Thursday, September 23, 2021

12 Gantt Chart Examples You'll Want to Copy

Gantt charts. Love ‘em, hate ‘em, or can’t live without ‘em, they’re a reality of a marketer’s life. But how do you make yours stand out from the rest?

I’ve gathered some of the best examples around, along with some free templates to get you started. Dive in below and find your favorite. But first ...

→ Download Now: Free Gantt Chart Template

The elements within a Gantt chart can be grouped into four categories: resources, milestones, tasks, and dependencies.

  • Resources: Project managers must have insight into what resources are needed for tasks outlined in a Gantt chart, in order for each to be completed on time.
  • Milestones: Along your timeline, there will likely be milestones, both small and large, that must be hit in order to keep your project on track. A milestone for a blog launch might be, “Blog post draft due on 5/30.
  • Tasks: There are specific things that need to be completed along the way of your project. In our blog post example, a task might be, “Edit blog post.
  • Dependencies: Tasks on your Gantt chart will be related to each other, for example, the editor won’t be able to complete her task of editing the blog post until the writer has met their milestone and submitted their draft on 5/30. These are dependencies and should be noted in your chart.

Benefits of Using a Gantt Chart

The main goal of a Gantt chart is to track the timeline and completion of a project. It’s beneficial for project managers who need to keep team momentum on campaigns with many moving parts, like product launches or marketing events. Here are some additional benefits of using Gantt charts: 

  • Visual tracking gives an overarching view of projects and their timelines, helping DRIs understand progress and assign responsibility accordingly. 
  • Clear project timelines aid with resource planning, as you'll know which tasks require which tools and exactly when DRIs will need those tools.  
  • Visual understanding of which project elements rely on each other for completion so PMs can inform responsible individuals of high-priority tasks. 
  • Increased transparency, as all involved parties are aware of expectations and how individual progress impacts team progress.

You can create Gantt charts in Excel, PowerPoint, Google Sheets, and more, and this tracking method can be used in a variety of industries, from marketing to construction, and even design.

So, what does that look like? Let’s dive in with some beautiful Gantt chart examples, below. Prepare to geek out.

Gantt Chart Examples

1. Gantt Chart in Excel

Creating Gantt charts in Excel is a common practice and one you’ll likely come across in your work. Excel doesn’t have a predefined Gantt chart, but the “Stacked Bar” feature is your friend, once more, allowing you to show project progression. Here’s an example of an Excel Gantt chart. Download it free, here. gantt chart excel template

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And here’s a helpful “how-to” video for the excel-challenged among us <raises hand>.

 

2. Gantt Chart in PowerPoint

Want to include a Gantt chart in your next PowerPoint Presentation? Use this PowerPoint example as your guide. PowerPoint doesn’t have a built-in Gantt feature, but you can build and edit a chart inside of the platform using their “Stacked Bar” feature.

gantt chart powerpoint template exampleImage Source

How to Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint

When using the above template to make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint, consider these pro tips: 

  • Leverage the task bars to your advantage and adjust their length in accordance with your plan. This template is also flexible, so you can shorten or increase the length of tasks if things come up during your project execution process. 
  • Make unique color-codes for each specific task so you can place a corresponding milestone image when completed so you can monitor your progress and immediately understand what color means what. 

3. Gantt Chart in Word

What’s that? You’re not familiar with Microsoft’s “Stacked Bar” feature yet? Well, if you’re getting friendly with Gantt charts, you’ll be using this go-to feature quite a bit.

If you’re creating a Gantt chart in Microsoft Word, you’ll stack bars once more. But if you’ll be updating and tweaking your Gantt chart regularly, Excel or PowerPoint may give you better flexibility. gantt chart microsoft word template

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How to Make a Gantt Chart in Word

When using the template above, leverage the stackable bars feature to create an interactive Gantt chart to clearly demonstrate task progress and monitor your accomplishments. 

In addition, create a daily check-ins schedule on your chart so you can move the “Today” line forward as each day goes on, helping you stay on track and understand what’s to come.

4. Gantt Chart in Google Sheets

If Google Sheets is where you spend most of your time, this is the Gantt chart for you. G-Sheets makes it easy to build customizable Gantt charts you can edit as needed -- all using a few simple formulas.

gantt chart google sheets templateImage Source

How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets

If you’re creating a Gantt chart in Google Sheets, use the above template and circulation table for automated chart creation. Simply input the information specific to your business, and the chart will be created automatically. 

You have less creative freedom with this chart, but it is great for those hesitant to create a chart from scratch.

5. Gantt Chart in Google Docs

Want a Gantt Chart you can share and collaborate on with colleagues? Consider creating your chart in a Google Document. Save it to your Google Drive and share as normal. Google offers “Stacked chart” options in their “Chart Editor,” so getting started is a breeze.

gantt chart google docs templateImage Source

How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Docs

In Google Docs, use the timeline template documents to your advantage and give yourself an overview of your project progress. It’ll help with visualization, staying on track, and allowing you to see how you’re progressing over time so you can share information with relevant stakeholders, internal and external.

6. Gantt Chart for Editorial Calendar

Take your editorial calendar up a notch with a Gantt chart. Include publication dates as your milestones, add subgroups for each phase of content creation, and add tasks to your chart.

gantt chart example: editorial calendarImage Source

7. Gantt Chart for Project Management

Project management is one of the most common verticals relying on Gantt charts. These charts help project managers identify the tasks involved in each project, create a timeline for each task, and assign dates, tools, and progress updates for each of the tasks within the project.
gantt chart example: project managementImage Source

8. Gantt Chart for Marketing Campaign

There are many tools available that help marketers create Gantt charts especially for marketing campaigns. This example, from GanttPro offers ready-made campaign templates with predefined tasks, subtasks, and milestones. gantt chart example: marketing campaign gantt chartImage Source

9. Gantt Chart for Design Projects

Designers, you can use Gantt charts, too. Plan design launches, track brainstorming, and share draft progress with a carefully organized chart, like the example below. gantt chart example: design projects

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10. Gantt Chart for Product Launch

Product launches have many moving parts. Keep track of research, budgets, team roles, and even risk assessment in a customizable Gantt chart like this one. You can even set dependencies and assign tasks to certain people.

gantt chart example: product launchImage Source

11. Gantt Chart for Social Media Campaign

When you’re mapping a social media marketing campaign using a Gantt chart, make sure to include the tools you’ll need, the content you’ll be sharing, and the assets used on each channel. We loved this example, from Fabrik. gantt chart example: social media campaign

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12. Gantt Chart for Event Marketing

From outreach prior to the event to “Thank you” emails once it’s over, planning an event requires high levels of organization. Use a Gantt chart like this one to keep track of your strategy, team progress, and key actions before, during, and after your event.
gantt chart example: event marketing

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When you're ready to begin creating your own Gantt chart, refer to the high-quality examples on this list and download our free Excel template to get started. 

