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  • 100+ Freelance business name ideas

    When it comes to choosing the right business name  for your freelance business , there's a variety of decisions that need to be made. For example, determining your desired target market and assembling a reliable team. However, amid all these considerations, choosing a name for your freelance business often gets sidelined as an afterthought, even though it is a crucial component of your business. A successful freelance business name should include several key qualities. It should be memorable, easy to pronounce and relevant to the type of freelance services you offer.  In reality, selecting the right business name is far from trivial when starting a freelance business; it's a pivotal moment that can shape the entire trajectory of your freelancing career. The name is the initial point of contact for potential clients and can significantly influence their decision to use your freelance services. Your business name will be a reflection of your freelance business idea  and an introduction to your creative identity.  Naming your freelance business just got a whole lot easier . The Wix Business Name Generator gives you custom, on-brand ideas fast—along with the tools to bring your idea to life. 100+ freelance business name ideas, by categories: Unique freelance business names Catchy freelance business names Professional freelance business names Location-based freelance business names Modern freelance business names Timeless freelance business names Clever freelance business names Funny freelance business names Unique freelance business names 1. ArtisticAlchemy Freelance 2. HandmadeHarmony Freelance 3. CreativeCanvas Freelance 4. TextileTreasures Freelance 5. ColorfulCraftworks Freelance 6. ArtisanAvenue Freelance 7. WhimsicalWonders Freelance 8. InnovativeInspirations Freelance 9. VelvetVibrance Freelance 10. RusticRendezvous Freelance 11. ArtisanAurora Freelance 12. SereneSculptures Freelance 13. InnovativeImpressions Freelance Catchy freelance business names 14. ArtisticAdventures Freelance 15. WhimsicalWonders Freelance 16. CreativeCanvas Freelance 17. VelvetVista Freelance 18. CraftyCraftsmen Freelance 19. RusticRoots Freelance 20. PalettePerfection Freelance 21. UrbanArtistry Freelance 22. EmberElegance Freelance 23. PiquantPallet Freelance 24. DelightfulDesigns Freelance 25. CraftyCanvas Freelance 26. ArtisticAlchemy Freelance 27. RusticRendezvous Freelance 28. InnovativeInspirations Freelance Professional freelance business names 29. ArtisticArtisans Freelance 30. CraftMasters Freelance 31. ArtistryAtelier Freelance 32. MasterpieceWorks Freelance 33. PrecisionArtisans Freelance 34. The Artistry Freelance 35. Artisanal Creations Freelance 36. LuxeHandmade Freelance 37. Artisan Craft Collective Freelance 38. Premier Artistry Freelance 39. Crafters' Haven Freelance 40. PrimeArtistry Freelance 41. EliteCraftsmen Freelance 42. Artistry Excellence Freelance 43. Crafting Legacy Freelance Location-based freelance business names 44. [City/Neighborhood] Freelance Studio 45. [City/Region] Creations Freelance 46. [City] Artisanal Freelance 47. [City/State] Handmade Hub Freelance 48. [City/Neighborhood] Crafting Corner Freelance 49. [City] Artistry Marketplace Freelance 50. [City/Region] Creative Freelance 51. [City/State] Craftsmen's Studio Freelance 52. [City/Neighborhood] Artistic Artistry Freelance 53. [City] Urban Craftsmanship Freelance Note: Replace [City] with your specific location. Modern freelance business names 54. UrbanArtistry Freelance 55. The Art Nexus Freelance 56. CreativeCanvas Freelance 57. ArtisanAlley Freelance 58. NouveauArts Freelance 59. PalettePrime Freelance 60. The FreshFactor Freelance 61. UrbanCraft Collective Freelance 62. Crafters' Freelance 63. VibrantCrafts Freelance 64. ModaMasterpiece Freelance 65. TrendyCraft Freelance 66. ArtisticJunction Freelance 67. PoshArtistry Freelance 68. CraftyCraftsmanship Freelance Timeless freelance business names 69. The Heritage Freelance 70. ClassicArt Freelance 71. TimelessCreations Freelance 72. VintageArtistry Freelance 73. The Traditions Freelance 74. Time-Honored Freelance 75. Old World Freelance 76. The Classic Freelance 77. RusticCharm Freelance 78. The Regal Freelance 79. GrandArt Freelance 80. Historic Handcrafts Freelance 81. The Crafting Legacy Freelance 82. Nostalgia Freelance 83. The Antique Freelance Clever freelance business names 84. CraftyConcoctions Freelance 85. ArtistryAlchemy Freelance 86. CraftyCanvas Creations Freelance 87. ArtisanAdventures Freelance 88. CreativeCraftworks Freelance 89. Palette & Precision Freelance 90. CraveCraft Creations Freelance 91. CraftyConversations Freelance 92. ArtisticOdyssey Freelance 93. Artistry & Artifacts Freelance 94. Crafty & Captivating Freelance 95. Nosh & Notions Freelance 96. Artistry & Anecdotes Freelance 97. ArtisanAccents Freelance 98. CraftyDesign Freelance Funny freelance business names 99. PunnyProjects Freelance 100. CraftyComedies Freelance 101. Laugh & Craft Freelance 102. SillyStitches Freelance 103. ComicCraftiness Freelance 104. Jokes & Jewelry Freelance 105. WhimsicalWeaves Freelance 106. Giggle & Glue Freelance 107. Puns 'n' Paintings Freelance 108. WittyWoodworking Freelance 109. Grin & Glitter Freelance 110. HumorousHandcrafts Freelance 111. YarnYucks Freelance 112. CleverCreations Freelance 113. Chuckles & Clay Freelance How to choose a freelance business name in 5 steps Choosing the perfect name for your freelance business involves thoughtful consideration. Follow these 5 steps to make an innovative but professional decision that reflects your brand and business.  01. Understand your freelance business and audience Before deciding on a business name, you need to be able to define what your freelance business niche, specialty and unique selling points are. From there, you can start to consider the type of services you want to offer and understand who your desired target audience is and what are their preferences and expectations for your freelance services. All of this should be included in your freelance business plan .  02. Brainstorm ideas Begin brainstorming name ideas based on your skills, style and audience. Avoid using generic names and also make sure to choose names that are easy to remember, reflect your personality and convey the essence of your brand. You can work with a business name generator  for further inspiration for your freelance company name . Additionally, consider using keywords related to your skills or themes to help potential clients understand what your freelance business offers. 03. Check name availability Make sure to Check name availability for trademarks and domain registration  using a domain name search tool. Ensure that your business name is not already trademarked or in use by another freelancer in your industry. Additionally, you can also search the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database or consult with a trademark attorney. 04. Consider your branding Think about how your business name will look on your freelancing services, branding and promotional materials. Your name should be visually appealing and aligned with your style.  Take into account the artistic and emotional connotations of the name and how it complements your branding efforts. 05. Test your name Test your top name choices with a small group of trusted friends, family, or potential clients. Gather opinions on the names that appeal to them and ones that don’t and decide what leaves you to work with in terms of coming up with your freelance business name when starting your business . Once you've finalized your name, you can proceed to create a website to showcase your freelancing services and incorporate your name in your email address and test it as one of your business' email name ideas. Looking for other business name inspiration? Contractor business name ideas Real estate business names Trucking business name ideas Freelance business names FAQ Why is choosing the right freelance business name important? Choosing the right freelance business name is crucial because it's the first impression you make on potential clients. It communicates your brand's identity, sets expectations and can influence clients' perceptions and decisions. What should I consider when brainstorming freelance business name ideas? When brainstorming freelance business name ideas, consider your niche, style and target audience. Aim for memorable names, reflect your personality and convey the essence of your freelancing services. Should I use my name for my freelance business? Using your own name for your freelance business can add a personal touch, especially if you're the face of your brand. However, consider how well it aligns with your style and the message you want to convey. How can I make sure my freelance business name stands out in a competitive market? To make your freelance business name stand out in a competitive market, focus on originality, memorability and relevance to your skills. Consider incorporating elements that reflect your style and appeal to your target audience.

  • Pinterest like a pro: Advanced tips for designers

    Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio →   There’s more to Pinterest than beautiful mood boards and inspiration. Here’s how to make the most out of the platform and use it to promote your work. A never-ending fountain of inspiration, Pinterest is a platform that’s all about visual creativity and discovery. This strictly professional environment is free of FOMO-inducing selfies of friends, freeing you to fully submerge yourself in your tasks of picking out color palettes or researching mid-century type. On Pinterest, probably the least social of all social media channels, ideas and great visuals and mood boards are valued more than followers or likes. Engagement between users is kept to a minimum, to the extent that the platform went as far as removing its own ‘Like’ button earlier last year. This makes using Pinterest a whole other art to designing for social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Since its launch back in 2010, Pinterest has become an integral part of most of our work processes, and it’s a favorite go-to place for finding inspiration. Yet, there’s an added perk to the platform that’s overlooked by many designers, as Pinterest marketing offers a great opportunity for promoting your own work. We’ve pinned down a few tips to help boost your Pinterest account, from optimal image sizes to the best board titles. As for the creative ideas, however, we leave those to you – and to the pins you’ll encounter. Showcasing your talent should be easy. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio that shows your best work in just a few clicks. Wix’s customizable templates and easy-to-use tools let you present your skills with confidence–leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits your site. 1. Pin your own work Liking your own photos is a pretty awkward move on most social media channels. But on Pinterest, it’s what the cool kids do. Or more precisely, they pin them, as pinning your own work could get your designs circulating around the platform. Since the Pinterest algorithm suggests related images based on users’ personal preferences and searches, there’s no knowing where each pin could end up. In other words, your art can reach the feeds of people who weren’t previously familiar with your work, but were searching for something just like it. Create a board or two that showcase your own creations. But don’t overdo it and go too promotional, as the majority of your boards should be dedicated to your inspiration and ideas. – All pins should lead to your website: The pins that you create will hopefully sprout wings and fly, straying far from your own boards and into new and exciting realms. For that reason, each pin you create should be able to find its way back home. And when we talk about the Web, what is home if not your online design portfolio . Linking your pins to your website, design blog, or online store means that people who come across your art in your graphic design portfolio , can immediately be redirected to its original web source – your portfolio – to find out more. Looking to learn how to make a website ? Check out our full guide. Illustrator and Wix user Levi Jacobs has created a Pinterest board to showcase his own creations, titled ‘Levi Jacobs Illustration’. – Add pin descriptions: While Pinterest is a visual platform, the right use of text can make a big difference. Adding short written descriptions for each of your pins can help maximize engagement. Explain what the pin is about in a few brief sentences, around 100-500 characters long. Pinterest is basically a search engine, not unlike Google, which means that keywords are an important factor in the way it evaluates search results. Therefore, your textual descriptions should include a few keywords, just like you would do for your portfolio’s SEO - this is a great graphic design portfolio tip . In order to pick out the best keywords for your needs, ask yourself what people would type into Pinterest if they were looking to find images similar to yours, and include those words in your text. For example, notice how illustrator and Wix user Naomi Wilkinson captioned her illustrated feline print as ‘Leopard print A2’. She didn’t neglect to mention her own name as the creator of the image, so that it would remain there for future repins. Another way to perfect your keywords is by typing your own text into Pinterest’s search bar, and see what suggestions show up right below it. Those are related words that people usually search for alongside your keywords, and therefore could help make your own caption more specific. You might want to consider something along the lines of ‘Leopard print illustration’,  ‘Leopard print art’, or  ‘Leopard print poster’, depending on what works best for your content. Illustrator and Wix user Naomi Wilkinson‘s pin, Leopard Print, links to her online store. – Keep pins coming with new content: Whenever you add new content to your online portfolio, don’t forget to add it to your Pinterest boards as well. Updating your social media with fresh content is always a good practice, and the same holds true for your Pinterest account. – Pinterest pin dimensions: Since Pinterest displays pins vertically, tall pins perform better than wide ones. The recommended dimensions for a Pinterest pin are 600 px wide by 900 px high, but those can vary. More important is to retain an aspect ratio of 2:3, or similar. 2. Get your work pinned by others Pinterest has a Chrome extension that enables users to easily convert any image they see online to a pin. But for those visitors browsing your site that don’t have the extension at hand – prep your portfolio so that it’s ready to be shared in an instant by adding social buttons to all images, including the Pinterest Save button. And since sharing the love should go both ways, link your personal website back to your Pinterest account, together with all of your other active social platforms. 3. Beautify your account and claim your website Your Pinterest account should be as polished and branded as the rest of your online presence, from your designer's Instagram account to your portfolio website. Edit your settings to add a logo , icon or photo as your profile pic (165 x 165 pixels is the optimal size). Fill in your location and add a brief introductory sentence in the ‘about’ section. Now enter the most important stage of all – it’s time to claim your website. This step is crucial, as it will make both your URL show up in your bio, as well as allow you to see what people are pinning from your portfolio. It will even automatically add your logo to all future pins. Lastly, confirming a website makes your account more reliable to Pinterest, hence giving your pins a boost in search results. As part of your effort to create one of the best portfolio websites out there, this is also a great way to get people to discover your work. 4. Share what you want to, hide the rest Maintaining a beautiful Pinterest feed is fun. After all, you get to collect your favorite eye-candy and organize it into categories – what’s not to like? Your boards can be about anything, from striking lettering to quirky objects or your favorite logo designs. But looking at Pinterest from a professional standpoint, creating great boards is also an opportunity for you to provide your fans with a better understanding of your interests and sources of inspiration. Pinterest, as mentioned above, is a search engine that makes use of keywords. It is therefore recommended to include keywords in the titles that you give your boards, whenever possible. If you create a board for unique textile designs, for example, naming it something like ‘Fabric frenzie’ would make it less visible than a more straightforward ‘Textile prints and patterns’. Illustrator and Wix user Naomi Wilkinson‘s Pinterest boards, such as ‘Beautiful Objects’, can provide insight into some of her sources of inspiration. On top of the beautiful boards that are meant to be shared with the world, some designers prefer to brainstorm and research more privately. For those occasions, Pinterest offers the option of creating secret boards, that only you and the people you work with can see. There, you can pile up all of your disorganized thoughts until finding that very specific dream decor for your new living room, while at the same time keeping your feed curated and professional. Designer and Wix user Simon Walker uses Pinterest to collect beautiful type, book covers, and other sources of inspiration.

