How Advertisers are Navigating iOS 14's Mobile Tracking Changes

It's been several months since Apple's iOS 14 update went into effect and the dust has begun to settle. One of the main questions has been, "How are advertisers handling the mobile tracking changes?"

Earlier this year, we talked about how this change could impact advertisers, but now, we want to follow up. Have any new strategies evolved? What have advertisers been doing to reach their target audiences?

In this post, we'll discuss how advertisers have navigated the iOS 14 mobile tracking changes and give you a few tips on how to have continued success with social media and online advertising.

Wait, what happened with the iOS 14 update?

To summarize, at the beginning of 2021 Apple released a new update that would impact the way that advertisers reach their audience. With the iOS 14 update users needed to opt-in, or give permission, to an app to track their activity outside of the platform.

So, why were advertisers and marketers concerned? Well, a lot of ad campaigns target audiences based on their behavior online. If an app can't track that information, ads will become less personalized, and in turn, could be less effective.

The concern for marketers was that they wouldn't be able to deliver their ads to people based on certain activities, like if they'd visited their website, for example. This meant that ads would likely have smaller audience sizes and less accurate reporting.

Additionally, with this update advertisers are only allowed to use up to eight conversion events from a single website domain. This means if you run a campaign and track several different conversion types (like Lead, Landing Page Views, Purchase) you'll now be capped at eight at any given time.

At HubSpot, Rex Gelb, the director of paid acquisition, says, "It's hard to quantify, but from a search perspective, we haven't seen any major impact at HubSpot. With platforms like Google and Bing we are less reliant on cookies and more reliant on people searching for our target keywords."

Now, you might be wondering, "What have advertisers been doing?" Let's discuss it below.

How Advertisers are Navigating the iOS 14 Mobile Tracking Changes

While the iOS 14 update has made advertisers jump through some more hoops in setting up their ad campaigns (getting domain verification and aggregated event management), the update ultimately hasn't been the death of retargeting or Facebook ads.

Of course, there have been changes. So far, it looks like more than 90% of users are opting out of data tracking. This is more than industry experts were predicting.

So, what have advertisers been doing?

1. Diversifying ad spend.

The main story of how advertisers are navigating the latest iOS tracking update is diversifying ad spend.

This means companies have shifted some ad spend that was previously allocated to Facebook to other platforms like Google because of the remarketing features and the ability to target users based on search intent.

2. Reporting Facebook success with Google Analytics.

While some money is still being used to advertise on Facebook, there are different ways of reporting.

Companies have begun using UTM parameters on their site's URLs to generate data tracked by Facebook to Google Analytics. This means you can use Google Analytics to track some of the activity on your Facebook ad campaigns.

3. Using owned data for lookalike audiences and retargeting.

Strategies such as using lookalike audiences or retargeting an email list have continued to drive results. With privacy updates becoming a norm for the big tech companies, marketers will need to begin focusing on owned data to inform their campaigns.

With your owned data (such as an email list), you can target lookalike audiences or retarget those very people.

Keep in mind, you can still use the old method of retargeting campaigns because not all of your audience is on iOS devices. You can still use the channel as a cost-effective way to see some return on ad spend (ROAS).

4. Using other Facebook advertising options.

Besides these new ways of approaching ad campaigns, some advertisers are investing in other ways to reach audiences on Facebook.

For example, you can use the messaging objective to create a lead-generating chatbot on Facebook Messenger. There are options to retarget users who reach out to you on messenger and start conversations with new leads who click on an ad of yours.

Additionally, Facebook has another strategy that advertisers have explored: the Facebook lead ads (in-app lead form).

While using your own landing pages is definitely the preferred method, in a cookieless world, using lead forms on Facebook can help you generate leads and capture first-party data.

The iOS 14 mobile tracking changes have made Facebook ads less effective, but there are still ways for advertisers to target their audience and generate leads on the platform.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

How Advertisers are Navigating iOS 14's Mobile Tracking Changes was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

The Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing in 2022 [+ New Data]

Effective marketing is difficult to get right. Between creative demands, budget limits, and channel decisions, marketers have a lot to juggle when developing their marketing strategy.

The biggest determinant of effective marketing, however, is your audience.

If you’re not properly targeting your buyer persona, your promotions and advertisements will likely fall on deaf ears. You might as well not be marketing at all.

Where target audiences vary the most, though, is between individual consumers and businesses. Some companies serve individual shoppers, while others cater to companies and organizations.

Marketing to businesses is very different from marketing to individual consumers. That’s why an entirely different marketing method — B2B marketing — exists, and that’s why we built this guide.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of B2B marketing, the most effective B2B marketing strategies, and how you can tap into and convert your business audience. Plus, the trends you can expect in the B2B space in 2022, according to new research plus expert tips. 

The purpose of B2B marketing is to make other businesses familiar with your brand name, the value of your product or service, and convert them into customers.

HubSpot is an example of a company that engages in B2B marketing. HubSpot’s customers are other businesses, not individual consumers. Therefore, all of our marketing efforts can be classified as B2B.

B2B vs B2C Marketing

B2B and B2C (business-to-consumer) marketing are very different. B2B and B2C marketing differ in their respective strategies and applications, as well as in their audiences and how they communicate to them.

B2B marketing targets the needs, interests, and challenges of individuals who are making purchases on behalf of, or for, their organization (rather than for themselves), thus making the organization the customer.

Here are a few examples of B2B companies:

• A coworking space that leases office spaces to remote teams and freelancers (like WeWork)
• An on-demand order fulfillment, warehousing, and screen printing service (like Printful)
• A marketing software company that sells social media management tools, lead generation software, and other marketing tools to businesses and organizations (like HubSpot!)

B2C marketing targets the needs, interests, and challenges of individual consumers who are making purchases on behalf of, or for, themselves, thus making the individual the customer. Here are a few examples of B2C companies:

• An e-commerce company that sells office supplies to remote or self-employed individuals (like Poppin)
• A store that sells t-shirts and other clothing and accessories (like Target)
• A music platform that sells streaming subscriptions (like Spotify)

Take a look at this chart comparing B2B and B2C customers.

	for b2b marketing	for b2c marketing
Goal	Customers are focused on ROI, efficiency, and expertise.	Customers are seeking deals and entertainment (which means marketing needs to be more fun).
Purchase Motivation	Customers are driven by logic and financial incentive.	Customers are driven by emotion.
Drivers	Customers want to be educated (which is where B2B content marketing comes in).	Customers appreciate education but don’t always need it to make a purchase decision.
Purchase Process	Customers like (if not prefer) to work with account managers and salespeople.	Customers like to make purchases directly.
People Involved in Purchase	Customers often have to confer with decision makers and other members of their chain of command before making a purchase decision.	Customers rarely need to confer with others before making a purchase decision.
Purchase Purpose	Customers make purchases for long-term solutions, resulting in a longer sales cycle, longer contracts, and longer relationships with companies.	Customers aren’t necessarily looking for long-term solutions or long-term relationships.

As much as they differ, though, B2B and B2C also intersect in many ways. While Poppin sells office supplies to remote or self-employed individuals, they also design corporate office spaces and branded supplies.

On the flip side, Printful not only offers order fulfillment and warehousing to businesses; they also fill e-commerce printing orders for individuals.

As distinct as the B2B and B2C marketing audiences can be, B2B marketers can always learn from B2C campaigns, too.

B2B Marketing Strategies

As I said above, marketing depends on its audience. While B2B and B2C marketing vary, not every piece of B2B marketing material is alike, either.

In this section, we’ll talk about various B2B marketing strategies you can implement to reach your specific business audience. Before we dive in, though, make sure you understand the B2B buyer’s journey. Take note of how each of these stages may affect your marketing strategies and how you implement them.

When you begin to form your B2B marketing strategies, there are a few steps you should take before you jump straight to execution.