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12 Gantt Chart Examples You'll Want to Copy was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

5 Email Unsubscribe Button Ideas That Could Save Subscribers

Do you ever wish you could unsubscribe from a conversation? As an introvert, I do, quite often. Though unsubscribing from a conversation with another person isn’t always possible (and could potentially be seen as rude), unsubscribing from emails is perfectly acceptable behavior.

As a consumer, the unsubscribe button can feel like a gift from the divine when your inbox is overflowing. As a marketer, the unsubscribe button can be standing between you and your email marketing goals if your list undergoes a mass exodus faster than you’re able to bring in new leads.

Download Now: 28 Free CTA Templates

However, the unsubscribe button in your emails doesn't have to be feared. In fact, when leveraged wisely, the unsubscribe button can be a powerful tool that helps you curate an engaged email list of your ideal customers who are ready and willing to hear your message.

Let’s break down the ins and outs of the email unsubscribe button, and how to set it up in a way that helps your business.

What is an unsubscribe button?

An unsubscribe button is a link or button module typically found at the bottom of a marketing email that gives email subscribers the chance to opt-out of future messages with one simple click.

Why Have An Unsubscribe Button

I know, the idea of subscribers leaving your list may prompt a bit of panic, especially if you have aggressive list-building goals. However, having an unsubscribe button or link can be to your benefit. One of the most important email marketing metrics you should measure is your open rate or the percentage of people on your list who actually open (and likely read) your emails.

If you have a large number of subscribers who are on your list but don’t want to be, that can significantly drive down your open rates (and negatively impact your click-through rate). Having a large email list isn’t valuable if your audience doesn’t actually want to engage with your emails, because that could indicate they are even less likely to buy your products.

Having an unsubscribe button makes it easy for those who are uninterested to opt-out of communication, freeing up space for potential subscribers who are genuinely interested in your message and product.

Do you have to have an unsubscribe button in your emails?

You may be wondering, "Do I have to have an unsubscribe button in all of my emails?"

The short answer is yes, yes you do.

In the US, the CAN-SPAM Act requires all businesses using email to include clear instructions on how to opt-out on all email communications and these opt-out requests must be honored by law. Businesses that violate the CAN-SPAM Act can face hefty fines for each email violation, so it’s in your best interest to make sure you give your subscribers a chance to opt out in every email communication you send.

Beyond the CAN-SPAM Act, there are global email marketing regulations that are designed to protect consumers and ensure they’re able to opt out of communications they no longer want to receive. People unsubscribe from emails for a number of reasons, and it’s important for businesses to honor that decision.

Unsubscribe Button Best Practices and Ethics

Now let’s cover unsubscribe do’s and don’ts.

1. Make sure your unsubscribe button uses clear language.

Avoid using confusing language or making your unsubscribe button or link difficult to understand. Doing so can be a CAN-SPAM violation. Your unsubscribe option should be clear and easy to understand for the average person.

2. Don’t hide your unsubscribe options or make them difficult to see.

Your unsubscribe button or link should be visually accessible for readers. Companies that purposefully hide or make the unsubscribe feature difficult to see can also be subject to fines and legal repercussions so avoid using fonts or colors that make your unsubscribe options hard to find or visually inaccessible.

3. Offer the option to update email preferences.

If your email service provider gives you the option, allow subscribers to update their email preferences. Perhaps they don’t want to opt out of all communications but would prefer to receive messages about specific topics or want to hear from your company less often. Doing so can help spare unsubscribes while fostering trust with your readers.

4. Avoid using negative language.

Though it may not violate any laws, having rude or whiny language in your materials when people unsubscribe can come across as needy and unprofessional, and can be a big turn-off. Honor your contact’s decision to unsubscribe, and focus on those who want to engage with your content and products.

5. Don’t require a login to unsubscribe.

Ideally, the ability to unsubscribe should be one to two simple clicks away for most users. Requiring contacts to retrieve login information or gating the unsubscribe process creates friction and can lead to frustration.

6. Include links to your company’s social media profiles.

While having a user on your email list gives you more control over when and how your company is able to communicate with them, having contacts unsubscribe doesn’t mean that’s the end-all-be-all of them interacting with your company. Make sure your emails include links to your company’s social media profiles so users who would rather keep in touch on those platforms can easily follow along.

Unsubscribe Button Examples

Looking for unsubscribe button inspiration? Check out these options.

Marketing Brew

Unsubscribe button example from The Marketing Brew

Marketing Brew is an email newsletter by The Morning Brew that focuses on marketing-related news and content. In this email footer, subscribers can easily edit their email preferences to specify how often they’d like to receive emails or unsubscribe altogether.

The Hustle

Unsubscribe button example from The Hustle

The Hustle, a HubSpot media company, has a daily tech and business newsletter where readers can offer real-time feedback about that day’s issue. The footer of each daily email has a cheeky unsubscribe button that’s easy to understand and may make the reader think twice before unsubscribing.

The Skimm

Unsubscribe button example from The Skimm

The Skimm has several variations of its popular newsletter. The Skimm Money newsletter has easy-to-understand language in the footer to empower readers to take control of their email preferences. Again, the reader could see they have subscription options that could better suit their needs which could prevent them from unsubscribing.

Lavendaire

Unsubscribe button example from Lavendaire

Self-care content and stationery company Lavendaire has a gentle message for those looking to unsubscribe, emphasizing the importance of having an engaged list.

HeyDay

Unsubscribe button example from HeyDay

HeyDay, a company that offers skincare services has an unsubscribe message that is incredibly on-brand, comparing clogged pores to full inboxes. This brand also provides a great example of giving readers the option to modify their subscription or unsubscribe completely.

When it comes to email marketing, having users unsubscribe is a natural occurrence. By making the process as straightforward and simple as possible, you can create a better experience for your contacts and brand.

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5 Email Unsubscribe Button Ideas That Could Save Subscribers was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Cloud Integration: 6 Best Cloud Integration Platforms & Tools

Cloud-based applications make it possible for marketing teams to connect with customers, conduct critical research, and make data-driven decisions that can help boost ROI.

The challenge? With other business departments using their own sets of cloud apps and services, silos quickly emerge. And this departmental disconnect is growing as application volumes increase: Recent survey data found that large businesses use 175 cloud-based apps on average, while smaller companies deploy 73 on average.

Cloud integration platforms offer a way to bridge this digital divide by making it possible for IT teams to monitor and manage disparate applications from a single, centralized system. In this post, we’ll cover what cloud integration is and the best tools you can use to break down departmental silos.

Download Now: Free Marketing Reporting Templates

Cloud Integration: When and How

As noted by research firm Gartner, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions market is on track to reach more than $122 billion in 2021, fueled in large part by the demand for agile and flexible applications that let teams work anywhere, anytime.

