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- 9 Linktree alternatives to spice up your link in bio
Get started by: Creating a website → | Getting a domain → As a business owner in the age of online marketing, you're no stranger to the challenges of making the most out of the limited real estate in your social media bio section. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram impose restrictions on the number of links you can share, leaving you with the task of optimizing that small space to promote or sell your content effectively. Back in 2016, Linktree stepped onto the stage and ushered in a paradigm shift in the way social media bios could be leveraged to disseminate information, products and services. What started as a simple way of gathering multiple links in a single location has grown into a robust industry with several key players. Nowadays, no matter what type of creator you are, you can find a link in bio solution that aligns perfectly with your objectives and helps you make the most of your limited bio space. Many of these tools even integrate with your website builder , so you can connect your landing pages, online store or portfolio directly from a single link. So buckle up as we explore nine unique Linktree alternatives that might be just what you’re looking for. Want more marketing tools at your fingertips? Sign up for Wix and test drive our tools for free. 9 Linktree alternatives Hopp by Wix Linkin.bio by Later Koji Beacons Lnk.bio Milkshake Stan Shorby DotMe 01. Hopp by Wix Hopp by Wix stands out as a powerful Linktree alternative for content creators in all industries—from bloggers to business owners to influencers. With Hopp’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily create a fully customizable mini-website to perfectly match your website design , logo , invoices and any other branded assets you have. Beyond its impressive design potential, Hopp stands out for its robust search engine capabilities. In other words, each link you include in your link in bio page is searchable to visitors, enabling people to quickly find the content they're looking for—including products, services, coupon codes and more. Hopp also enables followers to make direct payments on your page, further streamlining the user journey and helping you land more sales. Moreover, Hopp's comprehensive analytics provide insights into link clicks, page views and other metrics, allowing you to refine your marketing strategies based on real-time data. Related reading: What is Hopp? Best link in bio tools 02. Linkin.bio by Later Later is an integrated social media management platform that offers a link in bio feature. Their Linkin.bio tool offers an interactive landing page that mirrors your Instagram feed. This creates a familiar user experience, as users jump from app to app. When users click on a specific post on your Linkin.bio page, they're immediately directed to the intended landing page. Linkin.bio also simplifies the eCommerce experience by allowing your customers to shop directly from your posts. While customization options might be limited, the tool's compatibility with Instagram's design (which makes it particularly good for your Instagram marketing strategy) and its integration with other social media management features make it a convenient choice for existing Later users. 03. Koji Koji's bio link tool is one of several mini apps designed to enhance your social media presence. It offers you the ability to add custom branding and interactivity without requiring advanced coding skills. Koji’s drag-and-drop editor is intuitive. However, its templates don’t allow for the same level of customization as some other link in bio alternatives. As far as analytics go, Koji’s link in bio tool is fully equipped to track clicks and engagement, providing insights into the performance of your bio links. This alternative is ideal for those seeking an engaging way to amplify their link in bio strategy without getting overwhelmed. It’s also a good choice if you plan on using any of Koji’s other mini apps. 04. Beacons If conversions and sales are your primary focus, Beacons could be a great option to consider. This tool stands out for its customizable bio pages with call-to-action buttons, and its integration with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, Mailchimp and Patreon. Beacons also gives you insights into how your mini websites are performing through integrated analytics. One of the more unique features of Beacons: its "requests block" feature, which makes it easy to give personalized shoutouts and have one-on-one calls with your followers. It's important to note that while Beacons comes with a lot of advanced features like link in bio, media kits, email marketing and an online store, it's one of the pricier options with some subscriptions ranging up to $40 per month. 05. Lnk.bio With integration across various social platforms, Lnk.bio does a great job at simplifying cross-platform engagement. You can create clickable links for platforms like TikTok, YouTube, X and Facebook, ensuring seamless navigation for followers across different channels. Lnk.bio additionally offers analytics tools that provide insights into link performance. This feature allows you to monitor the effectiveness of your links by tracking click-through rates, views and overall engagement. Another unique capability is the option to schedule links to appear or disappear at specific times. This functionality is particularly valuable for time-sensitive promotions or events and spares you from the hassle of updating your link in bio page manually. While Lnk.bio offers several advantages, it's important to note that certain features, such as analytics, are currently limited to higher-tier plans, which could impact users seeking more in-depth insights into their link performance. 06. Milkshake Milkshake is a versatile website like Linktree that’s specifically tailored to the needs of Instagram users. Their product, aptly referred to as an "Insta website," allows for simple setup directly from your mobile device. While this means that it is uber-optimized for your smartphone, the inability to create or edit your bio page from a laptop or desktop might be a deterrent for some. Milkshake uses interactive cards for each piece of content, allowing users to swipe across the screen to explore various links in a visually appealing manner reminiscent of the Instagram format. Additionally, Milkshake provides you with visitor analytics and an integrated email feature. 07. Stan Stan ventures beyond the conventional link page concept, transforming your bio into a full-fledged storefront experience. Geared towards eCommerce businesses, it lets you sell products, accept meetings and book course enrollments directly from your page. This makes it an intriguing choice if you're a business aiming to simplify customer interaction and make money on Instagram (and your other online channels). While Stan is well-suited for eCommerce businesses, it could potentially feel a bit limiting for content creators with broader marketing strategies and more diverse needs. That said, Stan recently added the ability to promote courses, digital products and appointments within your link in bio page, enabling one-tap checkout across all fronts. 08. Shorby Shorby integrates three distinct tools into a single platform, creating a versatile and well-rounded Linktree alternative. This multifaceted approach includes a landing page creator for social media marketing , a link shortener and lead generation software. More notably, Shorby can deliver targeted ads to people based on how they interact with your bio page. This feature can significantly amplify conversion rates and revenue. Among Shorby's other standout attributes, its automatic updating capability is a crowd-pleaser. By seamlessly incorporating the latest blog posts and updates from an RSS feed, Shorby eliminates the need for you to constantly update your Instagram landing page by hand. This ensures that your audience sees the freshest and most relevant content. One of the priciest options on the list, Shorby offers plans ranging from $9 per month up to $99 per month, depending on the features you opt into. 09. DotMe DotMe redefines the link-in-bio experience with a sleek, customizable platform that’s perfect for creators, businesses and influencers. With its intuitive design, you can create a landing page that effortlessly aligns with your brand, incorporating elements like your logo, colors and overall aesthetic. Featuring interactive widgets and unlimited links for free, DotMe helps you showcase everything from social links to events and products in one visually engaging hub. What sets DotMe apart is its powerful analytics, giving you real-time insights into link clicks, page views and audience behaviour—helping you refine your strategy effortlessly. Looking ahead, DotMe is set to launch a media kit feature, enabling users to present their stats and portfolios professionally to attract collaborators and brands. What to look for in Linktree alternatives Here's what you should look for in a Linktree alternative: Customization options: Your brand identity is unique, so your link landing page should reflect that. Look for alternatives that offer customization options such as choosing colors, fonts and layouts that align with your brand's aesthetics. The ability to add your logo or background images can further enhance brand recognition and professionalism. Customizable search engine: Enhance user experience and navigation by choosing alternatives that offer a customizable search engine feature. This allows visitors to quickly find specific links or content within your link landing page, improving accessibility and engagement. Analytics and insights: Understanding how your audience interacts with your links is crucial for optimizing your marketing efforts. Seek alternatives that provide comprehensive analytics and insights, such as click-through rates, geographical data and device breakdowns. These insights can help you identify which links are performing well and which may need adjustments. Integration capabilities: To streamline your workflow, choose a Linktree alternative that integrates seamlessly with the platforms you use most. Whether you're active on Instagram, TikTok or other social media channels, look for alternatives that offer easy integration and compatibility. Linktree alternatives FAQ Is there a better alternative to Linktree? The short answer: it depends on what your goals are. The paid and free Linktree alternatives mentioned in this article cater to a wide range of preferences, objectives and strategies. Depending on your specific needs, you can find a tool that has more of the customization options, integrations and/or conversion-focused features that you’re looking for. How is Koji different than Linktree? Koji stands out as a solid Linktree alternative due to its ability to go beyond simple link aggregation. With Koji, you can personalize or make your bio links more interactive for your followers. While Linktree primarily serves as a link aggregator, Koji offers dynamic mini apps, allowing for a more immersive experience overall. How is Hopp different Linktree? Hopp distinguishes itself through its robust search engine, seamless eCommerce integration and unrestricted link capabilities. The user-centric experience, coupled with advanced analytics, positions Hopp as a compelling alternative for content creators and businesses seeking to optimize their bio links. Its customization capabilities make it a great option for those who want top functionality coupled with intentional, branded design. Hopp, which is mentioned in this article, is a subsidiary of Wix.
- Boost your email campaign with Wix’s new AI feature
Ever wonder why some brands seem to hit your inbox every single day? Well, believe it or not, email marketing is still one of the most lucrative and affordable types of marketing you can use, especially if you run a retail, eCommerce and consumer goods business. These industries see an average return on investment (ROI) of $45 per dollar spent on email marketing. But let’s face it—creating those captivating emails is no small feat. "The majority of our users do not have the time or the experience necessary to create well-performing campaigns,” explains Antanas Strimaitis, the product manager for Wix’s email marketing product . “Those that do spend a significant amount of time creating the content." Enter Wix’s new AI email generator. According to our users, this tool is boosting their productivity and making them feel more confident in their marketing strategy . Curious to learn more? Let’s dive in. Create a website with Wix to start using the email generator today. What is the Wix AI email generator? Wix’s email generator is an OpenAI-powered tool that revolutionizes how you create emails. It crafts a full-fledged email based on your business type, preferred tone of voice and campaign objectives. It’s available to all Wix users with a premium subscription. This tool can help you emulate some of the best email marketing examples by generating attractive email layouts suited for both desktop and mobile screens. Whether you’re creating a newsletter, a promotional offer or a business update, Wix optimizes your layout for impact and clarity. Acting as your personal copywriter, the generator fills in the layout with compelling copy that's tailored to your instructions. This content goes beyond filler text. “Most of the users we have spoken to have told us they have used 70-85% of the generated email or that only small touches were needed,” says Antanas. Furthermore, the tool selects the most relevant images from Wix's extensive free media library, ensuring your email is both engaging and visually coherent. While you can keep adjusting your prompt until the generator gets as close to your vision as possible, you have free reign to customize it yourself in the editor. How do I use the AI email generator? 01. Choose to generate an AI email To get started, simply navigate to the “Email Marketing” section in the Wix backend and choose the first option (“Generate AI email”) in the list of templates to get a unique email design. Alternatively, you can always start with one of the beautiful templates our designers have created and hit the “AI Emails” button in the left-hand panel of the email editor. 02. Select your intent What’s your goal for this email campaign? Perhaps it’s to promote a sale or offer a discount. Alternatively, you might be looking to welcome new subscribers or send a business update. The first step in using Wix’s email generator is to select the “main intent” of your email. Your response will shape the email’s structure and tone. 02. Add your business information Enter your business name and describe the type of business you run. The more specific you are, the more personalized your email content will be. For instance, instead of saying you run a nonprofit, you might say it’s a nonprofit that provides legal support to low-income families. The AI will use this information to generate copy and select images that are relevant to your business. 03. Describe your email campaign This space is where you’ll dive into the specifics. You’ll have 700 characters of space (roughly the length of this article’s introduction) to discuss your objectives and what sort of information you want to include. Use this opportunity to provide as many relevant details as you can think of for AI to bring your campaign to life. For instance, you could say, “We're launching a Memorial Day special with exclusive discounts on interior photoshoots, specifically tailored for residential real estate agents. Our goal is to reconnect with our existing clients and showcase our exceptional services.” This level of detail gives the AI the insights it needs to create an email that speaks directly to your objectives and your audience. List even the nitty-gritty details that you want it to include such as specific discount rates, booking deadlines and the dates of the sale. 04. Choose a tone of voice With Wix's AI email generator, you have the power to select from eight distinct tones of voice, ranging from enthusiastic and casual to professional and informative. This choice is pivotal in shaping how your message is perceived by your audience. Are you aiming for a light, friendly vibe to engage your community, or do you need a more formal tone that reflects professional expertise? The tone you choose should mirror your brand's personality and the nature of the message you're conveying. Check out your existing content to get a sense of how you traditionally communicate with your audience. You’ll want to keep that tone of voice as consistent as possible throughout all your communications. 05. Generate email Once you hit “Generate Email,” the AI will get to work building your email. Within just a few seconds, you’ll receive a newly minted email, complete with a unique layout, fresh copy, engaging headers, clear descriptions and strategically positioned CTA buttons. The layout will also include a footer with social media icons and a direct link to your website. You’ll see that every part of the email, from top to bottom, is designed to engage and connect with your audience. “The structure is so much better than what I was coming up with on my own. My last couple of emails have looked much more professional.” - Wix user Benjamin Gibbons, who founded Sponsor Jawn . 06. Adjust your prompt The generator may not hit the bullseye on the first try. Like working with a marketing agency, using the email generator is a collaborative process. You can adjust your original prompt, get more specific about your campaign goals or choose to make the email shorter or longer. 07. Tweak the layout and color scheme You aren’t just limited to content customization; you can modify the structural elements, as well. Feel free to add or remove sections, or change their arrangement to better suit your message. You can even write your own HTML code if the customization options aren’t enough. You may also want to alter the color scheme or background to better match your brand’s aesthetic. If you’ve established a site theme with specific fonts and colors or created a brand theme in the logo maker , you can choose that theme within the email editor to apply those preferences to the email. This level of customization makes your emails visually coherent and distinctively yours. 08. Add new media The email generator's pre-selected images serve as an excellent starting point, especially for those without their own visuals. For those who do, this feature offers valuable guidance on image placement in the email layout, allowing for a blend of AI assistance and individual creativity. If you use Wix’s online store builder , you’re in luck—you can directly integrate product information into your email. This feature not only saves time but also increases accuracy, as product names, descriptions, prices, links and visuals are auto-populated. Just go to the left-hand panel, hit the “Product” button and choose the items you want to feature. From there, you can decide to hide certain information (such as the price or description), change the CTA microcopy and change the layout of the product spread. For those who don’t have visuals and the generator’s selection doesn’t quite fit your preferences, you’ve got Wix’s extensive media library at your disposal. It has a wide array of free images, graphics and videos (hot tip: video can improve email click rates by 65% ), including selections from Unsplash. For those seeking premium options, discounted media from Shutterstock is also available. 09. Edit the copy to match your brand Your brand's unique voice and message are what set you apart. While the Wix AI email generator provides a strong starting point, personalizing the copy helps it resonate with your brand identity. To make things even simpler, the AI text writer is built into the email editor, so you can write prompts for specific sections of content. For example, if you want to go into detail in one of the sections, you can simply tell the text writer what you want it to say and it’ll provide you with three options to choose from. “[The email generator is] really helpful because I'm a really bad speller and I'm really bad with grammar. I found it worked quite well. I always send [my emails] to my sister to proof. She said, you've got a new best friend—the AI.” - KaliKare owner Callie B. 10. Save the email as a template If the final version of your email hits all the right notes and you envision using a similar format in the future, hit the “Save as template” button. Trust us, Future You will be grateful. By saving the email as a template, you can streamline your email marketing campaign and easily maintain a uniform look. All you’ll have to do is select new photos and use the AI text writer to fill out the copy. When you’re ready to create your next email, you’ll find your saved templates in the Email Marketing templates gallery. 11. Add recipients Rather than blasting your entire email list , sending your email to a specific group of customers can help you maximize your email ROI and prevent people from unsubscribing. With Wix’s segments feature, you can categorize your contacts according to criteria like purchase behavior, website activity or subscription date. That way, you’re not screaming into the void but speaking directly to those who are most likely to be interested. 12. Schedule the email campaign Although the best time to send an email varies, it’s generally a good rule to avoid sending one on weekends or in the middle of the night. The scheduling function allows you to plan your campaigns in advance, ensuring that they’ll hit your audience’s inbox at just the right time. Just create your email, set the desired date and time for it to be sent and Wix will handle the rest. 13. Set up automation Like segments, Wix designed the email automation feature to give your business a boost while giving you a break. This highly customizable tool lets you create automated workflows for various situations, such as sending a thank-you email following a purchase or a reminder for abandoned cart items. To automate your AI-generated email, simply choose a trigger event (like a sale or new sign-up), then define the corresponding action (such as dispatching a specific email). Doing so can help you keep in touch with your customers without lifting a finger. 14. Assess your campaign’s performance After sending out your generated email, check out Wix’s email analytics to gauge its impact. You can monitor key metrics like site visits, order numbers and revenue that come from your email marketing campaign. This data makes it very easy to track the direct business impact coming from your email marketing channel and to evaluate its success. It's a vital step in understanding your audience's response, helping you decide whether to replicate the campaign, tweak certain elements or try a different approach next time. Ready to launch your AI-powered campaign? Get started with the Wix AI website builder .