  • How to make money on YouTube: 9 effective strategies

    Every day, the world watches 1 billion hours of YouTube videos. The platform’s immense popularity has transformed it from an entertainment channel to a powerful monetization tool for businesses and personal brands. So, if you’re interested in making money on YouTube, now is a great time to get started. We suggest beginning by using a website builder to host your videos and to have a home for your brand, and then sharing your content on YouTube. Not only will this expand your reach, but it will also help you make money from your fans. In this article, we’ll take a look at the seven most effective ways to monetize your YouTube video ideas. How to make money on YouTube: Become a YouTube Partner Turn on ads for your videos Sell merchandise Work with brands as an influencer Crowdfund Use fan funding License to the media Create sponsored content Become an affiliate marketer 01. Become a YouTube Partner Once you start a YouTube channel , you can join the YouTube Partner Program to get access to special monetization features, including the ability to serve ads, display merchandise and more. While joining is completely optional, it does give you access to a variety of channels for making money, including Premium subscription fees and a merchandise shelf. Here’s how to become a YouTube Partner: Step 1: Stay compliant with the guidelines When you first apply to the Partner Program, YouTube will review your channel for compliance. For this reason, you should get acquainted with the platform’s monetization policies , and make sure your content abides by the rules every time you upload a YouTube video . Your content will be under continual review, even as you grow your channel and start to make money from it. If you do get accepted as a Partner, keep tabs on the latest compliance policies to make sure you’re up-to-date. Step 2: Meet the YouTube Partner Program requirements In order to join the program, you’ll need to become a successful YouTuber . The criteria for joining are that your channel has reached 4,000 watch hours and 1,000 subscribers within the past 12 months, or 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views within the past 90 days. Only once you’ve met or surpassed these numbers can you apply to become a YouTube Partner. Step 3: Apply to join the program Provided you meet the necessary requirements, you can submit an application to join the program following these steps: Go to the top right of the YouTube homepage. Click your account icon and select Creator Studio. On the left-hand side, click Channel. Then, select Status and Features. Under the box that says Monetization, click Enable. Agree to the YouTube Partner Program Terms. Step 4: Set up AdSense As part of the application process, you’ll need to set up an AdSense account associated with your profile to ensure you’ll earn money from your videos and get paid. Keep in mind that you can only have one such account, and that multiple channels can be linked to the same account. Step 5: Get reviewed Once you’ve applied to be a YouTube Partner and set up an AdSense account, your channel will be put in a queue for review. At this point, both automated systems and humans will check your channel for full compliance with the guidelines. Step 6: Explore your monetization options If you’re accepted by YPP, congratulations! It’s time to set up your ad preferences and enable monetization. You can choose from a wide range of YouTube monetization options , but keep in mind that they each have different eligibility requirements: Advertising revenue: Earn money by including display, overlay or video ads next to your content. To do this, you must be at least 18 years old or have a legal guardian who agrees to handle your payments. Your content must also meet the advertiser-friendly content guidelines . Channel memberships: Offer special perks to Channel members who make recurring monthly payments. This requires that you’re at least 18 years old and have more than 30,000 subscribers. Merchandise shelf: Showcase official branded merchandise on your watch pages for your fans to browse and buy. For this option, you must be at least 18 years old and have more than 10,000 subscribers. Super Chat and Super Stickers: Make money from fans who pay to get their messages highlighted in chat streams. You must be at least 18 years old and live in a country where Super Chat is available. YouTube Premium revenue: Get part of a YouTube Premium subscriber’s membership fee when they watch your videos. 02. Turn on ads for your videos Running ads on your YouTube videos is one of the easiest ways to earn passive income, and it’s a no-brainer once you’re accepted into the YouTube Partner Program. Here’s your step-by-step guide. Step 1: Enable monetization Before ads start running, you’ll need to turn on monetization in YouTube Studio. Once inside, find the specific videos you want to monetize and allow ads. For videos over eight minutes, you can also add mid-roll ads, which are shown during your video, increasing your earning potential. Step 2: Choose your ad preferences YouTube offers different types of ads, like pre-roll (before videos), mid-roll (during videos) and post-roll (after videos). While YouTube automatically decides which ads to show your audience, you can select the types of ads best suited to your channel. Step 3: Earn revenue Every time someone watches or clicks an ad, you earn a cut of the revenue. Keep in mind that YouTube keeps a portion, so combining ads with other strategies can grow your overall earnings. Step 4: Analyze your performance Stay on top of how ads are performing with YouTube Studio’s revenue analytics. You’ll be able to see metrics like views, revenue per 1,000 views (RPM) and your total earnings. Use these insights to adjust your content strategy and optimize future videos. 03. Sell merchandise Another way to make money on YouTube is by selling merchandise. You can offer products you’re already selling on other platforms, or you can create a new collection based on your channel’s content. Keep in mind that you’re far more likely to make sales if your videos already have a fan following, so focus on building your popularity before you start producing such products. Step 1: Design your products Your merchandise should represent your brand, appeal to your target audience and build a community around your channel. As you dream up your products, think of something relevant to your niche that your viewers would be interested in. Note that you can check your YouTube analytics to get a better understanding of the kinds of people interested in your content. For instance, if your channel is about makeup or beauty, you might want to sell branded cosmetics or makeup bags. On the other hand, if you’re a YouTube fitness instructor you might consider selling branded fitness equipment and energy bars. You can also poll your audience to ask about which kinds of products interest them the most. Step 2: Source and build your products Now, it’s time to make your product ideas come to life. You’ll likely need a manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer to produce and deliver your products to you. You can also try dropshipping, a method by which the manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer ships the products to customers directly. Whichever method you choose, be careful not to overstock at the beginning. Instead, start with just 1-2 products and produce them in small amounts. That way, you’ll have time to gauge their popularity and estimate how many people will buy. Step 3: Start an online store To handle transactions, you’ll need to create an online store . This will allow you to manage end-to-end fulfillment, accept secure online payments and more. Having your own professional eCommerce site will also boost your brand’s credibility while providing a dedicated platform for your audience to browse through your merchandise. Step 4: Enable your merchandise shelf If you’re a YouTube Partner, you can also take advantage of YouTube’s inbuilt merchandise shelf . This lets you display up to 12 official branded products on the video page of your channel so that you can showcase the items to your viewers. Step 5: Promote the products in your YouTube videos Once you’ve created your products and set up a website, spread the word by promoting them in your videos. Think of creative ways to present the merchandise to viewers, such as wearing or using it or featuring customers with your products. Conclude your videos by reminding users to like, subscribe, and check out your website. You should also add a link to your online store in the description section so that users can navigate seamlessly to your website and make a purchase. 04. Work with brands as an influencer Brands are constantly on the lookout for creators who can help them connect with their audience. Partnering with brands as an influencer is not just a great way to make money, it’s also a chance to build lasting connections with businesses you believe in. Step 1: Find the right brands Start by identifying brands aligned with your channel’s focus. If your content focuses on gaming, fitness or beauty, for example, look for brands in those niches. Step 2: Create an irresistible pitch When reaching out to brands, share your channel’s story and why you’re a good fit for their product. Highlight your analytics, like average video views, audience demographics or engagement rates. Show the value you bring and keep your pitch concise and professional. Step 3: Nail your sponsorships Once you’ve landed a brand deal, it’s time to create sponsored content that feels natural and genuine. Whether it’s a dedicated video, product review or brief mention, integrate the brand into your videos in a way your viewers will enjoy. Above all, only promote products you truly believe in to keep trust levels high with your audience. Step 4: Track your partnership’s success Use performance metrics like clicks, conversions and viewer engagement to gauge how well your sponsorship went. These numbers not only impress your brand partners but also help you secure long-term collaborations in the future. Pro tip: Transparency matters. Always disclose when a video is sponsored to stay compliant with guidelines and maintain your audience’s trust. 05. Crowdfund Crowdfunding is the practice of raising money from a large number of people, whether it’s friends, family or third parties interested in your project. This is a viable option for making money on YouTube if you’re looking for monthly revenue or a one-time donation to jumpstart your efforts. Step 1: Join a crowdfunding site First, you’ll need to join a crowdfunding platform. Take a look at YouTube’s list of approved crowdfunding sites for different options. Some of the most well-known ones include: Kickstarter Indiegogo GoFundMe Angel.me Crowdfunder Note that some platforms are best for raising money for one-off projects, while others help you run a long-term fundraise. Whichever your preference, make sure to choose a platform that aligns with your needs. Step 2: Promote your crowdfunding efforts After you create an account, you’ll need to raise awareness of your campaign. This is where your YouTube channel comes into play. You can use your videos to tell the story behind your project or brand. Build interest, excitement and suspense by keeping your fans up-to-date on your fundraising progress. In addition, draw in donors by offering rewards - such as shout-outs, exclusive content or free merchandise - depending on the amount they contribute. To raise further awareness, couple your YouTube videos with other social media marketing strategies. Post about your campaign on your Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts, and include links to both your YouTube videos and crowdfunding page. At the same time, you can increase your content’s visibility on Google by optimizing your YouTube SEO . 06. Use fan funding Another option for making money on YouTube is fan funding. While crowdfunding platforms target a general crowd for donations, fan funding specifically sources funds from your audience. Step 1: Join a fan funding platform You can get started with fan funding by joining a dedicated platform. One of the most popular is Patreon , which provides tools for content creators to get recurring, long-term support from their fans. Another option is to fan fund through YouTube directly using YouTube’s built-in features. For this, you first need to become a YouTube Partner. As a Partner, you can raise money by offering channel memberships , which take the form of a Join button directly beneath your YouTube videos. By clicking this button, fans will get the option to provide regular support in exchange for perks like custom badges, custom emojis and exclusive content. Additional YouTube features that are built into the Partner program include Super Chat and Super Stickers , which let fans pay you in exchange for pinned comments and animated graphics, respectively. Step 2: Promote your fan funding efforts In order to run a successful fan funding campaign, you’ll need to spread the word to your audience so they have the opportunity to contribute. Conclude your videos by politely inviting viewers to support your work. 07. License to the media Most content doesn’t go viral. When it does, however, many news outlets want copies so that they can replay it to their audience. In this case, you can make money by licensing it to the media and charging them a license fee for permission to use it. Step 1: Put your contact information front and center There’s no real formula for creating viral content. It’s often just a matter of strong marketing strategies and chance. If you do happen to create a viral video, the first thing you should do is make your contact information easy to find. This will improve the chances that news outlets will reach out and offer payment in exchange for a licensed copy. Create an email account containing your YouTube channel name and place it on your website and in the description section of your YouTube channel. Explain what this email address is for with a clear and direct statement, such as: For business inquiries, please reach out at [email address]. Step 2: Join a video rights marketplace You can also pay to have your videos listed in a video rights marketplace. This makes it easier for media professionals to find and purchase your content. Jukin Media , for example, is a video rights marketplace that saves your files in their content library and sends it to news channels, advertising agencies and other organizations. You’ll then make money if these organizations decide to use your content. 