Expert Tips For Did You Make It onto Santa’s Nice List in 2020?

We’re not saying we’re Santa Claus. We don’t know when you’re sleeping or when you’re awake. But we know when you’re bad or good at marketing, and we have some ideas for how you can be good for goodness sake in 2021. Consider this list our Christmas gift to you. Hey, it’s better than a fruitcake.

Email Marketing

When it comes to email marketing, there are a few ways you can be good in 2021. We know you love those email blasts, and we do too, but if you want good results, then you must do it the right way. The first tip for email marketing is to know who you’re emailing and segment your subscribers based on their interests. Your subscribers are unique, so don’t treat them like they’re all the same.

The second strategy to adopt for good email marketing is to give your subscribers value before asking for a sale. The last thing your subscribers want is more junk mail cluttering up their inbox. Give them something they want and can use. Like for example, a nice list of marketing tips. No re-gifting, please.

The last email marketing tip is more of a lesson in ethics and an all-around good habit to adopt: Always honor your subscribers’ privacy rights. No one likes a sneak, and not complying with privacy laws is a sure way to end up on the naughty list. There are laws in the U.S. and internationally for email marketing, and in general, it’s best to always comply with the law because you could end up with more than just a lump of coal. Bad practices are bad for business.

Social Media Marketing

The world of social media marketing can seem overwhelming. The rules, strategies, and platforms are constantly in flux, but some long-standing best practices help you start. Before you open up a TikTok account to keep up with the kids these days, keep in mind that it’s important to first have a strategy in place. Not having a plan can lead to a lot of wasted time and effort – not to mention self-esteem, depending on how good you are at hitting the whoa. If that reference doesn’t mean anything to you, trust us when we say that you should leave TikTok to the kids.

The good news is you don’t have to chase the latest trends. Instead, know your audience and then use the platform to put you directly in front of them. Also, knowing how to turn engagement into sales on social media is marketing gold. Don’t think that just because you post a weekly meme on Facebook means you own your audience. Social media marketing is constantly changing, so stay humble and flexible.

Paid Advertising

Our tips for paid advertising are as useful as they are catchy, and not to toot our own French horn, but they’re very catchy. To be good at paid advertising in 2021, follow the “ABT” method: Always Be Tracking, Always Be Transparent, and Always Be Testing. How do you know if your marketing strategies are effective if you’re not keeping track? You don’t. How do your clients know your business can be trusted if you’re not transparent? They don’t. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

Website Marketing

Marketing through websites is one of the oldest forms of digital marketing. Still, the methods have changed over the years, so those outdated, slow, and non-mobile responsive websites aren’t going to get the results you want anymore. They lose visitors and traffic. Please put it on your list and check it twice to update your company website in 2021.

Modern, quick, and mobile-responsive websites are the websites that win SEO rankings and traffic. Also, please make it easy for people to do business with you for the love of Kris Kringle. Tell them what to do. Don’t expect people to know what to do when they visit your website automatically. Instead, make your call-to-action clear and easy to find. And last but not least, our final tip of the day: A secure website is a trusted website.

Marketing’s beauty is that it largely follows The Golden Rule: Treat others how you would like to be treated. Think about what you would like to see both in marketing and all-around good business practice, and then do it. If it would work for you, chances are it will work for you.

All quips aside, it’s been a tough year for everyone around the globe, but our friends, employees, partners, and clients have been a much-needed silver lining for those of us at API in 2020. This holiday season, we want to thank every one of you from the bottom of our hearts. Let’s kick this crummy year to the curb. Here’s to hoping for a fresh start, tons of business growth, and, of course, good marketing practices in 2021.

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