1. Determine your brand positioning.

To create an effective strategy, you have to fully understand your brand positioning. This statement is the who, when, why and how of your brand identity — or the way your brand is perceived through the eyes of the customer.

Devise a brand positioning statement that your team and prospective customers can believe in, and you’ll be ready for the next step.

2. Identify your target audience.

Find your target audience — or who’s really looking for your brand’s products or services. That information will help you create buyer personas and understand how they make purchase decisions, a tool that’s extremely useful for any type of marketing.

3. Run a competitive analysis.

Scope out the market and see what other businesses are marketing to your target audience with a competitive analysis. Things to be on the lookout for when inspecting competitors are:

• Competitor product offerings
• Competitor sales tactics and results
• Competitor marketing content and social media presence

Getting a general overview of these items can help you recognize your competitors’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats — otherwise known as SWOT analysis.

4. Explore marketing channels to use.

In your competitive analysis, you’ll see the different types of marketing channels your competitors use successfully, and the channels they haven’t taken advantage of.

With the previous steps completed to begin building your B2B marketing strategy, this is where you’ll be able to diversify your own B2B marketing portfolio and reach the businesses you need to. The following categories are B2B marketing channels bound to connect you to your target audience.

B2B Email Marketing

Email marketing is a tried and true method of reaching both individual consumers and business customers. Did you know that 93% of B2B marketers use email? Are you one of them? You should be. Emails lead to engagement which turns subscribers into leads … and then customers.

Download our guide to optimizing email marketing for conversions and learn how to grow your email list, ensure deliverability, and increase engagement.

Unlike B2C customers who respond best to emotions and entertainment, B2B customers look for logic and positive ROI. Essentially, they’re asking themselves, How can your business help my business grow? Because of this, your email marketing must consistently resonate with your business customers and focus on things that matter to them — like time, money, and resources.

Email marketing is also a powerful vehicle for sharing your brand’s content. 83% of B2B companies use email newsletters as part of their content marketing program, and 40% of B2B marketers say these newsletters are most critical to their content marketing success.

With the constant barrage of emails flooding our inboxes today, it’s more important than ever to create and send out effective marketing emails.

B2B Email Marketing Best Practices

• Write enticing subject lines. Think about your email subject lines as a Netflix trailer — if you can’t hook your audience with a two-minute clip (or, in this case, a few dozen characters), don’t expect them to open and watch (or read) the whole thing. We recommend spending almost as much time on your email subject lines as you do on the emails themselves.
• Stick to one call-to-action (CTA) per email. If you think the number of emails you receive is a lot, take a look at the CTAs in those emails … some are packed with two, three, and sometimes up to 10 different CTAs. Don’t make this mistake, which can leave your recipients’ heads spinning, asking “What should I click on first?” and ultimately clicking on nothing. With one CTA per email, you allow your audience to focus on your email content and ultimately one action … a welcome reprieve from today’s frequent decision-making and analysis paralysis.
• Segment your email to reach the most relevant audience. Not every email you send will be appropriate for everyone on your list. Your subscribers may be at different stages of the buyer’s journey or be seeking different solutions. That’s where email list segmentation comes into play. Not only does this help you relate to your audience better, but it gives your emails that personal feel that says “Hey, I’m listening and I know what you’d like to see.” Consumers prefer email quality over quantity anytime.
• Make sure your email designs are responsive. Over 80% of email users access their inbox on their phones, and emails that don’t show up correctly on mobile devices are often deleted in three seconds. Ouch. Don’t let your email be one of those.
• Don’t be afraid of the cold email. As uncomfortable as it is, the right email can convert new customers — like this cold sales email that won 16 new B2B customers.

👉🏼HubSpot Tip: You can’t send marketing emails without any recipients — these people make up your lists. There are plenty of easy ways to grow your email list. Begin with opt-in forms on your website homepage, About page, and blog. Check out HubSpot’s Free Form Builder tool to get started.

B2B Digital Marketing

Every business, whether B2B or B2C should have a digital presence — which is comprised of paid ads, search engine optimization, a website, and any other place your B2B company is active online. Let’s walk through a handful of tactics that can strengthen your B2B digital marketing strategy.

1. Define your target audience.

A strong B2B digital marketing strategy starts with defining your target audience, or buyer persona. This demographic and psychographic information will inform almost every other marketing activity thereafter, ensuring your content and digital material is absorbed by the right eyes and ears (and that no resources go to waste on your end).

2. Create your website.

Secondly, digital marketing can’t quite function without an informative, engaging website. Over 80% of buyers visit a website before making a purchase. Moreover, since the typical B2B sales cycle often involves many key players (such as gatekeepers, decision makers, and other folks who have to buy into a purchase), websites are easy, straightforward ways for influencers to share information about your product or service.

For inspiration on how the best B2B websites are built to impress, check out this video:

3. Optimize your digital presence.

Your website needs to be more than informative and engaging, though … it needs to be discoverable. You can do this with on-page SEO and technical SEO tactics. These include everything from image alt-text and meta descriptions (what your visitors can see) to structured data and site speed (what your visitors can’t see). Off-page SEO is also at play here, which refers to external linking strategies and social sharing — SEO tactics that take place off your website.

4. Run PPC campaigns.

Finally, round out your digital presence with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, which allows you to get your content and brand in front of new audiences via search engines and other advertising platforms. I recommend maximizing your PPC investment by advertising more than your specific products or services — such as your brand personality, blog or social media content, or company tagline.

The best way to see an ROI from your paid ads is by 1) incorporating your buyer persona data and 2) boosting content that they can relate to. For example, it’s highly unlikely a brand new consumer who’s never heard of you is searching for your exact product. They may be searching for a location-based solution or product feature. To reach the greatest number of potential customers, pay to target relevant categories within your brand vs. promoting your product or services.

B2B Content Marketing

We’ve talked about how B2B customers are focused on expertise, driven by logic, and desire to be educated. What better marketing tool to satisfy these priorities than B2B content marketing?

Whereas a traditional PR marketing strategy interrupts a consumer’s day-to-day with promotional material, a content marketing strategy adds valuable information and informs the consumer — which is precisely what B2B customers are looking for. Not to mention that content marketing supports SEO efforts, which involves anticipating what your audience is searching for, helping them discover your website and content … and potentially converting them to customers.

It's important to note, content marketing is most effective when you align your content to various stages of the buyer's journey. As Jonathan Franchell, CEO and Founder of Ironpaper, points out: "Effective content in the awareness phase educates the buyer on their pain points."

"A frequent mistake B2B organizations make is educating the buyer on their own company, product, or service. The buyer isn't ready for that; they are just beginning to understand their problem."

Franchell adds, "Additionally, B2B companies should test content. Run a test on an incentive and vary the type of content - use a webinar, an eBook, or a video. Understand what format of content attracts the right types of buyers and measure it down to an individual human level."

Download our free guide and learn what topics convert at the highest rate with insight from 175,000 B2B & B2C blog posts.

In fact, 80% of business decision makers prefer to get information from an article than an ad. Knowing this, I’d say you should be putting the same (if not more) resources into your content marketing than your traditional advertising strategy.

Because the B2B buyer’s journey is slightly different than the B2C buyer’s journey (which has shorter sales cycles and fewer decision makers involved), the content you create for your B2B content marketing strategy may vary more than the content you’ve seen as a consumer yourself, as illustrated in the below graphic.

Before you start creating content, though, I recommend creating a business blog. (Don’t worry, growing your blog readership is easier than you think.) Your blog will house all the content you create and serve as a home-base for readers to visit and subscribe to.

B2B Social Media Marketing

Did you know that 75% of B2B buyers and 84% of C-Suite executives use social media when making a purchase? That’s right — social media marketing isn’t just for brands targeting individual consumers.

Many B2B companies struggle with social media marketing, though. It can be harder to use social media to connect with business customers, especially because (as we mentioned above) there’s typically a lengthier sales cycle and longer chain of command.