08. Create sponsored content If your channel gains traction, you can become an influencer and make money on YouTube with sponsored content. Once you have a large and engaged following, you may be able to profit by endorsing branded products. Step 1: Find a brand to sponsor As you grow your number of YouTube subscribers , brands might start to reach out for a collaboration. When this happens, it’s a good idea to research the brands and their products before promoting them on your channel. Endorse products that you can sincerely recommend to fans so that you avoid compromising the quality of your content. If you have a particular brand in mind you’d like to sponsor, you can reach out to them yourself and explain how they would benefit from working with you. For example, you might tell them why your target audience is relevant, how many people are subscribed to your channel, and how much engagement your videos receive. You can also find brands by joining influencer marketplaces such as Grapevine Logic , Famebit , Channel Pages and CrowdTap . Some companies on these influencer marketplaces will gift free products in exchange for sponsorship, while others offer payment. Step 2: Create branded content Once you partner with a brand, there are several ways you can promote them on your channel in order to bring in revenue. For example, you can create entire videos focused on the brand or include the products in other video content. Many beauty influencers, for instance, sponsor beauty products as part of a broader makeup tutorial. 09. Become an affiliate marketer Another option is to sponsor products and brands with affiliate marketing . As an affiliate marketer, you’ll get a special link to a company website that tracks back to your page. When people buy from the company using that link, you’ll get commissions from the sales. Since the brand pays you only when you make sales - rather than paying you to simply recommend their brand - you don’t need a large fanbase to get started. Here’s how to do it: Step 1: Join an affiliate program There are several affiliate programs that you can join. A popular option is Amazon Associates , which is a good choice for those new to affiliate marketing and offers a commission of up to 10%. Other big brands, like Target and BestBuy , have affiliate programs as well. For even more options, take a look at affiliate marketing platforms such as: CJ Affiliate Rakuten Advertising ShareASale Impact Using these platforms, you’ll be able to connect with a variety of brands and get affiliate links that you can use to make sales. Step 2: Reach out to brands While joining one of these platforms is the easiest way to connect with brands, you can also reach out to companies that you’re interested in promoting and that you think would be valuable for your audience. When you contact them, be sure to explain how they’ll benefit from the collaboration and why your fans would be a good audience for their brand. Step 3: Feature the products in your content Once you connect with a brand and obtain an affiliate link, incorporate the products into your videos. Be sure to integrate them seamlessly into your content so that you don’t come across as overly promotional, as this may put off some of your fans. Instead, recommend products in a way that offers genuine value to your audience. An online fitness instructor, for instance, might promote a pair of good-quality athletic shoes. An outdoors enthusiast, on the other hand, might recommend a particular brand of camping gear. The more relevant the products and brands are to your fans, the more they’ll enjoy your content and the more likely they are to buy. Step 4: Add an affiliate link Finally, place the affiliate link in the description of the relevant videos. At the end of your video, remind users of the products you recommended, and tell them they can buy them using the link below. How many views do you need on YouTube to make money? The number of views you need on YouTube to make money isn't as straightforward as you might think. While views are ultimately how you reach viewers and expose them to potential money-making avenues, there's no magic number of views that guarantees earnings. Here's why: YouTube Partner Program: To start earning money directly from YouTube ads, you need to meet the eligibility criteria for the YouTube Partner Program. This requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year, or 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days. Revenue per Mille (RPM):  This is the average amount you earn per 1,000 views. Your RPM can vary greatly depending on factors like your niche, viewer location, ad engagement and video type. Typical RPMs range from $1 to $30 per 1,000 views, but some niches can go even higher. Monetization methods:  Ads aren't the only way to make money on YouTube. You can also explore brand deals, sponsorships, merchandise, affiliate marketing and channel memberships. These can bring in significant revenue regardless of your view count. How much money can you make on YouTube? Now that you know how to make money on YouTube, you’re probably wondering whether you can earn enough for it to be a full-time job. These stats provide some insights into how much YouTubers make : Google pays 68% of their AdSense revenue to the video creator. That means that for every $100 an advertiser pays, Google will pay you $68. YouTube advertisers pay an average of $0.18 per view of their ads. This means a YouTube channel can receive $3-5 per 1000 video views, on average. The amount you make from other YouTube monetization strategies - whether it’s selling merchandise or creating affiliate content - depends on your marketing efforts and the number of fans you have. As with many things, the answer isn’t black-and-white. You might start out making some extra cash on the side - and later, with enough hard work and persistence, make a comfortable living out of it. We recommend experimenting with different monetization options to find the choice that’s best for you and will make you the most money. How much money do YouTubers make per year? Top YouTubers with tens of millions of subscribers can make astronomical amounts of money. Accounts including Mr. Beast, PewDiePie, and Markiplier all make upwards of $25 million per year through their channels alone, and that isn't taking other income streams into account. However, the average YouTuber isn't earning that kind of money. According to ZipRecruiter , the average YouTuber in the United States makes around $1,269 per week, or $66,999 yearly. The top 10% of YouTubers make over $25,000 per month, and the top 1% make over $1 million per year. It's important to note that these are just estimates, and the actual amount of money that a YouTuber makes can vary greatly. However, these numbers give you a general idea of how much money some of the most popular YouTubers make. Tips for succeeding on YouTube You know how to make money on YouTube now, but there are some extra tips to make sure you succeed on YouTube: Create high-quality videos that people will want to watch. This is the most important thing you can do to make money on YouTube. If your videos are not good, people won't watch them, and you won't earn any money. Make sure to do your research, plan your videos in advance, use the best equipment you can afford and to edit your videos carefully. These details matter and will help you stand out on YouTube. Build a large audience. The more people watch your videos, the more money you will earn from ads. This is why it's important to build a large audience for your channel. One of the best ways to build your audience is to find your niche. What are you passionate about? What do you know a lot about? Find a topic that you are interested in and that you can talk about knowledgeably. This will help you attract viewers who are interested in the same things as you. Be consistent. Upload new videos regularly, whether it's daily, weekly, or monthly. This will help keep your viewers engaged and coming back for more, and it signals to YouTube that you take your channel seriously and that you are committed to creating content on a regular basis. Promote your channel. Share your videos on social media and other platforms. Make sure to spread the word so you can get as many views as possible from the start. This will help you reach a wider audience in time. On top of that, spend time interacting with your subscribers. Responding to comments and questions will help you build relationships with your viewers and make them feel that they are part of your community. Be patient. It takes time to make money on YouTube; don't expect to become a millionaire overnight. Just keep creating great content and building your audience, and eventually you will start to see results. YouTube monetization basics Now that we have reviewed the best ways to make money on YouTube, we wanted to cover some information about how YouTube works and some overarching tactics that will be relevant no matter which monetization method you choose. To get started on YouTube, you’ll need to create a channel to host your videos. Uploading video content will not automatically make you money, however. So, be sure that you enable monetization in your settings as you’re configuring your account. This will give you the possibility of making money from your YouTube videos down the line. At that point you can decide which monetization tactics to work with. Another important item to note is that you can make money from your YouTube channel even without millions of subscribers. One of the best ways to do that is by understanding your audience and then targeting them with relevant content. Try to step into the shoes of your subscribers, or who you want to follow you in the future. Once you have a strong understanding of your audience, your next goal should be engagement. Think deeply about what type of content they would be interested in, what would be most useful to them, and how you can prompt viewers to click, comment or subscribe. Only then can you create videos that are sure to succeed with one of the monetization methods. How to make money on YouTube FAQ How do beginners make money on YouTube? Beginners can make money on YouTube through affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and the YouTube Partner Program. To be eligible for the Partner Program, you must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year, or 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views within the past 90 days. Once you are in the Partner Program, you can earn money from ads that are displayed on your videos. How much will YouTube pay me for 1,000 views? The amount of money that YouTube pays you for 1,000 views depends on a number of factors, including the following: The type of ad that is displayed on your video The country where your viewers are located The overall demand for ads A YouTube channel usually receives $3-5 per 1,000 video views on average. Do you get paid for uploading videos on YouTube? No, you don't get paid for uploading videos on YouTube. You only get paid if your videos are monetized through the YouTube Partner Program and viewers watch ads on them. How can you make money on YouTube without making videos? While creating videos is the traditional way to build a YouTube audience, there are alternative methods for monetization even without directly uploading your own content: 1. Post work from other creators: You can curate and showcase high-quality content from other creators under their permission. This requires good taste and understanding your audience's interests. 2. Alternative content: Explore audio-based formats like podcasts, guided meditations or even curated music compilations. You can also host live streams with Q&As, interviews or gaming sessions, building a community through voice alone. Viewers can show their love with virtual gifts or paid memberships. 3. Business-oriented approaches: Offer consulting services to help other YouTubers grow their channels, become a YouTube Ads Specialist or sell branded merchandise like t-shirts, mugs or other items related to your niche or channel theme.