- Banner ads: 13 design tips plus examples
In the digital era, online advertising is taking on an increasingly important role. One of the most significant forms of online marketing is banner ads. These are the graphic advertisements that lead to landing pages that you might notice displayed on all sorts of websites. The question then becomes do you click or continue scrolling? A great web banner will entice a reader to click by advertising a promotion, using a great image, being informative, or all three. Before creating banner ads, you’ll need to ensure that you have a stellar website or landing page for viewers to reach after clicking the ad. To create a website , we recommend utilizing the professional tools that Wix has to offer. Once you’ve done that you can draw inspiration from your website for the design of your banner ads. This guide will take you through the best banner ad design practices and help you build a marketing strategy and create ads that demand clicks. We also include some great advertisement examples for inspiration. What are banner ads? A banner ad is an online display ad that directs traffic to a specific landing page. They appear in prominent locations on websites and can be static or dynamic. Typically banner ads can be found across the top or down the side of a web page although they occasionally appear in the middle of texts as well. Banner ads are usually used as a business promotion tool. They can build brand awareness, highlight sales or promotions, generate signups and generally bring more traffic to your website. Importantly, banner ads enable website owners to directly measure results by understanding how many people clicked on a given banner and whether the ads led to an uptick in business. Another aspect that makes banner ads appealing is how they work. Most web banners are delivered as programmatic advertising, which means ads are served to users who are most likely to be interested in the content of the ad. Algorithms match user preferences and browsing history to get the right ads in front of the right people. This is why that pair of shoes you looked at online a few times keeps sneaking onto sites where you read the news or look for recipes. This type of targeting helps increase the return on investment, or ROI , of your ad budget. By presenting your ads to already interested or likely interested parties, you are more likely to get promising results. Banner ads can function in a couple of ways depending on the service you are using to advertise. You might have a deal with a specific website, in which case you’ll likely pay a set price for your ads being on their site for a given period of time. More commonly, advertisers use platforms such as Google Display Network which enables advertisers to have their web banners displayed across many websites. These types of platforms often run on a pay per click (or PPC) basis, meaning you pay based on the clicks your ads receive. Types of banner ads Banner ads can be static or dynamic with exact specifications determined by the ad delivery system provider. Static web ads are designed as a single image that is most commonly uploaded as a JPG, GIF, or PNG to the ad network. For each different ad size that will display in a campaign, a separate piece of creative is necessary. Dynamic ads, on the other hand, adjust to responsive designs. Rather than uploading a static image or graphic, you submit a logo, images or video and text that are algorithmically combined to fit banner ad sizes as they are served. These are often referred to as responsive ads and are the default ad type on the Google Display Network. Banner ads sizes To maximize the impact and ensure that banner ads appear properly, it is important to consider size specifications before you get into the actual ad design. Different size ads will show in various locations of websites and mobile apps and not all sizes will show at equal prominence or frequency. Here are some of the main web banner sizes that are typically included in banner ad campaigns: Leaderboard : Position at the top of a page; common sizes include 728x90, 970x90 (large), 970x250 (billboard), 1920x600 (poster) Skyscraper : Vertical ads placed in the sidebar position; common sizes include 300x600, 160x600 Rectangle : The most popular ad format because it can appear almost anywhere on a web page; common sizes include 300x250 (medium rectangle), 336x280 (large), 180x150 (small) Square : May appear in the sidebar or spread throughout content; common sizes include 250x250, 200x200 (small) Mobile : Many mobile ad sizes are scaled down versions with the same aspect ratio of desktop browser specifications but because of the small size separate creative is often recommended; common sizes include 300x50, 300x100 (large mobile), 300x200 (mobile full page), 250x250 Popular ad display networks such as Google, YouTube, and Facebook use common sizing and are considered some of the best sites for online advertising . If you place ads with a specific website rather than an ad network, they may have varying specifications. Always ask for ad specs before starting a banner ad design or use a tool like an image resizer to help you. Banner ad design tips In order to ensure that your web banner ideas are competitive and enticing, we have compiled some banner ad design tips to guide you through your creation process. The key to a great banner ad design is ensuring that it stands out from surrounding content and that the design is easy to read at a glance. Generally speaking, banners should be light and have a high visual impact. They should also have a small amount of text and a direct call to action . Here are some more specific guidelines to consider when creating a banner. Start with a high-quality visual The basis for a great banner ad is the visual it is designed around. This could be an image, video, or background effect. Whichever you choose, it is vital that the visual element is high-quality with a high-resolution. A high-quality visual is: An identifiable image that’s in sharp focus Easy to understand at a glance Isn’t offensive Adheres to ethical advertising standards Directs focus to product or what ads is about Unique to your company or brand Not stretched or sized improperly; 1.91:1 (1200x628 px) or 1:1 (600x600 px) aspect ratios are most common Design with brand in mind The goal of any banner ad is to bring attention to your product, business, or brand. Ensure that your brand is represented in the creative material by designing with brand standards in mind. Consider using your logo, colors and brand voice in ads. A secondary, icon style, or wordmark version of your logo might work best for smaller ad sizes. Use standard sizes and placements Standard ad sizes exist for a reason. Unless you are placing banner ads on a specific website with unique specifications, create ads using the most common standard sizes first and then expand from there. The three most popular sizes are medium rectangle, leaderboard and mobile. Include a prominent CTA While banner ad impressions can be an important metric, nothing is more valuable than a click. A prominent call to action is one of the most surefire ways to help people see the ad and then interact with it. You can design the call to action as a button which opens the door for engagement. An effective CTA button will likely be large, stand out in color and include microcopy that instructs users on what to do next. Some good CTA examples include “learn more,” “shop now,” “sign up,” “free trial,” or “get discount” inform users on what will happen after they click the button. Use simple, easy-to-read fonts Banner ads can flicker on and off a screen in an instant. It’s therefore crucial that you use fonts that are clear and quickly legible to ensure that your message is delivered in a split-second. Sans serif fonts such as Open Sans, Lato, or Roboto are a good place to start. Opt for a medium or bold weight and avoid thin or condensed fonts that increase reading time. It is also advisable to avoid fonts smaller than 12 points. You can also consider designing a font hierarchy with two font options – one for the headline and one for all other text – to enhance readability. A best practice is to stick to one font and create hierarchy with size, a bold weight, or all caps for headlines. Keep text to a minimum Banner ads aren’t designed to handle a lot of content with an ideal ad containing less than 10 words. This means you should aim to write direct and succinct copy to help readers digest your ad instantaneously. Typically ad text should follow the rules below: Ad headlines should be less than 30 characters Ad body copy should be less than 90 characters Mobile ad copy should be less than 35 characters Use keywords Ad copy should use some of the same keywords as your website text. Similar phrasing, value propositions and taglines can help create a strong brand connection. Put ads in a box When designing an ad, put the content of the ad inside of a box or frame. A frame can make the ad easier to see directing the eyes to the right place. It also keeps design elements together in an orderly fashion. Many brands include a .5 to 1 point black or gray border on ads to establish this separation. Another option for boxing includes using a colorful background for ad content. This can create an innate boxed design without having to include a defined border or frame. Animate it Moving images are attention grabbing and easy to implement. Turn your ad image into a GIF with a subtle bit of motion to draw attention. Animations could include product images that slide to another view, a person smiling or waving, or a simple text movement or color change. You should also aim to create natural animations and avoid flashing or blinking ad designs. Flashy designs tend to look like spam and can be rejected by some ad networks. Use appropriate file formats A banner ad must be capable of loading quickly to ensure that users don’t miss it when they scroll. Use appropriate file formats sized to specification and saved in the most lightweight manner possible so that your ads are built to render at lightning speeds. Banner ad deliverables may include: JPG PNG GIF SVG HTML5 You should also consider compressing PNG or JPG files before submitting. Design a campaign Design banner ads in multiple sizes that can work together across the web as one campaign. While each ad may look a little different due to varying aspect ratios, using similar imagery and language can create a more lasting connection with users as they see ads in different places, increasing the chances of a click. Some websites will also allow you to run multiple ads on the same page at the same time for more of a blanket impression, so it is key that the ads are consistent. Consider size and scale While it is possible to adjust a leaderboard ad to the corresponding mobile size, it’s probably not the most ideal. Instead, design each ad while thinking about the viewing size, placement, and readability on each given platform. Images, video, and HTML effects have the most impact at the largest sizes. Many mobile ads however, do not include images because they are so small that they can become difficult to understand. Text and color are better visual tools when it comes to the smallest display sizes. Test multiple ads Create multiple design options for campaigns that allow you to test which designs are most effective. Look for commonalities that you can use in future campaigns and ask yourself the following questions: Do certain colors generate more clicks? What sizes are most popular for your campaigns? What CTA microcopy generates engagement? Do ads with images or videos prove more effective? Did animation increase click-through rates? Running a design test can help long-term ad campaigns perform better and give you the tools you need to develop higher-performing banner ads for your business or brand. To truly solidify your ad efforts and complement your banner ads, you might also consider learning about other types of advertising outlets and paths. You can learn the specifics of how to launch a Facebook ad campaign, how to advertise on YouTube and how to advertise on Google to start mastering the online marketing world. 9 examples of great banner ads The best banner ads stand out because they do something different. It can be due to the design, placement, message, or even timing. We’ve compiled a list of great banner ad examples to showcase some of the best practices in web banner design. 01. #MAKESMALLBIG This holiday market ad by Goldman Sachs uses a hashtag in the ad copy. This not only helps the ad stand out from others, but can also help connect campaigns across the web and help your ad gain traction. 02. Sperry This vertical banner ad excels in its simplicity. It provides an easy to understand visual, direct language that appeals to anyone needing boots, and a link to shop. 03. Comcast Business Some advertisers opt to take advantage of their banner space with great copy. With a simple background, this horizontal ad benefits from a text-only design with a CTA and logo. 04. Spanx Spanx chose to amplify a special promotion in this banner ad. They chose a fun text and a high value proposition which can drive clicks. Note the color connection between the headline and “shop now” button. 05. AdEspresso This banner utilizes a button that sells the benefit of a click which can encourage users to take more immediate action. 06. Investopedia Express Podcast This banner promoting a podcast provides understandable text hierarchy and a clear image as well as a descriptive CTA. 07. Allbirds When it comes to banner ads for products, the design should focus on the item with a simple background that doesn’t get in the way. This Allbirds banner does just that as it opts for the most basic colors and prioritizes the product over the text. 08. M&Ms This M&M ad uses a staged image which can create a more natural campaign. It also uses a light background to help the product pop. 09. Hulu With an all-text display, this Hulu ad stands out because of the contrasting colors, a strong value proposition and witty text. Looking to explore more types of advertising? Check out this guide to native advertising.
- Embracing diversity: The 7 principles of inclusive design
Our individual experiences vary. So much so, that it’s time to call out the notion of “normal” or “average” as the misconception it really is. After all, you might be reading this blog post in a quiet office space, comfortably positioned in front of a computer screen. But a different reader could be skimming this same piece on mobile while waiting for the airport luggage claim, exhausted after a long flight. These two reading experiences are staggeringly different, and each comes with its own needs - affecting everything from letter size to contrast and more. It gets even more diverse: a visually impaired individual is perhaps enlarging the screen for readability. And a blind person could be listening to this text as it’s read by a screen reader. The list of possible human experiences goes on. The ways in which we perceive and interact with technology are as unique as our identities, drawing on our immediate circumstances as well as our backgrounds, knowledge, and abilities. When we create products and interfaces with just one ideal user in mind (a hypothetical being who usually resembles its creators to a surprising extent), we miss out on the wide range of real life people who come in contact with our designs. That’s where web accessibility and inclusive design come into play. 7 principles of inclusive design Provide content in multiple ways Design with various situations in mind Maintain consistency and design conventions Create a simple and intuitive design Collaborate to overcome personal biases Allow tolerance for user error Test and measure What is inclusive design? Inclusive design is a methodology, intended to optimize the products we create for the full spectrum of human needs and abilities. In designing for inclusivity, designers and engineers look to provide a variety of options in which to experience the product, rather than a single, one-size-fits-all route. Inclusive design builds on the principles of UX design and accessibility - it strives to make all users feel welcome and included. By offering multiple solutions for interacting with the product, inclusive design widens the scope of people who can use it, in a way that suits their individual needs. When speaking of inclusive design, it’s important to remember that it is a process and not an end goal. An interface that caters to the needs of the entire population in every conceivable scenario is never within reach. But expanding our perception of what it means to design for web and mobile, and who it is that we’re designing for, is nevertheless a worthwhile effort, leading to continuous growth and improvement. As an Inclusive by Design company, we at Wix are committed to making the web a place for everyone, regardless of circumstance and ability. On top of complying with the WCAG 2.0 guidelines and giving our users the tools to make their website accessible , we make it a priority to deliver the best experience for all of our users worldwide. Below are the seven inclusive design principles explained, followed by a few lessons we’ve learned here at Wix: 01. Provide content in multiple ways Ensure that each of the elements on your interface can be experienced in more than one way, and that all such methods are equivalent in the value they provide. A plethora of comparable options can increase the chances of meeting the unique needs and abilities of each of your users, without compromising the quality of the content. Since making inclusivity and accessibility a company focus at Wix, we’ve begun noticing how being more deliberate in the accessible alternatives we provide can actually improve the design itself. For example, when the alt-text descriptions we wrote for images didn’t add much value to the context of the page, it helped us see that the image itself didn’t provide as much value as we intended. This resulted in a change of the page’s design, and a different choice of image, which further strengthened the page’s message and improved overall usability. In practice: Adding alt-text descriptions for images, video captions, audio descriptions, transcripts, and properly labeling field names on online forms. Actress and disability inclusion advocate Eileen Grubba’s Wix website includes detailed alt-text descriptions. 02. Design with various situations in mind Users will be browsing your product in a variety of different contexts, and your interface should accommodate that range of circumstances. For example, a first-time user could be looking for an introductory break-down of your services. An established user, however, might know exactly what they’ve come in to do, quickly performing the task while multitasking on another errand simultaneously. In practice: Popup lightboxes that segment users by behavior, such as a one-time popup for first-time visitors, or an exit popup for those just about to leave the site. Another example is dark mode, meant for a better viewing experience in low-light environments. Dark and light modes are two displays of the same interface, each catering to various user needs. 03. Maintain consistency and design conventions Users need to know what to expect when browsing your product. Aim to give them a sense of what each of their actions will result in on screen. This can be achieved by crafting a coherent interface that employs well-established design conventions. Utilize these familiar patterns to reinforce your message ands improve user experience . In practice: One well-known design convention is grayed out buttons to signify an action that’s not currently available. Use conventions such as these in your favor, and avoid confusing scenarios like a grayed out button that you’d actually like users to click. Other examples include the colors green and red that mean “yes” and “no” (respectively), and the website navigation convention of a logo leading back to the homepage. 04. Create a simple and intuitive design We do confess an unwavering love of parallax scrolling, interactive hover effects and other web design trends. But at the same time, these fads can lead to aesthetic decisions that distract from the UX design , making it less intuitive. The design of your interface should guide users to perform the task at hand. Similarly, any design features you use (from hover effects to animations) should come together in reinforcing your content, as opposed to overshadowing it for the sake of aesthetics. Inclusive design shouldn’t contradict good design. On the contrary, it can help refine it. The principles of inclusive design can keep us on track in terms of the message we want our products to deliver. In practice: There are many aspects within a website or app that can help make the design simple and intuitive. For example, website menus that are easy to access, hover effects and visual indicators to signal that an element is clickable, and collapsed elements to arrange large amounts of content in an organized manner. Employing visual hierarchy can also help prioritize the content on each page. Learn more about how to create a website with a website builder. A grayed out button is a familiar design convention, signifying an unavailable action. 05. Collaborate to overcome personal biases We all have personal biases that lead us to design for users who are most like us. To overcome these biases, it’s best to go beyond our own sense of empathy, however well-intentioned, and work closely with individuals who differ in background, as well as in physical, cognitive, and learning abilities. This sort of collaboration leads to unique insights about the product and its pain points. At Wix, we try to make sure that our teams include designers, developers, engineers and QA specialists of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. In practice: Ensure that a wide spectrum of people partake in the process, from the initial user research, to the design itself and the product’s testing stages (more on tests later). 06. Allow tolerance for user error As part of relinquishing the concept of the perfect user, it’s beneficial to remember that all users make mistakes, too. Factoring this oh-so-human truth into the design from the get-go can lead to a pleasanter, less frustrating browsing experience. Leaving room for user error means offering the chance for users to change their minds and correct their mistakes. This way, users can enjoy the benefit of knowing that their actions are never irreversible. On top of being inclusive, this approach to design also ties into the concept of calm tech , by fostering a more humane and positive relationship to the digital world. In practice: The option to undo and redo, warning messages that show up before performing a permanent action, and success or error messages that provide a clear and informative indication of status. Friendly 404 page design can also ease the tension in moments of error. A warning message before deleting a page on the Wix Editor allows users the chance to change their minds. 7. Test and measure Like any other part of the design process, the inclusivity of our products should also be checked and tested. Integrate inclusivity as one of the parameters to look into at all stages of the product development, from the UX prototyping , to the user interviews and usability testing. In practice: Make sure to check your interface for accessibility compliance, and ask yourself whether it meets all of the above mentioned criteria. Most importantly, test the product with the help of people whose needs and abilities are different from your own, and ask for feedback as to how those needs can be best met.
- Website maintenance: what is it and what does it entail?