Honestly, B2B social media marketing might not be where you convert the greatest number of leads, and that’s OK. It likely comes into play near the beginning of your customers’ buyer’s journeys.

Social media is a powerful tool for building brand awareness, giving your company an online personality, and humanizing your business — all very powerful factors when it comes to marketing and connecting with potential customers. Like email marketing, social media is also a highly effective channel for sharing your content and enhancing your brand expertise, the latter of which we know B2B customers appreciate.

Overwhelmed by social media? Spend more time connecting with your followers with our time-saving suite of social tools.

While your social media accounts might not convert as frequently as your content or email marketing, they’re just as important. In this case, followers are just as valuable — you never know when they might convert to leads or customers.

👉🏼 HubSpot Tip: Why? Content shared by employee advocates receives over eight times more engagement than content shared by brands. So, involve your employees in your B2B social media marketing strategy. Encourage them to create their own social media channels and share about life at your company. Create a culture account (like our @HubSpotLife Instagram) to show what’s going on at work, not just what you’re selling. You never know — this might attract strong talent, too.

B2B Marketing Trends to Watch in 2022 [New Data] 

HubSpot's Blog team conducted research to determine the challenges, opportunities, and initiatives that most B2B marketers are focusing on in 2022. 

Let's dive in. 

1. Marketers report 'measuring the ROI of marketing activities' will be their number one challenge in 2022.

30% of marketers marked "measuring the ROI of your marketing activities" as the number one challenge they believe they'll face in 2022.  

Measuring ROI can be easier for some activities compared to others. For instance, it's easy enough to track a social media advertising campaign's ROI if you're tracking sales made from an ad placed on Facebook. Sales is a tangible outcome, and Facebook's Ad Manager enables you to easily track ROI from your efforts. 

However, other activities can be more difficult to track. Analyzing which pieces of social or blog content resulted in sales, for instance, can be a more arduous and convoluted process. 

To combat this challenge, take a look at How to Calculate ROI in Marketing [Free Excel Templates].

Additionally, consider A/B testing various marketing activities and tracking ROI to determine which platforms traditionally have the biggest ROI for your business. For instance, most marketers find the highest ROI from Facebook — but this could vary for your brand or business needs.

2. The majority of B2B marketers plan to increase their investments in influencer marketing in 2022. 

As a result of the pandemic, we've seen an immense shift in how consumers' shop, with the majority now shopping online — and, in particular, purchasing products directly on social media.

It makes sense, then, that B2B marketers want to ensure their products or services are showing up on social channels with influencer partnerships. 

Influencer marketing is projected to become a $13.8 billion dollar industry by the end of this year, and it's showing no signs of slowing down. 

Most B2B marketers — 71% — plan on investing more in influencer marketing in 2022, and that's likely a wise choice.

However, you'll want to ensure you choose partnerships wisely. While it can be tempting to find influencers with massive audiences, many businesses have seen more success with micro-influencers, so be sure to do your research to determine which influencers have the most authentic connections with your desired audience.

3. Roughly half of B2B marketers plan to create more case studies in 2022. 

42% of B2B marketers plan to increase their investments in case studies in 2022, surpassing interviews, ebooks, and images. 

Businesses want to learn from other businesses. Case studies are exceptional opportunities to inspire or educate your audience with real-life examples of other companies' stories. 

If you're unsure about this media format, consider testing case studies on your blog and monitor how they perform. Alternatively, try creating case studies in alternative formats — such as a YouTube video — to provide additional value to your audience. 

4. The number one goal for B2B marketers in 2022 is 'increasing brand awareness'. 

Understanding your big-picture goals is imperative for creating an effective marketing strategy for 2022 — so it's likely helpful to know what other B2B marketers' plan to focus on in 2022. 

Roughly half of B2B marketers report that 'increasing brand awareness' is their number one goal in 2022. This goal surpasses increasing engagement, advertising products, lead generation, and even closing deals. 

Brand awareness is critical for fostering trust, long-term loyalty, and brand equity. It makes sense, then, that so many marketers feel it's critical for long-term success. 

5. Some marketers plan to stop leveraging podcasts and audio content in 2022, while others will stop implementing VR and AR. 

As important as it is to learn what marketers plan to do in 2022, it's equally vital to learn what they plan not to do. This can help you identify your own guardrails, and ensure you're sticking to the most efficient marketing strategies, rather than wasting time and resources on all of them. 

HubSpot's Blog Research found 25% of marketers plan to stop leveraging podcasts and audio content; followed closely by 23% who plan to stop leveraging VR and AR. 

This doesn't mean these activities are inefficient, but it does suggest that some survey respondents found the time, effort, and resources required for each of these efforts wasn't worth it. Ultimately, it depends on your audiences' preferences. 

If your audience doesn't enjoy consuming business content on podcast or audio formats, then re-consider investing in these initiatives.

However, audio content isn't going anywhere — so if you haven't already, you might consider testing various audio formats in 2022 to see how they perform with your audience. If you're unsure how to get started, take a look at Everything You Need to Know About Starting a Podcast in 2021 or Clubhouse vs. Podcasts: Which Should Marketers Use? [Data + Expert Tips].

6. Over half of B2B marketers say 'optimizing load speed' is going to be their most effective SEO strategy in 2022. 

There are numerous various tactics you can implement to boost your SEO rankings in 2022. However, it can be challenging to know where to begin.

56% of B2B marketers marked 'optimizing load speed' as the most effective SEO strategy, followed by creating search insights reports. 

Load speed directly correlates with how well your pages rank on Google, since slow pages negatively impact a user's experience. If you're not sure how to reduce load speed, take a look at these 9 ways to improve page load speed. 

7. LinkedIn will be the most popular video channel for B2B marketers in 2022, followed by TikTok. 

Finally, we asked: Which social media platforms do B2B marketers' companies post video content on? 

Video content is the most popular format for most people when it comes to consuming content, so it's vital your marketing team use video as a primary format. However, it can be tricky to determine which platform(s) you should post that content for optimal results. 

As shown below, roughly half (49%) of marketers say LinkedIn is the best platform for posting their video content — followed by 28% who marked TikTok as the optimal platform. 

If you're considering posting video content on LinkedIn in 2022, take a look at LinkedIn Video Specs and Best Practices: a Comprehensive Overview.

Along with research, I spoke with a few B2B experts to get their take on the trends we can expect to see in 2022. 

Carla Andre-Brown, a Content Marketer at Mailbird, told me she believes we'll see more B2B brands aligning with charities in 2022. 

Andre-Brown says, "Brands get a lot of brownie points and even referrals when they show how they serve the community. Instead of only seeing charity efforts around the holidays, you can expect philanthropy year-round."

Andre-Brown adds, "Brand-building activities will look to work with social and environmental causes in a format that is ongoing and builds recognition for both parties. Marketers will need to be especially mindful of the way they present their company, to avoid being accused of having poor intentions."

"For instance," Andre-Brown continues, "a company using the Pride theme each summer without having policies that protect LGBTQ2IA+ employees is called 'Rainbow washing'. To ensure this work is well-received and has an impact, marketers should listen to their communities' suggestions and look for sustainable changes that everyone can benefit from."

Additionally, Chief Evangelist at Terminus Sangram Vajre says he predicts that data collection will become a major priority for brands in 2022. 

As he puts it, "The quality of our campaigns and initiatives will increasingly rely on our CRM, CDP, and 3rd-party sources to help create stylized, targeted, and convertible marketing initiatives. And since CMOs are increasingly held to ROI numbers, we have to up our game."

To consider how you might manage your data in a more efficient, sustainable way, take a look at Everything You Need to Know About Data Management.

Additionally, if you're unsure how you can continue tracking your audience without using third-party cookies, read 7 Marketing Alternatives to Tracking Cookies.