  • YouTube Live: how to live stream on YouTube and gain engagement

    These days, we don’t just watch videos; we interact with them in real-time. Whether we participate in an online conference, view a streamed sporting event or attend a live performance of our favorite comedian, we share moments of laughter and awe, suspense and applause, no matter how distant we may be from others tuning in. Because of this shared magic, many businesses turn to live video to engage with audiences. Today, anyone can live stream from their social media pages or even on their created website . In this guide, you’ll learn how to live stream on YouTube, step-by-step. We’ll also share tips and ideas to inspire you as you create your own video content. If you haven’t launched yet, use the YouTube name generator to kick off your channel with the perfect name. What is YouTube Live? Benefits of live streaming for your business How to get started with YouTube Live How to live stream on YouTube: 3 ways Tips for a successful YouTube live stream 11 Ways to promote your YouTube live stream What is YouTube Live? YouTube Live is a streaming feature that connects the platform’s creators and their audiences in real-time. YouTube explains , “Whether hosting a live charity event, a town hall or a press conference about breaking news, YouTube Live and Premieres allow creators to bring viewers together in real-time to learn, discuss and to form new social communities.” You can create live streams via webcam, mobile and encoder streaming. Creators in YouTube’s Partner Program (YPP) can monetize their live stream through ads, Super Chat, Super Stickers and channel memberships. Benefits of live streaming for your business Whether you take visitors behind the scenes, show your product in action, or highlight a special event, live streaming can help establish your online presence and spread awareness of your business. More than a platform for entertainment, YouTube Live is an important tool for hosting virtual events or Q&As that: Deepen relationships with your audience Educate viewers about your brand Differentiate yourself in your space Additionally, consumers want live stream content. In fact, a Livestream + New York Magazine -conducted survey found: 80% would rather watch live videos from a brand than read a blog. 82% prefer live video from a brand to social posts. 70% said YouTube Live was their favorite video streaming platform. 45% of audiences would pay for live video from a favorite team, speaker, or performer. While YouTube is great for hosting your videos, you should also place your content on as many online platforms as possible. In addition to going live on YouTube, reach additional viewers by streaming live videos directly on your website. Not only will it help your audience get to know you, but it also encourages them to linger on your site and explore your brand. Here’s our help center guide on setting up Live Stream with Wix and getting started with our video maker . YouTube Live example Wix user and chef Stephen Cusato is the vlogger behind Not Another Cooking Show . Stephen hosted 100 questions answered in one hour live stream dedicated to, “Answering all your burning questions live.” He invited his 819K+ YouTube subscribers to ask him questions in the chat, fostering a closer relationship between him and his fans. “I can NOT believe out of 100 questions, no one asked why I plate on a cutting board. It was practically the reason for this, lol” he later pinned as a top comment. Cusato successfully showed his friendly personality and built real-time engagement with his online community. Get started with YouTube Live Prior to going live on YouTube, you’ll need to complete a few tasks after you've set up your account and chosen your YouTube channel name . First, you’ll want proper recording equipment. This includes: Microphone: Make sure you connect a microphone to your computer or mobile device. While the built-in mic should be sufficient for most purposes, some people opt for an external microphone for reduced background noise and high-quality sound. Webcam: Attach an HD webcam to your computer or get a handheld video camera if you want high quality, professional content. If you prefer to film on your phone, get a tripod to hold the device and keep the video steady. Encoder (optional): An encoder converts your recording into streamable content for the web. You’ll need an encoder only if you stream with external tools, such as professional audio and video gear (more on that later). Streamlabs OBS is a popular, easy-to-download and user-friendly encoding software for YouTube Live. Once you have your gear, you’ll need to enable live streaming on your account. Follow these steps: Go to YouTube . On the top right, click Create. Then click Go Live. Follow the prompts to verify your channel. YouTube will ask you to add your phone number to receive a verification code. Note that it takes up to 24 hours to enable your first live stream , so start the process at least one day before you plan to go live. When it’s ready, you can begin live streaming immediately. How to live stream on YouTube: 3 ways You can record your live stream using three tools: mobile, webcam, and encoder. Below, we’ll go over each method, so you can choose the best option for your need Live stream on mobile Live stream with your web cam Live stream with an encoder 01. Live stream on mobile Mobile is a popular option for vlogging and short live video updates. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need at least 1,000 subscribers to go live on mobile. Here’s how to live stream from your phone : Navigate to your YouTube channel by opening the YouTube app on your phone or tablet. In the top right, tap Capture, and then tap Go Live. (At this point, YouTube will ask you to enable your account for live streaming if you haven’t already.) Follow the prompts to set up your video: To schedule the video for later, tap More Options. To set up options such as monetization and live chat, tap More Options and Show More, and then tap Next. To share your screen in your video, tap Create Channel and then Share Screen. Now, it’s the big moment: Tap Go Live. Click Finish to end your recording. Your channel will automatically save an archive of the stream. Pro tip: Scheduling your live stream in advance is a similar process. Just tap Capture in the upper right corner of YouTube, and then Go Live. From there, you’ll see your calendar and can select your scheduled stream. To get the 1,000 followers you need for mobile live streaming, find out how to become a successful YouTuber and how to get more subscribers on YouTube . 02. Live stream with your webcam Want to go live on YouTube from your computer? Try live streaming via webcam , a relatively simple process since you don’t need an encoder. Here’s how to do it: Go to YouTube on your computer. Enable your channel for live streaming. On the top right of the page, click Create. Then, click Go Live. On the left, select Webcam. Next, enter a title and description to set up your video. You can also adjust your privacy settings and schedule your video for later. For additional options such as YouTube monetization and live chat, click More Options, and then select Advanced Settings. Click Next. Your camera will take a thumbnail. Click Go Live. Click End Stream to finish your video. Your content will automatically archive. To access old streams—as well as current and scheduled streams—go to the Live Tab. 03. Live stream with an encoder For a more advanced production, opt to live stream using an encoder. You’ll need this tool only if using external audio and video hardware, managing multiple cameras and microphones, or sharing your computer screen. To get started: Enable live streaming. Install the encoder. Keep in mind that some encoders are software applications, while others are external hardware. If you’re unsure of which to use, take a look at this list of YouTube Live verified encoders . Connect your hardware, such as your webcam, external mic or headset. Make sure you’ve correctly set it up with your encoder. Enter your YouTube Live server URL and stream key into your encoder and start streaming. Tips for a successful YouTube live stream Now that you know the basics of going live on YouTube, let’s talk about doing it successfully: 01. Define your goal Think about what you want from your YouTube live stream. Perhaps you’ve just created a website and would like to get traffic, or maybe you want more engagement or subscriptions. Craft your video to guide people toward these goals. For instance, you might include a live Q&A about your product or share a customer success story. Here are many YouTube video ideas you can choose from. Wix eCommerce School hosted a live session with the goal to educate and help viewers learn how to make more online sales. The hosts structured the live session with slides, guest speakers and tutorials to ensure viewers left with plenty of new insights. 02. Plan the production If recording with a team, be clear about who is in front of the camera, who is speaking when, who is behind the camera, and when to stop recording. Before you go live, create a rough outline or script beforehand, as well as a closing statement, and assign roles to each team member to maintain an uninterrupted flow. Pro tip: Make sure you organize your YouTube with playlists and up-to-date descriptions. Use the YouTube logo maker to welcome new viewers with an updated professional-looking thumbnail. See our guide on how to make a YouTube logo for more. 03. Optimize the timing Because your viewers may be in different time zones, you’ll need to think carefully about when to start your stream. Check to see whether your target audience is primarily in one country or region, and then pick a corresponding time. If you have a geographically-dispersed audience, check your YouTube analytics to see which time of day gets the most views. 04. Make it accessible Consider using live automatic captions for your streams. This allows all viewers to understand and enjoy your content. You should also speak clearly—more slowly than you would in daily conversation—and use easy-to-follow visuals to explain your points. 05. Do a trial run When live streaming, you’ve only got one shot—you can’t edit it later. Prepare your setup and run through your presentation. Whether you give a webinar , teach an online course , or go live on YouTube Gaming, check your audio, internet connection, background and lighting before hitting the Go Live button. 06. Engage with your audience Give your viewers a reason to watch until the end. For example, you might share a free e-book or coupon code at your video’s conclusion. YouTube features can help you boost engagement, too. Enable live chat to keep your audience interested throughout and build their sense of community. Be sure to respond to relevant comments during your video and give shoutouts to viewers. 07. Use different YouTube live stream features YouTube’s highly-anticipated new Live features will include live guests and full-screen mode. It will also launch cross channel live redirects, directing viewers to another stream or channel premiere. These will join other helpful features users can already take advantage of, including: Highlight videos : Easily add more content to your channel by turning your YouTube Lives into standalone videos recapping your streams’ best moments. Premiere : Premieres stream pre-recorded videos at a scheduled time with a chat for your viewers to engage with in real time. Wix user and artist Tim Bengel used YouTube Premier to stream footage and interviews of his show at the Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art in Munich, allowing those who couldn’t attend in person to feel part of the grand opening. DVR on live streams: Digital Video Recording (DVR) allows viewers to watch the stream at their own pace, pausing and rewinding when needed—and increasing your completion rate. Monetization: Make money from your YouTube live stream by running pre-roll, mid-roll and display ads. For viewers looking for a VIP experience, you can offer Super Chat and Super Sticker access for purchase, allowing them to better connect with you or have their interactions pinned to the top. Lastly, you can offer viewers exclusive perks such as loyalty badges in exchange for a monthly channel subscription. Settings on live chat: Create a safe and comfortable space for everyone with chat settings. You can assign a moderator to respond or remove inappropriate messages, turn off live chat completely, make it available only to subscribers and even block certain words. 08. Check your YouTube analytics Explore your real-time and post-live YouTube analytics during or after streaming. Based on those insights, you can either adapt your strategy as you go, or use them to tweak and refine your next video. In particular, check for peaks in concurrent viewers to see which moments stimulated your audience’s interest the most. You should also keep tabs on your viewer retention and average view duration. Make sure to track these analytics during—and after—your YouTube live stream: Real-time analytics: Measures your total view count, likes, chat rate and average watch time during the stream. Stream health: Measures your technical status and alerts you to any connection issues. Pod-stream analytics: Measures your overall performance as well as peak times and new subscribers. 11 Ways to promote your YouTube live stream Strategically promote your live stream to draw a large crowd with these YouTube marketing ideas: 1. Create a teaser trailer video that piques curiosity and promotes the value of your stream. 2. Add a link to your video on your website or include a pop-up with the event details. 3. Use a social media post maker and channel features like Instagram's event countdown to build buzz. 4. Send an email marketing campaign to inform or remind your subscribers of the stream. 5. Use YouTube SEO best practices to help your videos rank higher. Include your keywords in the titles and description, mention your keywords in the video and choose the right categories and tags to help YouTube understand your target audience. 6. Write attention-grabbing titles that create a sense of urgency for the viewer. 7. Use professional, visually-appealing thumbnail images. 8. Cross promote your YouTube Live wherever possible—in your other videos, previous live stream descriptions, or other speaking events. 9. Collaborate with other creators and brands with a similar audience to direct their viewers to your content. 10. Advertise your channel on YouTube to help people discover your videos. 11. Add calls-to-action (CTAs) for viewers to subscribe to your channel. Let them know subscribing is an easy way to receive alerts when you upload new content or schedule a live stream.