The more applications your business uses everyday, the more complicated your IT environment becomes. As a result, it’s often worth deploying cloud integration platforms as soon as possible — companies can get familiar with key features and functions before application volumes begin to scale up exponentially.

Integration itself can be handled in-house by deploying infrastructure and services that support cloud connections, but this approach is time-consuming and costly, even for large enterprises. Cloud integration platforms, meanwhile, are designed to streamline this connective process and reduce the amount of lead time required for deployment.

Benefits of Cloud Integration

Deploying cloud integration platforms provides several benefits for businesses, including:

Improved Collaboration

Silos are problematic for small businesses — if marketing teams are using one set of applications and data, while product development, production and HR teams are using another, the results can range from mismatched business objectives that limit ROI to duplicated work that reduces total efficiency.

Cloud integration platforms offer a way to connect disparate applications and departments, making it possible for teams to leverage and collaborate on the same data in real-time.

Increased Visibility

Companies also benefit from increased visibility when using cloud integration platforms. By unifying application environments under a single solution, IT teams can easily see what’s happening, when, and why. As a result, companies are better prepared to deal with application conflicts or team requirements as they arise, rather than after the fact.

Enhanced Cost Control

Cloud applications left unchecked and unmonitored come with significant costs over time, especially if they’re continually collecting or using data. Cloud integration makes it possible for businesses to see what’s running on their network and evaluate how often applications are used, allowing them to better manage and monitor overall technology costs.

Potential Pitfalls of Cloud Integration

Generally speaking, cloud integration platforms streamline the deployment, use, and monitoring of cloud-based applications. The evolution of this market vertical means that substantive challenges are few and far between, but there is a potential pitfall that businesses must address: Choosing the right platform.

With a host of options now available and each offering a different mix of features and functions, it’s easy to get bogged down in the details. The result? Businesses may end up selecting a platform that performs adequately rather than exceptionally given their specific mix of applications, services, and staff needs.

Need some help finding your best fit? Let’s break down the top cloud integration platforms, as rated by trusted review site G2.

1. JitterBit

G2 Rating: 4.7/5.0 (228 Reviews)

Cloud integration platform: JitterbitAs one of the leaders in the iPaaS space, JitterBit lets you fuse thousands of SaaS, cloud, and on-premises applications into one interface. You can also leverage their pre-built templates and workflows to automate your business processes. Additionally, you can create new application programming interfaces (APIs) from your existing enterprise applications or data on their API platform. You can even blend your newly created APIs with external APIs to roll out new business solutions.

What we like:

Jitterbit is all about making it easy for companies to connect applications and APIs in days rather than weeks. The solution is used by thousands of companies worldwide and includes powerful app and API integration tools that empower businesses to not only streamline key processes but collect intelligence data on-demand.

2. Operations Hub

G2 Rating: 4.6/5.0 (297 Reviews)

Cloud integration platform: Operations Hub

Operations Hub leverages intelligent 2-way sync technology from PieSync to update any customer’s information in one app after it changes in the other. The cloud integration platform also gives you complete control over the apps you choose to sync, consolidates customer information from multiple apps, and stores and updates all your data in one place so you can access it and make the most accurate data-driven decisions for your business.

What We Like

Sure, we’re a bit biased, but the fact remains that Operations Hub is one of the best-reviewed cloud integration solutions on G2. With a host of tools including data sync, data quality automation, and the ability to slice and dice data on-demand, Operations Hub has everything you need to run — and grow — your business.

3. Zapier

G2 Rating: 4.5/5.0 (729 Reviews)

Cloud integration platform: ZapierWith the ability to connect to and share data with over 1,000 web apps, like Facebook, QuickBooks, and Google Drive, Zapier can automate almost any type of business process. All you have to do is build a workflow in their editor, pick the apps you want to include in your workflow, and watch your apps work together without additional intervention.

What We Like

Zapier is based on three key principles: Integrate, automate and innovate. Integration links web apps in just a few clicks, automation passes data between applications using workflows called “Zaps,” and innovation lets you build better processes with no code required. All told? It’s a win-win-win.

4. MuleSoft Anypoint Platform

G2 Rating: 4.5/5.0 (495 Reviews)

Cloud integration platform: MuleSoftTrusted by over 1,600 enterprise companies, MuleSoft Anypoint Platform lets you manage all your APIs and integrations on one platform. You can also build and integrate your APIs; integrate with any application, data, or device; deploy on-premises integrations to the cloud without rewriting any code; and protect your data and administer access to employees by leveraging edge gateways and encryption.

What We Like

Mulesoft is all about speed and simplicity. Reusable API assets make it easy to create app integrations with just a few clicks, and machine-learning recommendations help automatically transform data. Plus, businesses get real-time visibility into APIs and integrations from a single interface.

5. IBM App Connect

G2 Rating: 4.3/5.0 (207 Reviews)

Cloud integration platform: IBM App ConnectWith IBM App Connect, you can integrate your data between on-premises and cloud-based applications, build APIs on an intuitive, code-free interface, and build workflows that automate your business processes within different apps. You can also deploy IBM App Connect in any cloud or on-premises environment.

What We Like

Part of the appeal here is that IBM has long been a leader in the technology integrations and operations space, but it’s the specifics of the solution that really set it apart. Using prebuilt app connectors and agile integration architecture (AIA), organizations can easily connect all apps across all environments for maximum operational flexibility.

6. Dell Boomi

G2 Rating: 4.2/5.0 (222 Reviews)

Cloud integration platform: Dell BoomiTrusted by over 8,000 brands, Dell Boomi lets you fuse all your digital platforms into one. By uniting all your data, applications, and processes, Boomi essentially stores all of your technology systems and assets in one place. With Boomi, you can also manage your APIs, maintain the quality of your data, build workflows with minimal coding knowledge, and develop applications.

What We Like

With more than 15,000 customers worldwide, Boomi remains one of the top cloud integration platforms. The Dell solution focuses on three key areas: Data, systems, and people. It promises instant integration of all three to help accelerate and simplify cloud-based operations.

Making the Most of Cloud Integration

Cloud integration platforms can help streamline and simplify application management across your small business. More importantly, they can help break down operational silos by providing a way for teams to collaborate and connect regardless of how, when, or where they use company data. This will empower your team to deliver actionable insights and make the most of cloud-based applications at scale.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in May 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

 marketing reporting templates


Cloud Integration: 6 Best Cloud Integration Platforms &amp; Tools was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

310 Best Instagram Captions: Good, Cool, Funny, & Cute IG Quotes

If you're anything like me, you take about four minutes choosing a filter for your Instagram photo, and about four hours deciding on a caption.

Worst of all, after much creative effort and advice from friends, I'm usually barely able to write a caption that goes beyond, "Had a fun day with friends!"