B2B Marketing Examples

A B2B marketing approach that works for one business may not work for another, but that’s not to say we can’t learn something from the pros. Here are eight B2B marketing examples of businesses who did it right.

1. Social Media Marketing: Adobe

TikTok can seem like a difficult platform to stand out as a B2B brand, but some companies have managed to attract thousands — if not millions — of viewers to their videos through high-quality content and an understanding of the app. 

Take software company Adobe, which has 262.3K followers and 2 million likes on its TikTok account. 

When Adobe first joined the app, the company's second video got over 2 million views. The video asked its audience, Who is a creative TikToker we should know about?, which encouraged high audience engagement. 

Adobe succeeds on the app because it creates engaging content specifically catered for TikTok's audience. All Adobe's videos are short, entertaining, and easily digestible. 

Take the following example, which has over 370K views and highlights how user @emilesam used Adobe's After Effects edit to create a fighting sequence against himself. 

@adobe May the force be with @emilesam in his #AfterEffects edit. ✨ #Adobe #foryoupage #fyp #foryoup ♬ original sound - Adobe

The brand does a good job highlighting its products in a fun, non-promotional way. Both consumers and businesses can see a clear connection between using Adobe's products and finding success on TikTok — which makes this a great example of B2B marketing. 

2. Content Marketing: Shopify 

Ecommerce company Shopify produces many different types of content resources, such as a blog, business courses, and community events. But one content avenue that helps the brand stand out is its podcast, aptly titled Shopify Masters: The ecommerce business and marketing podcast for ambitious entrepreneurs.

The podcast focuses on inspiration stories from entrepreneurs, and offers practical tips for starting an online business on Shopify. Episode topics range from "Disrupting the Soda Industry with a Healthy Spin" to "How Masks For Dogs Landed a Deal on Shark Tank". 

Offering so much valuable, interesting content for free is a fantastic example of effective B2B marketing, which should always provide value before it tries to extract it. 

3. Digital Marketing: Mailchimp

Mailchimp's homepage is easy to navigate, clean, and focuses entirely on its customers' pain points. 

Consider, for instance, the first large text you see when you click on the page: "Get down to business and grow sales". The smaller text below it reads, "Engage your customers and boost your business with Mailchimp's advanced, yet easy-to-use marketing platform." 

The language focuses on the customer, and how Mailchimp can help the customer reach their goal: To grow their businesses. 

Additionally, the website offers a banner at the top of the page that enables customers to choose in which language they'd prefer to view the website. Even the company's Products navigation menu includes how the product can "Get Your Business Online" and "Market Your Business". 

Ultimately, the company demonstrates how much they value each of their customers by tailoring each piece of content towards its customers' unique challenges. 

4. Client Testimonials: Venngage

Venngage took its positive client testimonials and sprinkled them throughout its website. This social proof lets prospects know that you have a track record of reliability, and have delighted previous customers beyond expectation. Not only that, but sharing testimonials can have a big impact on potential consumers in the Consideration and Decision stages.

After all, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses in 2020, which is up from 81% in 2019, so using client feedback is a great tool to attract new ones.

Image Source

5. B2B SEO: TravelPerk, Google

A B2B buyer spends 27% of the time in the purchase journey independently researching online, potentially using at least one search engine during the online research. It’s worth the time and money to invest in making sure other businesses can find you with ease.

TravelPerk displays a diverse range of paid search and SEO. An impressive SEO strategy is its use of topic clusters and sub-topics for reaching its target audience. TravelPerk ensures that search engine pages like “business travel expenses” have a paid ad leading to its website, or high-ranking blog content providing information travelers are looking for.

Image Source

6. Inside Influence Marketing: IBM, Influencer and Employee Advocacy Program

IBM Systems business group has seen the growing importance of employee voice and the rise of employee influencers as a strategy in B2B marketing.

In the words of Ryan Bares, Global Social Programs Lead, he states, “In the B2B marketing world, we’ve all come to understand that buyers trust individual voices more than formal marketing and advertising messages, so finding ways to optimize influence internally is becoming a key area of focus.”

Image Source

Leveraging employees in your company that have an affinity for the industry, vast knowledge of trending topics and your brand, could be key in building new relationships in the industry.

7. B2B Referral Program: Blackbaud, Blackbaud Champions

Blackbaud offers an incredible B2B referral program that incentivizes current customers to become product advocates — Blackbaud Champions. Champions are encouraged to share their insight into how the implementation process works, what it’s like to work with the team, and how Blackbaud solutions have helped you advance their mission.

“When you share your experiences and expertise and help us spread the word about our products and services, we’ll reward you with benefits only available to Champions. By providing your feedback, participating in activities like reference calls and case studies, and sharing educational content and events on social media, you’ll earn Reward Points in the Blackbaud Champions Hub which you can redeem from the Champions Rewards”

These points are what Champions strive to redeem, as they include incentives like discounts, complimentary passes, gift cards and VIP experiences, and more.

Image Source

Referral programs are a great way to kindle customer loyalty and have advocates spread the word about your business through the network.

Invest in B2B Marketing and Reach Your Business Customers

Marketing isn’t effective unless you keep your audience in mind, and no other audience is as fickle and critical as business customers. Your marketing should communicate how your business can help theirs, and if it doesn’t, you can redirect your B2B marketing strategies to reach them.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

The Ultimate Guide to B2B Marketing in 2022 [+ New Data] was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

20 Funny Out-of-Office Messages to Inspire Your Own [+ Templates]

When it comes to the final days before vacation, people tend to fall into one of two camps: 1) those who watch the clock incessantly, and 2) those who are so busy before they leave, they might even forget to put up an out-of-office (OOO) email message.

If you're anything like I am, you probably fall into team two. That doesn't leave a lot of time to get creative. But if you plan ahead, you might be able to craft some hilarity.

In this post, I’ll go over what an OOO message is and share some of the best examples I’ve found on Google, as well as a few from my coworkers.

Also known as "autoresponder emails," out-of-office messages run the gamut. From funny to clever to snarky, this message can both show your personality and let senders know that, well, you’re out of office.

While you can keep it simple, you can also have some fun with it.

What should I put on my out-of-office message?

First things first: let’s go over the basics of an OOO email. In your away message, you typically include the following:

• A quick “I’m out of the office” phrase.
• The date or time range you’ll be out.
• Who to reach out to in case the sender needs immediate attention.
• A sign-off.

Putting it all together, your autoresponder would read something like:

“Hi there,

Thanks for your email. I’m currently out of office until mm/dd/yyyy. If you need help, email my colleague at colleague@example.com.

Best,

[Name]”

But that sounds boring, right? Luckily, there are ways to spice up your OOO message by adding humor in just the right places.

If you’re feeling stuck, try our free OOO email generator to draft a message that perfectly captures who you are and where you're going.

Featured Resource: OOO Email Generator

Create your OOO email by clicking here.

Out-of-Office Messages for Vacation

1. “I’ll email you back once I’ve defrosted.”

Most times, when people go on vacation, they travel to a warm, tropical place…

But some of us just aren’t as lucky. Or if we’re traveling during the winter and heading up north — well, we’re going to run into some snow, aren’t we?

While this may not prove so fortunate for us, we can use the poor weather for comedic relief. You can even include a screenshot of the weather forecast for a sense of realism. Not only will it give senders a chuckle, but it’ll also generate a certain amount of empathy — which is often the key to good content.

Example

Thanks for your message! I’m currently buried in snow and will get back to you once I’ve defrosted on January 2nd.

And if you think I’m lying...

Image Source

Gotta go, my fingers are frostbitten. If you really need me, either get a shovel and dig me out of here or reach out to my colleague Anna — who’s not frozen under snow with frostbitten fingers — at anna@example.com

2. “If found, contact someone other than me.”

If your email client allows it, you could always just use an image to express your out-office sentiment, like this one. After all, they say that a picture is worth a thousand words — and visual content is still essential to successful marketing.