  • How to live stream: the complete beginner's guide

    These days, people are finding creative ways to digitally connect with others from within their homes - whether they video chat with family and friends, play music from their balconies, or create a website to spread the word about their business. Live streaming may sound complex and technical, but it's actually a simple and highly accessible process for anyone. It's also a highly beneficial marketing strategy for engaging with new audiences and customers. Thanks to a wide variety of easy-to-use online platforms, you can produce your own live videos in a matter of minutes. In this article, we’ll go over everything from the equipment you need to live stream to the best live streaming platforms. Then, we’ll dive into how to live stream on your website, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Live streaming equipment Learning how to live stream isn’t difficult, but it does require a bit of hardware and software. Obtaining these various tools is sometimes a barrier to those interested in live streaming, simply because there are so many options and they don’t know where to begin. Here’s a very clear overview of the equipment you’ll need to get started: Strong Internet connection . Be sure that the place you’re filming - whether it’s your home garden, exercise studio, or place of worship - has reliable internet connectivity. Quality microphone . Rather than use the microphone on your laptop or mobile phone, you’ll need to get a professional microphone for clear sound and minimal background noise. Good video camera . To improve the visual quality of your videos while staying within budget, opt for an HD webcam you can attach to your computer. You can also use the camera on your mobile phone, as long as you won’t require zoom. Alternatively, you can invest in a professional camera. Look into the types of cameras t hat are best for casual filming, such as handheld video cameras, or mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Tripod . If you’re filming using a camera or your phone, you’re going to need a tripod to hold the device and keep the video steady. Encoder . An encoder is a tool that takes your content and converts it into a streamable format for the web. Not every live stream platform requires an encoder, but it’s worth having to keep your options open. Streamlabs OBS is an encoding software that is easy to download and use. Live streaming platforms After you choose your equipment, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the different live streaming platforms. You may want to upload to just one, but you can also upload to all of them to maximize your reach. Popular live streaming sites include: Your own website YouTube Facebook Instagram Your choice of platforms depends largely on your audience and goals. Using your own professional website as your live streaming platform allows you complete control over the way you display your content and shape your story. At the same time, you can use live video as a social media marketing tactic. This is particularly useful if you’re a social media influencer and you want to promote your brand on Facebook or Instagram. Pro Tip: You can use a link in bio tool such as Hopp by Wix in order to direct your audience towards all of your live streaming platforms as well as your website from one designated URL. Let’s go over the steps for how to live stream on each of these different platforms: How to live stream on your website If you choose to broadcast your live video on your website, you can do so using Wix Video . This is an effective tool for sharing all types of video content, including live streaming fitness classes, religious services, online courses , Q&A sessions, concerts, and more. By streaming directly onto your site, you can connect with users in real time. This is especially helpful if you're teaching online or if you want to give your audience feedback or answer their questions throughout your video. Here are the steps for how to live stream from your desktop directly to your Wix website: Download the live stream encoder from Streamlabs OBS. Go to your Video Library, and click “Live Stream.” Under “Go Live Now,” click “Desktop.” Choose “I Have an Encoder.” Select a Wix Video Channel for your live stream. Add details about your video. Under “Video Info,” you’ll see options to add the title, cover image, description, and more. Under “Video Pricing,” you can choose whether to offer it for free or enable rental or purchasing. Then, click “Next.” On the Connect Stream tab, copy the Server URL and Stream Key. Paste them both into the encoder. On your computer, open the OBS Studio Encoder and click “Settings.” Then, click the “Stream” tab on the left. Select “Custom Streaming Server” from the drop-down menu, and paste both your Server URL and Stream Key in the appropriate fields. Click “OK.” You should see a feed from your camera in the encoder. Now is the time you’ve been waiting for: Select “Start Streaming” When you’re finished, be sure to click “Stop Streaming” on the encoder. If you’d prefer, you can also live stream from mobile using iOS. Regardless of which device you use, your video will be automatically saved on your website, so you won’t have to worry about uploading it later. Also keep in mind that even if you don’t want to live stream at this very instant, you can schedule your live streaming event by setting your start date and time in advance. How to live stream on YouTube For those interested in video marketing or vlogging, getting on YouTube is a must. While most of your videos probably won’t need to be broadcasted in real time, live streaming does come in handy for when you want to interact with your audience directly. You can live stream on YouTube using your mobile phone, a webcam, or a separate camera. However, it’s important to note that you already need to be a successful YouTuber with at least 1,000 subscribers to be able to live stream from your phone. If you’re using a camera, you’ll need to use an encoder to live stream on YouTube. Here’s how: Start a YouTube channel . Enable your channel for live streaming by going to Creator Studio tools, then clicking the “Live Streaming” tab. Download an encoder (if not using a webcam). Click the upload icon - which looks like a grey video camera - in the upper right corner. Click “Go Live.” This will take you to the Live Control Room. Select “Live Stream” at the top of the page. Add details about your video. You’ll have the option to enter a title and description, select a privacy setting, schedule your live stream, add a custom thumbnail, and more. Start your encoder, then go back to the live dashboard. Click “Go Live” on the right. To end the stream, click “End Stream.” Keep in mind that if you’re using a webcam rather than a separate camera, you don’t need to use an encoder to live stream on YouTube. Instead, you can simply click the grey video camera icon in the upper right corner, select “Go Live,” and then select “Webcam.” How to live stream on Facebook Another option is to broadcast from your Facebook account . Facebook calls its live streaming feature Facebook Live , a term you may have heard before. While YouTube restricts mobile video to channels with a high follower count, Facebook makes it easy for anyone to broadcast from their phones. Facebook Live has exploded in popularity since its launch in 2016. Research has shown that the time people spend watching Facebook Live has quadrupled in the past year, with live videos generating higher engagement rates and performing better with Facebook’s algorithm. Here’s how to live stream on Facebook directly from your phone: In the Facebook app, tap the camera icon to the left of the search bar. Give Facebook access to your camera and microphone when prompted. Switch to “Live” at the bottom of your screen. Select your privacy and posting settings. Now, add some details: Write a description, choose a location, tag your friends, and more. Add lenses, filters, and drawings to your upcoming video by tapping the magic wand icon. Click “Start Live Video,” and start broadcasting! Note that you can broadcast for a maximum of 90 minutes. To end the broadcast, click “Finish.” If you wish, click “Post your video replay” so that your video gets published on either your personal wall or Facebook Business page. If you’re broadcasting from your webcam, the process is quite similar. Just go to Facebook, click the “Write something” box, and tap the “See All” option in the menu. From there, you can click “Start a Live Video.” How to live stream on Instagram Now for our final live streaming platform: Instagram. You can think of live streaming as a longer ver sion of Instagram Stories. Instagram live videos are meant to be light, casual, and fun, rather than professional. They show your audience what you are doing right now, and in doing so gives them a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your life. Not only is this an effective way to promote your videos, but it’s also an important strategy to build authentic relationships with your viewers so that they can get to know the individual behind the personal brand, or everything that makes your company unique. As with everything else on Instagram, you take live video directly from your mobile phone. This is how to do it: Tap the camera icon in the top left of the feed. Alternatively, you can swipe right from anywhere in the feed. Scroll to “Live” at the bottom of the screen. Tap the circular recording button. You’re now broadcasting live! When you’re finished, tap “End” in the top right. If you wish to share a replay of your live vide o, you can post it on your story by tapping “Share to Story.” You can even add hashtags and location stickers to your story to make it discoverable. Keep in mind that like all Instagram Stories, it will disappear in 24 hours. That’s all there is to it! Live streaming best practices While each of these platforms operates a little differently, they do require similar techniques for maximizing your success. Regardless of the platform you choose, you should keep the following strategies in mind: Know your audience . From the platform you choose to the time you stream your video, every aspect of your broadcast should reflect the interests and preferences of your audience. Be sure to stream your video at a time that’s convenient for your users, and on a platform that’s easy and intuitive for them to use. You should also make sure that the style and tone of your video reflects your brand identity. Whether you opt to keep it casual, professional, or inspirational, speak to your audience in a way that resonates with them. Promote your event . Schedule your event ahead of time, and promote it so that your audience knows when and where to show up. Be sure to announce your event on a variety of channels, such as your website, social media pages, email newsletters, p rinted flyers, and more. Practice beforehand . While your live video shouldn’t sound scripted, you should make a mental note of what you’re going to say. Before you hit that stream button, jot down some bullet points and rehearse your presentation. You should also double check to make sure your internet connection is strong, your equipment is working smoothly, and your environment is free of distractions. Even if you’re shooting a casual Instagram video, scoping out your surroundings can help you avoid any mistakes or awkward moments. Interact with viewers . What makes live streaming such a popular and effective tool is that it allows you to engage with your audience real-time. In other words, your viewers can leave comments during your video, and you can respond right away. This is the primary benefit of live streaming a video, rather than simply posting it. Be sure to do this, as it fosters a sense of community and brings viewers closer to your brand. Follow up . Even as your video draws to a close, you’ll want to maintain the connecti on you’ve just built with your audience. Keep the momentum going by telling your viewers where they can get more information, providing them with additional resources, and sharing your contact details. If your goal is to promote a specific offer or service, you can also provide them with a link to a relevant landing page. If you’re planning to live stream again, be sure to announce that, too. Edit and manage your content . Once you’ve stopped filming, you may be perfectly fine posting your video as is. However, if you want your content to appear more professional, you’ll probably need to make some minor edits. Save your video to your computer, and us e a video editing software - such as the Wix Video Maker - to trim off any glitches, add titles and video captions, and more. You can also try these simple video tips to enhance your content even further. Then, upload your edited video to your website and other platforms of your choice. Congratulations! You now know how to live stream. Remember to gather the right equipment, choose the platform that’s best for your organization and your audience, and captivate your viewers with real-time interaction. By methodically following these steps, you’ll be able to hit the ground running in no time.

  • How to find a domain name owner (vis WHOIS)

    WHOIS  is a critical component of the domain name system (DNS) . It’s a publicly accessible database that provides information, including ownership details about all registered domain names.  WHOIS is an invaluable tool as it helps in verifying the legitimacy of a domain,  in understanding competitor domains and in helping you track down domains you might want to buy for your business. When it comes to navigating the complexities of WHOIS and using its full potential for your business needs there are a few key terms to understand:  Domain name:  The unique address used to access websites on the internet. Domain registrar: An organization accredited by ICANN  to register domain names. Registrant: The individual or entity that owns a domain name. DNS (Domain Name System): The system that translates human-friendly domain names into IP addresses . How to find a domain name owner: using WHOIS To effectively use the WHOIS lookup tool, start by accessing a reliable WHOIS database online . Many registrars, like Wix, offer this service. The next step is to then enter the domain name you wish to investigate in the search bar provided. You can also explore our list of the  best domain registrars.   Once you start your search, the tool will retrieve detailed information about the domain. This includes registration data, expiration date  and contact details of the domain owner. Understanding this data can help you or your business make informed decisions regarding domain acquisitions or disputes. Let’s recap the steps: Visit a trusted WHOIS lookup website. Enter the desired domain name in the search field. Review the displayed registration details and ownership information. Why would I need to find a domain owner? One of the main reasons for needing to track down a domain owner is because you want to buy the domain name, for your brand or business. If the domain you want is already registered, there are several things you can do. One option is to contact the current owner directly using their contact information found in the WHOIS database. Alternatively, you can wait for the domain to expire and attempt to register it then, you will be able to see the expiry day in WHOIS as well.  Negotiating with the current domain owner can be an effective way to acquire a registered domain. Approach these negotiations professionally and be prepared to offer a fair price. If direct negotiation seems daunting, you can consider hiring a  domain broke r service. They specialize in managing domain transactions and can help secure the desired domain on your behalf. Domain name registration data, what is it exactly? Registration data in WHOIS is made up of several key components that are considered crucial parts of domain management. These typically consist of the registrant's name, contact information, registration and expiration dates and the domain registrar's details.  Why is this data important? For businesses, interpreting WHOIS results can offer strategic advantages. By analyzing registration data, you can verify domain ownership, assess potential domain acquisition opportunities and monitor your competitor's activities. For example, you might want to purchase all the potential spelling variations of your business or brand name, as domain names. To do this, you may have to check the WHOIS to see if these variations have been purchased and registered to anyone else already.   Registrant information:  Identifies the owner of the domain. Registrar details:  Shows which company registered the domain. Registration dates : Indicates when the domain was registered and when it will expire. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) plays a pivotal role in managing the WHOIS database. They oversee the accreditation of domain registrars who then manage and complete domain registrations. WHOIS and privacy concerns WHOIS data is publicly accessible, which raises significant privacy concerns for domain owners. It allows you to research and check domain name ownerships for your own purposes but it also allows individuals and businesses to do the same.  The exposure of personal information from WHOIS, such as names and contact details, can lead to unwanted solicitations or even identity theft.  To safeguard your privacy, you can take several measures. One effective approach is to use the privacy protection services offered by domain registrars. These services mask personal information in the WHOIS database, displaying only the registrar's contact details instead.  Here’s a recap of the steps you can take to protect your privacy and personal information when buying a domain name.   Use privacy protection services:  Opt for services that conceal your personal data. When you register a domain with Wix you can choose from a few domain privacy  options including, Public registration, Private registration or Private registration and DNSSEC. Regularly update your information : Ensure that your contact details are current and accurate.  Monitor your WHOIS entries:  Regular checks can help identify unauthorized changes or breaches. You should also check that this is something your domain registrar is on top of as part of their domain security processes.