And I'm a writer — go figure.

Next time you're contemplating a witty line of text to go with your Instagram photo, take a look at our complete list of captions that suit any mood or occasion you’ll be sharing with the world. You can also customize these captions to make them perfect for your feed.

Want more inspiration? Check out our Instagram page to see how we incorporate fun, witty, and engaging captions into our social media content.

Free Download: 52 Examples of Business Instagram Captions

You can incorporate many of these captions into an Instagram business strategy (just make sure your audience would find your caption funny, clever, or the right amount of sassy).

Click one of the following links to jump to a section:

Business Instagram Captions

Instagram captions: If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat. Just get on.

  1. Good evening, [city]! We're in town for [event] at Booth [#]. Stop by and say hi!
  2. "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat. Just get on." -Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
  3. Our [#]-person squad completed the [road race name]! And we did it all for the post-run sneaker selfie. 👟
  4. We got product in the pipeline ... check back for an exciting announcement on [date]!
  5. Diversity isn't a recruitment metric — it's an ingredient for success. At [company], we thrive on the unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our people.
  6. Spot the CEO. 😉
  7. At [company name], our best asset is our people.
  8. We had a great time with our customers at [meeting/event]! @[client/partner], you guys rock.
  9. Thrilled to have [customer] at our office today! Come back any time. 😊
  10. [Company name] is off for [holiday]! We hope you all have a safe long weekend.
  11. Big things have small beginnings. [Company]'s HQ began right here.
  12. "It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." -Herman Melville
  13. How many [company name] employees does it take to spell "TEAM"?
  14. Want to work with these awesome people, working on a lot of awesome things? We're hiring! Click the link in our bio to see our current openings.
  15. Check, check, one, two ... is this thing on? [Company name] is now on Instagram! Follow us to learn about our culture, product, and (awesome) people.
  16. Tired of [customer pain point]? We’ve got good news. Click the link in our bio to learn about [product]’s latest feature.
  17. [Company] presents our latest product — made with love just for you. ❤️ Link in bio to learn more.
  18. Stop wasting time with [customer pain point]. Our [product] will help you achieve [X] more efficiently — just ask our current customers. Check out our latest case study here: [Link]
  19. Handmade in [location] and delivered to your door. That’s the [Company] promise.
  20. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When [company name] gives you [type of product], you make money.

Quote Instagram Captions

  1. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Nelson Mandela
  2. "Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." -Margaret Mead
  3. “You change the world by being yourself.” -Yoko Ono
  4. "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln
  5. "What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have." - Oprah Winfrey
  6. "The purpose of our lives is to be happy." -Dalai Lama
  7. "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." -Mae West
  8. "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
  9. "I would rather die of passion than of boredom." -Vincent van Gogh
  10. “Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way.” -Vera Wang
  11. "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." -Confucius
  12. "Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear." -George Addair
  13. "You become what you believe." -Oprah Winfrey
  14. "Believe you can and you're halfway there." -Theodore Roosevelt
  15. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." -Walt Disney
  16. "Love the life you live. Live the life you love." -Bob Marley
  17. "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." -Maya Angelou
  18. "Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable.” - Janelle Monae
  19. “Success is a collection of problems solved.” - I.M. Pei
  20. “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” -Thich Nhat Hanh
  21. “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” -Gandhi
  22. “I dream. Sometimes I think that’s the only right thing to do.” -Haruki Murakami
  23. “We become what we think about.” -Earl Nightingale
  24. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill
  25. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” -C.S. Lewis
  26. “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” -Lao Tzu
  27. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” -Albert Einstein
  28. “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” -Steve Jobs
  29. “Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller
  30. “Stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.” -Michelle Obama

Funny Instagram Captions

Instagram captions: We know the voices in our heads aren't real, but sometimes their ideas are just too good to ignore.

  1. My favorite exercise is a cross between a lunge and a crunch ... I call it lunch.
  2. I need a six-month holiday, twice a year.
  3. We tried to be normal once. Worst two minutes of our lives!
  4. There are 16-year-olds competing at the Olympics and some of us (me) still push on "pull" doors.
  5. That awkward moment when you're wearing Nike's and you can't do it.
  6. I'm just a girl, standing in front of a salad, asking it to be a cupcake.
  7. What if we told you ... you can eat without posting it on Instagram?
  8. I know the voices in my head aren't real, but sometimes their ideas are just too good to ignore.
  9. We don't know what's tighter: Our jeans or our company culture.
  10. Friday ... Our second-favorite F word.
  11. We don't care what people think of us. Unless they're our customers. We definitely care what customers think of us.
  12. All you need is love ... and investors. All you need is love and investors.
  13. Hi, we're [company name]. We build amazing apps and eat amazing apps.
  14. They say "Do what you love and money will come to you." Let’s see what happens, I just ordered tamales.
  15. My favorite subject in school was recess.
  16. No thoughts brain empty just tacos and cats.
  17. [Food item] so good it’s got me weak in the knees.
  18. The best part about waking up is going to sleep eighteen hours later.
  19. The older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana.
  20. Bring the alcohol! Because no great story started with someone eating a salad.
  21. Don't worry if plan A fails. There are 25 more letters in the alphabet.
  22. If you’re not supposed to eat at night, why is there a light bulb in the refrigerator?
  23. First rule of Sundays: If you can’t reach it from your couch, you don’t need it.
  24. If you fall, I will be there. Signed, Floor.
  25. The first thing I do after coming to work is logging off.
  26. I used to think I was indecisive, but now I am not so sure.
  27. Friends buy you lunch. Best friends eat your lunch.
  28. Darn it, just accidentally had another thought again.
  29. My goal this weekend is to move… just enough so people don’t think I’m dead.
  30. You think nothing is impossible? Try getting me out of bed before 12 PM.

Clever Instagram Captions

Instagram captions: Success is making those who believed in you look brilliant.

  1. Patience — what you have when there are too many witnesses.
  2. Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's the Clarendon filter.
  3. "Life is short." False — it's the longest thing you do.
  4. Happy Sunday! There may be no excuse for laziness, but I’m still looking.
  5. Rejection is just redirection.
  6. Better an "oops" than a "what if."
  7. Anyone looking for a heart? Selling mine for $2. (Used, good condition)
  8. The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.
  9. Seven billion smiles and these are my favorite.
  10. Stop working hard and start working smart.
  11. I found your nose. It was in my business.
  12. Imposter complex is just a byproduct of success.
  13. Life is simple. It's just not easy.
  14. The best times begin at the end of your comfort zone. So you can catch me on the opposite end of the end of my comfort zone.
  15. When nothing goes right, go left.
  16. “Success is making those who believed in you look brilliant.” -Dharmesh Shah
  17. “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.” -Harry Truman
  18. The world changes by your example, not your opinion. So get acting right.
  19. It’s always a good idea to be on the right side of history.
  20. When you learn, teach. When you get, give.
  21. Don’t quit your daydream.
  22. Legend has it that if you look hard enough you’ll see the weekend approaching!
  23. It’s time to make new memories. But first, five tequila shots.
  24. I’m on a seafood diet. I see food, I eat it.
  25. Sorry I didn’t get back to your text. I was too busy converting oxygen into CO2.
  26. Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun.
  27. “Arguing with a fool proves there are two.” -Doris M. Smith
  28. Well, enough about me. Let’s talk about you. What do you think about me?
  29. We’re all one more minute closer to dying. What’s one more shot going to do?
  30. There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If you find it, let me know so I can get some.