In this image, you're letting people know you're OOO with a "Missing" notice on a milk carton. Genius. Just be careful — this sort of autoresponder is best for internal emails, not for autoresponders that get sent to prospects and clients.

3. “I’ll get back to you when I return to civilization.”

If you’re traveling to a remote, mountainous area, why not jab some fun at your lack of WiFi in your autoresponder? Plus, that makes it less likely that people will expect an immediate response or continue to email you after the first try.

Example

Hi there,

Sorry I missed you — I’m unable to get to my email right this second. Why? I’m on a backpacking trip, surviving on Spam, really good water, and trail mix. You should see the stars out here.

I’ll get back to you when I return to civilization. Or to an area with WiFi. Or to the office on May 10th. Whichever comes first.

If you need help right now, email my team at team@example.com.

4. “If you need to reach me, travel to my homeland of Florida.”

When one of my colleagues went on vacation, he sent an out-of-office message that was both clever and smart. First, he sent the recipient on an imaginary scavenger hunt to "the highest peak of the tallest mountain." He used humorous absurdity to make it clear that he would not be checking email while he was away.

Plus, he incorporated a delightful technique to let people know that if they really wanted him to read their emails, they should probably send them again after his return. Not only does that keep the sender accountable by saying, "If this is really important, you know when to reach me," but it also helps him truly vacate his work while he's away. And that's hard to do.

Below is an example you can use for yourself.

Example

Hey!

I’m on vacation until July 18th. If you need to reach me, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• First, travel to my homeland of Florida.
• Climb to the highest peak of the tallest mountain.
• Find a rare flower (no specifics, of course... It’d be cheating).
• Put the flower back, because as the old hiking rule goes, “Leave everything as you found it.”

When you understand that flower, you’ll know to reach me. Trust me. You’ll know.

If your message requires a response faster than that, please email my manager at manager@example.com.

If you want to make sure your message gets a response ASAP when I return, please send it on July 18th. I recommend using one of our sales automation tools to schedule it now, while you’re thinking about it.

5. “I know I’m supposed to say that I’ll have limited access to email, but...”

Josh Kopelman’s vacation email is a classic example of taking a blunt approach to OOO messages.

Not only did Kopelman manage to turn his out-of-office message into an epic poem of sorts, but also, he actually went through the trouble of creating a delightfully snarky, vacation-specific email address for his recipients.

Giving the option to contact an email address containing "interruptyourvacation" provides two things — 1) A dose of humor, and 2) discouragement from actually doing what the name suggests. Plus, he prefaces it with a request for empathy, by explaining that he promised quality time to his family.

Sure, Kopelman is truthful about the fact that he's on vacation, but he also lets the recipient know that he or she would be interrupting important family time if the first option is chosen. It states a point simply and uses humor to avoid making it sound like he wants the reader to feel guilty.

Below is an example you can use for yourself.

Example

Hi there,

You got this email immediately (classic autoresponder behavior), which means I’m out of office on vacation.

While I hypothetically could reach my email, while I hypothetically do have my phone on hand, and while I hypothetically do have access to WiFi, I’d rather enjoy time with my family. My kids are growing up at the speed of a supersonic jet, and if I blink one more time, they’ll be 35. And I’ll be 73. And I don’t want that.

If you still need to reach me, you can email interruptingfamilytime@example.com. Or you can email my assistant at assistant@example.com. They can point you in the right direction.

Looking forward to reconnecting once I’m back.

6. “Hi, I’m Troy McClure.”

When one of my colleagues is out of the office, he doesn't mess around. In fact, he's turned his auto-responses into a running series of commentary from fictional cartoon character Troy McClure.

Each time McClure makes an appearance in these out-of-office messages, he "speaks" on behalf of my colleague and alludes to the previous auto-responses in which he starred. It's a mild form of self-deprecating humor — as if to say, "I know, I'm out of the office again" — made only funnier by the made-up teaser title included in the last line.

Don't be afraid to use a pop cultural reference that the audience would recognize. Instead of bemoaning your absence, they'll have something fun and familiar to laugh at.

Example

Image Source

Hi, I’m Troy McClure. You might remember me from such out-of-office messages as Avenge My Death if I Don’t Return from DMEXCO and Bye Now, I’m on an Absurdly Long Cycling Trip.

I’m here to talk to you about someone you know. Catalina Wong is out of office until September 27. She wanted me to let you know that she’ll get back to you after her return.

That’s all for now. Watch for me in the upcoming out-of-office message, It’s Not a Hangover, It’s Food Poisoning — I Swear! And be safe out there.

7. “The bad news is that I’m out of office. The good news is that I’m out of office.”

You can show just how thrilled you are about your vacation while still providing an apology (of sorts... not really).

Example

Hey there — I’ve got good and bad news for you. Let’s go with the bad first.

The bad news is that I’m out of office. The good news is that I’m out of office and enjoying elotes in Cancún.

If you can’t wait for a response, my colleague will be happy to take care of you. Just email them at someone@example.com.

I’ll be back on February 7th.

8. "I am currently out of the office and probably chilling on the beach. Enjoy your work week."

That’s it. That’s all. Simple and to the point, this message will let people know that you can’t respond to messages.

That said, be careful with messages that are this curt. Make sure you're familiar enough with your audience — and your boss, for that matter — to know that this sort of out-of-office message will be met with a snicker, and not with annoyance.

9. “Can you guess where I am?”

There's a term that we like to use around here called "snowbirds," which is used to describe those who once resided in the northern part of the U.S., only to flee to warmer parts of the country during the winter.

And although my colleague had mixed feelings about her own parents joining that population in Florida, she couldn't be too upset when her dad suggested flying down from Boston for a Red Sox spring training game.

Naturally, she had to take the day off — and couldn't let folks know with any old generic auto-response. Instead, she made a guessing game of it in her out-of-office email, which you can use for yourself, below.

Example

Hello there,

I’m currently out of the office, enjoying some peanuts and Cracker Jacks with my family. Can you guess where I am? That’s okay, you’re busy.

If your message is urgent, fear not — we’ll get it addressed. Try doing one of two things:

1. Send me an email at TheresNoCryingInBaseball@example.com.
   1. Just kidding. That’s not a real email address.
2. Reach out to my manager at manager@example.com in my absence.

I’ll be back in the office on 7/19 and will happily respond then. Have a great weekend!

10. "Vacation Relaxation?" Graph

Image Source

This graph pokes fun at the fact that taking a vacation is sometimes not very relaxed. Sometimes you're stressed about work and will worry about your to-do list. Using this image is a funny way to connect with anyone who emails you because we've all been there. We've all had that vacation existential crisis and dealt with the stress before and after a vacation.

11. Choose wisely

When you go on vacation, one of the worst feelings is knowing that you'll come back to a clogged inbox that will take you a while to go through. However, a great (and funny) way to reduce email volume and discourage multiple emails is with this example, telling users to choose what they email you wisely.

Be sure that you're comfortable with the people sending you emails because while this is a funny OOO message, it's also a little snarky about people who send multiple emails.

Example

I am on annual leave until dd/mm/yyyy. I will allow each sender one email and if you send me multiple emails, I will randomly delete your emails until there is only one remaining. Choose wisely. Please note that you have already sent me one email.

Holiday Out-of-Office Messages

12. “Holiday revelry and debauchery ahead. Proceed with caution (if you dare).”

When you’re out for the holidays, how can you express your thrill for the season without sounding, well, cheesy?

How about warning people of what’s to come? Take a look at an example you can use below.

Example

Hey there,

Careful. Holiday revelry and debauchery ahead. Proceed with caution (if you dare).

By which I mean to say: I’m on holiday, I’m definitely sunburnt, and I’m sorry I missed your email.