  • How to create a webinar: The complete guide

    In today’s digitally connected world, there’s no shortage of ways to share your knowledge with your audience - even from within your home. Whether you create a website , host a podcast or write a blog about your industry, you have several platforms and marketing strategies to choose from. One such option is creating a webinar. Though easily overlooked, webinars are powerful tools that help participants learn important new skills or gain industry insights from expert speakers. Not only that, but they’re also a great way to build profound connections with your audience and engage users with your brand. Not sure where to start? We’re going to break down how to create a webinar below. How to create a webinar Pick a subject Determine your format Choose a platform Gather your equipment Develop content Assign roles Schedule your presentation Promote your webinar Perform a dry run Host your event 01. Pick your subject The first step in creating a webinar is to select a compelling subject. No matter how much you already know about your chosen subject, research the latest information your industry has to offer so your webinar is relevant and fresh. A good place to start is by taking a look at your competition and other similar webinars available online. Take notes on how they’re structured, the slides they use to illustrate their points and how you would change things if it were your own. Take equal note of whether similar webinars are charging for access. If your competitors are requesting payment, consider offering yours for free or charging substantially less, as this could give you the advantage in the long run. If you do decide to charge a fee, be sure to provide your audience with extra value that your competitors aren’t offering. 02. Determine your format Once you’ve researched your subject and your competitors, the next stage in creating a webinar is to focus on the presentation itself. Start with the format: What kind of presentation will you be giving? The complexity of the topic and how many speakers you plan to have can help you narrow down your choices The four main webinar format options are: Panel discussion: This involves a moderator guiding the discussion and asking questions of the panel members. This is a great way to showcase multiple perspectives on a similar issue or topic and is also a more conversational style. Single speaker: Single speaker presentations are ideal for smaller audiences and require one individual to lead the webinar and answer any questions asked by attendees. Live Q+As: While Q+As are typically included at the end of webinars, you can also create a webinar that primarily focuses on answering audience member’s questions. If you choose to go this route, it’s highly recommended to alert attendees of the format ahead of time so they can prepare their questions. You can even ask audience members to submit questions ahead of time. As the host, you should also have questions ready that people may not think to ask. This way, you’ll be prepared to fill any lulls or awkward silences. Interviews: Interview webinars are highly engaging because they encourage a more conversational flow. Interviews involve an interviewer asking pre-arranged questions to the person of interest. You can also choose to have your audience members add to the conversation by allowing them to ask questions if time allows. 03. Choose a platform The next step is to choose the best platform for your webinar. The format you choose will help you determine the best one to use. If you want an all-in-one solution, you can live stream with Wix Video, allowing you to engage with your audience in real-time directly from your website. You can also use paid platforms such as Demio , GoToWebinar, or Zoom . When choosing your platform, consider your needs and the goals of your webinar. Take into consideration how big your audience will be, how much you’re willing to spend, and what kind of tools you’ll need for your presentation. Do you need a platform that allows for multiple speakers and a Q+A session? Make sure you choose a service that has all the functions you need to deliver your presentation. 04. Gather your equipment Next, you’ll need to choose your physical equipment. Because webinars are not conducted in-person, you’ll need reliable tools that ensure high-quality audio and visuals. Here’s a basic list of the things you’re going to need for this type of content creation: A capable computer or laptop Ensure that the computer you’re using can handle running multiple heavy applications at the same time. The last thing you need is for your computer to slow to a crawl because you’ve put it under too heavy of a load. In addition, make sure you have a reliable internet connection so that your presentation is smooth and clear. You may even want to consider having a backup laptop with all the data from your webinar saved, just in case your primary computer decides to malfunction. Webcam or camera Depending on your webinar format, you have a few different options for the type of camera you use. A single speaker discussion will do fine with a standalone webcam — just make sure it can record or stream a minimum of 1080p HD at 30 frames per second. If you’re pre-recording your webinar, you should record it with the highest quality camera you can. Lighting devices This may not be necessary for everyone, but it’s a good thing to consider if the lighting in the space where you’ll be delivering your webinar isn’t ideal. You can invest in a ring light, box light or even accent lights to brighten up your space and make sure your speaker is seen clearly. Microphone Whether you're teaching an online course or presenting your latest findings, it’s essential that your words come across clearly. Invest in a USB microphone that’s compatible with your webinar software. The Blue Yeti microphone, for example, is popular with podcasters and will ensure that your voice sounds clear during your webinar. 05. Develop content Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to start creating your webinar content. Here are some tips for building your presentation: Script First, create a script for your entire webinar so you can keep yourself on track. It’s not imperative that you follow it word for word, in fact, you most likely won’t. But writing it out will help you structure your presentation. Make sure to leave some wiggle room for deviations and on-topic tangents, as your audience may appreciate these additional insights. Slides You have several options for creating slides, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote for Mac, and Google Slides. Whichever you choose, remember that the number one rule with any slide presentation is not to include too much text on each slide. Your slides should be more of a guide and outline that help the presenter deliver the webinar. Visually appealing slides will help pique your audience’s attention, so be sure to include any charts or graphs that can help get information across. 06. Assign roles Depending on which webinar format you choose, the roles you’ll need to assign may vary. But, essentially, there are three primary players when creating a webinar: Organizer: The organizer is the main individual responsible for the webinar. Typically, this person creates the content, promotes the event, gathers resources, finds speakers and communicates with attendees both before and after the webinar. Presenter(s): The presenters are experts in their field, and have deep knowledge of the subject at hand. These are the individuals responsible for giving the presentation and conveying all the necessary information to the audience. Assistants: Assistants are vital for resolving any technical difficulties and ensuring everything runs smoothly. They’re also available to help organize audience member questions and moderate the comments section. Interviewer or moderator: While not all webinars will have an interviewer or moderator, these roles can also be extremely important. An interviewer would be the person responsible for asking the expert at hand questions, and a moderator would help guide the presentation and oversee that it runs smoothly. 07. Schedule your presentation Now that your content is complete and roles are established, you can finally solidify the date and time of your webinar. Take into consideration where the majority of your audience lives, and go from there. According to a study conducted by GoToWebinar, the best times to hold webinars vary depending on the topic. Personal finance and development webinars get the most attendees when held at 5pm. This makes sense because the subject matter is of a more personal nature, as opposed to work-related, and the time falls right after the workday. However, globally, the times that get the most number of registrations and attendees are 10am and 11am. But on which day should you schedule your webinar? Turns out, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday see the highest number of both registrations and attendees, so go for one of those. 08. Promote your webinar Before you go live with your webinar, you’ll need to create marketing assets to promote it. This ensures that you’ll have an audience - the ultimate reward for all your hard-earned work. Here are some ideas to help get the word out: Send a newsletter: Email marketing campaigns are effective for reaching audience members who will be interested in your webinar. If you have an existing newsletter, this is the perfect place to market your upcoming presentation. You could even go the extra mile and offer an incentive to your subscribers, such as an early access pass to chat with the presenter or a discounted price. Also, don’t forget to send reminder emails to registered attendees the day before your webinar. Add banners to your website: One of the best places to promote your webinar is on your website. Create a banner or a popup lightbox that adorns the top of your website so your visitors will immediately be greeted with information about your upcoming event. Create a landing page: To promote an event, many people like to create a landing page. This can serve as a one-stop shop for logistical information about your webinar, from the time you’re streaming to the link they need to connect. To get started, you can check out these free landing page templates by Wix, or use this landing page builder. Write a blog post: As an expert in your field, if you don’t have a blog covering your industry, it’s time to get one. Creating a blog allows you to show off your knowledge and become an authority in your industry others can learn from. It’s also fantastic for your website’s SEO capabilities. Once you set up your blog, write an article outlining the details of your webinar. Share on social media: What better way to spread the word than through social media marketing? Share posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn to promote your webinar and reach new audiences. To expand your reach, you might consider using hashtags or investing in paid posts. Tip: You can use a link in bio tool like Hopp by Wix in order to direct users to your webinar, website, social media and other online assets all from one designated URL. 09. Perform a dry run As your webinar date approaches, prepare yourself by rehearsing the entire webinar experience. Performing a dry run will help you catch issues that are easily fixable and that may otherwise be glaring when you’re presenting in front of an audience. Practice your script several times. This will allow you to spot inconsistencies, determine how much time to spend on each topic and more smoothly present your information to your audience. This is also the time to test your equipment. Put your computer, software and any other equipment through its extreme paces. To make sure that your computer can handle it all, try running all the software you’ll be using on your computer at the same time. Then, switch between programs quickly. Open additional software and see if you can see if there’s any lag. If there are any issues, you may need to borrow a faster computer with more memory. Think about every aspect of your presentation setup and test them each rigorously. Not only will this give you a working knowledge of how all pieces fit together, but it can also give you a chance to mitigate potential issues before you even start your webinar. As you practice, have a friend or assistant watch your entire presentation online. They may catch errors that you overlooked. 10. Host your event The time has finally come for your webinar to go live. On the day of, make sure you give yourself ample time to set up. Before you push the record or stream button, double check your script and slides to ensure they appear the way you prefer. Once you’ve delivered your presentation and wrapped up the Q+A session, emphasize how viewers can contact you. Provide your company website, the contact information of your speakers and social media channels so attendees can get in touch. Post-webinar promotion Now that you’ve completed your webinar, it’s time to decide what you’re going to do with the recording. You worked hard on your presentation, so you’ll want to make sure it will be available online for years to come. If you’re offering it for free, you can upload it to YouTube and embed it on your website. If you want to continue charging people, consider creating a special members area on your site and making the webinar available to paying members only. If you begin to see questions about some of the topics you discussed, you could even go as far as creating another webinar or video, such as a live Q&A or even an online course for those hungry to know more. Additionally, make sure to follow up with attendees, especially if the intention of your webinar was to make sales. Send a thank you email and ask for feedback. Advice from your audience can be helpful and give you insight into how you can improve for the next time. Are webinars right for you and your business? By sharing valuable knowledge, you establish your business as a credible leader in your field and generate new leads. When people register for your presentation, they’ll provide their contact information which you can use in the future to move them through your marketing funnel. Additionally, attendees are particularly interested in learning the subject at hand, so they’re more likely to be highly engaged. These reasons are why webinars are an essential part of a successful content marketing strategy and a great content marketing example . While not every marketing effort will be worth creating a webinar for, keep in mind the types of ideas that will draw a crowd and help bolster your business. Webinars can be quite time consuming to sit through, so you want them to be engaging and interesting enough to entice people to register. Here are a few examples of webinar-worthy content ideas to add to your content strategy : A complete guide for marketing your product A Q+A session with your CEO A panel discussion on a pertinent industry issue A presentation on your branding strategy Expert tips to ensure a flawless webinar Know your audience Whether you are doing B2C or B2B content marketing, you need to understand who your audience is and what their main pain points are. Understanding your target demographic and why they have decided to tune into your webinar will help you reach them better. Remember that people have taken a significant amount of time out of their day to hear what you have to say. How can the topic you are speaking about help them with their job, business or future? Make sure they have the answers to these questions before the webinar is over. Make it engaging This point cannot be understated. Webinars rely on conveying information through a presentation, which can get boring if not done interactively. Instead of giving a lecture, keep the style conversational. Tell stories and give real world examples to relate to your listeners and get them excited about the topic at hand. Be enthusiastic and avoid talking too much, using extremely text heavy slides or coming across as preachy - you may start to lose your audience. If it’s in keeping with the tone of your webinar, ask your audience a question every 3-5 minutes, or think of a creative way for them to contribute. This is an effective way to hold their attention. Only share what’s useful We can’t hone in on this point enough: your webinar needs to captivate your audience and hold their attention. Avoid droning on with unhelpful content and be sure to provide actionable tips and advice. If you’re holding an interview, find ways to bridge the gap between your guest and your audience. A great way to do this is to make sure you incorporate questions on what your audience can take away from the interview and apply to their everyday work or life. Use high-quality slides and imagery When creating a webinar, the visual components of your presentation are going to help keep your audience engaged. For effective presentation ideas , you want to avoid too much text and incorporate more graphs, charts and infographics. Keep your images on-brand, high quality and relevant to the text on the slide you’re speaking about. You can also use branded slide templates specific to your business to convey professionalism and elevate your visuals. Webinar types and examples Before creating a webinar it can be good to understand what types of webinars you could create - be they personal, professional or for educational purposes. Research the different platforms, formats and styles established webinar creators use to get their messaging across. To help with that we're sharing some of our favorite Wix webinars to inspire you. How to grow your business webinar We love how this webinar takes a broad topic and breaks it down into something all potential and current business owners can apply to their brand. How to build your own website app - no code needed This webinar does a great job of breaking down what could be a complex topic, into something manageable. Competitive analysis with SEMrush This is a great example of how a webinar can take a very specific tasks, competitive analysis, and show watchers how to break it down into something they can do almost immediately with a specific tool. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) How to create a webinar as a beginner? Generally the steps for creating a webinar as a beginner, are similar to those even a pro would follow. Creating a webinar involves defining the goals of your webinar and the audience you want to reach, choosing an engaging topic that you can talk confidently about, a content plan including script and visuals, choosing the right platform to host and distribute you webinar, a plan to promote your webinar online and through your website, following up on your webinar and the audiences reaction to it, in order to plan more webinars. How to create a webinar for free? While it may not be possible to create a webinar for free, even the time you invest in the content could never be considered 'free', there are ways to cut costs and create a webinar on a budget. Some webinar platforms offer free trials, like Clickmeeting, or Livestorm which allows you to create content for free. If you have a Wix website you can use Wix video to create a webinar and live stream it. Can I create a course with webinars? Of course. All you need to do is plan more than one webinar, you'll need a series of connecting webinars to make a course. Then you can choose to promote the webinars as a series of courses, or as individual resources. A course via webinar will take more planning, in terms of your schedule and content but it's a great way to build and engage an audience over the long term.

  • 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 .