Cute Instagram Captions

  1. Don’t give up on your dreams. Keep sleeping.
  2. My fave sound is you snoring next to me.
  3. Here’s to a hundred more years with you.
  4. Happiness is watching you do what you love 💗 Hopefully that’s me.
  5. I like you more than [food]. And I looove [food].
  6. Wearing a onesie to bed just in case my SO steals the covers again.
  7. Cuddle time with the pup 💞
  8. Just showing off my [item] a little. Be jealous.
  9. Always wear cute pajamas to bed; you never know who you’ll meet in your dreams.
  10. You got me like 🥴️
  11. I’d move to [state] for you. And I hate [state].
  12. 🥺️ 👉👈
  13. I have no idea what I was doing before you came around. Sleeping, probably.
  14. No one can touch my books or my tacos 😤
  15. Not me standing there like🧍‍♂️
  16. Don’t mind me while I drink my tea 🍵
  17. Did someone say [something you like]? 🏃💨
  18. They say elephants have a perfect memory. So do I when it comes to you.
  19. My pup is the salsa to my whole enchilada.
  20. I hate it when I’m singing a song and the artist gets the words wrong.
  21. Being an adult is like folding a fitted sheet. No one really knows how.
  22. Here’s a 🥇 for being the cutest human to walk this earth.
  23. Me before you: 🌱 Me after you: 🌻
  24. 🤟
  25. Just got that Friday feeling.
  26. Are you a timekeeper? ‘Cause time slows down when I’m with you.
  27. I can’t see heaven being much better than this.
  28. I'm not lazy, I'm on energy-saving mode.
  29. My pillow is my best friend (sorry, [best friend’s name])
  30. A day doing [activity] is a day well-spent.

Sassy Instagram Captions

Instagram captions: A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can't go anywhere until you change it.

  1. What's a queen without her king? Historically speaking, more powerful.
  2. Be a little more you, and a lot less them.
  3. We're an acquired taste. If you don't like us, acquire some taste.
  4. Well-behaved people don't make it into history books.
  5. Be sunshine mixed with a little hurricane.
  6. We got 99 problems, but an awesome marketing team ain't one.
  7. Sometimes you just need to do a thing called "what you want."
  8. You can't do epic stuff with bad people. And we got the best in the biz.
  9. It's not called being bossy, it's called having leadership skills.
  10. You did not wake up today to be mediocre.
  11. A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it.
  12. We’re entrepreneurs. They call us dreamers, but we’re the ones who never sleep.
  13. All of us have the capacity to light up a room. Some when they enter, others when they leave it.
  14. Brains are awesome. I wish everybody would have one.
  15. Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it.
  16. You see that? That’s my patience leaving.
  17. I’ll have you know, I’ve completed plenty of marathons. [Show 1], [Show 2], and [Show 3], to name a few.
  18. Everyone has that one annoying friend. If you don’t have one, then it’s probably you.
  19. Above: A photo of me pretending to be listening.
  20. Oh, you sent me an email? Expect a response in approximately never.
  21. Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
  22. If you like me, raise your hand. If not, then raise your standard.
  23. If you don’t succeed the first time, then burn all the evidence you tried.
  24. Underestimate me. That'll be fun.
  25. I like my coffee how I like myself: Dark, bitter and too hot for you.
  26. People say I act like I don't care. It's not an act.
  27. They say good things take time ... that's why I'm always late.
  28. Focused. Intelligent. Motivated. Oh, and cute.
  29. “The question isn’t who is going to let me: it’s who is going to stop me.” -Ayn Rand
  30. It's okay if you don't like me. Not everyone has good taste.

Song Lyrics for Instagram Captions

IG captions: But like the sun, know you know I find my way back 'round.

  1. "I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist." — Sia, "Chandelier"
  2. "I live for the nights that I can't remember, with the people that I won't forget." — Drake, "Show Me a Good Time"
  3. "I hope you never lose your sense of wonder." — Lee Ann Womack, "I Hope You Dance"
  4. "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." — John Lennon, "Imagine"
  5. "If you give, you begin to live." — Dave Matthews Band, “You Might Die Trying”
  6. "Outlining my findings, using life as a stencil." — Kero One, "In All the Wrong Places"
  7. "Feeling good living better." — Drake, "Over My Dead Body"
  8. "Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight, like this city is on fire tonight." — OneRepublic, "Good Life"
  9. "Time makes you bolder." — Fleetwood Mac, "Landslide"
  10. "If I fail, if I succeed, at least I'll live as I believe." — Whitney Houston, "The Greatest Love of All"
  11. "The rest of the world was in black and white, but we were in screaming color." — Taylor Swift, "Out of the Woods"
  12. "Lightning strikes every time she moves." — Calvin Harris, "This Is What You Came For"
  13. "We aren't ever getting older." — Chainsmokers, "Closer"
  14. "Sing with me, sing for the years, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears." — Aerosmith, "Dream On"
  15. “Life is good.” — Future & Drake, “Life is Good”
  16. “Life without dreaming is a life without meaning.” – Wale, “Aston Martin Music”
  17. “But like the sun, know you know I find my way back ‘round.” — J. Cole, “Crooked Smile”
  18. “I will overcome any hurdle or obstacle that’s in my path." — OutKast, “Knowing”

Holiday Instagram Captions

New Year's Instagram Captions

  1. "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." — Abraham Lincoln
  2. Didn't make it to midnight.
  3. Resolutions are made to be broken.
  4. Ringing in the new year — like a bell.
  5. "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one." — Brad Paisley
  6. New year, same me.
  7. Time to show off my bubbly personality.
  8. Any excuse to wear glitter.
  9. Starting off the year on the right foot.
  10. There are 12 months ahead of us to make a difference.
  11. Day 1 of 365
  12. Sip, sip, hooray!

Valentine's Day Instagram Captions

IG captions: You can't blame gravity for falling in love

  1. Roses are red. Violets are blue. Consider this post my Valentine to you.
  2. Don't tell me you love me. Tell me you're outside with pizza.
  3. All I need is you. (And maybe wine + chocolate too.)
  4. "You can't blame gravity for falling in love." — Albert Einstein
  5. 99% of my socks are single, and you don't see them crying about it.
  6. I will do anything for love. Except that. And that. Or that. Or...
  7. Sorry, I'm in a relationship with tacos.
  8. "All the single ladies…" — Beyonce, "Single Ladies"
  9. In love with my best friend.
  10. I’m better when I’m with you.

Halloween Instagram Captions

  1. Creepin’ it real.
  2. I brake for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
  3. "When the spooks have a midnight jamboree, they break it up with fiendish glee..." — The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949)
  4. You're just my (blood) type.
  5. How to eat candy corn: don't.
  6. #squadghouls
  7. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
  8. Driving me batty.
  9. “Scary hours.” — Drake

Thankgiving

  1. I'm wearing my elastic pants.
  2. "For those of you who cannot be with family this Thanksgiving, please resist the urge to brag." — Andy Borowitz
  3. On a veggie diet this Thanksgiving: Carrot cake and pumpkin pie.
  4. "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." — Oprah Winfrey
  5. I think, therefore I cran.
  6. Bad day to be a turkey.
  7. Need fuel for Black Friday.
  8. "Okay, guys. I have exactly 28 minutes before I have to baste again." — Monica
  9. Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
  10. Who made the potato salad?
  11. There’s always something to be thankful for.

Christmas & Hannukah Instagram Captions

  1. You sleigh me.
  2. Fa la la la llama.
  3. "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, your ornaments are history." — The Cat
  4. "It's not what's under the Christmas tree that matters. It's who's around it." — Charles M. Schulz
  5. Dear Santa, let's not talk about this.
  6. Rebel Without a Claus
  7. Doesn't Santa have anything better to do than watch us while we're sleeping?
  8. All I want for Christmas is you (and wine would be nice).
  9. To all you cotton-headed ninny-mugginses out there.
  10. Drop it like a top.
  11. Wishing you a latke love this Hanukkah.
  12. I want to eat 8 latkes for the calories of one.
  13. One little candle can light up an entire room.
  14. Keep calm and spin that dreidel.
  15. Deck the halls with matzo balls!
  16. It’s Christmas time and I’m the gift.
  17. The best gift is to be present with the ones you love.

Seasonal Instagram Captions

Spring Instagram Captions

  1. Hello, spring!
  2. "And I think to myself, what a wonderful world." — Louis Armstrong
  3. April showers bring May flowers.
  4. I think I just experienced all the seasons in a single day.
  5. I love allergy season, said no one ever.
  6. Currently soaking up the sun and smelling the roses. Please leave a message after the beep.
  7. I owe a lot to the inventor of flip-flops.
  8. "Here comes the sun, and I say... It's all right." — The Beatles
  9. “Warm winds in the springtime.” — SZA, “Warm Winds”
  10. Springing into the new season.

Summer Instagram Captions

IG captions: Here comes the sun and I say its all right

  1. "Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
  2. Life's a beach.
  3. School's out, sun's out, guns out.
  4. "A little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about." — John Mayer
  5. 90% happy, 10% burnt.
  6. Girls just want to have sun.
  7. "Summer lovin' had me a blast, summer lovin' happened so fast." — Grease
  8. Happiness is a cold popsicle.
  9. Life is better by the pool.
  10. “Summertime and the livin' is easy.” — Ella Fitzgerald, “Summertime”
  11. "Here comes the sun, and I say... It's all right." — The Beatles, "Here Comes the Sun"

Fall Instagram Captions

  1. My favorite color is October.
  2. "Wild is the music of autumnal winds amongst the faded woods." — William Wordsworth
  3. My favorite kind of weather.
  4. It's never too early for pumpkin spice.
  5. Meet me in the corn maze.
  6. Crisp air. Apple cider. Flaming foliage.
  7. Pumpkin spice and everything nice.
  8. "Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day." — Shira Tamir
  9. Leaves are falling, and autumn is calling.
  10. “Days in the sun and nights in the rain. Summer is over, simple and plain.” — Drake & Majid Jordan, "Summer’s Over"
  11. Falling never felt so good.

Winter Instagram Captions

  1. "In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." — Albert Camus
  2. If it's snowing, I'm not going.
  3. Cozy nights. Good books. Hot chocolate.
  4. Do you want to build a snowman?
  5. Running on caffeine and holiday cheer.
  6. "Winter is not a season; it's a celebration." — Anamika Mishra
  7. Merry and brrrrrrright.
  8. Having snow much fun.
  9. ‘Tis the season to be freezin’.
  10. “Timb' laces get tighter and parka hoods flip up.” — Drake, “Come Winter”

Selfie Instagram Captions

IG captions: Smile! The happiness is right under your nose

  1. Me, myself, and I.
  2. Be yourself, there’s no one better.
  3. It’s the happiness for me.
  4. Smile! The happiness is right under your nose.
  5. My favorite filter is reality.
  6. Self-care selfie!
    Conquer the world one smile at a time.
  7. It’s a great day to have a great day.
  8. The greatest gift you can give someone is a smile.
  9. Self-love is the best love.
  10. “But she looked powerful. She wore the sun like a shiny pin on the side of her hair.” -Lilian Li
  11. I don't need a hair stylist. My pillow gives me a new hairstyle every morning.

Vacation Instagram Captions

  1. A chance to get away from the everyday.
  2. Work. Save. Travel. Repeat.
  3. Staycation loading…
  4. Collect the moments, not the materials.
  5. Another destination off the bucket list.
  6. An adventure to fill the soul.
  7. The scenic route is always better.
  8. I need a six-month vacation, twice a year.
  9. Be back never.
  10. Catch flights, not feelings.

Capture the Feeling with an Instagram Caption

Even though an image is worth 1,000 words, a well-written caption couldn’t hurt. These days, the caption can make just as much of a statement as the image! For all of the occasions that are worthy of a post to your feed, use one of the quotes from this list and customize it to make it your own.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in June 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

instagram captions

Editor's note: This post was originally published in June 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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310 Best Instagram Captions: Good, Cool, Funny, &amp; Cute IG Quotes was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

LinkedIn vs. Facebook: Which Is Best for Your Business?

The slew of social media channels available today can paralyze even the savviest business owners.

Where do you start? Which one is best? How do you avoid wasting time on channels that won't bring in a solid ROI? The struggle is real.

Download Now: Free Social Media Calendar

Facebook and LinkedIn are two of the biggest social media platforms and provide a number of opportunities to reach your audience. This leaves us with this question: Which one should you focus your efforts on?

We’ll cover the pros and cons of each platform below.

LinkedIn vs. Facebook for Business

Let's recap quickly.

At its core, LinkedIn is a professional network that was initially created as a corporate recruitment platform. Now, it boasts many features similar to traditional social media sites, including status updates, blogging capabilities, and private messages.

It’s also the most effective platform when it comes to delivering content and securing audience engagement.

Facebook, on the other hand, was specifically designed as a place for people to share and communicate. The "sharing" element is its most prominent selling point, but there are still plenty of other features that allow businesses to effectively reach their audiences.

In fact, one survey by Facebook found that 74% of American consumers use the platform to discover new products and brands.

LinkedIn and Facebook both have the Groups feature that allows you to connect with other like-minded people, and they both have powerful ad setups.

So with similar features, what are the key differences between the two? We’ll cover those here.

Numbers-wise, Facebook wins hands down.

Facebook has an astounding 2.8 billion monthly active users (MAU) across the world, which makes LinkedIn's 64.7 million MAU seem small in comparison.

On both platforms, the biggest age group is 25- to 34-year-olds, according to 2021 data from Statista. However, Facebook has a wider range of users with roughly 10% falling below 18 years old or above 64 years old.

This is because LinkedIn caters mostly to professionals looking to network whereas Facebook hosts the everyday consumer.

Furthermore, the 2020 State of Marketing Report by HubSpot revealed that marketers see the highest return on investment from Facebook, with LinkedIn being the 4th highest out of 8 platforms.

LinkedIn is a stronger B2B platform.

As mentioned before, LinkedIn is a go-to spot for business-driven individuals. As such, it’s a great platform for business-to-business brands.

Here’s a breakdown of why:

  • It’s easy to identify key decision-makers (and reach them in ads).
  • Social selling is embedded into the platform.
  • It’s easier to network as the platform was built specifically for that purpose.

In fact, eMarketer reported that LinkedIn occupies the largest share of B2B display ad spending at 32%. But we’ll talk more about ads in this section.

Facebook may work better for brands that want to reach consumers directly. In addition, you gain access to ten times more prospects and have a great place to generate brand awareness and engagement. So, while Facebook leads in numbers, LinkedIn takes the win when it comes to generating tangible leads.

Thought leadership happens more organically on LinkedIn.

Thought leadership is one way brands are gaining credibility as well as visibility. According to a 2020 Thought Leadership Report by Survey Monkey, 66% of marketers consider it a top priority within their marketing team.

A thought leader’s role is to educate, encourage conversation and drive action. The same study shows that thought leadership programs help with lead generation and brand awareness efforts by increasing website traffic, media mentions, subscribers, and more.

When it comes to thought leadership articles, LinkedIn has a leg up. The platform is already designed for business conversations. As such, brands can have more success with thought leadership content compared to Facebook.

So, here’s a quick recap:

  • Facebook pros: Large user base, proven ROI
  • Facebook cons: Isn’t the best for B2B marketing
  • LinkedIn pros: Business-driven platform, social selling and networking tools, great opportunities for thought leadership
  • LinkedIn cons: Smaller user base

Now that we've taken a general look at the two platforms, let's take a more detailed look at some of the key features they have for businesses.

LinkedIn Groups vs. Facebook Groups

The Groups feature on both LinkedIn and Facebook gives businesses the chance to mingle and connect with prospects and other like-minded businesses.

However, it's critical to keep in mind people's motives when they're on different sites. When users are engaging with others in LinkedIn Groups, there's a high chance they're in a work-related mindset in some capacity.

In Facebook Groups, on the other hand, people are more likely to share their personal opinions on everything – from lifestyle and food to politics and hobbies.

So, when determining which Groups feature is best for you, think about the audience you're targeting.

For instance, if you're targeting general consumers with an interest in cooking because you're selling the latest food blender, Facebook Groups is probably the way to go.

However, if you're selling a high-priced service for top-tier management personnel, LinkedIn Groups might be a better bet.

Finally, let's touch on the ads aspect of both platforms.

In terms of variety, both platforms have reached pretty equal footing.

While Facebook has boasted a diverse range of ad types for years (we're talking canvas, carousel, video, dynamic, and lead ads just to name a few), LinkedIn now also offers several ad formats, including video, carousel, lead, dynamic, and Sponsored InMail ads.

Each offers a user-friendly ad manager. This means that you can start organizing your creative assets on a content marketing platform like Casted, then build your ad in just a few steps on either LinkedIn or Facebook.

Targeting-wise, if you think Facebook has the capability of reaching more people, you're right. However, this doesn't mean that LinkedIn doesn't have powerful targeting capabilities.

Both platforms are centered around user input and serve up ads and content relevant to the information their members give them.

On both Facebook and LinkedIn, you can target users based on job title, household income, company, location, and age on both platforms. Where Facebook has the upper hand is that you can dig a little deeper on Facebook, targeting users depending on their life milestones, behavior, and other personalized information.

In addition, both platforms allow brands to use source audiences to reach consumers who are similar to their current audience. Facebook calls it "Lookalike Audience" while LinkedIn has named it "Audience Expansion."

Lastly, it's important to consider the cost.

Typically, you get more for your money on Facebook. According to WebFX, the average cost-per-click for a LinkedIn ad is a whopping $5.26, compared to just $0.97 with Facebook.

However, a higher cost doesn’t necessarily translate to a higher return on ad spend (ROAS).

Who Wins? You Decide

While LinkedIn and Facebook do share common features, it's clear their purpose and audiences are quite different.

Which one you decide to use depends entirely on what industry you're in, who you're trying to reach, and your marketing goals.

It’s also important to note that you don’t necessarily have to choose. Perhaps you use LinkedIn for a targeted lead generation campaign, while you use Facebook to increase brand awareness and engage with your customers.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in August 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

social media content calendar


LinkedIn vs. Facebook: Which Is Best for Your Business? was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

How Apple's iOS 15 Could Impact Email Marketers

As one of the HubSpot Blog's email marketers, one of the key metrics I use to measure email success is open rate.

When an open rate is high, it hints that your subject line did its job to pull readers, you're sending emails at the most engaging time of day, or your subscribers are eagerly waiting to get your content in their inbox. When it's low, it signals that your email subscribers might not even be reading your content.

But, now, the way email marketers leverage open rates could change as soon as this month with Apple's incoming iOS 15 privacy features.

At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June, the company announced a rollout of a handful of new iOS 15 privacy features that will include:

  • Mail Privacy Protection (Free): According to reports from Litmus, those with early access to iOS 15, and other tech journalists, Apple Mail will allow users to opt in to mail privacy features that mask IP addresses and block third parties from tracking email opens or other IP data.
  • iCloud+ (Subscription): An iCloud subscription with additional privacy features including a VPN-like Private Relay feature, which prevents sites from tracking Safari users who opt-in and allows users to see which websites they're sending information to.
  • Hide My Email (within iCloud+): An email address-cloaking feature that enables users to give sites a "fake" email address. While promotional emails sent from the brand to the fake address will still go to someone's inbox and shouldn't impact important communication, brands will not be able to see the person's real address unless the contact shares it.