Making a website that looks great and functions well is important for any industry, but that’s only half the battle—the upkeep is just as crucial. Your website maintenance ensures that your business, blog or online presence continues to evolve and succeed over time. This also establishes that anyone who interacts with your site will always have the best user experience. While there are a number of tasks to consider when maintaining your website, organizing each one by week, month, quarter and year can help you build a foolproof plan, leaving nothing unchecked and unnoticed. To help you get started, we’ve put together this complete guide on website maintenance, why it’s important to your long term website management goals . New to websites? Learn how to make a website to get started. Build your site and maintain it. Get started with Wix . What is website maintenance? Website maintenance is the practice of monitoring your website’s overall health and performance. Keeping a website up-to-date is crucial to ensuring it's working at full capacity, engaging and retaining site visitors. There are a number of tasks required to properly check and maintain a website, including updating security software and plugins, adding fresh content, increasing new and returning traffic, and meeting the satisfaction of your site users. While some of these points are more time-sensitive than others, each one will be addressed extensively further in the post. Read also: How to make a Wix website Why is website maintenance important? Website maintenance can impact your business’s first impressions, SEO strategy, security and sales. Whether you’re a business owner or creating a blog , you’ll want to make sure that when people and search engines land on your site, they will immediately see the benefits of your site’s offerings—or risk losing them. This means that your ability to rein in and retain online interest lies primarily in your website maintenance. Having said that, if you go too long without regular website maintenance, your site could suffer in the process. Your website will begin to run slow, stop converting leads, potentially house malware and get hacked, thereby causing problems for those who click on it. It could even stop working altogether. The benefits of website maintenance Let’s dive deeper into the benefits of website maintenance: 01. First impressions Just as the saying goes, “You only have one chance to make a first impression,” businesses online can make or break a deal depending on the initial look and feel of their website. If yours looks old or isn’t working as it should, you may potentially lose out on capturing new leads within the first few seconds that matter. Research shows that first impressions are 94% design related. Using attractive and up-to-date web design can help you convey the right message to new site visitors. It reassures them that they've found what they’re looking for and reinforces your site’s relevancy, credibility, trustworthiness and uniqueness. Tools like a website heatmap can also help you analyze user behavior and optimize key areas of your site for better engagement. As a result, searchers will find it in their interest to stay on your web page. 02. Business reputation Along the same line as first impressions, your business reputation is extremely important in gaining customers’ trust. Some ways to uphold your online standing include having working links, adding a 404 page for broken ones, updating plugins, freshening up content and abiding to a recommended page load time of under two seconds are just ways to uphold your reputation online. You’ve got to make sure your website delivers on your company promise of quality, reliability and professionalism. Learn more: 404 page examples 03. SEO strategy Paying attention to website maintenance is essential for your site’s SEO strategy. Consider this an opportunity to establish a routine process of monitoring and improving your website’s SEO, ranging from updating content to fixing broken site links. These bits of information are what a Googlebot looks out for when it crawls your website. In this initial stage of analysis, Google is determining the value of your website, potentially affecting your ability to rank first page or not down the line. Ranking positively on search engines can help drive traffic to your website, bringing customers to your business. That said, ranking poorly will make it harder for people to find you online. 04. Sales Sales are the lifeline of any online store . More people purchasing from your eCommerce site translates to a healthy and functioning business. To ensure keeping sales figures high, you’ll want to keep certain technical glitches at bay which could deter your customer’s shopping experience. Some common eCommerce site problems include bugs in product ordering, check out and payment processes, or failed discounts and free shipping due to an error. Furthermore, people shopping online rely on quality images and the ability to zoom in on a product that they otherwise would have tested at a store. It’s especially important that you offer professional images, videos or other visual support to cover any gaps that come with not being able to physically try on clothes or shoes. Along with seeing images, customers also want to get as much information as possible about their potential purchase, so you’ll want to invest time in writing product descriptions that can attest to your business reputation. 05. Security A website maintenance plan helps protect your business from virtual threats. Regularly updating your security software and renewing your SSL certification provider help safeguard your site’s files. These are made up of sensitive information, such as passwords and customers’ private data—credit card numbers and banking details. Developers who release these website updates are doing so to patch vulnerabilities they might have found. When you maintain your site’s security , it becomes harder for hackers to compromise your business and easier for customers to entrust their monetary assets to you. Common website maintenance tasks Now that you've made your website and you know what to look out for when monitoring website maintenance for your business, you’ll need to create a list of tasks to work into your schedule. Here are some examples of common website maintenance tasks: Security updates: Security updates should be applied as soon as they become available to ensure that the website remains protected against known vulnerabilities. Backups: There are two kinds of people: those who create backups and those who have never lost all their data. Regular backups are essential for protecting against data loss and should be performed regularly. The frequency of backups will depend on the frequency of content updates on the website. For example, if the website is updated on a daily basis, then daily backups are recommended. Website performance tracking and optimization: Website performance should be monitored regularly to ensure the website is loading quickly and functioning properly. It may involve monitoring page load times and website uptime and introducing changes to the website to improve performance. Content moderation: It's vital to keep the content on the website fresh and engaging for visitors. Web owners should add new pages, update existing pages, and add new blog posts or articles through their blog maker . The frequency of content updates will depend on the nature of the website and its intended purpose. Types of website maintenance Website maintenance is essential for ensuring the proper functioning, security and relevance of a website. Various types of website maintenance activities are crucial for keeping a site up-to-date and user-friendly. Here are different types of website maintenance: Content updates: Regularly update and refresh website content to keep information accurate, relevant and engaging. This includes updating product/service descriptions, blog posts, news sections and other textual or multimedia content. Security updates: Implement security updates, patches and fixes to protect the website from potential vulnerabilities and security threats. Regularly updating software, plugins and the content management system (CMS) is crucial for maintaining a secure website. Backup and recovery: Perform regular backups of website data and files. This ensures that in case of data loss or a security breach, the website can be restored to a previous state. Regular testing of backup restoration procedures is also important. Bug fixes: Identify and address any bugs or errors that may arise in the website's functionality. This includes fixing broken links, resolving display issues and addressing any other technical glitches that may affect user experience. Performance optimization: Optimize website performance by monitoring loading times and page speed. This can involve compressing images, minimizing code and implementing other strategies to enhance the overall speed and responsiveness of the site. Mobile responsiveness: Ensure that the website is mobile-friendly and provides a seamless user experience across various devices and screen sizes. Regularly test and optimize the site for responsiveness to cater to mobile users. SEO maintenance: Implement search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to maintain or improve the website's search engine rankings. This involves updating meta tags, optimizing content for relevant keywords and staying informed about SEO best practices. Software updates: Keep all website-related software up-to-date, including the CMS, plugins, themes and any third-party tools. This helps ensure compatibility, security and access to the latest features. User experience (UX) enhancements: Continuously evaluate and improve the website's user experience. This may involve redesigning elements, improving navigation and incorporating user feedback to enhance overall usability. Monitoring and analytics: Regularly monitor website analytics to gather insights into user behavior, traffic sources and other relevant metrics. Use this data to make informed decisions about content, design and functionality improvements. Legal compliance: Ensure that the website complies with legal requirements, such as privacy policies, terms of service and accessibility standards. Regularly review and update these elements to align with current regulations. Social media integration: Integrate and update social media elements on the website. This includes social sharing buttons, feeds and any other features that connect the website to relevant social media platforms. By incorporating these types of website maintenance into a regular schedule, businesses and website owners can ensure that their online presence remains secure and aligned with user expectations and industry standards. How often is website maintenance required? The frequency of website maintenance required depends on various factors, such as your site's complexity and purpose. However, it's considered a good practice to regularly perform website maintenance tasks to ensure that the website functions properly. Weekly website maintenance tasks With Google Analytics you gain access to information about how people are reaching your website and using it. You can do weekly website maintenance checks by logging in to your Google Analytics account to track traffic, thereby understanding your site’s performance and identifying areas of improvement. Traffic-driven data, such as number of site visitors and bounce rate, can lead to making better decisions for your business. Additionally, this analytics tool lets you know where the traffic comes from, by geographical location, keywords and intent, and interest. Monthly website maintenance tasks Check that all your online platforms are secured, plugins are updated, and your website content is backed up. This will help you avoid losing any valuable information and fortify your site against cyberattacks. You should also test your website speed with Google’s free PageSpeed Insights tool that offers detail about your site working on different browsers and devices. After analyzing your website, it will then generate suggestions for making your webpage faster. Quarterly website maintenance tasks Review your website content based on defined goals and metrics, such as SEO (organic traffic and backlinks), user behavior (page views and bounce rate), engagement (likes, mentions and shares) and sales (conversation rates and ROI). Some questions to ask yourself during this stage are, “Are all my meta titles and descriptions as SEO effective as possible?” “Is this blog post getting relevant traffic?” and “What can be updated in my content, topic-wise and linking-wise?” These are linked to performance. Then, proceed by tweaking your content, testing out calls-to-action across your pages and seeing whether your site’s content, both visual and textual, displays correctly on all types of browsers and devices. Annual website maintenance tasks It’s that time of the year to go over renewal dates for your domain name , hosting service and any additional tools you use for website maintenance, like paid Analytics and keyword research tools. Your site’s header, footer and legal policy might also require special attention by this point. Make sure all your information is up-to-date, and that main menu categories reflect what’s most relevant to your business. Look out for old logos and company images that may not serve your best interest anymore. After a period of time, a website redesign could benefit your site greatly. Learn how to tell when it's time to redesign your website . Learn more about how to get a free domain name . Should I hire a professional or maintain a website on my own? Whether you should hire a professional or maintain a website on your own depends on several factors, including your technical skills (maintaining a website requires technical skills such as knowledge of HTML, CSS, and web hosting), the complexity of your website, your available time and your budget. If you have technical skills and experience with website development, you may be able to maintain your website on your own. However, if you are not familiar with website development or don't have much time to devote to maintaining your website, hiring a professional may be a better option. Let’s discuss some pros and cons of hiring a professional vs doing it all yourself. Hiring a professional Pros Time-saving: Hiring a professional to maintain your website can save you time so you can focus on other aspects of your business. Technical expertise: Seasoned professionals have a wealth of technical knowledge, allowing them to solve complex tech issues with your website quickly and efficiently. Cons Cost: Hiring a professional can be expensive, especially for small businesses or individuals on a tight budget. (Here are website maintenance costs to keep in mind.) Communication: You need to clearly communicate the tasks to a professional. Communication with web professionals can sometimes be challenging, especially if they are working remotely. Dependency: You may become too dependent on someone else. You won't be able to introduce changes to what web design is yourself and will need to wait for help. Maintaining the website on your own Pros Cost-effective: Doing site maintenance yourself can save you money, and it's especially valuable if you have limited resources. Control: You have complete control over your website and can make changes whenever you want. Gain new skills: Maintaining a website can be a great learning experience, allowing you to develop new skills that you can use in other areas of your business. Cons Time-consuming: Maintaining a website requires time and effort. You will need to find time for it in your busy schedule. Technical challenges: When technical issues arise, it may be challenging to troubleshoot them if you do not have a technical background. Limited expertise: You may not have the same level of expertise as a professional, and the result of your work might not look like work done by a seasoned specialist. Learn more: Website migration
- Showcase: 10 websites that use icons just right
Icons, not to be confused with emoticons, are an exciting part of every website designer ’s work. It’s pretty incredible how much power these little visuals, or vector art, have in determining the look and feel of an entire website. Website icons don’t only contribute to the style, they also help the user to quickly browse through a page and get a better idea of the options, categories and services that the site has to offer. With this ability to optimize both the site’s web design and utility, no wonder that icons are such an important tool for web designers. But rarely do icons get the appreciation that they deserve. In fact, if they’re doing their job right, most people who view them won’t even notice them since they blend in so seamlessly with the page. That’s why we decided to collect and display a list of websites that do inspiring work with icons. The talents who designed these sites did a wonderful job integrating icons into their work in a creative, functional and aesthetic way, and we commend them for it! Learn more: What is web design? Brown Owl Creative >> Noobshibe >> Saharnitsa >> Washu Washu Design >> Ipeak >> Jessica Bloor >> Mobolt >> Oil City Rollers >> Rule Network >> Whether you're looking to add icons to your site or find the perfect favicon for your brand, start by taking a look at these 20 best free icon packs . Learn more about how to make a website with our extensive guide.
- Email automation: the art of boosting customer engagement
Good customer communication is the secret to your business’ success. But sending out individual welcome emails and follow-ups to each user is impossible to maintain once your company scales. Using email automation, you can create and send customized emails based on site visitors' behaviors. After you create a website and connect your email to your Wix website , your analytics and communication settings can be set to fit the exact customer cadence you’re looking for. From re-engagement emails and shopping cart abandonment messages to order confirmations, email automation can improve sales, drive customer engagement and increase repeat buyers. Here’s what we’ll cover in this article: What is email automation? The structure of an automation Key benefits of email automation Email automation use cases and examples Tips and tricks for successful email automation Getting started What is email automation? Email automation is a powerful tool that streamlines your work process to reach customers systematically. The software sends customizable messages (or other types of content, newsletter examples as one) triggered by specific actions or events that occur on your site. Ultimately, when visitors follow particular behaviors, you can send a ready response to improve their experience with your brand. The goal? Email automation helps move your visitors down the marketing funnel efficiently. The structure of an automation An automation can be broken down into two parts: The trigger: the event which starts off, or "triggers" the automation. The action: the response which occurs after the automation is triggered. Another important factor of automation is timing. Since the action occurs automatically, the timing needs to be set in advance. The action can take place before or immediately after the trigger or after a predefined number of hours or days. For example, you can trigger an automated email for Pricing Plans before a plan expires. Key benefits of email automation Perfect timing: Automating much of your communication allows you to send the right messages at the right time. You might not be at your computer right when that high-potential customer fills a form or completes a course, but your email automation tool has you covered and knows exactly what to do and when. More sales, traffic and customer retention: Without a doubt, email automation increases sales. More specifically, a cart abandonment email can give a sales uplift of 6.6% and a conversion rate of 10.19%. Drip campaigns built for customer retention can increase company revenue by 13% . Moreover, email automation is an ideal way to drive traffic by 2.7 times. The power of personalization: Not only are you adding a lot of value by being helpful and specific to the user’s action, but you’re letting the reader see the message is meant for them. Engagement with personalized emails is much greater than generic email marketing as they deliver six times higher transactional rates . Saved resources: When automated technology does that manual work for you, you have more time to focus on other parts of growing your business. Instead of sorting through thousands of emails, an automation tool like those provided by Wix becomes your personal assistant (see email AI tool ). Email automation use cases and examples While there are various types of email automation, we’ve included the most strategic and recommended ones for driving customer engagement. Welcome email Cart abandonment Customer feedback Order confirmation and shipping information Back in stock Follow-up after attending a class or event Sending a coupon via email “Haven't seen you in a while” re-engagement email 01. Welcome email Sending a welcome email when a visitor signs up to your email list is a fantastic way to start a customer relationship. Greeting a newbie with a personalized note or instructions on getting started can be quite helpful. Our logo maker welcome email strategically outlines what the logo maker can do, together with a friendly “Get started” call-to-action to lead the user to the next step. It’s important this email is fun and friendly, as it might be the first formal interaction a user has with your business. 02. Cart abandonment One of the best email automation methods is prompting emails to those who put items in their shopping cart but left without checking out. Whether they still needed time to think over the purchase or did not have their credit card information nearby, you can remind users to come back and complete the purchase. Some users offer a small discount to customers that abandoned their cart to create an incentive to return. To show you how it’s done, let’s look at how Food 52 used the appropriate tone of voice to persuade their users to buy without coming off as spammy, “Your cart called. It’s hoping you’ll come back and see it. The goodies you love are there waiting for you, but they won’t be forever.” Image source: reallygoodemails.com 03. Customer feedback Asking customers for feedback or product reviews is an effective way to build credibility with new potential consumers. We recommend you send an email automation after a purchase or service was completed, asking the customer to rate the experience or write a testimonial. This can help you understand what areas of your business can improve and assist you in attracting new business—a win-win. You might even want to add an incentive for users to fill a feedback survey like Signature Hardware did in the example below. The reward can be anything from a gift card, future discount or contest entry. Image source: reallygoodemails.com 04. Order confirmation and shipping information After making that exciting purchase, consumers love nothing more than knowing it successfully went through and is on its way. Keep customers informed and up-to-date by using email automation to send a customer a transactional email including their order number. In the message. include your contact info somewhere in case questions arise during the shipping or return process. Check out how the card company, Postable , sends an engaging order confirmation email. Not only is the vector art charming, but they included full details regarding shipping arrival times, which we’re sure customers appreciate. Image source: reallygoodemails.com 05. Back in stock As a business owner, you already know there's nothing better than an item being in popular demand. Unfortunately, when that same item goes out of stock, there is a missed revenue opportunity. In such cases, use a “Back in stock” email automation, letting customers know as soon as it’s available again. Of course, you don’t want to appear spammy or desperate with your notification. P & Co serves as a strong example of what a back-in-stock automation message looks like. The company cleverly writes, “Waiting on this?... Your item you had your eyes on.” The text in the email is playful, down-to-earth, and makes the brand sound human, a great goal to achieve through automation. For even more email marketing examples , check out our guide. Image source: reallygoodemails.com 06. Follow-up after attending a class or event You’ve worked hard and long on an event, course, or class and it was a huge success. What’s next? Continue to ride the wave and send attendees an automated email with follow-up information that will keep them engaged with your company further. The options of what to include are entirely up to you. Maybe a further course recommendation or class they’d be interested in, or a recap of the event with links to articles or relevant products on your site. Let’s take a glance at how the software company, Salesforce , used its event follow-up email to add all kinds of value. They included a report, E-book and a link to the keynote speaker recordings to further educate the event attendees. Image source: reallygoodemails.com 07. Sending a coupon via email You can incentivize your audience to use a coupon on your website from time to time. You can include a "valid-through" limited-time offer if you want to create urgency. Many companies do this for seasonal events as part of their holiday marketing efforts. To demonstrate, Public Desire makes their first order quite a desire . Offering 20% off a first order code helps the interested buyer take the leap. They used a visible black "Shop now" CTA button to create seamless navigation from the email to their website. Image source: reallygoodemails.com 08. “Haven't seen you in a while” re-engagement email Life can get busy, and we might not get around to re-booking our next appointment for that regular service we enjoyed so much. Remind your past customers to come back for a newly booked appointment by sending them an email automation and re-engaging them. Sometimes a tiny nudge can help your audience remember why they loved your services so much. To show you how it’s done, let’s look at how Myles Apparel used humor to re-engage with its subscribers. “Ghosting us?... It’s not the first time we’ve been ghosted this hot girl summer, but we’re shooting our shot one last time to keep in touch with you.” Their creative content applies popular culture references and language that makes this email quite entertaining but also gets its point across. Image source: reallygoodemails.com Tips and tricks for successful email automation Just like with any of the top marketing strategies out there, for automation to make an impact, it needs to be optimized. Follow these universal email marketing tips and avoid these email mistakes to ensure your process reaps the results you’re looking for. Send the right volume of emails—one to two bulk emails a week is ideal. Don't overdo it, as the email automation will be less effective or can become invasive to the user. This will also reduce your rates of hard bounces . Write powerful email subject lines. Keep text to 25-30 characters to not get cut off on mobile. Also, try to personalize them, as emails with personalized subject lines are 22% more likely to be opened . Follow the CAN-SPAM and CASl best practices to adhere to regulations and avoid landing in the spam inbox. According to Beckage legal technology, you shouldn’t use false or misleading header information in the “From” and “To” lines. They suggest you avoid deceptive subject lines, identify the message as an ad, tell recipients where you are located. Include compelling CTAs. Use action words written in the first person to prompt the strongest response. See our call-to-action examples and newsletter examples for further guidance and inspiration on where and how to place these buttons. Allow opt-outs with an unsubscribe button. Use common email marketing KPIs to measure and track performance. Some KPIs include the number of emails sent, bounced, arrived in spam and opened. Getting started Before you delve in, take a look at the various email marketing tools available. With Wix, you can customize your own automation to fit your exact business needs and best of all, it’s already integrated with your website. To create your automation, select an app (i.e bookings, forms, store,) and set the trigger. Then choose which action should occur and when. Here are the steps to set up email automation: Go to your Automations Dashboard . Click + New Automation at the top right. Choose the trigger, action and timing. Edit the template to add your unique text and design. When ready, click Activate. For more information on launching your automation campaigns, watch this video tutorial . Thank you, Really Good Emails , for providing some of the images in this article.