  • What is market segmentation and why it is important

    If you want to get your message heard, it needs to make it to the right people at the right place and time. As a business owner, getting your products or services to resonate with your target audience is at the core of marketing. But before you embark on marketing your business, it’s crucial to determine precisely who it is you’ll be targeting. Market segmentation is the first move you’ll want to make in order to define who your brand should address and appeal to. Segmenting your market will allow your business efforts - from finding the perfect website maker for building your online presence to the launch of your service or product - to be perfectly aligned with what your audience is looking for. This complete guide will explain more about this vital business practice and dive into the different types of market segmentation strategies, plus provide tips on how to conduct your own. What is market segmentation? Market segmentation is the process of dividing a targeted audience into subgroups based on commonalities, ranging from age, gender or location to priorities, values and behavior. This is a critical part of building a marketing plan , as it allows you to effectively determine consumers’ purchasing habits. Segmenting your market can help you understand what personal, cultural, economic or social factors may influence clients’ dealings with your offerings. Segmenting your customers will give you better insight into their wants and needs. It shows how specific groups of consumers are more likely to seek or buy a product over others, as not every customer is alike. By grouping your audience into niches, you’ll be able to market in a more cost effective manner rather than focusing your resources either on an individual level, or on a level that’s too broad. Benefits of market segmentation The best business websites share a deep understanding of their target audience. Whether your industry is food or retail, your small business can benefit from conducting in-depth market segmentation. Having a clear understanding of your audience increases conversion rates and revenue, and makes it easier to expand your reach down the line. Cost effective marketing: Market segmentation can help you get the most out of your marketing strategies , as it allows you to direct your resources at the right audience with the right message. Segmenting your target audience correctly is also the most efficient way to increase your revenue. Better conversion rate: The more specific you are in addressing the needs of your prospects, the more likely they are to convert. You will have a better sense of what motivates your audience, which can help you make more informed decisions, such as writing effective calls-to-action on your site. As a result, you could increase your conversion rate . Customer retention: Segmentation is a good way of keeping customers satisfied and retention rates high. With the data you’ve captured from your market segmentation, you’ll know how to tailor your customers’ experience to meet their individual needs. One way to do so is to employ different marketing automation methods to ensure you’re targeting them at each strategic milestone of their customer journey. Expand your business: Segmentation can reveal new areas where you can expand. It can help businesses, who are now armed with a plethora of information about their prospects, find new audiences they may not be currently tapping. Improve product development: With your target audience segmented, you are more likely to identify new interests your customers have. This can lead to development of new products or services that will better cater to their needs. Types of market segmentation Demographic segmentation As one of the most common types of segmentation, demographic segmentation refers to splitting up an audience into subgroups based on variables like age, gender, occupation, income level, marital status, nationality and more. It is perhaps the most obvious and simplified type of segmentation. Statistical data about people is relatively easy to obtain using various market research methods, like a demographic survey. This takes the form of a questionnaire or an online form , allowing you to extract specific data about your audience. When writing your demographic survey you can choose between open-ended and closed-ended questions. You can keep your intention narrow in a question like “How old are you?” or broaden your results with the query “What’s your favorite hobby,” depending on how much you’d like to know about your clientele. Some businesses or products cater to certain demographics based on at least one trait. A personal care store, for example, may sell one shampoo for men and another for women. Alternatively, some brands are designed with a narrow demographic in mind - such as grooming products brand targeting stylish young males. Behavioral segmentation This type of segmentation is about knowing your customer’s attitude and actions toward your brand. It allows you to divide audiences by behavior and decision-making patterns. Types of customer behavior to consider include: Shopping habits: What they are purchasing Brand loyalty: How often are they returning to your brand Usage rate: Are they using your service a lot or not at all Benefits sought: What needs are being met by the product or service Readiness to convert: Where are they in the marketing funnel ; do they have awareness, interest, consideration or intent to convert Behavioral data gives you insight into the customer experience, allowing you to adjust or change elements of your business accordingly for better results. If you know the benefits that users are seeking from your product, it will help you highlight that part of experience for them. For example, a yoga studio could offer a loyalty program toward more sessions as a way to enforce engagement with the brand. Alternatively, if most consumers only have time to read over the weekend, bookstores could incentivize their purchases with special weekend sales. Behavioral segmentation variables are often collected from a person’s digital footprint. This is information that is gathered while visitors browse a website, consisting of their online actions and the way they interact with the site. This sort of insight can be accessed using different tools, such as Google Analytics . Geographic segmentation This type of segmentation splits up your market based on location. Identifying users due to their geographical settings, such as by country, state or zipcode, enables you to tailor your message around regional interests, languages, climate or cultural norms. If you’re targeting customers who live in colder climates, for example, they are more likely to show interest in ads featuring warmer clothes than those living on a tropical island. Depending on the area you’re targeting, you may need to build a multilingual website or localize your visual content. Images carry different meanings for different cultures so make sure that you’re sending the right message. Psychographic segmentation Less tangible than demographic or geographic segmentation, this category deals with characteristics that are more emotional. They give you insight into how consumers decide to buy a product or book a service, what are the motives behind those purchases and which preferences they may have toward a brand. Psychographic characteristics consist of personality traits, beliefs, opinions and lifestyles. Taking into account a customer’s values, and not just their demographics and geographical location, can lead to a better understanding of their needs and behavior. For example, someone who leads a healthy lifestyle may not have the same values as their work colleague who doesn’t. Though these two individuals share at least one demographic trait - occupation - they will ultimately make dissimilar purchasing decisions and therefore must be approached differently. There are several methods you can use in order to obtain this level of insight of your target audience. These include focus groups, surveys, interviews and tests you can run among your market. One common methodology is A/B testing , which compares similar versions of an interface design with only one variant between the two, to measure which of the versions performs better. How to conduct your own market segmentation 01. Analyze your customers The first step in creating your own market segmentation is to analyze your existing customer base. This process will help you create your segments of consumers who share similar traits and responses. There are several ways to perform your customer analysis: Interview your users: Building products around the needs of your users is at the heart of your business, so why not go straight to the source? Conducting user interviews gives you a deep understanding of how customers feel in relation to your brand. Asking the right questions will give you the information necessary to set up all four types of market segmentation. Use your own business data: You may have already gathered some useful details about customers as part of your day-to-day interactions, from your mailing list to your clients’ invoices. Using this data, you’ll be able to find patterns that indicate what customers are buying time and again, where they are coming from, and more. Check in with website analytics: Your website is a great source of data about users who’ve navigated through your pages. This can be turned into powerful knowledge for your business, with the help of website analytics . These platforms are a great way to gather insights about visitors’ online actions, from the number of users on each page, to the average time one has spent on your site and so on. 02. Create a buyer persona The next step is to put a face on the data you’ve gathered. Creating a buyer persona, or a fictional character that serves as the mold of your ideal customer, allows you to visualize your target market. This in turn will help you maximize your marketing efforts since you already know precisely who you want to attract. When writing down your buyer persona, try to create a fictitious name for your persona to give them a realistic depth. Add demographic details, like age and gender, and give them an image for visual context. 03. Segment your data At this stage, you can begin to sort the data into segments. A good practice is to ask yourself questions such as “Is the segment attainable to me?” or “Will this segment be around long enough to want to invest in?” These initial questions can also help you extract additional market segment opportunities, as well. A good practice is to think back to how you built your brand in order to pin down what sets you apart from your competitors, or what segment is currently not being served. 04. Understand your potential segment You might want to check that you’re on the right track before kicking off a marketing campaign. Verify whether your segmented market will be interested in your offerings by doing a little research. By looking at how your audiences search for the terms you’re targeting, you will be able to measure whether your business efforts line up with their needs. 05. Trial and error It’s now time to test your market segmentation. Here are a couple of targeted campaign methods that will allow you to track performance and see your results: Facebook campaign ad: Customize your Facebook ads to fit your objective and match your target market. Displayed prominently on users’ feed, Facebook ads are highly visible to your desired market. The ads appear in various media formats, including video, image text and slideshows. At the end of your campaign, you can track your ad’s performance and see if it's impacted sales using Facebook Pixel, a tool which can be easily integrated to your Wix website. Email blast: An email blast is a marketing tool to promote your brand and a fun way to spread the word. At the core of email marketing , it may come in the form of newsletters, promotions, product updates, eBooks and more. Email blasts are sent to subscribers on your mailing list, which you can segment by demographics, geographics and behavior. You can track and optimize your performance using various email metrics, from the delivery rate to the click through rate. You can view your email marketing statistics on your Wix dashboard to analyze and understand the fruits of your labor.

  • 12 passive income ideas to generate money

    Start generating business ideas with the Wix Business Launcher → As an entrepreneur or self-creator, earning passive income is the ultimate dream. While getting to that point requires hard work, putting in the time and effort now will give you freedom, flexibility, and cash in the long-term. Just as with any side hustle, the first step of earning passive income is to create a website and put yourself online. After that, you’ll be able to try different strategies to keep the cash rolling in–whether it’s putting affiliate content on your site or starting an online dropshipping business. Below, we’ll dive into what exactly constitutes passive income–and the top ideas for generating passive income yourself. What is passive income? Passive income is a type of income that requires minimal work. Essentially, it means making money without putting in much time or effort (for more details, see our guide on businesses that run themselves ). How is this even possible? Think about it–you can earn money as an investor even while you’re sitting on a beach in Hawaii. Other types of passive income–like renting out a property or making money on YouTube–operate on a similar principle. Once your income sources are set up, you can (mostly) sit back, relax, and watch the cash flow in, in the same that you might with a side hustle . The key is to come up with strategic, low-effort business ideas that work with your skills and lifestyle. 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. It’s everything you need to transform your ideas into reality—quickly and easily. Best passive income ideas Let’s take a look at some of the most profitable passive income ideas, many of which you can do online and from your home: Start a dropshipping business Sell digital products Invest in the stock market Become an affiliate marketer Buy rental properties Rent out your space Become a social media influencer Sell online courses Run a print-on-demand store Sell stock photos Become a pet or house sitter Create and monetize a blog 01. Start a dropshipping business Dropshipping is a type of retail business in which the merchant functions as a middle man between a supplier and a customer. Wayfair, for example, doesn’t have a physical store or warehouse. Instead, it partners with suppliers who manufacture and ship the products directly to customers. When a customer orders a product from Wayfair, the order is forwarded to the supplier, who handles the fulfillment process. This allows Wayfair to offer a wide selection of products without having to invest in inventory or manage a supply chain. While starting a business typically requires upfront investment, dropshipping has very little cash risk. You don’t need to invest in a physical space, and you only pay your supplier when a customer makes a purchase. Most dropshippers earn a profit of 20 to 30% of the final sale price, including the costs of the product and the price of the supplier. 02. Sell digital products Another business you can start with little money is a digital product store because you don’t need to pay for the costs of physical items, storage or shipping. Selling digital products is a great source of passive income because you only need to create a digital good once, and it will be in infinite supply for years to come. Think downloadable guides, eBooks, templates, printables and digital kits. UX designers, for instance, can create and sell wireframes, flowcharts and personas for professionals to download and use. 03. Invest in the stock market Revenue generated from stock market investments is probably the most well-known source of passive income. While sometimes risky and daunting, it’s an effective way to build lasting wealth without much effort. Keep in mind that stocks and the stock market itself are constantly in-flux, so this passive income idea is a way to generate income over the long-term. Instead of approaching this with the goal of getting rich quickly, you’ll want to slowly grow your investments over the course of your lifetime. Note that we’re not here to give you investing advice–you’ll need to do your homework and consult with your own financial advisor about the types of stocks that best fit your needs. 04. Become an affiliate marketer Affiliate marketing involves sharing or posting links to products, then earning a commission whenever someone clicks and makes a purchase. Joining affiliate programs such as Amazon Associates , CJ Affiliate or ShareASale is an easy way for anyone to get started. Just how much money can you expect to make? Around 81% of affiliate marketers make over $20,000 annually. That said, some people make a living off affiliate marketing. Adrian Brambila cites affiliate marketing as one of his main sources of income. In 2020, he generated $750,000 from affiliate marketing alone by sharing affiliate links on his blog, social media accounts and newsletter. Of course, the more followers, shares, and views you have on your website and social media accounts, the more people will purchase from your links. With that in mind, you’ll need to start by using these platforms to build your authority in a particular niche. Once you’ve established your expertise, share product recommendations with an affiliate link to encourage people to buy. While getting followers and subscribers does require time and effort, you’ll be able to earn passive income from your links once you have an established fan base. 05. Buy rental properties Buying and renting out real estate is one of the most effective ways of earning passive income. In fact, some people make their entire income on their rental properties. Take 32-year-old Michael Albaum, who makes $431,000 per year from his 61 rental properties. His strategy is to buy homes in markets where the rent is higher than monthly mortgage payments and to only buy properties that a management company can run without his involvement. To make sure he doesn’t have to work hard, he buys property only when it’s clear it will be fairly easy to outsource to run through a management company. 06. Rent out space Even if you don’t have the money to invest in rental properties, you can rent out a portion of your own home–whether that’s a spare bedroom, your driveway or a backyard shed. This is a low-effort, home-based business idea that’s great for people with room to spare. There are plenty of online platforms to connect you with customers. Spacer , for instance, lets you rent out your parking space, while Neighbor lets you rent out your driveway, garage, basement or shed. The advantage of renting space through these platforms is that you don’t need to do much marketing. 07. Become a social media influencer Another source of passive income is social media. On platforms like Instagram and YouTube, people make money just by gaining a following and becoming influencers. Like most other strategies for building passive income, this requires some work upfront. Once you have an established group of followers, you can keep the cash flowing fairly consistently. Influencers can earn money in the following ways: Advertising Premium subscriptions Sponsored content Brand partnerships Affiliate marketing Dropshipping According to Lindsay Thomson, Head of social media at Wix, "In the coming years we will see the growth of more social influencers. It's never been easier to create and share original content and for that content to reach a wide audience." 08. Sell online courses Do you love teaching or have specialized knowledge to share with the world? Selling an online course is another source of passive income once you have an established customer base. You can also sell subscriptions for your digital content and courses. You can sell your online courses through your website or learning marketplaces like Udemy or Masterclass . 09. Run a print-on-demand store Print-on-demand is another online business idea that you can start from home and that requires little investment. All you need to do is make a design, put it on a product like a T-shirt or mug, and start selling. If you don’t already have design know-how, take a look at creative online marketplaces like Etsy . This will give you insight into the kinds of products and designs that are trendy and profitable. Once you have a design idea, partner with a print-on-demand company to manage your inventory and sell through your eCommerce website . As you create your own site, take a look at these websites that sell handmade goods or eCommerce business ideas for inspiration. 10. Sell stock photos If you have a knack for photography, you can sell your photos as stock images under a royalty-free license. This is an effective source of passive income because you aren’t just selling a photo once; instead, you’re able to license it over and over again for a fee. You’ll also find that there’s very little actual work when you join a stock photo agency. These are companies that offer large catalogs of images and cut a commission from the sale price. This means you won’t need to put time and effort into marketing your photos, growing your brand, or setting up a store. Some of the most popular places to sell photos include the Shutterstock contributor program , the Adobe Stock contributor program , and Getty Images . 11. Become a pet or house sitter If you love dogs and cats, you can earn extra cash on the side as a pet sitter. While this will sometimes require active tasks like feeding or walking the dog, most of it—like watching TV while petting the cat or just being around when the dog needs you—is fairly passive. To connect with pet owners who need your help, try platforms such as Rover or Fetch . Not a pet person? Try looking for jobs as a house sitter. Typically, this involves watering the plants, taking in the mai or just keeping everything safe and secure. For house sitting jobs, try MindMyHouse and Housesitter.com . To avoid commissions and fees, you can also offer your own services on Facebook or Nextdoor , or create your own website with a built-in appointment scheduler . If you’re already working from home, both pet sitting and house sitting are side gigs you can do at the same time to supplement your existing income (see our guide for even more side business ideas .) 12. Create and monetize a blog Starting a blog requires time and effort at first, but it can evolve to become a lucrative stream of passive income. Lots of people either earn full-time income as bloggers, or use the extra revenue to supplement their career. Elna Cain , for example, is a successful freelance writer who uses her blog to sell coaching resources to aspiring writers. Jeanine Donofrio, creator of the blog Love and Lemons , is a full-time food blogger and recipe creator who uses her blog to build her personal brand, share her recipes and sell her merchandise. How can you start something similar? There are a couple ways to earn passive income through your blog: Use your blog to build a lovable brand and sell your own products Link to affiliate products within your blog posts and earn a commission on every sale Offer premium resources like eBooks, templates, guides and courses available for purchase Partner with a brand and create sponsored posts Run ads on your blog through Google AdSense Get started with the Wix Blog Maker. Passive income FAQ What are the easiest passive income ideas to start? Passive income refers to income generated with minimal ongoing effort or involvement once the initial setup is complete, so in theory any passive income business idea should be easy to setup. However because no business idea is entirely hands-off, here are some relatively easier passive income ideas to start - creating and selling digital products, renting out properties for investment purposes, and affiliate marketing. What are the most profitable passive income ideas? Determining the most profitable passive income ideas depends on various factors, such as the amount of your initial investment, market conditions and competition plus the level of ongoing effort required for the business. While actual profitability can vary, here are some potentially lucrative passive income ideas - real estate investment trusts (REITs), online businesses or eCommerce websites, royalties from intellectual properties including books, patents, music and trademarks or online courses and templates.