While the paid features might not create a huge impact for marketers because they require users to buy a service, the free Apple Mail privacy feature has already caused a stir in the marketing community.

So far, all Apple has said about this feature is, "In the Mail app, Mail Privacy Protection stops senders from using invisible pixels to collect information about the user. The new feature helps users prevent senders from knowing when they open an email and masks their IP address so it can’t be linked to other online activity or used to determine their location."

Although Apple hasn’t explicitly said whether Mail Privacy Protection will be an opt-in or automatic feature, some iOS testers have shared images showing the Mail app prompts them to turn Mail Privacy Protection on when they enter the app:

apple ios email permission page

Image Source

At this point, marketing experts say this feature could specifically impact the tracking of open rates and email-based A/B testing.

Although this move might seem scary, it isn't surprising as it follows a trend of internet privacy rollouts from tech giants. Most recently, Apple's iOS 14.5 update limited mobile app tracking by requiring users to opt into sharing information when they opened an app after downloading it. Meanwhile, Google has been building out its Privacy Sandbox while preparing advertisers and marketers for Chrome's phase-out of third-party cookies in 2022.

When it comes to Apple's iOS 15 pivots specifically, marketers aren't only unsurprised, but many -- including members of the HubSpot team -- believe this will be a positive change for user experience.

“From its inception, HubSpot has been relentlessly focused on helping businesses match the way they market and sell to the way people want to shop and buy. Our founders developed the philosophy of inbound marketing in the early 2000s,  and Apple's moves only serve to reinforce these trends," says Will DeKrey, HubSpot's Group Product Manager of Campaigns.

"Buyers get to be in charge of the data they share; not sellers. And big corporations shouldn't get to create markets for tracking and selling personal data, giving them an information advantage over smaller businesses," DeKrey says.

“This means that each individual company, large or small, will need to get better and better at building trusted relationships with their audience, earning the right to learn who they are and what they're interested in.”

“What's true about people today is that they want BOTH privacy AND personalization. They still want content that is targeted and messaging that speaks to their interests. Given Apple's changes, email marketers will likely need to focus even more on creating remarkably relevant content that drives their audiences to take action, versus experimenting with headlines just to see if they can get a click,” DeKrey explains.

“Personalization isn't going away. Conversion optimization isn't going away. A/B testing isn't going away. But each of these will need to be more focused on building deeper relationships and more meaningful actions,” concludes DeKrey

Although Apple's recent open tracking pivot could be great for iOS users who'd like to feel more secure, we know that email marketers still have a lot of questions.

To help email marketers navigate the potential changes that could happen, here are a few tips and strategies teams can consider as the iOS 15 rollout gets closer.

Click here to download our free lookbook that's packed with our favorite email newsletters.

How Email Marketers Can Navigate Apple's Open Privacy Changes

1. Continue following updates from Apple.

Although Apple's iOS 15 features are starting to roll out, there's still a lot that we're still learning about how it could impact the ways we work with email.

As the feature continues to roll out, HubSpot's own email product team will be looking into the change and considering solutions if there will be a major open rate impact.

“On the HubSpot email product team, we're going to take time to consider what the next best steps are for our customers. In this ever-evolving email landscape, our priority will be to support our marketers in continuing to create highly impactful emails and get the most value from our email tool,” said Shane Janssens, Email Product Manager at HubSpot, this summer.

As we know more about these new features and how they could impact HubSpot email analytics, we'll continue to update this post with more information and links to helpful resources to keep you in the know.

2. Remember, this change won't impact all email readers.

Although Apple Mail and Apple mobile devices make up over 35% of the email provider market share globally, Google, Outlook, and other email providers haven't announced similar privacy moves, which means their open and IP data could still provide solid tracking information for email marketers.

While you should be wary that other companies, like Google or Microsoft, could follow suit on email privacy, it's important to remember that you'll still get open data from them for the time being and can still make some judgments on the success of opens from these email providers.

3. Consider adjusting open-rate goals.

Although open rates aren't going away any time soon, a large chunk of email audiences might become untrackable. Because of this, you might need to lower or pivot your open rate goals to determine what your new low, average, and high open rates are.

If your goals are set by a manager above you, it will be important to audit and communicate how many opens you usually get from iOS users to help your manager and your team estimate how they could change after the rollout. You might also want to consider tracking your email open rates for a month or so after the rollout to see what new averages look like based on hard data.

4. Leverage other email marketing data.

While open rate is a key email marketing KPI at many companies, it's certainly not the only data you can use to determine if your email content is successful. In fact, when sending HubSpot Blog emails, the open rate is just one of many metrics I look at. Here are a few others that I plan to continue to zone in on, even if open rates are impacted:

  • Clicks and click-through rates: If you share links to content, such as blogs, product pages, and offers in email, the number of clicks and your click-through rates give you insights on how many or how often email readers engaged with and clicked on your content. High clicks or click-throughs can hint that your content was very engaging while lower clicks or click-throughs could hint that readers were less interested or skimming through your email.
  • Traffic to your site: With software like HubSpot, or the use of tracking URLs, you can determine how much traffic came to your website from one single email -- or which pieces of content sent the most visitors to your site. Ultimately, if you're trying to build your audiences, get people to make purchases, or aiming to increase offer downloads, you'll need to send people to your website. Good email traffic hints that you're successfully getting visitors where they need to go with your content.
  • Clickmaps: Many email providers, like HubSpot, allow you to see which content people clicked most or least in the email. This can help you see which content within your email was most and least clickable,
  • Unsubscribe rates: While these usually don't vary much, a spiked unsubscribe rate could indicate that an aspect of your email strategy (such as the content you sent or the frequency of emails) caused you to lose more audience members than usual. Meanwhile, a consistently low unsubscribe rate hints that you're continuing to retain or even gain subscribers.
  • Survey or email persona research: Aside from metrics you can gain from your email marketing platform, you can also leverage other strategies, like surveys or polls to learn more about your subscribers' interests, what they'd like to see more of, and where you can improve your content.

On top of leveraging KPIs that are less impacted by Apple's change, you can also use email tools or benchmark reports to see how your email rates compare to that of other brands in your industry.

For example, HubSpot users can leverage HubSpot's Email Health Tool to compare your open, click-through, unsubscribe, and bounce rates against our benchmarks.

Evolving Your Content for a More Private World

Apple's announcement is not the only privacy pivot that's impacted digital marketers -- and in 2021 -- it certainly won't be the last.

Although the world might be changing in a way that poses some challenges for digital and email marketers, that doesn't mean you can't continue to innovate your strategy to meet prospects or audiences where they are.

While open rates are certainly important, there are many other ways to get to know your email subscribers, learn from KPIs, and continue to create great content for them.

Looking for more information on how email could change, or the HubSpot Email tools? Check out this HubSpot Community post

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