Don’t you worry: while I pretend to be Santa in front of my kids, my colleague, Hannah, will cover for me. Just email her at hannah@example.com if you need urgent assistance.

Take care, and don’t get too carried away with the sunbathing!

13. “Thank you so much for your email. I love it already.”

This holiday out-of-office email is definitely on theme, if not a little passive aggressive. If you're getting emails during the holidays, why not treat everything you receive that season like the present it is, and send a thank you note?

My snarky colleague sure did in his out-of-office message below. We send thank-you letters in response to holiday gifts, so it's only natural to expect the same gesture in our work inboxes …

Example

Hey there,

Thank you so much for your email. I love it already. It’s wrapped so nicely in its charming subject line that I just knew this message was going to be something special. Gifts like these just don’t come around every day.

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to return your message. As it’s the holiday season, I’m currently away from the office. When I return, I’ll give your email a good solid read and find that your request is exactly what I needed after all! But until then, I’m going to keep it in the inbox so it doesn’t get damaged and revisit it after the holidays are over.

Happy holidays!

14. “Die Hard Quiz.”

Check out this message from a HubSpot employee that certainly turns the tables on the email sender. Right when you thought you were the one requesting action, the recipient sent back an assignment — a fun one, at least.

While the sender waits for your response to their email, take the sting out of your absence by involving them in a holiday survey, like the one below.

Example

Sorry I missed you. I’ll be out of the office and slow to respond until after the break. While I have you, though, help settle an argument among my colleagues and me:

Die Hard Quiz

What was the best Die Hard movie?

• Die Hard 1: The Office Christmas Party Gone Wrong.
• Die Hard 2: Airport Conspiracy.
• Die Hard 3: Samuel L. Jackson. Enough said.
• Die Hard 4: Cyberthreat.
• Die Hard 5: You should probably not pick this one.
• Impossible! It’s like choosing a favorite child!

Submit

15. “Here are 10 things I’m thankful for.”

This email comes from another one of my colleagues. The purpose of this email is to intercept messages during Thanksgiving, and the way in which it does so is, well, with thankfulness.

The funny and charming email template below keeps the confidence of your colleagues with a list of things anyone who works in an office is thankful for. Of course, feel free to customize this list according to the quirks of your own workplace. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reveal them.

Example

Since I’m out of the office for the Thanksgiving weekend, I’ll respond to your email with a list of 10 things I’m thankful for:

1. Copiers that collate
2. Co-workers that brew more coffee when they empty the pot
3. Donuts on Mondays AND Fridays
4. When IT surprised me with a new laptop AND remembered to transfer my files
5. When You-Know-Who died at the end of book 7
6. Dry-erase boards that actually erase
7. The brave soul who cleaned out the refrigerator
8. When I’m early to an all-staff meeting and score a seat near the door
9. HR finally sent a memo telling people to STOP clipping their nails at their desk
10. OOO autoresponders

Have a great Thanksgiving, and I’ll get back to you Monday.

16. “I’m busy watching Christmas movies. Catch ya later.”

There's no shame in using Christmas to indulge in your childhood movie tastes, but there is shame in not sharing that adorable side of yourself when people are trying to reach you during the holidays.

So, take a lesson from @courtwhip, editor at PEDESTRIAN.TV, who wrote the above hilarious out-of-office email, fully stocked with mentions of the best movies from the 1990s. (By the way, "Splinter" is from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and as we all know, he loves pizza.)

Below is an example you could use for yourself. Well, it’s the same email.

Example

Oh hey, it’s Christmas, what are you doing emailing me?

I’m extremely busy watching Home Alone, Die Hard, and the 1994 Ninja Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Christmas Special on repeat until the new year.

I might stop for food and toilet breaks, I also might not.

Regardless of my general health and hygiene over the silly season, I’ll be back in the office on January 2.

Catch ya then, don’t forget to buy a pepperoni pizza for Splinter.

17. “Thank you for your consideration during this festive or not-festive time.”

Scared of offending a coworker who may or may not celebrate the holidays? Worry not — I’ve got the perfect email for you. If this OOO message does anything particularly well, it's that it respects the differing views, religions, traditions, and opinions of your coworkers — while amusing so many others.

It’s also a great impersonation of a robot. So if that’s up your alley...

Example

Hello,

You’ve reached Michael Abioye’s inbox. This is a general notice informing you of Michael Abioye’s absence until January 2nd, 20XX. He is currently partaking in the traditions of a certain holiday, which may or may not be denominational or non-denominational. Example Company is in no way endorsing or not endorsing said holiday, nor encouraging or discouraging employees of all demographics to engage in celebratory activities. Thank you for your consideration during this festive or not-festive time.

Sincerely,

Management

Out-of-Office Messages When Working from Home

Working from home? Try these OOO messages to let people know you’re taking a break.

18. “I’ll get back to you once I’m back from my long-awaited trip to the fridge.”

If you’re taking a vacation and staying home, your clients or coworkers may still expect you to pop into the office and answer their emails. Use this autoresponder to let them know you’re really not available — even if you’re bumming around on the couch.

Example

Hey,

Thanks for your email. I’m on vacation. On the couch. Eating chips. And bingeing Stranger Things for the eighth time (don’t tell anyone).

Unfortunately, I can’t answer your email (even though my office is three feet away). I’ll get back to you once I’m back from my long-awaited trip to the fridge. Bought tickets on TripAdvisor and everything.

I’ll be back in the office on the third and will get back to you then.

19. “Alexa, play Vacation by Dirty Heads.”

Do you own an Alexa? This might be the email for you.

Example

“Alexa, play Vacation by Dirty Heads.”

And… it’s playing in the background as I write this email. Guess what? I’m on vacation! And I do love my occupation.

Your email has been received and I’ll get back to you as soon as I get back to my home office. Now, how do I turn off this Alexa thing?

20. “The doorbell just rang. It’s the UPS driver. He’s loading me onto the truck.”

In this email, you’re a UPS package getting delivered to your vacation destination. Ah, I wish UPS offered this service.

Example

Hey — you’ve reached my inbox, but hold on, the doorbell just rang. It’s the UPS driver. He’s loading me onto the truck. Dang, it’s stuffy in this truck with all these boxes. He’s taking me down to… Oh! Florida! And now I’m on the beach. Thanks, UPS driver!

The UPS driver is scheduled to pick me back up on the eighth. He should deliver me back to the office by the ninth (assuming he’s not late like he was this time).

Don’t worry — I’ll wrap myself in bubble wrap so nothing breaks.

How to Be Funny But Still Professional

Now, all of these OOO messages are a fun way to show off your personality and connect with coworkers, prospects, customers, etc. However, it's still important to be professional and keep the content of your jokes PG to PG13.

Additionally, it's important that your sense of humor isn't so self-deprecating that it impacts your reputation, or if you're more sarcastic, that you aren't offending anybody and it's clear you're making a joke. Below are a few tips on how to be funny but remain professional:

• Keep content PG to PG13
• Make it clear you're joking by using emojis or laughing at your own jokes
• Be lighthearted
• Don't ever poke fun at anyone else or make a joke at someone's expense

Funny OOO Messages Never Fail

Are you fully inspired by the creative out-of-office messages above? It's time to write your own — your upcoming vacation depends on it. Try HubSpot's OOO Email Generator if you’re feeling stuck, and remember, an out-of-office email doesn’t need to be boring. On the contrary, it should inform and entertain. You don’t want people hating on you because you took a much-needed break.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

20 Funny Out-of-Office Messages to Inspire Your Own [+ Templates] was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

How to Craft the Perfect LinkedIn Profile in 2022: 21 Easy Steps

Your LinkedIn profile is a place for you to build your professional brand, showcase your achievements and skills, share content with other professionals, and connect with colleagues, business partners, and potential employers.