  • 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.

  • What is brand loyalty and what does it look like when brands do it well?

    If you always make a beeline for name brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Oatly and Skyr when shopping for groceries, then you know firsthand how powerful brand loyalty is. The same is true if there’s a shop you always go to, even if it’s farther or more expensive than other options. This is the dream for every business: to have branding so influential that customers don’t even think to look for an alternative. Luckily, brand loyalty isn’t as much a matter of luck as it is savvy brand management . In this post, we’ll discuss the benefits of brand loyalty and the tactics you can use to generate it. Use Wix to design a website that keeps brand loyalists in the fold. What is brand loyalty? What’s the difference between brand loyalty and customer loyalty? How does brand loyalty work? Why is brand loyalty important? How to cultivate brand loyalty 4 examples of brand loyalty What is brand loyalty? Brand loyalty is a customer’s dedication to a particular company. They buy its products or services over and over again, even when other options are available. It’s very difficult for companies to lure loyalists away from the brands they love and trust, which is why brand loyalty is such a powerful business driver. What’s the difference between brand loyalty and customer loyalty? Although the terms "brand loyalty" and "customer loyalty" are often used interchangeably, it's important to understand the distinction between the two. Customer loyalty refers to the tendency of a customer to commit to a brand because of inherent benefits, such as pricing, rewards and convenience. In contrast, brand loyalty stems from a customer connecting with a brand's identity on a deeper level. Because customer loyalty relies on factors like price or convenience, it can quickly wane if the brand becomes more expensive or less available. Brand loyalty, on the other hand, can withstand such variations as long as the brand's identity and values remain unchanged. Therefore, building brand loyalty is crucial for companies—even those with strong customer loyalty—to maintain a loyal customer base in the long term. How does brand loyalty work? Suzy walks into a drugstore in search of Advil for pain relief. Even after the clerk mentions that generic brands contain the same active ingredients, she still purchases Advil. Suzy has used it for years, so she knows it works and doesn’t care how much it costs. That’s brand loyalty in action. Devoted customers will go out of their way to find the brands they prefer, regardless of whether it’s the more inconvenient or costly option. This doesn’t just happen after one purchase. Your customers have to go through various stages before they become loyal customers: Brand recognition: At this stage, the customer is aware of your brand and can recognize its logo, name or packaging. The customer may not have any specific feelings toward your brand yet, but they’re familiar with it and have some basic knowledge of what it represents. Customers may not buy anything from you at this stage, but are much more likely to remember your brand in the future. Brand preference: Once a customer has tried your brand and realizes its value, they’ll begin to form an attachment. The customer may associate your brand with good experiences related to your product, customer service or marketing. During this stage, customers may make multiple purchases over time. That’s when customer loyalty begins to form. Brand insistence: At this stage, the customer has become loyal to your brand and insists on buying your products over other options. The customer has likely grown an emotional attachment to your brand and may be willing to pay a premium price to continue using it. Brand advocacy: Brand advocacy is the final stage in which your avid customers start to recommend your brand to others. In order to get them to this point, you’ll need strong branding, sales and marketing strategies that keep your customers engaged. Why is brand loyalty important? Brand loyalty is important because it can help you build stable profit margins, establish a positive brand reputation and maintain a competitive edge in the market. Let’s discuss a few of the main benefits of brand loyalty in detail: Differentiate from competitors: In a crowded market, where competing brands offer similar products or services, it can be difficult to differentiate and stand out. However, a strong base of loyal customers can help your brand differentiate itself from competitors and create a unique identity. In a market where there are many new entrants, having a loyal customer base can help a brand maintain its position and reputation. Make more revenue: According to a 2020 report on the state of brand loyalty, 56% of brand loyalists would spend more money on their favorite brands even if cheaper options were made available. But that’s not the only reason why your brand will make more money—another is that retention marketing is much easier and more affordable than acquisition marketing. Because loyal customers are ride-or-die fans, some of the money you’d otherwise pour into reaching new customers can be invested in developing relationships with loyal ones. Higher quality of referrals: Word-of-mouth marketing can be very effective, as it involves customers sharing their positive experiences and recommendations about a brand with others. In fact, consulting firm McKinsey & Company says word-of-mouth marketing accounts for 20% to 50% of all purchasing decisions . That’s because referrals that come from people we know are seen as more trustworthy than other types of referral sources. More successful product launches: Whether your business launches a new location, service, product or something else, you want to ensure that they’re just as successful as what made your brand so popular in the first place. Whereas customer loyalty might not extend to other locations, services or products, customers with brand loyalty will get excited every time a new offering becomes available. Higher resiliency: As no business can be perfect or exist in a vacuum, it is crucial to invest time and effort in cultivating brand loyalty from your brand personality from the beginning. Doing so will help make the business more resilient and better equipped to handle any challenges that may arise. How to cultivate brand loyalty There are a number of things you can do to generate brand loyalty. Develop a memorable brand identity Keep things consistent Create an engaging marketing strategy Provide top-notch customer service Build a community 01. Develop a memorable brand identity The brand loyalty survey we discussed earlier found that 84.3% of customers are more loyal to brands with values that align with their own. It’s therefore crucial to develop a memorable brand identity that reflects your company's values, personality and unique selling proposition. However, this doesn’t mean you should glom onto whatever you think your customers are interested in—they’ll see right through that. Instead, identify what drove you to start the business in the first place. What drives you to do things differently? Highlight your values across your website, ads and other marketing assets so that customers who share those values can find you. 02. Keep things consistent When customers know exactly what to expect from your brand, they are more likely to develop a deep attachment to it. Therefore, keeping your quality brand identity and customer experience consistent can encourage brand loyalists to commit to your brand for the long-term. Think about a brand like McDonald’s . Whether you’re visiting a McDonald’s down the street or in a different country, you know that you can expect a similar experience every time because of the consistency with which the company applies its brand. In addition, staying consistent will help you avoid brand dilution . 03. Create an engaging marketing strategy While creating a cool video or quirky slogan are important for generating brand recognition, you’ll need a more developed marketing strategy to push your customers into brand devotion territory. Instead of solely focusing on selling your product, your marketing efforts should be tailored towards creating a meaningful connection with your customers. This connection can be achieved through personalized interactions, consistent engagement and a genuine interest in your customers' needs and interests. Burger King’s Twitter account, for example, has garnered 2 million followers by actively responding to customers on social media and inviting conversation. In doing so, they’ve managed to build a community of devoted followers. 04. Provide top-notch customer service Customers who feel valued and appreciated are more likely to return to your brand and recommend it to others. However, creating a positive customer experience involves training customer service representatives to be friendly, knowledgeable and responsive to customer needs. Train your team to resolve issues quickly and effectively, ensuring that customers feel heard and supported. Regularly ask for customer feedback and use it to guide your business decisions. Additionally, respond to positive reviews and show your appreciation. Ultimately, the goal of customer service is to make every customer feel like a VIP. By prioritizing their needs, you can more easily build lasting relationships and foster a sense of loyalty that goes beyond simply meeting a customer’s basic requirements. 05. Build a community Creating a community for your customers on your website and encouraging them to become brand ambassadors is a powerful way to amplify the support for your brand. This approach can foster deeper engagement, cultivate brand advocacy and help you source user-generated content for your marketing campaigns. By enabling customers to connect with one another and share their positive experiences with your brand, you can create a network effect that can significantly boost your brand's reach and influence. A brand loyalty community can take many forms, such as online forums, social media groups or membership programs. Offering exclusive benefits or rewards will encourage people to join and inviting participation and feedback will keep them engaged. Overall, providing customers a platform to connect and share their experiences can create a sense of belonging and foster a stronger relationship between your brand and its customers. Add a member’s area to your Wix website so you can offer brand loyalists rewards and a way to connect with fellow fans of your brand. 4 examples of brand loyalty In addition to the examples of brand loyalty strategies previously discussed, these examples can help spark some ideas. Columbia Sportswear As opposed to many clothing brands, Columbia Sportswear never really focused on being a trendy company. Instead, it leverages its authenticity and grit to connect with customers who appreciate their built-tough clothing and equipment. “At the core, a brand’s relevance is founded on how its products or services perform for its customers,” former CEO and current chairman of the board Gert Boyle told CNBC . “Styles change and activities go through cycles of popularity, but as long as we keep improving our products in ways that help people enjoy the outdoors longer, we’ll remain relevant to consumers of all ages.” By focusing on what really matters to their customers, Columbia Sportswear has cultivated a loyal following. This, in turn, has helped the company weather changing trends and market conditions, making it a resilient and successful brand in the outdoor apparel industry. CrossFit Because community is a central tenet of the CrossFit business model, the fitness company has had great success cultivating brand loyalty. The workout is traditionally done as a group and CrossFit gyms often host events and competitions to bring members together. Some even do community outreach to help members feel more connected to their community. The company’s online presence also helps to foster brand loyalty. It provides online forums for members to connect and discuss, and its social media accounts inspire them to stay committed to the program. With all these brand loyalty initiatives, it’s no surprise to see it explode in popularity and devotion the way it has. Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s excels in cultivating brand loyalty by prioritizing customer experience. With bright signage, unique product displays and product tastings, its grocery stores are a fun, engaging place to shop. The company puts a special focus on hiring and training to ensure that all their employees are welcoming, friendly and helpful. Trader Joe's keeps its brand identity consistent online. It uses whimsical graphics, a warm tone of voice and numerous resources to help customers become more familiar with its products. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and creating a unique brand experience, Trader Joe's has established itself as a beloved and trusted grocery store among its loyal customer base. Chipotle Despite the fact that Chipotle has weathered multiple food contamination crises, the fast-casual restaurant chain remains strong to this day. How’d they do it? By developing a robust brand loyalty strategy. Thanks to its strong branding, loyalty program and responsible business practices, the chain managed to maintain its dedicated following and survive the bad publicity.

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