- These 29 email marketing examples will inspire your next campaign
More than 4 billion people use email globally. That's about half the world's population which explains why we're all bombarded with email every day—it’s a key way we communicate with each other. This is also why email remains an effective channel to reach customers and prospects, including younger consumers. A 2022 Statista survey revealed that 79% of Millennial respondents in the U.S. and 57% of Gen Z respondents like when brands contact them by email. With that in mind, email marketing is arguably one of the first marketing strategies you should use to promote your business. Before you start your own campaign, check out the 29 email marketing examples in this post for some inspiration and insights into what will make it a success. Create a website with Wix to take advantage of our free email marketing tool . Why should I try email marketing? Email marketing is a highly effective digital marketing strategy that involves sending promotional content to interested consumers via email. Implementing email marketing can serve multiple valuable purposes for your business, either via small business marketing or something more large-scale: Branding : Provide information-packed emails that support and elevate your brand. You could tell a customer story, explain how you manufacture your products or elaborate on your business's origin or purpose. Engagement : Encourage engagement by welcoming new subscribers, requesting feedback, celebrating milestones or announcing events. Traffic generation : Drive traffic to your website through incentives, announcements and invitations. Sales : Drive sales through special-offer notifications, loyalty-point updates, abandoned-cart reminders and other promotional communications. Conversion : Solicit signups to a course, platform or event with free-trial offers, renewal reminders and bundling opportunities. "My best email marketing tip is to integrate your emails into your entire work process. For instance, my emails contain sections that leverage my 15+ years of experience as an SEO consultant. Another section links out to another complimentary web property serving SEO job listings. I also push to connect with as many of my subscribers on social media to further build a relationship. This allows all facets of my business to be integrated into this email and my marketing efforts." - Nick LeRoy, Author of the SEO for lunch newsletter The most common email marketing KPIs are open rate, click-to-open rate (CTOR), clickthrough rate (CTR) and unsubscribe rate. Make sure you establish KPIs for any email campaign before launching it so you can assess its performance. Does Wix have email marketing? We explain what features you get with Wix's email marketing and how to build your own campaign. 29 email marketing examples Wix Yam Beaten Path Co. Bonsie Chappelle & Co. Cherry & Mint Grove Collaboration Jetblue New Balance Aritzia Skims National Geographic Rent the Runway Fandango Remi Bloomscape Hoka Arc Study Hall Extra Focus Ahrefs Sweetgreen SUAVS Everlane Deliveroo The Cornell Lab Spectrum Mobile Otter.ai Florence + The Machine 01. Wix Type of email marketing: Roundups Why it works: Roundups are newsletters that contain a list of resources, tips or other content that's useful to your subscribers. You can turn anything into a listicle and even pull information from your own website (e.g., “our top 10 posts about ethically sourced ingredients”) or from external sources (e.g., “5 resources for financing your small business”). This email from the Wix Blog teases three new articles, aiming to make it extra convenient for our subscribers to keep up with the latest headlines. Subscribe to the Wix Blog newsletter to get emails like these to your inbox. 02. Yam Type of email marketing: Welcome Why it works: Welcome emails are automatically deployed when someone signs up for your service, subscribes to your email marketing, creates an account on your website or makes a first-time purchase. They present an opportunity to introduce your brand to customers, upsell or cross-sell and initiate the process of building a long-lasting relationship with new shoppers. In this example, jewelry brand Yam shares that it’s a Black-owned, sustainable brand. Yam further incentivizes new subscribers to try out its jewelry with a 10% first-timer’s discount. 03. Beaten Path Co. Type of email marketing: Discount Why it works: Promotions are hard for customers to resist, which is why it’s common for businesses to offer a discount in exchange for their email address. You can tie a discount email to things like seasonal events, business-specific occasions and customer purchases. Outdoor clothing company Beaten Path Co. uses a promotional email to drum up interest on the same day that Amazon kicked off Prime Day (July 11), when consumers are already jumping online to snag the best deals. 04. Bonsie Type of email marketing: Thank you Why it works: Saying thanks is not only polite; it can also be an effective marketing tool. Thank-you emails can help you connect or reconnect with customers. Moreover, you can use thank-you emails to invite potential customers to engage more with your business, as babywear brand Bonsie does in its email. Bonsie generously offers 12% off on all future orders (knowing time is of the essence, given its products are reserved for newborns and new moms), and uses friendly copy to reinforce its bond with its shoppers. 05. Chappelle & Co. Type of email marketing: News announcement Why it works: Use news announcements sparingly and send them when there is something truly newsworthy to share about your company. They should have an enticing email subject line about a compelling bit of news. For example, the subject line for this email from Chappelle & Co. was “August workshops now live.” You can enhance their appeal with eye-catching images (as Chappelle & Co. did with the colorful graphic), infographics or video clips. These differ from product news updates and newsletters in that they highlight something about the company as a whole rather than focusing on a specific product or service. 06. Cherry & Mint Type of email marketing: Call-to-action email (CTA) Why it works: CTA emails motivate the reader to do something, so you should utilize them when you have a specific goal in mind. You could encourage them to book a free demo, download a coupon or check out your blog. This CTA email from Cherry & Mint encourages subscribers to “shop now” with colorful CTA buttons and high-quality product images. Keep your emails succinct and focused on the CTA. They work best after the customer has received two or three messages from you and you've already begun to establish trust. 07. Grove Collaboration Type of email marketing: Replenishment reminders Why it works: Send replenishment reminders to existing customers who may be running low on an item or subscription. These should be straightforward reminders without too many bells and whistles. The idea is to keep your brand top-of-mind for customers and make it easy for them to restock or renew their subscriptions. This email from Grove Collaboration not only suggests that the recipient places another order of three-ply toilet paper, but it also recommends that they check out a few other tree-free paper products. 08. Jetblue Type of email marketing: Company update Why it works: A company update can include things like product information, interesting news and planned events. They're also great for announcing new hires, informing recipients about relevant business changes (e.g., “we've moved”) and keeping subscribers informed about policies and capabilities (e.g., "now offering pet sitting services"). In this example, JetBlue boldly announces that its popular rewards program is getting a makeover to include “more choice, more perks, more value and more of our award-winning service.” 09. New Balance Type of email marketing: Product spotlight Why it works: As shown in this clean, minimalist email by New Balance, product spotlight emails focus on a single product. They can include detailed descriptions, origin stories, customer testimonials and reviews. They're not transactional, at least not entirely. They allow you to showcase one product that you’re particularly proud of, or give customers a better sense of your unique offerings. 10. Aritzia Type of email marketing: Branding Why it works: Branding newsletters are great for sharing your stories and ideas with customers. They play a crucial role in clarifying and defining your brand by focusing on topics in which you possess expertise and firsthand knowledge. In this email marketing example, Aritzia sets itself apart by discussing the work they do to uphold its commitment to sustainability. They used cut-out art to catch the reader’s attention and framed the message in The 5 Love Languages to make their message stand out. 11. Skims Type of email marketing: Launch emails Why it works: Launch emails are great for creating buzz around a new product line or service, as Skims does with this email introducing its new Skims Glam line. As shown in this example, these emails offer an opportunity to gauge interest and solicit pre-orders, allowing you to better plan and prepare for a successful launch. You can also use launch emails to reconnect with past customers, reminding them of your business and introducing them to exciting new offerings. 12. National Geographic Type of email marketing: Free trials Why it works: For subscription-based businesses or recurring business models like cleaning services or dog walkers, free-trial emails can entice prospects to give your offerings a try. They allow new customers to test your product or service before making a purchase or committing to a long-term subscription. National Geographic, for instance, invites new readers to enjoy one month of Nat Geo magazines for free and uses its email to showcase three trending stories. Additionally, free-trial emails can allow existing customers to sample new offerings without any obligation. 13. Rent the Runway Type of email marketing: Exclusive-offer emails Why it works: Sometimes a customer just wants to feel special. An exclusive-offer email reinforces this message by letting them know they’re getting something unique. Take this email, for example: Rent the Runway offers 30% off its rentals in honor of the recipient’s birthday. Keep in mind that these offers don't have to be all that exclusive; you can customize them based on customer segments. While the offer itself may be broad, tailoring the email content to the target segment adds a personalized touch. Say that you’re having a store-wide sale—you might change the header image according to each segment’s buying history to create an “exclusive” feel. 14. Fandango Type of email marketing: Order confirmation Why it works: Ah, the tried-and-true order confirmation email. These are automatically sent to customers after they’ve completed an order on your app or website. Their primary purpose is to confirm that you received their order. As such, they contain key information like order number, items purchased, payment method used and order amount. This detailed information reassures the customer about the accuracy of their purchase and provides an easy reference for future inquiries or issues. As in the example above, order confirmation emails can apply to everything from product orders to movie ticket purchases. Order confirmation emails like Fandango’s play a crucial role in enhancing customer satisfaction and building trust in your brand. 15. Remi Type of email marketing: Shipping notifications Why it works: Automated shipping notifications let customers know when their purchase is dispatched and provide them with tracking information. You can get away with sending a single update, but many eCommerce businesses, like Remi, send multiple emails to give customers ongoing insight into the progress of the order, from purchase to delivery. This reassures the customer that their order is on its way and helps them anticipate the exact date of arrival so they can plan to be available for pickup, if necessary. By providing regular updates, you enhance the customer experience, instill confidence in your shipping process and foster customer loyalty. 16. Bloomscape Type of email marketing: Delivery confirmation Why it works: Delivery confirmation emails are sent once the customer's order is delivered. They let customers know their package is waiting on their porch, in their mailbox or at a pickup location. Some retailers like Amazon even include a photo of the package as proof of delivery. In addition to the delivery status, you can include follow-up information like a link to a customer service page or your business phone number for those who need further assistance. Or, in Bloomscape’s case, you can provide extra instructions on how to care for the product—keeping in mind that order-related emails have some of the highest open rates . 17. Hoka Type of email marketing: Abandoned cart email Why it works: No one likes to feel abandoned. Luckily, online store owners have an easy way to recoup their losses—send an abandoned cart email like this one by Hoka. These emails, also known as cart recovery emails, are sent automatically when a customer leaves a website without completing a purchase. The purpose of these emails is to remind customers about the items left in their cart and make it easy for them to pick up where they left off. With an average conversion rate of 2.4% , they can be a good way to recover lost sales. 18. Arc Type of email marketing: Feedback requests Why it works: Customer feedback is invaluable for any business. It's a way to get unfiltered insights into what resonates with customers and what needs improvement. Use these emails to ask customers about their experience with your business, invite them to review what they purchased or find out what they'd like to see more (or less) of when it comes to doing business with you. Arc appeals to customers for their first impressions by sending this feedback request a week after purchase. The company notes that the survey will only take 30 seconds in case recipients are in a hurry. 19. Study Hall Type of email marketing: Re-engagement Why it works: Sometimes you have to work a little bit harder to win back inactive customers. A re-engagement email can rekindle an old flame by incentivizing past customers to return. Highlight something new and exciting about your business to capture their interest and curiosity. You can feature something you're proud of like a recent award, a new location opening or a heartwarming customer success story. Study Hall, for one, uses its re-engagement email to remind old subscribers of new content available on its site and to invite them to rejoin with a limited-time discount. 20. Extra Focus Type of email marketing: Referral request Why it works: Word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful thing, even in an era when online shopping dominates. Referral requests tap into this power by asking existing or past customers to recommend your business to a friend. These requests often include an incentive for the customer, such as discounts and free gifts. In Jesse J. Anderson’s referral request email, he uses eye-catching CTA buttons to direct the reader and offers benefits to incentivize them to share the Extra Focus newsletter with others. 21. Ahrefs Type of email marketing: Explainers Why it works: Explainer emails focus on one aspect of your business. SEO software company Ahrefs, for instance, uses an explainer email to provide tips on creating content that’s prime to rank well on Google. Readers don’t have to click off the email for the advice, though they have the option to if they want to explore more. These emails serve as a valuable tool to introduce your brand and showcase your expertise. By providing useful information that offers real value, explainer emails help build brand loyalty and strengthen customer relationships. Through these emails, you establish yourself as a knowledgeable authority in your field, fostering trust and credibility among your audience. 22. Sweetgreen Type of email marketing: Product news Why it works: Use product news emails to announce new products, updates to existing products or special promotions. Whether you offer tangible products or service-based solutions, product news emails are an effective means of keeping your audience informed. The key to crafting impactful product news emails is ensuring you have noteworthy news to share. Sweetgreen finds reason to send the above email, given that its new merch is created in partnership with a local farm that could use extra support. 23. SUAVS Type of email marketing: Post-purchase check-in Why it works: Sending a post-purchase email a week or two after a customer receives an order achieves a few things. Firstly, it's a great way to show you care after they’ve made a purchase. Secondly, it presents an opportunity to ask for a product review, a referral or a piece of feedback. Thirdly, you can offer advice about the product purchased or remind them about your rewards program to encourage more purchases. A successful post-purchase email should primarily focus on the customer, providing useful information that enhances their experience. It should also incentivize them to return to your website for their next shopping journey. 24. Everlane Type of email marketing: Customer testimonials Why it works: You can either send customer testimonials as standalone emails or as complementary elements in other email types to incentivize purchases. Testimonials serve as powerful branding tools, instilling credibility that goes beyond what promotional emails can achieve. By sharing authentic customer experiences, testimonials connect your brand to real emotions, tangible benefits, core values and successful outcomes. To make testimonial-based emails impactful, use Everlane’s approach and include one or more customer stories in their own words. You can also provide links to user-generated content that celebrates your brand like social media posts or YouTube reviews. Before sharing any of these sorts of testimonials, make sure to obtain permission first to ensure you’re not invading a customer’s privacy. 25. Deliveroo Type of email marketing: Introduction Why it works: An introduction email should be one of the first a lead receives after submitting a form or completing an action on your website. These emails differ from welcome emails as they tend to contain more information about a business. The email should have a personal touch and express gratitude for the interaction. Keep the introduction straightforward and brand-centric, and make sure to include guidance for getting started on your website. This is your chance to make an impactful first impression, so keep it simple and (above all else) relevant. For example, this email from Deliveroo outlines the primary benefits of the recipient’s new account, sharing links so they can learn more. 26. The Cornell Lab Type of email marketing: Education messaging Why it works: About two or three days after sending out an introduction email, consider sending out an educational message (a.k.a., a “humble brag”) that highlights your brand's expertise. This email should focus on highlighting your brand's expertise and providing valuable information related to the prospect's interest. You can achieve this by sharing a summary and link to a relevant blog post, recommending a whitepaper, or showcasing a compelling case study. This educational email from The Cornell Lab, for example, not only demonstrates the knowledge of its staff but also repurposes content from its site, making the most of its resources. 27. Spectrum Mobile Type of email marketing: Cold emails Why it works: Cold emails are unsolicited and sent to prospects who may not know much (or anything) about a business. To maximize their effectiveness, make them personal and include a relevant, hard-to-refuse offer that’s aimed at piquing the recipient's interest. For example, this cold email from Spectrum Mobile offers two lines for the price of one. Cold emails have the potential to generate revenue by expanding your customer base and attracting new business opportunities to your sales pipeline. When crafting these emails, focus on delivering value to the recipient and clearly communicate how your product or service can address their pain points or needs. Remember that successful cold emailing requires respecting the recipient's preferences and privacy. Follow best practices, such as ensuring compliance with relevant anti-spam laws and providing a clear way for recipients to opt-out if they choose not to receive further communications. 28. Otter.ai Type of email marketing: Free offer Why it works: A free offer at the right time can supercharge website traffic and conversions. For example, offering free, two-day shipping through December can help you capitalize on the holiday shopping frenzy. Free offers are also effective for lead generation. You could offer a free trial of your product or service, a free email course to teach people about your services or an eBook that speaks to the needs and challenges of your target demographic. In this email, Otter.ai offers five months free on Otter Business to celebrate World AI Day. Tying the offer to a timely event makes the offer seem like a rare opportunity in order to urge the recipient to claim it. 29. Florence + The Machine Type of email marketing: Contest/giveaway announcement Why it works: Contests and giveaways are excellent email marketing tools for generating leads, growing your internal email list and increasing brand awareness. These emails should include details about the contest and the prize your subscribers stand to win. This email from Florence + The Machine emphasizes the prize of a free, signed vinyl and provides clear directions for entering the contest. How to create an email marketing campaign Creating an effective email marketing campaign involves careful planning, compelling content and strategic execution. Follow these steps to craft a successful campaign: Define your goals: Determine the specific objectives of your campaign, such as generating leads, promoting a product or nurturing customer relationships. Identify your target audience: Clearly define your target audience, considering their demographics, interests and preferences. Segment your list for personalized messaging. Craft compelling content: Develop engaging email content that aligns with your audience's interests and your campaign goals. Use storytelling, visuals and clear calls-to-action. Choose an email marketing platform: Select a reliable email marketing platform to manage your campaigns and subscriber lists. Design attractive email templates: Create visually appealing email templates that reflect your brand identity and enhance the user experience. Ensure mobile responsiveness. Personalize your messages: Personalize email content based on recipient data, such as name, location or purchase history, for a more relevant experience. Optimize subject lines: Craft compelling subject lines that grab attention, pique curiosity and accurately represent the email's content. Schedule and send emails: Schedule your emails to be sent at optimal times based on audience behavior and time zones. Consider A/B testing for subject lines and content. Track and analyze results: Monitor key metrics like open rates, click-through rates and conversions to evaluate campaign performance and make adjustments. Refine and improve: Continuously refine your email marketing strategy based on data, feedback and industry trends. Experiment with different approaches and content formats. Pro tip: Check out these insightful email marketing statistics to help inform your campaigns. Email marketing campaigns FAQ How to plan an email marketing campaign? To plan an email marketing campaign, define goals, target audience and messaging. Segment your email list based on customer profiles. Craft compelling subject lines and content for your emails that will hook your target readers. Determine the sending frequency and schedule of your campaign. Integrate tracking tools for analytics to evaluate the success of your email marketing campaigns. Test emails before sending. Comply with regulations like GDPR depending on your location. Monitor results and refine strategies for future campaigns. How to evaluate the success of an email marketing campaign? Evaluate an email marketing campaign by analyzing key email marketing metrics: open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates and unsubscribe rates. You can assess engagement with A/B testing . Calculate revenue generated and return on investment from that. Always consider your audience segmentation and targeting effectiveness. Monitor email deliverability and spam complaints. Optimize ongoing and new based on insights gained, ensuring continual improvement for future campaigns.
- How to grow your blog in 10 easy steps
Get started by: Creating a blog → | Getting a domain → Growing a blog can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it requires the right strategies to stand out. Whether you’re just starting your blogging journey and looking for guidance on how to start a blog or how to make a website , or simply looking to expand your reach on an existing blog, this guide will offer practical and effective steps to boost your blog's growth. As a Wix blogging expert, I'll share industry insights and proven techniques to help you build a successful blog from the ground up. Let’s dive in and transform your blog into a thriving online presence. Start your own blog for free . How to grow a blog that attracts visitors With millions of blogs competing for attention, the real challenge lies in growing your blog effectively. If you’re new to the blogging world, check out blogging for beginners for essential tips. Get to know your readers Create high-quality content Grow your blog traffic with SEO Accelerate your blog growth with social media Network with other bloggers Use email marketing Monetize your blog Engage with your community Stay updated and adapt Be consistent and patient 01. Get to know your readers The foundation of a successful blog is a deep understanding of your audience. Engage with your readers through surveys, comments and social media interactions. By learning about their interests and preferences, you can create content that truly connects and fosters greater engagement and loyalty. Keep an eye on which posts generate the most engagement, whether through shares, likes or comments. This data offers valuable insights into what interests your readers. For inspiration, check out blog examples that excel at engaging and connecting with their audiences. Pro tip: Use tools like Google Trends to gather data on popular search topics. This insight helps tailor your content to current audience interests. New to blogging? Create detailed profiles to understand their needs and preferences. This approach will help you attract a dedicated and engaged readership from the beginning. 02. Create high-quality content Content is king in the blogging world. To grow your blog quickly, focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that offers value to your readers. Learn how to write a blog that makes an impact. Mix formats—text, videos, images and infographics—to keep your audience engaged. Staying consistent is the key to achieving blog success and plays a big role in building an online community around your brand. The best way to manage your content and streamline your website management is by creating a content calendar and sticking to a regular posting schedule. Decide what works best for you, whether it’s posting once a week or twice a month, consistency helps build anticipation and keeps your audience coming back for more. Pro tip: When planning your next blog post, think about if it solves a problem, entertains or educates your readers and think about how long should a blog post be to effectively deliver your message. For help with creating better content, explore the best blogging tools available. 03. Grow your blog traffic with SEO Search engine optimization (SEO) drives organic website traffic to your blog. Conduct keyword research to find terms your audience searches for and incorporate them into your content, titles and meta descriptions. Optimize your images with alt text and use internal and external links to improve your blog’s SEO . Keyword research: Use research tools like Google Keyword Planner , Semrush or Ahrefs to uncover valuable keywords. For example, if you have a travel blog, target keywords like "best travel destinations" or "budget travel tips" to attract new readers. If you’re starting a blog from scratch, on-page SEO is a must. Make sure your blog’s structure is search engine friendly by using header tags (H1, H2, H3), creating a sitemap and ensuring your site loads quickly. A well-optimized blog will rank higher in search results, helping to attract more visitors to your site. For instance, a food blog that’s just starting out should use clear, descriptive headers like "H1: Delicious Vegan Recipes" and "H2: Easy Vegan Breakfast Ideas" to help search engines understand and rank your content. SEO benefits: Regularly updating your blog with fresh web content helps improve your search engine rankings. Better SEO means more visibility and a higher chance of attracting organic traffic. According to a study by Orbit Media Studios , bloggers who pay more attention to keywords more often, are more likely to report success. 04. Accelerate blog growth with social media Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your content. Share blog posts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and participating in group discussions. Use hashtags strategically to increase your posts’ visibility. Run targeted social media campaigns to boost your blog traffic and take advantage of paid advertising options like Facebook Ads and Instagram Promotions to reach potential readers who are interested in your niche. Make sure you track your campaign performance and adjust your strategy to maximize your return on investment (ROI). Pro tip: Sharing your blog posts on social media can significantly increase your site’s traffic. To maximize your reach, promote your blog on Facebook to engage a larger audience who will interact with your content, share it and contribute to its growth. Find out how using Pinterest for blogging can also multiply your blog traffic. 05. Network with other bloggers According to Ahrefs , engaging with industry peers boosts your blog’s credibility and grows a supportive community, opening the door to creative ventures that drive blog growth for everyone involved. In fact, blog posts with multiple authors are considered more credible by 63% of people. Building relationships with fellow bloggers can open up new opportunities for collaboration and exposure. Start by engaging with bloggers in your niche by leaving thoughtful comments on their posts, sharing their content and connecting on social media. Participate in link exchanges and join blogging communities to grow these mutually beneficial partnerships. Connecting with other bloggers can help you gain exposure to new audiences, enhance your credibility and attract more readers. For example, co-hosting a webinar or an Instagram Live/TikTok Live session with another blogger can introduce your blog to their followers. Guest posting is also an excellent way to grow your blog. Research influential bloggers in your niche and reach out to them with well-crafted pitches offering to write valuable content with your unique perspective for their blogs. Make sure your guest posts are informative, engaging and relevant to their audience. Include links back to your blog either in your author bio or within the content itself to drive traffic and improve your SEO. Ready to master guest posts? Read this complete guide to guest blogging . 06. Use email marketing Email marketing keeps your audience engaged and drives traffic back to your blog. Start by building an email list with compelling lead magnets to encourage sign-ups. Examples of effective lead magnets include free ebooks, checklists or templates that provide value to your visitors and can be easily accessed via a well-optimized URL . Once you have subscribers, follow up by sending regular newsletters and segmenting your email list to send targeted emails that cater to specific interests and needs. Personalize your emails to make your subscribers feel seen, which is proven to increase their likelihood of re-engaging with your content. Make sure your web address is included in your email signatures and promotional materials to drive traffic back to your blog. Implementing these strategies can turn casual visitors into dedicated readers who consistently return to your blog. This approach accelerates your blog’s growth and also helps you build a loyal and engaged readership from the start. Use your email list to reward loyal readers with bonus content that adds extra value, such as downloadable resources, exclusive articles or members-only content. Pro tip: Regularly sending high-quality emails can establish you as an authority in your niche. As your blog grows, so will your reputation, leading to more opportunities and increased trust from your audience. 07. Monetize your blog Monetizing your blog can motivate you to grow it further. Explore the different monetization streams like affiliate marketing, sponsored posts and selling digital products or services. Think about which methods align best with your audience’s interests and flow best with your content strategy. If your blog is still in its early stages, affiliate marketing can be a great way to start earning revenue quickly. By promoting products or services related to your niche, you can earn commissions for each sale made through your referral links. Pro tip: Be transparent with your audience about your affiliate relationships to build trust. Clearly disclose when you’re using affiliate links or endorsements, as this honesty will help to build your credibility and strengthen your relationship with your readers. Did you know? Monetized blogs can generate passive income, offering financial stability. Learn more about how to monetize a website to maximize your blog’s earning potential. 08. Engage with your community A strong community around your blog accelerates growth. Encourage your readers to interact through comments, forums and social media, and make sure to respond and join the conversation. Hosting webinars, live chats or virtual meetups are great outlets to engage with your readers and create a sense of belonging. These events can help increase your blog traffic by attracting new readers and strengthening your connections with existing ones. Promote these events through your blog, social media and email newsletters to maximize participation. Pro tip: By sharing your knowledge and insights, you educate and inspire your readers. Your content can directly contribute to their personal growth while positioning you as a thought leader in your field. Check out these essential tips to format your blog . 09. Stay updated and adapt As the blogging landscape keeps changing it’s important to stay up to date with the latest trends, tools and techniques. Subscribe to industry newsletters, follow influential bloggers and participate in their community to help keep you informed about the latest changes which will help you adapt your strategies and remain competitive. By being flexible and willing to update your strategies as needed, you’ll grow your blog and stay ahead of the competition. Experiment with new content formats, marketing techniques and SEO practices. Continually testing and analyzing your strategies is crucial for ongoing growth. Use analytics to understand what’s working and what’s not. Most importantly, be willing to experiment with new approaches. Pro tip: Test different headlines, images and calls-to-action and regularly review and adjust your content strategy based on data. 10. Be consistent and patient Growing a blog takes time and effort. Keep producing high-quality content, engaging with your audience and refining your strategies. Be patient and persistent, and over time, you’ll see the results of your hard work. Blog posts have a long lifespan. Evergreen content can continue to attract traffic and provide value to readers for years, contributing to sustained growth and relevance in your field. Did you know? A successful blog can become a strong personal or business brand. By learning how to start a personal blog , you can create a unique identity and establish a distinct voice in your niche, which can attract more readers and opportunities. Pro tip: Familiarize yourself with the most common blogging mistakes and learn how to avoid them. Steering clear of these pitfalls will help you position yourself as an expert in your field. Download your free blog template . Back to basics: how to grow your blog (+ checklist) When thinking about the best ways to grow your blog, returning to the basics can set you up for success. Growing your blog takes time and strategy, but following these steps can set you on the right path. Here’s a straightforward checklist to help you expand your blog’s reach and influence: Define your niche and target audience Develop a content calendar and stick to it Conduct keyword research and implement SEO best practices Promote your blog across social media platforms Monitor blog performance with analytics tools Build and maintain an email list for newsletters Explore monetization strategies Helpful tips for growing your blog Managing and running a successful blog requires great effort, patience and time. Through my years of experience as a blogging professional, I’ve discovered that consistency, networking and discipline are the key factors that set successful blogs apart from the rest. Here are some important tips that can help you grow your blog: Perform keyword research and publish content consistently Promote your blog through social media Network with bloggers in your niche Focus on readability and clear writing Pro tip: Choose the right blog name ideas and blog niche ideas to attract the right audience and establish your unique brand identity. Blogging is a long-term endeavor. With determination and a strong desire to succeed, you can achieve your blogging goals and build a successful blog over time. For a more detailed approach, check out this blogging checklist . How do I measure the growth of my blog? Measuring blog success involves tracking various metrics to understand your progress and effectiveness. Performance indicators include website traffic, engagement rates like comments and shares, conversion rates such as email sign-ups or product purchases and search engine rankings. Tools like Google Analytics or Wix Analytics are helpful for monitoring these metrics and assessing your blog’s performance over time. By regularly reviewing these indicators, you can gain insights into your blog’s growth and make data-driven decisions to drive its success. How to grow a blog from scratch As you continue to explore strategies to increase blog traffic, you might be wondering if blogging is still worth it . Blogging is and will remain a valuable tool for sharing your blog ideas , building your brand and connecting with your audience. To make sure your blog looks its best for when visitors come to your site, use the best blog post templates available. These blog templates will help to improve the design and functionality of your blog, making it more appealing to the reader. Understanding what is web design is essential, as it will guide you in choosing and customizing templates that improve aesthetics and usability. Choosing the right blogging platform can greatly improve your blog’s success. For insights into the most suitable options for your blog, explore the best blogging platforms . How to grow your blog FAQ How do you grow your blog? Growing your blog involves several key strategies. Building a strong website infrastructure and focusing on website development will support your blog’s growth and guarantee a smooth user experience. Use SEO techniques to improve your blog’s visibility on search engines. Promote your blog posts through social media and email marketing. Engage with your readers through comments and feedback. Consistent posting and collaboration with other bloggers can also help increase your blog’s reach. How do you make money blogging? There are different ways to make money from your blog . These usually include affiliate marketing, where you earn commissions by promoting other companies’ products or services, and display marketing, where you earn revenue from ads placed on your site. Sponsored posts and partnerships with brands can also generate income. Additionally, you can sell your own products or services, such as e-books, courses, how-to guides and merchandise. How long does it take to make money blogging? The time it takes to start making money from blogging widely varies. It can take several months to over a year, depending on factors like your niche, audience size and monetization methods. This is the reason consistency is key in the blogging industry. Content creation, audience engagement and effective marketing strategies can help accelerate the process. How to get 100,000 views on a blog? Reaching 100,000 views involves a combination of strategies. Focus on producing high-quality, shareable content that meets your audience’s needs. Optimize your blog for SEO to attract organic traffic and promote your content through social media and email newsletters. Building backlinks from reputable sites and collaborating with influencers can also drive traffic to your blog. Learn more about promoting your blog to attract more readers . How to grow a blogging website? Growing a blogging website involves enhancing both content and technical aspects. Regularly update your site with fresh content and check that it’s optimized for search engines. Improve user experience with a clean, easy-to-navigate blog design and fast loading times, supported by a reliable web server . Use social media and other marketing strategies to drive traffic to your site. What are the best platforms for blogging? Choosing the right blogging platform depends on your needs and technical skills. Here’s a streamlined approach to help you select the best one: Define your goals: Clarify what you want to achieve, whether it’s a personal blog, blogging for business or online portfolio. Consider your technical skills and budget. Review ease of use and features: Assess the platform’s user-friendliness, content management tools and features like template customization, plugin support and analytics. Evaluate scalability and flexibility: Choose a platform that can grow with your blog, handle increased traffic and integrate with third-party tools. Compare pricing and support: Look at pricing structures and available support, including tutorials, FAQs and customer service. Test platforms with trails: Use free trials or demos to experience different platforms and determine their usability and suitability before making a final decision. How can I improve my blog's SEO? To enhance your blog’s SEO, start by conducting keyword research to find relevant terms your audience is searching for. Optimize your blog posts with these keywords in titles, headers and throughout the content, including your website title and each web page . Use meta descriptions and alt text for images and ensure your blog has a clean, user-friendly interface with fast loading times. Building backlinks and creating quality, shareable content also contribute to better SEO. Try using Wix SEO to maximize your blog growth efforts. How can I effectively promote my blog? Effective promotion involves using multiple channels. Share your blog posts on social media platforms and engage with your audience there. Utilize email marketing to reach your subscribers with updates and new content. Participate in relevant online communities and forums and consider guest blogging or collaborations with other bloggers to expand your reach. How important is visual content for my blog? Visual content is essential for engaging readers and enhancing your blog’s appeal. High-quality images, infographics and videos can make your posts more attractive and easier to understand. They also help break up the text and keep readers engaged. Incorporating visual elements can improve user experience and encourage social sharing. Try this image resizer tool to make the most out of your visuals. How can I build an email list for my blog? Building an email list involves offering value to your readers in exchange for their contact information. Create lead magnets like e-books, exclusive content or discounts to encourage sign-ups. Use email marketing tools to manage your list and send regular updates. Promote your email list on your blog and through social media to attract more subscribers. Find out how to get more subscribers to your mailing list.
- Marketing strategy: 13 impactful strategies + how to create your own
Every great business begins with a winning marketing strategy—your key to reaching the right audience and hitting your goals. Step one: create a website to claim your space online and get your brand out there. From there, jump into smart strategies like influencer marketing, PR and SEO to grab leads, drive traffic and grow your brand. This guide breaks down the what, why and how of marketing approaches and sales-driving techniques to set your business up for success. Start building your online presence with Wix . What is a marketing strategy? Marketing strategy purpose Marketing strategy vs. marketing plan The main types of marketing How to choose and create a marketing strategy in 5 steps? Why marketing strategies matter What makes a good marketing strategy? The 4 Ps (now 5 Ps) of marketing The marketing funnel 11 best marketing strategies Marketing strategies examples How to track effective marketing strategies What is a marketing strategist? Marketing strategy for different industries What is a marketing strategy? A marketing strategy is a comprehensive plan designed to promote products or services, attract customers and achieve short, medium or long-term business goals. Its ultimate goal is to reach your target audience through marketing and advertising campaigns, encouraging them to buy or engage with your service. A well-crafted strategy can help boost brand visibility, engage customers and achieve key business objectives. It also helps you map out your target audience and identify the best ways to reach them using tracking and insights. Essentially, a marketing strategy is an overarching plan that anyone deciding how to start a business or working with an existing business use to increase visibility and ultimately their profits. It can involve anything from creating a strong brand identity to developing innovative products and services. Successful marketing strategies should be tailored to your specific goals and objectives. Creating strategic marketing strategies starts with defining what is product marketing for your niche, understanding where you are now, identifying key areas of improvement and focusing on achieving specific goals. It should include: Goals of your business, e.g., to brand awareness or to sell services and products Your target market and research on who they are and where they are Buyer personas and information on your customer demographics, if relevant Competitors, including their marketing strategies and pricing Value of your product or services for your target customers Your company's value proposition and what sets up apart from competitors Your key branding messaging as this must run consistently through all your marketing materials and campaigns For instance, Airbnb developed a groundbreaking marketing strategy by emphasizing user-generated content. They encouraged guests to share their travel experiences through photos and stories on social media, tagging their stays with #Airbnb . By doing this, they not only showcased the wide range of properties available but also built a sense of trust and community among travelers. This campaign created authentic engagement and quickly became a key driver of Airbnb’s global success. Learn how to build a smarter approach with an effective AI content strategy . What is the purpose of a marketing strategy? Marketing strategies can have many different purposes. The main ones often cited are: Brand awareness Stronger customer relationships, both with existing and potential ones Competitive advantage, whether through more website traffic or greater brand awareness Furthers business goals, whether these revolve around building a brand or selling more Marketing strategy vs. marketing plan While these terms are used interchangeably, marketing strategies are broader summaries of what your business does to overcome your pain points, meet your goals and reach your audience. A strategy provides a larger picture of how you plan to stay ahead of your competition. It can reveal threats that you may need to consider for long-term sustainability . By contrast, the marketing plan methodically outlines details of how you will implement your strategies and how you will track your marketing ROI . Additionally, your marketing plan is highly detailed and involves the four Ps of marketing : product, price, place and promotion. It helps to ensure a more integrated marketing approach—that is, a unified message across all of your promotional channels. How to create a marketing strategy in 5 steps Creating a winning marketing strategy doesn’t have to be overwhelming—follow these five simple steps to set clear goals, focus your efforts and achieve measurable results: 01. Define your goals Data repeatedly shows that those who write down goals achieve more than those who don't. There are several ways to set your objectives, such as using the SMART Goals method, broader SWOT analysis . You might also need to run a marketing audit of your current strategies to see what's working, what's not and how this will impact your new marketing goals. Your business goals might be to develop your brand awareness, break into a new geographic area or increase online sales by a given percent. The more specific and numerical these goals are, the better they can be tracked, measured and replicated. 02. Identify your target audience After you determine exactly whom your business wants to reach, it will be clearer which marketing strategies to choose. That's because the messaging and platforms you'll use need to fit your target audience and target market . Audience parameters can be tied to demographics like age, gender, geographic region, likes, interests, etc. They can also be enhanced with competitor analysis . Create different lightboxes or conduct market segmentation to assist you in the process. 03. Understand your customer’s pain points and your value proposition To develop a marketing strategy that works, you must understand what your ideal consumer struggles with regularly. This awareness will align your product, place, price and promotion to solve their pain points and increase your chances of scalability. Once you’re confident in your value proposition , you’re ready to proceed. 04. Select your marketing channels and allocate budgets Where does your audience spend the most time—social media or reading online publications? Once you know where they are, choose the types of marketing and marketing channels to focus on. While niche marketing can be powerful, diversifying your strategy can also pay off. Think about whether offline marketing could add value to your strategy. Combine it with personalized channels like email, SMS or social media to share tailored offers, encourage quick action and build trust with PR efforts like press releases, events and media outreach. Set a budget for each channel, your KPIs and clear goals like ROI, engagement or lead generation. Use marketing tools to manage campaigns and a marketing plan template to stay organized. Check your performance monthly or quarterly and adjust your strategy based on results and trends. 05. Decide on the messaging, creatives and implementation plan The final step in your marketing strategy is working on your messaging and creative formats. For example, if you plan to educate customers on product capabilities and spend a lot of time on YouTube, you might create a video campaign. The video messaging will resonate with your target audience in a relevant and meaningful way. You can try direct marketing or PR activities to level up your strategy. Direct marketing is all about reaching your audience through personalized channels like email, direct mail, SMS or social media messages. It’s a great way to deliver tailored offers or info that encourages quick responses. PR, on the other hand, focuses on building a strong brand image through things like press releases, media outreach, events or partnerships. The goal here is to boost awareness and trust. Create a simple content calendar, plan your budget for each channel and set clear goals like conversion rates, ROI, engagement, lead generation or sales growth. Once your plan is live, keep an eye on the results and adjust it monthly or quarterly based on what’s working and any market changes. Read also: How to think like a growth marketer with zero marketing experience (feat. Kevin Indig) Why marketing strategies matter There are plenty of benefits to defining your marketing strategies early on. Marketing strategies are essential for businesses as it helps them to identify their goals and objectives, understand their target audience and develop an effective approach to reach out to them. A well-crafted marketing strategy can help you gain a competitive advantage , improve your brand image and increase sales and revenue. Setting clear goals and objectives and aligning the marketing strategies to achieve them best sets you up for success. To understand more about the theory behind why marketing matters, we recommend the ideas and work of Michael Porter . He is credited with developing the concept of competitive advantage, for example. There's a lot to be gained from understanding his research and incorporating it into your marketing management . Furthermore, marketing budgets might be limited when starting a business and a clear plan ensures you won't waste any resources. Besides, how will you measure success if you don't first establish what it looks like or how you'll get there in your small business marketing goals? The main elements of a marketing strategy: what makes it good These may vary but generally include: Establishing your target audience through market analysis Deciding on your Unique Selling Proposition , Go to market strategy Creating your market positioning and establishing product differentiation, how customers will perceive you and your product Establishing your pricing Setting the budget for your marketing strategy Implementation of your chosen strategy Continuous tracking and improvement of your plan For more information on what makes an effective modern marketing strategy, we recommend looking to Phil Kotler , whose work on marketing management and the importance of connecting with your audience, has been instrumental in improving marketing strategies. The 4 Ps (now 5 Ps) of marketing Not sure where to start with this? Consider using the marketing mix or 4 Ps of marketing . This is an approach that helps organizations develop and implement effective marketing strategies. It consists of four key elements that collectively shape a company's marketing approach—product, price, promotion and place or distribution. In addition to this some models now include a 5th P: People. Focusing on the importance of customer and employee interactions in the marketing mix. The marketing funnel The marketing funnel shows how customers go from learning about your business to making a purchase. It has four stages: awareness, consideration, decision and retention. Each stage needs a different approach to guide and engage customers. In the awareness stage, focus on getting noticed through ads, social media or SEO. During consideration, share helpful content like blogs, reviews or videos that solve problems or answer questions. In the decision stage, use things like discounts, free trials or personalized messages to encourage action. Retention is just as important as getting new customers. Keep y our audience engaged with loyalty programs, helpful emails and great customer service. A strong funnel turns leads into loyal customers and helps your business grow over time. 13 best marketing strategies One of the biggest challenges in marketing strategies is keeping up with changing market trends and consumer preferences. Developing an effective marketing strategy can also require significant time, resources and expertise; the list of the types of marketing strategies out there is extensive. By analyzing the top marketing trends and doing in-depth customer and market research, we've narrowed it down to the top strategies for you. Remember that no matter which methods you decide to include, they will only be effective if your audience likes and trusts your business. As you carry out campaigns, aim to educate, inspire or entertain your audience, so you'll see the most impactful results. Content marketing Social media marketing Search engine optimization (SEO) Pay-per-click advertising (PPC) Email marketing and newsletters Influencer marketing Earned media and PR Landing pages Advertising Affiliate marketing Retargeting AI marketing Partnership marketing 01. Content marketing In the past decade, there's been a shift in the marketing mindset. Today we see a rise in blogs, podcasts and webinars that are engaging and inclusive to audiences—so they feel more connected with brands. Creating valuable and informative content has become a win-win especially when it comes to developing and improving customer engagement . Content marketing creates a strategic opportunity for your business to connect with a customer meaningfully. Content marketing also helps you generate awareness, become an authority and tell a story. Focusing on this strategy early on is handy for other marketing ideas , as you can share your content on social media or in email newsletters later. The most popular content strategies are: Content writing Infographics Video marketing Starting a podcast 02. Social media marketing An estimated 71% of small-to-mid-sized businesses use social media for marketing and 60% reported success with social media ads, according to these small business marketing statistics . This high percentage comes as no surprise. Social media marketing is one of the most influential ways to use digital marketing to increase visibility and gain traffic to your website. More so, it can be a valuable lead generation method, a sales channel, an audience insights tool and a customer service outlet. From Instagram Reels to TikTok, your options of getting in front of new audiences are endless. Ensure you strategically choose which channels you focus most on, based on your target audience. If you aim to reach a professional audience, LinkedIn is a must for creating a company page. Social media platforms are a great way to secure first-mover advantage , a concept in marketing and business when companies are the first to market in a specific product category. The speed at which it's possible to generate and distribute multimedia content on social media is ideal for this. Related reading: The dead internet theory and how to protect your brand from bots Video marketing is a format that is becoming more heavily favored on social media as users consume more content on their mobile devices (this marketing strategy also works well if you're focusing on mobile marketing), so consider this as an important form of content creation in your marketing strategy. This marketing strategy also allows brands to tap into the phenomenon of viral content. While not easy to achieve, it can have a dramatic impact on key marketing metrics and KPIs, such as website traffic and brand visibility. Social media advertising is another component that should not be overlooked. For example, advertising on Facebook can drastically increase new customers. Want to try Facebook advertising for your business? Facebook Ads by Wix directly connects to your website to set up and optimize your campaigns. Remarketing on social media channels is a highly effective way to bring people back to your website to complete a purchase. Popular social networks for promoting a business: Instagram marketing YouTube marketing TikTok marketing Facebook marketing LinkedIn marketing Pinterest marketing Twitter marketing Our recommended reading to improve your social media strategy: Types of Social Media Content for Your Business How to Increase Social Media Engagement Ways to Improve Your Social Media Presence Read also: The art of cringe marketing 03. Search engine optimization (SEO) Search engines are filled with micro-moments. These are high intent instances when someone wants to learn, buy or do something. By optimizing your chances of ranking higher on search engines to show up at these instances, you're practicing search engine optimization SEO . Search engine optimization (SEO) can be used as a core marketing strategy or a marketing tactic. In either case, a solid SEO strategy centers around making a brand’s content desirable, discoverable and accessible for web users via search engines like Google and Bing. Like inbound marketing, the most effective SEO strategies will include a great deal of audience research (typically with keyword research) and will be designed to ensure the brand has competitive visibility within the target audience. SEO strategists tend to specialize in certain skills, such as technical SEO . Taking this approach can help brands to concentrate knowledge, utilize the most effective SEO tools and best satisfy user intent. Using SEO techniques, you'll direct the right kind of traffic to your site. People who find you through searches already arrive at your business website with intent. Driving traffic to your website isn't the only significant benefit. Bottom line sales also improve with SEO. In fact, 70% of online marketers say that "SEO is better than PPC advertising for generating sales." To implement an SEO strategy, start by learning how to do keyword research the right way. After selecting which high intent keywords you're after, you can begin optimizing your content and improving your online presence to increase your search ranking and visibility. 04. Pay-per-click advertising (PPC) Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is a smart way to drive targeted traffic to your website through platforms like Google, Bing and social media. The best part? You only pay when someone clicks your ad, making it a cost-effective strategy to reach your ideal audience. Even better, PPC campaigns typically deliver a 200% return on investment , making them a highly effective choice for businesses. Search advertising is one of the most common PPC methods. Businesses bid on keywords to appear at the top of search results. For instance, a local bakery could bid on “best cupcakes near me” to make sure customers find them first. Display ads are another effective option, like banners on related websites or social media ads tailored to specific demographics, interests or behaviors. PPC campaigns are easy to track, helping you measure your return on investment (ROI) with precision. It’s a great way to generate leads quickly, promote seasonal offers or drive product launches. Here’s how to get started with PPC advertising: Keyword bidding: Use tools like Google Ads or Bing Ads to identify high-volume keywords for your business and create targeted campaigns. Social media ads: Run tailored campaigns on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn to reach specific audience segments. Retargeting ads: Re-engage visitors who left your site without taking action by showing them targeted ads that bring them back. 05. Email marketing and newsletters Recent studies show that 89% of marketers use email as the primary channel for generating leads . However, for email marketing campaigns to succeed, they need to deliver the right kind of message to your audience (no spammy "Buy now" emails). Good email marketing builds a relationship and acquires trust with readers. According to Amanda Buhse, owner & COO of Coal and Canary: "We focus a lot on our email marketing from our Wix site. One of our emails alone has generated over six hundred orders and over $40k in revenue. Currently, we send out newsletters and emails once a week now." You can still automate emails (check out marketing automation software ) but remember to always add value. These newsletter examples show how all-sized companies can communicate uniquely and interestingly with subscribers. When you make a newsletter , conduct A/B tests to maximize performance. When done correctly, your newsletter and email marketing strategy can create a strong ROI, improve customer retention and influence purchasing decisions. Email marketing tips: To build your email list, add a pop-up to your website to collect user information. Share engaging content in your emails, such as blog posts, user-generated content and videos. Personalize emails by adding information such as first names and customizing content based on how the user engaged with your site. 06. Influencer marketing According to author and entrepreneur Seth Godin, "People do not buy goods and services. They buy relations, stories and magic. These wise words sum up the power of influencer marketing . As one of the quickest growing marketing strategies, influencer marketing uses real people to speak for your brand. Another side of it, is tapping into celebrity branding—using high profile influencers or online celebrities as part of your marketing efforts. Influencers are individuals with high following or authority on a given topic or niche. This is one of the best marketing strategies because you get to expose your products and brand to a high follower reach without spending time building the audience. More than that, the influencer you've chosen to work with can use their authority to sway potential consumers to buy. Influencer marketing is not unlike word of mouth marketing or referral marketing. According to Sarah Adam, head of marketing partnerships and influencer marketing for Wix Studio : "Marketing is forever changing and to be competitive and stand out, you need to keep up with the industry changes. Tactics that worked last year are no longer recommended today. Influencer marketing is a great example of that. It is literally changing and growing by the day and that is the core nature of the industry." The key is to find influencers that relate to your product and align with your brand values. Don’t be afraid to start with smaller partnerships with nano and micro-influencers. Interestingly enough, often their engagement rates and conversions are much higher than the ones with massive followers. After reading these impressive stats below, you’ll further understand the lucrative power of a good influencer marketing strategy in helping your secure greater market penetration as part of a wider mass marketing strategy: 60% of marketers report better performance with influencer content vs. their own brand content. Over 70% of marketers agree that the quality of customers and traffic from influencer marketing is better than other forms of marketing. Influencer marketing yields between $5.20 to $6.50 for every one dollar spent. 07. Earned media and PR After you've launched your business and website, it's time to spread the word. Gaining positive publicity and traction from media outlets will create the buzz around your business to get the attention of the masses. Business marketing strategies within this realm come in varying forms, including TV, newspapers, radio and podcasts. Ideally, the press and publicity you acquire are organic (unpaid), but even if you’re considering working with a paid PR agency, the ROI can prove worthy. Bill Gates himself said, “If I only had two dollars left, I would spend one dollar on PR. It's an effective way to take your marketing communication to the next level. 08. Landing pages What is a landing page? In simple terms—a marketer's best friend. This standalone page has one clear goal which is conversions. No matter how successful your various online marketing strategies are, your landing pages and website must convert at a decent rate to make all the efforts worthwhile. Even just a one-second delay in page-load speed leads to a 7% drop in conversions. Stay up to date with landing page best practices to increase your website conversion rate . By using Wix’s landing page builder , you’re already optimizing with best practices in mind. The landing page templates have customizable designs with CTA buttons placed strategically, built to be mobile-friendly, and critical information above the fold. Simply upload your images and change the text to fit your business. 09. Advertising There are numerous types of advertising to consider for your business. From social media advertising to TV and print advertising , the options for advertising campaigns greatly vary. One thing is clear, online advertising is a powerful way to get your audience's attention. Its digital technology helps you better target, track and measure the results of your paid marketing investment. Learning how to advertise on Google early on will significantly benefit your growth within digital advertising. Since Google is the largest search engine globally, you want to stay ahead of the competition and show up for strategic keywords related to your offerings with Google ads. Advertising on Google and many social media platforms is also known as Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising . To choose the proper advertising methods for your business, consider: Your audience Costs and budget Timing and length of your campaign Creative assets available 10. Affiliate marketing To answer the question, “ What is affiliate marketing? ” you can think of it as paid partnerships where others promote your brand for you. By creating an affiliate marketing program, you’re ultimately working with another affiliate that will distribute product promotions on their social media accounts, blog or other platforms. Their sales get tracked with unique links called affiliate links, which allow the individual to get compensated based on performance. This type of marketing is increasing in popularity, and more and more companies are rolling out their own affiliate programs. Due to this growth, today, 81% of advertisers include affiliate marketing as part of their overall marketing strategy. 11. Retargeting Retargeting is a highly effective way to reach people who are already familiar with your brand and have expressed some level of interest in what you have to offer. It allows you to show ads to people who have already visited your website or shown interest in your products or services. There are a few different ways to retarget people who have visited your website, from display and social media ads to email marketing, which can help you in the following ways: Increase brand awareness. Make sure your brand is top of mind for people who have already visited your website. This can make them more likely to remember you when they are ready to make a purchase. Generate leads. Showing ads to people who have visited your website and have done nothing else can encourage people to take the next step. Try offering free discounts or trials to give further incentives. Drive sales. People who abandoned their shopping carts or visited your website but didn’t buy anything might just need a reminder, and you can make sure they get one. Whichever platform you choose, just make sure you are tracking the results of your retargeting campaigns so that you can see what’s actually working. 12. AI marketing Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the world of marketing. AI-powered tools and technologies are being used to automate tasks, personalize experiences and target audiences more effectively. As a result, AI is becoming an essential part of any successful marketing strategy. AI marketing is still in its early stages, but is rapidly growing in popularity. As AI technology continues to develop, it's likely that AI marketing will become even more important in the future. Here are some specific examples of how AI is being used in marketing today: Chatbots: Chatbots are AI-powered software programs that can simulate conversation with human users. Chatbots are increasingly being used in marketing to provide customer support, answer questions and generate leads. Personalized recommendations: AI can be used to recommend products or services to customers based on their past purchase history, interests and online behavior. This is a powerful way to increase customer engagement and drive sales. Targeted advertising: AI can be used to target ads to specific audiences based on their demographics, interests and online behavior. This is a more effective way to reach target audiences and improve the return on investment (ROI) of advertising campaigns. AI website maker : There are a number of AI-powered design tools available that can help businesses create websites more quickly and easily. These tools use AI to generate templates, layouts and even content for websites. These are just a few examples of how AI is being used in marketing today. As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and effective ways to use AI in marketing in the future (such as AI marketing automation ). 13. Partnership marketing Partnership marketing is a smart and effective way to team up with other businesses to achieve shared goals. By combining strengths, audiences and resources, businesses can expand their reach, boost brand visibility and drive sales—all while creating value for everyone involved. One popular approach is co-marketing, where two brands work together to create and promote content or campaigns. For example, a fitness app might collaborate with a health food brand to produce a joint eBook on nutrition and workouts, sharing it with both audiences. Or a travel company might partner with a luggage brand for a giveaway, attracting a larger audience while highlighting both brands. By pooling resources, partnership marketing saves time, cuts costs and delivers more impactful results than going it alone. It builds strong business relationships and provides greater value to shared audiences. Here are some ideas to get started with partnership marketing: Co-branded content : Create shared content, such as blog posts or videos, that highlights both brands and reaches wider audiences. Joint events : Host webinars, workshops or live events together to engage both audiences and build stronger relationships. Affiliate collaborations : Partner with affiliates who promote your brand in exchange for a commission, increasing reach and sales. Subscribe to the Wix blog for a weekly dose of marketing tips and industry trends. Marketing strategies examples (and why we love them) Wix: Content marketing with education in mind If you haven't yet heard—we launched a podcast. Now What interviews leaders to discuss the future of business, design and eCommerce. The episodes are filled with helpful insights on succeeding as an entrepreneur as technology keeps changing. Podcasting is a content marketing strategy that centers around the listener. On top of educating and informing with this content, Wix also turns some episodes into blog posts and shares them on social media. We saw how helpful it could be to have all types of content that listeners and readers can consume in the medium that best fits them. And most importantly its not just about promotion—it can inspire and teach something new. Podcasts and other forms of marketing content can also be used as part of your customer relationship management, as they allow you the ability to engage directly with your users or potential customers. Berta : Social media marketing that keeps up with the trends Bridal company Berta didn't earn its 2.9 million followers for nothing. Their highly engaging, humorous and trendy Instagram Reels and TikToks take over social media feeds. In one of their Instagram videos , they used a trending voice-over of the Kardashian family speaking. They styled each Kardashian voice with a different Berta dress to playfully showcase their dress line to each unique personality. Their trendjacking marketing strategy is not only clever and entertaining, but it also displays products naturally. Berta makes themselves relatable and likable, while also positioning themselves as driven by innovation, through social media—something all brands can learn from. Etsy : Email marketing campaigns that add value Etsy, a platform known for its handmade gifts, understands how to use email marketing to showcase products while also benefiting the reader. The sharp yet level-headed subject line "Next-level gifting" grabs attention immediately. Opening the email with the following helpful advice: "A few tips for nailing their gift: 1) Try a pick that's unexpected—but so perfect. 2) Celebrate your connection, whether it's a shared hobby, a sweet message or an inside joke. 3) Add a personal detail to make it completely one of a kind." The email grouped different products, such as jewelry, cozy gifts, heartfelt art and more. As a receiver, you're happy you got some thoughtful gift ideas from Etsy. Instead of spamming product links into an inbox, Etsy added value and tried to find ways their marketing could be helpful. Blue Apron : Influencer marketing with a niche As a meal prep business, you can only imagine how strategic it was for Blue Apron to partner with a top chef like Sam Kass . Kass reaches 20,000 followers that are likely all food lovers. Blue Apron's use of influencer marketing and personalization has boosted engagement by hosting a virtual cooking class with Kass, helping them foster brand trust. They stayed focused on their niche within the foodie world and used leaders aligned with their values to represent their brand. While a highly effective strategy on its own, mass marketing is not necessarily the right approach in every situation. Understanding your market share within a niche that is more likely to convert is more important sometimes than focusing on a wider market grab. In essence, strategic marketing is where it's at. How to track effective marketing strategies Tracking your marketing strategies according to their set KPI's is essential for understanding how effective they have been and so you can optimize them as they run. We've put together some of the main ways in which you can track your marketing strategies from planning to execution. The specific KPIs for each marketing strategy may vary, but in general they should all be tracked according to the following steps. Set your goals and define what you want to achieve with your marketing strategies. Do you want to increase website traffic, generate leads, boost sales or improve brand awareness? Choose the key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your goals. If one of your goals is to increase website traffic, then your KPIs or marketing metrics would be page views, bounce rate and time on site. You should use always tracking tools in order to collect the specific data you need to understand how close you are to meeting your KPI's or not. The exact tools you use will vary according to your goals and specific metrics but some popular examples include Google Search Console, tools that track social media analytics and email marketing software. Make sure to fully understand what it is your tracking before choosing the right analytics tool for you. Some tools can measure multiple KPIs, such as traffic sources , traffic numbers and more. You may need to check that you have the necessary tracking codes installed on your website and landing pages to monitor your campaign's success. Once you've collected your data, you'll need to analyze it. First of make sure to regularly review and analyze the data collected from your tracking tools, either on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis. This will help you identify what's working and what needs to be improved. It should also help you plan better future marketing strategies and campaigns. Don't be afraid to adjust your strategies. Based on the insights gained from your data analytics, you'll most likely need to adjust or optimize your marketing strategies to improve them. One example of this is if your social media campaign is not generating the desired engagement, try experimenting with different content formats or posting times. Monitor your strategies and their progress both over the short and long term. This should be a continuous process that involves reviewing your KPIs and metrics to ensure that you're on track to achieve your objectives. What is a marketing strategist? A marketing strategist is someone, generally referred to as a professional, who develops and implements marketing plans and campaigns to achieve a company's marketing and sales goals. Their responsibilities include conducting market research, analyzing consumer behavior and market trends and identifying target audiences. From this information, they create effective marketing strategies and tactics, including product positioning, pricing, promotion and distribution. The ultimate aim of a marketing strategist is to increase brand awareness and drive sales growth. Marketing strategy for different industries Marketing strategies should fit each industry. Retail businesses thrive with social media, influencer partnerships and seasonal promotions. Meanwhile, growing eCommerce brands focus on email marketing, SEO and targeted ads. A restaurant might focus on Instagram for great food photos while a tech company could use LinkedIn to share ideas and connect with B2B clients. Many eCommerce brands are now trying live shopping and augmented reality while the healthcare industry is turning to telemedicine and digital ads. Learn how to edit photos to take charge of your brand's imagery. The main types of marketing The main types of marketing can be broadly divided into two categories: traditional marketing and digital marketing. Traditional marketing This type relies on offline channels to reach its target audience and consumers. Examples include print (newspapers, magazines, brochures), broadcast (TV, radio commercials), direct mail (catalogs, coupons), outdoor advertising (billboards, bus ads) and in-person or online public relations (press releases, media events). Digital marketing This type uses and takes place on online channels to connect with consumers. It includes content marketing (blog posts, articles, videos), social media marketing (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), search engine optimization (SEO) for better search ranking, search engine marketing (paid ads on search results), email marketing, affiliate marketing (partnering with other websites) and mobile marketing (text messages, apps). Marketing strategies FAQ How often should you update your marketing strategy? You should review your marketing strategy at least once a year or anytime there’s a big change in your business, industry or audience. Checking in more often, like every quarter, helps you stay on top of trends and keep your strategy relevant. What are the common mistakes to avoid in marketing strategies? Common mistakes include not knowing your target audience or skipping data and analytics. Others are relying too much on one channel, setting unrealistic goals or ignoring competitors and trends. What are the main components of a good marketing strategy? While the precise marketing strategy you choose will depend on your specific business, industry and marketing KPIs, the components of a good marketing strategy remain the same. These include clear goals and objectives, a well-defined target audience, a unique value proposition, a solid competitive analysis plan, a great marketing mix, a clear budget and metrics complete with a structured implementation plan. Why is a good marketing strategy so important for your business? A clear, planned marketing strategy is essential for your business, for the following reasons - it provides focus for all marketing efforts, it maximizes ROI, helps with brand building, enables measurement and optimization of marketing efforts, and allows you to stay competitive amongst other businesses. What are best practices for marketing strategies? - Conduct thorough market research to identify target audience and market trends - Develop a clear and concise marketing message that resonates with your target audience - Use a variety of communication channels to reach your target audience effectively - Keep track of the results and adjust your marketing strategy accordingly What are the 4 Ps of marketing strategies? The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion. Each ingredient in this marketing mix plays an important role in increasing sales and building a smart strategy for promoting your business.
- 40 creative marketing ideas to grow your business
Much like deciding to create a website , coming up with solid marketing ideas is key in the foundation of a successful business. For instance, you might offer great products at the lowest prices, or provide the best customer service, but the ability to attract new customers boils down to how you deliver your brand’s message. Coming up with creative marketing ideas in order to build an integrated marketing plan and marketing strategy are what give you a competitive edge. To make the most of your brainstorming session, you’ll need to come prepared, which is why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best marketing ideas for small businesses. Start building your online presence with Wix . Content marketing ideas 1. Write engaging blog posts 2. Start a podcast 3. Create infographics 4. Produce videos 5. Create tutorials 6. Write product reviews 7. Create memes 8. Publish case studies and white papers 01. Write engaging blog posts When you add a blog to your website and constantly update it with fresh material, you are offering value to your audience. First, a blog provides interesting content that engages readers. This also helps build your brand’s authority. Second, blog posts are an excellent place to use targeted keywords and improve your site’s SEO, bringing in more organic traffic to your business. Pro tip: Add your brand's logo to your blog. If you don't have one, you can use a logo maker for your niche (for example, if you're in the sports industry, you can use a Sports Logo Maker ). Learn how to build a smarter approach with an effective AI content strategy . 02. Start a podcast Podcasts are extremely popular these days. You’ll be able to tap into this marketing trend by producing your own branded podcast. You can discuss issues related to your industry or interview interesting people in your field. Furthermore, starting a podcast of your own is great for brand building, and marketing for SMBs with potentially limited resources, and can help you form a community around your business. 03. Create infographics Well-crafted infographics are highly engaging. You can tell an entire story and prove a point with just one image. It might take some effort to craft a stunning infographic, but when you nail it, you’ll have a great piece of content to share. Create your own infographics using graphic design tools or even on PowerPoint. Learn how to design social media graphics and get infographic ideas to elevate your content today. 04. Produce videos Videos are another great piece of visual content you can share on social media and post on your site. And the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating videos. You can produce videos to promote new products, improve brand recognition and drive traffic to a landing page. Don’t shy away from letting your creativity shine through. Just remember to consider what your goals are. 05. Create tutorials If you’re in retail, making tutorials for your products is the perfect marketing tool. Like blog posts, tutorials help establish your website as a knowledge center, helping customers make informed decisions. They promote trust and provide a sense of accountability. Additionally, product tutorials help bring organic traffic to your website by using relevant keywords to improve search engine rankings. 06. Write product reviews Product reviews offer the same benefits as tutorials, but are much easier to do. Simply write honest reviews of products you sell and detail the pros and cons of each one. Product reviews can also improve your site’s SEO and your brand’s reputation. 07. Create memes Nothing travels around the web faster than a witty meme. Plus, making people laugh is a surefire way to get them to remember you and maybe even make them want to do business with you. After all, it's well-known in the psychology of selling that tapping into peoples' emotions is essential for getting them to pull out their wallets. Making memes is a lot like learning how to make labels or stickers—they all need to be simple and get the message across quickly and effectively. Your memes can be related to your industry or simply provide funny commentary on life. But make sure they represent your brand values. Otherwise, they can backfire and cause harm to your brand. 08. Publish case studies and white papers Case studies and white papers are the mark of a serious and professional business. If you want to show off your expertise to potential customers, then look no further. This is a great way to tackle complex subjects that your customers find interesting or may not be fully educated on and want to learn more about. Social media marketing ideas 9. Write compelling posts 10. Give an inside look 11. Live stream 12. Use hashtags wisely 13. Create your own hashtags 14. Set up challenges 15. Open a community group 16. Ask for feedback 17. Promote on social media 18. Collaborate with other brands 19. Comment on other people's content 09. Write compelling posts While you shouldn’t rely on posts alone to generate buzz on social media, they’re often the easiest and fastest way to engage with your customers. Crafting great copy for posts is also one of the basics of social media marketing . Posts are an incredibly simple way to communicate with your audience and promote your business. 10. Give an inside look Use social media stories, like Instagram Stories, to show followers what day-to-day life looks like for your business. If you can make life look great, people will definitely be interested in learning more and might want to experience a piece of it themselves. You can sprinkle more “traditional” marketing content in between to make the most of your reach. 11. Live stream Many social media platforms promote live streams more heavily than other forms of content, so it might be time you took advantage of this benefit, too. You can go live and do anything that will get a positive response from customers. For example, you might want to talk about products and services in a way that followers will enjoy watching. As always, make sure your live streams are in line with your brand’s identity. 12. Use hashtags wisely Hashtags differ from platform to platform. On Twitter and Instagram, hashtags are critical to gaining exposure, especially if you don’t have a large following yet. Use hashtags relevant to your business to increase your posts’ visibility and reach. If you don’t know which to use, you can take a look at your competitors’ profiles to find some inspiration. 13. Create your own hashtags Branded hashtags help set you apart from the competition and create a virtual space where your brand sets the tone. So don’t just use whichever hashtags are popular in your industry. Take the initiative and start your own branded hashtags. Eventually people will catch on and use them for themselves. 14. Set up challenges Creating challenges for social media is a great and low budget marketing idea that can gain a lot of exposure for your business. Your challenges don’t have to be complicated. They could be as simple as taking a picture or saying something recorded. That said, they should be funny, thought-provoking, or somehow hip and trendy, to get people to participate and share. 15. Open a community group Building a community around your brand promotes a loyal customer base and can give you a method to communicate with them directly. You can start your own online community by opening a dedicated Facebook group or create a community group for our website. 16. Ask for feedback Social media is all about generating engagement. One of the best ways to do so is by asking your audience questions. You can ask them anything you want in the form of a poll or post, depending on the social media platform. Asking the right questions can also help steer your business in a direction that suits your customers, so it’s a win-win. 17. Promote on social media To really make the most of your social media marketing, you’ll need followers. Don’t be afraid to push your social media handles on your website or within the content you produce. Sometimes a simple logo or link is enough to get people to find your brand and hit the follow button. Or you can use QR codes to get people engaging fast. 18. Collaborate with other brands One of the best ways to quickly increase your exposure is by working with another brand on a collaborative marketing effort. If both brands have a decent following, and an overlapping target audience, you can potentially double your exposure overnight. 19. Comment on people’s content A good way to increase your social media reach, and promote your business, is by publicly interacting with other people and brands. You can comment on and share content by others in order to get their followers to notice your brand. Lead magnet marketing ideas 20. Give away freebies 21. Run competitions 22. Offer limited-time discounts 23. Create limited edition products 20. Give away freebies Nothing beats a giveaway. Everyone loves free stuff and it’s a great way to get potential customers to give you a little information in return. You can offer free products or services with each purchase, sign-ups to your website or mailing list. 21. Run competitions Take free swag to a new level by increasing the stakes and turning it into a competition on social media. Keep in mind that if you're only going to give out a limited number of prizes, they should be worth people’s time. 22. Offer limited-time discounts Discounts are another tried and true method for any retailer or service provider. Limited-time offers won’t just promote business in the moment. You can offer a changing deal, every week or month, maintaining people’s interest over time. 23. Create limited edition products People love unique products. You can channel that passion into your own products by manufacturing short runs of limited-edition products or “drops.” Limited runs create a sense of scarcity and can really drive customers to want to lay their hands on the product. Client communication marketing ideas 24. Use your mailing list 25. Write your press releases 26. Host an event 27. Design a webinar 28. Use testimonials 24. Use your mailing list Start building an email list that includes existing clients and/or potential customers. That way, you’ll have a large mailing list that you’ll be able to market to directly. Send out newsletters, let people know about upcoming sales, announce new products and delivery possibilities. Email marketing is the most direct form of communication with your customers. Don’t be afraid to use it, but don’t abuse it either. 25. Write press releases In marketing, everything is an opportunity to create a buzz. If you have any news you want to share regarding your business, write a press release. You can send press releases to media outlets like magazines, radio stations, online publications, or even to a dedicated mailing list. 26. Host an event For a brand, hosting an event is like having a birthday. You gather all of your business partners and clientele in one place, physical or online, and communicate with them directly at the same time. Events are an excellent way to maintain relationships and tighten ties with the people that matter to your business. And it’s all about marketing yourself. 27. Design a webinar Webinars are online events in which you present and discuss important topics with potential customers, distributors, investors, or any group of people you want to share your knowledge and expertise with. For brands that deal in technical or cutting-edge fields, webinars can help form bonds with important players in the industry. 28. Use testimonials People can be wary of purchasing products from a business they’re unfamiliar with. Often, a simple testimonial from a satisfied customer will be enough to help them make the decision to trust your brand. Asking for client feedback also helps improve your business reputation and gain the customer’s trust that you have their best interest in mind. Collaborate with other brands 29. Create joint products 30. Work with local businesses 31. Sponsorship 32. Write guest posts 29. Create joint products If you want to create a buzz around a new product, collaborate on it with another brand and manufacture something truly unique. That’s because people love it when two brands they admire put out a product together. Issue some limited editions and you’ll have a highly marketable product. For example, a writer and a graphic designer could team up to host a workshop on publishing a book. The writer shares tips on storytelling and structure while the designer focuses on visuals, including how to make a book cover that sells. 30. Work with local businesses One small business marketing statistic finds that 49% of consumers value the convenience and location of local shops. Investing in local markets can go a long way towards gaining new customers and establishing your business in a specific place. You can instantly market your brand to a local crowd by collaborating with another well-known local business. It’s always a good idea to join forces in any form, be it a product, content for social media, or a special offer. 