People come across your profile in a variety of ways. They might be searching for employees at your company or in your industry, remember you from a conference and remind themselves about your work, or simply want to learn more about your accomplishments. No matter how or why they end up on your LinkedIn page, however, there’s a shared and simple goal: Your LinkedIn profile needs to capture — and keep — their attention.

So what makes a profile stand out? How do you get more recommendations? What features can help you enhance your profile? Our step-by-step guide can help you craft a (near) perfect LinkedIn profile.

How to Craft the Perfect LinkedIn Profile

What is the perfect LinkedIn profile? Ideally, it’s one that gets you noticed for all the right reasons and helps you achieve your goals - whether this means expanding your reach, finding new contacts, or getting a job offer.

And while true perfection isn’t possible, there are steps you can take to help your profile stand out. From simple things like making sure you’ve uploaded a great picture to more in-depth efforts such as creating a compelling headline and bio, you’ve got options when it comes to perfecting your profile.

Ready to make the most of your LinkedIn profile? Get as close to perfect as possible with these LinkedIn profile guidelines.

1. Upload a great profile picture.

First up? Upload a great profile picture. According to Senior Content Marketing Manager at LinkedIn, Jane Deehan, your profile picture should be recent, look like you and your face should take up around 60 percent of the total space. The goal here is to look like you normally look at work, in turn making it easier for prospective contacts who may have only met you virtually to recognize you from your profile picture.

2. Add your pronouns.

Pronouns are an important part of the remote and in-person work ecosystem, and by adding them up-front you can avoid any awkwardness later on. Whether it’s she/her, he/him, they/them or another combination that best fits your identity, including your pronouns is always worth it on your LinkedIn profile.

3. Set a background photo.

Along with your profile photo, you can also set a wider background photo that showcases a bit more about you. Here, it’s not as important that you (or your face) are in the shot, but you want to make it something that’s memorable and tells visitors more about you as a person. If you’re a freelancer working from home, for example, you might include a picture of you in your office hard at work. If you’re a professional fitness instructor, meanwhile, you might opt for an action shot of you in the gym.

4. Create a great headline.

Your headline can also help boost your profile impact. While this short description is often used for job titles, you can take it a step further by adding a bit more detail about your current role, what it means to you or what you’ve accomplished.

“Creative and passionate, results-driven go-getter that helps brands think outside the box.”

5. Cut the buzzwords.

These types of self-promotional sentences are common on LinkedIn, but they’re ultimately shallow. Full of buzzwords and jargon, they don’t offer any real insights into your accomplishments or professional connections — instead, they’re a generic rehashing of terms recruiters have seen hundreds of times before. Best bet? Cut the buzzwords. Instead, be clear and specific about your accomplishments.

6. Tell your story.

You’ve got a story to tell, and your LinkedIn summary lets you tell it however you want. And while some professionals simply use it as a way to list their recent job titles or most valuable skills, it’s got potential as a way to connect with prospective employers and colleagues by providing more information about who you are — what led you to your current job. Why? What are you looking for next?

7. Sync your profile.

It’s also worth syncing your profile with your email address book — though make sure you’ve got company permission if you’re using your assigned work email address. Equipped with this email data, LinkedIn can recommend connections that might share similar interests or offer endorsements for your skills, and since you get to vet all connections you’re always in control of who gets contacted.

8. Highlight Your Skills.

One of the most important parts of your LinkedIn profile is your skill list. The platform makes it easy to search and select skills that match your experience and expertise, but this comes with a word of caution: The sheer number of skills available on LinkedIn makes it easy to go overboard and inundate your profile with talents that are only tangentially related to current or prospective work. While highlighting your skills is critical, make sure they’re relevant.

9. Share relevant content.

Speaking of relevancy, profiles don’t exist in a vacuum. As a result, it’s worth sharing relevant content, such as thought leadership posts you’ve created yourself or those from industry influencers as part of your profile page. If potential connections find and click through on great content from your profile, they’re more likely to come back.

10. Stay connected.

It’s also a good idea to stay connected once your profile is up and running. Stop by for at least 15 minutes a week to see what you’ve missed, make comments on relevant stories and answer any messages.

11. Post new content.

Put simply? While a solid LinkedIn profile is a great start, it requires regular maintenance to perform over time.

Although LinkedIn is distinctly different from social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter, it still relies on content updates to keep things fresh and interesting. As a result, it’s worth posting new content — either material you’ve created on your own for public consumption or the work of other leaders in your industry that you find interesting.

12. Go public.

If you want connections to find you and recruiters to track you down, you need to make your profile public. It’s an easy process: Head to your LinkedIn page and click on the “Me” button under your profile picture at the top of the page, then select “View Profile”. Now, you’ll see an option for Edit Public Profile and URL — select this option and you can toggle your public profile status on and off, and control who can see your profile picture.

13. Keep your location updated.

It’s also worth keeping your location up-to-date to help connections and recruiters find you more easily. For example, let’s say your name is John Smith and you’re a software developer in Houston, Texas. When recruiters go looking for new talent, location is a key factor — including your location helps companies narrow their search more quickly and increases your chances of getting a message.

14. Get a custom URL.

While you’re on the Edit Profile and URL page, it’s worth customizing your URL to make finding your profile easier. When you join LinkedIn, you’ll typically be assigned a URL that contains parts of your first and last name along with a random string of numbers. Where possible, remove the numbers and make your URL your full first and last name. If this is taken, try adding a middle initial or the industry you work in.

15. Update your contact info.

In the example above, John Smith might change his assigned URL to something like www.linkedin.com/in/JohnSmith. If that’s not available, he might try JohnCSmith or JohnSmithSoftwareDev.

If your contact info is out of date, you may miss opportunities. While some recruiters and connections will use the built-in LinkedIn messaging platform, others prefer emails or phone calls. By keeping your information current, you increase the chances of getting connected.

16. Request recommendations.

Although skill endorsements are great to highlight your areas of expertise, recommendations take things to the next level with a personalized testimonial about time spent working together, projects completed or skills developed. Consider reaching out to close contacts for recommendations that are relevant to your current role — or next career goal.

17. Follow your interests.

LinkedIn serves a huge variety of professionals with a myriad of passions, meaning there’s something there for just about everyone. To ensure that you’re both engaging with the platform at large and connecting with the right people for your career and brand goals, it’s worth finding and following people who share similar interests. Even if they don’t directly align with your job role or prospective positions, cultivating a broad interest base can help boost the impact of your profile.

18. Spotlight your services.

Maybe you’re a freelance writer, software developer, or marketing guru. Maybe you have specialized certifications or training that sets you apart from the crowd. Your LinkedIn profile is a great place to highlight these services and let people know that you’re more than just your job — you’re a talented, interesting, and knowledgeable individual that brings significant value to any role.

19. Customize your invites.

While many connections occur organically on LinkedIn, there will be situations where you’ll want to reach out and make specific connections. For this to be effective, however, you need to create a customized invite that provides a snapshot of your profile highlights — who you are, what you do, and why it matters — along with a personalized message about why this connection matters to you. With so many users and so many requests, it’s important to stand out from the crowd.

20. Curate your network.

Big networks are great. Networks that are too big, however, can take focus away from the primary purpose of your profile: Connecting with like-minded and skilled individuals to expand your industry impact and potentially advance your career. The result? Make sure to occasionally curate your network so your profile remains aligned with your goals.

21. Make regular improvements.

Last but not least? Don’t let your profile sit idle for too long. In addition to regularly interacting with the site to make new posts and engage with new connections, it’s a good idea to regularly update your profile with new information about your current job or job-seeking status, new skills you’ve obtained, or projects you’ve completed. Not only does this demonstrate consistency, but it also shows that you’re continuing to grow and learn — something prospective employers or partners are always looking for.

Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect

The better your LinkedIn profile, the better your chances of connecting with thought leaders, capturing the attention of other professionals, and finding new growth opportunities. And while there’s no such thing as a “perfect” LinkedIn profile, you can get close to the mark with these tips.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in June 2016 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

How to Craft the Perfect LinkedIn Profile in 2022: 21 Easy Steps was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

9 Mentor Traits To Look For and Why They Matter

Finding someone with the perfect combination of mentor traits is no simple task.

A good mentor is inspiring, yet accessible. They have the time to listen and also have their own successful career. They're empathetic and give honest feedback.

With so many qualities to consider, it's no wonder people feel overwhelmed when looking for a mentor.

The thing is, not all mentors have the same impact. Think about the ones you've had in your life so far. Some may have been amazing (lucky, you!) while others may have been more concerned about their problems and egos.

Finding a good mentor is important for building a successful career. Mentors can share which skills you need to get promoted, give tips for managing workplace relationships, and introduce you to their expansive network. The benefits are endless.

Now, you need to find someone who fits the bill. You may even be working to become a mentor yourself. Either way, we'll walk through what a mentor is and which traits to look for so you recognize a great mentor when they cross your path.

What is a mentor?

A mentor is a trusted advisor who provides you with the tools, guidance, and feedback you need to succeed in your career. Almost anyone can be a mentor – a peer, a manager, a friend, a boss, a school alumnus, or a family member.

But a mentor isn't an influencer or someone you only follow online. They need to be connected to your life and consistent enough to advise you over a period of time. That said, a mentorship relationship can last for years or a short period of time.

The longer you know a mentor, the more they get to know your learning style, personality, and long-term goals. This lets them share advice that's more relevant to you and full of context. On the other hand, short mentor-mentee relationships are great for handling specific situations or challenges. For example, you may meet a mentor through an informational interview while job hunting. If all goes well, they might offer you a referral or connect you to the hiring manager.

Both short and long-term mentorships can help you grow and expand your network. Chances are, you'll have both types of mentors throughout your career. As you look for your go-to people for career guidance, keep these top nine mentor traits in mind.

9 Qualities of a Good Mentor

1. Identifies Your Needs and Strengths

Everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses. A good mentor understands this and works to learn what makes their mentee tick.

While you likely have an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, it's helpful to hear what someone else thinks. For example, I consider myself a strong communicator. But a few years back, one of my mentors recommended that I incorporate more empathy into my feedback.

My direct style wasn't always the best approach. So before sending feedback, I'd ask my mentor to look over my points and make recommendations. In time, I learned how to share feedback that was more considerate, clear, and empathetic.

A great mentor knows how to build your weaknesses and expand your strengths so you fill in important skill gaps.

2. Shares Room for Improvement

It's tough to give honest feedback. It requires incredible communication skills and a level of openness that not many people are comfortable spending time in.

That's why a mentor who "finds ways for you to grow in areas inside and outside the workplace" is irreplaceable, said Ashlie Benson, Chief of Staff for Agricycle Global. This trait is what differentiates a mentor from a cheerleader.

A mentor knows your career progression, your desired path, and your strengths and weaknesses. They can see the gaps that need to be filled to achieve your goals. A cheerleader, on the other hand, is only there to offer encouragement.

While a mentor can be a cheerleader at times, their role is to make you better – not just make you feel better.

3. Gains Your Trust and Respect

A mentor is someone you can look up to. You respect them for their work, their ethos, and their unique personality.

You also may share information with them that you don't share with anyone else, which is why they have to be trustworthy. For any mentor-mentee relationship to last – and be beneficial for both sides – you need to be able to have difficult conversations. This can include talking through issues that arise at work (such as salary negotiations, promotions, difficulties with a colleague or manager, quitting a job, or getting let go).

Trusting someone enough to share challenges takes time. So look for a mentor who respects this time and doesn't push you to spill personal information right from the start. The goal is to build a relationship that's open, respectful, and professional.

4. Expresses Empathy

Empathy is important for every working relationship, but it's an essential quality for mentorship.

Mentors with high levels of emotional intelligence listen to and empathize with you. They understand that you're human and make mistakes. And they make you feel comfortable talking about both the good and the bad things happening in your life.

That's why it's best to look for a mentor who understands that life happens, people get sick, and priorities change. They should be willing to show their humanity and offer guidance in a way that resonates with you as a person.

5. Has Relevant Knowledge and Skills

Of all the traits to look for in a mentor, this one usually matters most.

Mentors with relevant knowledge and skills have been in a similar position as you, so they can offer role or industry-specific advice as you navigate your career and achieve your goals.

I looked for a mentor with this specific quality when I started my own company. I didn't have much experience negotiating contracts, managing budgets, or handling unpaid invoices. I needed guidance beyond Google.

Fortunately, I found Austin Adesso, who had been successfully running his creative agency Partners in Post for several years. His advice helped me learn to negotiate longer contracts and charge a competitive price for my work.

Find a mentor with the skills and experience you'd like to have, and rely on them for knowledge. Just remember that your journey is unique, so do what feels right for you when considering the tips they offer.

6. Listens and Reflects

It's easy to hand out advice. But it takes skill to know whether or not that advice is great for the person you give it to.

Great mentors understand the importance of active listening and intentional guidance. They ask questions to figure out every angle of a situation before offering suggestions. Sometimes, they simply listen.

Mentors who can listen and reflect on the information they're given often understand more about you as a person. They know your specific history and situation, so their suggestions are more relevant to you. One mentor of mine often lets me talk through issues without offering a single piece of advice. Instead, they ask questions to help me come to my own conclusions. This has developed my problem-solving skills, as well as my confidence in decision-making.

If you know someone who is a great listener and offers thoughtful advice, they may be a good mentor for you.

7. Invested in Your Growth and Development

Mentors help you grow both personally and professionally by sharing ways to improve and offering timely advice.

But what sets the best mentors apart is the ability to focus on your development as well as their own. Of course, you want a mentor who has been in your position and who can help you grow. If a mentor also puts time into developing themselves and breaking out of their comfort zones, you've found a gem.

These types of people often have their own mentors. They constantly work to improve themselves and are usually life-long learners. Not only do they pursue their own passions, but they also encourage your goals and creativity.

8. Strong Relationships and Networks

Not all mentors are older or more experienced than you. Personally, I have a mentor who is younger than me but with many more years of experience in a particular niche.

The one thing you do want to consider, despite age or experience, is your mentor's relationships. Do they have a strong network? Are they connected to influential people in your industry? Are they willing to introduce you or recommend you for a role?

A good mentor has spent years developing solid relationships with people – and they're willing to bring you into their close circle. This can help expand your network and open up opportunities you may not have had otherwise. One of my mentors, Meg Prater – a Senior Manager of Content at HubSpot – has connected me to a number of people when I've been looking for job recommendations or new business clients.

As in all relationships, mentorship isn't one-sided. Mentors also look for mentees with strong networks to expand their professional connections. So put time into developing your relationships and growing your network. You never know who may be of interest to a mentor.

9. Ability to Devote Time to Mentorship

Many people have the traits to be good mentors but can't devote the time it demands. A mentor-mentee relationship takes effort from both sides. Without dedication, it won't work.

A good mentor should be willing to hop on a call, send a thoughtful email, or meet up for coffee. If they're not, the relationships can quickly fizzle. Of course, there's plenty of legwork the mentee has to do to keep the relationships strong. But the mentor must be able to offer support in exchange for the mentee's efforts.

That said, there's no predetermined amount of time for good mentorship. It depends on the people involved and the nature of the relationship. You might talk to a mentor once a quarter or meet up once a month for lunch. Some of your mentors may only be around for a short time, while others may be around for life. Ultimately, it's up to you and your mentor to decide the cadence that works best.

Once you do find someone with these mentor traits who inspires you, work on developing a relationship with them, rather than asking them to be your mentor right away. In time, you won't feel the pressure of asking them to be your mentor – you'll simply be getting guidance from a friend.

9 Mentor Traits To Look For and Why They Matter was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns