused? Tell us about your meeting plan.
]]><![CDATA[6 Email Marketing Hacks that Will Help You Make More Money This Holiday Season]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 18:14:02 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/6-email-marketing-hacks-that-will-help-you-make-more-money-this-holiday-seasonHere are 6 tips to keep in mind as you prepare for the holiday season.

1. Get targeted
Consumers receive a lot of emails during the busy holiday months. This is especially true during the weeks leading up to big shopping days at the end of November.
Last year, Constant Contact customers sent 1.3 billion emails in the week leading up to Cyber Monday.
One of the best ways to stand out in a crowded inbox is to personalize the messages you send out. Rather than sending the same offer or information to your entire email list, look for opportunities to target your emails to the different groups of people on your email list.
Here are a few ideas to consider:
  • Exclusive offer to new subscribers: Create a special offer for new subscribers who joined your list since last holiday season. Let them know how you can help them during the holidays and include details about any of the special services you offer during these busy months.
  • Special discount based on click-through activity: Use your click-through reports to see who is clicking on a particular link in a recent email. For example, if you recently sent an email announcing a new line of products and saw a lot of people clicking through to your website, you can target those people with a follow-up email with a special holiday offer on those items.
  • Event invitation for VIPs: Reward your most loyal customers this holiday season by giving them early access to an upcoming sale or event.
Want another reason to target your emails? A recent analysis of Constant Contact customer emails found that emails sent to 35 contacts or less received an average open rate of 55 percent, compared to a 14 percent open rate for emails sent to lists of 7,500 or more.
2. Focus on mobile
53 percent of consumers who shopped online last holiday season did so on a smartphone or tablet. Combine this with the fact that more than half of all emails are now opened on a mobile device, and it’s clear that mobile needs to be at the center of your holiday marketing plans.
One of the best ways to get your holiday emails mobile-ready is to choose a mobile responsive email template.

In addition to the template you choose, make sure you’re keeping your message as focused as possible this holiday season. The most effective holiday emails will include your branding, 1-3 images, less than 20 lines of text, and one strong action for readers to take.

3. Add a coupon
Coupons are a proven way to increase revenue and improve engagement in the emails you send out. A 2014 Experian report found that emails that include coupons see a lift in unique opens, unique clicks, and revenue generated per email.

If you’re a Constant Contact customer, you can easily add a coupon to any email you send out and track how many people claimed and redeemed your coupon, either in-store or online.

4. Invest in your subject line
Your subject line is one of the most important lines of your entire email. It’s the first thing people see when your email lands in their inbox, and for a lot of people it will have the biggest impact on whether they click to open.

For fashion retailer, No Rest for Bridget, investing time in choosing the right subject line has given more opens when promoting specials during the holidays and throughout the year.
Online manager, Kolbie Richardson explains:
​
“We test out different subject lines to see what gets us the best results. It’s crazy, just little tweaks like that can definitely deliver different results, so we’re constantly experimenting with different things. We’ve found that ambiguous subject lines work well. Our last email subject line was ‘Say Yes To This Dress!’ Things like that pique curiosity and work well because people want to click to see what we’re talking about.”

5. Incorporate social media
Bringing your email marketing and social media marketing together is proven to help boost business results throughout the year.

In fact, small businesses that use multiple channels, like social media, in conjunction with email report: more customer engagement (73 percent), more new customers (57 percent), more website traffic (54 percent), more revenue (40 percent), and more referrals (39 percent).
Bringing your email and social media marketing together can have an even bigger impact during the holiday season.

Take a social network like Pinterest for example. 38 million Pinterest users have saved holiday pins. The number of holiday pins on Pinterest increased 50 percent from 2013 to 2014.
If you’re on Pinterest, you can use emails to drive traffic to your boards with gift ideas for the holiday season. If you have an e-commerce business, make sure to set up the Pinterest “Buy Button” so that people can shop online.

6. Automate your messages
As things get busy during the holiday season, it’s easy to let marketing tasks get pushed off to the side. One of the best ways to avoid this setback is to create automated emails to send to your list.
With a tool like Constant Contact’s Autoresponder feature, you can create a series of automated emails that will be sent to a select group of subscribers over a scheduled period of time.
For example:
  • Create a series for big shopping days: Set up a series of emails reminding people to shop small on shopping days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday. Include a special offer that can be redeemed in-store or online and follow up with an email letting people know what you have going on through the rest of the year.
  • Send deadline reminders: Remind people of important dates and deadlines throughout the holiday season. This can be effective when promoting limited-time offers or letting people know about shipping deadlines for online orders.
  • Send daily or weekly offers: Keep customers coming back to their inbox by promoting a series of daily or weekly offers throughout the holiday season. This is a great way to expose all of the different products and services your business has to offer during the holiday season.
Learn how to get started with email automation.
Put your holiday email marketing strategy into actionWhile you may not be ready to start designing emails or writing subject lines, you should start thinking about how email will fit into your holiday marketing plans.
Ryan Pinkham | Oct 2, 2015
]]><![CDATA[Listen Smarter in 5 Steps]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 17:56:28 GMThttps://www.simplydynamic.com/blog/listen-smarter-in-5-stepsWhether you’re talking to a customer before they place their first order, considering a new order from your customer, or even taking care of a customer concern, listening well is the first step to ensuring that everything goes smoothly. And how can you listen better? Here are five simple active listening tips to get you started.
1. Listen Attentively
When your customer is talking to you, listen attentively to them and try to minimize interruptions while you do. Look them in the eye, nod, and smile while they're talking. This will help you hear as much as possible of what they are trying to say, but it will also encourage them to be clear because they'll feel like you're listening. But what if your customers give you feedback online?​
2. Read Carefully
We've all done it. We're skimming a news headline or the nutrition information on packaging when suddenly what we thought we read isn't actually what was written on the page.
With an increasing number of customer interactions happening on social media, though, it's essential to read carefully. Your customer doesn't have the benefits of body language or tone to help express their meaning, so you might not be getting all the information you would receive if you were speaking in person. Because of this, read very carefully, and ask questions as needed.

3. Pause for a Moment Before Responding
Nobody likes to be interrupted. If you're talking with your customer in person, pausing before responding is a great way to ensure that your customer has finished talking. But that's not the only benefit of taking a moment to pause.
Pausing also gives you a moment to decide what the most important point to discuss is. Did your customer say something that raised an important question? Start with that. Was there anything that stuck out to you as confusing or in need of elaboration? Talk to them about it. Taking the time to pause, even for a moment, can help you collect your thoughts.
If you're talking to your customer online, take this same moment to pause and re-read your response. Does it say everything you want it to? Did you ask about everything you have questions about? Take a moment to read your response before posting it.

4. Ask Questions
Was something unclear? Take the time to ask questions and figure out what your customer meant. Do you need more detail? Ask them to expand on those points. Asking questions not only ensures that you get the information that you need, but it also shows that you were listening carefully to what your customer was saying.

​5. Repeat it Back In Your Own Words
Think you've got it down? Take a moment to repeat what your customer has said, but say it in your own words. This will ensure that you not only heard the exact words that your customer said but also understood what they meant. If you can put it in your own words and they agree with what you've said, you've got it down.
What do you do to ensure that you've got all the information you need from your customers? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Emily Roycraft - Navitor 
]]>