31. Sponsorship How about marketing your brand to a specific group of people via sponsorship offers? Sponsoring means you provide financing in return for advertisement. You can literally sponsor anything, like an event, a sports team or individual. Think of how you can most effectively reach your target audience. 32. Write guest posts Spread the word about your business by providing content to other brands. You can write articles for magazines who are willing to publish them, or offer other businesses to write guest posts for them. Reach out to brands who can provide guest writing for your outlets in return. For example, a print shop could collaborate with a local event organizer’s blog by writing a guest post. They might share practical tips on how to make a flyer that stands out, grabs attention and helps boost attendance. This kind of partnership not only provides useful insights for readers but can also help the print shop connect with a wider audience in their community. Paid advertising ideas 33. Place ads online 34. Partner up with influencers 35. Advertise on billboards 33. Place ads online Gaining organic traffic is important, but it’s not always enough to grow your business at the rate you want. If you can afford it, don’t hesitate to take out ads wherever it can help you reach potential customers. Many websites operate on an ad revenue model, so there’s no shortage of places to advertise. 34. Partner up with influencers If you’re looking for a less traditional way to spend your marketing dollars, you can use social media influencers to push your products. With influencer marketing, you need to find individuals that have a large following of people who may find interest in your business. Contact them and strike a deal. You can offer payment, or sponsorship of some kind, in return for product placements or endorsements. 35. Advertise on billboards Physical marketing may seem old school, and let’s be honest—most of us forgot how to make a poster . But for many local businesses, it’s still their bread and butter. If your business operates in a local area, and can gain from non-targeted marketing, you may want to invest in some real-life ads in strategic places. General marketing ideas 36. Perfect your elevator pitch 37. Use guerrilla marketing 38. Get seasonal 39. Simplify your marketing funnel 40. Automate your marketing 36. Perfect your elevator pitch This may seem obvious to some, but it’s extremely important to perfect your elevator pitch. A pitch isn’t just for investors. It’s the way you present your business to the world, from customers to partners. Being able to explain what your business does and summarize it in just a few sentences may be the most effective marketing tool in your possession. 37. Use guerrilla marketing Guerrilla marketing is less of a marketing idea and more of a state of mind. These are creative, out of the box, and most importantly, cost-effective, marketing stunts. Take the example of the giant footprints on the Santa Monica beach, promoting the King Kong 360 3D movie. It didn’t take much, but the message was loud and clear. 38. Get seasonal Everything is a marketing opportunity. Don’t waste opportunities by letting seasonal events go by without a custom marketing strategy . It’s not just about holiday marketing tactics. Any major event can be used as a marketing opportunity, from elections to the Superbowl. 39. Simplify your marketing funnel A marketing funnel is a representation of every step a customer goes through before the purchase. It charts their way from an initial point of contact, such as an ad, all the way to closing the deal. Thus, understanding your marketing funnel is crucial to making smart marketing decisions. And simplifying your funnel can help generate more sales. The fewer steps customers need to take, the better. 40. Automate your marketing There are endless marketing ideas for small businesses. But your time isn’t limitless. Fortunately, you can use marketing automation to take care of various tasks. Automate emails, social media message replies and more to free up time to think of new ways to market your business. Check out our guides on marketing automation software and AI marketing automation to learn more. Further reading: How to think like a growth marketer with zero marketing experience (feat. Kevin Indig)
- What is Google AdSense and how to make money with it
Start generating business ideas with the Wix Business Launcher → Looking to turn your website into a money-making machine? One great perk of choosing to create a website is unlocking its potential to make money online . If you’re already selling products or booking services, there are more ways to boost your income—like hosting ads on your site. So how do you get ads on your website? That’s where Google AdSense comes in. It’s a popular program that lets you publish ads and earn money every time someone clicks. While it’s not a shortcut to instant riches, it’s a simple way to enhance your site’s content and earn extra cash. Ready to learn how to monetize a website? Check out this guide filled with advertisement examples and tips to make the most of Google AdSense. Need help thinking of other money-making opportunities? Use the Wix Business Launcher to discover more ideas based on your skills and hobbies. Chat with AI and get set up with a full market analysis, earning strategies and launch kit right out of the gate. Quickly take any idea from concept to reality. What is Google AdSense? Google AdSense is a free tool website owners use to place Google Ads on their sites (check out our guide on Wix Google Ads for details). This Google advertising tool connects you - the website owner - with advertisers so that you can display ad content. So, how does it work? When you register for AdSense, Google uses an ad auction system to place ads on your site. These ads are chosen based on your website’s niche, as well as the subjects that site visitors are interested in. Then, in return for hosting Google ads, Google will pay you a commission for each click the ads receive. How to make money with Google AdSense If you have a website or are starting a blog or YouTube channel, Google AdSense makes it simple to monetize your content by showing relevant ads to your audience. It’s a simple and reliable way to earn passive income while you focus on creating great content and making the most of your traffic. Set up a platform: Start by creating a website, blog or YouTube channel centered on a specific niche that speaks to your audience. Keep the design clear and user-friendly to hold their attention. Make sure your platform is organized, mobile-friendly and optimized for a smooth experience. Create quality content: Share original, useful and engaging material that solves problems, educates or entertains. Tools like AI content generators can help you brainstorm ideas and create practical, helpful content that connects with your audience. Post regularly to keep them coming back. Drive traffic: Use SEO to get your content ranking higher on search engines for relevant keywords. Promote your work on social media and connect with your audience there. Build an email list to keep engagement going and encourage repeat visits. A mix of channels will help you reach more people. Sign up for AdSense and position ads: Apply for an AdSense account. Make sure your site meets their guidelines to avoid rejection. Once approved, place ads in spots like headers, sidebars or within your content where they’ll be easily seen. Don’t overdo it—striking a balance keeps your audience engaged. Optimize earnings and refine strategy: Maximize revenue by testing different ad sizes, formats and placements to see what works best. Focus on content tied to high-paying keywords to boost earnings. Use the AdSense dashboard to monitor clicks, impressions and revenue. Regularly analyze your data to spot trends and tweak your strategy. Improve top-performing content and work on underperforming areas to see better results. How to get started with Google AdSense? Google has made it easy to use AdSense to make money online. Let’s walk through the setup process: Create a Google AdSense account Set up your payment information Connect your website to Google AdSense Choose your ad placements Create and run ads on your website 01. Create a Google AdSense account The first thing you'll need to do is create an AdSense account. First, go to the Google AdSense site and click Get Started. On the next page, Google will ask you for three things: Your website URL Your email address Whether or not you want customized help optimizing your ads In the email address field, enter a Gmail address if you have one. If you don’t, you’ll need to create one. 02. Set up your payment information Before you can start running ads on your site, make sure Google has all the information it needs to pay you. Go to the Payments tab on the left side of the page. This will take you to your Payments dashboard. When you start earning ad revenue, you’ll see it here. For now, you’ll need to: Update the “How you get paid” area with your banking information Fill in your payments profile under Settings so Google can verify your information and tax details You may also want to briefly review your Account settings (again, go to the left-side navigation to access this). The information should be up-to-date if you have an existing Google account. If it’s not, make the necessary edits. 03. Connect your website to Google AdSense Now, it’s time to sync your website with AdSense. To do this, you’ll need to add a special code to your site. This signifies to Google that it can place ads there. First, from your Google AdSense dashboard, go to Sites. Then, click Add Site and enter your domain name. In the next screen, you’ll be provided with custom code along with instructions for embedding it on your website. If you’re a Wix user, you can easily integrate your website with AdSense using the Google AdSense app . All you need to do is download the app, and then paste in the code provided by AdSense. Once you’ve pasted the code into your site, go back to the Google AdSense screen. Then, click Get Review. Google will take you back to your dashboard where you’ll see a notice. Although you may have to wait up to two weeks for Google to verify your website, you can still get a head start in setting up ads. So, let’s go to the next step. 04. Choose your ad placements At this point, you’ve told Google that you want it to place ads on your site. But how will you decide where to display those ads? There are two options for determining where the ads will show up: you can either let Google choose for you, or you can select the placements yourself. Below, we’ll walk through both options. Option 1: Use Google automation The quickest way to create ad placements is by using Google’s automated tool. Why might you choose this over the manual option? You’re brand new to website monetization and need help with it. You’re thinking about custom placements, but want to first see what Google considers the optimal positioning of your ads. Ads would look fine on any page of your site—especially if you’re a publisher or blogger—so there’s no need to hand-pick your ad units. Here’s what you need to know to set up Google automation: To start, go to the Ads section in your Google AdSense dashboard. If you’re interested in seeing what auto ads might look like, click the pencil next to your domain name under “By site”. Google will pull up a rendering of your website on the next screen: When it finishes rendering, you’ll see your website. You can toggle between the mobile and desktop view using the corresponding icons above. To see what it looks like when Google automatically places ads on your site, switch on the “Auto ads” toggle on the right. In this example, Google has placed three ads on the selected page. In the panel on the right, you can increase or decrease the numbers of ads shown under “Ad load”. In that same panel, you also get to control what types of ads you display: In-page ads from Google advertisers Matched content from your own site (Note: You have to have a high volume of traffic to be eligible for matched content) Vignette ads between page loads Wide-screen ads on desktop If there are any pages on your site that you don’t want to show ads on, include them under “Page exclusions.” On a related note, you can also let Google automate mobile ad optimization for you. To do this, go to “Global settings”: If Google auto ads is the route you decide to take, just toggle the automations on and let Google automatically choose the placements for you. Option 2: Create custom ad placements Alternatively, you may prefer to manually select your ad placements. Why might you choose this over the automated option? You don’t want ads to appear on every page of your site. You want control over which parts of the page they appear on so the user experience doesn’t get disrupted by poorly placed and disruptive ads. You want to use ads to monetize high-traffic areas of your site that are informational but not revenue-generating, like blog posts, property listings, recipe pages, etc. Before you start setting up your own ad placements, you’ll first need to get acquainted with the various types of online ads available. Display ads These are the typical banner ads with images that you find around the web. You can place them anywhere on your site as a variety of sizes and shapes are available. You can customize: Ad shape: square, vertical or horizontal Ad size: responsive or fixed In-feed ads In-feed ads are another type of ad you can display through Google AdSense. For blogs, magazines, directories, product reviews and other list-like content, these ads appear between listings in your feed. You can customize: Ad style: image above, image on the side, title above, or text only In-article ads Similar to in-feed ads, these work well for publishers, reviewers, and listicle sites. The main difference is that the ads appear in the middle of your content. You can customize: Font Color for the title, description, and sometimes the background Search engine ads You can place a Google search box on your site that displays AdSense ads in the results. You’ll get paid for clicks on those ads. You can customize: Where search results are pulled from: all over the web or the sites of your choosing Link ads Google displays a list of topics to your visitors. When they click a topic link, they’ll be shown relevant ads—and it’s only when they click an ad that you get paid. You can customize: Ad size Text color Background color Before moving onto the final step, I’d recommend you go page by page through your site and decide: Which type of ad should appear on it Where exactly you’ll place it What size will fit best Once you’ve thought about your ad placement and customization options, go to the next step to learn how to create and display your first ad. 05. Create and run ads on your website It’s time for the fun part - creating your first AdSense ad. There are many different website builders out there, and each requires a slightly different process. In this step, we’re going to focus on how to create and run AdSense ads through your Wix website . To create your first ad on your Wix site: Sign into Google AdSense Click Ads Click Ad Units Click +New ad unit Select Display ads Enter a name for your ad at the top left Click Ad Size on the right and select Fixed Enter the ad’s width and height Click create Click Copy Code Snippet to copy the ad code, and then click Done. Once you’ve copied the ad code, you’ll need to activate that code in the Wix Editor so that it appears on your site. Here’s how to do it: Go to the Google AdSense app in the Wix Editor Click Settings Paste the code into the app, and click Activate (Note that once you activate the code, it can take up to 48 hours for the ad to be displayed.) That’s all there is to it. Take a look at this article for more information about how to add and set up the Google AdSense app on your Wix website. Best practices when using AdSense There are a few more tips to leave you with before you start using Google AdSense: 01. Publish content regularly Google AdSense is about turning your website traffic into money. Without traffic to your website, there’s no money to earn from AdSense. And keep in mind that this is about more than just sheer numbers. You need steady and engaged traffic coming to your website if you want them to take notice of the ads there. By creating high-quality content and optimizing it so that the right people find it in search, you can do just that. 02. Never place more ads on a page than you have content Your website is the home of your brand - not a place to host a bunch of ads for other companies. So, you need to be careful about how many ads you allow on each page and where they go. Ultimately, your content should be getting more attention than the ads themselves. 03. Don’t try to game the system Google has very strict program policies, many of which revolve around deceptive practices that artificially boost your commission. This includes things like clicking on your own links, incentivizing others to click on ads, or using a tool to push high quantities of traffic to an AdSense-enabled page. Read the Google AdSense program policy if you're not familiar with its terms. 04. Take advantage of blocking controls Google does a good job pairing Google Ads with the content of your site. However, if it mistakenly displays a competitor’s ad, or something that doesn’t align with the values of your brand, you should use the built-in Blocking controls to remove the conflict. 05. Keep an eye on your reports Google AdSense comes with an entire area dedicated to Reports. Check in on this at least once a week to see how your ad units are performing. You can then make informed decisions when it comes to drawing better traffic to your site, optimizing your ad placements, and more. 06. A/B test your ads Another thing you can do to improve your earning potential is to experiment with different ad units, placements, colors and sizes. Use the Experiments found under Optimization to conduct A/B tests on your ads. Or you can have Google do the assessment and automatically adjust your ad units for you. This can help you make sure your ads are optimized, and if its worth consider another type of ad, such as native advertising . With time you might also want to consider Google re-marketing . Website content ideas for AdSense success Boost earnings by targeting high-value, low-competition niches. Use tools like Google Trends to find trending topics with solid search volume. Check competitors for content gaps and create engaging content your audience needs. Tech tutorials, wellness tips and travel hacks are always hits. DIY projects and budget-friendly home upgrades grab attention , while quick recipes and plant-based cooking are a food lover's favorite. Eco-friendly topics like sustainability tips and zero-waste swaps are perfect for connecting with today's audience. For personal growth, add value with career advice like virtual interview tips or networking strategies. Help creators grow with social media tips, video editing how-tos and advice on blogging or podcasting. 15 creative website ideas for AdSense success Niche news and trends : Share hyper-specific industry updates with quirky insights and creative commentary that capture the passion and pulse of the niche. Diy & how-to tutorials : Create step-by-step guides with playful twists that make everyday tasks fun and engaging. Personal finance and money-saving tips : Provide fresh strategies for budgeting and investing, paired with real success stories and clever money hacks. Health and fitness advice : Offer accessible workout plans, nutrition tips and mindfulness advice in a fun format that inspires healthier living. Recipe and cooking blogs : Experiment with unique recipes and clever shortcuts, turning everyday ingredients into gourmet dishes with a creative edge. Travel and destination guides : Share immersive stories and offbeat tips that make trips more memorable, blending practical advice with wanderlust. Product reviews and comparisons : Deliver honest reviews and detailed comparisons that simplify buying decisions and help readers make smarter choices. Parenting and family advice : Offer practical parenting hacks and relatable family tips mixed with humorous and heartwarming moments. Educational resources and online courses : Present dynamic tutorials and interactive content that make learning easy and engaging for any age. Lifestyle and productivity blogs : Share inventive strategies for boosting efficiency, paired with personal stories to inspire creative living. Pet care and animal health : Mix adorable pet stories with actionable care advice, creating a useful and enjoyable resource for pet owners. Gaming and esports reviews : Dive into detailed game analysis and lively esports commentary that keep gamers informed and entertained. Sustainable living and eco-tips : Share practical ideas to reduce waste and embrace greener habits, offering simple eco-friendly hacks for everyday life. Local business and community news : Celebrate local heroes and success stories with engaging insights and creative storytelling. Celebrity and entertainment gossip : Deliver juicy insider scoops with a fun tone, balancing scandalous updates with thoughtful commentary. How much money can you earn from Google AdSense? Google AdSense is not a get-rich-quick scheme. However, it is a way to passively earn income from your website. Here’s the formula Google uses to pay its AdSense users a commission for clicks: # of ad clicks * bid amount *.68 = Your Commission Google gives AdSense users 68% of the total earnings from their ad units. Here’s how the calculation would work if you had an ad that received 100 clicks and the advertiser had bid $1.00 on it: 100 * 1.00 * .68 = $68 Now, how much you earn is dependent on how much competition there is for your ad unit as well as how much advertisers are willing to pay per click. Your website, niche, brand authority, as well as the quantity and quality of your traffic can all affect these factors. So, it’s really important to view Google AdSense as something you can make good money from if you spend time making your website and content the best it can possibly be. If you’re curious to see your potential earnings, you can use Google AdSense’s calculator. This calculator starts at 50,000 monthly page views, so you’ll need to get your site to a good place before you can expect serious earnings from it. The benefits of using Google AdSense? Not sure whether to use Google AdSense to run ads on your site? Here are 10 advantages of the program: 1. Google AdSense enables you to monetize your website , offering a way to earn passive income through your site. 2. All you have to do is a little setup and then Google handles the rest , including sizing ads to properly fit desktop and mobile screens. 3. Google AdSense is free to use , so there’s no financial risk in getting started with it as part of a wider marketing strategy . 4. There’s a wide range of advertisers working with Google AdSense, so you can display ad content relevant to your niche. Google’s ad revenue is on the rise and is expected to hit over $340 billion by 2027 thanks to the growth of digital advertising and global markets. 5. Ads that appear on your site have been vetted by Google, so you can be assured that the ads meet certain quality standards . 6. Ads that appear on your site are compatible with your content and cater to visitors’ interests. As a result, they’re unobtrusive and add value to your visitors’ experience . 7. You get to choose which types of ads to use and where they go on your website. 8. You can customize the design of the ads to match the look and feel of your site. 9. You’ll get paid monthly by direct deposit so long as you make at least $100, so this could realistically become a steady paycheck. 10. As your website traffic grows and your audience becomes more engaged, you’ll incrementally increase your earnings through Google AdSense. How to make money with Google AdSense FAQ How long does it take to make $100 on AdSense? The time it takes to earn $100 on AdSense depends on your traffic, niche and ad performance. For example, if your site gets 1,000 visitors a day with a $0.25 CPC and a 2% CTR, you could reach $100 in about 20 days. Smaller sites with 100 daily visitors might take 6 months or more, especially in low-CPC niches. How does seasonal variation affect AdSense earnings in different niches? Holiday season (Q4: October-December): Retail and shopping niches see highest earnings Gift guides and product reviews perform best Finance niches benefit from year-end planning January-February, start of the year Health and fitness niches peak (New Year resolutions) Personal finance content increases (tax season) Travel niches typically experience a dip Summer months Education content decreases (school breaks) Travel and outdoor niches surge Tech and indoor-focused content sees lower earnings How do different content formats (long-form vs. short-form) affect AdSense CTR? According to research, long form content (more than 1500+ words) has a higher CTR, potentially better ad placement opportunities and increased user engagement time. Short form content, of less than 100 words generally shows. lower CTR and faster bounce rates. How do different geographic locations of visitors affect earning potential? Geographic location significantly impacts AdSense earning potential. Here's the breakdown by tier: Tier 1 (Highest earnings) USA ($0.61 average CPC) Australia ($0.57 CPC) UK ($0.48 CPC) Canada, Germany Tier 2 (Moderate earnings) Western Europe Japan Singapore Tier 3 (Lower earnings) Most Asian countries South America Eastern Europe Traffic from Tier 1 countries can earn 3-5 times more than Tier 3 countries for the same number of views. What's the impact of having multiple language versions of content on AdSense earnings? Multilingual content typically offers expanded reach because of market-specific targeting and higher CTR as a result. You can also trigger longer session times if you reach people in their native language. What's the correlation between social media traffic and AdSense CTR? Based on recent data , here's the correlation between social media traffic and AdSense CTR: Facebook traffic: 0.8-1.2% CTR Instagram traffic: 0.5-0.7% CTR Pinterest traffic: 1.1-1.4% CTR Generally, social media traffic shows: Lower CTR than direct/organic traffic Shorter session duration Higher bounce rates Best performance comes from Pinterest and Facebook, where user intent aligns better with ad engagement.
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